kitchen updates

It's been a while since I've updated y'all on our kitchen... okay, that is a major understatement. The last kitchen update was on July 20. Oops. 

Before I show recent kitchen photos, let's recap on the brownness that was our kitchen, shall we?

When we first toured our house around Christmas time last year, the kitchen looked like this:

Then we began the gutting process. Things got pretty bare around here.

don't worry, we took out the fluorescent light too

see? we took it out & added three can lights!

The next step was to build the half wall to replace the previous bar area.

Once that was done, we began reassembling the cabinets & priming & painting them. Then our counter tops came in.

  Next we installed our appliances.

Then I showed you guys this picture from the day we moved in:

Since then we have put up a white, subway tile backsplash, painted & installed the drawers plus their hardware, & moved all of our things in.

We still want to build cabinets with glass doors over the cabinets above the stove. I also need to paint the baseboards white & prime & paint some crown molding for G to install. Then we would like to build a small pantry to the left of the refrigerator with a pull out trash can.

We are loving the kitchen's transformation! I can't help but give one side-by-side before & after photo, though. :)

click on image to enlarge

Before I go, I want to share a quick chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting recipe that is easy peasy!

ingredients:

cake: 1 box Devil's food cake mix (prepared & baked in two 9 inch pans as box directs)

frosting: 1/2 cup vegetable shortening

                      1 stick of butter, softened

                      1/2 cup milk    

                      1/2 cup peanut butter

                      1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

                      4 cups confectioner's sugar

directions:
(in standing mixer)

• cream shortening & butter until fluffy
• add peanut butter, milk & vanilla & beat well
• gradually add sugar at medium speed
• scrape down bowl & beat on high for 7 minutes

After cooling cakes for at least an hour, place one of the cakes on a cake stand & generously cover top & sides with frosting. Add second cake on top & cover with frosting.

Enjoy!!



{alli}