Monster Cookies

Spring cannot come soon enough! In the meantime, a warm oven and some fresh cookies will do the trick. I'm sure everyone has a great recipe for Monster Cookies, but here's mine. Keep in mind, this makes 6 dozen cookies to it's probably wise to half the recipe.

6 eggs
2 c. sugar
2 c. brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp Karo syrup
1 1/2 tsp good vanilla
4 tsp baking soda
3 c. chunky peanut butter
2 sticks (1/2 lb) margarine
9 c. oatmeal
12 oz chocolate chips
12 oz. M&M's

Mix all together (wet, then dry is best). Drop by spoonfuls on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10-13 minutes (this really depends on the size). I like under baked cookies, so just watch your first batch and go from there.

Half Marathon Meal

Over the weekend, I made a nice hearty Mostaccioli, butter lettuce salad with pears, bread from Boulangerie du Monde (the BEST french bakery in Cedarburg) and fresh strawberries for dessert. Mr. Evans has decided this will be his carbo load supper the night before his half marathon in a few weeks.

Here's the recipe for my family's Sausage & Mostaccioli...

1 1/2 lb. bulk pork sausage or ground beef (we used only 1 lb because our cow was butchered that way)
1/2 c. chopped onion
1/2 c. chopped green pepper (optional)
1/4 tsp garlic salt
16 oz. can diced tomatoes
16 oz. can tomato paste
1/8 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp dried oregano
8 oz. cooked mostaccioli noodles (we used a bit more than this, I think the box was 12 oz)
6 oz. mozzarella cheese, shredded

Cook sausage, onion and green pepper until meat is browned and vegetables are tender. Add meat mixture to the cooked pasta noodles along with the tomatoes, tomato paste, 1/2 cup water, salt, pepper and oregano. I mix this all in a big stock pot where I've already cooked the noodles (less dishes)! Stir in half of the cheese and transfer to a 9x13" casserole dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Add cheese on top and broil or bake until cheese is melted. Enjoy!

Margarita Mocktail

A few days ago, I was really becoming anxious for warmer weather. In my mind, what comes with warmer weather? Summer cocktails and the lake! Since basil martini's and margarita's will not be calling my name this summer, I decided to sample a "mocktail" version for my drinking pleasures.

Unfortunately, there is not a version of non-alcoholic red wine, so this will suffice as a fun mocktail.

Here's the recipe:
- Line rim with salt using lime juice.
- Fill glass with ice.
- Pour in equal parts limeade and O'Douls (non-alcoholic beer, hehe). I check online and it says it would take about 12 O'Douls to equal 1 Miller Lite. I think I'm safe. :)
- Cheers!

I also have been enjoying cranberry juice and La Croix, tonic and a lime twist, or even a standby from my younger days... the Shirley Temple!

Pretzel Turtles and Brown Hair

So, the box said "golden blonde" (I'm usually a blonde with highlights, but decided an all over color would be easier). Nonetheless, this is what I got. It's a little darker than normal!! What do you think? We added a few highlights a few days later and trimmed the ends a bit, so it looks quite different again today. Word of warning - hair color is not, I repeat not, predictable when preggers. Mr. Evans snapped this photo while we were making some pretzel turtles. Don't mind my casual outfit. :)

My cousin, Melissa, made the recipe over the holidays and I thought I'd make it for a sweet treat for March Madness weekend. It couldn't be easier.

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. On a baking sheet, assemble square butter pretzels topped with a Rolo. Bake for 4 minutes. While warm, top with a pecan and press down a bit. Let cool and enjoy! I think this recipe would also be great with a cashew or two. I'll have to try that next time.

Happy First Day of Spring!

We just finished a comforting meal of Ina's Roast Turkey Breast and Glazed Carrots. Perhaps I'll post a photo or two tomorrow. It was the perfect way to end a dreary, rainy Sunday. But, I'm not complaining. At least it's not snow!

I'm just browsing online while Mr. Evans is ironing and watching March Madness. What a guy, seriously!!

I came across this item while browsing on Pinterest. I just love the words and could find the perfect spot in our house for it. Perhaps I'll ask for it for my birthday... in September. :)

Preparing for next year...

How cute will this be for next year?!!

At my checkup this week, Dr. B indicated Baby Evans is growing as to be expected. And, the heartbeat was 152! In about 4 weeks, we'll be able to find out the sex of the baby. Who hoo! Still no baby bump (per se), but I'll post a photo when it actually arrives.

Slainte!

Cheers! May the luck of the Irish be with you!

We just love to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. The Evans family history, my husband's gallivanting in Ireland for a semester, and friends and stories we continue to share today all add to the richness and fun of the holiday. I'll miss our usual celebration of visiting Mo's Irish Pub, the Harp, County Clare, seeing the Trinity Irish Dancers, and drinking some green beer (or Jameson or the Knot, if you are anyone but me). Next year we'll venture out with our baby. Maybe... :)

This year, we're doing this differently, but equally as exciting. We started a bit early this weekend making this non-traditional Irish(ish) meal. Our festivities continue on Thursday with a Gaelic Storm concert downtown! Can't wait!

A wee bit of something to drink (one alcoholic and one non-alcoholic, of course).

Reuben quesadillas. Thanks to a quick search I found this recipe.

A favorite of mine to bake for St. Patrick's Day - Ina's Irish Soda Bread.

Let's Bring Back

I recently ordered a load of books for my next grad school class and decided to ordered a "fun" book each for Mr. Evans, myself and our baby in utero. Despite the fact that we both read all the time, there is nothing like a delivery of hardcover goodness! I ordered this for the husband and this for the baby (aka parents-to-be who are looking to become educated).

My purchase was this piece of total brain candy. Nothing serious, but Ms. Lesley Blume's book is altogether exciting. The official title, Let's Bring Back: An Encyclopedia of Forgotten-Yet-Delightful, Chic, Useful, Curious, and Otherwise Commendable Things from Times Gone By, sums it up.

Some of my favorite suggestions of things to bring back are...

- Charm School
- Clambakes
- Bing Crosby
- Curls on Little Girls
- Dance Halls
- Dressing Up
- Good Crackerjacks prizes
- Palm Readings
- Tailoring

What would you bring back?

Here It Goes...

I just happen to love rhubarb - its big forest green leaves, its hardiness, its adaptability, its color, and most importantly, its connection to my Grandma. Before she passed away nearly two years ago, most gracefully, my Grandma Lorraine grew rhubarb and made dozens of recipes from it every summer. My favorite happens to be her Rhubarb & Blueberry Jam, which also happens to be the only jam/jelly I eat at home! My mom and I continue to make it every summer in her honor (and because we love it).

I'm not sure why, but for some reason I'm apprehensive about sharing this blog with friends and family. At this point, only Mr. Evans, my parents and Lindsay (my blog designer) know that I started this little project. I kind of enjoy this as a private space or peaceful escape at the end of the day. Nonetheless, it will also be fun to share fun photos, recipes and memories with friends and family. So here goes... friends and family... enjoy it and take it for what it is! :)

Just like linen is crisp and clean, and rhubarb is hearty and sweet ... my hope is that life goes the same way. In this crazy world of ours, why must everything be so complicated? This blog is my effort to keep things simple.

Love,
KRE