To Die For Blueberry Muffins

TO DIE FOR? Really? Yes. They are that good, and this is clearly another example of a recipe that calls it what it is.

 

So, before you judge this recipe by its name with slightly 1980's slang origins, just know that these muffins are legit (because I like totally, wouldn't introduce you to anything lame, Dude).

To Die For Blueberry Muffins

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp baking powder

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 egg

1/3 cup milk

1 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)

 

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line muffin tin with 12 muffin liners.
2. Combine 1 1/2 cups flour, 3/4 cup sugar, salt, and baking powder. Place vegetable oil into a 1 cup measuring cup; add the egg and enough milk to fill the cup. Mix this with the flour mixture. Fold in blueberries.  Fill muffin cups and sprinkle with crumb topping mixture (recipe below).
3. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in preheated oven.

Crumb Topping

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup all purpose flour

1/4 cup butter, cubed

1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

 

1. Mix together 1/2 cup sugar, 1/3 cup flour, 1/4 cup butter, and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon. Mix with fork, and sprinkle over muffins before baking.

CAUTION:

These are so good - they'll have YOU talking like a Valley Girl in no time flat. For sure.

Crock Pot Macaroni & Cheese

Trust me when I tell you that this recipe is just as quick and easy as those little boxes of shells. And, you can actually identify all of the ingredients - SCORE!

Crock Pot Macaroni & Cheese

Cooking spray

2 cups skim milk

1 12 oz can evaporated milk
8 oz. cream cheese, cubed

1 tsp dry mustard powder

1 tsp onion powder (if desired)

1/4 tsp pepper

1 tsp salt

16 oz. cheddar cheese*, shredded

16 oz. uncooked elbow macaroni

1. Spray the crock pot with cooking spray.
2. In a mixing bowl, whisk together milk, evaporated milk, mustard powder, onion powder, salt and pepper.
3. Pour milk mixture into the crock pot. Add cheese and uncooked macaroni. Stir gently to mix.
4. Turn crock pot on low and cook 2-3 hours, or until the macaroni is tender. Serve immediately.

Notes

Do not cook more than the recommended time, or it will dry out.

I prefer to use extra sharp cheddar cheese, but you be the judge as to what type of cheese your family prefers in this recipe.

Remember, 16 oz of cheese, shredded is more than 16 oz of shredded cheese (bagged)!

The recipe above is shown with whole wheat pasta. You could also "kick it up a notch" by using the new Hidden Veggie pasta. (And, yes, I know that I am totally dating myself by even entertaining the saying "kick it up a notch" - for my next trick, I will be "busting a move" - prepare yourself.)

100 Things to Do This Summer

I know that summer doesn't OFFICIALLY start for another week, but as far as the kids are concerned IT'S HERE. Don't forget we also have a 100 Things to Do This Spring List, a 100 Things to Do This Fall List, and a 100 Things to Do This Winter List, so pop over to those and pin for ideas of things to do later.

But for now, here's a list of some fun things that you might want to consider doing this summer.

There are activities that the kids can do by themselves, activities that they might need your help with, activities for outside play, and activities for rainy days. I tried make sure that the list was balanced between activities for boys and activities for girls (the majority are gender neutral).

And to prove that these are things that we Harris Sisters endorse, I have included links and photos of our own experiences with many of these suggestions. (And of course, there are many on the list that my family has done that we just don't have photos of. Watching classic movies, for example, but it is well documented how we LOVE us some 1980s movies!)

1. Go to a Drive In Movie

2. Make Banana Splits

3. Catch Lightning Bugs

4. Slip N Slide

5. Rent and Watch Classic Kids Movies

6. Make Fun Summer Jewelry Using Free Online Tutorials

7. Play HORSE . . . maybe just not against this guy ;-)

8. Have a Slumber Party
9. Dip Dye or Tie Dye T-Shirts
10. Go on a Picnic
11. Visit a Science Museum

12. Go Tubing

13. Eat Breakfast for Dinner

14. Draw a Self Portrait (or Swap Names with a Family Member and Draw Pictures of Each Other) This example is courtesy of my wonderfully talented niece, Charlotte!

15. Have a Water Balloon Fight

16. Make Garden Stepping Stones

17. Play I Spy

18. Visit a Zoo

19. Make Milkshakes

20. Roll Down a Hill

21. Go to an Air Show

22. Pick Berries and Make Preserves or Old-Fashioned Cobbler

23. Play Simon Says
24. Paint Your Own Pottery
25. Assemble a Cookbook of Family Recipes
26. Go to a Baseball Game

27. Listen for the Ice Cream Truck!
28. Make an Obstacle Course
29. Watch Fireworks
30. Go for a Hike

31. Make Ice Cream Floats
32. Hula Hoop
33. Play in the Sprinkler
34. Tend Your Garden

35. Go Geocaching
36. Make Paper Airplanes
37. Build a Bonfire, Then Roast Hot Dogs or Make S'mores
38. Go to an Amusement Park

39. Play Charades
40. Perform a Random Act of Kindness (RAOK)
41. Go Bowling

42. Play a Game of Telephone
43. Decorate Your Bike or Wagon for a July 4th Parade
44. Build a Treehouse

45. Go Camping in Your Own Backyard
46. Visit Local Tourist Attractions
47. Fly Kites
48. Tour a Factory

49. Go to a Summer Movie Matinee
50. Make Homemade Ice Cream
51. Make Your Own Play Kitchen, Doll House, or Race Track
52. Hand Wash the Family Cars

53. Assemble a Puzzle
54. Make Fluffer Nutter Sandwiches
55. Play Rock, Paper, Scissors
56. Go Rollerskating

57. Write to a Pen Pal (on paper . . . and send it through the mail . . . GASP!)
58. Make Your Own Market Bags Using Free Online Patterns or Tutorials
59. Visit the Local Farmer's Market
60. Take a Themed Family Photo

61. Pick Flowers and Make a Floral Arrangement
62. Learn a New Card Game
63. Thumb Wrestle
64. Grow a Butterfly from a Caterpillar (The boys do this with their Grandma nearly every year!)

65. Go on a Scavenger Hunt
66. Go Horseback Riding
67. Make Homemade Pizzas
68. Visit a Petting Zoo or Animal Park

69. Have a Dance Battle
70. Go on a Hot Air Balloon Ride
71. Play Hopscotch
72. Go to the Playground

73. Do Mad Libs
74. Go on a Road Trip
75. Visit your Public Library or a Little Free Library
76. Go to an Aquarium

77. Make Soda Rockets
78. Finish a Game of Monopoly
79. Go Fishing
80. Start a Collection

81. Limbo!
82. Start a Journal
83. Master the Rubik's Cube
84. Go to a Local Festival

85. Learn to Play an Instrument
86. Make a Movie or Music Video
87. Complete a Crossword Puzzle
88. Play Miniature Golf

89. Go Ziplining
90. Go Thrifting and Look for Treasures
91. Start a Compost Bin
92. Blow Bubbles

93. Hang a Birdfeeder and Watch the Birds
94. Learn Hand Clapping Games (Miss Mary Mack!)
95. Have a Karaoke Party
96. Go to a Car Show

97. Visit a New Restaurant
98. Go to a Planetarium
99. Start Making Homemade Christmas Presents
100. Take a Nap in a Hammock

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