A Giant Birthday Sandwich!

Papa Z recently celebrated his birthday.  In his old age he must have been feeling adventurous because he chose to forgo the traditional Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream cake from Baskin-Robbins and asked me to make a cake for him with the help of our kids!  REALLY?  You want the kids and me to make your cake?  You do realize I'm not the best baker and I'm guessing with the help of the kids it won't get any better!  He added even more pressure to me by not giving any input on what kind of cake he wanted.  So that is how Papa Z ended up with a Giant Birthday Sandwich!    I found the recipe through the Taste of Home. 

Giant Peanut Butter Ice Cream Sandwich

Ingredients:
2 packages (16 ounces each) ready-to-bake refrigerated peanut butter cup cookie dough (good luck finding
 this, I ended up using Peanut Butter dough with chocolate chips in it)
6 whole chocolate graham crackers, crushed
1 cup cold milk
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 package (3.4 ounces) instant vanilla pudding mix
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1-1/3 cups creamy peanut butter
3 cups vanilla ice cream, softened
1/4 cup Nutella

Directions:
*Let dough stand at room temperature for 5-10 minutes to soften. Press into two ungreased 9-in. springform pans; sprinkle with graham cracker crumbs. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until set. Cool completely. *In a large bowl, whisk the milk, cream and pudding mix for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set. In another large bowl, beat cream cheese and peanut butter until smooth. Add pudding and ice cream; beat until smooth.
*Spread over one cookie crust. Remove sides of second pan; place crust, crumb side down, over filling. Cover and freeze for 4 hours or until firm.
*Remove from the freezer 15 minutes before serving. Place hazelnut spread in a small microwave-safe bowl; cover and microwave at 50% power for 1-2 minutes or until smooth, stirring twice. Remove sides of pan; cut dessert into slices. Drizzle with Nutella.
*Enjoy!

Pop! Pop! Pow!

I'm guessing you have been partying all day today.  Can you believe it's FINALLY here?  This has been a much anticipated holiday!  I have been preparing for this day since New Years!  Decorating, making special treats, planning, etc...You do know what today is don't you?  What?  You don't know?  Are you kidding me?  You don't know that today is National Popcorn day?  Where have you been?  It's the second most popular holiday of the year!  Well...Maybe I don't have all my facts straight...

To honor such a noble and wonderful holiday we had a Popcorn party and invited our Mommy group to come over and celebrate.

To help you celebrate this "corny" holiday, I will share with you my super secret special popcorn recipe!

Super Special S'more Popcorn

Ingredients: 

Popcorn

Hot cocoa cocoa mix

Mini Marshmallows

Golden Grahams

Chocolate Chips

Directions:  Pop the popcorn.  Mix all ingredients and enjoy!  (Make sure you let the popcorn cool before you add the chocolate chips or you will have a hot mess on your hands!)

Zany thought of the day:  So if National Popcorn Day is in January, when do we celebrate National Popcorn Month? 

Answer:  October...Go figure!

Monster cakes!

 

Wacky Zacky wanted to take cupcakes into his PreK class to celebrate his birthday.  We decided instead of "normal" cupcakes, we would make each classmate a unique Monster cupcake.  We used marshmallows, twizzlers, M&Ms, and jelly life savers to make the monster faces.  Wacky Zacky had a fun time creating each silly face and they were a big hit with his class. 

I Spy....

I spy with my two little eyes something that looks CREEPY!

Can you guess what they are?  If you said edible eyeballs you would be correct!  These scrumptious little treats are easy to make and are sure to be a hit of any party!

CREEPY EYEBALLS

Ingredients:
3.4-ounce box instant vanilla pudding mix
Chocolate covered raisins (Or Black Jelly Beans)
Gummy Lifesavers
Easter Egg Jello molds (or plastic eggs would work too)

Directions:
Prepare the pudding according to the package directions. For each eye, fit a chocolate covered raisin or jelly bean into the center of a Gummy Lifesaver candy and place it in a plastic egg half.  Fill the egg cup with the pudding (If you are using plastic eggs and not a Jello mold, then place the egg halves in an egg carton).  Place in freezer until they're firm (about 3 hours).  Remove the egg halves from the freezer and let them sit at room temperature for about 3 to 5 minutes.  Using the back of a fork or spoon, gently press down on the edge of the pudding, rolling the frozen ball out of the egg cup. If you're not serving them right away, place the eyes in a freezer-safe dish in the freezer until you're ready.

Zany thought of the day:  These treats remind me of Pudding Pops.  I sure did like Pudding Pops when I was a kid!  I'm not sure what I liked more-saying Pudding Pop or eating them.  Either way it sure put a smile on my face!

Next stop: Let's go see Addle

We finally made it!  After days of driving and enough drama to last me a year (lifetime to some,  a year for the Zany family) the Seattle skyline finally peeked into view!  I thought we were all excited about it until the kids started asking in a disappointed voice, "Where is Addle?"  "I thought we were going to go see Addle?"  "Where is she?".  Apparently the kids thought our whole vacation was based on going to visit some woman named Addle.  Poor things had to go for second best and enjoy all that Seattle had to offer them.

Some good friends were very generous and allowed our crazy family to stay with them.  I'm not sure they knew exactly what they were getting themselves into until we came crashing through their door.  They were the best hosts and had our days in Seattle planned with all the must see places.  Here's a few of our adventures:

We went to the Space Needle.

We actually had lunch on top of the Space Needle!  The restaurant spins 360 degrees and is 500 feet in the air.  Some may not know, but I get a bit queasy with heights.  It was probably good it only took us 41 seconds in the elevator to get to the top, because I didn't have much time to really think about what was going on as my body was shot into the air.  Once at the top I was both excited to see the view and anxious because the slight spinning was beginning to make me feel dizzy.  I started to think, "This is going to be a very bad scene in a few short minutes", but I finally found my "space legs" and thank goodness the nausea eventually passed.  The food was a bit pricey, but good.  Wacky Zacky and Zany Janie got pasta dishes and the pasta was in the shape of the Space Needle...Very clever!  The best part of the whole experience was dessert!  (Isn't that always the best part?)

The kids went crazy for the ice cream on dry ice.  It was amazing to see after an inability to feed themselves pasta on their own, they all of a sudden gained the ability to feed themselves ice cream!

It must be a miracle!  It's funny how that works!

After lunch we went to the observation deck and took in the beauty of Seattle.

I'm sure you will be shocked, but we were in a group with 5 kids under the age of 5 and four adults and it was a drama free experience!  How often can I say that?

We went to the Science Museum.

The Science Museum in Seattle was a big hit for the kids.  They could run around yelling and pawing everything without getting into too much trouble.  I was not surprised to find Zany Janie fascinated with the toilet flushing exhibit.  That one is right up her alley! 

We went to Pike Place Market.

The market was packed with people and Wacky Zacky insisted on being pushed in a stroller, so you can imagine how fun it was to swerve around all the hustle and bustle.  It was really neat to see all the vendors.  There was an array of handmade items to beautiful vibrant flowers.  We got to see the staff at Pike Place Fish Market perform.  We also had the best food located somewhere in a side alley.  I got the scallop chowder and crab salad on a roll and Papa Z got clam chowder in a bread bowl.  It was so yummy!  We also ventured down to the pier and walked around taking in a band and all the beautiful scenery.

We took a ferry to Bainbridge Island.

None of us had been on a ferry before so it was fun to drive onto the boat and take a ride to the island.  It was so windy on the ferry that it was a good thing Silly Jilly was tethered to Papa Z or she would have blown overboard!  I was glad the bars around the boat were high enough so the kids could not lean over them.  If they had been a bit lower we could have made the news. 

We went to the Locks in Ballard, WA.

I must admit on our way to the Locks I was a little anxious about the possibility of potentially seeing the Time Bandit or even another boat from one of my favorite TV shows Deadliest Catch.  Unfortunately I didn't catch a glimpse of one of the crab boats, but it was interesting seeing other boats pass through the Locks.  The kids loved seeing the fish swimming up stream and playing on the steps leading down to the water.  I think I got a few gray hairs as Wacky Zacky ran up and down the steps coming ever so close to tripping and falling right into the freezing cold water.

The most exciting part of the day was eating at:

The Lockspot Cafe!  Not because they claim to have world famous Fish and Chips, but because it is the location for "After the Catch".

I must admit I felt a little embarrassed snapping picture after picture of things inside the bar/cafe, but what was I to do?  If I wasn't nursing Silly Jilly I may have even ordered a "Duck Fart" in honor of Captain Phil!  I will give them props, their Fish and Chips were really good!  The only thing that would have made the day even better would be if Captain Johnathan had sauntered in through the doors giving his crazy laugh that always makes me smile.

While in the Seattle area we also made a quick stop to visit some family friends.  They made breakfast and we got to sit around and chat.  By the end of our visit the kids were throwing pretend birthday parties with gifts and pinatas and at one point they were shouting bits and pieces of church songs from the balcony for all of Seattle to enjoy.

After our rocky start to our vacation, I was so happy we all had a great time in Seattle and to my knowledge our kids didn't break or destroy anything when we were there!

Stay tuned for the final leg of our trip!  Can we make it back to sunny Southern California without anymore mishaps?

A little Jelly for your Beans?

Wacky Zacky had a Hip Hop Easter Party at his preschool and I was asked to bring cookies for the shindig. Having three kids under the age of 4 sometimes makes me a little on the crazy side and I began thinking of all these elaborate cookies I could make, because of course I have an abundance of time and nothing better to do with it. After narrowing my options down to a few detailed cookies I came to my senses and decided to go with something easy so I chose the "Easy Easter Nests". They did require crispy rice cereal and marshmallows, which in the past I had a horrible fight with the sticky combo when I attempted to make Christmas wreaths made from it, but the title reassured me that these treats would be "easy". So when Papa Z came home from work I proudly told him my plans of making the Easy Easter Nests and he gave me a reality check reminding me of the Christmas wreath fiasco. I finally decided on the simple yet oh so elegant looking Jelly Bean Bites.

JELLY BEAN BITES

Ingredients:
1 cup softened butter
1/2 cup sugar
2 Tablespoons water
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
1 egg yolk
2 1/2 Cup flour
1/2 Teaspoon baking soda
1 Bag jelly beans

Directions: Cream butter and sugar with mixer until thoroughly combined. Add water, vanilla and egg yolk and mix thoroughly. Add dry ingredients. Dough should be firm. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll dough into balls and place onto cookie sheets. Bake for 5 minutes. Remove from oven and make indentation on top of each cookie with spoon. Add 3 jelly beans into the indentation of each cookie, return to oven for 8-10 minutes or until set and light brown.

Zany thought of the day: Did you know 400 jelly bellys make up a pound? And there are over 50 flavors of jelly bellys. So what's your favorite Jelly Belly flavor? I like the popcorn and root beer ones, but not mixed together.

Dieter's nightmare-Chocolate lovers dream!

A few of my friends came over to my house and we had the best type of party I can think of-a CHOCOLATE making party! One of our friends is an old pro at using candy molds, dipping things in chocolate, and making chocolate bark so she showed us the way to creating wonderful yummy gifts!

We spent several hours making turtles,

painting candy molds and filling them with chocolate,

And dipping pretzels in chocolate!

By the time we were done the house was filled with the aroma of chocolate and we had what appeared to be enough chocolate to last a lifetime!


All the chocolate goodies were split among the five of us with the intention to save it until closer to Christmas when we could give the goodies as gifts...

That was the plan, however in the Zany house those naughty bites of chocolate try to lure me in every time I open the refrigerator door! They are very sneaky that way!

Frankenstein Treats

The other day I was flipping through a magazine and found these adorable treats and couldn't resist making them! Even though Halloween is over for the year, I thought I'd share this easy recipe with you because it could be adapted to work for other holidays! They are guaranteed to be gobbled up in the blink of an eye!

FRANKENSTEIN TREATS

INGREDIENTS:
Instant vanilla pudding
Green food coloring
Chocolate chips/melting chips
Oreo cookies-crushed
Clear cups
Paint brush

DIRECTIONS:
Melt chocolate chips. Paint faces on the inside of the cup with the melted chocolate using paint brush. Place cups in refrigerator to let chocolate harden. Make instant vanilla pudding according to directions. Add green food coloring to desired intensity of color. Divide pudding among the cups. Add crushed Oreo cookies to the top of the cups. Enjoy!

Zany thought of the day: Why is Frankenstein's skin green?

Hoppy Half Birthday Papa Z!

Earlier this week we celebrated Papa Z's half birthday. Yes, I said "Half Birthday!" In the Zany family we celebrate half birthdays! Unfortunately he had to work the whole day-why his work doesn't let you have the day off on your half birthday is beyond belief! Papa Z was very "hoppy" with his half birthday dessert. The recipe came from the wonderful Taste of Home collection!

Easy Grasshopper Ice Cream Pie

Ingredients:

• 4 cups mint chocolate chip ice cream, softened
• 1 chocolate crumb crust (8 inches)
• 5 cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies, chopped
• 1/3 cup chocolate-covered peppermint candies
  
• Chocolate hard-shell ice cream topping

Directions: Spread ice cream into crust. Sprinkle with cookies and candies; drizzle with ice cream topping. Freeze until firm. Remove from the freezer 15 minutes before serving.

Zany thought of the day: Patience my little grasshopper...Patience!

Hop on over for a cup of bunny goodness!

Spring has sprung and Cadbury Eggs and Peeps are out in full force! I can't turn a corner in a store without coming face to face with those sugar covered marshmallows or ewwey gooey yummy eggs! I'd love to be the mom who makes creative festive concoctions with her kids each holiday, but unfortunately I'm not! The Zany babies and I tend to gobble up all the goodies before we can make the finished product. The recipe below, from Taste of Home, is one I'd like to try....But in our house the Vanilla sandwich cookies and jelly beans don't have a chance to make it long enough to be placed in a dessert!

Bunny in a Cup

Ingredients:
2 cups cold milk
1 package (3.4 ounces) instant vanilla pudding mix
2 twists black licorice
1/4 cup vanilla frosting
Red liquid or paste food coloring
8 cream-filled oval vanilla sandwich cookies
8 green jelly beans
4 pink jelly beans

Directions: In a small bowl, whisk milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set. Pour into four small bowls; cover and refrigerate. Meanwhile, cut licorice width wise into fourths, then lengthwise into thirds; set aside. Combine frosting and red food coloring; frost top of cookies to within 1/2 inch of edge. Just before serving, insert two cookies into each bowl or pudding for ears. Add green jelly beans for eyes and a pink jelly bean for nose. Place three pieces of licorice on each side of the nose for whiskers.

Yield: 4 servings

Zany thought of the day: Those Cadbury Creme Eggs sure are good! Did you know filled eggs were first manufactured by the Cadbury Brothers in 1923, but the Creme Egg in its current form wasn't introduced until 1971? What a genius idea!

In honor of the peanut!

Many of you may not know, but March is officially National Peanut Month! I know, I agree it's definitely an exciting time of the year! For those of you living under a rock, National Peanut Month began as National Peanut Week in 1941. In 1974 it was expanded into a month long celebration-I'm sure people protested until the peanut got it's due respect!

Peanuts are such a huge part of America's favorite foods from roasted peanuts in the shell at ballparks, to ground peanut butter for PB and J sandwiches, to tossing them in a salad or stir-fry. It is one food you can actually make in every course of a meal. I think that should be a challenge on the next Top Chef reality show!

So to honor the peanut, this month I shall eat as many foods with peanuts in the ingredients and I shall share with you a yummy to your tummy recipe.

BIG LEAGUE BROWNIES

Ingredients:
Brownie mix with all ingredients needed
3/4 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup softened butter
1/3 cup sugar
2 T flour
2 eggs

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare brownie mix as directed. Set aside. Combine 3/4 cups peanut butter and softened butter until smooth. Add sugar and flour and mix. Add 2 eggs and blend well. Spread 1/2 brownie mixture in pan. Spread filling evenly over brownie mix. Spread remaining brownie evenly. Bake 30-33 minutes. Cool 1 hour or you will burn your tongue-don't ask how I know.

Zany thought of the day: Did you know you can find peanut shells in kitty litter, wallboard, fireplace logs, paper, animal feed and sometimes as fuel for power plants?

Cookie Monster's Dream

I found a recipe that is sure to cause Cookie Monster to drool and daydream over wanting it! It is a yummy and tasty treat that is sure to melt the pounds away as you eat it! I found the recipe from none other than Taste Of Home. It is sure to awaken the Cookie Monster within you and will certainly leave you yelling, "Me Want Cookie!"

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE DELIGHT

Ingredients:
1 tube (16 1/2 oz) refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough
1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 carton (12 oz) frozen whipped topping, thawed, divided
3 cups cold milk
1 package (3.9 oz) instant chocolate pudding mix
1 package (3.4 oz) instant vanilla pudding mix
Optional: chopped nuts and chocolate curls

Directions: Let cookie dough stand at room temperature for 5-10 minutes to soften. Press into an ungreased 13X9 in. baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 14-16 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Fold in 1 3/4 cups whipped topping. Spread over crust. In a large bowl, whisk milk and pudding mixes for 2 minutes; let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set. Spread over cream cheese layer. Top with remaining whipped topping. Sprinkle with nuts and chocolate curls if desired. Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight until firm.

Zany thought of the day: Ever wonder who the genius was that invented the chocolate chip? It was Ruth Graves Wakefield at the Toll House Inn. Such a simple concept that changed the world! Why can't I invent something like that?

Something to go ape over!

I love trying new desserts! I scan through cookbooks and magazines looking for fun easy recipes to try. It's always an added bonus when it happens to be something the kids could help me make. I found just the recipe the other day. It was definitely something our family went ape over!

BANANA CREAM PIE PARFAITS

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups cold milk
1 package (4-serving size) Vanilla instant pudding
1 cup thawed whipped topping (divided)
8 Vanilla creme sandwich cookies, coarsely chopped
1 cup sliced bananas

Directions:
*Pour milk into medium bowl. Add dry pudding mix. Beat with wire whisk 2 minutes. Gently stir in 1/2 cup of the whipped topping.
*Spoon 3 Tbsp. of the pudding mixture into each of six dessert dishes; top each with 1 Tbsp. of the chopped cookies and 3 banana slices. Repeat layers. Refrigerate at least 1 hour.
*Top with remaining 1/2 cup whipped topping just before serving.

Zany thought of the day: There are some things in life you never knew you needed until you actually try it out one day, then you decide you just can't live without it!

Mine happens to be:

A banana slicer!!!

Peppermint Patty

Here's another recipe from "The Bet" I lost...If I didn't evoke sympathy with the Brisket 'n' Bean Burritos then surely you will take pity on me when you read how much work went into making these yummy cookies. I think I should let you know that I did it all by hand-no electric mixer! This delightful recipe was taken from the Taste of Home.

Crisp Peppermint Patties

Ingredients:
1 cup butter-flavored shortening
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 package (12 ounces) chocolate covered peppermint patties
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/3 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:
*In a large mixing bowl, cream shortening and sugars until light and fluffy. beat in the eggs, melted peppermint patties and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes or until easy to handle.
*Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until the surface cracks. Cool for 1-2 minutes before removing to wire racks.

Zany thought of the day: Did you know Peppermint Patty from Charlie Brown was the first female Peanuts character to wear pants? She made her first appearance on 8/22/66!

Peanut Butter meets Chocolate and makes the world a happier place!

This is one mouth drooling, taste bud clapping, yummy yummy oh-so-good treat!

PEANUT BUTTER CUP BROWNIES

Ingredients:
1 box brownie mix-with ingredients to make brownies
1 1/2 cups peanut butter
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 can chocolate frosting
Optional: chopped peanuts or chopped candy

Directions:
Make brownies as directed by box and cool 1 hour. Freeze brownies for 20 minutes so filling is easier to spread. In a small bowl combine peanut butter and powdered sugar. Spread over brownies. Spread chocolate frosting over filling. Optional: Sprinkle top with chopped peanuts and candy. Refrigerate 45 minutes or until frosting sets.

Zany thought of the day: Wouldn't it be great if more foods paired up and tasted this good? Perhaps we'd all live in a happier place!

Cherries in the snow

Here's another one of Mama Z's Easy Peasy recipes! It's starting to get chilly out there...Some of you may have had a few flurries in the sky...Why not curl up in front of the fire place with a yummy cup of Cherries in the snow? It's so good it will melt your heart!

CHERRIES IN THE SNOW

Ingredients:
8 ounces Cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups thawed whipped topping
1 can (20 oz) cherry pie filling, divided

Directions: Mix cream cheese and sugar until well blended. Stir in whipped topping. Layer heaping 2 Tablespoon cream cheese mixture and 2 Tablespoon pie filling in each of the glasses/dessert dishes. Repeat layers.

Zany thought of the day: Have you heard the phrase "Cold hands, warm heart"? Is it me or is that saying just a little creepy?

Santa's gone a little nutty!

It's never to early to start thinking about what cookies you will be making for those cookie exchanges and holiday parties. Many of you know I'm not a gourmet chef and I don't even like to cook or bake. So a few years ago when I was pouring over magazines, the internet, and cookbooks for an easy fun recipe for a cookie exchange I came across this simple nutty Santa cookie. The best part of it is it's a NO BAKE recipe! Yep, I was all over it! It was actually fun making the first 50 Santa's, but I quickly grew tired of it when I realized I had to make 144 cookies with a toddler running around the kitchen making it his life mission to touch all 144 of them. Nevertheless, this is a yummy cookie from Taste of Home that kids would love to make and eat.

Ingredients:
2 packages (6 ounces) white baking chocolate chopped
1 package Nutter Butter sandwich cookies
Red colored sugar
32 Vanilla or white chips
64 miniature semisweet chocolate chips
32 red-hot candies

Directions:
In a heavy saucepan over low heat, melt white chocolate, stirring occasionally. (I actually used the microwave) Dip one end of each cookie into melted chocolate. Place on wire racks. For Santa's hat, sprinkle red sugar on top part of chocolate. Press one vanilla chip off-center on hat for pom-pom; let stand until set.

Dip other end of each cookie into melted chocolate for beard, leaving center of cookie uncovered. Place on wire racks. With a dab of melted chocolate, attach semisweet chips for eyes and a red-hot for nose. Place on waxed paper until chocolate sets.

Yield: 32 cookies

Zany thought of the day: What's the most creative cookie you have ever made and did you eat so much of it while you were making it that it made you sick?

Rolly Polly Delight

It's not often that I open an email and find myself needing a bib as drool runs down my chin. Today just so happened to be one of those days and unfortunately I was fresh out of bibs since Zany Janie doesn't seem to need them anymore. I opened an email from my sister titled "Yum", and let me tell you Yum does not even begin to do it justice! It is a recipe from Steamy Kitchen that uses Rolo chocolate candies. Let me warn you that you may need to grab a bib or towel before looking at the picture! Enjoy!

Rolo Pretzel Turtle

Ingredients:
Rolo Chocolate Candies
Mini Pretzels
Nuts-toasted pecans/almonds/hazelnuts/walnuts

Directions:
1. Preheat your oven to 350
2. Unwrap your Rolos. Place pretzels on baking sheet. Top with a Rolo.
3. Bake in oven for 3-5 minutes, until the chocolate just begins to melt. The Rolo should be soft but not completely melted.
4. Remove from oven, place on cooling rack and immediately squish the chocolate with a nut.

Zany thought of the day: Rolos really seem to get overlooked. With a chewy carmel and milk chocolate combination one would think they'd be at the top of the favorites list, but nope they get over shadowed by Snickers, Milky Way, and Reese's peanut butter cups. I'm guessing the effort it takes to unwrap each tasty morsel has something to do with the low ranking.

Following in his father's footsteps

I assumed and even expected that there would be several things that Wacky Zacky would do to follow in his father's footsteps. I just thought issues with ceiling fans would not be one of them...

Back in 2002, pre-kiddos, Papa Z and I lived in an apartment. Dessert time for Mama and Papa Z is a serious issue and not one to take lightly. Papa Z had just cut warm brownies and had them on a napkin for dessert. To be fair he decided to hold the mouthwatering brownies in the air out of my line of sight so I could choose my loot. For a normal sized person this would be fine, for Papa Z who is 6'2 and has extremely long arms this was a disastrous action. As he thrust the brownies in the air the ceiling fan whipped around and caught one of the warm gooey brownies causing an explosion of brownie bits to splatter almost every inch of the front room. To my suprise a normal size brownie expands 10,000 times it's size when hit by a ceiling fan!

Fast forward to 2008...Wacky Zacky is 2 1/2 years old and there's absolutely no way he can touch the ceiling fan...Well so I thought. We put up our Halloween decorations yesterday and both Wacky Zacky and Zany Janie can hardly contain themselves. They know that playing with the decorations is off limits. This afternoon Wacky Zacky began playing with a ghost Beanie Baby and panicked when he saw me coming. He threw the ghost in the air timing it exactly right for the ceiling fan to hit a home run. The ghost smacked into the fireplace mantel knocking down half the decorations. Frames went flying, pumpkins were smashed, and ceramic knickknacks were shattered to smithereens.

While I understand neither incident was planned ahead of time, don't you find it odd that both father and son have had a run in with a ceiling fan?

Zany thought of the day: Of all household fixtures to have a run in with...A ceiling fan? Seriously? Has anyone else out there had a run in with a ceiling fan or is this just a special Zany male trait?

Who said three's a crowd?

I have been catching up on my pile of Taste of Home magazines. My system is to look through them, mark the ones I’m interested in making, and file the magazines with my recipe books. When I make up a grocery list I pull a few of the magazines out and pick a couple of new recipes to try for dinner. The problem I am having is that I’m marking almost ALL the desserts and few of the main courses!

I have found a recipe from Taste of Home that looks soooo yummy! Some genius has decided to put THREE wonderful desserts into one fabulous dessert! They have taken the all American Chocolate Chip cookie, the filthy oozing S’more and the “close your eyes it’s so good” peanut butter cup and combined them into a treat that will leave your heart singing and your taste buds screaming for more!

PEANUT BUTTER S’MORE

Ingredients:
8 large chocolate chip cookies
4 teaspoons hot fudge ice cream topping
4 large marshmallows
4 peanut butter cups

Directions:
*Spread the bottoms of four cookies with fudge topping.
*Using a long-handled fork, grill marshmallows 6 inches from medium hot heat until golden brown, turning occasionally. Carefully place a marshmallow and a peanut butter cup on each fudge-topped cookie; top with remaining cookies. Serve immediately.

Yield: 4 servings

Zany thought of the day: What are other food combinations that you enjoy?