The Kitchen: Along the Way

It was a arduous process but the kitchen remodel has been done. We used the following professionals:

• Nick Hagar for paint
• R and J cabinets for the cabinets
• Diniz Design for the granite

My dear husband did all the demolition (I was his assistant) and the electrical work as well. We got our new microwave and dishwasher through Best Buy (where we found the best prices for the products we wanted) and that ended up working out as well. We love how it turned out... pictures to follow!

Kitchen pics... old

Here are pictures of our kitchen right now. It looks good from afar but if you get up close you can see the many issues that we knew about when we bought the house and planned to have taken care of when we could. That time is now! We are ready to be done with the poorly constructed cabinets where sections are popping off from the wall or the base. We are ready to be done with the off-kilter drawers and cabinet doors that were "cut to fit" using poor measurements or workmanship. The magnetic hardware holding the cabinets shut are all in different places and they are sloppy plus some cabinets either don't close or you have to slam them shut. Lastly, the storage options are horrible. We have tons of space but with no shelves or extra things everything it just thrown in willy-nilly. Of course I don't like the Corian counters but that I could have dealt with if it were the only issues. We love our Viking stove and copper hood and are also keeping the Sub Zero refrigerator but getting rid of the wall oven. We are ditching the microwave with the broken numbers and buying a new stainless steel microwave and dishwasher too. We have ten foot ceilings and would like for the cabinets to go up higher. We don't want to have to move the moulding and it does have several layers of pretty moulding. This is a huge project but I know it will also make a huge difference!

Cabinet to far left is current pantry. We haven't missed a walk-in pantry at all BUT we don't like how it's right by the back door and, when open, the pantry gets in the way of people coming in and out. With so many kids over all the time this is an issue! I will want the new microwave either in the cabinet space to the left of the window or to the right of the window.

 Dishwasher will be in same place but replaced.

 We would not have spent this much on an appliance but since it came with the house we do enjoy our Sub Zero refrigerator.

This counter area is currently used as a desk/work station but I don't need that much space. I plan to move microwave to cabinet area by stainless oven/stove and get rid of black wall oven shown above. Then we will make this area mostly tall cabinets (less counter space) and it will be our new pantry. I envision wonderful pull out sections and all sorts of glorious add-ons to help make it a fantabulous pantry area full of snacks, cans, and boxes of yummy goodness. I would like the far left to still be a counter area with some work/storage space good for a busy mom like me.

Speaking of busy... this island is a work space for all. When it is not my cooking space it is an art studio. I would like to the island to be a little bigger and a lot more organized. The front of it now has a few rickety drawers and a large cavernous cabinet with no shelves at all. I want to to have more storage options, including maybe one of those narrow pull-outs that has shelves just the right size for cans. Daughter shown does not need to be remodeled; the current model is good enough.

Crab Bisque

I made this today and it was good. I've already added in my comments and additions.

Crab and Brie Soup

This is the signature soup of Dakota Restaurant in Covington. But calling it a soup is a stretch. It's so thick that you could turn a spoonful upside down and it might not come out. I'd recommend serving it only when you can afford to put a lot of lump crabmeat in it. It's very rich.

• 1/2 stick butter
• 1 medium onion, cut up
• 1 medium carrot, cut up
• 3 ribs celery, cut up
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 cup white wine
• 1 quart heavy whipping cream (I used 1/2 and 1/2)
• 1/2 cup butter
• 3/4 cup flour
• 8 oz. Brie cheese, rind removed
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/8 tsp. white pepper
• 1/2 lb. jumbo lump crabmeat
• Pinch cayenne

1. Heat the butter in a heavy kettle over medium heat.

2. Add the onion, carrot, celery, garlic, and bay leaves, and continue to cook until the vegetables soften.

3. Add the wine and bring that to a boil. After a minute or two, add two quarts of water (I used chicken broth) and bring to a simmer. Keep the simmer going for about a half-hour.

4. Add the cream. Return to a simmer.

5. Heat the butter in another saucepan and stir in the flour. Make a blond roux, and whisk into the soup pot.

6. Slice the Brie into small pieces and add it to the pot. Stir until the cheese melts in completely. Add salt and pepper to taste.

7. Add crab and make sure crab separates so that it can be enjoyed in every bite. I used crab from the seafood section at Wal-Mart that was about $8 for 1/2 a pound. It was perfect. Some recipes say to use canned crab but I cannot imagine using that in this kind of recipe!

Serves six to eight.

What is YOUR Letter?

In honor of our study of The Scarlet Letter, tomorrow my students will decorate their letters. Today I asked them to think of their own flaw, weakness, or something that has caused them secret guilt. In the novel, Hester had to publicly bear her punishment for her weakness but Dimmesdale didn't and the guilt ate away at him. I had them write down a description of their flaw, weakness, or the cause of their guilt on a piece of paper but NOT turn it in. We used the honor system. Is it possible that some of them wrote a paragraph about nothing but their love of spider monkeys or their hatred for English? Yes. However, I bet most of them did what they were supposed to do. I watched them work from afar and helped them come up with concise words and letters when they needed help. Trust issues? Distrustful. Another word for sneaky (afraid that the S would be misinterpreted)? Deceitful or dissembling. If they didn't ask for me I stayed out of their way. They took their papers with them and I will never ask to see their paragraphs again. Tomorrow they will use my glitter, ribbon, buttons, patterned paper, scalloped shapes, vivid card-stock, and other embellishments to create their own letters. Like Hester's their letters with be expected to be artistic and ornate (as much as their ability allows) and wearable. There are some differences too: Hester created her letter in jail, theirs is done in my classroom (albeit some may see a connection between jail and school). I will give them bonus for wearing it during the day. The creation of the letter is important. The wearing of the letter is equally important. People will stare. People will wonder. People will assume. It'll be good for my kiddos to experience this and think about how Hester felt to be punished for life for her passion and how living with your mistakes is not a new concept. Of course I have my letter too. It's taken from the seven deadly sins (which we briefly discussed). I always have them guess my letter and today I laughed out-loud when one of them guessed lust. I have a full-time job, three children and a new puppy; what's lust? The next guess was correct: greed. Just like my offspring, I do have issues with sometimes wanting more than I need when I am already blessed. I will wear my letter too and, depending on the moment, may or may not tell people what it means. Hester accepted her sin and wore it not necessarily with honor but without denial. I hope that my students will learn something about themselves and others through this lesson.

Gratitude

Tonight I was very disappointed in Carson. Oftentimes on Wednesdays we get fast food after we pick the boys up from religion class. Both my boys, like me, are into routines and patterns and don't like for things to change. However, that did not excuse Carson's tantrum in the church parking lot when he found out I was making quesadillas for dinner and that he would not be getting Cane's chicken fingers as he had hoped/expected. If Child Protection Services had heard him they would have immediately arrested me for abuse; his screams were racked with intense pain and dejection. I was declared the Worst Mom Ever. EVER! Seriously? For quesadillas? It's not like it was tuna casserole or spinach; kids are supposed to like quesadillas. They even have them on kids menus. I was so disappointed with Carson's selfishness and drama (in the church parking lot, no less) that I was stunned into silence. This whole "stunned into silence" bit happens very rarely with me. There were so many thoughts running through my head that I didn't know what to express first. In my classroom every day there are students whose only meals are those that they get at school, either because they have families who cannot afford food or they don't have a responsible, independent, adult at home to even buy food for them. Some of my students are 18 and therefore able to be on their own legally speaking. However, I still wish they had someone to mother them the way they should be mothered. If I gave some of them quesadillas they would be grateful. I hope that today was just a bad day for Carson and his ungrateful, spoiled, response doesn't repeat itself. He has a big heart and I want him to realize that him not getting Cane's does not make me a bad mother. I want him to understand that he is lucky to have a mom that feeds him and even makes home-cooked meals for him. I want him to understand that I love him no matter what but that we are a very blessed family and to have food on his plate is a good thing, whether it's Cane's or mommy's quesadillas. I pray that I can guide him to being more grateful and less indulged. I pray that I can help him be more aware of those around him and less self-centered. And if you're going to call me The Worst Mom Ever it better be about something more valid, like homework and cleaning your room, and not about quesadillas.

You teach WHAT?

I had a desk job once... for five days. I was a temp the summer we moved back from Dallas and I mostly filed papers and occasionally answered the phone. That job was about four and a half days too long and it helped me realize exactly how amazingly unique teaching is when it comes to careers. Every day us truly different. As an example I will share with you a few of the things we have discussed in my English III classroom in the past three days. All but one were (somewhat) connected to the play we are reading: The Crucible by Arthur Miller.

• We discussed lechery. From the play: Mary Warren tells John that Abigail will accuse him of lechery. What is that, boys and girls? It is extreme sexual indulgence/lustfulness. Yes, I got to share that definition with 91 teenagers. After all, it is in the play. We discussed what the Puritans would have thought of people today in this regard. I did NOT ask them if they were lechers. I abide by the philosophy that I don't WANT to know about this aspect of any of their lives.
• We discussed why, in a early American setting, it was not an issue that in The Crucible Abigail was 17 and John was in his mid-30's but rather that they weren't married. We discussed that it was common for older men to marry younger girls if their wives had died. After all, I said with a wink, how on Earth were the men expected to clean their own homes and make their own food if they didn't have a wife? We were all in agreement that it was still gross.
• My favorite discussion: how did Puritan women even KNOW they were pregnant? Um, the same way they do now. My wording "Missed monthly cycles"; I did say that they found out later but that they did indeed know, just as Elizabeth in the play was pregnant. A spin off of this in one class was how women back then tended to their monthly cycles. Really? Did I mention that I teach English? This last part was from a class that is 85% female but I still responded by telling them to Google it. I know a little about the subject but, out of respect for those few sweet boys, I didn't go there. I don't know if you've ever seen a darling, dark-skinned African American boy blush but I have and I didn't want to make it even worse for him.
• This one is NOT academic. We discussed how some kids save their friends under nicknames instead of their real names and even their girlfriends under "Mom" in case their phones get picked up. The ensuing discussion revealed that sometimes that can lead to some unintentionally revealing texts when you think you're texting your girlfriend and it's really your mom. My contribution to this conversation was that I do not look forward to this time period in parenting.

The best story is one that I have saved for my co-workers and will not be posted on my blog. Think of it as a special little tidbits for my fellow educators. Let's just say that the fun didn't stop there. Every day is unique, for better or worse, when you are a teacher.

Late

I am very much a morning person. I have no trouble getting out of bed and I wake up happy every day. I know that's annoying but stick with me, I get much less perfect. You would think such a person would get to work with plenty of time to spare and I used to... before kids. Now it seems that each year I get worse, especially now that Lila gets out of bed by herself and is no longer trapped in her crib. We are supposed to check in at EAHS by 7:15 and class starts at 7:30. I want to be that teacher greeting her kids with a smile as they walk in, not the teacher that rolls in right after the tardy bell rings. The truth is that I am there greeting the kids with a smile when they walk in... but barely. Getting out of the house dressed and with my things in order is no small feat. I get Cullen on the bus and, at age 12, there are still many things I do for him. Lila needs to be tended to as well, although many days Kevin is the one actually bringing her to school. I will admit there are times that I have let her have a Moon Pie or a pack of fruit chews at 6:15 a.m. just so that I can finish fixing my hair. When I actually get to work it really feels like an accomplishment. I truly feel like I should be greeted with a row of trumpets heralding my arrival. A red carpet would be nice. Mrs. Phillips is here! On time! I feel like I have qualified for the Olympics each time I sign in on time (or even close to on time) in the office. I am tempted to look around for someone applauding because I feel so accomplished. However, I have yet to have the trumpets, applause, or red carpet. My bosses have never once fussed at me for being five minutes past sign-in time; they are parents too and, most of all, they know I do my job. In addition, you need to look a little deeper. The real reason I am late is not because of what I don't do but rather because of what I do. "Mommy, can you read just one book to me?" Yes, baby, I can. "Mommy, can you snuggle me one time?" Yes, baby, I can. "Mom, can you fill out my band practice sheet?" Yes, Cullen, I can. "Mommy, can you pack me a lunch today?" Yes, Carson, I can. I think my bosses know that the kind of mom who does those things will do the same things for her students. "Mrs. Phillips, can I come take that test at lunch?" Yes, sweetie, you can. "Mrs. Phillips, can I talk to you after class?" Yes, baby, I can. "Mrs. Phillips, can you write me a letter of recommendation" Of course I will. That is the kind of mom I am. That is the kind of teacher I am. I may not be here on time but I do get here and when I am here I am ready to do my best, even if there is a bit of Moon Pie stuck to my sweater from Lila's hug goodbye that morning.

Crawfish Tortellini Recipe

This is from my friend and neighbor Deb. I personally think this is a quick and easy way to impress. Because it is pretty rich I don't think it needs very many side dishes either.

Ingredients:

• Couple of spoonfuls of chopped garlic
• 1 chopped onion
• 1 lb of crawfish tails
• 1 stick butter
• 1 pack of cheese tortellini
• 1 half pint of whipping cream
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese (just the kind in the container, not real shredded parmesan)
• chopped green onion

Directions:

Prepare tortellini according to package directions. Pour in casserole dish.

Sautee onions and garlic in butter until onions are clear, add in tails. When tails are cooked add whipping cream and parmesan cheese. Stir around.

Pour over top of tortellini and bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Pintrest

I fought Pintrest with as much strength as an addict trying to avoid their drug of choice. I fell innocently to Facebook and have drowned in its' waters. I said "WTH" and eventually got on Twitter, although I rarely tweet. I blog (duh).I text now too; little messages back and forth to friends (usually I even send it to the right person) when I should be cooking dinner or playing Hi-Ho Cherry O with Miss Lila. However, Pintrest is like giving a struggling drug addict a whole buffet of all of the drugs of their choice. Social interaction? Yes, please. Great ideas of things I will never have time to do and will simply make me feel like less of a super-woman? Absolutely. Sign me up. Ways to find out all of the books, movies, and articles that can help make me intellectually advanced? I'm all over that. The opportunity to act like I will do any of those things I am pinning? Why, yes, that's all me! Go ahead and perpetuate my super-mom act. Pintrest seems awesome and entertaining but just another way for me to busy myself doing things I really don't have time to do. Now if Pintrest would iron my shirts THAT would be worthwhile.

Bedtime with Lila

I don't stop moving during the day, with one exception. When I put Lila to bed at night I lay down with her. Tonight she insisted on wearing her new princess shoes "in case my feet get cold." I let her because I seriously would sleep in my new shoes sometimes if Kevin wouldn't make fun of me. We always read a few books and we say prayers. Sometimes I skip pages or ad lib, especially when she picks the awful, wordy, Disney books. Sometimes we whisper secrets back and forth and exchange soft little "I love you" or "No, I love you MORE!"'s. Sometimes we fall asleep holding hands (all on cue: awwwww!) Sometimes I fall asleep before her and sleep in her bed for hours on end. However, I must say that the prayers are my favorite. I like sharing my prayers with her. I pray for many of the same people that she prays for... Lila's friends, the boys' friends plus my friends, and my students (sometimes by name). I pray for my friends who are sick, hurting, or aching for something or someone that they don't have. Then I make sure I leave time to listen to her prayers because they go down roads that I would never consider and because I never know what she's going to say. This is what my baby girl prayed for tonight:

Mommy, Daddy, both of my sweet boys, people who are sick, people who throw up (this led to a whole side-line about people with babies in their bellies, specifically a school friend's mom. Also, did I know that Mommies throw up their babies?? Um, not exactly), Austin and Nick (her teacher's brothers), all my baby dolls, that owl (pointing at woodland creatures in the tree mural painted on her wall), that owl, that owl, that bird, that bird, that bird. Jakemyvery bestdogwhoisdeadinthepond (not true... he is dead but not anywhere near the pond), princess shoes, my whole more family Ingrid and Ceci and ALL the people who are throwing up and boys who fall off skateboards. Amen. And Chuck-E-Cheese. Amen again.

So the good news is that if anyone is vomiting right now you are totally covered by our prayers. You and the woodland creatures on the wall. And Chuck-E-Cheese. Amen again.

Baby Birds

Since I teach on the block schedule that means at the end of this semester (in 1.5 weeks) I won't have these students anymore. They will be replaced with another batch (92 of them) of EAHS students from the class of 2013. I am sure I will love them just as much but that brings me to an odd phenomenon that I experience at the end of each semester. It's actually kind of bittersweet; I look forward to Christmas (or summertime when it's the spring semester) but I will truly miss the students I have now. I could use the "setting my baby birds free" analogy except that really I'm not setting them free. I'm sending them to another mama or daddy bird. A bird with referral forms and dress code violations and easy access to the grades program and their parents' phone numbers. Or maybe I am sending them off to another cage, depending whether you like cute bird symbolism or complicated symbolism about the entrapment of today's youth. I prefer to think of them as being nurtured, not trapped and loved, not limited. Their new mama bird may be a little less sappy, more sane, and maybe a little more consistent but I don't know if everyone enjoys their students as much as I do. At their graduation I am sure I will be crying as much as their actual moms because it really feels like I have 94 babies sometimes, not just my own three. So goodbye, baby birds. If I see you in the hall you'd better not poop on me. If you do I will write you up because I can still do that once I've set you free... I'm just sayin'.

Yummy Manicotti

This is one of those recipes that when you make it people think you slaved in the kitchen. However, it's actually very simple and easy to make ahead. It's from my sister-in-law Stephanie Broders. I included her easy sauce recipe, although store-bought sauce works too.

Manicotti

8 oz manicotti (14 pieces)- do not cook it!

Spaghetti sauce (above)- or 26 oz of canned- if using can, add I cup of water
15oz ricotta cheese (about 2 cups)

8oz mozzarella cheese- shredded (about 2 cups)

1/4c 3 cheese blend bag of asiago, parm, and Romano

1 egg

2T parsley chopped

1/2t salt

1/4t pepper

Bag of shredded cheese- any Italian blend-for sprinkling on top.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Cook sauce and keep warm.

In a bowl, stir together cheeses, parsley, egg, salt and pepper. Mix until all ingredients are well coated.

Place part of mixture in a FREEZER Ziploc bag (regular ones can bust at seams when using as a pastry bag). Cut off one small end of the bag making it into a pastry bag.

Squeeze cheese mixture into UNCOOKED manicotti tubes.

Spoon a small layer of warm sauce into a 9X13 pan. Place filled filled pasta into a single layer in pan on top of sauce. Pour remaining sauce over pasta- if freezing for later use see note at bottom. Sprinkle with cheese and cover with foil. Bake 40 minutes or until bubbly.

If freezing- save some sauce to pour on top when you reheat at your later date. (freeze it in a Ziploc bag and keep it with the frozen manicotti)

When cool place foil covered pan in freezer for up to 2 months.

Thaw in fridge over night. Pour sauce over top in a thin layer to prevent drying out (and sprinkle with extra cheese- if you like). Bake at 350 F for 45-60 minutes: until bubbly and hot in center.

20 minute spaghetti sauce

2 cans (6oz) Tom. Paste- any kind

3 cups of water

2T minced onion (dry)

2T Parmesan cheese

2T sugar

1t Italian seasoning mix(oregano, basil, thyme)

1/2t salt

1/2t garlic powder- may sub minced garlic

1/8t pepper

1 beef bouillon cube- can use granules

If using ground meat - brown first and drain.

In a large saucepan, combine all ingredients. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

Can also add cooked Italian sausage to sauce or use to make chicken Parmesan by pouring over cooked chicken.

Pre-Halloween Fun

I love Halloween and fall decorations. I don't go as all-out with them as I would like but I have visions of skeletons and spooky ghouls dancing in my head each Halloween. I also love Halloween treats and goodies. Here are two of the things I made this year. Both were VERY easy. The first idea came from Kristen Milligan (thanks, Facebook!) and the second I think was from Stampin' Up! years ago. I took a picture with my phone and assured myself that I would do it. Three years have passed and voila, I have made them! The cute little monster treats are for the severe special needs trick-or-treaters at EA. The National Honor Society students take them treat-or-treating to the classrooms and it's so cute to see. I like to have something special for them.

These are for Lila's little class.

My silly assistant

Moon pies decorated with cookie icing! Lila asked if it was her because the dots on top looked like curly hair to her. Luckily her teeth don't look like that.

I used the cookie icing that you can buy in the baking aisle at Wal-Mart. It's not super cheap but time is money and what's $3/tube when it saves you mixing and cleaning time? It was so easy to use and it hardened nicely. I still am storing my monster treats spread out so that their toothy smiles don't run any risk of being messed up.

Tooth Fairy

Cullen doesn't believe in The Tooth Fairy anymore, thank God. Unfortunately Carson, my sweet, loving, eager, boy does. The past four nights I have forgotten to put money under his pillow. He has been very patient and kind but was starting to grow weary of the excuses (the Tooth Fairy doesn't come during Fall Break, the Tooth Fairy doesn't always know how to reach people in the top bunk, etc.) Last night I finally remembered to put the money under the pillow and truly forgot that I had done it. So when Carson unveiled the money this morning I put on a good show of surprise since I had totally forgotten about it anyway. This clear surprise must have worked. Later this afternoon Carson came racing out onto the porch, had me turn off the lawn equipment I was using, and proceeded to share his big theory as to why the Tooth Fairy is real.

1. I was so surprised; would I be that surprised if I was the Tooth Fairy?

and (my favorite)

2. Moms don't even lie anyway

Ummmm, OK. If you say so...

How can I tell one of the two people on this planet who fully thinks I hung the moon that I have been lying to him his whole life?

1. I know it's light outside but the sun is just confused; I promise it's nighttime

2. Yes, there is a Santa Claus

3. Yes, there is a Easter Bunny

4. Yes, there is a Tooth Fairy

5. No, I didn't eat your ______ (peanuts, candy, chips, whatever else of theirs I ate)

6. Those aren't onions; they are just special noodles

7. It's not burned it's just browned

I guess when he finds all these things out he may change his mind about living with me forever.

Realism

This is funny and memorable but is it inappropriate for the classroom? I am not sure. We are starting Units IV and V, which includes the American realism period, on Tuesday so I have three days to decide. I would also like to have one more glass sayings "People just suck" to represent the cynics.

Game Time!

I don't think I went to a single athletic event for either of my high schools for the entire four years. Granted the first school didn't have many sports teams to speak of (unless you consider academics to be a sport- darn magnet schools). In addition, going to McKinley after dark for events wasn't fully safe. However, who would have thought that I would love to attend EA's games so much? I've enjoyed every game I have attended and have no favorite sport. I love watching my students play and I like the atmosphere. My kids and I get in for free and the snacks are cheap; it's a win-win situation. However, I have realized that the way I feel at games is a sense of parental pride. Do you know how it feels when your one or two children score? I feel that way when I hear each of my students' names called over the PA. I get excited when I see my soccer girls' little pony tails waving as they race down the field or kick the soccer ball from one end of the field to the other. I have parental pride x 100. It's a good feeling and I think that is why I go.

Teaching Moments

I was able to give an unexpected lesson on menopause the other day. I am sure the mothers of my students are all relieved. One less thing to explain and who would have thought they'd learn it in English III? I had an adorable student (girl) tell a silly boy repeatedly that she thought he was "Having menopause." Since I love this little girl and know she is a smart girl always wanting to learn more I quietly asked her if she knew what menopause was. She admitted that she didn't (clearly) and I told her the very basics. I made it clear that there was really no way our silly (male) friend was "having menopause." By this point half the class was listening attentively. Turns out they didn't know either. Now if I could only get some other adult to tell my own children about sex. I would pay not to have that discussion. I will be happy to share my morals (honor your body- it is a gift from God; this applies to all major decisions) but not the nitty gritty. It is a conversation that is long overdue but that neither of us is ready for. Give me teething and potty training any day over this next big task.

Little Tiger Fashion

I am going to my first HOME football game tomorrow. It will be as hot as Hades but I will sit more comfortably knowing that my daughter will be at my mother's looking so cute in her new LSU dress. There are some things that you cannot get away with wearing as an adult and therefore should wear as much as possible when you are young. Two of those things are animal prints and tutus. If you're going to wear animal print it may as well be a purple stripe paired with gold smocking. Go big or go home, baby.

Doctors

After so many years of appointments with Carson you'd think I would be more laid back about them. However, it doesn't seem to get much easier as the years pass by. This week he goes to see a geneticist to evaluate the possibility of a different diagnosis. He was labeled with muscular dystrophy at age four and it seemed like it fit but there have always been a few things that various doctors have questioned. As we enter a new type of testing I am going to try to remember our blessings such as Carson's intelligence and the fact that, no matter what his other issues are, he can walk into these appointments on his own two feet. I am also thankful for my other two physically healthy children. However, one thing many medical people have told me is that no one is truly "normal". If you investigated everyone you would find something wrong with them. Carson just happens to have been investigated a little better than most.

Dessert Bars

These are almost impossible to mess up!

Dessert Bars:

1 box chocolate teddy grahams crushed

1 stick butter melted

chocolate chips

white chocolate chips

heath bar toffee chips

walnuts (chopped)

condensed milk

Heat oven to 350. Put crushed bears on foil lined 9x13 pan (quick release recommended). Pour melted butter all over bears. Kind of press down and mix as you can creating an even, level, crust. Put in oven for 5 minutes. Cover with last 4 ingredients, using the condensed milk last and simply pouring that over the top of the other ingredients. Bake for 20 minutes. Cool then refrigerate, which makes it easier to cut.