As I have posted here before, my love for Cook’s magazine is never ending. I have equal feelings for their annual cookbook. And I am a Peanut Butterholic!

This weekend I tried out a low-fat version of the long loved Peanut Butter Cookie. Found it oh so fitting after the all those Christmas parties.

Using, of all things, Captain Crunch Peanut Butter Cereal.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and gather the following below.

Low-Fat Peanut Butter Cookies

1/3 cup flour plus, 1 1/2 cups flour

1 1/4 cups Brown Sugar
1 1/2 Captain Crunch Cereal
2 Egg Whites
5 tablespoons reduced-fat Chunky Peanut Butter
1/4 tsp. Baking soda
1/4 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Vanilla
4 Tablespoons unsalted butter butter, softened; plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted.
1 tablespoon water


Using my small mini prep I crushed the cereal along with 1/3 cup flour. Then shifted in the reaming flour, soda and salt.

In a large bowl beat butter, softened butter, sugar and peanut butter until smooth. Beat in melted butter, egg whites and vanilla until well incorporated.


Add your dry mixture and blend thoroughly adding 1 tablespoon water.

Roll into 1 ½ inch balls {mine made 24} and place on a waxed lined cookie sheet.

Use the bottom of a glass to flatten rolled balls.

Then using a fork imprint each with cross marks.

Bake for 12 minutes turning pan halfway through.

Allow to cool on cookie sheet for 5 minutes before removing to wire rack.

Allow to cool and enjoy!


I will be linking up to these great blogs this week Tempt My Tummy - Tuesday at The Table - Tasty Tuesday - Paisley Passions

****Total Cuteness ALERT****

 I love these paper straws cute, cute, cute. However, my kiddos refuse to drink from them. They hate the way they feel in their mouth, seriously! These are just too cute to pass up!

And hope over here for a great FREE Valentine Subway print!

I was able to pop into GW last night, just before dropping the kiddos off at Awana’s, and look what I scored!

A nice knock off set of “Anthropologie” little flower serving bowls.

These will be perfect filled with fresh fruit.

Let me just tell you I am a sucker for cute little dishes!

Now come take a look...

a little closer...

 Can you guess what I’ll be doing this weekend?

Yes, we are purging or as I like to call it, the Great January Decrapafacation!

We purge the play room at least once a year.

I just like to get it done BEFORE Christmas.

It helps with the overwhelming question “Where am I going to put this?”

Because, I thrive on everything having its own place to be stored.

Let’s hope I can make it half way through.


Happy Friday!

For the Love of Gray!

I promised myself I wouldn’t do it… I promised myself I would never fall in love with the color gray.


Yet here I am coveting this rug by Jill Rosenwald at Layla Grayce.

I do, I really do try to look at the browns, tans and creams. That’s what my entire home is done in. And don’t get me wrong I am more than happy with it.


But there is just something about gray right now that I love!

Sadly, my budget will not allow me to redo EVERYTHING in my home just for the love of gray.


But I  might be able to get away with a small guest bath room?

Just maybe!

Well its official!



359 Days until Christmas 2011!

My family and I enjoyed the break in our daily routine over Christmas including eating, gift giving, avoiding the internet, eating, eating, and eating and and a few other things I did…

• Walked into a liquor store for the very first time at the ripe ole age of 35. Just to buy a bottle of Amaretto to bake bread pudding.

• Store failed to note my age and card me!


• I purchased the full line of Olay age defining creams!


• Gave a puppy a bath, twice!


• Learned that they really like to dig holes outside just after getting all cleaned up.


• Received the perfect box from my favorite store filled with my favorite breakfast.


• Learned to make k-cup coffee.


• Did not cook a meal at home for over 10 days straight.


• Watched my little guy take his first “alone” swim strokes in a swim suit two sizes to small on New Year’s Eve.


• Realized that my home will be “glittering “in the most unusual places for the next 6 months.


• Watched the first three movies from Star Wars with my kiddos who had never really even heard the theme song.


• Then watched them play out Light Saver scenes in the living room.


• Worked a baseball camp, in an indoor football facility, and learned just how dirty that turf can get a 6 year old.


• Did not check one thing of my to do list.


• Enjoyed pancakes at the Original Pancake House in Plano, TX.
 D-E-L-I-S-H!

• As a fun thing to do on Christmas day I bought my first ever scratch off lottery cards for everyone to play. Only one person won…ME…$40 bucks! My sister swears it was rigged.



• Watched the Nativity Story 5 times and each time cried at what my God did for me.

Can't wait till next year, who knows by then I just might get something marked off that to-do-list!

Crock Pot Steak Soup

I am not sure what part of the country you live in but here at my house {cue music} baby its cold outside!

Perfect for a crock pot recipe given to me from a dear friend at one of my bridal showers many, many moons ago, ha!

Steak Soup

5 Cups Water
6 beef bouillon cubes
1 can beef broth
1 onion, chopped {finely}
1 tsp. pepper and salt
1 T. celery salt
3 potatoes, peeled and chopped
1 small can peas, drained
1 lb. chopped round or sirloin steak, 1 inch cubes


Mix all ingredients and cook on medium or high ALL DAY in crock pot. 1 hour before serving, melt ½ cup butter and whisk in ½ cup flour. Then whisk into soup and cook medium. We like to top ours with a little bit of cheese.

Hearty and oh so yummy.

Linking up at these great blogs today Tempt my Tummy - Tuesday at The Table - Tasty Tuesday


Enjoy!

Thank You, Thank You Very Much!

I am ashamed to say I have yet to write one Christmas thank you, or started my kiddos on theirs yet.



They lay gathered in my “to do pile” that I hope to tackle tonight!


The importance of a quick timely, hand written, thank you to those who took time to gift you should never go unnoticed. I started my children at a very young age teaching them the importance of hand written correspondence. And even though they may moan and groan, at times, I persevere. Not only teaching them how to address a thank you, but showing them the gift of TIME sometimes can be the greatest {hardest} gift to give. Even when it’s a simple thank you!


We live in an age of high tech communication that is ever growing by the day! Children need to learn to love the written language and use it! I know 20 year olds that don’t have the slightest idea how to address an envelope!


So, while blog stalking I came across the cutest Thank you card for your kiddos, or yourself.

You can visit her cute little blog, Allsorts here. She has a FREE download for these little cuties.

Happy Writing!