Sandwich on Holiday
Today is the LAST day to enter the homemade cookie giveaway!
Ever since I started kindergarten, I’ve packed my lunch to bring to school (and now work) every single day. I’ve only left my lunchbox at home a handful of times in nearly 20 years for the occasional classroom pizza party or catered meal by Boss.
Shockingly enough, I still enjoy biting into a simple sandwich. Normally it’s just a few slices of meat between my bread with a squeeze of mustard for moisture. Recently, I started getting fancy by adding crisp shredded lettuce. (A real splurge, I know!) But I almost always skip out on adding any more toppings, especially if they’ll turn my sandwich wet and soggy while it sits on my desk all morning. Continue reading for recipe.
A Mother’s Magic Touch
Quick reminder: the homemade cookie giveaway ends this Friday! Post a comment on my new URL to enter!
I tried mixing up a batch of just-like-Mom’s blueberry pancakes last week. After burning the first plate and chucking it in the trash, I realized I really should have paid closer attention to Mom’s cooking in the kitchen as a 5-year-old instead of banging on pots and pans with a wooden spoon…
But I was just too picky of an eater! The moment that Mom flipped my plain pancakes onto my plate, I’d smother them in syrup and happily munch away, completely ignoring Mom as she stirred fresh blueberries into the remaining batter. (I hated things mixed into my pancakes. No fruit, no nuts, no oats… Well, I might’ve been okay with chocolate chips or sprinkles.) (more…)
Sweet Hearts
Every Valentine’s Day, my brother and I would stumble into the kitchen. After rubbing the sleep from our eyes, we’d sort through the little piles of chocolate kisses and conversations hearts on the table that Cupid’s fairies dropped off during the night. (If Christmas has Santa and Easter has the Bunny, why wouldn’t Valentine’s Day have its own candy-carrying character?)
Then Mom would sigh and reluctantly allow us each to eat one sweet treat before making us a special breakfast. She usually whipped up pancakes, waffles, or cinnamon sugar toast — practically a dessert itself! As soon as she set our plates in front of us, we’d inhale the food before rushing off to school.
But if February 14th fell on a weekend, we’d enjoy a more leisurely breakfast. Mom would bake Pillsbury croissants or even homemade muffins, if we promised not to sneak extra chocolates while the pastries cooled on the counter. And with such festive muffins waiting for us, we readily agreed! Continue reading for recipe.
Pink is For…
There must have been something in the water last year… Two weeks ago, the stork dropped off a bundle of joy to two different ladies at work! My boss and his wife received the little girl, and I was so tempted to decorate their doors with bright pink balloons and crêpe paper…
But that didn’t quite seem appropriate for our drab hallways and professional environment. (Probably a safety and productivity hazard too, with all of the attention it would attract!) So I settled on making them celebratory treats instead. Continue reading for recipe.
The “Sweet and Sneaky” Summary
I was amazed by your responses to my mini series on sweet and sneaky ways to eat your veggies. I expected people to think my recipes were insane, or maybe imaginative at best, but you surprised me with many thoughtful compliments instead!
I smiled while reading each of your comments, and a few of them really touched my heart. Continue reading.
Sweet and Sneaky Ways to Eat Your Veggies: Onions
aka “Sweet Machine Malfunctions”
A year ago, my friend and I stood glaring at the SPR machine. (Surface Plasmon Resonance, in case you were wondering.) In theory, we could twiddle a few knobs and punch a few buttons to calibrate the monster. In actuality, it hiccuped and laughed in our faces.
So we ignored it to talk about food. Continue reading for recipe.
Sweet and Sneaky Ways to Eat Your Veggies: Carrots
aka “Earning Desserts as a Five-Year-Old”
I always ate my three daily servings of fruit as a kid. I drank my “crazy drink” (OJ + fizzy water) through a straw at breakfast, munched on apple slices at lunch, and popped grapes like candy as an after school snack. But vegetables?
Totally different story. Continue reading for recipe.
Thoroughly Modern Blogging
Although I nailed a new calendar to the wall a few weeks ago, I basically forgot that the year actually changed. I’ve caught myself scratching out 2012 on checks, grade reports, and journal entries. Multiple times. Every day.
I’m so behind.
And not just in writing the correct year… I finally joined the 21st century of social media! Most of you are already pros at using these sites, but for those of you stuck in the Stone Ages like me…
Twitter. No, you don’t actually chirp like a bird… (But I’d be a nightingale if that were true!) It’s a place to share ideas, information, or insights in 140 characters or less. Short, sweet, and simple. I’m @FoodsforSoul, and you can click HERE to follow me for more of my quirky ideas and food adventures! Continue reading for more social sites.
Peanut Butter at a Dinner Party
I was invited to my first-ever dinner party! Somebody actually wanted to have dinner with me! Never mind the fact that it’s virtual and I can’t actually eat any of the food… (Well, maybe I could try to lick my computer screen. But that wouldn’t taste very good.)
Valerie at Atlanta Mom of Three extended an invitation to participate in her potluck next week, and I wanted to cook the perfect dish to share. Something kid-friendly but classy, something fast but flavorful, something easy but healthy… Continue reading for recipe.
Jars, Just in Time
Two days before Christmas, my guy scrambled to think of gifts for his little cousins. All four of them loved Angry Birds, but their parents had already bought every toy and game that Walmart stocked. With the sky-high prices to FedEx online orders overnight, my guy was ready to wave the white flag and wrap each of them a paperclip.
As I prepared the adults’ presents, cornbread-in-a-jar, I nearly knocked over a box of Rice Krispies while reaching for the sugar, which caused the light bulb above my head to flicker.
What about making Rice-Krispie-treats-in-a-jar for the kids? Continue reading for recipe.
Foods for the Soul 