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Never Too Many Cookies
Freshly baked cookies are one of the most comforting treats around. I have tried many different cookie recipes over the years and cannot recall being disappointed by a single one. We do have favorites, but I always like to try new types of cookies, especially cookies that get a lot of press. One such famous cookie recipe is Former First Lady Laura Bush’s Cowboy Cookies. These cookies were originally made famous when the magazine Family Circle pitted Laura Bush’s cookie recipe against Tipper Gore’s ginger snaps. Laura Bush’s cookies won, as did her husband’s bid for office. That was obviously a long time ago, but the recipe still gets occasional…
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And The Beat Goes On…
Here we are again, another week of quarantine. This week, our girls officially started school online and thankfully that is going very smoothly for us. I know we are lucky that our girls can work online with very little assistance from us. Having a routine again is helping in many ways. We all get up at a decent time and now have something to do that helps make life feel a little more “normal.” We are not sure if this is how we will finish out the school year, but for now, the system is working. With all of us at home, we are definitely snacking more. While the cakes…
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Sanity-Saving Snacks
I don’t think anyone will argue that these are trying times we are living in right now, with an international health crisis changing everything as we know it. When the news began to unfold, I was paying attention, but not panicking. I went to our local Costco last Tuesday and there were plenty of supplies, even with people beginning to stock up. I bought our normal amount of things, not for a moment thinking that by Thursday, the nation would have a shortage of toilet paper, cleaning supplies and many, many food items. With kids now home from school with no end date in sight and many parents working from…
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Granola Clusters
My youngest daughter has decided to give swim team a try this summer. She is spending an hour every weeknight in her happy place, and our first meet is just around the corner. Swimming burns a lot of calories and burning all of those calories requires lots of snacks, but not just any snacks. You need something that will help you maintain energy but not melt in the heat on the pool deck. Granola and trail mixes fit the bill quite nicely. If you are a Costco fan like me, you may have tried their bakery-fresh granola clusters. They are delicious, chewy clusters of grains, nuts and dried fruits. They…
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Popcorn with Pep
We like movies in our house. Lots of movies. We like to spend most Friday nights at home watching a movie as a family, whether it’s a blockbuster or a quirky Netflix original. But every now and then, it’s a special treat to go out to the movie theater together. This past week, we were part of the millions of people that went to see Avengers: Endgame the night it opened. There is something extra thrilling about getting to see a movie before other people spoil it for you. It is great fun to be in a movie theater when the audience is invested enough to clap and cheer. Don’t…
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The Perfect Cookie
There is really nothing better than a freshly baked cookie. It’s a a sugary, comforting handful of love. I really haven’t met a cookie I didn’t like, but I think my favorite is the Monster Cookie. Years ago, I worked in downtown Minneapolis and one of my jobs was to order in lunch for everyone who wanted it. My favorite place to order from was Key’s Cafe. They served enormous omelettes, salads and sandwiches. They also served gigantic cookies the size of dinner plates. I think this was my first introduction to Monster Cookies. A Monster Cookie is an oatmeal, peanut butter cookie with chocolate chips and M&Ms. The origin…
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Banoffee Muffins
My youngest daughter started the week with a 2 hour visit to the orthodontist. She had an appliance removed and braces put on the bottom teeth. She was very patient with the process, and we made a bee-line for Chick Fil A for lunch before the soreness set in. But it did indeed catch up to her and she has been eating softer food all week. That kind of week calls for soft, sweet comforting foods like muffins. I have already shared a recipe with you for healthier muffins in my Bursting Berry Muffins. The muffins I am sharing today are not healthy, but they are delicious and EASY! So,…
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Hurricane Snacks
We are literally battening down the hatches here in North Carolina this week. Hurricane Florence seems to be heading for us and the coast has already been evacuated. We live in the middle of the state, but will still be walloped by this storm system. We are expecting LOTS of rain and strong winds, which in our neck of the woods means downed trees and loss of power. Like everyone else, we have removed all loose items from the yard and deck, we have strapped the deck furniture to the railings and stocked up on bread, water and batteries. But more importantly, we have stock piled some snacks that don’t…
