Friday, May 29, 2009

Cantaloupe Bread



This recipe was taken from Recipezaar...it had almost five stars for all the reviews it got. I also tried it and it was very delicious...my husband loved it.

Cantaloupe Bread

Ingredients
3 eggs, beaten
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups granulated sugar
3 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 cantaloupe, cut into 2 inch chunks and pureed (about 2 cups of puree, you can pulse so that bits of fruit remain)
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

1 Mix eggs, oil, sugar and vanilla.

2 Add pureed cantaloupe to mixture.

3 Sift dry ingredients; add to liquid.

4 Pour into 2 greased and floured 9x5 loaf pans (or spray them with Baker's Joy).

5 Bake 325°F for 1 hour or until done.

6 Check after 50 minutes.

7. Can also be made into muffins.

8 Bake for about 25-30 minutes.

To see more great recipes visit Grocery Cart Challenge here

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Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Outdoor Wednesday



Today has been rainy with some sunny moments. I love the raindrops on the flowers. I also posted a picture of my front door. Working on making it look welcoming...still needs some work. Enjoy your outdoor Wednesday!









For more Outdoor Wednesday visit A Southern Daydreamer here

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Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Bill's Birthday Menu

I wanted to do something for my husbands birthday but he has to work afternoons today so I was not sure how to make his birthday special. I decided that food was the answer....cause you know that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach...if you want to try any of these wonderful recipes out, the links are located below their pictures :)



Apple Raisin French Toast Casserole










Pizza Braid








Darn Good Chocolate Cake

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Saturday, May 23, 2009

Cheerio Breakfast Cookies.....or Bars



The recipe was written as cookies but I made bars instead...just watch how long you cook them for so they cook through :)

Cheerio Breakfast Cookies/Bars(as seen on Recipezaar)

Ingredients
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 egg
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour or all-purpose flour
1 cup old fashioned oats or quick-cooking oat
1 cup raisins
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
4 cups Cheerios toasted oat cereal

Directions
1 Heat oven to 375°. Stir together sugar, butter, peanut butter, water, vanilla and egg in large bowl. Stir in remaining ingredients except cereal. Gently stir in cereal.

2 Drop dough by rounded 1/3 cupfuls 4 inches apart onto ungreased large cookie sheet. Flatten dough to about 1 inch thick.

3 Bake 13 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand 5 minutes before removing from cookie sheet. Store loosely covered.

4 If using spread, use only stick that has more than 65% vegetable oil.

5 High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Increase bake time to 14-16 minute.

6 (The recipe doesn't say how many servings it comes up with, but I went with 12 cookies, but of course, if you want Jumbo ones then they will be bigger and you will get less cookies).

To see more great recipes visit Grocery Cart Challenge here

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Friday, May 22, 2009

Blooms

One of the iris' bloomed from my Outdoor Wednesday shoot, isn't it beautiful...

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Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Outdoor Wednesday



Just a few pictures from my yard...pretty soon there will be things blooming all over!









For more Outdoor Wednesday visit A Southern Daydreamer here
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Sunday, May 17, 2009

So It Begins....

We are coming into the last couple weeks of my daughters high school career....today is Prom...we are all excited around here. I am going to be posting pictures throughout the day...

I made breakfast to start off the day right with special PROM PINK drink..ha ha. At the bottom of this post you can find the links to the recipes to our meal...Amish Oatmeal and Strawberry Julius



The kids enjoying their breakfast and Anderson teasing his sister about going to Prom with a boy.



She has her nails done so pretty, couple hours her hair will be done...



Bill loving on Court










Recipes from today: Strawberry Julius, Amish Baked Oatmeal
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Saturday, May 16, 2009

Then Sings My Soul Saturday

Don't forget to go down and pause my music player ;)





I love this song by Kari Jobe. When I am having a hard day, this makes me feel close to God.
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Friday, May 15, 2009

Banana Pancakes


Made these for breakfast this morning...also like the song by Jack Johnson!

Banana Pancakes (taken from Allrecipes)

INGREDIENTS
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon white sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg, beaten
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons vegetable oil (or unsweetened applesauce)
2 ripe bananas, mashed


DIRECTIONS
Combine flour, white sugar, baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl, mix together egg, milk, vegetable oil and bananas.

Stir flour mixture into banana mixture; batter will be slightly lumpy.
Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat.

Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Cook until pancakes are golden brown on both sides; serve hot.


To see more great recipes visit Grocery Cart Challenge
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Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Try A Love List

Sometimes I am amazed at the ways God will speak to my heart. Just yesterday I was complaining to a close friend that I just don't feel like I can get anything done that I set out to do. My son, while being a very happy baby, is only happy because of all the work I put into him. I end up feeling exhausted and basically worthless because I cannot keep up.

My Above Rubies magazine came today...a free magazine and an absolute blessing to me....the second article I read was this.....

TRY A LOVE LIST

Mother Theresa said "It is not how much you do, but how much love you put in the doing" (STOP...SIDE NOTE...I posted this exact quote in my blog a few months ago..first interesting point for me already has me sucked in) This got me thinking. We women are famous for our daunting "could never accomplish in three days let alone one" TO DO lists. What if, instead of making a list at the beginning of the day of all that needs to get accomplished, we turn it around a bit? What if we made a list at the end of the day of all the "unseen" acts of love? I believe this list would be more telling as to how productive the day actually was.

We still need that TO DO list. It keeps us focused, on track and accomplishing those things that are our responsibility. Maybe we could add to the top of that list, after the word "do", the words "in God's time". Offering up our time to God to be used as he desires is a beautiful act of worship.

I'm going to make my list tonight and I encourage you to do the same. I think you'll be amazed to see how much love you put in your doing today. Similarly, if you don't have a lot to add to that LOVE list but you got a lot accomplished from the day's TO DO list, keep that in mind when writing out the next day's list. Maybe "love a little bit more" should be at the top of that one.

Robin McKay @ Set Your Heart To Seek God

She gave this list...

Imagine the following....it won't be much of a stretch, I promise:

-kissed and bandaged and invisible "owie"

-read baby his favorite book seven times.

-held my tongue when the boys trapsed mud through the house after digging up all the flower blubs along the front walkway

-officiated over a toilet funeral for the beloved goldfish

-sang a song and smiled each time a diaper was changed-that would have been 27 times

-lovingly rocked and soothed a little one cutting teeth

-spent all night cleaning up vomit since all the children decided to share their germs with one another.

-made Daddy's favorite dinner.

-gently combed the tangles out of the daughter's hair

-softly, calmly soothed an autistic son as his frustration began to escalate

-fulfilled a request made by hubby that seemed unimportant

-stayed on top of the day's lessons although feeling mentally spent

-set down the day's lessons recognizing tensions were high over that math concept

-lovingly picked up a crabby baby who really should have napped longer, knowing it was going to be a long evening.

-took the extra time to prepare a healthy lunch instead of opening a box of preservatives

-forgot about needing a shower and smelled in the sweet aroma of the new baby.

-asked for forgiveness after being too quickly bothered by an act of childishness

-disciplined rightly, lovingly, and firmly when an infraction of God's or house rules occurred.

-played a game instead of spending those few precious "free" minutes in a book

-got off the computer when wanting to "surf" a little longer, knowing it had been enough

-baked chocolate chip cookies and let everyone have a spoon of dough

-started a pillow fight

-listened intently to older son explain how something works that you have little or no interest in

-opened ears and closed mouth when older daughter wanted to "talk"

-gratefully accepted a bouquet of dandelions (or swamp grass)

-drove to homeschool co-op while wanting to stay in bathrobe all day

-danced with either Prince Charming or Cinderella

-graciously accepted tea and crumpets served in plastic dishes resembling water and stale crackers

-read a book to children old enough to read to themselves

-made popcorn for family movie night

-cheerfully helped with a science project knowing a big mess was awaiting in the end

-drove a unique child to the Special Olympics even and cheered for everyone

-laughed when I wanted to cry.

To get a free subscription to this fabulous magazine go to Above Rubies here
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Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Tackle It Tuesday - ACK!!!! WHAT A DAY!

Tackle It Tuesday Meme

So, I weeded today. I have to get ready for prom pictures this weekend and also my daughters graduation party....WHAT A DAY! Doing this with a VERY fussy baby who thought that sleep was for the birds was not fun...BUT I DID IT....YAAAAAAY ME!

BEFORE:


AFTER:
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Monday, May 11, 2009

A Simple Woman's Day Book ~ May 11, 2009



FOR TODAY May 11, 2009...

Outside my window...Bright greens, purples and deep burgundy...spring has arrived.

I am thinking...that I wish I could put into writing the blessings my heart feels.

I am thankful for...the newness of spring.

From the learning rooms...taking a break today, but going to be going to the library to pick out a biography for a book report.

From the kitchen...remnants of a little baby being fed and counters that are calling to be cleaned.

I am wearing...sporty pants and a gray t-shirt and happy to say no baby spit up.

I am creating...a cleaning chart....we will see if that actually gets done..ha ha.

I am going...to go crazy if I don't get out of this house more often.

I am reading...Speed Cleaning, 30 Days Through Psalms

I am hoping...that God will give me the energy I need to get through the next month with my daughter graduating and all that comes with it.

I am hearing...the sounds of a little boy playing with legos, a fan humming and birds chirping.

Around the house...baby toys.

One of my favorite things...being able to sit in peace and quiet and spend time with God early in the morning.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Grocery shopping, weeding, and PROM!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...


For more Simple Woman Daybook entries visit the site here
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Swinging

Jack loved his first time in the swing!



How do you like to go up in a swing?
Up in the air so blue?
Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing
Ever a child can do!




Up in the air and over the wall,
Till I can see so wide,
Rivers and trees and cattle and all
Over the countryside--



Till I look down on the garden green,
Down on the roof so brown -
Up in the air I go flying again,
Up in the air and down!

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I Made A Castle Cake



I cannot believe how unbelievably easy this was..I mean it did take some time to do, but overall it was fun to see the final product. I love the internet. I found the idea how to do this here
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Menu Plan Monday

Photobucket

Monday: Grilled Chicken, Grilled Asparagus and Baked Potatoes (Hubby is cooking..I love warmer weather)

Tuesday: Quinoa and Black Beans

Wednesday: Country Cabbage Rolls

Thursday: This makes 48 meatballs...so I might freeze them, or half the recipe Marvelous Meatballs, Egg Noodles tossed with butter and poppy seeds, carrots.

Friday: Juicy Roasted Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Corn on the Cob

Saturday: Shanghai Vegetable Medley w/ Stir Fry Sauce

Sunday: Day of rest or whatever I decide to do ;)

For more Menu's check out Organizing Junkie
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