I’m probably not supposed to use that phrase – since it’s TMed or copyrighted or something.  Meh.  The point being you and I are both looking for a quick and easy, and preferably somewhat nutritional entree and this sure beats the ‘real’ one in all regards.  Maybe you think I’m out of my gourd for even acting like a recipe is required?  W/e – I really like the Mickey D one okay!?    And these guys consider it a ‘top secret recipe’ so I’m not that looney alright?

So here’s what ya do:

Easy Egg McMuffin

Recipe yoinked from Top Secret Recipes

Ingredients:

1 English Muffin

2 Slices fake bacon (or veggie meat of your choice)

1 egg

1 slice American Cheese

*small empty can about the circumference of the muffin (tuna, soup or even mini pie dish all work!)

Directions:

1. Heat a pan to medium heat. Split the English muffin and brown each face in pan while cooking bacon (I usually just nuke them).

2. Grease the inside of the can with shortening/nonstick spray.

3. Place the greased can on the hot pan (still on med. heat) and crack egg into it.  Break the yolk and lightly salt.

4.  When the egg surface begins to firm cut around the inside of the can gently to free the edges. Remove egg from can and cook other side for 1 additional minute.

5. Built your sammie!  I recommend bottom of muffin, cheese, egg, fake-on, top of muffin.  Nuke for 20 sec. to achieve uniform heating.

Serve with a greek yogurt, toasted walnut, cinnamon and honey parfait if you really wanna kill it:)

S’more Pie

(adapted from Smitten Kitchen)

Ingredients

For crust
5 tablespoons salted butter, melted, plus additional for greasing
1 1/2 cups cookie crumbs (10 graham crackers or 24 small gingersnaps; about 6 oz, pulsed in a food processor until finely ground)
2 tablespoons sugar

For chocolate cream filling
7 oz fine-quality bittersweet chocolate (not more than 70% cacao; not unsweetened), finely chopped
1 cup heavy cream
1 large egg, at room temperature for 30 minutes

For marshmallow topping
1 bag marshmallows  - I used the big puffy ones but I’m sure the little guys would do :)

*Got a wicked sweet tooth?  Go crazy and incorporate a light and fluffy peanut butter frosting.  NOM.

Directions

Make graham cracker crust: Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly butter pie 9- to 9 1/2-inch pie plate. Stir together all ingredients in a bowl and press evenly on bottom and up side of pie plate. Bake until crisp, 12 to 15 minutes, then cool on a rack to room temperature, about 45 minutes.  PS) Feel free to use a premade crust – I won’t tell:)

Make chocolate cream filling: Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Put chocolate in a large bowl. Bring cream just to a boil in a 1- to 1 1/2-quart heavy saucepan, then pour hot cream over chocolate. Let stand 1 minute, then gently whisk until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Gently whisk in egg until combined and pour into graham cracker crumb crust (crust will be about half full).

Cover edge of pie with a pie shield or foil and bake until filling is softly set and trembles slightly in center when gently shaken, about 25 minutes. Cool pie to room temperature on a rack (filling will firm as it cools), about 1 hour.

Optional Step: Love peanut butter?  Add a layer of peanut butter frosting.

Top with marshmallows.

Brown topping: Preheat broiler. Transfer pie to a baking sheet protect crust with foil/pie shield. Broil 3 to 4 inches from heat, until marshmallows are golden brown, about 3 minutes. Cool pie on a rack 10 minutes. Slice pie with a large heavy knife dipped in hot water and then dried with a towel before cutting each slice.

Please note, this is a messy one, messily delightful – not the prettiest but worth every sticky bite.

Note: Pie (before browning topping) can be chilled up to 1 day.

We rescued another homeless pup.  He was tiny and precious and silly and now he is GIANT and precious and silly.  Going from this (Jan. 2011 – 9 lb.)

to this (November, 2011 ~79 lb.)

…in mere months.  Impressive, no? We named him after another big event… Our college friends out in CA had a beautiful baby boy!  We found out they were pregnant the same day we decide to rescue this great dane mix, and since they’re such dear friends we thought the name Wally would be just perfect.  So while they welcomed Weston Wallace to the world, we watched our own Wally explode into the gentle (although at times wild) giant he is today.

I student taught – and fell in love with 30 children.  Then they ripped my heart out when I had to leave them.  I think they still have it – wonder if they’re even aware?

Yet another darling friend moved away.  Because obv. that’s the cool thing to do (ahem – Traci & Wendy).  So what was a girl to do than pack up with another BFF and help the sweet thing assemble her IKEA furniture.  Also – IKEA!  And Kmitch – don’t get the idea that this is my accepting your leaving – I haven’t, and I never will.  Same goes for the rest of you!

We played in Lake Placid and skiid Whiteface.  The one part of winter worth loving, beautiful blankets of fluffy pristine snow to be played in, a snuggly fireplace, all surrounded by family.  You cannot beat that.

I survived my graduate portfolio and exhibition (think thesis and defense).  And I thought my undergrad senior paper was rough – aye!  On the bright side, it really helped me articulate who I am as an educator and gain confidence in my calling.

I gradumacated!  I know right?!  Here’s the sign to prove it;)  Made some amazing lifelong friends during my time at Nazareth (3 of whom are pregnant and cute beyond possible articulation), and even got to walk on the same day as my cousin and childhood friend – congrats Em!!

We saw Joshie in concert (again – I saw the crooner live for the first time back in high school – thanks Amanda!).   He was both hilarious and ethereal and oh, that voice!  Bravo, Mr. Groban, bravo!  We also saw Wicked, the Lion King, and the Blue Man Group.  All fabulous!  SO good.

We went to the Dominican Republic.  We ate and drank our faces off and spent way too much time in the sun.  We danced, and laughed and were just the two of us. And it was rockin’.  Who wants to pay for us to go back again this year;)?

We said goodbye to Jared’s childhood dog.  Zoey the springer spaniel, the sweet whiner who will always have a special place in our hearts.  We miss you pretty girl!

Our house became home.  Yeah, it took a while.  But we’ve finally settled in and done lots of the projects we were itching to do.  From the totally redone kitchen, to the super duper improved sofas, to the new mason jar chandelier and delightful teal window boxes (and piano!) – I’m afraid this little cape cod now SCREAMS our names:)

We visited DC and met up with two college loves.  We frolicked around the city and the suburbs and had an overall splendid time.  Again with the awesome tour guides and snuggle buddies:)

I finally started to conquer my anxieties.  And it has made all the difference.  I see the whole world in a new way and am beginning to appreciate all that God has so lavishly blessed me with.  Yes, it took some deep introspect, some painful realizations, and even (gasp) some ‘crazy pills’ but to say it was worth it would be a vast understatement.  And along those lines…

I read two INCREDIBLE new books that I simply can’t keep to myself!  The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin and Life’s Missing Instruction Manual : The Guidebook You Should Have Been Given at Birth by Joe Vitale.  If you only get around to reading 2 books this year – it should probably be these:)

We were spoiled by many more Oyin visits.  And it was glorious.  SO the way life should be lived – with incredible pals popping in and living up the summer with you a couple of times a month.  Downright dreamy.

Lots of dear friends got married.  Their weddings were heartbreakingly beautiful and there was some serious getting down on the dance floors during their receptions.  Cheers and happily ever after to you Ken and Meg, Chris and Steph, and Briant and Joanna.

We spent a week at the lake.   Sunshine, tubing and waterskiing (conquering the slolam!) til we literally killed the boat, family and innumerable games of every fashion.  Glow stick motion artwork, campfires, henna tattoos, and heart to hearts with my bro into the wee wee hours of the night (or morning?)

Gram and Grandpa kept us on our toes.  So many hospital trips and confused doctors.  Still no real answers but they’re home now – and that is good:)

We adventured in Saratoga Springs.  There was wonky water to be drank, adorable shops to pop into and delightful food.  A cop scare, a picnic and oh the sunshine!  Carolyn and Tyler – let’s meet up more often!

My cousin had beautiful twin boys.  And they stole everyone’s heart. Now all I ever want to make are perfect tiny onesies because everything is adorable when it’s on a onesie. Babies are too much for me – cuteness just takes over and I stop making sense.  The end.

We opened an Etsy shoppe and I attended my first craft show!  And get this, stuff has actually SOLD! Cray cray.  There hasn’t been much time as of late to keep up with stocking the shoppe but it doesn’t mean I don’t still get silly amounts of joy from the endeavor.

A darling friend got my butt in gear.  And now she’s moving far, far away – leaving me workoutbuddyless.  So unfair right?  I’m miserable to work out with too, always complaining and evading, how am I ever going to get someone to hold me accountable again?  Seriously Traci, don’t you think my health is reason enough to forego a killer job opportunity in sunny Florida?

We rocked NYC – twice.  What a place!  What people!  What good times and wonderful food.  Best of all?  A bro to escort through all the chaos and help us get an insider’s take.

The couple that met (read: were set up) at our wedding 3 1/2 years ago (my dashing cousin and our lovely ORU friend – who happened to be Jer’s sister wing RA way back during Freshman year) GOT ENGAGED – in Spain, because they’re cool like that. They’re gonna get married you guys!!  You know what that means?  Friends for life.  Double dates FOREVER.  Best plan EVER!

I got a job!  I feel as though I’ve broken through the glass ceiling by snagging one of the rare long term substitute positions in upstate NY (as opposed to plentiful per diem positions).  I’m over the moon about settling in to make a difference in my kiddos lives and the glorious constancy of my own classroom.  (Yes, I’m fully aware of the messes, the pulled out hair, the tears and the incomprehensible swarms of germies that go along with this new endeavor – and yes, I’m oddly over the moon about those aspects too.)  I finally feel like all my hard work (turns out masters’ degrees are incredibly difficult to obtain and cost a fortune) is coming to fruition and I just can’t wait to pour my heart into my new class.

Wally got hit by a car.  Putting that in bold seems unfair so let me just say and he is miraculously a-ok.  I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say that God even cares for our doofy clumsy dogs.  Good thing too!  Because the dent in the car tells another story!

We attended lots of fabulous parties.  Getting together with friends and family – whether its 2 of you or 20 – is the best.  And we’re wildy blessed to get to do both quite frequently.  Love you all!

There was so many more day to day details that, despite there minuteness shaped our year and lives. We’re who we are today because of the love and support of our friends and family and God’s ever-abundant grace.  And as we head into the long string of tomorrows before us in 2012 – I pray I’ll keep this in mind and keep an attitude of optimistic gratitude through all the ups and downs.  I’m so, so, so very blessed.

So to kick off this season of thanksgiving, I wanted to share with you all some of the things I’m incredibly joyful to have in my life:

• a safe and comfortable home, which is the outcropping of unending support from both of our parents and the ability to enjoy such the result of the protection of our selfless troops around the world.
• incredible, creative, and thoughtful friends, who point out things like my birthday falling on the same day as “Chocolate Covered Anything” day, (coincidence?  I think not).
• greek yogurt.  again, I know it’s a little thing, and I probably shouldn’t love it so.  but I do.  it’s flippin’ delicious and protein packed so it’s rightfully gained a staple-stance in my diet repertoire.  Try it as a substitute for sour cream on your next taco and you’ll see what I’m getting at!  See number 7 on this odd (#81 add pureed carrots to health-ify your peanut butter… huh), but interesting article from Men’s Fitness (don’t judge.)
• loving families.  Where on Earth would we be without them!?
• old friends, who’ve seen you through the good, bad and ugly, and are still around for the obscene teal piano moving in a tiny cape cod with tight corners and couples dinner parties full of love, crazy delicious food and laughter
• new friends, with shared callings and passion for becoming a great educator (who coincidentally shares my chocolate-covered birthday, year and all – crazy right!?)
• lovely, ornate inherited china from my late and Great Aunt Lillian, perfect for hosting aforementioned dinner parties..
• etsy.com, because there is something inherently glorious about a community of crafters and DIYers sharing their creativity with the world.
• cranberry pills. popping one a day has kept my urinary tract on track (sorry – couldn’t resist).  also, sorry if thats TMI, but freedom from UTIs (without tons of antibiotics) is freakin’ spectacular!
• snuggles from ma dawgs.  As part of my new Happiness Resolutions (ala previous bullet re. The Happiness Project) I try to never miss an obvious opportunity for puppy cuddles.  That means I start, and end, each day with a warm heart, with lots of chances for pick-me-ups throughout the day.
• Glee and Skype.  Those two combined help me stay in touch with two of my sweethearts, and that’s downright excellent.

*Please note, this list is just the TIP of the iceberg in the abundance of blessings that is my life.

What are you all extra super duper full of gratuity for in this season of your life?

First, and by far most importantly, HUGE thank you to the incredible men and women who bravely protect the safety and liberties of those us of here at home, past and present.  There are no words that do justice to our gratitude.  This thank you also extends to their supportive and loving families who suffer heartache unimaginable day in and day out.  Know you’re in our prayers too!

And on a lighter note…  I think I’ve mentioned it before on here, and I get the feeling it’s a common blogger tendency…  I positively LOVE goodwill.  Every time I pass one I have a near uncontrollable urge to just ‘pop in’ and see what they’ve got and more often than not, when I give in to that impulse, I leave with a treasure, ready and willing to be upcycled into something lovely.  This kind of treasure hunt has been the inspiration for several of my Etsy projects.  It’s also been a key contributor to our first home’s ‘hominess.’  I always have aspirations of sharing my finds and upcycling adventures, but all too often my laziness ends with Twitter posts instead of proper blogging.

Today, I’m here to promptly rectify this.  Sure, it might be with low-quality cell phone pictures taken outside in a terribly-in-need-of-a-rake backyard… but nonetheless, to rectify…

My latest project:  

A $7 shelf, with peeling poo-brown paint….

Gone grey.

I love, love, love, goodwill hunting.  To me, it’s like finding diamonds in the rough, breathing new life to someone’s old, forgotten treasures, and letting them become treasures in a new right, instead of heading to the landfill.  Perhaps I’m being overly-romantic about material goods, but it’s something I really enjoy, can you tell?  What do you think guys, likey?

I always thought that making donuts at home would be an messy, time-consuming, disappointing endeavor.  

Turns out, my waist-size was in a much better place because of this false belief.

This past weekend (henceforth known as Fall Fest weekend) I made donuts at home using a recipe I’d stumbled onto on good ol’ Pinterest.  My personal donut belief system came crumbling down around me in a pile of hot fluffy frycakes.

As far as that recipe…

Guess how many ingredients?  3.  

Guess how many steps? 3.

Guess how delicious?  CRAZY.  

Uhg.  Surely you can see how bad of news this is you guys?  Aj least before there was effort (real or assumed) between me and my high-calorie addiction.  Now – I got nothin.  Except of course, the ability to take all of you down with me;)

Stupid Easy Donuts

Recipe originally from How Does She?

Ingredients:

• Refrigerated biscuit dough* (I think I bought the flaky, I think it’s not ‘sposed to be.  My tastebuds didn’t mind.)
• Vegetable oil
• Glaze and/or sprinkles

Directions:

1. Separate the biscuits, cut a hole in each biscuit (I used a pop bottle top but anything of that size will due), and save the holes.  Come on people, I didn’t really need to add that last part right? (timbits anyone!?)
2. Pour vegetable oil into a large frying pan to 1/2 in. depth. Heat on high for about 5 minutes (watch it carefully – last thing any of us need is a hot oil explosion!), then turn down to medium or medium low (depending on the hotness of your stovetop).
3. Use a hole to test the readiness of the oil, when set in it should begin to bubble and cook immediately (too cool=sinks and does nada, too hot=instant browning party).  Once your oil is all set, cook up all your donuts, for about 20 seconds per side, or until they turn light golden brown.  Fish out with a fork and place on a drying rack over a cookie sheet to cool off a bit before glazing**.

Simple Glaze

1/2 tsp Salt

3 cups confectioners’ sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 cup cold water

]]> http://twebby.wordpress.com/2011/10/27/fall-fest-recipe-2-stupid-easy-donuts/feed/ 1 twebby IMG_0279 IMG_0278 http://twebby.wordpress.com/2011/10/25/fall-fest-recipe-1-brussels-sprouts-and-smoky-onions-on-cheddar-toast/ http://twebby.wordpress.com/2011/10/25/fall-fest-recipe-1-brussels-sprouts-and-smoky-onions-on-cheddar-toast/#comments Wed, 26 Oct 2011 02:32:44 +0000 twebby http://twebby.wordpress.com/?p=2146 ]]> So this past weekend hubs and I had some wonderful friends come up from NYC to visit.  And let me tell you kids, we squeezed AS MUCH autumn joy as humanly possible into those 36 hours.

And before we get to the goodies, here’s a little snapshot of our delicious weekend:

Yeah, so we took some goofy pics.  Don’t judge;)

Poppa bear the great tractor man!!

Didn’t appreciate the hilarity of Matt’s pose til after the fact!  :)

Their cuteness is hard to verbalize.  Obvs.

 Glitter Toms, fall foliage and a hayride.  What could be better!?! 

Oh right, mum packing us a basket of donuts and cider, that would be better!!

Can you guys appreciate the tutu on the tractor like I did?  Because I was LOVING it!

We also happened to eat about as much delightful fall food as humanly possible.  I just adore having fellow foodie friends!  And this is where you come in:)  Since pretty much everything we chowed down on was beyond delicious, I figured you might just like some pics and recipes…

And where else could I start than with an savory, warm and inviting appetizer?  PS) If you don’t think you like brussels sprouts, I DARE you to try this and then let me know how you feel about those adorable and super-healthy veggies:)

Brussels Sprouts and Smoky Onions on Cheddar Toast

Recipe originally from delish.com 

Ingredients:

• 1 pound(s) brussels sprouts, thinly sliced lengthwise
• 2 tablespoon(s) extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 large onion, finely diced
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1 teaspoon(s) sweet smoked paprika (worth buying special, it brings SUCH depth to this recipe!)
• 4 slice(s) of multigrain bread, toasted (a baguette would probably be most delicious but we had to settle for what we had on hand – good ol sliced shole wheat)
• 4 ounce(s) extra-sharp cheddar cheese, thinly sliced

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a saucepan of boiling salted water, cook the brussels sprouts until they are just tender, about 5 minutes. Drain and pat dry.
2. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet. Add the onion, season with salt and pepper, and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until just softened, about 5 minutes. Add the paprika, cover, and cook over low heat, stirring frequently, until the onion is tender, about 10 minutes; add a little water if the onion dries out.
3. Add the brussels sprouts to the skillet and cook until tender throughout, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Arrange the toasts on a baking sheet and top with the cheddar. Bake for 2 minutes, until the cheese is melted; mound the brussels sprouts and onions on top and serve.
5. Nom.

]]> http://twebby.wordpress.com/2011/10/25/fall-fest-recipe-1-brussels-sprouts-and-smoky-onions-on-cheddar-toast/feed/ 0 twebby IMG_0182 IMG_0175 IMG_0183 IMG_0185 IMG_0198 IMG_0194 IMG_0208 IMG_0206 IMG_0214 IMG_0189 IMG_0237 IMG_0233 IMG_0245 http://twebby.wordpress.com/2011/10/19/planetary-cupcakes/ http://twebby.wordpress.com/2011/10/19/planetary-cupcakes/#comments Thu, 20 Oct 2011 01:37:46 +0000 twebby http://twebby.wordpress.com/?p=2138 ]]>

Who says science can’t be delicious?  Not moi!

Sometimes us teachers have to be creative.  You know, how can we call goodies in the classroom educational.  Er, I mean, how can we make learning fun…

So anyways… I made these a couple of years ago (back in my earlier cupcake days) for a bunch of adorable 2nd graders who had stolen my heart and were studying the solar system at the time.

There’s not necessarily a recipe that goes with this post… I used my favorite cupcake recipe, and then tweaked the sizes the best I could to parallel planet sizes.  (Obviously, these aren’t even CLOSE to ‘to scale,’ but I focused more on relative size [you know, Jupiter being the big oaf of a cupcake and Mercury the bitty baby]).  I made a double batch, partly to feed all the hungry mouths, and partly so I would have enough cupcakes to make a whompin’ sun.

I also know Pluto is no longer a ‘planet.’  ’Cept I had a cutie-pie little guy in my class who was outspoken on his love for Pluto.  A little guy who didn’t say much else.  It was almost like he related with that little guy on the outside of the planet clique.  So in his honor, I make a tiny bitty cupcake with a tiny bitty candy representing ‘Pluto’ on it.  And that particular little kiddo just about exploded with joy when he saw that ‘Pluto’ cupcake, in turn melting my old, mushy heart.

Back to the topic at hand.  You’ll also need copious amounts of food coloring.  Yeah, yeah, I know – dyes and badness.  Pish, posh, all is forgiven in the name of learning silly kittens!

Plus, this way licking knives results in awesome (makeupless) pics with a sexy blonde;)

Go get your learning cupcakes on!

If you don’t follow me on Pinterest (what your deal be?) then perhaps you haven’t noticed my obsession with Nutella.  Nothing new really, just now publicly visible.

Nutella on toast, nutella on crackers, nutella in pies, nutella snack-packs, apples dipped in nutella, it’s all just so dreamy.

I even made my own Nutella a few weeks ago (but that’s a story for another post kids).

My latest Nutella victory came in the form of one of the simplest cookies I have EVER made…  You best be making these ASAP:

4 Ingredient Nutella Cookies

Recipe adapted from A Busy Nest

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Nutella
• 1 cup sugar (plus about 1 c. for rolling)
• 2 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 eggs

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Blend all ingedients together well.
3. Form into 1-inch balls.  Roll balls in sugar (I did some in regular white and some in fun fall colored sugar)
4. Place on cookie sheet. Criss cross with a fork pressing down gently.
5. Bake 7-8 minutes or until set. Cool (or devour right out of the oven if you’re antsy in your pantsies).

]]> http://twebby.wordpress.com/2011/10/16/nutella-cookies-soft-chewy-and-easy-peasy/feed/ 1 twebby IMG_0129 IMG_0131 IMG_0123 IMG_0125 IMG_0128 http://twebby.wordpress.com/2011/09/17/falling-in-love/ http://twebby.wordpress.com/2011/09/17/falling-in-love/#comments Sat, 17 Sep 2011 22:28:31 +0000 twebby http://twebby.wordpress.com/?p=2118 ]]> To be honest, I’m not a huge fan of autumn.  I know lots of New Yorkers who would slap me for saying that but the truth is, I can’t help but see fall as a precurser to our endless months of frigidity.  Alas.

However, today was one of those crisp, juicy fall days that even the most hard-hearted autumn-haters can’t hate on.

Breakfast with the folks, tennis in the crisp fall air, local fresh apples,

cinnamon donuts and icy cider,

a new wreath project for the shoppe, 

droopy Amish white bread (I think I peeked one to many times!)

and homemade honey cinnamon butter (recipe coming soon!).

What’s not to love!?