Where is my brains?

Well, I'm thinking my brains are leaking out my ears as a sleep at night. Its the only way I can explain my recent forgetfulness. I'm currently 23 weeks pregnant and suffering from pregnancy brain.

Not only did I forget the deposit on the dance class I had already put in the registration for my 7 year old. I keep forgetting to make a dentist appointment for her as well. I made one for me as well. I keep forgetting to put things in the mail. Never mind the sudden lack of vocabulary. I'm forget whole words. I could be looking right at an object but the name of it will completely escape me. Basic math is also a miss. I couldn't remember how to do basic subtraction.

My brain is mush and I'm not sleeping well, which doesn't help. So where did my brain go?

The truth is that pregnancy brain is a fact. You don't lose brain cells but rather you have hormones, baby thoughts, and a lack of sleep to mess with your head.

I'm trying my best to stay prioritized and rested so I don't forget my own name by writing down things to do and leaving myself notes. Lets hope my brain returns after baby gets here.

Pampered Chef Easy Pasta Carbonara

1/2  of a 12-oz (350-g) pkg uncooked turkey bacon (see Cook’s Tip)
1  medium onion
4  garlic cloves
1/2  tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
1  pkg (14.5 oz or 411 g) uncooked multigrain bow-tie pasta (5 cups/1.25 L)

1  carton (32 oz/1 L) unsalted chicken stock
1  can (12 oz or 370 mL) fat-free evaporated milk
1  oz (30 g) fresh Parmesan cheese
4  oz (125 g) reduced-fat cream cheese (Neufchâtel), softened
1 1/2  cups (375 mL) frozen peas, thawed
Directions:
1. Stack bacon and cut in half lengthwise. Cut crosswise using Santoku Knife.
2. Cook bacon in 11- or 12-in. (28- or 30-cm) Skillet over medium heat 4–5 minutes or until browned. Meanwhile, finely chop onion using Food Chopper.
3. Add onion, garlic pressed with Garlic Press and pepper flakes to Skillet. Cook another 3–4 minutes or until onion is tender.
4. Add pasta, stock and evaporated milk. Cover and bring to a simmer. (Do not boil.) Simmer 12–14 minutes or until pasta is still a little firm, stirring occasionally.
5. Grate Parmesan using Rotary Grater. Remove Skillet from heat. Stir in cream cheese, peas and Parmesan.
6. Let stand, covered, 5 minutes or until sauce is thick and creamy.

This is the recipe available on the Pampered Chef website. I don't use the fat free or light ingredients. I also don't care for Turkey bacon, so I usually do a maple bacon. The Pampered Chef consultant that did the party I attended made this recipe with frozen asparagus instead of the peas. This is now I prefer to make it.

Cloth Diaper Giveaway, by Cloth Diaper Contest

A great blog I found does amazing giveaways for cloth diapers and inserts. This is there latest one. Check them out if you are interested.

Cloth Diaper Contest

How to make boxed cup cakes better

I love a good cupcake but I've always felt like the can frosting just doesn't cut it. Especially now, companies have cut down on the ounces of frosting in each can. So, what's a mom to do?

I found just a little confectionary sugar can go along way. I can't tell you how much confectionary sugar, that should be up to your taste. I love mine sugary but my husband doesn't. I make two batches so he doesn't have to eat my sugary sweet frosting.

Italian Anise Cookies

I love anise cookies, outside of the chocolate chip (I live in Whitman, the home of the chocolate chip cookie, of course chocolate chip will be my favorite.) anise has to be my second favorite cookie of all time. I never knew how easy it was to make these cookies. I readily have these ingredients in my cabinets at any given time. Once you buy the anise extract you could make these cookies on a whim. Anise extract is not hard to find. It is available at your local grocery store usually with the spices. If you live in my neck of the woods go to Ocean State Job Lot. The price difference between OSJL and Stop and Shop, like $4! I bought anise extract and almond extract for the price of one anise extract at Stop and Shop. Granted it was pure anise for around $7 but you really wont tell the difference.

Italian Anise Cookies

For the cookies:

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

3 large eggs

2 teaspoons anise extract

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

2 -3 tablespoons milk

For the icing:

2 cups confectioners' sugar

3 tablespoons milk

1/8 teaspoon anise extract

food coloring (optional)

decorative candy sprinkles (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.

For cookies: cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing after each addition. Add anise extract. Blend flour and baking powder. Start by adding about 1/3 of these dry ingredients to the butter/sugar in your mixer, then add 1 T. milk. Add another third of the flour and another 1 T. milk. Finally, mix in enough of the remaining flour until your dough is like a brownie batter (it should be softer than a drop cookie dough). Use a 1 T. cookie scooper to make simple round drop cookies - use wet fingers to pat any rough edges OR for an Easter-Egg look, roll 1 T. dough into an elongated ball. Bake cookies 10-12 minutes (they won't be brown but the insides will be soft and cake-like).

For icing: mix sugar, milk and extract to make a sugar glaze. Add food coloring if desired. Make sure the cookies are somewhat cool or the icing will just melt. Hold cookie in your hand and turn upside down so you can dip the top half in the glaze; turn over and immediately top with sprinkles so they will stick. Give the icing sometime to harden up before eating.

Small Peanut Butter Trifles

Ingredients:
Brownie mix
1/3 cup oil
1/3 water
1 egg
1 box vanilla pudding
3 cups milk
1 cup peanut butter
1 tub Cool Whip
Mini Reeses

Instructions:
Make the brownies as directed on the box using the egg, oil, and water (change the measurements as according to the box). Let cool.
Mix pudding and milk. Then add peanut butter and mix well.
Crumble up the brownies and add to the cup about a 1/3 of the way. Then add peanut butter pudding. Top with Cool Whip.
Chop Reeses into fours and toss on top of the Cool Whip.
I put it in the fridge for about 5 mins.
It is that simple.

Personal Shepherd's Pie

Its easy enough and the kiddo loved them. It was actually fun for her to eat. My husband loved them too. He thought it was kind of like eating a pot pie with shepherd's pie inside. Plus, the idea that these can be picked up and eaten made them go fast.

Shepherd's Pie

Ingredients:
1/2 lb ground beef
1 cup onion, chopped
1 medium Yukon gold potato, peeled and diced
1/2 cup carrot, diced
1/4 cup frozen peas
1/4 cup frozen corn
2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup canned beef gravy
1 egg
1 Tbsp water
2 boxes (4 rolls) pre-made pie crust
8 slices American cheese, quartered

Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line two (or three) baking sheets with parchment paper.
Cook the ground beef and onions in a medium-size sauté pan over medium heat until the onions are translucent and the meat is no longer pink, about 5-8 minutes. Drain and set aside.
While the beef is cooking, add the potatoes and carrots to a small saucepot. Cover the veggies with slightly salted water and boil until they’re cooked through, but not mushy, about 3–5 minutes. Drain and set aside.
Add the beef, onions, carrots, potatoes, peas, corn, Worcestershire sauce, and gravy into a medium-size mixing bowl. Fold together and set aside.
Whisk the egg and water together in a small bowl; set aside.
On a lightly floured work surface, unroll one of the pie crusts. Using a 3-1/2″–4″ biscuit cutter, cut five rounds. Repeat with the remaining rolls of dough.
On half of the rounds, place a generous Tbsp of filling in the center, leaving a 1/2″ border. Stack two quarters of the American cheese on top of the filling. Then, using a pastry brush, apply the egg wash on the border of the crust. Place an empty round on top and seal the edges together with a fork.
Place the pies on the papered baking sheets and brush the tops with egg wash. Bake for 25 minutes, or until golden brown.

This recipe went well. I think I will egg wash the whole top next time. Also I had no biscuit cutter so I used a large mug and cut around it.