Sugar Cookies - Cooking with Hannah

Hannah has been bugging me about making her a blog. I told her maybe she could be a guest on my blog. So today we baked and she would like to share our day with you.




I really like making sugar cookies with my mom. It is really messy work. But they are really sweet, and it's GOOD that way. I had lots of fun. Here is what we did. . .(the recipe is just the Better Homes and Gardens Book--the red checkered one--but it is really good if you do it correctly!)

In a mixer, blend 2/3 cup of butter and 2/3 cup of Crisco. You have to beat it until it is creamy. Like two minutes.


Then you add 1 1/2 cups of sugar, 2 teaspoons of baking soda, and a dash of salt. Beat this for another two or three minutes, scraping the sides with a spatula.




Add two eggs and two teaspoons of vanilla. Blend well.




Beat in four cups of flour. If it is too sticky, add a little more.


Roll out dough on a floured surface. Make it a quarter inch thick. We don't want dry crunchy cookies.



Choose your cookie cutters--I picked a flower, a fish, and a butterfly. . .'cause they seemed summery. Cut out shapes.


Place on a cookie sheet. Bake for 8 minutes at 350 degrees. Don't over cook it or they will be dry crunchy cookies. . .which we don't want.


Cool on rack, or on the pan, or on the counter. Whatever, just don't frost them while they are hot--because we don't want soupy cookies either.



While they cool you can hang out and look cute, or clean up, or make frosting. I hang out, then make frosting. I leave the mess for my mom to clean up. This frosting is not in the red and white book. My mom made it up. It goes something like this:



Throw in a large scoop of sour cream (maybe 1/3 cup) and 1/3 of a cream cheese box (8 oz. box)

Add like a bag of powder sugar. Then add 1 teaspoon of almond extract. Trust me, it's good. Mix it up.

It should look like this when you are done. Yum. (You need a lot because it tastes good straight, and we like to pile it on thick.

Divide into bowls and add food coloring. I made pink, blue, yellow, and purple. Purple for the butterflies. Yellow for the flowers. Pink of the hearts (oh, yeah, I did some hearts too) and blue for the fish. And maybe I will mix them up a little. It is more fun that way.

It goes on more smoothly if you use the back of spoon instead of a knife.

And, if you are feeling sassy, add some sprinkles. I LOVE sprinkles, just ask my mom!

If they turn out this pretty you did it just right. Oh yeah, and they taste REALLY good, too.

Living Vicariously

What we said we wouldn't do as a parent has been discussed, by me and others of you. But what about the things you do for your kids just because you never got to as a child. I grew up in a family of eight kids, on a farm with very little extra money to go around. We got no lessons or big fancy toys or loads of new clothing--as the third girl I got hand-me-downs, or outfits my mother sewed for me (She was a seamstress by profession). On my birthday I got one or two things, usually clothing. The only vacation we ever had was camping.


So, when I had kids I developed a tendency to get things for my kids that I always wanted as a young girl. It started when my oldest was young, and we built her this:

(After six years it has seen better days. It used to have windows, and porch rails, and. . .but I digress.)

And the same year (She was two, keep in mind) we also got her her own computer. And I continued to provide things like massive trunks of dressups, and cute little furniture to put in their barbie house, and the pottery barn kids kitchen, and a miniature table and chairs to go with it, and matching decorated rooms and fashionable clothing, and . . . AND it didn't stop at fun things.

We signed our girls up for soccer, dance, gymnastics, ballet, theater, piano, tennis, golf, kindermusik, preschool, swimming (Oh, I DID have swim lessons growing up) . . .I may have missed some--like Cherry Hill passes (a water park) and Lagoon passes (Amusement Park) and Zoo passes. And we took our kids to Disneyland. But you get the point. Plus, I take thousands of pictures of my kids because I have like five pictures of me growing up.


Do my kids want all these things? Sure. Do they appreciate these things? Maybe. Do they NEED all these things? Probably not.


And now that my kids have no idea what it means to really do without, and I have been living hours and hours from my family for eleven years (because I was determined to get out there and do something, be someone--but that's another story), do you know what I remember about growing up? Working together on the farm and playing baseball in the back yard and exploring outside--going out in the morning, playing all day, and returning when it gets dark (Or my mom yells that dinner is ready.) Coming in and eating around the table, all ten of us, a dinner my mom made from scratch, a large portion of which she grew in her garden.


Do I remember my toys? Maybe one or two. Now do you know what I want for my kids? space and time to be a kid and use their imagination, time to play with each other and their cousins and their grandparents. And sure, I'd like them to know the satisfaction of working hard and accomplishing something. What it comes down to, I have realized, is it's not the things that make a happy childhood, its the memories you make with your children and the things you teach them. And it's FAMILY. I miss my family.


So will I continue to buy things for my kids? Probably, it's a disease (and just to prove it, you can go here to check out the progress on the treehouse we are building for them!). But I think I will try harder to spend time with these little people I am responsible for guiding and loving. And give them the kinds of things that will help them become happier people tomorrow, not just right now. Because no matter what you give them they will grow up and wish they had had something you didn't give them. I think I would rather that something be as benign as a toy and not as vital as family unity or a healthy work ethic. Who knows if I will be successful, these kids didn't come with an owner's manual. And it probably says something about me that it has taken me eight years to realize all this fully. But at least they know I love them. Now I think I will go make sugar cookies with my girls.


What did you give your children that you never got growing up?

Top Ten Things We Love About Visiting Manna & Grandpa

Sure I could write about the fourth of July, but I think we celebrated less this year than ever. . .at least in the patriotic, firework, parade, barbecue fashion. But we DID have loads of fun visiting Rob's parents in Idaho. We go every summer several times and there are certain things that we can always expect. The girls have their list of favorites and I have mine. We may not make actual lists (Which is surprising when you consider my penchant for list making) but we certainly have a mental check list.

They go as follows:

Girls List:

1. Go swimming!!! (This is the first thing to be done. . .and then done in between every other activity--unless you arrive at 1:00 am, then you go at 9:00 am when the pool opens. Right after you have. . . .)

2. Ice cream for breakfast. Rob's mom keeps the bottom drawer of her freezer stocked for the girls. She does let them eat ice cream for breakfast. . .and mid morning snack. . .and late afternoon snack. . .and right before bed snack. (I allow the breakfast thing due to my #1 favorite thing) But of course they need to cool off from all their hot. . . .





3. Bike rides with Grandpa. They live in a lovely neighborhood with lots of trails and things to see, like ponds and fountains, right on the Boise River. If they get too hot and they have had their fill of ice cream and they want a change of scenery from the pool, then grandma takes them to . . .




4. The Water Park. We actually didn't make it on this short trip, but I am sure we will hit it when we are back in a couple weeks. You really need an entire afternoon to devote to this kind of fun. This time we chose to spend our afternoon at the . . .



5. Movies. Grandma is good for taking the girls to kiddie movies while Rob and I go to grownup movies. This time Rob was busy helping his brother tile his kitchen so Leesa and I took the girls to go see Kit the American Girl. Hannah LOVES the American Girl Movies, and this one was really cute. And after being dry for at least two hours the first thing the girls do when we get back is head straight for Manna's . . .



6. Fountain. And the fountain isn't really fun unless fully dressed, or wearing pjs. It is amazing one small little fountain can create such wide spread wetness. Then just as the sun in setting (and everyone is in dry clothes--or pjs) the last place that must be visited is the lake in the back yard for a little spot of . . .




7. Fishing. Dad and grandpa love to take the girls down for a half hour before the sprinklers start to tempt the fish. Hannah is getting really good and has a near flawless cast.

8. Shopping. Actually, the girls probably wouldn't put shopping on their list as such, but they never fail to score a load of new clothes and other great things that grandma buys for them. So, they endure the shopping and rush home to try on their new attire (which almost always includes a new swim suit for more. . .)

9. Swimming!! I think since we spent so many hours at the pool it warrants another space on the list. And when they are doing all of these things they are being just. . .

10. Generally spoiled. With things like candy and fruit snacks and new Disney cups and no bed times and . . . .you get the idea.

Luckily, I have my own list of perks for visiting.

My List:

1. Sleeping In. Let's jut put that right up top since it is so rare at home and so appreciated (even though I still feel a little guilty if I manage to sleep past eight).

2. Shopping. I get to do my own shopping. I feel vacation = shopping. Even if it is only visiting family. And why not when we have . . .

3. Free babysitters. There is no better babysitter than Grandma. She is their favorite person and the only concern I might have is the belly ache and glazed sleepless eyes that might result. But I can live with that!

4. Farmers Market. There is the cutest Farmers Market near Rob's parents' house that I love to visit while we are there. It is in this quaint, trendy little main street area and there is always great live music and fun stuff to buy and a fountain for the girls to play in--oh, wait this is MY list--forget the fountain!

5. Hanging out by the pool. I don't usually get in so this is just good fun relaxation time. And it is even better when it's not too hot. It also lends itself well to . . .

6. Reading loads of fun summer books. I love an excuse to lounge and read a good book in the middle of the day.

7. Not cooking. I enjoy cooking, but I also enjoy NOT cooking sometimes.

8. Open Houses. I love looking at new lovely houses and pretending I am in the market to buy one. There are plenty of those near Rob's parents. Some of the houses I have seen several times as they have come back on the market!

9. Sleeping in . . .did I mention that one? Well count it doubly heavenly.

10. Rembrandt's. I love visiting this little artsy coffee house near Rob's parents that has live music Thursday (Jazz night), Friday(open mic night), and Saturday(Local Artist night). They have great desserts and cushy club chairs and board games you play while you listen. And the place is filled with local art for sale which helps fund a local art program. Oh, and did I mention it is in a beautiful old church with arched stained glass windows? I love going there. This time we took Rob's brother and his fiance and played scrabble--which I won! So it was twice the fun.

Can you believe we crammed all that fun into three and a half days? Just imagine what we will do when we go back for a whole week! Actually, I'm pooped. I think my crisp white 1000 thread count sheets are calling my name. . . . Do you have a place you love to visit?

Friends, Prizes and Comments. . .

For those of you who haven't already joined the fun blog craze The Secret is in the Sauce, you should head over and check it out. They feature a new blogger every day, five days a week and give great prizes on the weekend. They are currently doing six weeks of summer give aways. This week is a $100 gift card to Target. If you join and say I sent you I get another entry. So head over and join. . .then comment and tell them Jenni sent you.

Happy Belated Fourth and Other Fun Things. . .

I hope everyone had a fun and safe Fourth. We are currently visiting family in Idaho, doing loads of fun things I will post about when we return tomorrow. But in the mean time, while I was here I ran into a blogging friend, Jennifer, whom I had not previously met in person. Well, actually I did not met her in person, exactly. More accurately I passed her in RC Willey, thought I recognized her, said nothing in fear of embarrassing myself, then rushed home a posted a question on her blog asking if she had just been at RC Willey. She had, and then more crazy coincidences occurred. Turns out she went to school with Rob and was friends for a short time with his sister. Anyway, Jennifer wrote about the encounter and the slew of emails that followed on her blog, and since she tells it so well I will let her tell it. Go here to read about it.

(The crazy thing is I actually had the thought, "I know Jennifer lives around here. How funny it would be if I ran into her." --without actually believing I would. Maybe that's why she stood out so quickly despite the fact that I have seen only a handful of random pics of her on her blog. Either that or her really cute outfit caught my eye! It was really cute--where do you shop, Jennifer? Anyway, It was really fun to meet you. . . Kind of.)

Tomato, Basil Chicken Pie

My mother is a garden planting, early rising, cook it from scratch, queen of the kitchen. Growing up we had home made cookies in our lunch bags (That she rose extra early to make before school) a breakfast spread that would do June Clever proud, and hearty, rich dinners that would easily fill all five of my strapping brothers and my two sisters and me. And on Sunday, after going to church and coming home to the smell of a roast in the oven, she would more often than not make a special dessert, from scratch--usually paired with ice cream, just because she loved us so much.


So when I got married my husband just assumed the old adage "Like mother like daughter" would surely apply. SO NOT TRUE. I mean, seriously, my mother cooked, why would I need to?


But in the ten plus years that we have been married I have acquired a few cooking skills and actually enjoy being in my kitchen (and I will enjoy it more once it gets remodeled!)

A couple years ago I started planting my own little herb garden. It makes me feel like a real cook when I use fresh herbs in the kitchen. And my favorite herb is probably basil. So I am always looking for recipes that use basil. This week I found a keeper. And as a bonus, my family likes it too! So I am going to share. . .because I'm nice like that.



Ingredients:



1 large chicken breast, cooked and chopped
2 large tomatoes, chopped
10 fresh basil leaves, chopped
1/4 cup finely chopped green onion
1/2 cup grated sharp cheddar
1/2 cup grated mozzarella
1/2 cup mayo
1/2 cup sour cream
salt and pepper
1 double crust 9" deep dish pie shell


Lightly sprinkle tomatoes with salt and place in a colander to drain for at least 15 minutes. This will keep the pie from getting soggy.

Combine grated cheese, mayo and sour cream.


Place chicken in the bottom of the pie crust.


Mix tomatoes, basil and onion and spread over chicken. Spread cheese mixture on top. Cover with top crust and puncture with a fork. Bake for 40 - 45 minutes at 350 or until lightly browned. You can also cook it without the top crust and just let the cheese get all brown and bubbly.

Let stand 15-20 minutes before serving. May also be served at room temperature.


I didn't say it was particularly healthy! But it is very yummy. My picture does not do it justice. I clearly should have taken more time to make it ready for it's photo shoot. Oh well, next time.

Addiction

I have an addiction problem on my hands. . .it's not actually mine, though. It is my four-year-old's addiction. To DIET COKE. It was a gradual thing that crept up on us, unsuspecting parents that we are. It started at age three, I believe, when she asked for a drink of daddy's coke. We thought we were so smart and she would simply taste it, hate it, and never ask again. We believed this with good reason--her sister had done the same thing at her age and that was that.

But why we thought Sig would follow in her sister's footsteps in this regard when she never does a thing like her sister I will never know. So when she asked for more coke we would sometimes say no and sometimes give her a sip and sometimes pour just the tiniest bit in a cup of her own.

Then one day I found a sippy cup of suspicious brown liquid. . .who would give a three year old a sippy of coke?! Not this parent. A pattern began to form over the next year. Sig would drink bigger sips of our drinks, and ask if we were going to the gas station for coke. Then when we wanted our coke back we would have to pry the cup from her white knuckled little hands. Cokes left alone while half full turned up suspiciously empty.

After a year it was becoming apparent that she was not going to outgrow her fascination with coke. As a coke/mtn. dew addict I was beginning to see the signs.

I would say to her (And her father) Coke is not good for your growing little body. But then she would give me this face:

One of us would give in and give her just a scosch. Until someone gave her more. And suddenly her happy meal drink was coke and she would not go to sleep at night and she was inexplicably grumpy in the morning. And she developed an aversion to going to her primary class on Sunday until one of her brilliant parents got the bright idea to bribe her with a trip to the gas station for coke--if she would just go to her primary class and STAY there! It worked. And when she had been thoroughly caffeinated she gave us one of these:

There was no denying we had a problem. A. BIG. P.R.O.B.L.E.M. I tried to cut the girl. . .cold turkey. But funny thing, she reminded me of someone. . .someone who had been caffeine deprived. . .someone glassy eyed and ill tempered and slightly deranged. . .OH--me--whenever I try to quit.

Then I left a glass of Mountain dew on the counter (My second addiction that I acquired while trying to kick the first one) Sig grabbed it and took a sip and smiled a smile of pure joy. Her frown turned upside down and she giggled uncontrollably.

"Is that good?" I asked her.

"It's mountain dew. It's always good." She grinned.

When had THAT happened?

I think I (well mostly the parent with the inability to say NO--not this parent, most of the time) have created a monster.

Now when I say no more coke she smiles and says, "Can I have some of your Mtn. Dew?" And when she smiles so sweetly--sometimes I give in. Because who can resist this:

Just a little can't hurt. . .Right?! Go on, give me the parent of the year award. What?! Like you haven't done something with your children you swore you'd never do? If you swear you haven't I won't believe you. But if you feel like telling me what you've done (And making me feel better) I am sure I wouldn't mind!