Friday Food Fun

One darling twin gave me a few blog instructions before she headed back to college. Her 2 specific requests were:

1) Don’t blog about DWTS
2) No food or recipes

Seems she finds these two topics B-O-R-I-N-G. I love unsolicited advice. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate her readership. I’m touched that she and her darling twin sister enjoy the blog and even share it with some of their friends.

It also does not go unnoticed that they easily provide about 50% of the blog fodder here. Family life is the springboard for most of my blog content. But she is not the boss of me.

So, Roger Leroy can get her own blog or suffer through the food fun Scary Baby and I had while they were in Arizona.

With all that said and my quarterly disclaimer that this is not a food blog, the simple fact is that we love, love, love to eat. And I’m a pretty good cook in spite of what you may have been led to believe.

The sugar addiction is still a problem as you will soon see.

I have taught all the kids to cook figuring it is an important life skill and comes in handy every once in a while. We jump started our Home Ec classes with that insanely good Lemon Cake in the spring. I became a bit obsessed and made it 3 different times.

The last 2 times I combined and tweaked 2 different recipes in my personal quest to simplify the cake. I’m never really drawn to complicated recipes. Making homemade lemon curd was a giant stretch for me. But I love lemons and love this particular cake so much that I wanted to get the recipe recorded for next spring when I might turn the oven on again.

This cake is worth adding to your recipe collection. File under fabulous desserts to make especially for company and special occasions or to just impress yourself! You can download and print the recipe by clicking the link:

Printable Perfect Lemon Cake Recipe

Scary Baby soon tired of lemons and we moved on to other desserts.

She also became a self-appointed food stylist volunteering to take a picture 20 pictures of everything we made saying “You really need to put this on the blog, momma.”

After making Honey Lime Fruit Salad for lunch one day, she announced that she knew a way to make it even better…

If we only had some “whupped cream.” (She also added graham crackers and made herself a fruit s’more.)

Imagine her amazement when I showed her how we could make homemade whupped cream with heavy whipping cream that we had in the fridge. It’s easier to dazzle kids in the kitchen than you think.

We made all these things in May and June. Some sort of weird cooking frenzy before the darling twins came home I guess.

No offense to my food stylist but you will find much more appealing photos with each recipe by clicking on the links below the pictures.

1. Blackberry Cobbler ~ My new favorite, easiest cobbler ever. Added Blue Bell ® Summer Berries ice cream. Yee haw!
2. Blackberry Jam Almond Bars ~ 3 of my favorite things: shortbread, almond flavoring and blackberry jam — so delicious!
3. Lemon Cheesecake ~ Yes, I slipped in another lemon recipe mostly because it was NO BAKE and I had extra lemon curd I wanted to use!
4. Caramel Pecan Brownie Cake ~ Ridiculously rich even for chocoholic PhilBillPaul. I could never have predicted I would say “too much caramel” on anything but I would reduce the caramels in this one by half!

No pictures but we also made a few other fun things…

Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Chips ~ Perfection – I ate pretty much the whole batch by myself. Remember PhilBillPaul has fruit issues. Oven time could be eliminated with graham cracker sticks or using small tortillas in toaster oven.
Maple Pound Cake ~ This cake is so good I made it twice and we’re adding it to the holiday menu. I made it without walnuts and with the icing she recommended. PhilBillPaul’s new favorite cake.
Buttermilk Cake with fresh strawberries ~ Yum! Light and sweet. Big plus–it’s one layer so it can be made in toaster oven.

I haven’t been able to turn on the oven since June. This summer has felt like we live on the actual face of the sun and I know many parts of the country have felt the same way – not just here in the South!

I’d love to hear what your favorite summer dessert is. Share it in the comments and I’ll be sure to make it this winter when I can use my oven again. Any day below 80 degrees now feels cool.

Special note to Roger Leroy: Aren’t you glad I condensed these into one post instead of dragging it out and posting them one at a time? Thanks for enduring the food post, sweet daughter of mine.

Happy Labor Day weekend to all!

Calling All Moms With Middle School Kids

We are in week 3 of middle school here at the Humpfreeze house.

The middle school transition may be the most difficult – in my opinion.

Mostly I think this because it’s been rougher than the first batch of older three Humpfreeze and their transition to high school or college.

Side note: Well, that’s if you skip that first week of 8th grade which was not only the darling twins middle school transition but also their public school transition as we homeschooled in their 7th grade and K-6th grade was in private school…sorry drifting down memory lane…that first week of 8th grade public school where Wizzy saw a knife in a girl’s purse and reported it to a teacher and then we spent some conference time with a counselor and administrator covering it up so the brand new school wouldn’t get a black mark and the girl didn’t get expelled because zero tolerance in the handbook didn’t apply to the knife or that particular girl. Pretty sure that was the longest run-on sentence I’ve ever written. Oh, the fun was really just beginning as The Bubble began to pop with the exposure to all the things I had kept hidden for so long.

Middle school is the age – again just my opinion – where the kids have outgrown a lot of the cuteness and it takes a whole lot of extra love and patience to not ground these children until high school graduation. You just don’t hear a lot of people saying things like “Look at that group of middle school kids, aren’t they adorable?” They are struggling to become more independent but are not quite old enough for any real freedom from those darn parents.

Week 1 of Middle School

Scary Baby’s first week was so smooth we were scared. We’re not pessimists but we knew it was the calm before the storm but we praised her independence. She got up every morning and got herself ready with time to spare. (She saves quite a bit of time by not brushing her hair – a story for another day.) Five days in a row of smoothly going to school is close to a record. Sorry, still no picture.

Week 2 of Middle School

Tuesday, day six. It is crucial that she get her instrument for orchestra T-O-N-I-G-H-T because she will be the only one without an instrument if we don’t take her to the music store right now. We had already spent a good deal of time discussing instrument selection and were unable to convince her that we thought band would be a better choice than orchestra. Never mind our reasons – none of us are musical unless you count the fact that we all have iPods and some of us love, love, love country music.

We simply supported her decision to choose orchestra. In an imaginary coin toss she chooses the viola over the violin. We don’t know why and we don’t care. We are just glad it is not the cello or bass.

Surely you know by now that Saint PhilBillPaul took her that very night to get the last rental viola in the state of Georgia.

And even though we have learned that some nasty little middle school boy commented that her viola was “obviously used” she has been loud and proud about her new acquisition.

Middle school boys are icky.

Wednesday, Day Seven.
It’s all over. She visited the clinic because her stomach hurt. We do not want the clinic to get to know Scary Baby better than the entire student body. We hoped we had left this elementary school legacy behind her. Thank goodness her very sweet and darling brother was available to take some magical Tums® to the clinic so she could finish her day.

I will write part two of this glorious day what transpired that evening in another post.

The best part of this lengthy story about middle school?

When The Grunter entered the middle school office, he says the receptionist was a wee bit busy texting under her desk and looked up quickly and said to him,

“Checking in?”

I’m still laughing that he could have checked himself in as an 8th grader. 7th grader? He turns 21 next month. My poor pumpkin.

I also told him he should have checked in, went to an 8th grade class, sat down and then we could have broke a giant news story about some security risks in the school system since a 20 year-old got past the front desk and could have done harm.

Might have made up for the “covering up the knife in the purse incident” that I’m obviously still holding a grudge about.

Just sayin’

Any thoughts, ideas, suggestions on how to make the middle school transition less overwhelming? It’s obvious that I’m way too old to have a middle school child and poor Scary Baby gets the short end of the parenting stick…

Summer Activities ~ Part 3

All the darling twins talked about even before they got back home was the beach.

“We’re going to the beach.”

Over and over again. In between car repairs and work schedules and having about six weeks of summer they were going to the beach.

When the beach trip got changed multiple times and looked like it just wasn’t going to happen, leave it to St. PhilBillPaul to have a brilliant idea.

“Why don’t we all go to the beach?”

Never mind that it’s not in the budget. Never mind that all three big kids are scheduled to work. Never mind that mom and dad have work too.

Let’s Go To The Beach

PhilBillPaul’s second brilliant idea was that MOM could work her magic and use the power of the internet and find a last minute beach bargain. In less than 48 hours.

“Yea!!” the children shouted. “Let’s leave on Sunday at 4:00 a.m.”

PhilBillPaul’s third brilliant idea was that MOM could make a breakfast casserole and cheesy potatoes so WE would have food right when we got there and WE wouldn’t have to cook.

What would I do without all the brilliant ideas surrounding me?

Leaving out most of the gorey details of everyone packing themselves and going to bed while mom cooked and sweated in the 150 degree kitchen and made lists and packed DIRTY clothes because…

The Washing Machine Broke

Oh yes it did.

On Saturday while the big kids were all working, PhilBillPaul turned himself black trying to fix the washer which would not drain or rinse the clothes.

Suspiciously this happened after Roger Leroy had C-R-A-M-M-E-D a load of clothes in that was seriously bigger than the washer.

Perhaps we did not teach her how to properly do her laundry. Oh wait, YES WE DID.

The Army and college have taught her that sorting is a waste of time.

I remained calm – surprising I know – and announced that we could do OUR laundry when we got to the beach.

The darling twins could take their wet ginormous load to a laundromat. And Rachel could buy the part she broke. And they were never allowed to touch our washer again.

Side note: I’m pretty sure that Roger Leroy would want me to extend her personal and heartfelt thanks to her sister Wizzy for doing this while she was at work.

This I said because we had paid for the last minute bargain I found and there were no refunds.

Off to the beach we went at a more reasonable time of 6:00 a.m.

The view from our bargain 6th floor condo wasn’t too bad.

And other than one giant scene about Scary Baby and brushing her hair, we all survived.

I’ll be so bold as to say that everyone had FUN.

I asked them if we could recreate the blog header photo.

But this is about as close as I could get.

Everyone was on their own for dinner.

It was very nice that they actually wanted to have one night be a family dinner so we all gathered at Pompano Joe’s.

And I made sure to snap this very important picture after she had told me numerous times to quit taking pictures of her.

I told her the whole goal of the trip was to get her darling toes in the sugar white sand.

She was very specific that it had to be the sugar white sand of Destin.

And then declared, on our last day, that she really doesn’t like sand.

Later this week, I must tell you what happened on the way there and the way back because no Humpfreeze trip is complete without some ridiculous moments that are not funny except to everyone else who didn’t have to be there. Or drive to the Piggly Wiggly.

Stay tuned.

Oatmeal Berry Muffins

My quest for healthy recipes that taste good continues. This recipe is a keeper. In fact, I’m making again this weekend. I love to have something frozen that I can grab that is homemade.

Bonus: The Grunter Seal of Approval…he ate four!

Remember, this is not a food blog which is why I didn’t take bad pictures of these delicious muffins.

Instead just click over to this lovely food blog called Two Peas and Their Pod. They are a sweet young couple who cook together and take great pictures of their food.

Just like me and PhilBillPaul 20 years ago…well except for the cooking together and taking great pictures of food part.

Side note: I had a frozen berry mix of blueberries, raspberries and strawberries and I did not use chunky applesauce. Whatever berries and applesauce you use doesn’t seem to matter – they’re excellent.

Oatmeal Berry Muffins

Adapted from Joy the Baker

* 1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
* 1 1/4 cups oats
* 1 tsp baking powder
* 1/2 tsp baking soda
* 1/4 tsp salt
* 1/2 tsp cinnamon (I used 1 tsp.)
* 1 cup unsweetened applesauce (I used chunky applesauce)
* 1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk
* 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
* 2 tbsp canola oil
* 1 large egg, lightly beaten
* 1 tsp. vanilla (I added this)
* 1/4 tsp. almond extract (I added this)
* 3/4 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen (I used frozen raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries. I put in a full cup)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Line a muffin tin with paper cases or spray with nonstick cooking spray.

In a large bowl combine flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. In a medium bowl combine applesauce, buttermilk, sugar, oil, egg, and extracts. Make a well in dry ingredients and add applesauce mixture. Stir until just moist. Fold in berries. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full. I got 16 regular muffins.

Bake for 16-18 minutes.

Cool on rack. Enjoy! They freeze beautifully too!

Recipe from:Two Peas and Their Pod

******

Have a fabulous weekend and bake some muffins!

The Leaving

Last week I said to PhilBillPaul,

“I hate it when they are home. I hate it when they leave.”

Their leaving last week caused a wee bit of stress.

Understatement of the year.

Stress that only parents can understand. And even then, some of you don’t know what I’m talking about. Maybe because your darlings haven’t left yet.

The darling twins are now gone for five months. I’m equating this departure to a semester abroad. Except they are in Arizona. So I guess it’s a semester out west.

They will thrive and shine. They will be fine. Because we have prepared them for life in ways I’ve seen many of their peers are not prepared. For that, we are grateful.

We know they are equipped with life skills and life lessons. Even though they choose not to use those skills here at our house.

Roger Leroy sent me this text tonight just as I was about to write this…

“You not sharing any life lessons lately is bothering me.”

Funny kid.

I don’t like the blog pressure. Funny thing about the blog is that when I don’t write, people worry.

Sweet, kind people who wonder if something is wrong.

A few emails. A few phone messages.

As if my silence might indicated that my feet have been dangling dangerously close to the edge of The Black Hole.

Or that I may have set a personal record and taken xan*x three days in a row.

Side note: I’m not spelling the drug name out any more as it seems to attract spammers offering me all kinds of interesting pharmaceuticals.

I’m fine, fine, fine. I promise.

I’ve just been really busy doing some blog design work in between recovering from the holidays and spending quality time with the family.

I do miss them when they aren’t here. I really do.

Since this blog is really my online family photo album and my personal therapy, I’ll share this tiny glimpse of what I don’t and won’t miss…

Photos compliments of Scary Baby because I couldn’t bear to look again.

Oh yes, that is my precious little blue bug (that Wizzy is in the process of buying) and that is where a passenger is suppose to put their feet.

Why yes, that is chocolate milk and orange juice. And marinara sauce on the floor mat, I think. For the record, in an attempt to make me feel better, Wizzy did say it was OPT…Other People’s Trash.

Yes, as a matter of fact, I did cry. And scream. A lot.

Another proud week at the Humpfreeze.

Note to darling twins: I did refrain from posting pictures of your room (again). Or your laundry. Where Dad found a clean stack of clothes still folded in the bottom of one of your hampers tonight covered with dirty clothes you left here. Nice.

Just want to keep it real.

Where is that prescription bottle?

Fine, Fine, Fine in Georgia

Thanks to several sweet people who checked on us since I didn’t write on Monday. I had to use Monday to recover from Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

I wish I had some amazing story to tell you but most of those are already written and can be picked up on CNN and other online news sources.

Like the balloon boy hoax.

Don’t get me started on that one.

And since I did tell you all about that car in the sinkhole, I feel compelled to tell you that the driver was arrested on Monday. Seems he did it on purpose.

Really makes my weekend activities pale in comparison. I’m glad to say no one was arrested at my house. Knock wood.

We got Scary Baby off to a pre-Halloween birthday sleepover on Friday night dressed, most appropriately, to match her code name.

Her frightful costume created plenty of screaming and yelling. Though I don’t think it was suppose to come from me as she had a meltdown about which vampire teeth she was going to wear, her black boots were at the neighbor’s and a spider earring disappeared as she walked out the door.

I love Halloween fun to start two weeks before Halloween so by the time we get to the real Halloween, mommy has turned into a very scary witch.

Side note: I know several family members who shall remain nameless can relate to this. The rest of you continue with your sweet Halloween fun.

I think I popped the xanax right after she left because I was aware that I was exhibiting very witch-like behavior sans the costume.

The darling twins came home Friday {again} with only one extra Soldier as it was their drill weekend. An added bonus was that The Grunter did not have to work so it was our first Friday in several years we had the three lovely young adults big kids without Scary Baby.

We took them all to dinner and then went bowling. I’ll save the bowling throwdown story for another day. Suffice to say that we had some bowling etiquette issues with the eight teenagers next to us ending with one of the teenagers being kicked out and the management giving us 12 free games.

Another shining memory for our family.

It should be noted that those teenagers should be very, very glad I was medicated.

We awoke Saturday to Wizzy saying she couldn’t breathe and didn’t think she could go to drill. Roger Leroy headed out with her Soldier friends while PhilBillPaul took Wizzy to the walk-in clinic.

This is the darling twin who has been sick for several weeks and in spite of trying to tough it out, is not getting better. Imagine that her bronchitis has not gotten better after playing rugby, flag football, tubing and early morning cadet physical training. Shocking, I know.

They came home announcing we needed to take her to the emergency room because the physician’s assistant was very concerned about meningitis because Wizzy said she had a bad headache.

As they left for the ER, they stopped back by the walk-in clinic to double check everything because the darling twins were vaccinated in high school for meningitis.

The good news…

No Swine Flu

and no meningitis either.

Two days of complete rest at home with more sleep than she’s had in a year and she still isn’t better.

Sunday, Roger Leroy and Casey got back from drill and spent several hours looking for her lost wallet and ipod.

I cooked a Sunday dinner compliments of Granny’s homemade noodles overnighted from Texas.

I added a Pumpkin Spice Cake with that Maple Brown Sugar Frosting from last weekend’s cupcakes and made some Caramel Apple Kisses with pretzels and M&Ms.

Because we’re still watching our sugar.

The wallet and ipod were located by Casey and Wizzy. In her bookbag. Roger Leroy is like the scarecrow on Wizard of Oz and that’s being polite.

After they ate, they headed back to college. They couldn’t wait for the desserts to cool down so she took a sad little container with 3 kisses back with her.

This is what happens when you set your camera on “cuisine” setting and turn off the flash.

Finally, three hours at urgent care on Monday with chest x-ray and blood work has confirmed Wizzy still has bronchitis and will be staying home for a few more days.

Such a boring weekend here. Please tell me you all had a much better weekend?!

Open Bar at Graduation Party

So I found out that at least one of the darling twins who shall remain nameless was telling everyone that there would be a bar at their graduation party.

This is extra funny since I don’t drink.

And do not condone minor drinking.

In spite of that…

We did have two bars at their party last Friday.

Bar #1 ~ A Taco Bar

The crockpots full of meat were shredded chicken, pork and beef. I did not want to use the oven for anything on the day of the party so this worked out well.

If you are interested in the recipes which received rave reviews, just click below:

• Cafe Rio Pork
• Costa Vida Chicken
• Shredded Beef

I also made mexican rice and black beans neither of which I eat but friends said were good. Fresh tortilla chips, salsa, crispy taco shells and shredded cheese from our favorite local Mexican restaurant rounded out the taco bar.

Side note: Thank goodness for great neighbors who loaned us crockpots and great serving dishes to keep costs down.

Bar #2 ~ A Candy Bar

It seemed to be a big hit with all ages.

This kid cracks me up every time I see him.

I was pretty sure we couldn’t go wrong with a candy bar!

Even if the cute little graduation caps melted on the sticks and slid down to the bottom because it was 85 degrees that day. Let’s not talk about our air conditioning problems right now, kay?

The high school colors are maroon, navy blue and gold.

Did you know it is very hard to find navy or royal blue sugar?

I had found this cool place on the internet near us and we went last Monday – the exact same day that blogging rockstar and cake pop queen Bakerella featured the store. I think we should be friends and I really think I should have emailed her and asked begged her to come and make cake pops or cupcake bites for the party.

Because this is what my feeble attempt looked like.

Which may not look all that bad to you if you’ve never seen Bakerella’s adorable creations. I’m not encouraging you to but if you must you can click over to her site and confirm yet another calling I really didn’t miss.

We had red velvet with cream cheese frosting and lemon with lemon frosting. Everyone was fascinated that you could eat the whole thing – I should have made a tent card that said “Entirely edible” because people tried to peel the bottom like it was cupcake paper but it was actually melted white chocolate.

Or I could have just ordered a cake from Costco. Yeah, I considered that after making three test batches of cake pop blobs.

We called these Triple Chocolate Army Helmets.

Even though we made them in a truffle mold. Yeah, helmets – way more appropriate then truffles on sticks.

We added PhilBillPaul and Scary Baby’s patriotic pretzels and the candy bar served its purpose.

The party was lovely. Really it was.

Now if we can get through the graduation on Thursday…

P.S. Though there was no official *bar*, PhilBillPaul did serve a few Mexican beers to the grownups.

Two Weeks Plus Two Days

Mother’s Day 2009 is imprinted in my memory.

Not for the usual reasons of past years in my “perfect” life.

Side note: A few weeks ago, my sister and a friend told me that they think I should be more real because everything at my house always sounds so good.

I laughed at them but was a little puzzled. I guess me writing about spiraling into depression, getting a phone call from the high school principal and taking xanax now and again is too upbeat and perky for some people.

Yeah, I’ll work on that

Back to Mother’s Day. In past years, Saint PhilBillPaul has had the kids make me breakfast in bed and make lovely homemade cards, taken me out for brunch or dinner and all the other cliché but wonderful things that moms love.

This year…

not so much.

But in the midst of the day, I did receive this heartfelt and touching card.

WARNING

Do not scroll down if you are eating or if you are offended by super short shorts.

That’s my girl. And I especially love how she signed with her last initial “H” because otherwise I wouldn’t have known who it was from.

Roger Leroy has inherited the same warped sense of humor that the rest of us have.

The card is a winner even if Mother’s Day wasn’t.

I’m saving some of my more real venting for a later date.

Perhaps in about two weeks and two days.

Because that’s how much time is left before the darling twins have here at home with us before they graduate and then ship to basic training.

For now, I’m still trying to respect their privacy.

Until then, please leave a comment and share some warm, fuzzy Mother’s Day moments that will help me remember when they were tiny and cute.

P.S. Scary Baby did make me a sweet book of poems at school in her handwriting complete with her own drawings!

Holiday Baking Week & Teacher Gifts

This is my big holiday baking week. It’s a tradition that I started when the kids were in preschool. I bake all our favorites over the course of two or three days freezing much of what I make for later.

Since we had an Annual Fondue Party at our house for about eight years, I combined my baking efforts and made enough for the party and for gift baskets for their teachers.

Try to imagine that I actually crafted my own centerpiece with real apples and votive candles.

Scary I know because I am so-not-a-crafter.

But the baskets have always been lovely in spite of my missing crafter gene. Sometimes I’ve even busted out a can of gold or silver spray paint to make a natural wicker basket more festive.

One year I think that totaled eight baskets including music, art, computer and PE teachers plus the administrators and office staff.

I remember thinking how many darn apple notepads, pencil holders and smelly bath salts could one teacher endure year after year. I know that gift cards are always appreciated and many times the room mother takes up a collection for this but I really like to give a more personal gift.

I was delighted to read this “Announcement on Behalf of Your Child’s Teachers” blog post last week and if you don’t have time to read the whole post (but really you should because it’s worth reading!), here’s the section that validated my teacher gift giving.

Feed them. If money is an issue and you have many teachers to gift, there’s nothing wrong with making several batches of fudge, toffee, cookies, haystacks, peppermint bark, etc., wrapping them up with ribbon, and presenting them with a nice card (written from your child or you). Being able to go home on the last day of school and gorge on all the goodies is a wonderful thing. Giving the gift of treats also might allow the teacher to not have to do work in the kitchen this holiday season, as they can take some of the goodies along with them to parties or serve them if they are hosting. It’s essentially the opposite of forcing them to run an errand.

You can read the rest of the post here.

My gift to the teachers is heartfelt. I appreciate how much time and energy they spend with our children for way too little pay. I think by the time the holidays arrive, they are exhausted and ready for the holiday break. I’ve always written a little note of thanks and let them know that I hope the basket of homemade goodies will help them and they can make a platter or two if they have guests. Or they can just sit down and eat it all themselves.

I set up the kitchen assembly line style with saran wrap, cellophane gift bags, labels I print on the computer, curly ribbon, tissue paper and baskets or containers I try to score on clearance after Christmas. I always included a colorful plastic knife to cut the mini loaves of bread and tuck in a few holiday napkins. Sometimes we have added a couple of Dollar Tree mugs and assorted envelopes of gourmet hot chocolate.

Here’s the kitchen island from last year…

There is not a surface in our house that doesn’t have some baked good on it for a few days.

We have standard non-negotiable items that HAVE TO be made or we can’t have Christmas at our house. I make the mini loaves of quick breads and cookies and I delegate fudge and miscellaneous confections to PhilBillPaul.

Sherra’s List:

• Poppy Seed Bread
• Pumpkin Cranberry Bread
• Mini Black Bottom Cupcakes
• Illinois Soft Sugar Cookies
• Raspberry Shortbread Dreams
• Fudgie Bon Bons
• Chocolate Mint Cookies
• plus at least 4 batches of my special “Semi-Cajun” Chex Mix

PhilBillPaul’s List:

• Maple and Chocolate Fudge
• Toffee
• Chocolate Dipped Pretzel Rods
• Cinnamon Almonds

Then we have a wish list of a few new recipes to try to see if they will be basket-worthy for the next year.

This may be where I’ve gone wrong. We keep adding instead of subtracting!

These are my additions to add this year:

• Peanut Butter Brownie Cookies
• Chocolate Turtle Cookies
• Chocolate Mountains
• Lemon Drop Cookies

  We’ve actually already made these 3 or 4 times so we know they are keepers!

Any creative or crafty teacher gift ideas you will share? If you’d like a specific recipe for anything on our list just leave a comment and I’ll be glad to share!

Flexible Friday #15 Squirrel Issues

If you are a regular reader then you already know I have issues…

My issue of the day is…

SQUIRRELS

Thanks to Julieann’s comment about that yummy bean cake on Wednesday, she gave me the perfect segue to my already planned post about SQUIRRELS…

How do we go from Pork-n-Beans cake to squirrels?

I have always had squirrel issues. Rats with bushy tails. I don’t like squirrels.

My current squirrel issues are directly related to my hormone issues from last year which have subsequently created sleep issues and sent me spiraling into The Black Hole discussed here and here and here.

We have a new visitor who has been visiting our roof.

This squirrel is leaping onto our roof from a tree branch and runs along the gutter.

First I hear the faint thud as he lands on the roof. Then he creeps up to my bedroom window. Which is approximately four feet from my pillow and starts chewing on the window sill.

The sound is deafening. And it wakes me up.

And I have sleep issues.

And I hate squirrels.

Luckily, I’m married to handy dandy PhilBillPaul and his trusty handy assistant, Roger Leroy.

They ignorantly bravely went out on the roof with a chain saw to trim the branches so the Satanic Squirrel (SS) would stop eating MY HOUSE.

Nothing more comforting than seeing your daughter handing your husband a chain saw through your bedroom window. Note her enthusiasm if you can see it in the darkened photo.

Please forgive the poor quality photos thus far. I am not a SQUIRREL or CHAIN SAW photographer.

Hasn’t even phased SS – he keeps coming back.

PhilBillPaul thinks he can get SS with The Grunter’s crossbow. I have nixed this idea as I think a dead squirrel in my yard with an arrow sticking out of it might incite some animal-loving neighbors.

I don’t want any trouble.

I just want uninterrupted sleep.

We’ve been told a squirrel trap is our next option.

Lucky for me, we’ve had squirrel hunters living with us for many years.

The Grunter and his assistants have been hunting squirrels since 1997.

Problem is they’ve never caught one.

But darn it, that was a very cute moment when I asked The Grunter what he was doing and he told me the girls were his lookouts so he could catch a squirrel.

Now, I need to address another part of Julieann’s comment…

That Pork-n-Beans Cake was a recipe from food-loving Americans and because she inferred it might have come from people in Kentucky who eat possum and SQUIRREL or some other southern state, I bring you this highly scientific data I retrieved from the allrecipes.com website about the locations of those who loved BEAN CAKE:

Texas, Ohio, New York now living in Portland, Kansas, Canada, Ohio now living in Pennsylvania, Idaho now living in Nevada and Florida.

NOT ONE MENTION of Kentucky, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, etc.

So my friend, Julieann, just because you moved out West and are no longer here in Georgia, don’t despair. I’m betting you can find squirrel at some restaurant in California!

P.S. In all fairness, I must confess that my Grandad was a Midwest squirrel hunter back in the day. I certainly remember that he and my uncle and cousins would go squirrel hunting and Imogene cooked it. I’m getting queasy again…

Sally – send me that great picture of Grandad and your brother proudly displaying their squirrel vermin.

So you see, squirrel huntin’ and eatin’ are really not necessarily Southern thangs!

Anyone else here NOT from the South ever hunt and/or eat squirrel? I think the Pork-n-Beans cake would be a lovely side dish. Don’t forget to add the bacon bits and peanuts.

Okay, seriously now…I’m sick.

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