Snap-shots from August

Just a little bit of rambling here.  Looking through Picassa I discovered I didn't take many pictures during the month of August.  (Mental note to do better in September.)
 

Courtney enjoying her breakfast.  Many times she eats alone because she is up before her two sisters.  Subject to change starting tomorrow, due to the new school year starting for said older sisters.

This month we've tried out a few new recipes.  Sweet Onion Bread (pictured above) pairs really well with a soup and salad.  Highly recommend Reluctant Entertainer's Old-Fashioned Peach Cobbler - gone in less than 24 hours!  We also made Country Living's (July/August 2011 issue) Baked Potatoes with Bacon Butter.  The bacon butter was a nice touch, I didn't feel that rubbing the potatoes with the reserved bacon fat added any flavor to the potatoes themselves.  I'll skip that step the next time.

We had some friends over for dinner one night.  We should have done this a year ago!  Mom and Dad kept the girls overnight for us.  After dinner was over and our guests left, Jaron and I enjoyed a nice leisurely walk on the beach.

Our family was invited out for supper on a Friday night.  I got to play with my burlap and baker's twine for the hostess gift :)  Love me some baker's twine!

I promised the girls that before school started we would let them buy ice-cream from the melodious ice-cream truck that circles our neighborhood.  Just the right treat after getting back from swimming in Gammy and Grampas' pool.  This may or may not have been a large part of their supper that night.  Hey, it was still summer :)

As soon as I post this to the ole blog, I've got ironing to do for tomorrow's clothes.  The first lunches of the school year are packed.  Katie told me tonight as we tucked them into bed, "I am SO excited!"  and she is.  We have been counting down the days, since this past Monday with Smarties. 6 days left = 6 Smarties, 5 days left = 5 Smarties and so on.  Very appropriate, don't you think?  :)

Courtney will be enjoying a playdate with a friend, while Daddy is working hard and Mommy is fulfilling her civil duty at the local courthouse.  I'm about to find out what this jury duty stuff is all about - first hand.  I remember going on a highschool field trip with Mr. D - somehow I think this will be a bit different :)

Jam Thumbprint Cookies

Jodi at Pleasant Home is having a Christmas Cookie Exchange Linky Party...you know it's been forever since I've participated in a linky party, but I just couldn't pass this one up AND to make it easier on me ;) this is a repost from last year's Christmas baking!  An oldie, but goodie!

Jam Thumprint Cookies

The recipe:

2/3 cup sugar

1 cup butter at rm. temp.

1/2 tsp. almond extract

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 cups flour

1/3 cup raspberry jam

1. Preheat oven to 350*

2. In a large bowl, combine sugar, butter and both extracts; mix until creamy - 1-2 minutes.

3. Reduce mixer speed to low and gradually add the flour. Continue beating until well mixed.

4. Take a scoop of dough, about the size of a small walnut and roll in into a smooth ball. Place the balls 2 in. apart on baking sheets. With your thumb, make an indentation in the center and fill each thumbprint with 1/4 tsp. jam.

5. Bake for 15 minutes, until light brown around the bottom edges but pale on top. Allow to cool on the baking sheets for 1 minute, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Yield: 3 1/2 dozen

Sugar glaze: Mix 3/4 cup confectioners sugar, 1 tsp. almond extract and 2-3 tsp. water - enough to make a thin glaze. Drizzle over cookies and ENJOY :)

Picture Story

I have a thing for scones. Scones don't have a thing for me.

Until now. We've finally made up and are now fast friends.

Lately...

...we've been getting lots of swim time! Morning, noon or night, it doesn't matter when :)

....the machine has been pretty busy. I made two more dresses and a skirt for the girls. More on that on Finished Object Friday :)

I had an adorable little helper ;)

This past Wednesday we went out for breakfast and then on to the closing! Woohoo! We are officially homeowners again!

Totally HEART this picture of Courtney!! She was helping me make Poetical Egg Salad Sandwiches for a sunday school get together.

....and one last picture - the girls playing with Playdough :)

I don't have a picture of the Lemon Creams I have made twice now, but if you go HERE, you can see pictures and get the recipe! Double YUM!!

Hope your week has gotten off to a fabulous start ;)

Goin' Bananas

Do you ever go through a food 'trend' at your house? You know, where you just can't get enough of a certain thing. That's what we have been doing with bananas. First, I made a really quick Cinnamon-Spiced Bananas. So quick to make and eat that I didn't stop to take any pictures :) I think this recipe would also be great for a spur-of-the-moment-not-expecting-company-dessert.

Cinnamon-Spiced Bananas
3 large bananas, sliced
3 tsp. brown sugar
3/4 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 Tbsp. butter
1 cup reduced-fat vanilla ice-cream

Place bananas in a small microwave-safe bowl. Top with the next three ingredients. Dot with butter. Cover and microwave on high for 1-2 min or until sugar is melted, stirring once. Spoon banana mixture into bowls; top with ice-cream. Serve immediately. Yield: 4 servings

Try it...your taste buds will thank you!

Next I needed a dessert recipe for our youth zone rally. I found a recipe for Banana-Chip Mini Cupcakes, I prefer to call them mini muffins because they don't have a major sweet factor like cupcakes do. Another plus is that the frosting is not messy like a typical cupcake frosting.

Banana-Chip Mini Muffins

1 pck. (14 0z) banana quick bread and muffin mix
3/4 cup water
1/3 cup sour cream
1 egg
1 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips, divided
1 Tbsp. shortening

In a large bowl, combine the muffin mix, water, sour cream and egg; stir just until moistened. Fold in 1/2 cup chocolate chips. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 375* for 12-15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 min. before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. For frosting, in a small microwave-safe bowl, melt shortening and remaining chocolate chips; stir until smooth. Frost cupcakes. Yield: 3.5 dozen.

Then while clipping online coupons, I found a coupon for these Banana Nut cheerios! Oh my, were they good and now they are gone. The girls and I made quick work of this box :) I added the fresh sliced bananas myself - made it even better!

and just so you know...bananas were mentioned 12 times in this post :) more importantly....

I'd like to wish my Father-in-Law, David, a very Happy Birthday today!

Sunday Morning Muffins

Some time ago I read a parenting book with lots of good advice. One of things they suggested doing was - make Sundays special! In an effort to do that I began making muffins for Sunday morning breakfast! Noone complained about my efforts :) Unfortunately, I got out of the habit. until now.
Last night I whipped up a batch of these Blueberry Muffins - they are Jaron's favorite :) The girls ate two each for breakfast, although they did pick out all the berries! HA

Blueberry Muffins

1 3/4 cup flour

1/2 cup sugar

2 1/2 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp. salt

1 beaten egg

3/4 cup milk

1/3 cup oil

1 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen

Mix the dry ingredients together in a bowl, add in the wet ingredients. Stir until mixed through. Don't overmix. Gently fold in blueberries.

Bake for 20-25 minutes at 400*.

What do you do to make Sundays more special? I'd love to try some new ideas :)