Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Super Simple Sassalicous Cookies

Rain, rain, rain. Nothing makes me feel like the ultimate mother failure then being sick, having rainy weather and the sassies running around the house like hooligans. I really wish I was a super organized mom with a huge closet filled with amazing Pinterest crafts to entertain the children and beautify my home at the same time, but I don't. Actually crafts with the kids stress me out big time, the potential of ruining the house, permanently maiming the kids and all the other craziness that tends to happen when the art supplies come out really has me on edge. I really like warm enough weather to craft outside, which totally screws me over on sick, rainy days. I also like crafts that don't involve things I want to throw away in a week or two. All the good stuff is crazy expensive and labor intensive which aggravates me all the more.

Actually what I really like doing with the sassy girls is cooking and baking. There is a plan, a procedure and the end product, which you eat and feel like a superhero for making. Its all very warm and fuzzy self esteem building. Really they should make a card for it.

Our cookies NEEDED sprinkles

Super Simple Sassalicous Cookies

2 Sticks of butter (1/2 lb)
1 Cup firmly packed brown sugar ( I use dark)
1/2 White sugar
2 Large eggs
2 Teaspoons of vanilla
1 and 1/2 Cups of all purpose flour
1 Teaspoon baking soda
1/2 Teaspoon salt
3 Cups of old fashioned rolled oats
1 Cup butterscotch chips
1 Cup of chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped toasted pecans

Preheat oven to 350 f.
Beat butter and sugars until creamy.
Beat in eggs and vanilla
Mix in flour, baking soda, and salt, stir well.
Stir in Oatmeal and all chips and pecans.
Drop by spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake 10-12 minutes, or until edges begin to turn a light golden brown.
Remove from oven and let cool for 1 min. on baking sheet.
Remove to wire rack to cool completely.

You can substitute any flavor variety of chips and nuts.
This makes a fair bit of cookies so a lot of times I freeze half the dough by rolling it into a log on top of cling wrap, wrap and freeze. When you want more cookies, just slice and bake as directed.


Monday, April 23, 2012

Meal Plan April 23

Today is the first day back to school after spring break. If anything ever makes me contemplate homeschooling its this day. I miss my big sassy, little sas misses her, life is not as silly or unpredictable when she is gone.

This weeks menu is using 90% foods already in our home. Chicken was on crazy sale last week and so were a lot of other odds and ends. And since Mr.Sassy was shopping with me, we stocked up, he loves a good deal and doesn't feel like he fully takes advantage of it unless the pantry and freezer is full!

Has anyone made any whole food eating changes this month? I feel like a failure but am trying to bolster my spirits, the whole 30 did not go well for us. I blame Mr.Sassy, he always manages to talk me into dessert. FAIL, majorly on my part since my 2 worst eating times are after noon after big sassy is home from school and after the girls are in bed. I cannot resist Ben or Jerry, its just not possible. Thankfully it was not everyday only occasionally. I feel more involved in my choices though and I am definitely trying to make them consciously. If I am going to eat a dessert I want it to be the best, most delicious dessert. Not just an Oreo cookie, that is NOT worth it anymore.

This week I am trying Bulletproof Coffee for breakfast so we shall see how that goes. (check it out here) Its the big thing right now in primal eating and since I am looking for some change I'm all in. Today is so far so good, the girls had breakfast and I abstained and after dropping big sas at school I came home and whipped up my first batch. Since I usually add sugar to my coffee I did add in a bit of maple syrup and honey I probably always will. So breakfast today is bulletproof coffee for mommy, we shall see how this goes over. I am hoping to last through the week but if all doesn't go well I have no problem jumping ship. It tastes amazing so why not?

Monday
B-Sunny Eggs
L-Leftover tuna and sweet potatoes (quite the combo right?)
D-Pulled pork, Broccoli, pineapple coleslaw

Tuesday
B-Pizza Eggs (this is the girls new absolute favorite)
L-Pulled pork salad
D-BBQ roasted Chicken (bone in skin on), oven potato fries

Wednesday
B-Scrambled eggs and cheese
L-Leftovers and salad
D-Creamy Chicken and Ham Soup

Thursday
B-Fried eggs
L-Leftovers and salad
D-Brats, BBQ carrots

Friday
B-Fried eggs
L-Leftovers and salad
D-Grilled chicken legs, some veggie (not really sure what yet)

Saturday
B-Coconut Flour Pancakes
L-Leftovers and Salad
D-Steak, Potato and veggies

Sunday
B-Crispy potatoes, veggies and eggs (skillet)
L-Leftovers
D-Mr. Sassy pick, sometimes I just have no creativity. Plus usually once a week we don't have whats planned and I have the extra fixings for a full meal.

Alright people, plan a meal this week. Maybe just plan a dinner or plan dinners for the whole week, even if that means you write it down on a napkin and plan in eating out, just DO IT. Make conscious decisions, over 1/3 of all food Americans buy is wasted. If you spend $200 a week on groceries that means every week you throw out $60 in food. It seems like a lot of work (it is) and a hassle (it is) but once you have all the things planned and the food bought it is such a relief to not have to worry every day about what to do.

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Sunshine and Seeds

FINALLY, a few warm days and you manage to feel a thousand times better about life. This warm front can stick around as long as it wants despite what my 8 day forecast predicts is going to show up in 4 days.

We have been exploring our tiny town on foot this week, little sassy in her stroller and big sas trucking around in her bike. We actually got a little pink the other day, its been so long since anyone in this house needed sunscreen on that I totally forgot to use it. Ooops...

We also have picked up seeds to start for this summer, so if you live in a zone 3 you need to start your plants ASAP. Our last day of frost is roughly May 20th which definitely means that my orange, yellow and jalapeno peppers should have been started 2-3 weeks ago. Sweet peas can go into the ground and so can your bulbs. A lot of herbs can also go in before the chance of frost is gone. Also vegetables like kale, broccoli, cabbage, beets, carrots, onion, potatoes, spinach and snow peas can go into the ground 4-6 weeks before the last chance of frost.

We started our seeds in old egg crates we have been saving all winter long. I have not a single clue what I am going to do when it comes to re potting them. We are planning on selling our excess seedlings at the end of our driveway this year. Also a friend and I are starting a small garden on her property that we are going to sell the extra from. She has the land and we have a great location in town, hopefully it will work out well and we enjoy ourselves.

We just moved into our home this past December and its so interesting to go out and look in our garden beds and see the new surprises popping up, we have discovered lilac bushes, raspberry and blueberry bushes, tulips and even a rhubarb!

This is our first year not having our vegetables as mainly container plants. It should be a very fun filled time. Still debating whether we should do raised beds or just plant straight into the ground.