Coffee Talk - Baking

Hello Friends -
If you are somewhere with these freezing temperatures, please stay safe and warm!

Whew.  It shows 11 below zero this morning on my phone!  Brrr.  I dread when my poor little Ginger dog needs to go out.

So a little coffee talk this morning since I did not paper craft yesterday.  I baked.  A lot.

My husband is part of snow removal for "a major suburb north of Chicago".  As he was working yet another long shift because of our lake effect snow, I asked, "What can I do?"  "Make it stop snowing."  hahahaha!

So, I decided to bake the guys some treats.  Because it will be really cold soon.  Snow removal is not a fun job.  Even for as much as they do, still more is unrealistically expected.  And they are missing the Packers game which might be a big deal to some of them.

But alas, I did not have much butter (just a pound).  How did that happen?!

What can I make without butter and what can I make that yields quantity and easy to eat?

Sandra Lee {Semi-homemade} would be so proud!

I did have a few box mixes in the pantry that used oil.  I bake a lot from scratch but box mixes are necessary for when I am short on time.  And I buy mostly boxes with Box Tops because our school collects them.  A win, win in my book.

I always try to have on hand at least a dozen eggs, milk, butter and in the pantry all staples to bake cookies and some yeast.  I make a yummy chocolate chip cookie and soft pretzels.  What?  I do.  Part of my New Years Resolutions is to be less modest.

Let the baking begin!  I did have my 2 young helpers and that was good too.  They helped mix batter and do taste testing.

Here is what we made in a few hours:
12 cinnamon muffins
24 chocolate chip mini muffins
A pan of brownies cut in 16 squares and individually wrapped in wax paper
36 chocolate, chocolate chunk cookies
48 dipped pretzels
52 cut out gingerbread men made mostly by my youngest - I have the patience of a saint some days!
1 quiche for his breakfast when he got home.  He is a real man.  Who does not like eggs, ham and 3 kinds of cheese with pastry crust?

Have I mentioned that I have a small kitchen?  And that I do not have a dishwasher?  Well, there were a bunch of dishes to do too, though I try to clean as I go.

Hope you have a great day and do something unexpected if you can this week that will make someone know they are appreciated.

Happy Day to you -
Mary -

Cinnamon mufins
Only item that got a photo.
No time, must keep moving!

Coffee Talk -

Hello Friends -
Hope you had a great weekend!

Every once in awhile I just feel like chatting.  Be it over coffee or diet coke or your favorite beverage . . . so thanks for reading.

OK, I go to a hair salon to get my hair done.  It is one of those splurges that I do about 4 times a year and really it is not that expensive.  (Well yes, it is more than going to Great Clips.)

But the salon is a different experience.  Really.  Once I sit down, someone asks me if I would like lemon water, tea or coffee and how I would like it and then it is served in a glass goblet or china cup.  And in between services I am asked again.

The head massage during the hair washing stage is divine.

I am a big aromatherapy lover and the products smell wonderful.

The blow out and finished look garners compliments for the next two days on how great my hair looks.  {I see immense value here.}

And I asked loads of questions.  I have semi-curly thick hair that goes crazy big in humidity.  {I really need to move to a dryer climate for better hair days.}

My recent question was, "How do I not frizz so much and have nicer curls?"  I try loads of products from the mass market stores and some work okay.  But I really want a better look.

Frankie made her suggestion and how to apply it.  I said, "Okay."  But she did not use it because she did my hair straight with a big roller brush, hair dryer and lots of pulling.

I get to the check out and was surprised on this tube of magic's price tag.  {It does have a money back guarantee as long as it is not half gone.}

So my question to you if you care to comment:  Would you spend $25 for 5.1 ounces of product if you know you will have good looking hair for as long as the tube lasts?

I justified my purchase because:
1.  I can take it back and I would if I was not happy.
2.  I spend $25 on a die for my Big Shot if I love it and then sometimes forget to use it or only use it a few times.

So let me know what you think and I will let you know if the magic is real or not.

Happy Day to you -
Mary -