The Pajama Chef

Menu Plan

January 6, 2013January 13, 2013 Sarah

Week of January 7

Monday: Winter Vegetable Soup
Tuesday: Kale & Ham Frittata
Wednesday: Pasta with Homemade Vodka Sauce
Thursday: leftovers
Friday: Amish Cheeseburger Soup
Saturday: dinner with family… or out to eat… we will see what happens 🙂
Sunday: appetizers & desserts at a church event

Reviews

Book Review: Unending Devotion

December 26, 2012January 15, 2013 Sarah

So, once again, I absolute hate to say that I am behind on my book reviews that are part of the blogger review program for Bethany House Publishers, a well-respected publisher of Christian fiction and other Christian titles. Fortunately, they are extremely graceful, and for that, I thank them. Since I have had some time off during Christmas break, that means plenty of time to read–and time to post book reviews!! 🙂 Today I want to tell you all about Jody Hedlund‘s Unending Devotion. Can we just say… so, so, so, SO good?? Yes, please!

Here is the description of the book from the publisher:

Amidst the dangerous logging camps of Harrison, Michigan, Lily Young is on a mission to save her lost sister, or die trying. Boss-man of three lumber camps in the area, Connell McCormick is an upstanding citizen interested in clearing the pine and earning a profit. But Lily’s desperate search will challenge everything he thought he knew about life—and love. [You can also check out the book trailer here.]

As with my usual style… here’s my five point review!

First of all, I have read other books from Jody Hedlund. I have to admit, I am a person who does judge a book a bit by the cover [because I know what good cheesy Christian fiction covers look like!]. She lives in Midland, Michigan… where I have spent a lot of time because that’s where my dad grew up and my grandparents still live there. So, I was prejudiced from the beginning to like the book, but I continued to be impressed with the author’s writing style. I have read [or attempted to read] many poorly written books that I celebrate when things are written well. 🙂
This story is pretty dark. I know that might not make you want to read it, but it’s dark in a redemptive, Les Mis sort of way. Lily is fighting prostitution in 1800s Michigan logging camps, and is one of the most determined characters I have ever read about in her fight to save her sister. I do love that her fight to save her sister escalates to include all who are affected.
I know I’m already married, and I know that you can’t marry a book character [darn] but I am so in love with the hero, Connell. He is such a Godly man, and a good guy to boot. It goes without saying, but the love story between Lily and Connell is one of the best parts of the book. I love it when couples work together for good.
I thought Jody Hedlund did an excellent job portraying the time period and true historical events to life. To prevent spoilers, I won’t say too much, but I was really impressed with the research it must have taken to write this book.
This was a really fast-paced, captivating read. I would highly recommend it. Though I can’t say how long this will be available for free, today, December 26, 2012, this book is free for Kindles. Hope you enjoy!

What are you reading lately?

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers. However, I was not required to write a positive review. The thoughts expressed above are entirely my own. Thanks to Bethany House for the chance to read this great book!

Cookies, Desserts, Recipes

White Chocolate Peppermint M&M Cookies

December 24, 2012December 24, 2012 Sarah

Soo….these cookies. Total Pinterest find. Wasn’t really sure how I felt about the recipe itself even though they looked amazingly delicious. See, I’m not a big chocolate cookie fan. But I loved the idea of the M&Ms, which then became the sole reason for a trip to Target, the only place where White Chocolate Peppermint M&Ms can be found. As if you need a reason for a Target trip. Right? [But truthfully, for me, I do… as Target is pretty much on the opposite side of town and a huge pain to get there.] I digress…

White Chocolate Peppermint M&M Cookies | The Pajama Chef

These cookies are everything I thought they would be… AND MORE! They are rich and chewy… and absolutely beautiful. Don’t you think?

Two kinds of chocolate and two kinds of mint is a combination that cannot be beat. I mean, chocolate and mint together is classic, but white chocolate peppermint in the M&Ms provides the extra boost to the more traditional cocoa that makes the cookies uber chocolatey and thick as well as to the epitome of peppermint during the Christmas season: candy canes.

I know it’s Christmas eve, and you probably have a billion things to do. But I highly suggest that you head on out to Target to get some White Chocolate Peppermint M&Ms before it is too late and they disappear for another year. These cookies are so worth it. And in case you’re finding this recipe many months after Christmas, do not despair–I think the base chocolate cookie for this recipe is the best I’ve ever had, so other M&Ms and candy/chips would be an awesome substitute. I’m thinking peanut butter M&Ms and peanut butter chips? Or Reese’s Pieces and dark chocolate chips? Or Coconut M&Ms and semi-sweet chocolate chips? Or even something really outlandish like Skittles and sprinkles? Why doesn’t anyone ever bake with Skittles? Oh, the mysteries of this life… [note to self: try this one day]. In the meantime, I think I’m off to have another cookie.

P.S. I’ll be back with more recipes, menu plans, and more after the New Year, but until then probably won’t be around much. 🙂 Merry Christmas!!

White Chocolate Peppermint M&M Cookies [slightly adapted from no. 2 Pencil]
click to print

Ingredients:

14 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled
1/2 cup white sugar
1 cup dark brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
1 3/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
10 small candy canes, crushed [~ 1/3 cup]
1 bag White Chocolate Peppermint M&Ms

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together butter and sugars. Add vanilla and peppermint extracts and mix on low until combined. Then add eggs one at a time, mixing on low after each addition.

Slowly add flour and baking soda, mixing on low until dough forms.

Fold in candy cane pieces with spatula, then roll dough in balls of about 1 tablespoon each.

Place on cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Flatten slightly, then press in 4-5 M&Ms on top of each cookie.

Bake for 10 minutes, then cool on cookie sheet for 3 minutes before removing to cooling rack to cool completely.

Time: 30 minutes.

Yield: 28-30 cookies.

Menu Plans

Menu Plan

December 17, 2012 Sarah

Week of December 17

Monday: kale & ham frittata
Tuesday: pizza
Wednesday: enchiladas using this recipe with this meat
Thursday: leftovers
Friday: Ben fends for himself while I’m at my sister’s bachelorette party 🙂
Saturday: out to eat
Sunday: eating with family

Musings

Christmastime

December 14, 2012December 14, 2012 Sarah

This year, we decided to be a bit radical with our Christmas decorations. We didn’t get a tree. I know. So sad. See, my lil sister is getting married three days after Christmas. That, combined with all the work with my thesis, led to it just not making sense to get a tree, decorate it, and then have to take it down without enjoying it to the fullest. Oh, and our cats can be sort of naughty with the tree too, so there’s that. I like real trees and didn’t want to settle on even a smaller fake one.

So I decided to use the money + time we would have spent on a tree to make some decorations that would last for the future!

Of course, I used Pinterest for inspiration. I wasn’t organized enough–and this is not a craft blog–so I don’t have any tutorials. But I will link up my inspiration!

I made the wreath in the top left corner pretty much on my own. If you check out my wreath Pinterest board, you can probably see where I got my ideas from. I used the tutorials at Cut to Pieces to make the felt flowers. Let me say–they are so easy and fun to make! I am addicted! 🙂 What am I not addicted to? Wrapping yarn around a wreath base. Can we say… stressful? I adore the finished wreath though!

The Christmas tree in the middle left was made using this tutorial at Better Remade. I am so happy how it turned out! At first I was bummed because I couldn’t find a light green felt like the original, or a big box of pearl white straight pins, but I love my final product. You can’t really tell in the photo, but the white felt circles have glitter in them, and look so sparkly when they catch the light!

In the bottom left corner is my latest thrown together craft: a paper scrapbook Christmas tree. Usually in that stand I have a mosaic I made during my camp counselor years but decided I needed something more Christmasy. I got my idea from A Little Tipsy, but didn’t follow the tutorial exactly. I use scrapbook paper and leftover felt rolled up and hot glued to some foam board which was wrapped in ribbon to hide my uneven cheap x-acto knife cutting.

Last but not least, the yarn wrapped Christmas trees on the right [gray and sparkly white] were inspired by all the DIY Christmas trees I pinned on my Christmas board. And the yarn wrapped wreaths too. I made the garlands out of yarn and beads and think they make them a little more festive and retro, maybe. The tiniest candy cane tree is just ribbon.

Here are a few of our other Christmas decoartions: the mouse in the chimney circa 1970, my metal reindeer + star candle holder + Christmas tree plate, my second grade nativity set + pinecone angel, and a vase filled with some of our favorite ornaments. I couldn’t resist! Oh, and our stuffed friends, Elfkin and Ginger. They live on our couch during December.

So there you have it, Christmastime in our house this year. Would you believe that I’ve barely made any Christmas cookies or treats this year? That has got to change. I did share my Crock Pot Cran-Apple Sauce over on Thriving Home if you’d like to go check it out! I have some plans for cookies soon, so maybe there will be a post or two about that next week. Has anyone made anything awesome this year that you can recommend? Have a great weekend!

shared at it’s just Laine