Kitties

The two cats, Nat and Ollie. They are the sweetest (and fattest) cats around! Ollie is the one with her legs spread apart and Nat is the one on the shelf with her eyes almost closed.

The Sled Liked It

As I am sure you have guessed, Maggie and Leeann like snow. However, with the area that we live in, it only comes rarely. Of the many things they do on a snow day, a few are... making snow cream (deliciously sweet, not much of a recipe: add milk, sugar, and vanilla flavoring to your snow), sledding (the purple sled in the video doesn't usually get to play in the snow, and as this was the most snow we've had in a while, the sled liked it and it drove me into the flowers), having snowball fights (AMBUSH!), and watching a movie (while eating snow cream and hot chocolate). All of these activities add up for a busy day. Too bad the snow is gone...

Super Bowl

As everyone knows, today is the Super Bowl. Maggie and Leeann are not really that into watching the game so, we just read and watch the commercials (and blog). Before the game, it is time for (drumroll) MEATBALLS! Actually, spaghetti and meatballs, but the main course and best tasting (according to Maggie) is the meatballs. Also it is the most time consuming and painful (due to the oil). Anyway, they were delicious and were perfect for the game.

Meatballs

1/2 lb turkey

1/2 lb beef

1/4 cup breadcrumbs

2 Tbsp milk

2 L eggs, beaten

3/4 cup Parmesean

salt and pepper

minced garlic

1 Tbsp Italian Seasoning

1 Tbsp dried Parsley

1. Pour 1/4 cup of olive oil into a pan on medium-high heat.

2. While the pan is heating (or before you turn it on) mix together all of the ingredients.

3. Once the pan is hot, add the meat in golfball sized balls - do not move them for around 3 minutes or until brown on the bottom.

4. Flip the meatballs and cook. Repeat until meatballs are thorloughly cooked.

5. If desired, (Maggie would rather have them plain or with IKEA cream and lingonberry sauce) add tomato sauce and bring to a boil for about 5 minutes. Stir occasionaly.

You may eat your meatballs however you please, but if you do make them with tomato sauce, don't forget to cook some noodles, or else you would just have tomato meatballs and not spaghetti with meatballs.

Project

Yesterday, Maggie did the immpossible... a science project!!!!! Yes, she successfully made a car. It took a few minutes, but it is done! To Maggie, a science project is not a fun way to spend Saturday, so, after the finished product came, Maggie and Leeann started a blog. Yay!!! Fun Saturday!!! (Yes, this is a day late, sorry)

The Missing Piece

Since January was National Puzzle Month, we finally got going good with our first one in February and finished it off today. Well, as best we could. We were missing ONE piece (hint - top left: snow) ! I know. That's what I get for buying an opened puzzle at a thrift store. Regardless, it was fun and I assure you, that missing piece added numerous cells to our frustrated brains. The kitties (sisters Nat in the red chair and Ollie in the gold) are thrilled that we've found an activity to do in their favorite (the sunniest) room!

Muffins!

It's 7:15 and time to go to McDonald's for Daddy's daily visit when Maggie decides to break the trend and stay home to make:

Blueberry Muffins

1 cup frozen blueberries
1/8 cup plain wheat flour
1 cup plain wheat flour
2 tsp. baking powder
2 Tbsp. ground flax (optional)
1/2 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. butter, softened
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup Splenda
1 egg
1/2 tsp. pure Vanilla
1/2 cup milk

1. Preheat oven 350 F. Grease muffin tins or use liners.
2. Sprinkle 1/8 cup flour over blueberries and stir to coat very thoroughly (the secret for floating blueberries is out!).
3. In small blow, whisk together remaining flour, baking powder, flax, and salt.
4. In large blow, mix together butter and sugar.
5. Add beaten egg and vanilla.
6. Stir in milk and flour. Mix well. Fold in berries.
7. Fill muffin tins and bake for 25 minutes. Cool 5 minutes before eating. Have a glass of milk ready.

Thanks to Maggie (the lone baker for this endeavor) we got off to a perfect start for a 35 degree and rainy Saturday morning.

Maggie and Leeann