Monday, March 18, 2024

Happy Homemaker Monday



Happy Monday Friends 

How are things beginning for you this week? Are you seeing signs of Spring since it begins tomorrow? Yay! Unfortunately we've been in a cold snap here and doesn't look like it will let up much in the immediate days ahead. But we're still not having any snow and half of the bay is open water now. I have heard geese hanging that have flown back for the season hanging out and swimming down there. All true signs of Spring. 
πŸŒ·πŸ’—

We had a wonderful weekend here. Matt and I did a lot of our usuals. Went out for dinner, went to Saturday evening mass, got in some exercise time, watched some shows and movies, and we finally started tackling a kitchen project. On St. Patrick's Day (yesterday) I wore my green (I have Irish heritage) to go along with a little St. Paddy's manicure I gave myself. We also went out for a lovely brunch. Then came home and tackled the kitchen project which included cleaning out the island and cabinets. We cleaned and organized them and got rid of old things to donate to Goodwill and added some of the things we brought from Matt's house he wanted to keep. He is renting out his house now and it feels like our home now. 😊❤️

Then we watched a movie, played some cards, loved on the furry babies and just chilled. A perfectly productive and yet relaxing Sunday.

Lots of other Spring thoughts are going on over here - my daughter found her prom dress. Yay! Her bf is coming up, next month, from FL to take her. It's really sweet. Also, we are making plans for over Annie's Spring break time too. Fun things to look forward to! Along with looking forward to planting flowers and my little garden, once we're truly thawed out around here. Spring is on it's way and it makes my heart so happy! 
☀️πŸŒΈπŸ’š




















THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

































ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:

1/2 of an onion bagel with lite butter, low cal yogurt and coffee















ON MY TO DO LIST THIS WEEK:

errands,  dinner with a gf, a lunch with Mrs C., hospice work, senior party meeting (I'm on the committee at Annie's school), dinner at my Mom's, hospice calls to do from home
















THINKING ABOUT:  

How grateful I am to have come so far with my arthritis and aches and pains issues. The shoulder issue was a minor one compared to the past year and half herniated disc issue. I saw PT for my shoulder recently, and I'll probably have one more follow-up visit and I feel good that issue is resolving quickly. In my workouts I'm basically back to the same strength and ability I had pre-disc issue. πŸ™πŸ» Thank goodness!

The back issue finally resolved a few months ago. It sure had been such a process to get through. But meds, therapy and regular at-home exercises have brought back strength and mobility. It feels amazing! I wasn't able to golf or do much pickle ball, or other active sports, last summer. And this year I'll be able to fully enjoy it all! Yippeee!! πŸŽ‰

It's been a lot of hard work. And now with continuing to do daily strengthening exercises, regular cardio, and counting daily calories - losing weight is a wonderful side benefit! I'm truly changing a lot of my lifestyle for good and I know it will make aging that much easier for my future self. A wise investment I think πŸ˜‰πŸ’•





















AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE

Sun is shining in. I can hear Ruby snoring in the chair in the tv room next to me. Lol I have soft Celtic music playing softly. It feels peaceful.  





















CURRENTLY READING

 reading Ready or Not by Cara Bastone (really good so far, I just need to add more reading time in my days so I finish it)



















ON THE TV TODAY:

Jeopardy, Shark Tank, Ghosts, LPBW, The Good Wife, Grey's Anatomy,  Survivor, Love on the Spectrum (I watch this one myself - it just makes me smile so much), New season of Blown Away on netflix (glass blowing competition show Matt & I like)


















ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:


    MONDAY -  jalapeno cheddar brats on the grill, boursin cauliflower side dish, baby corn on the cob, salad



TUESDAY - leftover tacos from the weekend 




WEDNESDAY -  might be out with a friend for dinner




THURSDAY - dinner with my Mom & step Dad she requested spaghetti hot dish I make that she loves, garlic bread, caesar salad, lemon bars for dessert




FRIDAY -  probably fish dinner?


*We are going to be starting back to Hello Fresh for a little while to shake up our menu and need to do less grocery shopping. We start next week. This summer we'll probably cancel again because we eat less and do lots more grilling. But for a couple months we'll try it again. It's convenient, cost friendly and was always really tasty. :) 










  












TO RELAX THIS WEEK I WILL:

read, cross-stitch, work on our bedroom (clean/organize)




















TIPS OR SOMETHING TO SHARE:























FROM THE CAMERA:
The furry babies love when Annie gives them snuggles



my St. Paddy's mani - shamrock shake green + gold coin polish




this smells so good! 

perfect scent for the kitchen (along with real coffee 😁)



Thinking this year for Easter that instead of a bunch of small fruit pizza cookies - I'll do this  & make one big Easter egg one. Hmmm 😏







more of Easter around the house 🌷





Matt's Mom sent this gorgeous stained glass hanging because she said it just looked like me. Geesh, what a Honey. Still recovering from all of her cancer treatments and thinking of me out of the blue. I put it in our bedroom window so I could look at it first thing every morning. It's so beautiful and fits well because in our master bath we have the big stained glass window above the soaking tub with similar colors. I just love it and I just love HER!! I feel blessed to be getting such a wonderful MIL. πŸ’—














PRAYER LIST:

 For an end to the conflicts all over the world and anyone living in war & fear. For peace and unity in this country, especially from hate and shootings or violence.  For anyone sick, suffering, in pain, fear, loneliness etc ... that God bring them comfort and peace. For His Light and Love to cast out the darkness everywhere.  For healing for both of Matt's parents as they continue to deal with their health issues. πŸ™πŸ»πŸ’•






















PRAYER, INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OR DEVOTIONAL:

Happy official Spring tomorrow Friends! I'm sharing this with Sandra of Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday.

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Chocolate & Butterscotch Chip Bars

 


Hello Folks!

Just popping in to say hi and share probably the number 1 dessert I make on the most regular basis (next to banana bread). My kiddos love chocolate chip anything. And I long ago memorized the back of the nestle toll house chocolate chip package for their cookies. I think they are the best! My MIL (who now rests in love and the arms of the angels) was known for her cookies. And she basically made the same recipe...but always did more brown sugar to white and put in extra chocolate chips. So I have been doing mine the exact same way for years. 



But at some point when my kiddos were younger - I decided not to make cookies with the recipe and to make the bar variation instead. Probably because I was too lazy to want to wash all those cookie sheets.


 So I made them in a jelly roll (15x10) pan. Or sometimes in a basic 9x13 pan for thicker ones. And they LOVED them this way. However, I often don't like having that amount of goodies around with fewer of us in the household. And also as we are working to be healthier and more fit (I'm 9 lbs down so far!) So I changed it to make half the normal recipe and I bake them in an 8x8 pan or a 9 inch pie plate... which makes it like one giant cookie. Here's what you do:


cream your sugars with butter



add an egg



add in some vanilla (if you have homemade as a gift from your gf with real vanilla bean, even betterπŸ’—)



mix up your dry ingredients and incorporate into wet in your mixing bowl




This is the best part. Instead of just chocolate chips - get out your butterscotch chips too!




add in your chips 



remember extra chocolate chips but shhh don't tell anyone that's the secret. 


and the best ingredient of all...a Momma's love πŸ’•




Then put into your pie plate (or other pan)





and bake until it's golden brown like this





Now please don't be mad if I'm making you hungry for something naughty. Besides, I heard that anything you bake with love - the calories don't count. 





Look at those crispy yet, chewy edges. Yum! If you don't have the nestle package handy here's the recipe. Remember for this I cut the recipe in half:






(I don't add nuts, as my kiddos don't like them in there)




Preheat oven to 375° F. Grease 15 x 10-inch jelly-roll pan.

Step 2

Combine flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts. Spread into prepared pan.

Step 3

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool in pan on wire rack. Cut into bars.






Again, 1/2  all of the above ingredients if you're going to make them in a smaller pan or pie plate. If you really want to be extra - eat right away...or heat your piece in the microwave 20 seconds to get warm and gooey and put a scoop of ice cream on top. Yummy!!! 


Blessings to you Friends.
Enjoy!
xoxo