Just the Usual…

Yikes, I didn’t realize it’s been so long since I’ve posted! As I look, I see that I have several posts I started and never finished or hit “publish” on. Oops! Not much is new, anyway. Kind of the same old, same old around here.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Today Laura and I baked cookies. Honestly, I don’t bake cookies a lot because in the past I’ve never gotten them right. They always burn or come out too hard. But I think I’ve finally learned to take them out of the oven just before you think they’re actually done. These were Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies that were a band fundraiser from a year or two ago. The high school band sells cookies-in-a-jar and I always buy them. Finally I’m using them up!

I’ve been trying so many great recipes lately. I really need to put some up here on the blog to share (and for easy reference later on). Here are a few.

Peanut Butter Pie
Classic White Bread (Bread Machine)
Sheetpan Crunchwrap
Alison Roman’s Spiced Chickpea Stew
Hearty Turkey Pot Pie

Yes, I think I need to get these up here on the blog for sure! In fact, I will probably be making another turkey pot pie this weekend. It was so delicious and filling!

Another thing I’ve been doing is sewing masks. Here in New York we are supposed to wear them when out in public, and given that I work with the general public I personally plan to wear one for several months once libraries are open again. I know some people in this country do not view COVID as a real threat, but I am not taking chances. I know of several people who have suffered through it, one who almost died, and one who did die. So I have made several for my family, my brother’s family, my parents, and a few neighbors.

The other day my cat Margo kept me company while I sewed away. She loves chasing the spool, which is cute unless you’re actually trying to get things done!

And then yesterday I decided to treat myself and purchase the new Erin Condren Daily Duo planner. As you may know, I absolutely love EC planners and I’ve been using them for several years now. The hourly has suited me well in the past, but I am really excited about a coiled daily planner. Schedule on one side, to-do list on the other, and room for notes? Yes, please!

I figured that over these last 7 weeks of quarantine I have not been buying any extras for myself, so I went for the splurge! Trust me, it is so worth it. (You can get $10 off your first Erin Condren order if you sign up using my referral link.) So that is happy mail I am surely looking forward to getting!

I guess that’s about all. I’ll try to get these recipes up soon and not be away for so long again. A little over a week ago I made the decision to deactivate my personal Facebook page and honestly, I only regret not doing it sooner. I never realized how many hours I wasted scrolling mindlessly. Do I miss feeling connected to people? A little bit, yes, but I feel that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. Anyway, my point is that now I want to try to use some of that Facebook time for blogging and craft projects. A much better use of time, in my opinion!

A Quiet Easter

Easter 2020

Well, much like everyone else, we had a very quiet Easter! It wasn’t bad, though. In a way it was nice to have such a relaxed day — no one had to leave, so we could eat whenever we wanted. Of course, the Easter bunny still brought the kids baskets of candy. Usually he brings a few extras, but this year… well, candy was what he could swing, LOL…

Easter 2020

The weather was pretty nice. The sun was in and out, but it wasn’t freezing cold and it didn’t rain. We set up an egg hunt for the kids in the yard, but instead of candy in the eggs we put clues and set them on a mini treasure hunt. The prize at the end was a jumbo Reese’s egg! It was silly, but fun.

Dinner was delicious. I made a roast turkey breast, Brussels sprouts, mashed potatoes, gravy, salad, and cheddar-olive bread (I’ll be posting the recipe for this tomorrow). Everything was delicious and I still have turkey left over. I think I’ll make a pot of creamy turkey & rice soup.

Easter 2020
Easter 2020
Easter 2020

Laura and I had make double-chocolate cupcakes on Saturday, so we decorated a few with jelly beans and had those for dessert. They were just from an Aldi box mix, but wow — they had a delicious, rich chocolate flavor!

Easter 2020

Truly, it didn’t feel like a holiday, but it was still a nice day together! I hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend.

How to Make Whipped Coffee (Dalgona Coffee)

So, if you have an Instagram account, no doubt you have seen photos of people showing off their whipped coffee creations. They look absolutely delicious, and I was intrigued! When I read over the ingredients list, I had a hard time believing that what you start with will create that luscious cream, so I had to try it for myself!

Whipped Coffee (Dalgona Coffee)

A fun, creamy way to create a beautiful glass of iced coffee using pantry ingredients.
Course: Drinks

Equipment

  • Hand Mixer
  • Whisk

Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp. Instant Coffee
  • 2 Tbsp. Sugar
  • 2 Tbsp. Hot water

Instructions

  • Using a hand whisk or electric mixer, whip all ingredients together until they form a creamy consistency. Once the mixture resembles whipped cream, you're done!
  • Add ice and milk to a glass and top with whipped coffee. Stir whipped coffee into your drink to combine everything into a delicious treat.

This creates a really strong coffee flavor, so keep that in mind. Apparently, this food trend originated in South Korea and was nicknamed “Dalgona Coffee” because it resembles the look of a popular street snack with the same name in South Korea.

It’s a fun way to mix up an iced coffee because you’ll feel like you just ordered a fancy drink at a cafe, even if you can’t leave your house!