A New Addition

You may know my love of silicone molds (if not, you can see my others here, here, and here). They're awesome!!! They can be used in the fridge, freezer, oven, microwave & dishwasher. You can make everything from jello to ice cream to cakes & brownies. This particular one I found half-off at the store this week!! I couldn't resist! Sooner or later, I'll have one for every holiday...

At Home Version

Our local Mexican Restaurant serves "Fried" Ice Cream (i.e. ice cream rolled in Corn Flakes on a fried-cinnamon-tortilla... then topped with chocolate & strawberry sauces, whip cream, & a little more cinnamon sprinkled on top). It's quite tasty, & left me wondering why I never roll my ice cream in Corn Flakes at home.... so I did. Then I topped it with hot fudge. Divine!

Catching Up, Again...

As my lack of posting confirms, we've been quite busy lately. I'll do my best to recap our eventful adventures, but until then... I made chocolate mousse a couple weeks ago. Yummy!

Easter Snack

Apple, caramel, chocolate.
How could you go wrong?

Because I love the colors...

The Cookies are Here!

That's right, I got some!

Bring on the Sunshine

I've really enjoyed the warmer weather lately... the bright sunshine reminds me why we spent so much time outside last Summer (it also helps me forget about the more recent drab-gray days of Winter). Anyhow, it's been a great excuse to grill out in the evenings... tonight I was so inspired that I mixed up some Sangria for a special treat with dinner! In my mind, it was mid-June.

From us to you...

Frosty Hearts

I've been making 'smoothie pops' for a long time now...
I basically freeze leftover smoothie into
popsicles or ice cubes for later consumption.

When I found heart-shaped silicone trays... I just couldn't resist!!!
They can go in the freezer OR the oven.
Oh the possibilities!!

I decided to start with some of my favorite makings for a smoothie...
frozen strawberries & blueberries, yogurt, & OJ.


I blended.


I spooned & I froze.

Easy to make... & cute!

Friends are the Cadence to Life's Chaos

These friendship fortune cookies were made for me!
Not only do these have my name on the box...
they are also covered in dark chocolate.

Recipe: Broccoli-Cheese Soup

I've kind of adapted to my mom's "throw anything in the pot" attitude regarding soups. They come out with lots of flavor & zest that way!!! That being said, I rarely have a recipe, but wrote out a quick one for my broccoli cheese soup. It was really good... if you try it, let me know how it turns out!!

Broccoli Cheese Soup

Ingredients:
2-3 carrots
Handful of Bell Peppers (red & green)
1 medium onion
2-3 large potatoes
Cauliflower (1 bunch or 1 bag frozen)
Broccoli (1 bunch or 1 bag frozen)
Cheese
Milk
Water
Flour (if needed)

Favorite Seasonings:

Tony Chachere's & ground pepper
Hickery Smoked Nutritional Yeast

Directions:

1. Peel & chop the carrots. Sautée in a large pot.
2. Dice the onion & peppers. Add to the pot.
   
3. Scrub & chop the potatoes. Add potatoes & just enough water to cover them in the pot. Sit on med-high heat until the potatoes are tender.
4. When potatoes are tender, mash or puree them to your liking.
   
5. Puree cauliflower & add.
   
6. Add milk & cheese (I eyeballed it!)
7. Chop the broccoli & add.
   
8. Simmer until hot.
9. If thickening needed, add a little flour.

I've made it with many variations... including adding corn, leaving the cauliflower out, I've even pureed peas & added them. You can basically do no wrong!! And it's fully endorsed by Tim which is something I can't always say.

Valentine's Brownies

Tim went to bed early last night... so what did I do?
Made the first of many tasty Valentine's treats.
Mmmm...

Soups. I love 'em.

During the gray days of winter, even when it's not that cold, I love a good bowl of soup... add a salad & a piece of fresh bread, and I'm in heaven!!

I've been on a roll lately... inspired by the potato soup my mom made before leaving town, I started with another pot of the potato (almost as good as the original!). Followed closely by the broccoli-cheese shown above. Both dubbed 'restaurant quality' by Tim!! Next I think I may have a hankering for some blackbean... a personal favorite!

On somewhat of a sidenote, I've also been experimenting with pureeing different veggies & adding them into dishes... the whole Sneaky Chef thing... I may not have anyone to be sneaky for, but at least we get a few extra servings of veggies a day. So far Tim hasn't been able to tell... or at least hasn't said anything. I really just winged it, but I used this as a starting point.

Strawberry Cream Pink Stuff

Growing up, my family had what was known as a 'creation,' that is, any dinner that was magically *created* from stuff in the kitchen... thrown together, somewhat of a concoction & usually quite tasty! This was my 'dessert creation' tonight! I call it 'Strawberry Cream Pink Stuff.' It turned out very much like a Stawberries & Cream ice cream, but with a little more kick!

A Craving for Chocolate Cake

It's not what you're thinking,
the craving was not mine!

Typically I am the major force behind any baking that happens in our house... I also happen to be the major force behind the eating of those treats. When Tim looked at me & asked for, not just any cake, but chocolate cake (my favorite!) - how could I possibly say no?

Now I'm working on making it look like a
26 year old decorated it instead of a 6 year old.
Kudos to cake decorators... it's harder than it looks!

Happy Birthday!!

On this day 17 years ago, I explicitly remember being an anxious little 9 year old waiting in the lobby of a seemingly gigantic hospital. This was, you see, the day my baby brother was born... the brother that my sister & I had *wished for* on every birthday candle & in every wishing-well we crossed.

When my mom announced that she was going to have another baby, my sister and I giggled & plotted. When she told us it was going to be a boy, we literally exploded with excitement!! I remember we *insisted* he be named 'Joey' after our favorite New Kid on the Block... thank goodness my parents kept a handle on our plans!

On this particular day, my sister & I had gotten picked up from school by our grandparents. They took us straight to the hospital to meet our new little brother. I remember being in the room...I remember my parents & grandparents there... I remember a nurse bringing in this wheelie cart with a little, tiny baby wearing a little, tiny santa hat... the next thing I remember? The floor of the bathroom where I up-chucked.

That's right ~ I threw up all over the hospital bathroom. Looking back it was definitely due to *nerves* & *excitement*, but "to be on the safe side, just in case you have a virus," I had to wait in the lobby for the remainder of the visit. So there I sat, in the hospital lobby, a TV in one corner & people in lab coats bustling around.

Happy Birthday, Josh!!!

I promise not to up-chuck at your birthday this year... and, I know it's not the most manly, but look at what you have to look forward to when you get to my house...

Remember this?


I used it to make these little cupcakes...


Although the edges are not the cleanest, it tastes delicious!!
The rest will come with practice.

Just Because....

Summer is about over & we hadn't had any watermelon!

Loyalties

Tim & I are both very loyal souls.

We are, of course, devoted whole heartedly to each other without question. If you've ever been out to eat with us, you probably know that we are also very loyal with our choice of beverage. When buying a soda, Tim & I will without fail try to order a Barq's Rootbeer... we like the Barq's 'bite,' no other rootbeer is acceptable. I have been carded *no lie* for ordering a Barq's Rootbeer. Something about ordering it by name...

Our latest obsession? Velda Chocolate Milk. It is, of course, the brand that was (and is) served in millions of schools nationwide. It is smooth & creamy...and hormone free! I will still stir up a glass of Nesquik, but among pre-mixed Chocolate milks... only Velda is acceptable!

This endorsement expresses the sole opinion of the Head Kook.

Cookies, Aladdin, and my Brain

My brain & I had the following dialogue last night...

Brain: Wohoo! Make some popcorn, turn on Friends and pour a glass of wine! It's time to P-A-R-T-Y!!

Me: No, no, no. It's 10:30 p.m. It's almost time for bed. B-E-D. Tomorrow is a work day. And also, we don't have any popcorn.

Brain: We can order Pizza!!

Me: What? No. It's late. We need to go to sleep soon. Now be quiet.

Brain: "I can open your eyes...Take you wonder by wonder...Over, sideways, and under...On a magic carpet ride!"

Me: What the...? Are you seriously singing Aladdin right now? BE QUIET.

Brain: But I WANT TO STAY UP. I AM NOT TIRED. THERE IS SO MUCH ON TV! Let's watch a movie. Or play Hexic. Or cal -

Me: I'm not going to tell you again. We have to WORK tomorrow. And I'm going to need you for that - so you need to calm down and think relaxing, sleepy thoughts.

Brain: I'm hungry. Let's eat something. How about Mexican.....or cookies? COOKIES! Oh, please cookies, PLEEAASSEE!

Me: I'm ignoring you now.

Brain: "I'll chase them anywhere...there's time to spare...let me share this whole new world with you...!"

Me: Ugh. You win.

I made cookies at 10:30 last night, poured a glass of milk, and dug in!! They were delicious! Or as my brain put it, "Unbelievable sights...Indescribable feeling...Soaring, tumbling, freewheeling...Through an endless diamond sky!"

Scrumptious Summer

The Kiwi ~ my furry, juicy friend!

My own take on cheesecake made, without a recipe, from scratch (right down to the graham cracker crust). A success!! Next time I would do a few things differently, but it was tasty as is!