white chocolate peppermint fudge

I was feeling very... Christmas-y yesterday and just had to bake something! Then I remembered this simple, amazing fudge and decided to make it for my husband.

This batch is white chocolate peppermint, because that's what makes him happy. Next time (tomorrow maybe!) I will make a dark chocolate peppermint batch, because that's what makes me happy!

Perfect Silky Fudge Recipe

Ingredients:

2 cups chocolate or white chocolate chips

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter

4 cups powdered sugar, sifted

2 eggs, beaten

1 pinch of salt

1 teaspoon peppermint, vanilla or other extract

Directions:

Microwave the chocolate chips and butter together in a medium bowl until melted and smooth.

In a large bowl, stir together the sifted powdered sugar, eggs, salt and extract until very smooth.

Stir the melted chocolate mixture into the powdered sugar mixture until smooth.

Pour into a foil-lined buttered 8x8" pan. Sprinkle with sanding sugar or crushed candy canes, if you'd like. Or stir in marshmallows or chopped nuts just before pouring into the buttered pan!

gross, but gratifying (Nosefrida)

This product is amazing. And gross. And gratifying. And... intimidating!

But what is it??

The Original Nosefrida Nasal Aspirator!

The what?!?

I know, I know. You've never heard of it before. Well, I hadn't either... until about 3 weeks ago, that is!

You see, I was getting desperate. My baby was on his second miserable cold of the season (one right after the other!) and I couldn't stand watching him suffer, unable to sleep, or eat, or breathe. The bulb aspirators were not helping at all, and I needed another option.

Enter Google!

I searched and read and researched and read some more and eventually came to the conclusion that this would be the best option for us to try. Mostly it came down to cost. This was WAY cheaper than all those battery-powered aspirators out there, and I kept seeing people swear by it! So, I ordered one and waited not-so-patiently for it to arrive!

When it showed up, I was in for a shock! I guess I hadn't really paid any attention to how it worked, just that it worked! When I opened the package and read the instructions, this is what I found:

"To Use:

Put the red piece in your mouth, and the blue tube against baby's nostril (not inside). The tip of the tube should form a seal with your baby's nostril. Apply SUCTION. You will be able to hear and see the mucus coming out of the nose - gross, but gratifying."

See? I didn't even make up the 'gross, but gratifying' thing! It actually says that in the instructions for this weird, wonderful product!

Needless to say, I did NOT try it out immediately. Round one of Bjorn's cold was improving, and I just didn't think the situation was desperate enough for me to perform such a gross task.

But it wasn't long before the opportunity presented itself again. A few days later, Bjorn was right back into the worst of a cold, miserable and breaking my heart. So, I pulled out the Nosefrida, bit the bullet red piece and tried it out!

It was GROSS! And intensely gratifying. AND IT WORKED!

And now I am officially sold. I will be using this Nosefrida every time one of my children has a cold. Willingly.

slow cooker mexican-style beef stew

After the day I've had (and it's only noon!) I really needed something comforting and low-effort for dinner... and since I was craving something beefy and not so american after all the poultry we've been having lately, I threw together this simple, delicious stew! I hope you like it as much as we do!

Slow Cooker Mexican-Style Beef Stew Recipe

Ingredients:

olive oil

1 1/2 - 2 lbs beef stew meet

1 large onion, chopped

5-6 garlic cloves, minced

2 teaspoons cumin

1 teaspoon chipotle chili pepper

1 teaspoon oregano

salt & pepper

2 (15oz) cans cream-style corn

2 (4oz) cans diced green chilis

1 (15oz) can crushed or diced tomatoes

3 cups beef stock

Directions:

Turn your crockpot on high. Coat the bottom with olive oil and throw in your chopped onions to soften while you prepare the rest of the ingredients (read: open cans!). Stir in the garlic, seasonings and salt & pepper, and then toss in the rest of the ingredients.

Turn the heat down to low and cook for 6-8 hours (or longer!). Serve with shredded cheese, sour cream, tortilla chips and fresh cilantro if you have it!