What We've Been Reading

We've been reading a lot lately.  Not that we didn't before, but ever since I got the inspiration to start writing children's picture books, I've been on a mission to get my hands on all different kinds of picture books.  Call it my "research".  Considering our already sizable picture book collection and the fact that they aren't exactly cheap, I've resorted to checking out piles of books from our public library or speed reading bunches of books in the Kid Lit section at Barnes and Noble.  On our trips to the library, I allow the kids to pick out a couple of books each to take home and I, of course, end up checking out a few of my own.  I'll come clean, while I've been good about "browsing, not buying" at B&N, I have bought a couple new picture books in the last month.

Either way, we've read oodles of new stories, some good, some really good and some...meh...and I wanted to share with you some of our recent favorites:

SweetPea's Favs:

Winnie the Witch:  If you hadn't figured it out by now, SweetPea loves witches, so she naturally gravitated to this book.  Winnie the Witch loves black...everything in her house is black, including her cat, Wilbur.  Here's where the mayhem ensues.  Winnie can't help tripping over and sitting on Wilbur since, well, he blends.  How does she solve the problem?  That's the fun of this story.  Of course you'll have to read to find out. By the way, don't be fooled into thinking this just a Halloween story because there's a witch in it.  Really, this is a fun "anytime" story.

The Day My Runny Nose Ran Away:  I'm pretty sure that I chose this one for SweetPea but as soon as we read it, she wanted to read it again and again.  In short, it's a story about what happened when one little boy didn't show his nose respect.  It's funny.  It's clever...and be warned, it's a little long.  It's meant for grades 1-3, so it's pretty wordy, but SweetPea is starting to get into longer stories, so at 4 1/2, she still enjoyed it every time we read it.  The humor in the book is fantastic because it is layered in a way that both kids and adults will enjoy it.


Lil Buddy's Favs:

Little Quack's Hide and Seek:  Our little guy loves ducks and he especially loves Little Quack.  We have the original Little Quack board book in our collection, so when I saw this one on the shelf at the library, borrowing it was really a no-brainer.  It's a simple story about how Little Quack and his brothers and sisters play hide and seek with Mama Duck and like the first book, helps little ones with their numbers.  Where the first book shows them how to add, this book shows them how to subtract.  Bottom line, it's an adorable story.

Owen:  I'll admit it right now...I'm a huge fan of Kevin Henkes.  The kids became interested in his books thanks to the Scholastic Storybook DVD collection that Santa sent our way a couple of Christmases ago.  We've had his book Chrysanthemum in our book collection for about a year, so I wasn't surprised when Lil Buddy wanted to bring Owen home from the library.  After all, it's about a little mouse who is completely attached to his favorite blankey, Fuzzy, not all too unlike a certain little boy in our house.  Owen is about to start school and his parents are trying to figure out how to convince him to leave Fuzzy behind.  How they solve this problem is what is most charming about this book.  The illustrations are wonderful and his story telling style is fantastic.  This is a must read!

Alyssa's Favs:

Jessica: Um...did I mention that I love Kevin Henkes?  This is one of the few of his popular stories that isn't about a mouse.  Ruthie has an imaginary friend named Jessica, who goes everywhere with her and does everything she does.   Her parents tell her that Jessica doesn't exist.  Who is right?  Hmm...you'll see!  As most of his stories do, this book tackles the subject of starting school, which is actually perfect timing for those of you who might have little ones about to start kindergarten.  Check it out.  You won't be sorry!

Ivy and Bean and the Ghost that Had to Go:  I discovered this book, in, of all places, the book and magazine section at WalMart.  I'd heard about early chapter books in my research on Kid Lit, but hadn't really read any of them myself.  If you aren't familiar with this sort of book, it's aimed at grade 1-3 readers and is a mix of story and black and white illustrations.  The chapters are pretty short, but the overall story is definitely longer than your traditional picture books.  When I bought the book, I was mostly interested in it for myself to get a better handle on the style of writing, but as I read it, SweetPea asked me if I could read it to her and we ended up reading the whole book together in two separate sittings.  It amazes me that she is able to tell me about the different characters (by name, no less) and the basic story plot even though we've only read it once.  Ivy and Bean are very likable, quirky characters and the story...well what could be funnier than two second graders trying to exorcise a ghost from the girl's bathroom?  I'm pretty sure I'll be picking up the rest of the books in the series.

There you have it!  Hopefully you'll be inspired to pick at least one of these books up at your local library or bookstore.  I don't think you'll be disappointed!

Me, Myself and Time AND Some Mama Drama

It's a two-fer day! I had to follow up regarding last weeks' challenge (keeps me honest) but Peri had a first, so I have to share that with you too.

Jim was away fishing for the weekend, so it was just me and the girls. Friday night, Peri came out of her room around 11pm, bawling. "Peri, what's wrong?" "My tooth! Look!"
She opened her mouth and showed me her first loose tooth. "It's okay, Peri, it's supposed to do that. Remember the Tooth Fairy show we watched? Your baby teeth fall out and new ones come in. It won't hurt, I promise." She continued to bawl and didn't believe me that it was normal and wouldn't hurt. I eventually got her calmed down and back to bed.

About a half hour later, she came out again, "Look, Mommy, my tooth!" She proudly held it out for me to see. "Did you pull it out yourself?" "Yup, I did." "Did it hurt?" "No, it didn't hurt." Then she couldn't stop smiling; she was so proud of herself. "And the Tooth Fairy will come and she'll leave me presents, like a new toothbrush!"

Not able to shop without the kids, I told her she would have to wait until Daddy came home so she could show him the tooth, because the Tooth Fairy keeps the teeth. So, tonight Peri will have her first Tooth Fairy visit and I'm betting she brings a shiny gold dollar coin, a spiffy new toothbrush and some fairy stickers. At least, that's what I would bring if I were her, which, I'm not.

******

So, last weeks' Me Time was about getting some new headshots taken so that I can look for an agent, and hopefully get back into acting. Being a bit pressed for time, I ended up having to do them myself, but I think they'll do for the initial submissions. I'm leaning towards #1, but thought I'd see what you all thought. Most of my friends seem to think either #1 or 4 (which by the way, isn't that close up, it just fit weird in the box). What do you think?

And, for those of you who haven't seen the movie Eat, Pray, Love, you must go go go! I admit, I never read the book, and probably never will, but the movie is fabulous and is great in terms of valuable life lessons (I've seen it twice). I love the part when Liz's character is asked to use a word that describes herself and she says, "Writer," to which her friend responds, "That's what you do, it's not who you are." Which sums up my whole personal goal of self improvement; to find myself and not be labeled only as Mom. It's what I do, not who I am.

What will you do this week?

The What If's

If I had never became a mother...
I wouldn't have to wonder "Is that chocolate or is that poop?"

If I had never became a mother...
I would never have to use the bathroom or shower with the door open

If I had never became a mother...
I wouldn't step on legos with every step, causing me to scream out in pain

If I had never became a mother...
I wouldn't have gained this spare tire that I carry around the space where my tummy used to be.

If I had never became a mother...
I wouldn't have to buy Handi Snacks and Goldfish crackers by the grouse

If I had never became a mother...
I wouldn't have had the pleasure of pulling the back on someones pants open to see if they pooped.

If I had never became a mother...
I wouldn't have to buy an entire new wardrobe for them while I, myself, make do with one good pair of jeans and one cardigan.

If I had never became a mother...
I wouldn't have sat up until the wee hours of the morning lulling a crying baby to sleep when all I wanted to do was cry myself.

If I had never became a mother...
I would never have eaten so many cold meals in my life.

***************

If I had never became a mother...
I wouldn't get to see young minds grow and discover the beauty of the earth

If I had never became a mother...
I wouldn't have two sweet little warm bodies who find no greater joy than crawling into bed with their Mama for a good morning snuggle.

If I had never became a mother...
I would never had had the chance to nourish another human being with my own

If I had never became a mother...
I would never know how proud I could feel when someone does something that seems so small.

If I had never became a mother...
I never would have had another beating heart lay so close to my very own, literally.

Grilled Zucchini and Ham Pita Panini with Basil Hummus + 10 More Zucchini Recipes!

I think I was a bit spoiled as a child -- at least when it came to meals. Not only did my mom make us whatever we wanted (within reason) for breakfast and lunch, we got to pick how it was cooked. She must have loved me a lot to make me hot dogs for breakfast, per my request, and even cut up the meat before it went into the bun. (Also per my request. I was a strange child.) And her sandwiches were the best. I don't think I ever ate a tuna sandwich unless it was grilled. I believe it was because of those that I have a slight aversion to cold sandwiches. If I have access to a stove, or at the very least, a microwave, there will be no cold sandwiches for this girl.

I find it ironic my love for hot sandwiches has not caused me to buy a panini maker. In fact, even if I had the space for one, I don't think I'd get one. I think a heavy cast-iron skillet placed on top of the sandwich while it cooks basically does the same thing. Except make those cool lines on the bread.

I whipped up these pita paninis and some hummus for dinner one night last week. Steve has been putting in a lot of late nights at the clinic, trying to finish school, so dinner has been a bit lax. I even quit planning a menu! Ack! I've decided that I need to use more of what I have on hand, so I've been cooking more on the fly lately. Fun sometimes, but a little stressful at others when I'm at a loss for what to make and my kids are poking each other in the eyes.

We LOVED these sandwiches. I liked grilling (aka in a skillet with butter, not an actual grill, but that would be good, too) pita bread because they crisped up really well. Especially the whole wheat ones I got at Trader Joe's. They're extra thin and sometimes a little too fragile, but I love them anyway.

Luckily I had one lone zucchini left in my fridge to save the day. I decided to do another zucchini recipe round up in case they're spilling out of your garden. Or appearing on your doorstep. Or are ridiculously cheap at the store.

It wasn't until I compiled this list that I realized just how much I love grilled zucchini. Seriously. I think I only prepare zucchini two ways -- grilled or grated up.

Grilled Zucchini Salad with Tomatoes and Purslane
Grilled Vegetable Pizza
Marinated Zucchini
Festive Grilled Zucchini and Sweet Potato Salad
Grilled Veggie Quesadillas
Roasted Vegetable and White Bean Dip
Grilled Zucchini Lasagna
Zucchini Cakes
Stuffed Zucchini with Ground Turkey
Zucchini Cupcakes with Caramel Frosting

Grilled Zucchini and Ham Pita Panini with Basil Hummus
by Natalie

1 small zucchini, sliced diagonally into 1/4-inch slices
oil, for brushing
2 whole pitas sliced in half
4 slices thin-sliced deli ham
2 round slices of provolone cheese, cut in half
1 medium tomato, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
6-10 fresh basil leaves
about 1/2 cup Basil Hummus (recipe below)

Heat BBQ grill or stove-top grill pan to medium-high heat. Toss zucchini slices in a bowl with a glug of oil. Place slices on pre-heated grill and cook for 8-10 minutes, flipping once, until nice grill marks have formed on both sides and zucchini is tender. Remove and set aside.

Coat a medium skillet with butter or nonstick spray and place over medium heat.

To assemble pitas, spread a couple spoonfuls of hummus inside each pita half and fill with one slice of ham, a few pieces of grilled zucchini, a slice of tomato, a few basil leaves, and a slice of cheese. Place pita half in the preheated skillet, then cook in a panini press.

If you don't have a panini press (like me), place a heavy, cast-iron skillet on top of the pita. Cook for 3-5 minutes or so, flip pita over, and place the heavy skillet on top again and cook for another 3-5 minutes until everything is heated through and outsides of the pita are golden brown and crisp. If you don't have a cast-iron skillet, simply use a small skillet and put a couple of cans of beans (or whatever else you have on hand) in the skillet to weigh it down.

Serve with Basil Hummus and sliced carrots, cucumbers, or other crudites.

Makes 4 pita halves.

Basil Hummus
adapted from this recipe by David Lawrence

2 cans of chickpeas (garbanzo beans) drained and well-rinsed
2 T tahini (ground sesame paste, found in ethnic or health food aisles)
2 cloves of garlic, peeled and chopped coarsely
juice from 1 lemon (about 1/4 cup)
1 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves (about 1/2 bunch)
big pinch of salt and ground black pepper
dash of cayenne pepper (optional)
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Combine chickpeas, tahini, garlic, lemon juice, basil, salt, cayenne and about 1/4 cup water in the bowl of a food processor. While the food processor is running, drizzle in the olive oil. Process until smooth, adding more oil if necessary. Check seasoning and add more salt if necessary.

Will keep refrigerated in an airtight container for two weeks.

Makes about 2 1/2 cups (seriously an estimate out of my head . . . my food processor only holds 3 cups and it almost fills it)

Print Recipe Text Only 

Originally posted on Perrys' Plate

Make it: Personalized Towel

My five year old started kindergarten this week (woo hoo!). But to Gracie's dismay, all kindergartners in her school are required to have nap-time in the afternoon.

Sounds good to me - I'd love a required nap - but that little kiddo of mine hasn't napped since she was two and the idea of laying down and resting upset her very much.

To make the transition to her new school-days life sweeter, I made Gracie an extra-special napping towel. We bought the pink towel from the store, and then dug through my fabric scraps to find a fun combination of patterns to go with the pink.

The project itself was quick and easy and required minimal materials. To make one yourself, you'll need:

• 1 towel
• enough fabric to cut out letters of child's name
• thread
• pins or iron-on fusing web
  
• scissors

I free-hand drew the letters, measuring them against each other so they were all the same size.

If you don't feel confident drawing the letters yourself, I suggest opening a Word doc, and sizing letters in whatever font you like, then printing them out to use as a pattern.

To attach the letters to the towel, you can use pins (as I did) or iron-on fusing web, which will keep them from slipping.

Then just zig-zag stitch the edges of the letters.

Yup, it's just that easy.

And look at that smile - Gracie doesn't mind her mandatory nap-time one bit, now that she has a special towel!

A cute and easy project that makes an excellent gift... can't beat that, eh?

xoxo,

Goodbye Grammy, Hello Three More Weeks of Crutches

Our Good-bye Lunch at Pappadeaux's

My Mom went back to Boston yesterday...and we miss her already.  The kids miss waking up each morning and crawling into bed with her to read books.  I miss having an adult to interact with during the day.  Most of all (sorry Mom) I miss having an extra set of hands and two good legs to help with the kids.  I know that sounds horrible...like it's the only reason I was happy to have her here, but the truth is the help was really, really nice.  Alas, she has a life and a job back in Massachusetts and taking off 12 days to help me out stretched her to her limit.  And now, it's all me.

I saw the Sports Med doc yesterday who put me in a walking boot, then promptly told me that I'm not allowed to walk on it for another 3 weeks.  yay.  The nice thing is I can take my foot out whenever I want to and give it some air...and take showers without a bag over my leg...and actually shave my leg (I know, TMI, but it is what it is).  The bad thing is...the crutches.  Those damn crutches.  The friction burns on my torso.  The bruised and blistered spots on my hands.  Most of all, trying to be helpful to the kids during the day all while balancing on crutches.  This morning it took five times longer to do everything.  By the time I had everyone fed, cleaned up and ready for the day, beds made, laundry rounded up and washing, it was 10:00 am and I still hadn't had breakfast.  At this rate I better start dinner NOW.  Ugh!  OK, maybe I'm just being whiny and a big baby.  I'm sure there are people out there who have it worse than me.  Not to mention surgery to fix my ankle was my choice...and the ankle itself is feeling better than it has in over a year.  Sure, it looks like something out of a zombie movie...but it doesn't hurt and I only have to take an occasional dose of Motrin and that's to help with the pain in my hands and wrists.

So, I guess I'm going to be "gimpy" for a few more weeks.  When all is said and done, I'll be so happy to be able to stand on my own two feet again.  I better have some awesome arm and ab muscles too!

Me, Myself and Time

"Do you see pink elephants too?"

To briefly follow up on Ryah's surgery, all went well. Peri got to have her first sleepover at her friend Ella's house (she had a blast; clearly, since they didn't get to bed until 11pm). The rest of us got up bright and early at 5:45 in the morning to get to the hospital since Ryah was the first scheduled surgery.

She was quite amusing after they gave her her loopy cocktail, Ryah looked completely stoned and kept laughing (she kept saying, "Mommy, I falling down" then she'd giggle), then they took her back to assess the anesthesia they would use. Fortunately, after they gassed her they were able to determine that it would be quick and gas would be enough. *Phew* I was worried about the IV, so I'm really glad they were able to avoid that. She was a bit cranky coming out of it and had a few meltdowns, but who could blame her, really. I was looking forward to the Tylenol with Codeine because I thought for sure it would knock her out, but alas, it had the opposite effect and she wouldn't quit jumping off the furniture. It was like Speed for toddlers.

By the end of the day, she was back to her normal self and it was determined that she had had a Mucocele, so no matter what, it would have needed to be removed. They got it all and it shouldn't come back. Just glad that it's all over and done with.

*******

The last time I wrote about my Me Time project, I was getting ready to revamp a friend's website. And while I'm no html expert, I can usually sift through the code to find what I'm looking for and Google how-to's, fairly effectively. I'm always proud of myself when I don't have to bring in my husband for help. In fact, I only had to do it once. Yay me!

So here is the old website...

And here's the new one...

Nice huh? She's in real estate, so I think the new one is a little warmer and friendlier and just plain prettier. :o) I learned a little more about dimensions, pages, opening urls in new windows (so cool and easy) and lots of fun new widgets. There's always the aesthetic part of design that I love too, because even if a website is fully functional, it doesn't matter if it's not pretty.

So this week, I'm going to try to get back into acting. I've done community theatre since I was 9 and I did one industrial film back when I was 16. I really miss it. It's not something I see as a career, but something I really enjoy and if I can get the odd job here and there, why not? Especially since it seems like more movies and tv are coming to the Northwest. Maybe you'll see me on Leaverage. :o) Or not. First things first; I need a new headshot. So, that's my challenge this week, get a new headshot taken and start scouting for an agent. Wish me luck! (I think I can hear Marisa saying, "FINALLY!", she's been after me for a while)

You up to the challenge? Is there something you've always wanted to try; a class, an experience, a hobby? I challenge you to do something just for you.

What will you do this week?

In 20 Years

Originally posted on my personal blog Oh Mandie on 07/21/10, but the concept is something that I've been thinking pretty heavily about for awhile and bares repeating.


Dear Oh Mandie 20 Years From Now,

I know that the sentimental part of you will still be filling in pages of your scrapbooks and reminiscing over the stacks of photo albums you have and remembering when your babies were actual babies. I know that you're thinking of cuddling those small boys and reading bedtime stories and making s'mores over backyard fires. But please, for the sake of future new mother, remember the other times too.

Don't forget what life was like with two little boys running a muck around the house and leaving a trail in their wake. I know that the memories that tend to stick are the sweet ones, but I want you to remember the skinned knees, the fights, and the sleepless nights of not one but two babes with colic. Remember why the laundry didn't done and why the floor wasn't always swept, because every time you went to do your daily tasks one of those boys needed you.

So when a young mother tells you that she hasn't had the chance to shower for three days, believe her, because you once were her. And when you're at the grocery store and you see a mother struggling to hold on to her children, bags, keys, and sanity, offer her a smile rather than a grimace in annoyance, because she's doing the best that she can.

And those young moms that are in your family, circle of friends, church, or whatever? Don't wait for them to ask you for help, because us mom's, we're a proud bunch. Call her up and offer to come over for a few hours one day. And for heavens sake, bring her coffee.

Much Love,
Your Younger, Less Together Self

Hidden Veggie Chipotle Taco Meat

You're probably thinking, "Taco meat? Whoop-dee-do, Nat. I make taco meat every Tuesday."

I love taco meat, but it isn't anything new. It isn't glamorous. Or photogenic for that matter. So why did I bother posting this? (Not that everything I post is glamorous and photogenic. Oh, heavens no.)

Because taco meat is where I hide vegetables most successfully from my picky little girls.

Right now is the perfect time of year to do it, too, with all of the fresh produce practically spilling out into the streets. A food processor comes in handy at times like these. I zipped up a whole zucchini and a red bell pepper in about 20 seconds before I tossed it in the pan. Grated carrots would also work really well. I threw in some frozen corn and beans (because my girls like them and it makes the meat stretch a bit further) that really stand out, in hopes it would distract them from the little green and red specks. Works every time.

I do love using traditional taco seasoning, but sometimes I feel like changing things up. The use of tomato sauce, chipotle powder, and diced green chiles was a nice change, I think. The chipotle powder adds a subtle kick (just a bit of tongue tingle) that my toddlers were OK with.

Hidden Veggie Chipotle Taco Meat
by Natalie

1 pound ground beef (grass-fed and organic, if possible)
1 red bell pepper, minced
1 small zucchini, minced
2 T dried minced onion (or 1/2 cup fresh chopped onion)
8 oz tomato sauce
1/4-1/2 tsp. chipotle chile powder or 1-2 chopped (seeds removed) chipotles in adobo sauce (to taste)
1 4-oz can diced green chiles
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp coarsely ground black pepper
1 15-oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup frozen corn
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Brown ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Meanwhile, prepare vegetables (food processor is really nice for this). When the beef is almost cooked through, add the minced pepper and zucchini. Cook for 3-4 more minutes until some of the liquid cooks out and the beef is cooked through.

Add diced onion, tomato sauce, chipotle powder, diced green chiles, salt, pepper, beans, corn, and 1/2 cup water. Cook another 4-5 minutes until about half of the liquid has cooked out and mixture is nice and saucy. Stir in cilantro and keep warm until ready to serve.

Nat's notes:
1. You can substitute 1 T chili powder for chipotle powder if you don't have it or worry about it being too spicy.
2. You can substitute any number of vegetables for the bell pepper and zucchini, as long as they're minced very small. I used what I had on hand. Cauliflower, yellow squash, fresh spinach, grated carrots, cabbage, or even broccoli would work nicely. You would need about 2 cups of minced vegetables, total.
3. Frozen peas would sub well for the frozen corn.

Serving suggestions (basically what you would do with regular taco meat)

Taco Salads: Place a handful of lettuce in a bowl, top with taco meat, chopped tomatoes, a few corn chips, sour cream, and cotija (or feta) crumbles.

Nachos: Put a few handfuls of corn chips on a rimmed baking sheet and top with about half of the taco meat. Top with shredded cheese (ohh, pepper jack would be good) and bake at 400 degrees F for 10-12 minutes. Serve with sour cream, guacamole, and other nacho toppings.

Quesadillas: Put a few spoonfuls of taco meat on one side of a tortilla. Top with a few sprinkles of shredded cheese, then fold in half. Cook in a skillet over medium heat until cheese is melted and tortilla is browned and crisp.

Burritos/Tacos: Place some taco meat, cheese, and whatever else you like in a large (or small) tortilla. Roll and serve

Southwest Baked Potatoes: Spoon some taco meat into a baked potato that's been cut open. Top with cheese and/or sour cream.

You could also serve the taco meat over rice or over a warm piece of cornbread.

Print Recipe Text Only 

Originally posted from Perrys' Plate.

Sometimes A Mama Needs Help

A lot of you probably already know (since I've been whining about it since last week), I've been a little sidelined.  I had ankle surgery on Thursday and have been on crutches ever since.  My Mom flew in from Boston last Wednesday to help us around the house.  I have to admit, it's been really, really hard for me to ask for help.

Maybe it's because we rarely ever have anyone to help us.  Maybe it's because I'm too proud to ask for it, but I don't like asking for help.  When each of the kids were born, I had someone around to help me day to day, but more often than not, I was running around the house still doing what needed to be done because I wanted to prove to...well who knows who I was trying to prove it to...that I didn't really need help.  This time, it's different.  Being short one leg to stand on, I need help.  I need help to drive, I need help with the kids, I need help around the house.  It's been a lesson hard learned.  Of course, I'm still hobbling around trying to "prove" I can still do things on my own, but the truth is, it takes me twice as long or eventually I have to give in and ask for help anyway.  What can I say, I'm hard headed.  I'm having to live with seeing things put where they normally don't belong or having things done in a way I wouldn't have done myself.  You have to know that's killing me.  But at the end of the day, the world's not going to end because underwear isn't being folded the way I would do it or because the bath towels aren't in the exact spots where I normally put them.  I have to keep telling myself "it's...O...K."

Seriously, I should be soaking in all of the help while I have it.  Come next Monday, my Mom goes home and I'll have to deal with it all on my own.  At least by then I hope to have ditched the crutches and have a walking cast on.  In the meantime, I just have to live with the fact that I...need...help.

C is for Cookies!

If you've got milk, we've got cookies! The jar has been revamped a bit, new items added and the price, well, too good to pass up!

Come check it out and support handmade and a good cause. Don't forget to vote on the charity of your choice!

The Mama Dramalogue's Cookie Jar
Handmade goodness for the whole family!

Ooey-gooey Cinnamon Rolls

I've tried a lot of cinnamon roll recipes in my years of baking and occasionally find a new "favorite". Well, people, this one just rose to the top and clobbered the rest with its gooey, sticky goodness. According to Pioneer Woman (and I completely agree), the problem with most cinnamon rolls is that there's too much bread and not enough goo. People fight over the center of the roll, but with these, there' no need for that because . . .

THE WHOLE THING TASTES LIKE THE MIDDLE.

If you don't like gooey, sticky cinnamon rolls, then you would absolutely hate these. For the rest of you, . . . at least try them once in your life. Life-changing? Absolutely.

By the way, this recipe makes about 50. I did the whole thing back in January and filled two rimmed cookie sheets. This last time I halved the recipe and made them in those little disposable foil baking pans and froze them. Pre-frozen or fresh, they turn out amazing. And I love that you can just make the dough and stick it in the fridge for a couple of days until you find a few minutes to finish them.

Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon Rolls
from The Pioneer Woman's Cookbook (and blog)

1 quart whole milk
1 cup vegetable oil (I used canola)
1 cup sugar
2 packages active dry yeast (I used instant yeast that I store in the freezer)
9 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon (heaping) baking powder
1 teaspoon (scant) baking soda
1 tablespoon (heaping) salt
plenty of melted butter
2 cups sugar
Generous sprinkling of cinnamon

for the maple frosting:
1 bag powdered sugar
2 teaspoons maple flavoring
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup melted butter
1/4 cup brewed coffee
1/8 teaspoon salt

Mix the milk, vegetable oil and sugar in a pan. “Scald” the mixture (heat until just before the boiling point). Turn off heat and leave to cool 45 minutes to 1 hour. When the mixture is lukewarm to warm, but NOT hot, sprinkle in both packages of Active Dry Yeast. Let this sit for a minute. Then add 8 cups of all-purpose flour. Stir mixture together. Cover and let rise for at least an hour.

After rising for at least an hour, add 1 more cup of flour, the baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir mixture together. (At this point, you could cover the dough and put it in the fridge until you need it – overnight or even a day or two, if necessary. Just keep your eye on it and if it starts to overflow out of the pan, just punch it down).

When ready to prepare rolls: Sprinkle rolling surface generously with flour. Take half the dough and form a rough rectangle. Then roll the dough thin, maintaining a general rectangular shape. Drizzle 1/2 to 1 cup melted butter over the dough. Now sprinkle 1 cup of sugar over the butter followed by a generous sprinkling of cinnamon.

Now, starting at the opposite end, begin rolling the dough in a neat line toward you. Keep the roll relatively tight as you go. Next, pinch the seam of the roll to seal it.

Spread 1 tablespoon of melted butter in a seven inch round foil cake or pie pan. Then begin cutting the rolls approximately ¾ to 1 inch thick and laying them in the buttered pans. (At this point you can cover them and put them in the freezer. When you're ready to make them, just pull them out and stick them on the counter for a few hours until they thaw and rise, which happened quicker than I though.)

Repeat this process with the other half of the dough. Let the rolls rise for 20 to 30 minutes, then bake at 375 until light golden brown, about 15 to 18 minutes.

For the frosting, mix together all ingredients listed and stir well until smooth. It should be thick but pourable. Taste and adjust as needed. Generously drizzle over the warm rolls. Go crazy and don’t skimp on the frosting.

Makes about 50 rolls. 

Nat's Notes:
1. I don't drink coffee, so I substituted 4 oz of cream cheese for the coffee, then added a couple more tablespoons of milk to thin it out. I kid you not, this frosting taste just like the maple frosting on the doughnuts at the grocery store. 

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Adapted from this Perrys' Plate post.

Outta the Mouths of Babes

This picture has nothing to do with my post,
but it makes me laugh, so I'm sharing it anyway.

I love recording the things my kids say - something I do often on my personal blog. This little conversation is one I caught between my three year old daughter, Annelie, and my husband Will this afternoon.

Annelie [playing with her talking toy and exclaiming joyfully]: Daddy! My toy said BONJOUR!

Will: It did! What language is that?

Annelie [after thinking]: Spanish!

Will: No, not Spanish. Think of a different language.

Annelie [after thinking some more]: I don't know.

Will: I'll give you a hint... it starts with sound, "fffffff"

Annelie [eyes lighting up]: FANISH!

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What amusing thing has a kiddo in your life said lately? Share with us in the comments!

xoxo,

Mama Drama Mondays: Wake Me When It's Over

This week, I was all prepared to do another Me Time post, but who am I kidding? This week, me time will be hard to come by. I am planning to go out tonight with the ladies, so at least that's something.

I just got back from the grocery store to stock up on soft/liquid foods because this Wednesday, my 3-year-old Ryah, will have a minor surgery. We don't know exactly what it is, but she has something similar to a cyst on the underside of her tongue and according to the doctor, it won't go away on its own and may cause other problems down the road. So, it must come out. This wouldn't be such a big deal except how many 3-year-olds do you know who will sit still while a doctor works in their mouth? Yup, she's going under.

This freaks me out!! I realize it's a simple procedure but the idea of anesthesia on a child worries me. You always read/hear about people who have had complications due to anesthesia so of course, I keep imagining the worst case scenario. When I spoke to the doctor, he said that normally, they try to gas children instead of using IVs but because she's having surgery on her mouth, he doesn't know if they'll be able to do that. The fact that he's willing to try is comforting and we're hoping that they can alternate gassing with doing the surgery. It may take longer to do the procedure, but it would be safer for her.

So, hoping for the best. I'm sure she'll be fine, but heck, I'm a mom and moms worry. It's what we do; I'm pretty sure it's in our job description. That and the ability to kiss it all better. Good thing I stocked up on chapstick too!

The End of Naps

There is a certain time of the day that is my absolute favorite. A time when the cartoons go off, the house goes relatively silent and this mama can grab a book or her computer and just relax.

Nap time. That oh so magical time when my youngest, Gage, lays down for his much needed recharge and my oldest, Brayden, is sent off to our family room to do something quietly while his brother sleeps. Nap time is most certainly my favorite time of the day.

Recently though Gage has been fighting his naps tooth and nail. Before he would whine for a few minutes but then ultimately roll over and sleep for a few hours. Now nap time has been something like this: Whine, Cry, Whine some more, roll this way and that way, adjust his pillow, pee, adjust his pillow again, make random noises, play with his hands, fidget, ask for a drink, roll around some more, whine.... you get the idea. He'll lay there and ultimately not sleep a wink.

Brayden took naps clear until he was 4 and a bit after, so I suppose to just naturally expected Gage to be the same way. Not. So. Much.

This mama is not ready at all to give up her 2 glorious hours of relaxation every afternoon, but I have to ask, at 3 and 1/2, is this the end of Gage's naps?

Grilled Corn Salad with Cucumber, Avocado, & Feta

I'm a sucker for fresh corn in the summer. My all-time favorite way of making fresh corn is turning it into Elote, or Mexican corn on the cob. But when I don't feel like getting my face covered in cheese and sauce, this flavorful, fresh bowl of happiness hits the spot.

I have two other recipes for similar corn salad/salsa type dishes on my blog. (This one and this one.) I think the one below has an edge on the other two with the addition of cucumber and avocado and could stand alone much better as a salad. (But would also be fantastic over grilled chicken or fish.) I used what I had on hand (one of those clean-out-the-produce-drawer situations), but you could substitute just about anything. In fact, I almost named this one, "Grilled Corn and Whatever Salad," but that sounded a little apathetic. I really do love this combination.

Grilled Corn Salad with Cucumber, Avocado, & Feta

by Natalie

4 ears of corn, grilled 

1/2 of an English cucumber, diced

1/2 of an avocado, diced

3 jarred roasted red peppers, diced (about 1/3 cup)

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

2 green onions, sliced thinly

1/2 cup feta cheese crumbles

3 T extra-virgin olive oil

juice from 1 lime

1 clove garlic, minced

couple pinches of cumin

salt and pepper to taste

Remove kernels from corn cobs and place in a medium bowl. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. That's it.

Nat's Notes:

1. You can certainly boil the cobs or warm up some frozen corn in a skillet with a bit of oil.

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Love and Brownies

Today has been one of those crazy kind of days where I find I'm running around my house like a chicken with it's head cut off (Ew, such a gross visual. Sorry). So, instead of sitting down and writing mama drama brilliance, I am instead going to re-post from my personal blog. Enjoy!
Mom makes brownies. Kids help. Each kid eats one brownie for dessert, declares it the most delicious thing she has ever eaten in her entire life, and then goes to bed. Dad comes home from work. Sees plate of brownies. Eats ALL of them.

There's a little story that happens all too often in our house.

But last night, five-year-old Gracie decided enough was enough. So, just before brushing her teeth and hopping into bed, she wrote a letter.

Dear Dad, it read.

Please do not eat all the brownies.

Love Gracie and Annelie

She made sure it was covered in hearts, so he still knows she loves him.
The fact that there wasn't a letter stopping ME from eating all the brownies did not go unnoticed.

Nom nom nom.

Happy Wednesday, mamas!

xoxo,

What She Wants to Be

At 4 1/2, SweetPea already has her future all planned out.  She likes to tell me, "Momma, when I'm bigger, I want to be a ballerina.  When I'm done being a ballerina, I'm going to be a doctor.  When I'm done being a doctor, I want to be a chef...

And when I'm done being a chef, I want to be an artist...

And when I'm done being an artist, I want to write notes and do a performance..."

She also wants to be a firefighter, a builder, an astronaut, a speech therapist, a nurse, a real princess (she stresses the real part), an archaeologist, a zookeeper, and a cowgirl.  Then she tells me, "When I'm done being those things, I'm just going to be me."  I like a girl with a plan.  Of course, it sounds like Then Man and I need to start saving every last penny we can to pay for it all!