Easter is rapidly approaching and my chocolate endeavors have been going great.
I have all the chocolate candies made for our various family members.
I have one complete solid 3D chocolate bunny made for the girls. One more of those to make along with a handful of other chocolates for the girls. I have to make these last because i can eat them. It's really easy for me to resist things that make me sick. But lots of chocolate that is safe for me to eat, is in danger near me.
I currently have one soy free & dairy free & peanut free bunny hardening in the fridge now. For my soy free sister. Playing with the rice milk based, milk chocolate has been fun. I think if i ever get around to making "holiday themed treats for folks with allergies" to sell, i would use this rice milk chocolate product.
Currently looking at vegan hot cross bun recipes.
They are a classic Easter treat for my family. The things mom has bought at the store the last few years, the dog won't eat. So I have been pondering making some.
I found this one and i think I'll have to try them out. http://jennsrecipes.blogspot.com/2008/02/hot-cross-buns.html
Happy Egg Hunting if i don't see you before Easter.
-Kat
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Birthdays Birthdays Birthdays
So the past three weekends have been a blur of birthday fun.
Weekend one: March 6th, my older sister's birthday. We had dinner at the casino, we gambled a bit (i blew $5 on the penny slots and had fun), we then ventured to the dueling piano bar. Oh my goodness did we have fun. It was funny, and we (as in the whole bar) sang at the top of our lungs to all the songs, oh and did i mention the 20 something year old totally grinding with my mom. Needless to say a fun night.
Weekend two: March 12th, pre St.Patrick's day festivities and a van full of hawkers come to town to house hunt. With 3-4 more kids than usual I had a blast doing what ever. I think i ate to much McDonald's, ran/chased kids in the park, and played on the slide to name a few. We also had a Birthday Party with said out of town Hawkers for my darling Samantha and little miss Miriam. Cake, pin the tiaras on the princess, pizza, and presents we partied it up good! And as an added Bonus my baby brother won the State Hockey tournament and now will be playing in nationals! Can I get a whoop whoop!
Weekend three: March 20th, Samantha, Mya, and Jack's actual day of birth. The girls and i went shopping while waiting for dad to come home, then we went out to dinner at Rock City (yum), picked up an ice cream cone at Ben & Jerry's (double yum), then headed home for cake and presents. Super fun day for our little family. On Sunday we had a birthday party with the Vance's and family friends at Chuck E Cheese for my darling Samantha and miss Mya. the girls love Chuck E Cheese. Then on Monday we went out to celebrate Michael's 60th Birthday. We went out to the casino again for the buffet. We all wore "over the hill" buttons & I made him an "old fart cup", an "over the hill" sash, a birthday horn, oh and he had a button too. Then we gambled in the Casino. 60 must be a lucky birthday Dani won $203, Jason won $100, Eric won $150, Mom doubled her money, Kristina came out even, and i had a blast!
Well that's what we have been up to. Celebrating the life of our family members.
Weekend one: March 6th, my older sister's birthday. We had dinner at the casino, we gambled a bit (i blew $5 on the penny slots and had fun), we then ventured to the dueling piano bar. Oh my goodness did we have fun. It was funny, and we (as in the whole bar) sang at the top of our lungs to all the songs, oh and did i mention the 20 something year old totally grinding with my mom. Needless to say a fun night.
Weekend two: March 12th, pre St.Patrick's day festivities and a van full of hawkers come to town to house hunt. With 3-4 more kids than usual I had a blast doing what ever. I think i ate to much McDonald's, ran/chased kids in the park, and played on the slide to name a few. We also had a Birthday Party with said out of town Hawkers for my darling Samantha and little miss Miriam. Cake, pin the tiaras on the princess, pizza, and presents we partied it up good! And as an added Bonus my baby brother won the State Hockey tournament and now will be playing in nationals! Can I get a whoop whoop!
Weekend three: March 20th, Samantha, Mya, and Jack's actual day of birth. The girls and i went shopping while waiting for dad to come home, then we went out to dinner at Rock City (yum), picked up an ice cream cone at Ben & Jerry's (double yum), then headed home for cake and presents. Super fun day for our little family. On Sunday we had a birthday party with the Vance's and family friends at Chuck E Cheese for my darling Samantha and miss Mya. the girls love Chuck E Cheese. Then on Monday we went out to celebrate Michael's 60th Birthday. We went out to the casino again for the buffet. We all wore "over the hill" buttons & I made him an "old fart cup", an "over the hill" sash, a birthday horn, oh and he had a button too. Then we gambled in the Casino. 60 must be a lucky birthday Dani won $203, Jason won $100, Eric won $150, Mom doubled her money, Kristina came out even, and i had a blast!
Well that's what we have been up to. Celebrating the life of our family members.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
easter candy
On the easter candy to do list
bird nest candies
http://www.wilton.com/idea/Bird-Nest-Candies
bunny jelly bean baskets
http://www.wilton.com/idea/Bunny-Jelly-Bean-Basket
and some kind of traditional chocolate bunny
Maybe when i get this candy thing figured out more quickly than the night before the holiday i can make and sell my darling little dairy and peanut free candies.
bird nest candies
http://www.wilton.com/idea/Bird-Nest-Candies
bunny jelly bean baskets
http://www.wilton.com/idea/Bunny-Jelly-Bean-Basket
and some kind of traditional chocolate bunny
Maybe when i get this candy thing figured out more quickly than the night before the holiday i can make and sell my darling little dairy and peanut free candies.
Monday, March 1, 2010
ethnic
It's not until you are a fully grown up adult and wanting to cook things from your childhood that the reality of how ethnic your upbringing was hits you.
In my teen years I was aware that there was quirky things about my family that other folks didn't do. It was generally only around the holidays that I noticed these things. I figured it was just our family traditions and thought nothing more about it.
In my twenty's I noticed several other things and again just shook my head at the differences. I figured it was the Canadian mixed with Southern that created it's own interesting mix of what ever it was, that was uniquely my family.
Now on the eve of my thirtieth birthday i just have to admit that I had an extremely ethnic upbringing. Now ethnic may not be the term you would think of seeing my all Caucasian family, but ethnic it was. It was not American. It was British by way of Canada. Yes there was a decent helping of southern mixed in. But if you take the time to look real close, most traditional Southern anything is classic English with more flavor.
I grew up eating Shepperd's pie, toad in the hole, pork sausages with fried or mashed potatoes and onions smothered in gravy (bangers and mash), pasties, meat in gravy on toast, sitting down for tea, cucumber sandwiches, tomato sandwiches, butter tarts, mince meat tarts, and so many other things. That list doesn't even take into account Christmas crackers, boccie ball, curling or any other Canadian thing that we do.
We might have looked all American from the outside but we most certainly were not. I suppose it makes sense, of my four brothers and sisters only one is American born. My older sister who shares my father, was born in the US. We were both born in the Ozarks. My parents were high school sweet hearts. Later when my Canadian born mother remarried it was to another Canadian. Both of them Canadians only three to four generations off the boat from England. How could they help but raise us up in a Canadian way. It's their heritage that they shared with us. They might not have intended our household to be so ethnic, but it was in all the little Canadian things that they do that made it our home.
So thank you mom and mike for my Canadian quirks and thank you dad because my husband teases me often that my southern is showing.
In my teen years I was aware that there was quirky things about my family that other folks didn't do. It was generally only around the holidays that I noticed these things. I figured it was just our family traditions and thought nothing more about it.
In my twenty's I noticed several other things and again just shook my head at the differences. I figured it was the Canadian mixed with Southern that created it's own interesting mix of what ever it was, that was uniquely my family.
Now on the eve of my thirtieth birthday i just have to admit that I had an extremely ethnic upbringing. Now ethnic may not be the term you would think of seeing my all Caucasian family, but ethnic it was. It was not American. It was British by way of Canada. Yes there was a decent helping of southern mixed in. But if you take the time to look real close, most traditional Southern anything is classic English with more flavor.
I grew up eating Shepperd's pie, toad in the hole, pork sausages with fried or mashed potatoes and onions smothered in gravy (bangers and mash), pasties, meat in gravy on toast, sitting down for tea, cucumber sandwiches, tomato sandwiches, butter tarts, mince meat tarts, and so many other things. That list doesn't even take into account Christmas crackers, boccie ball, curling or any other Canadian thing that we do.
We might have looked all American from the outside but we most certainly were not. I suppose it makes sense, of my four brothers and sisters only one is American born. My older sister who shares my father, was born in the US. We were both born in the Ozarks. My parents were high school sweet hearts. Later when my Canadian born mother remarried it was to another Canadian. Both of them Canadians only three to four generations off the boat from England. How could they help but raise us up in a Canadian way. It's their heritage that they shared with us. They might not have intended our household to be so ethnic, but it was in all the little Canadian things that they do that made it our home.
So thank you mom and mike for my Canadian quirks and thank you dad because my husband teases me often that my southern is showing.
Friday, February 26, 2010
22 days and counting
I have been focusing on how old Kaitlyn is and how big she is and how much she can do and how in just a few months she will be starting full day kindergarten. I will admit that on occasion i have even pouted about this.
I have wondered why I have been focused on this so much. Why I have pouted and moped about the "march of time" concerning my oldest.
Well today i think i have come to the root of the problem.
I have been avoiding the fact that my youngest will be turning 4 in 22 days. That she is already the size of a 5 year old. And that any of the last remnants of baby and toddler hood have left long ago. She has been a full fledged preschooler since her third birthday and maybe a little before it.
I do believe that i have been focused on the lesser of the two issues in my "mommy no longer has any babies" issue. I enjoy these now older children and relish in the freedom that them being older brings and yet some part of me revolts at the very idea that i have no babies. My girls are definitely not babies. My girls are not toddlers. My girls are on the very top end of preschooler. Geesh if Kaitlyn's birthday had been 6 weeks sooner she would be almost done with Kindergarten. They are smart, capable, independent, with very strong senses of self young ladies. They make me proud every day.
Oh, i admit I'm selfish. It's me that's not ready to share their wonderfulness with the world. They are poised and ready to skip, hop, and jump into the next stage in life. The stage where you get a best friend and are attached at the hip till at least the 4th grade. It's when I get pushed to the back seat instead of the passenger seat. I didn't like being kicked out of the drivers seat either. Darling Husband keeps telling me I'm still in the car. I know he's trying to cheer me up, but that just reminds me that one day I won't be in the car at all. One day far sooner than I'll want I'll have to get out of the car and yes I'll blubber like a big baby when I do.
I have wondered why I have been focused on this so much. Why I have pouted and moped about the "march of time" concerning my oldest.
Well today i think i have come to the root of the problem.
I have been avoiding the fact that my youngest will be turning 4 in 22 days. That she is already the size of a 5 year old. And that any of the last remnants of baby and toddler hood have left long ago. She has been a full fledged preschooler since her third birthday and maybe a little before it.
I do believe that i have been focused on the lesser of the two issues in my "mommy no longer has any babies" issue. I enjoy these now older children and relish in the freedom that them being older brings and yet some part of me revolts at the very idea that i have no babies. My girls are definitely not babies. My girls are not toddlers. My girls are on the very top end of preschooler. Geesh if Kaitlyn's birthday had been 6 weeks sooner she would be almost done with Kindergarten. They are smart, capable, independent, with very strong senses of self young ladies. They make me proud every day.
Oh, i admit I'm selfish. It's me that's not ready to share their wonderfulness with the world. They are poised and ready to skip, hop, and jump into the next stage in life. The stage where you get a best friend and are attached at the hip till at least the 4th grade. It's when I get pushed to the back seat instead of the passenger seat. I didn't like being kicked out of the drivers seat either. Darling Husband keeps telling me I'm still in the car. I know he's trying to cheer me up, but that just reminds me that one day I won't be in the car at all. One day far sooner than I'll want I'll have to get out of the car and yes I'll blubber like a big baby when I do.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Valentine's Chocolates
This was the end result of my chocolate making fun. There were two of these darling little boxes for my two darling little girls on valentines day. I only have the one picture due to battery failure on the camera and the speed that little girls can eat chocolates. The finished boxes were two layers with the rose lollipop on top with one additional marshmallow lip. The bottom layer that you can see here had two lips filled with marshmallows, three cherry filled hearts, two blueberry roses, and two almond butter balls. It was so wonderful to see my girls carefully pick which chocolate to eat next and to see the joy on their faces from having an entire box of different chocolate candies. I am already thinking big for Easter. I am hoping that this year they will get their first chocolate bunnies.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
week 23 already
My girls are working on their weekly math work sheets as i finish up the sewing on the critters they will be stuffing very soon. I am multi-tasking as usual, stitch stitch instruct, stitch stitch instruct. As I read the instructions on comparing tall and short, Samantha shouts out "this stop sign is tallest, mom momma stop is an s s s "S" word." Kaitlyn not to be out done by her little sister quickly points out that sign is also an "S" word. I am thrilled that they love learning and poke myself with the needle, as my brain takes a moment to bask in momma pride. The phrase "multi-tasking can be dangerous" floats through my head as a suck on my now bleeding finger.
Band-aid in place the girls have moved on to a cut and paste project. An astronaut who is catching stars. Although this page has very little coloring the cutting of 10 tiny starts will keep them busy for awhile.
It's some where between the spontaneous rhyming game, the speed and the quality of the cutting, the guessing of tomorrows possible science lesson and project, and brainstorming of possible "S" food to cook when it hits me like a ton of bricks. Oh My Goodness We are on S Week! The school year is more than 1/2 over. We are on week 23 of a 38 week program. And my little experiment into home schooling has been wonderful, fun and very successful.
I am writing this as both girls happily stuff their stuffed animals chatting away and continuing to discuss possibilities of their "S" themed science lesson. We are making Snow from a kit i picked up, it's a surprise though. Surprises are a part of "S" week fun.
Band-aid in place the girls have moved on to a cut and paste project. An astronaut who is catching stars. Although this page has very little coloring the cutting of 10 tiny starts will keep them busy for awhile.
It's some where between the spontaneous rhyming game, the speed and the quality of the cutting, the guessing of tomorrows possible science lesson and project, and brainstorming of possible "S" food to cook when it hits me like a ton of bricks. Oh My Goodness We are on S Week! The school year is more than 1/2 over. We are on week 23 of a 38 week program. And my little experiment into home schooling has been wonderful, fun and very successful.
I am writing this as both girls happily stuff their stuffed animals chatting away and continuing to discuss possibilities of their "S" themed science lesson. We are making Snow from a kit i picked up, it's a surprise though. Surprises are a part of "S" week fun.
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