balance

/
Did you notice that I changed the name of my blog? Don't worry, the url has not changed. The title, balance, is my word for 2010. It's a reminder to me to balance my life.

calories in = calories out

money in = money out

time available = projects planned

Though in the first case, I hope to expend more calories than I take in.

And in the second case, I hope to save more money than spend.

A better word may have been budget. But it's ugly. Like diet.

2 january

/



It's palindrome day!

01.02.2010

It even works in Europe, 2010.01.02

Palindromes are cool. I have never tried to make one up. Too much like work.

Daily Cleanse? Gone!

It was silly of me to think I should try. It wasn't that I had to go to Twitter or Tumblr. It's just that I don't think it's a problem for me. It keeps me from worrying about things I can't change or thinking about food.

One vice at a time!



I went walking today. My friend S from my photo meet-up called. We met at a local park and did 2 miles around the trail. I took my camera but the shots aren't great. S had her camera but in her pack. So I felt a little odd taking pics when she wasn't. I know, weird.



I made 2 cards today. And ran out of my favorite photo tape. I can get it through my wholesaler but don't want to to spend that kind of money right now. I'll have to check if amazon carries it.


the best cookies. ever.

/


I never thought I was a big peppermint fan. That was always one of my sister's things. She loves peppermint ice cream. I do love mint chocoalte chip ice cream but the crunchy bits in my ice cream do nothing for me. OK, that's a lie. Just drooling as I think about Dairy Queen Heath Bar Blizzard.

A few weeks ago, I was in Williams-Sonoma. I love that store but try to stay away. Too many good things that I really don't need. I was there for peppermint dish soap. I know but I love that stuff and it's only available seasonally. And the fragrance makes me want to clean. It's worth any cost for that! I was wandering about loving all the gadgets and fantasizing about getting 2 of each. I saw the Peppermint Snow. It looked so cute in it's little jar. Six ounces for $10.50! I couldn't justify it for myself but I got a jar for my sister for Christmas. I didn't think much about it until last week.

Last week I saw a blog post about some peppermint crunch cookies. I wasn't hooked at first, it took a couple of days and Starbuck's Peppermint Cocoa to make me start to obsess about them. By Sunday, I knew I had to make those cookies.

I didn't remember seeing any of the Andes Peppermint Baking Bits at Publix or Target. But since I really hadn't been thinking about them, I might have just passed them by. I didn't find them at Publix. I didn't want to backtrack so I checked Williams-Sonoma next. Yes, their's is more expensive but at least it was on sale after Christmas. And I know their ingredients are natural, only cane sugar, corn syrup and peppermint oil. Tootsie does not list ingredients on their web site though they do note Peppermint Crunch Baking Bits contain soy and milk.

I knew that the Daily Loaf recipe used Martha Stewart's Double Chocolate Cookie recipe with modifications. Martha Stewart's Cookies: The Very Best Treats to Bake and to Share (Martha Stewart Living Magazine) does not contain this recipe so I search the site. It was easy enough to find and many more recipes I want to try.

I didn't refer back to the Daily Loaf recipe until after I had made my own batter. I made the assumption that they only change was adding the baking bits. Martha's recipe calls for 8 ounces of milk chocolate. Four ounces are melted and blended into the batter and the reamining four ounces is chopped up, the folded into the batter so their are chocolate chunks in the cookie. I didn't want the chunks to compete with the peppermint so I melted all the chocolate. Also, I had only semi-sweet chocolate instead of milk chocolate.

When it came time to add the peppermint snow, I started out with a half cup. I stirred it in and it practically disappeared. I added more until the whole 6 ounces was in the batter. This makes is an expensive cookie but it's seasonal. I'm OK with it.

Martha likes her cookies big. Really big. This recipe yields about 3 dozen cookies using a 1 1/2" scoop. I prefer smaller cookies so I can fool myself that I can eat more. I used my 1" scoop and got over 5 dozen cookies. I also adjusted the baking time to 12 minutes and allow the cookies to cookie to cool for about 10 minutes on the parchment lined cookie sheet.

These cookies are so good! They are crunch and chewy. They are like a brownie cookie. The pepermint is just right, not over powering at all. I am thinking of trying the same cookie with the Heath Bits O Brickle.

23 december

/


The first day of winter break. Which means lazy days filled with the boys and staying home. Sigh.

I got to sleep in and have some really weird dreams. Nancy's wedding gown had a pettitcoat which rotated as she walked. I told you!

Ryan is playing less wii in favor of watching Boomerang channel. The Flintstones are a favorite.



Dad bought plain cheerios. I would eat them but then decided to make some cookies or treats with them. I need some marshmallows to make cheerios treat bars. They are similar to Rice Crispies Treats but a bit healthier.

I thought the treat idea was an excuse to go get marshmallows and perhaps stop by Starbucks. But I was too lazy and didn't take a shower until lunch time.

So I made brownies instead. I thought about making some different brownies but Martha's recipes didn't inspire me. I made the double chocolate brownies but then sprinkled HEATH BITS 'O BRICKLE on top. I am not a brownie purist. I do like small nuts. I don't like frosting. (Hmm... the web recipe says not to use Dutch process cocoa but her Martha Stewart's Cookies: The Very Best Treats to Bake and to Share (Martha Stewart Living Magazine) says to use it. I do use and my brownies are thicker as a result. Just as tasty.)

22 december

/


Another cold day. Brrr!

It's the boys' last day of school. I have a photo meet-up and some errands to run. We are on our last bin liner and I need to get my dad's gift. In the past, I have gotten him Home Depot gift cards. He has been quite appreciative. But since he has been down here, he has only gone to Home Depot once. He has gone to Office Depot more so maybe I should get his gift card from there? Or maybe split them up? I don't know.

I also need to wrap 3 more gifts.



11:04

Meet-up was small. Three of us and I made brownies and brought cookies. I sent them home with Jeff.

Was warm then I walked outside and now I am chilled again.



Bonnie called. She's been so busy and it's only going to get worse.



I ended up getting gift cards from Home Depot and Office Depot for dad.



I almost missed Carrie leaving work. She was walking out as I was driving up. I hope the shoes fit.



I am going to miss my daily visits to Starbucks. Sure, dad could watch the boys but it seems selfish to go. I will get out enough with church, photo meet up and chiropractor appointments.

21 december

/


It's cold today. Cold! Not technically freezing but worse for us with thin Floridian blood. Andy is wearing his balaclava, ALL the way up. Also a down vest over his jacket. (We don't have enough really cold days to warrant winter jackets.) Ryan is wearing pants and shoes! Holy smokes!





I was really grateful for my tea staying warm for over two hours. It's nice to just make a double cup at one time and then savour it.



10:21

I decided to make brownies first then walk hoping the temps would rise. Then dad started washing windows and talking about mopping the kitchen floor.

I began to put somethings away so he could mop, then started sweeping and then I mopped the floor. Huh? How did that happen? Guilt plus I hate the smell of the chemicals he used prompted me to take action. I used some Stanley Degreaser and my Sh-mop. More elbow grease required but not harsh chemicals used. My dad "supervised" while I was mopping. Joy.

Now it's 10:25, the temps are up but I am sweaty and tired. Oops.



1:27

At the bank in the drive thru. Slow today. Three lanes ope but only one teller. What's the point of opening the other lanes? False sense of importance?







The gift card folders came out really cute. And they were easy too.



3:24

Waiting outside for the bus. It's still cold. I may have to grab my sweater.



My barista friend, Carrie, is having a bad day. She lost her phone somewhere between the parking lot and inside the store. Besides that, the poor girl has a big old hole in her shoe and her sock. Her foot is black what walking with holey shoes & socks during work. She is going to Michigan on Thursday and has no boots. Carrie also has big feet.

I remembered my hiking books which have been sitting unused since I moved down here. I offered them to her and she accepted. I got home and grabbed two other pairs of shoes Andy barely wore. Hopefully they will all fit.



Veggie burrito from Tijuana Flats is so yummy!

20 december

/


I brought in cookies to the baristas at Starbucks. I feel bad that one of my favorites, Carrie, is a vegan and none of my cookies are vegan. Maybe I will try that Mexican Hot Chocolate Snickerdoodles. I know she is going to Michigan for Christmas so that gives me time to get the ingredients.



Lazy day filled with carbs!

I took the cookies over to my neighbors. They returned the gesture with a food basket. I usually leave that for Hank but... Damn that PMS! I had the pita chips and some of the asiago cheese spread. For dinner I ate the multi grain crackers and the rest of the cheese spread. I haven't indulged like that in a long time. So bad and yummy.

19 december

/


I actually did get a lot done but yet never got around to posting yesterday's blog entry or photo of the day. Hmmm...



I am becoming a bit of obsessed with my klean kanteens. I have put away from Sigg Thermal mugs and my I Am Not a Paper Cup in favor of my kanteens.

Thursday and Friday, I took my 16 ounce insulated kanteen to Starbucks. Now that my tea stays hot, I don't drink it as fast. The café lid makes it easy to drink and it doesn't leak like the one on my I Am Not a Paper Cup does. And you can use them for hot or cold. The Sigg Thermal mug is for cold beverages only. I didn't know that and stained and possibly ruined the liner on my first mug.

Anyway, I had some Vanilla Bean & Almond tea this morning. I steeped it then added some milk. I used 2 tea bags and used the 16 ounce kanteen. My tea was hot for over two hours. It is supposed to keep things hot for up to 6 hours and things cold for up to 24 hours. I drank it faster than that. But I love that I can sip and savor rather than gulp to avoid the lukewarm tea.

I've been using my 20 ounce insulated kanteen for water. I have refilled it 3 times today which is pretty azing for me.

Now I have to stop eating all these cookies!






Although I did make another batch of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, I did give away a lot of the cookies. I filled up a box to take to Starbucks tomorrow and three boxes went to the neighbors.







I made Tuscano Soup today. It's pretty simple yet hearty soup. The recipe os from the Fix It and Forget It.

1 lb Cooked Italian Sausage (I used sweet since my dad doesn't do spicy)
3 Russet Potatoes cut into 1/2" pieces
Kale (couldn't find any, used celery)
5 1/2 cups chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional)
1/2 cup cre stirred in 30 minutes prior to eating
Cook on low for 7-8 hours.

My dad though it was a bit spicy. Ugh! Next time I will used spicy veggie sausage since I know he won't eat it.



I finally put some ornaments on the tree but no motivation to set up the camera and shoot.



I received a nice little something from a blogger friend. Thank you Ü !