tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87272489476383411842011-07-30T20:51:04.206-07:00Adventures in food while surviving the toddler, the tween, and the bean. Recipe= 1 part big appetite, 2 or 3 whole sweet little helpers, and a dash of sarcasm just to spice it upErinnoreply@blogger.comBlogger251100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727248947638341184.post-39691601913446627142009-11-22T23:44:00.000-08:002009-11-23T00:13:47.695-08:00

Ok..so 4 pm rolls around and it's time to think of something for dinner. Ohh the dread. I forgot to thaw out anything, we are out of pasta, soccer practice starts in an hour, I've got to come up with something new, yada yada yada...lets' just grab something quick at Chili's.Up until a few weeks ago this is how my late afternoons went down. I finally did some surfing and found these two great

Erinnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727248947638341184.post-18843281229792837462009-11-08T03:10:00.000-08:002009-11-08T03:58:00.414-08:00

I swear I don't remember anymore. There is so much whine in this house. Living with three whiners is obnoxious. I am constantly in a state of tripping over my own two feet (or trying to break the record time in "how fast can you fill a sippy cup") in an effort to stifle the whining as fast as humanly possible. They beg, they ask, they complain all while raising their voices eight Mariah

Erinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727248947638341184.post-32113114497573379712009-06-26T04:38:00.000-07:002009-06-26T15:50:42.033-07:00

The Oreo Truffles are just so yummy why stop there. I saw Bakerella tried this recipe with Nutter Butter cookies and since I love peanut butter I made these for our playgroup. I tweaked the recipe just a bit because I don't believe that Nutter Butters are peanut buttery enough- they are a bit dry and lack that creamy yumminess.I was afraid that they were not going to be as heavenly, but the

Erinnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727248947638341184.post-75103156425149981742009-06-11T01:09:00.000-07:002009-06-11T03:37:28.509-07:00

Yes...these are made of Oreo's and cream cheese. May cause some sort of arterial blockage. If your left arm starts to feel numb after eating half a dozen of these...don't call me I warned you! I have a couple of friends- (thank you Amber and Janine) who make these and also found them on Bakerella's blog...so here is a hybrid recipe!Oreo Truffles1 pkg. 14 oz. Oreo cookies + a handful more (use

Erinnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727248947638341184.post-55250346237736847292009-05-27T04:09:00.000-07:002009-05-27T05:56:08.648-07:00

Just have to share some fun in the sun we had this weekend at the Renaissance Hotel here on the rock. This place has it all...beach, pools, water slides, dolphins, glamorous showers, you name it.Big sister loves to share her orange aviator shades with one cool dude.Not sure why the tongue sticking out...new thing for Lily. However, the goofy faces are the norm.

Erinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727248947638341184.post-6548232359005641882009-05-21T21:45:00.000-07:002009-05-27T04:09:40.029-07:00

We went a wee bit confetti crazy last week. It just sounded like fun. The kitchaids love to throw, make, and eat it! So, first we made Bakerellas cake balls with confetti cake mix.A few classic almond bark pretzels.Then onto cupcakes for Chloe's big 12th birthday. The cupcake stand actually held 13 cupcakes, but around here we love extras. The design lead on this project was Lily. She chose

Erinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727248947638341184.post-18714411544773051502009-04-28T04:07:00.000-07:002009-04-28T04:32:19.481-07:00

I am a huge fan of the mini-muffin pan. A woman with a toddler obviously invented it. She figured out that no matter what she baked inside of it...her picky "I don't like it" before I even tried it toddler would eat it. Brilliant! My toddler will eat almost anything I bake in my little nugget of a muffin tin. She finds immense delight in calling anything "baby ones". Thus, making everything

Erinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727248947638341184.post-50263126515236396502009-04-21T05:14:00.000-07:002009-04-28T04:29:19.830-07:00

If you know anything about Japanese ovens...1) They are miniature in size, of course2) Super ingenious as they have a grilling and microwave function (seriously)3) The buttons are all in Kanji which makes the trial and error method a bit dangerousReason #2 is why I now love my new foreign yet brilliant oven. I can roast vegetables in like 15 minutes flat and add them to pasta, hummus, and

Erinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727248947638341184.post-6767256332180288092009-03-22T05:15:00.000-07:002009-03-22T20:37:48.188-07:00

This has been on my list of recipes to try for a long time now. It is officially one of my personal favorites! I retrieved it from one of my favorite crafty websites beckyhiggins.com.Chocolate Oat Squares1 c. plus 2 tbsp. butter or margarine, softened, divided2 c. packed brown sugar2 eggs4 tsp. vanilla extract, divided3 c. quick oats2 1/2 c. flour1 1/2 tsp. salt, divided1 tsp. baking soda1 14

Erinnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727248947638341184.post-45674614991984618082009-01-20T21:47:00.000-08:002009-05-07T15:25:10.977-07:00

I think that the marriage of peanut butter and jelly is possibly one of the greatest inventions of all time. Right up there with the portable potty that fits in the back of mini vans. There are two kinds of PB & J sandwich lovers. One has a stronger love for the peanut butter...slathers it on real thick and likes that it sticks to the top of their mouth (along with the bread) and is ridiculously

Erinnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727248947638341184.post-48593463890831081642009-01-12T23:36:00.000-08:002009-01-12T23:57:43.485-08:00

This years cookie exchange was mighty caloric and tasty. Only a few minor baking disasters and really... it just wouldn't be the same without them. Thanks to everyone who attended and for their awesome efforts and recipes. For some great cookie exchange ideas visit my favorite website http://www.cookie-exchange.com/ to start planning your very own for next year!

Erinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727248947638341184.post-38240248711848619382009-01-12T12:33:00.000-08:002009-01-12T23:55:35.286-08:00

After a month long sabbatical...I have made a discovery. Now the obvious would be that traveling with three children (two under the ripe age of 2 and a half) overseas is completely sadistic. Nope..that I have already figured out, yet continue to bring on the brutality voluntarily and will continue to do so until further notice. Not since eating in the school cafeteria have I been subjected to

Erinnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727248947638341184.post-86641409814624607182009-01-12T00:08:00.000-08:002009-01-12T23:54:24.752-08:00

Clearly...it's way too late for Holiday baking, but a little pink and red Valentine flair would be sweet!Peanut Blossoms 1 3/4 c. flour1/2 c. sugar1/2 c. brown sugar1 tsp. baking soda1/2 tsp. salt1/2 c. shortening1/2 c. peanut butter1 egg2 T. milk1 tsp. vanillaMix: All ingredients. Shape: Into balls and roll in white sugar and all kinds of decorative sprinkles.Bake: 375 degrees for 10-12

Erinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727248947638341184.post-13111227557718157952008-11-27T21:57:00.000-08:002008-11-28T03:44:47.427-08:00

I can make and bake just about anything. Amongst my favorites are ooey gooey cookies, moist cakes, and the ever so challenging pie. However, my nemesis is the marshmellowy, buttery, just perfectly sweetened, any six year old can make it bar the "Rice Krispie Treat."I am not sure what goes on during the process of me following the recipe for Rice Krispie Treats right off the box. Somewhere after

Erinnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727248947638341184.post-89962065388329951112008-11-27T21:56:00.000-08:002008-11-28T03:42:26.192-08:00

Yes...this recipe actually calls for potato chips in a cookie. Good grief is that a lethal combination. This recipe is a hybrid of a recipe I found on my favorite baking site and a recipe I found in a Betty Crocker magazine. Together they make the perfect combination!Chip & Dip Cookies2 c. peanut butter1 c. sugar2 eggs1/2- 1 c. plain crushed potato chips Dip1/2 c. almonds1 Baker's Dipping

Erinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727248947638341184.post-83779084811631757082008-11-19T21:52:00.000-08:002008-11-19T21:54:46.336-08:00

Thanks Aviva for sharing your photographic talent with us!

Erinnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727248947638341184.post-33567998200141015072008-11-18T19:32:00.000-08:002008-11-19T21:46:48.736-08:00

Contrary to popular belief I do enjoy healthy food every once in a while....especially during meal time. After meal time is when the artery clogging begins. Here is one of my favorite quick meals that is super simple and easy. Anyone who can heat items in a pan and cut up an apple has this recipe in the bag.Lettuce Wrap Salad1 rotisserie chicken (pull off meat- so much fun)2 bags lettuce (1 like

Erinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727248947638341184.post-17356529669084256862008-11-16T22:55:00.000-08:002008-11-19T21:47:11.287-08:00

Along with feeling that everyone should share in my Holiday cheeriness I also feel that this is the time of year that nobody should be counting calories, fat or how many treats they have scarfed down. These bars do include Special K cereal which is supposed to help one lose weight, right? Food is one of the few simple pleasures in life so enjoy! Last time I made these bars my husband hid them on

Erinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727248947638341184.post-35147305205217636972008-11-15T02:18:00.000-08:002008-11-19T00:14:03.800-08:00

So...this is the time of year that I fail miserably at controlling my insatiable appetite for Holiday festiveness. I want to blare my Celine Dion or Kenny G Christmas music throughout my home,burn my "holiday sparkle" candle that smells exactly like a Douglas Fir, curl my children into their Santa and reindeer decorated footed jammies, and buy the ornament decorated baggies and Kleenex boxes (

Erinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727248947638341184.post-77996193243374712962008-10-25T23:54:00.000-07:002008-11-19T21:47:29.917-08:00

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'sInto the mind of an 11 year old...thinking outside the box does not

Erinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727248947638341184.post-44498412102289485832008-10-20T21:25:00.000-07:002008-10-25T23:54:04.344-07:00

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

Erinnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727248947638341184.post-82260262332919303402008-10-12T00:59:00.000-07:002008-11-19T21:47:53.715-08:00

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,

Erinnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727248947638341184.post-64698710590450842222008-10-08T23:59:00.000-07:002008-10-09T06:29:50.401-07:00

Erinnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727248947638341184.post-20816088369886042152008-10-07T20:58:00.000-07:002008-11-19T21:48:15.303-08:00

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

Erinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8727248947638341184.post-44785620406834500582008-10-07T15:29:00.000-07:002008-10-08T00:23:48.937-07:00

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

Erinnoreply@blogger.com0