Happy Birthday

 Happy Birthday Dad!

In your honor, I made

Peach Lavender Jam

I think you would have enjoy this

on toast, or over a scoop of

vanilla ice cream

Peach Lavender Jam

1 T. dried lavender flower

1/2 cup boiling water
4 cups finely chopped peaches

(about 5-6 medium peaches, peeled)

2 T. lemon juice
5 cups granulated sugar

1 pouch liquid fruit pectin

(I used 1/2 cups shredded apple

for natural pectin)

~
Directions:

Place lavender flowers in a small bowl.
Pour boiling water over flower and steep
for 20 min. Strain and discard flowers.

Combine lavender liquid, peaches,
lemon juice, apple, and sugar in a large pan.

Bring to a full boil over high heat
and boil hard for 2-3 min., stirring

constantly. Skim off any foam that

forms on top of the mixture.

Remove from heat.
Ladle hot jam into jars, leaving 1/4-inch
of space. Wipe jar rims and threads.

Screw on lids and rings.

Process in a boiling water bath for 10 min.

Remove from water and let cool completely

12-24 hours. Check seals. Any unsealed

jars should be refrigerated and used
within 3 weeks.

~

Love You

and

Miss you...

Logan and mom day

Guess what we did....

Yep,

had a big water balloon

fight in the pool.

Does that sweet boy look

like someone that would

bean you in the face with

a one of those water balloons?

Well, you better believe it!

I got a few good shots in

too....hee, hee.
Played in the pool, had chocolate
dipped ice cream cones at McD's,
watched "Harry Potter and the
chamber of secrets",
and played "Boggle" before
bedtime.

We had a fun day!

~

Gloomy day

It was a bit overcast today.

Still hot and humid, but not quite

as blazing hot as it has been.

 Made cookies - super easy

 and very few ingredients.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies

1 pkg. devils food cake mix

4 oz. cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup peanut butter

1 egg

~

Preheat oven to 375

Put all ingredients in your mixer

and combine.

*I added about a cup of choc. chips too.

Shape into 2 inch balls, roll in granulated

sugar and flatten ea. ball with a fork in

a criss-cross pattern.

Bake 7-9 min. or until edges are set.

Allow cookies to cool on a

wire rack.

Makes approx. 3 doz.

~



Perfect summer dinner party

This Kin Eats YouTube video

is amazing!

I have watched is several times and

have made the salad,
(super yummy), the chicken,
and the cous cous w/ snap peas.
Want to try the dessert too.
So far each dish has been

D-E-L-I-S-H!

You should watch directly on

YouTube so you can watch on

full screen.

Watch here if you like.

ENJOY!

~

Happy 100th Birthday
Julia Child!
~

After school

 Mixed up a batch of

Monster Cookies

for an after the

1st day of school snack

 such colorful dough

 YUM!

Overall I think it was a

great first day of school.

MONSTER COOKIES
1 1/2 cups creamy or chunky peanut butter
(I used chunky)
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
8 T. unsalted butter (1 stick), softened
3 lrg. eggs
1 T. vanilla
4 1/2 cups quick cooking oats
2 tsp. baking soda
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup M&M's

 ~

Preheat oven to 350.  Line cookie sheets

with parchment,or nonstick spray.

In a large bowl, or mixer, combine peanut butter

sugars and butter. Mix well. Add eggs and vanilla.

Mix together the oats and baking soda, then

add to peanut butter mixture. 

Stir in M&M's and choc. chips.

Drop the cookies by heaping spoonfuls onto

your cookie sheets.

Bake 10-12 min. Do not overbake.

Cool for 5 min. on cookie sheets until

cookies are set. Transfer to wire racks to

cool completely.

Then.....

enjoy like a COOKIE MONSTER!

~

Back to School

 First day of school - yippee!

Blueberry pancakes and bacon

for breakfast and we are ready

to go!

Logan looks a bit nervous, as always...

Chloe is nothing but excited!

We are looking forward

to a great school year!

~

More sweet summer time...

 L O V E!

these underwater pics

taken by Logan & Chloe

Soooo sweet!

They do love each other....

sniff, sniff....