Funny Bones

Found this in one of Epicurious' recipe collections for Halloween, thought it was an adorably light-hearted take on traditional Halloween goodies! It was a big hit at Alex's school party and was rather quite easy to make.

I used 50/50 white chocolate chips and almond bark to reduce the cost (and because I had leftover almond bark to be used up). I also made my own double boiler by using a pot half-full of water on low with a SS bowl over. Make sure you don't exceed 120 degrees F or you'll wreck your chocolate!! Use a digital or candy thermometer if you're not sure. I used a plain ol' dinner fork and was able to turn out 200+ of these in about 2 hours. Hubby helped putting on mallows after I finished the trial run batch worth. I stored them in airtight containers with parchment paper between the layers for 1 week before packaging (as seen above).

I'm reminded, once again, never to play with chocolate unless you're using a double boiler!! Makes the whole process so much better.

Next: White chocolate covered fresh cranberries!!

You know you're old when...

completing an online form you have to scroll to find the year you were born. *sigh*

What I want out of work...

This!  This is what I want to say to prospective employers.  Please read and excuse me while I re-write my resume:

“You can hire any number of people who will go through the motions and do a perfectly adequate job for you. But I will do an outstanding job if you give me the right tools to do my work. That means I’d like access to the latest technology so that I can leverage it on your behalf (I probably know how to use it better than anyone on your staff). I’ll work until midnight if you need me to, but let me come in later the next morning, or maybe even work from home. If I’m slacking off, it’ll be obvious and then I’ll happily let you chain me to my desk.
I’m eager to learn, so give me training and a mentor and make me accountable for my performance. And if I do perform well, please don’t tell me I need to ‘put in more time’ before I get promoted because nothing is more sure to put a damper on my enthusiasm. I have a lot of good ideas and if you think they’re good, too, let’s implement them and not spend weeks just talking about them.”

Footnote: this stuff is good for everyone, not just Gen Y!



Above from BNet Insight Blog "Upstarts! Donna Fenn: The Lessons of GenY Entrepreneurs"


Depending on who's talking, I'm either a Gen X or Gen Y, based on my 1980 birthday.  I'm not sure that I'd latch on to one or another, though I think the title "baby boom echo" sounds good. My parents being of the Baby Boom and me being strongly influenced by them, and displaying baby-boomer-tendancies combined with all the influences of modern technology and recent global events.  (It's always interesting when you try to evade all labels, and then stumble into fitting one quite well!)

Another Trader Joe's Rally

Hi All,

Please join me in telling Trader Joe's that we need a branch in the Kansas City metro area. Please take just a few seconds to fill out their location request form online. You can use zip code 66061 (Olathe).

Whole Foods has the market cornered for health and gourmet foods and it's just not cool. Not that I have anything against Whole Foods, just that they should have some healthy (ha, ha... get it, healthy) competition.

Thanks again!
Tracy

...

Yes... That is the moon.

Not a street light, the moon.  Captured with my cell, so you can just imagine how amazing it was in person!

43 Things

Amazingly accurate, considering the lack of depth in the questioning!

I took the 43 Things Personality Quiz and found out I'm a

Romantic Self-Knowing Believer

Thouroughly Refreshed

Clean out the deep freeze,
Start a load of laundry,
Spa pedicure with best friend,
Lunch at 5 Guys with best friend,
Movie comped by BF's long-time friend (who we didn't know was practically a neighbor...)

A day to unwind, slow down, and enjoy some 'me' time...
Priceless!

If you've ever wondered about Fire Sprinklers...

Here's the stark comparison of a room without, and a room with sprinklers!

I already know what you're saying... So, what's that cost!?
For new construction, $1.00-2.00/sq. ft., depending on roof material and room layout. Prove to your insurance agent that it's a 13D system installed by a licensed contractor, and you'll pay less for your homeowner's insurance too. Long term savings AND life safety.

What a deal!


FENTON, MO (KTVI-FOX2now.com/Modified AP) - This last Friday of the month is the first day for several new laws in Missouri. Among the new laws, home builders must now offer consumers the option of having fire sprinklers installed in their homes. To make a point about the new law, firefighters in Fenton, were 'burning down the house,' Friday morning. The firefighters at Engine House #1 demonstrated the value of an in home sprinkler system.

Cilantro Lime Rice

Stan wanted rice "just like Chipotle", so I made my own recipe:

3 cups rice, cooked according to package directions

1 bunch cilantro, chopped fine
2 serrano chilis, seeded and minced
Juice of 1 large lime
2 T oil (I use olive oil)
1/2 t coarse salt
1/4-1/2 t ground white pepper, to taste

While rice is cooking, combine all other ingredients in a large bowl. Mush them around with the back of a spoon to get the flavors mingling. Add the cooked rice, stir to combine. Serve warm.

Hooray for Whole Foods!

You should read this Wall Street Journal article by John Mackey, the co-founder and CEO of Whole Foods.

Then, you can read this MSN Money blog about the business ramifications of a seemingly level-headed businessman speaking his mind and standing up for the basic principles that founded our great nation!

Now go shop at Whole Foods and feel really, really good about it!

An honest question:

How do you balance pissing people off with getting stuff done?

Microwave Peanut Brittle

I love this recipe! My Mom had one just like it when I was a kid (at the height of microwave cooking) and I found this one in a friend's cookbook (which I only have a photocopy of the page and am sorry to say I don't know the name of the book, but it was all about microwave cooking).

Things you'll need:
16" piece of heavy duty aluminum foil, lightly greased (or a silpat) on a cookie sheet.
Candy thermometer.
8 cup Pyrex bowl or other micro-safe bowl of equivalent size (I like having the handle and still use a potholder, both for my hand and when I set the bowl down to stir).
Wooden mixing spoon.

Ingredients:
2 c sugar
1 c light corn syrup
2 T butter, cut up a bit (use high-temp coconut oil to make this dairy free)
1/4 c water

1-1/2 c nuts - roasted, salted (I use 1/2 c each- peanuts, almonds and cashews)

1/2 t baking soda

** All microwave times are uncovered on HIGH **

Combine 1st 4 ingredients, stir to combine, microwave 5 minues. Stir to dissolve all sugar.
Microwave 6 more minutes, or until 234-240 degrees F.
Stir in nuts, microwave 7 minutes, or until 290-300 degrees F.
Add baking soda and stir just until mixture stops bubbling.
Pour onto foil and spread to about 1/4" thick with wooden spoon.

Set aside to cool, about 20 minutes. Break into chunks and serve, or store in an airtight container several weeks.

Makes about 1-3/4 pounds.

Did we really just have this conversation?

I don't remember what started the conversation, but Stan mused that if they ever figure out how to slow down light, that he wouldn't be surprised if it turned into matter. Which made me think of the replicators on Star Trek, you know, you walk over to the box on the wall and say "earl gray tea, hot" some light appears and out of the light comes your tea*...
So I said to Stan, "like a replicator!", with which he immediately agreed and then I thought to clarify... "the Star Trek replicators, not the Stargate replicators". And Stan again agreed, thinking outloud though, that the theory could stand for either.

At which point I sighed, shook my head and asked Stan "Did we really just have a conversation in which we had to clarify which Star-series we were eluding to!?"

We're such old married geeks!!!




*before I get hate-mail from less casual Star Trek geeks let me disclaim - yes, I know, the replicator is transporter technology - taking matter stored in bulk and spitting it out in a different form. Turning light into matter is just my cool hypothesis of the how.

Cilantro & Pepita Salad Dressing

Tastes just like the house dressing at El Torito! We don't live anywhere near one anymore, so I had to go find a recipe for it.

This one's modified from one I found on Recipezaar (206911)

Servings: 8 servings

You'll Need:
Food processor
Large bowl
Whisk


Ingredients:
2 medium anaheim chilies, roasted, peeled and seeded*
1/3 c roasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
2 t crushed/diced garlic
1/4 t ground black pepper
1 t salt
1-3/4 c oil (I used EVOO)
1/4 c red wine vinegar
5 T crumbled Cotija cheese

2 bunches fresh cilantro, stems removed

1-1/2 c mayonnaise
1/4 c water

Preparation:
Place all ingredients, except 3/4 c oil, cilantro, mayo and water in food processor.
Blend to combine, then add cilantro 1 bunch at a time blending well.
Add final 3/4 c oil while blending.
In large stainless steel bowl, whisk together mayonnaise and water until smooth.
Add blended ingredients and mix well.

Arrange romaine lettuce on a plate, ladle dressing over lettuce and top with diced tomatoes, crumbled Cotijo cheese and pepitas. (try not to lick the bowl clean)

*broil on low on a wire rack about 6 minutes each side, or until skin blisters. Remove and allow to cool. Peel off skin, scrape out seeds.

Twits

My company just announced that you can now follow them on Twitter.

Seriously.

We have some really neat products and all, but who needs hourly updates on an industrial manufacturer? Even a cool one.

A number of my customers still have dial-up. Only a handful have a website. (Yes, really... we are a construction trade afterall. Some of these guys rarely if ever see a desk anyway.)

As a company, we block Facebook, MySpace, Gmail, YouTube and various others... but we fully support being a Twit?

I give up.

Banana Split Muffins

These are a favorite. Modified from my M-I-L's Pumpkin Chocolate Chip muffins, usually made in mass around Thanksgiving time. For Stan, Thanksgiving is not complete without them. I liked the base recipe because it didn't require butter, like a traditional banana bread.

Don't be afraid to experiment with these. I've tossed in yellow squash, butternut squash, wheat germ, almond flour, chopped dried cherries, almond extract... Pretty much, you can't go wrong with these muffins!

Banana Split Muffins
Preheat oven to 350, line or lightly grease muffin tins.

Combine in microwavable bowl and warm, but don't cook (1 minute on power 8):

1-1/4 c oats

1T multi-grain hot cereal mix

1-1/4 c milk

Add to oat mixture:

2 mashed bananas ( or 3/4-1 c squash, applesauce, pack pumpkin)

2 eggs

1/4 c oil (I use olive)

1 t vanilla

Stir with a whisk, then combine with wet mix above:

2 c flour (half all-purpose and half whole wheat or other)

1/2 c sugar 

1 T baking powder

1/4 t salt

1 t cinnamon

1/4 t ground nutmeg (especially good with the banana)

Stir until just combined then add:

1/2 c chocolate chips

1 c chopped walnuts

**Stir less if you like cakier muffins. Stir extra for a chewier, bread-like texture. 

Fill muffins 3/4 full and bake 20 minutes at 350F. Remove from pans immediately and cool on wire racks. Once cooled, store in airtight container. Makes 24.

If you want to get really fancy, put a small dish with water in the oven while they're baking. (Increased humidity is the same thing that makes bagels fabulous!)

I've been enjoying the "If You Care" unbleached muffin liners in the health market at HyVee. They act like parchment paper - have excellent release and stand-up. And they're a lovely brown-wrapper sort of color. I won't buy anything else now. I'm spoiled!

updated 12/13/2010

Frozen Fruit Salad

As much as I'd like to take credit for this yummy salad, it came from 30 Day Gourmet.

Frozen Fruit Salad
When we go camping, I create individual servings by using an ice cream scoop to fill foil muffin liners, then freeze. I transfer the individual cups to a single layer in a zip-top bag and keep in the cooler or camper freezer for an afternoon snack. For a meal at home I follow the recipe, using a 9x13 pan.

Beat together:
8 oz low fat cream cheese, softened
1/2 c sugar (or splenda)

Stir in:
1-1/2 c sour cream
20 oz can crushed pineapple, drained
~30 oz or 2 lbs frozen fruit (I found frozen mixed berries at Costco, 1 bag made 2 batches)

Put into serving dish(s) and freeze. Thaw 15-30 minutes before cutting if using 9x13 pan, 5-10 minutes if using muffin liners.

Bunnies eat carrots.

"Bunnies eat carrots. Not wood chips. Just carrots. Wood chips are dirty and yucky. Carrots are cold and yummy."
I'm going to go out on a limb & guess that Alex tried to eat wood chips on the playground today.
They also had thei Easter party and MDA Hop-a-Thon. Auntie Valerie sent him the cutest bunny ears and a Lightning McQueen basket. I'm hooked on the ears though - they're SOOO cute!! (so is the kid wearing them) hehe
.
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I am One of Seven

http://www.vinceantonucci.com/2009/03/so-acts-6.html

This really struck me. Ask anyone, no secret, Stan & I are not "touchy-feely" Christians. We are planners, doers, supporters. We're the logistics behind the people who are touchy-feely. And we're happy to fill that role any day of the week. We have no desire to go on a prayer walk - but ask us to plan one and we'll bust out a map with timelines and notes about the neighborhood demographics.

We are Stephens.

But we're given crap for it and I don't think that's fair. I think there's such a critical place for planner-doers in a healthy, growing church.

If all you have are a bunch of really inspired visionaries there's every possibility that they'll swirl around being fabulous - but without purpose and planing, it becomes near to impossible for outsiders to find a place, to get on board.

The bigger you grow, the more it's necessary for planning & purpose. And that's proven in this scripture. After infrastructure was added, the church grew and did even more amazing things, including the addition of some of the most unlikely people.

So I'm not going to feel lousy about not being a touchy-feely Christian anymore. I'm going to embrace the me that God made. The detail oriented, hospitality gifted, creative, organized, planner doer. That's me. And since I'm asking for less judgement from the touchy-feely people, I'm going to be less judgemental of them - because they do some pretty awesome things for God too.

Babe Count: 2

It's a quarter after 8 and I've already been called "babe" by 2 different customers.

Not that it necessarily bothers me... considering they call this "babe" when they need technical advice usually only gained from men twice my age. But it's noted.

Of all the words exchanged, somehow, this appears in my mind in neon lights. Not offensive in passing, but impossible to ignore.