Gotta give a shout out

To my friend Amber. Check out her blog to get the latest info on her current book projects.

http://sci-fiadventures.blogspot.com/

Also check her out at

A. R. Norris: Author Page is Up

Her book Duty and Devotion will be pulished with Desert Breeze Publishing: Available June 2011
Amber this is so awesome!!

Peanut Butter Garnola Bars

Peanut Butter Granola Bars

cooking spray
1 egg white
1/2 cup chunky peanut butter
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup (1-stick) unsalted butter, melted
2 cups old fashioned oats
1/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted, *see Cook's Note
1/3 cup miniature chocolate chips


Directions
Position an oven rack in the middle of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Spray a 7 by 10 3/4-inch nonstick baking pan with vegetable cooking spray. Lay a 6 by 18-inch piece of parchment paper in the pan, allowing the excess paper to hang over the sides. Spray the parchment paper lightly with cooking spray.

In a medium bowl, using a hand beater, beat the egg white until frothy. Stir in the peanut butter, brown sugar, and honey. Add the melted butter, oats and almonds. Stir to combine, then add the chocolate chips.

Using a rubber spatula, spread mixture into the prepared baking pan, pressing lightly to form an even layer. Bake until the edge of the mixture begins to brown, about 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool for at least 1 hour. Cut into 1 1/2-inch squares and serve.

*Cook's Note: To toast almonds, arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in a preheated 350 degree F oven until lightly browned, about 8 to 10 minutes.

Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis
www.foodnetwork.com

At the park......

The boys and i took a stroll out to te park by our house yesterday afternoon, trying to burn off some energy. Here are some shots i got.

There's always room for Jell-O

I found the blog bellow by doing a little of what the kids call online surfing. I was looking at a website that took me to another website which led me to.....well, you get the idea. Anyway I wanted to share this with you all. I think we all need to travel out of our flavor zone sometimes, and i am usually down to try anything (except pepper on cantaloupe YUCK). It just so happened i had all of the ingredients for this recipe on hand. Yes, i keep unflavored gelatin on hand at all times, why? You ask....Jell-O is GREAT for nails and hair. It has marrow in it (yes as in bone) which makes nails and hair strong. Rather than trying to find time each day to eat some Jeel-O I found drinking the unflavored one, really fast 1st thing in the morning, was the best way to get it into me. But i have to say, the recipe bellow sounded great, so I gave it a shot. It really was good. I will warn you, this is ONLY for the biggest of coffee fans. It's basically like eating a chewy coffee bean, it's that strong. It was great though and i recommend you give it a try. Just not right before bed :-)

Cheers

~Sam

Vietnamese Coffee Jello
via http://www.thatwinsomegirl.blogspot.com/

1/2 cup cold water
2 cups strong coffee
1 (14oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
3 packages of Knox unflavored gelatin

Place 1/2 cup cold water in a medium bowl. Sprinkle 3 packages of unflavored gelatin over the water; stir to combine. Let this mixture set for about 10 minutes, until the gelatin blooms. Meanwhile, prepare 2 cups of strong coffee. (I used 8 tablespoons of ground coffee for 2 cups of water.)

Stir the hot coffee into the bloomed gelatin until the gelatin is completely dissolved.

Stir in the can of sweetened condensed milk.

Pour the combined jello mixture into an 8x8 pan (you could use a larger pan for thinner jello cubes). Place in the fridge for 2-4 hours, until gelatin is completely set.

Cut into 1-inch cubes and serve, or store in an air tight container in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

How's your book going.........

My friend asked me this today and it reminded me, it's been almost 2 years since the last time i even looked at what I've written, let alone, actually put something on paper. Rain, was/is my first attempt at anything big, i think i could make it into a big story, but then feel like there is no way I could write a novel. Novels are for Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Laurell K. Hamilton, novel's are not for Samantha Spillman. I have never thought i was very creative, which is fine, most of what i write is for personal, or close friend viewing, so it's never bothered me much. But lately, and perhaps because I'm home, i really feel like i should do "something" aside from the kiddos and cleaning, I should have a "craft" i should be knitting, or painting, or.......writing. My friend was very understanding, assuring me she's been there, and it takes time. She said she likes what I've written, and she wants to see more. I love her for this i really do. Sometimes, just like with being a parent, one needs to be reminded to just keep trying. In the end, I may never get "the call" but at least it's fun to do while i wait...........

Code Name: The Kid

Aragorn has informed me as of this morning, his new nickname is "The Kid"

1st Vacation pictures.....

Going down the north pole slide

I love Rohan's face "really mom?....really?"

We see you....

Waiting for the typical Colorado afternoon storm to pass

We did this ride twice for a total of 10 times around........And they still yelled and acted crazy when we had to get off

Yeah, that's Grandma's boy!!

Leaning on the north pole

Looking cute on the train at the north pole

Passed out Thursday night

The view from our room

Being cheesy at breakfast Friday

The terrace fire pitThe Lake

Our Pool

Being silly

Water Slide!!

I love this picture!!Making s'mores

Tasting the heavenly goodness that is s'mores

The broadmore hotel

Feeding the Giraffes

Even the monkey's said it was to hot!!

Shrine of the sun. Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun is the tomb which holds the ashes of Spencer Penrose (1865-1939), a philanthropist who contributed many of the most prominent landmarks in Colorado Springs, including the neighboring Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and the Broadmoor Hotel. Completed by Penrose in 1937, it takes the form of an 80-foot observation tower on the side of Cheyenne Mountain. It overlooks the Broadmoor Hotel, and from the tower one can see the entire Colorado Springs metropolitan area and Garden of the Gods.

Persuaded not to name the structure after himself, Penrose instead named it in honor of his friend, Will Rogers, the American humorist who died in a plane crash in Alaska in 1935, during construction of the tomb

The Love i have for my children is the ONLY reason for this picture, i am deathly afraid of heights. This is a view from the gondola at the Zoo.

Pffft mom, we could totally take him

The storm rolling in as we left Sunday morning