Yummy "healthy" cookie recipe

The kids and I loved these! They weren't Zane's favorite, but he liked them too - they do make a spongy type cookie (he likes the flat kind). I got the recipe out of Deceptively Delicious - I checked it out of the local library. I think that is my new favorite way of looking at recipes. I can try them out without wasting money on a book and save space in my cupboard! :)

Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

¾ cup margarine spread (I used a half butter/half margarine mixture)

2 large egg whites

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 (15oz) can chickpeas/garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed (I puree the chickpeas in a blender and added some water to make them a more creamy texture and easier to blend)

2 cups (12 oz) semisweet chocolate chips

¾ cup chopped walnuts (optional - I didn't use them)

¾ cup raisins (optional - I didn't use them)

2 cups all-purpose flour

½ cup old-fashioned oats

1 tsp baking soda

¼ tsp salt

1. Preheat oven to 350. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray, or use parchment paper.

2. In large mixing bowl beat the sugar and margarine/butter with wooden spoon or on medium speed until smooth. Beat in egg whites and vanilla, then the chickpeas and chocolate chips. Add flour, oats, baking soda, and salt, mix on low speed until thick dough forms. *note* good idea to add chocolate chips last and I just mixed it with a spoon.

3. Drop dough 2 inches apart, bake until the cookies are golden brown and just set (11-13 minutes). Transfer to rack to cool.

4. Can store in airtight container up to 3 days.

Pictures!!!

Finally. :)

Dandelion bouquets and various other things

I love my kids - there is something every day they do to make me smile and feel grateful I can be home to witness it. Today's story: There is nothing quite like receiving a bouquet of noxious weeds from eager faced children. :) What do you say when they tell you to put it on the table like you do when you get flowers from Daddy? Of course the answer is a big smiley thank you - they are beautiful - and please wait while I get a glass with water - and then proudly place them as the centerpiece on the table.

Then there are the ever enjoyable sayings they come up with that make me just shake my head - for example, Cowboy's new phrase is: "Oh, that tickles my penis!" whenever we go over a bump or hill in the road.

I discovered a wonderful cleaning tip - if you microwave a bowl of water WITH a cut LEMON (about 3-5 min), it not only loosens all the gunk on the microwave so you can just wipe it out with a wet cloth, but it deodorizes as well - leaving it smelling fresh and clean. Then you can dump the water and lemons into the disposal and you've deodorized two things in one. :oD Simple yes, but I never thought of knocking the two birds out with one stone.

And finally, I'll share a recipe I found that I altered and we thought it was rather delicious. I'm not a curry fan, but this one is just right for us - and I love coconut milk!

Easy Curry Chicken

Ingredients:

Flour mixture: 1/3 c flour, 1 tsp each paprika and salt, dash of pepper

2-5 TBS vegetable oil

3/4 lg sweet onion

3 tsp curry powder

2 cans unsweetened coconut milk

1 can diced tomatoes (mostly drained)

3 TBS tomato paste

1-2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breast cut into cubes

3-5 handfuls of fresh baby spinach (however much you want to have)

Jasmine rice

1. Cut up 1-2 lbs of boneless, skinless chicken breast into cubes and toss into flour mixture - (I usually double to flour mixture and put in plastic bag to shake and coat chicken)

2. Put 1-3 TBS veg oil in skillet on medium and brown chicken pieces (once browned, I just leave them in the skillet and cover on low or off so they continue to cook on the inside)

3. While chicken is browning, add 1-2 TBS oil in lg skillet over medium heat. Add onion and 1/4 - 1/2 tsp salt. Cook stirring often, until soft (about 7 min). Add curry powder and stir for another minute.

4. Mix coconut milk, tomatoes, and tomato paste in bowl, then pour into onions. Cook mixture, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until sauce thickens slightly.

5. Add chicken, stir well and cook for 5-6 min until meat is cooked through (it will probably be already cooked, but a good 5 min is a good idea). Add spinach and cook, stirring occasionally, until wilted - about 3 min. You can add salt to taste, but we didn't really need any.

6. Serve warm over rice (jasmine is best).

Southern cravings

Next week we are helping out the youth in the ward by hosting a couple of them as missionaries in our home. The idea is we are to pick them up, give them dinner, and listen to the first lesson in "Preach My Gospel" as a family. They really wanted families to cook food from another country/region that the guys and gals might have if called to that mission. Being from the South most of my growing up years, I chose to pick Georgia as the area we would be. So I've been thinking about all of the yummy traditional Southern foods I could make for dinner and all I could come up with is Fried Chicken, collard greens, and Hoppin John. But when I made the inquiry on Facebook - YUM. I got a lot of ideas, and now it just makes me want to sit down and do a whole menu full of southern foods. And now I have a craving for KFC biscuits - it's the closest thing to the southern style we have in Twin Falls, ID. :D *Sigh* Is it wrong to feel homesick for an area you haven't lived in for a decade?

I asked for recipes and suggestions on Facebook, but if anyone hasn't read it there, I'm open to any new recipes on here too!

I did it

I converted over to a different scheduling system. I used to try and do something every day cleaning-wise, but lately (and especially after General Conference) I have been feeling like I need to do come up with a system that doesn't distract me from the kids as much. I've become a very observational parent, when I really want to be interactive. SO - not that anyone cares, but I'm posting my new schedule so it is in writing and I am more accountable to it.

Mon - Wed - Fri are designated KID days. So while Abby is in school in the morning, it's the "Mommy and Me" preschool time for me and the boys. These are also the soccer and sport days typically for their teams in the evening.

Tues is my grocery/household shopping day in the morning, and library day for the kids in the afternoon (and so I can get the books I need for preschool for the week ahead).

Thurs is now my cleaning day. I am not planning anything for this day, we are getting into our grubbies and this is the day we scrub the house, launder the bedding, etc. The kids can help, but this will be my one day that I CLEAN and if it so be that the kids watch movies and run around in the backyard all day, fine. Then I won't have to feel bad that my kids are taking second to my trying to get some cleaning done every day.

Obviously some things happen almost every day like laundry, dishes, vacuuming, sweeping. But this way our errands are done for the week and we can just enjoy Daddy on Saturdays. I'm pretty stoked about this new arrangement. I think it will work. :) Wish me luck!

Happy Easter!

What a great day! I can't think of a better way to celebrate the resurrection of the Savior than watching General Conference. I feel so blessed to be able to have it broadcast in my home. Lots of great talks - and all I needed to hear (no surprise there). Anyone have a very favorite they want to share?

I have to toot my own horn for doing a great job on breakfast this morning. Now for all those who don't know, we literally have cold cereal for breakfast every day. On special days we may have oatmeal or other things, but really, we are a cereal family. So this morning we had muffins, eggs, fresh pineapple, grapes, banana (for Cowboy), juice, milk, and yogurt. Yummy! I felt pretty proud. :) hahaha.

I'd love to post some pictures, but frankly we have LOST THE CAMERA. I'm tempted to buy another if I can't find it by the middle of this next week. Of course, as soon as I buy another one we'll magically find the other. :) Oh, one more note of specialness on this Easter - Princess lost her first top tooth today. :) She is simply adorable.

Hope all of you are enjoying your Easter Sunday and are able to take a moment and reflect on the tremendous blessing of having a Savior who loved, died, and most importantly overcame all-even death so we can live with our Father again. How grateful I am!