Little Red Riding Hood Cape

A recent visit to Pickity Place (a restaurant housed in the cottage used for the illustrations of the Golden Book version of Little Red Riding Hood) inspired me to create this cape for my daughter.

Yummy PB Chocolate Cookies

Yeah, this was a good idea. I added a little sugar to peanut butter and refrigerated it for about 1 hour. When it was managable, I rolled it into balls and froze them. I then whipped up a chocolate cookie recipe and made small ciruclar dough balls on the cookie sheet. After the peanut butter was fairly well frozen, I placed it on top of the cookies and then covered it with another layer of dough. I baked them for 8 minutes. Delicious!

Sugar Scrub Update

I think I have finally hit upon a sugar scrub that I'm happy with. Here's the recipe-- enjoy!
1 c. granulated sugar (or brown sugar)
1/4 c. body oil
1 t. unscented soap
few drops of essential oil
few drops of vitamin E oil

This scrub seems to exfoliate, soften AND wash clean.

Meatless Monday

Every week we try to make one day a meatless day. Lately, my meatless dinners have come from the Moosewood Restaurant Low Fat Favorites cookbook. The meals have been so good that no one has missed the meat at all! Tonight's dinner was sweet potato and black bean burritos. They were very easy to make and even the toddler and baby liked them. I had to modify them slightly-- here's the recipe I used:

4 c. sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 28 oz can black beans, drained and rinced
large handful cilantro
1 large onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 T. canned green chiles
Juice of one lemon
4 t. cumin
2 t. coriander
salt and pepper to taste
8 whole wheat tortillas

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly coat baking dish with cooking spray.
Put sweet potatoes in a pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for 7-8 mins or until fork tender. When they are finished, drain and allow them to cool slightly. While they are cooking, saute onions and garlic in a little oil. When onions soften, add green chiles and cook another minute or two. Stir in spices, cook for a couple of minutes and remove from heat. Place potatoes, beans, cilantro and lemon juice in the food processor. Add a little salt and pepper and puree until smooth. Combine this mixture with the onions, fill the tortillas burrito style and place in the baking dish. Cook for about 20 minutes.

Eat and enjoy!

Spa Baskets

I know, I know, it's only August. With two small children, though, Christmas might as well be around the corner. Plus, if I plan to make most of my Christmas gifts this year, I need to get started. Project one: spa baskets. So far, my crocheted washcloths are coming along well. I love that I can customize the baskets to each recipient's taste. For example, my cousin has a beach themed bathroom so I crocheted two orange starfish washcloths. I'll add a homemade beach-y scented sugar scrub, bath salts and bath bombs and have a perfect customized Christmas gift.
Right now, I'm working on perfecting my sugar scrubs. I have four scrubs that my husband and I are testing (and retesting...)
Scrub #1:
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup extra light olive oil
1/2 teaspoon Vitamin E
few drops of essential oil
few drops of food coloring

Scrub #2:
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup extra light olive oil
2 T. liquid soap
1/2 T. Vitamin E
few drops of essential oil
few drops of food coloring

Scrub #3
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 c. mineral oil
few drops of essential oil
few drops of food coloring

Scrub #4
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup mineral oil
2 T. liquid soap
few drops of essential oil
few drops of food coloring

I've scrubbed so much that I'm surprised I have any skin left! So far, I think I like the ones with the soap because they don't seem to leave the oily residue that the non-soap ones do. Also, I like the idea of using olive oil, but I'm afraid that it will spoil easier than mineral oil. Hmmmm.....