This happens pretty often. I hope when they have kids they have to eat ugly food sometimes too. ????
Comments
3 Responses to “Because I’m too cheap to give it to the dog”
Category: Tidbits
It’s been awhile…
Posted on November 9, 2013
Filed Under Tidbits
Wow, my backspace key is smoking. It’s like I don’t know how to write anymore. It all sounds weird, so I keep starting over. So, I’m just going to write, even if it sounds rusty. I missed this site. And my mom and my sister Jan say they’re tired of looking at the kid lunches now. Time to dust it off and start posting again.
My afternoon was spent cooking yesterday. And thinking. And not thinking about taking pictures of what I was cooking! I need to get into the habit again! What I was thinking about is how working in the kitchen is what I want to do with my life in the future. I think I could probably find people who’d take a meal or birthday cake or bucket of cookies now and then. ???? Problem is, the ladies who are the age that I picture being when that happens in the future are still so crazy busy. They’re not exactly sitting around knitting. If that’s me at that age, I guess I’ll just have to hire a maid.
I was going thro’ some pictures a bit ago to find a recipe to feature or at least pictures of some sort. What I found was miscellaneous pictures.
First, we have an unidentified cheesecake. I have no idea where this recipe comes from, which is sad because it looks so sinfully good. It’s layered and swirled and chocolate chippy. And it’s in my kitchen and I vaguely remember making it. Oh, if I’d only know where I got the recipe! Any ideas?
Here is a slice so you can see the layers.
Next, is another mysterious recipeless dish. This might be a bit easier to identify, so let me know if you know what it is!
Here is a progress picture. The light layers are crackers. The other layers look carmelly and then chocolate on top. Mmmmm!!! You can bet I’ll make these again if I figure out what recipe it is!
Here is just a way to change up peanut butter pie. Like, for example, if you don’t like to make pie crusts. The directions are very complicated, so pay attention: crumbs, pudding, crumbs, pudding, crumbs, pudding, crumbs.
I’m not saying the OSU fans in this Kroger grocery store are crazy about their football team or anything, they’re just selling pop.
This next picture says more than just cookie baking going on.
One thing it says is that we moved to a different house. My kitchen quadrupled in size. So did the cupboard space and the countertop space. I’m fine with that. 
Another thing it says is that there is someone in the picture who hasn’t been in my blog before. That is Bonnie. Bonnie and Tommy are special and live in an attached apartment here. They are a part of our life. It hadn’t really crossed our minds before that someday we’d become houseparents to mentally handicapped adults, but an opportunity came up and here we are. They are pretty independent and like to do a lot of things for themselves like cleaning and simple cooking and laundry. Then, they do other things on the farm like chores (raising calves, chickens, rabbits), cleaning a rental cabin, and mowing. Their mode of transportation is a golf cart and do they ever put on the miles in the summer! Transportation around the farm, that is. Their mode of transportation off the farm is us. They also work a couple afternoons a week at a local thrift store. They love it… it helps them feel useful and needed.
Fall is in the air. I love this time of year.
And I leave you with a reminder to always add lots of whipped cream to your hot chocolate…
Comments
10 Responses to “It’s been awhile…”
- Lisl on November 9th, 2013 9:08 pm
Oh goody! She’s back!
- Lisa on November 10th, 2013 9:23 am
Welcome back! I missed seeing your posts. I think I have that recipe for the cracker/ cookie if you’d like it?
- Kay on November 10th, 2013 1:46 pm
Yes, I would Lisa! Could you post it here? Or if it’s on your blog, just post the link here? Thanks!
- Lisa on November 11th, 2013 7:04 pm
Here’s the link. I think this is same…..
http://picky-palate.com/2010/10/18/chocolate-peanut-butter-and-caramel-club-bars/
- Arla on November 12th, 2013 9:28 am
And she’s back! Yaaaaayyyyyy!
- Kay on November 14th, 2013 12:12 am
Thanks, Lisa, for the link! That looks close, except for the peanut butter chips, but hey, you can’t go wrong with throwing those in.
Must. try. soon.And thanks for the welcome backs, Lisl, Arla, and Lisa.
- Mom on November 14th, 2013 12:57 am
Ah yes! This feels good again – so that’s what I was missing in my life?! I’ll be back to keep tabs on you…
- Jan on November 14th, 2013 11:03 am
Glad to see my nagging – I mean persistent encouragement – paid off!
- Liz on November 17th, 2013 8:46 pm
Oh, I thought of lots of different things while reading. Let’s see how many I remember.
first, I love reading your blog again. It looks like Lexi has that whole whipped cream down. If she ever forgets she could always hang out with grandpa m and I’m sure he would be willing to teach her. That one recipe with club crackers looks similar to one I pinned that was homemade kit kat bars. That cheesecake looks really really good! Looking forward to lots more of good reads. - Shannon on February 14th, 2014 10:05 pm
Ohh lalal. If you just cooked up all this food, I’d come sit in your kitchen and eat it for you! Find those recipes.
Angry Birds, Fishing, Footballs, Pigs with Mud… and other lunches for kids
Posted on March 14, 2012
Filed Under Cooks in Training, Easy meals, Tidbits
I’m not sure who has more fun with this… me or the kids. The thing about kids is that they’re so forgiving. For example, if your lion lunch looks more like a sun with whiskers, they’ll love it anyway. And they’ll even call it a lion, and they’ll grrrr while they’re eating it. Those of you reading this will probably fall into one of 3 categories:
1. Think “That’s a waste of time.”
2. Think “That would take too long, but I’d like a few easy ideas to do someday… maybe one day when I have nothing else to do *hahaha, laughing at your own joke of nothing to do*, or for a birthday party for one of the kids or something.”
3. Think ”I need to make lunch anyway, so instead of cutting a sandwich in half corner-to-corner and throwing it and chips on a plate, I might as well take a couple extra minutes and cut a roofline at the top of the sandwich and place some Doritos here and there to make it a house-on-fire lunch. Not saying I do it all the time… just hit n miss for fun. Because psssssst *whisper* Sometimes I fix lunch in 30 seconds flat and my kids’ lunches look like this:”
If you are person #1, I don’t care, I won’t try to change your mind… I’ll just feel privileged that you’re still putting up with me on here. 🙂
If you are person #2, do it, find that ’someday’, seriously, I can’t tell you how much the kids will love it.
If you are person #3, ahhh, let’s just remember that strengths and weaknesses lie side by side… because I’m pretty sure that spending time playing with food instead of folding laundry would be considered a weakness. 
You may notice that this is almost all grilled cheese sandwiches. Nothing fancy. No special recipes or anything.
I’m just going to put up 10 or so pictures here of ones I’ve remembered to take pictures of. Most of them were quickly snapped with my cell phone… without necessarily planning to post them, just more for my own interest. I thought of redoing them all and getting decent pictures, but you know what? I don’t specialize in the photography line like a few of my talented friends do. (My talented friends’ first piece of advice would probably be “use a camera, never a cell phone!”) 
I think the pictures are pretty self-explanatory, but I’ll try to explain sorta what I did under each picture. I just used whatever I had on hand… nothing was planned ahead, so sometimes I had to improvise, like using melted chocolate on a ham and cheese sandwich… it wasn’t very much though, I just needed something dark for eyebrows. I think you’ll notice the improvising as you look at the pictures.
1. Let’s Go Fishing
Apple boat, fish-shaped grilled cheese sandwich, carrot fisherman, gummy worm, pretzel fishing pole, brown crayon fishing line, blue crayon water, edible marker face (well, just the ink is edible, not the whole marker ), chocolate chip eye.
2. House on Fire
Sandwich cut into a house shape, windows doors and roof line out of crust, chimney cut from scraps, marshmallow smoke, Doritos fire.
3. Pig with Mudhole and Feeding Trough
Grilled cheese pig with ears from scraps and snout from one side of another sandwich, carrot eyes and nostrils, Pringles trough with snack mix pig food, chocolate pudding mud.
4. Caterpillar
Trail bologna caterpillar with shredded cheese mouth and antennas, cheese eyes, cheese leaves, cookie & pretzel sun. I let them eat crackers with it, but I should’ve incorporated the crackers into the caterpillar to make it more interesting and varigated!
5. Butterfly
Snacking on cheese and pretzels on evening, Tiffany (5) suddenly came over to me and said “Look Mom! I made a butterfly with my cheese and pretzels!”
6. Sailboats
Grilled cheese boats, licorice masts, strawberry sails (it was this lunch that I realized ”hey! It would be very easy to make hearts out of strawberry halves!”), Marshmallow clouds, cracker fish (swimming in invisible water, ha).
7. Semi and Car
Bake ham n cheese sandwiches with hot dog bun instead of hamburger buns. Get them out of the oven and add unmelted cheese details: wheels, smoke stacks, driver with face drawn on. For the cabs, I added one layer from another sandwich. The kids drove these around a bit before eating them. The wheels are held on by toothpicks. A toothpick is the perfect length to span the width of a hot dog bun and have a bit left over on each side to press the cheese onto. The faces stayed on because I put them against the hot melted cheese and they stuck.
8. Lion
Yeah, you can laugh at these lunches, I don’t care. Grilled cheese head, shredded cheese and cheese chunk face, Doritos mane.
9. Spiral and a Scissors
Cut-your-own-piece pizza. The girls cut small pieces so they could use the scissors more often.
10. Dog and Bone
Grilled cheese dog, Pringles ear, piped chocolate pudding eye, nose, bone, and words.
11. Puzzle
Grilled cheese puzzle pieces… very simple, but Tiffany had fun playing with it anyway.
12. Are You Ready for some Football?
Grilled cheese footballs with shredded cheese laces, carrot goal posts (not fastened, just arranged there, and they roll while transporting the plate, then you have to fix them again 🙂 ), cookie jersey (you can’t see it very well, but I used red edible ink to draw a 5 on it (because the tot eating it was 5) and drew lines at the end of the sleeves).
13. Angry Birds
Head is round bread, round cheese, and crescent ham with ‘tufts’, cheese eyes and nose (I didn’t have yellow cheese, so I colored white cheese with an edible ink marker), melted chocolate eyebrows and ‘pupils’.
Ok, this ended up being 13… an unlucky number! I’m not superstitious, but maybe I should add another one that I just thought of that I made this week to go with a lunch, but didn’t take a picture:
14. A carrot man. Think stick man with 5 baby carrots: 1 carrot was the torso, 2 were legs, 2 were arms. The head was a round piece of cheese with a smile drawn on with an edible ink marker. Then, I put a raspberry upside down on his head for a cap. One carrot man was sitting and one was standing (or laying, rather). Everything was held together with little pieces of toothpicks. Could even dress them up with fruit roll-ups or cheese/ham slices or something… didn’t think of that till right now.
Have fun! We are! 🙂
Comments
11 Responses to “Angry Birds, Fishing, Footballs, Pigs with Mud… and other lunches for kids”
- Arla on March 14th, 2012 10:50 pm
Kay, what I think is the neatest thing about this is that you’re taking time for your girls and loving it, too. It only gets better from here, I promise.
- Monica on March 14th, 2012 10:56 pm
Thanks for all the ideas!! My children would love the Angry Birds, since that is one of their favorite things right now. I will have to try that.
- Kay on March 14th, 2012 11:46 pm
Arla, I love your last sentence! Thanks for that encouragement!
Monica, yeah, I think the Angry Birds one was about the biggest hit of them all here, too.
And here’s a hint that I forgot to put into the post: a kitchen scissors is your friend for cutting the ham. - Shannon on March 15th, 2012 7:50 am
Kay! You are the tops!! My girls are leaning over my shoulder saying, “WOW Mom, you should really try that. She can do all that? She’s good!”
I really really should try this sometime.I betcha when your girls have kids, they’ll say, “Here’s your lunch! Grandma used to do this for me when I was little.” My kids will give their kids a plate and says, “Eat!”
- cretora on March 15th, 2012 9:56 am
that is SO cute! I’m thinking birthday party or boring summer day for me. Def. a fun idea for Cali to unleash her creativity in the kitchen.
- Audrey on March 15th, 2012 11:43 am
This type of thing is something that I so admire about you. I probably fall into category #2, but then I hardly ever get around to this kind of thing. I know my kids would love it though. And some of them are so simple. Thanks a lot for sharing these with the rest of us!
- Renita on March 15th, 2012 3:09 pm
awesome ideas. Will have to remember to try some. So often I’m in a hurry and just want them to eat their food instead of actually playing with it.
Thanks - Kay on March 15th, 2012 4:43 pm
Shannon, LOL about our kids as moms someday! :p You oughta do the house on fire… that was probably the biggest bang for time taken. There’s nothing to pipe and no shredded cheese to arrange and no faces to draw.
Cretora and Aug, yep simple. Simple enough for even the older kids to do themselves!
Renita, I don’t usually sit down with my kids to eat lunch, so I don’t care what they do.
I usually eat something different than they do, so I make mine while they’re eating theirs. - Beth on March 20th, 2012 9:26 pm
Once again, you blow me away with your creativity! I should probably admit that I am #1, but I know the kids would love it if I’d do it. I used to cut dog shapes for their ham & cheese sandwich & they loved it! So maybe tomorrow when I get lunch together, I’ll think of you & do something special.
- Beth on March 20th, 2012 9:30 pm
I forgot to say that I really love #7. Also, I will keep all of these in mind for parties! …since I’m still holding out on looking at Pinterest for ideas.
- Judi on April 24th, 2012 2:04 pm
if I thought my picky eaters (granddaughters) would eat it I would do any of those things lol Although, this weekend we all made cupcakes and the pickiest of them all ate a whole cupcake – the one that eats anything only ate the frosting lol
Love the ideas.
Randomness… 12 pictures that have something to do with food or kitchen
Posted on April 4, 2011
Filed Under Tidbits
This is just going to be a miscellaneous post of 12 pictures that have to do with kitchen/cooking/eating that happened in the last few months. It’s called catch-up. These incidents fall into one of 2 categories:
1. Not important enough to merit their own post.
2. Happened too long ago that a whole post on them now would be like digging up old bones.
I didn’t know I was going to do this post, or I would’ve just thrown my Before/After picture in this list because that whole deal was a bit embarrassing in the previous post. I’m not going to keep talking about my diet in future posts, but I do know that getting it out in the open now definitely makes me feel more accountable, which is a good thing.
First up is a birthday cake by Lexi and Tiffany. Lexi is 8 and Tiffany is 4. This was this past January and since then, Tiffany had a birthday and turned 5… her ladybug cake will be featured sometime soon. But here, it was Shannon’s birthday. The cake was Lexi’s idea, so I let them have at it. It’s a chocolate sheet cake with peanut butter icing… because a sheet cake would give them more room to scribb—oops, I mean, decorate, than a 9×13 would. I helped with the baking and spreading the frosting, but they did ALL the decorating. Lexi made the smiley face and the heart and did all the writing… meanwhile, Tiffany did the picture down in the corner (yeah, not exactly sure what it’s supposed to be, but I think I can make out a person on the left of it). Lexi was surprised how hard it is to write with frosting. ????
The other day, Tiffany purposefully went to her room, got her apron on, then came to me and said, “Mom, the ONLY thing I ever eat is cupcakes. So… *pause* can I have one?”. Could YOU have said no? Me neither.
Tiffany was playing with her little doll named Paige while drinking chocolate milk. She thought it was so cool that Paige would stay hanging when she’d let go of her. (And no, she doesn’t have her eyes closed like it looks.)
A random kid snack, all happy and yummy…
This is a window in my mom’s kitchen/dining room. At Christmastime, she took all her grandchildren over to it and sprayed some spray-on “snow” over their one hand (and then washed their hands right away). Long after they were gone back to Pennsylvania/Missouri/Ohio/the other side of town, she still had this little souvenir on her window.
Here is some monkey bread that I made one lazy Saturday morning earlier this year that I never featured. And now, I’m not even sure what recipe I used! It got rave reviews, but really, you can’t go wrong with biscuits, butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon, can you?!
This is a pie from one time a few months ago when I NEEDED a chocolate peanut butter fix NOW. I pulled a baked pie crust out of the freezer, spread a layer of peanut butter on it, filled it with some instant pudding, put chocolate and Cool Whip on top, sprinkled it with Nestles powder, and TA-DA! I had a ready-to-eat-pie in 10 minutes flat!
Here are some sour cream cookies that I made last week that didn’t make the cut, according to my food critics who live here. Here’s what I wrote beside this recipe in the cookbook: “Kinda dry. Don’t make again. Good, but with a million other cookie recipes out there, don’t bother with this one.”
Here are some of my scrapbooking buddies of yesteryear… Ruthie, Linda, and Liz. We moved to Ohio a couple years ago and went back for a visit to WI this past year for Christmas, so of course we girls had to work a good-ole-days catch-up evening in. Well, ok, we got together the next day, too. This particular evening involved restaurant-hopping. Shannon and I went on a double date with Ruthie and her husband. Then, when we were done there, our men dropped us off at this restaurant, where Liz and Linda were waiting for us at a cozy table by the fireplace. We got dessert here. Then, this restaurant closed at 10:00, so we went over to McDonalds, which closed at midnight. Welcome to Small Town, where 24-hr businesses are hard to come by and Main St rolls up its sidewalks at 5:00, but aw, is it ever cozy and friendly! Even the policemen are friendly, we found out. Heehee. Ok, I won’t go into that or say which one of my friends was driving, but it turned out well because no speeding tickets were involved… the I-was-just-talking-to-my-friends-and-not-watching-my-speed explanation worked.
Here was our SuperBowl party cake. The cake was sweeter because we had cake and ice cream after the game was over… the sweet taste of victory.
I saw Pioneer Woman several weeks ago! She was in Columbus on Feb 19. I didn’t take my camera, so these are with my phone. It was a bit surreal, I’ll have to say! On the talking picture, I was probably saying, “I CAN’T believe I actually get to SEE you!” I forget what all I said, but I do remember saying that.
And last, but not least, here’s Megan. She’s 10 months old. She doesn’t get enough to eat, so she has to supplement her diet with Princess tiaras.
Comments
9 Responses to “Randomness… 12 pictures that have something to do with food or kitchen”
- Shannon on April 4th, 2011 12:30 pm
Aww love this post, esp the last 2 photos!
She doesn’t look tooo malnourished! - Liz on April 4th, 2011 1:14 pm
You got to see Pioneer Woman?! Yay for you. I’ve thought of it when she comes to Minni but it doesn’t happen.
Megan is looking older and cuter. Her hair is growing. I’m sure she would be so much more fun to talk to/hold than she was at Christmas.
Your Packers cake is neat. I’ll have to make sure Elvie sees it.(Should I just go ahead and comment on all the pictures?)
Yay for you for letting the girls ‘have at it’ with decorating Shannons cake.
Ah, that was a good night with the old scrapbooking group. (Not sure that it’s an old one beings a new one hasn’t really replaced it.) And we all said, “Thank God!” that there was no ticket issued.
I know the kid snack is kind of basic but I like it. Don’t know that i would have thought of doing that. - Christy on April 4th, 2011 2:05 pm
Kay, you look SO GOOD!!!! Wow, I’m proud of you!
Your cake looks great!
Hey, another spin on choc. p-butter pie–just make crumbs like you do for peanut butter pie, and use chocolate pudding instead of vanilla. Mmmmm, it’s my favorite!
- Jan on April 4th, 2011 2:24 pm
I have been wanting to comment on your last post, but here you have a new one before I got around to it! First of all, you look fantastic! I am looking forward to my “halfway” picture, but first I have to take a “before” picture.
Leta would love if I’d set a snack plate like that down in front of her! She has a weakness for smiley faces. I just noticed that Mom had geraniums blooming at Christmas time. Did you inherit her green thumb? I can’t find it here! Megan looks totally irresistable! Wish I could give her a squeeze! - Dorothy on April 4th, 2011 6:43 pm
Great to hear from you again. Was good to chat with you at Christmas too. You look great keep up the good work. You either put me to shame or challenged me there.
- Katie Mast on April 5th, 2011 7:56 am
you got to see Pioneer women!!!!! wow!!! She came to DC once and i had something planed and then NYC and i couldnt go then either. I hope someday she comes to Harrisburg that will be much closer. Glad you had a chat with her. I love her cooking blog
- amber on April 6th, 2011 7:28 pm
loved catching up a bit with your life here, kay~! every shot was so fun & now i’m HUNGRY!!
so cool you got to meet PW. and you look amazing~
- Sheila on April 13th, 2011 9:39 am
I really enjoyed this one! How could I not enjoy it with all those pics?
I’m going to have to try that smiley snack for an after school snack sometime. The children would probably fall over if they would walk in and see a snack all ready for them – it’s been so long since I’ve done that. - Kim on April 19th, 2011 7:20 pm
You’re looking great, Kay. Inspires me to keep on. We’ve got a Northwoods dieter’s group going. Helps to have some support. Don’t think I’ll take a before picture though. ;( Just an after one.
Mint Patties plus an Out-of-My-Comfort-Zone Tidbit
Posted on April 1, 2011
Filed Under Candy, Tidbits
You know how when you have a problem, you try to find a solution? And then sometimes the solution doesn’t work because it hinges on another problem? And then you have to back up and fix that problem before you can fix the initial problem?
Is anyone still with me? If you didn’t follow, I’ll explain it using a few more words… I know I was kind of concise in that first paragraph. Ok, just kidding.
Well, here’s my problem: I miss this cooking site. And having fun in the kitchen. And trying new stuff, making tried-and-true stuff, playing with food, etc.
Solution: Ok, duh, so start cooking, making, playing, and updating!
Problem hinging on that solution: I’m on a South Beach diet, and I couldn’t eat 90% of the stuff I’d make. And if I can’t taste it, how would I rate it? Plus, it would take ALOT of the fun of cooking away. I started posting alot around Christmas time and was planning to keep it up, then one day in January, I looked in the mirror, and decided to go on a diet, and well, you know the rest of the story (see above).
So, I found a solution: Make a diet exception. So, I did that. I decided that I can have 1 serving of anything I put on here. It’ll just be, you know, a cross I have to bear, you know, because I really DO actually want to stay on my diet, you know.
Anyway.
I hope you won’t get tired of me posting cheesecakes ALL. THE. TIME! ????
When I was thinking out loud, rambling to Shannon about my problem/solution/problem/solution and told him how I’m solving it all, his comment was (as if he was saying this one day after my blog was up and going regularly again), “37 posts on Kitchen Scrapbook today?! and 24 yesterday?!!!”
Here’s where the out-of-my-comfort-zone tidbit comes in… I’m putting on a Before/After picture of myself. WAY out of my comfort zone…even if I keep the pictures small …and even if the pictures are in poor lighting. But by posting this, it’ll give me some accountability to keep on and get to the Final picture. So, here you go, this is what the halfway mark looks like, I just passed it a few days ago…
Now, onto the mints. Not sure if you can trust my judgement on these… of course they were good! Hello… it’s CARBS!!
Ahhh, carbs. How I love thee.
Maybe if I was eating normally, they’d get a good/average rating instead of a ‘they were absolutely awesome’ rating. I don’t know. So, just make them yourself… they’re easy enough!
This recipe was not taken from a cookbook. It was taken from the book The Hand that Rocks the Cradle. The book title doesn’t even have to finish that sentence …we all already know that we rule the world. If you’re a mom and don’t have that book, you should. It’s great. Every 2-page spread is loaded with inspiration, Bible verses, real life experiences, and here’s my favorite: little sayings/quick quips/advice. A few pages have some fun little recipes on them, like page 145 with Mint Patties.
Mint Patties
1 lb. powdered sugar (I’ll save you some research… that’s 3 3/4 cups)
2 tsp. cream
1 Tbsp. soft butter
1 egg white (unbeaten)
1 tsp. vanilla
Mix together and shape into patties. Dip in chocolate.
And there you have it, simple as that. I got done putting all the ingredients in and then thought “Uhhhh, MINT patties? It must mean mint patties in looks only, because there’s no mint in the recipe.” So, I added about 1/2 tsp. of peppermint extract.
I just threw everything into a bowl and mixed it, but it made little pea-sized balls, so I added a bit more cream and then it all blended together like a dough.
Instead of shaping the patties (which I thought would be too time-consuming), I rolled the ‘dough’ out and used cookie cutters. Got a variety of shapes that way too, which inspired me to make a mental note that these could go with any theme or holiday… just make it in whatever shape is right for the occasion!
I chilled the patties in the fridge for about a 1/2 hour before dipping them. I dipped some, half-dipped some, and ‘scribbled’ on some. You could even leave some plain, or add a tint of green food coloring.
This recipe made about 6 dozen mint patties.
So, I can only have 1 serving… how many patties is 1 serving? Just wondering, because the recipe doesn’t say. Oh well, I’ll just assume the whole batch is 1 serving. ????
Comments
16 Responses to “Mint Patties plus an Out-of-My-Comfort-Zone Tidbit”
- Aug on April 1st, 2011 5:54 pm
I can NOT get over how great you look! I called Jeremy over to see the “before and after” cuz, wow! You are looking SO much thinner and I think you look amazing! I am wondering what you will look like by the time you get all of the way there, if this is only 1/2 way!! I am so happy for you!!
Excited about you doing a little more updating on here. That will be fun for all of us!
- Liz on April 1st, 2011 7:06 pm
I asked Kaitlyn who the person was on the picture and she said, “Kara?” I thought you would appreciate that.
You look great! Glad we can look forward to lots of updates. Except now I’m trying to diet. So I’ll just look hungrily. I don’t think I would have enough self-control to just eat one. - becky on April 1st, 2011 7:20 pm
omGOSH! kay!! seriously, you look amazing! i cant believe how much younger you look. great job, girl!
- Beth on April 1st, 2011 7:37 pm
Love that you went out of your comfort zone to let the world see that you got 1/2 way! I thought the last line was too funny. The whole batch is a serving…wouldn’t that be nice?! I’ll say at least 1 dozen is a serving.
- Michelle on April 1st, 2011 7:43 pm
Kay, you look aMAZing!!!!!! You go, girl!!!
I always wish your blog posts came with those little sample things like they have at Sam’s Club.
B/c I just want to taste one without having to make it! (Would that make my original problem laziness?) - lisa on April 1st, 2011 8:28 pm
oh my word! KAY! you look incredible. really, really good!! makes me excited to have this baby and start working on the (minimum of) 30 pounds that are sure to be hanging on! YOU GO!
- linda hershey on April 1st, 2011 9:50 pm
kay, i cannot believe how good you look!!! smashing!!like i said, i am so proud of you!!! because chocolate is chocolate and cooking good is cooking good and you somehow just busted through with nerves of steel, baby! so happy to see you up and running with the show and i hope cooking is kind to you and you are able to eat and enjoy and still see all the good results that you want! i’ll be trying the patties and letting you know how they rated!
- cretora on April 2nd, 2011 6:58 am
Like I said before-you’ve inspired me to keep on my diet. Just when I was feeling like giving up, i saw your pics-thanks for posting!
ps-I made mints like that at christmas and they were one hot commodity on cookie trays. your recipe looks creamier than mine though-i’ll have to try that this year.
- Kay on April 2nd, 2011 7:13 am
Thanks for all your encouragement in the diet realm!!! Linda, you said it well when you used the term “busted through”… that’s exactly what dieting is, there are no easy secrets. ???? Michelle, I’ve often wished I could somehow put samples on here! That would be so fun! Then we could do polls of how each recipe rates.
- Shannon on April 2nd, 2011 11:09 am
These look delicious!! I love Mint patties so I might have to try them, but I’d be the only one eating them!! Bad deal. -Just got to say again how great you look!! Keep it up!
- Loretta on April 3rd, 2011 12:16 pm
Wow!!!! Good job on the weight loss!!! I make mint patties to sell at christmas time!! These look good too! I roll mine in logs and stick it in the freezer for awhile and than slice it!
- Sandra on April 7th, 2011 12:21 pm
Wow lady!! you look beautiful!! So happy for you!..I wonder wahat I could do to lose some###:)
- Christy on April 9th, 2011 1:04 pm
I missed this post somehow, but I am in AWE! Hello, you look PERFECT! How can this be 1/2 way. I’m so jealous, too, because I’ve been on the crackdown for 3 weeks (no sugar or flour) and I have lost 1 lb. I just want to jump ahead to where you are.
I’m so impressed because I know you worked really hard for it. And it makes me wonder if you’re checking off your list. ???? - Judi on April 11th, 2011 12:27 pm
you look amazing!! Keep it up – hope the warmer weather and outside activities help you move along too.
- Sheila on April 13th, 2011 9:11 am
Here I come, way behind everyone else, but I just had to comment on this one. I couldn’t believe it when I saw the pics! Your Mom had told me that you were losing weight, but I didn’t know it was that much! Like everyone else said, you look SO good! I had to get the computer out and show my family the pics when they were here the other night.
Thanks for getting out of your comfort zone to post these pics. I love looking at before/after pictures! And, thanks for the giving me the push I needed to start reading my “The Hand That Rocks The Cradle” book. I had been planning to read it again ever since Patrick was born, but hadn’t got around to digging it out until I read this. Now it’s on the table beside my chair and I’m enjoying reading it while I feed Patrick. - Lydia Jo Martin on June 21st, 2011 1:22 pm
Ok, so I just had fun catching up on your site here. Since we’re in the same diet group and all. You do look amazing. Good job! Such hard work, but so rewarding huh? I don’t grill either. I can’t even turn it on. And last summer when I tried to star the charcoal grill I nearly took off my eyebrows. mmm… I wish all us diet girls could get together. we’d have fun. hope your day is great. -Jo
Introducing… Our Newest Little Cupcake
Posted on August 19, 2010
Filed Under Birthday cakes, Tidbits
Her name is:
She’s not sugar-free… she’s full and overflowing with sweetness.
Here she is…
She’s a bundle of pudge and coos and smiles and wiggles… well, ok, and some crying and blowouts too.
Lexi & Tiffany adore her. Here they are when she was brand new…
And here they are just recently…
Megan’s middle name is Lydia. Megan Lydia. One reason we wanted to use it is for a namesake of a dear grandmother… Shannon’s grandma’s name was Lydia. Another reason we wanted to use it is because on the day we found out that we were expecting Megan, we also got the news of Grandma passing away. It was a life and a death notice all in one day. Bittersweet.
Speaking of Grandma Lydia, the ABC blanket under these cupcakes was hand-quilted by her for Lexi (who is now 7). Someday, I’ll probably have trouble deciding whether to pass it on to Lexi who it was made for or Megan who is her namesake.
Sleeping… she goes 5-hour stretches at night and a few times has slept ALL night! Not bad for 2 1/2 months! I’m quite proud of her!
I wish somehow I could put a cyber-squish on here so you could hold her for a minute, especially for my mom who lives miles away and hasn’t gotten to cuddle her for awhile. ????
She weighed 7 lbs 12 oz at birth and tipped the scales to 13 1/2 lbs at her 2-month check-up… no wonder she grew out of some of those adorable little clothes before I got to wear them on her enough!
And that’s our Little Cupcake. A Little Cupcake that is to blame for my blog suffering over the last year. A Little Cupcake that’s pretty much the boss around here, but we’re fine with that because we think she’s the darlingest thing around.
Speaking of cupcakes, here are the real ones up close… decorated with fondant and frosting. My little Cooks in Training helped make the stuff on top. We sat down and had what Lexi called a “girl’s meeting” to discuss what to put on top of the 12 cupcakes and the name and these 7 things is what we came up with. As we were making the things, Tiffany (4) kept calling the fondant Play-doh. And when she wasn’t calling the fondant Play-doh, she was asking if she could eat some more frosting.
Hopefully, you can tell what they all are, but just in case you can’t, they are: a bib, a blanket, a bottle, baby feet, baby face with a pacifier, rattle, and baby blocks.
Comments
19 Responses to “Introducing… Our Newest Little Cupcake”
- Lisa@The Cutting Edge of Ordinary on August 20th, 2010 4:02 am
Well I think you have the best excuse ever for not blogging! Congrats!! She is just beautiful! Missed seeing your posts!
- Doris High on August 20th, 2010 4:14 am
She is a sweetie – and I love the cupcakes.
- Arla on August 20th, 2010 5:31 am
Hi Kay,
Such a perfect dolly. Thanks for sharing your cupcake. I LOVE the cybesquish idea. We’ve been hugging our little Jubilant for almost two months now while he’s home from Thailand because when he goes back there’ll be no more chances for squishes. - Michelle on August 20th, 2010 5:32 am
That picture of Megan sleeping with her arms up over her head is just so, so cute! I love how babies do that! Adorable cupcakes, too! I loved the “girl’s meeting.” It made me feel all nostalgic about mom and us girls sitting down to discuss fun stuff.
- Shannon on August 20th, 2010 7:00 am
Oh my word… it’s been to long since I’ve seen her. Can’t believe how BIG she is!! She looks more like your other 2 now! Adorable cupcakes by the way, esp the one with the blanket!
- Twila on August 20th, 2010 7:46 am
Congratulations, Kay! It’s so nice to see photos of your sweet bundle. In the top photo I sure think she looks like a little Schrock.
I imagine that Lexi is a good baby-watcher for you. Y’all enjoy your precious gift! - Traci on August 20th, 2010 8:09 am
I’ve MISSED YOU!!! Congrats on the beautiful baby girl! I have 3 girls also….wouldn’t change a thing! She is precious!
- Liz on August 20th, 2010 4:31 pm
Aww. She has some of the same looks as your other girls. What a neat way to do the first post in not sure how long.
- Katrina on August 20th, 2010 10:44 pm
Aw, CUTE! Congrats.
Love the cuppies.
Love that term–cybersquish! - Katie Mast on August 21st, 2010 12:46 pm
How i missed your cooking. But i truely understand. your little bundle is so cute and your other girls have grown so much. You got some good helpers there.
- Connie Sue on August 21st, 2010 2:34 pm
Congrats on the birth of little Megan! She’s a sweetie. I had my third boy on June 7… when was little Megan born? Take care, Connie Sue
- Kay on August 21st, 2010 3:07 pm
Oh yeah, Connie, I guess I didn’t even say when she was born! June 1. Wow, so we have babies only about a week apart!
- Mom on August 21st, 2010 6:38 pm
YES!! Perfect post in every way! Love you and all your three girls! You make them so fun. Mom and Grandma
- Freida on August 23rd, 2010 11:08 am
oh my goodness. she IS big!! She looks like Tiffany, I think.
CEEUUTTEE cupcakes!
- Cindy on August 23rd, 2010 12:57 pm
such a sweet little cupcake indeed! i love all of the memories and meaning to her name. what a precious connection between the generations of people that you love.
it has been weeks since i was able to skuh-weeze her and i can’t believe how much she has grown! wow! hooray for sleeping at night!
blessings to you Kay!
- Cindy on August 23rd, 2010 12:59 pm
oh! and the edible cupcakes here are real neat too! tell your little cooks that they did a super job! you too!
- Bobbi on August 23rd, 2010 6:24 pm
Congratulations! She is so cute! I stopped by for a recipe and you had updated. yeah.
- Cordy on September 14th, 2010 6:46 am
Congratulations Kay! I missed your posts so much. I wondered if something serious had happened that you weren’t on here anymore! So happy to read it was something wonderful – your adorable little (not so little!!) Megan! She’s a precious GIFT from God.
- Kim on October 25th, 2010 8:52 am
So good to hear from you again and see pics of your sweet li’l bundle! I missed your posts, not just cause of the food… because I missed hearing from YOU. You are one-of-a-kind creative.
5 Ways to Help Nausea/Morning sickness
Posted on November 30, 2009
Filed Under Tidbits
I’m just sayin’. ????
1. Eat whatever you’re craving. It’ll usually make you feel better. Even tacos at 12:30 a.m.? Yup. I know from experience.
2. Graze all day. Isn’t that GREAT advice?
3. Stay hydrated. Water can be so nauseating, so it helps to squirt a bit of lemon juice in it. Also helps to drink it ice cold. Or drink iced tea, juice, or milk.
4. Noodles. In small quantities though, or it starts making you sicker.
5. Stay out of the kitchen as much as possible and don’t be browsing cookbooks and cooking magazines… even if it means not updating your cooking blog for quite awhile. ????
These are all, of course, my own opinions and what worked/is working for me. I have friends who eat crackers like crazy, but I’m never in the mood for plain crackers. If you have your own tips, please leave them in a comment below! We need all the help we can get during this phase, don’t we? And if you’re not pregnant right now, maybe you’ll want some of this info for in the future.
On another note, thanks alot for the emails from you readers, wondering if everything is ok and saying you’re missing the updates. I’m hoping to keep this site up a bit better now and hopefully slip in some holiday recipes yet this year. One that I’m planning to do is my mom’s cranberry salad. Hopefully I can make it like she does… it’s one of those I-don’t-really-have-a-recipe-for-it Mom specials. It is oh so good!
Comments
31 Responses to “5 Ways to Help Nausea/Morning sickness”
- Liz on November 30th, 2009 10:08 pm
And then everything makes sense… =) (as to why this site got neglected).
Big congrats. Still excited. Can’t wait.
- Twila on November 30th, 2009 10:27 pm
A big WOW and congratulations to you!
- Rina on December 1st, 2009 1:31 am
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
- Twila on December 1st, 2009 6:26 am
Congratulations!
I thought maybe that was why we hadn’t been hearing from you. Hope you feel better soon.
I don’t really have any tips, I never got very sick, and hopefully I won’t need any tips…my baby is 14! - Sharon on December 1st, 2009 6:41 am
oh YAY! To new babies and more posts on this site now.
For my last two I felt better when I stopped taking my prenatals. And B6 maybe helped. But you’ve got good tips–especially the what-you’re-craving one! (chicken salad sandwich)
- Jolita Miller on December 1st, 2009 7:05 am
Congrats!
- Arla on December 1st, 2009 7:14 am
Ah! Even as I hoped for you. The silence was getting looooong, and the day before your folks came up for our Thanksgiving dinner; I thought of this. So proud of myself, because since I’m on the other side of babies and it’s grand babies instead I don’t think of who is or might be pregnant.
Praying that all goes well for you. - Amy on December 1st, 2009 8:35 am
Thrilled to the tips of my toes! I echo Arla (except even more intensely) Praying that ALL goes well! God Bless, Amy
- Amy on December 1st, 2009 8:37 am
sorry above post has wrong website address…
- Katie Mast on December 1st, 2009 9:34 am
I have been missing updates on your site. But i sure understand now. However i never got sick with my 3 kids. I just ate what was in site. that explains all the weight gain. grrrr. Enjoy this special moment, cuz it passes all so quickly. My baby is now 11.
- Katrina on December 1st, 2009 9:43 am
Congrats and aha!
Hope the sicklies go away soon! Mine usually last time just about exactly 14-15 weeks. I never found a solution, sometimes some things worked and other times it was something else. Thoughts to you! - Janice on December 1st, 2009 10:19 am
Wow, I’m so happy for you! Been there, done that! My last one, it helped to ‘graze’ on whatever tempted me, which was bland foods. Dry breakfast cereal (not highly sweetened) seemed to be a good choice.
- Rosalyn Landis on December 1st, 2009 11:39 am
Congratulations!!!! I hope all goes well for you. I’m looking forward to your holiday recipes.
- Monica on December 1st, 2009 11:39 am
So happy for you! I bet your girls are excited. I can certainly identify with those “sick” feelings!!! Hope it will pass quickly for you!!
- Jo on December 1st, 2009 3:01 pm
You already know how excited I am.
I didn’t have “morning” sickness till my last pregnancy. And then I discovered that a lot of it was probably sugar lows, not morning sickness. But it always made me feel better to eat whatever I was craving at the moment—just a little bit! I craved grits a lot with Ariana. ???? Dare you to try that!
I have a cousin who (when she was pregnant) once woke her husband in the middle of the night & made him go to the store for a specific brand of chocolate milk that she just HAD to have. I don’t recommend doing that very often… ???? - Carrie on December 1st, 2009 3:13 pm
ha! love this post….and your unique style of getting the word out! ???? crazy girl. i remember eating tons of cereal, and whatever else i found appealing…usually not much. and, oh, still so excited for you all!!!!!!
- Shannon H on December 1st, 2009 3:46 pm
Well, I just had it last spring, but I have no tips. I just remember those days of laying around, wondering if it would ever end. It will, one of these days!
Praying all goes well! - Dawn Landis on December 1st, 2009 6:53 pm
Congratulations! I had not checked in on your site for a while and I’m glad I just did! Wishing you the very best!
- Amber on December 1st, 2009 7:41 pm
Congrats to you!! The prenatal vit. made me sick, so i took chewable childrens’. Much better! Hope your next months go well for you!
- Michelle Fisher on December 1st, 2009 9:23 pm
Congratulations!
I’m just about out of this phase and am so glad…. hope your time in this phase passes quickly. - Kay on December 1st, 2009 9:47 pm
Thanks for all the happy congratulations!
This was really interesting. Now it’s my turn to comment…Sharon and Amber, so the prenatals can be the culprit? How important are they? (maybe you could ask your doctor husband that, Sharon). I’ll have to try the kid’s chewables (how many did you take, Amber?), then I can fight along with the girls over the red ones “cuz they’re the best”.
Twila and Arla, you guys actually thought of this?! Wow, you’re good!
Janice and Carrie, oh yeah, I eat lots of ceareal and amen on the not too sweet ones.
Monica, the girls are elated!!! Lexi asks questions that make me tip-toe between an answer that will satisfy her but yet not make good gossip for her fellow 1st-graders! I’ll spare you the details, but I’m often glad we’re in the privacy of our own home when my girls start talking!
Jo, I haven’t craved grits yet, and uh, sorta doubt I will.
Wow, that’s quite a story about the wife who sent her husband out for choc milk!!! Poor guy!Thanks for all the other tips, like Katie’s ‘eat everything in sight’ and Katrina’s ‘no solutions, some things worked sometimes and other things other times’. And if there are any other brilliant tips, keep adding them!
- Judy Martin on December 1st, 2009 11:42 pm
congrats! i found that if i drank orange juice every morning i didnt get sick. my hubby would deliver it every morning b4 he went to work. it worked wonders!
- Mom on December 2nd, 2009 12:27 pm
Wish I was there to give you a hug (or aren’t nauseated ladies into hugs? Don’t know because I never got sick!) and tuck you into bed and take care of your house and girls. AND dance a jig with your girls!! I could also answer some questions, because I answered plenty from you! So happy and hopeful!! mkg
- Bobbi on December 3rd, 2009 9:30 am
Congratulations on another blessing!
- Donna on December 3rd, 2009 11:29 am
Congrats!
Sometimes I wish I was still having babies.
But,alas those days are long long gone.
I am utterly happy for you. - Rene on December 4th, 2009 8:06 am
Kay,
Congratulations!! With my son (who will be 20 this summer – I know summer is far away but it’s only 2 degrees here today so I like to think about it) nothing really helped too much except staying cooled off and not moving too much. At about 12 weeks or so I noticed I wasn’t sick anymore and I was infinitely happy!!
Take care of yourself and can’t wait to see the new addition to your family.
Hugs,
Rene
- Randy Ross on December 6th, 2009 6:17 pm
Congrats! I read your blog periodically for some yummy recipes—I thought I would respond to your morning sickness post because boy oh boy do I have morning sickness too! Here are some things that help me.
buy prenatal vitamins without iron until you get through this and take them at night. I buy he GNC brand–you can order them on line or buy them at GNC if it is close to you
Crystal Light lemonade really helps a lot
Suck on sugar free sour candy (they are called ice breakers and can be found at check out in many different flavors)
Eat protein with every meal (egg, cheese, yogurt, meat, beans, nuts)
So far these things have eased the nausea a bit. I can’t wait for it to go away!Take care and I can’t wait for you to return with some more yummy posts!
- Sandra on December 7th, 2009 2:02 pm
Congratulations!!!Oh I hope your sickness goes away!!I had lots of nausa!!I am very excited for your new addition coming…praying everything goes well!~Sandra
- Keturah on December 7th, 2009 3:05 pm
Hi from Montana! I’ve been stalking your site for a few years now and never commented before. Thought maybe this is whats keeping you away! Prob. because I just went through this myself, For the fifth time now! This was the first time that lemon water helped so much. Idrank gallons of it. with tepid water though, not ice cold! I have a bad case of gestational diabetes though so I cant eat just whatever and whenever I want. Looking forward to more updates!
- Bernice Wagner on December 8th, 2009 3:13 am
I am so glad you are back! It’s so neat to see the bonding you and your girls have and I so enjoy your recipes with your good directions. I like recipes that have ingredients I have in my cupbord. God bless you and your husband on your journey as parents, with a new one on the way!Bernice Wagner
- Linda Beachy on December 9th, 2009 10:20 pm
Congratulations! It’s a good thing Kelsey read your blog again. She said it’s sounds like you’re gonna have a baby. After looking at the blog I decided the same. The nausea I can identify with very well. I took b-complex and that seemed to help some (not enough). Be sure to take with food. I needed to eat often and gained a lot of weight. sigh. Eating did help for a bit. Hope you feel better soon and things go well for you.
It Feels Like Whiplash
Posted on January 6, 2009
Filed Under Tidbits
December = cookie baking, candy making, chocolate eating, a big Christmas dinner, using butter in obscene amounts, never actually getting hungry…
Then BAM! January hits!
January = calorie limits, dusting off the treadmill (*ahem* and using it), having chocolate only in your dreams, drinking water water water, finding yourself frequently wandering out to the kitchen to look around for something ‘legal’ to eat…
Sigh! Anyone else suffering from ‘whiplash’?
Comments
7 Responses to “It Feels Like Whiplash”
- Mama Bear on January 6th, 2009 11:09 pm
YES!!!
And, I am even hungrier than before Christmas…darn turkey/mashed potatoes/stuffing/pies.
*sigh*
It was back to the gym for me tonight. Am hoping to rev up my metabolism.
- Traci on January 7th, 2009 5:44 am
Having my oldest move away to Hawaii has done wonders for my eating…..I’ve actually had to tell myself to go eat and drink. There is a silver lining behind every cloud! I haven’t weighed, I can just tell in my clothing…..afraid if I weigh it will do something to my psyche and I’ll start eating everything in sight…lol. I hope you are having a Happy New Year!!!
- Rene on January 7th, 2009 12:23 pm
I’m definitely there with you! My husband goes in at the end of the month (hopefully) for his bone marrow transplant and there is a workout room in the hospital that I can use. My goal is to workout each morning since I won’t have work, cleaning the house, cooking, laundry, sewing basket, or any of the other convenient excuses I’m always able to find.
- Katrina on January 7th, 2009 1:47 pm
Ditto All! Sigh!
- Ruthie on January 7th, 2009 3:34 pm
Me too… boo hoo… Going from freedom to limits is never fun. Oh well, when you see me next, your mouth will drop open, you’ll go bug-eyed, and you will not believe how slim and youthful I am… then I’ll wake up.
- Treva on January 8th, 2009 8:52 pm
Yes, indeed – “whiplash” – all out of shape. Will Power and I are not good friends. He requires too much from me. We don’t get along, are constantly arguing, and I keep trying to resist his advances – Go away, Will, go away.
Kay, I don’t know how you do it, working w/ all this food, constantly reading recipes, trying ’em out, taking n posting pictures. I gain 5# just reading through your posts. eeek Always makes me so hungry. Then’s when Will and i have to get along. - Judi on January 21st, 2009 3:45 pm
and to top it off I’m just getting over a sinus infection so I haven’t felt like working out for the last 2 weeks. But it’s definitely time. Start posting a few low calorie recipes. Save me the time of looking for them lol.
Hi from OHIO!
Posted on October 16, 2008
Filed Under Tidbits
Here I am, equipped with my feather-duster, ready to dust off this site again. Ah, how I missed it! I had a list a mile long that I had to get done before I was going to allow myself to start posting again. But, I’m pretty gracious, especially with myself (sigh!), and I let that little rule slide. Not totally slide though, I did get about 3/4 of the things done that I wanted to.
So, have any of you ever moved? Do you know how much WORK it is?! You have to still do the laundry, make meals, take care of the kids, go scrapbooking, clean the house, PLUS decorate the house, unpack boxes, and fit everything into cupboards and closets. And it doesn’t all fit quite as good as it did… you know how when you go grocery shopping and you’ve got a full cart, then you put it all on the checkout counter and when you load it back into the cart bagged up, the cart is overflowing and you’ve still got 5 more bags to put in it. So, I have quite a few things that don’t have homes yet. Like the Kleenex box. It is on top of the fridge, but how many guests will manage to spy it up there? And the spices, I need to figure out a better system for them. They have a home, but not a very organized one. …Not like I’m stuck on being organized or anything.
I think for the next while, my house will be like a Rubikscube (I have no idea how to spell that, so just sound it out and you’ll know what I mean). Once everything is in place, I’ll still be changing this and changing that till it feels right.
Anyway, I’m not posting a recipe right now, just checking in to say Hi and that you’ll be seeing more action on this site again now.
And if you ever get bored, make a duck bill with Pringles chips…
Comments
12 Responses to “Hi from OHIO!”
- Traci on October 16th, 2008 9:35 pm
Welcome back, I’ve missed you!!! When you get all the decorating done, you must post pics of new house.
- Loretta on October 17th, 2008 3:27 am
It has been fun to find you here, and now today when I checked you had written—-that is great. Glad you are back and will be writing. I tried calling you this week, will try again. Have a great day and God bless you.
- Lisa @ The Cutting Edge of Ordinary on October 17th, 2008 4:35 am
Welcome back! We missed your cooking!
- Michelle on October 17th, 2008 9:11 am
Welcome back!! I really missed the updates the last month. Please show us pictures of your house sometime.
- Judi on October 17th, 2008 9:53 am
Welcome back. I missed you, kept checking in to see if you were back yet. Love the duck bill.
- Arla on October 17th, 2008 10:05 am
Hi Kay,
At last you’re back. Lexi looks like Jan on that pic. We’re looking forward to your recipes and pics coming back. I thought you ought to name your first official post, Cooking Is Back On The Burner, or something like that. Actually, Sometimes when I checked in; I thought that’s what I was seeing. Imagine my disappointment!
amg - Monica on October 17th, 2008 12:50 pm
Welcome to Ohio!! I was wondering when you were going to post again!! Glad your getting settled in. Cute picture, we always called them “Duck Lips”!!
- Ali on October 17th, 2008 9:12 pm
Glad to see you back!!
- Rene on October 17th, 2008 9:22 pm
Kay — I’m so glad to see you back!! I’ve been thinking about you a lot lately. I’ve been doing a lot of home cooking and have used several of your recipes. Since you’ve been gone we had a horrible thing happen in our family and my husband was diagnosed with Leukemia. He’s doing chemo now which has messed with his taste buds so I’ve been trying all kinds of new recipes trying to find things he actually likes. So far the only thing that does it for him are sweets. So….I’ve been making lots of desserts which my hips are absolutely loving but I’m not loving my hips! ????
How was the move? Are the girls happy in their new home? My hubby is from Ohio — Akron. I love that state. It’s so pretty and green. It is much different than Wisconsin?
- Melissa K on October 18th, 2008 6:13 am
Welcome back! I’ve missed reading your blog and have been checking back every few days, waiting eagerly for you to be ready to start up again!
I’m glad you made the trip safe and sound. Good luck on settling in to the new place & finding homes for all of your stuff. Can’t wait until you’re ready to start posting recipes too!
- mary cluley on October 18th, 2008 6:28 am
Hi and good morning,
I am orginally from Columbus, Ohio. I love Ohio, but live in TX now. Anyway, I wanted to invite you to my scrapbooking website. I see you scrapbook, and we have a wonderful “project center” with lots of idea. It is http://www.mycmsite.com/marycluley
Then, click on the project center. I hope you can garnish at least one good idea from there.
I will check out your recipes, as I also love to cook. My children are mostly grown now so I do not cook quite as much, but do enjoy it. God bless always,
Mary in Wichita Falls, TX - Katrina on October 18th, 2008 10:14 pm
Glad you’ll be back cookin and sharing again! Cute pic of your daughter!
Cooking is on the back burner…
Posted on August 18, 2008
Filed Under Tidbits
*Digging myself out from under a mountain of boxes* All I’ve been thinking of lately is bananas and an occassional apple… maybe it has to do with the fact that I’ve been spending alot of time with banana boxes and an apple box now and then.
We are moving.
From
WISCONSIN
to
OHIO.
So, this website will be put on the back burner for the next month or so. Ah, how fitting to use the term ‘back burner’ in a kitchen-related post. You know, it is true that when I make a meal, I very seldom need more than 2 burners and always use the front ones. The back ones aren’t used near as often. I wonder if they keep that it mind when they’re making stovetops. Not sure exactly what they’d do to make the front ones better and last longer, I guess that was just a weird random thought.
Anyway, for tonight, I’m making, er, WE’RE making Grilled Chicken Breast Salad. It’s ‘we’ because the grill is not my territory, and I’m quite happy to keep it that way.
Comments
16 Responses to “Cooking is on the back burner…”
- Rene on August 18th, 2008 4:48 pm
Kay – I hope you have a safe move! My hubby is from Ohio. It’s so pretty there. Hurry back!
- Traci on August 18th, 2008 5:18 pm
Good luck on your move….maybe I’ll get the pie crust perfected before you sign back on….tee hee.
- Lisa @ The Cutting Edge of Ordinary on August 18th, 2008 6:43 pm
My in-laws live in Toronto, Ohio. Nice little town. Good Luck with the move. I’ll miss your recipes.
- Rosalyn on August 18th, 2008 7:52 pm
Hey, can we come over for supper??!!
- Bobbi on August 18th, 2008 8:36 pm
Have a safe move. I love your blog. I just wanted to let you know that my church had a kid bake contest and my girls entered. My 6 year old made the 7 layer bar and got 2nd place. My 8 year old made the lemon bars. Thanks for all your great ideas.
- Bernice Wagner on August 19th, 2008 5:55 am
God bless you in your transition…moves are stressful, may all go well as you pack and travel. I will surely miss your down to earth posts and recipes and look forward to what you have for us after the move. Blessings, Bernice
- Melissa K on August 19th, 2008 6:06 am
Kay,
Best wishes on your upcoming move. I hope you’ll occasionally keep us posted with what is going on. Over the past few months I feel like I’ve gotten to know your family a tiny bit and I think all of us would like to hear how everything is going, not just the cooking side of it!!! - Monica on August 19th, 2008 1:11 pm
So, when is this move actually happening? What day are you officially moving in? Wondering what brought you to Ohio…..?????
- Cheryl on August 19th, 2008 2:22 pm
Going…Going…Gone are my dreams of someday meeting you when we are Wisconsin. Best wishes on the move.
- Susan on August 19th, 2008 2:51 pm
That sure looks good. Good luck with your move.
- Katie Mast on August 20th, 2008 2:28 pm
What part of OH will you be living? We just came thru OH yesturday on our way home from OK. I will miss your new cooking ideas. But I know how moving is and hope all goes well.
- Michelle on August 21st, 2008 9:23 am
I’m gonna miss your updates so hurry up and move!!:)I’m excited you’re moving closer to us. Ohio’s great, afterall it’s the buckeye state!:)
- chelsa on August 22nd, 2008 6:55 am
moving closer to indiana
now i can come for supper! j/k, but seriously… that salad looks WONDERFUL! hope your move goes smoothly and is safe too. what part of ohio are you moving too? - Kay on August 22nd, 2008 10:58 am
Some of you asked what part of Ohio we’re moving to. It’s close to Columbus (west side). We don’t have an exact moving date yet, but roughly in about 2 weeks.
It is amazing how long stuff takes to pack, esp glass stuff! It has been quite entertaining seeing things that I forgot I had. Maybe that means I don’t need them? ???? - Barb on September 3rd, 2008 11:04 am
Kay,
Just wanted to let you know, I am thinking of you at this busy time. We moved about a year ago, so it is still fresh on my mind how much work it is. God Bless You! Barb - Audrey on October 6th, 2008 1:06 pm
OK, your month is up now! I think about you from time to time and wonder how things are going in Ohio and how you like it. Looking forward to hearing from you soon and seeing more new recipes now that you are (hopefully) settled into your new kitchen.
Be back next week…
Posted on July 26, 2008
Filed Under Tidbits
No, the kitchen didn’t fall off of my house. I’ve taken to eating out instead of cooking… we’re on a trip, left on Wed. We’re in Ohio, going to a wedding later today, and then catching up with some friends tomorrow and Monday. We should be getting home Tues or Wed, so I’ll be updating again then, after getting the salad of duffel bags and all down to the laundry room.
The motel room that we’re in actually has a little kitchen and in the Guest Services Directory book, there is a section of recipes. I copied a few down to try at home. Here are 2 of them:
Hole-in-One Eggs
2 slices bread
2 tsp. butter, softened
2 eggs
1 strip bacon, cooked and crumbled
Cut a 2″ round circle out of the center of each bread slice. Spread both sides of bread with the butter. In a skillet, toast bread on 1 side over moderate heat till golden. Reduce heat to moderately low. Turn the bread over. Break an egg into the hole in each slice. Sprinkle the bacon over the eggs. Cook, covered, for 5-6 min until the eggs are firm. Serves:2. I can picture having some fun trying different shapes for that middle part.
Slice-of-Comfort Pie
16 marshmallows
4 milk chocolate candy bars (1.45 oz) w almonds
1/2 cup milk
1 8-oz carton Cool Whip
1 9″ graham cracker crust
Heat and stir marshmallows, chocolate, and milk till melted. Remove from heat; stir in Cool Whip. Pour into pie crust. Refrigerate until firm. Serves 8. This just plain sounds GOOD!
After we get home, I’ll feature these with pictures.
Have a good day!
Comments
3 Responses to “Be back next week…”
- Arla on July 27th, 2008 10:01 am
Hi Kay,
Don’t you think we ought to see your kitchen sometime on a post? I’d love to see that bookshelf of cook books for one thing. You used to have a Coke theme. Is this still the case? Anyway, it seems fair for us to see the birthing room so to speak. - Cordy on July 28th, 2008 12:26 pm
Hi Kay – hope you are enjoying being away from routine for now! I was sooo sure you had a recipe on here for Zucchini bread. I looked under breads…..cannot find it…..am I dreaming??!!
- Kay on July 30th, 2008 7:57 am
Arla – yeah, my kitchen is still Coca Cola, basically just wallhangings and valances and a few knick knacks. I might post a picture sometime.
Cordy – There is no zucchini bread on this site… I’ve never ever made it, but I’ve eaten it and love it! The closest thing to it on this site would be banana bread.
Mystery cookies, kids, weird fork, soup, recipe index… in other words, a misc post!
Posted on July 17, 2008
Filed Under Tidbits
I bought peanut butter chips for something and had half the bag left over. A few days later, I got a (another) baking urge and got the bag out of the cupboard and looked on the back for some ideas. On the back, was a recipe for chocolate cookies with peanut butter chips in them. So, I made them, with the intent of featuring them. After I was done, I was cleaning up, and never thought to save the empty bag with the recipe on it. So, into the trash it went. And I didn’t even think about it till a day or so later when I went to feature them. By then the trash was already taken out. And it would be rather anti-climatical to feature them without a recipe. So, if you ever are in the baking aisle at the store, these cookies would be worth your time. All you’d need to do is get a bag of Recees peanut butter chips and check the recipe on the back to make sure you’ve got all the ingredients. I don’t even remember the name of the recipe, but here is what the cookies looked like…
They’re easy to make, soft, fudgy, and taste great!
Tiffany was having quite a time keeping everything on her lap here. I offered to take her doll, but no, she wanted to multi-task…
She also finishes my coffee alot of mornings… she asks “Wome o’ hot?” If I say ‘warm’, she reaches for it and says, “Cn’I have it?” Goodbye coffee… which actually is using the term ‘coffee’ very loosely… my cup is full, but only about half of it is coffee, the other half is chocolate milk and some sugar.
And then we have a fork…
It just suddenly got like that and we don’t know when or how it happened. It seems like the whole tine would’ve bent instead of just the top part. It’s not bent down or up, just over. Weird!
Tomato soup: Once in awhile, we have a quick meal of grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup. I usually keep Campbell’s tomato soup on hand, but the last time I went to make it, I didn’t have any. So, I found a recipe and made some from scratch. It took considerably longer, but it was WAY better than the stuff from the can! So, now I guess I’ll have to weigh the pros and cons of time vs. taste every time I make that quick and easy meal. Do you always make tomato soup from scratch? I remember Mom making it from scratch when I was younger.
Recipe index: I don’t know if you noticed the Recipe Index link up at the top of the header. Slowly, but surely, I am getting all the recipes under their respective categories on that page. I just started it, so only a fraction of it is done, but I think when it’s done, it’ll make the site more user-friendly. You can use it awhile for the recipes that are there so far.
Have a good day!
Comments
9 Responses to “Mystery cookies, kids, weird fork, soup, recipe index… in other words, a misc post!”
- Amber on July 17th, 2008 8:55 am
I made tomato soup once or twice from scratch and have a wonderful recipe that has little chunks of tomatoes in it. I hardly ever make soup in the summer because it’s so hot, here. Although i might need to, that’s when i have fresh tomatoes from the garden.
- Michelle on July 17th, 2008 9:30 am
I usually can tomato soup when tomatos are in season. It’s really easy to do. And it’s so convenient when you’re in a hurry and don’t have time to get supper around. Just grab a can of soup off the shelf and add a little milk and heat it up. If you want the recipe let me know. This is making me hungry. I think Jadon and I will have this for lunch today along with Grilled Swiss Sandwich.
- Mary Faith on July 17th, 2008 10:39 am
Tomato soup. That makes me hungry for some! I can it, too. Have an awesome recipe that I’ve used ever since teenage years when I made it for Mom. (Somehow, not sure how, I ended up being the “tomato soup canner”.) Several years ago I had trouble with the milk curdling and discovered that if I use evaporated milk, it never curdled PLUS it made it awesomely rich and wonderful.
That’s how I make it ever since. “Acid-y” tomatoes or not. - Jo on July 17th, 2008 11:41 am
I canned tomato soup for the 1st time last year & we absolutely loved it. Should do a whole bunch more this year. I use evaporated milk, too, and add it right at the end of the heating time to keep it smooth & rich. And the best ingredient of all: a couple of tablespoons of browned butter, stirred in just before serving! It takes tomato soup from “good” to “scrumptious” (never mind the calories!) We used to always use tomato soup out of a can—but after you’ve had homemade, the canned stuff just doesn’t cut it anymore.
- Jessica on July 17th, 2008 12:27 pm
I seriously doctor the Campbell’s soup. Buttermilk or cream or sour cream and a dash of cayenne and lots of basil and a pnch of oregano and less liquid than they call for. Think I’ll go make lunch…
I’ve never had homemade that was not curdled. ugh - Michelle on July 17th, 2008 12:38 pm
For what it’s worth… My mom always told me to add a pinch of baking soda to the soup when you’re heating it up. I think the reason being so the milk doesn’t curdle.
- Christy on July 17th, 2008 7:56 pm
Yummy! Those are probably my favorite cookies!
- Gina on July 19th, 2008 12:03 pm
The best soup is your aunt Eva’s recipe. Can it in the summer, and have quick soup handy any time. I never liked the tomatoe soup with milk, so this one is my favorite because it doesn’t have milk.
- Lois on July 31st, 2008 2:03 pm
I love your Aunt Eve’s recipe too… wonder why, since I grew up with it. Mom always made it, and now it’s is our favorite fast meal. We even eat it for Sunday lunch!! I do not like the boughten stuff.
Baking up a storm
Posted on June 6, 2008
Filed Under Tidbits
Now I want to open a bakery again. This happens every year. I bake a bunch of stuff for a bake sale and love it so much that I dream of opening a bakery. I could bake to my heart’s content. And people would come and pay me for doing it. But I don’t want to be that tied down and another major thing is I’m not sure exactly how bakeries make money! Must be the mass production and the wholesale ingredients.
I figured up my time and ingredient costs and if everything would sell that I baked, I would’ve made less than $4/hr. Yeah, my bakery would be a place of voluntary service and a non-profit organization. When I figured that up, it wasn’t figuring in heating, air conditioning, electricity, rent for the building, advertizing, appliances, or anything besides the labor and ingredients. Another thing that would help at a bakery is that it’s done every day… for example, I made 10 pie crusts (5 double crust pies) and by the 6th crust, it was going much faster than the first crust did!
So, yeah, I contribute to the bake sale because I love to, not to make a bunch of money. I’m kicking myself for not taking a picture of everything all sitting on the counter ready to go. Maybe I didn’t think of it because it wasn’t all sitting on the same counter ready to go all at the same time. But, I did the same 4 things as I did last year (monster cookies, apple pies, rice crispy roll, and fudge), so the picture would’ve looked about the same as last year’s picture. Here’s last year’s post.
I did get a couple pictures of the pie operation…
This first one was taken sometime between 5:30 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. this morning. I was going to do a self-timer picture and be dutifully peeling apples, but then I thought about it that I was in my pjs, so I just stayed behind the camera instead.
Here are the pies in the oven, almost ready to come out.
See ya later. If you need me, you’ll find me in the kitchen eating monster cookies…
Comments
4 Responses to “Baking up a storm”
- Jessica on June 6th, 2008 3:33 pm
You would waste time eating monster cookies when there are things like fudge and apple pie and rice krispie anything lying about??? You are just crazier than I thought.
I was hoping to see some cute pj’s. I am fixin to sew some and need some inspiration… - Judi on June 6th, 2008 4:43 pm
Most of the things I love to do I wouldn’t make any money for either. Maybe that’s why it isn’t a “job”. If we’re having fun or enjoying it then we can’t get paid. That’s just the way it is lol
- Liz on June 6th, 2008 7:32 pm
Jessica, you obviously have never had Kay’s Monster Cookies (and yeah, that should be capitalized cause they are so good). Those were the only things I ate today of the things she bought. I wouldn’t have minded trying the pie, but I didn’t feel like buying a whole pie. But her Monster Cookies by far top fudge and rice crispie rolls. I haven’t tried her fudge recently though, but I think I would still rather have a cookie.
- fran’s kitchen on June 6th, 2008 7:43 pm
Your apple pies look fantastic. They look too good to eat.
I grew up working in my parents bakery and it was fun. I have lots of good memories (and some bad ones) working with my sisters in the bakery. Now that I am married and don’t work there anymore, it sounds even more fun. I have done my own little personal bake sales and they are a blast. It just gets in your blood and its addictive.
I hope your sale went well.
Miscellaneous thoughts and pictures…
1. I usually put fat free half & half or skim milk in my coffee. But once in awhile, I put chocolate milk in it. It gives it a mocha flavor. Try it sometime!
2. I made finger jello for the school picnic this past weekend. To make the plate more colorful, I made 2 pans of jello and made sure that the colors on the bottom and top of the pans were all different. Then, when I went to put them on a plate, I flipped some one way and some the other way and it looked more colorful with red, yellow, purple, and green on top. Do you have no clue what I mean? Here’s a picture:
As opposed to less colorful, like this:
3. I just found out that if you want an egg at room temperature because it beats nicer and fluffier, you can put it in the microwave for 10 seconds, shell and all, instead of letting it sit out till it’s room temp. I tried it and it does feel room temp when I comes out. I didn’t check if it’s that temp the whole way thro’ though.
4. And because this is a cooking site, I’ll post a couple pictures of the tables laden with food at the school picnic. The food was inside, but we ate outside. At the other end of the table in this first picture is the hot stuff… chicken breasts and shish-ka-bobs both off the grill, baked beans, hot dogs, and macaroni and cheese.
Then the salads.
Then the desserts.
What would you fill your plate with?
5. And even though this has NOTHING to do with cooking, I’m putting it on anyway. We church ladies made and quilted this friendship quilt for our school teacher this year. The school teacher is on the right. Her talented mom, who is on the left, handpainted those beautiful roses around the edge and the ones at the top. She used fabric paints and it is just so beautiful! 
Ok, we’ll stick to cooking now, just couldn’t resist that one. I do see an apple on that one quilt block, though…
Comments
19 Responses to “Miscellaneous thoughts and pictures…”
- Alicia Whittaker on May 19th, 2008 3:37 pm
Looking at that made me so hungry!
- Jo on May 19th, 2008 4:46 pm
Wow, that quilt is beautiful—and I see more than one apple, so it’s OK to have on a cooking site.
I’ll bet that you took an empty plate home, didn’t you? That finger jello looks like a real kid-pleaser. (It even appeals to me!) I’ll have to remember your tip; it would make a great b-day party treat, too. - Susan on May 19th, 2008 5:55 pm
What delicious-looking food! That beautiful quilt is a lovely gift!
- Annette33 on May 19th, 2008 6:10 pm
How do you make the finger jello? It is so colorful!
- Denise on May 19th, 2008 6:32 pm
Great idea for the finger jello. I’ll bet it took about a day to make it though, till you chilled each layer and added a new layer at a time. That quilt is positively lovely.
- Tamara Merritt on May 19th, 2008 6:48 pm
Your Jell-O fingers looked FABULOUS! BIG difference doing it the way you did.
Why, you start at the dessert table while everyone is wasting calories on the regular food table…no line either
The quilt is gorgeous! I always wanted a quilting bee before I got married, but my aunt that was going to throw one for me is now sick and bedridden
No one made me a wedding quilt *sobs* I LOVE quilts…they are such a comfort as you look at each loving stitch.
- Katie Mast on May 19th, 2008 7:16 pm
wow, mouth watering deserts!!! HA! I think i would start there. Just dont let my children see, right! IT all looks so yummy.
The quilt is gorgeous, it would look nice on my bed. lol. the roses on there are beautiful.
- Karen on May 19th, 2008 8:34 pm
We’ve tried your finger jello many times…..adults love it as much as the kiddos!
- Kay on May 19th, 2008 9:14 pm
Replying to the finger jello comments and questions…
For how to do it, the ‘finger jello’ in red letters at the beginning of the second paragraph is a link to the recipe with step by step pictures. And, good news, it actually doesn’t take all day. Once everything is room temp, it takes my fridge 7 minutes to gel a layer. And it doesn’t take twice as long to make 2 pans of jello because you can do them at the same time, if you have room in the fridge for 2 9×13 pans. My friend said hers took a half hour between layers, though, when she tried it. We keep our fridge set very cold though, so maybe that’s the diff. Oh, and yeah, the plate had only a few pieces left on it when I brought it home. - Our Red House on May 19th, 2008 11:57 pm
That food looks brilliant. I love the colourful jelly you made too. I have never seen it like that before.
Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving a comment. I love foodie blogs.
Kate
- Mama Bear on May 20th, 2008 12:55 am
The Jello is amazing! I must try it.
- Melissa K on May 20th, 2008 5:24 am
Okay, I’ve been lurking here for quite some time loving your posts, but I had to comment for two reasons:
First, what a great idea to switch the colors up on the jello like that & then flip some. Duh, I never would have thought of that, yet I love how it looks!
Second, the quilt is beautiful. What a lovely gift for the teacher. I can’t imagine receiving such a wonderful gift!!
Loving your blog. You cook like I do: mostly simple, home cooked meals & yummy desserts!! Thanks so much for sharing so many wonderful recipes! - Shannon on May 20th, 2008 6:13 am
Ummm, I love carry in’s with food like that.
I also love jello as much as a kid does so I bet I could eat that whole plate. - Twila on May 20th, 2008 7:06 am
Another way to quickly bring an egg to room temperature is to put it in hot water for a few minutes…and all that food looks delicious, although I’m not very hungry right now, after my morning coffee and bowl of cheerios!
- Rene on May 20th, 2008 7:30 am
Yummm! I’m just finishing up my tea and a piece of cranberry walnut bread but I could definitely make a dent in the dessert table! I love potlucks – especially at my church, those women really know how to cook! The 2nd Thursday of each month we have a sewing group that gets together to make clothes and blankets for various orphanages around the world and we always have a potluck lunch. I think I’ll make your jello recipe for the next one. I think the ladies would get a kick out of the design – might even inspire a special blanket for some child!
Thanks again for your wonderful blog and God bless you!
- Amber on May 20th, 2008 9:09 am
Gorgeous quilt! I’m also wondering how i could get the dress the teacher is wearing…
- Julia on May 20th, 2008 12:09 pm
You are right. Those are beautiful roses on a beautiful quilt. And the plate of finger jello was very beautiful too. Maybe I could make a quilt using those colors and designs. What do you think?
- Julia on May 20th, 2008 12:11 pm
I meant… Make a quilt using the colors and designs of the plate of finger jello.
- Faye on May 20th, 2008 4:45 pm
Loved seeing all the pictures of the school picnic, etc… especially seeing how the quilt turned out, it’s beautiful!! Sure thought about everyone on Saturday…always loved those days, sort of a kick-off to the summer festivities
Happy Mother’s Day…
Happy Mother’s Day…
Posted on May 11, 2008
Filed Under Beverages, Tidbits
…to my mom and all you other moms, too!
Mom, I made you a mocha this morning…
Wish you were here to drink it with me. But that’s not really possible with you at home 180 miles away. We could talk and laugh till our sides hurt about the adventure it is to be a mom, even though we’re at different stages. Since I became a mom, sometimes I think back to when I was growing up and am awed at the patience you had! Always calm and taking things in stride. For example, remember that goat we had? I could go on and on about memories, like the creative way you gave me a life-sized doll for my 6th birthday, the fun we had having our own little garden plots out of your big garden, jumping in the car to go see the ‘billowing smoke’ that turned out to be a cloud, how I openly told my teenage girlfriends that you are my best friend, etc., but since this is a cooking blog, I’ll stick with stuff in the kitchen.
Thanks for teaching me how to cook and bake. Not every 12-year old can make pie crusts, but you taught me young. And I’m sure that in my young days, you thought about how it would’ve been easier to just make things yourself instead of dealing with stuff like batter splattered on the ceiling or having to throw the whole batch away because I got ‘teaspoons’ and ‘cups’ mixed around when I was putting the salt in. But the thing I remember the most is: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” That was said when I’d start peeling eggs or potatoes or making some other mess right on the counter instead of putting down a paper towel or plate first. After awhile, it got to the place where you’d only have to say, “An ounce of prevention…”. Not sure why that was so hard for me to learn, but I did learn… I don’t do that anymore.
Here is a picture of my mom and my mother-in-law… another mom who’s had an impact on my life. She’s done alot of babysitting since we live in the same area and she’s like a walking medical book when one of us has a problem. Very handy and helpful! Each of the moms had 6 children… I’m second to the oldest of 3 boys and 3 girls, Shannon is the oldest of 6 boys. On the picture, they are with my youngest daughter Tiffany, who was 5 days old. She’s surrounded by grandma love.
My mom is the one in the purple holding the baby and my mom-in-law is in the black. I can’t tell you both how much you mean to me and how much I love you and how thankful I am that you love your granchildren so much! I know how blessed I am to still have my moms, and I especially think of it every Mother’s Day. Other things I especially think about on Mother’s Day are the 3 babies I lost via miscarriage, those of you who don’t have your moms anymore, and those of you who are a mom only in your dreams. I’ll breathe prayers especially for you throughout the day.
——————————————–
And now, here’s the mocha recipe that I’m still sipping. Shannon is sipping black coffee because it goes better with the raspberry cream cheese cinnamon rolls that were eating. HE thinks it goes better with it anyway. I can’t handle black coffee. He usually uses cream and sugar, but not when he’s eating something sweet. How do you drink your coffee? I’d LOVE to know! And do you like it black too when you’re eating a sweet roll with it?
Mocha, but don’t think Starbucks!
1/2 cup chocolate chips
4 cups hot brewed coffee
1/4 cup half-and half cream
2 to 4 Tbsp. sugar
Whipped cream
Melt the chocolate chips and put in a plastic bag. Snip of a tiny piece of the corner and pipe “MOM” onto plastic wrap.
Put in the freezer until hard (at least 10 minutes). Stir the coffee and rest of the chocolate together.
Add the half-and-half and sugar.
Serve in mugs with whipped cream and “MOM” garnishes. Yield: 4 sevings.
Comments
6 Responses to “Happy Mother’s Day…”
- Shannon on May 11th, 2008 2:16 pm
Ummm, the mocha stuff looks good. I’m gonna have to try it. ~I just started drinking coffee and I need a lot of cream with mine yet. Maybe one day I’ll be one of those all time coffee drinkers that can down a whole cup of black.
- Monica on May 12th, 2008 7:24 am
Looks good!! But, I still like my black coffee the best!! Definitely black coffee with something sweet!
- Alicia on May 12th, 2008 9:17 am
This looks really good. I love coffee!!
- Ruthie on May 12th, 2008 9:37 am
I agree with you that you have two wonderful moms. And the raspberry cream cheese cinnamon rolls are wonderful with BLACK coffee.
- Berneice on May 12th, 2008 11:31 am
Thanks for the recipe. I would love to know how to make lots of flavored coffees. I like my PLAIN BLACK coffee the best, but on cold winter days I need something all day long:)
- Dawn on May 13th, 2008 10:56 pm
I am not a coffee drinker..never liked the taste much but your mocha makes me want to try some of that!
What a wonderful tribute to your mom and mom-in-love. What blessings they have been in your life!
God Bless You!
Dawn
Coffee break…
Posted on April 23, 2008
Filed Under Tidbits
Actually a long ‘coffee break’. I went on a business trip with Shannon this week. We’re in Lancaster, PA right now with the truck and trailer loading up playhouses and some other stuff.
Here’s our load:
Heading back to WI tomorrow. I should be back in my kitchen on Saturday. Meanwhile, I’m enjoying eating other people’s cooking! Have a good week!
Comments
Ahhhh, this is the way to start a day! (and other rhymes)
Posted on April 18, 2008
Posted on April 18, 2008
Filed Under Breakfasts, Sweet rolls and Coffee cakes, Tidbits
…start it with raspberry cream cheese rolls and coffee!
Sometimes I wonder if I should try a post that’s in poem format. This would be a good one to do that on because the title rhymes… and that just happened, didn’t even try it. The best poems are ones that flow, that you can’t tell the poet was working hard to get it to rhyme. An example of working too hard to rhyme would be like this:
My friend and I met
this morning at eight.
Our coffee we drank
and our donuts we ate.
You just don’t say “our coffee we drank” and “our donuts we ate” in regular conversation, you say “we drank our coffee” and “we ate our donuts”. That is one of my pet peeves in poetry. I know it’s ‘legal’, but it just makes it sound so much more formal. It would be much better to say,
Coffee and donuts
and a friendly chat,
Breakfasts don’t get
much better than that.
I used to get a kick out of writing poems in my adolescent years. My favorite has always been a 6-line style where lines 1& 2 rhyme, 3&6 rhyme, and 4&5 rhyme. I don’t know what it’s called, kind of like a limerick, but not quite. Around 16, I wrote a whole poem consisting of about 10 stanzas in that style. The first stanza was:
In August we moved
To what actually proved
To be home at Valley View Orchard.
At first, work was fun,
But before all was done,
We thought we were seriously tortured.
…and so on it went, about life on our orchard.
My dad was/is great with poems. I still remember when I we were growing up, Dad would start making up a poem about this or that and just kept going and going for quite awhile, not having to pause to think of a rhyming word. It was amazing to me even at a young age how he could do that. Of course, the bar was pretty low because we were just kids and were thrilled with anything that rhymed.
Anyway, when I started this post, I had no clue I’d get into poems! So, instead of erasing the poem parts, I went up and added “(and other rhymes)” into the title. I was just posting to tell you that I made raspberry cream cheese rolls this morning AND that I finally have a new FAVORITE coffee mug once again! Here are both:
My friend, Shannon, from OH, sent me that coffee mug. It’s perfect. The ‘walls’ are thick, just how I like them. It’s heavy and solid. And the design is great. And she said that they’re hard to break… which is good! Did you know that I break more dishes than my 2 children do?! Sometimes I wonder if I’m clumsy. Anyway, it’s a Longaberger mug, if you’re interested in getting one. She tells me Longaberger mugs are the best. And I think I’m convinced.
And those raspberry cream cheese rolls (here is the link to the recipe), they are just the best! Seriously, try them! I just thought of it now, I got the recipe for these rolls from Shannon, too (same one that just gave me the mug). These rolls are easier than they look and the dough is SO nice to work with because it doesn’t stick to anything… not to the rolling pin, not to the counter, not to your hands. The raspberry filling is just regular pie filling from the grocery store (I put it into a plastic storage bag, cut a corner off, and pipe it on). It doesn’t have to be raspberry, in fact, this time I used strawberry. I put it in the food processor so there wouldn’t be big chunks. The cream cheese filling is from a bulk foods store in plastic bag tubes. BUT, Barb, if you’re reading this, you had asked a question about the cr. ch. filling if you don’t have a bulk foods store around. I made it from scratch this time just to experiment and it turned out great! I edited the post that the rolls are featured on and added that filling recipe.
So, now everyone, tell me what you had for breakfast in a comment! You can make it in poem form if you want to.
Here I’ll start:
My roll was first-rate
My coffee was great
And Shannon confirmed that when he ate his.
You may have guessed
These are the best
And I don’t care who your grandmother is!
Comments
19 Responses to “Ahhhh, this is the way to start a day! (and other rhymes)”
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Arla on
April 18th, 2008 11:22 am
Kay dear, I am one of those old-fashioned cooks that doen’t know much about things like doughnut mixes. I found quite a few bags of last sumemer’s blackberries in my freezer this morning and was just wondering what to make with them. Your raspberries rolls look wonderful, and I can figure out how to make pie filing of my fresh frozen wild berries, but I am lost about the doughnut mix. Are these rolls cakey or bready? if you know what I mean? What shall use in place of the mix? I love your website BTW.
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Kay on
April 18th, 2008 11:40 am
Arla, don’t even try to look for donut mix around here. I looked everywhere from Duluth to Eau Claire and couldn’t find it in the big grocery stores and Pine Knoll bulk food store doesn’t have it either. You could try hot roll mix… the rolls are bready like regular cinnamon rolls, not cakey (it’s raised donut mix). My friend from Ohio (Shannon, who’s mentioned above) sent me some donut mix from a bulk food store near her.
There are a few rolls left… if you’re going to town today, stop in and I’ll give them to you. Seriously.
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Sharon on
April 18th, 2008 12:50 pm
Hey, Arla & Kay, they have donut mix at Weaver’s Store here 10 minutes out from Eau Claire. It’s “my” bulk food store. If you want me to bring you some sometime, holler. I betcha these rolls would work with another cinnamon roll dough, but I personally love how fast the mix make them.
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Ali on
April 18th, 2008 2:50 pm
I had an extra, extra big mug of coffee with splenda and cinnamon vanilla creamer.
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Monica on
April 18th, 2008 3:00 pm
Gotta love the Longaberger mug!! Looks just mine! Couldn’t come up with anything to rhyme with my boring breakfast of Multi-Grain Cheerios!! Those rolls look and sound delicious!! Monica
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barb on
April 18th, 2008 3:33 pm
First of all, I don’t have a rhyme. I would have to think to hard and I’m sorta in a hurry. But…
after thinking a while I finally remembered what I had for breakfast (yes, it’s been a long day)
I had a homemade cinnamon roll. I’ll tell you why I just happen to have homemade cinnamon rolls around, because that don’t happen around here very often. A couple of days ago, I was making french bread and had some extra dough. I thought I would rather have cinnamon rolls than extra french bread, so I just rolled it out, spread some butter on, sprinkled on cinnamon and sugar, rolled ’em up and Wow, easy cinnamon rolls(at least if you are making bread dough anyway:)I guess you didn’t ask for us to write a book about our breakfast but it just kind of happened.
The only poem of any significance that I ever wrote was for my sister when her baby died at birth. It was inspired by God, because I can not write poems like that, but I really do like to read poetry.
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Liz on
April 19th, 2008 8:11 am
I guess you won’t be getting a poem from me. I don’t like writing them and don’t make a practice of reading them. (I had to read yours to see what you wrote.)=) I just had cereal for breakfast but yesterday for brunch I was able to sample some of the delicious rolls.=)
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Arla on
April 19th, 2008 9:46 am
Thanks Kay, So I guess I’ll just use Melinda Kulp’s Cinnamon Roll recipe that’s in the Dirstine Cookbook and go from there. I couldn’t believe all my typos in what I’d written before. I write to communicate, mostly, not to inspire, thus no poetry from me, either, but it’s an eighth wonder you could even follow my hasty question there, sorry about that.
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rosa on
April 19th, 2008 1:13 pm
I love your mug. I was actually gonna post and tell you my favorite mug is the exaxt same one but I never got around to it. I have 2 of them and I always claim them!
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amy on
April 19th, 2008 1:27 pm
Your rolls look great,
But I’m watching my weight,
You never could see
By looking at me.
Sweet things like your rolls,
Make me lose all control,
So I’ll make them not,
And stick with celery and carrots.Okay that was lame, but very fun.
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amy on
April 19th, 2008 1:28 pm
Oh and I’ll probably end up making them too. I just needed things to rhyme:)
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Elaine on
April 19th, 2008 2:40 pm
I MUST stop reading this site for the next several months. This morning, I had Special K protein cereal and tomorrow morning I am planning to have whole wheat pumpkin pancakes with sugar-free maple syrup. They’re both what I would call edible, but not what I would call a wonderful way to start a day!
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Katie Mast on
April 20th, 2008 2:48 pm
Well I am with the post just above me, I may need to stop reading your delightful post as well, my stomach is churning so bad. I am really really trying to watch my food intake this week, just eating salad’s and veggies. For breakfast I am having protein drinks, yikes!!! Those rolls really look good, i have been wanting to try them. Just waiting for company so i dont eat them all cuz bread is my weekness. I love your site. I get all excited when i see you featuring pampered chef items. Now i know your not paid to cook with those items, but I love all my PC products.
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Shannon on
April 20th, 2008 5:11 pm
Ummm, I love you mug too.
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Shannon on
April 20th, 2008 5:12 pm
And I’d love to come over and tell you all about our weekend over some rolls and coffee. The comment submited before I was done.?
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Judi on
April 21st, 2008 11:57 am
Protein, grain and fat
Just a little not too much
Energy stays strong.Egg, toast and butter
I enjoy it every day
Perfect start of day.I think a Haiku is a poem of sorts. Haiku is groups of words making a statement with 5 syllables, 7 syllables and 5 syllables. I’m new at this, but I need the practice lol. I start my day with a scrambled egg and toast every day. It gives me a strong start and holds me til I get around to eating again, be it 4 hours or 7 hours. I’ve tried changing to others things, but too much carbs makes me starved in less than an hour. And sugar – forget it I’m ready for a nap in less time than that.
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Susan on
May 19th, 2008 7:04 pm
I like your mug, and those rolls look scrumptious! I liked Amy’s poem, too! Very cute!
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Longaberger Mugs on
June 2nd, 2008 10:09 pm
Your friend is right about the Longaberger mugs. We own the exact same mug (except ours are green) and I’ve dropped them many times. They are very durable.
Alicia Smith
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Violet Sorc on
June 5th, 2008 4:55 pm
I would like to boast,
That I had some toast.
Peas… not just for lunch anymore
Posted on March 19, 2008
Filed Under Tidbits
This is my foot, and that would be my ankle under those peas. I sprained it.
Comments
One Response to “Peas… not just for lunch anymore”
- Sharon on March 19th, 2008 7:40 pm
oh, the memories this picture evokes! When I broke my nose a month before we were married, I held peas to my FACE. Now, I must say, it somehow looks better on the ankle.
So sorry for the ankle, though, or I should say, You! Hope it’s all better soon. Try a character bandaid–that would probably help!
400 ham sandwiches, a beautiful bride, and a wild-eyed cook
Posted on March 3, 2008
Filed Under Tidbits
Have any of you ever been in charge of the kitchen at a wedding? We were for the first time last Friday evening. My cousin Lisl got married. It was actually an easy meal for amateurs like us to start out on… hot ham and cheese sandwiches were the only menu item that needed to be hot. The other things on the menu were: veggies and dip, chips, fruit and chocolate fountain, and of course cake and ice cream.
I’ll start with Thurs. That’s the day that the veggies and fruit got cut up and the sandwiches made…
We put the cut up veggies in either buckets with water or a sealed plastic bag. The apples were dipped in pineapple juice, put in sealed plastic bags and still looked great at serving time the next evening. We washed and separated the grapes in clusters. We didn’t do anything to the bananas on Thurs. They had to be done last minute (as in during the wedding).
For the sandwiches, we buttered the buns, put 2 1/2 oz of shaved ham on and a piece of cheese, then wrapped them in pre-cut foil squares, and put them in the fridge. On Friday, we got them out of the fridge a couple hours ahead of time, then put some in roasters at 250 for 45 min. and some in the oven at 225 for 1/2 hour. We actually turned the heat up a bit part-way thro’ because it sounded like the preacher was winding down early, so they actually got done before the time we were planning.
The way the wedding was set up, the guests dismissed from their seats at the ceremony, went thro’ the receiving line, then thro’ the food line, then sat down with their food where they had been for the ceremony. So, the food had to be ready at Amen! We actually didn’t see the couple get married, but I’m assuming they did. Here’s how the wedding was set up:
The chairs on one side of the table were turned around so all chairs were facing the front. Then when the guests came back with food, the servers had turned their chairs around to face the table to eat.
The kitchen staff was my husband and I and my brother and his wife. I was the one with all the info from the bride and the mother-of-the-bride, and what a wild couple of hours it was! It actually went good, but man, talk about intense! And I’m not an intense person! Anyway, needless to say, my camera was the least thing on my mind (didn’t even get a picture of the bride and groom!). BUT, there was about a 30-second lull between the time when we were totally ready till we expected the first guests to come thro’ the door, so I snapped a couple pictures of the buffet table (they’re the ones close to the top of this post).
I know they say a picture is worth 1000 words, but I’m seriously lacking pictures, so I’ll have to do snapshots with words…
*Click* In this picture:
Directed at me: “We’re running out of cups for the punch table. Where are some more?”
Me, scanning the countertops in the kitchen: “I lost track of them. I don’t see them in here anymore. Go check around or under the punch table.”
He goes out of the kitchen as I’m still frantically looking for cups, then sigh as I hear, “We found them.”
*Click*
“Hey, the dip is getting low in the veggie tray.”
“There’s no more left.”
“Are you sure?! Did you look behind everything in the fridge?”
“There. is. no. dip. left! How long is the line yet?”
“It goes back to the arch and that’s it then.”
“Good. I think what’s on the table should reach then.”
*Click*
One of the servers: “We have guests at our table who want to leave and they want their cake and ice cream now.”
Me: “Not all the guests even got thro’ the line for the main course, we’re not serving cake and ice cream yet.”
Him: “Well, shall I tell them they have to wait?”
Me: “Nah, go ahead and give them some.”
*Click*
“Oh no! Look at the chocolate fountain! It’s overflowing and not augering up anymore.”
“Get some paper towel!”
“What do you think is wrong? Do we need to add some more oil?”
“No, I think it looks thin enough.”
A young boy was kinda hanging around it and he said, “Well, I know a banana fell in there.”
“Ah, thanks, kiddo. That may be the info we need!”
After digging around in the base with a spoon, my SIL said, “I dug a banana AND an apple slice out of there!”
Once again, the chocolate fountain is flowing smoothly.
*Click*
Things are wild. 3 people talking to me at once and I hear someone calling “Kaaaay” behind me. Meanwhile, the photographer is milling around in the kitchen snapping photos and video clips. I was spooning dip and felt like throwing the whole spoonful at his camera! I know he was just doing his job, but there are sometimes when, job or not, you just are NOT in the mood for some things!!!!
*Click*
The lady in charge of the facilities asked, “Who is the mother of the bride? Has she been back here in the kitchen?”
Me, in a daze, plus trying to think how to describe Arla, “Um, I don’t know. She has a blue dress on.”
Pause.
Her: “Honey, 75% of the women around here have a blue dress on!” (Blue was the wedding color.)
Outburst of laughter from everyone in the kitchen.
It actually went good, I guess at any wedding over serving time, the kitchen is probably hectic with getting all the food ready at once and keeping 9 sets of servers going.
3 tips that I have from this whole deal is:
1. Plan for the food to get done earlier than you think it should be done by.
2. If you’re in the kitchen, bring other shoes along to change into at cleanup time. Being on your feet that much, the change would’ve felt wonderful!
3. If you’re planning your wedding, assign the cooks (if it’s not catered), and also assign several more people to come in with fresh energy at cleanup time. When everyone was served and there were a couple extra plates of cake and melting ice cream, I felt this big sigh of relief. But yet I felt like crying… I’d been on my feet for 5 hours and everything was sore and I was drained! And it was cleanup time. Two and a half hours later, we had the kitchen shining, the dishes washed, and the floor mopped. God bless those servers who stuck around to wash dishes and that guest who breezed in with the picture of energy and said, “I’d love to help here. Just put me to work!” There were definitely some people who were wearing halos till everything was over. I won’t mention names, but some of them were the helpful people I just mentioned.
Have you ever been at a restaurant where everything just flowed perfectly? The drinks and waitress came as soon as you were seated, the perfectly grilled steak came just as you were sitting back after eating the appetizer, refills came when there was still 2″ left of your Diet Coke, the staff was relaxed and everything seemed to work like a well-oiled machine. One day though, that restaurant had its opening night… the staff wasn’t very comfortable, some food was dropped in the kitchen, the appetizer came with the meal, and things seemed a little choppy.
I think every wedding is like opening night at a restaurant… the cooks aren’t familiar with the kitchen, the servers don’t even know each other, the cooks have never had to have 400 sandwiches ready to go at one time before, the servers look tentative, and some kid drops a banana and an apple in the chocolate fountain.
Comments
9 Responses to “400 ham sandwiches, a beautiful bride, and a wild-eyed cook”
- Jessica on March 4th, 2008 10:12 am
The first thing that caught my attention is that Lisl got married. ok. Over that.
My servers and cooks and un-coordinators is the one thing I would redo in my wedding. I had it planned but the coordinators didn’t get it too well and the cooks had to do more than they were supposed to. Sad. Yes, I think it was very much an opening night kind of deal.
- stephanie on March 4th, 2008 12:01 pm
O how neat! It’s similar to my nieces wedding I coordianted in’06. We had fruit trays and veggie trays and meat and cheese trays and different breads for the sandwiches. I LOVE the hot ham idea! Looked gorgeous!
- Audrey on March 4th, 2008 1:18 pm
Wow! That sounds like SO much work. I think people often take the cooks at a wedding for granted, cuz it is a HUGE job. Bravo to you guys for taking on the job! The food looks wonderful! Made me hungry, but that’s no surprise.
- Shannon on March 4th, 2008 2:50 pm
Loved reading this story!!!
I’m sure it seemed much more calm to everyone else and if you’d ask the bride she’d say it was pefect! -The choc fountain thing made me laugh! ???? - Esther on March 5th, 2008 1:34 pm
Interesting. This was exactly our wedding menu. Right down to the chocolate fountain. A tip for fountains: use condiment cups to serve the chocolate. Guests doing their own dipping ALWAYS leaves a huge mess which ALWAYS includes drowned fruit. We also served the fruit on kabobs which helped the line go more smoothly.
- Anna on March 5th, 2008 4:56 pm
Hi,
You do not know me, but I just found your blog through a comment you left on Cofessions of a cf husband. I saw that you had a head covering on and it caught my eye because I wear one too!
Anyway I love your blog!!! I love to cook, I love to bake, and I love new recipes; although I am not as creative as you are. It’s so neat to see that you let your girls help you in the kitchen. I have 3 children. 2 boys: ages 6&7 and a girl turning 1 tomorrow. My boys love to help me in the kitchen and I let them, but I know other mom’s that won’t let their children help them.
Anyways, I think I am going to try your recipe of parmesan potatoes tonight for supper. They look woderful.
Probably one reason I was so attracted to all your recipes is because I am trying to lose weight and all I can think about is eating and making something to eat.
Well I didn’t mean to write a book, I just felt like I had something in common with you.
Thanks for all the great recipes and fun pictures.
I’ll let you know how the potatoes turn out.
-Anna - Berneice on March 7th, 2008 10:35 pm
Glad you survived the wedding. We have been cooks several times, altho not head cooks. i know it is a HUGE job and can be very stressful.
- Elvida Yoder on March 20th, 2008 11:10 am
Interesting! I have often said when involved in any kind of dinner/fundraiser/etc. please, please, please get a whole seperate group to come in and do clean-up!! It helps tremendously!!! I just happened upon this website and I’m glad I did…
- sydney kitchen design on October 7th, 2008 3:53 am
I was worried about the overflowing chocolate fountain, I am amazed you managed that. If I were in your situation, I might shiver in tense. lol.
Frying pan? Who needs a frying pan?!
You flat-top stove owners, have you ever done this? Works like a charm! I’ve been doing this for years and my stove top still shines up as good as new. Turn the heat pretty low… you can actually see where I have it.
I am still using a kettle for the tomato soup though. Ha. …although, I’ve had boil-overs of unwatched tomato soup that would look like I was trying it without.
This is the only thing I do right on the burner though. What about you?
Comments
One Response to “Frying pan? Who needs a frying pan?!”
- Ali on April 18th, 2008 1:54 pm
This was done on one of those coil burners, not a flat top, but my step dad would always butter tortillas and heat them up on the coil burners, which left a nice grill mark.
Napkin folding
I love this site. I dream of entertaining someday to the extent of specially folding cloth dinner napkins (hmmm, wonder if you can be that elegant without owning a teacup, still serving hot beverages in mugs). Featured on that site is anything from
simple… 
to deluxe… 
Here is one example, my favorite of them all…
The Fleur de Lys Goblet Fold
Contest winners!
#15 ‘takes the cake’!
The congratulations go to Jan from MO. You will not be disappointed in how she made it! And the neat thing is that she asked someone to take progress pictures of the project… ah, progress pictures, a lady after my own heart! 
Another neat thing is that she is my sister. Her site is jan_n_dan.
The real set is decor in her coffee-themed kitchen. It’s smaller than normal size… the tea set, I mean. 
(Someone else with a coffee-themed kitchen was wondering where you got that little set, Jan, and wants one like it for decor in her own kitchen.)
To make the cake, Jan wrapped plenty of tin foil around each piece, then gently pulled each piece out of the tin foil form, filled the forms with cake batter (not just ordinary cake batter, she used a mocha cake recipe so it would be more fitting when they eat it 
) , then baked them. When she took them out of the oven, let them cool, and peeled the tin foil off, what she had was this…
So, she set to work, carving…
Then came the frosting…
The lettering and drawing was tedious, esp on the little cups…
Done!…
The ‘coffee’ in the cups is chocolate syrup. Everything else is cake and frosting except the lettering and decals were done with melted chocolate and the handle on the teapot was made with chocolate, then covered with frosting. Definitely a work of art!!!! Made just for the contest… and for fun and because she’s adventurous and likes to take on challenges. 
Nobody helped her. Completely edible. Very creative. Good job, Jan!
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One day last week, I decided to add a runner-up prize …
A $10 Starbucks gift certificate.
This prize was won by #7 , the ‘grilled cheese sandwiches’ made from pound cake and frosting…
They really do look real! Great job, Evangeline !
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And now, the top 4 honorable mentions…
#9, the teapot cake (for those of you who wondered, she shaped the handle and spout with rolled fondant that was tinted pink to match the frosting).
#2, the frosting and apricot ‘eggs’
#12, the kitty litter cake with appropriate props
#19, the barn cake
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Thanks so much to all of you who took the time and effort to enter something! You’re the ones who made it a success! I’m anxious to try some of your foods, esp ones that look like main course, but are actually a dessert.
And thanks to all the voters! Contagious enthusiasm and a surge of votes the first 2 days was exciting and fun!
And thanks to the 13 new subscribers who subscribed to seasoned_to_taste last week!
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Next up on seasoned_to_taste:
A series of fun stuff to do for adding a bit of flair to entertaining and food presentation… tomato roses, lemon roses, chocolate leaves, napkin folding, place setting ideas, etc.
Contest entries…
~ Make Real Food Look Like Something Else ~
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1. Dessert pizza
2. Eggs (frosting and apricots)
3. Dirt pudding (Oreo)
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4. Kitty litter cake
5. Dessert pizza
6. Hero sandwich cake
7. Grilled cheese sandwiches (pound cake and frosting)
8. Ritz cracker spiders
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9. Teapot cake
10. ‘ Hot-dog-in-a-bun and fries’ cake
11. Checkerboard sandwiches
12. Kitty litter cake
13. Grilled cheese sandwiches (cake and frosting)
14. Veggie flowers
15. Tea set cake (in front)
16. Hamburger dessert
17. Fairy castle cake
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18. Meatloaf topped w colored mashed potatoes cupcakes
19. Barn and silo cake
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Ok, it’s all yours! Go ahead and vote, whether you entered anything or not! Please vote for only ONE entry. If one of them is yours, you are allowed to vote for it if you want to.
You can vote one of 3 ways:
a. leave a comment
b. send me a message
c. email ( kaylouann@gmail.com)
Oh yeah, in person would be fine too! 
A BIG thank-you to those of you who entered and made it fun for the rest of us!!!! …hmmm, how do we give them a cyber round of applause?
Note to Kitchen Scrapbook readers: These posts were copied over to this Kitchen Scrapbook site from my old site and the comments didn’t come along. The votes came in for the contest in 89 comments, some emails, and some private messages.
Contest deadline
Today is the deadline for the contest, so if you still want to submit something, today would be a good time. I’m really looking forward to posting the entries tomorrow morning!!!!! Glad I’m not judging because it would be hard to choose which to vote for! 
I actually made something, but am not going to put it in the contest after all. Seems weird to enter my own contest.
So, until tomorrow, I leave you with this…
The roses are red and yellow tomatoes. There is some shredded celery and Italian parsley in there, but the main foliage is non-edible from one of my mom’s miniature rose bushes.
REMINDER!
Posted on September 17, 2007
Filed Under Tidbits
Contest deadline comin’ up!
(Contest details in the post before this.)
Thanks to those of you who have submitted pictures already! And for those of you who are still planning to, the deadline is next Monday, the 24th . It’s so fun getting the pictures and I’m looking forward to showing them to you!!!!
Also, photos of things you’ve made previously are eligible! So, check your photo albums for parties, birthday cakes, deformed veggies, April Fools food, etc!
Let’s have FUN! Take a break from the hum-drum of canning and cleaning and casseroles! I have a few ideas I’d love to try and I think I might enter one… the rules didn’t say that I can’t.
I’ll just leave you with a picture my aunt emailed to me awhile ago (she didn’t make it and it’s not for the contest). Isn’t it amazing? Now THAT’S talent!!!!!
lol. At least they loved theirs!
Aww, what a sweet mom you are. They will rise up and call her blessed!
So … take the scraps and make them into a savory bread pudding by chopping them all up and pouring egg mixed with milk over it then topping with more cheese if you want. Bake 20 minutes and yours is BETTER than theirs.