These can be ingredients?

I have not tried this recipe. I don't think it would be very well received by Jim... what with pineapple and circus peanuts in it and all. Not to mention the appalling lack of chocolate in any form.




Circus Peanut Gelatin

44 circus peanuts, divided 1 cup boiling water, divided
2 (3 oz.) pkgs. orange jello
2 (8 oz.) cans crushed pineapple (undrained)
1 (8 oz.) carton frozen whipped topping, thawed

Cut 32 candies into small pieces; place in a microwave-safe bowl. Add 1/4 cup of boiling water. Cover and microwave on high for 1 minute. Stir; microwave 1 minute longer. Stir until smooth.
In a large bowl, dissolve jello in remaining boiling water. Stir in candy mixture and pineapple. Refrigerate until partially set. Fold in whipped topping. Pour into a 9 x 13 pan coated with cooking spray. Refrigerate until firm. Cut into squares; top each witha circus peanut.

Do you have fun with your food?

It's not often that I actually go to all the work of being super creative with my food. After all, if it tastes good and is healthy, does it matter much if it is "cute" or not? Plus, being creative usually makes bigger messes. (Especially once the kids find out, and want to join in.) Nevertheless, I like fun food ideas. Here are two really cute ones:
from Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories, the Flying Spaghetti Monster









And from Cake Journal, some Mupcakes

PBS wishlist

Oooh, the Masterpiece Theatre series of Jane Austen's books started off great last night! Persuasion was enjoyable, and I can't wait to watch the other 5 episodes. Someday I hope to own all 6 dvds.
With that thought in mind, I wandered over to the PBS shop online, sure that I would be greatly disappointed in the prices. However, I was happy to find that the prices are quite average. Perhaps I can slowly but surely purchase the set.
Another PBS series we enjoy is Secrets of the Dead. One of the best - Catastrophe. The theory is that the dark ages were caused by an immense volcanic eruption. Quite interesting, worth the time to watch. Other good episodes? Salem witch trials and the flu epidemic. Perhaps your library carries them...

Useful resource?

We are in desperate need of more shelving - we have too many books for the ones we have now. And yet we continue to buy more books! Things will continue this way, as I have found a new-to-us used bookstore up in Towson (about 15-20 minutes from our house), and this site. For those in Ohio, click here. In Minnesota, here. Never miss another great library sale!

The holidays

Now that we've gotten over our colds (and they were awful!), I have taken the time to upload our photos. Check them out here. We enjoyed spending time with our family and friends, but we are also glad to be back home. Now all we need to do is find places for all the gifts we brought home...

Happy 2008!

Jim was the only person at our house who was awake for the arrival of 2008. The rest of us were sensible, asleep in our beds. I missed it by only half an hour, as I had somehow stayed awake for the PBS show on Carol Burnett. It was funny...

Today we "celebrated" by having lunch at Panda Express. "Chinese for lunch, Chinese for lunch!" was Jamie's song as we left Lowe's parking lot. He happily ate up my Mandarin chicken, after he decided that he really does not like orange chicken after all. We are all stuffed. Mmmm.

The fortune cookies seemed to be written with New Year's day in mind. (Perhaps they always sound that way? "Somewhere in your future lies...") Here they are:
Jim:

Many pleasurable and memorable adventures are in store for you.

Laura:

There will be plenty of time to work hard; enjoy yourself!

Dot:

Every person is the architect of his own fortune.

Jamie:

An exciting opportunity lies ahead if you are not timid.

(By the way, the lucky numbers for Jim and me were the same!)