recipe - graham sandwich cookies

My favorite treat that my mom used to make was graham crackers with cream cheese frosting. She always made them with her left over birthday cake frosting. My sister and I would eat them before the birthday dinner, and I'm pretty sure that I liked them even better than the cake.

Now that I'm trying to stay away from any thing partially or fully hydrogenated or high fructosed, store-bought graham crackers always make me cringe a little. However, I have yet to find a cracker recipe that my kids will not gag over.

Success!!!!!! (I actually spelled that wrong and had to use the cheer I learned in 5th grade to figure it out- s-u-c-c-e-s-s, that's they way we spell success!)

The original recipe is here http://heavenlyhomemakers.com/healthy-treat-for-today-homemade-whole-wheat-graham-crackers by Laura at Heavenly Homemakers.

I've done some modifications, though, to please (i.e. trick) my kids into liking them (and they did)! (I like parenthesis-es). ???

Homemade Graham Cracker Shapes

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 1/4 cups white flour

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1 t. baking powder

1/2 t. baking soda

1/2 t. salt

1/4 t. cinnamon

4 T. honey

1/4 cup water (I added a splash more for my dough to work)

1 t. vanilla

1 stick butter, melted

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Melt stick of butter in a pan on the stove. Set aside.

3. Stir together flours, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in a mixing bowl.

4. Add the liquids: honey, water, vanilla, and melted butter.

5. Stir well until a ball of dough is formed. (Here is where I added a splash more water to make it form a ball.

6. Cut two pieces of parchment paper about the size of a cookie sheet.

7. Put half of dough in between the parchment paper and roll it out with a rolling pin. Roll it out so that the dough is between 1/8 and 1/4 inch thick.

8. Use a cookie cutter to cut out shapes. Put the shapes on top of a cookie sheet (which I also topped with parchment paper before I put the cookies on). Parchment paper is my new friend. My cracker cookies seemed to bake best on the airbake pan.

9. Bake for 13 - 18 minutes. Mine were done at 15. Remove to rack to cool.

10. Repeat with second half of dough.

Basic Cream Cheese Frosting (This is the original recipe, you will have lots left over. I halved it).

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 T. vanilla

4 cups powdered sugar

1. Mix the cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy.

2. Add vanilla and powdered sugar. Beat until smooth.

NOW..... dut, dah dah DAH!!!!

Take two cracker/cookie things and put some frosting in the middle.

YUMMY!

I was very pleasantly surprised at how much these are actually like graham crackers. AND if you want chocolate grahams, just add 1/4 cup cocoa powder to your dry ingredients. However, be careful not to burn them like I did the first time. Then you will have this....
You might have a dirty sink like me, too. But the ones that did turn out were pretty good.

And the best news.... My boys loved them. I called them crispy sandwich cookies instead of crackers. And we all liked the original better than the chocolate ones. I hope you try them. I think you will like them.

Also, if you wanted to have a homemade graham cracker crust, I'll bet you could use this recipe for that. But I've never tried it. So, good luck with that.

Love, me

paying it forward- simple summer pleasures part 2

Strawberry Picking!


Our family went strawberry picking this week. As you can see, M is very proud of his first strawberry of the season.


T is less than enthused. Actually, he is the one who really wanted to go. But he has also hit the age where you must not show your enthusiasm, lest you be deemed "uncool."


Here is Danny channeling M's enthusiasm.


And here we are with our bounty. T = too cool, M = goomba mushroom from Mario


With our meager cash budget, I was left with exactly $15 to spend on strawberries. But alas, 4 strawberry pickers is a lot, and the total was $17. Some kind stranger offered to give us the extra $2, and his only request was that we "pay it forward." How awesome is that!? I say way awesome.


So, this is what I did the rest of the day. Made freezer jam with those strawberries. And in a small effort to pay it forward, let me know if you want some jam. It is very sweet.

Love, me

simple summer pleasures - part 1

My Backyard!



I really like our backyard. It was a definite plus when considering buying our house. This year, we put in a small raised bed garden. We have pumpkin plants (3), watermelon (2), peas, carrots, and the tall things are sunflowers. We also have cucumber plants that are looking kind of sad. I hope they make it; M and I loved eating cucumbers last year. Check out the scarecrow. I had to turn him around because he usually is facing the other way, pouting like a sassy teenager.

We have the super prolific tomato plant in a pot on our deck. That thing looks awesome. Can't wait for all the fresh tomatoes.

OK, I may be strange, but I really like hanging clothes on the line. Usually the kids are playing on the swing set and it is so peaceful just listening to them play while I hang the clothes in the sunshine. Such a simple thing, but I like it.

Speaking of the swing set, M asked me to push him on the swing. I first said, no, sorry, I am busily making freezer jam. Then, I was like, nope. How much longer will he ask for this? As you can see, he slowed down a lot while I was taking pictures, despite my fabulous "under-duck" skills. T on the other hand, looks like he's going to wrap all the way around the top!

Love those boys. Love the backyard for us to hang in.

Love, me

my blog title, explained

Hey blog readers!

Thought I take the time to explain the title of my blog. When I tried to think of a name a couple of years ago, I was thinking that my life was pretty normal, i.e. "not too crazy." I also am not that crazy of a person, pretty even keel, I guess.

I'll tell you about someone that is kind of crazy, in a fun way. That person is my mom. Here she is after T's piano recital. She is an awesome lady, and most people who know her, really love her. She works really hard at her job as a PT tech, and is super friendly and outgoing. She also has a reputation in our family for being crazy, especially during board games.

One time, she was holding T as a baby during a rousing game of Taboo. She made him cry with her crazy shouting and leaping. She has a reputation. And I LOVE her.

The only time I'm super crazy is when I'm teaching elementary music. I can act as crazy as I want, and my students love it. Did I ever tell you how much I love my job?

Love, me.

homemade strawberry ice cream

Kudos to H for sharing this recipe with me! I only changed it by adding 8 or so freshly picked crushed strawberries! And it does NOT require any special machinery.

1 14oz can sweetened condensed milk

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

2 Tbls Bourbon (I used one teaspoon of Whisky, as we are not Bourbon drinkers)

2 cups heavy cream

(I also added the strawberries)

In a medium bowl, stir condensed milk, vanilla, and booze (he he).

In a large bowl (my awesome electric mixer), beat cream on high until stiff peaks form, about 3 minutes.

With a rubber spatula, gently fold whipped cream (and strawberries) into condensed milk mixture.

Pour into something, and freeze until firm.

This was the most delicious, creamy goodness I have ever tasted.

M really liked it, too.

lemon cucumber water

Hey there blog readers (wink wink)

This is my super cute new cup (from Shopko) filled with water, ice, lemon slice, and cucumber. Saw this idea somewhere else and stole it.

#1 Not a fan of plain water, unless I'm working out.

#2 LOVE the flavor of this! Surprising how much the cucumber comes through.

#3 Really like the new cup. It is cute, I like to drink through a straw, and it doesn't sweat. (Unlike me, when I'm working out)

Just thought I'd share!

Love, me

What is the theme?

Hey blog readers (of which I'm sure I have none) except maybe some who got here by accident!

I am in the midst of summer and am OBSESSED with blogs. Especially food blogs written by moms, and especially moms who want to cook more naturally/organically/healthily/whatever.

I even think in blog talk, as though I am speaking to my fictitious blog readers.

I don't want to be famous or anything. Truthfully, it would be nice for a few more people to know me. Being that I am quite shy in real life. I tend to like friends who carry the conversation. I HATE awkward moments of silence.

Anyway, I am really into cooking. But, I don't think my theme could be cooking. There's so many who already do that (and do it well).

It could be about being a Christ follower-but I'm surely not an expert there!

It could be about being a mom. Not sure my kids want all their junk out there on the web, though.

I really like reading, but don't think that works either.

I guess my blog will just be about all of these parts of me. No theme, definitely not going to get famous with that one. Oh, well. I am blessed.

Love, me.