Christmas Cutout Cookies

Like many Christian families, we enjoy making Christmas cookies and candies in preparation for the holiday.  We have a fun time making them together and also packaging them up to give out to friends and family.  I will have a few additional posts this season with some other recipes and ideas, but this one is specifically for my friend Jessica, who requested that I put this up on my blog.  I believe I first made her these cutout cookie sandwiches for her office baby shower many years ago (seven??).  Yes, I do make these for other occasions in different shapes, but for the most part I make them at Christmastime.  I also sometimes do not make them into sandwiches and just keep them as plain cutout cookies.  I have another butter cookies recipe I do make at times, too, which is harder in texture, but these ones are one of my favorites because they are such a soft cookie that retains its shape for ease in cutting and baking.  Enjoy!

1c. butter

3oz. cream cheese

3/4c. sugar

1tsp. vanilla

1 egg

3c. flour

1/8tsp. salt

About 1c. lemon curd, seedless raspberry jam or apricot jam

powdered sugar

Beat butter, cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and egg in large bowl with an mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy.  Stir in flour and salt until blended.  Cover and refrigerate for 2-6 hours.  Heat oven to 375.  Roll a fourth of the dough at a time to 1/8" thickness on a lightly floured board.  Cut dough with cutters and place 1 inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake for 8-10 minutes, until very light brow and set  Immediately remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack.  When cool, make cookies into sandwiches by putting 1/2tsp. jam or curd on the bottom cookie and covering with another.  Mix approximately 2c. powdered sugar with 1/4c. water.  You may add a dash of almond or vanilla extract, if desired.  Fill a pastry bag or a Ziploc with the corner snipped with the icing.  The consistency should be stiff enough to not spread out when a line is drawn but thin enough to be able to easily write.  You may also opt to just spread icing on the cookies instead of outlining and using the writing tip to decorate.  In either case, sprinkle with colored sugars very quickly after the icing is put onto the cookie and shake off the excess.  Let dry completely and enjoy!

Family Movie Night: A Charlie Brown Christmas

Movie: A Charlie Brown Christmas
Menu: Hot chocolate and Cheerio Christmas Trees










Tonight our family will get our Christmas tree together so what better way to end our evening than to have a Family Movie Night starring Charlie Brown, Lucy and the gang.  Our boys just love Charlie Brown and I have recently coerced them into not watching It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown every other day.  So, I believe it's time for a holiday shift starring our favorite blockhead and Joe Cool. 

So that Charlie is not the only one with his infamously, eh, interesting "Charlie Brown tree," we opted to make 8 of them ourselves this morning to enjoy as our special treat.  So, ta-da, eight little Charlie Brown Christmas trees, made with Cheerios, marshmallows and lots of love.  We had loads of fun with the green food coloring and we had to do a little reshaping of our trees everytime a candy ornament was placed on one of them (with a little too much pressure), but they survived and are now all decked out for the big occasion tonight.

To make these yourself:
3 cups Cheerios
3T. butter
Approximately 2.5 cups of large or mini marshmallows
Green food coloring
Assorted small candies

Over low heat, melt the butter and marshmallows until creamy and completely smooth.  Place the Cheerios into a large bowl.  Pour the melted marshmallow mixture over the Cheerios and stir.  Add green food coloring to your liking.  Spray hands with PAM and gently shape approximately 1/4 cup of the mixture into a Christmas tree shape and place on waxed paper.  Decorate with candies by pressing into the trees gently.  Enjoy!

We really enjoy Rice Krispie treats in our house but ever since receiving the Cheerios cookbook, we have often opted towards using Cheerios in lieu of the Krispies.  You can basically use them interchangeably.  I would highly recommend the Cheerios cookbook for any family with young children.  It has easy recipes that the kids can help prepare and some cute craft ideas, too.  A really cute birthday or new baby gift, especially if coupled with the Cheerios play books.  All are available at Amazon and links are below.

Good grief, Snoopy, that was easy enough, now wasn't it?  Here's to a happy and healthy Christmas season to you and your family.  May you and your family have as much fun watching Charlie Brown as I know we always do every year.  And as Linus likes to remind us in the Christmas pagent at the end of the movie,

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and goodwill towards men.'"

"......That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."

Quick and Easy Peppermint Treats

Christmas is quickly approaching and many of you are probably thinking about doing some Christmas baking for your various family and friend gatherings.  If, like me, you enjoy making elegant looking treats that are both delicious and easy to prepare, then the following list of peppermint-themed treats may be appealing to you.  You can enjoy these yummy Christmas treats that you can make either alone or with the kids. With a minimal amount of baking, if any, they are easy for everyone to help out.

Oreo Peppermint Truffles

8oz. Cream cheese, softened

1lb. Box of Oreo cookies, or equivalent
1/4c. Finely crushed candy canes
2c. Dark, semi-sweet or white chocolate, melted

Mix cream cheese, candy canes and about 3/4 of the Oreo crumbs well. Shape into approximately 48 balls and place in the freezer until very firm, at least an hour. Dip in melted chocolate, sprinkle with extra cookie crumbs or peppermint pieces. Place on waxed paper sheets. Refrigerate 1 hour until firm.

Peppermint Bark

12oz. Dark chocolate chips
12oz. White chocolate chips

1 box candy canes, coarsely chopped

Line a 10x7 baking dish with wax paper, wrapping around the top and taping to the edges to hold in place. Melt the dark chocolate in the microwave or with a double boiler. Spread evenly in the pan. Place in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. Next, melt the white chocolate and spread on top of the dark chocolate. While still wet, sprinkle the top with the chopped candy canes. Refrigerate until firm and break into “bark-like” pieces.

Peppermint Meringues

2 egg whites

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar

1/2 cup white sugar

2 peppermint candy canes, crushed

Preheat oven to 225 degrees F. Line two cookie sheets with foil. In a large mixing bowl, beat egg whites, salt, and cream of tartar to soft peaks. Gradually add sugar, continuing to beat until shiny with stiff peaks. Drop by spoonfuls 1 inch apart on the prepared cookie sheets. Sprinkle crushed peppermint candy over the cookies.  Bake for 1-1/2 hours. Meringues should be completely dry on the inside. Do not allow them to brown. Turn off oven. Keep oven door ajar, and let meringues sit in the oven until completely cool. Loosen from foil with metal spatula.

Peppermint Chocolate Spoons

40 plastic spoons of your choice in color

12 oz. dark chocolate candy melts

1/2c. Finely chopped candy canes

Melt chocolate wafers in the microwave or with a double boiler. Spread a piece of wax paper out on your counter or table. Dip the spoons into the chocolate to thoroughly coat, going a few inches up the handle. Sprinkle with candy cane pieces and place on the waxed paper to dry. Wrap up as a gift by tying several together with a ribbon and placing into a bag. These are delicious when used to stir your coffee or hot chocolate.

MOPS: December Coordinator's Article

As I look through my family’s photo collection, I realize that we have an overabundance of Christmas photos. Pictures from my childhood, from my husband’s childhood, and of us as a couple with our three young children. Babies in Santa hats, little boys in matching argyle sweater vests...all of us in our Christmas Eve finest or our Christmas morning robes.

I love seeing these memories, some taken on the same sofa or in front of the same fireplace every year with only our changing hairstyles, ages and outfits to mark any difference. They show how our families have grown and changed over the years. That photograph of the squishy baby propped up against a giant gift is as endearing to me as the gawky teenage pictures of myself with 1990’s bangs, a tacky Christmas sweater and legwarmers.

But those photos really only tell part of the story. What about everything leading up to and following the Big Day? The kitchen covered in flour as Mom bakes cookies with three young children and the chaotic mass of wrapping paper on the floor Christmas morning are all part of what makes this time of year special. It's those times when we forget to take out the camera to capture "real life" because we are anticipating the beautiful moments when we will all look picture-perfect on one special day.
Most importantly, why should the photographs of ourselves trying to look perfect be the most treasured when we all know that we are not perfect. Not even close.

Have we forgotten to capture the beauty in the mayhem because we are too distracted to see it? Or see Him, for that matter.

This Christmas season Santa may be at every mall and in every catalog, but Jesus’ quiet entrance into our world so many years ago is the reason why we are even decking the halls with boughs of holly today. Santa may be asking your little ones what they want for Christmas this year. But the excitement on a child’s face when he gets to pick out a gift for his sibling and practice the art of giving is priceless.

Maybe everyone isn’t smiling in that sought-after formal Christmas photo, but treasure the time that you have with your loved ones instead of mourning the lack of a good photograph. Memories of times shared with your family and friends will outlive that Polaroid.

Jesus was born to love you. He wants you to follow Him on a daily basis. Most importantly, he yearns to celebrate his birthday with you, as a friend.

So this season, rejoice in the “real life” moments that typically would pass you by. Start traditions with your family and friends. Show your kids that giving can be just as exciting as receiving. Above all else, rejoice that Jesus was born to be your Savior and to love us unconditionally, today and always

“For unto you is born this day, a Savior who is Christ the Lord.” ~Luke 2

May you and your family have a blessed Christmas together celebrating Jesus!

No-Sew Blankets

I am certain that I am not the first person to ever make a no-sew fleece blanket.  In fact, I may actually be the very last person on earth to attempt making one, given the number of individuals buying fleece in 1.5 yard lots at Jo-Ann fabric when I was there. Now that I know how simple they are to make, I can only surmise that anyone buying fleece must certainly be making one.Or three.  What started out as a homemade Christmas present I'd give to my 1-year-old daughter this year, since she really doesn't have an ultra-warm blanket bigger than an infant size, turned into me deciding to make a blanket for each of my boys, too.  Our house gets so cold in the winter since it's 160 years old, so tucking them in at night with a double-layer fleece blankie sounded like a great idea.

So, about $10-$15 each for material and approximately 1.5 hours each later, I now have three no-sew fleece blankets to wrap up for my children for Christmas in fun patterns that I think they will all enjoy. 

Now, I certianly was familiar with these blankets before this week.  My friend Amy had actually made me one for my baby shower in a fun frog print.  We still use it regularly in our playroom, as a blankie to crawl around on, cover each other with, put babies on, etc.  It just never occured to me to find out how to make them myself before, until I started thinking about some useful items I could give the children for Christmas this year.  All of a sudden, I found myself at Jo-Ann fabric, deciding between flowers or polka dots, pirates or baseballs. 

What really enticed me, however, was the "no sew" tagline.  Granted, I do know how to sew and I do own a sewing machine.  However, my crafty skills lie elsewhere and sewing is usually not my first love.  I love the project ideas you can make by sewing and have vowed to look into more of them this year, but for now, my bobbins remain empty.  So, without a doubt, the fact that I can make these blankets with nothing more than a ruler, some masking tape and a pair of scissors is very exciting to me!

In case there is someone out there who, like me, has always wondered how to make these blankets but has never tried, or someone who is maybe hearing about them for the first time, I am including instructions below.  There are several weeks left until Christmas and each of these blankets took me less than 2 hours to make.  So, it is definitely a doable homemade gift idea for someone special on your list.  Just don't go showing my children this photo before December 25th, ok? :)

No-Sew Fleece Blankets
2 pieces of fleece, 1.5 yards each. 
scissors
ruler
pins
masking tape

Cut the seams off of your fleece pieces and line up, with right sides facing outward.  Pin together as best as possible.  Do one "clean up" trim around the edges of both pieces of fleece together, so that they are the exact same size.  If they are slightly off, no worries!  The nice thing about these blankets is that the fringe will mask any slight indescrepancies in measuring. 

Cut out a 4"x4" square from both pieces of fleece together, at each corner.

Pull one long piece of tape across the entire side of the blanket, to make a line of masking tape across your entire project.  Line the bottom of the tape up with the top of the 4" square in the corners and continue an inch or two past each end of the blanket to secure it to the table.

Trim 1 inch wide slits into both layers of the fleece on the taped side, going from the edge right up to the masking tape line.  Continue until the entire side is cut into slits.  Tie the corresponding slits together in double knots, this will be one top piece and one bottom piece of fleece.  As you tie them into knots, your fringe will be forming.

Continue on all sides until all sides have been slitted and all slits have been tied to make fringe.

Coffee: My New Lifeline

What happens to most in college, medical or law school or after they have had their first child and realize that four hours of sleep a night just doesn't cut it day-in and day-out, only recently happened to me: coffee.  I have always enjoyed coffee on an occasional basis, don't get me wrong.  But, I always was more known as a tea drinker.  When I was looking for that soothing, hot drink to relax or warm me up, I always broke out the PG Tips or Twinings.  Until now. 

Well, let me defend my first love and say that sometimes I still just need to have a good cup of black tea.  Other times I have a craving for a chamomile or another form of herbal tea.  But lately, I have been migrating towards "the other caffeinated drink" and just can't explain what has happened.  It may have something to do with the plethora of yummy flavored creamers out on the market (ummm...have you tried the Caramel Macchiato one yet?) or the Keurig personal coffee brewer I got for Christmas last year or even something called Wawa convenience stores, which has, in my opinion, one of the best cups of coffee out there at convenience store prices.  Quite honestly, I don't know what the impetus for this new love of mine is, but I am coming clean and saying that it can no longer be ignored or denied:  I am a coffee drinker.

To get the facts straight, I am not yet what I would consider an addict.  I'm not shaking when I wake up in the morning, only to be calmed by the beep of my programmable Cuisinart coffee maker indicating that the brew is complete.  I don't have to start every day with a "cup 'o Joe" nor do I even have to have a cup of coffee at all throughout the day to function.  In fact, I typically don't have one every day and my habits are quite sporadic: some days I will have more than one cup and then I may go a few days without this "need" for coffee.  In fact, dare I say, that I may actually have tea some mornings instead (gasp!).  But, what has changed in me is that I do have that feeling of calm come over me now when I sit down and make a cup of coffee.  I also do have that yearning for nothing other than a big mug of coffee some afternoons when my kids nap.  I no longer forget to make coffee at a party I am throwing, even though I have remembered every other detail.  And I must admit that sometimes I'll reach for a K-cup when I am having a bout of tiredness and know that I do not want to be asleep by 8pm.  So add all of this up and I'll be the first to admit that I now consider myself a part of the Latte Club.

It's a joke in my family that in a year, I went from someone who had every appliance out there but was still using an old 10-cup Gevalia coffee brewer that I brought to college with me (and hardly ever used!), to someone who now has a Keurig, a K-cup carousel, a nice Cuisinart brewer, and a Cuisinart coffee grinder on my coutertop.  That's right, only the most frequently used appliances make it to "the big time" of being stored on the countertop instead of in the cabinets or pantry.  I am happy to report that my coffee accoutrements have "made it" and have joined my Kitchen Aid mixer, food processor and my toaster oven on my counter.  They were even purchased in black and stainless to match our decor.  To boot, there are also a handful of flavored creamers in my fridge at all times.  This is getting strange.  Nonetheless, in the short time that I have been a sleep-deprived, coffee drinking, mother of three, I have a few thoughts on coffee that I thought I'd share.  I already gave my disclaimer that I am not a coffee connoisseur but I do know what I have enjoyed in my experimentation, so if it's helpful to anyone out there, then I've done my part in building up the Latte Club.  Enjoy!

1. Myth:  I can't enjoy coffee because nobody else in my house drinks it and I don't like instant coffee.  I'm not going to make a pot for myself.

Well, your answer to this one is either a single-cup coffee brewer, a French press or a Keurig personal coffee maker.  I personally can recommend either a French press such as the one below, that will easily allow you to brew a small amount of coffee for yourself and it will be the freshest you can make, or the Keurig, which offers so much convenience and variety.  There are K-cups for the Keurig available in so many different styles, flavors and brands.  Amazon, Costco or Kohl's are great places to buy your K-cups for a good price (I use my Kohl's cash as a little gift for myself sometimes). My favorites are Timothy's Italian blend and Gloria Jean's Butter Toffee.  Hello?  Did that not just convince you or what?

2. I am looking for a good, reasonably-priced coffee maker.  Which features do you like the best?

The above is the maker I have and really like.  What's irking me is that I bought it last year for about $40 more than the list price now!  So this would be a great deal for you.  It brews a good cup of coffee and I just love the auto-off beep (since I never remember to turn it off) and the programmable feature.  We host our weekly Bible study and also other events so it's nice to set up the coffee and find it already brewing when I finish putting the kids to bed and head downstairs to wait for my guests.

3. I have never tried to grind my own coffee.  The coffee from the store is just as fresh.

This, again, is another item that I paid a lot more for last year when it was newly on the market so it would be a great deal for you.  I recently got into grinding my own coffee, especially when we have company over, and it is so yummy.  It's a lot fresher than the pre-ground and is so easy.  I think of it as a special treat when we have guests, especially, or even just for myself sometimes.  This grinder is sleek looking and has an option to automatically grind enough for a certain number of cups in the maker.  Very fast and reliable.

November MOPS Coordinator's Article

It’s that time of year when all of the holiday hustle and bustle starts. Your grocery purchases are accumulating points towards your free turkey and your mail is inundated with circulars telling you which toys are the ones your child truly wants for Christmas this year. The weather outside isn’t quite frightful yet...but it certainly is getting colder. That soon-to-be winter chill is in the air! Personally, I love fall and all that it entails. To me, the anticipation of what’s to come over the next two months makes up for feeling chilly most of the time and for the extra time it now takes to get everyone buttoned up and out the door in the morning (and then realizing you still need to scrape the ice off your windshield).


What I never anticipate fondly are the sniffles and sneezes that come with the season. The coughs. The fevers. The vomiting. You name it, it seems that at least someone at school, work, church or daycare has it from early fall through the winter. No matter how many vitamins I take, how bundled up we get when we go outside or how much antibacterial hand sanitizer we go through, it seems inevitable that at least something will infect someone at home. Which then leads to five infected people in no time at all. You’ve been there before, I’m sure you have.

Recently I had a day just like I described. Several incidents early-on turned a normal Wednesday into a “down in the dumps” day by mid-afternoon. And then my two youngest children both woke up sick from their naps, after only sleeping for 40 minutes. Just what I needed to make a bad day even worse! There were tears. There was whining. There were sniffles and sneezes. There were overpriced co-pays for the medicine we ended up having to get at the pharmacy. Wow, this day couldn’t get any worse! Or so it seemed as I sat around having a pity party for myself that night after finally getting two crying and overtired babies to sleep. Way to put a damper on my holiday spirit, God! Somehow going “over the river and through the woods” on the upcoming Thanksgiving day seemed like the last thing in the world that I would ever want to do, now that my good mood had been spoiled as a result of drippy noses and Pink Eye.


As I sat down at my computer to write some to-be-determined Coordinator’s Article (after stealing a much-deserved mini Heath bar from the kids’ Halloween stash!), the verse we had related to today’s MOPs meeting hit me square in the face. “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Be joyful always. Not only when things seem to be going my way, when my kids are germ-free and my day has gone as I’ve anticipated.

Pray continually. Now there’s something that didn’t even cross my mind in the midst of all of my grumbling and worrying. Hmm, interesting how things start to seem not so bad when we let God into the equation and hand over our planners to Him.

Give thanks in all circumstances. That’s right, all circumstances: good or bad, sickness or health, richer or poorer. Pretty much God deserves our thanks at all times. It’s funny how long the list of things we have to be thankful for really is when we stop and take notice. Our “bad days” and misfortunes suddenly become the minority when we enumerate all of the bountiful blessings God has placed into our hearts and within our families.


For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Just as we parents desire our children to use good manners, to pray regularly and to be thankful to others, God has specially designed each of us to live a certain life and to handle different circumstances. We are not all alike. We are each uniquely designed by Christ to navigate our own life’s path, no matter what it may bring. And it would please Him and make Him glow with parental love to hear us use these manners that we teach to our own children in all circumstances.


So this Thanksgiving season, as you sit down to turkey and pumpkin pie, don’t focus on which family members aren’t present or how awful your travels were to get where you are. Instead, remember to thank God for all that he has given to you. We are not even worthy of the blessings he pours out on each of us, but as our Father, he gives them to us anyways out of love.

Family Movie Night: An American Tail

An American Tail. Menu: Chocolate Cherry Mice, popcorn, Shirley Temples.

Yeah, I know.  Another Family Movie Night post with nothing else in between.  I apologize for not having updated the blog regularly lately.  It's been busy around here with a birthday, a holiday, some colds, some visitors, and other various activities that somehow believe they are more important than updating The Proverbs 31 Chronicles.  Hee hee.  I do have several post ideas I have noted and I hope to get to them on a more regular basis again in the very near future.  For now, enjoy this post about our latest Family Movie Night. 

We watched the 1986 classic, An American Tail, the movie about the young immigrant mouse named Fievel who comes to America, the "land without any cats," from Russia and suddenly gets separated from his family en route.  So, he needs to fend for himself in this strange land, meeting all sorts of friends and having lots of adventures in the meantime.  Through everything, he believes that his family is "Somewhere Out There," and all he longs for is to be reunited with the people he loves.  You have the Linda Ronstadt/James Ingram song stuck in your head now, don't you?  Good luck getting that out.  I've been humming it for two days now :).

Our movie night this time was extra special because Nana was visiting and was able to join us.  Yes, Nana was well-behaved and shared nicely all day so she was issued the special "Nanas Attend For Free on Saturday Night" ticket at dinnertime.  Another name for this is not having enough physical tickets printed off for guests when the boys are insistent that everyone gets a ticket for Movie Night.  They play our game a little too well sometimes :).  But this seemed to suit them just fine.

Eagerly waiting for Movie Night to start with Nana...after stealing a chocolate mouse to munch on.  We're into cheesy smiles at our house, so at least Nana looks nice!

And finally, the moment you all have been waiting for:  the Chocolate Cherry Mice. Come on, aren't they adorable?  A little too realistic looking to eat...that is until you find out they are made with dark chocolate, cherries and almonds.  Yeah, I think I can get over the fact that they actually do resemble mice in size!

These guys are so easy to make.  They'd make perfect treats for any mouse-themed movie, or even during the Nutcracker at Christmastime.  They are also especially yummy...and healthy since they have almonds, fruit and dark chocolate.  Fooled you, didn't I?

Basically, dry off 12 maraschino cherries with stems on paper towels.  Take 1/3c. dark chocolate chips and melt in the microwave for 30 second intervals until perfectly smooth.  Dip the cherry into the chocolate, holding by the stem.  Place on waxed paper and immediately press a dark chocolate Hershey Kiss into the front.  Let sit for a minute or two and then wedge two almond slices between the Kiss and the cherry.  Let dry completely.  Put a little frosting into a decorating bag or a Ziploc, either fitted with a small writing tip or with just a small snip out of the bag corner.  Make eyes on your mice and let dry.  Enjoy! 

Family Movie Night: Monsters Vs. Aliens

Monsters vs. Aliens.  Menu: Monstermallows, popcorn, Shirley Temples

Our latest Family Movie Night featured last year's popular Dreamworks hit, Monsters Vs. Aliens.  In our house, we just love Monsters, Inc.  So, when searching for the "perfect" film for our movie night last weekend, this film immediately came to mind.  I had heard of it when it was in the theater but since we never get to the actual movie theater, I noted that I wanted to rent it when it was released on DVD.  It did not disappoint!  Monsters vs. Aliens was adorable, funny, entertaining for adults and the children, and just an overall good flick.  Everyone in our family had his/her favorite monster by the middle of the movie and, like Monsters, Inc., each character was so cleverly created and developed.  I would highly, highly recommend it to anyone, adult and/or family with children.  What a fun night!

As has become our usual recent trend, I sometimes pick movies for our Family Movie Nights based on the fun treat idea I can come up with to make for our family to enjoy during our screentime.  Other times, I wrack my brain trying to come up with a fun treat to go along with the theme of a movie on which we decide.  This time, I knew I wanted us to see this movie and then I immediately recalled a fun treat that would be perfect, both theme-wise and the fact that the kids could help create them:  MONSTERMALLOWS!

Ta-da!  Introducing monstermallows....in other words, a chocolate covered marshmallow decorated to look like fun, friendly monsters.  These are actually quite simple to make:

Melt chocolate chips and/or candy melts in the microwave or over a double boiler.  Dip the lollipop stick in the chocolate or candy melt, insert into the pop, and then dip the whole pop into the mixture to coat.  When still wet, decorate with assorted candies, presing lightly into the coating.  I like to prop my pops up in the grids of my cooling rack so that the chcolate doesn't get flat on one side as it dries off. 

Introducing our own creations...

October MOPS Coordinator's Article

Fall is a time for change. The leaves change colors; the laid-back summertime routines change to accommodate school schedules; and the way you spend your Saturday mornings certainly change (soccer anyone?).  Above all, let’s not forget about that big change that likes to mess with our bedtime routines two times a year: daylight savings time.

Change can be frustrating! It takes what we have worked hard to establish and leaves us to figure out a new solution. And for mothers of preschoolers, we have to find this new solution while changing diapers, cleaning up highchairs and getting by on years of interrupted sleep. It’s no wonder that as a mom, it’s so easy to wake up on the wrong side of the bed, more often than not. Add to that the stress of the upcoming holiday season and it’s amazing that any of us even manage to get out of bed at all most mornings!

Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us, “To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.” God has pre-ordained each of our life’s happenings, both big and small. He knows the day on which He will return for judgment, just as much as he knows the exact timing and duration of seasonal changes in our own families. There is a time for everything and only God knows this timing. We have to trust that He will walk us through these periods of change and that we will get through, no matter how unmanageable life may feel at times. It is during those times when we feel most vulnerable, most out of control, and most overwhelmed that we really learn to rely on Him and put our trust and faith into His judgment and timing.

So as the leaves turn crisp and red; as you sit on the sidelines watching the umpteenth soccer game this season, thinking about all of the other things you should be doing; and as you listen to your child whine when bedtime is an hour earlier now that school has started, know that God has all of this in His master plans. Turning over your calendar and your black pen to Him so that He can do all of His glorious planning, submits your changing life to the only one who will carry you through these changes. With God in charge and doing what is in His will, these seemingly stressful life changes can be fully embraced and will soon become, dare I say it, comfortable. So go ahead and savor this wonderful season of change and any path on which it takes you, knowing that there is no path God would rather walk with you.

Happy fall!

Make-Your-Own Pizza Night

We love pizza at our house and that love is amplified in my mind by the fact that my kids will all eat pizza without the word "yucky" ever leaving their mouths.  So, that's a definite plus to me!  In fact, be it pizza of the restaurant, take-out, frozen, or homemade variety, it makes no difference.  There are always smiles and squeals of delight when I announce that we'll be eating it.

When I knew I'd be heading out the door for a committment soon after dinnertime tonight, I knew I had to make something fast and easy, that I could easily put together with the kids around.  So, the idea of having a Make-Your-Own Pizza Night popped into my head.  What could be more fun than getting to eat pizza for dinner?  Getting to assemble it, of course!   I always love something that doubles as something useful (dinner) and something fun (afternoon craft). 

Our pizza night started with good 'ole Mr. Breadman.  Some people have mixed thoughts on bread machines, especially compared to traditional homemade bread, but we love it.  The breads we have tried have been moist and yummy and the best part about the Breadman is that it frees my hands up to do other tasks, which is always a bonus in my book.

So, enter Breadman pizza dough recipe.  We use all-purpose white flour or semolina flour, but you can certainly use whole wheat flour if you'd prefer.

Pizza Dough (for two 12" pies)
1-1/2c. warm water
2T. olive oil
2tsp kosher salt
4-1/4c. flour
2tsp. sugar
2tsp. yeast

Set the machine to the Dough cycle.  Add ingredients in order listed, or in the order in which your bread machine tells you to add ingredients.  When it is finished, place in a bowl brushed with olive oil and brush the top of the dough with olive oil, too, before covering with plastic wrap.  Refrigerate until ready to use. 

When ready to use, knead lightly and divide into two pieces.  With lightly floured hands, spread the dough on an oil brushed pizza stone, sprinkled lightly with cornmeal. Spread dough to within 1/4" of the end of the round stone.  Or, we actually opted for two personal pizzas in lieu of one larger pizza with one half of our dough.  This seemed like the best option for two little boys who each wanted to put toppings on their own personal pizza.  Bake crust for 20 minutes at 375.

Remove crust, brush with olive oil, add toppings and cook for an additional 25 minutes, until lightly browned and the toppings are bubbly.

Voila, time for the oven.  Looks yummy, doesn't it?

And to the table we go!  Dinner is served and it looks just as yummy as Pizza Mia at the end of your road, doesn't it?  (Disregard the excess cheese oozing off the side of the personal pizzas.  Apparently, the kids had a little too much fun adding cheese to their pies.  Now...mangia!

My Favorite Chicken Marsala

My husband and I just love a good Chicken Marsala.  In fact, I'd be so daring as to say that this could be both of our favorite food.  Well, at least it's mine and for my husband, it comes as close to a favorite as something that's not beef possibly could.

The secret to a good Chicken Marsala is...(drumroll)...the Marsala wine.  I didn't say that this was going to be rocket science!  Seriously, the most important ingredient is the Marsala wine so if you are serving it for a special occasion or for company, I'd splurge on a bottle of Marsala wine for your cooking.  For other times, cooking Marsala wine (found in the supermarket) works fine and is, in fact, what I usually use when we have this for a weeknight meal.  Just note that cooking wines are high in sodium so you may want to cut the additional salt that is added, until after you have taste-tested it.  You could always add more.

I have tried many Chicken Marsalas and this one is our favorite because it is flavorful and light; there is no flour in the sauce so it won't get clumpy.  It really enables you to taste the chicken, mushrooms and the sauce without hiding the flavors in extra flour. It's delicious served atop some wide egg noodles, some angel hair or other pasta or with rice.  We go heavy on the mushrooms since we love them, but you can reduce those as well.  Enjoy!

Chicken Marsala

3 large chicken breasts, cut in half to form 6 pieces

1-1/2T olive oil

3-1/2T butter

1/2c. flour seasoned with salt and pepper

1 onion, sliced very thin

1lb. mushrooms, sliced thin

1c. Marsala wine

1c. chicken broth

1T. lemon juice

2T. freshly chopped parsley (or 1tsp. dried parsley)

Combine flour with salt and pepper to taste.  Pat chicken dry, place between two pieces of wax paper and pound with a meat mallet.  Cover in flour mixture.  Heat 1-1/2T butter and oil in skillet.  Add chicken, turning once until cooked through and lightly browned.  Transfer chicken to a platter.  Saute onions and mushrooms.  Add Marsala and cook until almost evaporated.  Add chicken broth and lemon juice.

Simmer sauce until liquid is reduced to about 1C.  Remove skillet from heat and add remaining 2T butter and any additional salt and pepper (to taste).  Spoon sauce over chicken and garnish with parsley.

*Note:  You certainly can make this a gluten-free meal by omitting the flour coating on the chicken and just seasoning the plain breasts with salt and pepper, then sauteing in the skillet until very lightly browned.

Happy cooking!

Unique Children's Gifts

Selecting the perfect gift for a family who has just had a new baby or for a child's birthday or holiday gift can become quite a chore.  It seems as if children these days have so many toys and even worse, there are tons more out there for your personal toy-store-shopping confusion.  So how do you know what to pick when you want to give something that the child will love and Mom and Dad will not immediately banish to the garage or the re-gift bin?  I personally know that I love a good useful gift and as innocent as they are, it's often easy to pull the wool over your child's eyes and make him see that gift as something fun at the same time.  So, here are a few suggestions I have, things we have been given or have given to others.  This isn't to say that we don't love toys or other gifts when we recieve them; these are just some unique ideas that I have seen go over well throughout my years of giving and receiving gifts.  Leave a comment if you have any other ideas.  I love hearing new ideas!

A series of name books.  I just can't say enough about this idea.  It was actually one that was given to us by a librarian friend when both of our sons were born.  Select a series of children's books with the child's name either in the title or as the main character of the book.  This is a fun idea because you can certainly select books (style and quantity) based on your budget.  Also, as a baby gift, you can give some books that can be used sooner and some books that may be used later on, when the child is a preschooler.  I know I love having books on hand already as my child matures and is ready for different types of books.  For an older child to have the most fun with this, the books should probably be ones he/she can read now or can easily understand when someone reads them aloud.  You can get ideas by searching online at Amazon or Barnes and Noble for books containing a certain name.  As an example, here are what we received for our sons:

Benjamin:  The Tale of Benjamin Bunny by Beatrix Potter; Benjamin Bigfoot by Mary Serfozo; What's the Time? Benjamin Bear Learns to Tell Time by Anne LeBlanc; and Benjamin Bear Says Please by Claire Freedman.

Nathaniel (Nate): Nate the Great by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat; But Not Nate!: A Book About Opposites by Andrew Gutelle; and Nathaniel Willy, Scared Silly by Judith Mathews.

Goodnight gift set.  This is another fun idea we have received and I have the generous and the more generous variations on this theme.  Basically, what this goodnight set will include is a children's book with a coordinating pair of pajamas in the child's size.  So, combine a fun book in a theme the child loves with a pair of pajamas in a coordinating fun print and you go from the dull gift of clothing to an exciting gift that is also practical.  You could find Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelow and combine it with a pair of cute pajamas with monkeys on it.  Go crazy and see if you can find a coordinating pair of slippers or a blanket to give a more elaborate gift.  I'm telling you, if someone gave my son Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel with a pair of pajamas with steam shovels on them, he'd be one happy camper!  And along those lines, I don't see why you couldn't substitute a movie for a book instead.  Just don't tell our librarian friend that I suggested this. :)

Now what I have described is the generous version of this theme.  If you opt to be even more generous (and you want to save some time) visit Books to Bed , where you can find pre-packaged book and pajama combinations with actual characters from the books on the jammies.  These are super cute.  I think I'd have so much fun wearing Corduroy the bear pajamas to bed!  Do these come in adult sizes?? :)

Sheets, blankets, or towels.  No, this is not a typo.  Maybe this is just my children, but I can't even describe how excited they get when they see their fun bed sheets, comforters and throw blankets.  My one son has sheets with trucks on them (our construction worker) and the other son has sheets with sports balls on them (our jock).  They were uber excited to first get their fun printed sheets and immediately starting ripping them out of the packaging to put on their beds!  The same level of excitement is there for comforters with large trucks on them, throw blankets in a Thomas the Tank Engine theme, and bath towels with large monkeys all over them.  Call them strange, but these items have invoked more excitement than many of the toys they have received and nothing could be more useful.

Personalized books.  I See Me! is a really fun web site that specializes in personalized children's books.  You provide the child's full name and birth date and they make you any one of many personalized books.  We have received one for each of our children - Benjamin has My Very Own Name, which spells his name out with animals beginning with the same letters; Nate has My Very Own ABCs, which is a board book that creates an ABC book written just for him; and Abigail has My Very Own Fairy Tale, which makes our princess the star of her own fairy tale.  My kids love to read these books that are personalized just for them.

Baby gift-wrapping.  One unique way of selecting and packaging new baby gifts is to select several outfits and individually wrap them up in tissue paper and then place them all in a large box together.  Label them, "Something old; something new; something borrowed; something blue" and include sentimental, heirloom and newly purchased items.  Another labeling could be "Something for now; something for later," and you could include a newborn outfit in the first package and a 12 or 18 month outfit in the other one.

A lunchbox or backpack.  Especially if your child is in daycare or school, this could be something incredibly useful that they will also be excited about.  Select one that is very pretty for girls, is rugged and tough for boys and has fun motifs on it in themes such as princesses, trucks or sports.  Make a big deal about your child's new backpack or lunchbox when you take it out to pack it up for school or daycare the next day.  I guarantee she'll be showing her friends her new cool accessories!

September MOPS Coordinator's Article

I am the Coordinator for my church's MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) program, so every month I have a Coordinator's article in our newsletter.  This is something that is relevant to the time of year or the topic that day in MOPS.  Knowing that many of you in my audience are mothers of young children and many of you may not attend our MOPS program, I thought you may enjoy reading my monthly MOPS musings.  I'll be posting this every month after our meeting, so as not to give a spoiler for the upcoming newsletter for those MOPS attendees who are followers of my blog.  Enjoy!

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As a new mom, you rock your small child late at night, wondering why she isn’t sleeping for three hours at a time as all of the books state. Your three and a half year old has no desire to use the potty like all of your friends’ children seem to do. What’s worse is that preschool starts in two weeks and well, we all know that preschool and changing diapers just don’t mesh. Your two year old bit his sister. Again. And those time-outs that are supposed to cure every form of naughtiness seem nothing but humorous to your pint-sized patient.

Parenting is hard work! It is a journey filled with trials, tribulations, happiness, tears and sacrifice. Everyday, we moms sacrifice a little bit of ourselves for the good of our family. Our time. Our patience. Our energy. And often, our sanity. You may feel alone in this world of mothering, a lost soul amidst a sea of dirty diapers, whining toddlers and defiant preschoolers. But you aren’t.

Psalm 139:10 tells us, “Even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” God is every where present.  He can see us always, even when we cannot see Him. He is holding our hand, guiding us through all of life’s choices and giving us strength through the trying times. He will never desert us.

This 2010-2011 year at MOPS we will be studying Momology: the Art and Science of Mothering. Through this, we will together see how mothering is both art and science.  It combines all of who we are—our Inner self, our experiences, our circle of support and our skills –to shape healthy and resilient children. It requires the scientific part of our brain to systematically determine which principles will work in our own family. And just as much, it requires an artistry, which creatively intertwines the very person we are to help clarify our decisions. Through Momology, as Psalm 139:10 reminds us, we will be guided by a God who will never leave or forsake us. A Father who has his gentle hand upon our shoulder as we encounter our daily struggles and decisions.

I am looking forward to beginning my first year as MOPS Coordinator. Already, I have felt the presence of God within our ministry in the form of a phenomenal Steering Team he has hand-picked; in the familiar and the new faces I have corresponded with all summer; and in the love and support I have witnessed between you, my sisters in Christ.

So, as you sit here this morning, whether for the first time, the 100th time, or as a mentor mom, know that you are not alone. Every woman in this room has had days when she feels as if she just will not make it as a mom. But she does. Every one of us has had moments when we go outside the norm to do what really is best for our own families. And then second-guesses it. Every woman sitting here has sacrificed sleep, patience and energy for the sake of her child’s well-being. We all probably have a few more grey hairs than we would have had if we did not have children. But we are all in this together. Most importantly, we have a loving, omnipresent God who is offering us his hand. So, go ahead and reach for it, knowing that in this crazy course of Momology, our God wants nothing more than to hold our hand tightly, and to ease our mind and our burdens.

Blessings!

Family Movie Nights

 This year we have jumped on-board the Movie Night train and have started this tradition in our household with our four-year-old and two-year-old.  It's something that the kids really look forward to and something that my husband and I also anticipate throughout the week, since usually we are watching a movie that is either a new children's release or something that we both remember from our own childhoods and can now introduce to our children.  We've watched Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Benji, Up, The Wizard of Oz, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, among others.  Tonight we decided on The Land Before Time since both boys really seem to have a penchant for dinosaurs lately.  I actually remember watching this movie with my brother one night when my parents had company in 1988 (or thereabouts, considering movies used to take much longer to be released on VHS when we "dinosars," or parents, were little).



We definitely don't do Movie Night every week in our house, but usually get one to two times per month on our schedule, usually a Friday or Sunday evening.  We have actual tickets for Martin Family Movie Night that magically "appear" on the refrigerator one morning and this is indication that it will be Movie Night that evening.  This certainly invokes good behavior since everyone wants to be able to come to Movie Night and God forbid if your brother can attend and you cannot! 

At dinnertime, everyone who has been well behaved is issued a ticket and must turn it in to Daddy after we have had baths and put the baby to bed.  You wouldn't believe how excited two little boys get when they are handed their official Movie Night ticket.  Yes, I'm talking about dancing, squealing, grinning from ear to ear, the whole package.  You'd have thought they just won the lottery!!  Of course, by the actual Movie Night start time, I have usually been asked about 500 times if it is Movie Night time yet since the anticipation for two young children is so great, almost overwelming.

My friend Julia told me about a great blog that has wonderful Movie Night ideas so I have been following that and trying my hand at having a fun, themed treat for us to enjoy in our house on Movie Night.  So far, I have only done this for three movies but I do plan to do it going forward. 

Here is a link to this wonderful blog, My Creative Life, by Heather Ann Melzer. 

Below are two ideas I have come up with on my own for our family's Movie Nights and one cute idea, courtesy of Family Fun magazine, that I did for a Movie Night with friends during the day.  Of course, we also have the obligatory popcorn at every Movie Night since it is a favorite treat around here.  So, usually we have popcorn, the special treat and as another treat the kids can either have chocolate milk or Shirley Temples. 

Hope you enjoy my ideas and they inspire you to get out your red carpet, grab some popcorn, sit back and enjoy the silver screen with your loved ones!

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The Land Before Time. Menu: Popcorn, Shirley Temples and Jello Jiggler dinosaurs and dinosaur eggs in a shredded paper nest.

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The Wizard of Oz.  Menu: Popcorn, chocolate milk, Yellow Brick Road cupcakes with fondant Emerald City and ruby red slippers.

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Toy Story 2. Menu: Popcorn, Apple juice, alien cupcakes.