Happy Day

I had a really great birthday!

Thanks to everyone who called, sent cards, sent gifts or dropped by!

I spent the morning at the zoo with the 3 younger kids, then the afternoon at the Mall with all 4 kids. We came back home to meet Rick for cake and gifts. It was a nice relaxing day, spent with my family - just how I wanted it.

Rick usually gets the cake in the city, but this year I asked to pick it up - we went to Riviera Bakehouse again. I couldn't decide between the Raspberry Chocolate, or the passion fruit mousse - so we got both! I must say, they were spectacular!

Rebekah was a sweetheart and got up at 4:30am !!!! To be up before the kids got up (and therefore me) to make us all pancakes. She also cleaned up all the mess - that's a great birthday gift! She also gave me a new Microplane, and a great Williams Sonoma silicone coated spoon (to go with the one she gave me for Christmas.)

Rick gave me a new 8" chef's knife. Yes, the most versatile knife in the kitchen (unless you're in love with the Santoku.) Don't I have one??? Scary thing when you live in a house with Jacob - I lost it! One day in November it disappeared, and no amount of terrified searching has turned it up. I am hoping against hope that I took it somewhere, and accidentally left it.

I think Rick got so sick of hearing me say "I really need my 8" chef's knife" when I was cooking, and sprang for another. A Wusthof classic - very nice, and now not kept in my knife block - but up much higher. I'm debating getting a magnetic strip. I've wanted one since we re-did the kitchen. Anyone have one? Do you think Jake could get it off there?
We don't want another of these floating around ....

A wonderful day.
Now, my plan for the coming years is to start going backwards in numbers!

Jane's New Shoes

Remember when I posted about Jane's love of shoes (and hatred of socks)? Right after that I thought, really I should buy her some Uggs. Going to seminary in the freezing cold, dark mornings, I just carry her to the car because I don't want to take the time to put on shoes - Uggs would be easy and warm to just slip on.
Also, she can wear them when the family goes skiing, so I got these -

She really likes them, and calls them her "boops." They make her feet look huge, and they're not such a fresh pink anymore ... but they keep her feet toasty warm and I figure if she can run in them, they must fit OK, even though all that sheepskin makes them look big.

Those cute red one's from See Kai Run came - and were WAY to big, even though I used the online measuring guide ... oh well. They were $8 shipping, and I didn't want to bother also paying to send them back and decided to just keep them until she grows into them.

Since she really needed some new play shoes, I ordered her another pair of "See Kai Run" shoes. They are so soft, but still have great grip on the bottom. She is in heaven. I took these pictures of her admiring them. I think it's so funny that a 20 month old could care so much about shoes. Emily was just the same ... I remember her picking out her own Easter outfit shoes when she was 15 months old, and wanting to wear them everywhere, because she loved them so much.

"New shoes make me happy."

She couldn't stop checking them out!

"Look at my new shoes!"

Here she is admiring the circles ...

I'm not kidding - looking at these brought her hours of joy, and even though it was about a month ago, she's still really happy when she wears them!

For summer, I'm thinking these .... OK, so maybe she's not the only one in love with cute little shoes.

Valentine's

I LOVE Valentine's Day.
It's my second favorite holiday, and I have a lot of traditions associated with it. It all part of the February happiness that I've posted about before.

Growing up in England & Australia we never gave Valentine's out to a mass of people - a Valentine was significant, and rare. I like it better here. Generally, I think everything is a bit "over the top" in America, and usually it bugs me - but not for Valentine's. Excess is good for this holiday! What's not to love about a day focused on love? So great to have all those good feelings, and to be able to tell others how much you appreciate their friendship.

The crayons were a hit, but we didn't make that many (I'll do more next year), so Emily gave out these for Valentine's. Super easy & cute. I print them out, and then use my giant cookie cutter to trace the heart shape. I made caramels and gave them out. Cute little bags for a few friends,

valentine take-out boxes for the people I visit teach.

Jacob gave out little sacks of hugs & kisses (because I still didn't think I was making lollipops at that point!)

I did a few sacks of caramels for Emily too - for her teachers, etc.

We also have a FHE lesson each year just before Valentine's about loving our neighbours, and make cupcakes and deliver them. The lesson is mostly the Good Samaritan story, and this year we tried to think of 3 families that we typically wouldn't take treats too (just because we don't know them as well) and took them to them. So, if you're used to getting cupcakes from us on Valentine's and didn't - we're sorry & we still love you! (sorry, forgot to take cupcake pictures.) We also took sugar cookies to some other families we love.

The only thing I didn't do and had wanted to, was make some red-hot frosting. Fortunately for me Heather made some for book club, and the cupcake I had there was perfect!

Rick and I have never given each other Valentine's gifts. He always brings me flowers, and usually some good quality chocolates, and he brings a little treat for each of the kids AND we usually go to dinner, but no gifts. I didn't want gifts because I didn't want this day to become commercial or to be about what we were getting, or stressful because of what I was giving. I just want it to be about spending time together, and having fun as a family...

Then this year Rick said he really wanted to do something for me. Sigh. I know, bad attitude. I asked him to do something that wouldn't really cost money, something that I really needed. He came through BIG time.

He got together with the kids and they gave me a card. He gave me one too. Inside each card were a ton of little coupons he had made. Things from the kids like "good for one dinner with Rebekah" (or Jacob, or Emily) "good for 1 free night of babysitting" "good for one chore around the house." In the card from him the coupons said "good for 4 kid free hours" "good for 2 hours or ironing" "good for one back-rub" and a few others I won't mention ... They were perfect and made me cry. (You would never guess it, but he really is quite the romantic.) Things I really need - help around the house, time with each of the kids one-on-one, time with Rick, and time by myself. Things that money cannot buy, things of true meaning that will require actual effort to deliver. Things that really make me feel loved.

I am one lucky gal!

Valentine Lollipops

Every year, for the past nine years - ever since Rebekah was in Kindergarten - I have made lollipops for the kids to give out for Valentines Day. Last year, that plan was foiled (on the 12th) by a note from school saying that there could be no food in valentines. I still made them for non-school friends, and sent them to cousins & other special friends - but the school thing was a bummer .

This year, I had decided not to make them. I had other things for Emily & Jacob to give out, and I was just going to blow off sending stuff to the cousins. I just wasn't feeling it for lollipops this year.

So Saturday night before Valentines Day I was putting together the stuff for Em & Jake to give to their church friends the next day while Rebekah, Rick & I watched a movie.
I had this conversation with bek.

me; "bek, do you want me to make you some of these cute treat bags to give out to your friends for Valentine's?"
R; "No, I want to give out lollipops."
me; "Oh yeah, I wasn't going to make them this year."
R; "WHAT!"
me; "I just kind of couldn't be bothered."
R; "Could you just make one batch???"
me; "Why don't you write a list of the friends you'd like to give them to, and I'll see how many you need and then decide."

she wrote the list - 36!

I decided if I was going to make 36, I may as well make 66 and send them to cousins too! AND, if I was going to do that, I should make them that night so I could get them in the mail on Monday. So, I stayed up super late making them all. I'm glad I did, and didn't break the tradition. I thought about it as I cooked - of course they meant more to Rebekah than the other kids, it's all she's ever given out for Valentine's Day, and she probably can't remember a February without them. I'm also glad traditions like this still hold meaning for her.

So here are some shots of how I made valentine lollipops for the 10th straight year! (BTW, I don't know how Lindsey gets all those shots when she cooks. I often needed both hands, and didn't have one free for the camera, so there are several steps missing from the photo's!)

Candy Recipe
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup water
2/3 cup karo syrup
1/2 tsp flavoring
tiny drop coloring

I love these molds. I got them from Martha by Mail. A few are broken, and they are on their last legs - but the lollipops are thick, and the shapes great. I wish they would carry them again, so I could get more. The little stick holding clips that came with them broke long ago, so I now use these bulldog clips. Tricky to get perfect, but they work!

Spray the molds lightly with cooking spray.

I also use these plastic candy molds. Heart shaped, and cute, but not as thick.

Put all ingredients in heavy saucepan, and cook on high. Wash down the sides of the pan with a pastry brush dipped in water every so often (to prevent crystalizing.)

Keep at a rolling boil until it reaches hard crack stage. See that tiny dot of color above the red line on the thermometer? It's actually a section that has separated, and is the real temp reading. It's also why I burned the 1st batch!

(Note to self - buy new candy thermometer!)

Have an ice-bath ready to put the pan into as soon as the temp is reached to stop the cooking. It will make a lot of noise as you plunge the pan in - I actually think this part is kind of fun!

Then quickly add color & flavoring. Most recipes say to add 1 tsp, but I use these great natural flavorings, and they are pretty strong. I also like a more subtle flavor. I only add 1/2 tsp. I like the color to be pretty light too - so just use the tiniest drop of color, or dip a toothpick in for a small amount.

Mix in quickly, while in ice bath.

Pour into prepared molds. Don't bother trying to stop the stream of candy as you pour, or it will harden before you've used it all & be stuck in the pan. Just thin it as you go from shape to shape, and it will crack off easily later.

Seriously, I LOVE these molds. They really need to make more!

In the original directions, it says to pour excess into a greased muffin tin to harden before discarding. I say why dirty a muffin tin? I just pour the little remaining candy onto the Silpat - then after it hardens (faster than it would in a muffin tin), I just peel it up & toss it.

After they come out of the molds, I put them on a plate until they are all done. I just put wax paper between the layers.

Then I wrap them in cellophane, and tie with ribbon. I didn't love the red, I usually use white, so it doesn't detract from the cool lollipop colors - but it was last minute, and was all I had.

Yum, Yum!

Sugar Cookies

I LOVE sugar cookies. They are easily my favorite, and I make them for just about every occasion. There are two recipes that I like, the first is one I got from a friend in Utah (Paddy C.) when Rebekah was just a babe. They are slightly crisp, but still totally melt in your mouth when you bite into them. This is my fave, and I've been making them for years.

The second is from a friend I made here in NY (Rebecca R.) They are also excellent, and soft as can be. I'll list the recipes for both at the end of this post.

The kids love to help me make them too - better than play dough, since you can actually eat it! It's messy with their help, but well worth it for the fun together.

I divide the dough, and give the kids their portions. They smash, and add too much flour and make theirs tough - so I make sure it stays separate. Also, they really like to make sure they eat the ones they made. Theirs are usually easily identifiable!

I like to do 3 separate pieces of dough, so there's not more than a second rolling for each piece - that way you don't add too much flour by rolling, and they stay melt-in-your-mouth texture. I have an embarrassingly large collection of cookie cutters, but I think heart shapes have got to be my favorite.Rolling & cutting.

Me too!

Flour & sticky fingers in the hair. My kids never get just their hands messy - they like to make sure it's a whole-body experience! She sure is cute!

I personally think the raw dough is gross, but the kids like it. Maybe they got it from Rick (he likes it) or maybe they're just kids and will eat anything sweet!

The scraps get added to the kids dough.

Jane likes anything tiny, and wanted to use the two small cutters.

Emily made a birds nest. It took a while to cook, but didn't burn, and she frosted & ate it!

I like to bake them on parchment. A Silpat would work well too - mine is just huge, and too big for my cookie sheets. I am picky about baking them, and only do one cookie sheet at a time, in the very middle of the oven.
I usually bake them for 9 or 10 mins (just until the bottom starts to brown.) I turn the sheet front to back 1/2 way through cooking. However, I'm impatient so I usually use 3 sheets at a time. I have one cooling, one in the oven, and one I'm putting raw shapes onto - then I rotate. Clean up is still easy. The parchment prevents any baked on yuck, so I toss them in the dishwasher.

Frosting them is always the most fun. I like to make my cookies ahead of time whenever possible. (Most of the time, I make then when the kids are in bed, and they just help me frost when we are ready.) They freeze super well, and we like to frost them when they are still frozen. That way they are a little more sturdy, and less likely to snap or crumble during the process. Easier for little hands. By the time you've finished frosting, they've pretty much thawed.

Sugar Cookies

2 cups butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
5 cups flour

Cream butter & sugar. Add eggs, beat well. Add vanilla, then dry ingredients. Divide into 3 balls, roll 1/4 inch thick. Bake at 375F for 8-10 minutes, until the bottom is just brown. Cool, frost & enjoy!

FROSTING -
2 Tbs butter
2 Tbs evaporated milk
1 cup powdered sugar
coloring


Soft Sugar Cookies (from Rebecca R.)
cream:
1 c. butter
2 c. sugar
add:
2 eggs
2 t. vanilla
alternate:
1 c. milk
with:
1 t. salt
2 t. soda
4 t. baking powder
7 c. flour

Bake 375 for 5-6 minutes, or just until cooked. Cool, frost.

Buttercream Frosting
1 c. butter
1 t. vanilla
3 1/2 c. powdered sugar

Using whisk attachment, beat for 10 minutes. Add food coloring.

Camo Crayons

I have often though about making recycled crayons, but had issues;

(1) I am a little OCD. I hate crayons with the papers peeled off, and little tiny broken pieces. There are no broken crayons in my house, we have used twistables since they came out in 2002.
(2) Everywhere I had seen them, it recommended melting them in a muffin tin. Who wants to use a giant, round, muffin sized crayon?

Then I saw a heart shaped silicone mold, and thought it would be perfect for the job, and make cute valentines (our schools don't allow food).

I bought a box of 96 crayons, and we peeled off the papers. I admit, they've improved how well those things stay on in the past several years! Rick discovered it was easier to use a knife & run it down the length of the crayon, then they just popped off. The kids wanted to try the knife technique too - so we gave them butter knives!

Once all the crayons were peeled and sorted by color group, we chopped them into small chunks Rick, Rebekah and I used sharper knives and it only took a minute or two. Em did pretty well with the butter knife!

I thought they looked so pretty all divided up by color.

Then we filled the molds.

The kids were FASCINATED that I was going to put crayons in the oven!

The few places online I'd read about this suggested a temp of 150F. My oven is digital, and wouldn't let me do a number starting with 1. I have a bread-proofing setting, but that is 100F, but I thought that would take forever. I did them at 200F for about 15 minutes, and that seemed to work out fine.

When they came out they'd dropped so much, I thought we'd need to fill the 2nd batch higher - but actually they were perfect. I think if they had been the full mold-full, they would have been too thick.

The silicone molds were super easy to get them out of too.
We were all delighted with the results.

They looked great - I love the big swirls of color.
A new box of 96 crayons made 2 dozen heart crayons.
I bought some cute little red boxes at Michaels, and we packaged them up, six in a box.
Better than candy!