How to Ruin A Perfectly Lovely Recipe...

…and still have it turn out rather tasty.

Rice Krispie Treats
3 Tbsp butter or margarine
1 10 oz pkg marshmallows
            or 4 cups mini marshmallows
6 cups Kellogg's Rice Krispie cereal

Step 1: In a large saucepan melt butter over low heat.
Step 2: Decide that it would be more fun (and tasty) to use Cocoa Pebbles instead.
Step 3: And since you happen to really like having Cocoa Pebbles for breakfast, decide to make only half a recipe.
Step 4: Realize you now have too much butter, carefully scoop out what you think might be about half the butter. Measuring is for wimps.
Step 5: Search the pantry for plain mini marshmallows. Find none. Search for regular plain marshmallows. Still none. Now resort to any type of marshmallow. Find half a bag of mini peppermint marshmallow and some lemon meringue ones. Decide to eat the lemon meringue version after the kids are in bed.
Step 6: Add peppermint marshmallows to butter and stir to coat. After sneaking one, notice that they are rather stale. No worries. Commence melting.
Step 7: Watch as the pink marshmallow yumminess slowly deflates.
Step 8: Stir in cereal anyway. No turning back now.
Step 9: Press the sticky pink and brown lump into a greased 9x13 pan, keeping it as even as possible.
Step 10: Notice that despite the rather lovely pink coating, these treats still look a little dry. No one likes a crumbly treat.
Step 11: Fret about the dry treats for about an hour or so, until they've cooled down.
Step 12: In a small saucepan, pour 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream and turn heat to medium. Stir until it gets nice and warm. Add a big handful of chocolate chips (still no measuring allowed). Let sit for another five minutes while you play a game of Candy Crush Saga on your phone. Stir until chips are melted and your chocolate rescue plan is smooth.
Step 13: Drizzle ganache over your cocoa treats and deem them acceptable.
Step 14: Have your kids sample them first. Just in case.

What recipe have you ruined lately?

Resurrection Cookies

*Reposting this recipe to help you and your family get ready for Easter!

Resurrection Cookies

Before you begin, gather together the following:

• 1 cup pecan halves (not pieces)
• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar (but keep the bottle handy)
• 3 eggs whites
• salt
• 1 cup sugar
• Plastic baggie
• Rolling pin or meat tenderizer
• Mixing bowl
• Mixer
• Tape (I use masking tape because it's easiest to remove)
• Scriptures

You will also need to preheat the oven to 300 degrees and prepare a cookie sheet by lining it with waxed or parchment paper.

Pull the kids in close and open your scriptures.

• Place the nuts in the plastic baggie, making sure to seal it tight. Either read or have the kids read John 19:1-3. Using the rolling pin or meat tenderizer, have them hit the nuts to break them into pieces to illustrate how Jesus was beaten by the soldiers. Set the nuts aside.
• Let the kids smell the vinegar in the bottle. Does that smell like it would taste good? As you pour one teaspoon into a large mixing bowl, have someone read John 19:28-29. When Jesus was thirsty, the soldiers gave him vinegar instead of water to drink.
• Eggs represent life. Add the egg whites as someone reads John 10:10-11. Jesus gave his life for us on the cross. Crucifixion might need to be explained in terms your kids can understand
• Give each person a sprinkle of salt in their hand and let them taste it. Shake a little into the bowl. Read Luke 23:27. This salt represents the salty tears of Jesus' friends and followers and also the tears we cry over our own sins. Explain that a lament is a great sadness and crying.
• Take a look at the ingredients in the bowl (vinegar, eggs, salt). It's not a very tasty combination, is it? Now let everyone have a taste of the sugar. ReadJohn 3:16 and Psalm 34:8. Pour the cup of sugar into the bowl. There's a lot more sugar/love in there than any bitterness. Explain that this very sad thing happened because of love for us, from Heavenly Father and Christ.
• Using the mixer, start beating on high speed. Point out that the mixture is white, the color of purity. Read Isaiah 1:18. Because of Jesus' sacrifice, we are able to be cleansed of our sins. (This is the part where things can get derailed...it takes about 15 minutes to beat the egg whites to stiff peaks and your kids are going to get bored. Talk about Jesus but once their attention is gone, send them to go get ready for bed or have a coloring page for them while you work.)
• Once you've got the stiff peaks, fold in the nuts. Scoop up some and drop it on the prepared pan. Read Matthew 27:57-60. These mounds represent the rocky tomb where Christ's body was laid to rest.
• Place the cookies in the oven. Turn the oven off. Read Matthew 27:65-66. Let every have a piece of tape to help seal the tomb. Christ's tomb was sealed and guards were set outside it.
• But where are the cookies? You might get some sad faces; after all, there was talk of treats. Read John 16:20, 22. Christ's followers despaired when he died on the cross but he had told them there would be reason to be joyful soon enough. You might need to have a back-up treat handy...I usually just let my kids lick the beaters. Be sure to close with a prayer if this is your FHE.
• This is the end for tonight! The cookies remain in the sealed oven overnight.
• The next morning, gather everyone at the "sealed tomb." Show them that the tape is still in place. Remove it and them pull out the cookie sheet. Have the cookies changed? Give one to each child and then read Matthew 28:1-9 as they eat the cookies. Just like the rocky tomb, the cookies are hollow and empty. His disciples were just as amazed to find that the tomb was empty. Jesus was no longer there because he had been resurrected.

Happy Easter!

Cookin' Mama (but not the game)

I try to cook. I view it like being a doctor, in that every meal is really practice. Some are great. Some are  have us all brushing our teeth and gargling lemon juice just to get the taste out of our mouths.

Wanting to provide a decent dinner one Sunday, I planned to make pork tenderloin in my slow cooker. Mmmm…pork…

Sorry. Got distracted. And drooly.

So I got out my trusty slow cooker and move to set it on the counter. But I dropped it. Did you know the lids on those things are made out of the same stuff as windshield glass? Because they shatter the same way. (Probably shouldn't ask me about how I know about the windshield, though.)

Now I don't have a slow cooker. And being the *ahem* expert that I am, I have no idea how to cook this thing without my slow cooker. After I finished my panic attack(s), I ended up borrowing my neighbor's slow cooker. Crisis averted.

But I had just purchased a slow cooker cookbook. Sure, it seems like 95% of the recipes are for different versions of beef stew, but I still planned to get my money's worth. So I got me a bright, shiny, new slow cooker.

Ain't she purdy?

Now I have a new slow cooker. And a spiffy cookbook. 

But what if I don't want beef stew?

What is your favorite slow cooker recipe?

Resurrection Cookies

Just helping you get ready to celebrate Easter!

Resurrection Cookies

Before you begin, gather together the following:

• 1 cup pecan halves (not pieces)
• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar (but keep the bottle handy)
• 3 eggs whites
• salt
• 1 cup sugar
• Plastic baggie
• Rolling pin or meat tenderizer
• Mixing bowl
• Mixer
• Tape (I use masking tape because it's easiest to remove)
• Scriptures

You will also need to preheat the oven to 300 degrees and prepare a cookie sheet by lining it with waxed or parchment paper.

Pull the kids in close and open your scriptures.

• Place the nuts in the plastic baggie, making sure to seal it tight. Either read or have the kids read John 19:1-3. Using the rolling pin or meat tenderizer, have them hit the nuts to break them into pieces to illustrate how Jesus was beaten by the soldiers. Set the nuts aside.
• Let the kids smell the vinegar in the bottle. Does that smell like it would taste good? As you pour one teaspoon into a large mixing bowl, have someone read John 19:28-29. When Jesus was thirsty, the soldiers gave him vinegar instead of water to drink.
• Eggs represent life. Add the egg whites as someone reads John 10:10-11. Jesus gave his life for us on the cross. Crucifixion might need to be explained in terms your kids can understand
• Give each person a sprinkle of salt in their hand and let them taste it. Shake a little into the bowl. Read Luke 23:27. This salt represents the salty tears of Jesus' friends and followers and also the tears we cry over our own sins. Explain that a lament is a great sadness and crying.
• Take a look at the ingredients in the bowl (vinegar, eggs, salt). It's not a very tasty combination, is it? Now let everyone have a taste of the sugar. ReadJohn 3:16 and Psalm 34:8. Pour the cup of sugar into the bowl. There's a lot more sugar/love in there than any bitterness. Explain that this very sad thing happened because of love for us, from Heavenly Father and Christ.
• Using the mixer, start beating on high speed. Point out that the mixture is white, the color of purity. Read Isaiah 1:18. Because of Jesus' sacrifice, we are able to be cleansed of our sins. (This is the part where things can get derailed...it takes about 15 minutes to beat the egg whites to stiff peaks and your kids are going to get bored. Talk about Jesus but once their attention is gone, send them to go get ready for bed or have a coloring page for them while you work.)
• Once you've got the stiff peaks, fold in the nuts. Scoop up some and drop it on the prepared pan. Read Matthew 27:57-60. These mounds represent the rocky tomb where Christ's body was laid to rest.
• Place the cookies in the oven. Turn the oven off. Read Matthew 27:65-66. Let every have a piece of tape to help seal the tomb. Christ's tomb was sealed and guards were set outside it.
• But where are the cookies? You might get some sad faces; after all, there was talk of treats. Read John 16:20, 22. Christ's followers despaired when he died on the cross but he had told them there would be reason to be joyful soon enough. You might need to have a back-up treat handy...I usually just let my kids lick the beaters. Be sure to close with a prayer if this is your FHE.
• This is the end for tonight! The cookies remain in the sealed oven overnight.
• The next morning, gather everyone at the "sealed tomb." Show them that the tape is still in place. Remove it and them pull out the cookie sheet. Have the cookies changed? Give one to each child and then read Matthew 28:1-9 as they eat the cookies. Just like the rocky tomb, the cookies are hollow and empty. His disciples were just as amazed to find that the tomb was empty. Jesus was no longer there because he had been resurrected.

* This is pretty much a re-post. This time of year, I get a lot of requests for this recipe!

Pi Day, Pi Day, Gotta Get Down on Pi Day

So…did you remember that today was Pi day? Also known as Pie Day, for the consumption of mass quantities of pies.

(This isn't mine…here's the source.)

I spent my day at the eye doctor, and then selling my kidney on ebay to pay for new glasses for two kids. When we finally got home, I had a difficult time finding enough time out corners to contain all the attitudes that needed adjusting. I didn't get to make a pie. So sad. I am declaring tomorrow as Leftover Pie Day and shall eat half a pie straight out of the pan whilst it sits in the fridge.

Here are some of the dishes of deliciousness I am considering:
Peanut Butter Pie (but I won't be making my own peanut butter…)
Old Fashioned Fudge Pie (because everything is better with butter)
Little Lemon Meringue Pies (since they're smaller, I can eat more of them, right?)
Chocolate Cream Pie (I don't normally take my chocolate in pie form, but this is a special occasion)

What kind of pie did you eat? 

Or what kind of pie would you like to eat around midnight after the kids are in bed?

Poor Man's Almond Roca

I've been making candy all week. My mom's recipe for caramels. My dad's recipe for fudge. Then my friend Amanda posted about toffee bars. Mmmmm…toffee bars. My mom used to make almond roca that was to die for but I've never attempted it and didn't have her recipe. So I took a look at Amanda's recipe link, made some of my own changes, and came up with this:

Faux Roca
1 pkg graham crackers
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups almonds, ground up in your food processor

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Use aluminum foil to line a 9x13 pan, then spray with cooking spray. 
• Use graham crackers to line the pan as close to the edges as you can get. You might need to break the crackers into smaller or skinnier pieces.
• Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add in brown sugar and stir. 
• Turn up the heat to medium high and bring the sugar to a nice frothy boil while you keep stirring. This should take about 5 minutes.
• Pour sugar mixture over crackers. Use a spatula to spread it out to cover all the crackers.
• Place pan oven for five minutes or until the sugar mixture is bubbling. (Took mine about 7 minutes.)
• Once it's out of the oven, evenly sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top and let them melt. 
• When melted, spread chocolate so it covers everything, making sure to keep it even.
• Before the chocolate cools, sprinkle nuts over the top until all chocolate is covered. Press them down into the chocolate. You may have nuts leftover and that's fine.
• Let cool completely.
• Break into pieces and enjoy!

The crunch from the crackers mixed with the toffee makes for a very similar roca experience and doesn't require a candy thermometer. And you can't go wrong with something smothered in chocolate and nuts.

What are your favorite Christmas treats?

Perfect Vanilla Cupcakes

Yes, they really are perfect.

Since I make cupcakes fairly regularly, I'm always on the hunt for better recipes that will provide the best possible results. That was when I stumbled across a discussion about how to get perfectly domed tops on your cupcakes. Finally! Others were disappointed with flat or peaked cupcakes and knew how to fix it. Apparently, it's all in the way the cupcakes are mixed.

Perfect Vanilla Cupcakes
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup butter, cubed
2/3 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
Zest of one lemon
1 1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

• Heat your oven to 350 and make sure the rack is set in the middle. 
• Use those really cute liners that you have stashed in the back of the cabinet - you know, the ones you've kept for a special occasion - because these cupcakes are worth it! Place liners in a 12-count muffin tin. 
• Now for the weird part: Pour milk into a small saucepan with the chunks of butter. Turn to medium heat and stir until the heated milk melts the butter. Set this aside to cool. You don't want it too hot when you add it in later.
• Whisk together sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract. Kept working at it until it's thick and creamy (but be careful that you don't get too many air bubbles).
• Now you're ready for the butter/milk. Mix that in nice and gentle.
• Dump in the rest of the ingredients. Be careful not to over-mix here. Stirring too much will wear out your baking powder and then perfection is unobtainable.
• Next, we need to fill up the liners to 3/4 full. My preferred method of dispensing batter is an ice cream scoop that has the scrapper-thingy (because I'm all technical) that wipes out the inside with the press of the lever. Less messy than using your finger.
• Bake these future beauties for 17-20 minutes, or until a toothpick stuck into the center comes out clean.
• Stand back in awe of your mad kitchen skillz.
• And in the off-chance that you get one of the pesky peaks, use the back of a clean spoon to gently flatten the top back down to domed-ness.

Now you're ready to frost these gorgeous cups of love!
But that's an entirely different post...

My Summer Survival Secret: Nutella

I love me a good recipe. On a weekly basis, I am subjecting the family to new experiments. For the most part, they turn out well enough and some are even added to permanent rotation. Then there are the miserable failures that have us scraping off our plates and snacking on grapes and crackers the rest of the evening.

It's far too hard to be flawless all the time. Really, I need to lower the expectations every now and then or there's just no way I can keep up with the demands.

So it was very unfortunately that I came across perfection in baked form. I'll never be able to top this one. Self-Frosting Nutella Cupcakes.

 Be Different…Act Normal was the first to mention these extraordinary beauties. Lorie has never steered me wrong in the past and these might just be my new favorite. And usually, frosting the cupcake is my favorite part but with these, it's sinking my teeth into a the next one that sends me over the moon.

When I moved to Happy Valley, the local grocery store did not carry any delicious chocolate hazelnut spread. The store manager was open to special requests so I made one. On my most recent visit, there were three spaces on the shelf dedicated to Nutella. Now, previously, my favorite form of Nutella was by the spoonful straight from the jar while making dinner, after the kids have gone to bed, or when there's fighting coming from the other room and I need to solidify my resolve to confront it.

After I make my next batch of these cupcakes, I'll have enough proofs of purchase for the spiffy Nutella Spreader.

Balm of Gilead

I'm feeling a little pouty lately. Really, it's just my selfishness and the fact that I've worked so hard to brainwash convince so many people that dorks are actually quite lovable and now it's all gone. Along with my best friend and my substitute mom.

Our ward boundaries changed. This means that approximately 18 houses in my neighborhood (of which one is mine) are now in another ward. Same building, same gospel, same truth. Different time, different faces, just plain different.

I don't like change. Wait, let me rephrase that. I don't like change that I can't control.

Since I can't control it, I've just got to learn to adjust, right? Or I can just sit on my couch, pout, feel like my comfort zone was dissected and rezoned by imminent domain, and eat chocolate pudding.

Homemade Chocolate Pudding

3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/2 cups milk
3 egg yolks, well beaten
2 oz baking chocolate, chopped (the darker, the better!)
1 Tbsp butter
1 tsp vanilla

1. Combine sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a medium saucepan.
2. Gradually stir in milk and egg yolks over medium heat.
3. Once combined, add baking chocolate.
4. Stir until mixture thickens and boils. Allow to boil (while stirring) one minute longer, then remove from heat.
5. Add butter and vanilla, mixing until well combined.
6. To serve warm (my preferred method): Immediately spoon into dessert cups.
7. To serve chilled (my preferred breakfast the next morning): Cover pan with plastic wrap, making sure the entire surface of the pudding is in contact, and set in fridge for at least three hours. Scoop out desired amount. Pudding will be firmer.

This is also quite scrumptious as a chocolate fondue.

* The image is from here, which also has another yummy pudding recipe.

Peep My Brownies

My buddy Sami from Symmetry In Motion is hosting a Peep-tastic event! For her April Symfully Sweet contest. Her candy of the month? Peeps!

You may remember my previous torturing of Peeps. I only eat them if they're stale and yet, I can't imagine an Easter without them. I'm not incredibly crafty lately (although I am totally in love with these and MUST HAVE THEM!) but I am pretty stressed so baking seemed like a good option.

Peep Brownies

Make your favorite brownie batter. And if you must use a brownie mix, then so be it, just don't tell me. Before pouring into the pan, mix in one cup of coconut and one cup of chopped nuts. Spread into your pan and bake it as usual, but leave the oven on. Should look like this:

Tempting, already, I know, but resist! Next, it's time to take out a little of your aggressions on small marshmallow bodies.

I started by lining the Peeps up but there were too many gaps so I disemboweled a few and scattered the remains over the others. Still, a few gaps. I tossed in a few plain mini marshmallows to fill it in. Then pop the pan back in the oven for about 7 minutes. Their guts will puff up and maybe start to brown a little.

While those are melting, dump a cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips into a small saucepan and heat them until they melt. Stir in 1/4 cup of softened butter until it all smoothes out. Then? Pour it over the marshmallow mayhem.

Try not to lick the screen.

Let it set up, then cut with a plastic knife, and serve. Unfortunately, my diners were not as patient and demanded to be served.

Ooey, gooey, chocolate, mushy yumminess! And kinda pretty, too.

Chocolate is Way Better Than Coffee

I used to like the smell of coffee. I thought it was relaxing and rich. At my very first job, one of my duties was to change out the coffee to keep it fresh. One day, this was my first task just after signing in. And I proceeded to spill the entire thing all over me. Unfortunately, it was a Saturday and we were completely slammed so there was no chance for me to go home and change. I smelled like stale coffee for my entire six-hour shift.

So, I don't much like coffee anymore.

Then, when I was 16, I shared a yummy dessert with a friend during a double date. It was called tiramisu and was deliciously creamy but there was this weird, tangy taste that I didn't much like. Coffee. Such a tragedy that a treat like this was ruined by the coffee. Surely there had to be a better way.

Now, officially, you can't call it tiramisu without the coffee. And it's virtually impossible to find a recipe the omits the coffee, because, like I mentioned, it's "essential." Using a few recipes from online, I put together my own. I'm trying on other names, like TiraMormon, or TiraMissYou (but I don't miss the coffee).

Not Tiramisu

1 cup whipping cream

1/3 cup sugar, divided

4 egg yolks

1 lb mascarpone cheese

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

24 ladyfingers

1 cup hot water

2 Tbsp cocoa powder

2 oz chocolate, finely grated

• Whip the cream with a tablespoon of sugar until stiff peaks form. You're done with this for a bit but keep it away from heat.
• In a larger bowl, beat together the egg yolks and remaining sugar. Switch the mixer to low and then scoop the mascarpone cheese in a little bit at a time until fully combined.
• Take 1/4 of the whipped cream and mix it into the cheese. Then fold in the remaining amount of cream, careful to not over beat it, along with the vanilla.
• Spread 1/2 cup of this mixture in the bottom of a 2-quart dish.
• In a small bowl, stir together hot water and cocoa powder.
• Dip ladyfingers in this mixture but don't let them soak! Carefully place in the bottom of the dish in a single layer.
• Scoop half the cheese mixture over the top and gently spread over the cookies. Sprinkle half the grated chocolate evenly on top.
• Now, repeat the last two steps!
• Cover and pop into your fridge for at least 2 hours before serving.

Here are a few tips:

• The only ladyfingers I could find were in the bakery and were almost like an angel food cake. These would completely fall apart if soaked in the hot chocolate mixture. So don't be concerned if there's a lot of that chocolate leftover.
• Some recipes call for cream cheese. I prefer mascarpone. You can usually find it in the deli section of your local supermarket.
• I used dark chocolate because I like it and it has a stronger taste. Use whatever you'd prefer.
• This would look pretty in a trifle dish!

FHE: Resurrection Cookies

Usually, my FHE post is a recap of the festivities/feuds from the week before. This week, I'm opting for something a little different. For the past few years, we've always made Resurrection Cookies the Saturday evening before Easter. I won't be able to do that this year but it's my favorite Easter tradition so we're having them for FHE tonight!

Since I don't know what songs we'll sing or who will say the prayer, we'll skip that and just get down to the gist of it.

Resurrection Cookies

Before you begin, gather together the following:

• 1 cup pecan halves (not pieces)
• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar (but keep the bottle handy)
• 3 eggs whites
• salt
• 1 cup sugar
• Plastic baggie
• Rolling pin or meat tenderizer
• Mixing bowl
• Mixer
• Tape (I use masking tape because it's easiest to remove)
• Scriptures

You will also need to preheat the oven to 300 degrees and prepare a cookie sheet by lining it with waxed or parchment paper.

Pull the kids in close and open your scriptures.

• Place the nuts in the plastic baggie, making sure to seal it tight. Either read or have the kids read John 19:1-3. Using the rolling pin or meat tenderizer, have them hit the nuts to break them into pieces to illustrate how Jesus was beaten by the soldiers. Set the nuts aside.
• 
  
• Let the kids smell the vinegar in the bottle. Does that smell like it would taste good? As you pour one teaspoon into a large mixing bowl, have someone read John 19:28-29. When Jesus was thirsty, the soldiers gave him vinegar instead of water to drink.
• 
  
• Eggs represent life. Add the egg whites as someone reads John 10:10-11. Jesus gave his life for us on the cross. Crucifixion might need to be explained in terms your kids can understand
• 
  
• Give each person a sprinkle of salt in their hand and let them taste it. Shake a little into the bowl. Read Luke 23:27. This salt represents the salty tears of Jesus' friends and followers and also the tears we cry over our own sins. Explain that a lament is a great sadness and crying.
• 
  
• Take a look at the ingredients in the bowl (vinegar, eggs, salt). It's not a very tasty combination, is it? Now let everyone have a taste of the sugar. Read John 3:16 and Psalm 34:8. Pour the cup of sugar into the bowl. There's a lot more sugar/love in there than any bitterness. Explain that this very sad thing happened because of love for us, from Heavenly Father and Christ.
• 
  
• Using the mixer, start beating on high speed. Point out that the mixture is white, the color of purity. Read Isaiah 1:18. Because of Jesus' sacrifice, we are able to be cleansed of our sins. (This is the part where things can get derailed...it takes about 15 minutes to beat the egg whites to stiff peaks and your kids are going to get bored. Talk about Jesus but once their attention is gone, send them to go get ready for bed or have a coloring page for them while you work.)
• 
  
• Once you've got the stiff peaks, fold in the nuts. Scoop up some and drop it on the prepared pan. Read Matthew 27:57-60. These mounds represent the rocky tomb where Christ's body was laid to rest.
• 
  
• Place the cookies in the oven. Turn the oven off. Read Matthew 27:65-66. Let every have a piece of tape to help seal the tomb. Christ's tomb was sealed and guards were set outside it.
• 
  
• But where are the cookies? You might get some sad faces; after all, there was talk of treats. Read John 16:20, 22. Christ's followers despaired when he died on the cross but he had told them there would be reason to be joyful soon enough. You might need to have a back-up treat handy...I usually just let my kids lick the beaters. Be sure to close with a prayer if this is your FHE.
• 
  
• This is the end for tonight! The cookies remain in the sealed oven overnight.
• 
  
• The next morning, gather everyone at the "sealed tomb." Show them that the tape is still in place. Remove it and them pull out the cookie sheet. Have the cookies changed? Give one to each child and then read Matthew 28:1-9 as they eat the cookies. Just like the rocky tomb, the cookies are hollow and empty. His disciples were just as amazed to find that the tomb was empty. Jesus was no longer there because he had been resurrected.

Recipe kinda rhymes with FHE...

Sorry, no FHE post for last week. As you might remember, last Monday was March 14th, also known as "Pi Day," as in 3.14159265 etc., and must be commemorated by consuming copious amounts of pie. In other words, totally my kind of holiday. In honor of the day, I made this:

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie

1 pie crust (homemade or refrigerated...your choice)

3 eggs

1 cup light corn syrup

1/2 cup sugar

1/3 cup chunky peanut butter

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/2 chocolate chips and then some

1 cup whipped topping

a sprinkling of peanuts

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place your crust in your pie pan. Go ahead and be all fancy by making a cute edge. Or use a fork. Whatever floats your boat. Or pie.
• Beat together eggs, corn syrup, sugar, peanut butter, and vanilla until well combined.
• Spread chocolate chips over pie crust, leaving out about a tablespoon to be used later. I used mini chocolate chips (because everything is cuter when it's mini...like Baby) but you can use whatever you'd like. Pour peanut butter mixture over the top.
• Now comes the tricky part: you need to cover your crust to keep it from getting too brown in the oven. Mostly, I use tin foil loosely pinched around the outer edges. There are also ready-made crust protectors that will do.
• Place pie in oven and bake for 20 minutes. Carefully remove foil and then bake for another 10-15 minutes, until a knife inserted in the center comes out pretty clean. The top of your pie will be a lovely brown.
• Let the pie cool for a bit, then cover it and place in the fridge for a couple hours until set and completely cool.
• Once you're ready for the accolades, spoon the whipped topping on the center of your pie, keeping the edge about two inches from the crust, to show off the filling. Sprinkle topping with remaining chocolate chips and peanuts. Or be like me, realize you don't have any peanuts, and use peanut butter chips instead. Still gets the point across.
• Be sure to take a picture of your pie to share on your blog...unlike me. I forgot. So I borrowed this one from the Family Circle website because I got the recipe from their magazine.
• Enjoy!

What is your favorite flavor of pie?

Little Chocolatiers

Boo loves having friends over for play dates. She has some good friends at school but lately, most of the friends she's asking over are boys who want to play Wii games the entire time. Because she's pretty good at 'em and can teach them a couple new tricks. But I don't want them sitting in front of video games for two hours so I had to come up with something that's appealing to both genders.

First time around, I had the kids make brownies. It went great until they decided that stirring was hard work. Lumpy brownie batter makes for large lumps of unmixed flour and stuff in the finished product. I think Boo now has greater appreciation for my skill with carbs.

Next time a friend came over, I opted for something simpler: Rolo candy. Have you had these before? They are awesomeness in bite-size form. The Co-ed's BFF first taught me how to make them and they are uber easy.

Rolo Candy

Ingredients: Bag of pretzels, Rolo candy, pecan halves, semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional).

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
• Line cookie sheet with waxed paper.
• Unwrap all the Rolo candies.
• Place pretzels on waxed paper, leaving at least an inch between pieces (I've used the traditional twisted pretzels and these waffle-looking things; both worked fine). Use as many as you have Rolos to match.
• Center each Rolo on a pretzel.
• Place in oven for seven minutes.
• Remove from oven and let cool for a couple minutes (not too long - this is more to let the pan cool down than the chocolate).
• Squish a pecan firmly onto the candy, making sure you stay centered, but not so far down that the chocolate overlaps the pretzels.
• Melt chocolate chips in the microwave. Scoop into plastic baggie. Snip a small portion of the corner off. This makes your drizzle bag.
• Zigzag the melted chocolate over the pecan (or, if you are an 8-year-old, do whatever you want and make all kinds of shapes and pictures that no one except for you will recognize).
• Pop the tray into your freezer to harden up the chocolate before your kid's friend has to go home.

Easter Happenings

Easter snuck up on me this year. It seemed like I only had a couple days to prepare and even then, I didn't get everything done. Only one spring decoration was put up. Oh well...

And I found my camera charger! It's a story for another blog post but I blame the gnomes. So I have a few pictures for your viewing pleasure.


We decorated eggs with our Aunt Denise and the Co-ed on Saturday night. That's always eventful. Afterward, we made our traditional Resurrection Cookies. The kids look forward to these. Their favorite parts? Da Boo likes taping the oven. The Boy likes tasting the salt.


Here are my beautiful girls, wearing matching Easter dresses, courtesy of Grandma G. Wanna know the reason why Baby is smiling so big? Because the Man can get her to smile and laugh like no other. I'm not ashamed to say that I'm a little jealous.


And here's how the Boy was dressed for most of Easter Sunday, thanks to an early birthday present. You can see the collar of his dress shirt underneath...I promise I didn't let him go to church like that.

As usual, I like to try something new and crazy for Easter's dessert (and having Peep Wars doesn't count). I love and adore Bakerella (and if you aren't already drooling over her site, then what is wrong with you??) A little while ago she featured a 14 Layer Cake and I was immediately hooked. So I tried it.


It took me 2 1/2 hours to make but oh my! Isn't it pretty? The scalloped effect was created by the disposable pans I used and I must say, it really made it look spectacular. Go see Bakerella's pictures of the inside of the cake because mine all came out blurry. It's definitely got the "WOW!" factor! And the taste? WELL WORTH the time involved!

Cookie Exchange!

We were invited to a cookie exchange this year. Last year, we missed out on a lot of the holiday parties because we left town. This year, I'm missing out on most of them due to a previously scheduled abdominal surgery. Kinda sucks. So I was pretty happy when I saw that I would at least get to make it to the cookie party. Although one friend said she was surprised to see me there, what the the contractions and all, and my response was "Hello! Cookies! I am sooooo there!"

Since I simply do not have enough to do, I decided to have my own little bake-off (instead of doing something useful, like sorting baby clothes). None of my current cookie recipes seemed up to par so I picked two from a cookie newsletter. We'd have a taste test and the winning cookie would be presented at the exchange.

First up: Chocolate Ribbon Cookies.


I had high hopes for these guys. They were so pretty and they had chocolate. Virtually perfect! But there wasn't much of a taste (maybe I should have used the rum extract after all). More like shortbread than anything else.

Then I made Peanut Butter Munchies.


These were a little more work but have to say, the taste was great! Kinda like a brownie wrapped around peanut butter. These won unanimously. I still have a couple downstairs and I gotta say, after writing about them, they are calling my name...

What is your favorite cookie to take to an exchange?

Applelicious

My neighborhood used to be an apple orchard so there are leftover trees scattered here and there (and a whole bunch of confused deer wanting to know what happened to their winter food source). We had a bumper crop of apples a few years ago. The Man got all domestic and decided to make apple pie filling. Seriously. He made it, I just watched (and mocked). So we have lots and lots of apple pie filling in the basement. But...we don't particularly like apple pie. Interesting situation. What to do with all that filling...?

I may not like pie, but I love apple crumble! But it has to be a certain type...not just any recipe will do, which basically means I haven't had a "good" apple crumble in years. Most recipes you find don't call for apple pie filling. I guess that's cheating or something. Then I got a promotional email from Betty Crocker (she's kinda like my drug dealer) with all sorts of apple recipes. The featured recipe? Southern Apple Crumble. It was a simple enough recipe. Then Baby began demanding that I make it. Alas, I didn't want to chop up all those apples...maybe the pie filling would work? I made it for dessert yesterday. It was goooooood! Got seals of approval from Aunt Denise and the Co-ed, too. We consumed mass quantities while having a Girls' Night and watching "Stardust."

So here's the recipe:

Cheater Apple Crumble
1 large jar apple pie filling that you're husband canned and was very, very proud of himself for making so you can't just give it away, even though neither of you care for apple pie. (approx. 3 cups)
1/4 cup cold butter, cut into little cubes
1 pouch Oatmeal Cookie Mix
1/2 cup melted butter

Combine apple pie filling and cold butter. Spread into greased 8-inch square pan.
Combine cookie mix and melted butter. Sprinkle over top of apples.
Bake at 325 for 40 minutes or until the delicious smell fills your kitchen and you can't resist any longer. Serve warm. (I highly recommend serving with vanilla ice cream but all we had was neopolitan so we had ours "naked.")
Hide leftovers from your children and eat them for lunch the next day.

Keep in mind that this is my version of the recipe, for high altitudes and lazy housewives. The original called for pecans but I didn't feel like chopping nuts so we left those out. I'll probably add them back in next time. Enjoy!

Eating Penguins

I thought about saving this tasty little tidbit for Foto Friday but since I completely spaced the last one...I'd better get this one out there before it disappears into my archives.

After school, I try to have a fun snack for the kids. Now, before you start thinking what a good mom I am, it's usually some new kind of cookie. Monday it was a straw filled with chocolate milk mix, making the milk you drink turn chocolate in the straw (might have to do a product review on that one...). So imagine my utter surprise when da Boo asked for something that involved vegetables!

With the Man gone on business, we've been having a lot of movie nights (where I let the kids eat dinner on trays while watching a movie). For some odd reason, they love watching VeggieTales Christmas movies, especially "The Toy That Saved Christmas." At the end of the movie, they have lots of bonus features that the kids like to play with. Da Boo discovered they have recipes, too. But not just any recipes: one for the penguins from the movie! The recipe was simple enough (and too cute) so we gave it a try after school yesterday.


What you need:
8 oz cream cheese, softened
chives, chopped
salt and pepper to taste
1 large carrot
1 can small olives
1 can jumbo olives
toothpicks
pastry bag

Mix the cream cheese, chives and seasonings together (or you can do what I did and just buy flavored cream cheese). Stuff mixture into pastry bag.

Peel and slice carrot. Taking a small knife, cut a wedge out of each slice. Then cut the jumbo olives down one side.

Using the pastry bag, fill the inside of the jumbo olives, making sure to overflow the cut area. Take the carrot wedge you cut previously and poke it into a small olive (it helped to make a small slice in the olive first).

Place carrot slice flat (feet). Stack stuffed jumbo olive on top (body). Poke toothpick through olive's filling and into the carrot to hold in place. Slide small olive on top (head).


Enjoy! Repeatedly remind children not to eat toothpick...

Get Mugged

Because my in-laws love me, they sent me a recipe for making a single-serving chocolate cake in 5 minutes. Now, this is my kind of heaven! After reading through the recipe, I was a little skeptical but decided to give it a whirl last night. Sure beats whipping up an entire cake mix when I was only in the mood for a small piece.

The results? Not bad! It's actually rather tasty! I let the Man have a bite and then greedily hoarded the rest shared with the baby.

Since our FHE was rather informal last night, I am calling this the treat. And since Jesus said love everyone, I am sharing the recipe with you.

Chocolate Mug Cake
1/4 cup cake flour (I used self-rising)
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips
A small splash of vanilla extraction
1 mug

Add dry ingredients to mug and mix well.
Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
Pour in the milk and oil; mix well.
Add the chocolate chips and vanilla; mix again.
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes on High. The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed! It kinda looks like a souffle rising. I put a small plate under my mug, just in case, but it didn't spill over.
Allow to cool a little. Tip out onto a plate, if desired, or just dig right in.

Sorry, I should have taken a picture but this is chocolate cake and this is me we are talking 'bout here. Let me know if you try this!

Mr Hyde's Potatoes

Normally, I makes great potatoes. They are a pivotal player in every good meal I've served. My favorite is the browned potatoes that are slow-roasted in the oven with the Sunday roast. I get all drooly just thinking about them. So normally, my potatoes rock. Tonight was not normal.

I waited until the last minute to make dinner, realized that my menus ran out a few days ago and therefore had nothing planned. Since the Man is just returned (YIPPEEEE!!) from his loooong business trip, he was not at all in the mood for takeout. Fine. I usually cook most nights anyway.

So we had grilled chicken, corn and garlic potatoes. I used real potatoes, mashed 'em up good (by hand, thank you very much) with butter, sour cream, seasonings and garlic. Normally (apparently I like this word today) I use dehydrated garlic but my mother has introduced me to jarred garlic. It's in the produce section: little glass jars of minced garlic. It's great! And it's very powerful. I just bought a new jar and they didn't have my usual brand. Now I'm just making excuses...Anyway, I added the normal amount of garlic and commenced with the mixing. I thought it was a little...uh, fragrant but since getting sick, smells aren't really my thing. So I served it up, thinking I'd made another lovely potato side dish.

The Man took one bite and nearly gagged. Turns out, they were more like "garlic with a hint of potatoes" than the usual garlic potatoes. Not so tasty. Da Boo didn't like them, either. The Boy was happily eating his PB sandwich and didn't care. I could only handle one bite. Ugh!

Note to self: highly fragrant garlic means very, very powerful flavor.

Shows how much the Man loves me. He had taken a big heaping helping (because NORMALLY my potatoes rock) and managed to eat half of them. He's my hero.

Also? Today was the Boy's birthday party. Still recovering...post to come (and a cake!).

Speaking of the Boy...the kids went to bed an hour ago but that doesn't mean they are asleep...In fact, I was just frantically summoned to the Boy's room with pleas of help, saying he has a basket stuck on his head...this ought to be good...

What dishes have you ruined just in time for dinner?
What crazy things have your kids done when they were supposed to be asleep?