Crazy hair, a funny read and homemade granola bars

So earlier today I was thinking about how sometimes when I am running downstairs and pulling my hair back into a bun/ponytail combo while trying to answer the phone, verbally break up a fight between the boy and the girl and not trip over toys or dogs, I end up with a fabulous up-do without trying or a mirror. But when I need to look all put together (usually just about once a month, well, twice this month what with a family wedding/rehearsal dinner combo) and try to make a fabulous up-do I end up looking like a crazy person who has just removed her finger from an electrical outlet and then got all Tippi Hedron-ed by mockingbirds because they are meanest birds ever. So I tried to find a hairstyle on-line that would reflect this but could not. However I did find this:

Really? That has go to be a piece, right? Even so, she has a pig hair on her head. And if it is her real hair, can you imagine what it took to comb that bitch out? So if you want to see some disturbing hairstyles, Google "crazy hairstyles" and look at the images. Seriously. Do it. I'll wait. . . . . . . Well, maybe not, I have to finish an overdue library book. Some of the images are, for me, stomach churning. Also, if my kids end up coming home with ANY of these on their heads and it is not Halloween, I shall have them wait on the porch and re-greet them with clippers and a picture of a bald Britney Spears as a future deterrent.

So this is the overdue library book that I am reading but I am confident in its hilarity to go ahead and post it before I finish. I have laughed out loud many, many times while reading these essays. Laurie has written several books and I look forward to reading all of them. I did read "The Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club" a very long time ago and sadly do not remember any of it so I will have to read it again. (Actually, now that I think about it I believe it was "The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing.") If you do not have time to read the whole book, and I know many people do not, buy it / borrow it and read the chapter "You must be my lucky star." You will not be sorry. I really think that even though I have already read it (almost) I am putting it on my Christmas wish list so that I can read this chapter whenever I need to immediately laugh.

So up next is to finish "Not tonight, Honey: Wait 'Til I'm a Size Six" by Susan Reinhardt then to finish "The Winter Rose" by Jennifer Donnelly so that I can read "The Wild Rose" by Jennifer Donnelly.

Also, I made homemade Granola Triangles tonight. I know, I know they sell granola bars at the store. A lot of them. In many flavors. However, I felt the need to make something yummy that the kids would eat and that I would not be tempted to eat even though I froze the left-overs. Yes, I am talking to you yummy delicious oatmeal-chocolate-chip cookies. Also, I have been eating the Fiber One granola bars and the boy always wants me to share and the last thing he needs is more fiber so I decided to make some he can have. So here is the recipe:

Granola Triangles (picture to be posted tomorrow)

2 1/2 cups Rice Krispies (or similar cereal)

2 cups uncooked quick-cooking oats

1/2 cup raisins

Mix together in a large-ish bowl and set aside.

1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1/2 cup light corn syrup

Bring sugar and syrup to a boil over medium high heat while stirring constantly-ish. I took some breaks. After it is nice and boiled, removed from heat and stir in:

1/2 cup creamy or crunchy peanut butter and

1 tsp vanilla

Pour this mixture over cereal/oat/raisin mixture and stir until everything is nice and coated with yummy peanut butter goodness. Let cool for 10 minutes.

Then stir in:

1/2 cup chocolate chips. I used milk chocolate but I am sure any kind will work well and I plan to use dark chocolate next time.

Grease or Pam spray a 13x9 pan and pour granola mixture into it. Then grease or spray your hands and smush it all down. Then cut into 12 squares and then cut those squares into triangles. They can be stored in an air-tight container for up to a week, if they last that long. Next time I think I will use honey instead of syrup, maybe throw in some almonds, dried fruit, whatever looks good. Oh, and I just saw Nutella in my tags and am so going to make Nutella granola bars next time! Oh! Oh! With toasted coconut and almonds. Mmmmm.....

Days 4 & 5 of 12 Days of Christmas Cookies - Fudgy BonBons and PB&J Bars

So my internet was down from yesterday morning thru late this afternoon. Therefore you get two cookie recipes!

The first is Fudgy Bonbons. I got this one from a Pillsbury cookbook. It originally came from a lady named Mary Anne Tyndall who was Pillsbury's grand prize winner in their 1994 contest. And because of the glory of all things on the internet, I do not have to type it up! (although if the link does not work, let me know and I will post it)

http://http//www.pillsbury.com/recipes/fudgy-bonbons/96997a31-793f-4411-b43e-e8b154de46c1/

I do not do the drizzle over the cookies because I just don't want to. Instead I take a shaker of powdered sugar and lightly dust the cookies. I find they look more festive.

Now your healthy meal: Filet with Merlot Sauce. A bit on the fancy side but super easy if you know how to cook a steak. And because I want to make my life easy tonight here is the link:

http://http//www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Filet-Mignon-with-Merlot-Sauce-5653

I only cook this at Christmas or for my birthday so it is served with either mashed potatoes or twice-baked potatoes. To keep with the healthy theme though, serve it up with a salad and maybe some sauteed green beans.

Yesterday was a day to run around. And around. And around. Luckily I had my momz to chauffeur me while my Christmas/Birthday presents were being installed on my car. I am seriously going to put bows on my tires Christmas Eve and make the kids go to the driveway to see what Santa brought Mommy. Or maybe just the one new car bow and have four hangy-down bits with arrows pointing to the tires. Yeah, that's it. So I am going into the grocery store to pick up five things when the garage calls to tell me the car is ready. Cool, I only a few things then I can pick up the car! Of course when I go into Harris Teeter they are having another free Holiday Wine Tasting!!!! FREE WINE!!! AGAIN!!! And of course I do not have time to hang out. Blast.

The cookie recipe for today is from Ina Garten. Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars. I came across this one while flipping thru a cookbook at the library. It has that lovely salty/sweet combination and I believe I used blackberry jam instead of raspberry although I bet any jam would be good. I just picked up a jar of Marionberry jam yesterday so now it knows its purpose. Here is the link:

http://http//www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/peanut-butter-and-jelly-bars-recipe/index.html

For your healthy dinner I am going to take the easy way out tonight because I am just that tired and I need to finish a book that is already overdue at the 'brary and it is late and I think I still have laundry in the wash. . . . . . . . . Yes, I do. Frick. Ok, so before you make or eat the PB&J bars have this for dinner: Baked salmon with this marinade:

The marinade does have a bit of heat from the red pepper flakes but is sooooo tasty. I get it at either Harris Teeter or Fresh Market. Serve it up with some steamed broccoli!

Ok, there is a lot going on in the news lately, something about Wikileaks and some dude who does not mind spreading secrets but wants his house-arrest location kept underwraps and then there is something about taxes and politics. I really would like to know what is going on but it is hard to listen to the news in the morning with two kids all up in my grill while I try to guzzle a vat of coffee to keep up with them. The one thing I did learn from the Today Show this week is that Teva and someone else made a Teva stiletto. Four-inch high sandals. And they can be yours for the low, low price of $330.00.

http://http//www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/fashion/2010/11/30/2010-11-30_teva_stiletto_heels_have_velcro_straps_teva_sole_shoes_have_fourinch_heel_retail.html

I also learned that some guys will think that a wrapped tampon can look like a Christmas treat:

http://http//www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/40606754#40606754 or try this one:

http://http//www.nbc.com/news-sports/today-show/meredith-hoda-willie-geist-try-alcohol-whipped-cream/

If you watch this video, the bit I am talking about is about 7 minutes in and if you let the video load, you can fast forward to the Bobbie Thomas section.

Day 1 of 12 Days of Christmas Cookies - Peanut Butter Blossoms

So I'll start ya'll off with an easy one and one of my favorites. Peanut Butter Blossoms. The yummy tastiness of sugar-coated peanut butter cookies with Hershey Kisses. I have tried it with several different types of peanut butter cookie recipies (and will continue to try more) but this one is my favorite.

Step One: Buy this (well, maybe not the 12 pack unless you have an unhealthy love for peanut butter cookies or you may need to make a lot for a charity bake sale or something which is much healthier and way better for the world unless the charity is for people who cannot eat sugar or gluten and then you are just mean.)


Mix according to directions. You will need water, vegetable oil and an egg. Roll into balls, heh, then roll in a bowl of this (probably about 1/4 cup):





While the cookies are baking, peel and try not to eat a lot of these:

When the cookies are done, as soon as you take them out of the oven, put a kiss (the chocolate kind or you will burn your mouth) on each cookie. Oh, the simple goodness.

Now, for your complimentary healthy meal to balance out the one cookie you are going to have before giving the rest away.

Pork Tenderloin with Blackberry Ketchup. The first time I had this was in law school. A friend and I went out to a nice restaurant instead of the usual student eateries we normally frequented. The restaurant was in or near the old Claussen's Bakery building on Greene Street in Columbia. We are talking circa 1998. They served this dish with mashed potatoes and probably some sort of vegetable. I looked around for years for the recipe for the blackberry ketchup and finally found it in a sauce cookbook, go figure. There are versions online but the ones I saw called for fresh blackberries and I just don't have that kind of time. This version calls for one very easy to open jar of blackberry jam. My one bit of advice is to make the blackberry ketchup in the morning or early afternoon so your house has a lovely smell the rest of the day. It does reheat nicely in the microwave.

Blackberry Ketchup:

1 jar (10 to 12 oz) blackberry jam

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

1/2 tsp allspice

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp ginger

pinch of cloves

1/2 tsp salt

pinch of pepper to taste

Combine all of the above in a small sauce pan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to low and let simmer for 20 minutes. Serve immediately or refrigerate after it cools a bit.

Prepare the pork by cutting off all the fatty bits. Give it a nice massage of salt, pepper and ground sage. If you are out of sage, like I am tonight, sprinkle some garlic powder and/or onion powder. Bake at 400 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes or until it looks done (maybe just a hint of light pink in the middle). Drizzle blackberry ketchup over sliced pork and serve with your favorite healthy side. Tonight was a bit of lima beans and a salad. Would also go nicely with a sweet potato. And of course mashed potatoes. You will amaze your friends! At least I amaze myself when I eat it.