Peanut Butter S'Mores

What to do when you don't have graham crackers to make s'mores?

Today I was making treats for quartet practice and I wanted to make s'mores, but realized too late that I didn't have graham crackers--well I thought I would have to make the standby peanut butter kisses cookies. And then I discovered I only had 10 kisses.

so...

I made the Betty Crocker Peanut Butter Cookie Mix as directed on the package and let them cool. As practice was finishing, I opened a Hershey's candy bar and broke it into the pieces. I had made the cookies smaller this time, so I only put one little piece of the chocolate on top of half of the cookies. Then I cut the large marshmallow in half and put one half on top of the chocolate. Then I put the plate of cookies in the microwave for 1 minute. When they were finished, I put another peanut butter cookie on the top. They were very warm and had to set up for a few minutes.

The Peanut Butter S'more Cookies are no more.........what a hit....I didn't even get to try one.... Sometimes missing cooking ingredients can create wonderful new things!!!

Dan and Amanda-just a note--this little bit of junk food can't be missed!!! It contains peanut butter and chocolate so it has to be good!

Largest Pink Ribbon

http://www.3m.com/us/office/postit/research/largest_pink_ribbon.jhtml

3M Corporation is building the World’s Largest Pink Ribbon in Times Square for breast cancer awareness month in October. For every person who clicks on the link and signs up, Post-It will donate $1 to breast cancer research and place a Post-It in their name on the billboard. Please sign up and pass this along. Thanks!

Quote of the day

'Keep a green tree alive in your heart and a songbird may come to
sing there.'
-A Chinese Proverb

Quote of the Day

You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist.Indira Gandhi

Tomorrow morning Andy starts school at Nipomo High School. It is a little over 7 miles from our house. We drove there this evening and it took about 12 minutes--so we feel we will have to leave about 7:15 to be there by 7:30. Tardy bell rings at 7:45. This is a picture of the school entry.

Campus view

Gates will open tomorrow morning.

Taco Salad Dip

Taco Salad Dip

½ pound ground beef
1 can (16 ounces) refried beans
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
1 package (1 ¼ ounces) taco seasoning mix
¼ cup finely chopped onion
¼ cup finely chopped green bell pepper
2 or 3 drops red pepper sauce
1 small clove garlic, finely chopped
Sour Cream Topping
Finely shredded lettuce
Shredded Cheddar cheese

Crumble ground beef in 1 1/2 –quart microwavable casserole. Cover loosely and microwave on high 2 minutes 30 seconds or until very little pink remains; stir and drain. Stir in beans, tomato sauce, seasoning mix (dry), onion, bell pepper, pepper sauce and garlic.

Cover tightly and microwave 3 minutes; stir. Spread in microwavable pie plate, 9 x 1 ¼ inches. Cover and microwave on high 3 to 4 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Mound Sour Cream Topping in center of beef mixture. Sprinkle with lettuce and cheese. Serve with tortilla chips if desired.

About 3 ½ cups dip.

Sour Cream Topping:
Mix ½ cup sour cream, 1 tablespoon grated process American cheese and 1/8 teaspoon chili powder.

Differences in the one I made –
I used salsa instead of tomato sauce, onion, peppers, and garlic. I also added some cheddar/Monterey jack cheeses to the top of the mixture after it was put in the pie plate and melted the cheese on top (baked for 20 minutes instead of microwave- but I don’t think that matters) and then added more cheese on top like the recipe called for. I also used Mexican cheese blend and shredded packaged lettuce . I cut up tomatoes on the side for anyone who wanted to add them.

Recipe found in Betty Crocker Sip, Nibble and Snack April 1990

Andy wearing his new Nipomo Titan shirt.

Milestone!!!

Today Andy picked up his schedule for his freshman year at Nipomo High School.

Algebra 2
AP World History
PreAP English 9
PE 9
Biology 1
Band (Cello and percussion!!)
Spanish (Distance learning)

School begins Monday, August 23 at 7:45 A.M. !!! Next week all students will be issued a set of books that they keep at home. Another set of books will be kept in the classroom for students to use. No more heavy backpacks!! The school only has lockers in the locker rooms in the gym--keeping a set of books at home elimates the need for lockers. He also bought PE clothes--nice colors-maroon, silver, and black. (Nipomo Titans)

Live the present

It was the Buddha who said, "The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, not to worry about the future, or not to anticipate troubles, but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly." And Jesus said, "Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself."

The difference between girls and boys...

The difference between boys and girls....

All together

Dan, Buck, Isaac, Don, Andy
Amanda, Shirley, Liz

Questions - work in progress

Twenty-three questions
A new meme, seen at Neil's World:

We are in Wisconsin

We flew out of San Luis Obispo Thursday morning at 11:00. It was a beautiful , sunny morning - one of the reasons everyone should visit us-it was warm and so nice. When we left it was 63 degrees. All of our flights were on time and we arrived in Green Bay about 10:20.

We finally found a room earlier today at the Sleep Inn in DePere, WI--only a few miles south of the Green Bay airport. We finally found out why it was so difficult to get a room--the desk clerk, Tony, who is an IM native and former IMHS teacher, told us it Family Packer weekend-over 48,000 tickets have been sold!!

When we arrived in Green Bay it was 63 degrees and the forecast is for a record low tonight of 47 degrees. It is also forecasted to be a warm, sunny day with highs in the low 70s.

Just wanted to let everyone now our trip has started smoothly--oh, except I forgot my tootbrush!! (But, the Sleep Inn is right next to Super Walmart!!

Quote of the Day

How do you treat ideas?

Treat them TENDERLY--they can be killed quickly.
Treat them GENTLY--they can be bruised in infancy.
Treat them RESPECTFULLY--they could be the most valuable thing that ever came into your life.
Treat them PROTECTIVELY--don't let them get away.
Treat them NUTRITIONALLY--feed them and feed them well.
Treat them ANTISEPTICALLY--don't let them get infected with the germs of negative thoughts.
Treat them RESPONSIBLY--Respond! Act! Do something with them! Decide to decide!

- Anonymous

Early morning at Avila Beach from the pier.

Early morning at Avila Beach before the sun comes out.

Morning at the beach.

We ate breakfast at the Custom House in Avila Beach. This was our first experience at the Custom House for breakfast. I will add a review later.

Andy, Erik and Therese on the pier in Avila Beach after breakfast.

Andy and Liz on the pier in Avila Beach

Blogger problem

why?

I have been trying to post since early this morning. Was there a problem with Blogger? I could type in a title but not a post.

Did anyone else have the same problem today?

"String-Along" Project

This bag is called a string along. I found the black and white floral fabric and wanted something plain to use for the casing. I really like the burgundy fabric and was able to find the burgandy cording to match. Although it doesn't show up in the picture, the burgandy fabric has a light floral pattern on it.

This is the second "string along" I made. The outside of the bag and the lining are made from the same fabric. I used gold cording to match the gold swirl pattern on the fabric. I made the pocket larger than the first bag I made and put a seam in the middle to divide the pocket. This is such an easy project. I think the hardest part is finding the cording to use for the straps and top opening. I final found it at Betty's in San Luis Obispo. While I was there I also discovered in the last two weeks they have added a whole yarn department that includes lots of different needles and pattern books.

Drag-A-Rag Progress-Completed Project

Finished quilt. This was a fun project and turned out better than I thought it would. I have started to cut out the fabric "sandwiches" for the blue and yellow quilt. Like a lot of quilt projects, cutting out all the pieces correctly at the beginning is a key part. My favorite part was adding the ruffle. I think it really gives the quilt a finished look and makes the wrong side just as nice as the "raggy" side.

Yesterday I received the latest gooseberry patch catalog in the mail. On page 43 there is a rag quilt similar to the one I made. (although I am not sure it is flannel). The price in the catalog is $125!! (and I don't think it has the added ruffle.) The quilt does take about 8 yards of fabric and nice flannel can be $8-$9 per yard. I ws able to get the flannel for the quilt on sale at Beverly's in San Luis Obispo.
http://www.gooseberrypatch.com

Closeup of the finished "ragging"

Following the rose, part 5

Following the rose

Following the rose, part 5

August Blessing Prayer

For world peace: In the care and keeping of God, the world is at peace. All is well!

For guidance: In the care and keeping of God, I am guided every step of my way. All is well!

For healing: In the care and keeping of God, I am lifted to health and wholeness. All is well!

For prosperity: In the care and keeping of God, I am blessed with an abundance of every good thing. All is well!