Coda's issues

So, we still don't know what Coda's issue is, as they have take x-rays and found nothing significant enough to suggest that he is having any bladder infection or stones.  Glad that he is not sick, but what the hell is the reason for him peeing all over the rug and carpet???  Well, after getting back from a Memorial Weekend camping trip with Matt and Morgan I decided to do a deep cleaning so no pet could ever smell urine in the carpet again.  I ended up ripping up 1/2 of the carpet on the landing and cleaning the padding as well as the front and back side of the carpet.  Next, Ben tackled the brand new rug that Coda decided to "christen" as his own, cleaning the front and back of that as well, trying to do so quickly as it began to lightening, thunder and rain.  So now as we wait for those to dry and hopefully become fresh and clean, we have installed a baby gate to keep Coda out of the stairway.  We recently found out that "Skinny" aka Ziggy can slip his narrow little hips through the gate and get through, and taunts Coda from the other side.  Unfortunately or not, he then cannot figure out how to get back through the way he came from and cries from the other side to be let back in.  Ah, the life of cat owners.  I guess we will be prepared for when we have children and won't have to spend $60 on a gate at that time as we already took care of it.  Stay tuned for more of the cat's shenanigans to be posted throughout the year.

Autism Walk-June 7th, 2008

Hey!

I am walking on June 7th to support four of my respite kids who are diagnosed with Autism and am trying to raise $200 to fund research.  Just calling out to anyone who is willing to donate even $10-20 to sponsor my walk and do our part.  Anything helps!  Go to this website to sponsor a walker on our team:

www.walkforautismnow.org/desmoines/team/therespiteconnection

Thanks again!

Stacey

Melt In Your Mouth Peanut Butter Cookies

So I got this recipe from Simply Recipes Blog, which you can find a link to on the right.  I have never made Peanut Butter Cookies before and have tried several recipes on this website with success and decided to try again.  Wow!  Is all I can say.  You can make these cookies however you like, whether that is a little under done and soft or cooked a bit longer to make the edges crispy with a melt in your mouth middle.  I cooked them at 300 for about 15 minutes which made them so melt in your mouth, soft and chewy.  I also rolled them in white sugar prior to pressing them, to give them that extra sweetness I remember from childhood.  Hope you enjoy!

1/2 cup of each of the following: sugar, packed brown sugar, butter (at room temperature), peanut butter

1 egg

1 1/4 cup flour

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

Cream the butter for 2 mins.  Add sugars and cream 2 more mins.  Mix in peanut butter and egg.  Mix together dry ingredients: flour, soda, powder, salf.  Stir into sugar/butter mix.

Wrap dough in plastic and refrigerate 3 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 375.  Shape into 1 1/4 inch balls.  Place approx 3 inches apart on ungreased sheet.  Flatten in a crisscross pattern, the true way to make a peanut butter cookie, and bake until light brown 9-10 minutes.  Cool for a minute and then transfer to a rack to completely cool.  

Makes 2 dozen.

Super Yummy Asian Salad

So I got a gift card for my birthday to Bed Bath and Beyond and couldn't think of something I absolutely needed, so I walked around the store for nearly an hour with poor Ben in tow to find enough stuff to spend $20.  Of course I found something and that something was a lettuce knife, among other things.  I then went out and bought a nice head of lettuce to try out the new knife.  This morning I got things all ready and chopped up my first head of lettuce with the new, might I say amazing, plastic serrated knife.  Now what, I thought, as it was only 10:30, well past breakfast, not near enough to lunch.  Eh....I was going to make a salad.  

Poking around the refrigerator, I found some leftover marinated chicken, asian toasted sesame dressing, carrot and almonds.  In the pantry was some mandarin oranges and the salad was complete.  I always shied away from adding fruit to my salad but I tell you it is the yummiest flavor when mixed with the sesame dressing and chicken.  It was the best meal I have made myself in the longest time!  Try it yourself...just add your favorites and presto....easy, healthy(depending on your favorites), delicious meal!

Angelfood Birthday

This is my birthday cake.  Yes, I made it for myself, but it is the cake I have had every year since I can remember and I wanted it!  My mom used to make this cake for me and I remember watching her put it all together and then hide it in the cake platter in the fridge.  I think YUM every time I see it so I wanted to share it with you all as my birthday fast approaches.

1 store bought Angelfood Cake (you can make one if you like, but to make it super easy you can buy it)

1 can of cherry pie filling

1 tub of cool whip, I used lite (tastes the same)

some powdered sugar to thicken up the cool whip

Cut the cake in half and put enough cherries to your liking in between the layers.  Then put the top of the cake back on.  Mix the tub of cool whip with powdered sugar, just enough to stiffen up the cool whip a bit so it won't run off of the cake.  Use too much and it will be slimy.  Use your best judgment.  (Mom didn't have a measurement for me!)  Cover the entire cake with your yummy cool whip frosting, including the inside.  Once finished, decorate the top with a few cherries and then put the remaining pie filling in the center of the cake.  Voila!  Quick easy and yummy desert.  Especially when you have guests coming and don't have time to spend baking!  Hope you enjoy my "birthday cake" as much as I do.