Summer Goals

Summer finally decided to show itself for a few days this week here in Wisconsin. Spencer and I took advantage of the sunshine and spent as much time outside as we could. I set up Spencer's pool Sunday night out on the deck. As soon as I unrolled the pool to blow it up, Spencer was sitting in the middle of it as he does every year, not caring whether or not he had any water to play in. The smile on his face was priceless.

Swimming is one of the few things that keeps Spencer's interest. It pulls him away from the t.v. and boredom of being an only child that does not understand pretend play. He has never once done any pretend play. His idea of playing with toys may be spinning the wheels on a car or seeing how far that dump truck can make it across the room if he stands on his bed. So, my challenge is to find and explore new ideas to keep us busy besides the walks to the park we can't wait to start.

I am open to any ideas! He is very interested in computers and animation. Particularly if music is incorporated. His teachers use a touchscreen at school so I have done the same at home along with headphones to keep out distractions for him. He loves the Starfall website. His attention span while it has grown, is still only minutes at a time. For instance, if we get out the play dough, he may have already lost the great enthusiasm he JUST had by the time I have gotten the top off the first color. He will say "all done" and that is that!

I realize this is one of the most unorganized blog postings I have done. My boy may be sweet but he is complex. I never know quite where to start.

"I'm a cucumber, not a pickle.". Larry ~ Veggie Tales

Special K Bars

My sister, Tanya, over at The Sunday Baker blog is the most amazing cook and baker. This recipe, as do most of my recipes, came from her. I have yet to meet a person who can stop at just one. They really are THAT good.

Ingredients:

1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup sugar
4 T. butter
1 1/2 cup peanut butter
6 cups Special K cereal

Topping:

1 (6 oz.) butterscotch chips
1 (6 oz.) chocolate chips
1 square semi-sweet chocolate

Boil corn syrup, sugar and butter. Remove from heat and immediately add peanut butter. Pour mixture over cereal. Mix well. Press into 9 x 13 inch pan.

Slowly melt chips and chocolate square for topping on stove top, stirring often. Once blended, spread over cereal mixture while still warm.

Cool slightly and cut.

Chicken Chili Nachos

It has been cold, windy and rainy here for almost a week and the temperatures at night are still dropping into the low 40's. Perfect chili weather. I made this for the first time and we all loved it. I took this recipe from the Food is My Friend blog.

INGREDIENTS:

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts- cubed
1 TBS vegetable oil (I used extra virgin olive oil)
1 can (10 oz.) diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained
1 can (16 oz.) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (15.5 oz) chili beans, undrained
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. cumin
cayenne pepper, to taste
1 bag tortilla chips
8 oz. shredded Mexican cheese blend

In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Saute chicken until no longer pink. Add tomatoes, cook for 3 minutes or until tomato juice is reduced. Stir in beans, chili powder, cumin and cayenne pepper. Cook for 5 minutes or until heated through.

Arrange the tortilla chips on a microwave safe plate. Sprinkle with a little cheese, then top with chicken mixture and then the remaining cheese.

Microwave, uncovered, on high for 30 seconds or until cheese is melted. Use additional toppings as desired.

Mouthwatering!

Double Decker Confetti Brownies

I know it's the beginning of summer and we are all working on our bikini bodies but these are worth a few extra calories. I originally made them for Spencer's last snack day in the 2nd grade. I am sure his teachers appreciated my sugar donation to the classroom.

Double - Decker Confetti Brownies

INGREDIENTS: 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter or margarine softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
3 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
2 1/2 tsps baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 Tbl butter or margarine, melted
1 cup M&Ms semi-sweet chocolate mini baking bits, divided

Preheat oven to 350 Lightly grease 13x9x2-inch baking pan; set aside.

In large bowl, cream 3/4 cup of the butter and sugars until light and fluffy; beat in eggs and vanilla.

In medium bowl, combine 2 1/4 cups flour, baking powder and salt; blend into creamed mixture. Divide batter in half.

Blend together cocoa powder and 1 Tbl melted butter; stir into one half of the dough. Spread cocoa dough evenly into prepared baking pan.

Stir remaining 1/4 cup flour and 1/2 cup M&Ms into remaining dough; spread evenly over cocoa dough in pan. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup of M&Ms.

Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until edges pull away from sides of pan. Cool completely. Cut into bars.

*I used a 50/50 mixture of white chocolate and semi-sweet chocolate chips in place of the M&Ms.

*For neat slices, turn cooled brownies upside down onto a cutting board - the top doesn't crumble when the bars are cut from the bottom.

Delicious!

Are you, YOU?

Michael Jackson's latest release, Hold My Hand, (featuring Akon) got me thinking about the diverse interests and likes the world consists of. How the old cliche, "One person's garbage, is another person's treasure." does ring true. Opinions make the world go round; how we view life, the people we surround ourselves with, God forbid, our parents, and our very DNA all determine what's on our playlist, the car we drive to the clothes we wear.

I have never gone with the flow or pretended to like something just to fit in or make myself look good to someone else. I am a very serious LOVE or HATE woman in all aspects of my life. I like what I like and while others may influence that to some degree as they help open up my world a bit, I have no problem sharing those likes/dislikes no matter the reaction.

I have always loved MJ. I grew up listening to the Jackson 5 and wore out more than one cassette of Thriller as a preteen/teenager. I am not a huge fan of any mainstream music, but Michael's music always made it into my day. I had the "glove", jacket, T-shirts and posters. I did the moonwalk with no finesse whatsoever. I sang at the top of my lungs that Billie Jean was not my lover. I cried when I watched, This is It.

I won't even pretend one iota that I knew MJ to any degree, media coverage or not. Was he a very very odd man, yes. Did he put himself in situations that caused much ado about serious subjects, yes. Towards the end of his life, he did not look one itty bitty bit like the Michael Jackson I grew up admiring. Does any of this change the talent, the sheer natural talent this man had a songwriter, singer, dancer and all time Pop icon of my time? Nope.

With all of today's false fluff and entertainers trying to be so different (yet all looking like a bunch of complete idiots), I miss the old days of true talent. I miss Michael Jackson, I truly do.

Michael Jackson, the true King of Pop

I'm bad...

Got Cute?

I do! Who can have a bad start to the day with these guys around?

Spencer only keeps me around to cut the crust off of his bread but I'm ok with that.

Pistachio or Heavy P to his tank-mates.

Hasta manana!

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep

Sleep. Who doesn't like it? There is nothing like that feeling of climbing (or falling if it's been one of THOSE kind of days) into bed after a long day and doing that super gigantic stretch that pops bones you didn't know you had. Cuddling with your honey (spooning is one of my favorest pastimes ever), hogging all the covers and drooling on your pillow. Ahhh, sleep is good, rejuvenating and a time to shut the thinker down.

Around here though, we do things a little differently. We, well, just pass out. See below.

Here is a planned sleep.

Aren't they cute all still and quiet like that?


Here is unplanned sleep.

Who falls asleep at the dinner table? This must be standard etiquette on the planet he came from.


Is he praying? Seriously, my cooking is not that bad.

This happens after 2 days of hardcore gaming. Our friend Ramsay fits right in.

It's after 3 am here and now it's time for me to sleep. Goodnight!