Secret Subject Swap-February '14

Happy February, friends!

If you're a regular reader, you know that the Secret Subject Swap is a collaboration between various bloggers. We receive secret topics from a blogger in a secret e-mail and put our own spin on the subjects. The 11 blogs participating this time are listed at the end of this post. Go have a look and leave a comment. It will make my our day! :)

My “Secret Subject” is:

Martha Stewart, inspiration or horrible show off?

It was submitted by:  http://spinstersnacks.com

Martha, Martha, Martha.

I wrote a small note to Martha and Bob Villa a few years back. It sadly explained how we three were NOT alike in our decorating. I respect both for their careful, planned-out projects; but for the love of wood-glue and sawdust, I just can't be a step-by-step girl. I re-did my whole staircase with fall garland still on the banister. I begged my husband (ignoring his pleas) to install a glass door on our bathroom. I'm a little off. Admit it. That's why you're here in the first place.

Martha's likes: delicate china, bidets, and building things "plumb, level and square."
My likes: eating cookie dough from the mixer,  peeing when the kids will let me, and using tons of caulk.

So. Is Martha a show-off? I'm not sure. Anytime I think of the ridiculous, glitterific-dodecagon crafts she comes up with, I try to remember that she has a huge staff behind her. Those people are probably coming up (hourly) with more ways to make humans feel inadequate. I doubt it's purposeful. I also doubt that Martha milks her own cows and rips her own cheese cloth to come up with cream for her morning coffee. She's a brand. There are things I disagree with regarding her process, but she's obviously doing something right to be where she is today. Rather than tear her down as a person, I thought I'd high-light a few differences between ol' Martha and me. There are many solutions to problems. Some are careful, calculated, precise and thorough, and some are mine.

Here are a few quotes from Martha and me:

Martha: "I have cotton or flannel sheets, depending on the weather. They have to be ironed, and I get my bed changed nearly everyday.".-brainyquote.com

Me: "If I make it to bed without having to shake off a pound of dog hair, without having my fitted sheet pop up from where the fabric pulled away from the elastic, or even if I have to kick off a few jellybeans/popcorn/kids from the bed, I've had a good day. The man knows when the sheets have been freshly washed because there is always a "damp spot" that the dryer has missed; and somehow, that always ends up on his side."

***

Martha: "I have a minor gripe…Who are these bloggers? They're not trained editors at Vogue magazine. I mean, there are bloggers writing recipes that aren't tested, that aren't necessarily any good, or are copies of everything that really good editors have created or done. So, bloggers create kind of a popularity, but they are not the experts. We have to understand that."- Bloomberg TV

Me: (gritting my teeth) "Bloggers are wonderful. They've used social media to benefit their businesses, build contacts and network. They connect with others offering advice, support or an often-needed smile. Many bloggers are beyond educated. Not only by holding college degrees, but by raising children without "guides". We pull foods for dinner out of what we have left in our pantries (not from french cookbooks). When our children are crying, we are the only ones who get to solve their problems. Most of us do not have a "staff." I have about 100 followers, which is anything but popular. Still, I write for my sanity as well as to share my ideas. As for using our recipes and having them work? If they can feed a husband, three finicky children and 2 dogs, I say they are more than tested. Dang it, I can rock a grilled cheese sandwich! Can an editor at Vogue make micro-wave popcorn ala shellybean? I think not. You know what? That's okay too. I'm happy to share the recipe. You're always welcome to read about my world; my successes and my epic fails. That's what bloggers do."

Micro-wave popcorn ala' shellybean

***

Martha: "It's a good thing."

Me: "On the eighth day, God made caulk, and it was good."

***

Martha: "I'm never sick. Why get sick? It's a waste of time." -brainyquote.com
* "I love to be sick! There is nothing like throwing up or writhing in pain on my 'down-time."- said no woman EVER.

***

Martha: "I find that when you have a real interest in life and a curious life, that sleep is not the most important thing"- thinkexist.com

Me: "I find that in order to walk upright and produce clear thoughts, one needs to sleep. Lack of it often makes the creative dull; it makes workers (blue and white collar) incapable of properly doing their jobs. Most of all, it makes for one grouchy household. We all know it: When mama ain't happy….COME ON NOW."

studying sleep :)

***

Martha: "Never ate fast food. I proudly can tell you that I've eaten one Burger King and I think maybe two McDonald's... and today I ate an In-N-Out burger. It was okay. You know, it's not my favorite food. I would much rather have a salad or sushi or something like that.-credit: Foodista

Me: "God Bless you, Martha Stewart."

If you are interested in joining us for the next Subject Swap, you can visit its creator, the wonderful Karen @ Baking in a Tornado. She is an amazing woman. You can also read all about the swaps by clicking on the SSS icon on the side of my blog.

Don't forget to check out this month's 15 talented participants!

Baking in a Tornado                          

The Momisodes                                       

Stacy Sews and Schools               

follow me home                     

Dinosaur Superhero Mommy                                   

Dates 2 Diapers 2                       

Confessions of a Part-time Working Mom                        

Evil Joy Speaks                   

Spinster Snacks                                         

FBX Adventures (In Parenting)                           

More Than Cheese and Beer        

Searching for Sanity                     

Small Talk Mama                                          

Juicebox Confession                         

Spatulas on Parade 
     
Digital cartoon credits: CJM Happy Friday, friends :)
-Michele               

Day 22 of Forty- Happy Pi Day!

I warned you when I started this whole "writing-for-40-days" thing that there would be a bit of chocolate involved. I may have used the word, "BOATLOAD"; I can't be sure.

Alas, it IS March 14, aka Pi Day. 3.14 You get it. It's suppose to celebrate the math constant, Pi- a name given to the ratio of the circumference of a circle to the diameter. I think. I taught Kindergarten for a reason, man. All I really remember is that Pi is 3 point 1415926 -infinity, and if you correct me rather that give me your favorite pie recipe, I will have to recalculate our friendship...

The important question here is: Who would ever turn down the opportunity to actually eat PIE on Pi Day?  That's like messing with fate and why would anyone dare do that?

The middle child has awarded himself as the biggest pie-lover in all the land. I tend to believe it only because I know his genetics. Pie runs deep in our family. My favorite non-chocolate dessert in the whole world is my grandmother's fresh strawberry pie. Even typing those words causes me to tear up. Grandma used to make everything from scratch. To say that God put that beautiful woman on the earth solely to make a fruit pie may be exaggerating; but only by a little. It is THAT good. Ask my sister. She feels the same about Gram's Cherry pie. Mmm.

Since I'm across the country and that dreamy dessert is out-of-season,  I'll share with you our family's celebratory pie. Of course it's chocolate. It's me, remember? No need to pass this recipe down to anyone; there isn't one thing in it made from scratch. No one needs to know that, though. They just need to eat it.

Give it a try sometime. If you're like us, you don't need a special day on the calendar to eat sweets. Every day is "Pie Day". Or "Cookie Day". Or "Brownie Day". Oh, you understand...

Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Pie.

You'll need:

*3 cups of Chocolate Animal Crackers or Chocolate Graham Crackers or....wait for it...crushed up Chocolate Chip Cookies.


*1/4 cup melted butter


*Tub of Chocolate Chip Ice Cream (or any flavor)


*Chocolate Chips (I used regular semi-sweet chips and mini chocolate chips.


*Tub of Whipped topping


*Chocolate Sauce


*Pie plate, cookie sheet, bowls, potato masher or fork, wood spoon

1. Butter pie plate and set aside.

2. On a baking sheet or in a baggie, smash Animal Crackers until crumbly.

3. In a bowl, mix cookies with melted butter and a little chocolate sauce. You need it to be a consistency that will allow you to press the mixture into the pie pan. This is your crust.

4. Stir ice cream in a bowl until smooth enough to pour and fill the pie shell.

5. Sprinkle chocolate chips onto the ice-cream (about 1/2 cup).

6. Spread whipped topping on top of the chips/ ice-cream.

7. Sprinkle more chips on top of the whipped topping. I used mini chips for this part.

8. If desired, (um, REALLY?) drizzle that chocolate sauce on top. Freeze for at least 20 minutes.

9. Eat that baby UP!! You can inhale it (like me) or you can savor it like only a true pie connoisseur can..

Your turn. What is your favorite kind of pie? Non-pie lovers need not comment. I can't read that kind of negativity here. ;)

Happy Pi Day, otherwise known here as "Wednesday"

Day 20 of Forty- Easy Double Chocolate Cookies

Double who? Double what? That's right, girls. Double chocolate CREAM cookies. I know. Lets take a minute to say that aloud. Double.. Chocolate...oh, who cares after that part?

If you are out of your girl scout cookies (Shhh) or if you've thrown out all your sweets in the name of eating healthy (who are you?) or even if you're just craving some cocoa, these are the easiest cookies in the world to make. They may not last long, but if you get the dough out of the bowl and into the oven without looking like you've rubbed chocolate on your mouth the way one would apply lipstick, you are already so much better off than me. Or my 18 year old for that matter. Thank you Good Lord for a daughter who understands the urgency of a good chocolate cookie.

This is what you'll need. Run! Now!

* A box of Chocolate cake mix. Because I have no self control, I bought TRIPLE chocolate fudge cake mix. Yes, the cookies are called Double Chocolate, but come on. I've eaten half the dough so we're already left with something less than that....don't judge. What's a little salmonella in the name of cookies?

* 2 Eggs.  We are blessed to have a beautiful family next door who raise hens. Fresh Eggs. Unless you are a Vegan, rejoice!

* 1/2 cup of oil. I use good old Crisco. You choose. (We are not engaged in a heart-healthy event here.)

* Marshmallow Cream

* Chocolate Sauce. I use Hershey's... I think it's the only brand I know of.

* Some mixing bowls, measuring spoons, wooden spoons, (I like to stir mixes like this with a fork; it's up to you.) a knife to spread filling, a cookie dough scoop or a tablespoon, cookie pans and parchment paper, (Only if you use it regularly. Cookies straight on the pan is fine..) and a cooling rack.

*Oven pre-heated to 350 degrees

Here we go:

1. In a large bowl, mix eggs, oil and cake mix. It will look like dough, not cake batter.

2. When thoroughly mixed, drop by rounded tablespoons onto cookie pans. I fit 9-12 to a pan; depending on size.

3. Bake for 12-14 minutes. Cool for 1 minute on pan, then transfer to cooling rack.

4. In a separate bowl, mix 2 cups of Marshmallow fluff with 1/2 cup of Chocolate sauce. I've been making these so long, I barely measure anymore. Try not to mix in too much chocolate sauce; (you know you want to..) you need the mixture to be spreadable, not spill-able.

5. When the cookies have cooled, spread the chocolate cream on the back of one cookie and sandwich with another cookie.

6. If you want, you can roll them in chocolate chips. Or try different flavors of cake, add mint to the cream, dip them in chocolate, freeze them, add ice-cream instead of marshmallow fluff.. I don't care. Make them however you like. Just make them and tell me what you think.

Makes 24-30 cookies (12-15 sandwich cookies)

Happy, Happy Chocolatey Monday, friends!

Day 14 of Forty: Happy Birthday, Oreo!

The Oreo cookie turned 100 years old today! At our house, that was something to celebrate. I bought a package of the cookies just for the occasion but had to hide them until today, you know, so I wouldn't eat them.

Here is a cute project I did with the kids after school in honor of OREO's special day.  A "project" is the perfect excuse to use when mama needs some sugar.

Since yet another snowstorm is on its way,  I went with building "Oreo Penguins".

Do you want to make some? You will need:

 *Two Oreos for each penguin. (I hand out three because let's face it, an artist has to eat.)

*Mini Chocolate Chips

*Various cookie decorations (Candy Corn make great beaks and feet!)

*Clean Hands (It's flu season, kids!)

1. Pass out Oreos (3 each). I started out by telling my kids one of my favorite sayings: "You get what you get, and you don't throw a fit!" -that means if you break your Oreo, you CAN'T take your sibling's cookie out of anger. (I'm talking to you, 18-year old..)

2. Carefully break the cookie open and slide the top up about halfway. Press softly.

3. Open another cookie. Take the half that doesn't have a lot of filling and break that in half. These will be your wings. With right sides up, flip both halves so the broken parts face the outside and attach to the belly of your penguin. (right under the head.)

4. Use the filling from second cookie as your "glue." Take pieces of filling and use it to attach the penguin's eyes (chocolate chips). Then attach the beak and feet. Like I said, Candy Corn works great for this. We didn't have any, so we just used candy dots and candy hearts. Use whatever you have on hand..

5. When I showed the kids my penguin, the youngest said it looked like an owl :(  Yep, save the kindness for someone else.

After that, we made another and purposely made it into an owl.

THAT turned into a flock of little birds..

Then, because it is MY family, the kids veered off-course into "one-upping" each other and created a few more species from the Animal Kingdom.

It wasn't EXACTLY my plan.  It never is.  But I loved every second of having the kids together. I loved it SO much, I even shared the cookies with the kids. Okay, I shared the penguin with the kids.

That friends, WAS my plan :)

Thanks to Nabisco, for a fun Tuesday afternoon.

I hope you enjoyed a sweet Tuesday! :)

Sweet Saturday

"School, writing, and paying the bills is good, but enjoying the interaction with that little family you and your husband made is something that is very very special. You all are good people." 

I was gifted this bit of advice from a friend I have reconnected with recently. I received a genuinely kind note from them after the death of my grandmother in June and we have been talking back and forth ever since.

I had been busy running around, worried about lots of different things lately: errands, work, my husband's work, my shop, some friends, my children's school....a whirlwind of everything, when I got that message in my inbox.

Have you heard the statement, "God is always on time."? Well he is. A friend I haven't seen since 1988 found the words I needed to read. Words I needed to live. My family is my most cherished possession, yet I was beginning to take it all for granted..

I felt like I hadn't had the permission to put the people that live in this house first. Like other things should matter more. How could that be? And then I realized... it was me who was not allowing the priorities. I'm going to work really hard at righting that wrong...anyway, I wanted to acknowledge that "aha" moment and thank B., my very wise, brand-new, old friend.

First up? Being present with my middle child, who helped me in the kitchen making our Fantasy Fudge". The rest of the family? They did their part: making it disappear...together. :)

Enjoy your weekend, friends :)

Fantasy Fudge- As always, vary as you like :)

Ingredients:

2 bags of peanut butter chips (or butterscotch, Carmel, or vanilla chips)
2 small cans of sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated!)
1 bag of chocolate chips (bittersweet or milk)
1/2 cup of crushed peanuts (or Heath bar bits, marshmallows or pretzels), 1/4 extra for topping

any size pan (glass or metal.) smaller pan for thicker fudge, cake size pan for @1 inch thick fudge
tin foil to line pan
glass measuring cups or bowls to microwave chips in
rolling pin and baggie to smash filling in or just buy crushed peanuts.
Mixing spoons, large knife for cutting
microwave
fridge

 

line baking pan with foil...

#1. Melt two bags of peanut butter chips in the microwave. Use 30 second intervals, stopping to stir each time. It usually takes me three intervals.

#2 Slowly stir in 2 cans of condensed milk

#3 Crush peanuts or other fillings and slowly incorporate those into the batter. You have to work somewhat quickly as the mixture can start to harden.

#4 Pour mixture into a foil-lined pan. Put the pan into a refrigerator for about 45 minutes.

#5. Melt 1 to 1 and a half cups of chocolate chips in the microwave. Intervals of thirty seconds.

#6. Spread onto top of refrigerated mixture.

#7. Use your favorite toppings while the chocolate is still melted. We like peanuts or crushed pretzels for a salty-sweet treat. Return to fridge for another 30 minutes....You can wait, I know you can!!

#8. Remove from the fridge, cut into manageable squares. The fudge is really rich. Put onto parchment paper to solidify a bit. I use cupcake cups. 

Enjoy! They last about 2 days out...As with everything sweet at our house, I have no research beyond that time frame :)

Can I get some milk with that?

The man's sister made a comment the other day about visiting a store where girl scouts were outside, still selling their infamous cookies in the warm weather. She was surprised that the gals were hocking their goods in beautiful May, rather than in March; the usual cookie season.

She was trying to convey that the troops were lucky to be soliciting the heavenly treats without freezing their little green beanies off. March is a cold month to be out selling $3.50 worth of childhood memories. Door-to-door, in the cold wind and rain, people ceremoniously rip down their "No Soliciting" signs in hopes of grabbing a traditional package or six of the now too small boxes-of-disappointment.

I say this because instead of the glorious sleeves of cookies of long ago, they are now individually encased in plastic packages that hold all of eight or twelve cookies.  We continue to buy smaller, thinner boxes that cruelly list the ingredients and as an extra stab in the patch-covered sash, the cookie company  now also lists the calories. Ugh.

I thought about my sister-in-law's encounter for all of three seconds, and I too became concerned. My worry wasn't whether the cookies might taste stale, or even (gasp) that they could be past their expiration date.  I didn't care if these pre-teens were vending the last left-overs of the year....

So, what was it that was bothering me?  Were my feelings bitter about the selling of these cookies later than the traditional cookie season? Was I upset that we as a nation are being encouraged to purchase less product for more money? Was I appalled that there isn't a natural ingredient in any of the cookie products or that two little cookies count as a serving?????

No. My feelings instead were of pure jealousy. I mean, why does my sister-in-law get to live in such a magical place that girl scout cookies are apparently for sale year round? Why is it that her town gets to eat Trefoils in the sun or stuff their mouths with thin mints on days appropriate for picnics? If you live in this "field-of-dreams" town, is it NOT required to hide your Samoas in the bottom of the freezer under the broccoli? Can you actually have whole wheat crackers in their own box rather than hide your precious reserve of Tag-a-longs? I'd be willing to bet this enchanted city hands out Lemon Creams with their parking tickets too.

Hmm. I think I smell injustice.

If injustice smells like peanut butter.

What's your favorite Girl Scout cookie? Would you eat them if they were available year 'round?

For those of us that have to wait for March, here's a few simple recipes that will tide you over, for the weekend :)

To make Lemon Creams, Peanut Butter Patties, Thin Mints and Samoa knock-offs, You'll  need:

Animal Crackers (bag)
Creamy peanut butter 1/4 cup
Meltable chocolate 1 1/2 cup
Marshmallow fluff 1/4 cup
peppermint flavoring/ extract 1 tsp
coconut  (fresh and toasted) 1/4 cup each
caramel topping (squeeze bottle)
lemon frosting in a can
Parchment paper
Cookie sheets (One for each kind of cookie)

1. Place cookies flat side up on various cookie sheets. I used about 24 on each.

2. On one pan, spread peanut butter on the flat side of all cookies. Spread it thick. Set aside.
On the second pan of cookies, squirt carmel sauce on each cookie. Sprinkle fresh coconut over the carmel. Set aside.

3. Pour tsp of peppermint extract into a bowl. Add marshmallow fluff and stir until smooth. Spread on to the flat side of cookies on the third pan. The mixture is thick enough not to slide off, so frost as much as you can onto each cookie.

4. On the fourth pan, find matches for your cookies. I used Winnie the Pooh animal crackers, so it was fun to have the youngest match them up. If you're using round cookies- you are a rock star and are all set. Simply frost one flat side with lemon frosting and smoosh another cookie on top. You're done!!!

5. When marshmallow cream has set up (about 30 minutes,) you can start to melt your chocolate (chips or bark). I do mine in the microwave at intervals of 45 seconds until completely smooth. Use tongs or a fork and slowly dip the peanut butter, marshmallow and caramel cookies in the chocolate and let dry on wax paper, parchment paper or a wire rack. I like parchment. You can do each kind of cookie in batches. I like to dip only one side on the coconut caramel cookies. I also like to add darker chocolate chips to the bark for the mint patties. They're not beautiful, but they are delicious!

6. Let cookies set up (about 10 minutes) When set, drizzle carmel on the coconut cookies and finally, sprinkle toasted coconut on the top.

You now have 4 kinds of Girl Scout-like cookies...Enjoy!

Happy Wednesday, friends :)