Recipe for thought

A clean house is a sign of an empty mind
~Unknown

Recipe for thought

What Did You Do Today?

Today I left some dishes dirty,
The bed got made around 3:30.
The diapers soaked a little longer,
The odor grew a little stronger.
The crumbs I spilled the day before,
Are staring at me from the floor.
The fingerprints there on the wall,
Will likely be there still next fall.
The dirty streaks on those window panes,
Will still be there next time it rains.
Shame on you, you sit and say,
Just what did you do today?

I nursed a baby till he slept,
I held a toddler while he wept,
I played a game of hide and seek,
I squeezed a toy so it would squeak.
I pulled a wagon, sang a song,
Taught a child right from wrong.
What did I do this whole day through?
Not much that shows, I guess it’s true.
Unless you think that what I’ve done,
Might be important to someone,
With bright blue eyes and soft blond hair,
If that is true … I’ve done my share.

Author Unknown

Fun, non-edible recipes

Over the years, I have been in search for the perfect salt dough recipe.  When I told my mother-in-law about it, she pulled out her REMINISCE magazine. This one was perfect.  I do add more flour than what she asks for, but it doesn't go soggy or dry out in two days like all the other versions I've tried.  

There were two other recipes in the article that I haven't tried yet, but for all you adventurous blog readers out there, feel free to try them out and get back to me.  I'd love to hear your feedback.  

Bubble Solution

1 pint soap flakes (not detergeent)

2 tablespoons glycerin

1 pint water

Heat mixture; shake and strain.  Cool.  Store in a covered jar  

(Exerp from the article.  "Bubbles made from mom's solution seemed bigger, brighter and "tougher," so we had fun watching them ride on the wind")

Homemade Paste

1 cup flour

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon powdered alum

1 quart water

3 drops oil of wintergreen or oil of cloves

Mix flour, sugar and alum; add water gradually.  Cook until thickened; add oil.  Store in a covered jar.  

Homemade Clay

1 cup flour (I use closer to 2 cups)

1 cup salt

1 tablespoon powdered alum

1 cup cold water

Few drops oil of wintergreen or oil of cloves

Food coloring 

Mix flour, salt and alum.  Gradually add water, then oil.  Add food coloring if desired.  Knead until well mixed.  Store, tightly covered in  the refrigerator.  

Monster Cookies

My sister-in-law gave us a bag of these cookies a week or two ago and they were gone in about two days.  We loved them so much that I got the recipe from her.  Fast forward to this Tuesday.  I made a batch of them.  As of today, between us and my in-laws, we have ate all but about 15-20 of them.  If you're adding this up, four adults and two kids have ate almost 3 dozen of these large sized cookies.  That could mean two things:  either 1, we REALLY love our sweets or 2, this recipe is amazing (I think the truth is both of the above).
The next time I make these, I'm going to cut the time down by a minute or two.  I don't know if it's the recipe or our stove (we just got a new one and I'm not sure how accurate the temp in it is.)  The cookies didn't burn or anything, they're just a little bit crunchy for my taste.  If anyone tries this recipe, please tell me if it's the recipe that cooks for too long, or if it's the oven that cooks too warm.

Monster Cookies


Mix in the following order:
3 eggs
1 1/8 cups brown sugar
1 cup sugar
3/4 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 teaspoon light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon baking soda
1 stick butter
1 1/2 cups peanut butter (I used creamy)
4 1/2 cups oats (I used instant)
2 cups chocolate chips
1 package M&M's

Mix well and bake at 350 for ten minutes.  Makes 4 dozen.  Freezes well.  Tastes great warmed in the microwave for 10 seconds.

Olivia's Red Beet-Potato Soup

This is a recipe I actually found while surfing nickjr.com with my son.  He loves the show Olivia and HATES any form of veggie (unless you count pickles).  When I saw this, I was actually looking for a pink/red recipe for Valentines.  I decided it was worth a shot.  Believe it or not, my picky eater LOVES it!  I've made it three different times now and have decided that is is a little bland, so add a few more leeks and a bit of onion powder and it spices it up a bit.  Also, make sure to go sparingly with the sour cream.  It's easy to add too much and deflate the flavor.

Olivia's Red Beet-Potato Soup
2 Tbsp. olive oil
2 medium leeks, chopped and rinsed well
4 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped
2 box (32 oz.) vegetable broth
1 tsp. fresh thyme OR 1/2 tsp. dry thyme
2 cups water
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup whipping cream
2 Tbsp. sour cream, for garnish

you'll also need:
a plastic Ziplock bag or an icing bag with a small piping tip

1. heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.  Add the leeks and cook, stirring frequently until softened, about 7 minutes.  Add the potatoes, beets, vegetable broth, thyme, and water.  Bring the mixture to a boil  over high heat.  Reduce heat and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 30-45 minutes.

2. drain the vegetables from the broth, keeping the broth in the pot.  Working in batches, puree the vegetables in a food processor or blender, until smooth.  Return to the broth and stir well.  Add the cream and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper.

3.  return the broth to a simmer and spoon into soup bowls.  Place the sour cream into a ziplock bag. Snip a small corner from the bag and pipe shapes on the top of the soup with sour cream. (I did hearts)

Mandarin Chicken

This is a recipe I found in one of my mom's cookbooks.  It's titled "remedies for the 'I don't cook' Syndrome" This is a favorite with my family.  It's really simple and is great for company.  We just triple the sauce, add more chicken and use a 9 by 13 inch pan.   The only downfall with it at all (and if you actually plan ahead (which I don't) it's not one at all) is the fact that in needs to marinate overnight so it calls for some prep work.  I also love this recipe because it saves on dishes.  I usually just mix the sauce right in the pan then add the chicken and flip it in the morning.

Mandarin Chicken
1/4 cup Soy Sauce
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup catsup
4-6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
2-3 cups cooked rice

In a small bowl, mix soy sauce, honey, lemon juice, and catsup.  Place chicken breasts in 8 inch square glass pan or similar dish.  Pour sauce over chicken breasts.  Cover and marinate 24 hours in fridge.  Bake, in sauce, covered 45 minutes at 350 degrees and an additional 10-15 minutes uncovered.  Serve on rice.

The reason why

As I slowly approach the age of 25 (I still have over a year), I have had one constant thought running through my brain lately.  That is I'm getting so old and haven't done much with my life that I wanted to.  Call it what you want, but Scott has started to call it my "Quarter life crisis."  I'd argue with him on the name, but he is right.  All of this prompted me to write a list of goals I want to accomplish before I actually hit that mile marker.

    My Quarter Life Crisis
1. Be in a 5k
2. Read the Book of Mormon (again)
3. Attend all the LDS temples in Utah
4. Get a facial (just to say I have)
5. Start a blog
6. Have a weekend trip with just Scott and me
7. Start school again

Which brings me to item number five.   That is why I'm doing this.  I have had so many friends with really nice blogs showing how crafty and creative they are so I thought 'why not?'  If it fails,  I'm not really out anything, just some time.
Those that know me know that I have two wonderful little kids (the oldest is under 3).  As much as I love them, they keep me homebound a lot of the time.  Thus, this blog is my way of making new friends, reconnecting with old ones, and if nothing else, feel like I'm not just talking to myself anymore.  Anyway, if you are reading this, thank you for taking your time to do so.  You let me know that there is life out there.