letters to Beth {3 recipes & chase stands}

dear miss beth,
i just made a new dessert last night. it's called better than sex chex. i think that's a little far, BUT it surely takes you to your sugar edge and pushes you right off. anywho, here is the recipe if you should ever feel so inclined. sean AND linsey both said the whipping cream was a no, but i said it was a yes, yes, yes! but like i said, better than sex is a bit of a stretch. decide for yourself. if nothing else, it's a catchy name, that's for sure.

better than sex chex

ingredients:

8c chocolate chex cereal {i couldn't find the chocolate at harmon's, so i just bought the regular}

3/4c packed brown sugar

6 tbls butter

3 tbls corn syrup

1/4 tsp baking soda {i forgot this part, have to remember next time}

1c Reese's mini's

1c mini marshmallows

1/2c caramel bites

1tbls heavy cream, use the rest of the carton to make the whipping cream parfait if you please

1/2c milk chocolate baking chips

1/2c white chocolate baking chips

1tsp coarse sea salt

directions:

1. measure cereal--set aside. wax paper on cookie sheet.

2. microwave brown sugar, butter, and corn syrup 1-2 minutes, STIR IN BAKING SODA until dissolved {this is the part i forgot--don't forget!}. pour this mix over cereal, stirring until evenly coated. microwave on high for 3 minutes, stirring between each minute. spread out on cookie sheet--cool for 10 minutes and break into bite sized pieces.

3. make sure candy is cool to touch--sprinkle pb cups and marshmallows evenly over the top.

4. microwave caramel bites and heavy cream uncovered 1 minute--use spoon to drizzle over the top of the cereal/pb mini's/marshmallow all laid out. melt milk chocolate in 20 second intervals and drizzle over the top, then melt the white chocolate in 20 second intervals and drizzle over the top.

5. quickly sprinkle the sea salt over the chocolate while it is still wet.

6. refrigerate until set and break apart.

**dessert option--create parfaits with heavy whipping cream between cereal pieces.***

.......

my FAVORITE FAVORITE FAVORITE new find of the food week was this chicken below. better than fried chicken. that is its name. apparently last week was the week of "better than's." i found both of these recipes on pinterest. i am finally starting to see why people like it so much. so i was sitting in the sun in the big room last wednesday afternoon, and it was 5:45pm. i had chicken drumsticks in the fridge, and i wanted to make them. so i downloaded that pinterest app for the first time that everyone is always talking about, and i went to the food section. right there in the first 20 seconds i found this little lovely. it was for wings, but i knew it would work for any chicken. it doesn't discriminate. so i threw the chicken in the olive oil and spices in less than 10 minutes and BAM! i cooked some sides while it baked away in my oven. dinner was ready from start to finish in 45 minutes. it was an instant fan favorite of all gibson's. i'm making it again this week when my dad comes for a ski trip. i can't wait. there was a dipping sauce you were supposed to serve with it, but i have never bought goat cheese in my entire life and thus did not have any in my fridge. i will include it for you if goat cheese is your fancy, but just know it's good without it too. it's crunchy, it's got a little kick, and the skin is everything you've ever dreamed a chicken could do for you. make it immediately.

better than fried chicken

ingredients:

1pkg drumsticks or whatever chicken you fancy
{1/2 spices & oil measurements below if you're doing wings}

4tbls olive oil

4tsp brown sugar

2tsp onion powder

2tsp garlic powder

1tsp chili powder

1tsp paprika

1tsp salt

1tsp pepper

1/3c roasted red pepper, chopped

2 ounces goat cheese

2tbls sour cream

1/4tsp salt

directions:

1. preheat oven to 425*. line baking sheet with foil.

2. in large bowl, combine chicken {make sure it's dry & leave skin on},
olive oil, brown sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.

3. place chicken onto prepared baking sheet. bake for 25-30 minutes, using metal tongs to turn at halftime.

4. to make the dipping sauce, combine the roasted red pepper, goat cheese, sour cream, and salt in the bowl of a food processor until emulsified.

....

and last, but very not least, was lunch today.

max wanted eggs as usual.

brennan wanted grilled cheese, and then said he wanted eggs with it please.

he normally despises eggs.

so i jumped on his egg order faster than chase crawls across a room, 

and made us all egg salad sandwhiches like grilled cheese.

it was toasty and warm, cheesy and salty, 

but without the bite of a toaster.

i guess you could say it was
"better than a toaster egg salad sandwich"
if we're going to be sticking with the "better than" trend.

glory be.

these have been my food finds this week.

oh, and chase learned to pull himself up to standing over the weekend.

he's done it once before in his crib, but it was just once when he was really mad,

and then he hasn't done it again.

well now it's his new trick, 

and he has been pulling himself up onto everything all morning.

stairs are next.

he's getting so big:)

and my milk has almost completely dried up as of this weekend.

the right side has closed up shop entirely.

but it was never really in business from the beginning.

i want to cry and shout for joy all at the same time.

i didn't think it was going to dry up so fast.

how is it possible that chase is almost one?

love to you and yours,

emiline