Love this…
Giveaway Winner & Legos
Okay, so you’re probably wondering who is the lucky winner of some ninja cookie cutters, which can be used (as we’ve seen in the comments) for any number of things, including ninja burgers, and for the extra talented, ninja salad.
Winner is…Jen Daiker of Unedited! Congratulations, Jen! Email me your info, and I’ll get these shipped out to you. Everyone else…should I have any book signings next year, and you plan to attend, let me know, and I’ll bring the ninjas (in cookie or brownie form).
In other news, I need to finish up with this blog post because I’m on a time schedule to build a working, motorized Lego car before the 3rd grade Robotics Club meeting tomorrow. No matter how many warnings I issue, these boys simply will not listen to me when I say, “You cannot connect the motor to your axle or the cord will wrap around and around and get tangled.” So, they spend the bulk of the hour after-school with their cords tangled. I’m hoping to show them a better way. And it’s harder than it looks. I’m not used to working with these weird Lego pieces…or really building anything of my own at all. I’m typically the designated Lego Piece Finder (and even occasionally the Lego Peace Finder), but sometimes I mix it up and am the Lego Booklet Instruction Follower. Not today. Today I’m a Bonafide Designer/Inventor.
Good Times & Recipe
Last day to enter the drawing for the Ninjabread Men Cookie Cutters!!
“There is no charge for awesomeness or attractiveness.” (Kung-Fu Panda) Except a follow.
Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about Orange Julius (and, in fact, I was inspired to post by this). Long ago (it seems like eons), there was a tiny mall near where we lived with two little department stores (one, if you don’t count Sears, which I didn’t), a handful of stores and a cute little food court. This sounds like the beginning of a fairy tale, doesn’t it?? Anyway, this mall was a regular stop for us…non-stressful for my dad but still appealing to my sister’s obessive need to shop. My favorite stops were the Sanrio store with all its little girl Hello Kitty paraphenalia and the colorful, hipness of The Gap. And Orange Julius. I LOVED the frothy, fruity, slightly icy deliciousness of the Julius, and their burgers were delicious too.
Well somehow my mom came up with a comparable recipe–this was waaay before the Internet, and we have been using it ever since. My boys ask for Juliuses(?) and I still love the sweet frothy goodness. Typically I make orange, but we’ve had pineapple too, and last week I bought some frozen strawberries to make a Strawberry Julius. But then…I went onto their website and saw that they’ve come up with a whole range of new flavors…Mango Julius! Must try! So that’s next in the queue.
Basic Recipe for Orange Julius
6 oz. of a can of frozen concentrated orange juice
1 c. milk
1 c. water
1 t. vanilla
10 ice cubes
1/4 c. sugar (I don’t add the sugar any more…I think it’s plenty sweet without)
In blender, combine all ingredients, process for half a minute.
(I’ve also used concentrated pineapple juice. For the Strawbery Juliuses, I just plan on using frozen strawberries.)
Oh, Orange Julius, how I miss you… I miss the old Gap too. What’s with all the adorable clothes for kids and all the blacks, khakis and greys for adults? It’s as if they think we lose all personally when we grow out of the kids’ section. Not me! Bring back the color! And the Juliuses!
picture via
Posted in lost loves on 03/07/2011 02:55 pm | 10 Comments