Broccoli with Two Cheese Sauce

The girl child in my house has homework year round.
Not school year round, just homework.

Proud Mama will brag about the fact that she is in a school for advanced children...but the Mama Bear in me wants to make it all go away so she can be a kid for a bit!

Don't get me wrong, spoiled brat takes vacations. Big ones. She also has a great-auntie who allows her to go to her beach house pretty much whenever she wants...but 85% of her time at home is spent doing school work.

In the interest of full disclosure, I will admit, it bothers me more than it does her. She is a smart cookie, she knows this is simply preparing her for her future.

Hubby and I discuss frequently, we should be pleased to have a child who knows what she has to do to get ahead in this competitive world, and just does it.

To make my self proclaimed nerd happy, I make her favorite foods, including this side from Recipe Girl.

Ingredients:

1 Cup milk

½ Cup sliced onion

2 Cloves garlic (minced)

Dash of ground nutmeg

2 Tbsp all purpose flour

⅓ Cup grated Parmesan cheese

⅓ Cup shredded Jarlsberg cheese

¼ Tsp salt

Pinch of red pepper flakes

6 Cups broccoli

Directions:

1. Combine milk, onion, garlic, and nutmeg in a heavy saucepan over medium heat.

2. Heat milk mixture until tiny bubbles start to form around edge.

3. Remove milk mixture from heat and let stand 15 minutes

4. Strain milk into a bowl, reserving milk. Discard solids.

5. Add strained milk and flour to pan, stirring with a whisk

6. Return to medium heat, cook two minutes, or until thick

7. Remove from heat. Add cheeses, salt and pepper. Whisk until smooth. Keep warm.

8. Cook broccoli in boiling water for 3 minutes or until crisp tender.

9. Top with cheese sauce, serve immediately

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This recipe was shared with:
Flour me with Love, Tumbleweed Contessa, Grace Langdon, Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms, A Southern Fairytale, A Pinch of Joy, The Modest Mom Blog, Huckleberry Love, I Should be Mopping the Floor, Uncommon Designs, Jambellish, A Mama's Story, The Chicken Chick, Boogieboard Cottage, Enchanted Homeschooling Mom, Skip to my Lou, April J Harris, Sew Can Do, Mom's the Word, Pint Sized Baker, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Cornerstone Confessions, Lou Lou Girls, Fearlessly Creative Mammas, My Joy Filled Life, Yesterfood, Mandy's Recipe Box, The New Mrs Adventures, Hope Studios, Kathe with an E, Hope in Every Season, Stone Gable Blog, Dizzy Busy and Hungry, My Girlish Whims, Raising Homemakers, Buns in my Oven, A Peek into my Paradise, Gingersnap Crafts, Crafty Allie, The Newlywed Pilgrimage, Lemoine Family Kitchen, Ivy and Elephants, Feeding Big, Grace and Good Eats, What's Cooking Love, Saving 4 Six, Miz Helen's Country Cottage, Lambert's Lately, Embracing Change, Katherine's Corner, A Delightsome Life, The Pin Junkie, Play Party Pin, Daily Dish, Tidy Mom, Lady Behind the Curtain, The New Mrs Adventures, The Better Baker, Love Bakes Good Cakes, Craft Dictator, City of Creative Dreams, Craft O Maniac, The Girl Creative, Morsels of Life, Tales of a Kansas Farm Mom, Coffee with Us 3, Cooking with Ruthie, Raising Memories, A Peek into my Paradise, Denise Designed

Glazed Chocolate Cherry Cookies

When 50 Shades of Gray was all the rage (well, the movie made it popular all over again) I did get the trilogy and read them.
I guess I can see what the big deal was, but I wasn't a big fan of the series.
Just felt the need to jump on the bandwagon and be able to hold my own around the proverbial water cooler.

Know what is really sexy?
As I type this, my hubby is simultaneously doing laundry and washing dishes.
This is after making a breakfast for me and the girl child. (bacon and toast, we don't really do breakfast)

To me, that is the epitome of sexiness.

Then again, these chocolate cherry Pillsbury cookies are pretty dang sexy too!

Ingredients:

1 Pouch  (1 lb 1.5 oz) sugar cookie mix

⅓ Cup unsweetened dark baking cocoa

½ Cup butter (softened)

1 Egg

1 ½ Tsp almond extract

1 Cup dried cherries

1 ½ Cup powdered sugar

2 Tbsp milk

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 375

2. In large bowl, stir cookie mix and cocoa

3. Add butter, egg, and ½ tsp of almond extract. Stir until soft dough forms.

4. Gently stir in cherries

5. Shape dough into 1 inch balls

6. On ungreased cookie sheet, place balls 2 inches apart

7. Bake 10-12 minutes or until set

8. Cool cookies for 20 minutes

9. In medium bowl, mix powdered sugar, milk, and remaining tsp of almond extract

10. Drizzle glaze over cookies

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This recipe was shared with:
Flour me with Love, Tumbleweed Contessa, Grace Langdon, A Southern Fairytale, A Pinch of Joy, The Modest Mom Blog, Huckleberry Love, I Should be Mopping the Floor, Uncommon Designs, Jambellish, A Mama's Story, All Things Fee, The Chicken Chick, Boogieboard Cottage, Enchanted Homeschooling Mom, Skip to my Lou, Mom Favorites, Sew Can Do, Moms the Word, The Multitasking Mummy, Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms, April J Harris, Pint Sized Baker, The New Mrs Adventures, Cornerstone Confessions, My Joy Filled Life, Yesterfood, Kathe with an E, Stone Gable Blog, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Lou Lou Girls, Mandy's Recipe Box, Dizzy Busy and Hungry, Recipes for our Daily Bread, Milk and Cuddles, My Girlish Whims, Raising Homemakers, A Peek into my Paradise, Buns in my Oven, Gingersnap Crafts, Crafty Allie, Lambert's Lately, The Newlywed Pilgrimage, Lemoine Family Kitchen, Katherine's Corner, Ivy and Elephants, Miz Helen's Country Cottage, Grace and Good Eats, What's Cooking Love, Saving 4 Six, Embracing Change, Feeding Big, A Delightsome Life, The Pin Junkie, AKA Design, Lady Behind the Curtain, Daily Dish, Tidy Mom, The New Mrs Adventures, The Country Cook, Love Bakes Good Cakes, Coffee with Us 3, Craft Dictator, Thirty Handmade Days, City of Creative Dreams, Diary of a Real Housewife, Craft O Maniac, Morsels of Life, Simple Nature Decor, Sweet Haute, Cooking with Ruthie, Raising Memories, A Peek Into my Paradise, Denise Designed

Chewy Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Hi, my name is Jay and I am a cartoon junkie.

It's understandable when you are a kid, and even as a teen...but I am a full grown adult. A mom. An Auntie. A wife. Is it still OK?

I would like to think it's sweet and young at heart, not bizarre. 

Doesn't matter too much, I like what I like!

Of course the old classics are a fave!

But I am a child of the 80's.....

And happened to have a child who grew up in the 90's...

Sadly, good cartoons are hard to come by now. I am a sucker for this cute little guy though.

Just to continue with my late in life childishness, I have a love affair with chocolate chip cookies. 

Make them chocolate CHUNK?  OK!

Saw this Pillsbury recipe, and knew I couldn't go wrong.

Hubby and the girl poured big glasses of milk and waited not so patiently. They had to have them hot right out of the oven.

Ooey and gooey!

Ingredients:

1 Cup butter (softened)

½ Cup packed brown sugar

½ Cup granulated sugar

1 Box French vanilla instant pudding mix

2 Eggs

2 Tsp vanilla

2 ¼ Cups all purpose flour

1 Tsp baking soda

1 Bag (11.5 oz) semi sweet chocolate chunks

1 Cup coarsely chopped walnuts

Directions:

1 Heat oven to 350

2. In large bowl, beat sugars and butter with electric mixer until light and fluffy.

3. Beat in pudding mix

4. Beat in eggs and vanilla

5. Gradually beat in flour and baking soda

6. Stir in chocolate chunks and nuts

7. Drop onto ungreased cookie sheet

8. Bake 14-16 minutes

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This recipe was shared with:
Flour me with Love, Tumbleweed Contessa, Grace Langdon, A Southern Fairtyale, A Pinch of Joy, The Modest Mom Blog, Huckleberry Love, I Should be Mopping the Floor, Uncommon Designs, Jambellish, A Mama's Story, All Things Fee, The Chicken Chick, Boogieboard Cottage, Enchanted Homeschooling Mom, Skip to my Lou, Mom Favorites, April J Harris, Sew Can Do, Mom's the Word, Pint Sized Baker, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Cornerstone Confessions, Lou Lou Girls, My Joy Filled Life, Yesterfood, Time Warp Wife, Mandy's Recipe Box, The New Mrs Adventures, Kathe with an E, Hope in Every Season, Stone Gable Blog, Dizzy Busy and Hungry, Milk and Cuddles, My Girlish Whims, Raising Homemakers, A Peek into my Paradise, Gingersnap Crafts, Crafty Allie, The Newlywed Pilgrimage, Lemoine Family Kitchen, Ivy and Elephants, Feeding Big, Grace and Good Eats, What's Cooking Love, Saving 4 Six, Miz Helen's Country Cottage, Lambert's Lately, Embracing Change, Katherine's Corner, A Delightsome Life, The Pin Junkie, The Grits Blog, Play Party Pin, Lady Behind the Curtain, Daily Dish, The New Mrs Adventures, The Better Baker, Love Bakes Good Cakes, Craft Dictator, Thirty Handmade Days, City of Creative Dreams, The Diary of a Real Housewife, Craft O Maniac, The Girl Creative, Morsels of Life, Coffee with us 3, Sweet Haute, Cooking with Ruthie, Raising Memories, A Peek into my Paradise, Denise Designed

French Macaroni Salad

Are you sick of our Lennon story yet?

When we left off, Lennon had broken out of the couch cushion fort and made a bee-line for the girl child.

She and him have been inseparable ever since! He, literally, pouts when she is gone for a weekend!

Anyhoo...we were in need of a vet for Mr. Kitty Sir, and thought it would be good to keep him at the same vet that we received him from.
Oh what a great decision that was!

They L-O-V-E him there! Seriously, people come in who are not even scheduled that day in order to see him.

They all have millions of pictures of him on their phones. Yeah, I meant it when I said L-O-V-E.

He loves his fan club, and they truely love having him come in.
We are complete with him in our home, and feel that he is getting above par veterinary care.

His brother still goes to this vet, and the Doctor was like a kid at Christmas the day they got to "meet" after so long apart!

Our handsome boy all grown up!

Now, onto the salad!

Ingredients:

1 Lb macaroni

1 Green pepper (chopped fine)

1 Bermuda onion (chop fine)

1-2 Tbsp Miracle Whip

Salt and Pepper to taste

1 (8 oz) bottle French dressing

Directions:

1. Cook macaroni as directed, drain and rinse.

2. Stir in Miracle Whip

3. Add remaining ingredients, mix well

4. Chill for 30 minutes

5. Stir well before serving.

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I did not forget the onion....I just don't care for raw onion

This recipe was shared with:
Flour me with Love, Tumbleweed Contessa, Grace Langdon, A Southern Fairytale, A Pinch of Joy, Modest Mom Blog, Huckleberry Love, I Should be Mopping the Floor, Uncommon Designs, Jambellish, A Mama's Story, All Things Fee, The Chicken Chick, Boogieboard Cottage, Enchanted Homeschooling Mom, Skip to my Lou, April J Harris, Sew Can Do, Moms the Word, Pint Sized Baker, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Cornerstone Confessions, Lou Lou Girls, My Joy Filled Life, Yesterfood, Timewarp Wife, Mandy's Recipe Box, The New Mrs Adventures, Hope Studios, Kathe with an E, Hope in Every Season, Stone Gable Blog, Dizzy Busy and Hungry, Milk and Cuddles, My Girlish Whims, Raising Homemakers, Buns in my Oven, A Peek Into my Paradise, Gingersnap Crafts, Crafty Allie, The Newlywed Pilgrimage, Lemoine Family Kitchen, Ivy and Elephants, Feeding Big, Grace and Good Eats, What's Cooking Love, Saving 4 Six, Miz Helen's Country Cottage, Lambert's Lately, Embracing Change, Katherine's Corner, A Delightsome Life, The Pin Junkie, The Grits Blog, Play Party Pin, Lady Behind the Curtain, Daily Dish, The New Mrs Adventures, The Better Baker, Love Bakes Good Cakes, Craft Dictator, Thirty Handmade Days, City of Creative Dreams, Diary of a Real Housewife, The Girl Creative, Morsels of Life, Coffee with us 3, Simple Nature Decor Blog, Sweet Haute, Cooking with Ruthie, A Peek into my Paradise, Denise Designed

Blogging for Books: Trisha's Table

**I was provided a copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions are my own**

I think Trisha has the right idea....there is nothing wrong with comfort food, and certainly nothing wrong with lightening up said comfort food...but still keeping all the flavor.
As a self proclaimed "girl who loves to eat", she makes sure not to lose any of the tastes and textures that make comfort food what it is.

Not everything in this book is light and healthy, but then again, not many people live that way.
Moderation is key! (or as she says "everything in moderation, including moderation")
There is nothing wrong with enjoying a real fried chicken dinner, just maybe balance it off with tofu lasagna later in the week.

Cornbread chili casserole, Dill pickles, Grilled zucchini, there is a recipe for every taste.

She offers so many real dishes with real options; I can't wait to try them all.

Happy Easter 2015

To all my readers, Happy Easter and Happy Passover to you all!

Today we head to my aunt's house, we get to see all the aunts/uncles and most of the cousins (on my side at least).
One cousin can't come home from college for the holiday, and one has to work...but, we can understand such things.

On hubby's side of the family, a group of them headed to Ireland for vacation, leaving one aunt home alone for the holiday. She will be joining us for the festivities, which will be a huge change for her. Hubby's immediate family is a much smaller crew than my side. When we get together, it's 12-14 people....on my side, it's more like 30-35.
She's the type to feel overwhelmed at this.
We are heading over early so there will be less people when we get there...isn't it always easier to adjust when you are one of the first ones there?
She knows everyone who is coming, she is just nervous.

Today I am bringing
Baked Beans
Creamed Spinach
Banana Cake with Peanut Butter Icing

Let the egg cracking commence!