It was my turn to bring snacks after T'-ball so I pulled out this favorite from my sister in laws collection and made peanut butter bars. I served them with ice cold bottled water and the team gobbled them up. This is also my favorite to bring to dessert socials. Enjoy!!
Peanut Butter Bars
1C flour
1/2 C sugar
1/2 C brown sugar
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 C softened butter
1/4 t salt
1/2 C peanut butter
1 egg
1 C quick cook oats
9 oz. chocolate chips
1. combine flour, sugars, soda, butter, salt, peanut butter, egg and oats. Mix well.
2. press dough into lightly oiled 13x9x2 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes and remove from oven.
3. sprinkle chocolate chips over baked dough and let stand for 5 minutes. Spread melted chocolate chips to cover evenly.
4. cool completely and cut.
Yummy.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Friday, May 6, 2011
Tupperware
That's right folks. Tupperware. In my circle of friends there has been a recent Tupperware explosion. I'm no stranger to the home based business or home shopping party. It is a staple of the Stay-At-Home Mom social network. I love spending time over a cup of coffee swapping stories about children and laundry and how much none of us are like our mothers. I also love to look through the catalogs and samples and dream about the perfect wife/mom/homemaker I could be if only I had the right tools. Then I find an item that I can talk myself into as practical, order my one thing, and get out of there.
http://my2.tupperware.com/tup-html/C/christymiles-welcome.html
Not so with Tupperware. I know that it is not flashy or cool, but I seriously could buy the entire catalog and actually use everything I bought. I don't know when or how we decided that throw away storage containers were better than the classic, lifetime guaranteed, brilliantly engineered products that Tupperware sells but I won't go back again. (and no, I am not going to sign up to sell any) You all know that I love to cook, work on a tight budget and need to store and access many foods. I have found my new Tupperware to be a big help. I also get a little thrill from the neatly lined up, matchy-matchy containers sitting and waiting for me when I open my pantry. I am convinced that my investment in good storage containers will save me money but I will wait until I have evidence from my own experience to share with you before making that claim. For now, I'll just say that they make me happy. And there's nothing wrong with that.
http://my2.tupperware.com/tup-html/C/christymiles-welcome.html
Not so with Tupperware. I know that it is not flashy or cool, but I seriously could buy the entire catalog and actually use everything I bought. I don't know when or how we decided that throw away storage containers were better than the classic, lifetime guaranteed, brilliantly engineered products that Tupperware sells but I won't go back again. (and no, I am not going to sign up to sell any) You all know that I love to cook, work on a tight budget and need to store and access many foods. I have found my new Tupperware to be a big help. I also get a little thrill from the neatly lined up, matchy-matchy containers sitting and waiting for me when I open my pantry. I am convinced that my investment in good storage containers will save me money but I will wait until I have evidence from my own experience to share with you before making that claim. For now, I'll just say that they make me happy. And there's nothing wrong with that.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Strawberry Season
So, in my neck of the woods it is strawberry time. I see strawberries practically lined up along the street at stands on my way to and from Caleb's school, as well as signs posted all over inviting me to come pick my own. If you want to bottle up that delicious smell and beautiful color and enjoy it all year long there is only one thing to do. Make jam. Here is my recipe:
3 lbs. fresh strawberries
3 C sugar
2 lemons
1. clean, hull and slice your berries and add to a large pot over low to medium low heat.
2. add sugar and stir to coat and dissolve
3. add the juice from both lemons and a little of the zest.
4. watch for mixture to boil, stirring occasionally. Once it reaches a full rolling boil the jam should cook for twenty minutes and be stirred every five.
5. test for doneness by placing a glass saucer in the freezer before you get busy with your berries and pulling it out at the twenty minute cook mark, use a spoon to dollop a small amount of jam on the back of the plate and tilt it to see if the jam runs down or seems to have jelled. If jam is still runny, continue to cook testing every five minutes.
6. fill canning jar(s) to within 1/4" of full and close tightly.
Yum..... this jam is delicious and with no fancy jell agents or corn syrup or extra flavoring additives it really concentrates that pure, ripe strawberry flavor. And if you are patient and resist the temptation to turn up the heat you will find this recipe super simple. Enjoy!!
3 lbs. fresh strawberries
3 C sugar
2 lemons
1. clean, hull and slice your berries and add to a large pot over low to medium low heat.
2. add sugar and stir to coat and dissolve
3. add the juice from both lemons and a little of the zest.
4. watch for mixture to boil, stirring occasionally. Once it reaches a full rolling boil the jam should cook for twenty minutes and be stirred every five.
5. test for doneness by placing a glass saucer in the freezer before you get busy with your berries and pulling it out at the twenty minute cook mark, use a spoon to dollop a small amount of jam on the back of the plate and tilt it to see if the jam runs down or seems to have jelled. If jam is still runny, continue to cook testing every five minutes.
6. fill canning jar(s) to within 1/4" of full and close tightly.
Yum..... this jam is delicious and with no fancy jell agents or corn syrup or extra flavoring additives it really concentrates that pure, ripe strawberry flavor. And if you are patient and resist the temptation to turn up the heat you will find this recipe super simple. Enjoy!!
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Easter Menu
He is Risen!!!
I love to celebrate Easter. It is a joyful day in my life. It is also a busy day. Unlike Christmas where you have eight weeks to steep in the holiday message, Easter comes and goes in a flash. Just a blur of new dresses and chocolate eggs. I usually host a holiday meal at my home after church and if you do too you know what a strain it can be to get something special on the table after being out all morning. Here is my super simple Easter lunch menu:
Glazed Ham - buy it high quality and fully cooked, heat it through and melt orange marmalade over it. It's yummy at any temperature.
Green Beans with Almonds - rinse and tear off the ends of fresh green beans, boil in salted water until softened, drain and toss in hot pot with olive oil and slivered almonds.
Sliced Carrots - clean and slice into thin discs, boil in salted water until soft, drain and toss in hot pot with butter and salt and pepper.
Parsleyed New Potatoes - wash and boil whole in salted water until cooked through, drain and toss with butter, salt and fresh chopped parsley in hot pot.
Tea Biscuits - cut buttermilk biscuits out with two inch round and bake. Top with melted butter and poppy seeds and pop back into oven for two minutes.
Lemon Squares - make night before and chill. If scratch baking is not your thing I recommend the Krusteaz mix.
These six items on your table with white dishes and you have a pretty, colorful, quick and simple feast. Enjoy!!
I love to celebrate Easter. It is a joyful day in my life. It is also a busy day. Unlike Christmas where you have eight weeks to steep in the holiday message, Easter comes and goes in a flash. Just a blur of new dresses and chocolate eggs. I usually host a holiday meal at my home after church and if you do too you know what a strain it can be to get something special on the table after being out all morning. Here is my super simple Easter lunch menu:
Glazed Ham - buy it high quality and fully cooked, heat it through and melt orange marmalade over it. It's yummy at any temperature.
Green Beans with Almonds - rinse and tear off the ends of fresh green beans, boil in salted water until softened, drain and toss in hot pot with olive oil and slivered almonds.
Sliced Carrots - clean and slice into thin discs, boil in salted water until soft, drain and toss in hot pot with butter and salt and pepper.
Parsleyed New Potatoes - wash and boil whole in salted water until cooked through, drain and toss with butter, salt and fresh chopped parsley in hot pot.
Tea Biscuits - cut buttermilk biscuits out with two inch round and bake. Top with melted butter and poppy seeds and pop back into oven for two minutes.
Lemon Squares - make night before and chill. If scratch baking is not your thing I recommend the Krusteaz mix.
These six items on your table with white dishes and you have a pretty, colorful, quick and simple feast. Enjoy!!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
In the Bag
I'm talking snacks today. In addition to the daily lunch I pack for Caleb, I have to come up with a snack that is portable enough for the playground and tempting enough that he will actually eat it. Here are some of my favorites:
1. Jonah Snack - Stauffer's Whales crackers and Cheerios for life preservers
2. Heard it Through the Grapevine - "Scrabble" Cheez-its and raisins (my kids don't remember the California Raisins but I do so it's a little joke for me)
3. Smores - Teddy Grahams, Annie's Chocolate Bunnies and mini marshmallows
4. Movie Munchie - a ziptop bag of popcorn with about 10 sour patch kids mixed in
5. Gone Fishin' - thin pretzel sticks and Goldfish crackers
6. Tic Tac Toe - wheat thins and dried apricots
7. Monkey Mix - banana chips and yogurt covered raisins
8. Rice Krispie treats
9. Circus Bag - animal crackers and fruit snacks
10. Banana Man - I seriously get my sharpie and draw a funny face on a banana - he loves it.
There are some "junk" ingredients in the some of these; notably the sour patch kids and marshmallows. The key is quantity. If you use some fun items like those as a garnish on an otherwise healthy snack you get to put good whole grain nutrition in your kids body while still filling him up and finding the fun. Caleb really doesn't ask me for Cheetos or Twinkies and I think it is because he looks forward to his special "snack mix". Enjoy!!
1. Jonah Snack - Stauffer's Whales crackers and Cheerios for life preservers
2. Heard it Through the Grapevine - "Scrabble" Cheez-its and raisins (my kids don't remember the California Raisins but I do so it's a little joke for me)
3. Smores - Teddy Grahams, Annie's Chocolate Bunnies and mini marshmallows
4. Movie Munchie - a ziptop bag of popcorn with about 10 sour patch kids mixed in
5. Gone Fishin' - thin pretzel sticks and Goldfish crackers
6. Tic Tac Toe - wheat thins and dried apricots
7. Monkey Mix - banana chips and yogurt covered raisins
8. Rice Krispie treats
9. Circus Bag - animal crackers and fruit snacks
10. Banana Man - I seriously get my sharpie and draw a funny face on a banana - he loves it.
There are some "junk" ingredients in the some of these; notably the sour patch kids and marshmallows. The key is quantity. If you use some fun items like those as a garnish on an otherwise healthy snack you get to put good whole grain nutrition in your kids body while still filling him up and finding the fun. Caleb really doesn't ask me for Cheetos or Twinkies and I think it is because he looks forward to his special "snack mix". Enjoy!!
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
What Happened?!!
I have been asking myself this question for a week now. My orderly little house and dependable menus are nowhere to be found. They have been replaced by chaos!! Why? I don't really know. My husband did start a new job this week (Yay!!) and my kids did start spring ball and we have been to birthday parties for the past couple of weekends but really I think I just dropped the ball and then let it roll under the couch and haven't gone to get it. In light of my dilemma here are my suggestions for a quick trip back to normal if you are in chaos too.
1. Sandwiches. Go to your store and get some fresh deli meat and cheese from the counter and stop by the bakery for good bread. Swing by produce and get shredded lettuce, tomatoes, apples, cucumbers, carrots...whatever looks good. Serve this at your table and count the food groups. Also notice that there is nothing fried or frozen. Look at your stove with no dirty dishes on it. Sigh a little sigh of relief.
2. Turn off the TV. Tonight everyone can declutter one room and then get together to read a book or play a game.
3. Pack lunches and lay out clothes because tomorrow is going to be a good day.
4. Take a bath and go to bed early. You've earned it.
1. Sandwiches. Go to your store and get some fresh deli meat and cheese from the counter and stop by the bakery for good bread. Swing by produce and get shredded lettuce, tomatoes, apples, cucumbers, carrots...whatever looks good. Serve this at your table and count the food groups. Also notice that there is nothing fried or frozen. Look at your stove with no dirty dishes on it. Sigh a little sigh of relief.
2. Turn off the TV. Tonight everyone can declutter one room and then get together to read a book or play a game.
3. Pack lunches and lay out clothes because tomorrow is going to be a good day.
4. Take a bath and go to bed early. You've earned it.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Coming Home
A loss in our family put us in our car and on the way to Alabama recently. My kids are so good on trips but Montgomery still feels a long way away. We also ate lots of meals on the road and at the homes of others. The company was wonderful and the meals together were nice. The road food... not so great. Now that we're back I made a back to basics menu and we're spending some time around our table together - just the four of us. Here are some of our meals:
Old fashioned tacos with all the fixins
Roasted chicken with mashed potatoes, bread and butter and peas and carrots
Chicken noodle soup with a cheese and cracker plate
Fried chicken with rice and gravy, corn on the cob and sliced tomatoes. Chocolate chip cookies
Spaghetti with meat sauce and green salad
Pancake breakfast with fruit smoothies
Mmm...it's good to be home. Tracy and I both grew up on no frills food and these simple meals make life feel...well, simple. I hope you'll make one this week and remember how great it is to eat and be at home.
Old fashioned tacos with all the fixins
Roasted chicken with mashed potatoes, bread and butter and peas and carrots
Chicken noodle soup with a cheese and cracker plate
Fried chicken with rice and gravy, corn on the cob and sliced tomatoes. Chocolate chip cookies
Spaghetti with meat sauce and green salad
Pancake breakfast with fruit smoothies
Mmm...it's good to be home. Tracy and I both grew up on no frills food and these simple meals make life feel...well, simple. I hope you'll make one this week and remember how great it is to eat and be at home.
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