Planet Project

Okay, I'm trying to be all grown-up about this. Olivia is working on a research project on the planet of her chioce. Her choice: Uranus. It's all I can do to type this with a straight face. Why can't I get past it? She, of course, has no idea that there is a synonym for this word, so I'm keeping calm. She got a little curious, though, when I wouldn't let her Google it. I made her go straight to Wikipedia, and to that page only. I can only imagine what would pop up otherwise. Yikes!

It's true. Most things in life can be fixed with duct tape, WD-40 or a healthy dose of chocolate. However, when I have a cold -- or any illness for that matter -- there is a trifecta of products that makes me feel better. These are: Carmex, Vic's VaporRub, and Chloraseptic throat spray. Randy laughs in the face of my simple home remedy, and he can continue laughing as far as I'm concerned. When used just before bed time, I can almost guarantee a good night of sleep, even when feeling yucky.

Exhibit A -- Most of Saturday and all of yesterday, I felt horrible. Sinus headache, sore throat, stuffiness, you know the feeling. I went to bed early last night, doubting that I'd be able to sleep without my head exploding. Took two Tylenol and used my three little friends, and I snoozed until morning.

I'm feeling some better today. It could be the 'real' medicine I took this morning, but I think it has a little something to do with the trio of items perched on my bedside table. Yes, I'm certain it does!

Takin' the Slow Boat to Alaska

We were at dinner tonight after Olivia's ballgame, and Nana asked me if my parents enjoyed their recent Alaskan cruise. I said yes, and we discussed cruising for a few minutes. She then asks me which cruise line they took. Here's the rest of the conversation:

Amy: "I know it wasn't Carnival . . . it might have been Princess."
Randy: "We took Royal Caribbean, and it wasn't the same as us."
Nana: "I didn't think it was Carnival."
Amy: "You're right . . . it wasn't Carnival and it wasn't Royal Caribbean. I'm pretty sure it was a Princess ship."
Hudson: (who never even lifted his head and just kept right on eating his taco while chiming in) "I know what kind of boat they were on . . . it was a TUG boat."

Interesting. I wonder if the dining is any good on a tug boat.

You Know, I'm Allergic to Wheat

Hudson has caught on easily to the fact that he can't have wheat products anymore . . . but, he's not quite sure what foods have wheat in them. I'm not certain he even knows what wheat IS! (Maybe we should do a field trip to a farm . . . nope, he's allergic to farms, too.) He's very cautious of most everything, but it's funny how he'll play this to his advantage.

Tonight, for example, he was at Jack's house (that's him and Jack in the pic) and was offered a juice pouch -- a completely safe option for him, and he knows that. He told Jack's mom that he might need chocolate milk instead since the juice could have wheat in it. She has really good chocolate milk at her house, and he knows that, too! What a scam artist.

I'm making yet another trip to EarthFare on Thursday to purchase crazy ingredients (like Xanthum Gum) in an effort to do some 'normal' baking soon. I will report on the outcome -- let's hope it's edible!!

Candy Corn Kisses

The little orange 'mellowcreme pumpkins' that are only available this time of year have been my all-time, favorite holiday candy for at least 30 years. This includes all holidays -- I am not moved by a Cadbury creme egg or a Christmas chocolate covered cherry. Never have been, never will.

Enter the new Hershey's Candy Corn Kisses. My friend, Angie, snagged a bag of these while we were at Target today -- had I not been on my cell phone, I would have probably followed suit. I'm a sucker for such things, plus she always knows what's good.

This afternoon, she sends a little bag of these down to the house with Olivia. Not wishing to delay the possible pleasure of the petite foil treat, I quickly unwrap one to discover the following:

a) these are ADORABLE -- they look like kiss-shaped candy corn, complete with the color stripes

b) they are white chocolate, so the flavor is sweet but mild - delicious, actually

c) the mellowcreme pumpkins may have met their match

I think I need to go to Target.

Children's Hospital Commercial

Hey, mom -- this is for you!

Chocolate Gravy

I am not kidding you -- this is the most crazy-wonderful thing you'll eat for breakfast, EVER! The mother of a friend of mine, Cindy McDougal (now Reeder), would fix this for us when I would spend the night. We'd put it on biscuits or pancakes . . . oh, it was so good. I had forgotten about it until discussing "growing up in middle Tenn." with a friend from church last fall while on a Sunday School camping trip. I actually left the camp site, drove home to get the ingredients, and then made it as part of our big breakfast the next morning. Most everyone thought we had lost our minds until they tasted it. Needless to say, it was prepared at this year's camping trip as well -- it's a tradition now!

Chocolate Gravy

1/2 stick butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 heaping tablespoon flour
1 heaping tablespoon cocoa
1 1/2 cups milk

Melt butter and sugar in a small sauce pan until sugar dissolves. Add flour and cocoa, and stir will. Add milk, and stir over medium heat until smooth and thick. Serve with whatever makes you happy!

Makes about 2 cups.

Fudge Pie

This is a family favorite -- although sweet Hudson can't have any these days due to the wheat, but I'm working on a wheat-free crust and contents for him. This also work well in miniature using a cookie cutter with the crust and a mini-muffin pan. My mom passed this recipe down to me from a friend of hers from Lebanon, Tenn.

Fudge Pie

2 eggs, beaten
1 stick butter
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour, sifted
1/4 cup cocoa powder, sifted
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 unbaked pie crust (homemade is best, Pillsbury is next, frozen is tolerable!)

Beat eggs with a fork or whisk in a small bowl; set aside. Melt butter in a medium sauce pan over medium heat; add sugar and stir until dissolved. Remove from heat. Add sifted flour & cocoa; stir will. Stir in the vanilla. Temper the eggs by adding about a tablespoon of the chocolate mixture to the eggs, and stir to combine. Then, add the egg mixture to the original pan of the chocolate mixture; stir well to combine thoroughly.

Pour mixture into an unbaked pie crust. Bake at 325 for 40 - 45 minutes or until the middle is set. Serves 8 if you're lucky!

Mary Thomas' Fairy Drop Cookies

These are the most awesome cookies, and they remind me of some I used to get at a bakery in Nashville when I was little. Mary is an amazing baker, and I think she adds some "Mary Magic" to make them taste the way they do!

FAIRY DROP COOKIES

1 cup butter
1 cup sifted powdered sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tsp. salt
1 cup cooking oil
2 eggs
2 tsp. almond extract
4 ½ cups all-purpose flour

1. In a large mixing bowl, beat he butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add powdered sugar, granulated sugar, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt; beat on medium-high speed until fluffy. Add cooking oil, eggs and almond extract; beat just until combined. Gradually beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour. Cover and chill dough about 30 minutes .

2. Working with ¼ of the dough at a time, shape into 1 ¼ inch balls. (The dough will be soft; keep it chilled as you work with a portion.) Arrange the balls 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. With the palm of your hand or, if desired, the bottom of a glass or a patterned cookie stamp dipped in granulated sugar, gently flatten the balls to about ¼-inch thick. Sprinkle with sugar (unless flattened with sugared glass or stamp) or leave plain for frosting.

3. Bake in a 350-degree oven for 10 – 12 minutes or until edges just begin to brown. The are better if you hardly see any browning at all. Transfer cookies to a wire rack and let cool. If desired, frost with almond frosting and sprinkle with crushed candy or colored sugar.

Makes 84 little cookies or 3 – 4 dozen big ones.

ALMOND FROSTING

In a small mixing bowl, beat ½ cup butter with an electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy. Beat in ½ teaspoon almond extract and ½ teaspoon vanilla. Alternately, add 2 ½ to 3 ½ cups sifted powdered sugar and 3 tablespoons light cream or milk, beating until smooth and easy to spread. To tint, if desired, stir in a few drops of food coloring or paste. Makes about 2 cups.