Life with Dylan

Category: baking

  • Grandma’s Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

    Some people have childhood memories of warm chocolate cookies and a glass of milk – for me it’s oatmeal raisin cookies. My grandma made the best oatmeal raisin cookies and I remember helping her make them just like it was yesterday. I would kneel on the chair so that I could reach the counter and help her measure the ingredients. When she wasn’t looking I would sneak some of the cookie dough – a taste for each phase. First the sugar and butter, then when the flour was added, and finally when the oats were mixed in.

    Rainy days are always the best days for baking, so yesterday I decided to make a batch of my grandma’s oatmeal raisin cookies. Oh, the memories it brought back. I tasted the dough at each phase of the mixing just like I did when I was a child more than 30 years ago.

    And when the cookies came out of the oven …

    I ate one. OK, so I ate two. Still warm with all the chewy goodness melting in my mouth.
    When was the last time you made cookies?

    Do you have a favorite cookie from your childhood that you make?

  • Gingerbread Inspirations

    Most of us think of a gingerbread house as a simple house with four walls that is decorated with candy and frosting. Until recently, this is what I always aspired to create when making my gingerbread house.

    But why stop at just ordinary – when you can make extraordinary!

    Think outside the box and use sugar cubes to make an igloo, use candy corn to make a hauntingly cute house – Jack Skellington style, or maybe you like fairies – make Tink’s house … the possibilities are endless.

    After visiting the Science of Gingerbread Exhibit at Discovery Science Center, I have been inspired to go beyond the ordinary. Who knows, maybe I will make a gingerbread house for Valentines Day and Easter next year. With enough practice and creativity, I may even attempt to make one like the penguins and igloo theme I saw at the exhibit next Christmas.

    https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf

    Forget the kits and start using your imagination. Anyone can build their own gingerbread house with a little help from the gingerbread men and these simple step-by-step instructions.

    What will your next gingerbread house look like?

  • Another Successful Baking Project

    What’s more fun than making a cake for your child’s birthday? Not much, but making these cakes and cupcakes for my friend Roxanne’s son Sam was a blast! Sure the baking insanity took over my life for two nights and the 30 minute car ride to the party was filled with anxiety that the cake would be destroyed … but his smile when he said “Light-neen M-keen” and “May-ter” was so worth it all.

    Photos courtesy of Roxanne Hack.

  • Snickerdoodles Recipe Swap

    I don’t know about you, but I love getting new recipes to try out.
    I had the opportunity to work with Kyna over at Great Expectations this week as part of her Quick Recipe of the Week feature. Each Monday, Kyna features a guest blogger and the result is an amazing recipe swap!

    Head over to Great Expections and get my Grandmothers recipe for delicious Snickerdoodles! Who knows, you may find some other recipes to try out like I did.

  • Dylan’s Lego Birthday – Part 1

    Last week was Dylan’s 8th birthday and the festivities seemed to go on forever. Maybe that is why I kept putting off writing this blog post. Or maybe it is because I was hoping for something a little more exciting to write about. So much time and preparation went into planning Dylan’s LEGO Birthday party. Everything he wanted, I somehow managed to make happen. The only thing I couldn’t do was make people show up!

    Yes, I said it, people didn’t show up to his party. I wonder what posses a parent to RSVP with a yes and confirm via email only days before the party and then not show up. No call, no email, no text … nothing. Only three kids showed up and two of them were twins, so that doesn’t really count. So basically, two people showed up out of the seven who said they would be here. Well, we made the best of it and still had fun!

    The living room was transformed into a Lego-wonderland and the kids had time to build whatever they wanted. Some of the creations were great! We even had a jar filled with Lego’s and the person who guessed the closest to how many Lego’s were in it won a prize. I knew there was a good reason for Dylan to own so many Lego’s.

    Next we played Lego Bingo with a great template I found  from Amy at LivingLocurto.com The kids loved this game so much that we played three times! Since all the kids didn’t show up, I had extra prizes to give away … see I found one positive already!



    Using Lego mini kits we also had races to see who could build the kit the fastest. However, I was so busy watching the kids that I forgot to take pictures of this. Oops!

    Mini Corn Dogs, Cheese Balls, and Fresh Fruit
    Cake designed by Dylan – Made by Mom

    All in all, the kids had a good time. The birthday kit from the Lego Store was huge hit with kids too!

    I guess the mom in me just feels bad that my son couldn’t have had a better party. The party that he had dreamed about.

    Is there something wrong with home birthday parties? Do parents only want to go if the party is at a pool or a bounce house like Jump ‘n Jammin? Do I need to pay hundreds of dollars on a game truck and invite 30 people to get kids to come to my son’s birthday party? A birthday party is not a place to drop off all your kids (siblings included) so you can have the day to yourself. A birthday party is for the birthday child and his or her friends.

    I would love to hear your thoughts on this!

  • Mom’s Serenity

    Everyone has their own way of relaxing and finding serenity. Some people enjoy long walks in nature, others a quiet room with a good book, and some find serenity in the kitchen.

    Today this is where I felt at peace. Armed with my Kitchen Aid mixer, flour, sugar, eggs, frosting bags, decorator tips, and all cupcake paraphernalia at my fingertips. For me, there is just something about using my creativity and baking skills to make something so delicate and so sweet. Some may find making cupcakes from scratch and decorating cupcakes too stressful and would rather just buy a box mix and spread the frosting with a knife. That’s ok … just not for me.

    Those who know me, know that I love any excuse to bake and tomorrow being Valentine’s Day made the decision that much easier. After a long week and a crazy Saturday, Dylan and I needed to relax and find peace today. (No, Dylan did not help bake today … he chose to find his serenity playing Mario Sports Mix on the Wii)

    Nothing too fancy today, meaning I did not get out the fondant and make cute little hearts. Instead I opted for pre-made conversation hearts that I had. Although I won’t eat more than 1 or 2 cupcakes, the serenity I found while baking was wonderful. I’m sure my friends and coworkers will enjoy a sweet vanilla cupcake with pink buttercream or a rich red velvet cupcake with cram cheese frosting. 
    What is your favorite cupcake flavor?

  • How Much Is Too Much?

    After school sports and clubs, Cub Scouts, homework, reading, chores … when do you say enough is enough? Do mom’s really have time for all this, or is it just because I am a single mom who works full time that I find this all a little crazy? Sure, we want our kids to be well rounded and participate in a variety of activities to find out what they really like, but when do they actually have time to be a kid? Dylan has tennis on Wednesday after school, Science Club on Thursday after school, Cub Scout activities and badges to earn, and about 40 minutes of homework plus a minimum 30 minutes of reading each night. I feel bad making him do chores and clean up his toys all the time because then he would have no time to play outside, watch TV, or play his video games. Now I know that TV and video games are not a priority, but the poor kid has been in school all day and then comes home to do more work. Kids need an outlet just like adults do.

    Almost every time he asks the kids next door to play they say they can’t play. Their mom has them in so many different activities (Art class, Music lessons, Singing lessons, Soccer, Running Club, and who knows what else) that these kids have no time to just PLAY. Is playing a thing of the past? Am I a bad mom because I don’t sign Dylan up for everything under the sun?

    I let him choose what he wants to do and he likes the activities he does. Cub Scouts is something that he enjoys with me and his Grandpa and the after school activities are teaching him new things and sportsmanship. We spend time on weekends doing art projects at home, puzzles, and he enjoys cooking and baking with me. So why sign him up for another class to learn art when I can do it with him and spend quality time together?