Today Cooper is 4. FOUR. YEARS. OLD.
I’ve been busy this afternoon making him a Batman birthday cake!
I decided to take a break and look through pictures of him. OMG WHERE DOES THE TIME GO?!
Orange Ginger Toddy
TODDY TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIME!! (Oprah voice. Always.)
I made this Orange Ginger Toddy the other night and put it on Instagram (@tracyshutterbean if you’re into it).
A few people asked me for the recipe and here it is. It’s so easy. I could have just tweeted you, but whatever.
We’re here and we might as well….
This is my new favorite way to drink a hot toddy. It’s orange. It’s spiced. It’s sweet and there’s a touch of ginger in it.
Oranges & bourbon will be appearing on my grocery lists for months to come.
And when I’m feeling like changing it up, I’ll go with a classic or one with gin. Drink the warmth! CONTINUE READING
I love lists, Friday!
- My name is Tracy and I’m obsessed with this song.
- Let’s get drunk on these. It’s Friday. YOLO.
- How solid is your password? It’s not 1234 is it?
- Oh man. Aladdin. The bread…
- How old are you? 29? hahahaha.
- A banana slicer. Just read the comments.
- Super Cheap Photo Studio Setup. I employ these tricks!
- Must get myself to Heath. STAT.
- Kids… They say the darnedest things.
- A very good post about internet vacations.
- 33 Meticulous Cleaning Tricks for the OCD Person. YESSSSSS.
- There’s always dinner. A great reminder & meditation for Fall
- I’ve got my eye on this Carrot Apple Loaf!
- Being sick never looked so cozy. Hope you’re better, Katie!
- Why Women Should Stop Trying To Be perfect. YES.
- This is the time of year when I start craving mushrooms.
- One of my all time favorite blogs, Frecklewonder is saying goodbye. *I’M SO SAD*
RED FLAG, BING! We have another installment of Red Flags on the Joy The Baker Podcast.
I FINALLY cleaned out my car!!! You can see the whole process on Homefries. It’s apparently inspiring people to tackle their messy cars. Boom.
My Bites Around the Net
Kylie from The Baking Bird made my Fig & Olive Oil Cake.
Everyday Food Lovers adapted my Strawberry Clafouti.
Jessica from The Desert Abode made my Cream Cheese Cinnamon Rolls. Congrats to you!!
Rachel from The Little Cookbook did an excellent adaptation of my Peach Rosemary Spritzers
Katheryn from The Bakers Sheet adapted my Brown Butter Waffles.
Monique from Cooking & Hooking made my Coffee Chocolate Krispies Treats
Jen from Fidget Smile Wave made my Farm Stand Buttermilk Doughnuts.
Anna from Bashful Bao made her own version of my Freezer Breakfast Burritos.
Out to Eat: Momofuku Noodle Bar
Have you been to Momofuku Noodle Bar? It’s one of my favorite places to eat in NYC. Every time I visit my brother, we make a point to eat lunch here. This past July, I went with my brother & Joy. It was exceptional! But then again, I wouldn’t expect anything less. David Chang is one of my culinary heroes.
Tuna Salad Sandwich
There are two things that are missing from my blog.
1. Sandwiches
2. Mayo
Sandwiches. Why? I don’t know. I just don’t think to post them. I usually eat the same sandwich when I order one at a deli (turkey, avocado, tomatoes, lettuce, pepperoncini, red onions & mustard on a sourdough roll). I usually eat the same sandwiches at home including this one, grilled cheese and peanut butter & bananas sandwiches. Would you like me to make more sandwiches here? Discuss.
Mayo. Why? Cuz I don’t like it. And even if you tell me that making my own mayo will change me, I don’t believe you and I won’t do it.
NO. Just NO.
In the past, I’ve shown you a simple Tuna Salad with white beans that I like to top on a salad. The key to getting a creamy/spreadable tuna salad like this one here, is Greek Yogurt. And even if you are a fan of mayo, fat free Greek Yogurt makes this much much MUCH healthier. You won’t miss it! When we were kids, my mom occasionally added sweet relish to our tuna. My brother & I loved that, so I continue that tradition in my life now. It adds a little sweetness to this combination and you’ll find that the red onion adds pep and the chopped walnuts provide great texture. If you like a little spicy kick, add Dijon mustard. It’s all up to you. Now…let’s get to one of my favorite sandwiches!
Cottage Cheese Pancakes
As a mom of a picky eater, it’s an amazing feeling when I try a new recipe and my kid not only eats it, but asks for seconds.
These three pancakes, although not super pretty, were demolished in less than three minutes by Cooper.
That pancake at the top with the raisin face? Gone in like 2.5 seconds.
If he devours these pancakes this fast at almost 4 years old, I’m in for it when he hits his teenage years.
We might have to buy a cow! Yup. I’m already planning ahead.
A little bit about this recipe. It comes from my friend Catherine’s new book, The Weelicious Cookbook. Have you been to the Weelicious website? It’s a gold mine for busy moms & families. When Cooper was almost 2, I remember searching online for kid-friendly recipes and found a jackpot of photos of Catherine’s son Kenya’s school lunches. Ever since then, I was hooked. Fast forward a few years and I actually met/had dinner with Catherine and we instantly hit it off. This woman is INCREDIBLE. Not only is she a culinary inspiration, she’s a hard working mom with a passion for food & family. She just oozes positivity and I love that in a person. Go ahead, watch one of her videos and you’ll see what I mean.
The Weelicious Cookbook is filled with so many great recipes for the whole family. If you’re in a food rut with feeding your family (I know I am!), it will be your savior. Recipes like Mexican Lasagna, Bacon & Cheese Waffles, Chicken Taquitos, Chicken Satay Burgers & Baked Zucchini Coins have left me excited to cook new things for my little family.
I feel renewed and refreshed! It’s a nice reminder that food can be fun and interactive.
Thank heavens for that.
