That damn Barnes and Noble

Christopher Kimball sent me to bn.com with a mere "My 10 Favorite Cookbooks" email. Like definitely! Indeed the new Crystal Bowersox CD would make a wonderful self-present,...for Valentine's Day?

Of course I had to stop by toys to see which delights I could find for Taylor, my about-to-turn nine year old daughter. And I'm passing up the I Love You tree? Made of Shrinky Dinks! There's an Easter version which is equally nostalgic and trendy (raising mine to be artists). Had to remind myself to wait on the Scholastic, Inc Style Studio, another brilliant toy birthed by Klutz. Maybe in June.

Speaking of about-to-be thirteen year old fashion designing daughters, and presents, and planning ahead like attentive mothers should...paint by number cupcakes would be just right for her. And ten dollars I can afford!

Cooking

I returned from the grocery store after a well-spent, efficient trip. Got every item on my list and luckily without trying. Began in the music...it's Taylor's birthday, do I get KidzBop 19 or Taylor Swift's old CD Fearless. Kidz Bop, apparently.

But it's when I got home that I amazed myself most. I picked up my kids, then admired my purchases, and here's just the breads:

2 packs hot dog buns (bought those no-nitrate Angus weiners, Oscar Mayer)

2 loaves brown bread (New England to be exact)

Then, a pack of petite kaiser rolls (until I learn to make them myself), for deli meats upon deli meats, upon cheeses.

Oh, just a little black forest ham paired eagerly with imported Austrian Swiss ($9.99/lb...free 1/2 lb cheese w/ every 1-1/2 lb meat purchase, Archer Farms). And some oven roasted turkey with friendly muenster (a whole pound!)

What surprised me as I layed my goods before me, was the basil and feta I needed for tonight's Balsamic Chicken Noodle Bowl...like heaven with pesto.

And I'm developing a new relationship with my freezer.

Snowplay

3-Bean Salad

1 can yellow string beans, drained
1 can green string beans, drained
1 can red kidney beans, drained

1 med onion, diced
2 med green peppers, diced

(mix)

1 can tomato soup
1/2 c. salad oil
1 c. sugar
3/4 c. vinegar
1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp white pepper
1 tsp mustard

(blend)

Pour over beans, refrigerate overnight.

Another well-spent day

Ah yes, I met up with my friend Jen at the local "tunnels" playcenter. She brought her little boy, Archer, and I brought my 4 year old, Madison. About two hours of popcorn, free coffee, and ring pops for the kids later...plus lots of talking.

We haven't seen each other in, oh for forever, well a month. Last time was just before Christmas (she lives in Hillsboro), Jen's my best friend. We have lots in common, shared faith, a deep love for children. And a commitment to nurture the friendship, whenever we find the time.

She brought me the sweetest gifts, and I should've really taken a picture. Here, a 3-wicked scented candle (vanilla blackberry, I mean black currant vanilla...) and a lotion from that Bath & Body Works, aromatherapy. Plus, and this is the clincher.

Instead of a pack of my Senseos, she brought coffee pods with creamers, only by a different manufacturer. Can't just swap coffees with any single-serving coffee brewers. She's going to return them and get me the right ones, though I insisted she shouldn't.

But she will, and we'll meet up again in a month or so.

A simple method

It's a perfect day where the unexpected occurred. My two young ones surround me, she's my forever sidekick, he simply stayed home from school. A sink filled with plates sticky with syrup, this morning's breakfast waffles not homemade, but getting close.

Filling this house up with memories, last night's spaghetti with breadsticks turned out spectacular. And only inches away from this oatmeal pancake mix, nourishment and deliciousness all wrapped up in one. Heading out.

I'm 37 now.

So I kind of planned for this breakfast the night before. Simply laying out dishware and a few ingredients, plus early this morning pulling the butter out to soften it. We had leftover banana bread with Carnation Instant Breakfast hot cocoa (with fun pink and green holiday marshmallows). Colton ate a portion of what was left over from Taco night Tuesday, on a multigrain tortilla. Whole grain bread buttered and of course my Senseo.

The energy rolled easily as I scooted them out of the h0use.