- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Monday, April 23, 2012
Ode to Sonic
Dear Sonic,
I miss you. Like, I really miss you. I miss Back Yard Burgers and Chik-Fil-A, too, but Sonic and I had something special. I loved their drinks with an overwhelming devotion. Their coneys and chili cheese tator tots never disappointed me. And, I'm 99% sure I survived all three pregnancies strictly because of their popcorn chicken.
I just ... love Sonic.
Clearly, I am enduring an empty void without it.
So, I decided on this cold, rainy, snowy (Umm ...WTH Pennsylvania?!?!) day, it was time to recreate the yummy goodness that Sonic brings.
I'm sure y'all caught on by now, that I'm undoubtedly a junk food lover. Paula Deen and the P-Dub are my heroes, I'm a sucker for syrupy soft drinks and anything with a toxic level of sodium. Thank you, Lord, for a high metabolism. But if I blow up in the next few years, you'll know why. I totally deserve it.
Moving on, the first thing on the menu was the chili cheese coneys. I have tried to perfect these SEVERAL times, but I have FINALLY discovered the key to fabulously delicious chili dogs ... THANK YOU Pinterest!
So, the secret is baking the mayo and relish slathered buns for 45 minutes (Mayo is absolutely my fav food. Do not compare it to Miracle Whip, bleck, Mayo is the miracle ingredient that can take most dishes to new heights of deliciousness).
The mayonnaise does something miraculous to the baking buns and transforms these chili dogs to something Angels sing about ... I'm sure there's a psalm somewhere inspired by them.
After the mayo and relish it's time to load up your dogs.
Top with a squirt of mustard, lots of your fav chili recipe, a heaping helping of grated cheddar, and sprinkle with diced onions. Then cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes in a 350 degree oven.
The pictures look crazy messy, and really just don't do them justice ... But bear with me.
The foil lined dish was a bad idea ... Darnit. However, they were still dang good.
Aaron got a fry daddy dealio over the weekend that he is way proud of. He has a deep love of fried potatoes, so he whipped some of those up by dicing up some new potatoes and covering in Lawry's, and then frying in a scary amount of oil.
I took advantage of his frying contraption to make another Sonic fav: Mozzarella Sticks. The Pioneer Woman's new cookbook has a super easy recipe for them that my friend, Lisa was raving about so I knew I had to try.
I just got store bought string cheese and cut them in half. Then I rolled them in flour; dunked them in a dish of eggs and milk; and finally rolled them in a bowl of panko bread crumbs with Italian seasoning (this is tedious, but I promise its worth it!!) Then you line them on a baking sheet and flash freeze them for about 30 minutes. Lastly I pulled them out of the freezer and plopped a few at a time into the deep fryer for about two minutes. There were three grown men grunting in my kitchen over these ... Like they inhaled them as soon as they came out of the grease commenting how "stupid good" they were. I hear that's a good thing. Served with warm marinara and ranch dressing, they were dee-wishiss as we say in the Boonies.
The whole menu made having not seen a Sonic in almost two months a little more bearable. I tried to recreate a big styrofoam cup of coca-cola with lots of ice and a straw ... But let's be honest, it's not the same. I mean,the ice ay, ay, ay... There's just no comparison. You can't have it all.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
I miss you. Like, I really miss you. I miss Back Yard Burgers and Chik-Fil-A, too, but Sonic and I had something special. I loved their drinks with an overwhelming devotion. Their coneys and chili cheese tator tots never disappointed me. And, I'm 99% sure I survived all three pregnancies strictly because of their popcorn chicken.
I just ... love Sonic.
Clearly, I am enduring an empty void without it.
So, I decided on this cold, rainy, snowy (Umm ...WTH Pennsylvania?!?!) day, it was time to recreate the yummy goodness that Sonic brings.
I'm sure y'all caught on by now, that I'm undoubtedly a junk food lover. Paula Deen and the P-Dub are my heroes, I'm a sucker for syrupy soft drinks and anything with a toxic level of sodium. Thank you, Lord, for a high metabolism. But if I blow up in the next few years, you'll know why. I totally deserve it.
Moving on, the first thing on the menu was the chili cheese coneys. I have tried to perfect these SEVERAL times, but I have FINALLY discovered the key to fabulously delicious chili dogs ... THANK YOU Pinterest!
So, the secret is baking the mayo and relish slathered buns for 45 minutes (Mayo is absolutely my fav food. Do not compare it to Miracle Whip, bleck, Mayo is the miracle ingredient that can take most dishes to new heights of deliciousness).
The mayonnaise does something miraculous to the baking buns and transforms these chili dogs to something Angels sing about ... I'm sure there's a psalm somewhere inspired by them.
After the mayo and relish it's time to load up your dogs.
Top with a squirt of mustard, lots of your fav chili recipe, a heaping helping of grated cheddar, and sprinkle with diced onions. Then cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes in a 350 degree oven.
The pictures look crazy messy, and really just don't do them justice ... But bear with me.
The foil lined dish was a bad idea ... Darnit. However, they were still dang good.
Aaron got a fry daddy dealio over the weekend that he is way proud of. He has a deep love of fried potatoes, so he whipped some of those up by dicing up some new potatoes and covering in Lawry's, and then frying in a scary amount of oil.
I took advantage of his frying contraption to make another Sonic fav: Mozzarella Sticks. The Pioneer Woman's new cookbook has a super easy recipe for them that my friend, Lisa was raving about so I knew I had to try.
I just got store bought string cheese and cut them in half. Then I rolled them in flour; dunked them in a dish of eggs and milk; and finally rolled them in a bowl of panko bread crumbs with Italian seasoning (this is tedious, but I promise its worth it!!) Then you line them on a baking sheet and flash freeze them for about 30 minutes. Lastly I pulled them out of the freezer and plopped a few at a time into the deep fryer for about two minutes. There were three grown men grunting in my kitchen over these ... Like they inhaled them as soon as they came out of the grease commenting how "stupid good" they were. I hear that's a good thing. Served with warm marinara and ranch dressing, they were dee-wishiss as we say in the Boonies.
The whole menu made having not seen a Sonic in almost two months a little more bearable. I tried to recreate a big styrofoam cup of coca-cola with lots of ice and a straw ... But let's be honest, it's not the same. I mean,the ice ay, ay, ay... There's just no comparison. You can't have it all.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Friday, April 20, 2012
Unforgettables
It's been awhile since I've posted some Unforgettable moments in the Boonies.
By no means is it because of lack of material; the kids are continuing to say and do the funniest little things that keep us in stitches. But, so much of the time it's their little voice inflections or just the big thought or word coming out of the tiny mouth that makes us laugh ... It doesn't translate well to print which is a major bummer.
I'm still going to document in hopes I'll remember how cute they were when I'm an empty nester. So feel free to read along.
(Also, I've keep a running list of funnies in my phone which is where these are coming from- sorry if any are repeats from earlier posts ... I don't think so. But just in case.)
Avery is still obsessed with Justin Beiber. She begs for magazines with his picture on it and reminds us often that she's going to marry him. She watches The Disney Channel all the time and when I told her recently that Alex (Selena Gomez) is Justin's girlfriend she flipped. "Are you freaking kidding me?" she exclaimed. At which point I decided it was time to remove "freaking" from my vocabulary.
This was a day she went to work with her daddy, she's the cutest.
Dalton is at the stage (Lord, please let it be a stage) where he thinks all potty talk is hilarious. He
brings it up in the car, at meal times, bedtime prayers ... The child has no filter.
Since we got here so late in the "school" year, there wasn't any room for Dalton. Every Tuesday and Thursday when we drop A off or pick her back up Dalton asks me if this will be his school in the fall. Which usually warrants the following conversation:
Me: yes, Dalton. You get to come in the fall.
D: Good. Then I get to poop on my teacher.
Av: No, Dalton. You can't poop on your teacher. It's just not polite.
It's a good thing he's cute.
Being in a new place, with new peeps, Aaron thought it a good idea to work with the kids on "what to do if a stranger comes."
So, nightly ... At the dinner table ... they go around practicing their kidnapper scream. It's horrible. It messes with my equilibrium. And typically our windows are open so I'm sure the neighbors think we are totally crazy between nightly screaming matches, pantless outdoor play, and the general craziness of my children.
Anyway, the other day we were in Target and D let out quite a wail in agony that I wasn't getting him some toy. Avery patted him on the back and said, "Oh Dalton, that was a great kidnapper scream!"
Here's some pics of A and her bestie, Naomi.
Notice these pictures were taken about 12 minutes apart. And Avery is in a different outfit. She changes clothes at least six times a day. It. Drives. Me. Crazy.
Sawyer is still my cutie patootie little who from who-ville.
We think he is HILARIOUS and he barely even talks. I just know he's going to be the biggest ham.
My love for that little thing runs way deep.
Happy Friday Peeps!!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
By no means is it because of lack of material; the kids are continuing to say and do the funniest little things that keep us in stitches. But, so much of the time it's their little voice inflections or just the big thought or word coming out of the tiny mouth that makes us laugh ... It doesn't translate well to print which is a major bummer.
I'm still going to document in hopes I'll remember how cute they were when I'm an empty nester. So feel free to read along.
(Also, I've keep a running list of funnies in my phone which is where these are coming from- sorry if any are repeats from earlier posts ... I don't think so. But just in case.)
Avery is still obsessed with Justin Beiber. She begs for magazines with his picture on it and reminds us often that she's going to marry him. She watches The Disney Channel all the time and when I told her recently that Alex (Selena Gomez) is Justin's girlfriend she flipped. "Are you freaking kidding me?" she exclaimed. At which point I decided it was time to remove "freaking" from my vocabulary.
This was a day she went to work with her daddy, she's the cutest.
Dalton is at the stage (Lord, please let it be a stage) where he thinks all potty talk is hilarious. He
brings it up in the car, at meal times, bedtime prayers ... The child has no filter.
Since we got here so late in the "school" year, there wasn't any room for Dalton. Every Tuesday and Thursday when we drop A off or pick her back up Dalton asks me if this will be his school in the fall. Which usually warrants the following conversation:
Me: yes, Dalton. You get to come in the fall.
D: Good. Then I get to poop on my teacher.
Av: No, Dalton. You can't poop on your teacher. It's just not polite.
It's a good thing he's cute.
Being in a new place, with new peeps, Aaron thought it a good idea to work with the kids on "what to do if a stranger comes."
So, nightly ... At the dinner table ... they go around practicing their kidnapper scream. It's horrible. It messes with my equilibrium. And typically our windows are open so I'm sure the neighbors think we are totally crazy between nightly screaming matches, pantless outdoor play, and the general craziness of my children.
Anyway, the other day we were in Target and D let out quite a wail in agony that I wasn't getting him some toy. Avery patted him on the back and said, "Oh Dalton, that was a great kidnapper scream!"
Here's some pics of A and her bestie, Naomi.
Notice these pictures were taken about 12 minutes apart. And Avery is in a different outfit. She changes clothes at least six times a day. It. Drives. Me. Crazy.
Sawyer is still my cutie patootie little who from who-ville.
We think he is HILARIOUS and he barely even talks. I just know he's going to be the biggest ham.
My love for that little thing runs way deep.
Happy Friday Peeps!!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Tea Time
This morning our sweet girly girl had a tea party at school to celebrate the end of the year. The whole fam was invited and we were more than happy to attend!
We took Avery to pick out a dress
to wear after our trip to the Discovery Center this weekend ... She picked out her whole ensemble herself. Cutie.
Yesterday she went to run some
errands with Aaron and bought those little jeans; she insisted on wearing them with her dress. Yesterday it was 85 degrees ... We had fans going, tank tops donning and I was sure today would be similar. Wrong.
Today it was 55 and windy ... With a FREEZE warning tonight. (What???) so I guess the jeans weren't a terrible idea.
We watched the cuties sing several songs and then had a lovely tea party.
I hated to ask the lady to take another pic since this one was terrible ... Now I'm wishing I would have.
Then the boys left to get haircuts and Avery and I went to see her classroom. I think she was confused on why she wasn't staying for school time (that made two of us).
We came home to make some
Chicken Salad and wait for the boys when finally they arrived ... With their new short hair.
Sawyer's isn't that bad. It's just not as fluffy as it was before ... Tear. I'm sure it will be curly again in no time.
But poor Dalton ...
It's a little Lloyd Christmas-ish. It's a good thing he has a great personality.
I'm sure his will grow soon, too.
I'm going to try to enjoy the rest of naptime in the sun getting some much needed Vitamin D.
Clearly, this is not a regular occurrence as my white legs can attest to!!
Happy Tuesday!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
We took Avery to pick out a dress
to wear after our trip to the Discovery Center this weekend ... She picked out her whole ensemble herself. Cutie.
Yesterday she went to run some
errands with Aaron and bought those little jeans; she insisted on wearing them with her dress. Yesterday it was 85 degrees ... We had fans going, tank tops donning and I was sure today would be similar. Wrong.
Today it was 55 and windy ... With a FREEZE warning tonight. (What???) so I guess the jeans weren't a terrible idea.
We watched the cuties sing several songs and then had a lovely tea party.
I hated to ask the lady to take another pic since this one was terrible ... Now I'm wishing I would have.
Then the boys left to get haircuts and Avery and I went to see her classroom. I think she was confused on why she wasn't staying for school time (that made two of us).
We came home to make some
Chicken Salad and wait for the boys when finally they arrived ... With their new short hair.
Sawyer's isn't that bad. It's just not as fluffy as it was before ... Tear. I'm sure it will be curly again in no time.
But poor Dalton ...
It's a little Lloyd Christmas-ish. It's a good thing he has a great personality.
I'm sure his will grow soon, too.
I'm going to try to enjoy the rest of naptime in the sun getting some much needed Vitamin D.
Clearly, this is not a regular occurrence as my white legs can attest to!!
Happy Tuesday!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Wacky Weekend
It wasn't really that wacky, I just like alliteration.
Another weekend has passed and PA is finally growing on me. I'm totally digging all the family time and just love all my people. While lots of days feel like groundhog day, it's given me time to truly spend with the kiddos and AB and just savor the time we have with all these young-uns as my Dad would say.
Friday we didn't really have anything we wanted to do particularly so we just went into Elmira and shop-hopped. Nothing to write home about ... But it was a fun outing.
Saturday Aaron and Danny took the kids to ... Surprise, surprise Farmland. :) They just love it and we're becoming quite regulars. The kids beg to go back and it's a cheap thrill. Plus this week the ponies were out for riding that added a special new element!
Aaron sent me these pics ...
While they were doing that I stayed home alone to clean the house for a while (which, as you moms with littles know, cleaning the house with all the kids gone is a totally luxury. I even find myself enjoying it if no one is there to mess it up.) Then I went with Emily and Isaiah to go thrift store shopping. I'm 99% sure this was my first time and I had fun. It's not a gift of mine, like some of my crafty friends, to see old things for what they could be. I see everything at face value. Kinda like when I look at houses for sale and if I don't like the paint colors or wall paper I'm immediately turned off and ready to move on to the next. I'm 98% sure it's a character flaw.
Moving on ... I dropped them off, went to the grocery store and came home to get ready for a fun date night with AB, Emily and Danny for Emily's bday.
We went to eat yummy sushi and then had coffee and looked at books at Barnes and Noble. I have no pics, which is quite unfortunate because the hubs was looking mighty fine. True story.
We came home to 2 out of 3 sleeping children. Aaron took pictures for my begging mom and sisters (against my will!!) so here are their cute selves:
She's a mess.
Sunday we watched a Francis Chan sermon which was thought provoking and encouraging. I feel like everything around me right now is reminding me that our time on earth is SO short and we need to be living for eternity.
We took the yayhoots to Binghampton, NY today to the Discovery Center which was super fun. It was kinda like a hyped up Wonder Place (for my LR peeps) and a lot like the children's museum in Memphis.
They went on and on about how much fun it was.
I took some pics in there while winding through the chaos. Clearly we were running a man-to-man defense which is why I mainly only have pics of Avery ... A couple of Sawyer and like 1 of Dalton.
(awkward self-portrait ... Sometimes I just have to prove I was there)
Yuck. Soooo sticky.
So we had early baths.
Followed by a burrito picnic and walk around the neighborhood.
It was a good weekend in the Boonies!
- Posted using BlogPress my iPhone
Another weekend has passed and PA is finally growing on me. I'm totally digging all the family time and just love all my people. While lots of days feel like groundhog day, it's given me time to truly spend with the kiddos and AB and just savor the time we have with all these young-uns as my Dad would say.
Friday we didn't really have anything we wanted to do particularly so we just went into Elmira and shop-hopped. Nothing to write home about ... But it was a fun outing.
Saturday Aaron and Danny took the kids to ... Surprise, surprise Farmland. :) They just love it and we're becoming quite regulars. The kids beg to go back and it's a cheap thrill. Plus this week the ponies were out for riding that added a special new element!
Aaron sent me these pics ...
While they were doing that I stayed home alone to clean the house for a while (which, as you moms with littles know, cleaning the house with all the kids gone is a totally luxury. I even find myself enjoying it if no one is there to mess it up.) Then I went with Emily and Isaiah to go thrift store shopping. I'm 99% sure this was my first time and I had fun. It's not a gift of mine, like some of my crafty friends, to see old things for what they could be. I see everything at face value. Kinda like when I look at houses for sale and if I don't like the paint colors or wall paper I'm immediately turned off and ready to move on to the next. I'm 98% sure it's a character flaw.
Moving on ... I dropped them off, went to the grocery store and came home to get ready for a fun date night with AB, Emily and Danny for Emily's bday.
We went to eat yummy sushi and then had coffee and looked at books at Barnes and Noble. I have no pics, which is quite unfortunate because the hubs was looking mighty fine. True story.
We came home to 2 out of 3 sleeping children. Aaron took pictures for my begging mom and sisters (against my will!!) so here are their cute selves:
She's a mess.
Sunday we watched a Francis Chan sermon which was thought provoking and encouraging. I feel like everything around me right now is reminding me that our time on earth is SO short and we need to be living for eternity.
We took the yayhoots to Binghampton, NY today to the Discovery Center which was super fun. It was kinda like a hyped up Wonder Place (for my LR peeps) and a lot like the children's museum in Memphis.
They went on and on about how much fun it was.
I took some pics in there while winding through the chaos. Clearly we were running a man-to-man defense which is why I mainly only have pics of Avery ... A couple of Sawyer and like 1 of Dalton.
(awkward self-portrait ... Sometimes I just have to prove I was there)
Yuck. Soooo sticky.
So we had early baths.
Followed by a burrito picnic and walk around the neighborhood.
It was a good weekend in the Boonies!
- Posted using BlogPress my iPhone