RIce Krispie Treats...or Cooking 101 with CG.

Well, it is like this........... My baby girl, Miss C.G. is growing up fast, too fast.  I often think I have failed as her mother.  That child can barely make toast.  Well, actually the toaster is her preferred cooking appliance.  She can make waffles and toaster strudel.   Gourmet to her is spreading peanut butter on  toast.  I can't judge on that.  I like PB on just about anything too.   I think I taught her this trick.  My baby girl can read though.......I harbor thoughts that someday she will be able to make ramen noodles.  Isn't there a recipe on the package?

yes....unknowingly she posed for this!

Off of that subject for a minute.....

Now that I have your attention....Lets make Rice Krispie Treats.  Seriously, these are so much better that the pre-packaged ones.  Warning though......SERIOUSLY ADDICTING!  In their defense.....these are so much better than they are in a bowl with milk.  This recipe isn't on the box of cereal or the bag of marshmallows.  These are better.  I promise!!!  And there isn't any measuring involved!!!  SCORE!

Ok...baby girl.  This is super easy.........  You will need all of the stuff you see in this picture.  (I usually use the store brand marshmallow creme.  The store was out of it the day I went shopping.)

Open the butter and the marshmallows and the creme.  Put it all in a really large pan.  Heat it to melting on LOW.  You will need to stir  often here.   You really don't want this to scorch and burn.

It will look like this picture you see here......all melted and yummy.  

I don't want to mess you up too much here....but this is the time you can add a capful of vanilla.  It is the stuff in the bottle in the above picture.  Stir it all around with the melted marshmallows.

After you stir it for a second or two.....it is time to open the rice krispies and dump the entire box into the marshmallow stuff.   (If you were measuring now...it would be about 8 cups.)   Stir really well and if you want to get a little CRAZY...then pour in some sprinkles.  Your friends will be amazed at your creativity now!!!!

Now, spray a GLASS baking dish with cooking spray and butter up your fingers.  Spread the stuff all around in the dish and mush it together.  You can eat it when it is cooled.

NOW go and impress your friends.   Good Job Miss C.G.!!!  Mommy is proud of you!!

Seriously, use a glass  casserole dish.  If you use a metal cake pan then the treats will taste like metal.  YUCK!


p.s....there are no knives involved with making these treats.  You should be good here.  Ask someone else to cut them from the pan please.


p.p.s.....Another fun option for these include a handful of mini chocolate chips mixed in with the cereal.

happy memorial day

I am just playing around in photoshop again.  This little baby will go in my mantle frame.

Those yummy cookies.....

Have you ever tried these?   YUMMo!!  These are my go-to chocolate cookie.  You know, the ones that you need to make quickly to feed a group of teenagers or just to get you through a mid-week crisis.

I don't even have a picture of these to share.  They really don't stick around long enough to take a picture of.  Well, that and they don't look like much of anything I really want to be eating.  Enjoy!

FYI......  if any of you want a jpg of this recipe card then comment me a message here and I will email you the file.  I am gradually making jpg recipe cards complete with pictures of my favorite foods.   All you then do is put it on your flash drive and get it processed.  Easy Pea-sy.

Cinnamon roll Cresents

I found this recipe on Pinterest.  It was easy.  It was delicious.   Fortunately, I only used one can of crescent rolls.  They were amazingly addictive.  THEY ARE ALL GONE NOW!!!

Cinnamon Crescent Rolls

1/2 stick of butter, softened

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons of cinnamon

Glaze:

1/4 cup powdered sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 tablespoon milk

Heat oven to 350*.  Combine the first three things and spread on the 8 crescent roll dough triangles.  Roll them up.  Spread the remaining sugar/cinnamon stuff on top.  Well, I just dropped it on there.  

Bake for about 12-15 minutes or when they are golden.

Combine the glaze stuff and drizzle on top.  Well, I poured it on there.

Maybe that is why they look all flat?  Or could it be because the rolls I used were generic and expired 2 weeks ago?   Shhhhhh!!!  Don't tell the family now!!!  No one IS sick yet! and I don't want any explainable reason why they are all sick with the stomach flu tomorrow either!!!

Next time it will be Pillsbury. I promise.  Isn't that little dough boy guy cute??

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!! ENJOY!

American Patriotism

                      

                      

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation, under God, one and indivisable."

"Honor the Texas Flag.  I pledge allegiance to thee Texas.  One state under God one and indivisable.

In the Texas Elementary & Middle school  classrooms... students are taught to recite both the Texas pledge and the U.S. pledge.  The children will all stand up and place their hands over their heart.  They will all participate.  (Now there is the typical excuse occasionally using religious reasons...but that is rare.)   In a typical Texas High School classroom...someone comes in over the classroom speaker during the 2nd hour and says the pledges just before the morning announcements.  The class for the most part will stand up.  Some of them will place their hands over their heart.  Others will check their iphone for the latest FB status update.  What has happened in our  high schools?  When did saying the Pledge of Allegience become not cool?  When did social pressure become the popular choice?   Are these kids just too cool to actively participate in something that was hard fought for?  Are these kids too ashamed to make a statement for their country?  Or are they just stupid enough to not know the historical facts? 

Yes, the original battles for our freedom happened over 200 years ago.  Obviously, they don't remember that much about the American Revolution and the hardships our people endured to break away from England.   This saddens me. Surely, they remember the story of Paul Revere?  Maybe the story of why the Pilgrims left England?  Do they even know who is on the face of the quarter in their pocket???  Come on kids...it isn't George Clooney.   No, most likely...they just think Thanksgiving is about cooking a turkey and napping the afternoon away.

This saddens me when I know that today we have military battalions in other countries protecting so that others can also have freedom and choice.  Should our education system re-teach patriotism in the High School classes?  Quite possibly.  Maybe these kids just don't have the real facts anymore.....I shall call the facts they have "media propaganda."

Our rights for both political & religious freedoms were won many many years ago kids.........  Whether you call your self a Democrat, Republican, Baptist, Methodist or Athiest...   People died so that you can enjoy your life and have the opportunity for choices.   Don't take anything for granted.  Freedom and Choice are two of the greatest opportunites we have in the United States.

Come on Kids...........  Honor the people who died for you.  Honor your country.  Honor the Flag with some respect for what is symbolizes......  FREEDOM.

Seriously Good Banana Pudding.......

Hungry Yet????

Well you should be needing a snack about now if you are checking out my little blog and seeing this picture.  

My husband has a fondness for banana pudding.  You know...the good stuff made with a recipe and with a layer of meringue sitting on top.  If you are thinking that it seems too time consuming for you to do, wait, here is my little secret.............I now give the recipe to my daughter and tell her to get busy!!!   And yes, her reward includes washing the dishes too.  Seriously...isn't it my job as the parent to teach her some life skills?    He wants pudding.  She wants to bake......and I don't want to do the dishes.  It is a win-win for all at our house.

I didn't create this recipe.  I found it in a Southern Living Magazine several years ago.  I did add one tiny tweak to the recipe.  Please make this!  Please make this when you have family in town and want to impress them with your culinary skills.  

Banana Pudding

2/3 cup sugar

1/4 cup flour

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon (optional, for you non-cinnamon people)

1 can of sweetened condensed milk

2 1/2 cups milk

4 large eggs, separated and at room temperature

2 T. Vanilla

1 box of vanilla wafers

3 large ripe bananas

1/3 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine the first 3 ingredients.  Stir together the milks and egg yolks.  Whisk into the dry stuff.  Cook over medium heat until it is smooth and thickened.  Please whisk constantly!  (I have one of those silicone gravy whisks from pampered chef.  It really does a good job with this task...again, I make the girl child do this.)  Remove from heat when thickened and add the vanilla.

Arrange wafers in the bottom of a glass baking dish.  Slice about 3 bananas on top.  I like them kinda thin.  Pour the pudding over this.  

Arrange more wafers along the sides of the dish.  You can add another layer of wafers on top of the pudding if you wish.  

Beat the egg whites until foamy.  Add 1/3 cup of sugar, slowly.  Beat until stiff and fold in the rest of the vanilla.  Gently spread it on top and try to spread it around until it touches the sides of the wafers.

(You could sprinkle a little crystal turbino sugar on top here and get some bling!)

Bake @ 325 for about 25 minutes or until golden.

*Sometimes I add an extra egg white.  It all depends on the size of the eggs I have.

Enjoy!  

Cell Phones and Manners

I am stepping up to my pedestal now and admitting that  I am totally sick of cell phone abuse.  Now, I understand they have their benefits.  I understand that anyone can get in touch with me at any given time which we all know can either be a good thing or a bad thing.   I like that I can easily be found in a given emergency.  I also like the convenience of being  able to quickly send off a message to my family and text a funny picture to someone when I think of them.   They are small little pieces of technology which I am grateful for.   BUT..............

Is there anyone in this world who just misses the simple world we used to have?  Is there anyone who misses a time when we just knew when to be home?  A time when the word "curfew" had meaning.  A time when the car conversation started with words instead of the clicking silence from the back seat.   A few minutes of conversation WITH the kids/teens in the back seat........  wait?  Would someone please remind me of this concept?   Now, I am all about answering a simple text....sometimes that is all you need to say to a friend.  What I have noticed  is full-blown texting conversations to the point of rudeness with the rest of the world.  And seriously, why is talking/texting to the person on the other end more important than the friend right beside you?  Teens, stop trying to bond with the people who aren't by your side.........Take a look and see who came to spend time with you.

I am also sick of walking around the mall and seeing some person in a full conversation...with what looks like themselves!   Is there anyone in this world who hasn't thought..."this person looks crazy!"   Doesn't he have somewhere else to go?  An office?  His car?  Home?  DUDE, STAY AWAY FROM THE MALL!  You aren't nearly as important as you think you are.  I PROMISE!   

Do we really want to listen to his conversation?

So, my challenge to you is TURN IT OFF!  Stop the cell phone abuse.  Do something that requires words with friends in the same room.  Do something as a family.....Dinner and real conversation.  Yes, I know that might sound a little crazy...just try it.  Family Time should be best time of the day.  I promise!  And above all else.....  go to the mall and ignore your phone NOT your friends and family.