Great Grizzard in Heaven

Julia is sad and dares anyone to kill anymore trees, including this one (I think a water oak) in our front yard.

I don't know what I think about people in heaven worrying over current events on Earth, but if they do, let me assure you that Lewis Grizzard, Jr. is sitting around, petting UGA VIII and shaking his head in disgust as he types up his column about Harvey Almorn Updike, crazy lunatics, and the evil empire of Paul Finebaum - because Lewis and I both know there is nothing prettier for a Georgia fan (or an Alabama fan) than the trees at Toomer's Corner early on a Sunday morning in the fall, when they stand toiletpaper-less after your team beat Auburn the night before.

runny nose, run away

Julia has been having one cold/ sinus infection/ virus after another for the last month. When we had a warm day late last month and played outside, I drew this picture, and what did she add? The yellow and the green lines of snot coming from the girl's nose.

She had a fever and felt awful yesterday, not eating anything or enjoying her Valentine's party at school, and spending most of the afternoon/evening sitting with my in the recliner, reading babybugs or watching Sesame Street.

And thank God for her love of reading. After reading "It's Check-up Time, Elmo" so many times (yay for Sesame Street books on the dollar aisle at Target), she even knew how to say "aaah" when the doctor looked at her throat with the little light tool. I think he was impressed. And she kept saying "just like Elmo's doctor." Now we just wait for the longer form strep test (the short was negative). Looks like we both have a virus this go around, but at least she's better so far today.

Strawberry Almond Snowballs

I found a version of this recipe on the back of a box of Post Strawberry Honey Bunches of Oats Cereal. I decided to document the making of it like my friend Christy Jordan at southernplate.com. I changed the recipe up a bit, using what I had on hand,which would make Christy proud. No regular marshmallows? Why, strawberry would be fabulous! Even holiday themed! You can get the original recipe here.

This is what you'll need:
5 cups of Post Honey Bunches of Oats cereal - I used Almond
1 10oz package marshmallows - I used strawberry flavored
1/2 stick butter
1 package of chocolate morsels - I used white chocolate

Melt the butter over low heat.

Add the marshmallows.

Melt them and mix them into the butter.

This takes forever - 5 minutes or more.

At this point, I really began craving a strawberry milkshake from Burger King. So random, I know, but when I was a kid we used to go there after a dentist visit when we had cavities filled. I can just smell the fake strawberry flavor.... Mmm.

Add the cereal.

In the words of Julia's favorite book from kindermusic, "Stir and stir and mix some more!"

When you think your wrist might just need rehab, it's probably ready.

Roll them into balls. You'll want to wet your hands to keep it from sticking and being a total mess. (See that glass of water - handy!)

Ta da! 24 snowballs. No, wait... 28. Some of mine must be too small. Bit sized - then you can eat 2 and not feel bad. ;)

Then go melt the chocolate - I used a glass bowl over a regular pot so I could see the water and know it wasn't touching the glass before I added in the morsels.
Once it starts to thin, but its still lumpy, stir continuously to get this...


Dip the tops of the snowballs.


Put back on the wax paper. Then refrigerate about 15 minutes until the chocolate sets.


You'll be left with a mess to soak, but it's worth it!


A yummy Valentine's treat.


P.S. I think next time I'll use small marshmallows- would probably melt faster, and crunch up the cereal a tad before trying to mix it into the butter/marshmallow mixture.