CuteKittyPunk

So, this idea is not original and has been done before - but I just wanted to make some too... they are quite yummy, and I added a top layer of caramel sauce and a pecan to top it off... cutesy, too!  And I love the layers when you cut through it like this - looks like something that takes some time to make - but it's so quick to whip up. So, after making a batch with Oreo's - I decided to make some with mini stroopwafels.... and I'm not sure which I liked better... but I love - love - LOVE stroopwafels... I could eat them everyday... and I have... not lately, though... I'm getting much better at disciplining myself - really I am! I know it doesn't look like much - it doesn't have that layers thing like the Oreo does... but stroopwafels are so very  yummy! Just in case you haven't seen what I've done with stroopwafels before... let me redirect you to a previous post... Double-dipped Stroopwafels were divine. Also, my newest way to indul...

A lady I know has one of those little garden plots that Dutch people have - they are like garden co-op area's - so she always has a lot of extras and is giving stuff away. I am always happy to receive... I've gotten from her so far this summer: beets, cucumbers, bell peppers and now rhubarb! I have always wanted to try making a rhubarb strawberry pie... but I ended up making jam. I found a yummy recipe and altered it to my liking: about 3 cups rhubarb, rinsed and chopped finely 1 cup sugar 1/2 can cherry pie filling 1 (3oz) box strawberry Jello mix This recipe takes 2 days to make. First, place chopped rhubarb and 1 cup sugar in a bowl. Mix together and let sit overnight in the refrigerator. Day two - heat rhubarb and it's sugary juices over medium heat in a pot. Stir until softened. Then add cherry pie filling and Jello and bring to a boil - stirring regularly. After Jello has completely dissolved remove from heat and pour into metal container and refrigera...

Wow, I feel totally great right now! Why you might ask? Well, for the last several weeks I've been exercising and tonight was the first night that I didn't want to exercise... but I planned it in and decided to do it anyway...  I'm so glad that I did because not only did I have an amazing work out - but my ability to stretch further has increased, and I can all of a sudden to that jack knife "sit up" that I couldn't do before and I did more push-ups than I was able to do last time... so in that sense I don't feel so "green" anymore - you know green like -a newbie! So, I finally got a crosstrainer - the one I got is a Kettler Mondeo. It's awesome. It's great being able to have a really great workout where I sweat a lot and I don't have to go to a gym. This is great for me because for one, I'm not really able to go to a gym because I have children at home asleep in their beds and I can't really be going to the gym... an...

I've tried many versions of Orange chicken, this one was pretty good - just made  a lot of sauce... a lot! I used vegetarian chicken pieces, and no one was the wiser... original recipe found here at Local Kitchen . The deep fried "chicken" in it's batter tastes very good on it's own... reminds me of popcorn chicken from KFC! yummy... i gotta make it again soon :) This is pretty much the same way I make my sweet and sour pork - I use this same vegetarian "chicken" and then instead of the orange sauce - I use this recipe's Sweet and Sour Pork - with one minor adjustment - I used 1/2 cup tomato sauce and 1/2 cup vinegar instead of the 1 cup vinegar - comes out perfect every time... ok, almost every time, I also like to add a bit more cornstarch because I like my sauce very thick and syrupy - not runny. Okay, that's two favorite family recipes we like at this house... and I gotta make it more often!!!

At the end of May, I shared with blog-world - an amazing and delicious little cookbook, and in that blogpost and in that cookbook is this recipe for Banana Loempia's which have become a delicious little treat that we just adore at our house.  The recipe adapted as follows: 5 layers phyllo dough 2 bananas, diced 1 leek + 1 oz. bean sprouts OR 1 package (250g) Nasi/Bami groenten 2 tablespoons peanut sauce (Satay sauce) 15-30 grams butter, melted (about 1-2 tablespoon) Sweet chili sauce Defrost phyllo dough according to package directions. One sheet of the phyllo dough I used was quite large, so I had to cut them in half. So I used a total of 10 phyllo sheets - making 20 mini loempia's. Have a towel nearby to cover unused phyllo dough while you work so it doesn't completely dry out.  Pre-heat oven to 200-C or 400-F degrees. Wash and cut up the leek and bean sprouts. Of course, I like to use the pre-cut and pre-washed Nasi/Bami groenten. It's a real ...

Something that I've been trying to do for the last few years is celebrate my grandparents' birthdays to honor and remember them. Grandma Betty York would have celebrated her 90th birthday today if she were still with us. But that's okay, we celebrated it in style. Grandma used to always bake pineapple upside-down cake... this was my first go at it so I used a tried and trusted recipe from Betty Crocker - plus they share the same first name so I thought - it can't go wrong!  It was really easy to make - simple, clear instructions - must be why it's a favorite... and the taste: wow! It turned out splendid - very, very sweet - I was loving the crusty edges and just classic blend of flavors. I would definitely make it again... perhaps - next year on the 7th day of July! Funny thing is - when I was a kid, I didn't really like it that much... I guess as I've matured, so have my tastebuds :) I added chopped pecans as seen in this Quick Pineap...

So, while cruising the web over the last week I bumped into some really interesting "diets." Okay, actually truth be told, I didn't just bumped into them - I went looking for them. I have this friend, her little boy has autism and she was reading about this GAPS diet which helps children with autism. So I wanted to know more about it - so I went looking for information. What I found was some interesting stuff. Stuff that makes sense. When you put crappy junk food into your body - you feel like crap! So, the GAPS diet is a bit similar to the SCD diet - I'm no expert on it - that's why I ordered this book:   I'm still waiting for it to come. I'm looking forward to reading it. The reviews on it over on Amazon are pretty good. And my friend - the one whose son has Autism. She's been reading it and she says it's very eye opening... well, I'd like my eyes to be opened, too! ;) So, in my websurfing, I've come across a grain-free pancake recipe ...

  <-- So, I've been reading this book, or rather, I read it and I've been "doing" this book. The juice lifestyle. I did the "launch" recommended which is like a whole week of nothing but juice, some salad and soups. I didn't really stick to the program because it's very difficult especially when I have to prepare alternative meals for my family... so I didn't lose a lot of weight. But I did discover some really great juice recipes... and I have not given up yet. In the next phase of juicing, after the launch, Jason Vale recommends starting each day with a juice or smoothie. Also a juice or smoothie for lunch and a healthy dinner. I've incorporated a particular juice into my daily diet. It's my breakfast routine. I start with the Beta Carrot Juice first thing after I get to the kitchen in the morning... I slowly sip and enjoy while I'm preparing the childrens' breakfasts and lunch. I take the kids to school, do a little g...

So, this book <--- yeah, that one... I ordered it and it finally arrived. I don't blame the company I bought it from, I blame the way they do things over here. If TNT Post wins the bid to deliver it - it comes really fast, but if some other carrier wins the bid... then it takes F-O-R-E-V-E-R! So, it finally came. I read the whole thing in about two days. It reads really easy... it also happens to be really funny. Funny in a serious kind of way. Not funny like it sucks... just that there are some really funny parts that had me laughing out loud! So, I really like that Jason Vale threw some humor in there - it's part of his personality . What with having once been an overweight man with breasts, and psoriasis all over his body, he wasn't exactly a catch... so he had to get a personality... and since he juiced himself slim - he's also in incredibly great shape... and sharing his enthusiasm for juicing with as much of the world as he can. So, until I had gotten ...

So, I've been going through this little cook book I got from the baby clinic - the book is made by Kinderen - it's a monthly magazine for mothers and expecting mothers - and it's a great little book. see bol.com Here are just a few of the recipes I've tried: Pippi's pannenkoekentaart That was good - I gave it a 4 star **** - easy to make and everyone enjoyed it. Dessert for dinner is good anytime :) I put sliced apples in almost every pancake - which is why it leans so much. It was very filling - and very yummy. Up next: Een echt indiaantje Good 4 stars **** - another easy meal, presented in such a way that the kids got excited... Kailea, my 5 year old, is normally very picky about green food - she ate it up :) We served it with simple gravy. Ella - liked the patty, but tossed the sugar snaps aside - oh well, can't please everyone - but I try. Kailea poses for me. Dad's angry man... even big kids play with their food ! And.....

Maxine, November 1 1996 - May 25, 2011   I'm adjusting to life without Maxine . I have so many regrets. I wish I could have been a better Mom to her. If I could do things over again, I would. I did the best I could given the information I had. But hindsight is 20/20. I feel like she is at rest and peaceful with Heavenly Father. It's just too bad that dogs don't live forever in happiness and health... well, they do - just on the other side... hopefully, when I return to Heavenly Father, I can see Maxine again and maybe dogs and humans can communicate is some special way, I'd like her to know that I loved her the best that I could... I know a dog is not a person, but she sure was a good friend to me for so many years. If... or when I ever get a dog again, I will treat my dog a lot better. I wanted to take her to the vet for yearly check ups but when she was 10 years old we were advised not to do that. To just let her be and then she can get sick sooner and die so...