Marshmallow follow-up...

As I'd predicted, the marshmallows turned out just as I'd expected - fluffy, a little gooey, and capable of incredible melting power in a cup of homemade hot cocoa!

I packaged them up and made some with this homemade hot cocoa mix, courtesy of the Food Network and Alton Brown:

Homemade Hot Cocoa:

• 2 C powdered sugar
• 1 C unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 1/2 C powdered milk
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tsp cornstarch

The marshmallows and hot cocoa made for a perfect little something for our 9 nieces and nephews, on my hubby's side.

In addition to these sweets, other members of my fam were the lucky recipients of a black and white photo wreath, reindeer beer, and a set of cards.

  

Happy Wednesday, all!

Toy Rundown 2010

I thought I'd take a moment (or two, or three) to share the girls' gifts this year. I value gifts very much. I want there to be thought behind a gift, I want it to be meaningful to the giver and receiver, and I believe it should stand the test of time (unless it's an edible gift, in which case it really should just stand the test of taste!). I also feel that, when possible, homemade almost always encompasses all of the above. We did add some new "things" to our household this holiday season and if you need any gift ideas for a toddler, we're VERY happy with these finds:

• P'Kolino Owl Puzzle - wooden puzzle with multiple solutions, which allows a bit of creativity and longer play 

• Plan Toys fruit and vegetable tray - wooden fruits/veggies, cute little cutting board, and wooden knift to slice the velcro

• Educo Healthy Gourmet Food - wooden, tops stay on so you don't have to worry about losing them, and very solid

• Green Toys Tool Set - made in the USA out of recycled milk jugs

• Woodstock Chimes Chimalong - we were pleasantly surprised by the nice sound of this chime and an addition to our music-making collection is always welcome 

•  Lands End Jammies - flannel, cozy, and CUTE

• Books - Seriously, what 2-year old doesn't love their very own bird book? Abby and Elise proudly flip through and name "owl", "goose", "robin", "red-belly woodpecker", "mallard", "loon", "momma cardinal", and "daddy cardinal". For someone who has never been fond of birds, my gals sure are well educated in the bird-world!

You might see a pattern forming - "green toys", "recycled", "wooden".  I am a googler - I am constantly perusing websites to see what is out there in the world of children that is of interest. I also am beginning to truly understand the why behind my feeling that simplicity holds power. If we give our children all the toys, all the pre-created objects that make the sounds and have the lights, then what is left for them to create on their own? I watched Abby use a paper towel roll as a stethoscope on her bear, making the "thump-thump, thump-thump" sound and all. For the past several months, prior to owning their first tool set, I've watched Elise use drumsticks or blocks or spoons as her "tools", pretending to fix Grandpa's truck. It is amazing - the imagination. I am excited to see where their creative geniuses take them with these new pieces of inspiration!

Peace, Love, and...

PANCAKES!

Like I said: Peace, Love, and Pancakes

Hmmm... wonder who inspired these flapjacks?

Topped with PB, flaxseed, and bananas

We started the holiday weekend off right - with a "stay home" day for Daddy and pancakes for us all! John makes the best pancakes - he uses a modified recipe from Cooks Illustrated (fabulous resource!):

Pancakes

• 1 C. flour (John does 1/2 white and 1/2 whole wheat)
• 2 tsp sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 3/4 C. buttermilk
• 1/4 C. milk, plus 1 T. or so if batter is too thick (John typically adds a bit extra because of the whole wheat flour)
• 1 large egg, separated (recipe says to whisk egg white in with buttermilk and milk; mix yolk with melted butter and then stir into milk mixture)
• 2 T. unsalted butter, melted
• Vegetable oil for brushing griddle

Here's hoping your holiday weekend is off our kind of start! May your days be filled with peace, love, and ___________ (you fill in the blank - while we place breakfast foods on a pedestal, we certainly don't expect everyone to do the same!). Goodnight...

Winter Break... Day #7

The blog has been neglected. The bathrooms finally got cleaned today. The "Happy Holidays" card is definitely going to be a "Happy New Year" card. But let me tell you - the really important things are getting done: the girls and I have gone shopping, done puzzles, read books, worked on crafts, decorated the tree (and undecorated... and redecorated... and undecorated... and redecorated...), looked at lights around town, done dishes in the kitchen sink filled to the brim with bubbles, bathed our baby dolls, rocked our baby dolls, made our baby dolls sit in the potty, visited Ms Jane at the library for storytime... and the list goes on. Don't get me wrong - I enjoy a clean bathroom. But I enjoy the previous to-do list far more.

Here are a few pics from the last week or two... there has been some baking, some celebrating, some goofery. There are pics (not very good ones) of some treats that I've made - please refer to the links for far superior photos as well as recipes.

• Lemon curd with Jam Thumbprint Cookies -the lemon curd was so simple, but I'd cut the butter in half next time. The cookies were even easier - nothing fancy, but a nice little sugary shortbread type of treat.

• Peppermint Meringues - yes, please! These were great and, for anyone who was in attendance at the social gathering for which I made them, it was no secret that I was proud of my work.

• Lots of playtime in our jammies - I'll be truthful with you, there have been days that we've curled up for naps still in our pj's. And those were probably some of our best naps because it doesn't get much snugglier than footie, fleece jammies, aka "piggy blockers" (so nicknamed once the girls realized that their little piggy toes are protected from Daddy, who is known in this house for piggy-eating!).

• Homemade Honey Vanilla Bean Marshmallows - just whipped these up tonight and won't actually cut them until morning, but if the marshmallow fluff that we licked out of the bowl is any indication of results, I'm going to go ahead and give a premature thumbs-up...

• Projects, such as this lovely set of cards - I love making things. Enough said.

One of the Abby and Elise's new words is "remember", as in "Elise, remember 'dis book?" or "Abby, remember 'dis shirt?". And let me tell you - they DO remember! As each holiday or special occasion hits, I hope the girls are forming memories that will spark infinite "remember 'dis?" conversations down the road. As long as our days can continue to be filled with the important things, like the past 7 days, I imagine those memories will be accompanied with a smile. Even if the bathrooms aren't gleaming. 

Toasted flaxseeds

Crunchy. 

Seedy. 

Toasted. 

Tasty.

I'm loving the addition of toasted flaxseeds to yogurt, cereal, granola, porridge... Toss some in a pan, heat over medium or medium-high heat, and look out! Those little seeds start popping and jumping! Yesterday morning for breakfast we had some brown rice pudding, made with leftover brown rice from the night before. 

Brown Rice Pudding:

• 2 C. cooked organic brown rice
• 2 C. organic milk
• 1 T. local honey
• 1 T. pure organic maple syrup
• Organic raisins
• Cinnamon
• 2 organic eggs
• 1/2 tsp vanilla

Combine rice, milk, honey, syrup, raisins, cinnamon in large saucepan; Simmer for 20-30 minutes, until starts to thicken; Whisk eggs together, slowly add 1/2 C of hot rice/milk mixture to eggs to gradually warm them, then whisk eggs back into pan; Cook for a few minutes until thickens more; Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Top with toasted flaxseeds.

Breakfast continues to reign supreme - the busy lives of toddlers requires whole grain goodness like brown rice pudding to kick off a day!

It's too bad...

they don't say funny/cute/priceless/heartwarming things...

• Elise to Abby, as she embraces her in a hug: "My Abby..."
• Abby to me, as we're snuggling after naps: "I love you..." to which I replied "I love you too, Abby", to which she replied "No, not Momma, ducky."
• Elise to no one in particular: "By jove, I got it."
• Abby to me in the car, talking about a book-on-tape we had just turned off: "Momma, I don't like The Three Billy Goats Gruff either."
• Elise to me, after lighting the menorah: "Momma, something you have? Teeny present?"
• Abby at the dinner table, talking about a good friend's husband: "Me see Jamey bald head?"
• Elise to me, every time we pull into my parent's driveway: "My Grandpa..."
• Abby: "I say Hanu-puh" (Hanukkah)
• Elise: "I say Honka-puh" (Hanukkah)
• Abby, requesting a bite of my breakfast: "Momma, I love 'dis cereal"
• Elise, talking about a good friend's little girl: "Momma, Jovea like fried beans (refried beans)?"
• Abby, while looking out the window and seeing neighbor Bob's Christmas lights: "Good job, Bob!"

Happy Friday!

Pie... savory, not sweet

Apple pie. Pecan pie. Pumpkin pie. Quesadilla pie? I warned you in the title of this post that we were talking savory not sweet, didn't I? 

During some internet browsing, I saw this recipe for quesadilla pie. It looked like a great addition to dinner staples that are simple, fairly fast to put together, and can fall into the "one pot wonder" category. "One pot wonders" are the best - grains/fiber, protein, veggies, dairy - brought together to create a party in your mouth! Here was what I came up with:

Quesadilla Pie

• Diced leftover grilled turkey
• Diced organic onion
• 1/2 - 3/4 can black beans (rinsed and allowed to air dry a bit)
• Whole wheat tortillas
• Shredded cheese
• 3/4 can green enchilada sauce
• 1/4 C. organic Greek yogurt (plain)
• 1 10 oz. package frozen organic spinach (thawed, water squeezed out)

Dice turkey, onion; Rinse black beans; Mix together enchilada sauce, yogurt, spinach; Butter glass pie dish; Place 1 tortilla in dish as bottom layer; Spread enchilada/spinach mixture, sprinkle turkey, onions, beans, cheese; Add tortilla; Repeat filling; Add top tortilla; Butter a bit and sprinkle with cheese. I followed the same baking instructions as the above recipe: 30 minutes covered at 350 degrees then 15 minutes uncovered at 400 degrees. 

Served with some avocado and lime juice, a dollop of Greek yogurt, and a splash of salsa - definitely a pie worth remembering, even if the dollop wasn't whipped cream...

A few of my favorite things...

These are a few of my favorite things...
(c'mon christmas music lovers - you know the tune!)

Grandparents...

 Hard work...

 Homemade treasures...

Determination and a sense of pride...

 Clean babies...

 Cheese...

 A whole, lotta cheese...

John posted this a few days ago, and it was kind of the inspiration behind this post. On my way to work this morning, they were talking on the radio about how much money one would have to win in order to afford everything they'll purchase this holiday season. I simply cannot understand that mentality, the need to buy. I love the holidays. I love the lights. I love the traditions. I even love a lot of the music (shhh.... don't tell my hubby!). And all I want for "Honka-puh" and "Krissy" this year are a few of my favorite things... (see above).

Molasses Cookies

When you spend all day with these:

And your kitchen looks like this:

You can't help but brag about making something as delicious as these:

Molasses Cookie Ball recipe from here

These little treats were a huge hit with the trio of toddlers last week - the recipe uses molasses, honey, and applesauce to sweeten, so there is no actual sugar needed.  I used a combination of organic whole wheat flour and ground up organic oatmeal instead of the whole wheat white flour in the original recipe. Yum-O!

On a totally random note, as the world begins the mass chaos of buying in preparation for the holidays, so begins our quest to stay entirely out of that world. John and I are not big-spenders. For the girls, we've tried to find that one gift for birthdays and holidays that will stand the test of time, that truly serves as a springboard for play and laughter and growth and development, and so far we've done pretty fantastic! The awesome cardboard house from last Christmas is still standing and used regularly (cute as a button, 100% recyclable, made in California), the rope swing in the front yard from their 2nd birthday is requested every time we go to and from the car (all natural, made in Minnesota), and the wooden pram from their 1st birthday is as loved today as it was then (all natural, made in Germany):

September 2009 - Abby pushing, Elise lounging

 November 2010 - Abby pushing, Elise texting

Happy shopping - may your gifts be personal, meaningful, and as worthy of pictures in the years to come as they are today.