Chocolate Chip Muffins

I'm thankful for Jordan Page and the things I've learned from her.

The other day I followed a block schedule and had a really productive day because I devoted certain things to certain blocks and wasn't trying to get everything on my to do list done all at once.

When my youngest wanted chocolate chip muffins, I knew I could pull out Shelf Cooking 101 and go to the Build-Your-Own Recipe section for Muffins and use what I had on hand instead of finding a specific "chocolate chip muffins" recipe.

I'm also thankful my youngest helped me make the muffins. He helped get out ingredients, he helped count the cups and teaspoons, he put cupcake liners in the muffin tins, and he helped me eat the muffins (I think there's a "Little Red Hen" lesson in here somewhere). 

Gingerbread Cookies!

I found a gingerbread cookie recipe I like and want to keep using. It's one I used years and years and years ago but haven't in a while. There were quite a few years when I didn't even try to make gingerbread cookies. Rolling out and cutting out isn't my favorite thing. I've tried different recipes in the last few years but decided to do this one again this year and I've got to say, I was pleased with the results. Jet and I made them earlier on and I willingly made them again for National Gingerbread Cookie Day on November 21.

The recipe is from Family Dinner Cookbook by Debbie G. Harman and it's called "Gingerbread Friends." They taste so good to me.

Speaking of that cookbook, that same day I used the recipe for "Chicken Croissants" in it because Stephanie gave us some croissants when she came over and I love chicken salad on croissants. I scaled the recipe back because it's meant for a crowd and I substituted apples in place of grapes because I had apples but not grapes. #shelfcooking

The croissant sandwiches went well with stuffing for National Stuffing Day that same day.

Terry Pratchett's Birthday

April 28 was Terry Pratchett's Birthday. We decided that morning to celebrate with a Terry Pratchett themed dinner so we used what we had on hand to create what we did. #shelfcooking

We also played a Discworld video game from the 90's and our oldest son played "Thud" with his siblings, a homemade game he got for Christmas.

We made a Vimes BACON lettuce tomato sandwich, 

Dibbler's sausage in a bun (with onions and mustard), Captain Carrot sticks, bananas for the librarian at Unseen University (ook), cheese trolley, sludge from the river Ankh to drink, and Dirt.

We also had "the fifth elephant" as a centerpiece.

My favorite thing was the luggage cake we made. I am not a cake decorator but I think it turned out well. 

And of course there were Terry Pratchett books all over to read.

And... dwarf bread to fight with.

I love celebrating with this family.

Even More Celebrating in January

January 19 was Whisper "I Love You" Day. I whispered it. I tried whispering while texting but it didn't translate over very well. I had to explain to Jeremy that what I was writing was whispered.

It was also National Popcorn Day but we were so busy that we celebrated National Popcorn Day Observed. Jeremy tried some new flavors of popcorn seasoning (at the same time but in different bowls). Thank you, Jeremy.

January 20 was Penguin Awareness Day. Lucky created a slide show of penguins to the music, "Ride of the Valkyries," and called it "Ride of the Penguins."

The kids watched Penguins: Spy in the Huddle that day. It's become tradition when we can manage it. We also ate fish sticks which is also tradition because penguins eat fish.

 

January 21 was National Hugging Day. You better believe there was hugging. It was also Granola Bar Day and people did indeed eat granola bars.

 

January 22 was National Hot Sauce Day. I made baked mac 'n' cheese that had sauce in it and added cooked ground beef that needed to be used. #shelfcooking

We also took our last baguette and Jeremy made garlic bread out of it. 

That evening for FHE treat, we had cake batter blondies for Blonde Brownie Day but we didn't have white chocolate chips and I wasn't going to go to the store for them so I used regular chocolate chips and Jr. called them "brunettes." Heh Heh.

January 23 was National Pie Day. We celebrated that one observed because I was too tired at the end of the night but when we did celebrate it observed, we had vanilla pudding pie with pumpkin pie ice cream on it like we did for Thanksgiving. I forgot to take a picture but I put a picture of our Thanksgiving pie and ice cream on my blog January 2 of this year.

 

January 24 was National Compliment Day. Lucky and I gave each other compliments. It was also National Peanut Butter Day. Jet had peanut butter on a tortilla. He loves that.

Shelf Cooking

Another shelf cooking win. We had Hawaiian Haystacks toppings and pizza crust so I made Hawaiian Haystacks pizza. And added mushrooms for Jeremy since he likes mushrooms.

Yumm.

Since it was Eat Your Vegetables Day on June 17, it was a good way of getting vegetables in (and some fruit).

And those that didn't like pineapple on their pizza picked it off and gave it to me. I didn't complain.

Pizza and Fettucine (but not in that order)

February 7 was Fettucine Alfredo Day. We had chicken alfredo with linguine because that's what we had. #shelfcooking

 

February 9 was National Pizza Day. We made pizza.

Christmas Day 2022

So let's talk about Christmas Day.

First of all, we got the star on the tree.

While I was working on Christmas Eve dinner, Jr. and Nichole made breakfast sandwiches to put in the fridge so that Christmas morning, we'd have something quick to eat before church. Thanks, kids.

Christmas morning we got to come out to see what Santa brought and what was in our stockings. 

I carried Jet out still asleep but after a while he woke to see what Santa brought him then had fun opening the wrapped presents in his stocking- dino cars! He was excited with each car and started roaring (as he does) but as soon as Jeremy handed him a new wrapped present, he immediately handed back the dino car so he could unwrap the next one.

Then we didn't open any presents from around the tree but got dressed, ate our quick breakfast, and went to church where there was a beautiful musical program with special words from the bishop. Lucky got to sing with the Primary and I was able to sing with the choir.

It was what I needed and wanted that morning. I'll be honest that Christmas Eve was rough. I had a nice breakdown. Well, it wasn't so nice. There has definitely been some stress lately. But Christmas Day was just right.

 

At home we were able to Zoom with Jeremy's parents while opening presents (later that day, I called my parents and had a nice chat with them and two of my brothers).

One thing we found out about Jet is that he really likes unwrapping presents whether they belong to him or not. The kids helped bring out some presents Christmas Eve and one present had to be rewrapped. Then during our main present opening Christmas afternoon, we took turns opening presents and Jet was practically launching himself at the presents to try to tear the paper off them. In some ways that determined what present would be opened next when it was the recipient's turn. Three year olds are fast, man.

Nichole was sweet and made this for Jet for Christmas:

 

Christmas Day was nice.

Now we're dealing with the aftermath.

Spicy Guacamole Pickles

November 14 was National Pickle Day and it was Spicy Guacamole Day. Since avocados were a decent price when I went to the store, I was able to get some and actually made guacamole this time (it wasn't too spicy, though). Last time I got avocados I forgot to make guacamole for our nachos. 

We had pickles already in the fridge. #shelfcooking 

I was so proud of myself for making the guacamole then wondered what we were going to eat it with. I searched around and found an unfinished bag of tortilla strips that I had put away so the kids wouldn't just snack on them til they were gone. Hooray. There was enough for our guacamole.

We rounded out our sides with some garlic bread and for a main dish- carbonara. Yum.