This red bird was high up in the tree, surveying the snowy day. I wondered what his (or her) view was like.

Snow day activity: making Barefoot Contessa's homemade marshmallows. I had to split it into two trays so I added a drop of red food coloring to one and will use heart shaped cookie cutter to cut it out. They are heavenly in hot chocolate.

Here is the recipe:

• 3 packages unflavored gelatin
• 1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• Confectioners' sugar for dusting

Preparation:

Combine the gelatin and 1/2 cup of cold water in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and allow to sit while you make the syrup.

Meanwhile, combine the sugar, corn syrup, salt, and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Raise the heat to high and cook until the syrup reaches 240 degrees on a candy thermometer. Remove from the heat. With the mixer on low speed slowly pour the sugar syrup into the dissolved gelatin. Put the mixer on high speed and whip until the mixture is very thick, about 15 minutes. Add the vanilla and mix thoroughly.

With a sieve, generously dust an 8 x 12-inch non-metal baking dish with confectioners' sugar. Pour the marshmallow mixture into the pan, smooth the top and dust with more confectioners' sugar. Allow to stand uncovered overnight until it dries out.

Turn the marshmallows onto a board and cut them in squares. dust them with more confectioners' sugar.

Yield: 20 to 40 marshmallows, depending on cut size

sakura

Cherry Blossoms in Japan. Would love to see them in person some day. Doesn't it look like snow covered trees?

Nothing like a vacation

Time with family, no dishes or laundry to do. Spent time getting to know these beautiful creatures too. 

Great way to tell if a movie is suitable for your kids in your opinion

A lot of fun summer movies are coming out but how do you determine if  you think they are suitable for your children. You know how some PG movies are just fine and you are comfortable with your kids seeing them but another movie, also rated PG has content you are just not happy with:

Check out this site: http://www.kids-in-mind.com

 They list every instance of violence/gore, sex/nudity, and profanity so you can decide what you find acceptable or not. They don't review movies until they are already out so of you like to go on opening night you're out-of-luck. 

Easy treat to make for the 4th of July

This was an easy and tasty treat to make to bring to a Fourth of July BBQ. Pretzel rods dipped in white chocolate with red, white, and blue sprinkles. My photos aren't as good as my favorite blog with recipes (thepioneerwoman.com) but here goes:

1 bag of white choc. chips

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

long pretzel rods (I used about 3/4 of a large plastic tub of them)

sprinkles

1. Cover cookies sheets with wax paper

2. Melt white chocolate chips with the oil in the microwave in a microwave-safe bowl. My pack of chips said to do 1 minute at 70% power and then stir. Then, if needed do 10 second increments and stir until smooth.

2. Dip the pretzels in the melted chocolate. Shake or drip off excess and wait a few seconds for it to just start to harden or not be drippy.

3. Sprinkle on the sprinkles (or jimmies for anyone in Boston). I tried a few methods and found using a spoon while holding the pretzel over a bowl or plate the easiest way..

4. Put the pretzel on the wax paper. 

5. Once tray is covered put it in the fridge until hardened.

Yum!

Thirsty Thursday

So OK Port Washington natives...have you heard of Thirsty Thursdays? Well, I was lucky enough to go on my friend's yacht. They call it a boat, but at 42.9 feet--that's a yacht. Anyway it was a beautiful breezy evening for a sail. 

We got to watch a Thursday evening tradition. People from all the yacht clubs meet up in the bay and race. It was so fun to wave to everyone as we sailed around, eating tasty treats, have wonderful conversations, and just enjoying the evening. The company was great and our captains were gracious hosts. Too bad I didn't have my camera to take a photo of the sunset.

There is just something so calming about being on the water. I could never live somewhere without it.