Weird quotes from the wee ones, Part 1 (and a few great recipes, too!)

OK, so there are certain things as a mother that make you stop and think, "Wow, only a mother ever hears/says/thinks a statement/question/order like that." Like hearing yourself say out loud, "Sweetie, blow your nose real hard and maybe the rock you shoved in there will come out." (yes, I had the opportunity to say this last week with our almost-3 year old, and yes, the pebble did come shooting out as anticipated) So, anyway, I am taking the kids (ages 9 and 10) to school this morning and the silence is broken when my 10 year old daughter says in a sad, sad voice, "I'm glad you're my mom, but I sure wish you were an Origami master." Huh? I guess she has a new Korean friend at school whose mom rocks because she IS an Origami master. So, anyway, I can't do Origami, but I did make some awesome homemade soft pretzels today and am going to try and post a picture of one of them. The kids are begging me to make caramel corn to eat while we watch American Idol tonight, so I may end up doing that later, too. These pretzels taste similar to those at Auntie Anne's, but they are much better, if I must say so myself! For dinner, I have our favorite roast in the Crock Pot, so I will try to post that recipe as well.

Aunt Annie's Pretzels

Preheat oven to 550 degrees. Grease a baking sheet.

Mix together: 1 1/2 tsp yeast
1/2 tsp brown sugar
Dash of salt
1 1/2 cups warm (110°)water
Let sit for 5 minutes.
Add:4 cups bread flour..Knead well and then let rise for about 1 hour.Take a piece of dough and roll and shape into pretzel. Easiest way to shape--roll into a rope, whatever size you prefer, pinch ends of rope then bring ends of rope to other side of circle.Dip in mixture of warm baking soda and water (2 tsp baking soda and 2 cups warm water). Sprinkle coarse salt on top if you wish. Place on prepared baking sheet.Bake at 550 degrees for approx. 8 minutesWhile still hot brush them with melted butter & honey (approx 2 tbsp honey to 1/2 lb butter). (note: I just used melted butter)


Here is the roast recipe - it ROCKS!:

DIE FOR CROCK POT ROAST
1 beef roast, large enough to fit in your crockpot
1 pkg. Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix
1 pkg. brown gravy mix
1 pkg. Italian dressing mix
1/2 C. warm water

Place roast in crockpot. Mix all three envelopes and sprinkle on top of roast. Pour water in the bottom of the crockpot. Cover and cook on low 6 to 7 hours. The gravy is phenomenal!!