Sunday, June 29, 2014

Our (not so) MAD, Tea Party!!!

One day my kids came down stairs, all dressed up but had no place to go.

...and since I know, one does not simply get dressed up and sit around all day. I decided to let them have their very own 
tea party. 

 photo giphy_zps64090964.gif

Lol, no worries! It looked nothing like this (although I know they probably would of loved splashing and pouring willy nilly!),
I must say our party was a little more reserved but just as awesome. 



Complete with...

Host/Hostesses/Guest:
Mikey with his guest Bear Bear
Izzy with her guest Patty Rabbit
Gabby with her guest Froggie 

and myself (the last minute invite. Lol)


Food and drinks:

Iced Tea
LOTS of Sugar
Pizza Rolls
and Skittles

Music:
Classical

This was the perfect opportunity to sit, chit chat and play with them, without the interruptions of TV, internet or video games. 
...and by doing this, it reminded me that it's ok to unplug and be a kid again!
What a great lesson! 


~Although the tea didn't go over well with anybody but me, we all enjoyed ourselves. I mean, who wouldn't want to dress nice, be fancy and down a bunch of pizza rolls and skittles?!?!? 
 ;D



Monday, June 23, 2014

Red, White, Blue and Delicious!


American Bread!
That's right, move over French bread. American bread is here to stay!!
What's better than the fresh taste of freedom?!
Nothin'!
That's what!!
...and what's more patriotic than bread that screams "USA! USA!"?!? 
Nothin' (again)
(Unless of course, you have a Bald Eagle, wearing a patriotic tie, eating an Apple Pie, while reading the Constitution, at a St Louis Cardinals baseball game! 
...then American bread is a close second!)
LOL

Yeeeaaaaaaah America!!!! GET SOME...
...red white and blue bread, that is! ;)


Ingredients:
c. unbleached all-purpose flour
2 1/2 Tbsp
 sugar
c. milk w/ 1 egg yolk (combined will equal 1 cup)
3/4 Tbsp
 salt
1 1/2 Tbsp
 unsalted butter, softened
Red food coloring (liquid or paste*)
Blue food coloring (liquid or paste*)
2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast


Directions:
In a small bowl, microwave milk and egg yolk for about 30 seconds and set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine flour, sugar and yeast.

Add butter, salt and milk mixture, stirring on low speed with the dough hook attachment.

Increase speed to medium and knead until dough comes together and pulls away from the sides, about 5-10 minutes. If the dough is sticky, add a tbsp of flour, one at a time until it is smooth and elastic.

Divide dough into three equal pieces

Place one of the pieces in the stand mixer bowl and mix with blue food coloring until desired color is reached.*note: paste food coloring is more vibrant than liquid, you will have to use more liquid food coloring for bolder colors

Remove dough from bowl and place in a lightly greased bowl, covered, to rise until doubled.

Clean stand mixer bowl, then place another piece of dough in stand mixer and combine with the red food coloring until color is blended through. 

Remove dough from bowl and place in a separate, lightly greased bowl, covered, to rise until doubled.

Place plain piece of dough in a separate, lightly greased bowl, covered, to rise until doubled. All pieces should double in about an hour.

Once dough is risen, on a floured surface, roll out blue dough to a half inch thick and set aside. Repeat this process with the red and white dough, placing the red on top of the blue. White on top od the red.

Starting at one end, roll the dough over onto itself, creating a spiral with the colors.  

Place dough in a lightly greased loaf pan, cover and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour.

Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Once dough is risen, bake for about 30 minutes or until golden brown on the outside (the inside should register 190 degrees F).

 Allow to cool completely. Slice, serve and enjoy!
God bless America and God bless you!

 ...that looks like this-->

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Our Family Bucket List

About a week ago, during dinner, I asked my family what we should add to our summer bucket list.

Here's what the list consisted of:

Building a rocket 
Or fighting a mummy
Or climbing up the Eiffel Tower

Discovering something that doesn't exist (Hey!)
Or giving a monkey a shower

Surfing tidal waves
Creating nano bots
Or locating Frankenstein's brain (Over here!)

Finding a Dodo bird
Painting a continent
Or driving your sister insane (Phineas!)

As you can see there's a whole lot of stuff to do before school starts this fall (Come on Perry!)

So stick with us cause Phineas and Ferb are gonna do it all
So stick with us cause Phineas and Ferb are gonna do it all

(Mom, Phineas and Ferb are making a title sequence!!!)

Lol oh, you soooo just sang that and did "air guitar" didn't you?!?!? 

 Ok, so, that wasn't our bucket list, but it was fun to sing and rock out to it. 

...alright, back on track...

My family's Summer Bucket List

It's easy enough to add things on later, but my focus was to make a list that was short, sweet, and definitely do able. That way the kids can see all the things on the list get checked off.
Nothing better than a summer that you do EVERYTHING you wanted to do!

Whoo Hoo! Bring it on summer!!! 

What are your summer plans this year? Be sure to comment below. I would love to hear about them! 

Friday, June 6, 2014

Cashew Butter Cups

Got the munchies? 
Well, let's look in your pantry and see what cha got.

Cashew butter?     ...Check!

Chocolate melting candies?      ...Check!

Awesome!!! You're well on your way to making your very own Chocolate Peanut Butter, errrr, Cashew Butter cups!!


Wait, what's that? You ran out of cashew butter and melting candies? No worries! You can substitute the cashew butter for almond butter or the more popular peanut butter. The melting candies can be substituted with chocolate chips. :)

Now, let's get down to business! 

First you'll need a mini muffin pan lined with paper liners.

Fill each liner with your melted chocolate...


then allow to harden in the refrigerator. 

Mix your cashew butter, powdered sugar, unsalted butter and brown sugar in a small pot on medium heat, stirring until well blended. 

 Scoop your butter mix,, shape into patty form and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. 

Add your cashew patties to your liners on top of the hardened chocolate, top with more melted chocolate and refrigerate again.

Before you know it you have yourself your very own Cashew Butter cups!

Willy Wonka, eat your heart out!!!

...that looks like this -->