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10 Things I'm Loving Friday

1. Dexter

I started watching this show on my birthday this summer and I'm completely and totally hooked. He's just such a compelling person, with absolutely no emotion, and yet he manages to make me care about him.

2. Pioneer Woman Cooks Cookbook

I've been reading Ree's blog for about a year, and preordered her cookbook just as soon as I could. I also bought my mom a copy for her birthday. We like it, we really like it. Not sure I'll ever cook anything out of it, but it sure is a gorgeous, fun read.

3. One of my classic favorite songs. My sister bought me this CD a very long time ago for my birthday, and I must have worn this song out.

4. December Daily

I've never been the best about keeping up with daily scrapbook projects (i.e. Project 365 is collecting dust), but I really want to make this one work. It's the inspiration of Ali Edwards, and my album is ready to go. I'll share it more in December, but I'm really hoping to complete this album this year.

5. The Yeti

Destination Truth may be close to actually finding one. I like mine a little more... cute.

From Flickr.

6. Lauren Grier's That Connection digital scrapbooking kit.

I love the word art. Especially "my friends live in the computer." Like these friends:

7. Indian Summer.

The weather here has been gorgeous for the last two weeks. I love it. Not hot enough to make me sweat, but warm enough that I want to be outside all the time.

From Flickr.

8. Iced Tea.

Just plain. Maybe a slice of lemon. No sugar. No, no, no, no, NO sugar. Putting sugar in it takes it out of the drink category and into the dessert category.

9. Sesame Street

Some of my first memories were of Sesame Street. I loved that show, and still do. Happy Birthday, Sesame Street!

From Flickr.

10. Flip Flops

I just can't even put into words how much I love my flip flops. One of my favorite things about Indian Summer is that I haven't yet had to stop wearing my flip flops. Teva Mush are my favorite favorite, and I hate plastic straps, but I'll pretty much wear anything with cloth straps on them.

From Flickr.

Happy Weekend!

You caught me

I didn't have a blog post ready to go today, and frankly, I have to be at work soon so this isn't going to be much of one.

I find myself going to work later and later every day. I'm not pushing the line, but I used to be an "early to work" kind of person, and now I'm getting there about 20 minutes before the bell rings (yes, that's fairly late for me). I just can't work up the energy to get off my sofa right now.

Seems a little silly when I hate the day off yesterday. However, here I sit, enjoying my quiet house (kids are all off to school) and not wanting to leave.

I'm feeling very much the homebody right now, and I'm not afraid to admit it.

This weekend looks to be refreshing. The girls will be spending the weekend with my sister, and although Dan seems intent that I need to go too, so that he and Brady can have a testosterone filled weekend. Not. Going. To. Happen.

Love watching the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree being delivered. I have so many ideas for this Christmas and am forcing myself to wait until after Thanksgiving to get started on them.

I really do have a blog post for tomorrow... see you then!

Donna's Pancakes

I've pretty much always been pancake impaired. I don't mind whipping up a batch of waffles, but pancakes are just not my thing. I've been married almost 20 years and managed to avoid making pancakes.

Until recently.

Pancakes are Mykiah's second favorite food. Except spaghetti. I hear "Can we go to IHOP?" all the time.

Lately there was a lot of "Mom, can you make me chocolate chip pancakes?"

Against my better judgement, I decided to try to make the girl chocolate chip pancakes. I don't have a griddle, which makes flipping a pancake pretty easy, so I was making them in my skillet. Also, when using the skillet, I can only make one pancake at a time, which stresses me out. A lot. On the evening last week when I decided to make these, I was highly stressed. I was asking Brady to set the table, and he was arguing with me because technically, it's Chesney's job. Chesney, however, was busy with something else, and I really wanted the table set then. Finally, I just set it myself.

And burned the pancake in the process.

It was only burned slightly, and only on one side, so I tried to serve it to Chesney. She looked at it and said, "Do I really have to eat this?"

I walked over, picked up her plate, and chucked that pancake right out the back door.

[Chesney went out and picked it up later, after she had eaten. Brady did not get a pancake because I ran out of batter and it was his fault I burned the first one. Stop. Laughing.]

So after my little meltdown, I did manage to make a fairly good batch of pancakes. When I make waffles, I usually use a mix (just add water!), but this time I used a recipe sent to me by my good friend Donna. I threw some mini chocolate chips onto the pancake after I poured it into the skillet -- this let me make chocolate chip for the girls, but plain for Dan and I.

Here's the pancake I made for Ches (that actually turned out well):

You could also add fresh blueberries or bananas or nuts. Whatever you like in your pancakes. I like mine plain.

Donna's Pancakes

1 c. flour
2 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp baking powder
1 egg
1 c. milk
3 Tbsp oil

Mix all and drop by large spoonfuls on hot griddle (water drops sizzle and 'dance' before evaporating). When bubbles start popping regularly, flip. Serve with butter and syrup.

To download this recipe in printable form, click here: Download Donnaspancakes

Randomness

• I have redone our Christmas cards six to seven times. I have actually ordered them twice. I have a lot of Christmas cards coming my way. Anyone want one?
• I really enjoy the process of creating logos, cards, etc. If I thought I could earn money at it, I would. In the meantime, if anyone needs a card designed, email me your photos and ideas, and I'll do one for you. I'm not even joking.
• I wish I could draw. I think if I could, I would be a better digital designer. However, anyone who has ever seen me try to draw in front of a couple dozen four year olds knows that I cannot draw anything that anyone would want to put on a scrapbook page.
• Brady had a robotics competition this weekend. He swears they were playing the Haygoods in the arena. That cracks me up.
• Chesney performed in a Veteran's Day program over the weekend. The kids sang the National Anthem and no one stood up. Am I wrong? Aren't you supposed to stand when that song is sung? I just found that worrisome. I guess I should have went ahead and stood anyway, but I'm a chicken that way. It's all about group mentality, isn't it?
• Not really worthy of it's own post, but we bought a pound of shredded turkey this weekend, and I was thinking I should share my favorite turkey condiment.
• I really dislike mayo, but I started using it on turkey back when I was pregnant with Mykiah and found this recipe. Take some mayo. Stir in some parmesan cheese and garlic powder in equal amounts. I can't give you measurements, but you don't want to overdo the garlic. I did on Saturday and Dan and I were both brushing our teeth all night. Mix the cheese and garlic into the mayo and spread on bread.

Go State!

I'm not sure I've ever really blogged about our love for all things K-State. Dan and I are both graduates, and while I'm not huge on sports, when there's a rivalry going even I know to root for the Purple.

Now our son wants to carry on the family tradition and be a K-State student in a few years. That scares me on all kinds of level. My son... college... ack. However, if he's going to go, K-State isn't a bad choice.

Saturday was the big K-State vs. KU football game. If you live in Kansas, you know how serious this contest is. You're pretty much either a K-State or KU fan if you live here. You simply must choose one or the other.

If you're lucky, your team even wins. Listening to the shouts from our living room, I certainly couldn't have told you that we won. I had to ask later just to be sure. Dan really likes to yell at the TV during sporting events. That's a behavior I really don't understand because there's certainly no reward in it, but I just hide in our bedroom and pretend I can't hear.

When we went to Dave and Buster's earlier this summer, we won a buttload of tickets. I wanted to use them to get a t-shirt, but I was soundly voted down. My family chose to get this instead:

And after sitting on my computer desk for five months, it was finally put to good use.

Freebie: Happy iDSD!

So last night we ran some errands and then I sat down to catch up on all that had happened in my computer while I was working. I knew the excitement was building towards November 7 -- International Digi-Scrapping Day. [It's also my mom's birthday. Happy Birthday Mom!]

I felt a little ashamed that I had no freebie planned for this celebration of all things digital and memory keeping. About that time, Dan started CSI on the DVR, and it happened....

I put together this little mini-kit, totally inspired by the color scheme on my "10 Things" list Friday. It's also the colors I'm planning to use this Christmas, so I included a few Christmas bits.

Download Oh Happy Day here.

Enjoy! Scrap those stories!

| 10 Things I'm Loving Friday

1. Mechanical Pencils. The only way I will write with a pencil, and I only write in my calendars with pencils. I buy a couple I love, and hide them from my kids.

 
2. This color combination. I am so attracted to aqua and red together...

From flickr.

3. Lady Antebellum. In particular, this song, but I pretty much love all their harmonies. I have the entire album, and that says a lot for me. It's a rare day when I'll buy a whole CD from one artist.

Lady Antebellum   More CMT Music   More CMT Music Videos

4. Fisher Price Little People Nativity Set.

From Flickr. 

Must. Have. Now.

Nevermind. Got it.

5. Jonathan Kellerman. Read his latest book 2 weeks ago. One of my coworkers recommended Mr. Kellerman to me back when I was pregnant with Brady. At the time, he probably had a half dozen Alex Delaware books out. Now he has closer to 2 dozen, and I own them all. Not just have read them all, I own them all. I love Alex and Robin and Milo, and the mysteries are always good, too.

6. Destination Truth. My Wednesday night guilty pleasure. Not only does Josh flat out make me laugh, the cases he investigates have given me some serious goonies, too. That doll island has sworn me off plastic dolls for awhile.

7. Pierre by Maurice Sendak. While I love Where The Wild Things Are, my favorite Maurice Sendak book has always been Pierre. I remember listening to it as a child and getting this sinking feeling in my gut, "Don't do it, Pierre!" Now I teach a couple of little Pierre's. I still have this need to save a little boy from getting himself into trouble, and my gut still knots when I can't do it.

8. Tootsie Rolls. Perfect for that hit of chocolate when you don't want the calories.

From Flickr.

9. Microfiber Blankets. I have a small one just to cover my feet... when I'm sitting in my chair, watching TV, typing on my laptop. Can't have cold feet, now can we?

10. Fall. My favorite season of the year.

From Flickr.

Have a great weekend! See ya next week!

Recipe: Best Yet M&M Cookies

I subscribe to several baking blogs, and recently I read with amusement of one blogger's search for the perfect M&M cookie. What she found didn't surprise me... the perfect cookie has some shortening in it.

When my Kitchen Aid first came home to live with me, I was a butter snob. No sense baking if I wasn't using real butter.

Then I went on a quest to find dairy free cookies. In doing so, I discovered that a little shortening in the better actually makes for a better texture for the cookie.

Here's the link to the original post: Cookie Madness 

I doubled this recipe, as I often do. If I'm going to make cookies, I'm going to make a bunch. I also made a mistake in doubling, but I managed to get it fixed before I ruined more than 1 sheet of cookies. I used Halloween fun color M&Ms, and this was my trial run for Christmas M&M cookies. I think it's a keeper.

Best Yet M&M Cookies

1 stick unsalted butter, softened   
1/2 cup shortening
3/4 cup sugar               
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract       
1 large egg
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour        
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda           
3/4 cups plain M&Ms
1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional)

This dough will need to set in the fridge for at least an hour after mixing, so no need to preheat the oven yet.

Combine the butter and shortening in mixer. Beat until creamy. Add both sugars and continue beating on high for two minutes, scraping bowl. Beat in the vanilla and egg. Continue beating for another minute or until fluffy.

Stir together the flour, salt and baking soda. Add this mixture to the sugar mixture and stir until mixed. Stir in the M&Ms and chocolate chips. Chill batter for about an hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Drop batter by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets, spacing 3 inches apart and bake for 12-14 minutes. The cookies do spread, so keep that in mind when spacing out the cookies. Let cool on cookie sheets for about 2 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool.

Makes about 22 cookies

To download this recipe in printable form, click here: Download Bestyetmandm

Recipe Index, Part 1

I love to troll for recipes on the internet, and I have several cooking/baking blogs on my Bloglines. One of the things that really bugs me is when I can't easily print a recipe from a blog.

Took me a few years to figure out that my own readers might have the same aggravations when trying to print recipes from this blog.

I spent a big chunk of my Halloween evening patiently waiting for trick or treaters that never materialized, and formatting recipes for download. I went back a year before I got tired of it. I'll attempt to do another chunk next weekend.

I updated each recipe post with the printable file, but thought I'd also index them here, just in case you missed some.

The recipes are in .pdf format, which means you'll need Adobe Acrobat to open and print them. I know I print all my recipes and put them in a 3 ring binder with page protectors (ever handy for those times when you kick up flour dust with the KitchenAid). I'd love to hear your ideas!

Recipe Index, Part 1

Anything Goes Cookies: Download Anythinggoescookies

BBQ Chicken Wrap: Download Bbqchickenwrap

Bubble Pizza: Download Bubblepizza

Chewy Triple Chippers: Download Chewytriplechippers

Easy Chimichangas: Download Chimis

Chocolate Sundae Crunch: Download Chocolatesundae

Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies: Download Creamcheesechochip

Double Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies: Download Doublepbchoccookies

Jenn's Cookies (dairy free!): Download Jennscookies

Meatloaf: Download Meatloaf

Oriental Cole Slaw: Download Orientalcoleslaw

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies: Download Pbchocchipcookies

Peanut Crunch Cake: Download Peanutcrunch

Dan's Kool Aid Play Dough: Download Playdough

All Day Potato Soup: Download Potatosoup

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread: Download Pumpkinbread

Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookie: Download Pumpkinoatmealcookie

Pumpkin Streusel Cake: Download Pumpkinstreusel

Refried Beans: Download Refriedbeans

Spaghetti Pie: Download Spaghettipie

Tuna Salad: Download Tunasalad

Turtle Cake: Download Turtlecake

White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies: Download Whitechocolatecranberrycookies

Halloween Weekend!

As it was for most people, last weekend was a bit cuckoo here. It started with Mykiah spending the night at a friend's on Friday. This normally wouldn't make me nervous (much) but she went to a haunted house with that friend and the friend's uncle. This completely freaked me out. I mean, I gave her permission to go, but I really didn't want her to go. Moms, you know what I mean, right?

She had a great time, and called us when she got out and when she got home, but my nerves totally messed up my sleep schedule on Friday night.

Saturday was an early start as I had to run Brady to a robotics competition at a local mall.

This is what it was. Something about using the robot to create chemical compounds. That's probably all I need to know. Brady had great fun hanging out at the mall all day, too.

That evening, after a yummy meal at Chili's, Ches was all set to Trick or Treat.

I sat in the kitchen, working on my laptop, and answered the door for our 4 trick or treaters.

I did totally love the pumpkin Dan had carved earlier in the day.

After trick or treating, Mykiah made Chesney the traditional mug of hot chocolate with ghost marshmallows.

Pretty sure I was the first to bed, with Ghost Hunters playing on the TV....