Toilet papers

We all need t.p.

It drives me batty that no one in my home posses the "super power" needed to remove the old tube and replace the roll.

Recently I found a brand that has no paper roll....nothing left to change.

I also purchased one of these free standing toilet paper stands.  

Now, no guarantees that they will actually  put the new roll on the top, but at least I'm not chasing paper rolls around the house.

-Kendra 

Sick tummies and homemade soda crackers

I discovered something cool. Three of us had sick tummies. Homemade crackers REALLY did a wonderful job settling them. Even the non sick folks chowed down. The difference between store bought and homemade was amazing as far as how they worked. They tasted about the same.

Here is the back story: 

I must be just plain dumb. I had an emergency box of crackers for sick tummies. I found the empty box, no crackers... Nobody ate them though. I just must have bought an empty box a the grocery store... I digress...

So, with a sick kid, sick hubby, and my own tummy in protest (precluding a trip to the store) I decided to look up a recipe online for old fashioned soda crackers.

I think I can call this a happy accident. These crackers were super simple, and really helped our sick tummies.

The recipe: 

Mind you, I used my convection oven at 395 F, but 425 F in a regular oven works too.

1-Preheat oven

2-Mix in a big bowl- 4 1/2 c AP (unbleached) flour, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp baking soda.

4- cut in 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter

5- Add 11/2 c water, mix

6-on a lightly floured surface, kneed until a smooth ball

7- roll out to thin sheets. Cut into squares with a pizza cutter.

8- brush tops with a egg wash (1 tbs water mixed with one egg) and sprinkle with salt as desired

8- bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for 20 or so min. I like to use parchment paper.

Kid friendly, quick quinoa salad

I prefer red quinoa. I like the flavor better.

I admit freely to cheating in the kitchen when this mom gets busy...

One box (12 oz) quinoa cooked... 1 1/2 c quinoa plus 3 c water, in my rice cooker on white rice setting....or bring to boil, cover, let simmer about 20 min.

Plus

1 can garbanzo beans, drained

1 can diced tomatos, drained

About 1 c crumbled Feta

2 tablespoons Greek season blend

3 tablespoons olive oil

3 tablespoons red wine vinegar

Toss together. 

It tastes good warm or cold.

Christmas Kisses and Reindeer Noses

Aren't these cute?

They are fun, yummy, and very very easy.

I blame Terry!

 I was contemplating making these with the kids. She "pushed" me over the edge.

Lay the square pretzels out on a cookie sheet.

Place one kiss in the center of each.

Heat the oven to 275F,

Stand there. Don't leave.

Watch 3-5 min until kisses are shiny.

Remove and push your desired candy into the kiss.

Let cool and eat.

Have fun. Try different candies and different kisses.

Christmas craft with tweens-candy cane wreath

My daughter and I worked together on this. She will be 13 in April. It was a rare "cool mom, this is fun" moment. It does take a lot of hot glue, so make sure you have a lot.

I made this one

 

1- glue sides of candy canes together back to back....like a double hook/ staff

    - you need 11, depending of course on the candy canes. Buy two boxes.

2-arrange the pieces hook to hook to look like hearts in a circle

3- I put a cut paper plate on the back to secure it

4- use a flat ornament on the front to secure it

5- decorate as you wish

 No creative craftiness needed.

Trash free Christmas

I kinda stumbled into this...

We found huge felt gift bags at Michael's. In our house, each child gets three gifts. I just put all three unwrapped in the big bag (this bag has grandma gifts). I have one big bag per kid. The thing I despise about Christmas morning is trash pickup. This eliminates that. The bags are reusable.

Postal Address

Please Note:

PAI has a new postal address


P.O. Box 29
Bangor
Maine 04402


:)