A Perfect Match

They like to eat.  I like to cook.  It's a good grouping.  And Mighty Joe was out of town for a few days.  Which left me to me own devices.  :)  And when I'm left to my own devices, I notice things.  First on the list, our bananas.  They were, shall I say, a little past their prime.  So when life gives you mushy bananas, make banana bread!  I whipped up a batch of the Bisquick banana quick bread.  Fast, easy, and delightful.  Mmm...

So, that was breakfast.  And then we played, and giggled, and swam, and napped, and read, and played, and then they were hungry again.  I asked Carter what he would like for dinner.  His request: "Dinner S'mores"...Super easy, healthy, minimal clean up.  We have a winner!


What you need:
Bread
Nutella
Whipped Cream Cheese
Banana, sliced
Margarine
Skillet


Pretend you're going to make a grilled cheese sandwich and heat up your skillet.  On one slice of bread, smear Nutella.  On the other, smear the cream cheese.  Cover one side with banana slices.  

Top with the other slice.  Smear margarine on the outside of the skillet and then cook it in the hot skillet.  

Let it cool a bit before you dig in.

  
The next day, we had swim lessons.  Both boys are doing GREAT!  So when we get home, they are ravenous.  On this particular day, Carter requested pizza.  Remember the starving kids???  I don't have time to make pizza!!!  But wait...I found some tortillas in my pantry and left over spaghetti sauce in the fridge.  So, I preheat the oven, use the tortillas for crust, top with sauce and little cheese (I tore up some deli ham and put that on mine) and Voila!!!, pizza for lunch!  

While they were cooking, I sliced up some strawberries.  

Everyone seemed pleased.  Their mouths were full, so I didn't get much feedback.

After lunch, the baby napped.  Yay!!!  And then I decided to make cookies.  MAJOR celebration!!!!  These are not ordinary cookies.  They are better described as "Little Mounds of Heaven" or Amish Sugar Cakes.  Whatever.  I got the recipe while we were in Pennsylvania visiting family.  This recipe is solid gold friends...


Amish Sugar Cakes
Makes about 4 dozen cookies + dough to eat out of the bowl
Preheat oven to 375F.


You'll need:
2 c. sugar
1 c. butter, softened
3 eggs
4 c. flour
1 t. baking soda
1 t. baking powder
1/4 t. salt
1 c. buttermilk
1 t. vanilla


Cream together butter, sugar, and vanilla.  Add eggs and buttermilk.  In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.  Add that to the wet ingredients and mix until combined.  

Place dough by the tablespoon (I used a cookie scoop) about 2" apart on greased cookie sheets and sprinkle with sugar. 

Bake about 10 minutes until the edges are golden brown.  

I learned that it helps to put the dough in the fridge in between batches.  The cookies just turn out prettier if the dough is slightly chilled (they taste the same).  Oh, and don't put them in a cookie jar...they'll get smooshed.  And then you'll be sad.  And then you'll have to put them in your Tupperware cookie keeper with wax paper between the layers.  But eating the dough that's left in the mixer bowl will make you happy again.

I mean, just look at Caleb...

he's SOOO happy Mommy made cookies!!!  :)


And on a side note, I love my stand mixer.  But I don't think I would use it if I didn't have this contraption...

It's a paddle attachment that scrapes the sides of the bowl as it's mixing.  Brilliant.  The Mr. got it for me for Christmas a couple of years ago.  So he's officially brilliant for paying attention to the post-it notes I put in catalogs that say "Buy this!".


Those are my recent culinary accomplishments.  And now if you'll excuse me, I need to get things organized so that somebody can have an Elmo birthday party.  


Love,
Emmy  :)