Five for Friday

1. Celebrating the Olympics
2. Alyssa's Projects
3. President's Day in the mountains
4.  Celebrating Mikaela's Birthday
5.Chelsie's Desk?

Wednesday Review

Anything by Byrd Baylor I love.  Her books are poetic and a reverence for nature.  This one talks about celebrating Holidays, however not the normal ones.  It's about celebrating the wonder of nature.

I thought of this book yesterday.  I decided to celebrate Spring.  I know it wasn't the official first day of Spring, but it was for me.  I finally took down the Winter decorations and put up the Spring ones.

And because it was such a beautiful day, I decided to go for a bike ride on the Provo Trail.  It was amazing! It was the first this year I went bike riding without wearing gloves.  

As I was riding back I looked down at my pants, and there was a fly on them.  I kept looking down while my legs were a'pumping and the fly was still there!  It was enjoying the bike ride too.  It finally flew away when I stopped.  

So as I riding my bike with the fly, I decided for me it was the 1st day of Spring and we had a great time celebrating it.

Tuesday Treats: Monster Cookie Dough

Okay I'm not that addicted to Pinterest.  I just find it fun, but I try to make it my reward after I've done all my chores.  Like Cinderella:).

Anyway today's Tuesday Treats are brought to you by, yes, well look at that.. Pinterest.  I found this Pinteresting one day and knew I had to make it.  So last night for FHE, it was our treat.

The verdict:  Short version is I was disappointed.

Long version is it was okay but I was expecting to taste more like cookie dough.  You know the stuff you make before you bake it in the oven.  Braden asked me the other day why we baked the dough, "it taste so much better before..."  I couldn't agree more but you know what "they" say (You know who "they"are.  The obscure group of people who know everything and have the authority to dictate your life.)  Raw cookie dough is dangerous.  Eating without baking can cause Some kind of poisoning from salmons, or worms or whatever.  So I was hoping I could make this cookie dough without the fear.  It was good, it tasted like a granola bar good, but not forbidden-raw-cookie-dough good.

(from The Girl Who Ate Everything)

Monster Cookie Dough Dip

• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• ½ cup butter, slightly softened
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 3 Tablespoons brown sugar
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 ½ cups rolled oats, old fashioned or quick (see Note)
• 2/3 cup plain M&Ms (give or take)
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

1. With a hand mixer or stand mixer, beat the cream cheese, butter, and peanut butter until smooth.
2. Add in the powdered sugar, brown sugar, flour, and vanilla.
3. Using the paddle attachment on your stand mixer or just a wooden spoon, mix in the oats. You may want to use more or less here. I really like the oats in it and a thicker dip so I added a lot. Remember that the dip will also firm up a bit in the fridge.
4. Add the M&Ms and chocolate chips.
5. Store in the refrigerator until serving. Serve with pretzels, graham crackers, or apple slices. You can dip or spread this depending on how thick you made your dip. Try not to eat it all like I did!
6. Note: You can use more or less oats to adjust the thickness of your dip. Start with about 1 1/2 cups oats and keep adding until you reach your desired thickness. If you use quick oats you might use less since it's finer and will make the dough thicker.

Monday Musings: Hello, my name is Brenda and I love Pinterest

Yes I  have discovered Pinterest.  I've actually been a pinner for a couple of years but never really got on it.  I didn't get the big deal.  Now I do.  And yes I'm addicted.  It's a great way to create the life you want with the stuff you want.  The trick is getting up from the computer and accomplishing it.:)

Wednesday Review

Charming story about wishes and magical series of events that ends or begins with friendship.   A sweet  story that always reminds me of Spring.

Tuesday Treats: Eclair Dessert

This is something my mom makes a lot when we visit and we all love it!  We were invited to some friends for dinner and fhe last night so this is what I made.



                                                                     photo by athriftymom.com





1 Cup of Water
1/2 Cup butter
1 Cup flour
4 oz cream cheese, softened
11/2 Cups milk plus 2 Tbsp. milk
1 small vanilla instant pudding
8 oz. Cool Whip
Chocolate syrup

Boil water and butter.  Add flour and remove from het.  Add eggs one at a time beat in by hand.  Spread on a greased jelly roll pan and bake at 400 for 23 minutes.  Mix cream cheese with 2 Tbsp. of milk.  Mix vanilla pudding with 1 1/2 cups of milk and beat into cream cheese.  Fold in whipped in cool whip.   Top cooled crust with pudding mixture and drizzle chocolate syrup on top.  Refrigerate.

Five For Friday

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