Smells Like Christmas

I went to bed with the AC on and woke up to turn the heat on. Bizarre weather that put me in the mood for baking and soups, so I tried the no-knead recipe that Alicia posted recently.


I am a fairly accomplished cook and I love to bake, but there are some things (mostly bread-y products) I just cannot make, no matter how many times I try. I've overcome my pancake problem by sticking with a recipe from a Bizquick cookbook. I just add different things to it to make various flavors of pancakes. Its the only recipe that works for me, whatever the reason. This might be my new bread recipe.


Isn't it pretty? It was easy to throw together, it rose like it was supposed to, and it is de-lish. I pre-heated the oven early and left the oven door cracked to raise the kitchen temperature, so perhaps that's why a bread product finally decided to turn up properly. It was easy enough to make while running to the basement for laundry and overseeing a paint project by my very own little Picasso.


It made a lovely afternoon snack, topped with Dillman's Black Raspberry Seedless Preserves (shameless family plug).


I give it a hearty five fruits.

Not Chai

My doc of natural meds recommended I drink a cup of this vile concoction every day:

Brew 1 cup peppermint tea. Mix equal amounts of cinnamon, ginger, cloves, cayenne pepper, and cardamon. Add 1/8 to 1/4 tsp to tea. Use Stevia to sweeten.

Every morning I get to look forward to the sensation of my mouth and throat being licked with the flames of hell.


I would MUCH rather be drinking this:

Lazy Sunday

A typical Sunday morning breakfast at home. Blueberry pancakes (with blueberry yogurt, sooo good) and tea + juice for me and chocolate chip (with lots of whipped cream) and coffee for Bubby. Nothing but milk for Arwyn, thankyouverymuch. I even broke out the cloth napkins. Fancy!


You know what they say about an apple a day. Arwyn and I shared one at lunch.


This morning's breakfast. Oatmeal with brown sugar, touch of cream and blueberries.


Slight food obsession going on here. Dreamed of Tagalongs (the Girl Scout Cookies PB Patties) all weekend. Couldn't find any in town. Might have to make Ritz Cracker Cookies instead. Or buy them off ebay????

--------------------------------------------

Ritz Cracker Cookies

-Ritz crackers
-peanut butter
-chocolate bark

1. Put peanut butter between two Ritz crackers. Make about 25-30 sandwiches
2. Melt chocolate bark as directed on package.
3. Dip sandwiches into melted chocolate and put on wax paper to dry.

Not Campbells

I recently made Kerflop's potato soup and I thought it was awesome. Bubby liked it, but will "pick out the potatoes next time" because he doesn't really like potato soup. Who knew? Arwyn, of course, took one bite only when forced. Hey, more for me.


Last week I bought a lot of organic produce. I couldn't get over the color of these potatoes.


Throw in some crusty bread and a salad.


De-lish! I used all organic products except for the cream of chicken soup.




Definitely five out of five fruits. I haven't discussed it much on here, but I have started seeing a natural health consultant and am taking steps to overhaul not only my diet, but essentially my lifestyle. This is not an easy task, but I feel it will benefit our whole family. Wish me luck!

Cranberry Cold

It has been quite chilly here the past few days, though I was excited to see snow flurries yesterday. I'll take snow over rain any day. We are tired of rain. Boo, hiss on you, rain.


However, we did get some new rain boots to help make the continuous rainy weather a bit more fun.


Anyone else craving soup and chocolate? This recipe has neither, but it certainly is yummy. Think Rice Krispie Treats with Cheerios toasted oat cereal in place of the Rice Krispies. And throw in some cranberries.


I added a bit too many marshmallows. Oh, darn! Gooey, yummy goodness. And it's good for you, it says "Whole Grain" right on the cereal box! And fruit! TOTALLY wholesome, I swear.


This much gooeyness deserves the first five fruits of the year!

A Do(ug)h in Dos Partes

I went all crazy with the oatmeal cookies the other day. They started out as Chewy Oatmeal Cookies (recipe from the Crisco container, sooooo healthy) and I ended up throwing so many things in that I'm calling them Kitchen Sink Cookies.


I can't really do the "healthy" sweets, somehow cookies made with carob and flax just aren't the same (although I'm pretty sure that's the point). So I'm thinking lots and lots of good things and moderation in the bad things.


Four out of five fruits.
A very different type of dough: Play Doh. It is the bane of my existence, but she loves it so what are you gonna do? Pick up itty bitty pieces of it off the rug until she turns 12 and eschews all things "uncool".


Or donate it all to her school?

Cooking 101

It's my first new recipe of the year! I've been watching a lot of Rachael Ray lately and I made her Tortellini en Brodo. I even got all fancy and served it up with some crusty bread and peppered olive oil for dipping. It was Yum-o, as they say. That's wilted spinach you see floating around in there. I'm not big on wilted anything, but it was pretty good. My only complaint was the cheese melted into one big glob on the bottom of my spoon as I was eating.



I'll give it a three and a half out of five fruits.
Last night I whipped up this veggie dip. I forced Bubby to eat raw vegetables, how cruel is that?


I got the recipe from Bubby's aunt's boyfriend. The first time I had it I thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. When I made it myself it was good, but not quite the same somehow. I even bought the same brands of sour cream and mayo that he used, so I'm not sure what the difference is.

Uncle Dave's Veggie Dip

1 8 oz. Daisy sour cream
8 oz Hellman's mayonnaise
1 tsp Accent*
1 T dried minced onion
1 T dried parsley
1 T dried dill weed

Whisk together mayo and sour cream well. Add rest of ingredients and mix well. Place in fridge and let stand overnight.

*Accent is basically MSG, so if you are allergic or averse leave this ingredient out.

Four out of five fruits.