S'MORES

Father's Day

The kids had never done a candy bar card for their dad before, so this was the year!  They had a lot of fun. John was very pleased!!!  He said he'll have something to look forward to when he goes to work. ( a drawer full of candy bars!)

We did a little shopping for our s'mores.  The kids picked out giant marshmallows and John and I picked the coconut covered ones.  John and Sarah chose a chocolate bar and graham cracker, Daniel and I chose peanut butter cup and graham cracker and Andrew chose iced oatmeal cookies and cookies and cream white chocolate candy bar.  We all liked being able to pick whatever we wanted.

I was surprised at how well these gigantic marshmallows roasted up.

check out the size of that thing!

Lovin' it!

I have to say I really loved the peanut butter cup and toasted coconut marshmallow s'more.  If I wasn't so full from dinner I would have tried more combinations.  Maybe I'll "borrow" one or two of John's stash and make s'more tomorrow! (ha ha, did you get my joke?!)

Homemade Graham Cracker S'mores

Oh, it's the little things that make life sweet!

Who would think that homemade graham crackers would be so simple? No bowls, no mixing spoons--just a Ziploc and a few ingredients:
1 1/2 Cups whole wheat flour
1/3 Cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
A scant 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 Cup oil
2 Tablespoons molasses
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 Cup nondairy milk

I placed my Ziploc in a large juice can to make  the opening stable.

Placed all the dry ingredients into the bag...

Shake it up a bit to blend...

Then add the oil, molasses and vanilla.

Mix it around until everything is all mixed up...

Then add the milk and combine into a nice little pliable ball of dough.
At this point you can refrigerate it and finish up in the morning, or just go for it and roll out your dough on parchment paper. If you can make it about 1/8 inch thick, that would be perfect! 

I chose to make circles, but you can just cut them into squares or rectangles if that is what you want.

Score the crackers with a fork and bake for 12 minutes in a 350 degree oven.

Add a square of chocolate, and either a big marshmallow, or a handful of itty bitty ones if you are grilling in the oven. 

Watch closely now, until the marshmallows have reached perfection...

Then smash together and ENJOY!

Blackstrap Gingersnaps

Better than chocolate!--Did I really say that? I didn't think anything was better than chocolate, but I'm afraid I'd reach for one of these before I'd reach for a Dove Dark! Now, that's an endorsement!

                      

                    These are the wet ingredients:
                    3/4 cup sugar
                    1/3 cup blackstrap molasses
                    1/2 cup canola oil
                       3 Tablespoons milk
                      1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 

And the dry ingredients:
1 3/4 Cup flour
3 rounded teaspoons ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

I used part whole wheat, part white flour. Don't be stingy on the ginger--heap those teaspoons!

I used soy milk, but anything will do.

I sifted the dry ingredients into the wet to form a nice firm dough. You don't have to refrigerate it, but I  put it in the fridge overnight and baked them in the morning.

Form 2 dozen or so little balls and flatten them with your hand slightly. I like using parchment, but if you don't, you may want to slightly grease your cookie sheet.

In your preheated 350 degree oven, bake for 12 minutes. Let them cool a bit, and then enjoy a crunchy on the outside, moist on the inside cookie that you wished you had doubled the recipe for!

These compel you to eat them! Did I eat all five here?--Oh, yah!
Google Isa Chandra Moskowitz for more vegan recipes!

Smores

We camped out in the backyard on Friday night and roasted smores! We had so much fun! As I was thoroughly enjoying my smore, I couldn't help wondering about some different combinations of candybars, cookies, different flavored graham crackers, who knows what else, all ooey gooey and stuck together by a perfectly roasted marshmallow!  I'd love to see what you come up with!

Hamburgers with Onions and Mushrooms

2 pounds lean hamburger (makes 8 patties)
Worcestershire sauce
minced onions
pepper
garlic salt
butter (real butter) for frying, unless your going to grill.

I don't measure, I just put in what looks right.
I got a new tool from Pampered Chef that I love to use.  I don't know what it's called but it's that black masher thing.  It works great for mixing up hamburger, avocado, boiled eggs (for egg salad) pretty much anything you want mashed.


I topped off my burger with a slice of american white cheese and some sauteed onions and mushrooms.  This burger was soooooo good.

lemon pudding

I really love lemon filled donuts, lemon meringue pie, and lemon cake with cool whip, etc., but they're not always there when you need them.  I have found that pudding has been a really easy quick and yummy treat for me.  I bought these little 1/2 cup containers from Tupperware and they are perfect for dividing my pudding into single servings.  If I store it in one larger container I'll just eat it till it's gone :)

Vegan Pork and Beans--Minus the Pork!

Start with a pound of white beans--pick out the rocks or other unwanted pieces. Soak overnight, or up to a couple of days, rinsing 3 times a day to keep fresh.

This next part is important. After you rinse your beans, cover with clean water and bring just to a boil.  Take off the heat, cover and let sit for one hour. Then, drain water and rinse again--set aside until next step. I use these first two steps for any kind of dry bean I am cooking.

This is your ingredient list:
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, diced
1/2 Cup real maple syrup
1 Tablespoon mustard
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 Tablespoons Molasses
1 teaspoon salt

Saute onion till translucent, add garlic for about a minute.

Put the above ingredient list into your blender and liquify--add a little water as needed.

This is what it looks like--I had my doubts, too.

Stir in your beans. Add enough water to cover your beans. At this point, you can crock pot it for a few hours. 

I just cooked mine on the stove on #1 setting for about 3 hours, until the beans are soft. Never add tomato products to your beans until they are fully cooked--that's what keeps them kind of crunchy.

Be careful not to let the water all cook out. Now you are ready to add the last ingredient--1 can of tomato sauce. Stir to mix well, add more water or sauce as needed. It is amazing how this looks and tastes exactly like the canned pork and beans!  

Add a salad and a tofu dog, and wallah!--comfort food that your kids will love, too!

Lemon Drop Leg Wax

We're just a few days away from putting on our swimsuits and heading to the beach.  I can't wait!  There's nothing quite like waking up to the sound of the surf outside your door.  

I've discovered a recipe for waxing that uses the same ingredients as a lemon drop.  It works great, it costs only pennies and will keep for a while in the refrigerator.  Just reheat in the microwave and use again.  It's water soluble and so it rinses easily away when you're finished.  It works on more than just leg hair:   bikini line, eyebrows, armpits (Heidi?).   What's not to love?  Oh, yeah...the pain.  It hurts a bit but the hair is gone for weeks.  Totally worth it in my book.

Ingredients:

1 cup white sugar

1/4 cup lemon juice

1/4 cup water

Mix all ingredients in a sauce pan and heat until about 275 degrees F.  

The mixture will be bubbly and a nice amber brown color.  Let mixture cool before using.

Gather a few strips of cotton fabric, cut to about 2" x 6".  Spread a nice layer of corn starch on a small area of skin to prevent the sugar from sticking to your skin.  Use a popsicle stick to spread a thin layer of sugar wax in the direction of hair growth.  Quickly lay a strip of fabric over the wax and press down firmly.  Pull strip off in the opposite direction of hair growth. 

Hey Sistas! and Mom

I was wondering if you wouldn't mind taking off a week and play ketchup with the hamburgers and lemon theme. I'm sure everyone has things going on and another week would help. I am anxious to see what you all come up with! Even if it's a picture of you and your family eating a Wendy's Junior Bacon Cheese Burger and a drink of Lemonade! It's just nice to connect with everyone. 
Now Mom, I just threw out some beans I was soaking because they looked "dangerous". I could reallllly use a tutorial in making beans. I just can't seem to do a good job. They are either crunchy or just not near as good as yours!!!! So, for your job this week, what if you taught us all how to make beans? My kids love pork and beans minus the pork and I don't like paying $2 per can.
Would you all be ok if we did that this week? Val, I hope this doesn't screw up any plans you had. Let me know and we can put this off until it's my turn again if you'd rather. Thanks!   Kelly

Vegan Lemon Ice Cream with Coconut Milk

Before I get to the food, 

Isaac's birthday was Saturday. He's a big 7 year old now!!!! Friday was his party for him and his friends. He chose an Indiana Jones theme. I made a dozen cotton brown shoulder bags for them to wear and then we found a dozen straw cowboy hats at the dollar store along with a bunch of treasures for them to search for and keep.  I think the kids had a great time! The party ended in a huge water fight that they all started. Lots of fun! 

I made a chocolate, raspberry filled cake and made Vegan Lemon Ice Cream. I forgot to take a picture of it though. I will post one when I can and add it to this. It turned out deliiiiiish! I have linked the ice cream recipe for you to use. This woman's recipe is marvelous! The only difference is that I made my own coconut milk from shredded coconut and she used a can. All you do to make your own is to soak about 1 c.  shredded coconut in 3 c. water for 30 minutes or more, blend it, and strain in a cheese cloth. Walla! There's your own coconut milk! Keep the extra coconut and freeze it. Then when you are making cookies, add it in. It will give a little flare to an old standby cookie recipe. I like it in oatmeal cookies.  Hope you can try out and enjoy the ice cream recipe!  Hooray, it's SUMMER!