Peanut butter + chocolate + pretzels = YUM! (Ben & Jerry figured this out a while ago.) A few months ago I tried an internet recipe for Chubby Hubby bars and found them a bit dry and lacking in full peanut butter-ness. I tweaked a few quantities and while you can still bake these…
Task: Make a camping-themed wedding cake for 40 people that looks like a giant s’more. Challenge accepted! I love making unusual cakes and was happy with the results. (If I were ever to make a giant s’more cake again, I would change a couple of details, as mentioned below.) To make the cake in the…
I love free stuff! In particular, I get a kick out of receiving free items in the mail. This trait probably comes from my mother, who collected and sent away all sorts of boxtops, UPC codes, etc. to various companies when I was a kid. (I loved my Cinnamon Toast Crunch bowl with my name on…
I’ve recently been craving (and therefore baking) baked oatmeal. If you haven’t had it, imagine a cross between oatmeal cooked on the stove and an oatmeal cookie. It’s still healthy & satisfying, but isn’t as mushy as the regular stuff, though not quite as sweet and decadent as the cookie version. The add-in variations abound!…
Comet the Cat stays cool on his new Scratch Lounge. Yes, we handed over $$$ for cardboard. It has been worth every penny, though, since it’s been so HOT here in Virginia. It really does serve both purposes, as its name suggests. Comet loves to scratch it (instead of or in addition to the carpet,…
We love eclairs. We didn’t fully realize it until about two years ago, when picking up a two-pack from our local Wegman’s became a habit. Then I found a decent recipe and we were head-over-heels. My husband requested an "eclair cake" for his birthday (yesterday) and you KNOW I am always up for a cake…
I’m kind of in love with the soup I made this afternoon. It’s flavorful, healthy, and pretty – perfect with some warm, crusty bread. (I made a loaf from Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day.) 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 medium onion, coarsely chopped 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper 1 teaspoon…
I can’t get enough of the BBC series, "Lark Rise to Candleford". Waiting for Season 4 to be available on DVD is difficult! Knowing that Season 4 is the last season is tragic. What is it about this series that has captivated my attention? There’s a hint of "Little House on the Prairie", which was…
I admit it. I’m a bit jealous of Kindle-owners. My husband has a first generation model and hasn’t grown tired of it. When we went to the beach recently for vacation, he and my mother-in-law (she has one now, too) didn’t have the usual 3-4 books packed, just their Kindles. Cameron even has a waterproof…
I’ve tried so many lip balms! Some may seem great at first, but usually disappoint. Most balms have ingredients that temporarily soothe your lips, but actually cause your lips to shut down their own moisturizing and healing abilities. Here it is: I first bought mine at Target, then went back and bought three more…