So Then There's That

When you say it's gonna happen "now",

well, when exactly do you mean?

See I've already waited too long

and all my hope is gone.

You shut your mouth,

how can you say

I go about things the wrong way?

I am human and I need to be loved,

just like everybody else does.

Don't you just hate days when you actually get what Morrisey was saying?

Yeah, me too.

Home Sweet Home

Yoo hoo, over here, hidden behind the boxes! Hi there! Well, the house passed inspection and BOOM, we've moved. I've traded in the sound of the traffic zooming by our townhouse for the loverly sound of birds (and the occasional car zooming by). I am unbelievably in love with our new house. First, it's a house, complete with a YARD! Owooooooo. Second, I've gone from 2 windows total downstairs to 32 windows. That's right, there are 32 sunlight loving windows in this beautiful place, which means that I don't have to turn on a single light all day!

Now, as we all know, love can sometimes blind you to obvious flaws. Such as, there is only one telephone jack and it's in the kids' room; or the fact that the upper cabinets are too narrow to hold a cake plate; or the biggie, that there isn't one single drawer in the kitchen. Yes, you heard me right, not one drawer. Guess I'll be on the look out for an old milk carrier so I can put my silverware in it. The hubby suggested going to the restaurant outlet just down the way and getting one of those buffet type silverware sorters. Needless to say it should be fun thinking of ways to solve the "where's this go?" problem.

C is for Cookie

Ohhhhh these are nummy nummy nummy. Did I mention they are nummy? This is actually a recipe from Nestle Toll House Very Best Baking. You simply must give these a go. Oy vay, are they nummy! Besides, chocolate is good for reducing stress. Let's just think of it as my way of looking out for your health. I'm here for ya!

Pudding Chip Cookies

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 pkg. (4 serving size) instant chocolate pudding mix
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 large egg
1 large egg white
2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

PREHEAT oven to 350° F.

COMBINE flour and pudding mix in small bowl. Beat butter in large mixing bowl on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Beat in brown sugar and baking soda until well combined. Beat in egg and egg white. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels. Drop dough by rounded teaspoon 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets.

BAKE for 10 to 12 minutes or until set. Cool on baking sheets 2 to 3 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

My Heart Has Been Ripped From My Chest

That's my oldest son Nate and his girlfriend Michelle. Cute aren't they? Well, Sir Nate decided that he's now old enough to break his mother's heart and move far far far far far away (almost 2 miles) into a house with HER. I'm trying REAL hard to let go and keep my nose out of his "bidnez", but let's be honest, that's never been my forte.They actually balance each other out quite well and they seem to be quite smitten with each other. Deep down I know they'll be ok and I really do like her, but HE'S MY BABY BOY!!!!!! He's not old enough to move in with his girlfriend! After all, it was just yesterday that he learned how to drink out of a real cup and say "Mama".

Of course, like most moms, I'd rather they be married than just living together. But hey, he knows my views, and it's his life and his decisions and all I can do is make sure he knows that I love him anyway. Besides, the utilities are in my name so if they get too out of control I'll just have the electricity shut off. MWAAAAAAA HAAAAAA HAAAAAAAA!

Here's a cutesy pic of them in front of their house. I just love how she looks like the damsel in distress. She could actually skin a bear alive, but she's good at letting Nate be her "Hero" (I could probably learn a thing or two from her).

Gosh darn it, they're just too cute!!!

Oh and here's a pic of baby Sam after our little visit to Nate's house where he did a face plant down the steps to the back yard. It's actually healing very nicely and I don't even think there'll be a scar.
Yes, Nate, I'm keeping this picture just to torture you. If you had just stayed at home with your Mommy, then your little brother never would have fallen down the steps. Bad, bad, bad, big brother (hee hee, love you).

Army of Women

One Million Women
One Research Goal
One Revolutionary Opportunity

Do something to prevent breast cancer:
http://www.armyofwomen.org/

The Army is dedicated to representing ALL women in research so that the research results will apply to ALL women. This means we need women of all ages, ethnicities, sizes, and shapes. We need women who have had breast cancer and women who have not. We need African American women, Asian women, white women, Latinas, and lesbians to be involved.

Musical Interlude

Just thought I'd share the weirdness that plays at our house. It all started with Khris coming downstairs with his guitar to look up some music and the discussion began of "Owoooo this would be cool to play". Kinda scary to think we're in charge of minors eh?







I blame his father for this one:






Somehow we always end up with some Depeche. I love how this guys says Depech"A" Mode.




Just threw this one in because I LOVE this song:

I Should've Been a Ninja

Why did the chicken cross the road? Because it wanted to be on my Stealthy BBQ Chicken Pizza! Har har har har. Yah, I know, don't quit my day job. Anyhoooo, this is an easy, fast, tasty lunch/din-din. Everyone have their safety helmets on? Here we gooooooo!

BTW, Boo, if you're reading this, stop now and flip over to The Drudge Report or see if you can find a cool video for Depeche Mode's Tora Tora Tora. Thanks hun, it's for your own good. Love ya!

Okay, first procure some pizza dough and spread it onto a greased pizza pan or cookie sheet (pizza is cool and flexible like that). My favorite recipe can be found here. Today I totally cheated and used a can of Pillsbury pizza crust. Hey, I'm human and some days call for the Dough Boy to pitch in and do his share. Next, to satisfy your inner child, draw pretty designs on your dough with some BBQ sauce and honey then smear it all around so it's evenly distributed. I don't really measure but I'd guess about 1/3 cup BBQ sauce and 1/4 cup honey.

Now check to make sure no one is watching and sprinkle 1/4 cup wheat germ over the sauce and quickly put the jar back in the fridge before anyone sees you. If anyone asks, just say it's corn meal from the crust. Mwaaa haa haaa. Now add about 1/2 cup chopped red onion. I've learned some cool tricks to help with onion tears like: chilling your onion in the fridge before chopping; burning a candle close by; or having someone else chop them for you.

Next check again to make sure no one is looking and mince some tomatoes and just the tips off the florets of some broccoli stalks. You want them to be small enough that the broccoli looks like seasoning and the tomatoes look like bacon crumbles. Owoooooo. Quickly throw it on the pizza and cover it up with 2 slices crumbled bacon and 1 cup cooked shredded chicken. Can you even shred raw chicken? You can grind raw chicken, but can you get a shredder and truly shred raw chicken or would it just be a splattering of salmonella juice everywhere? Hmm, I'm going to have to give that a go and find out. Sorry, mental detour, sometimes the voices just win.

Where were we? Ahhh yes, cheese. Loverly, glorious cheese. Go with your gut on this one and pick a cheese that makes your toes wiggle. The hubby loves extra sharp cheddar and being as I'm sneaking in healthy goodness, I figure he deserves his hearts desire. I use about 1/4 cup mozzarella and 1 1/2 cup extra sharp cheddar. Top with a small can (8oz) of drained pineapple chunks and a sprinkle of cilantro (to hide the broccoli, hee hee) and toss it in a preheated 400 degree oven for about 15 mins. Put on a James Bond film and bask in the glory of getting your family to eat their veggies and whole grains.


Stealthy BBQ Chicken Pizza

1 can refrigerated pizza dough (or be cool and make it yourself)
1/3 cup BBQ sauce
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup red onion
1/4 cup minced tomatoes
1/4 cup minced broccoli
2 slices crumbled bacon
1 cup shredded cooked chicken
1/4 cup mozzarella cheese
1 1/2 cups extra sharp cheddar cheese
1 8oz can pineapple chunks, drained
1 TBS dried cilantro

Heat oven to 400. Grease pan and spread dough to edges of pan. Top with all ingredients and bake for about 15 min. (when cheese is melty and crust is golden).

Thankful Thursday

Ya know, I was sitting here about to duct tape the kids to the sofa so I could fix my header that my SIL pointed out was a blinding atrocity of retina burning yellow on yellow, when I realized that it was Thursday. So here's my Thankful Thursday list:

1. I am thankful for my sister in law who was smart enough to have test done that caught breast cancer in the early stages and was brave enough to fight it instead of letting it win. You Rock Joni!

2. ditto

3. ditto

4. ditto

5. ditto

6. ditto

7. ditto

8. ditto

9. ditto

10. I'm still thankful for Chad Lowe (pbbbblllsst Hillary Skank, I mean Swank).

Purple Haze

Isn't that the coolest color EVER?! Miss Molly and I had a hankerin' for some smoothies the other night. First we mixed some blackberries with yogurt and milk, which I thought was nummy, but Miss Molly said all she could taste was yogurt. Luckily, we had some loverly Bryer's Very Cherry Chip ice cream and a scoop later we had Purple Haze perfection. Normally, I'd sneak in a cup of fresh spinach leaves, however I figured any green flecks would look a bit suspicious in something called "Purple Haze". Still, I'm pretty sure Hendrix was jonesin' for a sip.

Purple Haze Smoothie
makes 4 "normal" servings or 2 big honkin' servings

2 cups frozen blackberries
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
1 cup milk
1 scoop (1/2 cup-ish) Bryers Very Cherry Chip ice cream

Mix in blender until smooth and purplisious.
Best served to a group of recovering hippies while watching Dark Side of the Rainbow.

Daring Bakers September Challenge: Lavash Crackers

Good day cyber friends and lurkers! You all remember how we discussed me needing a few extra brain cells, more than likely due to the fact that being a youngest child myself, I suffer from "test dummy syndrome" as explained here? Well, I had a code blue massive brain fart and forgot all about my September Daring Bakers Challenge until yesterday, 3 days AFTER the deadline. Whooo hooo, I rock!

This month's challenge was Lavash crackers hosted by Natalie of Gluten A Go Go and Shel of Musings From The Fishbowl. This challenge made my toes wiggle because some of the old hens in my former homeschool group always talked about how they made their own crackers (actually, they made EVERYTHING themselves off their homesteads. big showoffs, hee hee) and I wanted to be one of the "kewl" kids too. We had our choice of spices/toppings so long as our crackers were vegan, we also had the choice to go gluten free. This was my original plan, but being as the aforementioned brain fart removed all recollection of deadlines, I had to just use what I had on hand, which was whole wheat. The sauce was a free-for-all of whatever your heart desired so long as it was vegan and gluten free.

First I had to gather all my ingredients and get them to the table so I could sit and cook (anyone remember that "Sit and Be Fit" exercise show?). Well here's my pure genius answer to transporting those goods:
I'm thinking a basket, horn, and some tassels will make this baby ROCK!

My temporary baking high was immediately shot down when I opened my rolling mat to find this:

Friends, we are gathered here today to say goodbye to our beloved Tupperware Pastry Sheet. It was a good pastry sheet and its sixteen years of service will not be forgotten. Let us have a moment of silence to reflect upon its great starchy victories. *tear

After the memorial service I carried on with my cracker making fun. I've said before how I LOVE to make kneaded bread type goodies. There is just something therapeutic about it. See even Mr. Happy Kneaded Dough is smiling!


Oh look Khris came home just in time to witness his mom playing with bread dough. Doesn't he look proud? BTW, there's those honking after work drinks he brings me.


Wanna know what's funny about making Lavash at midnight? You find yourself entranced by the grainy planes of whole wheat numminess. Looooook deep into it...Feel it's power......Ohmmmmmmm.


I made two batches, one just for me with crushed pecans sprinkled on top (inspired by John of Eat4Fun) and another with cinnamon sugar. The first batch (with pecans) turned a bit too brown. The second batch I turned the heat down to 325 and it worked smashingly. As for my dipping sauce I blended 2 cups defrosted frozen mixed fruit, 4 pepperoncini, and 1/2 tsp cinnamon until smooth in my new blender that my boys got me for my birthday, .

Whoaaaa momma was it tasty! I love the yen and yang of spicy and sweet. I will absolutely make this again and I'm thinking of making it thicker to have a pita type bread. Forgive the bad pic, it was 2:00am and I decided that everything should be shades of BROWN!

For the recipe please check out our hostesses' sites: Gluten A Go Go and Musings From The Fishbowl. Also be sure to check out the other Daring Bakers and drool over their hard work.