• 12 C popped popcorn (about 1/2 C kernels or around 1 1/2 bags of microwave popcorn) **go here for how to make homemade microwave popcorn!
• 1 cup pecan halves, roughly chopped   I omitted these since my 2 yr old is allergic to nuts
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 cup karo syrup (or honey makes a good substitution)
• 1 stick real butter (1/2 cup)  I used Smart Balance 50/50 and it worked great!
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 3 squares almond bark (about 4 oz)  I used chocolate almond bark (b/c it’s what I had on hand)
  

Preheat oven to 250 degrees

*You can use air popped or microwave popcorn.

Place popcorn and chopped pecans in a large bowl and set aside. *Use a bigger bowl than you think you need.

Combine brown sugar and cinnamon in a 2 liter capacity microwave safe bowl. Mix well. Chop butter into chunks and place on top of sugar mixture. Pour corn syrup over the top of everything. Microwave on high for 30 seconds and then stir to combine. Return to microwave and heat for 2 minutes. Remove and stir and then microwave for 2 minutes more. *If you microwave it too much your popcorn will turn out really hard.

Remove from microwave and add in vanilla and baking soda. Stir to combine. Mixture will foam and rise. Pour caramel mixture over popcorn and pecans and stir very well so everything is well coated. *STIR MORE THAN YOU THINK YOU NEED TOO.

Spread popcorn mixture onto a foil-lined jelly roll pan. Place in oven and bake for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.

Remove from oven and spread out on a large piece of parchment, waxed paper, or foil. *I just slid the foil from the jelly roll pan (w/popcorn on it) and let it sit on counter to cool

Melt almond bark according to package instructions. Drizzle over popcorn mixture. When almond bark is hardened and popcorn is cool, break into chunks and enjoy!

I say again, holy cow delicious!

I’m linking this recipe up at for Ingredient Spotlight: popcorn

It’s Monday. Again. How does that happen so quickly? I didn’t do anything too exciting over the weekend, just tried to regain some sanity.  I attempt to accomplish this by cleaning and organizing.  I know, weird right?  But I have found that my stress level increases in direct proportion with the increase in clutter.  Anyway, working on getting everything straight.  Especially since my girls are back in school – there are papers to keep up with, fundraisers to keep track of (fundraisers. ALREADY. Don’t get me started on that one!)  Anyone want to buy wrapping paper?! 

I also like to relieve stress with a little retail therapy!!  It’s probably not cheaper than a therapist, but way more fun.  This weekend was the Gap Give and Get Program – they allowed you to choose a non-profit (I, of course, chose The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society) and then you could shop at Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic – save 30% on your purchases, and they would donate 5% to the non-profit you chose.  It rocks.  I posted about it earlier, so if you missed it, well, you missed it.  Because it’s over.  So anyway, I went shopping at Old Navy.  Found lots of cute t-shirts and such for me and the kids.  Nothing for hubs.  Sorry honey.  XXLT is not a size to be found easily (or at all) at the Old Navy.

Monte Cristo Sandwiches

4 large eggs, beaten
1/4 cup skim milk
1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg or ground
1/2 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
2 tablespoons butter  we skipped the butta
8 thick cut sliced whole-grain soft bread, white, or challah  we used Focaccia
1/2 cup brown mustard
1/2 cup cranberry sauce
1/2 pound sliced Havarti cheese  we used sharp cheddar, b/c Havarti has WAY mo’ fat!
1 pound sliced ham
1 pound sliced turkey breast
1 1/2 cups medium to dark amber maple syrup  we skipped the syrup, not a huge fan

• Heat a griddle pan or large skillet over medium high heat. Cook bacon and remove to paper towels to drain. Drain off fat. 
• Reheat griddle over medium heat. 
• Beat eggs with milk, nutmeg and pepper. 
• Add 1 tablespoon butter to the griddle or pan and melt. OR Spray griddle with non-stick spray. 
• Dip 4 slices of bread in egg mixture, then add to griddle or pan. Turn bread after it browns, 2 to 3 minutes. 
• Top 2 bread slices with mustard, the other 2 with cranberry sauce. Add 1 or 2 slices of cheese and bacon on the cranberry covered bread. Add ham, then turkey to the mustard covered bread. Use a spatula to assemble sandwiches and turn and press gently to set sandwiches in place. Repeat as needed (depending on the size of your pan, you will probably have to make in batches).
• Heat syrup in microwave safe container for 30 seconds. Drizzle syrup over sandwiches at the table.  They were delicious without the syrup, but it’s a personal preference.  

Recipe adapted from  

We had a sweet and savory going on with the cranberry sauce and herbed focaccia.  mmmm.  For the kids…they basically had toasted ham and cheese.  bor-ring 🙂

Linking up at

:
“Enjoy 30% off from August 26-29 at Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy and we’ll donate 5% of what you spend to a non-profit.”

PLEASE choose The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society!!!!! It’s a win-win 🙂 Save money and donate at the same time!

Help people like my Daddy and many, many others fight these horrible blood cancers.

I wonder how many blog posts began with the title ‘First Day of School’ today?!  My kids were not super excited.  On the outside.  But to be sure they were on the inside, right?!  How can you not be excited about the first day?  Especially 4th and 2nd grade.  They didn’t wake up extra early, didn’t seem to really care what outfits they wore, didn’t take extra time on their hair (well, a little extra), they didn’t wear brand new, bright, shiny tennis shoes (even though they have them).  I just don’t get it.  What’s changed?  They were pretty non-chalant.  EXCEPT, they did not eat hardly any breakfast…AHH HA!  I knew they were a little excited, and a little nervous.  Because kids don’t pass this up for nothing…..

I had a question arise regarding my last post – can you donate if you are anemic (low iron)?  Which is a condition that I have just discovered about myself too!  The answer is YES!  In checking the medical guidelines at www.marrow.org you CAN register to be a bone marrow donor even if you are anemic, UNLESS, you have . This is a much more serious and rare form of anemia where you are deficient in not only red blood cells, but all 3 types (red, white and platelets).  If you go to the website, click on Join, then go to Medical Guidelines, it should answer any questions you may have.  There are several guidelines, such as age, weight, and different medical conditions. Thanks to everyone for reading and considering my post! 

Today is my Dad’s 59th birthday.  So, in honor of his special day (even though it’s already posted on my blog) – I want to make everyone reading this aware of the importance of BONE MARROW DONATION!  You can go to to learn more about becoming a donor, to register, and/or donate money.  (Donations are how the registry keeps it free for others too join, it helps pay for the cost of initial DNA testing).  The Be The Match organization also helps patients and their families with the financial burden of stem cell/bone marrow transplants. 

I also want to spread awareness that donating is not a painful procedure like it once was.  It is seldom that the doctors have to go into the bone and extract the actual marrow (it does occur sometimes, but I’m not sure under what circumstances).  They usually draw blood out (like when you donate blood), and filter out the stem cells.  The stem cells are then injected into the patient (like my dad) and they “find” their way to their new home in the marrow and set up shop.  They begin producing, so the patient begins growing healthy (donor) bone marrow.  It’s actually quite amazing.

My Dad was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) in October 2009.  He underwent several rounds of intensive chemotherapy, and had a stem cell transplant 72 days ago!  I can not tell you the number of blood products he received while getting chemotherapy, so I also encourage everyone to donate blood on a regular basis.

That’s all I have to say about this today.  I’m off to spend time with my dad, on his birthday – thanks to an anonymous, generous soul who decided to join the national registry and be a donor.  We don’t know who this person is, but whoever….WE LOVE YOU!!

My kids love hot chocolate (and who doesn’t?!), so when I saw this recipe for frozen hot chocolate, I knew it would be a hit.  Plus, I really wanted to try it myself!  It’s from Woman’s Day Magazine, and they got it from Slim & Scrumptious by Joy Bauer.  It’s a “slimmed-down” version with 150 calories and “virtually no fat”.  Of course, I don’t see where it gives a serving size.  I have to say it was pretty good.  It would be even better with dark chocolate syrup (which is now on my grocery list).