Cooking again

It seems that everytime I get the kitchen cleaned up, it's time to start again. I like when I have extra kids over, they become my guinea pigs (watch out, Jen). My kids will eat almost anything, but my girlfriends boys do not. She had complained that her boys would eat nothing except instant oatmeal. So I tried a new recipe out on them. Success! Everyone had seconds, and I think they would have eaten more if I had had more available. Nice change from oatmeal, which I don't mind eating, but do get tired of.

Baked Oatmeal Squares (compliments of All recipes)

1 egg, lightly beaten
1 1/2 cups quick-cooking oats
1/2 cup sugar (I used brown sugar instead)
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup chopped nuts
1/4 cup raisins
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

DIRECTIONS
Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Pour into a greased 8-in. square baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25 minutes. Cut into squares.
I let them set for a few minutes and they were still a little crumbly, but overall were great. I would perhaps say they gobbled it up because I hadn't fed them, but typical boys they have eaten non-stop.
I'm off now to clean the kitchen. I would like to mop the floor as it sticks to one's feet, but I might as well wait until they all leave (tonight).

Squash Muffins

OK, with the money we spend on groceries (and most of our children are little), I am really trying hard not to throw anything away. Unfortunately I usually don't remember to eat the leftovers in the fridge. So, I try to recycle my food-wait---it's not as bad as you think!
Tonight we had butternut squash. Not my favorite, mind you, but I know it's healthier than that pizza I really wanted to order:) My family doesn't quite finish one large squash, usually I have about a 1/4 of the squash left over. Publix's winter magazine had several recipes for squash. So I tried one of their recipes and made Squash muffins. They really aren't too bad--- although I probably will add a little more brown sugar and spices next time. Breakfast is served!!!
Try it for yourself:

2 c. all purpose flour
1/3 c. sugar
(I added 1/4 c. brown sugar as well, next time I will add about 1/3 c. brown)
2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. ginger (more next time)
1/2 t. ground cinnamon (more next time)
1 egg, beaten
3/4 c. soymilk (I don't keep soymilk, so I used reg milk)
1 c. mashed cooked squash (butternut or acorn)
1/4. c canola oil
1/2 c. cranberries (I love cranberries, will probably add more next time)

Lightly coat muffin pans or use liners.
Mix flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and spices.
In separate bowl, mix remaining ingredients except for cranberries. Add wet mixture & cranberries to flour mixture; stir just until moistened.
Bake @400 degrees about 15 min or until golden brown.

Family Circus

I have that little boy from the Family Circus. You know, the little boy that roams all over the yard back and forth, at least a 1000 steps, and when mom calls him in and asks what he's been doing all day, he says nothing?!? Yup, him. He has shaggy blond hair, beautiful brown eyes, and a great smile (he uses it to get him out of trouble!!). As I was reading the funnies yesterday, there was the Family Circus. There was the boy(picture to left), coloring on the walls, scaring his little brother (in our case, making him laugh harder), banging on the pots and singing, climbing up to get cookies out of the jar (he did this the night before last), and hitting his sister on the head with a ball. Grandma says to him, "You're being a real handful today", to which Jeffy replies, "No, Grandma, I'm only 3, I won't be a real handful 'til I'm five!" Yikes!!! Will I (or he) survive to 5?!? I'm sure the neighbors only think we have 1 child as his is usually the only one I call to --get down, stop jumping, stay off your brother/sister, turn off the water, no, you can't slingshoot your brother across the yard! I do love that little stinker though!
On another note, I didn't spend any money today. Not for a lack of wanting, though. Personally I would prefer NOT to pay the house payment and go shopping instead....the practical side so far took over though, and I didn't go.
Looking for something sweet but not much in the kitchen? I made these tonight for dessert for my/neighborhood kids. My mom use to make these for us. Quick to fix, and hits that sugar spot.
Flour tortillas
Veg oil
Butter
Powdered sugar
(I didn't say healthy!)

Heat the oil over med heat. If desired, cut tortillas into smaller shape (I usually cut in quarters). Fry tortillas till brown, both sides. Rub butter on 1st side, sprinkle w/powdered sugar. Turn and repeat.

Kids

Well, the best laid plans....gone bad. My daughter, got sick after we got to my friend's house (she was to watch them). Yucky eyes, fever and overall sluggishness. So, after visiting with friend, me and hunny loaded up 3 of the 4 (4 stayed to spend the night with her son), and came home. We watched Juno instead. Good movie, although I'm afraid that's how life must really be like out there! Daughter's feeling better today, and is excited about going to Seaworld tomorrow. I spent the last of my grocery money + some at Publix. I am really trying hard to stay under $100, how do those that do it for $40 a week do it????? I was over by $18. I did have to buy formula since the nursery forgot to put it back in my bag last Sunday. I'll get it tomorrow, and I should be good for the next couple of weeks. I guess I'd better get back to life, I have a french toast to put in the fridge and floor to mop. BTW---I love this recipe, I prepare it the night before, get up and put it in the oven. Try it sometime!

Overnight French Toast II
2 tablespoons corn syrup
1/2 cup butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 (1 pound) loaf French bread, sliced
5 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt


Combine the corn syrup , butter, and brown sugar in a small saucepan and simmer until the sugar has melted. Pour this mixture over the bottom of a greased 9x13 inch casserole dish.
Place the bread slices over the sugar-butter mixture in the dish. In a bowl, beat together the eggs, milk, vanilla, and salt; pour this mixture over the bread. Cover the dish and let it stand in the refrigerator overnight.
The next morning, preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Uncover the pan and bake for 45 minutes. Serve while hot or warm or the French toast will harden in the pan. It can be reheated. (compliments of Allrecipes.com)