Monster, or "M" Cookies

Recently, we realized Logan is afraid of monsters, or at least the idea of them. One night a few weeks ago, he awoke in the middle of the night screaming "ma-ma" over and over (two-year-old speak for monster) We don't particularly discuss monsters but maybe in passing or while playing with his sister, he learned of them. So the fear began. I guess I'm happy his biggest fear is of something he will never actually have to face, like water, bugs or dogs, but in his little mind, monsters are very real. After the nightmare, we decided not to speak of monsters again and to refer to them only as "M's", if we needed to refer to them at all.
Out went the monster jammies and all other paraphernalia and Jovie responsibly shuns the word. So when we bought a cookie mix called "Monster Mix", M cookies were born! They got their name, I'm guessing because they have everything in them but the kitchen sink. I've also seen them called cowboy cookies or everything cookies, and they have always been my favorite. Oatmeal, nuts and chocolate chips are typical ingredients but you can throw in whatever else sounds good at the time. Making these cookies is a great way to use up random leftovers you may have on hand...coconut, raisins, cranberries, M&M's..etc. are great additions. They almost become a granola bar of sorts. So whether you typically bake from scratch or from a mix (like yours truly...) this is a great cookie to try! I would start with a basic oatmeal raisin or oatmeal chocolate chip cookie recipe and go from there! Part of the fun is not following an actual recipe for these cookies but going wherever the wind, and your cupboards, take you. Have fun, get a little messy and make some with the kids!

Feathers, Anyone??

Lately I have become a little bored with myself. Most moms I know have a daily uniform and I'm no exception! Sweats or shorts and a tank-top with flip-flops is my usual outfit of choice. Oh, and the hair goes up first thing in the morning. I'm usually too tired or busy to deal with it and even if I did leave it down, my son would just pull it all day! Here's where the feathers come in. I've been seeing them on celebrities (thank you, People magazine!) and thought...why not?? Once I told Jovie how neat they were, she was on board. Before I knew it, we were checking out feather websites. I was NOT about to drag two kids into a beauty supply store...
I settled for HauteHair.com because the prices were reasonable and they sold authentic feathers. Synthetic ones would not stand up to curling irons, flat irons and washings. But let's remember, feathers fall out easily and naturally so you don't have to worry about hurting birds for the sake of fashion! They have many colors and lengths to choose from.
It took about three days for our order to arrive. Here's what you need:

- Feathers
- Microbeads...one for every feather or group of feathers
- A microbead plier...or pliers I found in my hubby's tool box!
- A hair hook..again, found in the tool box (though you don't really need!)

Ok, first step. Part your hair and comb through. Take a small strand of hair and use hair hook to slip on microbead or, if you don't have this tool, twist the hair and slip bead on, pulling it up to the root. Take your feather or feathers and slip into microbead then crimp with pliers. It's that easy!! In just a couple of minutes, you've added personality to your hair. (I must warn you...it took waaaay longer on my squirmy four-year-old!!!!) It's temporary, can stay in for up to three months and is removed easily with the pliers. It's also relatively inexpensive. For $12, I got 10 feathers and microbeads, including shipping. The tools are around $10, but I bet you have something on hand that would work...Why not try it??

                                                             Go ahead, give it a try!!

http://www.hautehairfeathers.com/

I Scream, You Scream! We All Scream for Ice Cream!

I don't know about you, but I can't think of a better summer treat than frosty, freshly churned ice cream! From the humble Rite-Aid cone to the creamy confections of Coldstone, and everything in-between, I can't say no to ice cream. Most nights, when craving the cold stuff, I have my hubby run out for shakes, our go-to when a craving calls! So why not make it yourself and have it ready any time?
Now, I'm not one for buying pricey equipment that will rarely be used, so I began looking around for recipes not requiring one, just in case my kids lost interest...a very good possibility. Expect to pay at least $40 for a good ice cream maker. If you plan to use it all summer, it's worth the investment. Sure, you can also collect a large zip lock bag, some rock salt, cream and get shaking, but I wanted something more. I wanted a recipe that yielded enough ice cream for at least four cones or sundaes and would hold up well in the freezer.
When my most recent Women's Day arrived in the mail, luck was on my side! On the front were delicious looking dishes of homemade ice cream. I read on. This recipe is too easy not to make! With just three ingredients, you can make a batch of ice cream in just a few hours. At a mere $0.38 per serving, you'll serve up savings as well as flavor! The best part is you can trasform a simple vanilla base into ANY flavor under the sun. Here it is:

2 cups heavy cream
1 14-oz. can sweetened condensed milk
1 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

That's it!! Using an electric mixer, beat ingredients in bowl until stiff peaks form (this took me about 5 minutes..) Then transfer into a freezer-safe loaf pan or bowl, cover and freeze for 8 hours (we ate ours around the 5 hour mark!) At about the half-way point, you can stir in ingredients for fun flavors. Keeps up to 2 weeks.
You can make it as simple as you want and with whatever ingredients you have on hand, or make it more exotic and fun if you have the time and energy to experiment! Whatever the flavor, you're sure to pack a little fun into your day with a homemade treat!
What are your favorite homemade flavors??

Got everything?

Five  minutes of mixing...

A bowl of creamy deliciousness!!

By the way, if you have a sweet tooth like mine and adore the decadence of cheesecake, mark your calendars for National Cheesecake Day at the Cheesecake Factory...yes, it really exists!! All day, cheesecake is half price! They are introducing a new flavor, Oreo Dream Extreme, which I plan to try! It's dine-in only and one slice per person so get a group and get ready for lunch or dinner (or both!!) Monday, July 30th!! If you've never been, you are seriously missing out! What a perfect time to try one of over thirty flavors!! http://www.thecheesecakefactory.com/

I Smell a Project!!

We have been in need of kitchen chairs for quite some time now. I don't really didn't feel like two almost-broken chairs, a high chair and a camping chair were going to do it anymore! So on the search I went. Being too frugal to buy new chairs, I have been scouring Craigslist and yard sales and FINALLY found a set this weekend. They were not perfect but the price was right. Four chairs for $20...sold! After getting them home and realizing they simply would not work in their current condition, I decided spray paint would be the quickest and easiest solution. Oh, and probably the cheapest. I found a sea-blue color at Lowe's for $4/can. For a total of $36, I have a new set of kitchen chairs that I love! If you, like me, don't like to spray paint or take on projects that feel like an ordeal, then stick with me here.
I simply wiped them down, laid a sheet in front of my garage and went to work. If you plan to spray paint, here are a few tips:

- Make sure you paint in an open space with lots of fresh air! There's no way to completely avoid the fumes so do your best to ventilate (or just do it outside) and take lots of breaks.
- Wear rubber gloves unless you want to end your project looking like a graffiti artist.
- Wipe down any grime or dust and if needed, lightly sand.
- Enlist help if it is a larger project. I eventually needed my hubby to come to the rescue. My hands got a little sore and I wanted to finish before nightfall.
- Buy an extra can! I had to send Mike out for more. I needed a little less than one can per chair. Better to have extra for touch-ups!

Sometimes it seems easier to just go out and buy what you want but if you're on a budget or just want something unique, go for it! A small change can make big impact. Although I don't plan to spring for a new table any time soon, I think I've made an improvement. Here are my before and after pics:

Chairs and messy table before

Armed....

New chairs pre-spray paint

Making progress!

I couldn't resist! ;)

Done!

I'll Drink to That!

Being another hot day, I dream of being transported to some tropical island, propping my feet up and sipping an ice-cold drink. Since that's not happening any time soon, I'll take the next best thing: Sitting outside while my kids play in the water and sipping that ice-cold drink. I've got a dynamite recipe for a fun cocktail (or mocktail if you prefer...that's what I'm drinking since this mama cannot hold her liquor! Oh, and I guess I should be lucid with kids around...) It's sweet and cold, the perfect combination to beat the heat and whisk you away to paradise if you don't have the luxury of hopping on a plane and heading down south...

Here it is...the "Oh Screw It" Screwdriver courtesy of Redbook:

First, pour orange juice into an ice tray and freeze. Dump some cubes into a glass and pop in some sliced strawberries (I used frozen ones) Fill the glass about a third of the way with vodka and top with 7-Up (obviously omit vodka and fill with only 7-Up if going virgin...) and I added more ice as the drink got melty...Put your feet up, get those kids busy and chill out. You've had a long week and earned a little break so take it!
Sometimes it just takes a few minutes and a fun umbrella drink to give you that  little escape you need!

Bath Time is Me Time...Sort of.

As I sit in the bathroom watching my kids play and splash in the bathtub, I try and squeeze in a few minutes doing something productive. Never one to be a time waster, I figure time not spent checking a task off my to-do list is basically just time wasted. Sure, it’s fine to just sit and enjoy a little time off my feet but if I can fit in a ten-minute job or mini pamper session, even better! So while my kids make a mess, get water all over the floor and attempt to turn our tiny bathroom into a water park, I get busy.

You’d be surprised what you can get done while supervising bath time! A few of my favorites are a quickie mani or pedi, catching up on my reading (but you must beware of the water!) clearing and cleaning the counters…you get the idea. I figure, whenever the kids are occupied, that’s a good time for me to get to work. With so little free time in the day, a girl’s got to take what she can get…am I right? So when you find yourself merely supervising or waiting…like at the doctor’s office, during meals when the kids are strapped in safely and yes, even during bath time, pick a job and get to work.

I am not immune to “supermom syndrome”, the impossible expectations I put on myself to limit TV, serve healthy snacks, have craft time daily, and coordinate outfits…oh! And be a good wife too! It’s endless and sometimes it’s those few minutes during the day when I can catch up or wind down, whichever is needed at the time. I’ll give you a guess…it involves glitter vs. pink! So take five and have a great Saturday night!

Up All Night...

I'm so grateful that yesterday I attempted a delicious biscotti recipe from Ellen, our in-house pastry expert and sister extraordinaire. Not only did it turn out wonderfully, but it gave me something to munch on when I was awakened by the monst...I mean, munchkins at 2, and 4 and 5:45!!! Normally, I consider myself lucky to have kids who are asleep by 7:30 and up around 7:00. I will take an early morning in exchange for a quiet evening any day. When else am I going to catch up on bad reality tv, read and fit in a quick devotional or boardgame with my hubby???
Last night went south. First, my daughter "wasn't tired", was "scared" and wanted to "sleep in Mommy's bed"...oh dear. It took some wrangling but finally, at 9:00 she was asleep. On went Tori and Dean reruns followed by my first stab at slumber. Round 2: Logan awakened and was fussy so I brought him in my bed (as I do nearly every night. Yes, the kid is almost 2. What??) Back to sleep. But not for long. Jovie awakened from a bad dream so a potty break and drink were in order. Again, back to bed we went. In her bed. With my legs dangling off the edge. Side note: Apparently, I'm the only parent with auditory capabilities after 11:00 at night. It's a strange phenomena but one that I live with gracefully, sort of.
Finally, in the home stretch and after a quick potty break for Logan at 4 a.m., I blearily made my way to the couch in hopes of a little shut-eye. The CAT then demanded to get in from the garage so after one last interruption, I was off to sleep. Again, not for long. At 5:45, Jovie came downstairs wondering where I was. So we drifted off together on the couch until the alarm for Mike went off just an hour later. It was a sad night for any mommy. The only two luxuries I long for these days are sleep and peace and quiet once in a while. I was zero for two.
This long story brings me to my saving grace...the biscotti. I savored it with my daily cup of coffee and after a sleepless night, it hit the spot. Slightly sweet, nutty and crisp, it was perfect! Sleep was lost, but my sanity remained. As my son sits in front of me, carefully putting my hair behind my ear to access my cheek for a kiss, I realize there's no one else I'd rather be awakened by.

Here's the recipe:
(*****NOTE TO TIRED WOMEN EVERYWHERE: DO NOT LEAVE OUT THE ESPRESSO POWDER LIKE I DID, THINKING "I PROBABLY WON'T USE IT AGAIN SO I'M GOING TO SAVE MONEY BY LEAVING IT OUT"...BIG REGRET THIS MORNING)

1 cup whole hazelnuts, preferably blanched (not gonna lie, I used pecans. Target doesn't sell hazelnuts and I wasn't ABOUT to go to another store!)
2 1/2 cups flour, plus flour for work surface
1/2 cup Dutch-style cocoa powder
1 tablespoon espresso powder (left out, regretfully)
Pinch of salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
4 large eggs
1 1/3 cups sugar.

Note: I halved the recipe, which you can do if you only want about 10 or so biscotti. Or, make the whole recipe and freeze half the dough for later!

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread hazelnuts on baking sheet and toast about 10 minutes, until lightly browned. If hazelnuts are not blanched, toast them until the skins begin to crack, then remove them from oven and wrap them in clean linen or cotton towel (not terrycloth). Rub them to remove most of the skin. Set aside. (I toasted the pecans in a pan, about 2 minutes, or until hot and fragrant.)
2. Sift the flour, cocoa, espresso powder, salt, baking soda and baking powder together and set aside.
3. Beat eggs lightly, just until blended, in mixing bowl with whisk or in electric mixer. Beat sugar into remaining eggs until blended. Stir in flour mixture to form soft dough. Divide dough and shape into two logs, flattened slightly. Top with toasted nuts and press into dough. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until set to the touch. Take out, slice on a diagonal with a serrated knife. Place pieces on their sides and bake another 20 minutes or so, until they are no longer soft.
Let cool and enjoy! These make the perfect gift as they hold up well and only get better as they dry slightly. And may I point out the obvious?? They have NO oil or butter, making them an almost guilt-free indulgence. Almost.

The dough, slighty mixed...needs kneading

On the pan

Nuts toasting

On the dough they go

After baking 20 minutes..

Slice and place on pan sideways

Done!

Recipe adapted from http://smittenkitchen.com/2008/07/chocolate-hazelnut-biscotti/