Play…..

I love play when it is at its best…spontaneous and full of imagination.  Today River played “chef” for about 2 hours…..She brought me every meal imaginable.  When Tuesday and Quinn got home she carried them meal after meal to their rooms.  She not only did delivery, but cleaned up after every meal. She kept saying how tiring it was to be a chef.  It is this type of play that I like best..it isn’t planned.  It just happens and it seems to engulf her and take over.  She becomes so engrossed in it that she loses track of time…….She has to take out every item in her kitchen and examine it as though she has never seen it before.  Everything becomes so exciting and full of potential…she had a great afternoon….just playing…..

Garbanzo Bean Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars….

So, once again, after reading about these here….I had to try them…..with a few changes.  My daughter, Tuesday, doesn’t like peanut butter, so I omitted that and used butter instead.  Also, I love wheat germ and I put it in everything and I was feeling lazy and I didn’t feel like grinding up the flax seed in my coffee maker grinder because the coffee maker was dirty!  I decided I wanted to pretty much follow the Nestle Toll house chocolate chip cookie bar recipe.  So, I used 1/4 cup of butter instead of peanut butter and 1 tablespoon of wheat germ instead of flax seed.  So, below I have included my updated recipe.  I liked them…they were nice and buttery and moist.  I don’t think they were as good as the brownies..which I made AGAIN…yum!

Happy Monday!

Garbanzo Bean Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

1 can of chickpeas
2 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup almond butter (or peanut butter) (or 1/4 of butter!)
1 egg
1/4 cup oats
1 Tbsp ground flaxseed(or 1 tbsp of wheat germ)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup chocolate chips
Drain and rinse the chickpeas and then put them in the food processor or blender and pulse a few times.   Add the vanilla, almond butter (or whatever you choose) and then mix again. Then add the egg, oats, flaxseed (or wheat germ) and mix. Scrap down the sides if you need to add brown sugar, salt, soda and baking powder and blend again.  When done blending, add in the chocolate chips, you don’t need to blend the chocolate chips. Put into a greased 8 x 8 pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes.

Black Bean Brownies…

So, after reading about Black Bean Brownies here, , I had to try them.  I was a bit skeptical, but they were delicious.  And everyone of my children loved them also. They were easy.  The black beans and spinach replaces the flour.  Give them a try.  And let me know what you think.  I added more chocolate chips than the recipe called for (1 cup).  I also used dark cocoa powder.  I omitted the coffee, because I didn’t think my children would like that.

Ingredients

  • 1 (15.5 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 3 eggs
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1/4 cup cocoa powder
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon instant coffee (optional)
  • 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips (optional)

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease an 8×8 square baking dish.
  2. Combine the black beans, eggs, oil, cocoa powder, salt, vanilla extract, sugar, and instant coffee in a blender; blend until smooth; pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top of the mixture.
  3. Bake in the preheated oven until the top is dry and the edges start to pull away from the sides of the pan, about 30 minutes.

Nutritional Information open nutritional information

Amount Per Serving Calories: 126 | Total Fat: 5.3g | Cholesterol: 40mg

Monday morning…..

Days with twins go really slowly, but go by really fast.  I know that doesn’t make much sense…but it’s just how it is.  I feel like I am constantly re-inventing the wheel…trying to figure out how to do things….that a million other people must have already figured out.  I know there are lots and lots of other twins out there and I know their parents made it through these first months…but it is a struggle and it is tough and wonderful all at the same time.  And the time just goes so slowly…..minute by minute…but the days fly by!!  Figuring out how to get to places on time, getting them to sleep through the night, take naps at the same time, getting everything that needs to be done done while making their needs a priority…..it is tiring!!  When they are screaming and screaming and you need to go to the bathroom really badly and you are on your 20th cup of coffee and about to scream….one of them just gives me that look…that adorable look and it puts it all back into perspective.  I know I’ve said all these things before..I think…but it is all so true.

This morning, I was taking River to preschool and there was snow everywhere because they hadn’t shoveled the sidewalk, so decided we needed to walk in the parking lot.  River was on the other side of the car and I told her to slowly walk around the front of the car to where I was…..when suddenly a car coming plowing through at about 30 miles an hour.  I instantly yelled at River to stop and not walk around.  Thankfully, she listened.  Suddenly, the car slammed on its brakes and rolled down the window.  The man started yelling at me and saying what was my problem.  I told him it was a 5 mph speed limit in the parking lot.  He then proceeded to curse, yell and scream at me as he drove away.  It wasn’t the way I wanted to start my day….but it made me realize how wonderful my life is and how happy I am that I am not that man….and that hopefully, I will never have to see him again!!

Happy Monday.

Embrace the Camera….Christmas Tree Shots

Every year we do our Christmas tree shots…as always…I forget about it til the last minute.  By the time we took them this year..the tree was so dry and droopy.  Right after the photos..I ripped the tree down and dragged it outside…..all the decorations are finally put away!!

January begins……

So, January has begun and it is already the 17th!! How does time go by so quickly.  We had our first snowfall..which lasted for about 2 hours.  By the time we were able to make it outside..it had practically all melted…so sad!!  And we’ve had no snow since. I love snow and I want snow…  Winter without snow, just isn’t winter.

Also, Quinn’s birthday came and went.  He is 12 years old…I can’t believe my children are growing so quickly.  I am so proud of him.  He is such a considerate and passionate person…..just an awesome human being!!  Quinn wanted a pie for his birthday..so Tuesday made it for him.

December Recap…..

Okay..I can’t believe it is already 2012 and I haven’t posted anything yet.  I feel like time is getting away from me!!  I need an extra week to catch up with everything.  December was a whirlwind and thankfully no one gotten eaten by the Yule Cat…for which I am always thankful!!  Every photo I took in December was blurry..I think our camera or the battery or my photography skills are slowly dying….

Tuesday’s birthday came and went.  She turned 14….oh my..I can’t believe I have a 14 year old child!!  It really seems incredible.  She is such a great person and I love her so much.  She is more than I could ever ask for….she helps me out so much with the babies and around the house….I don’t know if it is due to my great parenting skills or what..but she is turning out to be a fantastic human being!!

Christmas was here and then not here and now I am still cleaning up from it all…Christopher got me a super fancy serger for Christmas.  I have never used a serger so I am going a bit crazy trying to learn all about it.  I am determined to learn everything I can about all its wonderful capabilities and then use those skills to make many many wonderful things…or at least a bib or two.  So, hopefully next week I’ll get back into the blog swing of things and be posting on a daily basis!!  Until then….happy new years……