My hubby’s favorite: Oatmeal Raisin Bars

These Oatmeal Raisin Bars, from the Better Homes & Gardens Cookbook,  are a family favorite and are even yummy enough to grace my Christmas Cookie Boxes (more about that on Monday!).  Enjoy layers of Oatmeal crust, raisin filling, and cinnamon frosting in a simple three part recipe that even beginners can handle. Oatmeal Raisin Bars are quick, easy, cheap to make, and they will go fast!

To Buy or Not to Buy? The Mommy Mile Guide rates the Little Tikes Haul & Ride

It’s Christmas and we’re all standing in the toy isle wondering which toys will be the ones that end up forgotten in the back of the closet, which will be broken by the New Year, and which will be a flat out disappointment. So which toys will stand the test of time?  We took the Little Tikes Handle Haulers “Haul & Ride” out for a test drive, 8 months, one active 17 month old, one mile in the real world.  How does the Little Tikes Haul and Ride rate in the Mommy Mile Guide?

Features: The Little Tikes Handle Haul & Ride converts from a walker to a ride on to a wagon and features and adjustable handle with 3 buttons and 7 sound effects.

Assembly:  Easy

Battery Life: Awesome.  8 months on 2 AAs which were included!  Annoyance Factor: Low. Sound effects are just quiet enough and easy to tune out.Cleaning: An occasional quick wipe down with soap and water does the trick. Complaints:  Pull out handle does not lock in wagon position, very frustrating for my 16 month old also poses a pinching risk.  The truck can only be converted between walker, ride on, and wagon by a parent.  When used as a wagon the bin is really too small to hold much of anything. Mommy likes:  This truck exceeded my expectations.  The 6 wheels and controlled steering make this a very sturdy and almost topple proof ride on toy.  The steering wheel has big buttons that are easy to push. Of all the toys we own this is by far the most durable and most loved.  This truck from Little Tikes takes a beating.  Because of the issues with the handle we’ve only ever used the truck as a ride on but I have seen my son push, pull, and ride on it when configured this way.   The Haul & Ride keeps my kid entertained on his own and when he has a play date one child can push and the other can ride. Baby likes:  It is easy to get on and off by himself, the buttons make cool truck sounds, he can push backwards on truck really fast. Weee!Abusability: This toy has been banged, wanged, dropped, turn upside down, ridden by adults, kicked, shoved through spaces too small for passage, used as a battering ram, and ridden every day and it still looks and works perfectly.Mommy Mile Guide Rating:   ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥    (5/5)Bottom Line:  This is the mother of little boy ride on toys.

Specs:

•  Price Range: $19.99-$29.99
• Availability: Toys R Us, Amazon, Target, Wal-Mart, easy to find!
• Measurements: 23″L x 10″D x 18 1/2″H
• Batteries: 2 AA batteries required
• Recommended Age: 1-3 years

Inspired but not Tired Maple Glazed Turkey

So last year I spent forever pouring over my favorite magazines searching for new recipes to add to the holiday repertoire.  I found a delicious recipe from Martha Stewart for a succulent Maple Glazed Turkey.  Of course I can be a bit of a slacker in the kitchen.  I’m prone to a Rachel Ray style of cooking with dabs and splashes and no actual measurements.  Now here’s how the queen of home keeping Martha prepares Maple Glazed Turkey.  Below is my Martha-Simplified method.  

Inspired but not Tired Maple Glazed Turkey

Ingredients 

1 Turkey’s Big Breast (we don’t like dark meat in my family)

Salt

Pepper

Butter

100% Maple Syrup

A Turkey Bag (yes i can hear the shrieks of horror)

Foil

A roasting pan

An apron and some high heels (just for fun)

Prep:

Melt the butter and slather it all over the turkey.  Use a basting brush if you’re civilized–just rub it on if you’re a dirty girl!  Salt and pepper the entire bird (moderately).  Now comes the fun part.  Stick the turkey in the bag use foil balls to stick under the turkey outside of the bag so it sits evenly with it’s breasts high in the air.  Now stick your arm inside the bag (no I’m not kidding) pour on or brush on (again depends of your level of kitchen finesse) the maple syrup.  Coat the old bird heavily.  Seal up the bag.  ***Now if you’re not a bagger than just prep the bird the same way, cover your bird in foil and baste (that means coat with syrup again) 3 times during cooking.***  You can also use a whole bird and even stuff it!  Prepare according to my recipe and stuff and cook as you usually do!

Cooking:

I recommend you consult the tag on your bird as well as the time recommended on the cooking bags.  If the bag and the tag differ I usually choose the lowest temp and longest time.  Temp the bird with a meat thermometer before you pull it out.   Be sure the thermometer hits a meaty part (not bone or and open cavity) so no one in your family remembers this Thanksgiving as the the great Barfsgiving of 2007.   Don’t overcook the bird or it will be tougher than your Grandma’s toenails.  Remove bird from bag, drain juices, and allow to sit for several minutes before carving.

When this is done it will have a slightly crisp and sweet outer skin and delicious sweet moist meat on the inside.  This is the perfect Turkey for your Thanksgiving Dinner.  It can’t possibly be any easier than this inspired but not tired Maple glazed Turkey. 

A Sweet Twist on Tradition

Yippeee!  This is my very first recipe post and since Thanksgiving is on our doorstep I thought I’d share one of my favorite side dishes for Thanksgiving.   This sweet potato casserole is exceedingly yummy and easy.  Now, in the future you can expect my recipe posts to be filled with step by step prep instructions and images but since this recipe is soooo very simple I think you can whip up a batch without so much as the click of a shutter.  So get shopping and be sure to try this one for your Turkey Day.

Ingredients:

3 cans (15 oz.) sweet potatoes, drained

1/4 cup butter or margarine

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

1 tsp. vanilla extract

3 cups Jet-puffed Marshmallows

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.Beat potatoes, butter, cinnamon, salt, vanilla,and nutmeg in medium bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Coat 1 qt. baking dish with pam and spoon in mixture; top with marshmallows and bake 15 to 20 minutes or until sweet potato mixture is heated through and marshmallows are lightly browned.

**If your marshmallows are a little too toasty but the good stuff isn’t hot yet cover with foil and continue to bake until warmed. **

***This dish is a great take and bake recipe.  Mix everything up (leave the marshmallows off) spoon into dish, take, allow to warm to room temp a bit before baking (this will take longer so wait to put on the marshmallows until the sweet potatoes are pretty warm.***

High Heels & Dust Bunnies

Hi!  My name is Kim and I am a wife and work at home mom.  I don’t believe that my prowess for cleaning and crafting means that I have to be frumpy and working at home doesn’t mean that I can’t be a professional.  I’m hopelessly addicted to root beer, magazines, my camera, and my kid.   I sweep my dust bunnies under the rug before I have guests.  I wear high heels to the grocery store and this is my blog about life, love, and a little bit of everything.

Coming soon to this very blog: Blow-your-mind-yummy recipes, product reviews from a real life mom, a book of the month, ideas to keep work at home moms sane, wacky wal-mart wednesdays and more!