WARNING! addiction to soon follow

This weekend I was working on some recipes for my yearly Christmas goodie platters/food gifts.
One of my very favorite snacks in the whole world is Harry and David Moose Munch. AHHHH It is to Die for.
So I decided to make my own Generic Sarah Version of it. I searched for a great caramel Corn Recipe, which I found> This stuff is amazing just on its own. I made mine with Cashews, you can also use almonds, peanuts, pecans etc.

CARAMEL CORN:

1 cup popcorn Kernels, popped and set aside in very large bowl. (or two large bowls if  you dont have one big enough for it all) You can mix in a few cups of nut of your choice. The salty nuts really do go so well with the sweetness of the popcorn. I like nuts, so I added about 2 1/2 cups of cashews.

In a sauce pan, combine:
1 cup BUTTER (yes, butter. Margarine is the devil)
2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/2 tsp salt.

stir just enough to blend. Once it starts boiling, cook for exactly 5 minutes over med-hi heat. STIR CONSTANTLY.
Once it has boiled for 5 minutes, remove from heat and stir in
1tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla.
It will foam and bubble, it is supposed to. It is supposed to look like a fluffy shaving cream type consistence.

Drizzle this over your popcorn and toss well to coat.  Each piece does not have to be completely coated.
Spread out over greased cookie sheets or jelly roll pans etc. 
Bake at 250 degrees for about an hour, turning every 15 minutes or so.

After an hour, remove from oven and spread on wax paper to cool. Once cool, break into clusters and store in tupperware or ziplock baggies.

This is the best caramel corn I have ever had. It is so delicious. You do have to bake it. If you dont the caramel will get super sticky and hard.

You can eat it plain like this, or you can use some of it to make an extra special treat...
Now to make the Sarah's Moose Munch.

Go to Michaels or other craft store to their candy section. Get a package of the melt and pour chocolate caps and a package of the white chocolate caps.  Melt these in your microwave, according to the directions.
Drizzle each kind over the popcorn, as heavy or as light as you want.
THEN take HEATH CHIPS (you can find them in your baking section of the grocery store) and sprinkle over as well.  It will stick to the melted chocolates.

Let it dry and enjoy.

Just a warning. This is addictive. The caramel corn is just soooo good. Add a little chocolate and heath chips and voila.

ENJOY!

2009- my resolutions

UGH. I HATE resolutions.
hate hate hate them.
But every December 31st as the ball drops onto a new year my mind starts working.
"what can I improve on in my life?" "how can I be happier?" "what can I do to cultivate a more spiritual side?" "how can I set a good example to those around me?" "how much weight can I lose if I eat nothing but oatmeal and salad?" You know, the basics.
But every year i look at my list and it is about 476 items long. I know that I will get way to frustrated and give up if I have too many to work on. so I went through and slashed out most of them, and really focused on the BIG 10. These are the 10 things I will work on for the year.


1. Curb my potty mouth. Unfortunately I picked up a very bad habit from my mother and have struggled with it my entire life. I REALLY need to watch what I say, as my kids have started repeating some of my better epithets. I dont think my parents really believe that Charles is the one teaching them those words. Spencer W Kimball, 12th prophet of the LDS church stated "Profanity is the effort of a weak mind to express itself forcibly". Ouch.

2. Couch to 5k. One of my goals this year is to get healthier and more fit. My friend rebecca told me about this exercise program she has started called Couch to 5k. Basically in 9 weeks you train to run a 5k. It iss 3 days a week, for about 30 minutes a day. You start really slow and work your way up to 5k. It is just up my alley. You can find the program HERE. Then my next goal is 10k. Eventually by the end of the year I want to train for a 1/2 marathon. Shanda and Michelle and Alison did that this year and they look just so fantastic and healthy and beautiful. I totally hate them.(in a jealous fat girl way)And Jolin did the full marathon and is my hero. So by the end of the year I will be a fit and healthy active runner. It all starts with that first step. (plus it will help me be in bathing suit shape by our Cruise in September) I will look better, feel better and it will help me with my drooping energy levels and certainly my sleep patterns as well. I will have more energy for school as well.

3.Graduate School on my target date. I have noticed at school there are a lot of advanced students who should have graduated weeks and weeks ago, but are still there because they dont take it seriously enough to have their attendance where it needs to be. They are taking up space in the school that should be reserved for the newer students. My targeted graduation date is September 12th. My goal is to graduate on that date. If I miss a day I will come in on Saturday to make it up. I am not messing around. I am getting it DONE. I dont want to be one of those "space takers" who just come when they feel like it. Their attendance is just enough to not get kicked out.

4. Cultivate a more spiritual side. I need to do a better job of reading scriptures and praying with my kids and teaching them about the bible and about Jesus Christ. I need to do a better job about going to church and to all my meetings, not just when something is expected of me. I need to read the sunday school lesson ahead of time and be prepared to participate in the lessons. I need to magnify ALL of my callings, not just the ones I like. i need to do a better job of being a good member of the church and a good example to those around me.

5. COOK AT HOME! I like to cook. But when I am in school and come home and nothing has been taken out of the freezer, I am more apt to just order a pizza or go to subway instead of finding something to eat. I need to do a better job of meal planning and prioritizing. I need to make sure that Charles knows what needs to be out of the fridge or freezer, in case i forget. I want my kids to grow up with an appreciation for healthy, home cooked meals...instead of cheeseburgers and pizza.(Peter I am not worried about. he is a fruit and veggie nut. But Finn on the other hand has become accustomed to the fatty fast food industry)

6. Simplify my home. I have too much junk. My goal this year is to flylady my way to a clean, organized, clutter free home. I keep my house clean, but I have so much junk and knick knacks and kid clutter and STUFF. My goal is to keep my house "company ready" at all times. On her site, flylady asks "Are you tired of CHAOS?"(Cant have anyone over syndrome). Yes. Yes flylady I am tired of CHAOS.

7. BUDGETING. With the economy the way it is, I resolve to do a better job of budgeting. No more impulse purchases. No more "extras" I dont really need. I am putting myself on a cash budget and once it is gone, it is gone. I will work harder at getting the bills paid on time every month. I will be much more respectful of my money and work harder at being more financially organized.

8. Cutting out junk and pop. Everything in moderation. I know this. This year I resolve to cut out 90% of the junk food and crap I eat. I resolve to drink non-carbonated beverages only and to drink the proper amount of water my body needs. My body will thank me, and I will be happier in the long run. No more sugar slumps. No more caffeine cravings. No more dependence on sugar and pop to give me energy. Occasional sweets are fine, but not all day every day. I am also including vitamins in this. I am REALLY going to work harder to take my vitamins every day.

9. Patience. I REALLY need to work on my patience. Unfortunately i have a quick, fiery temper. I fly off the handle way too quickly. My anger is not a long-smoldering one. It is a flash fire that flares out of control very quickly. It is like gasoline to a flame. My goal this year is to find a way and techniques to keep my anger under control and to find ways to be more patient with others, especially my family.

10. Personal beauty. No I dont mean the things like showering and brushing my teeth. I already do those things. And I am not talking about vanity and always looking in a mirror. I mean always making sure my hair and make-up look their best. Always making sure my legs are shaved and eyebrows are waxed. Making sure I exemplify my chosen profession the best I can. I want to make sure my clothes are pressed and wrinkle free, and that I always look my best. even if it is jeans and a T shirt. Even if I am just running to Walmart or to the Post Office. I want to present a good and positive image no matter what I am doing, no matter where I am going. The better I look, the better I will feel about myself and the easier most of my other goals will be. The better I look, the better i will feel and the harder I will try to make myself a better person all around. The better I look, there better i will feel and the easier for me to help others around me feel the same way.


So those are my BIG 10 goals this 2009. It will nto be a cake walk. In fact I expect to really have to work hard to make sure I am changing my life for the better. No one said it would be easy, but it will be worth it.

HAPPY 2009 and may you keep all your resolutions!

Things charles is allowed to cook

My husband is forbidden in the kitchen. Unless it is something like Macaroni and cheese, ramen, sandwiches or Nachos, his cooking is a no-no. (Although that one night he made a romantic pot roast for our 2 year anniversary...i got pregnant that night...anyhoo, thats NOT why he isnt allowed in the kitchen).

He doesnt know how to follow a recipe. Somehow when he cooks his brain shuts down, spices and seasonings get forgotten, Tsp turns into TBSP and...well you get the point.

One night he decided to make hamburgers. I was working all day and came home to the foreman grill and a bowl of ground beef. He declared "I'm making dinner!".

Trustingly, I head off to shower and come back down to hamburgers and probably some sort of canned vegetable. I dont remember. All I do remember is taking a bite of the hamburger and thinking "hmmmm this tastes really odd". Turns out he channeled the Colonel and added 11 secret herbs and spices...including CINNAMON. (we had previously lived in cincinnati where their chili has cinnamon in it. He thought it would be a good idea). Needless to say 2 bites was all I could stomach. All night I heard "I'm sorry, I thought it would be a good idea..."

Another night i came home and he was making his own version of hot wings. He was boiling(or scorching, same difference) his version of wing sauce, filling the entire house with eye watering pepper sauce and vinegar. The wings were pathetic. i think we ended up ordering a pizza.

BUT Charles is a savant in the kitchen when it comes to desserts and sweets. He can whip up a Texas Fudge cake that will leave you in the throes of food orgasm passion. His desserts are legendary. It as if he gets a dessert recipe and all the planets align, the heavens shine down, his cooking brain clicks on and BOOM dessert nirvhana.

Yesterday afternoon after church he let me take a nap. He fed the boys, kept them quiet etc. THEN last night he let me watch my chick flicks (27 Dresses and The Holiday) and made me a rock em sock em batch of my favorite cookies NO BAKES. Honestly, BEST MOTHERS DAY PRESENT YET!!

But let me share with you the recipe:

2 cups sugar

1 stick butter or margarine, melted

1/3 cup cocoa

1/2 cup milk

in saucepan combine and sugar and cocoa, add milk and melted butter. Mix thoroughly and Bring to a boil and let boil for ONE MINUTE. Do not overboil.

Remove from heat and add the following:

1/2 cup peanut butter

3 cup quick oats

1 tsp vanilla.

stir well until PB is melted and oats are mixed in.

drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper or foil to cool. then enjoy

so to all the mothers or to be mothers, Hope you had a great mothers day.

I am NOT June Cleaver

How June Cleaver did it is beyond me. (well I know she is a TV Character and I know she is not real, so please do not think I am crazy)
But I know women who are reall like June Cleaver. They always look nice. They always wear makeup and jewelry. Their hair is usually coiffed, nails manicured, toenails pedicured. They have a nice house, nice kids, cook Breakfast every morning, dinner every night and in between clean, sew, knit, socialize, run charity events and workout.

I on the stark contrast, roll out of bed, throw on something that isnt TOO wrinkled or looks like it came from a Hobo's dirty bandana- and-stick suitcase.
I shower at night, go to bed with wet hair and wake up with white girl afro. I usually have a ponytail to disguise said afro, and never wear makeup.

Breakfast usually consists of anyone of the three:
1. poptarts.
2. cold cereal, usually ending in charms, pebbles, pops, smacks or crisp
3. pancakes at Bob Evans

Lunch consists of sandwiches, nachos or some sort of boxed pasta. Pretty original I know.
Peters lunch is whipped together from a frozen uncrustables PB&J sandwich, a juicebox, and pre bagged snacks from the store. I dont wash, cut, chop or process anything. I am a lazy mom.

Dinner I can whip together if I manage to remember to take something out of the freezer. I am not one to make tuna casserole or grilled cheese if I forget to thaw the meat. But I wont lie, we have eaten our fair share of fish sticks, tater tots, sandwiches and cold cereal for dinner.

I try and keep the house clean, but I feel it is a losing proposition. I get it clean and shiny and sparkly and organized and 37.8 seconds later it is a pit of doom and despair, thanks to my two hurricanes(Finn and Peter), a dog and a husband who doesnt know what a clothes hamper is.

This morning I walked downstairs and noted 4 socks, 2 shirts, an undershirt, 2 pairs of jeans and 4 pairs on underwear in the hall...INCHES from the clothes hamper.
In the kitchen I saw mail just piled up from weeks of neglect and abuse. The table was covered in my work and projects that I hadnt had a chance to clean up yet. The sink was full of last nights dishes and food processor, and the bottom level of the houe was a den of transformers and kids toys and dog hair.

I cleaned on Saturday. I straightened on monday. I go out of town monday night and got home last night. I kind of ignored the house when I got home, as I was tired from driving and just so glad to be home again. I got up this morning and just shook my head in disbelief.

I am up to my armpits in housework today.

I cant tell you the last time I had a manicure. I would probably just bite the nails off anyways...
I CAN tell you the last time I had a pedicure...September 2005.

I am in a sad, pathetic state right now my friends.
I wish I could say that I had some pressing business and active social life..I dont. I really have no excuse. Itis pure laziness sometimes.
If being a mom and homemaker were a job in the world with managers and supervisors etc, I would totally be fired. Somedays I just want to ist and read a book, or watch a movie or go shopping. I have no desire to cook, clean, nurture, make beds etc.
Is that terrible??

Oh well, time to wrestle with a vacuum and put away laundry(the bane of my existence)
faretheewell my friends. I shall post more tomorrow...from a clean and sparkly house.

sometimes I feel like Calvin's Mom.

Calvin and Hobbes is Copyrighted. Artist: Bill Watterson

Do I really have to say more??? This is (SERIOUSLY) a daily occurence at my house and I dont know why I even bother cooking. I saw this cartoon and I really felt a connection with this paper and ink character. It's like Bill was in my head when he drew this!!

The faces on the Snowmen are the EXACT same faces and retching I get when I say, "Hey we are having Chicken and Wild Rice tonight!" or "Hey, we are having ___________(insert any food that is not pizza, spaghetti or McDonalds) tonight!" GAH!

(I mentioned the word Salmon this morning as I was taking it out of the freezer. You would think that I had taken away all their Transformers and dumped them into the garbage! "NOOOOOO! Not THAT!" )

I decided to nip this bad behaviour in the bud. I watched Dr Phil about this exact problem. So now, if they dont eat, they go to bed hungry. There is nothing else to eat or drink. Slowly they are coming around. i can get a good meal into them about every 3rd day.

How do I tell them we are having Pork Loin tomorrow night?? (I'm the meanest mom in the world!)

I did LOVE this set of plates by etsy seller Petekguven. (http://www.petekguven.etsy.com/). Maybe if I had this set of funky plates I could get my kids to eat better!