Celebrate Dads with Homemade Twix Bars

This weekend we took a little road trip to Louisiana to celebrate our dads and a dear friend's baby shower. No one told us that taking a teething baby along for the ride would be eventful to say the least. I seriously rocked the car seat back and forth for two hours while our dog ran all over the car. We were exhausted by the time we made it. Add to the fact that I locked our baby in the car the next morning before the baby shower and we had to have Pop A Lock service come unlock the doors. This really made for a fabulous trip...mom of the year!!!

Here are the Welch men and Welch girls (including Garcia) all dressed up in camo. Now, I am not a big fan of camo but my mom insisted she have a camo outfit to fit in with the hunters in the family so here she is...decked out in her camo for a picture. So we have 3 generations of Welchs here in honor of Father's Day and a pup too.

Loving on her Paw Paw

The Boosky and her daddy...she adores him.

We had wonderful moments and we spent sweet time with our families, especially our dads! The weekend stayed very busy and we never stopped. We wish we could have made more visits to other family members but this was one of those weekends that being from the same hometown was a blessing and curse. We had something planned for every second of our trip between our two families. But Jason's sweet momma had a lot of his family come and celebrate at their pool as well as my sister and her precious babies. This helped us see many loved ones in one place. It was fabulous and I felt like I was on vacation with all the extra hands that were busy spoiling CC. There were actual times when I was floating around the pool that I had to remind myself that my baby was somewhere and I should probably check on her. Is that bad to admit? Oh well. Note to new mommas, when someone offers to help with the baby, you take it! Especially if it gives you a chance to swim uninterrupted because never again will you just jet off to the pool all carefree while a baby is near. You will pack everything but the kitchen sink and by the time you make it, you swim for about 30 mins or an hour max before it is time for a nap. True story. But the cute little leg rolls stuffed into her swimsuit and her cooes and smiles as you float her around the pool are all worth it. Promise.

CC, my dad and I on Father's Day. He had just had hip replacement surgery and was still in recovery in this picture.

So I wanted to add a sweet to the pool party celebration so I got right to work after putting Collins to sleep on Friday night...a mom's work is never done, right? But this time I had my sweet mother in law to help me in the kitchen and I gladly took her help! Again, when your sweet mother in law offers to help you cook at 9:00 at night after you just drove 4 hours with a teething little angel and spastic dog, take it! Who cares if I wanted to be Giada DeLaurentis secretly...she probably would have taken the help too.

So we made this fabulous dessert called Homemade Kit Kat Bars. Besides gummi bears, kit kat bars are my favorite so I was sold on this recipe. Now, you may have noticed that the title is Homemade Twix Bars and you are right. I changed the title myself. I feel this dessert is way more like Twix bars so I am going with a new name. But Kit Kat bar or Twix Bar...these bars are stinking good. Get ready, you will want to keep eating them.

Homemade Twix Bars

1 box of club crackers (you will not use them all so you can munch along the way!)

1 cup butter

2 cups graham cracker crumbs

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup whole milk

2/3 cup creamy peanut butter

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate morsels

1/2 cup butterscotch morsels

Line an ungreased 13x9 inch baking pan with 1 layer of crackers. You may have to cut a few to fit in the small holes; set aside. In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add cracker crumbs, brown sugar, milk, and sugar. Bring to a boil and boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Do not boil any longer because the mixture will get clumpy and you need it more on the runny side so it will be easy to pour. Remove from heat, and pour half of the butter mixture over the crackers. Place another layer of crackers evenly over the butter mixture layer. Top evenly with another layer of crackers.

In a small saucepan, combine peanut butter, chocolate and butterscotch. Melt over medium low heat, careful not to burn. Stir consistently. Spread over top of crackers. Cover and chill for at least one hour. Cut into bars and store in refrigerator. Great news is that you can make these little gems ahead of time like I did. Mommas love make ahead things so this is perfect when I feel my inner Julia Child wanting to cook.

I got this recipe from a magazine many years ago. Just letting you all (whoever you may be) know that I did not make this recipe up on my own, nor do I make up any of these recipes. I LOVE to cook but I am not that crafty. But I do like to add my own pizazz, like a new name in this case:) This is for you Mamou! I love you!

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Teachers Just Wanna Have Fun

Wednesday was our last day with students and it was such a bittersweet day as I said "good bye" to my very first Kindergarten class. I truly had a wonderful year although it was very tough at times as I learned so much and also became a mom. I was stretched to the limits but God carried me through. And my sweet husband was there every second of the way. I am already looking forward to next year but I am oh so glad to have the summer with my baby girl!

So us teachers ended the year in good fashion with a fabulous party. I know our students think we live at school but little do they know that we can have some fun. Seriously, they seem shocked when they see you outside of school and you can actually read their minds that say, "You mean, you shop at Target too??????" Anyway, Wednesday night we gathered at the home of one of our teachers and all sat poolside with our toes in the water. It looked innocent as we told stories about the year....



But then it got a bit crazy. Every single teacher, including myself, ended up in the pool in our clothes. Every. Single. Teacher. It was absolutely hilarious and the laughs were no doubt heard for miles. And even me, who hates to be wet in my clothes, could care less. We were officially off for the summer and we had zero cares in the world. I love the staff I work with and I am crazy blessed to be a part of Pattison Elementary.

So to the recipe...I had to make something easy because there is just absolutely zero time to play Julia Child on your last week of school. So I pulled out a tried and true recipe called Deviled Crackers. They are so easy to prepare that it is almost sinful. But the addiction to them is even more sinful. Many people have probably had these before so here is the way to make them:



Deviled Crackers

2 sleeves of Saltines

3/4 cup of Vegetable oil

1 packet of dry ranch mix

Set oven to 250. Spread your crackers on a baking sheet. Whisk the oil and ranch mix and then pour over your crackers and coat carefully. I use a rubber spatula to do the job. Bake at low temp for 20-30 mins. You will be able to smell when they are done. You will start to smell a yummy aroma in your house. The fun part is that you can use ANY dry packet mix....fajita mix, italian seasoning mix...anything! I actually used the Fiesta Ranch dry packet and loved it. These are always a hit and loved by all.

Enjoy and happy summer to all my fellow teachers out there!

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3 years later, but better late than never!

Well, it has been a LONG time since I posted on this blog. I never forgot about it and I am a person who actually feels guilty about not finishing something I start. This was one of those quilty things. But life has been busy in the umm...almost past 3 years since I last posted. Seriously, has it been that long? But to justify and make myself feel better, I will say that life has changed drastically in the last three years. Back to school...AGAIN and this time to be a teacher, moved from Nashville to Texas (oh so bittersweet), got my dream job as a Kindergarten teacher at an amazing school (God is good and faithful...AMEN!) and we had our first baby...our little baby bug,Collins Catherine! So that sums up our three years in a few sentences...or at least the main parts.

We were able to visit our sweet Momou over Easter this past March and my little blog came back on my heart. But who has time to blog when you add a first year Kinder teacher AND a first time mom to the mix??? Not this girl. I barely have time to brush my teeth (but I do). So I added "get back to my blog" on my summer bucket list and here I am on my first day of summer. Go me! I am so productive:) Now if only I can keep up with it. But here is the thing, when you are a busy, new, working mom, there is barely any time to be fancy and try new recipes. So I certainly haven't been able to try any of Momou's recipes but I think that she of all people would understand. But what I DO have is a collection of "Fast and Fabulous" recipes that I have been adding to and keeping for years as I tried new recipes. I have been pulling from that list all year to make sure we can eat some sort of dinner.

So Momou, for this season of life, I may just have to blog about those recipes and whatever else life throws me but I promise to cook some of your recipes as much as I can, especially now with summer here. I plan/hope/pray to add to my "Fast and Fabulous" list so I will be ready for the fall when school starts again. As far our sweet Momou? She is still as lovely as ever with the same easy, beautiful heart. She recently moved to a nursing home which is different and hard to see, but she is still queen! Her family is ever growing and she is still a prayer warrior with grace poured all over her. So for this season of life, this blog may have to take on a new meaning where I can TRY to make it all like Mamou...family, love, grace, motherhood and of course, food. I am really not a writer at all but there is something fun and that makes my heart happy about this tribute to Momou so I am going to try to keep going. Key word here:Try.

3 generations of Catherines...well, I am Katherine with a "K".



Only a few of the grandchildren and a few great grandchildren. Notice the other baby, that would be my sister's (Jonah), born only 20 days after Collins.



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The Infamous Momou Dirtcake

This is a dessert that make memories. That is when you know that you have a good recipe in your hands. Presenting Momou's infamous Dirt Cake....

This recipe goes back to the 2nd grade for me. I remember Momou and our Aunt Gay picking me and my sisters up from school telling us they had a special surprise waiting for us at home. We arrived home to find a terra cotta flower pot sitting on our kitchen counter with bright silk flowers planted in what LOOKED like dirt. Well Momou and Aunt Gay really spiced things up when they started eating this dirt. My sisters and I thought they had gone mad! Who eats dirt? Or at least eats it and makes yummy noises over it? Well I am not sure how they convinced us but we had a bite too. And from that day on we were hooked on Dirt Cake!

If you have never had Dirt Cake get ready to be a lover of this stuff. It is a cool and creamy chocolate/vanilla dessert that always hits the spot! Half of the fun is how you present this concoction. Get wild...crazy colored flower pots, Gerber Daises, gummy worms and even a garden trowel. Whatever your pretty heart desires. This is always a favorite at any event or party!

I have not yet gone the "flower pot" route but I do add gummy worms for good looks. I haven't yet made this for any kids (only us adults so far:) but when I do I am going all out. Just like Momou and Aunt Gay did.

Dirt Cake

Ingredients:
1 bag crushed Oreos
1 (8oz.) block of softened cream cheese
1/2 stick butter
1/4 cup powdered sugar
2 1/2 cups milk
2 boxes (3 oz. or closest to 3 oz.)instant vanilla pudding
1 (12 oz.) tub of Cool Whip

Steps:
1. Crush Oreos, set aside.
2. Cream butter, cream cheese and powdered sugar, set aside.
3. Mix pudding and milk until smooth.
4. Stir together step 2 and 3. Fold in Cool Whip.
5. Layer Oreos, then pudding. Add another layer and end with crushed Oreos on top.
6. Chill for at least 2 hours.
7. Serve with flair and you've got yourself a party!

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as me and my family have. I love making this for special occasions and seeing every one's face when I serve it. Did I mention that you can even make this a lower fat version. All you have to do is buy "light" or "fat free" ingredients and it still tastes delicious! I hope your children, your grandchilden or even children in your classroom love this dessert and keep the memory that goes with it. I know I will never forget!

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No-Bake Nuggets

These past few months have been so busy for us. Literally something planned almost every night. But no complaints at all...it has been all fun. During these busy days I have found myself in a pickle with the need of a QUICK recipe with barely anytime to search for that perfect "one". I should have known that Momou would have the perfect "quick" recipe in her collection.

A few months ago my girlfriends and I decided to start a bunco group. And we have had a ball with our little group let me tell you! The first official bunco night was hosted by moi and of course I planned it on a busy little day. And guess what...I needed a dessert to make and quick! Sure I could have run by Publix and grabbed something for the bakery but honestly I perfer to make something myself. That's just me.

So No-Bake Nuggets? Sounds more like an appetizer to me. But oh it is not. It is ooey gooey deliciousness! The best part...you never even turn on that oven! Second best part...there is a very good chance you will have the ingredients right in your little pantry. So do I have you intersted in how to make these little gems? Well see below!

No-Bake Nuggets
1/4 cup butter of margarine, melted
2 cups quick or old fashioned oats, uncooked
One 15 oz. can condensed milk
3/4 cup Chunky peanut butter
Dash of Salt

Combine butter and oats in a skillet; cook over medium heat, stirring constantly; about 10 minutes or until golden brown. Add condensed milk, peanut butter and salt; mix until well blended. Spread in greased foil lined 8-inch square pan; chill. Cut into squares.

Voila! How is easy this little dessert? And it is so yummy too! Enjoy.

Food for thought: If you don't belong to a bunco group....start one with your girlfriends ASAP! SO MUCH FUN!

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