Off to the Store...

...to buy cereal

and maybe a few other things.

Candied Apples

Buckeye Candies

1 c. (2 sticks) butter

5 1/4 c. confectioners' or powdered sugar

2 c. creamy peanut butter

1 1/2 tbsp. vanilla

12 oz. chocolate bits (or chocolate almond bark)

1/2 bar paraffin

Knead all together and shape into balls the size of walnuts. Melt the chocolate bits with the paraffin in the top of double boiler. Stick toothpicks into the balls and dip into chocolate so all of the ball is covered except top where toothpick is. This is what makes them look like buckeyes. Set on cookie sheet or wax paper in refrigerator until cold. Take off with a knife. Keep cool.

Apple Picking

After Mark got home, we went to Lynd Fruit Farm to pick apples. Megan and Bailey have never been apple picking before and apple picking just so happens to be a Waishnora Family tradition. Mark pines (no exaggeration) for this time of year starting in January, throughout summer, and even more come fall. This was Karigan's first trip to the orchard because last year Ohio had frost after the apple trees had already started to blossom. Sadly, the apple crop was bleak and we were unable to pick.

I got one.

Oops, I dropped it!

Oh, well. It's a keeper, anyway.

Ike made apple picking very easy for Jillian this year. Several trees were down, but still green and full o' apples.

Brendan really gets into his work. Actually, he normally spends about 5 minutes searching for the perfect apple, then spends the rest of the time eating that 1 apple.

Bailey had a blast picking apples, but I think he was more amazed by finding this abandoned bird nest.

These two have very similar, very strong (aka stubborn) personalities and were constantly taunting, picking, etc. etc. etc. one another - YET - this is how they would behave when they thought no one was looking.

Megan and her loot.

To Hide or Not to Hide???

Perhaps this is just pure laziness at work, but I haven't been able to subscribe to the big "hide the veggies" trend. In fact, no perhaps about it. I feel a great sense of accomplishment if dinner makes it on to the table, period. Pureeing veggies to hide in that dinner is just not on the agenda. But I have tons o' friends who love, love, love this method. In fact, they swear by it. And my hat is off to them, because there is nothing wrong with more veggies, and heaven knows we could use 'em around here. So anyway, I was thrilled to read this article, Stealth-Vegetable Smackdown by one of my favorite Mommy writers, Catherine Newman. Come to find out, she's in my camp! Her kids, like mine, are required to eat actual carrots and broccoli, etc. etc. She cooks 'em up all sorts of appetizing ways and gives them lots o' fun things for dipping, but broccoli is broccoli is broccoli - none of this hiding the broccoli in the mac 'n cheese. So if you're looking for some great ways to serve up veggies to your kiddies, click here and check out the recipe links at the top of the page. And feel better about yourself if you just can't bring yourself to put pureed veggies in your brownies like some amazing people I know!

On My Christmas List

While Mark and I were at Crate and Barrel the other day, we came across this simply delectable cookbook. I can't believe there is a book called Sticky, Chewy, Messy, Gooey and I don't have it in my collection? Are you joking? This is ridiculous! I am surprised I was able to put it back on the shelf once I got my hands on it! The only thing I can think of that would be better than this would be if they opened a bakery called Sticky, Chewy, Messy, Gooey in my neighborhood. I could really get on board with that.

Mini Cheeseburgers...

...or are they?

Our family project today was to make cupcakes to take to Matt and Jennifer's house for a good ole BBQ with all the family before the Florida family leaves tomorrow. So we decided to make mini cheeseburger cupcakes. I baked the cupcakes, sliced the "buns," and separated the "patties." Brendan put on a zigzag of red icing for the ketchup, a slice of chocolate cupcake for the hamburger patty, and then a swirl of yellow icing for mustard. Jillian added the lettuce - 1/2 tablespoon of sweetened coconut tinted with green food coloring. Then I frosted a white ring of icing for an onion, a red dollop of icing for a tomato, and then placed the bun on top. As we were working we decided next time we will add green melting chocolates for pickles and ivory sprinkles for sesame seeds. We could also use the metal-pushy-down-thingy-cutting-tool (I am sure it has a name, I just don't know what it is) that you use to cut a potato into strips and cut french vanilla ice cream to look like french fries. How clever!?

Everything I Ate

So I was searching for new ideas as I was making my dinner menu for next month and came across the coolest idea. Tucker Shaw took photos of everything he ate for an entire year - and published it into a book titled "Everything I Ate: A Year In The Life Of My Mouth". Can you imagine if I did this? Oh my gravy. It would have to be published in editions. Think of the possibilities: "10 Minute Meals" (because sometimes I can't squeeze out the extra 20 minutes, Rachel Ray) "Before Bed Pork-Down Edition" (with a forward written by Mark because he is always the one who starts the 10 pm snacking) "Things My Children Convinced Me to Make" (topping the list: peanut butter and cheese) "Gooey Chocolate Chip Cookies Edition" (they deserve a book all to themselves) "Mark's Masterpieces Edition" (food so pretty you don't want to eat it - he is a chef afterall) and then of course, the "Fruits + Vegetables + Healthy Foods Edition" (published as a pamphlet and given as a free gift with purchase)...

Like Father, Like Daughter

I have often said Mark has Coke (uh-cola, that is) pouring through his veins. Looks like Karigan is starting her habit a little early. Not to worry, she is just playing with the cans, not drinking from them. At least, I don't think she has tasted soda yet - Has she Mark?

Make Your Own Pizza Night

Tonight was make your own pizza night. Mark mixed the dough and we let it rise while we went to the store to get the toppings. I had already purchased the ingredients, but Mr. Brendan decided he was going to eat the can of olives and mushrooms (he still denies eating the mushrooms.) So, off to the store. We came back home with cheese, olives, mushrooms, pepperonis, a tomato, and a lot of creative ideas. On to pizza making. Jillian was first, just pepperoni and cheese. Then Brendan. Mark tried to toss Brendan's dough, which he did successfully, but the dough was too thin in the middle so we folded it in half. His toppings included: buffalo chicken, pepperoni, olives, and cheese. Mine was next. I made half buffalo chicken and Roma tomato and the other half pepperoni, mushroom, and black olive. Mark had to further show off his pizza making skills by stuffing the crust of his pizza and, like father like daughter, just pepperoni and cheese. Boy, were they yummers.

Yummy!

White Chocolate Raspberry Krispie Deep Dish Pizza I was searching for cake ideas for Karigans first birthday. And, my oh my, look what I found. I think this is destined to become a Fourth of July favorite. Get the recipe at http://www.cakespy.com/2008/01/dessert-oasis-fantastical-desserts-and.html