Oh. My. Jif.

I’m drooling.

How come I’ve never thought to make these at home? With a microwave. How easy is that?

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

Ingredients

1 (11.5 ounce) package milk chocolate chips, divided
1 cup peanut butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar

Directions

Trim 12 paper muffin cup liners to half of their height.
Place 1/2 chocolate chips in a microwave safe container. Microwave for 2 minutes, stirring after each minute. Spoon melted chocolate into muffin cups, filling halfway. With a spoon, draw the chocolate up the sides of the cups until evenly coated. Cool in the refrigerator until firm.
In a small bowl, mix together peanut butter, confectioners’ sugar and salt. divide into the chocolate cups. Melt the remaining chocolate, and spoon over peanut butter. Spread chocolate to edges of cups.

Thanks, Allrecipes.com!

Must pick up muffin liners…

Friday Five

Only it’s Saturday, so I added a sixth.

1. My family camped in the backyard last night.

2. I did not. (It was cold, people. Even my dog was shivering.)

3. Getting over strep throat is no fun.

4. I have the makings for homemade caramel corn.

5. My oldest looks cute in his new glasses. If only we’d known he needed them before buying his costume… He would have made a great Harry Potter.

6. My husband ran another marathon. And managed to keep all his toenails this time. (Stuff runners don’t tell you.) He’s the tall handsome one. 😉

Enjoy your weekend!

For the Love of Picture Books

Even though The New York Times states picture books are languishing, they are alive and well here!

My second grader is starting Harry Potter, but he still reads picture books.

And I love it when my older boys read to their little brother and sister.

It melts my heart seeing them all together peacefully, no one jabbing their sibling in the ribs.

(Little man is laughing because his book slipped through the jacket to the floor. Somehow, we have a duplicate copy, which works out splendidly for nap time.)

So if you feel your big kid is too old for picture books, find a younger kid for them to read to. And if you can’t find any youngsters, feel free to borrow mine.

Reading out loud is not only great practice for your older student but an immense help to the little listeners developing their vocabulary and language skills.

Have a happy Friday! They only come around once a week…

Sandra Boynton

A look at her home, her studio, and who knew she was friends with Meryl Streep?

I really, really

really really really really really really really really really really

want to go to Big Sur.

*someday*

My writing spot

This is where I work from home. At our kitchen table.

I’ve learned I cannot work on the couch or in bed. Give me ten minutes, then my head starts bobbing.

There’s a stack of books to be read in the chair by the window. My current library book (by Kathi Appelt) is on the table beneath the Rubik’s cube. I actually solved that cube two weeks ago. I didn’t remove single sticker either.

I had some help, from an online video – made by a kid. Alas, with five of my own, it was a temporary triumph. So there it sits, scrambled.

But I have plans for that cube. Oh yes I do, of the writerly type. Did you know the Rubik’s cube is 25 years old this year?

I have so many projects going at the moment, it is hard to know where to start.

I’ll get there.

One square at a time.

At my house

is known as “Dirty Harry”.

*facepalm*

Little Did I Know

Little did I know giving my daughter a doll house for her birthday would turn up some old ghosts.

I walked through the house tonight collecting toys, socks, and papers as I always do after the kids hit the hay. M’s had her dollhouse two days, and here I’d already found the mama and the master bed, upside down, on my hardwood floor a couple rooms over. I picked them up, carried them back to where they belonged. Thinking for a moment where M might want them, I tucked the mama in bed in the upstairs bedroom.

A prickle ran up my spine. The dolls don’t forget…

A book I read decades ago, rushed back. Leaving me with a case of the creeps.

Betty Ren Wright, you scared me silly. Again.

I read The Dollhouse Murders in the 80’s. It is perhaps the only book I’ve chucked across the room then burrowed beneath the covers. With my light on. Quaking, but unable to stop reading. Spooked, but somehow loving it. Thankful for amazing storytelling.

However, if M ever wants to read this book, I’ll strongly suggest daytime.

Have you thought of a book from your childhood recently? If so, what?

A Snail’s Pace

I’m revising a few picture books. For real people. Funny how a person can’t rush ideas or creativity.

Of course, showing up to work is part of it. I don’t know about you, but I can think and stew for months then one day while ~~enjoying a warm paraffin pedicure~~ folding my seventh pair of stinky boy gym socks, some crucial element clicks into place.

But it seems to take forever. Or I’m just impatient.

The above photo is boy #4 with his pet for a day, Mr. Ruffles. He came up with the name on his own. Honest.

Perhaps he needs to wear stinky gym socks like his brothers.

Also, Author and illustrator Lindsay Barrett George is giving away 1 free school visit to anywhere in the country. Details here. Be sure to tell your school librarians.

Happy Wednesday!

KG

Paper Tigers

The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. – Amelia Earhart

I’m taking a few weeks off to tackle some projects.

See you in September.

~Kristin