On A Quiet Sunday Morning

I love baking, especially breakfast baking...  Sunday mornings are often the only chance I get to practice this craft, so I try to get a little goodness in most weekends.

This past week, I had been out of town Monday through Thursday, and Cindy had a whole week of not sleeping well...  (Obviously I play an important role in her good-night's-sleep) I got back on Friday, so the sleep issue was resolved, but then we spent all day Saturday working in the yard and selling off daycare equipment and supplies (yes, in case you haven't heard, Puddle Jumpers is officially closing its doors!) and then I topped all that off with DJing a dance that went until 11pm.

I got home last night about 11:30 (love local gigs!) but my mind was still pretty wound up - meaning no sleep for me until around 12:30.  I woke up around 8, along with Cindy and Danee, who had found her way into our bed at some point in the night.  After some sleepy morning snuggles and singing with our sweet babygirl, Danee and Mommy fell back to sleep, so I got up.  Surveyed the kitchen.  Declared it a FEMA-worthy disaster zone, and got to work.

Two hours later, the dishes were all washed, the garbage and recycling were taken out, and there was a delicious Oatmeal-Strawberry-Banana Coffee Cake cooling on the stove.  The smell was enough to wake my sleeping beauties, and we're about to dig in, then get ready for church.

It was so nice - and so rare - to have a couple hours of quiet time where there weren't any outside influences demanding my time and attention!  It made me want to make a note of it.. and I vaguely remembered that I used to have a place where I'd record things like this - big things, little things, things meaningful only to me, or relevant to many...  And just like that, here I am blogging again!

Feels good...  Despite a year+ of neglect, I still prefer this format to Facebook's "Notes" for extended postings.

"A Night at The Museum"

The Young Women at church held their annual "Young Women of Excellence" program last week. Each girl entered a piece of art or something that would represent what they had been working to improve all year. It was a great night, and didn't Kaylee look lovely!




Lot's of great pieces from Music to Photography, everything was really nice.






The Food Was Super Yummy Too!

14

Kaylee turned 14 on Sept. 15!

She celebrated her actual birthday by going to the Puyallup fair with her friends. Unsupervised fair time with friends... don't remind me that I let her go. Every thing turned out OK, she made it home safe and sound no tattoos!

Her birthday continued two days later on Friday night by having 5 friends over for a sleep over, the girls all came over after her first official school dance! The girls watched movies and ate junk food until they finally went to sleep at 4:40ish in the morning.




The family was finally able to celebrate our sweet Kaylee on Sunday, I made for her her favorite meal topped off with Red Velvet Cake!

I love you Kaylee and am looking forward to our 15th year together!

Table Talk

Lazy Saturday Morning

Saturday Morning, Labor Day Weekend.

Two brothers are enjoying a delicious home-cooked breakfast.



One Hungry Hungry BabyGirl is also enjoying a delicious home-cooked breakfast. (not that that's a rarity, she pretty much ALWAYS enjoys a home-cooked breakfast!)



Another, nearly-fourteen year old girl would be having breakfast in "just a minute..."



Fresh Crepes with Homemade Raspberry/Blackberry jam - does it get any better??



No. No it does not.

Two Fisted Fruit Lovin' BabyGirl

Last week Cindy took Kaylee and Danee on a quick trip to the Tri-Cities to visit grandparents... and on the way back, they hit up the produce stand for some peaches... and other stuffs...

For example, Danee was VERY grabby, so Cindy decided to give her a couple hand-sized pieces of fruit to occupy herself. One Pluot and one Apricot later, she was a happy girl!



Of course, she didn't just want to hold them, she wanted to DEVOUR THEM!!



I've never known a baby to be SO into fruits and veggies... Seriously, if you want to make Danee happy, just give her some strawberries, blueberries, cantaloupe, honeydew, or now, Pluots and Apricots!



Meanwhile, her big sister was loading up on slightly more processed fruit products...



Happy girls, all the way home!

In Spite of Ourselves...

I'm still amazed by the change in our lifestyle over the past two years...
Two years ago, I had a traditional full time job and we had four kids who were pretty much big enough to take care of themselves. Life was pretty easy, and we had plenty of time to do things like plant a garden...

Now of course, both Cindy and I are self-employed, and we've added an 18 month old who is just certain that the world revolves around her - and she'll do whatever it takes to make sure the rest of us accept that!

As a result, as of today our garden remains unplanted. We've done little steps along the way - tilled it all up, bought some plant starts (since we knew we were too late in the season to work from seeds) and talked many times about actually getting the plant starts placed in the ground so they can flourish.

Well...

Here's an example of a tomato start we INTEND to get in the ground... We bought it will the full intention of putting it directly in the ground within 24 hours. (a month ago)



But all is not lost!

The front corner of our yard, which has been a gradually-improving eyesore ever since we bought this house, is simply overflowing with a purely accidental - perhaps divinely appointed? - crop of strawberries!



I'm heading out to pick them right now, and am thinking a nice batch of strawberry ice cream will be enjoyed by the end of the day!

Oh, and hopefully that poor tomato's will to live will be rewarded as well, and we'll finally give it a taste of more than 3 square inches of dirt to enjoy...

Friday Funny!

This chart could save lives!!!

Donuts and Easter!

At this time of year we as a family always make time to remember "why?" we celebrate Easter.

We love the Easter Bunny, coloring eggs and when the kids were younger the BIG Easter egg hunts. I especially love the family dinner with ham and cheesy potatoes. (My brother Charlie makes a mean Coke a' Cola ham but I will share that at a later time)

I decided this year that I really wanted to do something each evening as a family to remember our savior and the great sacrifice that he made for us. And so I have something planned for each night as we study what the scriptures describe as Christ's last days on earth.

Tonight we read the Parable of the Donuts and as a treat we had... you guessed it!



Donuts! I love how the kids each took something different from the story and how no matter how many times or different ways we hear it there is always something to learn.

I am grateful for my savior Jesus Christ, and hope that you will take time this Easter season to ponder his life on this earth.

Fresh Baked Chocolate Chip Cookies!

(By Mike Brinkerhoff - from Keeping Up With The Brinkerhoffs) - if you don't see the pics, just click on over!

OM NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM

NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM!

Now, time for a bath.

I'm Goin' Fish'in again....

These crackers are by far the best snack food I have eaten in a long, long time!

(and lets just say I get to try out lots of snax with the daycare)

If you like:

Chocolate, Grahams and Mini Marshmellows. (and lets face it, who doesn't)

You will LOVE these too!

I'm just sayin'... you should try them :) You will be glad you did, Promise!

Kids Eat The Darndest Things!

(By Mike Brinkerhoff - from Keeping Up With The Brinkerhoffs) - if you don't see the pics, just click on over!

Our poor, gullible Tyler...

Cindy has a long history of tricking him in to eating things that shouldn't really be eaten.

One time, back when he was probably 4, they were making home-made Play Doh together. While sitting on the counter helping, Tyler looked down at the creamy red Doh in the pot and licked his lips... Cindy said, "Do you want to try some?" and Tyler eagerly nodded his head.

One teensy spoonful later, and he was hanging his tongue out while Cindy fought to keep breathing through her laughter.

Well, the other night, while Danee was enjoying crackers with chocolate frosting, the rest of us had been enjoying some smoked salmon. Cindy started preparing a cracker with frosting for herself, then looked at Tyler and asked if he'd ever had smoked salmon on a frosted cracker...

At least he was a LITTLE skeptical... Just not skeptical enough. It only took one round of "oh yeah, when I was a kid, this is how we always ate it!" before he stepped up to the plate and was ready to give it a try...



And a moment later, it was a replay of the Play Doh incident!



Luckily for us, he's a totally good sport, and is able to laugh at stuff like this!!

Cute 'n' Messy!

(By Mike Brinkerhoff - from Keeping Up With The Brinkerhoffs) - if you don't see the pics, just click on over!

The other night, Danee got a chance to enjoy one of the finer things in life...



Yup, a saltine cracker with chocolate fudge frosting!!



One of her favorite things to do lately, when she really likes something, is to clap her hands and say "Yay!!!"

She definitely liked the Chocolate Frosted Cracker!



And if I had the time and ambition to load up the Gimp and throw a caption on this last pic, it would definitely say, "I CAN HAS MORE?"

Meanwhile, Tyler was having a cracker-based delicacy of his own... which we'll share tomorrow!

"Mom, what's for dinner?"

(By Cindy Brinkerhoff - from Keeping Up With The Brinkerhoffs - if you don't see the pics, just click on over!)

Flash back a month or so ago...

Ellysa states "this family eats the same stuff every week!" My initial reactions was to get mad and tell her she could start making the meals and see how sick we all get of Mac N' Cheese. But after thinking about it, I realized she was right. You could pretty much set your calender to the day what we would be having for dinner. The choices usually came down to Fish Tacos, S'ghetti, Breakfast for dinner and pulled pork sandwiches. With a few variations thrown in to mix things up. I decided that I would attempt to change things up a little.

This week Mike and I added to the challenge by determining to "use what we have in the cupboard" rather then running to the grocery store mid week adding to the bill, also finally using those random ingredients that have sat in the cupboard for some time. This extra challenge has forced me to think ahead and get creative. Day 2 today and I am having a blast!

So Last night I threw together a scrumptious enchilada casserole with Spanish rice, chips and homemade guacamole. The family was Happy- YAY!

Tonight's Menu...

White Bean Chili



Potato Skins and Cinnamon Rolls for dessert!



I am hoping for more smiles and Thumbs up :)

Oh, P.S. In the spirit of full disclosure, I DID need a can of corn, which we didn't have... But I didn't go to the store for it - I bartered a plate of fresh baked cookies with a neighbor for it! How's THAT for sticking to the plan??

Mmmmmm, Donuts!

(By Mike Brinkerhoff - from Keeping Up With The Brinkerhoffs) - if you don't see the pics, just click on over!

This last weekend was a sickly one at The Brinkerhoff house. Cindy was sick... Kaylee was sick... Tyler wasn't necessarily sick, but had a nasty cough... Danee was VERY sick... Ellysa and Andy completely dodged this one, and I was being annoyed by the same annoying, dry cough I've been enduring for the past two weeks. No other symptoms, just a random tickle in my throat that brings on an instant coughing fit.

By Sunday afternoon, Cindy was starting to feel a little better - better enough to decide that she wanted donuts. And as you should all know by now, when she wants something, I do my best to deliver! So I made up some dough, put it in the fridge to chill, and after dinner we got to work.

Cindy rolled it out...



...and cut it out...



...then I handled the frying...



...and took them out when they were a perfectly delicious golden brown...



...and then Cindy shook them in a bag of cinnamon sugar, or powdered sugar, and left some plain ones...



...and the verdict was unanimous:

DO OVER!!!

(at our house that means Do It Again!!)

Bye Bye, Butta!

(By Mike Brinkerhoff - from Keeping Up With The Brinkerhoffs)

Remember this?



If not, click here to catch up...

In the short year that's passed since then, we've welcomed a new baby into our family, started a new business, successfully trained a teen driver, AND USED UP ALL 68 POUNDS OF BUTTER!!!

It was with great regret on Saturday that I opened the door to the butter cooler at Costco and grabbed a box.



At least it was (slightly) less than $2.00 a pound, which is good among the commoners, but for the last year, we've been paying a mere 50 cents per pound of fresh creamery butter, so it still hurt!

I'm hoping the magic butter fairy presents us with another screaming yellow deal soon because with Holiday baking season upon us, we go through a whole lotta butta!

For example, after Costco on Saturday, I took some butter, some powdered sugar, some flour and some nuts, and created these...



...which were then rolled in more powdered sugar to become these!



See, while we were at Costco, Cindy noticed a Betty Crocker baking mix for Russian Tea Cakes. I scoffed and said I could make them without any stupid mix... to which she replied something along the lines of "MAKE THOSE COOKIES!"

And so I did.

And they're delicious.

And the 2009 Holiday Baking Season is OPEN!!!

Thank You, Costco!!

(By Mike Brinkerhoff - from Keeping Up With The Brinkerhoffs)

For several years, I saw Persimmons at our local Top Foods, but I'd never tried them and they seemed weird. A few years ago, I actually tried some, while down at Cindy's mom's house. Instant Love!! We raided a few local trees and brought the goodness home with us... And I never again saw them at Top or any other local store.

But then this evening, we were walking through Costco, and I noticed someone walk past with a plastic box full of what looked like... and in fact, HAD to be, Persimmons!!!

One Beeline to the produce section later, this was in my cart!



And as soon as we got home, I cut one up and Kaylee and I shared it.. Not QUITE as good as home grown, but still totally delicious!

Now, since Costco regularly earns my wrath by hooking me on things and then discontinuing them, I really, really, REALLY hope they're still there next time...

A Minor Christmas Miracle - Mad Jack's Fudge Sale!

Attention All Local Readers!!

For nearly six months now, we've been mourning the passing of Mad Jack's Ice Cream. Not only for the ice cream, but also for the fudge, which was given out as a prize here back when it was readily available just up the road...

So it is with extreme pleasure that I announce to you:

You are invited to a Mama Jacks Fudge open house just for you.

Where? 911 Driving School (located next to the old Mad Jacks)

When? Saturday, Dec. 13th

What time? 11:00 am to 2:00 pm (only)

We will be selling at discount pricing:
1/4 pounds for $3 regularly $5
1/2 pounds for $5 regularly $8
one pounds for $10 regularly $15

There will be a variety of flavours to choose from such as:
Chocolate Peanut Butter
White Choc Raspberry Cashew
Pistachio
Candy Cane
Key Lime
Chocolate
Caramel Penuche
and more...

I probably don't need to tell you, but this is THE BEST fudge you can get, around here or anywhere. Plus, the Mama Jack's gang are great people, and it'll be great to see them again!

If you're in the Tacoma Area next Saturday between 11 and 2, stop in! It's the best use of a few bucks you'll find!

A Whole Lotta Butta!

If you saw my weekend update a few hours ago, you're likely scratching your head and pondering a 68 pound block o' butter. And I, being me, naturally didn't grab the camera and take a picture until we'd already sliced off a layer. But this first pic shows a pretty good representation of what 68 pounds of butter looks like...


That's a lotta butta. But how?? How do mere mortals come to possess so much coagulated cowjuice? Well, like so many things in life, it ain't what you know, it's who ya know.

I have a co-worker, who has a friend... the friend works at a local dairy plant, or warehouse, or something... And every now and then, the warehouse guys will goof while moving pallets around, and impale a block o' butter, rendering it un-sellable. Since quantities this large are generally sold by the pallet, the entire thing is broken down and sold to the employees at Crazy Liquidation Prices!

For example, lately when butter goes on sale at the store, it's $2.50 a pound. If you're lucky, you can find it for $2.00 a pound.

The 68 pound block o' butter cost us $34.

Yep, that's right. FIFTY CENTS PER POUND!!

And not only that, but at the rate we burn through the butta, that's got to be pretty close to a year's supply.



So today, for our "after church wholesome recreational activity," we cut the butta! We did a few of the three-pound blocks shown above, but the majority of them were somewhat similar to the familiar quarter-pound cube we all know and love. Since we don't have an industrial grade butter cutter, our cubes are very inexact. That just means that when I'm baking, I'll have to dole out the butter by weight rather than by following the little markers on the wrapper. Fine with me, my good buddy Alton Brown always says you should measure by weight rather than volume anyway.


Butter as far as the eye can see!

Now all the portions are in the freezer, ready to serve all our buttery needs for the rest of 2008 and beyond... The Brinkerhoffs are OFF the Butter Grid, Baby!!

The Tastebud Alert System

I am very thankful for a powerful protector that I have in my life. It protects me from dangers most people never even realize are there, or may see them but have no idea just how dangerous they are.

My protector is my tongue.

Well, specifically, the taste buds ON my tongue.

I've mentioned before that I'm rather adventurous with the foods I eat, and I'm good to try anything once, as long as it's not TOO disgusting in concept or presentation... My tongue is always happy to try these new things - the taste buds are always open to new experiences.

But there are certain substances that they can detect on impact, setting off a warning system like the ones throughout the Puyallup valley that are there to warn of a Mt. Rainier eruption. This alarm is so intense that it's almost painful to endure, which is my clear sign that whatever recently entered my mouth must NEVER enter it again. With a reaction that strong, I know that it's not just a "matter of taste"... No, it's got to be that a life-threatening substance has crossed my lips, and I am being given fair warning by my protector so that I can shut off the supply before any serious damage is done.

This system is effective enough that it is known as the Tastebud Alert System.

What foods set off the alert?

One of the worst offenders is pictured here:


NOT ALL, JUST GREEN AND ORANGE
I don't know why they even MAKE the nasty green and orange ones!

SOME varieties of orange candies are okay, in fact I actually like the Brach's orange slices. But for every other candy that comes in colours (except for M&M's, where the colour truly doesn't matter) I can not STAND the orange and green ones.

Mike & Ike? Red and Yellow are delightful! Orange and green are "for the kids" or even "for the garbage can." Dots, Jujyfruits, Skittles and Starburst? Same thing. Tastebud Alert System goes off, complete with the notification that this is not a test.

Back when my beloved Mad Jack's was in business, they always had a "Mystery Flavor" in the freezer. They'd give you a free spoonful and see if you could identify it. One time I took my bite and immediately recognized the same horrible artificial flavoring that's in all the green (and often the orange) candies. I made a twisted face, and when they asked me what flavor I thought it was, I just said something about how much I hate that awful artificial citrus flavor. It turned out to be Cherry-Lime, but all I could taste was that nastiness.

My tastebuds seem to be hyper-sensitive to tastes that I really hate, and I assume this is because they're actually really bad for me and it's a defense mechanism. Someday when it's confirmed that all artificially orange and lime flavored candy actually contains alien DNA and that 85% of the population is being transformed into big-eyed, grey-skinned human eaters, I will be left to say that I told you so!

There are other foods that get the same reaction, in fact maybe an even stronger reaction. Top of that list?


CILANTRO
As far as I'm concerned, this stuff isn't even food. And I can taste even the smallest amounts in a larger recipe as if I was chewing on a big ol' leaf of it. It sets off the Tastebud Alert System, and even my nose gets in on the action. I don't think I've ever been able to actually describe the feeling so I'll just say that it's the kind of negative reaction that lets you know you've stumbled across some seriously heinous evil, and you should endeavour to stay far, far away in the future.

There are others, but I have definitely covered the two largest ones. Like I said, I'm not really picky - quite the opposite actually! Which just serves to further my case against these two items.

Now you've seen the evidence. You possess the facts. You can make your own decisions from here on out. This concludes this test of the Tastebud Alert System.