tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49634837588012300142024-02-07T05:10:10.365-08:00my joyous heartA Journey of Life, Love, Laughter, and Lots of Yummy FoodAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13773443901103139891noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4963483758801230014.post-82877838536912542582014-02-06T13:27:00.002-08:002014-02-06T13:28:44.076-08:00Granookies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1S2n2ZeMwAYavzZjbXJhxamaVXHszZg8JRf9FXkrtercRswgkzfgQFY8JzqIMKJHArXKygquV5yjpXzU9E4NFqnm3b0PZ1PhNj0rD_JLr8jIusXzmpwWVNITNptnH-d_f70UHBUJP3aa4/s1600/IMG_0422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1S2n2ZeMwAYavzZjbXJhxamaVXHszZg8JRf9FXkrtercRswgkzfgQFY8JzqIMKJHArXKygquV5yjpXzU9E4NFqnm3b0PZ1PhNj0rD_JLr8jIusXzmpwWVNITNptnH-d_f70UHBUJP3aa4/s1600/IMG_0422.JPG" height="494" width="640" /></a></div>
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Okay, really weird name, I know. You can laugh all you want. My husband and I came up with it late last night as we were eating the granookies for a late-night snack.<br />
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Basically a granookie is half chewy granola bar, half cookie. Make sense now? The granookie was spawned after I began making a cookie recipe I had found, realized I didn't have half the right ingredients, and so created something unique and definitely yummy.<br />
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The nice thing about these is, they're very adaptable (that's starting to become a theme for me, I think . . . . what can I say? I like versatility in cooking!). You could totally add a little of this and leave out a little of that and have your own unique granookie.<br />
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I just like saying that word. Granookie. Granookie, granookie, granookie.<br />
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Ahem. Moving on . . . .<br />
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Another nice feature about these? They're completely gluten free! That's right, 100% no gluten. That means they're healthy. Very healthy. Packed full of protein, fiber, and . . . yumminess! What's not to love?<br />
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Disclaimer: because they are so healthy, they are not super sweet . . . there's no added sugar. If you like things a little sweeter, try adding 1/2 cup or so of some honey or raw sugar. That should help make them even more delicious. Since I was making these as a snack, we wanted them to be a little healthier, so I left the sweetener out. Again, totally adaptable to what you'd like. :)<br />
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Okay, okay, enough about granookies! Here's the recipe:<br />
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Granookies</h2>
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Makes about 2 dozen</div>
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3 very ripe bananas</div>
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1/2 cup plain greek yogurt or plain applesauce</div>
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1 egg</div>
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1 tsp vanilla</div>
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1 tsp baking soda </div>
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1 Tbsp cinnamon</div>
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1/4 tsp cloves</div>
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3 cups oats</div>
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1/2 cup peanut butter </div>
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1 cup chocolate chips</div>
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1/2 cup chopped walnuts</div>
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1/2 cup raisins</div>
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1/4 cup chopped dates </div>
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Mix the bananas and yogurt in a stand up blender for a minute or two, until well combined. Next add the peanut butter, again until just combined. Add in the egg, vanilla, baking soda, cinnamon and cloves, and blend well. Then add one at a time the oats, chocolate chips, walnuts, raisins, and dates, each mixing in until just combined. </div>
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Scoop out rounded spoonfuls onto a lightly greased baking sheet. Place in a preheated 350 degree oven for 10-12 minutes, until they are started to golden on top. Let cool, and enjoy. </div>
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(I kept mine in the fridge so they would last longer, not that that helped, since we ate them so quickly! They are probably perfectly fine left out too)</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13773443901103139891noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4963483758801230014.post-59440684032745984882014-02-04T14:47:00.001-08:002014-02-04T14:49:47.535-08:00Mexican Hot ChocolateYesterday and today have definitely been days for warm drinks. Like Mexican Hot Chocolate kind of warm drinks. So I made some. And it was yummy. You really should make some. Here's a good recipe if you need one....<div><br></div><div>Mexican Hot Chocolate</div><div><br></div><div>Makes 6-8 cups</div><div><br></div><div>6 cups water</div><div>1 can sweetened condensed milk</div><div>1 tsp vanilla</div><div>1/2 cup chocolate powder </div><div>1 Tbsp cinnamon</div><div><br></div><div>Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan. Heat until simmering, stirring often. Serve warm with marshmallows, whipped cream, or just by itself! It's so yummy just as it is! </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFZc9u-lSp9ZBFG45ZzqtECqzFECqykhDnh5Ku3kb5F83XRrQLDQMlj02JFxpvBYp3N0RW0Qbk0dL5GNvFnb2saESBk_1VhI4OewlqIyjEKwS1-P1LsPjzuFEtXw6-SrrkXCCK3NhMoZ8/s640/blogger-image--730459482.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFZc9u-lSp9ZBFG45ZzqtECqzFECqykhDnh5Ku3kb5F83XRrQLDQMlj02JFxpvBYp3N0RW0Qbk0dL5GNvFnb2saESBk_1VhI4OewlqIyjEKwS1-P1LsPjzuFEtXw6-SrrkXCCK3NhMoZ8/s640/blogger-image--730459482.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13773443901103139891noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4963483758801230014.post-17234772468216453132014-01-28T10:45:00.003-08:002014-01-28T10:47:03.614-08:00BBQ Chicken PizzaWell, today I thought I'd share one of my family's favorite recipes: BBQ Chicken Pizza. It's just so yummy. Sweet, tangy, saucy, a little bit spicy, and all-around delicious! I love it because, once again, it is just so versatile! You can really make it your own by playing around with veggie combinations, different sauces, etc.. We usually use Sweet Baby Ray's sauce because it is really yummy and smoky sweet, but I can envision a number of delicious scenarios all based on the sauce. I've tried this recipe with cabbage and sweet potatoes too . . . TO DIE FOR. Literally, one of the best pizzas I've ever eaten. And don't forget, you have multiple cheese options! I often use cheddar because I seem to have that on hand more, but I've also used pepperjack (with the cabbage . . . phenomenal!), swiss, and good old mozzarella. Other ideas/combos, anyone?<br />
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I use Bobby Flay's pizza crust recipe, <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/pizza-dough-recipe.html" target="_blank">here.</a> I've been using it for a while now and it never fails. He says to use bread flour, but I usually just use all purpose, which makes a nice, soft, chewy crust.<br />
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I know this post is short and sweet, but I'm working it in between nap-time and feeding a hungry newborn, so, no complaining! So without further adieu . . . . (what does that mean, anyway . . . ?)<br />
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BBQ Chicken Pizza</h2>
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2 prepared pizza crusts (recipe above)</div>
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2 cups (approx.) your choice of BBQ sauce. Here I used Sweet Baby Ray's.</div>
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2 cups grated cheese, again, your choice. Here I used Cheddar. </div>
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Various veggies, chopped. Here I used 1 large sliced red onion, several handfuls of baby spinach, and I usually use chopped roma tomatoes. </div>
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2-3 cooked and diced chicken breasts</div>
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Dried basil and oregano</div>
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Salt and Pepper</div>
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Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Place prepared dough onto greased cookie sheets/pizza pans. </div>
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Spread the bbq sauce over the crust thickly. You don't want it all to soak in, so use a good amount. I use a pastry brush for this. Next add the spinach evenly over the pizza, and then the chicken and onion and tomatoes (or whatever other veggies you have). Top with grated cheese. I usually add one more little swirl of bbq sauce over the top of that, but more for looks than anything. Finally, sprinkle a little salt, pepper, basil, and oregano over the very top. </div>
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Pop into the oven and bake for about 20 minutes, until the crust is a nice golden brown and the cheese is melted. Enjoy! </div>
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<span style="color: black;"><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/myjoyousheartprintablerecipe1/bbq-chicken-pizza" target="_blank">Printable Recipe </a></span></div>
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(Sorry for the terrible picture . . . )</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13773443901103139891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4963483758801230014.post-26187278269810748742014-01-17T12:27:00.002-08:002014-01-17T12:30:13.968-08:00Saltine Cracker Chicken CasseroleComing out of the stomach bug woes, ours tummies have been a little tender. I made some chicken noodle soup for the first few days, but that got old after a bit. We all wanted something a little heavier, not too flavorful, and yummy.<br />
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I tossed around a few ideas, did some web/Pinterest searching, and finally came up with a recipe that fit the bill. It was delicious. You know how sometimes when you've been unable to eat good food, and then finally you eat something filling, how wonderful that feels? This was one of those meals. Warm, flavorful (just enough), a little salty, not too much dairy, meaty, "herby", a little sweet, and something other than liquid. </div>
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This would be a great meal to take to someone after they get out of the hospital, have had a baby, etc.. It is not just an after-sickness casserole, though. I think we may have to put it on the favorites list! It's also a very versatile casserole. You could really make it your own by adding different veggies and spices. Since we were going for a blander taste, I just used sweet peas, but the possibilities are endless..... </div>
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<h2>
Saltine Cracker Chicken Casserole</h2>
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*Makes 1 9x13 casserole</div>
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Ingredients: </div>
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4 chicken breasts, fresh or frozen</div>
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1 bag frozen sweet peas (a can would work too)</div>
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1 cup Parmesan cheese</div>
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2 sleeves Saltine crackers</div>
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1 stick butter</div>
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2 cups water </div>
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1 cup heavy whipping cream </div>
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1/4 cup corn starch </div>
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1 tsp salt </div>
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1/2 tsp garlic powder</div>
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1/2 tsp onion powder </div>
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1/2 tsp parsley flakes</div>
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pinch of dried rosemary (optional)</div>
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pinch or dried thyme (optional)</div>
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pinch of dried herbs de province (optional)</div>
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To Make: </div>
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Spray the bottom and sides of a 9x13 dish. Preheat oven to 350 degrees, Fahrenheit. </div>
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Crush 1 sleeve of crackers and spread the crumbs in the bottom of the dish. Melt 1/2 stick of butter and pour on top. </div>
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Cook the chicken in a deep skillet or pan until almost done. While it is cooking add the water. This will help to make a broth. When the chicken is almost done, remove and cube. Leave the broth in the pan on low heat. </div>
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Place the cubed chicken on top of the cracker crumbs in the dish. Mix in the peas. Sprinkle the Parmesan on top of all.</div>
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In the saucepan, heat the broth up until is it simmering. In a small bowl, whisk the corn starch into the heavy whipping cream until it is dissolved. Slowly whisk this into the broth until incorporated. Turn the heat down to low again. Add the salt, garlic, onion, parsley, rosemary, thyme, and herbs de province and stir until incorporated. Turn off the heat. Gently spoon the sauce onto the chicken mixture. Use the spoon to tuck the sauce down into the mixture, being careful not to dislodge the crackers on the bottom (this allows a nice golden crust to form on the bottom). </div>
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Crush the remaining sleeve of crackers and sprinkle on top. Gently press this down into the mixture. Melt the remaining 1/2 stick of butter and pour over all. </div>
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Pop into the oven and bake for 30-40 minutes, until the crackers on top are a nice toasty golden brown. Remove and serve piping hot! </div>
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<a href="https://sites.google.com/site/myjoyousheartprintablerecipe1/saltine-cracker-chicken-casserole" target="_blank">printable recipe</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13773443901103139891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4963483758801230014.post-65679651991485177792014-01-15T14:08:00.001-08:002014-01-17T11:54:41.564-08:00Take Courage, Mothers of Vomiting Toddlers!I love being a mom and a wife! But I have been realizing this weekend exactly how much responsibility that actually is . . .<br />
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We got the dreaded stomach bug/norovirus/whatever-yuckiness-is-floating-around. It started out with Molly, my 16-month-old. She woke up from a nap with major diarrhea, and I got the sinking and depressing feeling that we were in for it.<br />
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I came down with a terrible stomach ache the same evening. Graciously, God allowed that to be all I had (albeit, I'm still having minor issues with it off and on), and I was able to still be up through the night helping Josh care for vomiting, feverish, diarrhea-diapered Molly.<br />
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Josh came down with it violently the next day. It wasn't pretty. He was very ill for the whole evening. Molly was thankfully feeling better by this point, so I was trying to care for him as much as possible.<br />
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All the while, I was scrubbing my hands like crazy, and nursing my 1-month-old, Amy, to the point of bursting, in the hopes that she wouldn't get anything. She's still healthy, and I think we're in the clear now, thank the Lord.<br />
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One thing I must insert: I HATE vomit. I hate vomiting. I hate talking about, thinking about anything to do with it. Let us be clear. But when you're a wife and a mommy, you gotta do what you gotta do, and for me that was cleaning up vomit off of the floor and other places, and fetching cold rags and ice chips, among other things. There's just no way to escape the yuckiness, unfortunately.....<br />
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One evening, in the midst of all of this, we were still trying to keep up our evening family Bible reading. Josh read Psalm 139. That was such a comfort to me to hear those words. It reminded me of just how much God does care for us and knows what we are dealing with.<br />
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The part I especially liked and have dwelt on in the past few days was verses 1-6, as follows:<br />
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<i>O Lord, You have searched me and known me. </i></div>
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<i>You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. </i></div>
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<i>You scrutinize my path and my lying down,</i></div>
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<i>And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.</i></div>
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<i>Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O Lord, You know it all.</i></div>
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<i>You have enclosed me behind and before,</i></div>
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<i>And laid Your hand upon me.</i></div>
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<i>Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;</i></div>
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<i>It is too high, I cannot attain to it.</i></div>
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It's perhaps a simple thought, but I was very encouraged this week by the Psalm, and remembering that God's knowledge of us is intimate, and He surrounds me. So I can take heart, even in the midst of vomit, because God knows me perfectly, and therefore knows exactly what I am going through, what I need to be sustained, and what I desire, even before I can utter a word to Him. I am so encouraged to serve such an awesome and all-knowing God!<br />
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So take courage, whether you're a mommy with vomit on her hands or not, because, if you're a child of God, he cares for you, intimately and deeply!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13773443901103139891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4963483758801230014.post-33910949784123463042014-01-10T11:56:00.002-08:002014-01-10T11:59:52.915-08:00Why I Don't Have Time For Blogging . . . I'm finding being a mother of two wonderful . . . . and a lot harder than I thought.<br />
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I think Molly is upset with me. Ever since we brought the baby home she has been, shall we say, very difficult.... here's a picture of what I found today when I got done nursing Amy . . . I'll let the picture speak for itself. And for today, "that's all there was . . . there wasn't any more."<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13773443901103139891noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4963483758801230014.post-43583975404231043972014-01-09T12:45:00.000-08:002014-01-09T12:59:05.812-08:00Texas Trail Mix Cookies <span style="font-weight: normal;">So, I stumbled upon an amazing discovery last night in the form of a new recipe. </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">I was sitting there in the kitchen, craving cookies. Nothing out of the norm . . . Suddenly the thought occurred to me, "what if I were to create a new kind of cookie? A trail mix cookie!". And so I did. </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Sure, it's probably been done before. But not this good, I guarantee it . . . (not to brag . . . ). These cookies are fantastic! Ooey, gooey, chocolately, sweet and salty goodness all in one little cookie . . . or big cookie . . . depending on how serious you take your cookie eating. I take mine very, very seriously. </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">So why the "Texas" part? Well, I guess I can't take all the credit for these cookies. I played off of a good old Texan recipe from former First Lady Laura Bush, and added my own twist to the ingredients. <a href="http://lemonsandlimabeans.blogspot.co.at/2012/07/laura-bushs-texas-governors-mansion.html" target="_blank">Here's</a> the original recipe if you'd like that. They are fabulous just like that, I assure you. </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">But they're not <i>trail mix</i> cookies, and that's what we're going for here. </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Every year as a girl my family went up into the mountains of California to camp. Those are some of the best memories I have of my childhood. </span>These cookies make me think of those sunny days and cold nights up in the mountains. Sleeping in the bed of the old orange pickup truck. The smell of pine that tantalizes your nose. The feel of needles and leaves and twigs crunching beneath your feet. The taste of the fire-cooked pancakes and bacon. Fresh coffee. Swimming in clear mountain spring pools. Climbing rugged mountain rocks to look out over beautiful views that will literally take your breath away. Long chats and scary stories around the campfire. Toasting marshmallows and making s'mores. And trail mix. You gotta have trail mix to go camping. That is just a must, in my opinion.<br />
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Or you could just take a big batch of these cookies along . . . that would do too.<br />
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All right already, just make some. :)<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Sorry, once again, a lack of pictures. I did take one, though!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">
Texas Trail Mix Cookies</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">3 cups flour</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 Tbsp baking soda</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 Tbsp baking powder</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 Tbsp cinnamon</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 tsp salt</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 1/2 cups butter</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 1/2 cups white sugar</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 1/2 cups brown sugar</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">3 eggs </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 tsp vanilla</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">3 cups old-fashioned oats</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2 cups toasted coconut flakes (just toast them in the
skillet until they're a nice golden color)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 cup white chocolate chips</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 cup butterscotch chips</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 cups dry roasted peanuts (I used plain, but honey roasted
would be good too)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 cup raisins</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 cup golden raisins</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 cup cran-raisins </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">**Makes about 3-5 dozen cookies, depending on how big you
like them</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Whisk flour, soda, powder, salt and cinnamon together in a
bowl. Set aside. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In the bowl of a stand-up mixer, blend softened butter and
both sugars until light and creamy. Add eggs in one at a time, blending well.
Mix in vanilla. Add the flour mixture slowly until incorporated. Then add the
mix-ins (oats, chips, raisins, nuts, coconut) slowly, until just combined. You
never want to overmix cookies or they get kind of tough. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Scoop balls of the cookie dough onto an ungreased cookie
sheet (I do about 1/4 cup in size. We like our cookies a little larger around
here . . . ). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Bake for 12-15 minutes, depending on how crispy you like the cookie. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Cool and enjoy with a big glass of milk! g on how crispy you like the
cookie. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Cool and enjoy with a big glass of
milk! </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/myjoyousheartprintablerecipe1/texas-trail-mix-cookies" target="_blank">printable recipe </a></span></h2>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13773443901103139891noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4963483758801230014.post-6037668160368464712014-01-08T09:17:00.000-08:002014-01-08T09:17:45.335-08:00Catching Up . . . So I have been a loser blogger the last few months. The End.<br />
<br />
<br />
I did have a baby and almost die in the process . . . does that count as an excuse? Of course that was only three weeks ago . . . what did I do with the rest of the time? Honestly, I can't remember. I lived. I was very pregnant. I made lots of recipes that I <i>thought</i> about putting on here and <i>thought </i>about taking pictures of them <i>after</i> they were half eaten . . . oh well.<br />
<br />
I have it as a goal for this new year to reflect more and to write more about those reflections. And to bake more. And cook more. And to actually take pictures of the food before we devour it. It is my goal, in short, to be a better blogger. Just because it's fun. And I enjoy it. And it's a good discipline. And its something to do besides clean house, watch a toddler and nurse a baby. Not that those are bad . . . . They are my life, and I love them!<br />
<br />
Anyway, there you have it. :)<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13773443901103139891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4963483758801230014.post-69232231997830488652013-08-28T07:33:00.000-07:002013-08-28T07:33:57.587-07:00A Berry Disaster and "Pee Boo"I love berry picking. I do. Especially elderberries. I love to make Strawberry-Elderberry jam for the winter months. It's packed full of good-for-you-ness and it tastes really good too. I wait all summer long to find out when the berries are ripe for picking. Usually we go along the roadsides and pick them there for free, so it's a hard process. There's no farmer to call and ask "are they ripe yet?" Just many trips into the country to scrutinize the roadsides for those juicy purple heads drooping almost to the ground with delicious berries.<br />
<br />
This summer was no different. We waited and watched. The place that we pick is a good 40 minutes from where we live, so it took several trips to determine that the berries we at last ripe this past weekend.<br />
<br />
Josh and I dropped Molly off with Grandma and Grandpa, grabbed our bags and scissors and hats and headed off into the country. We found lots and lots of beautiful berries. I would be stocked all winter with jam. I was so happy! (Are you starting to feel like something is about to happen because I am writing in past tense? ;) )<br />
<br />
When we came home, we set the bags outside for a bit to let the bugs out. Then we put them in the front porch until I could get to them. Now, let it be known, I have left berries in the bags for a day or two before. Nothing new about that. And they were always fine. So, I did the same thing. We were busy, so I put it off a little while, but not too long, I thought. Finally, last night I knew it was time to get to them. I took the bags outside, got a chair and a bowl and went to work.<br />
<br />
My first clue should have been the fact that there was a funny smell. Not quite a rotten smell, just a strong, sweet, funny, berry smell. But it has been 90 degrees or more the last few days, so I thought it was just a hot berry smell.<br />
<br />
The second clue should have been the cloud of fruit flies and other flies that came up off of the berries. I thought that a little strange, but the berries on top of the bag still looked nice so I dove in, optimistic that I could at least use most of the berries.<br />
<br />
By the time I got to the middle of the bag, the berries were changing. They were soggy, and not the same color as before. I began examining more closely. Some of the were definitely rotten. Hmm. And then I found a maggot. Not a huge one, but a maggot all the same. GROSS. That led me to examine my bowl of "okay" berries. There were more maggots crawling all through it! Bleck!<br />
<br />
The final straw, though, was when I looked at my hands. They were covered in purple stain, and clinging to my hands and fingers were many little maggots! All over! And they didn't want to come off, either. They were stuck to my skin almost like they were glued there! I shrieked very loudly, called my husband to watch the baby, who was sitting in her stroller watching me, told him I had an emergency, and dashed into the kitchen to scrub my hands in soap and hot water.<br />
<br />
Can you spell DISGUST? I was absolutely horrified. If there's one thing I hate (which I'm sure there are many, but . . .) it is maggots. They are just about the lowest of the low, the scum of the earth, in my opinion. And to find them crawling all through my beautiful berries which we worked so hard to get, and then crawling all over my hands, well . . . I was plain outraged.<br />
<br />
I went back outside and sat down as despondent as could be. I think I really did almost cry. My daughter just looked on in wonder at the scene, and my husband quietly took all the bags around back to the compost pile. And that's that. My berries sit out there now, composting, and crawling with maggots. What a disaster.<br />
<br />
I have learned my lesson. Don't let bags of berries sit on the front porch for more than a day, if that, in 90 degree weather. Next time I see a cloud of bugs coming off the berries, don't even try to salvage. Just compost. It will save a lot of yuckiness in the long run.<br />
<br />
On a happier note, after the berry incident we came inside, and Molly promptly showed me that she had learned to play peek-a-boo by ducking down behind the coffee table and popping up at me over and over. That made my day. And she has the cutest way of saying peek-a-boo. It sounds like a really high, squeaky, "PEE!" followed by a slightly lower but still squeaky "BOO!" "PEE BOO! PEE BOO!" over and over. It was lots of fun. I actually got a video of her doing it, so I'll share that below. :)<br />
<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyTkVaJ_x0QVEiwHL8P9HB0ltpioaQkMw2Bks4O3uiXHA9W-wOaQ15Lsgx-sYYzpO3dFkfTwtWU_dTEtlnxnA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13773443901103139891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4963483758801230014.post-86377889212125478652013-08-20T12:52:00.000-07:002013-08-20T12:52:04.782-07:00Sweet Potato Chili Fall is, or was, in the air. August is teasing me, I think. I've been about ready to pull out scarves and sweaters several times now. You know, that pleasant nip on your nose as you walk out the door? Cool breezes blowing leaves around? I felt it, I really did! Since fall is my favorite season, I get a little excited when I think it's about that time again. But this week has told me to calm down. Soon, it will be here soon, but not yet. August wants one more chance to be summery and hot and muggy. Then fall can come. I'll try and be patient just a little longer.<br />
<br />
In preparation for fall, though (cause you gotta be prepared!), I pulled out one of my all-time favorite chili recipes. It's sweet, but has a little spicy kick. The combination is just fabulous. The perfect thing for a late-summer-acting-like-fall day.<br />
<br />
I was happy to find a couple of sweet potatoes at the farmer's market this weekend that were almost the size of footballs. Huge. And delicious. This recipe calls for 2 medium sweet potatoes, but I only needed one of these monsters. Regrettably, I forgot to take pictures. In fact, I only have a couple for this post, but all you really want is the recipe anyway, right? So . . . on to chili . . .<br />
<br />
<h2>
Sweet Potato Chili</h2>
<h2>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvm_zwReFac9c2LXCM9Fof4ckkocCt7Jtvd3gWUWtjjCR7jXpc-EM7V5YrIwIse6YTqyvPS_K8TnZXAOVCazfh4HTHpmotPn65A3P7GxWFNaOw3xpeTmiLg1nP7kx0X8NUkXaoxwDKqWb/s1600/Photo08181522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvm_zwReFac9c2LXCM9Fof4ckkocCt7Jtvd3gWUWtjjCR7jXpc-EM7V5YrIwIse6YTqyvPS_K8TnZXAOVCazfh4HTHpmotPn65A3P7GxWFNaOw3xpeTmiLg1nP7kx0X8NUkXaoxwDKqWb/s400/Photo08181522.jpg" width="400" /></a></h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Ingredients: </div>
<div>
2 medium sweet potatoes, chopped</div>
<div>
2 pounds ground beef, turkey, venison, etc,. </div>
<div>
1 28ish ounce jar of original spaghetti sauce</div>
<div>
2 -3 tomatoes diced or 1 can diced tomatoes</div>
<div>
1 yellow onion, chopped</div>
<div>
1 can black beans</div>
<div>
1 can red kidney beans</div>
<div>
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar</div>
<div>
1/4 cup dark brown sugar </div>
<div>
1/4 cup ancho chili powder</div>
<div>
2 tablespoons red chili powder</div>
<div>
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper</div>
<div>
salt and pepper to taste</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Directions: </div>
<div>
Brown ground meat in a large pot (I used my cast iron dutch oven, which works very nicely for chili, but I think any large pot should work fine). When meat is almost all the way cooked, add the brown sugar (gives the meat a nice flavor), onions and sweet potatoes. Cook covered for about 20 minutes, stirring every few minutes, until the potatoes are soft. Add in the spaghetti sauce, tomatoes, beans, and cider vinegar, and mix well. Let that cook a couple of minutes. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Mix together the chili powders, the cayenne, and the salt and pepper (probably about a tablespoon of each, and then you may add more when you taste test). Add the mixture to the chili and stir in thoroughly. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The last step is my favorite. Taste test! Add more sweet, more spice, more salt, or whatever you think the chili needs. The dominant traits should be sweet first, with a kick of spice in the aftertaste. Then get a nice big bowl, maybe some cornbread, and enjoy! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13773443901103139891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4963483758801230014.post-67104787134747948962013-08-12T07:02:00.000-07:002013-08-12T07:03:41.205-07:00Whole Wheat Buttermilk Pancakes We tried creating a recipe recently. I love buttermilk pancakes, but I also like to use more whole wheat than white flour. I thought perhaps we could come up with something yummy by combining the two. Here's the recipe I came up with. We really liked them a lot!<br />
<br />
Sometimes whole wheat pancakes are grainy, so it depends on the flour you use. I've been using the Prairie Gold Whole Wheat Flour, and I really like it. It's ground super fine, so it not too heavy, but still gives that nice, hearty whole wheat taste. I purchase mine at Walmart or Hyvee most often, but I'm sure it's pretty widely available. But anyway, here's the recipe.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
WHOLE WHEAT BUTTERMILK PANCAKES</h2>
Makes about 6 smaller pancakes (which are pretty filling. Fed my husband, me, and our always-hungry toddler perfectly)<br />
<br />
1 cup whole wheat flour<br />
1 teaspoon baking powder<br />
1/4 cup white sugar<br />
pinch of salt<br />
1 large egg<br />
3/4 cup buttermilk (often I don't have buttermilk, so I make it. For 3/4 cup, use about 2/3 cup milk, and make up the difference with some apple cider vinegar. Measurements don't have to be terribly exact).<br />
<br />
Heat a skillet or griddle to medium heat (it really just depends on what you're using. I usually use my cast iron skillet on a gas stove, which needs to be low-medium heat. You might have to experiment a little if you haven't done pancakes before). Once hot, spray or butter the pan/griddle so the cakes won't stick.<br />
<br />
Whisk the dry ingredients together. Add the egg and the buttermilk and mix in thoroughly until you have a nice batter. It shouldn't be too thick (like cake batter). It should be about the consistency of pudding, more or less. You can add more buttermilk if you like your pancakes a little thinner, too. These were nice and fluffy. This is what my batter looked like:<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggEWnYVhWevn4T2xjA1wH0PidwxM3lL509WWl3x3W01dR5ofpX25oenJpAokvhnTdhiek6yoeq45xLQJDxpjIb4P7iioNK_nmlohSgfkSdfxUs20CrHoXXE7sAiQKJ2-kQstSJaRGAsTYd/s1600/Photo08110948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggEWnYVhWevn4T2xjA1wH0PidwxM3lL509WWl3x3W01dR5ofpX25oenJpAokvhnTdhiek6yoeq45xLQJDxpjIb4P7iioNK_nmlohSgfkSdfxUs20CrHoXXE7sAiQKJ2-kQstSJaRGAsTYd/s640/Photo08110948.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Using a deep spoon or a measuring cup, make a little circle of batter in the middle of your pan (or several on a griddle). I think I did mine about 1/3 cup, more or less, but that's completely up to you.<br />
<br />
Cook the cake until the sides look golden and the middle is bubbly, about 2 minutes.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQX7Jra6RBnOj9Dh3iNWsYnCaBO6bwu7yeNRxXO-Ftsniz5Xk7hm2WW9CGI6i_qQ8UrQo5bx4I6ladmsIwv5vsa8_MaVJ3XQP26iWY9oP269OZDDC1-WFmR9zzyGQbsSeOVLxqpTJwMA-G/s1600/Photo08110951_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQX7Jra6RBnOj9Dh3iNWsYnCaBO6bwu7yeNRxXO-Ftsniz5Xk7hm2WW9CGI6i_qQ8UrQo5bx4I6ladmsIwv5vsa8_MaVJ3XQP26iWY9oP269OZDDC1-WFmR9zzyGQbsSeOVLxqpTJwMA-G/s640/Photo08110951_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Use a spatula and flip the cake over, and cook the other side for about a minute more. If the other side is golden like the top, it's probably just right. Continue doing this until all the cakes are cooked (or you can probably store the rest of the batter in the fridge for a couple of days. It will probably need to be covered well, and stirred well when you go to use it again).<br />
<br />
Finally, use some butter and pure maple syrup (or whatever you love on your pancakes), and ENJOY!<br />
<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13773443901103139891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4963483758801230014.post-17024055813192558822013-08-10T13:13:00.000-07:002013-08-10T13:27:13.285-07:00Blueberry BuckleMolly and I had some time this morning to do some baking. I scored a really good deal on blueberries this week, and so I thought we'd incorporate those somehow. After searching Pinterest for a little bit, I came upon a delicious-looking recipe for blueberry buckle on <a href="http://sweetpeaskitchen.com/2010/07/blueberry-buckle/" target="_blank">this blog</a>. For those of you that have never had blueberry buckle, it's kind of a delicious combination between blueberry streusel muffins and a blueberry cake. It's really, really good, and I hadn't made one in a long time. We decided to try that one out today.<br />
<br />
I tripled her recipe because I needed a dessert to take to my mom's tonight, and I also thought I could bring some to church tomorrow. I also made a few minor changes, so here's my take on it. Enjoy! :)<br />
<br />
<h2>
BLUEBERRY BUCKLE: </h2>
<div>
Makes a 9x13 pan</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Preheat oven to 350 </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Cake Batter: </div>
<div>
2 cup white all purpose flour (I used Hodgkins Mill, which is unbleached, but it's so much healthier)</div>
<div>
2 teaspoons baking powder</div>
<div>
pinch of salt</div>
<div>
1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature (I often just microwave mine until it's barely soft, since I tend to make things on the spur of the moment)</div>
<div>
1 cup white sugar</div>
<div>
2 large eggs</div>
<div>
1 teaspoon vanilla </div>
<div>
2/3 cup milk (I think it would be delicious if someone tried buttermilk. I didn't think of that until later, though)</div>
<div>
3-4 cups of fresh blueberries (I just used a dry pint or so)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Streusel Topping: </div>
<div>
2/3 cup flour</div>
<div>
2/3 cup brown sugar (her recipe calls for white, but I love brown sugar streusel)</div>
<div>
1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon</div>
<div>
1 stick of cold butter, cut into pieces</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
First thing I did was rinse my beautiful, juicy blueberries off. Aren't they lovely? </div>
<div>
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Then I had my Little Helper assist me in tasting the blueberries. I think she approved. :) </div>
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After we <strike>tasted</strike> inspected the blueberries carefully, we moved on to the recipe. First we mixed the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a separate bowl. I am often tempted to skip this step and dump the dry ingredients right in, but I didn't this time. There's a careful hand mixing process later. </div>
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Next we made up the streusel. If you haven't done streusel before, just mix the flour, sugar, and cinnamon together, and then add the pieces of butter. You can used a pastry cutter or something like that. I just usually use my hands. Work the butter in until the mixture is nice and crumbly. </div>
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Once that was done we set all of those bowls aside and started work on the wet ingredients. </div>
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First, we creamed the butter in our kitchen aid until it was nice and smooth. Then we added the sugar and blended on medium speed until it was light and fluffy (just a minute or two). Then we added the eggs and vanilla one at a time, blending on slow, and mixed until they were incorporated. </div>
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At that point, we took the blending bowl off of the mixer and added about half of our flour mixture. I worked it in gently by hand with a spatula, and added about half the milk. I repeated that with the second half of the flour and the milk, mixing gently until just incorporated (we're doing this gently so it stays nice and fluffy). It looked like this when I was done. </div>
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Then we greased the pans lightly (in your case, the 9x13 pan), and gently spread the mixture into the pans. </div>
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Then we added the blueberries</div>
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And finally the streusel. </div>
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Molly and I both agreed it looked good enough to eat already! </div>
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Finally we popped them into the oven for a good 40-50 minutes, until a fork or toothpick inserted in the middle came out clean. The house smelled absolutely wonderful! </div>
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We are very excited to try this out tonight! Would be wonderful warm with some vanilla ice cream, I expect. ;) </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13773443901103139891noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4963483758801230014.post-11573482563518165602013-08-08T09:06:00.000-07:002013-08-08T09:06:48.902-07:00DIY Farmhouse Coat RackSo my hubby and I have been working on a project the last week or so. I've been wanting to make a coat rack for our front porch. Something rustic and "farmhousey", but sturdy with lots of room for coats and hats. I had seen pictures on Pinterest of "peg" coat racks, and I really liked the look.<br />
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The design we came up with was so easy, and cost us under $3.50 to make. Here's a picture of the finished rack. Neat, huh?<br />
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The materials we used were:<br />
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1 sturdy pallet board<br />
a wooden dowel about 1 inch in diameter (I think we used pine, but it wouldn't matter much)<br />
2 cups day old (or older, just basically leftover) coffee<br />
2 cups white vinegar<br />
1 steel wool pad<br />
wood glue<br />
wood screws<br />
a drill<br />
a 1 inch paddle bit<br />
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We started with cutting the dowel. (I didn't know I was going to do a tutorial until last minute, so sorry, lots of skipped pictures . . . ) Josh cut 6 pegs about 3 inches long, and then cut one end of each diagonally so that they would angle upwards.<br />
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I then took them and soaked them overnight in the coffee and vinegar with the steel wool floating in it. I got this idea from <a href="http://www.homeheartcraft.com/blog/diy-vintage-wood-stain">this</a> blog, where they brushed the mixture onto the wood. I wanted a really dark stain, since my pallet board was dark, and I wanted the dowel pieces to look a little more aged, so I soaked them. You could totally skip this process, though, and paint or stain a different way. Tons of options there. They really turned out great!<br />
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After soaking all night, I placed the dowels on paper towels and let them dry out for the day.<br />
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Once they were ready I placed them on the board where I wanted them and traced around them with a pencil.<br />
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Josh took the board to the garage and used the paddle bit to make a little indention for each dowel to sit in. Then a dot of glue in each, and he put a screw into the back of each through the board.<br />
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And that was about it! He hung it up for me on the porch, and I just love it! Rustic, sturdy, "farmhousey", plenty of room, all of that! I can't wait for colder weather so we can actually use it a bit more. For now it will have to be content holding Josh's ball caps. :)<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13773443901103139891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4963483758801230014.post-30621506118089114912012-11-01T09:51:00.000-07:002012-11-01T09:56:23.206-07:00Creamy Vegetable ChowderSo, here's a good recipe for a cold day. This is one of my husband's favorites. It's just a good, hearty veggie chowder that my sister and I came up with one chilly day when we were messing around in the kitchen. I suppose it could be made without the milk too, and it would be just a hearty veggie soup. Experiment, anyone?<br />
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<h2>
Creamy Vegetable Chowder</h2>
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(Serves approx 6-8)</div>
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4 cups water</div>
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3 stalks of celery, chopped</div>
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2-3 carrots, peeled and chopped</div>
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4 potatoes, chopped (I like to leave the skins on, to make it a little heartier. And I usually judge about 1 potato per person, or two smaller ones)</div>
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2 cans of corn (or about 12 oz of frozen corn)</div>
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1 large onion, chopped</div>
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1/8 cup lemon juice</div>
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2 cups milk</div>
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1/4 cup white flour</div>
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1 tsp crushed red pepper</div>
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salt and pepper, to taste<br />
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Chop all of the veggies into small pieces. (I was missing the onions this particular time. Not the same.)<br />
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Cook the water, celery, carrots, potatoes, onions, and corn in the crock pot on high heat until vegetables are soft, about 3-4 hours. Turn the heat to low.<br />
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In a small bowl, whisk the flour into the milk. Slowly pour this mixture into the soup, whisking until fully incorporated. <b>Do not let it boil.</b> Add the lemon juice*, red pepper, and salt and pepper to taste. Let cook for another 10-15 minutes, until the flour's starchy flavor is cooked out. (This means you have to keep sampling your soup . . . darn.) The soup will be slightly spicy. </div>
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*I add the lemon because i gives the vegetables a nice "pop."<br />
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I like to serve this with homemade rolls. I will try to post my recipe for those soon! Enjoy! </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13773443901103139891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4963483758801230014.post-43668844612811294842012-10-11T19:22:00.001-07:002012-10-11T19:23:21.628-07:00SweetnessSo, I just have to say, my hubby is AMAZING!<br />
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He went to the store for something, and came back with this little tub of Haagen-Dazs ice cream, all for me. Just because he loves me. And let me tell you, it is GOOD.<br />
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Why wouldn't it be? The only ingredients in it are cream, skim milk, strawberries, sugar, and egg yolks. That's pretty much pure goodness there.<br />
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So yeah. I am happy. Because I love ice cream. And I love my husband too. :) Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13773443901103139891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4963483758801230014.post-37323811586622552422012-10-11T12:32:00.000-07:002012-10-11T14:31:18.057-07:006 Ingredient Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip CookiesSo my mom is on a Gluten-free diet for her health. Bummer. Sure doesn't sound like fun to me, but then . . . I am a carbaholic. Anything involving bread, dough, chocolate . . . . I'm addicted . . . .<br />
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Anyway, confessions aside, I've been trying to find some recipes that she can eat. But of course, I have to try them out first, right? And if you're like me, a lot of gluten-free recipes are scary. Half of the ingredients, I have never heard of! So, simple and familiar has been my goal.<br />
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I found a recipe on <a href="http://lesliedurso.com/2010/05/peanut-butter-chocolate-chip-cookies/" target="_blank">this</a> blog. Hers was a 5 ingredient recipe, and I just had to add one more to the mix . . . oats. I love chunky, hearty cookies, and oats seem to fill the bill pretty well when it comes to expanding your cookie dough.<br />
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Today was the perfect day for the "experiment." I mean, how many afternoons do I have the baby sleeping peacefully in her bouncy seat, the dishes done and the kitchen clean, <i>dinner in the crockpot</i>?, and me with practially nothing to do but have fun in the kitchen? Not many, lately. So I launched into the recipe.<br />
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(Here's a picture of Molly peacefully sleeping. And I didn't even tell her to!)<br />
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Anyway, here are the 6 ingredients. Drum roll please . . . .<br />
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<h2>
6 Ingredient Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies</h2>
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(Makes about 1 dozen) </div>
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1 cup of Creamy Peanut Butter</div>
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1 cup of firmly packed Brown Sugar</div>
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1 large Egg</div>
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1 tsp baking soda</div>
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1/2 cup milk chocolate chips</div>
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1 cup Oats (I only had Quick Cooking, but Whole would work too)</div>
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Gently mix all the ingredients together.</div>
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Form small 1 1/2 inch balls and flatten. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet.</div>
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Bake for about 9 minutes. Let cookies cool at least 5 minutes before removing them. </div>
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The last step is always my favorite. Get a big glass of milk (hopefully you're not lactose-free too!), and try them out! </div>
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They turned out to be delicious. A little bit crumbly, but as they cool they firm up a bit more. And with no butter or flour, they are a quick, easy cookie to make . . . which is probably not a good thing in my case. :) </div>
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All right. Success! Time to give mom my recipe! </div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13773443901103139891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4963483758801230014.post-85579207830007598882012-10-10T07:48:00.001-07:002012-10-10T11:40:18.839-07:00Faith Like Little MollyMy daughter just turned 1 month old. Gosh, that makes me start to feel old! I feel like I just had her!<br />
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She is such a delight to me! I am continually amazed at just how perfect her little body is, how beautiful she already is. God must look at her as His creation and see that it is good. :)<br />
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I have been considering her a lot this week. Considering her and comparing myself to her. That has caused me to think a lot about the nature of faith. I feel like Molly is proving to me more and more what "child-like faith" looks like.<br />
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If you're unsure what I mean by child-like faith, here is a passage from Scripture. Mark 10:13-16 says,<br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="text Mark-10-13" style="background-color: white;">And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text Mark-10-14" id="en-NASB-24603" style="background-color: white;">But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, <span class="woj">“Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-24603L" title="See cross-reference L">L</a>)"></sup>for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.</span></span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text Mark-10-15" id="en-NASB-24604" style="background-color: white;"><span class="woj">Truly I say to you, <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-24604M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)"></sup>whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”</span></span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="text Mark-10-16" id="en-NASB-24605" style="background-color: white;">And He <sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-24605N" title="See cross-reference N">N</a>)"></sup>took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them.</span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="text Mark-10-16" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></i>
So, my goal as a Christian is to rely on the Lord with that faith, like a child has faith.<br />
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Molly depends on me for everything. When she is hungry, she cries, and I feed her. When she is tired or has a wet diaper, she cries, and I tend to her. When she is hurting, she cries, and I try to help her. She knows that I will answer, that I will (try to) provide what she needs. She does not fear me. She trusts me completely. She loves nothing better than to be snuggled up next to me, warm and content.<br />
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She doesn't know or understand days or times. She doesn't know there's such a thing as tomorrow. She doesn't worry. She simply lives moment by moment, and is only concerned about her immediate needs. She only knows the present, and perhaps remembers some of the past.<br />
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I have been praying that God would make me more like that. Able to depend on him completely. Able to "forget" about tomorrow, in a sense. Able to rest by his side, happy and content in the knowledge that He will care for my every need. Able to cry out to Him in faith, knowing that He will answer, and He will bring comfort and strength.<br />
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I am praying that God will teach me even more from observing <i>my</i> daughter how to better be <i>His</i> daughter.<br />
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My Cutie Pie. :)<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13773443901103139891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4963483758801230014.post-49215744908462342202012-10-09T20:19:00.002-07:002012-10-10T07:58:58.640-07:00Butternut Squash SoupSo tonight for dinner I tried a new recipe.<br />
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Not new as in, I've been searching for just the right one, recipe. New as in, never made this dish before. Ever.<br />
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That can be intimidating. Especially when you're cooking with a vegetable you've never cooked with before, and you're not even sure where to start. Thank goodness for the internet. Butternut Squash can be conquered with the proper know-how.<br />
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So I have a confession. I don't follow recipes. Well, I mean, I do . . . to an extent. A recipe to me is more like a launching pad for me to create my own unique recipe. Generally this works out great. There have been a few incidents . . . which we won't mention . . . but those are few and far between.<br />
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So saying, I did need to see a recipe today, to at least get an idea of what I was doing. If you're interested, it is <a href="http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Butternut-Squash-Soup" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Here is the recipe I finally came up with after some tweaks. I made some homemade bread bowls to put it in and when hubby came home for dinner, it was a hit! I will definitely be making this one again. It is just a nice, lovely fall day soup, and it has so much rich flavor! Plus, it's healthy! Great for people on a vegetarian diet.<br />
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<h2>
Butternut Squash Soup</h2>
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3 pounds of Butternut Squash (about 1 large Squash)</div>
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3 cups of Water</div>
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1 large Onion</div>
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2 Garlic Cloves, minced</div>
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1 1/2 cups milk (or cream, if preferred)</div>
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Salt and Pepper, to taste</div>
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2 tsps of Cumin (to taste)</div>
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Olive Oil</div>
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Parsley</div>
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Thyme</div>
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Cut the squash in half and scrape out all the seeds. Cut it into pieces, about 8-10. Lay these on a baking sheet, and sprinkle with olive oil until lightly coated. Bake at 350 degrees in the oven until the squash is soft when a fork is inserted (approximately 1-1 1/2 hours). </div>
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<br /></div>
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Meanwhile, chop up the onion and boil it with the garlic in the 3 cups of water. Do this about 20 minutes before the squash is done, so it can get a strong flavor. Add salt and pepper, parsley and thyme, to taste (should be a nice, full, flavorful broth).</div>
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When the squash is done, let it cool, and then take the peel off and puree it in a food processor with the onion and garlic water. While pureeing, add the milk. When it reaches the consistency you want, transfer back into the pot and heat, stirring often. <b>Do not boil</b>. Add the cumin. When heated through, take off of heat and serve. </div>
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Top with cream, grated cheddar cheese, or fresh herbs. Serves approx 6.<br />
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(***Sorry, I don't have any of my own pictures. This one's just an online photo. Still working on getting a card for our camera. Soon, though. :) ***)</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13773443901103139891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4963483758801230014.post-43219061886392981872012-10-09T19:36:00.003-07:002012-10-09T20:29:45.424-07:00Meet the Family! As a proper start to this blog, I suppose we should start with introductions.<br />
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My name is Laura, and I am an incredibly happy woman. :)<br />
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I am a Christian, and I serve an amazing God (well, the only God, actually, to say it correctly). I was saved by faith in Jesus Christ alone over 10 years ago now, and I'm trying to live my life following in the footsteps of Jesus. I'm so thankful for my church, Christ Fellowship of Kansas City, in helping me to stay close to Christ as I journey through this life. And of course, I am striving to become a great student of God's Word, which more than anything gives me the strength to be who God calls me to be.<br />
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I have an awesome husband named Josh whom I love very much. We celebrate our first anniversary next week! It has been an awesome year together, and I'm looking forward to the rest of our lives. And I'm also so thankful for him as he continues to be the leader of our home that God has created him to be.<br />
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I have a one-month-old daughter named Molly who has my complete adoration. I can't stop looking at her and feeling her little hands and feet and trying with all of my crazy silly faces to make her smile . . . just a little smile. She's rocking my world right now, that's for sure.<br />
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I am pretty much in love with food. I'll admit it. I could eat all day long. Not a good habit, I know. But I love to experiment in the kitchen. I also play piano and sing, love to read and write, enjoy nature and the great outdoors, love DIY projects and crafts, crochet and dabble in knitting, enjoy a good cup of tea with a spot of milk and honey, loved gardening (especially herbs and flowers), and love spending time with my family.<br />
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I love so many things about life! I think that's why I called this blog "My Joyous Heart" because my heart really is full of joy. God has blessed me with this joy, and I want to share it with whomever I can. If you are blessed at all by anything you read or see here, I hope you will thank God for it. It is through Him that I live and breathe and do anything that I do.<br />
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Thanks for stopping by! I hope you are encouraged today! :)<br />
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<br />
Laura<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13773443901103139891noreply@blogger.com0