Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Who loves Oreos?

About 2 o'clock I started wondering what to make for snack.  Oreos sounded really good, but we didn't have any...plus, you have to eat kind of a lot of those little cookies to be remotely filled.

Enter homemade "Oreo Cakesters".



Also known as chocolate pancakes with butter cream frosting in the middle.  They were SO GOOD, and all three girls were absolutely thrilled with my decision.

The pancake recipe is from Chef In Training and the frosting recipe is from Smitten Kitchen.  They have lots of other yumminess, too, so check them out!

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Back Again

Yeah, soooo...over a year, that has to be a new record or something for a blogging hiatus, right?  But then, can it really be called a hiatus when I hadn't managed to blog regularly in the first place?  Well, I'm back...and I'm not giving it up this time.

I had planned for my first post to be on New Year's Day, with pictures of the kids from Christmas.  After my oldest went to spend time with the rest of her family, I was going through the pictures and realized...I didn't have a single picture of all three of them!  How terribly annoying.  No big deal, I figured I'd just take one whenever Kelcie came home.  But I kept forgetting.  She was gone for the weekend every time I remembered.  Until today!  

I had them all put their "Christmas" clothes back on so I could take pictures.  Can't you just see how thrilled they were?

At one point, Kairi closed her eyes...when I told her to stop looking asleep, Cady decided she'd sleep instead.


This is what I got when I offered Thin Mints.


Of course, every photo session requires some sillies.  That's what makes them fun!


Showing off my girls is pretty much my favorite thing to blog about, so naturally my first post back had to be all about them.  Tomorrow, I'll start on a tutorial for Kairi's & Cady's dresses and headbands.  I made them, and I'm so proud of them!

Saturday, December 31, 2011

Happy Anniversary to Us! :)

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*Disclaimer - this photo is 6 years old.  Something to work on in 2012?  I think so!!

Today is our 8 year anniversary!   We exchanged gifts a few moments ago and will have lunch at Friday's later. I'm feeling kinda like a bum because I think my gift from DH is way more awesome than what I got for him.

My gift to him:
a bronze picture frame w/ a picture of us shortly after we got together
The Hangover, unrated
The Hangover 2


What he got for me:
a clay pot with pretty blue glaze on the outside of it
DH Triple Chocolate Brownie Mix
Ghirardelli Ultimate Fudge Brownie Mix
Hershey's Dark Chocolate Cocoa
Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate Syrup
Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Hot Cocoa
Lindt Lindor Extra Dark Chocolate Truffles
Hershey's Bliss - Dark Chocolate
Hershey's Kisses - Special Dark
M&Ms - Dark Chocolate
Dove Promises - Dark Chocolate
Ghirardelli 60% Bittersweet Chocolate Chips
Hershey's Giant Bar - Special Dark
Ghirardelli - Twilight Delight (72% Cacao)
Ghirardelli - Midnight Reverie (86% Cacao)
Ghirardelli - 100% cacao Baking Bar
Green & Black's Organic 70% Dark Chocolate
Green & Black's Organic 85% Dark Chocolate
a kindle keyboard that's enroute


...now I'm off to watch his new movies.  :)


Monday, December 12, 2011

Meal Plan Monday - 12/12/11

We didn't try any new recipes last week, so I've nothing that "worked" last week.  :)  I did, however, use our favorite fried chicken recipe.  I stumbled upon it years ago, and while I occasionally try a new one I've yet to find one to replace it.  I'll post it at the end.


Breakfast:
Mon - Apple Fritter Bread, yogurt, peanut butter, fruit
Tue - cereal, milk, boiled egg, fruit
Wed - pancakes, yogurt, peanut butter, fruit
Thu - cereal, milk, nuts, fruit
Fri - poptart, yogurt, peanut butter, fruit
Sat - Apple Brown Sugar Baked Oatmeal, milk, nuts, fruit
Sun - Sausage Balls, eggs

Lunch:
Sat - oops...I didn't plan anything!
Sun - leftovers

Snack:
Mon - home made cereal bar, milk, nuts, fruit
Tue - Apple Fritter Bread, string cheese, nuts, fruit
Wed - crackers, milk, nuts, fruit
Thu - graham crackers, string cheese, peanut butter, fruit
Fri - Eye-Poppin' Popcorn, yogurt, peanut butter. fruit
Sat - 1/2 sandwich
Sun - fruit

Dinner:
Mon - Garlic Chicken Spaghetti, Garlic Bread, Salad
Tue - Honey Chicken, Stuffed Potatoes, 2 veggies, Homemade Bread
Wed - Chimichangas, Refried Beans, Spanish Rice
Thu - Chicken Nuggets, 2 veggies, potatoes
Fri - Deep Dish Pizza
Sat - Cheddar Cracker Chicken, Bacon Tomato Pie, Salad
Sun - Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, 2 veggies, rolls


For more meal plan ideas, check out OrgJunkie!




Fried Chicken


1 # chicken, cut into pieces

Bowl 1:
1.5 c flour
1 Tbsp garlic salt
1.5 tsp pepper
1.5 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp poultry seasoning

Bowl 2:
2/3 c flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1 beaten egg yolk
3/4 c water

Heat deep fryer to 350.  Combine ingredients in Bowl 1.  Combine ingredients in Bowl 2.  Dip chicken pieces in bowl 1, then bowl 2, then back to bowl 1.  Deep fry 7-15 minutes, depending on size of pieces.  Drain on paper.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Can you imagine spending less than $250/month on groceries for your family?

I can't.  I'm sure gonna try, though!

I found the "2012 Guide to Groceries Under $250 a Month" on Pinterest, and I fully intend to check it out.  You should, too!


Visit Budget101.com

Monday, December 5, 2011

Meal Plan Monday - 12/5/11

Last week, I started going through cookbooks.  I have all these books, and what do I usually use?  The internet.  :p  At any rate, I'm working on just a few books at a time, and posting links to those recipes I can find online.  Notice last week's books were "Taste of Home" and "Disney Magic Kitchen".

What worked the last two weeks:
Cinnamon Sugar Pull-Apart Bread - cinnamon bread loaf, without the frosting
Garlic Parmesan Chicken
Olive Garden Bread Sticks - they did not taste the same, but were still delicious
Baked Fried Chicken
Buttermilk Chicken Strips - these were good, but I still like my regular fried chicken recipe the best
Mozzarella Puffs
Taco Chicken Rolls
Fried Cinnamon Strips - so good
Pull-Apart Bacon Bread
Cheesy Ranch Potato Bake - big, huge, giant hit
Breaded Ranch Chicken
"Don't Forget Breakfast Cookies" (recipe below) - a huge hit; what kid DOESN'T want to eat a cookie for breakfast?
"Disappearing Chocolate Chip Cookies" (recipe below) - another huge hit, and SO soft


Breakfast:
Mon - Cinnamon Pull-Apart Bread, yogurt, peanut butter, fruit
Tue - cereal, milk, boiled egg, fruit
Wed - waffles, yogurt, peanut butter, fruit
Thu - cereal, milk, nuts, fruit
Fri - poptart, yogurt, peanut butter, fruit
Sat - oatmeal, milk, nuts, fruit
Sun - pancakes, bacon, eggs

Lunch:
Sat - sloppy joe, fries, fruit
Sun - leftovers

Snack:

Mon - cereal bar, milk, nuts, fruit
Tue - Cinnamon Pull-Apart Bread, string cheese, nuts, fruit
Wed - crackers, milk, nuts, fruit
Thu - graham crackers, string cheese, peanut butter, fruit
Fri - Eye-Poppin' Popcorn, yogurt, peanut butter fruit
Sat - 1/2 sandwich
Sun - fruit

Dinner:

Mon - parmesan chicken, noodles, salad, baked cheese sticks
Tue - grilled chicken, baked potatoes, two veggies, a homemade bread
Wed - Sesame Chicken, fried rice, pot stickers, stir-fry veggies
Thu - baked chicken, potatoes, 2 veggies, a homemade bread
Fri - pizza, salad
Sat - nachos
Sun - fried chicken, rolls, 2 veggies, fried potatoes


For more meal plan ideas, check out OrgJunkie!



"Don't Forget Breakfast Cookies" - Disney:  The Magic Kitchen Cookbook
1/2 c butter, softened
1/2 c packed brown sugar
1 tsp baking soda
2 eggs
1 3/4 c white whole wheat flour (I used whole wheat graham flour)
3 c multi-grain cereal flakes w/ blueberries (I used one with no berries)

1)  Preheat oven to 350.  Coat cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray.
2)  Put butter in mixing bowl & beat with mixer for 30 seconds.  Add brown sugar & soda; beat until mixed.  Add eggs; beat until mixed.  Add flour and beat until mixture no longer looks dry.  Use a wooden spoon to stir in cereal.
3)  For each cookie, pack the mixture into a 1/4-c measuring cup.  Use a spatula to scrape it out onto the cookie sheet.  (I made smaller cookies, using a melon-baller sized ice cream scoop.)  Press mound of dough with your fingers to flatten it slightly.  Place cookies about 3" apart.
4)  Bake for 8-10 minutes or until edges are golden brown.   Makes 12 (1/4 cup) cookies.




"Disappearing Chocolate Chip Cookies" - Disney:  The Magic Kitchen Cookbook
1 c rolled oats
1/2 c butter, softened
1 c packed brown sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 c plain low-fat yogurt (I used vanilla)
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 c all-purpose flour
1 c miniature semisweet chocolate pieces (about 6 oz)

1)  Preheat oven to 375.  Put oats in a shallow baking pan, bake for 10 minutes until toasted, stirring once with a wooden spoon.  Using a food processor, process oats until ground.
2)  Beat butter on medium-high speed for 30 seconds.  Add brown sugar, soda, & salt.  Beat until combined, stopping occasionally to scrape sides.  Ad yogurt, eggs, & vanilla and beat until combined.  Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer.  (I was able to mix in all of the flour and oats with the mixer.)  Stir in the oats and any remaining flour.  Stir in chocolate pieces.
3)  Drop dough by rounded teaspoons (I really love my melon baller.) onto an ungreased cookie sheet, leaving about 2" between cookies.  Bake for 9-11 minutes or until bottoms are browned.  Makes about 60 cookies.  (Yup, I got about 5 dozen.)

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Opinions wanted, please!

We always give the girls a gift on Christmas Eve.  Most of the time it's an ornament, last year it was stocking holders.  This year it's stockings.

I wanted the stockings to reflect each individual person while still "matching".  I spent an hour at Hancock's looking around, and in the end James was the hardest to find something that matched the rest of us.  In fact, I just couldn't find anything I though he would like that went super well with the others.  SO, I ended up having to change a detail.  I had planned on the main part of the stockings being dark blue with the lining being the different material for each person.  I ended up changing that to black, which I was on the fence about as I bought it but am now happy with.  After all, I want our stuff to be unique (duh, that's why I'm making it), and how many people have black stockings?

From right to left, we have James, me, Kelcie, Kairi, Cady, and the last bit of a bolt that I just HAD to have because I liked it though I had no clue what I'd make with it.
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Anyway, I was ironing all the material this morning and realized how super thing the black is.  How plain it is.  It needs something...I dunno, texture?  Then I remembered I had some black and dark brown burlap remnants.  The burlap would totally give it texture!  I've been wanting to make a tree skirt, too, and I've really liked the ruffled ones I've seen - including some in burlap.  I could make a skirt and include a black burlap ruffle to tie it to the stockings.  I could use stuff I have left to make ornaments, and oh I could use the brown on the back of the music material to make ornaments, too!
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THEN I remembered the fat quarters I won a while back.  I could use the burlap with them to make more decorations (ornaments, pillows, whatever) and tie them in, as well.  Maybe find a green or red or blue or all three colors of burlap?
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Can you see it in your head like I do?  Am I crazy?  Do you think it'd look cute or just weird?