My New Favorite Play Dough On Earth is Almost the Same Thing as Getting a Hand Massage at a Luxurious Spa

It's that time when the school year is plummeting top speed toward summer break and the entire school feels as if it's about to get a speeding ticket at any given moment.  Obviously the perfect time to pull out all the stops at home too, and head for the messy zone.

To that end, I discovered my new favorite-play-dough-on-earth.  I made it a little differently, because I didn't want to waste my good vanilla or good cocoa on something that would ultimately end up in the trash.

I can't even stand store bought play dough.  Or chalk for that matter.  And that's why I'm a preschool teacher.

But the coconut oil and oatmeal feel so nice, and coconut oil is supposed to be GREAT for your nails.  So here's what I did:

1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups oatmeal
1 cup water
2 tablespoons coconut oil
a few drops of orange essential oil (for smell, because I didn't want to use up my vanilla.  I think you could use anything)

Stir dry stuff together, stir in water and oil, knead in coconut oil.  Knead for three minutes.

Now that I'm looking at the recipe more carefully (which I hardly ever do), it says one cup of flour and two cups of oatmeal, which probably would have come out EVEN BETTER.

Have a great summer all and don't forget to visit me at Do Try This at Home, since that's where I mostly hang out internet-wise these days!

Me Cook Pretty One Day

This is how I cook:

I find recipes on Pinterest.  I pick a couple that I like, combine them, throw out any ingredients we don't have plus any that I don't like.  Then I add in whatever strikes me as yummy or at least available.

The kids are used to it, but they don't like the part that goes,

Them - "Can you make that yummy chicken thing again?"
Me - "What yummy chicken thing?"
Them - "You know...it had chicken and noodles and you made it last week?"
Me - "Oh yeah I do think I remember that.  I wonder how I made it?"

So, today this is a cooking blog, just so I can remember how I made this pudding.  It's called:

Rice Pudding with Bourbon Soaked Cranberries

Or Whiskey soaked.  I don't really know the difference.  I'm sure they're both good.

I had to take pictures.  Because on a cooking blog, it's never enough to make something.  You have to tell it's entire life story.

First things first.  Get the dried cranberries nice and drunk.  I used this stuff, because I'm a rube. Plus last time I used The-Guy's GOOD whiskey to cook, he balked.

Then (this part should be obvious...because it's pudding), I stirred forever.  Forever and ever and ever.  It felt like I was trapped in the kitchen for the rest of my born days.  Or at least the entire Memorial Day weekend.

It's like torture.  It took me about 45 minutes.  But luckily it is also like childbirth, because I will forget the very next time I crave nice, warm pudding.

Here's a picture of me not-stirring.  Because who can stir and take a picture at the same time?

At the end I threw in the cranberries and whiskey (and/or bourbon) mix, plus butter and another teaspoon of bourbon for good measure.  Becauseitsaholidayweekendsowhynot?  And then there was only one step left!

But this is a very IMPORTANT step that can't be omitted.  Wait for it...

Watch toddler refuse to try pudding in favor of licking a lawn chair:

But she'll try it eventually.  She's definitely a "try any food" kind'a gal.

The honest to goodness recipe:

3/4 cup dried cranberries (Craisins style)
2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon bourbon (or whiskey)
2 cups water
1 cup Jasmine white rice
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons of vanilla
3 cups whole milk
1/2 cup light brown sugar
2 tablespoons butter
2 eggs

Cook rice with salt.  I'm going to go with if you're trying this, you already know how to cook rice.

Mix cranberries and bourbon in a small saucepan.  Bring to a simmer, put in one of the teaspoons of vanilla.  Cover and remove from heat.

Whisk milk and brown sugar in a large saucepan and whisk until warm.  Add in the other teaspoon of vanilla, the eggs, the and the cooked rice.  Stir over low heat forever, being careful not to burn the milk.  Of course.  Keep stirring.  And stirring.

When it finally gets to be all pudding-y and wonderful, stir in the butter and that last teaspoon or so of bourbon because, like I said, it'saholidayweekendsowhynot?

To give credit where credit is due, these are the two recipes I pulled off Pinterest.  I tossed enough of the ingredients out so as to be almost unrecognizable:

Cinnamon-Sugar Rice Pudding

Brown Eyed Baker Rice Pudding


Whew!  I think I outdid myself!  Please visit me at Do Try This at Home !

My Dad Once Told Me That Life Was More Than Just a Parade. And it is. But Not on Art Car Parade Day.

For those who don't know where I am plastering things all over the internet these days (since it's obviously not here) it's mostly here: Do Try This At Home.  I don't think you need a Facebook account to see it.

Anyhow, here are baby's bday pictures in case you somehow missed me posting them all over the known social media world:

Her birthday IS on Art Car parade day...depending on what calendar you follow.

Even a birthday at a parade needs a candle in the shape of the birthday number.  

We lucked out!  The Lego / toy car parked RIGHT in front of us and let the kids put toys onto the car!

They didn't even mind if we played with the toys a little before sticking them on!  People who drive cars covered in toys turn out to be very nice people.

Did I mention the car was covered in toys?

Dad gives baby a bird's eye view:

The Lego car eventually had to go on it's merry way and get in the correct order.  Then it was time for BUBBLES!

Here's how to find the birthday girl in a crowd of 300,000:

We're having fun now!

You'd think these pictures would be in some kind of order.  But you'd be wrong.

Making our own mini art cars.

For some reason, brother studied US History throughout.  We'll find out if it was worth it once we get back his exam scores.

It's a car.  No really.

Here's a GREAT idea!  You could "like" my Facebook page.  And yeah, I have Jamberry stuff on there.  And whatever I find that seems worth posting.  But I put up plenty of baby pictures too, and every once in awhile I even still find a funny sign!  So...if you like me (or even if you merely tolerate me), "like" Do Try This At Home!