Tuesday, October 29, 2013

G is for granola!

I accidentally bought this last weekend at the grocery store:


I say "accidentally" because I was under the impression that there were 4 in a package, but there were only two.  When I realized I had paid $1 each for these, I nearly fainted. 

But, I have to say: I loved every last bite!  The granola stuff that I sprinkled on top of the strawberry swirly yogurt was delicious!  This week I needed to make a quick trip to WalMart for some school supplies, and while there, I looked through the cereal isle thinking I could buy a little granola and some cheaper yogurt and I could just make my own yogurt parfaits. 

Well, store-bought granola is EXPENSIVE!  Upwards of $4 for a not-very-big bag's worth!  I'm not going to pay that for something I could surely make!

And so I (or "we") did! 


What a breeze!  3 cups of old fashioned rolled oats, 3 Tbsp. brown sugar, 1 tsp. cinnamon, 1/4 tsp. salt--all mixed together in a big bowl.  Then, in a smaller bowl:  1/3 cup honey, 1/4 cup Canola oil, 1 tsp. vanilla and mix until combined.  Poor the wet over the dry, mix with your hands, spread on a (greased) cookie sheet and bake at 300 for 15 minutes.  Stir, then bake another 10 minutes. 




DELICIOUS is all we have to say about that!  I'm storing it in this glass jar in the fridge to keep it as fresh as possible.  It tastes exactly like the stuff that came with the store-bought yogurt parfait (but much cheaper)!  Also, I'm hoping that if I eat it for breakfast, the protein in the yogurt will keep me feeling full a little longer than when I eat just plain oatmeal for breakfast. 

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Not your average monster cookie...

Happy Halloween!!!!

I found these cutie cookies at www.lilluna.com , (I found the cutie blondie lurking in my shadow) and decided we had to try them out! 











Super easy and quick to whip up! 
1/2 cup butter (softened)
1 8oz. brick of cream cheese
1/2 tsp. vanilla
and 1 egg... mix until well blended.  Then add 1 pkg. white cake mix.  Beware-- the batter is thick!

Separate into smaller batches and tint with food coloring.  Chill for 30 minutes.





Roll into balls, roll in powdered sugar, place on greased cookie sheet and flatten slightly.  Bake for 10 minutes, then decorate with candy eyes! 







Aren't they adorable!?!?  The cream cheese and white cake mix creates an interesting taste, but it's good, moist, and something new! 

What do you like to whip up to celebrate the spookiest day of the year?




Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Did you wonder what happened to us?

Yeah, so life has been kind of crazy since school started. 

1st grade, 2nd grade, 5th grade, 7th grade:  all fantastic.  The kids are doing awesome.  Our only hiccups so far have been school pictures.  They boys' turned out good; the girls'... not so much.  Weird hair, weird smiles... We're going to try for a retake.

Other than that, Freshman Algebra 1, Junior Algebra 2--also fantastic.  Lots of paper grading and all the other wonderful stuff that goes along with it, but I think my students are having a pretty good year so far.  I feel like I'm working really hard, but every day puts us one day closer to summer vacation!

When I finally rolled in from work tonight (about 45 minutes after "official" quittin' time), I rounded up the kids and we loaded up the bikes and headed to the Pecatonica Prairie Path for an early fall afternoon ride. 

It was a GORGEOUS weather for a bike ride!  We got just the right amount of exercise, worked up just the right appetite for a delicious supper of leftovers, and now the kids are in bed and I'm waiting for Dave to come in from the bean field!  I need to get some papers graded... But I didn't want you to worry anymore-- thought I'd check in quick!  Hope all is well with you! Have a great rest of the week!!