Bittersweet

Today is a happy-but-sad kind of a day for me -- I just said good-bye to Rocky.



Rocky was my car. My parents bought him brand-new when I was a junior in high school, and my then-five-year-old sister chose his name. I have no idea where the name Rocky came from. About four years ago, I bought him from my parents. Since he's been in the family for so long I feel like I'm losing an old friend. It'll be a good thing, though; I've been anxious for an upgrade for a while now -- something with fewer miles that needs a little less TLC. Still, I feel like my security blanket is gone. I'm venturing out into the frightening realm of used car shopping, with nothing to fall back on.

I'm also walking to work today.

Hungry Mungry

If you're familiar with Shel Silverstein's kid-friendly poems (I qualify that because some of his poems are...umm...), you'll know what a "Hungry Mungry" is. Or just picture Scott's kids, and you'll probably still get the idea.

I'm not kidding. For three little kids, they can sure chow down! And lately they've been spending a lot of time at my house during their every-other-weekend visits, which means I'm fighting to keep my fridge full. We easily go through an entire gallon of milk and a dozen eggs in two days when they're here, and between the five of us (Scott, me, and the kiddos) we can put away an entire large pizza in just minutes. They eat as much as I do -- sometimes more!

But the best part is when I let them do the cooking -- like a few weeks ago, when Aimree wanted to surprise her dad with a "secret recipe" for dessert.

This is the secret recipe:



Giant marshmallows, dipped in melted chocolate, then rolled in sprinkles until they become an explosive, sugary-crunchy conglomeration of tooth-rotting wonder.

Silly kids.

One kitchen tradition I've really come to enjoy with them is our Sunday morning muffin-making. Because Scott has Elders Quorum meetings on Sunday mornings, the kids usually sleep at my house on Saturday nights. I like to do something fun for Sunday breakfast when they're here. Muffins are easy, and the flavor possibilities are endless, so I really can't go wrong there. The kids love to help, too, so it's fun for all of us!

This week, we made two pans of banana-chocolate chip muffins....and proceeded to eat all but 3 of them by the time dinner rolled around. Madness. Good recipe, though:

Banana-Chocolate Chip Muffins

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 1/2 cups (3 large) mashed ripe bananas
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup miniature chocolate chips (I think I used half a bag of regular-sized ones)

Heat oven to 375. Line 12 muffin cups with paper baking cups. In large bowl, combine margarine and brown sugar; beat until fluffy. Add bananas, milk, vanilla and eggs; blend well.

Add flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; stir just until dry ingredients are moistened. Stir in chocolate chips. Fill prepared muffin cups 2/3 to 3/4 full.

Bake at 375 for 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 3 minutes; remove from pan. Serve warm.



Hmm. Same plate, same spot on the counter, same angle...I need to work on my photography skills.

The kids all said these were their favorite muffins so far...as if I couldn't have guessed!

Do you have a favorite?