Raking in the Dough

Gotta love the "bake sale"..... easy and simple cupcakes for Chloe's school. So, at least that is what we thought. Needless to say we ended up just throwing some sprinkles on them at the end and calling it a day! Therefore, I will not bother sharing the recipe as to keep you people from unnecessary baking suffering.

Chloe-ism's

Into the mind of an 11 year old...thinking outside the box does not even begin to describe this type of logic. Never a dull moment...here is just a snippet! Oh...my dearest Tween I am so happy you are here to share your knowledge.

"If you eat a hamburger upside down it tastes better"

"If you shake your phone while sending a text message it will send it much much faster than usual"

Lily was not a big fan of the cupcake "dirt."

Mummy, Mummy, Mummy...

What possesses a small child to repeat a word over and over and over again until you want to flick them in the head with "tall man and thumbkin." Do they REALLY believe you didn't hear them the first eight thousand times? In honor of this phenomenon we went ahead and made these cute little mummies which are just a wrap different from pigs in a blanket.

KitchenAids: The Tween blessed us with her presence during this event. The Toddler also enjoyed eating (I mean why should a person wait a whole 11 min. for something to bake) the unbaked "weenies" which pretty much made the Tween and I want to hurl.

Halloweenies
1 can crescent rolls
44 cocktail sized sausages (Lil' Smokies)
Mustard (mustard dots for eyes)

Oven: 375 degrees
Lay out dough and smooth seams tight (cut dough vertically in 1/2 then horizontally (7x1/2-inch) into 44 strips
Wrap mummies tightly on both ends
Bake: 15-20 min. until golden brown

Homage to the "Plain M&M"

Can we just give a little love to the plain M&M…the one who has been reduced to the “potty training reward” like that freezer burnt crusty meat in the spider infested corner of your local grocer. Lets face it by themselves they really are just not that interesting. Really the “PLAIN” (the name says it all) M&M was doomed immediately following the invention of it’s cousins: the peanut, almond, dark chocolate, premium (whatever), peanut butter, green tea (isn’t everything green tea flavored these days?) even the mini is cuter. And don’t even act like you would choose regular M&M’s over the Holiday colored ones. However, have you ever noticed that if the plain M&M is the only offered up snack material at your great Aunt Linda’s house, you will totally grab a handful and happily shove them into your mouth. Yep.

This is how I imagine a conversation amongst unfriendly M&M’s. Yes, the ones on the commercials with the legs, gloves and puffy white shoes.

M&M #1 (insert foreign snobby butler accent): Yes…well I come from the store on the Vegas strip. Customized not only with a message, but also by color and size. I will be making my last appearance at the Jones-Smith wedding sprinkled on the tables right next to the begonias.

M&M Plain: Yeah, well I get to live the life on the shelf of some snot-nosed kid’s bathroom. I may actually get this painful existence over with if “The Mom” would just start generously handing us out more than 3 at a time. Miserable.

And you know your favorite color is BLUE. You and 30% of the rest of the population.
Go ahead and go here to personalize some M&M’s http://www.m-ms.com/us/, or buy a nice size bag of “PLAIN M&M’s” and make these super yummy cookies.

M&M Cookies

1/2 c. butter
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/3 c. oatmeal
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. sugar
1 c. M&M's (pour a few more for the kiddos to eat while mixing)
1 1/3 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt

Bake: 350 degrees for 11-13 min.
Mix: Butter, egg and vanilla. Then add in all other ingredients. Make sure to form balls with the dough or use a scooper firmly packed as the consistency of this dough is very dry (perfect this way).
Yield: About 2 dozen

Happy Halloween From My Little KitchenAids

Pumpkin (I Hope we can get Through this Without a Potty Break) Bread

Three potty breaks, one change of clothing, and a Starburst later we finished up this lovely loaf of perfection. Moist, moist, moist is the only word to describe this scrumptious bread. No need to light a candle when your oven emanates the delicious scent of nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon.

KitchenAids: The unnapped (no this is neither a word nor highly recommended) Toddler and the ever scrutinizing watchful eye of the Bean (I must admit his supervising skills are unprecedented- his eyes follow our every move).

PUMPKIN BREAD
3 c. sugar
1 c. vegetable oil
4 eggs
16 oz. canned pumpkin
3 1/2 c. flour
2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp all spice
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
2/3 c. water

Oven: 350 degrees
Mix: All ingredients in order 2 at a time
Time: 30-40 minutes (make sure to do the toothpick test)
Yield: 2 loaves

Top, dip, and spread in any fashion:

Cranberry Cream Cheese Spread
1 8oz. cream cheese
1/4 c. butter
2 c. powdered sugar
1/4 c. canned cranberries

Mix: All ingredients

Introducing My Little Kitchen Aids- The Toddler, the Tween & The Bean

The Toddler a.k.a. "Moussey"

Big blue eyed blond ball of toddler. Refuses to take no for an answer. Has been known to throw "tantrums" and baby dolls therefore may be found seen on the staircase crying and flailing about. The former obviously resulting from the latter. Sings sweet songs about arachnids and weather. Is charming in the ways of smiling, dancing, storytelling and writing utensils. Most likely will have to potty while I am knee deep in making her lunch while nursing the "Bean" (see below) and answering the tele on the way out the door 15 minutes behind schedule...

Favorite phrase "Mine"
CHANDLER SHOUT OUT: "Could you be anymore irrational?"

The Bean a.k.a. "Budsie, Rydies"

A huge mouthful of toothless grin. Most likely to be seen lounging in another human beings arms or kicking it in some sort of modern day soothing device (swing, bouncy seat, etc.). Happy, happy, happy unless we are hungry, wet, or sleepy.

Favorite phrase "ga ga goo goo coo coo"
CHANDLER SHOUT OUT: "Could you be any cuter" (come on he has only been on Earth a couple weeks)


The Tween a.k.a "Chlomo, Schloe"

Beautiful, athletic and has a heart made of gold! She wrote the book on how to "Save the Drama for Your Mama" (lucky me). So incredibly sweet and helpful in every way. Will forever learn things the hard way and has accepted this fate as if it were black permanent marker on my new Restoration Hardware Egyptian Cotton comforter (Yes, similar to the one the toddler drew on). Most likely spending time with peers on a roller coaster of emotional turmoil. Usually seen on some sort of communicable device speaking in foreign messages.

Favorite phrase: "I don't know" and my personal favorite "Whatever"
CHANDLER SHOUT OUT: "Could you be anymore dramatic?"