Still Alive.

we're still alive.  

just busy. 

will post more later.   

have lots to report. 

report to include, but is not limited too:  

-why one should never camp with Numero dos, 

-trading my smugness for space, 

-visitors and such,

-our mutant garden and the scoundrels who steal my tomatoes, 

-the best thing about baseball is the nacho's, 

-SYTYCD, 

-how i thought i would be dreading sending Offspring to kindergarten but now i can't hardly wait, 

-how not blogging for a month has made me punctuation lazy or punctulazy

-how i fought (and won) the biggest bargain at Crate and Barrel, 

-facebook and the 10-yr-reunion dilemma, 

-girls camp, 

-etc.

will blog again, soon.  

i guarantee it.  (said in the Men's Warehouse dude's voice)

Up to the atmosphere...

Fancy Kite flying! 

Dr. Facial Hair and his cute family! 

Mi familia

Our week away was spectacular to say the least.  I couldn't tell you what we did on any given day, though.  They all kinda blended together into one big sandcastle building, "Ticket to Ride" losing, potato chip eating blur.  It was glorious.  

Seven days seemed like an eternity when we first concocted this vacation scheme of ours.  "What could we possibly do for seven days at the beach?" says I.  To that I now answer, plenty of nothing.  

It's funny how easily you can adapt to a new location and routine.  Wake up, eat, beach, eat, nap, beach, eat, sleep.  That was pretty much our schedule and I think I prefer it to my current one that involves laundry and kitty litter.  

What also struck me was how much money I did NOT spend while I was there.  When you spend all day in a swimsuit ($12 Old Navy!) and live off of Fresca and Watermelon there is really very little left in life you need.  Except for Phil, who apparently needed a horse kite (Offspring picked it out).  As it turns out, that was one of the best purchases of the fiscal year.  NC has some killer wind (see, e.g., The Wright Brothers).  Phil's brother, who we shall call Dr. Facial Hair, even threw down half a benjamin for a fancy trick kite.  That I flew, where I then discovered that I'm a natural. 

I guess the point of this babbling post is to say....

I am going into professional kite flying.

My Hood, Yo! Check it.

We fit

Coming home from vacation isn't nearly as charming as going.

Greetings

You're Welcome

My good friend Alyosha* gave me this recipe sometime during our time during NYC.

It is the BEST chocolate chip cookie recipe I've tried.  

It makes enough to feed the country of Guam.

Enjoy.

"Neiman Marcus Cookies"

2 cups butter

2 cups sugar

2 cups brown sugar

4 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

4 cups flour

1 tsp salt

2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp baking powder

5 cups old-fashioned oats, ground to flour in a food processor or blender

2 (11 1/2) oz packages semi-sweet chocolate chips

8 oz milk chocolate Hershey bar, crushed or 1 (11 1/2 oz) package milk chocolate chips

2 cups chopped nuts, optional

Cream butter and sugars.  Add eggs and vanilla and mix well.  Mix in flour, salt, soda, powder, and ground oats, then gently stir in chocolate and nuts.

Roll into balls with a cookie scoop and bake on greased cookie sheet for 8-10 minutes at 375 degrees.

Editors note:  This recipe will surely test the gumption of your Kitchen Aid or other stand mixer.  Mine is usually able to withstand it but you may want to halve the recipe. However, if you decide to make the recipe in it's entirety might I suggest freezing a portion of the dough.  I usually roll it into "logs" wrap in in plastic wrap and foil, label it "zucchini" and put it in the freezer for future use. 

*Alyosha: (blog name) is my former squash partner who dominates on the board game circuit and is a recently published author in addition to being a mother of 3 and basically all around awesome.  

What to do with strawberries

FYI:  Fresh strawberries have about a 24 hours shelf life.

After that they become shriveled little shells of a berry. 

It's a sad sad truth.

So, when you pick 10 lbs of strawberries you gotta move fast.  Like lightening fast.  Like freezer jam fast.  Oh yeah.

It may be my mormon heritage, but I have thing for freezer jam.  It's super easy, super yummy, and a sure-fire way to impress the neighborhood. 

Which is what I did.  

The basic recipe goes somthing like this:

  

Mash about 2 cups berries

Add FOUR CUPS of sugar

1 box of Pectin

 (what exactly pectin is, still remains a mystery)

Stir, ladle, rinse and repeat. 

I am now a domestic diva among my non-freezer-jam making neighbors.  Boo ya!

But if  you're not the jammy type, might I suggest you try this recipe.  

I made it for my Young Women (the 12-17 year old girls I teach on Sundays) and they were muy muy impressed.  (see pic above)

Very easy, very pretty.  Boo ya!

Any other suggestions as to what to do with strawberries?  I'm thinking of hitting the fields again in a couple weeks! 

Boo ya!*

*Sorry for my abundant use of the term "boo-ya!".  I have no idea where it originated from, but I'm pretty sure I have Britton to blame for it.