The Unexpected Diet

Would you like to lose five pounds

                                                                  Just in one day?

By spending the day in bed or the bathroom 

With your guts spewing in every which way?

No? That doesn't appeal to you?

I cannot imagine why!

Your head and stomach hurt so bad

                                                             You think you just might die.

That is the unexpected diet I've been on

A nasty invasion called a stomach bug.

So until I can hold down real foods again

Could you send me a virtual hug?

I wish this silly poem

                                                     Was just a few rambles from my mouth
                                                               But I've been really sick

A sad sight - this girl in the deep south. 

                                                       Hopefully in about two more days
                                                          I'll be back to my usual routine

Because dry toast and crackers are getting old

I want pizza, cake and ice cream!

I hope to be back to posting recipes again by Thursday.  But right now, I am still recovering from my stomach virus.  I still cannot stand the sight or smell of most foods, even just typing up ingredients in a recipe. 

So enjoy your foods and eat extra for me until I am well again!  I hope to be back on here again soon.  

Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cereal Treats (And A Love Letter)

Whoever thought of combining peanut butter and chocolate deserves a trophy!  I mean, really.....is that just not the perfect pair?  In fact, I think that person deserves a love letter from me.  Here you go:


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Dear Inventor of combining Peanut Butter and Chocolate,

You're a genius, first of all.  You should have your photo up there with the rest of the presidents of Mount Rushmore!  You deserve a Nobel Peace Prize!  I bet if terrorists took a bite of you before going out on a mission, they'd rethink their anger then just sit and want a glass of milk instead. 

I know I can always count on you to make me feel better.  You're better than chicken noodle soup when it comes to comfort. 

What did people do before you came along?  Eat chocolate and peanut butter separately??  What a crazy notion!  They need each other.  They belong together.  Even more so than jam or jelly with peanut butter! 

And now I will write you a poem expressing my gratitude for your amazing invention:


You've changed my life in more ways than I can say. 
You always brighten my day.

You're a gift I love to eat.
A real delicious treat.

I know this very clearly
I love you, oh so dearly!

Will you always be around?
To get rid of my frown?

Say you'll be mine.
My forever valentine!

I hope you enjoyed the above lines.  I will be thinking of your perfect combination and counting down the moments until I can enjoy you together again....

With Love,
Your humble servant
Mandy of Learn, Laugh, Cook


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Okay, okay, enough of that love fest!!  Here is a dessert that inspired the above love letter....  A dessert that combines those two wonderful foods - chocolate and peanut butter.  This is easy-to-make snack will surely be a hit at your parties and events.  I hope you enjoy it!






Chocolate Peanut Butter Cereal Treats

(Makes 32)

Adapted from Rice Krispies

1 cup of creamy peanut butter (I used a reduced fat kind)
1/4 cup of light butter, softened
1 cup of powdered sugar
2 cups of Rice Krispie Cereal or other rice brand cereal
1 and 1/3 cup (10 oz bag) of milk chocolate chips
2 tbsp canola oil
muffin paper cups (I needed 32)


First, beat the peanut butter, powdered sugar and butter in a large bowl with a hand mixer.  Blend at medium speed until incorporated.  Add in the rice cereal and blend with a spoon.  Shape the mixture into round balls.  Place each one in a muffin paper cup.  Refrigerate for at least an hour. 





After the peanut butter cereal has hardened, prepare the chocolate topping.  Do this by melting your chocolate chips with the oil in a small sauce pan on the stove.  Use low heat and stir continually until smooth.  Remove from heat and grab the peanut butter balls from the fridge.  Pour approximately 1 tsp of the chocolate liquid over each peanut butter ball.  Repeat this for each one.  Then place treats back in the fridge so the chocolate can harden.  This will take 1-2 hours. 


Once the chocolate has hardened, you can place each of the cereal treats in a plastic container for easier storage.  Chocolate-peanut butter treats should remain in the fridge until ready to serve. 


This is very easy to make and the impact of this dessert is powerful!  I made this for a meeting I attended last week and a half-dozen people were foaming at the mouth over these!   Sooo good!





Do you love the combination of peanut butter and chocolate?  What's your favorite sweet and salty pair?  Have you ever wanted to write a love letter to food before OR is that just me? :-)

Funny Food Poetry: Eggs

Food is funny.  Cooking is funny.  I just don't see how others can't see it that way.  The craziest things happen to me while I'm in the kitchen.  So I like to write about my quirky thoughts on this culinary journey of mine.  Here's a poem I came up with a few days ago.... my ode to eggs.... Enjoy!

Mandy's Ode to Eggs

I crack you up
For breakfast, dinner and lunch

I start to panic

If I don't have a bunch

Mixed in for cakes
Or scrambled with bacon and cheese

I'll take two dozen

And jumbo-size please

I wonder...do you come first

Or last after the chicken?

You are loved and adored by many

Just like a classic by Charles Dickens.

Although you do smell bad

If you've been out or in heat for awhile

And you're very nasty in an upchuck

Which I've experienced all over the tile.

Still I love your variety

And how you lend yourself to all

Just be careful the next time

You go to sit on a wall.

Please know that I will always need you

And want to keep you around

So that I can boil you and beat you

Before you can ever utter a sound. 

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Here are several recipes with eggs that I hope to make in the coming months:

Simple Overnight Egg Casserole

Egg Drop Soup

Spinach Quiche

Healthier Creme Brulee

Low fat Pumpkin Flan

Do you have an egg recipe that I can add to my list above? Do you have a favorite egg dish?  Tomorrow I will share with you the egg (and grits) casserole that inspired this poem for me. 


How often do you cook or bake with eggs?  I like to keep two dozen on hand in my house at all times because of how often I use them!  

Extract Obsession (a poem)

Lemon, almond, peppermint too
I'd like to extract them all for you.

Vanilla, orange and a cinnamon stick
Just half a teaspoon does the trick!

Inside cookies, cakes and pies
They create magic before your eyes.

A little goes a long way
I use one nearly every day.

The flavors they create make my mouth water.
I open each one and sniff them with my daughter.

Extracts also make your home smell clean
Combine them with baking soda and the vacuum machine.

Although the word "extract" sounds like an 80's rock song
Or perhaps a visit to the urologist doctor gone wrong

Yet in the kitchen these oils are king!
They taste great and go in almost anything!


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If you have a certain food item that you'd like to request I write a poem about, just send me a message to learn.laugh.cook@gmail.com - I'll whisk up a few lines for you faster than I scramble breakfast eggs!


What's your favorite extract?  Right now, I'd say almond and peppermint are tied favorites for me.  I love to add almond to my cookies and cakes.  However, I used peppermint extract last week to vacuum my carpets and make my whole house smell minty fresh!  :-)

Funny Food Poetry - An Ode To Bacon

I like to write poetry.  I can write out a few verses in just a matter of minutes.  Most of them are silly or goofy (just like I am).   In my cookbook, I share a dozen quirky poems on various foods - from broccoli stinking to how Mexican food gives me the runs.  See, I told you I'm not an ordinary cook!  :-P 

Going forward, I want to continue sharing my wacky poetic side.  So whenever the mood strikes me, I will bring in "Funny Food Poetry."  And it will look something like this:




This photo will then be followed by an original poem that I wrote.  Here is one I wrote about bacon this morning as I ate a breakfast burrito (recipe listed in my cookbook) that was filled with scrambled eggs and bacon.  The wonderful flavor inspired me to write these lines:


Mandy's Ode To Bacon

You come from a pig.
Your flavors are so big.

I enjoy you on your own
Or hidden inside a scone.

Paired with lettuce and tomato
Layered on top of a potato.

You can do no wrong in my eyes.
But please don't go straight to my thighs!