Sweet Temptation

Whenever Hubby is away, I tend to cook all the things he doesn't care much for. I eat baked potatoes and cereal a lot too, but there are some meals that I just can't resist making at least once a year. One of my favorite meals my mom made when I was a kid involved the following three ingredients. Yup, that's it. You make the mac-n-cheese, drain the peas and tuna and just throw it all in together. Most people turn up their nose at it, but it really is good! Kiddo is not a big fan of tuna, so I pulled some mac out for him before mixing everything together. We had a nice, easy, cheap dinner!

Another thing I like to do when Hubby is away (or when I am bored, depressed, happy, hungry, full, tired, wired, etc. ) is bake. I really wanted brownies, but didn't feel like making them from scratch. The problem was I didn't have a mix on hand either. I did however, have a chocolate cake mix and various other things and after a bit of digging, found a YUMMY easy brownie recipe that I could work with. All you need is a cake mix, a box of pudding, some chocolate chips and 2 cups of milk. I had the chocolate cake mix, but only vanilla pudding, so I added some cocoa powder. I had the chips and also a bag of mint chocolate chip that needed to be used. Let me just say - YUM! These are the most oooey gooey brownies I've made in a while. If you want to make them, mix all ingredients together (just the powders, the chips and the milk), spread in a greased 13x9 pan and bake for about 40 minutes (give or take) at 350 degrees.

And, because I am the coolest mom ever (and there weren't any raw eggs in the mixture) I let Kiddo lick the bowl. Let me just say he was one happy boy! Just look at this face!

He could not get enough. I got to taking pics of him and asking him if it was good - his response was something between "mmmmmmmmm" and "YES Mommy!"

I asked him to show me his chocolate face. When I showed him the picture, he says "Mommy I have a chocolate moustache!"

He quickly abandoned the provided spoons and dug in with both hands.

He got it everywhere...

Can you see that he even got chocolate up in his nose???!? Yup, that's my boy! And as if that wasn't enough...

I think they got the Kiddo seal of approval! Shall we call it the Kiddo Treat of the Month? Of course!

Until,

D :)

Mele Kalikimaka

Sing it with me now!

Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say,

On a bright Hawaiian Christmas Day,

That's the island greeting that we send to you

From the land where palm trees sway,

Here we know that Christmas will be green and bright,

The sun to shine by day and all the stars at night,

Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii's way

To say "Merry Christmas to you."

Ahh, the holidays! I just love Holiday music. It is by far my favorite and if I didn't risk banishment from the community I would play it all year long! There are a few "hits" that I can live without though - maybe hear them once a year and be done with it, you know. The above tune is one such song I can live without. Feliz Navidad is another. I like to hear it once, but man, they play it every hour here! It drives me insane!!! You too? (oh come on, admit you sing along, especially on the "ah HA!" part! ;) )

Anyway, I was thinking today I would let you in on Kiddo's food of the month. Last month it was by far, frozen red seedless grapes. Kiddo ate them by the handful daily. (oy vey the diapers!) About a week or two ago he tired of them and wondered aimlessly through the land of food, searching for his next favorite treat. I am happy to say we have found a winner, Clementine Oranges!! If you have never sampled these little beauties, run out and get you a box. Easy to peel, very little stringiness and fuss, nutritious snack that they are, Kiddo has about 3 or 4 a day. My hands have a permanent orange smell to them now - ahh fresh!

For some reason, every time I peel one of these little nectar nuggets, the song Mele Kalikimaka plays in my head. *sigh* Hopefully that faze will pass soon!

I still haven't decided on a PMS treat of the month. I am baking something new every day so there really is no leader in the midst. Yesterday I made a wonderful Apple Banana Bread that I am hoping will defer my attention from the never ending supply of chocolate goodies we have lying around the house. And though I have not made the first thing from them yet, I simply cannot resist buying a $3.50 bag of mint-chocolate chip morsels every time I go to the grocery store. $3.50?!?!?! geeze!

Ahh well, that's what New Year's weight loss resolutions are for, right?
Until,
D