Gratitude 365 Day #179
There are some basic ingredients, that I almost always go to, as you will see in recipe #2. I'm so grateful for those ingredients.
Greek Yogurt- plain. This adds protein and smoothness to a shake.
Banana. These add most of the smoothness to a shake. (Try drinking a shake without a banana and you'll see.)
Watermelon chunks.
Watermelon juice (1/4 c. or so.)
Ice
Again, you can almost any ingredient if you start with Greek Yogurt and Banana, though I do draw the lines at peanut butter and Greek Yogurt. I've tried it, but it had a very strange flavor to me.
Breakfast smoothies/shakes are a great way to start the day.
Showing posts with label recipe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label recipe. Show all posts
Friday, June 28, 2019
Thursday, June 27, 2019
Shake Recipe #1
Gratitude 365 Day #178
This is my go-to recipe for a breakfast shake:
1/2 container of single size plain Greek Yogurt
1 banana
1 handful of fresh spinach
1 single serving can of pineapple juice
Ice
I mix everything together except the ice with Cusinart Smart Stick hand mixer. After I have no lumps, I add in about 1/2 cup of ice. Blend until smooth again. And that's it.
Today, I am grateful for super easy shake recipes.
This is my go-to recipe for a breakfast shake:
1/2 container of single size plain Greek Yogurt
1 banana
1 handful of fresh spinach
1 single serving can of pineapple juice
Ice
I mix everything together except the ice with Cusinart Smart Stick hand mixer. After I have no lumps, I add in about 1/2 cup of ice. Blend until smooth again. And that's it.
Today, I am grateful for super easy shake recipes.
Monday, June 20, 2016
Look Out, Starbucks!
You know I like coffee, but sometimes, it is just a little too hot outside to enjoy a steaming cup. Iced Coffee is the answer to that.
Dad drank cold coffee quite a bit in the summer. His recipe was really strong coffee and lots of ice.
Starbucks makes some delicious cold coffee drinks; however, the cost and calorie total never thrill me.
This summer, I have hit on a great solution.
International Coffee makes a creamer called Hershey's Chocolate Caramel. I add that to Dad's recipe of really black coffee and lots of ice. Voila! A drink that rivals many of the cold drinks I have had from Starbucks.
I am guessing it costs me less than a dollar a cup/glass to make. At 35 calories per tablespoon of creamer, one glass is probably about 70 calories. I can handle that...and Yum!
So there is your yearly recipe. My "cooking" skills just keep growing!
Dad drank cold coffee quite a bit in the summer. His recipe was really strong coffee and lots of ice.
Starbucks makes some delicious cold coffee drinks; however, the cost and calorie total never thrill me.
This summer, I have hit on a great solution.
International Coffee makes a creamer called Hershey's Chocolate Caramel. I add that to Dad's recipe of really black coffee and lots of ice. Voila! A drink that rivals many of the cold drinks I have had from Starbucks.
So there is your yearly recipe. My "cooking" skills just keep growing!
Sunday, January 11, 2015
Peanut Butter Balls
I adapted this recipe from about five others that I had seen. This is a no bake recipe. (You're thinking, of course it is!) I like the fact that the measurements of the ingredients make it an easy one to remember. (Otherwise, I would have to look up all of those recipes again and try to recreate it!)
Peanut Butter Balls
1 cup of rolled oats
1/2 cup of peanut butter
1/3 cup of honey
1/4 cup of mini chocolate chips
1/4 cup of chopped nuts
Mix together well and refrigerate for 20-30 minutes, then use your cookie scoop to form 15-16 cookie balls. (I put them on wax paper before transferring them to a covered container.) You can eat them at this point, but I like them better after they have been in the fridge for a couple of hours.
That's it. Some people add craisins, flax seed, or coconut. Others substitute nutella for the peanut butter. Some add a tablespoon of cocoa powder. I imagine that you could use Karo syrup instead of honey. I think the possibilities are endless.
For the weight conscious, these are 101 calories each when you make 16 of them with the recipe above.
That's it! For as small as they are, they are quite satisfying.
Oh, and they had the Bug's AND the Mr.'s seal of approval.
Peanut Butter Balls
1 cup of rolled oats
1/2 cup of peanut butter
1/3 cup of honey
1/4 cup of mini chocolate chips
1/4 cup of chopped nuts
Mix together well and refrigerate for 20-30 minutes, then use your cookie scoop to form 15-16 cookie balls. (I put them on wax paper before transferring them to a covered container.) You can eat them at this point, but I like them better after they have been in the fridge for a couple of hours.
That's it. Some people add craisins, flax seed, or coconut. Others substitute nutella for the peanut butter. Some add a tablespoon of cocoa powder. I imagine that you could use Karo syrup instead of honey. I think the possibilities are endless.
For the weight conscious, these are 101 calories each when you make 16 of them with the recipe above.
That's it! For as small as they are, they are quite satisfying.
Oh, and they had the Bug's AND the Mr.'s seal of approval.
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Valentine's Day Treat
I made this recipe at Christmas. It didn't last long. It would make a great Valentine's Day treat to make for gifts. (I learned about it from a sweet para who brought it to me.)
36 saltine crackers
1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 (12 ounce) package chocolate or white chocolate chips
1 cup of your choice of chopped walnuts, peanuts, sprinkles, crushed candy, etc...
Directions:
1 Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and spray with non stick cooking spray.
2 Place the saltines side by side but not over lapping each other.
3 In a sauce pan melt the 1 cup of butter and add the cup of brown sugar bring to a slow boil stirring constantly for about 4 minutes.
4 Immediately pour over the crackers try to coat as evenly as possible.
5 Bake in the oven at 375°F for 5-7 minutes immediately remove from oven and pour the entire bag of chips over the toffee (give them some time to melt) and spread evenly with a spatula. Sprinkle your choice of topping over the candy and press down lightly.
6 Refrigerate till cool then remove and break into pieces and serve!
I picture this with white chocolate chips and pink and red sprinkles for Valentine's Day.
Word of warning: definitely not a recipe for those watching their weight. I pretty much wanted to consume the whole batch! However, for a quick, no fuss treat--you can't beat this one. And your recipient will be quite happy!
Fool's Toffee
36 saltine crackers
1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 (12 ounce) package chocolate or white chocolate chips
1 cup of your choice of chopped walnuts, peanuts, sprinkles, crushed candy, etc...
Directions:
1 Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and spray with non stick cooking spray.
2 Place the saltines side by side but not over lapping each other.
3 In a sauce pan melt the 1 cup of butter and add the cup of brown sugar bring to a slow boil stirring constantly for about 4 minutes.
4 Immediately pour over the crackers try to coat as evenly as possible.
5 Bake in the oven at 375°F for 5-7 minutes immediately remove from oven and pour the entire bag of chips over the toffee (give them some time to melt) and spread evenly with a spatula. Sprinkle your choice of topping over the candy and press down lightly.
6 Refrigerate till cool then remove and break into pieces and serve!
I picture this with white chocolate chips and pink and red sprinkles for Valentine's Day.
Word of warning: definitely not a recipe for those watching their weight. I pretty much wanted to consume the whole batch! However, for a quick, no fuss treat--you can't beat this one. And your recipient will be quite happy!
Friday, January 25, 2013
Lesson #2 DIY Cleaning Recipe 2
I think I first saw this one when cousin Holy Bovine pinned it on Pinterest. (Like six months ago! Yikes!) I finally got around to making it, and I am a fan!
DIY Shower/Tub cleaner
You'll need a dish washing wand, made for a liquid soap dispenser. I picked mine up at the Dollar Store.
Fill it with this solution:
1/2 white vinegar
1/2 Dawn dishwashing liquid
Just use equal amounts of both. (My wand only holds about one cup of solution, so I use a half cup of each. I stir it up in a mixing cup and pour it into the wand.)
Wet the surface you want to clean and scrub it with the wand. It lathers up quite a bit, so rinse well.
I couldn't believe how well this worked. The shower looks great.
I clean the shower while I'm in it, and it only takes a few minutes.
Great idea, super easy, and a cheap solution to those expensive bathroom cleaners. (This may be the cleanest my shower has been in awhile.)
I appreciate these tried and true ingredients for the DIY cleaning products. White vinegar has always been touted as one of the best cleaning products to have in the house. I've just never known what to mix it with to make it the most effective. And the price of vinegar is hard to beat.
My cleaning shelf now has Borax, White Vinegar, Dawn dish washing soap, and Arm and Hammer Washing Soda. (Why do I think my grandmother probably knew all about these products? Well, maybe not the Dawn, but...!)
Stay tuned, and we'll see if I discover any other good cleaning recipes.
Happy Friday~~and Happy Cleaning!
DIY Shower/Tub cleaner
You'll need a dish washing wand, made for a liquid soap dispenser. I picked mine up at the Dollar Store.
Fill it with this solution:
1/2 white vinegar
1/2 Dawn dishwashing liquid
Just use equal amounts of both. (My wand only holds about one cup of solution, so I use a half cup of each. I stir it up in a mixing cup and pour it into the wand.)
Wet the surface you want to clean and scrub it with the wand. It lathers up quite a bit, so rinse well.
I couldn't believe how well this worked. The shower looks great.
I clean the shower while I'm in it, and it only takes a few minutes.
I appreciate these tried and true ingredients for the DIY cleaning products. White vinegar has always been touted as one of the best cleaning products to have in the house. I've just never known what to mix it with to make it the most effective. And the price of vinegar is hard to beat.
My cleaning shelf now has Borax, White Vinegar, Dawn dish washing soap, and Arm and Hammer Washing Soda. (Why do I think my grandmother probably knew all about these products? Well, maybe not the Dawn, but...!)
Stay tuned, and we'll see if I discover any other good cleaning recipes.
Happy Friday~~and Happy Cleaning!
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Today's Lesson
Faculty workroom discussion has been centering on DIY cleaning product recipes. The price of laundry detergent just seems to keep rising. Thanks to Pinterest, there are all kinds of recipes to make your own.
Several colleagues have been making their own laundry soap. It involves shaving a bar (bars?) of soap. It is a dry soap, rather than liquid.
Of course on Easy Street, I'm always looking for an easy way. (OK. So that might have something to do with the blog name, too!) Shaving soap doesn't fall into the easy category for me.
K has been using the following recipe and passed it on.
(I should tell you that the purchase of the three products probably came to about $8-9. I figure they will last me for at least a year--maybe two. That means that, as far as laundry soap, it probably costs me about a penny to do a week's worth of laundry.)
The Liquid Laundry Detergent (Non-Shaving) Soap Recipe:
3 Tablespoons of Borax (I'm pretty sure the last time I saw this was when Grandma used it.)
3 Tablespoons of Arm and Hammer Washing Soap
2 Tablespoons of Dawn Dish Washing Liquid (Probably helps with stains and de-greasing)
4 cups of boiling hot water
Stir all of this together and then pour it into a gallon jug. (I use a 3.5 quart liquid laundry container that I rinsed out. I know, not quite a gallon!)
Top it off with cold water to fill the jug. Shake it up.
You will need to shake every time before using it. The detergent has the consistency of water. I add a bottle cap and a half to a load.
I think the biggest challenge was to figure out how to close the Borax and Washing Soap boxes so they wouldn't absorb moisture and clump. Then I remembered Press and Seal! Voila! I tore off a short piece and covered the top of the box and over the spout. No moisture and no spills.
That's it. I think the clothes are cleaner, too.
When summer rolls around, I may try that shaving soap dry recipe. They say you mix it up in a 5 gallon bucket, and that it lasts for over a year. They also say your house smells wonderful while you're mixing it up.
We'll see. This liquid recipe is super easy. And it's cheap, and it works!
Several colleagues have been making their own laundry soap. It involves shaving a bar (bars?) of soap. It is a dry soap, rather than liquid.
Of course on Easy Street, I'm always looking for an easy way. (OK. So that might have something to do with the blog name, too!) Shaving soap doesn't fall into the easy category for me.
K has been using the following recipe and passed it on.
(I should tell you that the purchase of the three products probably came to about $8-9. I figure they will last me for at least a year--maybe two. That means that, as far as laundry soap, it probably costs me about a penny to do a week's worth of laundry.)
The Liquid Laundry Detergent (Non-Shaving) Soap Recipe:
3 Tablespoons of Borax (I'm pretty sure the last time I saw this was when Grandma used it.)
3 Tablespoons of Arm and Hammer Washing Soap
2 Tablespoons of Dawn Dish Washing Liquid (Probably helps with stains and de-greasing)
4 cups of boiling hot water
Stir all of this together and then pour it into a gallon jug. (I use a 3.5 quart liquid laundry container that I rinsed out. I know, not quite a gallon!)
Top it off with cold water to fill the jug. Shake it up.
You will need to shake every time before using it. The detergent has the consistency of water. I add a bottle cap and a half to a load.
I think the biggest challenge was to figure out how to close the Borax and Washing Soap boxes so they wouldn't absorb moisture and clump. Then I remembered Press and Seal! Voila! I tore off a short piece and covered the top of the box and over the spout. No moisture and no spills.
That's it. I think the clothes are cleaner, too.
When summer rolls around, I may try that shaving soap dry recipe. They say you mix it up in a 5 gallon bucket, and that it lasts for over a year. They also say your house smells wonderful while you're mixing it up.
We'll see. This liquid recipe is super easy. And it's cheap, and it works!
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
2 Recipes
Shocking post title, I know! I don't cook much or that well. However, today I have two recipes to share. Brace yourself! (Could this be a big change coming in 2013? Doubtful. Quite doubtful!)
Recipe #1- Black Eyed Pea Soup
(K sent this to me. I think she found it on a crock pot blog, and it is delicious.)
1 pound black eyed peas (soak overnight)
1 pound spicy sausage- chopped (I used a smoked sausage link.)
6 cups of chicken broth --low fat and low sodium
1 yellow onion- diced
1 cup carrots- diced
1 cup celery- diced
4 cloves of garlic- diced (I used the minced that comes in the jar-1 tsp.)
1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
1 tsp. salt
Tobasco sauce (can be added to individual bowls)
(OK. True confessions. It called for 1 tsp. pepper. I hate pepper, so I left it out. And I didn't tell the Mr., and now he knows. Sorry Mr. You regret letting me cook now, don't you?)
After draining the soaking beans/peas, add all of the above to your crock pot and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Before serving, take out a cup of beans and use a hand mixer or blender to mash them fine. When you add them back to the soup, they will add a creamier thickness to the broth. That's it. Super easy and delicious! A new Easy Street favorite.
This second recipe will knock your socks off!
Mrs. E's Peppermint Hot Chocolate
1 packet of instant hot chocolate mix (choose your own brand!)
1 cup of hot water
10-12 (OK. 15-20) pink peppermint mini marshmallows
Mix the hot chocolate and water, and stir until well blended. Add the marshmallows and stir until they melt slightly. This makes a tasty mint chocolate drink to warm you on these cold evenings. Quite a gourmet, aren't I?
Genius. Sheer genius. I'm pretty sure the cooking shows are going to be calling soon for this hot chocolate recipe. Especially if they see my handy dandy little hot drink set up.
And there you have it. Two recipes from the non-cooking Mrs. E. (Don't get used to it.)
You're very welcome.
The end.
Recipe #1- Black Eyed Pea Soup
(K sent this to me. I think she found it on a crock pot blog, and it is delicious.)
1 pound black eyed peas (soak overnight)
1 pound spicy sausage- chopped (I used a smoked sausage link.)
6 cups of chicken broth --low fat and low sodium
1 yellow onion- diced
1 cup carrots- diced
1 cup celery- diced
4 cloves of garlic- diced (I used the minced that comes in the jar-1 tsp.)
1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
1 tsp. salt
Tobasco sauce (can be added to individual bowls)
(OK. True confessions. It called for 1 tsp. pepper. I hate pepper, so I left it out. And I didn't tell the Mr., and now he knows. Sorry Mr. You regret letting me cook now, don't you?)
After draining the soaking beans/peas, add all of the above to your crock pot and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Before serving, take out a cup of beans and use a hand mixer or blender to mash them fine. When you add them back to the soup, they will add a creamier thickness to the broth. That's it. Super easy and delicious! A new Easy Street favorite.
This second recipe will knock your socks off!
Mrs. E's Peppermint Hot Chocolate
1 packet of instant hot chocolate mix (choose your own brand!)
1 cup of hot water
10-12 (OK. 15-20) pink peppermint mini marshmallows
Mix the hot chocolate and water, and stir until well blended. Add the marshmallows and stir until they melt slightly. This makes a tasty mint chocolate drink to warm you on these cold evenings. Quite a gourmet, aren't I?
You're very welcome.
The end.
Friday, April 6, 2012
Mom's Easter Egg Salad
What do you do with all those hard boiled Easter eggs? Mom always turned some of them into Easter Egg Salad for our Easter dinner. (At least, that's what we called it.) It is one of my favorite salads.
You make a normal tossed salad: lettuce, onions, green peppers, etc. I don't think it really matters what you put in it. Then you peel and chop up 3 or 4 Easter eggs and add them to your lettuce. You can do more if you have a bigger salad.
Now, it gets a bit more tricky. This recipe isn't written down, so I don't know measurements. I make the salad dressing by guess and by golly. And I have experimented quite a bit to make it taste like Mom's.
These are the ingredients:
Mayo or Miracle Whip (1/2- 3/4 c.)
Mustard (Maybe a tablespoon) The dressing will be yellow.
Sugar (A tablespoon or two) This is kind of a sweet dressing.
Vinegar (Maybe a tablespoon)
Milk (I have no idea--until it becomes thinned out enough to poor over the salad and toss. Maybe 1/4 c.)
Mix this all together with a whisk.
Add the dressing to your bowl of salad and toss. Serve immediately.
All measurements are approximate. Yes, I'm guessing! I don't measure. My mom didn't either.
I really am my mother's daughter.
You make a normal tossed salad: lettuce, onions, green peppers, etc. I don't think it really matters what you put in it. Then you peel and chop up 3 or 4 Easter eggs and add them to your lettuce. You can do more if you have a bigger salad.
Now, it gets a bit more tricky. This recipe isn't written down, so I don't know measurements. I make the salad dressing by guess and by golly. And I have experimented quite a bit to make it taste like Mom's.
These are the ingredients:
Mayo or Miracle Whip (1/2- 3/4 c.)
Mustard (Maybe a tablespoon) The dressing will be yellow.
Sugar (A tablespoon or two) This is kind of a sweet dressing.
Vinegar (Maybe a tablespoon)
Milk (I have no idea--until it becomes thinned out enough to poor over the salad and toss. Maybe 1/4 c.)
Mix this all together with a whisk.
Add the dressing to your bowl of salad and toss. Serve immediately.
All measurements are approximate. Yes, I'm guessing! I don't measure. My mom didn't either.
I really am my mother's daughter.
Easter 1960
I would be the little one in the middle.
(I've posted this before. It is a favorite Easter picture.)
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
What's Happening Wednesday
Five school days left in Trailer High.
Packing boxes yesterday, I cut my finger a bit. It wasn't much, but I bled all over my clothes and desk before I even knew I had done anything. I guess that aspirin a day is working.
We interviewed for a new city librarian last night. I think we are ready to hire.
Tonight is my service sorority Christmas party. My contribution? That sweet little Christmas drink called a poinsettia: half cranberry juice and half champagne. The cheaper the champagne the better!
We finished Julius Caesar yesterday. The big test is tomorrow. I'm hoping for some great test scores. On the quizzes over the first three acts, 75% of them had an A or a B. Hope they do as well on the unit test.
My finals are written. I just need to proofread and copy them. Study guides for finals are ready to go, too.
My half of the trailer is starting to look like a disaster area. Boxes are lining the walls. There isn't room to move around, but I'd like to have things ready to go for my "movers" on January 5th. Four sophomore boys volunteered to help me unload the trailer into my new classroom. (Promise high school boys pizza, and they'll do darn near anything!)
I think I am touring the new school one last time after school today. The teacher advisory meeting may take a brief tour. I'll take the camera!!
Happy Wednesday!
Packing boxes yesterday, I cut my finger a bit. It wasn't much, but I bled all over my clothes and desk before I even knew I had done anything. I guess that aspirin a day is working.
We interviewed for a new city librarian last night. I think we are ready to hire.
Tonight is my service sorority Christmas party. My contribution? That sweet little Christmas drink called a poinsettia: half cranberry juice and half champagne. The cheaper the champagne the better!
We finished Julius Caesar yesterday. The big test is tomorrow. I'm hoping for some great test scores. On the quizzes over the first three acts, 75% of them had an A or a B. Hope they do as well on the unit test.
My finals are written. I just need to proofread and copy them. Study guides for finals are ready to go, too.
My half of the trailer is starting to look like a disaster area. Boxes are lining the walls. There isn't room to move around, but I'd like to have things ready to go for my "movers" on January 5th. Four sophomore boys volunteered to help me unload the trailer into my new classroom. (Promise high school boys pizza, and they'll do darn near anything!)
I think I am touring the new school one last time after school today. The teacher advisory meeting may take a brief tour. I'll take the camera!!
Happy Wednesday!
Friday, July 9, 2010
Friday Favorites
Favorite moments of the week:
1. L and CG cooked for us on Monday and Tuesday when we returned home from vacation. And they cleaned up, too! Cooking is L's thing, but CG isn't too shabby either!
2. Baxter. He was so happy to see us when we picked him up from the kennel. He licked and snuggled all the way home. He sleeps until 5 or so now, which makes all of us in better humor! He had his 2nd obedience class and is quite the star. He performed "look," "come," "sit," and "stay." (And that was with a week break from training.) He learned "down," "stay," and "roll over." To be honest, he had down and stay mastered before we left class and is getting pretty good at roll over. However, he still has the attention span of a six month old pup!
1. L and CG cooked for us on Monday and Tuesday when we returned home from vacation. And they cleaned up, too! Cooking is L's thing, but CG isn't too shabby either!
2. Baxter. He was so happy to see us when we picked him up from the kennel. He licked and snuggled all the way home. He sleeps until 5 or so now, which makes all of us in better humor! He had his 2nd obedience class and is quite the star. He performed "look," "come," "sit," and "stay." (And that was with a week break from training.) He learned "down," "stay," and "roll over." To be honest, he had down and stay mastered before we left class and is getting pretty good at roll over. However, he still has the attention span of a six month old pup!
3. To top it off, Baxter had a free grooming session after class. He is adorable. And he has a fan with his groomer, too. She added a little purple and white bow to his collar. It is "manly" enough that the Mr. hasn't cut it off yet.
4. CT cooked supper for us last night. K was his assistant. (I think.) Yum! Bax went with us and enjoyed torturing their black lab Khalie. There were several games of chase!
5. Strawbale winery gave us a new drink recipe. I call it Frozen Fun.
Put equal parts of their Black Currant Wine, Margarita Mix, and Ice in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into a container and freeze, stirring about every 8 hours for the first 24 hours. Yum! Last night we enjoyed it on a deck in Tiny Town with friends and a beautiful sky!
I know this is supposed to be 5, but I have to add another!
Finally, I am making headway in running again. This week I can run a mile, walk a quarter, and run another mile. Progress!!
PS. The Mr. finally found an AT&T technician in town and could tell him what was happening. (After 3 phone calls, he had finally been given the work order!) We now have a phone again! And a note to AT&T--if you really want to know how your technician did, don't make an automated call to find out. Try calling in person!
PS. The Mr. finally found an AT&T technician in town and could tell him what was happening. (After 3 phone calls, he had finally been given the work order!) We now have a phone again! And a note to AT&T--if you really want to know how your technician did, don't make an automated call to find out. Try calling in person!
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Scout, Tortilla S'mores, and Karen Kuehn Photography
Small things irking me this week-
1. Itchy skin. I have a few mosquito bites, but I itch all over. I'm not sure what the story is. (Thankfully, it isn't poison ivy!)
2. The pool hose. The vacuum hose for the pool curls up like those old telephone cords used to. It curls up so much it kinks- and then the vacuum doesn't work. Uncurling the phone cords was easy. The pool hose? Not so much. I spent about 90 minutes vacuuming the pool yesterday, finally got the hose unkinked and uncurled, and am hoping that this is a one-time only problem.
3. Flip flops (brand new). This lovely new purchase turns the bottoms of my feet black. The dye wears off on my heels and toes. Lovely. *sigh*
That's the bad news. The good news:
1. L spent the night. She made me tortilla s'mores. She spread peanut butter on a taco size tortilla, adds mini marshmallows, and then adds either a few chocolate chips or a little bit of hershey bar. She nukes the whole thing in the microwave for 15 seconds. Finally, she folds them taco style. Yum. I think this is her own creation for "L's Tortilla and Stuff" restaurant. Of course, L is also planning to run a daycare, so we'll keep you updated.
2. K's photo shoot ended up being a lot of fun. All of her worries were for nothing. Here is a link to photographer Karen Kuehn's website. I wish I could have gone to watch. K said she was amazing to work with, and she's pretty certain that the students who came in for the shoot will never, ever forget this experience. I can't wait to see the finished product.
3. Last night, we went to the fields to watch the little ones play T-ball. What fun! We got a good laugh out of watching them all chasing the same ball, writing in the dirt, or sliding in to every base. There were even a couple who cried every time before they went out to bat. Sooo cute. That was the best hour of the day!
Today, I am off to the pool again. Yesterday, a darling two year old girl named Scout came for a swim. You know I loved that! A little cutie named after one of my favorite literary characters! Maybe she'll be back today with Atticus or Boo Radley in tow.
1. Itchy skin. I have a few mosquito bites, but I itch all over. I'm not sure what the story is. (Thankfully, it isn't poison ivy!)
2. The pool hose. The vacuum hose for the pool curls up like those old telephone cords used to. It curls up so much it kinks- and then the vacuum doesn't work. Uncurling the phone cords was easy. The pool hose? Not so much. I spent about 90 minutes vacuuming the pool yesterday, finally got the hose unkinked and uncurled, and am hoping that this is a one-time only problem.
3. Flip flops (brand new). This lovely new purchase turns the bottoms of my feet black. The dye wears off on my heels and toes. Lovely. *sigh*
That's the bad news. The good news:
1. L spent the night. She made me tortilla s'mores. She spread peanut butter on a taco size tortilla, adds mini marshmallows, and then adds either a few chocolate chips or a little bit of hershey bar. She nukes the whole thing in the microwave for 15 seconds. Finally, she folds them taco style. Yum. I think this is her own creation for "L's Tortilla and Stuff" restaurant. Of course, L is also planning to run a daycare, so we'll keep you updated.
2. K's photo shoot ended up being a lot of fun. All of her worries were for nothing. Here is a link to photographer Karen Kuehn's website. I wish I could have gone to watch. K said she was amazing to work with, and she's pretty certain that the students who came in for the shoot will never, ever forget this experience. I can't wait to see the finished product.
3. Last night, we went to the fields to watch the little ones play T-ball. What fun! We got a good laugh out of watching them all chasing the same ball, writing in the dirt, or sliding in to every base. There were even a couple who cried every time before they went out to bat. Sooo cute. That was the best hour of the day!
Today, I am off to the pool again. Yesterday, a darling two year old girl named Scout came for a swim. You know I loved that! A little cutie named after one of my favorite literary characters! Maybe she'll be back today with Atticus or Boo Radley in tow.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Chocolate Cake in a Coffee Cup
I'm not much of a cook. I do it, but I don't love it. The Mr. is a good cook, and he likes to do it. (It's a marriage made in heaven!)
When K was a kid, she couldn't boil water. She burned Ramen noodles. Through the years she has become a pretty good cook. These days, she actually likes cooking.
Now, L is a cook. She loves to cook. She uses fresh herbs, owns spring form pans, and actually knows how to use them. If she had her way, she would go back to school-- culinary school this time around.
I bought L this movie for her birthday. We loved it in the theaters. It kind of made me want to learn to cook! Kind of. Now that I think about it, maybe it just made me want to eat!
What I'm going to share with you next would make Julia Child cringe. (It probably makes L cringe a bit, too!) My cousin and her friend shared two recipes for Chocolate Cake in a Coffee Cup.
These recipes are for when you need a little something sweet, but don't want to eat an entire cake. (Or at least shouldn't!) I've tried both recipes. They are both good, though one is a bit healthier than the other. Both are cooked in the microwave. One cooks in under a minute and makes one serving. The other serves two and cooks in just three minutes. It doesn't get much quicker than that.
Recipe #1- Serves 1
Spray a coffee cup with PAM
Then add the following to the cup:
2 TBS. of sugar
1/4 tsp. of baking powder
2 (slightly heaping) tsps. of cocoa powder
a pinch of salt
2 TBS. of milk
1/2 tsp. of vanilla
2 tsp. of oil
2 TBS of flour
Mix well with a fork until there are no lumps. You can stir in a few chocolate chips if you want. Cook in the microwave on High for 60 seconds. You can eat it straight out of the mug, or turn it out onto a plate. You could add a bit of whipped cream, chocolate or carmel syrup.
Recipe #2- Serves 2
Spray your coffee cup with PAM
Add dry ingredients to the mug first:
4 TBS of flour
4 TBS of sugar
2 TBS of cocoa
Then add wet ingredients:
1 egg
3 TBS of milk
3 TBS of oil
splash of vanilla
Mix well with a fork until you have no lumps. Stir in chocolate chips if you want.
Cook in the microwave on HIGH for 3 minutes. (You think it will spill over, but it won't.)
Turn out on a plate and cut in half.
This was my kind of recipe: easy to make, quick to cook, and there is very little clean up-just your mug and a fork!
I don't pretend to be Julia Child or Paula Deen. (There's no butter in this recipe, so my guess is that Paula Deen might not approve either!!) I think a 1st grader could make this recipe!
So from the non-cooking side of the family: thank you, crazy cousin Ree! I'll think of you every time I make this.
And there is your mug full of love this Thursday!
When K was a kid, she couldn't boil water. She burned Ramen noodles. Through the years she has become a pretty good cook. These days, she actually likes cooking.
Now, L is a cook. She loves to cook. She uses fresh herbs, owns spring form pans, and actually knows how to use them. If she had her way, she would go back to school-- culinary school this time around.
What I'm going to share with you next would make Julia Child cringe. (It probably makes L cringe a bit, too!) My cousin and her friend shared two recipes for Chocolate Cake in a Coffee Cup.
These recipes are for when you need a little something sweet, but don't want to eat an entire cake. (Or at least shouldn't!) I've tried both recipes. They are both good, though one is a bit healthier than the other. Both are cooked in the microwave. One cooks in under a minute and makes one serving. The other serves two and cooks in just three minutes. It doesn't get much quicker than that.
Recipe #1- Serves 1
Spray a coffee cup with PAM
Then add the following to the cup:
2 TBS. of sugar
1/4 tsp. of baking powder
2 (slightly heaping) tsps. of cocoa powder
a pinch of salt
2 TBS. of milk
1/2 tsp. of vanilla
2 tsp. of oil
2 TBS of flour
Mix well with a fork until there are no lumps. You can stir in a few chocolate chips if you want. Cook in the microwave on High for 60 seconds. You can eat it straight out of the mug, or turn it out onto a plate. You could add a bit of whipped cream, chocolate or carmel syrup.
Recipe #2- Serves 2
Spray your coffee cup with PAM
Add dry ingredients to the mug first:
4 TBS of flour
4 TBS of sugar
2 TBS of cocoa
Then add wet ingredients:
1 egg
3 TBS of milk
3 TBS of oil
splash of vanilla
Mix well with a fork until you have no lumps. Stir in chocolate chips if you want.
Cook in the microwave on HIGH for 3 minutes. (You think it will spill over, but it won't.)
Turn out on a plate and cut in half.
This was my kind of recipe: easy to make, quick to cook, and there is very little clean up-just your mug and a fork!
I don't pretend to be Julia Child or Paula Deen. (There's no butter in this recipe, so my guess is that Paula Deen might not approve either!!) I think a 1st grader could make this recipe!
So from the non-cooking side of the family: thank you, crazy cousin Ree! I'll think of you every time I make this.
And there is your mug full of love this Thursday!
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Fa La La La Frozen
This is the last week of school before our break. First semester has gone incredibly fast. It is hard for me to imagine that next year at this time we will be moving into our brand new school.
Trailer High has not been enjoying these frigid temperatures. The students are slightly frozen when they arrive. With all the door opening and closing at the beginning and end of every hour, it is hard to keep the classroom temperature warm enough for comfort.
In spite of the cold, the students are in really good spirits. They are dreading finals, but it isn't hard to look past them to that two week vacation. I'm just hoping they don't look too far past them and forget to study.
Here is what I am loving so far this December:
candlelight
fresh greenery
fruit loopers (recipe below)
hot tea
snow on the ground
the electric blanket
Christmas movies and specials
playing Christmas songs on the piano
a warm coat
the Blackberry (never thought I'd say that!)
ski socks
Christmas music
gifts of presence- tomorrow's post
peppermint sweets that melt in your mouth
Favorite Christmas movies: "A Christmas Story," "Christmas Vacation," "Love Actually," "The Holiday," "A Christmas Carol," "Christmas in Connecticut," "White Christmas," "Miracle on 34th Street," and my all-time favorite--"It's A Wonderful Life."
Favorite Christmas specials: Charlie Brown, The Grinch, Rudolph, and Frosty. Oh, and "Christmas in Washington."
Now, for the Fruit Loopers. These are the easiest candy/cookie to make and quite kid friendly. Little ones love them. They are so sweet that they are right up my alley!
Melt 6 squares of almond bark in the microwave.
When it is smooth, stir in Fruit Loops cereal- probably about 4 or 5 cups. (I've never measured.) Stir until the cereal is lightly coated in almond bark.
Drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper.
Let cool.
That's it. These were a tradition at the Mr.'s house.
When I do my baking on the 23rd, I'll post some pictures of these and some other traditional goodies from Easy Street.
Yes, it is almost Christmas Vacation. Fa La La La La! I am having to work to keep my toes from tapping impatiently!
Trailer High has not been enjoying these frigid temperatures. The students are slightly frozen when they arrive. With all the door opening and closing at the beginning and end of every hour, it is hard to keep the classroom temperature warm enough for comfort.
In spite of the cold, the students are in really good spirits. They are dreading finals, but it isn't hard to look past them to that two week vacation. I'm just hoping they don't look too far past them and forget to study.
Here is what I am loving so far this December:
candlelight
fresh greenery
fruit loopers (recipe below)
hot tea
snow on the ground
the electric blanket
Christmas movies and specials
playing Christmas songs on the piano
a warm coat
the Blackberry (never thought I'd say that!)
ski socks
Christmas music
gifts of presence- tomorrow's post
peppermint sweets that melt in your mouth
Favorite Christmas movies: "A Christmas Story," "Christmas Vacation," "Love Actually," "The Holiday," "A Christmas Carol," "Christmas in Connecticut," "White Christmas," "Miracle on 34th Street," and my all-time favorite--"It's A Wonderful Life."
Favorite Christmas specials: Charlie Brown, The Grinch, Rudolph, and Frosty. Oh, and "Christmas in Washington."
Now, for the Fruit Loopers. These are the easiest candy/cookie to make and quite kid friendly. Little ones love them. They are so sweet that they are right up my alley!
Melt 6 squares of almond bark in the microwave.
When it is smooth, stir in Fruit Loops cereal- probably about 4 or 5 cups. (I've never measured.) Stir until the cereal is lightly coated in almond bark.
Drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper.
Let cool.
That's it. These were a tradition at the Mr.'s house.
When I do my baking on the 23rd, I'll post some pictures of these and some other traditional goodies from Easy Street.
Yes, it is almost Christmas Vacation. Fa La La La La! I am having to work to keep my toes from tapping impatiently!
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Christmas Traditions
We are always at home on Christmas morning, and presents and Christmas Stockings are always on Christmas morning, not on Christmas Eve. Christmas Dinner might be at our house or somewhere else, but Christmas morning is always the same.Christmas Breakfast includes:
Egg Casserole
Cinnamon Rolls
Fruit
Coffee
"Poinsettias"- champagne and cranberry juice (OJ when the girls were little)
Breakfast is served on china and in wine glasses.
Some time in the late afternoon we usually go to a movie together, and we always have Rum Slush at Christmas.
Our Rum Slush Recipe
Small can of frozen orange juice
Large can of frozen lemonade
2 cups of strong brewed tea
7 cups of water
1 cup of sugar
1 cup of rum
Stir and freeze. After 12 hours, stir again. This makes a big batch and keeps in the freezer indefinitely. Scoop into glasses and eat with a spoon.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays: lots of family time, great food, and no stress of decorating or shopping for gifts. Last year our family had a Turkey Cookoff. Team Mr. E went against Team L. We even had T-shirts. Mr. E smoked his outdoors, and L followed a recipe she heard on Kidd Kraddick in the morning. A tie was declared, but actually... L & K won. The winning recipe is a snap to make and delicious!! So if you're hunting the perfect turkey recipe for this year, I'll vouch for this one.
Kidd Kraddick Turkey
Ingredients: Turkey (any size), onion, carrot, celery, garlic clove, and olive oil. You will need a brown paper bag without ink and a stapler.
First, take everything out of the inside of the turkey. There will be a giblet bag and some other stuff. You don't want to leave that in there.
Next, add vegetables to the inside of the turkey. This is easy because the veggies are just for flavor...you're going to throw them away later.
You don't even have to peel anything. Take an onion and cut it into quarters. Roughly chop a nice long carrot. Do the same to a couple of stalks of celery. Add several cloves of garlic that you mash between a broad kitchen knife and the counter. Throw it all inside the turkey.
Then rub the turkey all over with olive oil. . . not butter because butter usually has salt in it and that will dry out the turkey. Salt is the enemy of a moist turkey! Make sure the whole bird is covered!
Put the turkey in a roasting pan and cover it with a large brown paper bag.
Staple shut. If you have a huge turkey, use two bags, sliding one end of the turkey into one bag and the other end of the turkey into the second bag. It won't stick to the bird because of the olive oil. Sprinkle the bag all over with water. Place into pre-heated 375 F oven, ON THE MIDDLE RACK.
The bag won't burn because paper burns at 451 and we're at 375 degrees. The advantage of the brown paper bag over the Reynold's cooking bag is that the paper breathes so the turkey roasts. In the Reynolds bag the turkey steams, giving it a different taste. Also the brown paper bag retains the same advantage of the plastic cooking bag...no splatters all over the oven.
Roast for 13-15 minutes per pound. When you think it's ready, shove a meat thermometer through the bag and into the turkey and give it a minute to register. Make sure it doesn't touch the bone. The thermometer should register between 163-170 degrees.
Remove from oven, cut away the bag and remove from basting pan.
Kidd Kraddick Turkey
Ingredients: Turkey (any size), onion, carrot, celery, garlic clove, and olive oil. You will need a brown paper bag without ink and a stapler.
First, take everything out of the inside of the turkey. There will be a giblet bag and some other stuff. You don't want to leave that in there.
Next, add vegetables to the inside of the turkey. This is easy because the veggies are just for flavor...you're going to throw them away later.
You don't even have to peel anything. Take an onion and cut it into quarters. Roughly chop a nice long carrot. Do the same to a couple of stalks of celery. Add several cloves of garlic that you mash between a broad kitchen knife and the counter. Throw it all inside the turkey.
Then rub the turkey all over with olive oil. . . not butter because butter usually has salt in it and that will dry out the turkey. Salt is the enemy of a moist turkey! Make sure the whole bird is covered!
Put the turkey in a roasting pan and cover it with a large brown paper bag.
Staple shut. If you have a huge turkey, use two bags, sliding one end of the turkey into one bag and the other end of the turkey into the second bag. It won't stick to the bird because of the olive oil. Sprinkle the bag all over with water. Place into pre-heated 375 F oven, ON THE MIDDLE RACK.
The bag won't burn because paper burns at 451 and we're at 375 degrees. The advantage of the brown paper bag over the Reynold's cooking bag is that the paper breathes so the turkey roasts. In the Reynolds bag the turkey steams, giving it a different taste. Also the brown paper bag retains the same advantage of the plastic cooking bag...no splatters all over the oven.
Roast for 13-15 minutes per pound. When you think it's ready, shove a meat thermometer through the bag and into the turkey and give it a minute to register. Make sure it doesn't touch the bone. The thermometer should register between 163-170 degrees.
Remove from oven, cut away the bag and remove from basting pan.
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