Good, and good for you!?

One of the best things about oatmeal cookies is that you can pretend that they're good for you! With all that oatmeal, it has to be healthy, right?

Yes. Let's go with that.

These are adapted from the Better Homes & Garden Cookbook.

Little cookie soldiers, all lined up.

Oatmeal Peanut Butter Chip Cookies

1 3/4 c. butter, softened to room temperature

1 c. brown sugar

1/2 c. white sugar

1 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. baking soda

1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground cloves

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1 3/4 c. flour

2 c. old fashioned oats

1/2 bag peanut butter chips (about 1 c. or so)

I used a teaspoon-sized cookie scoop for mine. Bake for about 8-10 minutes at 375. You need to remove them to a rack to cool within a couple minutes of them leaving the oven, as they will become one with the pan if you don't.

I suppose if you want, you can leave out the cinnamon and the ground cloves.

Here's the finished product, cooling on a rack. I really am trying to take better photos. It doesn't seem to be working.

Cumin-Lime-Cilantro Dressing

I don't dare claim this as an original creation. It's from Mollie Katzen's new book, Get Cooking. I highly recommend this book, especially if you are new to cooking from scratch and need a lot of direction. I also recommend it if you just like tasty food!

Cumin-Lime-Cilantro Dressing

1/4 c. fresh lime juice (about 2 limes)

1/4 tsp. minced garlic (about 1/2 small clove)

1/2 tsp. ground cumin

heaping 1/4 tsp. salt

2 tsp. sugar

1 tbsp. minced cilantro leaves

6 tbsp. olive oil

Put everything into a jar with a lid, and shake.

I use an old Frappucino jar. It's the perfect size, and fits in the door of the fridge. When I made this, I doubled it. If you double it, I would recommend using slightly less oil than 12 tbsp. Taste as you go, my friends!

Menu Plan for the Week of 4/26

I am happy to say goodbye to an abnormally busy week! Whew!

MONDAY

barbecue from my nice neighbors (cooked the right way, with a vinegar sauce, mmmm)

veggies from my nice neighbors (God bless 'em)

cornbread

TUESDAY

leftover pasta (from the weekend)

mixed berry crisp

WEDNESDAY

We're supposed to go fly kites on Wednesday, and the kids have AWANA that night. So I fear we may need to stop and pick up dinner. If we get to eat at home, it'll probably just be scrambled eggs.

THURSDAY

quinoa & chicken soup

biscuits

FRIDAY

pork chops

carrot souffle

SATURDAY

bean burritos (I'll crockpot the beans on Friday.)

cilantro rice

homemade salsa

SUNDAY

turkey breast (I didn't make it last week.)

stuffing

broccoli

Menu Plan for the Week of 4/19

I did not menu plan last week, and ate spaghetti twice just to prove it! Yuck! Not that I don't like spaghetti...but I could do better.

This week is abnormally busy, even for us. The girls have their dance show on Sunday, so they have rehearsal a few nights this week. Add in baseball, softball, Tball, AWANA, and MOPS, plus homeschooling and keeping the house from looking a wreck, and you will see that I HAVE to plan this week. Otherwise, I'll be eating McDonald's. And no one wants that. Especially me.

MONDAY

taco salad with chicken taco meat from the freezer

homemade cumin-lime-cilantro dressing

TUESDAY

hirino psito (I have no idea what it means, but it better be code for "tasty") pork roast

cauliflower

WEDNESDAY

turkey breast in the crockpot

stuffing

carrots

THURSDAY

barbeque chicken in the crockpot

carrot & celery sticks

oranges

FRIDAY

homemade pizza

SATURDAY

a mystery crockpot day

Please send me some ideas for Saturday! I need help!

Math. I don't want to hate you.

I was not the best math student you ever met. In fact, in 11th grade, I ended up taking Algebra 2 without the trig that every other "average" student was taking. I was still lost, although I am sure the pace was better for me. My senior year, I opted not to take any math. Yeah, not the brightest decision I ever made, but, you see...I had math anxiety.

In college, I took what basically was remedial algebra. Every other "average" student took one semester to cover what I did in 2. For the first time, however, I understood math! I almost liked it! When I had to study for my math Praxis in order to become a teacher, I loved it! I sat with my little test prep book. It broke everything down step-by-step. I loved solving a problem--and actually getting it right!

I don't know where that delight has gone. I am right back to how I was in high school (minus that whole "I'll never have to know this" attitude. I know better now.). My ds, Scrappy, really excels at math. He just opens up his Math-U-See book and does it. Every once in a while he watches the video, but I think it's more procrastination for him. My dd, Funny, she's another story. I've tried Singapore Math, Math-U-See, and now we're using Saxon. And I love Saxon--for her. I think it's step-by-dull-step approach is good for her. She likes repetition and predictability, as much as it makes me want to scream.

Today, Funny decided that 12 and 21 were the same number. Before you go telling me how normal it is, please let me say that I have been telling her for over 2 years which is which. I have done every little silly game I could do. If only I could tattoo it onto her brain.

This brings me to my point: Math frustrates me! I want so badly to leave my bad attitude elsewhere when I sit down to do it. I'm out of ideas for making it fun or silly. It is what it is, and it just needs to be done. For my lovely little Funny, this is likely painful for her (as it was for me). I have a hard time not telling her that, yes, the number 0 is sad, and he would look much better if you gave him a little smile.

At what point do I have to tell her, "Some things you just do because you have to?" Is this what someone told me? How come Scrappy loves it but Funny doesn't, when they both have the same miserable teacher?

I know someone out there has amazing insight because I am too close to it to see. It's probably my fault, though. I can see that much!