Got Balls?

I had these great little cookies at a party and decided they might be easy to convert into something healthy ... maybe even add some of that infamous whey protein powder to ... though I've since sent that powder back from whence it came. After a couple of trials, Paula's Power Balls were born. Thanks to my co worker, Donna, who named them! My other co worker, Craig, just thought it was funny that we were talking about my balls ... but that's another story. Also, thanks to Jesse who was brave enough to try them at lunch even though they're healthy and "look like something you dug out of Hoops' litter box."

Here's the original recipe. It is of course delicious – what's not to like?

No-Bake Eskimo Cookies
1 1/2 sticks butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 Tbs. water
1 tsp. vanilla
3 Tbs. cocoa
2 cups quick-cooking oats
Powdered sugar

Beat softened butter until fluffy. Add sugar and beat. Add water, vanilla and cocoa and blend. Mix in oats. Refrigerator overnight, or you can speed up the process by putting in freezer for 15 minutes or so) Shape into 36 balls. Roll in powdered sugar. Store in refrigerator.

Here's the modified version. These are good for post work-out snacks or even breakfast. I cut the recipe to 1/3 of the original because I didn't want to waste ingredients if they were hideous. You can double or triple amounts – this version provides a good sample. If you don't like peanut butter, you can also make these with just Smart Balance (light or regular). I didn't have any nuts for the cookies pictured here, so I just chopped up some trail mix (hence the craisin bits!).

Paula’s Power Balls
¼ cup natural peanut butter or almond butter
¼ cup Smart Balance light margarine
¼ cup honey or agave syrup (or use 1/8 cup and then about 6 packets of stevia)
1 heaping Tbs. unsweetened cocoa powder
1-2 Tbs. brown rice protein powder
1 Tbs. of wheat germ
¼ tsp. or so of vanilla
About ¾ cup of quick cooking oats
A little water as needed (if needed)
Finely chopped nuts

Beat peanut butter and Smart Balance together till well blended and soft. Mix everything else in except the nuts. Refrigerate overnight or freeze about 15 minutes. Form into balls and then roll in chopped nuts or additional cocoa powder. Store in refrigerator. Makes about 14 balls.

I'm Just Sayin'...

Joseph Cohen

So this cab driver unloads a family and their luggage recently, only to discover later that the parents "forgot" their five-year-old kid, who was sleeping in the back of the mini van. Read the full story here if you're interested, but what irks me is the cabbie got in trouble! His license was almost suspended for three days. WTF? I can see leaving a cell phone, maybe a purse in a cab, but your kid? Isn't that something most parents would notice? Why is this the cab driver's fault? And, if I may be so bold, where's the kid's responsibility in all of this? He's FIVE -- I can't tell you how many times I was left behind at various gas stations* and I always found my way home. My parents were always so relieved, which I knew, because my reappearance was always greeted with, "Oh God, she's back." Kids these days. They're so coddled.

*Not really. It was usually department stores and rest stops. My parents have class.

In other news, friend and former co worker Laurie sent me an Amazon link a while back for a most hilarious "three wolves" t-shirt. The reviews for this shirt are priceless. Recently in need of a snicker, I revisited the link and realized the "customers also viewed" links were equally hilarious, and comments on the LOL-worthy reviews also quite clever. Where does the depth of all this hilarity end?! I'll let you know when I find it. In the meantime, enjoy this utterly fantastic parody of Poe, which is a product review for, of all things, a gallon of milk. Amazon has EVERYTHING! (Don't miss the fresh whole rabbit carcass or the Relaxman relaxation capsule, only $36,995 -- sorry, no super saver shipping though).

Sample:

Once upon a mid-day sunny, while I savored Nuts 'N Honey,
With my Tuscan Whole Milk, 1 gal, 128 fl. oz., I swore
As I went on with my lapping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at the icebox door.
'Bad condenser, that,' I muttered, 'vibrating the icebox door -
Only this, and nothing more.'

Nice Niece II

Sabine came to town for another whirlwind weekend of shopping, biking, movies, kayaking and noshing. I had apparently impressed Cora with my smoothies, so Sabine put in her request, plus we had roasted marshmallows, peach crumble (also fireside), and several meals out that encompassed (very) carefully buttered waffles, hot dogs, grilled cheese and bright red Cheetos from Onkel Rolie that will burn your lips off if you unknowingly eat more than one at a time. Trust me. Over the course of the weekend, I learned many new words (13-year-old vernacular doncha know), and got to sample Roland and Amy's new Wii. I don't mean to brag, but I sprinted 100 m.p.h. and there wasn't even anyone chasing me. And that was AFTER jumping over logs! It was also after visiting the candy store, so that could have something to do with it. We also went accessory shopping, because Sabine noted that even though I already went with Cora, she is "very good at picking things out for people," so I had to take advantage of the opportunity. We had great success with another necklace for both of us.



A few photos to document the activities:

Checking out the lily pads...


Rafting the kayaks for some power drifting.

Recent Sighting

Can you find the Perky Potholder? Spotted on a desk located in an office on Bainbridge Island, WA. (Thanks Pat) :)
Hint:

Shameless Plug

Have you checked out the Face Blog lately? Lenore has been busy!

Also, we only have a few cookbooks left. Just so you know.

Berries, Bounce and Butterflies

Lenore helped me pick some more black raspberries (growing in abundance along the bike trail), which was sporting of her since A.) It was raining and B.) She doesn't even like raspberries. Or the bounce I made from them (pictured here with an experimental rhubarb bounce).


We also recently took a relaxing stroll through Snuffy's Prairie and met up with June and Steve (site stewards) who were there for the same purpose. We had a lovely walk and talk while admiring all the stuff in bloom.



Here's a war-torn butterfly that apparently did battle (and won) with a bird. It flew off in a rather loopy flight pattern, but seemed to be doing OK otherwise. I was contemplating planting some of this milkweed in my yard, because it smells so good, but it's also a great attraction for Japanese beetles, so I may limit my enjoyment of it to in-the-wild encounters. Click the photo to see it closer up.

A Nice Niece Weekend

Cora came and stayed with me last weekend for her 11th birthday outing, and we accomplished a LOT. Activities included shopping at the farmer's market, hot dog eating, shopping at the hysterical society garage sale (where I got 6 fabulous antique chairs for the dining room, a plug-in pumpkin and a hydrangea plant), cookie sampling, shopping at Borders and Trader Joe's (and sampling food), kitten cuddling at Petsmart (which ended up taking up most of our shopping time, truth be told), a Chicago Bandits double header (which included Blizzards), playing Frisbee with Noble and Valiant (German shepherds), dinner party at Onkel Rolie's (a.k.a. Roland and Amy's house), visiting with cats in the garden, and shopping at Kohl's for necklaces. There may have been additional snacking in there, I forget. Cora helped me pick out three necklaces to go with some of my new couture, and I have to say, she just may have a future in fashion. It's not everybody who can say they've been successfully accessorized by an 11 year old, but people, I look GOOD! And she was very diplomatic when I held something up that wasn't to her liking. I'd get a raised eyebrow (yes, she can raise one eyebrow, and I'm totally jealous) and a tactful, "Interesting." Yes, it's good to be kind to the fashionably unaware.

These kittens were SO CUTE. Lenore took these shots with her iPhone. There was a large litter of kittens and several cats looking for new homes at adoption day. We sampled all of them, which sort of made up for Hoops' inhospitable attitude during Cora's visit. She spent the majority of the weekend hiding (Hoops that is).


"Hey Lady, put me down, there's a dust bunny down there that needs tending to!"


Taking a break from Frisbee at Gary and Nina's


Bandit wanted to hula, but Cora respectfully declined.