Granola Cereal

We go through a lot of cereal in our house.  The girls mostly eat Cheerios, which I am fine with.  I am not a sugar cereal person, so I'll eat boring, healthy stuff.  The Hubster is the wild card.  He'll eat Cheerios, or Honey Nut Cheerios, or Frosted Mini Wheats, or Bran Flakes, the list goes on.  

Goodness though, have you noticed how expensive cereal is these days?!  It wouldn't be terrible if it was just the girls and me eating it.  But the Hubster eats more than a normal serving size.  Probably a normal portion for a grown man.  It just means we go through a box of whatever it is very quickly.

Not to mention the crap in those boxes.  Lots of sugar.  And lots of who knows what else.

A while back I found a recipe in a magazine (and I can't find it for the life of me, so I have no idea which one) for Granola.  I gave it a shot and the Hubster raved about it.  It was pretty delicious.  Also, very easy to throw together.  The part that takes the longest period of time is just letting it cool so you can put it away.

I always double the recipe, because again, we go through it fast.  

This is about 3 bowls short of the recipe being doubled.

Granola Cereal

Preheat oven to 300degrees

Mix:

3 c oats
1 1/2 c chopped pecans
3 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
1/3 c honey
1/4 tsp salt

Mix to coat.  Put on parchment lined (I use a silpat) cookie sheet for 30min.  Mix half way through.  You want it to be lightly golden.

Cool completely.  Store in airtight container.  Makes 4 1/2 cups.

Serving size 1/2 c.  272 calories.  16.6 g fat.  3.2 g saturatedfat.  5.8 g protein.  27.4 g carbs.  4 g fiber.

My oven runs a little bit hot, so it took about 25 minutes to cook.  One full recipe is enough to put on two cookie sheets.  

We are sort of plain janes around here, but you can add craisins, raisins, or whatever dried fruit you'd like to jazz it up a bit.  

Enjoy!

Olive Garden Breadsticks (Knock-Offs) Recipe

Yesterday was a busy day!  I had my two girls home, and was watching a friend's twin boys (so a 4 year old and three 2 year olds).  It was fun!  And believe it or not, quiet!  They were so busy playing together they really didn't pay much attention to me at all!  I even got some Banana Bread made!

Later in the afternoon, I had three of my girlfriends over and all of their kiddos.  We were so very outnumbered.  Three adults and seven kids all ages four and under!

I made stuffed shells and was planning to do a short cut for garlic bread.  I bought the boxed stuff.  I love a good frozen garlic bread.  I don't often get it because of all the extra who knows what is in it.  And really, it is a lot cheaper to make my own.  It also leaves more room in my freezer!

... Then my girlfriend warned me that even if her kids don't eat dinner, they will eat all of the breadsticks.  I got worried.  Clearly one box of Texas Toast wasn't going to cut it!

I saw this recipe online for a Knock Off of Olive Garden's breadsticks.  And if you know me at all, you know my love for OG breadsticks (and alfredo sauce!).  I had all of the ingredients and I figured why not.  I threw all of the ingredients into my bread machine on the dough cycle (in the order recommended) and then formed them and let them rise for another hour before baking.  Easy!

They were delicious.  I forgot to take pictures.  So.  Here is the pic from the blog I grabbed the recipe from:

Mine were actually shaped nicer than that!  Woot!

There wasn't an indication of how many bread sticks the recipe would make, so I sort of winged it.  Started dividing the dough in half.  And again.  And again.  I ended up with 18 good sized breadsticks!

They went like hotcakes!  By the time everyone left, there were three left!  After the Hubster came home, they were all gone!

One thing to note, mine did not take the full 15 minutes!  I should have put the timer on for 8 minutes and started watching them at that point.  I suppose the blogger made less.  Had I counted the picture I would have figured it out, eh?

I will definitely be making these again.  And again.  And again.

Enjoy!

Peggy's Famous A-Z Bread

One of my favorite smells is my Mom's (Peggy) Famous A-Z Bread baking in the oven.  I have memories of this scent in all of the homes I ever lived in.  It is a piece of my childhood.

A-Z Bread?  Ah, yes.  A-Z Bread.  Most of the time that means Banana Bread for me.  But you can put whatever you want in it.  While we were very little, my mom was known to put leftover baby food in there.  Apples (or apple sauce), Bananas, Cranberries... all the way to Zucchinis.  This recipe is a fabulous way to use leftovers.

Even nicer?  It is a quick bread.  No scary yeast to worry about.  Seriously, this recipe is pretty fool proof.  You can even mix different items together.  I often have over ripe bananas, but not quite enough for the recipe, so I add some apple sauce to make up the difference.  And it makes two loaves of bread, eat one now and throw the other in the freezer for when you are having company overnight!

Peggy's Famous A-Z Bread

3c Flour
1 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp Baking Powder
3 tsp Cinnamon
2 c Sugar
2 c A-Z (*note for apples and cranberries use 3c) mashed/grated/diced
3 tsp Vanilla
3 Eggs
1 c Vegetable/Canola Oil
1c Chopped Nuts (Optional)

Directions:
1.  Sift dry ingredients in a large bowl.
2.  Beat eggs.  Add oil and sugar.  Cream well.
3.  Add A-Z and vanilla
4.  Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients.  Mix well.
5.  Add nuts (optional).  Mix well
6.  Spoon into two greased loaf pans.

Bake at 325 degrees for an hour.

Enjoy!

Ingredients (after I mashed four bananas)

Consistency is more like batter than dough

About to go in the oven!

Your house now smells delicious!

And now your children are pulling down your pants begging for banana bread!

Pure Joy at 10pm

The last few days we've been breaking the habit of having lights on at bedtime for Big One.  Nightlights are fine, she actually has two of them.  But Big One is a reader.  She will read for hours until she passes out from exhaustion.  I love that she loves to read!  But not at 10pm.

So Big One is not thrilled with this change, but has been falling asleep a little bit earlier.  Until tonight.  I heard her on the video monitor just a few minutes ago, but couldn't make out what she was saying.  I turned up the sound and melted.

This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine....

Be still my beating heart.

My baby is getting big.

Nutella Cookies

I saw a Pin for Nutella cookies months ago.  I was waiting for the perfect opportunity to make them (aka bring them somewhere).  The other week it was yucky out and I felt like baking.  So despite the fact that I knew I'd end up eating the majority of them.... sigh...

They were absolutely delicious! 

I loosely followed the recipe on the link.  But I prefer the base of the cookie from Tollhouse.  I cook eat their chocolate chip cookies all day long.  

Recipe:

2 1/4c flour

1tsp baking soda

1tsp salt

1c softened butter

3/4c granulated sugar

3/4c packed brown sugar

2tsp vanilla extract (Yes, I know the recipe says 1tsp but I always double the vanilla.  Trust me.)

2 large eggs

Nutella

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combone flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. 
3. Grease mini muffin tins.  
4. I used my smallest cookie scoop to fill the muffin tins.  
5. Bake for 10-12 minutes until they just start to brown around the edges.
6. After cooling for a couple of minutes, use a shot glass or a spoon to push down the middle.  You need a spot to put that yummy Nutella!
7. Scoop some Nutella into each hole.  
8. If you are a perfectionist (I am not), swirl the top and make it pretty.
9. Enjoy.

Baked Cod Recipe

I grew up with this recipe.  My mom used to make it a lot.  Most of the time with Haddock, I believe.  I was perusing the fish counter yesterday and saw Alaskan Cod.  Sold.  I'm sort of picky when it comes to fish.  I have yet to try Salmon (::ducking from the flames::), I have a feeling it will be too fishy.  One day I will grow the courage to make it... and eat it.

So anyway.  I like mild fish.  It also has to be from the USA.  I don't know... just feels safer to me.  Heh.  

So this is an easy, fast recipe to throw together.  And delicious.  

Baked Cod with Ritz Cracker Topping

I wish I had a picture for you, but I was starving last night.  

So my changes.  I got 3/4 lb of fish and used 1 sleeve of crackers.  I threw them in the food processor because I'm lazy.  I also used garlic powder, salt, and pepper on the fish before putting the crackers on top.  

Oh, and if you think I pulled out some pliers you don't know me very well!  Heh.

Enjoy!

January Vaca

Well, there I went disappearing again.  Sorry about that.

We had a busy January.  We drove several hours away to do a belated Christmas with the Hubster's family. We had a great time.  We spent time with the Hubster's parents, sister, nieces, Grandmother, Aunt, Uncle, Cousin, and Great  Aunt.

As always, the time flies by too quickly  We did have a very nice visit.  And we were all spoiled rotten!

It was so chaotic that I didn't get many pictures at all!  I'm hoping my fabulous In-Laws will send some soon!

After we left there, we headed to an enormous indoor water park.  This was the best family vacation we could have picked.  Our girls are water babies.  They loved every second of it, and the Hubster and I did too!  We stayed for two nights and three days and it was perfect!  Little One even slept in the bottom bunk!  No more Pack-N-Play for us!  Woot!  A funny from Big One... she insisted that she was Ariel every single time she was swimming.  She cracks me up.

See them under there?!

On our way back home, we had lunch with the Hubster's family.  It was so great!  I saw it on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and knew I wanted to try it when we visited!  The Leaping Lizard Cafe was tiny.  They had real chickens roaming around the property!  They have their own garden and all of their ingredients are fresh (hence those chickens).  It was delicious.  The sweet potato biscuit with ham and jam was amazing!  I had the tuna sandwich and it was the best I've ever eaten!  I imagine they get very busy at lunch time, so if you plan to visit, plan accordingly.  Also, they only had one high chair; really not a super kid friendly place, although we didn't have any issues with the girls.  Their website is lacking, but I assure you, the food is not.  A must try if you are in the area!

When we returned home the Hubster decided we needed to transition Little One into her toddler bed.  I had quite a bit of anxiety about this.  Little One is a pretty good sleeper, and I knew when she could run around her room there would be much less sleeping.  She actually has done rather well.  Several nights she has decided to sleep on the floor, right in front of the door.  Pitiful.  Sort of breaks my heart, but she doesn't seem bothered by it.  She moves her two pillow pets over and her dream lite and she is happy as a clam.

Loving her Big Girl bed!

Ballet has also started again for the girls.  Big One is loving it, especially tap.  She is doing a great job learning to follow the teacher's lead.  I think one of the bigger challenges is filtering out the girls who are not paying attention.  I'm happy to see that she is not a follower when others aren't obeying.  Proud Mama moment.  Little One really surprised me.  She runs straight into class each week!  No tears!  No fighting me to get dressed!  Amazing what a few weeks of growth will do!

My girls are getting big.  I am so proud of them.

2012 Wrap Up

2012 was a busy year for us.  The Hubster got his work license and finished at the top of his class.  Big One started pre-school.  She loves it.  Little One is pure snuggle and spunk.  I'm still running around like a chicken with my head cut off.

We had our first family vacation.  The Hubster and I had our first weekend away from the girls.  We celebrated five years of marriage.  We went camping.  The Hubster got to race some cool cars.  I got a couple of weekends away with my girlfriends.

Sure we had some bumps in the road, but the big picture was pretty bright from this seat.

We had family in town for Christmas this year and it was awesome.  Just like when I was growing up.  The girls had a blast.  They loved all of the extra people (and puppy) in our home, and of course the added attention they received.  Our Christmas was full of love, lots of laughter, and incredibly yummy food.

We are so very blessed.  I am definitely looking forward to what 2013 will bring!

Happy New Year!

After Christmas Eve service with my mom and sister.

With Little One at church.

Opening up Christmas Eve PJs.

Well that pretty much sums up his year, huh?

The Hubster and my dad carving the turkey.

We got a teeny bit of snow!

Our 7 foot tall Frosty!

The Season of Giving.

This is the season of giving.  I wish it was all year long, but it seems that as everyone's budgets get tighter, giving is one area that just doesn't make the cut all year long.

I have these amazing friends that live in the computer.  I'm going to chat a little bit about two of them and then I'm going to send you to one of their blogs (because she is way more eloquent than me).  Megan, my Blogess friend, is one of the coolest people that I have ever met.  She and her husband have the patience of a Saint.  They have two adorable kiddos.  One is the same age as Big One (four years old) and the other is a few months younger than Little One.  Ry, their four year old is very cool, he loves to read, and he is autistic.

My other friend is Kat.  She is also incredibly patient.  And generous.  And has one of the biggest hearts.  She is also very talented.  You can check out her work at Mama's Sewing Room.  I have some of the most adorable aprons thanks to her!  Her youngest son, Bean, is also the same age as Big One.  He was also diagnosed with autism.  Kat has been trying to raise money for a special sensory clinic so her son (and many others) can get the help that they so desperately need and deserve.

Please take a couple of minutes and read more about it here at MegCentric.

Meet Bean.  Isn't he the cutest?

I know funds are tight for everyone, especially with Christmas fast approaching.  But please consider donating to this worthy cause.  Autism rates are now 1:88 children.  These children need our help.

You may donate here.  Every dollar helps!

Cheap Razor Update

Remember a couple of weeks ago I posted about this very cool company who mails out razors for cheap?  I thought it was time for an update.

I got my razors within a couple of days.  Super fast.  Well packaged, but not wasteful.  I received my new razor which was a good construction, sturdy, definitely not cheap feeling.  And I received my four razors.  They looked great too!

I used it for the first time yesterday and I was so very pleased!

Dollar Shave Club definitely gets my business from now on!  When the Hubster runs out, we will be doubling our order!

So use my link and go get some for yourself!  http://www.dollarshaveclub.com/ref/index/r/5757/1f34nvq/

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Big One is learning some new songs at school in preparation for the Christmas program they are doing in a week and a half.  Each day after school I ask her what she has learned and she tells me that she doesn't remember.  Hmph.

Well then this happened!

Happy birthday, Jesus!  Happy birthday, Jesus!  Hallelujah Christ is born!  Happy birthday, Jesus!  Happy birthday, Jesus!  Hallelujah Christ is born!  Happy birthday, Jesus!  Happy birthday, Jesus!  Hallelujah Christ is born!

I cannot wait to see the performance!

Christmas Tree with Memories

Growing up we always had a tree full of hodgepodge ornaments.  I loved decorating the tree because my mom would explain where each ornament came from.  Each year my parents would pick out the perfect ornament for each of us.  When my parents got married and had their first Christmas tree they didn't have any ornaments to decorate it with.  They wanted to be sure that wasn't the case for the three of us.  Sure enough, when I graduated and moved out, I had my memory box full of ornaments for my tree.  It was such a great gift.

We have carried on that tradition.  Each year we get a family ornament and each of us gets our own ornament.  When the girls move out and start their own families they will have a box full of happy memories too.

I know lots of people that have a beautiful, color coordinated Christmas tree each year.  It is perfection, for sure.  But I wouldn't trade our tree full of memories for anything.

I need another strand of bead garland.  But I love it!

Hours of fluffing

Um, how come no one warned me about the hours and hours of moving the tree branches around to get it just right?!

The Hubster put the tree together while the rest of us slept last night.  I walked down and stared at the tree in horror this morning.  That is not what the tree looked like in the store!  I really thought that I made a $180 mistake!  So after running around all morning, I started to fluff the branches as they call it.  Heh.

Of course Little One was sooooo excited about all of the pretty lights.  She exclaimed that the tree was "beautiful" as soon as she saw it all it up.  And I told her "No touching" every time she came close to it.  Well, later in the afternoon I continued to fluff the dang tree.  And it was like LO had radar.  Anytime I started she would run into the room and say, "No touching, mama!"

And now you know why it took me hours!

So it appears that we won't be actually decorating the tree today!  Sigh.  Tomorrow.  Maybe.

No bake energy bites, WOW butter, and Kenny update!

Back again, huh?  Geesh.  Who knew I had so much to say?!  Heh.  I'm kidding.  I talk.  A lot.

Anyway.  So I was browsing Pinterest today and ran into this recipe for No Bake Energy Bites.  I had to do some modifying due to Big One's peanut allergy and the Hubster's hatred for all things coconut.  Sigh.  He kills me.

So I made mine like this.

1c dry oats
2/3 c chopped walnuts (make sure you chop them and then measure them)
1/2 c almond butter (any nut, seed, or WOW butter would work)
1/2 c wheat germ
1/2 c chocolate chips
1/3 c honey (you need the stickiness so make sure you use honey)
1 tsp vanilla extract


Mix it all up.  Refrigerate for 30 minutes.  Roll into balls.  I used a Tbsp measurement and got 24 of them.  Huge hit over here.  Keep them in the fridge and they will stay good for a week.

Again, I take no credit for the picture.  It is from the blog I mentioned above.  I really need to just take my own pictures already!

So now are you looking at me like I have three heads?  WOW butter?  What is that?  It is pretty awesome.  A friend of mine introduced me to it this summer!  It tastes very similar to peanut butter, but it is made with soy!

(Disclaimer - I am now an Amazon Affiliate.  So if by chance you need six cases of Wow Butter and decide to buy through the link above - heh - I'll get a small portion of the sale.)

Definitely worth a try if your child, or their friend is allergic to nuts!  I used it the other day to make granola bars for Big One to bring to school and all of the students and teachers were impressed!

And in other fabulous news, Kenny was adopted today!  My girlfriend is so very relieved, and I am too!  I hope Kenny has found an amazingly loving home!  Thanks to all of you who helped spread the word about him!

Kenny Needs a Home!

I bet you thought you wouldn't see me today!

I was planning to take the day off, but I was chatting with my best friend from college last night and she needs your help!  She is expecting a little one (hooray!!!!) and one of their dogs isn't super infant friendly.  He'd be just fine with an older child, just not one that doesn't know they aren't supposed to pull and jump on and take toys from a little dog.  So he needs a home.  A foster home or a permanent home.  And fast.

He is adjusting to the humane society.  He has been there all week.  But unfortunately, they won't keep him very long.  Breaks my heart.

So if you are out in Colorado, or know someone who is.  Or if you are willing to travel (or maybe even meet?), please let me know.  And fast!  Did I mention that?

Kenny is only one year old and about 15lbs  He is house trained.  He is smart, well-trained, good with cats and other dogs, and loving, and so much fun.  And he deserves a good home.

So please.  Click here to see Kenny.  And please share this post!  You never know who it might reach!

Cheap razors? Yes, please!

I hate spending money on razors.  They are so dang expensive.  I end up not changing out the blades nearly often enough.  Which is no fun either.

A friend of mine found Dollar Shave Club.  Brilliant!  So I signed up.  If you get the $6/month option the shipping is free.  I hate paying for shipping.  I hope the razors are fabulous.  Keep your fingers crossed for me.

And if you want to try it out yourself, use my referral code!

http://www.dollarshaveclub.com/ref/index/r/5757/1f34nvq/

I'll keep you posted on whether or not they are good quality when they arrive.  But from here on out I swear I will change my razors more often!

And with that I have successfully finished blogging every. single. day. this. month.  

Don't count on seeing me tomorrow!

Odds and Ends

Random things for you today.

1.  Funny things kids say.  I picked Big One up from school today and she said to me, "Mama, it sure is a blustery day!"  HA!  Well, yes it is, kid.  Yes it is.

2.  I'm feeling overwhelmed thinking of all of the projects I need to get moving on.  I'm making a quilt for Little One.  Not a patchwork quilt, I don't have the patience for that.  One of these days I'll work up the courage to move Little One to her toddler bed, and she will need a blanket.  I have the fabric and the batting.  I just don't have the motivation.

3.  Project number two is that I've decided to make pajama pants for all of us for Christmas Eve.  We usually give the girls Christmas pajamas and then I pick up some PJ pants for the Hubster and he finds something for me.  Last year, I made the Hubster's.  So four pairs?  Why not.  See?  Overwhelmed.

4.  We still have not set up the tree or pulled out the Christmas decorations.  I think we will do that on Tuesday when the Hubster is home from work.  That will give me a chance to get everything else squared away and maybe do some sewing before that room turns into Christmas central.

5.  It is cold here.  And it isn't even December yet.  I have a feeling we are going to have a snowy year.  Sigh.  That will make Big One very happy.  I would much rather have a 70 degree Christmas Day.

Catch Up

The girls had their well checks today (finally).  Having fall birthdays, and having Big One starting preschool means that we have only had a few days since September where the girls have been healthy!

Big One lost interest by the time she got down to the part of the eye chart that really mattered, so she scored a 20/50 for her eyes.  I really don't think she is having trouble seeing.  I could be wrong.  They will check again next year.  She was 34lbs and 39" tall.  Following along her curve still.

Little One is 28lbs and 34" tall.  She is also hitting all of her milestones and following along her curve rather nicely.  They were impressed with her language skills, we have two talkers now.

Little One is catching up.  I think it is probably only another couple of years before she has caught up with Big One in height and weight.  I'm sure at the same time they will be wearing the same size clothing.

The Hubster came with us and he was curious to know how tall they will be.  Apparently there is a formula.  Did you know that?  If you take Hubster's height + My height / 2 and then add 2 inches for a boy and subtract 2 for a girl.  So the girls will probably be around 5'5".  Which makes sense.  That is as tall as me give or take.

Each girl got one vaccine and screamed bloody murder.  Fun times.  But nothing a few munchkins couldn't fix.

Here's hoping they don't pop fevers and sleep tonight!

Girls' Bathroom

I am pretty sure I haven't put up pictures from the girls' bathroom yet.  Have I?  My brain doesn't function when it is this yucky and grey outside.

The Hubster finished this project before starting the Master Bath.  Again, he did a fabulous job.  I think it looks really serene.  I wanted to keep a couple pops of fun in there.  It is the girls' bathroom after all.  So the frogs stayed.

We ended up keeping the vanity and the counter top.  We looked at replacing it, but there really wasn't anything wrong with it.  So we kept it and just updated the faucet and Hubster framed out the mirror.  We also took down a builder's grade medicine cabinet from 18 years ago and replaced it with the one over the toilet.  I had the shower curtain in our pile of extras, we used it when we moved into our first home.  So over all, pretty cheap remodel.

I love that frog mat.

Please excuse the garbage can on top of the toilet.  We have a 2 year old and a dog.  They are both trouble makers.

The Hubster is already going through withdrawals.  Nothing to do?!  A week off?!  Ahh!  He started P90X. I'm not kidding, he cannot sit still.  There are worse things.  Right?!

Family Pic

One of my favorite college friends and her beautiful family came to visit us on Saturday.  I haven't seen her in almost three years, way too long.  We now have three more children between us!

It made my heart so happy to sit and catch up with her and her husband while our children played together.  Amazing.

She started her own photography business and does beautiful work.  She actually took some pics of us the last time we visited her.  I had just found out I was pregnant with Little One.  Big One was 18 months old.  My how time flies.

Here is one of her shots.  I love it!