Camping with some Tasty Turkey Burgers!

We did manage to squeeze in a trip with the RV (only the water pump blew!) to go camping which was a lot of fun and I’m not as cranky as I might have been otherwise. This is good-- the kids go back to school Monday! Back to school is always crazy. It starts with a packet-pick-up day a week or two before the start of school. The packet contains the one million forms that must be filled out by every member of our extended family. We call it “homework for parents.” Anyway we have a month left until school start, I guess I should be getting back into the swing of things, you know like showering our kids regularly and making sure they have school clothes. Hannah Rose’s new uniform of course isn’t the same *&^%$ color as her old one so I had to find a dozen fashionable black polo’s and new nice but not decorated or baggy or decorated or torn etc. jeans. I don’t even want to get into the joys of bra shopping with her. Then there’s the “rally” a few days before school starts. For Hannah Rose it’s called Falcon Frenzy and she’s at least pleased with the classes she got. That’s when parents and kids descend in a crazy mob to return forms, sign up to volunteer, study the class lists to find out whether they’re grouped with friend or foe, and check out the classroom for the next year. I try not to be THAT mom. But it is in my blood to procrastinate to the point of absurdity. I try to let the fruits of my wait-to-the-last-moment harvest affect only me, but one year I was THAT mom. The mom that sent her kids to school on the first day without school supplies. {Gasp} It has been a busy end of summer, start of fall. We had returned from camping to find that the to-do list exceeded the time available for to-doing. So I got Hannah Rose outfitted in new school uniforms, needed shoes, belts, backpacks and lunch boxes. I ordered a list of books for each child that rivaled a library aisle in size. Who knew binders came in so many sizes? Will she really fail 11 grade if I get the 2 inch instead of the 3 inch? I guess so. Anyway, during our camping we naturally had to cook outside and we recommend these turkey burgers. Tasty Turkey Burgers • 1 lb ground turkey • 1/2 cup dry breadcrumbs (I use whole wheat) • 3 tablespoons onions, minced • 2 tablespoons ketchup • 1 tablespoon lemon juice • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce • 1 teaspoon soy sauce • 1/4 teaspoon paprika • 2 garlic cloves, minced • 1/4 teaspoon liquid red pepper seasoning (optional) • black pepper, to taste • 6 hamburger buns, to serve Directions: 1. Combine all ingredients in large bowl. 2. Shape into 6 patties. 3. Pan-fry, broil, or grill until lightly browned and cooked through, about 5 minutes per side. 4. Serve in hamburger buns with desired toppings. 5. Lay out the toppings: lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, ketchup, and fat-free/light mayo.

Everything's better with chocolate....and wine.

Well I’ve not written much lately because it’s been insane at work, with a teacher out on medical leave and 5 weeks of workman’s comp and covering her classroom although we discovered in the end she was fine and did not indeed have a “broken spine” . Ugh. Then she was accused of slapping a child and there was a 3 week investigation by the state, meanwhile I’m paying 2 staff members to “do” one person’s job. Naturally she didn't do it and everything's fine it just took forever to sort out. So yes a very stressful summer. Oi vey. This summer at work has had a series of downwards spirals that really just turned in to me clawing at the sides of a bottomless pit. I’m getting too old for this…… So tonight I will eat chocolate and drink wine. Lots of both. After all I have to get the kids ready for school this weekend and I might as well wallow in irresponsibility as long as possible. Chocolate Truffles Recipe INGREDIENTS Basic truffle ingredients • 8 ounces of semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate (high quality, 62% cacao or higher), well chopped into small pieces • 1/2 cup of heavy whipping cream • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract Optional base flavorings: • Mint leaves (1 bunch, stems removed, chopped, about 1 cup) • Cinnamon and cardamon (1 cinnamon stick, 2 cardamom pods) • Amaretto (1-2 tablespoons) • Almond extract (1 teaspoon) Truffle coatings • Cocoa powder • Finely chopped walnuts • Finely chopped almonds METHOD 1 In a small, heavy saucepan bring the heavy whipping cream to a simmer (this may take a while, be sure to stir and scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula every few minutes). If you are using one of the other recommended flavorings, stir it in with the cream (and ignore vanilla in the next step). If adding mint or other solids, after the cream simmers, remove from heat and let seep for an hour. Then strain away solids, and return the cream to a simmer and proceed with recipe. 2 Place the chocolate in a separate bowl. Pour the cream over the chocolate, add the vanilla, and allow to stand for a few minutes then stir until smooth. (This chocolate base is called ganache.) 3 Allow to cool, then place in the refrigerator for two hours. Remove and with a teaspoon roll out balls of the ganache. Roll in your hands quickly (as it will melt from the heat of your hands) and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place in the refrigerator overnight. 4 Roll in cocoa powder or chopped nuts and serve, or place back in the refrigerator until needed. Yield: Makes 30-40 chocolate truffles

Iced Animal Cookies

Matthew 15:9-11 (KJV), “As the Father hath loved me, so I have loved you:  continue ye in my love.  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.  These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” 

Which do you prefer a half empty cup, or a full cup?  Maybe you want even more!  The Bible uses the illustration of fullness to show the depth of joy a Believer can experience.  It is often illustrated as the difference between better and best. 

A non-verbal 2 year old boy in our preschool demonstrated this truth quite innocently during our prince and princess party last week.  We got special iced animal crackers to share with the children, offering a few at a time.  One little boy gladly accepted the first two offered to him, and then the next two offered.  On the third return to child’s napkin, the little fellow had brought one of the toy cups from the play kitchen.  He held it out so it could be filled to the brim! 

Many of us would gladly settle for half a cup, but Jesus exhorts us to desire that full cup of joy.  He wants us to love Him wholeheartedly, unreservedly, and He wants us to trust Him enough to obey Him. 

Let us pray:
LORD, you are my strength and my song; you also have become my salvation. Therefore with joy let me draw water from the wells of salvation. Your joy is my strength. You are my joy and my strength. Let me know you in this way.

Iced Animal Cookies

Ingredients

·         2 cups flour

·         ¾ teaspoon baking soda

·         ½ teaspoon salt

·         1 1/4cups sugar

·         1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter, softened

·         1 large egg

·         2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

·         1 11 ½ ounce bag  white chocolate chips

·         2 tablespoons multicolored nonpareil sprinkles

Directions

1.    In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. Using an electric mixer, beat the sugar and butter on high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in the egg and vanilla, scraping the bowl as necessary. Gradually beat in the dry ingredients on low speed.

2.    Shape the dough into 2 balls. Place each ball between 2 sheets of wax paper and roll out to a 10-inch round. Slide onto a cookie sheet and refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.

3.    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Using a 2 1/2-inch animal-shape cookie cutter, cut the dough into cookies, gathering scraps and re-rolling until all the dough has been cut. Place cookies 1 inch apart on parchment-paper-lined cookie sheets. Bake until the edges are golden-brown, 15-20 minutes. Let cool.

4.    In a small saucepan, melt the white chocolate over low heat, stirring, until glossy. Using a small offset spatula, spread the chocolate on the cookies and transfer to a wax-paper-lined cookie sheet. Top with the sprinkles. Refrigerate until set, about 1 hour.

Tips- Make your cookies pretty thick (at least 1/4 inch) so they are firm and won't snap while being dunked in melted chocolate.   If you are using “store bought dough”, put your cookies in when they are really cold; don't let your dough soften.  You can also cut, and put in the fridge or freezer so it's firm dough.  If you bake it too soft, it will puff up and be unrecognizable blobs of shapes. 

Did Laura Ingalls eat peanutbutter?

I know you hear a lot about being frugal and there are websites, books and blogs on the topic. But really when I think about frugal living there is only one example that really goes to the basics. It’s the Little House on the Prairie Series I read as a child.  In Laura's early childhood, her father settled on land not yet open for homesteading in what was then Indian Territory. There if they were lucky enough to have a dead wild deer dragged home or butchered a hog you ate every inch of that animal and meat was so rare and expensive they consumed very little of it. And one of my favorite stories what when Laura got an orange and a single candy cane one year for Christmas. Golly gee my son tosses out enough half eaten fresh fruit to boggle the socks off Laura Ingalls. Now wonder we’re dying of cancer and heart disease these days, look at the crap we eat. When you look at the way of life featured in those books you can learn to save money and make the most with what you have. Now I’m not knocking everything from my current life style, antibiotics, indoor plumbing and birth control are 3 inventions I’m convinced the world can’t progress without but still with all the squawk about frugal tips I think Ma Ingalls was the best role model out there.

One thing I keep around for The Professional Picky Eaters is peanut butter. My kids eat a ton of it and I try to look for recipes that use it in the hopes of getting them to eat something that doesn’t come with bread and jelly. So here’s what I’m going to try in the true spirit of Ma Ingalls, only I’m using store bought peanuts cuz I don’t have the yard space to grow them and the dogs would probably dig them up anyway. I’m also using time saving devices and electricity since unlike Ma I am not a stay at home domestic goddess. My family goes through a lot of peanut butter, so while buying them still in the shell or skins is much cheaper, I would rather pay a little more and save a lot of time.

Homemade Peanut Butter

Ingredients:

     1½ c. unsalted roasted peanuts

    1 tbsp. peanut oil

Directions:

For smooth peanut butter:

1.    Mix the peanuts with the peanut oil, and pour the mixture into the food processor.

2.    Process the mixture until it's very smooth.

3.    Store your smooth peanut butter in a sealed container in the fridge. It will be good for 2 weeks.

For chunky peanut butter:

1.    Take about ¼ cup out of your 1½ cups of peanuts and set them aside.

2.    Mix the rest of the peanuts with the oil, and pour the mixture into the food processor.

3.    Process the mixture until it's very smooth, then stir in the peanuts that you had set aside.

4.    Process a few seconds more to create the chunks in your chunky peanut butter.

5.    Store your chunky peanut butter in a sealed container in the fridge. It will be good for 2 weeks.

Momma gave up Wine for Lent

I’m as guilty as anyone on this. I can’t think of a New Year’s resolution that I have followed through on for the whole 365 days. From things as simple as ‘telling people what I really think’ to the ever-complicated ‘telling people how I feel’, I’ve not ever followed through on a resolution. Besides I'm kind of frightened about 52 weeks. So I'm working on a solid Lent experience this year. That's 7 weeks. I can do this. This year, in an effort to remain accountable, I’ve decided to document my resolution on the internet. That way if I succeed I can gloat and if I fail at least I was right about never following through. This year I’ve given up booze. Yes, starting with my favorite pink sparkly wine. I have 1000 good reasons to have a glass or two of wine every day, starting with the fact that I’m a preschool director and I have 38 kids, their parents including all sorts of blended family dramas, I have to keep 9 women happy (why Mormon men have multiple wives I never understand), work with 5 state agencies and 2 federal, have 2 kids of my own and The Husband. Ok sometimes it’s more than just 2 glasses and there have been times the next day where I had a second heartbeat in my head which may be actually scaring the gerbils in my office.  So it might be good for me health wise and I figure if Jesus can die on the cross for me I can give up wine and all its tasty warm fuzzy cousins for 40 days. So in light of that I’m going to try to have some yummy punch options on hand so I don’t worry that my wine glass feels unloved or not needed. This is SO easy and everyone loves it, I use a pineapple, lemonade, apple juice frozen concentrate with it sometimes instead of the sherbet and it's wonderful.

Easy Fruit Punch

Original recipe makes 60 (4 ounce) servings

1 (64 fluid ounce) bottle fruit punch, chilled

1 (64 fluid ounce) bottle unsweetened pineapple juice, chilled

1 (2 liter) bottle ginger ale, chilled

(optional) 1/2 gallon any flavor (I use orange) sherbet

 Directions

1.    In a punch bowl, mix together fruit punch, pineapple juice and ginger ale. Add scoops of sherbet into the punch. Wait for the sherbet to begin melting, approximately 10 minutes, stir gently, and serve.

Raspberry Oatmeal Cookie Bars

It’s Valentine’s Day tomorrow and I have no gift for The Husband. Not really. I have a card, a gag gift and brought him some roses the other day. But not any wonderful sparking shiny thoughtful gift. Why? Me the lover of all holidays am I gift less? Because we after 19 years of marriage I simply asked him what he wanted and he couldn’t make up his mind except that he wanted a Jaw Saw. A 150 dollar dangerous tool that he’d probably lose a few fingers with hours after opening it. First of all The Budget really isn’t able to support a 150 dollar Valentine’s Day gift and secondly he told me this after the week started and I wasn’t able to pick one up at Kroger’s. If I can’t get it at the grocery store M-F it’s just not going to happen, I work 50 hours a week at least. So I figured I’d make an elegant and fancy dinner. Let the kids watch TV while they ate hot dogs or grilled cheese and we ate quietly by candle light in the dining room.

Then my daughter comes into the kitchen with her phone clamped to the side of her face. “Momma (she calls me that because she’s a Southerner, I’m a Yankee but I’ve gotten used to it) can my boyfriend come over for dinner on Thursday? Thursday? What’s Thursday? Oh Valentine’s Day. Hmmm. Well honey I reply it is a school night and I thought we’d agreed that we’d limit our boyfriend included adventures to weekends. She responded “ok well can I go over there then?” Well, he’s nearly 4 years older, turning 19 and he’s mom’s not around much. So I jump back with “sure sweetheart I’ll fix something you guys like.” A Valentine’s Day dinner for 5 on short notice, during the week with a fridge full of leftovers won’t be easy. I’ll start with dessert.  My husband doesn’t eat chocolate (I KNOW) and my kids are kind of MEH about cheesecake (SERIOUSLY), but everyone in this house will eat the shizz out of some cookie bars. I wanted something sort of Valentine’s Day-ish and oatmeal is good for you right? So there we will begin:

Raspberry Oatmeal Cookie Bars (makes 1 8x8-inch pan)

1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

1 cup (all-purpose) whole wheat flour

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 cup rolled oats (not instant)

1/2 cup

butter, softened

3/4 cup

seedless raspberry jam

Directions

1.    Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease one 8 inch square pan, and line with greased foil.

2.    Combine brown sugar, flour, baking soda, salt, and rolled oats. Rub in the butter using your hands or a pastry blender to form a crumbly mixture. Press 2 cups of the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Spread the jam to within 1/4 inch of the edge. Sprinkle the remaining crumb mixture over the top, and lightly press it into the jam.

3.    Bake for 35 to 40 minutes in preheated oven, or until lightly browned. Allow to cool before cutting into bars.

Cheddar Bunnies

I hope you had a very Happy New Year. Perhaps I’m already tired of my New Year’s resolution to keep a clean(er) house? We had a snow day (yippee) which gave us a 4 day weekend with MLK being Monday.  We baked, took the dogs for walks, watched movies, and played board games…made some "Chedder Bunnies". I've been meaning to make these for a while as the real ones are so darn expensive but just didn't have the time. Perfect for a snow day.

Since we had a snow day I decided to make my own crackers, I figured it couldn’t be that hard.  I ran across a recipe and saw that I needed six ingredients, all of which I had and didn’t require a trip to the store which was good since the roads were icy and my kitchen was so snug.

With the long weekend and the beautiful snow we had a great time. I threw a b-day party for myself with GROWN UPS and then a pizza party for Hannah Rose’s band buddies and her new boyfriend. She is 15. He is not. He is older. Yes she is “dating” and Stephen is turning NINETEEN in February. Yes, he is old enough for a tattoo and to go to basic training in the spring for the service. At first it took The Husband and I a while to get over the “sticker shock” but it turns out he is a very nice, respectful and kind young person so we just drag him along with us and he doesn’t seem to mind. We took him geocaching, to the Art Museum and have plans to take him camping when the weather gets nicer.

Homemade Cheddar Bunnies

8 ounces Sharp Cheddar Cheese, shredded
4 Tablespoons Butter, cut into cubes
1 cup Flour (I used whole wheat because it is what I had)
¾ teaspoons sea salt
2 Tablespoons Cold Water

Directions:

Mix everything (except water) together in the food processor.
Pulse in water 1 tablespoon at a time until the dough resembles sand.
Wrap dough in parchment paper or plastic wrap and chill for 20 minutes.
Roll the dough out 1/8-inch thick and make your daughter cut into squirrel shapes. Place on a lined cookie sheet
Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes.
 

Cereal Mom and Blonde Brownies

Having a bad day? I’d be glad if it was only a day.  It’s been rough at work. Actually, it was a terrible week. Every piece of news I got was disappointing. Mom A called her kid swallowed a plastic ring and we were supposed to look for it if it passed. I said no. Mom B called wanted her kid's breakfast, lunch and snack fixed special ways the way "she likes it." I told her no, sorry but  we have a small staff and a lot of mouths to feed in a short time we can't fix 136 meals 136 ways just to coax everyone to eat.  She went bananas. Called everyone but my mother and the President. For Mom A, since you were decent I hope everything comes out all right. As for Cereal Killer mom..... I have kids with actual allergies and real religious issues.

She called the kid’s doctor demanding I fix her kids food any way the child wanted it and to sub anything she didn’t want for something she did. This is putting a stress on our budget and our staff. It's not that I want to make anyone upset or see a kid not eat, we have limited resources. Does that matter? Not to some one demanding. And now I have a medical form pretty much telling me I'm a short order cook. Is there a mid- way for this? I guess not.

We served snack today Picky Pants with her whole milk on the side. This was part of the request. "I want my food a special way and my mommy will make you give it to me that way……".ok. Here is your special snack with your special milk. She immediately wailed that she didn’t want cereal but wanted a granola bar instead. The note says “allow individual meal patterns to increase food intake” since I already had a teacher out and was covering a classroom I was not able to run to the lunchroom to get her one. So she sat, pouting and then threw all of her breakfast away.

Did it affect me? Yep. Did I yell at The Husband for saying something as stupid as “where’s dinner?” when I got so tangled up in work crap that I came home nearly an hour late with a crabby kid who missed his PBS show? Yep. Was it really bad?  I still have bruises from the rock I tried to hide under. Which is sad because I have a super nice staff this time around. All smart, sensible and super workers. I should be happy. In that way I am. I’m not UNHAPPY. I’m cranky because I’m work with a generation of folks that are raising bratty kids. It’s true. Generation D for Demanding and golly I sound like my grandmother. I’m sometimes afraid of the next generation. The get mad they have to wait for the internet, if they can’t have their cell phones on constantly, they want to pick the gender of their children. You know what I want? A bottle of Scotch and a Blonde Brownie. I don’t even drink Scotch, it just sounds I don’t know…tough I guess. These are rich, chewy brownies with chocolate chips on top. I prefer the chocolate chips to be mixed IN instead of on top, but it's all about preference!

Blonde Brownies

Ingredients

·         1 cup sifted all-purpose whole wheat flour

·         1/2 teaspoon baking powder

·         1/8 teaspoon baking soda

·         1/2 teaspoon salt

·         1/2 cup chopped walnuts

·         1/3 cup butter, melted

·         1 cup packed brown sugar

·         1 egg, beaten

·         1 teaspoon real vanilla extract

·         2/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

1.    Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Grease a 9x9-inch baking pan.

2.    Measure 1 cup sifted flour. Add baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Sift again. Add 1/2 cup chopped nuts. Mix well and set aside.

3.    Stir the brown sugar into the melted butter and mix well. Cool slightly.

4.    Mix the beaten egg and vanilla into the brown sugar mixture. Add flour mixture, a little at a time, mixing just until combined.

5.    Spread the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle 1/2 to 1 cup chocolate chips on top. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 20 to 25 minutes.

I still love Mr. Rogers

Things are going well at the preschool. I have a nice batch of teachers who treat the children well, get along and come to work. I don’t ask for much. We had some fallout from the Sandyhook shootings. DHS has required us to come up with a plan should something like that happen here but I don’t see how any facility can be prepared for something like that. We have no closet or bathroom to hide all the children in and the first person to have access to any or all of the doors is me. Although there are those who find me menacing I doubt a person with a jimmy rigged gun collection is going to find me very scary and that’s really all we have between him and the others in my wing. We have a security system at the preschool but honestly it was very upsetting to those who care for small children everywhere.

Like other parents, I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the first news alert that a school shooting happened – in Newtown, Connecticut – at an elementary school. Its' shocking. It's devastating. It's unreal. Who would take anger like that out of little kids?

Then we had some of the children hear enough of adult conversation or news at home to come to school with questions. Lots of them and some of them made me want to cry. These are children I see every day sometimes more than they own parents. What do you tell those upturned faces with those eyes filled with trust? Especially since I myself was having a hard time with it all?
It’s unimaginable. It’s heartbreaking. Just every emotion comes to attention and has been experienced by so many. Stories and images of the various, many adults who suddenly were named heroes even though they likely were unsung champions before December 14th – school staff, community volunteers, neighbors, police and rescue workers from around the state and beyond – each headline more emotive than the last. The magnitude of the sense of community compassion is simply unbelievable. You are not alone is a sentiment I keep seeing from our communities to others, all faiths, all kinds of families, all kinds of expressions of love and kindness. I keep thinking of Mr. Roger’s quote “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of ‘disaster,’ I remember my mother’s words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world.” So I focused on that with the preschool children and with my own at home. There are more good people in this world than bad and I have to believe it myself so I can tell them the truth.

So today at least for now I have no recipe to share just a warm thought of my very first crush, Mr. Roger’s.