C-O-O-K-I-N-G

Salem is at such a fun age, I have forgotten how fun it was to learn how to spell. Tonight we made peanut butter bars and she decided to help me out, just in case I didn't know what the ingredients were. She either has me spell the word to her or she copies them off the package.


This one cracks me up...(no pun intended)



As if I could forget who or what this is..



Just in case any of you want to make the peanut butter bars. They are the kind from grade school, and the truly are evil. I will share the recipe but not the scribe.

1/2 cube butter
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
5/8 cup peanut butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 cup flour
1 cup oatmeal

Mix ingredients together and spread in a 9 x 12 pan. Bake for 10 minutes at 350 (Do not over bake) Cool slightly and spread 1 cup peanut butter over cookie. Frost with chocolate frosting.

Frosting
1 1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cube butter
1/3 cup cocoa
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1 pound powdered sugar

Mix together except powdered sugar, bring to a boil and cook for 2 minutes. Add powdered sugar and beat with mixer. Spread over cookie and of course EAT!

Salem or Cyndi Lauper

Salem may only be 5 but she acts like she's 15. She will spend forever in the bathroom doing her hair. Here is what she came up with on Sunday. All she needs is to layer some socks, put on her LA Gear's and sing Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!

My kind of camping...

Salem wanted to camp out in her room last night. I have to say this is my kind of roughing it..warm and clean not mention the video ipod and idog.

Sweet Sixteen

Salem was in heaven today, she got to play all day with Riley. They are 5 and 6 going on 16. I guarantee we will be seeing this again in ten years. Pretty sure neither of us will be buying them an Escalade so they better live it up now.

Finally

Steve is such a good sport, he is taking down the Christmas lights today. It's the first Saturday we have had a little good weather. He is a modern day Clark Griswold. Our Christmas lights look so good. The front pillars are striped red and white like candy canes, it looks like a gingerbread house. My crazy idea that somehow he made come to life.






Steve and his trusty side kick Daisy

Pizza...Yummy!

I have been trying to make an effort to eat better. So a few months ago we decided that instead of ordering pizza we would make our own. I found a wonderful pizza dough recipe, it's quick and easy. Making your own pizza is not only better for you but way cheaper.

3/4 cup warm water
1 envelope active dry yeast
2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons olive oil

Pour 3/4 cup warm water into a small bowl, stir in yeast. Let stand until yeast dissolves, about 5 minutes.

Brush large bowl lightly with olive oil. Mix 2 cups flour, sugar and salt add yeast mixture and stir until dough forms a sticky ball. Transfer to a floured surface. Knead dough until smooth adding more flour if dough is too sticky. Transfer to the the bowl that has been oiled and turn the dough in the bowl to coat with oil. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let dough rise in warm draft-free area until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.


I keep all the stuff on hand so we can make pizza any time we want. Salem loves being able to make her own with lots of sauce and cheese!

Family Night....

We may not go to church but we do enjoy family night now and then. We made pizza and played Chutes and Ladders. I loved this game as a kid, we used to play with my Grandma and Grandpa Goodey. The older I get the more important those childhood memories are to me.