Recipe: Mackinac Island Fudge

by Cate on January 26, 2012

Sequins make it better
Yesterday threw a few challenges my way.  In fact, I think I may have gotten more than my fair share.  Did you accidentally send me yours?

Mystic texted me “How are YOU?”

And my answer was loud and clear.  “I am just a little spent, and more than ready to pull the plug on today.”

A challenging afternoon led way to a restless night and little sleep, and getting the kids ready this morning, I was seriously dragging.  I knew some of the challenges would be spilling over today, so I put on a little sparkle.  Because despite the doom and gloom of the wet, rainy weather, and despite the muck of the day ahead, sequined shoes surely make everything better, right?

A very observant friend caught me taking a picture of my shoes on her way home tonight.
Caught

Yesterday, three of our town’s finest were leaving our home.  (We are all fine, swear.)  One of them paused at our front door when he saw one of our hanging prints.
Final Words

“Wow, that’s great!”

Oh, thank you.  He called one of his partners back inside to show him.

He asked me where I got it and although I could have directed him to the Etsy shop, I had a feeling that interest in an artisan marketplace wasn’t going to happen.

“Why don’t you take a picture of it?” his partner suggested.

He looked at me. “Do you mind?”

No, of course not.  Please.

He grabbed his cell phone and snapped a quick shot of it.

“That’s really awesome.  So motivating.”

Thank you.  I thought it was the perfect thing to see right before we head out the door in the morning.

He nodded.  Smiling big.  And it’s now his screensaver.

This morning as I left the house with the kids, grabbing exactly 46 things I needed during the day, I gave the print a quick glance.

Sometimes that really IS all you need to quickly get you out of your funk.  A glance at one of my favorite prints as we start our day.  Some sequined shoes to finish off your outfit.  An inspirational quote (and if you follow me on Twitter, you know I love a lot of them).  Twisting your daughter’s hair into a new, funky hairstyle.  Mashed potatoes and gravy for lunch (xoxo to the friend who needed that).  Or a small piece of chocolate mid-day.

But let’s be honest.  Sometimes your trials can’t be cured by a motivational quote or a piece of indulgent sea salt flavored chocolate from Lindt.  But I am all for the days when it can.

It was a day that called for chocolate.  For the office and the five kids (!) I have under my care tonight, it’s giant chocolate chip cookies.  For Mystic (and leftovers for the office), it’s another round of fudge.  Once I get on the kick of a new food, I want to find the best recipe possible for it.  And then I move on.  Well, most of the time I do.  Recently, I shared the Three Minute Three Ingredient Fudge.  Delicious stuff and totally worth making.  Especially if you like fudge.  Or mint.  And definitely if you like both combined.  But then last night, I came across this recipe for Mackinac Island Fudge.
Mackinac Island Fudge

Let me preface the recipe by saying this.

I am super picky about fudge.

And about sweets in general.

There are only a few kinds of fudge I like.

And even fewer that I’ll make.

And chocolate is not any of them.

In fact, in nearly seven years of writing here, there are only a handful of fudge recipes that I have made more than once.  Butter PecanPeanut Butter.  That’s it.

But I tasted some of this Mackinac Island Fudge yesterday.

You know, quality control and all that.

I mean, I don’t want to poison my kids.

Or Mystic.

And omg, is it ever good.

Make it if you like fudge.

And especially if you like chocolate fudge.

And if you like chocolate fudge and had a challenge-filled day or two.

Or just because you feel like indulging.

Or need to fill that 20% margin for error.

Find your reason and make it.

[click to continue…]

Tags: ,

{ 5 comments }

Eat. Live. Be. and Eating Whole Foods

by Cate on January 25, 2012

Twinkies
Last night, we were sitting around the dining room table, just chatting, long after the plates had been cleared.  Somehow the topic of Twinkies came up, though, for the life of me, I can’t remember why.

“Twinkies?  What are Twinkies?” Nick asked.

I looked at Mystic and said, “My nine-and-a-half-year-old doesn’t know what Twinkies are.  I don’t know whether this means I’m doing a good job as a Mom or not.”

“I think if Nick doesn’t know what Twinkies are, you’re doing a great job as a mom.”

Oh how I love that man.

And it’s true.  Although I was surprised Nick didn’t know what they were, I have to say, I was pretty proud of that too.

While it is sometimes hard to get the kids to sit down and focus on eating a meal, largely because they both fall into the “grazer” category more, I don’t often complain about how or what they eat.

The snack drawer is filled with organic applesauce, packages of goji berries and pomegranates, and granola bars.  Fresh fruit or cherry tomatoes makes it into Madeline’s lunch box nearly every day of the week, and she usually eats that first.  Homemade hummus is an oft-requested lunchbox item for Nick.  The amount of yogurt we all eat is ridiculous.  More often than not, they make the right choices on their own, with no prompting from me.

Do we have processed foods in our house?  Yes.  Without a doubt.  There is a package of Oreos or two.  An occasional foray into Cheez-Doodles.   Ice cream from the local dairy.  But it is the exception, rather than the rule.

[click to continue…]

Tags: , , , , ,

{ 4 comments }

Boredom Buster: A Fun Snack to Make with Your Kids

January 24, 2012

Thanksgiving seems like so very long ago.  And yes, I’m going to tell you about something I made for Thanksgiving.  Fact. But here’s the rub. A – I actually have stuff heaps older to still tell you about.  That may or may not make it better. B – This is something you can make anytime.  [...]

Read the full article →

Celebrating Chinese New Year 2012

January 23, 2012

Many years ago, we were celebrating our new office location at work, and one of the employees’ wives brought a Chinese statue for good luck.  And that is where it all began.  Or at least as best as my memory serves me.  My mom started celebrating the Chinese New Year very soon after, and I [...]

Read the full article →

Weekend Photos in Review

January 22, 2012

Print it!No tag for this post.

Read the full article →