Tuesday, May 26, 2009

IFHRTCB Bars

I saw this recipe on the cooking blog- Sweet Sista' and knew right away that I HAD to make them.
She called them Pink Slip Bars because she made them for co-workers after finding out they were all being laid off.
I made these 2 months ago. But if I made them today I could name them:
I Just Got a REAL Job Bars.
Or I Forgot How Rude Teenagers Can Be Bars.
Or I Filled Up With Gas Before the Price Went Up Bars.
I the last one hasn't happened yet but hopefully it will tomorrow and then I may just have to celebrate with these bars.
They are perfect for any "celebration" in your life!
1 cup butter- softened
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 teaspoon vanilla
5 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing after each egg. Add vanilla & mix well. In a separate bowl combine flour, salt & soda & stir with a whisk to combine. Add to wet mixture and mix just until combined. Spread on a greased baking sheet (I used a 10x 15, but maybe 13 x 18 would be better).
Bake at 375 degrees for 10-15 min, until light golden brown or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Frosting:
1/2 cup butter- softened
1/2 cup shortening
1 teaspoon vanilla
pinch of salt
4 cups powdered sugar
5 tablespoons milk
food coloring (if desired)
Frosting: Combine butter and shortening until smooth and creamy. Add vanilla and salt. Add powdered sugar in 1-2 cup increments until combined. Then add milk and food coloring mix until smooth and spreading consistency. I like to beat frosting for at least 5 minutes so it's light and fluffy.
I was told by a friend that this is the most amazing frosting she has ever had. She couldn't eat the bars but asked for a container of frosting instead!!
They are so delicious.
This is what the pan looked like the next morning. Pretty sure the rest were devoured shortly after this picture was taken.
I apologize for the large clump of words. I have tried several times to put spaces throughout but they disappear when I post. Can anybody help me?

Thursday, May 21, 2009

I got a job!!

9 months into the school year and I finally got a real teaching job.
The good news is- there is only 5 weeks left of school. And I am teaching Foods and Fashion!
The bad news is- I have to teach drama as well.

My interview- if you can call it that- consisted of 2 questions.
1- Do you have any Home Ec. experience?
2- Do you have any Drama experience?
oh and I guess a 3rd- Do you want the job?
If only they could all be like that. I am not too sure what happened to the lady I am replacing??

When I said no to the drama experience, the Principal said that I could just do film studies with my 2 classes since there are only a few weeks left.

So that is where you come in. I need some help. And great ideas.
I think it might be fun to pick an emotion or issue and show a bunch of clips that show it- and then have the students rate each one as to how it came across, if it was real, convincing, etc.
Is that a good or horrible idea?

And then I thought it might be fun to show either a movie or clips from each genre of movie. And then we could discuss each one, etc.
Is that a good or horrible idea?

Please help. I need suggestions of movies, emotions, good genre examples, better ideas, etc!!

What would YOU like to do if you were in a junior high drama class for the last 5 weeks of school?

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

I am in love...

with a cookie.

We had an opportunity to fall in love years ago. But I couldn't see past it's cakey texture and not so delicious taste (made from a different recipe).

But then yesterday, we had a couple very ripe bananas that were screaming to be baked into something delicious. So I went to my favorite website and typed in Bananas.
Amongst a ton of recipes was Peanut Butter and Banana Cookies. With 7 practically perfect ratings, I thought I would give our relationship one more shot. (fyi- it is only available on the Kraft Canada site. Hmmmmm... interesting).




It was love at first bite. And when it says crunchy peanut butter- it means crunchy peanut butter. The little chunks of peanut add a delightful contrast to the moist texture.


So next time you buy bananas grab an extra big bunch. Then you will just HAVE to bake some Peanut Butter Banana cookies with the ones you just couldn't eat before they got too ripe.

Peanut Butter & Banana Cookies
(Kraft)

1/2 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar-firmly packed
3/4 cup each: KRAFT Crunchy Peanut Butter
3/4 cup mashed bananas
2 eggs
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup wholewheat flour
2 teaspoon baking powder

Beat butter, sugar and peanut butter until light and fluffy. Add eggs and mix well. Stir in bananas
Combine flours and baking powder. Add to banana mixture, mixing well. Drop by tablespoon onto lightly greased baking sheets.
Bake at 35o◦ 12 to 15 minutes. Cool on wire rack


**Don't have too high expectations though. Just like going to a movie... (hopefully I am not the only one this happens to) when you expect something truly amazing you are prone to disapointment. So just expect something mildly tasty and you may end up being pleasantly surprised!!

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Spaghetti Pie

It is so easy. And I love it.
Spaghetti.
There is just something about it.
When I was younger I would request it for my birthday meal. And still enjoy it today!
Fast. Cheap. And easy. What's not to love?
The other day when I got a hankering for spaghetti, I decided to do some investigating to find a recipe* for spaghetti with a twist. And this is what I found.


Spaghetti Pie
(Kraft)

1/2 pound lean ground beef-cooked & drained
1 cup pasta sauce
3 eggs
1 cup parmesan cheese
3 cups cooked spaghetti
1 cup mozzarella cheese- shredded


Mix meat and pasta sauce; set aside. Beat eggs and Parmesan cheese in large bowl with wire whisk until well blended. Add pasta; toss to coat.


Spread pasta mixture onto bottom and up side of lightly greased 9-inch deep-dish pie plate; top with meat mixture. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.

Bake at 350◦ for 20 minutes or until mozzarella cheese is melted.
Let stand 5 min. Cut into six wedges to serve.



I thought 3 eggs sounded a little much. So I only put in 2. It worked fine. But probably would have resulted in a more clean-cut-pie-slice-look if I had added the 3rd.



Still delicious. And fun.

*The Kraft website is a WONDERFUL resource for recipes. You can type in a couple ingredients and it will bring up lots of recipes for you to choose from. Check it out: Canada USA (be careful when you click on the US site. I had my volume up and it almost scared me right out of my pajama pants!)

Sunday, May 10, 2009

For my favorite Mom.

FYI: This may look like the real deal, but it isn't. I made it. So please don't judge them by my lack of abilities. The real bouquets are fabulous and delicious. And much more professional looking.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Vacay #3: Idaho

Yep. I went on 3 vacations in the month of April. The 3rd one happened quickly- the planning and happening. I heard about a "summit" that was happening at my Alma Mater.
I really wanted to go for various reasons.
My parents got a little jealous of my vacationing lifestyle and wanted to join me. And my sister decided to tag along too.
Their coming meant the gas money wasn't just coming out of my wallet (which means more money for shopping at Target). But unfortunately also meant less (no) time for visiting my friends in that neck of the woods.

The best part of our 64 hour vacation was when I opened my fortune cookie after enjoying a delightful meal of sweet & sour chicken and fried rice from Fong's and saw this:


Nice. Looks like Vacay #4 is just around the corner!

Friday, May 1, 2009

So delicious.

Do you love these cookies as much as I do?
They are so soft and delicious.
If so- wipe the drool off your keyboard and
join the Lofthouse Cookie Club HERE.
I joined 2 months ago. And since then I have received 2 coupons each for a $1 off AND a complimentary tote bag!!
And for my birthday I received a coupon for a free package of cookies. Growing old has never tasted so good.
Join today and enjoy a package of my favorites: Sugar Cookies.

Or these: Soft and Chewy White Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut cookies. I had no idea they made these. But, oh my, they are tasty.



And I just found out they have an outlet in Ogden, Utah. ummm.... pretty sure I will be making a stop there on my next journey south on I-15. Anyone want to meet me there?