Cookie Exchange Time

I have two cookie-exchange parties this week. I know, I am so totally popular!! Actually, it is because everyone knows the chubby girl can bake a mean cookie. Can you say HOLIDAY WEIGHT GAIN?  Who cares right? That is what New Year's Resolutions are for.  I am taking OREO TRUFFLES. They are easy and oh, so very yummy! Although, I am not sure if a truffle is a cookie or a candy.

(Don't Judge the Truffle by its cover! I'm not a very skillful dipper)

Oreo Truffles

Ingredients:

1-15oz. Bag of Oreos

1-Block of Cream Cheese

Chocolate for Melting

 (White or Milk Chocolate works)

Crumble Oreo's in mixer or food processor. Reserve a small amount of crumbs for later.  Add cream cheese and mix well. Form balls with Oreo Mixture and place in freezer for 20 minutes.  Meanwhile, melt chocolate.  Remove truffles from freezer and dip in chocolate. Immediately sprinkle with crumbs before chocolate hardens.  Keep refrigerated.  Makes about three dozen truffles.

A Berry Beautiful Day

We spent our first official day of summer picking blueberries at one of our favorite places-The Butler Family Orchard.  Any day of blueberry picking must begin with reading one of our favorite books, Blueberries for Sal.

There is nothing more delicious than picking your own fresh fruit.  When Nash tasted his first blueberry he excitedly exclaimed, "I never knew that blueberries could be so heavenly!"  

  

When we got home we made blueberry pancakes and blueberry freezer jam together.

Recipe:

4 Cups Whole Blueberries

5 Tablespoons Pectin

2 1/4 Cup Sugar

Sterilize freezer jars by boiling them with their lids for 3 minutes.  Place 4 cups of washed blueberries into the food processor and liquefy.  Combine sugar and pectin and then add liquefied blueberries. Stir with a whisk for 3 minutes. Pour into jars leaving at least 1/2 inch at the top for expansion in the freezer.  Seal jars and let set at room temperature for at least 1 hour before freezing.

Tinker Table

I read somewhere that children's author Mo Willems' kitchen table is one giant doodle and each night during dinner the family draws and writes on it.  I thought that was such an awesome idea. I might even try it someday, but for now, I try to make our kitchen table what I call a "Tinker Table" everyday.  I put out some art supplies and walk away. It is amazing how the kids are drawn to it, especially Harley and what they come up with each day.  Nash recently wrote his life story at our Tinker Table, complete with me lying on my back with a huge belly, while an evil looking doctor wielded a giant knife over me, ready to deliver Nash into the world.  I was never more thankful for my C-Sections.  I would have hated to see Nash's depiction had my children been born the normal way.  Also, Nash, our budding Van Gogh, painted this masterpiece.

One of Harley's favorite projects is gluing googly eyes on people in magazines. By the way, this is great for fine motor skills, which I have learned the hard way need to be developed just like any other muscle.

Atley used the Tinker Table to write a book, expressing his disdain of a few things. I think it was pretty cathartic for him.

"The Caveman Who Invented Stuff I Don't Like"

By:Atley

Dedication:

"To Lucy the cutest kitty ever!!!!

And to my family, world's nicest people."

"A long time ago on a continent not far away...

Hi! I am Jonathan the caveman. I am about to invent an S.O.L (end of year assessment test), then I will event a pop quiz."

 

"Now I will invent homework, my favorite invention yet.  Now I will invent italian chicken, my favorite food."

 "Ahhhhhhh! T-Rex. CHOMP!

The End"

 

Here is my recipe for ITALIAN Chicken: 

(Jonathan the Caveman's Favorite, Atley's Most Hated)

3 to 4 Chicken Breasts

1 Envelope Italian Dressing Mix

8 Oz. Cream Cheese

Egg Noodles or Rice

Milk if needed

 

Place Chicken Breasts in crockpot and cover with dressing mix.  Cook on low for 4 to 6 hours.  Shred chicken with a fork and add cubed cream cheese. Cook for additional 30 minutes or until cream cheese is melted. Add milk if mixture is too thick. Serve over egg noodles or rice.