Making Rice Krispies Treats

Lately the boys have been very interested in cooking. Even though it is a little stressful and a major pain in the neck for ole Ma, I have been encouraging this newfound hobby. It doesn't hurt that they are ridiculously cute while cooking.

"Come on, Mom. Let's cook supper for dinner!"

"Welcome to the Julian and Jonas making show. Okay, now, today we're cooking rice krispies treats. We get the butter and the mushrooms and the cereal."

Note: In Julian and Jonas world, mushrooms are marshmallows.

A couple of cuties with "mushrooms" for rice krispies treats.

So proud to be chefs.

"Snap, crackle, pop!"

Just a little mess.

After their treats were done, they were very excited to take their Dad a piece, and to gobble a few of their own! You always have fun at the Julian and Jonas Making Show!!!

Chef Jules

Julian has lately become very independent. Everything is suddenly "my turn!" From throwing away trash to taking off his socks, he wants to do it all by himself.

Tonight, it was his turn to cook supper. So, equipped with his butter knife, he set out to cut all the grapes. Like any good cook, he snacked along the way, eating most what he cut. He was very proud of his handiwork and made sure to tell Jonas all about it when it was time to eat.

 

Hold it steady, Julesy! 

Watch for that thumb! 

Such concentration.

Feeling to see which side of the blade to use. 

Cooking to Forget the Bar

Doug's study area in the garage away from me and the dudes.

"Do one thing every day that scares you." --Eleanor Roosevelt

I think this should be my life's motto. What? You think I'm boring and old? I don't live life on the edge, and I am not very dangerous, but, people, I am here to tell you that I've been doing things that scare me for my whole life. 

What about starring in that Dwarf Baptist Church Christmas play? Terrifying! What about camping out in the yard with John Irvin after watching a Nightmare on Elm Street marathon? Frightening! What about taking the ACT? Going to prom? Leaving the holler and heading to the big ole city and University of Ky? Moving to Cincinnati? Getting married? Having babies!! Aaah! All hair-raising events that I have somehow survived/am surviving. 

So, this bar exam...it'll be nothing. It helps that I am not actually the one taking the test, but it will still be a major challenge for me and my little family. I will probably whine a lot and you'll get tired of me, but what else is new? Doug does say that I am an ogre, hopefully I will contain my ogre-like tendencies and be a perfect, supportive wife. I want to avoid the, "You are never around to help me! I am so tired! Aaaah!!" situation. That's why I will be leaning on my friends for companionship and support during this 3-month ordeal. Who wants to come hang with me and the boys?

I am also beginning a new challenge. I am currently reading Julie & Julia and am inspired by Julie

Powell. In this book, Julie writes of her year-long cooking extravaganza: cooking a new recipe (or more than 1 recipe daily). Now, you and I both know I can't do that, but I have decided I'll cook a new recipe a week. This will be my coping mechanism for the bar, and maybe it'll make time pass a little more quickly. At least I might get some good food out of it! Help me out by sending me one or two of your favorite recipes!

I started tonight. I made corn souffle, a recipe from my friend, Tracy. Too bad it was a major flop. Well, it tasted good, but I totally messed up the timing. Everything else on the menu was cooked and ready to eat, but the dadblamed corn souffle was still cooking. It came out of the oven about 15 minutes after everyone was done eating supper. Bummer. 

Here's the recipe:

1 box Jiffy corn muffin mix

8 oz sour cream

1 egg

1 can corn, drained

1 can cream-style corn

Mix all of the above, pour into greased pan, and bake for an hour. 

I hope next week's recipe is a delicious dessert. Any ideas?

90% of what she talks about

This morning when I drove to work, it was dark and rainy. It made me think of winter, which made me think of Christmas! Naturally, I played some Christmas tunes. This made me think of a comment that brat Codar made the other night:

Codar (to Doug Bear): Do you realize that 90% of what she talks about is Christmas?

Doug Bear (to Cody): She talks about 3 things: food, Christmas, and shopping. [ My shopping is most of the time related to the first 2 things :) By the way, Doogie forgot my 4th favorite topic: KITTIES!]

Anyway, moral of the story, Codar and Doug are jerks...even if they are right.

***Just doing the google search for images of Christmas made my heart swell with joy!

Speaking of food, I'll be on my way to Beetle's this afternoon. I have a deal I'm trying to strike up with the ole gal--"You make me some soup beans, fried taters, and cornbread, and I'll make you some lemon cookies, rice krispie treats, and tiramisu!" Let's see if she bites. Oh, how awesome! I haven't had soup beans and fried taters in sooooo long.

And since we're on the topic, the past 2 weeks have proven to be the week of Alli G, the grillmaster. That's right, folks! You're reading the words of a champion griller. I have successfully grilled the following items: Italian sausage, Big Red Smokys, Oscar Mayer all beef franks, Oscar Mayer all beef franks wif cheeeeze, and hamburgers. Now, the hamburgers were a little dangerous. There was some flamage going on, and I thought that I was going to burn the hairs off of my arms, but I survived, and my burgers weren't bad at all...a little thick...but not bad. My mother can make the perfect hamburger patty; I'm going to have to get her to show me her ways this week while I'm in D-town.

Chef AC

That's right, folks, I actually plan on cooking today. First up on the menu is fruity curry chicken salad. Doug Bear doesn't like my chicken salad, but too bad for him cause I do! Here's the recipe:

• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cooked and diced
• 1 stalk celery, chopped
• 4 green onions chopped
• 1/3 cup seedless green grapes, halved
• 1/2 cup toasted, chopped pecans
• 1/8 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp curry powder
• 3/4 cup mayo

For dinner, we will have meatloaf. Everybody knows how to make meatloaf, so I won't waste your time with that r

ecipe. I guess I'll break down and make those brussel sprouts, too. I hope they taste good.

Good news everyone, Dunkaroos still exist! I was at Walmart earlier today and saw a box with my own 2 eyes! I didn't buy them, though, 15

years later and they're still too expensive for me! Cartoon movie night is upon us, and I need to start thinking about the menu. I haven't gotten past the entree: chicken nuggets. Doug suggests peanut butter and jelly uncrustables for dessert. That sounds like a winner to me! They look very intriguing, and I have been wanting to try them for quite a while now. I'll have to pick up a box at Sam's when we go for our weekly Friday trip. (Be jealous that Doogie and I have a Friday night ritual that involves perusing the Norwood Sam's Club. Followed by a little trip to Frisch's.)