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Doesn’t this “Salty Honey Pie” look amazing? I want to make it right now, but it’s 9pm. I know, I still could but I’m pretty sure I don’t have enough eggs. Man, those backyard chickens would sure be awesome right now… For more yummy food inspiration, check out my dessert board on Pinterest. If you liked what you see, stick around and find me on:F a c e b o o k // T w i t t e r // P i n t e r e s t // I n s t a g r a m // E m a i l
I loved it recently when my friend made a kit of lovely things to help me during a cold. I love it when my husband does the dishes when I’m least expecting it. I love it when my mom pulls out a vintage treasure from her “stash” right when I need it. I love it when my kids ask if there’s anything they can do to help. I love it when my sister bring down cookies when she visits. I love it when someone spends time making something with their hands. SO…. I put together a little collection of things I feel would be thoughtful gifts for your love ones on Valentine’s day from things I’ve made in the past.
//Make a fabric flower using the wrappings from your store-bought bouquet.// //Make a heart “LOVE” banner for a loved one or teacher.// //Bring a nice cup of tea and some Grapefruit Tea Cookies to that special someone in need of a few moments of peace.// //Create a hanging heart mobile on a branch to spread some smiles// What fun things are you making for Valentine’s?
Remember these sweet potato waffles? Well, they are sitting pretty with 19 other sweet and savory waffle recipes on the Huffington Post today. Find the original here or the Huff post here. Yay for breakfast foods! How do you take your waffles?
(glassware from West Elm) This is my favorite drink right now. I first had it at Craft and Commerce, a local Bar and Eatery that makes the best cocktails in San Diego….no contest. I simply asked for a bourbon-based cocktail using ginger and this drink is what I got. Yes, they are that good at C&C that you can have them make drinks to your taste. After a little Google search, I discovered it was an old-time cocktail that’s been around for a loooong time. Pretty cool. I quickly made it, adding my own touch. I love ginger so very much. I have served this to many people who don’t prefer bourbon and they still seem to love it. The ginger beer really mellows the bourbon but doesn’t crush it, which I love. For my friends who do not like sweet drinks (*waving* Hi, Joanna!), trying adding a bit of lemon juice or use half ginger beer and half club soda. I think this is a perfectly wonderful drink to bring in the new year with or to have any day, for that matter!
The Presbyterian(Bon’s way) 2 ounces of Bourbon 4-6 ounces of ginger beer 4 dashes of bitters, like Angostura candied ginger, for garnish Fill a highball glass with ice, then add the bourbon. Fill the glass almost to the top with the ginger beer and add a few dashes of bitters to the top. Stir and serve! Do you have any big party plans?
If you liked what you see, stick around and find me on:F a c e b o o k // T w i t t e r // P i n t e r e s t // I n s t a g r a m // E m a i l  Do you have questions that you get asked a lot? Like if your hair color is real or if “all of those kids are yours”? I get asked both of those questions a lot, but not quite as much as I get asked:
“How do you cook so much with your kids?”
My first reaction is to say, I dunno…well…I just do. However, I’ve been thinking about it for a while and I realized there might be more to it than that. I just haven’t really thought about it. I try to be (and often fail at being) deliberate when it comes to letting the kids help. I’ve learned to say yes when they ask to help and know ahead of time that there will be an extra mess when they do. Sometimes I’m excited about the help and sometimes I’m in a hurry and get snappy, but I still TRY.
I know other people REALLY REALLY want to cook more with their kiddos, so I thought I’d share how we have gone about it in a way that works for us. Who knows? Maybe your kids will be able to make breakfast for everyone in your family this week? :)
 I asked my daughter Faith (7) if she would help me show other kids how to bake something. She giggled and said “of course”. This last year I have let her make more meals over the stove on her own so that she will be hopefully be self-sufficient by the time she’s an adult and then will be able to make yummy meals for her husband and family. Hopefully. When she started cooking when she was a wee one, she most definitely made mistakes, but how else is a kid to learn, right?
When Faith was little, I started cooking “lessons” with spreading peanut butter, grating cheese, washing vegetables, mashing potatoes, whisking eggs, and rolling cookie dough. Those can really be started around age 2 or 3, they will just be messy versions of the expected result…which is totally fine. I am a perfectionist, to a fault, so I have had to work on setting reasonable expectations.
Once kids are old enough to use the stove, there is a world of possibilities! Everyone really has to decide for themselves what age is best for this.
This Christmas, Faith made her first batch of Christmas cookies, following the recipe. The exciting thing is, if we give our kiddos the tools they need to cook…they totally can! If you don’t know how to cook or don’t like to, consider getting your little ones on the path to having those skills. Remember their wives and husbands they will be feeding and even you later in life! Letting them follow a recipe is an easy way to find out how much they actually have let soak in.
I’ve narrowed down some teachable moments:
(side-note: I didn’t stage this. She was talking about what her Nutcracker performance would be like, then she stopped to daydream!)
 Chocolate Crackle Cookies
(family recipe)
1 c. chocolate chips
1 c. brown sugar, packed
1/3 c. canola oil
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 c. chopped walnuts (optional)
1/4 c. powdered sugar (for rolling)
Melt the chocolate in a saucepan. Remove from the heat and combine it with the brown sugar and oil. Add eggs one at a time and beat well. Add vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to the chocolate mixture. Stir in nuts, if using. Chill the dough for 1 hour or up to 3 days. Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. Roll the dough into balls a little larger than a whole walnut or really as big as you want(just increase the baking time). Roll them in the powdered sugar. Place them on a greased cookie sheet or a silpat. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Cool and enjoy!
 Happy little lady with her first solo Christmas cookie baking!
 If you liked what you see, stick around and find me on:F a c e b o o k // T w i t t e r // P i n t e r e s t // I n s t a g r a m // E m a i l
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