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.