So I'm Putting Together a Cookbook

We are in the habit of really celebrating the wonderfully things around us by creating a new recipe. Who could forget Jake Just Got A New Haircut Cookies (intrinsically Chocolate Chip Oatmeal) to celebrate our Springer Spaniel finally getting a haircut after 8 months and hairs up to 11 inches long or Water On Mars Loaf (coconut bread with pecans or walnuts, depending on my mood) celebrating well…water on Mars.

Today we are so excited to celebrate No Pants Wednesday that we made a No-Pants-Wednesday-Casserolet (lots of foods usually served separately but put in a 9x13 pan for convenience!).

Unfortunately, it was decided that we should keep our pants on until AFTER dinner was cooked, you know for sanitary reasons and all.

-june

Breakfast

So when does feeding your children get easier? This morning it took Bailey and Cooper 15 minutes to eat their breakfast and it took me 30 minutes to clean up after them which included but was not limited to several squirts of Clorox anywhere spray, complete removal of the high chair pads, sweeping and a load of laundry and all they had to eat was TOAST!!!

I know some pretty messy adults, this could be a long 18 years, huh?

-june

Can't Wait For School Lunch Options, Need to Be Crazy NOW

I'm a little bit of a, well let's see how to put this, a nut, I guess. After my failed attempt at Breastfeeding I pumped for as long as I could when at around 4 months the crying babies during the painful tri-hourly ordeal became more than I could bear and then I switched, slowly but determinedly to formula. I was so guilt ridden that I would only agree to Enfamil for my babies and of course Nursery water. I didn't change my stride even when the pediatrician balked at me, no I continued to buy bottled gallon jugs of water to mix the formula with at Target at a whopping $1.19 a jug. By five months I was becoming utterly depressed with the cost of Enfamil for a week for the twins so I begrudingly switched to the Sam's brand, but I wouldn't give up the bottled water. I will switch to tap at 6 months, I assured Ward. Six months came and went and the bottled water was just a habit at this point. I just want the best for my children, and having failed that route, I wanted the second best, and having been to poor for that option the third best, bottled Nursery water with premium Member's Mark formula.

Recently the twins have been eating more and more solid foods for at least two meals a day.Having fought me for months with the baby Oatmeal I have given in and am introducing as of yesterday, fruits in a jar, yum. Coop and Bailey seem to LOVE it, three meals a day here we come, and of course altered snacks of Zwieback and Puffs, Gerber must love me, nut that I am. With the meal routine they drink less formula but we are still going through 2-3 gallons a week of the water. But I am just having a hard time letting it go.

Then, three days ago, an epiphany. That Brita water filter that I never use, well, it could be the answer to bottled jugs of water. The filters aren't cheap but I can buy them in bulk at Sam's and it beats having to run to Target to get several gallons of water which is not easy by myself. So a compromise, tap water through a filter. I feel better about this already.

Do you think, say in ten years or so, I will finally get over my guilt and anger over the my nursing failures? Geez, I hope so.

-june

p.s. It was hard for me to switch but now that I have, Member's Mark formula seems fine and is SOOOOOO much cheaper. Formula now costs about $80 a month compared to $360 a month.

What do onions have that tomatoes don't?

The other day we were having dinner (baked ziti) and my 18 year old brother is talking about foods he will and won't eat and he says matter of factly, "I've invited onions to the party in my tummy but Tomatoes and Mushrooms won't be coming anytime soon."

The first thing that came to my mind: poor tomatoes, getting a bad rap all summer long.

The second thing: does Ricky read James' blog?

If Only...

I woke up to this:

Folgers has the best commercials.



Who really cares if the coffee is any good right?

I love a cup of coffee early in the morning but by the time I have time to make any I am wide awake and it's 10 am. If only I could wake up to the aroma of fresh brewed coffee or at least if I could figure out how to preset the coffee maker. I would take fresh Mountain Grown Folgers over Starbuck's $5 latte any day of the week.

-june

Why Sharing is Bad

Several years ago for Christmas we received a Whirley Pop popcorn popper. At first I thought it was a little oddball gift that would never get used, but we purchased several yummy glazes that made the popcorn rather scrumptous. Whenever we have people over for games or brothers in from Arizona, we make the yummy popcorn, the Strawberry being a big hit with my sister-in-law as well as myself. This past week we used the last of the Strawberry (which supposedly made 48 quarts of popcorn before it was empty {if used accordingly}) while our family was in town thinking I could just replace the Strawberry glaze at Target at my earliest convenience, or my brother or sisters earliest convenience. After three trips to Target made by each of my parents children (thank you Erin and Ricky), one trip to Bed, Bath and Beyond and a lengthy search on the ole internet I am faced with these realities:

Back to Basics no longer makes Strawberry Glaze for popcorn, only Caramel (OK) and Kettle Corn (YUCK!!).

I shouldn't have made this scrumptous popcorn again for my family, even though they enjoyed it last time they were here.

I emailed the company telling them how bad a mistake they have made as I won't be buying popcorn glaze from them once every millenium (Of this I know WILL be their economic downfall I am sure) and gave them my email address in case they come across any cartons in their warehouse.

I LOVED this popcorn. I wonder if I can make my own strawberry glaze or if I can locate any on the ole e-Bay (who I despise thanks to PayPal).

-june

**UPDATE**

I got a not so friendly email from Back To Basics that said rather shortly that they have discontinued the Strawberry Glaze. Perhaps they read my blog and were offended?

Life and Whatnot.

Having twins. That is the easy part. Trying to do anything else, that is the hard part. Anytime I manage to do anything other than care for the twins and write a post, I am ecstatic.



This weekend, I was in ecstasy.



I managed to do housecleaning on Friday. And attend a ball game. I slept several hours.



Saturday I woke up early, took the twins for a walk with my siblings and nephew and went to Panera for breakfast. Then I went to Sam's, Target, Kohl's back to Target, Goody's and the grocery store. I was in desperate need of Groceries and on a wild goose hunt to find my sister a birthday gift, a particularly cute frame for which I cannot remember where I first saw it and have since to find it.



I then went home, ate unhealthily for lunch and unpacked the car. We straightened the house, the main floor had so much clutter I contemplated going back to Sam's and purchasing an 'OPEN' sign and opening shop. I decided instead to move the mass amount of clutter to my bedroom and shut the door. I waited all afternoon for our guests to arrive promptly at 'noonish' as per their email. At 4p.m. they called and said they were running a little late. I love how people can be so thoughtful. But anyways, I made potato salad and waited.



In the evening we went to my sister's where we celebrated her birthday (presentless I am afraid) and my brother called to tell me that he and Lucy's plans for prom had been slightly delayed (fortnately they were able to show up very fashionably, yet late). Our friends, Fawn and Jason, whom were staying the weekend at our house with their boys MJ, Doc and Mr. T. finally showed up at about 7:30, about the time we had to leave to get our children home and in bed. My sister's friend from high school was in town to see my sister and she had made her a birthday cake. Turns out, I don't really care much for Milk cake.



We came home and put the twins down and went back downstairs to wait for the family to show up. We made deviled eggs (how does anyone accomplish peeling a hard boiled egg successfully I would love to know). We made brownies for a chocolate trifle and brownies with marshmallows. At around 11 p.m. their family showed up. We showed them were they would be staying and talked for a while. At 1 a.m. Ward and I decided to have a banana bread cookoff. We would make banana bread using whatever ingredients we had and see whose tasted better. I used bananas and heavy whipping cream and vanilla and pecans along withother normal ingredients and he used cinnamon and walnuts and chocolate chips and brown sugar and well we cooked them and tasted them and you know what? It turns out you can put just about anything you want into banana bread, it tastes the same. The chocolate chips were truly the only noticably difference. We stayed up baking and talking with Jason and Fawn until 3:30.



At 3:40 Coop woke up hungry. At 6:30 Coop woke up hungry. At 7 Bailey woke up hungry.



We didn't sleep much. By 8 am Sunday Ward was out mowing the grass. At 10 when Jason and Fawn came up they made fun of us for being up so early, as if we had a choice. They have a baby, Mr. T, who was born February 2nd and I don't know how they got anymore sleep than we did, except I guess we have two.



Sunday morning we made a trifle, baked beans, mac and cheese, and pound cake. At 2 p.m. we had a cookout, for which almost everyone invited came and came on time. I was running the taddest bit behind. Showers always seem last minute and extremely rushed for me. I had a great time at the cookout, as I hope all who attended did. I love having all of the kids here and there were so many babies here as well. Our neighbor brought one of those blow up bouncy things and the kids had a great time.



Most people left pretty early, by 8 or so and we cleaned up. Then we sat around reading Robert Munsch books and talking about children. At 1 am I excused myself and went to bed, I don't know how some people can stay up all night and function well the next day.



Monday our guests stayed until 3 pm and then in the afternoon I had my family over for a 'leftovers cookout' for which I made more beans and mac and cheese and now I have more food than I did before the 'leftovers cookout'. The babies went to bed rather early, out by 7 p.m. so Ward and I went out and cleaned our garage up, entirely. Folks, I am proud to say that our garage, for the first time in over a year, has two cars parked in it again. Those of you here for the cookouts this weekend probably wouldn't even recognize it. You would walk in and think you had entered someone elses house, except for the dogs barking at you.



We then watched a movie and wrote a review.



This morning I have moved a treadmill, but not walked on one. I have recleaned almost everything cleaned on Friday and feel that with a little bit of pressure I can get almost anything done.



The twins had a pretty good weekend, someone was holding them constantly (our friends like babies way more than my extended family does). They have been a little unhappy this morning that I can't hold them both all morning. They are napping and where as I should be folding and sorting back up laundry, I came to journalize the weekend and explain to you that I had a very busy weekend but nothing really happened.



Wow, you must be thinking, all this to tell us nothing really happened.



I know, I know.



Today I begin packing for our upcoming busy weekend.



-june

Vegetarian F, No Hongos, Side of Rice

If we decide to go out to eat no one who knows me has to ask me where it is I want to go to dinner. They all know before asking, mexican. I love mexican, A LOT. And I have never been to a mexican restaurant that didn't have something vegetarian to offer. My favorite of all the mexican restaurants is La Carreta.

Before I became pregnant and before the twins were born I would frequent La Carreta at least once a week but often more times than that, once or twice I ate their four times in one week.

La Carreta is the only restaurant in my ole hometown other than fast food, chinese or Pizza Hutt and we frequented the place often as teenagers. When I was in the hospital after the twins were born our friends brought us La Carreta to go which I had never had before but was very good.

Last night we ran to Target and came across my brother and his girlfriend, we sat in the cafe for a few minutes talking and trying to decide how many small popcorns and drinks for a $1 to purchase when I suggested that we get something more substantial to eat. La Carreta here I come. We went to the La Carreta closest to our home which only opened a few months ago, making it their fourth location. There are now two in my hometown (#2 and #5), where my brother and Lucy reside. A smoking and nonsmoking one across the street from one another. Folks, I am not the only one crazy about this restaurant. If you can have two of the same restaurant across the street from one another (and the only other food chain I have seen do that is McDonald's) than you have something. Or than again you are dealing with a town where the folks have some difficulty crossing the street. Lucy told me they are now adding a 6th location in Amherst, where we went to high school. I can only imagine the teenagers like myself, skipping their last class to dine on free chips and salsa after La Carreta's siesta.

I love La Carreta and over the years we have become such regulars that they don't bring us menus anymore and they know what I am going to order. Ward and I both have our choices that we stick to. I have tried other things but I always come back to the Fajitas.

We don't go out to eat as much anymore but whenever we do, it is usually mexican.

-june

I Am A Blue Box Connoisseur

When I was little we didn't eat together much as a family, unless of course you count those Sunday night 'dinners' that turned into 'very early Monday morning dinners' because my mom wouldn't stop drinking long enough to cook the roast and mash the potatoes, and I really don't.

So my sister and I ate a lot of .19 cents a box Macaroni and Cheese which explains the malnourished look that we had for years (and has been erased forever with such Delicacies as Strawberry Milkshake Creme Oreos). I never even tasted Kraft Mac and Cheese until I met Ward and never ate 'real' Mac and Cheese until I married him and his mom started making it for us.

I now make Macaroni and Cheese, the real stuff, homemade, whatever you want to call it, several times a month, but I still, to Ward's chagrin, purchase, cook and consume good ole faithful, or as we whom love the stuff like to call it, Blue Box.

Even at .89 cents a box and made with a 'powder' they like to call 'real' cheese, this stuff is still a staple in our house. The closest Ward will come to consuming alternative Mac and Cheese is Velveeta and he will not share in a the delights of a serving of Blue Box, even if it is all I make for dinner.

But anyways, back to my point. You have to be very, very careful when making Blue Box. The simplest mistake will turn what could be a wonderful comfort meal into mush worthy only of the nearest garbage disposal.

To start with, let the water come to a boil, go ahead. It won't take long. And throw just a little, like 1/12 of a teaspoon of salt into the pot, you know you want to. Once your water is boiling, throw in those noodles that they must produce only for boxes of Kraft and store brand Mac and Cheese.

And then cook these abnormal noodles for 6:13. I am not kidding folks. You want your pasta a little al dente, but not too al dente. Your mac and cheese shouldn't have 'crunch' to it unless you add bacon bits.

Then you will want to drain your noodles, but be careful. When I was pregnant I tried to give my belly third degree burns when draining a pot of noodles. The water touched my belly and I immediately dropped the entire pot of pasta in the sink and on the floor and well my lunch was gone and I stopped cooking until the twins were about 3 weeks old and I could reach the sink again. So be careful is all I am saying.

Then put some butter in your pot before you give the noodles back to that pot. But be careful what you add to the mac and cheese. The box makes it sound so simple but it takes much care and consideration for pasta perfection. For example, you must use salted butter. I wouldn't make it with margarine or unsalted butter. And do not use the four tablespoons suggested on the traditional box, it is just excessive really to put that much butter in there, really much less, like 2.345 tablespoons is enough. And only the finest Fat Free Horizon Organic Milk touches my fine powder cheese therefore setting off a reaction that results in the cheesiest macs around. OK, not really. So then you will want to mix for 837 strokes, this many strokes is required to make sure all of that powder is adequately mixed. A biteful of that powder stuff (stuff being the closest descriptive word I can grasp to describe the powder cheese at the moment) is absolutely disgusting, truly. Now, grab a bowl. Fill it. Enjoy!

You probably never knew so much went into making a box of that stuff. I realize I am a blue box connoisseur. I have probably ingested somewhere around 491 boxes of this stuff.

-june

I Am Here To Help

In Case You Want to Gain a Few Pounds

May I Recommend:

That you try Strawberry Milkshake Creme Oreos (available at Target 2/$5 this week).

You know all that weight that I said I lost after I had the twins, well, I am doing all that I can to put it back on and these things are helping. Though odd sounding they are surprisingly very tasty. Very nice to enjoy with a film, very frustrating for the waistline.

-june