blog cuan

How is your New Year's plans going? The hubs birthday is today so we always do a birthday/New Years party.  He is always a great sport about it.  I do try to make him something awesome though, just to make it special. After all he does put up with me (and all my kitchen messes).  I did clean this one up all by myself.  He didn't even have to help, pretty good huh? He got a gym membership for his birthday (totally his idea, for the record) and after you eat several of these babies (because you can't have just one) you will need to be at the gym...for awhile... They are a chocolate cupcake with ganache piped around the edges, then dipped in toffee and a magic caramel butter cream frosting.  Heaven in a bite!! Toffe Crunch Cupcakes ( click here for printable version ) Note: You need to plan ahead for the frosting and ganache.  Make the frosting the day before or enough ahead of time to account for all the time it takes.  If you don't want to use this fros...

 My kids L.O.V.E. bagels.  Plain ones with plain cream cheese. Crazy! Seriously they could eat them all the time.  Every time we go to the grocery store, they ask for them.  Now I try to be conscious of the calories they are consuming and those regular sized bagels are pretty high there on the calorie count.  And full of processed ingredients. Don't get me wrong--bagels from the store are totally fine, it's just that if I can make something homemade I probably am going to.  I love it, it gives me a challenge. These babies are a work, good work in my book.  They are not hard to make, they just take some time (like 2 days--mostly because they need to sit in the refrigerator overnight). And the more you make them, the better they will become (promise--this is my second batch and they turned out way better than the first.  The first batch was pretty ugly, so bad that no was allowed to take a picture of them :) But according to everyone in my family: "...

Hope you all are enjoying a wonderful day with friends and family. I sure am. However you celebrate this wonderful holiday may you have peace, joy, and love.

 Merry Christmas!! Are you excited? We sure are at this house, well most of the time anyway.  One thing I have learned with children is that you have to keep them completely distracted on Christmas Eve, otherwise you are in for a very, very, LONG day. Why, you might ask. Because they can't wait for morning. It just goes better, and everyone  stays happy.  So we are off to go sledding in the mountains, eating pizza with friends, and having a gift exchange. The kids are so excited, surprise! Chocolate Shortbread Blondies with Macaroon Topping ( click here for printable version ) 3 1/2 cups flour, divided 2/3 cups sugar 1/2 cup cocoa powder 1 2/3 cups butter, cold 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips 2 cups brown sugar, packed 2 eggs 2 tsp vanilla extract 1 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp baking soda 1 cup salted peanuts or cashews, chopped (optional) Macaroon Topping: 1/3 cup sugar 1/4 cup flour 1 1/4 cups sweetened flaked coconut 3 egg whites, lightly beaten 1/2 teaspoon vanil...

 Hot Chocolate is so magical to me.  There is nothing like a cup full of chocolatety goodness on a cold, snowy, Christmasy day. As the weather gets colder and Christmas get closer my kids get so excited for hot chocolate and could drink it probably every day (don't worry I restrain them but with this amazing stuff it's pretty difficult). I came across this fabulousness on Pinterest and was intrigued, especially because my kids are having a Polar Express themed Christmas--thanks to my parents. We whipped some up and WOW!  We haven't gone back.  It even beats the premium, gourmet stuff at the restaurants--seriously.  Maybe because it's so high rent (you know the calorie count is quite over the top), but hey it's Christmas and your kids will love it. Funny story on this hot chocolate first.  We had some friends stop by the other night.  We had just gotten home from taking our kids to see Christmas lights and I had made some of this amazingness to drink wh...

I just wanted to share what I have been thinking of the past few days as the Sandy Hook tragedy has unfolded and the country has grieved for these precious lives that were taken away. Sometimes it makes me want to crawl in a hole, and cry.  I have never had to face a tragedy of this magnitude but it doesn't stop my heart hurting for these families.  But what I take comfort in, and what has ran through my mind is a Christmas song/poem. As I listen to the words I know God will heal those broken hearts.  It goes like this: "...And in despair I bowed my head: 'There is no peace on earth,' I said, 'For hate is strong and mocks the song of Peace on earth, good will to men. "Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: 'God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The wrong shall fail, the right pre-vail, with peace on earth, good will to men.' This song makes my heart take courage. And to all those families, know that we are praying for you. You are in our thoughts all ...

Can you believe it's only 8 days away!!?? Me neither.  So crazy! I am so grateful for good friends today.  Friends that you can call anytime of day or night.  Ones that make you laugh till you pee your pants (seriously!! what happened when you had kids), or let you cry on their shoulder (or ear).   Friends that will go with you to escape your kids or your husband for several hours, or ones that show up with a diet coke and peanut butter m&m's just because they know it's your favorite thing in the world. Or friends that are totally cool just to hang out and visit (even if your house happens to be not so clean that day) and ones that even if you haven't talked to them in ages, when you do, it's like time hasn't even passed. So in honor of you wonderful people out there, some of you who are the bestest friends a girl could ask for, this cake is for you. And if you don't like peanut butter so sorry, but they say this cake is still amazing.  I took this beaut...

Chex Mixes are always a great thing to take to a party. And there always seems to be a party in December.  Not that I mind.  I love a reason to get together, make something delicious, and enjoy some wonderful company. This week we have 3 of them.  Sweet! Three new recipes to try out.  Can't wait.  This was one I was trying out.  I love making chex mixes for several reasons. 1. I can eat them (that's always a plus). 2. I  haven't had one yet that I haven't liked. 3. They are super easy. 4. They are very versatile. 5. You can fit them into any occasion. Peppermint is a favorite at our house this time of year, so we loved this.  Very subtle, but still completely delicious.  How can it not be when it's covered in sugar! White Chocolate Peppermint Chex Mix ( click here for printable version ) 5 cups Rice Chex cereal 10 ounces melting white chocolate 1 cup crushed candy canes 1 cup powdered sugar 1. Pour cereal into a large bowl.  Melt white c...

Sometimes things just need re done. This recipe is one of those.  It was one of the very first I posted on this little blog (which means it has a terrible photo with it) and one that I make all the time, especially this time of the year. I LOVE soups, my kids on the other hand, not so much.  So in compromise, I make cornbread to go along with it and they are little happy people.  Seriously I can make a 9x13 pan of this and we will only have a few squares left. It is absolutely delicious.  It is a tiny bit sweet but moist and buttery.  Perfect to even eat by itself.  Add a little honey and out of this world amazing! Amazing Cornbread ( click here for printable version ) 1/2 cup butter, softened 1 cup sugar 2 eggs 1 cup cornmeal 1 1/2 cup all purpose flour 2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp salt 1 1/2 cup milk 1. Preheat oven to 375°F.  Spray a 9x13 pan with non-stick cooking spray and set aside. 2. In large bowl cream butter, sugar, and eggs until light and fl...

 Are you counting down the days yet? We certainly are.  I love how excited my kids get for the big day.  In the words of my 8 year old, "Why does the days before Christmas take so long to come but Christmas day goes by so fast??!!" I remember those same feelings as a child.  Now I feel like the days go by too fast also.  Too many traditions to fit in before the big day. One of the things we love to go do is see the Christmas lights.  There is an amazing house, that is way out in the country, that does the most awesome display of Christmas lights every year.  Pretty much every inch of their property is decorated.   And since it's quite a drive, we pack up some treats and some delicious hot chocolate (which I found a homemade version that will knock your socks off--I promise I will share soon :) and head out.  We sing Christmas songs on the way out, look at the lights, and then enjoy our treats. These whopper bars were a hit.  They are per...

I feel like I live in the Northwest. We have had no sun for a week now and just a constant raining drizzle all day long.  Now I am beginning to know how all you peeps feel with never seeing the sun! But I guess it's not all that bad.  When we have to stay indoors all day long it just makes me want to bake.  I love the kitchen all warm, with delicious smelling things in the oven, a sink full of dishes, Christmas music playing in the background, and a cold diet coke waiting for me.   Ahh...the life. It does make me pretty happy on rainy days though (and then everyone else is happy too--right!!) These beauties came from one of those days.  Wow! were they a hit.  Everyone scarffed them right down.  The different layers of goodness were pretty awesome and I promise the nuts on them add the perfect crunchiness.  These would be perfect for your neighbors too.  They would love you forever. Turtle Thumbprint Cookies ( click here for printable version ...

Sometimes we have crazy days. Especially in the mornings.  Like Tuesdays. I volunteer at the kid's school in the mornings at 8:30.  So as soon as they are off to school it's a mad dash to clean up breakfast, shower, and get out the door (and of course it would be easier if I got up earlier in the morning so I wouldn't be in a hurry but there is just something about staying up late to watch 4 episodes of "Once Upon A Time"--just discovered it on netflix, awesome!!--that makes me not want to get up in the mornings, hmmm....) Which means that I need a quick breakfast.  And a filling breakfast. That's been one of the hardest parts of going gluten free is breakfast.  Pretty much everything has gluten in it that's fast.  And I can only handle eating so many eggs in the morning.  I usually vary between yogurt and granola to cereal. But now I have something else in my repertoire and it's delicious.  Especially if you are one of those protein smoothie people. ...

Now that it's December we are in the full Christmas swing at our house.  One of the things we love to do this time of year is give out treats to our neighbors.  We plan and think about it for weeks trying to come up with something great to give (and we usually revert to what we did growing up, a candy wreath filled with delicious goodies--but hey it's fun to think about something else :). I am always looking for something new to share with them.  I thought this idea was fantastic.  I had my children try them and they were in love.  They thought it was so fun to have something cute to stir into their chocolate, plus I love the little zing of flavor the mint gives it. It will be so cute packaged in a clear bag with some dippers, hot chocolate, and tied with Christmas  string.  Perfect for a cold winter night. These beauties can be made many different ways.  I used crushed candy canes, Andes mint chips, and red sugar flakes.  You can also use re...