Things are happening around here again.  Domestic things...

 

Homemade Granola! Why didn't anyone tell me how delicious homemade granola tastes? I decided to whip some up primarily as a cost saving measure (I haven't run the numbers to determine whether this was less expensive). But this stuff was delicious.  After a bit of research, I decided granola was pretty versatile, so I went with the recipe from Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day (you're wondering why there's a granola recipe in a bread book, aren't you? It's to use when making the Granola Bread, a variation I haven't yet tried).  It took me five minutes to throw together, and it only took that long because I had to search high and low for my coconut. Easy peasy.

 

I used sliced almonds, coconut, regular oats and some raisins. I also doubled the amount of vanilla it called for, because I love vanilla granola. It's crazy good. Mr. Plaid and I were snacking on it throughout the evening.  We finally had to call it quits so there'd be some left over for breakfast.  The recipe makes about six cups...

Also in the kitchen this weekend were some delicious cupcakes using a recipe from Scholastic's Parent and Child magazine. It's a Sandra Lee recipe (find it here), so it starts with a cake mix. I didn't have all the things on hand, so I improvised. Here's what I used:

• Yellow cake mix
• Box of white chocolate sugar free pudding (I don't usually do sugar free, but this was left over from a Weight Watchers faze I went through)
• 1 cup Whole Foods Cherry Vanilla soda
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 1 egg
• about 1 cup white chocolate chips, or however many were left in the bag...
  

The cupcakes were great. They ended up very moist, and had such a good flavor that they didn't need frosting. You can't always say that about cakes from a mix, but these were tasty. Um...no pictures, because they were gone quickly.

From this book...

 
Stored in the fridge...

 
Risen a bit in the pan...

 

Delicious and so, so easy!

Sorry for the vanishing act. Serious back to school preparation is going on around here, including a last minute decision to change schools.  The new school begins next week (!!), which is two weeks earlier than our old school.  I'm having to cram three weeks of summer into one short week, which is proving to be exhausting.

Monday night was the Oldest Child's final karate class, in which she finally received her colored belt. She was thrilled. I managed to take two pictures before the camera battery died. It wasn't until an hour ago, when I decided to photograph the Criss Cross Coasters, that I realized I still hadn't charged the battery (um, missed photos of the final gymnastics class today, too).  Thus, no photos of the coasters just yet.  So, we'll delay Win-It Wednesday until Thursday, since you probably don't want to enter to win coasters sight unseen.

In other random news:

I've been eying the baked goods on Etsy for some time now.  This is a rather delicious looking Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownie from The Wave Break. I'm a sucker for chocolate peanut butter anything. Like, Oberweis Ice Cream, or those brownies I made a little while back (see here).

This one has no peanut butter, but I also happen to love chocolate.  This Red Velvet Revolution cupcake from Bangerang Bake Shop actually comes in a jar.  The cupcake in a jar concept is one I've been wanting to try.

Aren't these cute?!  I made some back in December for my sister's baby shower, but didn't make enough to keep one for myself.  I'm thinking of ordering some from Etsy.  

But the thought of buying food from random home bakers on Etsy sort of freaks me out. Has anyone tried it? Good? Bad? Poisoned?

Aside from a brief break for Independence Day, the majority of my free time this weekend has been dedicated to meeting the Swap deadline.  Just as fatigue was setting in, and everyone in the house was swearing that I would never do another swap ever again, a wonderful thing happened:

 

My swap package arrived from Emily! I love, love, love my new placemats and napkins.  She used Amy Butler prints, and "bent the rules" by doing this great patchwork top. They are so fun.

 
She also somehow tapped in to my current obsession with all things Asian and included this fun candy from her local Asian market.  (Note: Emily is from Raytown, Mo.  I grew up very near Raytown, and I cannot imagine that it now has a "local" Asian market...Must check this out.)

I love that the napkins are all different prints, and it was so nice having breakfast this morning on our matching placemats. 

This plate once contained Challah French Toast from the Contessa.  It just might be the very favorite breakfast around here.  Husband showed up from work on Thursday with flowers and Challah bread.  Subtle, no?

Receiving my swap package was just the boost I needed to get going on my placemats...and until my bobbin ran out, I thought I might actually get them finished tonight.  But I have a rule: If the bobbin runs out after 10 p.m., it is a sign that sewing should be finished for the evening. Because, frankly, it's all downhill from there.

While searching for honey (who knew it had become so expensive?!) at the grocery store tonight, I was surprised to come across this:

Really? Do you see the teeny-tiny print that warns this is "imitation" honey? It's hard to read it in person, too. I can't begin to tell you how creepy this stuff sounds. There is almost nothing natural about it, and deciphering the chemicals on the label was impossible. For the life of me, I couldn't figure out who would buy imitation honey.

So, I googled it. 

Apparently diabetics and low-carb folks eat this stuff. Now, if someone told me I had to restrict my honey consumption for medical and/or dietary reasons, I don't think I'd feel it necessary to search out an alternative (and the odds of me buying sugar free imitation honey are just not great). Because, really, it's just honey.

Sure, it tastes great on a biscuit, but so does jelly. 

Incidentally, my google search also found that the sale of imitation honey is not permitted in some states. Because, really, imitation honey is just artificial sweetners in liquid form.

We've tried to cut down on the sugar consumption around here and have, therefore, declared most days to be dessert-free. 

 
Fortunately, Sunday is the exception.  These brownies are some of my favorite, ever.  And trust me when I say that I've tried nearly every brownie recipe on the planet.  (Probably not true, but I have tried a lot of recipes).  They're from the Better Homes and Gardens red plaid cookbook. They take five minutes to whip up, use minimal ingredients, and taste amazing.  Seriously delicious.

Celebrate the economy by throwing a dinner party for your friends.

Greet your guests in this super chic cocktail apron from Heavenly Hostess: 

It has nice long ties that make the cutest bow in the back.  It will look great as you offer your guests cocktails served in these:

 

Order some personalized coasters (!) to protect your furniture:

 

Serve something great from the Barefoot Contessa Cookbook (her cookbooks are always so well-photographed and her food is delicious) or How To Eat Supper (which I'm on the waitlist for at the library), which Amy raves about here.  Serve it on this:

I saw this china at the mall on Mothers' Day and it looks even better in person. Plus, I love that the pattern is called Chirp. 

And for dessert: