Books I'm Hogging From The Library: The December 4, 2010 Edition

The Well-Educated Mind:  I just finished the sister of this book, The Well-Trained Mind, which is geared toward educating kids K-12. The Well-Educated Mind is focused on educating adults. You know the ones--the ones who doodled and dotted their "i's" with hearts during English Literature class.

Things I Wish I'd Known Before We Got Married:  I've been with my man exactly half of my life now--met when I was 18, and well, you do the math. But this is one of those books that doesn't make sense until you've been married long enough for it to make sense. So I'll take a wild guess and say that the lovebirds ignore this book and old-timers nod vehemently and say, AMEN, THAT IS RIGHT, AND DID I TELL YOU ABOUT THE SOCKS ON THE FLOOR?!

Rachel Ray's Look and Cook:  Reading a cookbook gives me the great satisfaction of finishing a book in five minutes. Because that's the point of reading, right? To get it done and head right back to eating? Oh, I should probably schedule an intervention.

Mental Floss History of the United States:  I'm teaching U.S. history in school this year, which means I need every cheat sheet I can get. This book is billed as being "smarter than your old history teacher, funnier than the founding fathers, and more American than Betty Crocker cradling an apple pie." I concur, and I've also got the World History edition collecting dust on my night stand too.

The West Wing, Season 6:  My TV show of choice for 2010 has been The West Wing. I missed it when it was on back in the early 2000s--likely 'cause I had just had my first baby and my world HAD DONE FELL APART. I'm currently on the sixth of seven seasons of the show, and it has been one of the best things I've set my eyes upon. Oh, sure, there are waterfalls and glorious sunsets, but the glow of the telly when West Wing is on? Magnificent.

Read anything quickly these days?


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Mint Brownies

If I had to sit in a room all day with nothing but a pan of brownies, this is the recipe I'd pick. I mean, I'd also need a case of chips so I could switch off between "salty" and "sweet." And while we're adding things to that room--might as well throw in a tall...decaf...cappuccino* and a month's supply of insulin.

Happy holidays. From me and my room.

Mint Brownies

BROWNIE BASE

1 (13"x9") brownie mix (and ingredients listed on back of box)

FILLING:

4 ounces white baking chocolate, chopped

1/4 cup refrigerated Irish creme nondairy creamer

1 cup heavy whipping cream

15 mint Andes candies, chopped

ICING:

12 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped

1 cup heavy whipping cream

2 tablespoons butter

Mint Andes candies, halved, optional

Prepare brownie mix according to package directions, and bake in a greased 13"x9" pan. Cool on a wire rack.

In a small saucepan, melt white chocolate and creamer--stir with a whisk until smooth. Refrigerate for 30-40 minutes or until chilled.

In another small bowl, beat 1 cup cream until soft peaks form; fold into white chocolate mixture. Beat on medium speed until stiff peaks form, about 4 minutes. Fold in chopped candies. Spread over brownies. Cover and refrigerate.

In a small saucepan, combine bittersweet chocolate and 1 cup cream. Cook and stir over low heat until chocolate is melted and smooth; remove from the heat. Stir in butter until melted. Cool to room temperature. Carefully spread over filling. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until icing is set. Cut into bars. Garnish with additional candies if desired. Store in the refrigerator. Yield: 2-1/2 dozen.

Lots more food talk going on at Ann's Food on Fridays!

Like chocolate and mint and a dessert that rhymes with "wart?" Check out this chocolate mint torte.

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Homemade Scented Playdough

Each year for Christmas, I try to give a little gift that demonstrates the essence of who I am. And who I am is the Crafty Stretch Mark Mama.

Okay, so that's not true at all. My entire "craft bin" is a small box loaded up with smaller boxes of 24-count crayons. I mean, those babies go on sale every August for twenty-five cents! Twenty! five! cents! I am weak.

I am also frugal, and do get my "craft on" in the kitchen. So when I first saw this recipe for scented playdough, I knew, kneeeew that way down deep in the depths of my crotchety crafty heart that that it was meant to be.

So I made a big ol' batch and decided to color my dough green, scent it with peppermint, and cut into Christmas tree shapes (with a cookie cutter! my word! not by hand!). I then put the little trees in small ziploc bags and added some cute beads for over-the-top fun. Don't even try and stop me. I made at least 30 of these trees from one batch of dough. Thirty cutesy-wootsy little gifts, cha-ching!

Here's the recipe. 

Homemade Scented Playdough

2 cups flour*
1 cup salt
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
2 tablespoons oil
2 cups water
food coloring
1 tablespoon peppermint** extract

Place all ingredients in a saucepan and heat on the stove over low to medium heat until the dough becomes thick, making sure to constantly scrape the bottom. When dough becomes too hard to stir, turn out onto a floured surface and knead until playdough consistency. (Don't worry--the white flour blends in with the colored dough.)

*If you're making this dough for someone sensitive to wheat, be sure to use gluten-free flour which can be found in the specialty aisle of your store. 

**Other flavors of extract include vanilla, cinnamon, banana, lemon, orange, coconut, almond, raspberry, strawberry, cherry, maple, anise, aaaaanddd... wait for it... rum and brandy. See? You can have your scented playdough and a fake buzz too.

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