Early Mornings-
I might not have always had a good relationship with you, but... I think I'm falling in love with you.
Dear Twinings-
Your spiced Chai tea is nasty! I love your other ones though, especially your Irish breakfast. What happened to the Chai though, did I get a bad box?
Dear boots-
I did get you on sale at Payless, and therefore am not surprised at your short lifespan. But why?? I've become addicted to your comfort, looks like I need to branch out to other stores for durable boots. Sad day.
Dear sick-people-on-the-bus-
If you need to cough, do like I do. Hold it in even if it means your eyes pop out of your head and you tear up. Really. If I suffer so that I don't get my hands germy (and hold the grab bars) then you should too!
Dear Purell-
Thank you for all you do.
Friday, November 22, 2013
Monday, November 18, 2013
Oatmeal-Banana (ONLY) Cookies.
Our stove has arrived, and is doing splendidly. Right now, potatoes are cooking for Shepherd's Pie for the family coming over. Nice to have people to cook for (and hopefully they like it). :)
But. I wanted cookies earlier this week. So I decided to cristen our oven's insides with this wonderful recipe form The Burlap Bag.
http://www.theburlapbag.com/2012/07/2-ingredient-cookies-plus-the-mix-ins-of-your-choice/
Copy/Pasted from my Pepperplate:
WEB
They were amazing! I doubled the recipe, and it made 32 cookies. See below pictures.
So. Simple.
No Sugar, eggs or flour. How wonky is that? Still a cookie? I'm not sure, I'm thinking they are more like taste oatmeal-to-go.
So, if you want my opinion:
But. I wanted cookies earlier this week. So I decided to cristen our oven's insides with this wonderful recipe form The Burlap Bag.
http://www.theburlapbag.com/2012/07/2-ingredient-cookies-plus-the-mix-ins-of-your-choice/
Copy/Pasted from my Pepperplate:
WEB
Banana- Oatmeal (Only) Cookies
Yes. For real. Two ingredients. (Yes, you can add other things if you want… but you don’t HAVE to!) Since all bananas are different sizes, the needed measurements can vary. If it seems too runny and the cookies would flatten out too much, add in more oatmeal. And make sure to not add in TOO many mix-ins as the cookies won’t hold together very well. The ones in these photos have a handful of chocolate chips, a teaspoon or two or cinnamon, and 1/4ish a cup of crushed walnuts.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 large old bananas
- 1 cup of oats (quick or regular! if you use regular, we’d suggest chopping them a little so everything holds together better)
- Then add in what sounds yummy to you! (or nothing!) We love:
- -a handful of chocolate chips
- -crushed walnut pieces
- -cinnamon
- -raisins
INSTRUCTIONS
- We made 16 cookies with those measurements.
- We cook them at 350 degrees for 15 minutes on a GREASED cookie sheet.
- Don’t forget the greased part…. I did once and had to scrub my pan forever.
NOTES
Sometimes we’ll make 16 “cookies”. And we’ll eat them all for lunch. I know what you’re thinking… WOW lauren you’re gonna be 500 pounds if you keep eating 8 cookies.
But think about what went in these cookies! If I ate 8 cookies,
I’ve had: 1 banana, 1/2 cup of oats, and half a handful of chocolate chips and walnuts. Amazing. Leave out the chocolate chips and they are all health.They were amazing! I doubled the recipe, and it made 32 cookies. See below pictures.
So. Simple.
 |
| Bananas, Quick Oats, bowl. |
 |
| Bananas, in bowl. |
 |
| Oats, on bananas. |
 |
| Smash em together. |
 |
| It will eventually look like runny oatmeal. Mix well. |
 |
| Grease your baking sheet well! |
 |
| They didn't change position. So definitely pack that baking sheet full. Especially if you're using the tiny ones like I have to. |
 |
| Stare at them baking for 15 minutes. |
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| Baked. |
 |
| Close-ups. Yum. |
No Sugar, eggs or flour. How wonky is that? Still a cookie? I'm not sure, I'm thinking they are more like taste oatmeal-to-go.
So, if you want my opinion:
They turned out amazing!
Saturday, November 16, 2013
On Becoming a ''Morning Person''
This Tuesday (Monday was Veterans Day), I started a new schedule at work. It involved me waking at 5:45, washing my face and turning my phone on to take a few phone calls from 6-9am. Basically just being awake to answer it. So really, I was a little concerned I would fall asleep from boredom.
I used to work from 11-7pm, waking at 9am and going to bed at 1pm (if I went to bed on time).
I discovered that it is amazing to wake up early! And I've searched the web for the week leading up to it, to search for tactics (because waking up is like war??) on how to wake up early.
I've found a few things.
Drink Tea and avoid TV before bed, and go to bed on time.
Duh, right? But I did it, and I went to bed sleepy, versus stimulated. And stayed asleep. And woke refreshed.
Wake up to a nice alarm.
I changed out my alarm (which was HORRID) to a favorite song. And as it slowly gets louder, I no longer scowl and attack it to save my ears. I actually kind of enjoy it because it's never loud. I have even downgraded from 10 angry-sounding alarms to 4 nice alarms.
Drink some cold water (OJ, etc) immediately.
It replenishes you since you hadn't drank anything in about 8 hours. That's why you always feel so sick/blah in the morning. Drink some water. And it wakes you up.
Have something to wake up for.
Apparently, I needed my work to demand an early wake up. I have for the longest time wanted to wake up with Tom, but never have. Now, I get to read my Bible, make us breakfast, put dishes away, play Scrabble on Facebook and read the news in the hour before he wakes. And he's a big fan of eggs instead of Cap'n Crunch, so I get major props for the breakfast thing.
Do something to help you later in the week.
I accidentally made biscuit cookies my first day in. They were supposed to be cookies made with Jiffy Cake Mix (first day in, keeping it simple!) But, upon removal they appeared incredibly biscuit-like. They were still tasty though . Oh, and I discovered that I can't use my big baking sheets in our 24'' oven :(
And those have been my findings so far. I woke up today and couldn't stay in bed. I eventually tried luring Tom out at 8:30 with some coffee, which he sneered at, drank, and then went back to bed.
So, how has your week been? Any suggestions on making this new schedule continue to rock?
I used to work from 11-7pm, waking at 9am and going to bed at 1pm (if I went to bed on time).
I discovered that it is amazing to wake up early! And I've searched the web for the week leading up to it, to search for tactics (because waking up is like war??) on how to wake up early.
I've found a few things.
Drink Tea and avoid TV before bed, and go to bed on time.
Duh, right? But I did it, and I went to bed sleepy, versus stimulated. And stayed asleep. And woke refreshed.
Wake up to a nice alarm.
I changed out my alarm (which was HORRID) to a favorite song. And as it slowly gets louder, I no longer scowl and attack it to save my ears. I actually kind of enjoy it because it's never loud. I have even downgraded from 10 angry-sounding alarms to 4 nice alarms.
Drink some cold water (OJ, etc) immediately.
It replenishes you since you hadn't drank anything in about 8 hours. That's why you always feel so sick/blah in the morning. Drink some water. And it wakes you up.
Have something to wake up for.
Apparently, I needed my work to demand an early wake up. I have for the longest time wanted to wake up with Tom, but never have. Now, I get to read my Bible, make us breakfast, put dishes away, play Scrabble on Facebook and read the news in the hour before he wakes. And he's a big fan of eggs instead of Cap'n Crunch, so I get major props for the breakfast thing.
Do something to help you later in the week.
I accidentally made biscuit cookies my first day in. They were supposed to be cookies made with Jiffy Cake Mix (first day in, keeping it simple!) But, upon removal they appeared incredibly biscuit-like. They were still tasty though . Oh, and I discovered that I can't use my big baking sheets in our 24'' oven :(
 |
| Yes, they will slide all the way down.. |
So, how has your week been? Any suggestions on making this new schedule continue to rock?
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Today's Truth
Religion operates on the principle, 'I obey -- therefore I am accepted by God.' But the operating principle of the gospel is 'I am accepted by God through what Christ has done -- therefore I obey." ~ Timothy Keller, The Reason For God , (New York: Dutton, 2008), 179-180.
Happy Wednesday!
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars
We have a stove! But it is sadly stationed in our living room until we get a hose, an adapter and bust a part of our wall apart. So despite these dire circumstances (considering I want to bake!) I improvised.
And while we do not celebrate Halloween and tend to stay inside the evenings surrounding it (people egg things in NYC on Halloween- no thanks) I did make one concession. I don't think it's a bad one either.
In an effort to enjoy the peanut-buttery goodness of the Halloween holiday (the only part I will partake in), I decided to surprise Tom with homemade Reeses' cup bars. I found the website on Pinterest, and followed the pin here. And then browsed around for along time before I had to close the browser or go buy cookies from the Hot 'N Tasty downstairs. And they have horrible cookies, so I my day would've been ruined if I hadn't pulled myself away from temptation.
I have fallen in love with Pepperplate- the web version and the app. So don't mind me if all my recipe's are copied from recipe on there. But to get the exact same recipe, click the link below. I didn't change anything, didn't need to :)
From Jen's Favorite Cookies:
WEB
And we loved it! The pics show our results.
Despite them kinda being a pain to cut out of the pan, they did kind of make squares, although I wouldn't compare them to the photos from the original post. I could hardly contain myself. Big surprise.
Whatever, they were amazing and I stand by the original recipe and vouch against myself. Bad blogger. Why don't I try harder to get nice photos. Because.... I was about to pop that lil broken piece into my mouth and forced myself to stick it back where it belongs for the photo. You're welcome...
And try not to let them get room temperature. Because they tend to soften up- and as much as I love eating candy like a kid on Halloween, I don't want to look like a kid who ate candy on Halloween.
And while we do not celebrate Halloween and tend to stay inside the evenings surrounding it (people egg things in NYC on Halloween- no thanks) I did make one concession. I don't think it's a bad one either.
In an effort to enjoy the peanut-buttery goodness of the Halloween holiday (the only part I will partake in), I decided to surprise Tom with homemade Reeses' cup bars. I found the website on Pinterest, and followed the pin here. And then browsed around for along time before I had to close the browser or go buy cookies from the Hot 'N Tasty downstairs. And they have horrible cookies, so I my day would've been ruined if I hadn't pulled myself away from temptation.
I have fallen in love with Pepperplate- the web version and the app. So don't mind me if all my recipe's are copied from recipe on there. But to get the exact same recipe, click the link below. I didn't change anything, didn't need to :)
From Jen's Favorite Cookies:
WEB
Peanut Butter Bars (No Bake!)
An easy no-bake recipe for peanut butter bars with chocolate frosting.
INGREDIENTS
Bars
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup peanut butter
Frosting
- 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup peanut butter
INSTRUCTIONS
- In a bowl, melt butter and peanut butter together.
- Add cracker crumbs, sugar, butter, and peanut butter. Spread mixture evenly into a 9×13 pan.
- Melt chocolate chips with peanut butter in 30 second intervals in the microwave, stirring between each, until melted and smooth.
- Pour chocolate mixture over bars, and frost evenly.
- Chill for 40-50 minutes until chocolate is set.
NOTES
Oct 31 2013.
Best cut and served straight out of the fridge (or they are too soft and get messy) and cut into 1-inch squares and popped into your mouth. They are very sweet for more than a cube or two at a time.
And we loved it! The pics show our results.
Despite them kinda being a pain to cut out of the pan, they did kind of make squares, although I wouldn't compare them to the photos from the original post. I could hardly contain myself. Big surprise.
 |
| Inspiration. |
 |
| Reality. |
Shoulda melted the chocolate more. Coulda took my time cutting. Woulda gotten better photos.
Whatever, they were amazing and I stand by the original recipe and vouch against myself. Bad blogger. Why don't I try harder to get nice photos. Because.... I was about to pop that lil broken piece into my mouth and forced myself to stick it back where it belongs for the photo. You're welcome...
And when I did, it was amazing!
BUT:
We did find (in the final row of the pan of course) that the best way to cut and enjoy them were to cut mini cubes and pop em in your mouth.
And try not to let them get room temperature. Because they tend to soften up- and as much as I love eating candy like a kid on Halloween, I don't want to look like a kid who ate candy on Halloween.
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