Family Alive

Brian, Kristine, Analise, and Josiah Toone

What’s Cooking – Monster Cookies

4th May 2011


I repeated last year’s easy, delicious end-of-the-year gifts today… These amazing Monster Cookies with a cute little “thank you” tag. This is a Taste of Home recipe, and I can’t imagine a better monster cookie. Yum!

Ingredients:

1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup butter, softened
1-1/4 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups quick-cooking oats
1 cup M&M’s
1 cup butterscotch chips
1 cup salted peanuts
2 cups all-purpose flour

Directions:
In a large bowl, cream peanut butter, butter and sugars. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add baking soda and vanilla. Add oats, M&M’s, butterscotch chips and peanuts; let stand for 10 minutes. Stir in flour (the dough will be crumbly).

Shape 1/4 cupfuls into balls. Place on greased baking sheets, about nine cookies on each sheet. Gently flatten cookies. Bake at 325° for 15-18 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Remove to wire racks. Yield: about 2-1/2 dozen.

Notes:
I decreased the oats by 1/2 cup and I used old fashioned instead of quick oats. Heaping 1/4 cup of dough, with M&M’s into top, spread slightly to be 3 to 4 inches across, for a total of 21 cookies. DELICIOUS!!

Source: http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Monster-Cookies

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Tornado update

3rd May 2011

It turns out that there were actually two tornadoes that missed our house – an EF1 to the southeast of us and an EF2 just to the north of us (the one that went through Mountain Brook and Cahaba Heights that I posted pictures from earlier). Here is the official preliminary report from the weather service:


Tornado report from the national weather service NOAA

Source: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/view/prodsByState.php?state=AL&prodtype=public

Based on the weather report and my own observations on my bike commute route (shown in red) – I’ve updated my damage map below:


Tornado damage paths (click for full map). Red = commute route, Blue = tornado path, Green = trees down

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Tornado damage

27th April 2011

Tornado damage in our neighborhood (not our house)

Crazy dangerous weather here in Alabama today. Many people killed. Lots of damage. It came very close to our house, and I’ve written about it on my cycling blog since I commuted home and surveyed the damage from the tornado that just missed our house. http://toonecycling.wordpress.com/2011/04/27/tornado/

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A birthday gift of grace…

12th April 2011

On my birthday last week, an unexpected package showed up at the front door.  I had been notified that I would be receiving a product to review from DaySpring, and lo and behold, it arrived on the perfect day! What a gorgeous gift…

Dayspring's By Grace Alone jewelry set

On the reverse of the necklace it says, “By the grace of God, I am what I am. -1 Cor. 15:10”

After 35 years, I feel like “grace” is the life motto God has given me.  It covers all my sin, it strengthens weaknesses, it is the greatest gift I’ve been given, and the greatest gift I can offer.  The verse I’ve come back to over and over in my life that seems to say everything I could possibly need to know is 2 Corinthians 9:8: “And God is able to make all grace abound so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound for every good work.”

So for this beautiful jewelry set to arrive on my birthday just took my breath away.  Such grace!  It is GORGEOUS!  I’ve worn the bracelet every day, and I’ve already gotten several compliments on it.  The set also includes the delicate earrings and the adjustable necklace. I absolutely LOVE IT!

So head on over to DaySpring, and check out the By Grace Alone jewelry set, on sale for $39.99 during the month of April (my birthday month!).  This would make a lovely gift, as would any of their products.  There are also some great deals on the sale page.  Through the entire month of April, DaySpring is offering 50% off the Wonderful Grace carved wooden serving tray, and $10 off the Studio JRU Crosses and SDG Grace Hanging Tiles!


Thank you, DaySpring, for allowing me the chance to review one of your quality products.  What a perfectly timed birthday gift to remember the greatest GRACE!

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God, you are so good to me!

7th April 2011

What an amazing day, what a grace-filled 35 years! Thank you, Lord, for blessings too numerous to count.
* watching from the hallway, spying little ones quietly going to find me in my bedroom, carrying birthday bags

* little ones bursting with birthday love

* homemade chocolate doughnuts, warm from the oven, leaving powdered sweetness all over us

* birthday flowers from mom (and Brian)

* helping at Analise’s school

* errands with my patient chattery little buddy, capped off with a little frozen yogurt and a lot of toppings

* a quiet, delicious steak dinner with my love, my best friend

* phone calls from family

* countless friends sending blessings on Facebook

* little ones putting themselves in bed

* spring blooms everywhere


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The last preschool photo

22nd March 2011


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Analise’s Daisy Scout Troop at the International Tea

26th February 2011

Trying to post the video of the girls dancing to Shakira’s “We Are Africa”. More details and pics later… Leave me a comment if you can see the video!

YouTube Video

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This Super Bowl Party brought to you by The Packers, Wisconsin Cheese and Chipotle

5th February 2011

I don’t think I could be more excited for The Big Game tomorrow!  The last time the Packers won the Super Bowl, I was recovering from surgery on my couch in our UW-Green Bay apartment.  My parents were there for the weekend, and I watched the game from a pain-medicine haze during our small “party”.  My parents told me that driving back to their downtown hotel after the game, the streets were filled with excited Packer fans, and it was almost as if the game had been played in Green Bay!

This year, I’ve been hoping for the chance to do a Super Bowl party with each post-season Packer win.  But after the nail-biter of a NFC Championship game, I told Brian I wasn’t sure I’d be a good hostess given how stressed I get during the game!  But Brian wanted to have a party, so it’s on! I have warned everyone, though, that if they want to see normal me, they’ll come at 5, before the game starts at 5:30!

So, in an effort to save myself clicking all over the internet to find my recipes, I’m going to post them all here.  AND… I got a call from Chipotle that I won 25 burritos for Sunday evening!  How awesome is that?  Along with the 10lbs of fresh Wisconsin cheese my parents sent, this is going to be a DELICOUS party!!

Easy Cheese Appetizer (from the lovely Beauty and Bedlam -it’s essential to click over to see how delicious this looks!!)

  • 1 envelope of Good Seasons Italian Dressing
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/4 cup white vinegar
  • 2 TB water
  • 2 TB minced green onions
  • 1 1/2 tsp sugar
  • 12 oz package Monterrey Jack
  • 12 oz package Sharp Cheddar
  • 8 oz package cream cheese (not softened)
  • 4 oz jar diced pimentos, drained

Mix 1st six ingredients together.
Cut cheeses into small squares and arrange in an alternate pattern.
Pour pimentos over cheeses then pour dressing mix over all.
Marinate overnight in fridge.
Drain excess dressing (optional). For optimum presentation, draining the dressing “may” be recommended, but for the most delicious factor, excess dressing is yummy. icon wink Easy Cheese Appetizer Recipe   Yummy Marinated Cheese Appetizer
Serve with crackers. (Since the layers are cheese, cream cheese, cheese, it’s easy to get on the cracker, but keep a fork near by to assist if necessary.)

Homemade Soft Pretzel Bites (from Two Peas and their Pod… definitely click over to see how good these look! I am SO EXCITED to make these with some fresh Wisconsin cheese sauce for dipping!)

Soft Pretzels:
1 1/2 cups warm water
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 package active dry yeast
3 ounces unsalted butter, melted
2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
4 1/2 to 5 cups all-purpose flour
Vegetable oil
3 quarts water
3/4 cup baking soda
1 whole egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon cold water
Coarse sea salt

For the Pretzels: Combine the water, sugar, yeast, and butter in the bowl of a stand mixer and mix with the dough hook until combined. Let sit for 5 minutes.

Add the salt and flour and mix on low speed until combined. Increase the speed to medium and continue kneading until the dough is smooth and begins to pull away from the side of the bowl, about 3 to 4 minutes. If the dough appears too wet, add additional flour, 1 tablespoon at a time. Remove the dough from the bowl, place on a flat surface and knead into a ball with your hands.

Oil a bowl with vegetable oil, add the dough and turn to coat with the oil. Cover with a clean towel or plastic wrap and place in a warm spot until the dough doubles in size, about 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Bring the water to a boil in a small roasting pan over high heat and add the baking soda.

Remove the dough from the bowl and place on a flat surface. Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces, about 4 1/4 to 4 1/2 ounces each. Roll each piece into a long rope measuring 22 inches and shape. Cut the dough into one inch pieces to make the pretzel bites. Boil the pretzel bites in the water solution in batches. We did about 15 bites at a time. Boil for about 30 seconds. Remove with a large slotted spoon. Place pretzel bites on a baking sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Make sure they are not touching.  Brush the tops with the egg wash and season liberally with the salt. Place into the oven and bake for 15 to 18 minutes until golden brown.

Remove to a baking rack and let rest 5 minutes before eating. Serve with cheese sauce, recipe below.

Cheddar cheese sauce:
½ Tablespoon unsalted butter
½ Tablespoon all-purpose flour
½ cup milk
8 ounces Cheddar cheese, grated

For the cheese sauce:

Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and cook 1 minute. Whisk in the milk and cook until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and stir in the Cheddar cheese until smooth and all of the cheese is melted.  Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

*If you want to make cinnamon and sugar pretzel bites-instead of adding salt, sprinkle the bites with cinnamon and sugar. For the frosting mix-soft cream cheese-about 3 T, powdered sugar, a teaspoon of vanilla extract, and a little bit of milk. Whisk together. Add more milk if it is too thick, if it is too thin, add more powdered sugar. I don’t measure. I just guess until the consistency is right.*

Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip

Pizza Dippers (using my tried-and-true deep dish pizza crust/breadstick recipe)

Rotel Dip (with sausage, just for my love)

Chocolate Scotcheroos

Fresh cheese curds (was dying to make my own hot, fried cheese curds, but that would be a bit too much to undertake given I’ve never fried anything in my life!)

Leinenkugel’s beer (hard to find in Alabama!!)

If you’re around, you’re welcome to join us!  The more the merrier… as long as you’re cheering for the Pack 🙂

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What’s Cookin’ – Farmhouse Chicken

11th May 2010

I tried this yummy chicken recipe last night, and it was a huge hit with all of us!

Farmhouse Chicken by Kraft Foods

1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp. pepper
4 small bone-in chicken breast halves (1-1/2 lb.), skin removed
1/4 cup KRAFT Light Zesty Italian Dressing
2 cups baby carrots
1 onion, cut into wedges
1 can (14-1/2 oz.) fat-free reduced-sodium chicken broth, divided
2 cups instant brown rice, uncooked
4 oz. (1/2 of 8-oz. pkg.) PHILADELPHIA Neufchatel Cheese, cubed
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley

MIX flour and pepper in shallow dish. Add chicken; turn to coat both sides of each piece. Gently shake off excess flour. Heat dressing in large nonstick skillet on medium heat. Add chicken, meat-sides down; cook 5 to 6 min. or until golden brown. Turn chicken. Add carrots, onions and 1 cup broth; cover. Simmer on medium-low 20 min. or until chicken is done (165°F).

MEANWHILE, cook rice as directed on package; spoon onto platter. Use slotted spoon to remove chicken and vegetables from skillet; place over rice. Cover to keep warm.

ADD Neufchatel and remaining broth to skillet; cook on high heat until Neufchatel is melted and sauce is well blended, stirring constantly. Simmer on medium-low heat 3 to 5 min. or until slightly thickened, stirring occasionally. Spoon over chicken and vegetables; top with parsley.

*My notes: I used 1.75lbs of boneless skinless breasts, split lengthwise.  There were lots of extra carrots, so maybe less next time. It was DELICIOUS!

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A glimpse of Mother’s Day

9th May 2010

A sweet day of church, family, and lots of love.  I am a blessed woman!

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