Little one got left home on Sunday. Her sisters went to a friends house and she was not happy. I told her that we could make something, so she picked Chocolate Chip Cookies.

She said, “I want to pour everything in and I want to start the mixer.”

I took a deep breath, put her apron on her and really let her help in the kitchen.

She loves using the mixer.

And sneaking dough. . .

Do you let your kids help in the kitchen? What are you favorite recipes to make with your kids?

I am taking the time this morning to get back to my meal planning. I bought a new cookbook yesterday that I planned a majority of my week by. The Cooking Light – the essential dinner tonight cookbook. There are amazing recipes in this book and every recipe has a picture. That is my kind of cookbook. The rest of the week is from The Sneaky Chef  to the rescue cookbook. This will be the first time I try a few recipes from this book, too.

Monday: Spaghetti Carbonara

Tuesday: Pork Medallions with Olive Caper Sauce

Wednesday: Honey Battered Popcorn Shrimp &

Pasta with Better Butter Sauce

Thursday: Oven Fried Chicken

Friday: Roast Chicken with Balsamic Bell Peppers

(I have posted this recipe before. It is so good. I even got my husband to eat the peppers!)

Click on any of the recipes for a link to the recipe online. Enjoy!

I am linking up with OrgJunkie’s Menu Plan Monday

When I was a little girl I remember this popcorn popper that my dad used. It had a yellow dome top and it stirred the popcorn around as it started popping.

For Christmas this year my sister surprised me with my very own Crazy Stir Popper. I was so excited, I knew the girls and I would have a blast with this wonderful little appliance.

A couple of nights ago we got it out to try our first bowl of popcorn. The girls thought it was great and it took me back to when I was a kid. I love it!

Nadia helped me put the butter on the holes to melt into the popcorn.

The girls started screaming at me, “It’s Popping, It’s Popping!”

And it was good! I guess we know what we will be having to eat at our next family movie night.

One of our favorite recipes during the holidays is Cookie Dough Truffles. (I know they are not very healthy) Because of the non-healthy factor I only make these at Christmastime and I limit the consumption. This recipe is super easy and yummy.

picture from Tasteofhome.com

Here is the recipe from Taste of Home. If you would like to print it out you can go here.

1/2 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips

1 1/2 pounds semisweet candy coating, chopped

*the recipe also calls for 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, but we leave these out.

In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the flour, milk and vanilla; mix well. Stir in the chocolate chps and walnuts (optional). Shape into 1-in. balls; place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Loosely cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours or until firm.

In a microwave-safe bowl, melt candy coating, stirring often until smooth. (I use a double-broiler on my stove to melt my chocolate) Dip balls in coating; place on waxed paper until firm, about 15 minutes. If desired, remelt remaining candy coating and drizzle over candies. Store in air tight container in the refrigerator. Yield: 5 1/2 dozen truffles.

We love our Better Homes and Gardens New Junior Cookbook. The girls love to flip through it and decide what they want to make next. Last night we decided to make a bedtime snack. I would love to be able to tell you that we eat all things healthy in this house. But that would be a lie. . .we love our sweets. And I think they are okay in moderation.

So the younger girls put on their aprons and helped me with this snack, Masterpiece Pizza.

Here is the recipe:
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup semisweet chocolate pieces
3/4 cup tiny marshmallows
2/3 cup peanut (we left these out)
1/2 cup miniature candy-coated semisweet chocolate pieces

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat butter and peanut butter with electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add brown sugar and granulated sugar. Beat until combined. Add egg and vanilla. Beat until combined. Add flour, beat on low speed until combined.
Take about 1/2 cup dough and place near one corner off the cookie sheet. Use the table knife to spread dough into a 5 inch circle. Repeat with the remaining dough to make 4 circles. Bake pizzas for 15 minutes or until the edges are light brown.
Remove from the oven and sprinkle the center of each cookie with semisweet chocolate pieces. Let stand 1 to 2 minutes until you can spread with a knife. Sprinkle each cookie with marshmallows, peanuts and mini m&ms.
Return cookie sheet to oven for 5 more minutes. Enjoy!


This recipe got two thumbs up.

A few weeks ago I participated in a Birthday Swap over at Seriously Shawn.

Yesterday I received my package in the mail from Bea. She sent the perfect gift. One of the most important things to me is to create an unforgettable childhood for my girls. I love to focus on the experiences we can have together. So she sent me this. . .

Three beautiful aprons for my girls created by Studio Eight. My girls absolutely loved them. In fact, they loved them so much that when I got home from the gym at 8:30 last night they surrounded me as I collapsed on the porch and begged to bake something.

Well they should have been getting ready for bed, but they were so excited about their new aprons that I knew that I couldn’t make them go to bed. Luckily I had a box of Pound Cake mix, so we whipped it up quick (and then had to wait 50 minutes for it to bake). They didn’t want to get out of bed this morning, but oh well. They created an awesome memory thanks to the beautiful aprons from Bea.



Thanks Shawn for the swap and thanks Bea for the perfect gift. Now I can’t wait for Kristen to receive her gift from me. . .

If you are a parent that is interested in reading one of the best books I have read as a mom. Click over to my other blog and enter to win a signed copy of the book Not So Fast by Ann Kroeker. It is a book I think every parent should read!

Last night before bed I mixed up some Bran Muffins. This morning I put a pan in the oven for a fresh yummy breakfast. I wanted to share the recipe with you. This is something I love to have in the fridge so that I can make them whenever we need something a little different for breakfast. The batter can be kept in the fridge for up to 6 weeks.

1 cup Bran Buds
1 cup boiling water
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 cups buttermilk
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/2 tsp soda
2 cups Bran Flakes

Pour 1 cup boiling water over bran buds and set aside. Mix shortening and sugar. Mix in eggs then buttermilk. Add dry ingredients. Add Bran Buds and mix. Fold in Bran Flakes.

Bake muffins for 15 to 20 minutes at 400 degrees.

Enjoy!