As I sit here typing these words, the tears threaten to fall. There are a few times in my life when I have felt the overwhelming love and grace of God. I have seen it in his mercy for me and in blessings he has given me that i don't deserve.
Today I realize both His mercy and Grace. Just this morning I posted about our house hunting journey that we are on. I posted about the offer we'd made that I was almost sure would not be accepted. I wrote about the woman who owns the house we love. I mentioned how busy and stressful the past few weeks have been for us. Well, it's going to get a little busier for a few weeks.
This morning we went to church and then had made plans to take her the check for the piano we are purchasing from her. So, we arrived at her house. I thought I'd check our voicemail at home to see if our realtor had left a message. But, as I dialed, I realized the message would be on our answering machine--which I couldn't access! So, I got the kids out of the car, along with my mom, and we rang the door bell.
The woman opened her door and was glad to see us. I came in with the kids and she looked at my mom. She asked if we knew and she whispered back, "No." Then she looked at me and said, "You got the house." I gave her a big hug, with tears in my eyes.
She told me she couldn't sell it to anyone else. When I came to see the house, she knew that I loved my husband because I discounted the house because it had no garage--no place for my husband's motorcycles. When my husband came on Friday, she saw that my husband loved me enough to choose a house that didn't have a place yet for his motorcycles. I will always remember that she saw this.
There was another thing that struck me this morning. This house is not exactly what I thought I was looking for--and I have to admit my husband wasn't either when we met. All the wishes were there, but the package looked different. This house reminds me of my marriage and how God has worked in my life more than once. What He wants is best--it's better than what we could wish for ourselves.
We're going to hopefully close in a little over a month and have a new home. My mom is excited. And we have a new family friend. And I am overwhelmed by God's grace and mercy. We should be in our new home before Christmas!
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Moments When God Overwhelms Me...
As I sit here typing these words, the tears threaten to fall. There are a few times in my life when I have felt the overwhelming love and grace of God. I have seen it in his mercy for me and in blessings he has given me that i don't deserve.
Today I realize both His mercy and Grace. Just this morning I posted about our house hunting journey that we are on. I posted about the offer we'd made that I was almost sure would not be accepted. I wrote about the woman who owns the house we love. I mentioned how busy and stressful the past few weeks have been for us. Well, it's going to get a little busier for a few weeks.
This morning we went to church and then had made plans to take her the check for the piano we are purchasing from her. So, we arrived at her house. I thought I'd check our voicemail at home to see if our realtor had left a message. But, as I dialed, I realized the message would be on our answering machine--which I couldn't access! So, I got the kids out of the car, along with my mom, and we rang the door bell.
The woman opened her door and was glad to see us. I came in with the kids and she looked at my mom. She asked if we knew and she whispered back, "No." Then she looked at me and said, "You got the house." I gave her a big hug, with tears in my eyes.
She told me she couldn't sell it to anyone else. When I came to see the house, she knew that I loved my husband because I discounted the house because it had no garage--no place for my husband's motorcycles. When my husband came on Friday, she saw that my husband loved me enough to choose a house that didn't have a place yet for his motorcycles. I will always remember that she saw this.
There was another thing that struck me this morning. This house is not exactly what I thought I was looking for--and I have to admit my husband wasn't either when we met. All the wishes were there, but the package looked different. This house reminds me of my marriage and how God has worked in my life more than once. What He wants is best--it's better than what we could wish for ourselves.
We're going to hopefully close in a little over a month and have a new home. My mom is excited. And we have a new family friend. And I am overwhelmed by God's grace and mercy. We should be in our new home before Christmas!
Today I realize both His mercy and Grace. Just this morning I posted about our house hunting journey that we are on. I posted about the offer we'd made that I was almost sure would not be accepted. I wrote about the woman who owns the house we love. I mentioned how busy and stressful the past few weeks have been for us. Well, it's going to get a little busier for a few weeks.
This morning we went to church and then had made plans to take her the check for the piano we are purchasing from her. So, we arrived at her house. I thought I'd check our voicemail at home to see if our realtor had left a message. But, as I dialed, I realized the message would be on our answering machine--which I couldn't access! So, I got the kids out of the car, along with my mom, and we rang the door bell.
The woman opened her door and was glad to see us. I came in with the kids and she looked at my mom. She asked if we knew and she whispered back, "No." Then she looked at me and said, "You got the house." I gave her a big hug, with tears in my eyes.
She told me she couldn't sell it to anyone else. When I came to see the house, she knew that I loved my husband because I discounted the house because it had no garage--no place for my husband's motorcycles. When my husband came on Friday, she saw that my husband loved me enough to choose a house that didn't have a place yet for his motorcycles. I will always remember that she saw this.
There was another thing that struck me this morning. This house is not exactly what I thought I was looking for--and I have to admit my husband wasn't either when we met. All the wishes were there, but the package looked different. This house reminds me of my marriage and how God has worked in my life more than once. What He wants is best--it's better than what we could wish for ourselves.
We're going to hopefully close in a little over a month and have a new home. My mom is excited. And we have a new family friend. And I am overwhelmed by God's grace and mercy. We should be in our new home before Christmas!
House Hunting
Conventional advice is: Sell your house, then go look for another one and put an offer in on it. My mom told me that Dave Ramsey's advice about renting property is to pay off your primary home then purchase another for rental.
But, what do you do if you need to move and your house isn't selling? I think most families choose to move and either rent their home for a time or split up their family and remain in the house until it sells while the wage earner goes on ahead and lives in a studio apartment or with friends/family until his or her family is able to move there as well.
We are in an interesting situation. My mom moved to Maryland three weeks ago. My husband and I both thought it would work out well, but we had no idea how well. We all get along well. My husband and I go in a closed room and fight when we need to sort something out. My mom is able to help us as we go through this house hunting journey by watching the kids for us as we go see houses and put offers in. I try very hard not to take advantage of her as a babysitter. She also has been helping with the cooking, laundry, and dishes. Amidst this very stressful time right now, she has made my load bearable.
Our current home doesn't have enough room for us and for my mom to live in. So, we need to move. We'd also like to move closer to our church family and where our church meets.
Our house has been on the market for two weeks, but no one--No one has called to see it. It is priced right (we even lowered the price $10k) and it's in wonderful shape. Every major system in the house has been replaced except the water heater because it's in great shape. Still no one's even looked. What is God doing here?
A lot of things, I think. We are considering purchasing a new home while retaining this one. We'll keep it on the market and my mom can live here until it sells. Or there's several other possibilities. God has provided so that we could cover both mortgages. By purchasing another home before selling this one, we will have time to fix whatever needs to be done to the other house before we move in. I know this goes against traditional logic, but it will decrease the stress on my family. My husband has a very stressful job and very little time during the week to work on house projects. So, I would be squeezing the work in amidst moving in and homeschooling--eek! We are going to refinance this house and lower the interest rate. It will lower the monthly payment a great deal. This goes against all traditional financial wisdom, but we are trusting the Lord with all of this. Really, it's his money, not ours. We are seeking to be wise in these decisions and praying through out this process.
In the past week, we put an offer in on two different houses. The first was an older home that was going to need a lot of modifications in the kitchen. It was a great home, but it had an in ground pool (added yearly maintenance cost) and an acre of woods. Our offer was not accepted. It was countered. We were surprised! When the owner countered, we pulled back. One friend pointed out that though the house came with an acre of woods, it couldn't be used. Given the market, the house was also overpriced. Another issue we didn't consider at the time was that the bedrooms were upstairs, so when anyone went to bed, the people downstairs would hear all the walking (which sounds like stomping) around upstairs. We took our offer off the table after seeking counsel and decided to keep looking.
In the middle of the week, I went to a house that had no garage but had 4 bedrooms and 2 full baths (which we need!). At first, I completely discounted it. But, when I mentioned it to my husband, he wanted to see it. On Friday we went to see it together. He fell in love with it. I loved it even more than I did the first time. It has an amazing kitchen--perhaps not for everyone, but for us because of the kind of cooks we are. It had character that we loved. But, we got a call on Saturday afternoon that there was another offer. So, we met with our realtor to put an offer in. Later last night, she called to say that there were 3 offers in total, so did we want to increase our offer?
Did we? No. My husband and I both felt it was wise to offer what we simply felt we were willing to pay and trust it to the Lord. It felt a bit like eBay. And eBay often feels like gambling to me. Even though we love the house it isn't wise to pay more than it is worth. We can take the elements from this house that we love and add some of them to another home we find. One thing we've realized is that we really want a rancher!
We won't hear back until later today. My husband is at peace about the outcome and I am too. I don't accept our offer to be accepted though. I rejoice for the woman selling her home! What a blessing all of this is to her!! She has to move because of health reasons and I am so thankful that the Lord is providing for her. God works through many ways--even house hunting--to bring people together.
You see, we're going to buy her piano from her. She wants to meet our kids. I want to help her. So, today we're going to see her after church. It doesn't matter if she doesn't accept her offer. God brought someone into our lives that we can care about. As always, God does unexpected things.
The other blessing of this situation is that my husband and I now have hope. There will be another home out there for us. We will look and wait until we find it. Our house obviously isn't going anywhere! We took a hard look at our finances and figured out our new price range and even realized that we want (and I'd say even need) a rancher. In the long run, a ranch home truly is so much wiser with my mom living with us.
House hunting is very stressful. It isn't easy. These past three weeks have pushed my husband and I hard. We've been very stressed out at times. There is no perfect home. But, there has also been joy in the adventure. As we climb back up from the lows, I see God working and renewing our hearts and minds. Our pastor preached on Psalm 23 last week. His sermon was very different than any I'd heard before on Psalm 23. The point that stuck out to me the most was that it says we will "walk" through the valley of the shadow of death. It doesn't say "run", "fly", "hop", or even "skip" through it. It will take time and we put one foot in front of the other. We press on.
We're pressing on. We'll see what this day holds. At the very least, it holds a new friend for me as she meets my kids and my mom. A new person to love with the love of Christ that He has put in my heart.
But, what do you do if you need to move and your house isn't selling? I think most families choose to move and either rent their home for a time or split up their family and remain in the house until it sells while the wage earner goes on ahead and lives in a studio apartment or with friends/family until his or her family is able to move there as well.
We are in an interesting situation. My mom moved to Maryland three weeks ago. My husband and I both thought it would work out well, but we had no idea how well. We all get along well. My husband and I go in a closed room and fight when we need to sort something out. My mom is able to help us as we go through this house hunting journey by watching the kids for us as we go see houses and put offers in. I try very hard not to take advantage of her as a babysitter. She also has been helping with the cooking, laundry, and dishes. Amidst this very stressful time right now, she has made my load bearable.
Our current home doesn't have enough room for us and for my mom to live in. So, we need to move. We'd also like to move closer to our church family and where our church meets.
Our house has been on the market for two weeks, but no one--No one has called to see it. It is priced right (we even lowered the price $10k) and it's in wonderful shape. Every major system in the house has been replaced except the water heater because it's in great shape. Still no one's even looked. What is God doing here?
A lot of things, I think. We are considering purchasing a new home while retaining this one. We'll keep it on the market and my mom can live here until it sells. Or there's several other possibilities. God has provided so that we could cover both mortgages. By purchasing another home before selling this one, we will have time to fix whatever needs to be done to the other house before we move in. I know this goes against traditional logic, but it will decrease the stress on my family. My husband has a very stressful job and very little time during the week to work on house projects. So, I would be squeezing the work in amidst moving in and homeschooling--eek! We are going to refinance this house and lower the interest rate. It will lower the monthly payment a great deal. This goes against all traditional financial wisdom, but we are trusting the Lord with all of this. Really, it's his money, not ours. We are seeking to be wise in these decisions and praying through out this process.
In the past week, we put an offer in on two different houses. The first was an older home that was going to need a lot of modifications in the kitchen. It was a great home, but it had an in ground pool (added yearly maintenance cost) and an acre of woods. Our offer was not accepted. It was countered. We were surprised! When the owner countered, we pulled back. One friend pointed out that though the house came with an acre of woods, it couldn't be used. Given the market, the house was also overpriced. Another issue we didn't consider at the time was that the bedrooms were upstairs, so when anyone went to bed, the people downstairs would hear all the walking (which sounds like stomping) around upstairs. We took our offer off the table after seeking counsel and decided to keep looking.
In the middle of the week, I went to a house that had no garage but had 4 bedrooms and 2 full baths (which we need!). At first, I completely discounted it. But, when I mentioned it to my husband, he wanted to see it. On Friday we went to see it together. He fell in love with it. I loved it even more than I did the first time. It has an amazing kitchen--perhaps not for everyone, but for us because of the kind of cooks we are. It had character that we loved. But, we got a call on Saturday afternoon that there was another offer. So, we met with our realtor to put an offer in. Later last night, she called to say that there were 3 offers in total, so did we want to increase our offer?
Did we? No. My husband and I both felt it was wise to offer what we simply felt we were willing to pay and trust it to the Lord. It felt a bit like eBay. And eBay often feels like gambling to me. Even though we love the house it isn't wise to pay more than it is worth. We can take the elements from this house that we love and add some of them to another home we find. One thing we've realized is that we really want a rancher!
We won't hear back until later today. My husband is at peace about the outcome and I am too. I don't accept our offer to be accepted though. I rejoice for the woman selling her home! What a blessing all of this is to her!! She has to move because of health reasons and I am so thankful that the Lord is providing for her. God works through many ways--even house hunting--to bring people together.
You see, we're going to buy her piano from her. She wants to meet our kids. I want to help her. So, today we're going to see her after church. It doesn't matter if she doesn't accept her offer. God brought someone into our lives that we can care about. As always, God does unexpected things.
The other blessing of this situation is that my husband and I now have hope. There will be another home out there for us. We will look and wait until we find it. Our house obviously isn't going anywhere! We took a hard look at our finances and figured out our new price range and even realized that we want (and I'd say even need) a rancher. In the long run, a ranch home truly is so much wiser with my mom living with us.
House hunting is very stressful. It isn't easy. These past three weeks have pushed my husband and I hard. We've been very stressed out at times. There is no perfect home. But, there has also been joy in the adventure. As we climb back up from the lows, I see God working and renewing our hearts and minds. Our pastor preached on Psalm 23 last week. His sermon was very different than any I'd heard before on Psalm 23. The point that stuck out to me the most was that it says we will "walk" through the valley of the shadow of death. It doesn't say "run", "fly", "hop", or even "skip" through it. It will take time and we put one foot in front of the other. We press on.
We're pressing on. We'll see what this day holds. At the very least, it holds a new friend for me as she meets my kids and my mom. A new person to love with the love of Christ that He has put in my heart.
1 John 4:7,12
English Standard Version (ESV)7Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.
12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
1 John 4:7,12
English Standard Version (ESV)
7Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.
12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Used Book Refunds... Again
Sorry, this post is basically me venting my frustration.
I tried... again! There's always that enticement that a used book is going to be cheaper than a new book. It's not just the price that beckons me to buy a used book, though. There's also the reality that in purchasing a used book I'm recycling something that's already been produced. Essentially, I'm wasting less by reusing a book someone else no longer wants.
I wrote a few months back about an issue I had trying to resolve the refund for a used book. Today it happened again. Amazon has a great rating system for the condition of used books--Like New, Very Good, Good, Acceptable.
I expect that an acceptable book may be missing some pages and definitely will have writing, but a like new condition shouldn't have any writing and should be in almost new condition.
Last week, I ordered a "Like New" book for my husband. When it arrived, I noticed the dirt and marks on the front and back cover. I cleaned them off easily enough with a damp rag and a little baking soda. But, then I opened the book up. Over half of the book was written in and underlined in--pen. Of course, I contacted the seller. They agreed to give me a refund upon receipt of the book. Tonight, I went to print off the return label--which required me to pay for the return postage. I could understand this if I had made an error in my order. But, I didn't.
After trying to contact the seller again because of my surprise, I received an email back that said that he/she couldn't believe how petty I'm being and that I should be grateful they were willing to give me a refund at all. But, it actually gets worse. The seller accused me of trying to find a sucker and get free books. I have contacted Amazon. I'm curious what their response will be. The refund was issued, but honestly I don't care. My brother always tells me that I won't pay for good customer service. He's wrong. I will. The experiences I have shopping will shape where I choose to spend the money I need to for the things we need and want. I am often willing to buy less if it means I won't have someone insult me or be rude to me when there's a problem.
I guess this is one more nail in the coffin, so to speak. I want to buy used books! But, not if I have bad experiences when I order them and take a risk every time that the book isn't going to be in the condition it was described in.
Blech.
I tried... again! There's always that enticement that a used book is going to be cheaper than a new book. It's not just the price that beckons me to buy a used book, though. There's also the reality that in purchasing a used book I'm recycling something that's already been produced. Essentially, I'm wasting less by reusing a book someone else no longer wants.
I wrote a few months back about an issue I had trying to resolve the refund for a used book. Today it happened again. Amazon has a great rating system for the condition of used books--Like New, Very Good, Good, Acceptable.
I expect that an acceptable book may be missing some pages and definitely will have writing, but a like new condition shouldn't have any writing and should be in almost new condition.
Last week, I ordered a "Like New" book for my husband. When it arrived, I noticed the dirt and marks on the front and back cover. I cleaned them off easily enough with a damp rag and a little baking soda. But, then I opened the book up. Over half of the book was written in and underlined in--pen. Of course, I contacted the seller. They agreed to give me a refund upon receipt of the book. Tonight, I went to print off the return label--which required me to pay for the return postage. I could understand this if I had made an error in my order. But, I didn't.
After trying to contact the seller again because of my surprise, I received an email back that said that he/she couldn't believe how petty I'm being and that I should be grateful they were willing to give me a refund at all. But, it actually gets worse. The seller accused me of trying to find a sucker and get free books. I have contacted Amazon. I'm curious what their response will be. The refund was issued, but honestly I don't care. My brother always tells me that I won't pay for good customer service. He's wrong. I will. The experiences I have shopping will shape where I choose to spend the money I need to for the things we need and want. I am often willing to buy less if it means I won't have someone insult me or be rude to me when there's a problem.
I guess this is one more nail in the coffin, so to speak. I want to buy used books! But, not if I have bad experiences when I order them and take a risk every time that the book isn't going to be in the condition it was described in.
Blech.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Preparations
My mom is moving here today. I am very excited. The kids are excited. We are all excited! But, there is a bit of overwhelming to the move as well. Moving her things into storage, shipping her car cross country, changing Medicare supplements, changing doctors, changing auto information and documents...
One of the things about me is that I love to give gifts. I am thankful that God has allowed me to garage sale and shop sales so that I can do this inexpensively and stretch our budget. Garage saling in this part of the country is just about over for the year. The cool weather is setting in and there isn't as many daylight hours each day. Last Saturday we went to a 5k for a local crisis pregnancy center. We had a great time. Afterwards, we stopped by the local farmer's market and then the donut shop. My husband was ready to go home. I had heard about a garage sale at a church that might still be going on. I wanted to go. My husband said I could if I dropped him and the kids off at home.
I called my garage saling partner in crime and she was free, so we headed over. I told my husband I'd only be gone 20 minutes.... 2 hours later I arrived home!
I was very thankful for his patience and for the treasures I arrived home with. One of my mom's concerns has been having clothes for the cold weather that is coming. She's going to need to layer and have some warmer fleeces/sweaters. I was so thankful that I found a sweater for her for $2 and 2 fleece pullovers for $1. I also found her 2 shirts for $1 each. What a blessing! I also found a brand new address book for 50 cents.
I wanted to be able to give my mom a welcome gift and these were perfect! My mom is going to be making new friends and need a new address book. God showed me how He provides even our hearts' little desires.
By the way, my husband was okay with my long jaunt when I brought home a few cds for him that I'd found in my treasure hunting!
One of the things about me is that I love to give gifts. I am thankful that God has allowed me to garage sale and shop sales so that I can do this inexpensively and stretch our budget. Garage saling in this part of the country is just about over for the year. The cool weather is setting in and there isn't as many daylight hours each day. Last Saturday we went to a 5k for a local crisis pregnancy center. We had a great time. Afterwards, we stopped by the local farmer's market and then the donut shop. My husband was ready to go home. I had heard about a garage sale at a church that might still be going on. I wanted to go. My husband said I could if I dropped him and the kids off at home.
I called my garage saling partner in crime and she was free, so we headed over. I told my husband I'd only be gone 20 minutes.... 2 hours later I arrived home!
I was very thankful for his patience and for the treasures I arrived home with. One of my mom's concerns has been having clothes for the cold weather that is coming. She's going to need to layer and have some warmer fleeces/sweaters. I was so thankful that I found a sweater for her for $2 and 2 fleece pullovers for $1. I also found her 2 shirts for $1 each. What a blessing! I also found a brand new address book for 50 cents.I wanted to be able to give my mom a welcome gift and these were perfect! My mom is going to be making new friends and need a new address book. God showed me how He provides even our hearts' little desires.
By the way, my husband was okay with my long jaunt when I brought home a few cds for him that I'd found in my treasure hunting!
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Rosemary Chicken Tacos
I have a lot of cookbooks on my shelves and often people ask me if I cook from every one of them. I don't. Some I use for just a few recipes that are really yummy. One of my cookbooks has a recipe for chocolate chip cookies just like the ones you buy in Costco. I keep it on my shelf just for that recipe. Last month, I got a new Taco cookbook. My husband's favorite foods are tacos and pasta with red sauce. In our house, Tuesdays are taco night. So, when I saw a cookbook all on tacos--300 best taco Recipes by Kelley Cleary Coffeen, I thought my husband would love it!
What I found with this cookbook is that it made my mouth water and it made me want to cook. It also sparked my imagination. In the beginning is a great description of all the different ways to warm or fry tortillas. Her list of equipment and ingredients was very helpful. As I read through the cookbook, I recognized my mom's beef taquito recipe. She uses variations of this recipe for both chicken and beef taquitos or rolled tacos. These were a family tradition in my house around Christmas time that I miss. I highly recommend making some of these with some guacamole! There are several great sections of appealing pictures--that will of course make you want to have some tacos very soon. There is also a great variety of sauces and salsas in that section of the book. It didn't have everything I've ever wanted to make when it comes to salsa, but it had some fun ideas and we enjoyed the Citrusy Lime Salsa I made.
Now for some specific notes...
1) My family has been frying corn tortillas for years, so I read her description carefully. I do not deep fry mine. I use a nonstick skillet with a little oil. Fry it until it starts to puff up a little and then use a wooden spoon. Place it in the middle and use tongs to fold over the side of the tortilla (to fold it into a moon shape). Fry it until both sides are as crispy as you would like them. Place on a paper towel lined plate when cooked.
2) Last week, I made some great tacos on a non-designated taco night. I think it was a Thursday. I made some chicken tacos. The chicken was seasoned with pepper, sea salt, and rosemary. I served the tacos with chicken, sour cream, and carmelized onions. They were yummy!
Now for some specific notes...
1) My family has been frying corn tortillas for years, so I read her description carefully. I do not deep fry mine. I use a nonstick skillet with a little oil. Fry it until it starts to puff up a little and then use a wooden spoon. Place it in the middle and use tongs to fold over the side of the tortilla (to fold it into a moon shape). Fry it until both sides are as crispy as you would like them. Place on a paper towel lined plate when cooked.
2) Last week, I made some great tacos on a non-designated taco night. I think it was a Thursday. I made some chicken tacos. The chicken was seasoned with pepper, sea salt, and rosemary. I served the tacos with chicken, sour cream, and carmelized onions. They were yummy!
Here's the recipe for the chicken.
Put 1 tsp. dried rosemary, 1 tsp. coarse sea salt, and 1/2 tsp. cracked pepper in a Mortar bowl. Use a pestal to crush it. Slice 1 lb. chicken breasts into strips. Place in a bowl and toss with 1-2 Tbsp. olive oil. Then, add in the spice mixture and toss to coat. Saute chicken in pan until cooked through.
Carmelized onions:
I thinly slice an onion. Add 1 tsp. brown sugar and 1 Tbsp. canola oil. Saute for 30-40 minutes over med. low heat. If the heat is too high--they won't cook faster, they'll just burn unfortunately. I know this from experience of trying to rush them!
This recipe is not in the taco cookbook, but I took the idea from the book. There is a great recipe for Rosemary Chicken Tacos in the book. I used it as a springboard. The recipe in the cookbook calls for grilling the chicken and a creamy garlic spread (which sounds wonderful).
When I made my version of Rosemary chicken tacos, I realized that this is what made me like this cookbook--it started my brain going. I had put tacos in a box and not thought of them as anything other than meat or refried bean tacos. This cookbook helped me see that there's a lot more to tacos than meets the eye!
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this cookbook from Robert Rose Publishing for review.
When I made my version of Rosemary chicken tacos, I realized that this is what made me like this cookbook--it started my brain going. I had put tacos in a box and not thought of them as anything other than meat or refried bean tacos. This cookbook helped me see that there's a lot more to tacos than meets the eye!
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this cookbook from Robert Rose Publishing for review.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Peanut Butter Blossoms
I am 37 years old and last year was the first time I remember a friend giving me a cookie plate at Christmas time. I think we even got two from two different friends--with the same name :) It was such a treat! I love to bake, one of the gals made some peanut butter blossoms that were so much better than mine! I tasted one and I thought, "Mine aren't as good as these! I need to find a better recipe!" So, I set out to find one...
I did find one. It was in my King Arthur's Cookie Companion Cookbook. I love to make cookies--and eat them, of course. I wanted a big cookie cookbook for a long time and found this one at a used book sale. I've had really good luck with the cookies I've made from it.
I searched online for a recipe identical to the one I made and found one HERE. Of course, I don't use Reese's Peanut Butter in mind. I use Simply Jif--the kind without hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oil. I also use butter instead of shortening. I use the exact same amount. Some substitution books will say that there's a slight difference in how much shortening to replace with butter. I found with recipe that I simply substituted the 1/2 cup shortening with 1/2 cup butter.
They're really yummy!
I did find one. It was in my King Arthur's Cookie Companion Cookbook. I love to make cookies--and eat them, of course. I wanted a big cookie cookbook for a long time and found this one at a used book sale. I've had really good luck with the cookies I've made from it.
I searched online for a recipe identical to the one I made and found one HERE. Of course, I don't use Reese's Peanut Butter in mind. I use Simply Jif--the kind without hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oil. I also use butter instead of shortening. I use the exact same amount. Some substitution books will say that there's a slight difference in how much shortening to replace with butter. I found with recipe that I simply substituted the 1/2 cup shortening with 1/2 cup butter.
They're really yummy!
October Free Audio Book: Think
The description of the book says that it is a book about thinking. Piper wants us to glorify God in our thinking. Our faith is a combination of heart and mind. Our mind is an important part of that--a very important part and that is what this book is about.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
A funny thing happened at BJs a few weeks ago...
A few weeks ago, it was time for the monthly change of our air conditioning filter. I'd run out, so I headed over to BJs. There were 2 packages left but no price tag up on the rack. I picked up both packages and headed to the checkout lane. After checking out all of my other items, the checker called over the supervisor for help.
It turns out that the 2 pk of filters rang up for 3 cents. Really. It rang up for 3 cents! He thought it was a fluke as did the checkout supervisor, so they called the store manager. Nope. 3 cents it was. I went back to see if there were anymore. There was--1 more package. It was a little bent, but for 3 cents I was willing to try them. It was only the cardboard frame that was a little bent.
So, that day I left BJs with 6 air conditioning filters for a 11 cents. Normally, a 2 pk is $15. So, instead of being $45 plus tax, it was only 11 cents.
The lesson I learned that day... it never hurts to ask how much something is! You may just find an extra good deal!
It turns out that the 2 pk of filters rang up for 3 cents. Really. It rang up for 3 cents! He thought it was a fluke as did the checkout supervisor, so they called the store manager. Nope. 3 cents it was. I went back to see if there were anymore. There was--1 more package. It was a little bent, but for 3 cents I was willing to try them. It was only the cardboard frame that was a little bent.
So, that day I left BJs with 6 air conditioning filters for a 11 cents. Normally, a 2 pk is $15. So, instead of being $45 plus tax, it was only 11 cents.
The lesson I learned that day... it never hurts to ask how much something is! You may just find an extra good deal!
Cooking for Special Diets
I think that cooking for someone with a special diet is often difficult. We are so accustomed to cooking with a lot of dairy, meat, salt, and sugar in America. I fall into this group wholeheartedly. I try to be wise about all of these ingredients and eat them in moderation. Two months ago, I wanted to decrease the sugar in my family's diet. So, my answer was to look for some new recipes. That's usually my first impulse when it comes to cooking. When I have recipes I want to make and that sounds good, I'm much more likely to make them.
Because I wanted to decrease the amount of sugar, I thought of cookbooks for diabetics, since they have to have diets low in sugar. I requested two diabetic cookbooks for review. I really enjoyed America's Best Cookbook for Kids with Diabetes. I wrote a review here two months ago. Since then, I've been sporadically cooking recipes from the second diabetes cookbook I have, 250 Essential Diabetes Recipes.
I've made a white sauce for my fish, the broccoli ranch salad, classic greek salad dressing, and an eggplant dip. The white sauce needed spice. The Broccoli salad was surprisingly good. The Greek salad dressing was pretty salty, but good. The eggplant dip was declined by my husband after a few bites. He wasn't crazy about the strong celery taste to it.
What I loved about the Kids cookbook was that the recipes had just enough spice for kids and enough to keep parents happy. In contrast, the recipes from this cookbook were quite bland except for the broccoli salad. I'm going to rabbit trail for just a second...
I have noticed that many cookbooks from the 1950s and 60s had recipes in them that were very basic and mild. Usually the recipes didn't have a lot of spice in them or strong flavors. Over the years, the number of cookbooks has greatly multiplied! There are still those cookbooks with pretty mild dishes, but there are also many cookbooks that have plenty of spice in their recipes. My tastes fall toward the more flavorful side. So, with those random thoughts...
The recipes from this cookbook reminded me a lot of those blander recipes from days long ago. They weren't bad recipes, but they simply weren't as packed as flavor as I'd like.
But, there are many strengths of this cookbook. 1) The formatting, as with all Robert Rose cookbooks, is great. The recipes are so easy to read and understand. None of the recipes are very difficult to make. There's a very helpful introduction at the front of the cookbook. 2) You can modify the recipes in this cookbook. With special diets, food often needs to be bland so that it will settle with someone's stomach. If that's what you're looking for, this cookbook will meet that need. Also, if there's an ingredient (like my husband and celery), adjust the amount you add to the recipe.
If you're looking for a diabetes cookbook to check out of the library, look this one up. The pictures are appealing and it's easy to use. You may find that it's a good fit for you and it will give you a place to start.
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this cookbook from Robert Rose for review.
Because I wanted to decrease the amount of sugar, I thought of cookbooks for diabetics, since they have to have diets low in sugar. I requested two diabetic cookbooks for review. I really enjoyed America's Best Cookbook for Kids with Diabetes. I wrote a review here two months ago. Since then, I've been sporadically cooking recipes from the second diabetes cookbook I have, 250 Essential Diabetes Recipes.
What I loved about the Kids cookbook was that the recipes had just enough spice for kids and enough to keep parents happy. In contrast, the recipes from this cookbook were quite bland except for the broccoli salad. I'm going to rabbit trail for just a second...
I have noticed that many cookbooks from the 1950s and 60s had recipes in them that were very basic and mild. Usually the recipes didn't have a lot of spice in them or strong flavors. Over the years, the number of cookbooks has greatly multiplied! There are still those cookbooks with pretty mild dishes, but there are also many cookbooks that have plenty of spice in their recipes. My tastes fall toward the more flavorful side. So, with those random thoughts...
The recipes from this cookbook reminded me a lot of those blander recipes from days long ago. They weren't bad recipes, but they simply weren't as packed as flavor as I'd like.
But, there are many strengths of this cookbook. 1) The formatting, as with all Robert Rose cookbooks, is great. The recipes are so easy to read and understand. None of the recipes are very difficult to make. There's a very helpful introduction at the front of the cookbook. 2) You can modify the recipes in this cookbook. With special diets, food often needs to be bland so that it will settle with someone's stomach. If that's what you're looking for, this cookbook will meet that need. Also, if there's an ingredient (like my husband and celery), adjust the amount you add to the recipe.
If you're looking for a diabetes cookbook to check out of the library, look this one up. The pictures are appealing and it's easy to use. You may find that it's a good fit for you and it will give you a place to start.
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this cookbook from Robert Rose for review.
Gluten-Free Brownies
My mom loves Taste of Home magazine so I was curious about this cookbook. I bake a lot so I do have many cookbooks on my shelves. At one point I had 100 (my husband counted), but I've cut back to only the ones I use which has left me with about 80 or so. I guess I cook a lot.
When this cookbook arrived, I was immediately pleased. Inside the front cover was an insert offer with a free 1 year subscription to Taste of Home magazine ($10 is the special rate usually) which makes the $18 price on Amazon for this cookbook a great value! When you open up, you'll see that there are two plastic pages protectors that you can use to protect the cookbook pages while you are cooking. I can't tell you how many spots my cookbooks have on them from my cooking! Once you get past those two features, you'll notice that there are many sections including one for cupcakes (the new craze), lighter recipes, and special diets. The formatting of this cookbook makes it very easy to read and use. There are plenty of pictures to give you an idea of what you're making--and make it appealing! The pages are thicker than the ones in America's Test Kitchen's family cookbooks (also binder-style) which makes the pages easier to turn and less likely to rip out.
I chose to make two recipes from this cookbook in the 24 hours that I've had it so far. Yesterday, I made the gluten-free brownies. They have... garbanzo beans in them. The recipe sounded so strange I had to try it. They turned out! Actually, my kids (3, 5, and 7) raved about them. They weren't as heavy as normal brownies since they didn't have any wheat or butter in them. They were really quite good!
I was able to find the recipe for the brownies online HERE.
The second recipe I made was one for apple muffins. I do want to note that Taste of Home is not typically thought of as a "healthy" cooking magazine so I wouldn't say that most of the recipes in this cookbook are "healthy" type baking recipes. The muffins were quite good (and easy to make) and because there was butter in them, we didn't need to put butter on them when I served them.
This cookbook has significantly improved my opinion of Taste of Home recipes. I had a church supper cookbook by them last year that I finally gave away because the recipes I made didn't turn out that well. This cookbook, on the other hand, has already proven successful in our house!
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from the publisher.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Roasted Tomatillo Salsa
One of our favorite salsas over the past 10 years has been the green salsa verde at Trader Joe's. But, with the rising cost of groceries, it is also one of the treats that I've cut from my grocery list.
I found a recipe last week that is just as good--if not better--than that salsa. Green Salsa Verde is either made with peppers or tomatillos. Trader Joe's salsa is made with tomatillos, so that's what I wanted to use. The recipe came from America's Test Kitchen Healthy Family Cookbook. But, I found this recipe online Here that is almost exactly the same. The recipe I made did not have the cumin, though. So, I'd try it the first time without the cumin and see how you like it. Add the cumin the next time and see if you like it better or worse! I will mention that I seeded the jalapenos and Did Not add the seeds back in to spice it up. I'm a pretty mild salsa eater. If you like it hot, add the seeds back in to taste when you're blending the salsa.
I found a recipe last week that is just as good--if not better--than that salsa. Green Salsa Verde is either made with peppers or tomatillos. Trader Joe's salsa is made with tomatillos, so that's what I wanted to use. The recipe came from America's Test Kitchen Healthy Family Cookbook. But, I found this recipe online Here that is almost exactly the same. The recipe I made did not have the cumin, though. So, I'd try it the first time without the cumin and see how you like it. Add the cumin the next time and see if you like it better or worse! I will mention that I seeded the jalapenos and Did Not add the seeds back in to spice it up. I'm a pretty mild salsa eater. If you like it hot, add the seeds back in to taste when you're blending the salsa.
Friday, September 16, 2011
A Funny Story About Clothes...
Last week, my daughters started taking an art class at our homeschool co-op. They donned two shirts that were the same style but different colors. I had just bought them the weekend before at a consignment sale and they loved them.
Yesterday was the second class day and they donned the same shirts. Autumn told me they wanted to wear them every week. I told her that the other kids might think they only have 1 outfit! At the suggestion, my daughter just burst out laughing.
And then she said some magical words, "I don't care, Mommy. I love this shirt."
A big smile spread across my face.
Yesterday was the second class day and they donned the same shirts. Autumn told me they wanted to wear them every week. I told her that the other kids might think they only have 1 outfit! At the suggestion, my daughter just burst out laughing.
And then she said some magical words, "I don't care, Mommy. I love this shirt."
A big smile spread across my face.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
How Many Clothes Do You Need?
I could have asked,
How many blankets do you need?
How many shoes do you need?
How many books do you need?
How much curriculum need?
How many toys do your kids need?
What do you need?
What do you not?
Do you think about this a lot?
I think about it from time to time. I try to be mindful of it.
When my girls were little, I wanted to make sure they had enough clothes. (They're still little to me.) Like most adults, I have baggage from my past. And when I was a kid, there were a lot of kids that made comments about my clothes. I didn't want my kids to have comments made about them. So, they had plenty of clothes--brand names from garage sale clothes, but still great clothes. Then, I had a little boy. He would be our only little boy, so it made sense that I didn't need a lot of extra clothes for him. I just needed him to have enough. It made me step back with my girls. Now when I'm tempted to buy my girls clothes (even at garage sales), I hold myself to a lower limit. Do they really need it or do they have enough? Because even if it's a great price, if they don't need it--well, then they don't need it and I shouldn't get it.
As often happens to my blog posts, a rabbit trail is about to sneak in...
I began this post yesterday and tonight I was reading about "needs" in a book I've meant to finish up. There was only about a chapter or two left and I'd gotten derailed. Tonight I read about "needs" in a different way that is challenging me.
How many blankets do you need?
How many shoes do you need?
How many books do you need?
How much curriculum need?
How many toys do your kids need?
What do you need?
What do you not?
Do you think about this a lot?
I think about it from time to time. I try to be mindful of it.
When my girls were little, I wanted to make sure they had enough clothes. (They're still little to me.) Like most adults, I have baggage from my past. And when I was a kid, there were a lot of kids that made comments about my clothes. I didn't want my kids to have comments made about them. So, they had plenty of clothes--brand names from garage sale clothes, but still great clothes. Then, I had a little boy. He would be our only little boy, so it made sense that I didn't need a lot of extra clothes for him. I just needed him to have enough. It made me step back with my girls. Now when I'm tempted to buy my girls clothes (even at garage sales), I hold myself to a lower limit. Do they really need it or do they have enough? Because even if it's a great price, if they don't need it--well, then they don't need it and I shouldn't get it.
As often happens to my blog posts, a rabbit trail is about to sneak in...
I began this post yesterday and tonight I was reading about "needs" in a book I've meant to finish up. There was only about a chapter or two left and I'd gotten derailed. Tonight I read about "needs" in a different way that is challenging me.
"When I forget what my true and essential need really is, I will name things as needs that are not really needs and then invest my life in anxious pursuit of them. Subtly, these things begin to exercise control over the way I think about myself and my life...Subtly, desire for these things begins to shape the way I invest my time, energy, and money. Subtly these things become my reason for making the decisions I make. Subtly, these things become the lens through which I evaluate my life. Subtly, I begin to look to these things for my happiness and my inner sense of well-being. Somewhere, somehow, I have forgotten who I am. Somehow, I have let go of God's gift of grace.... You see life always involves worship. Our lives revolve around the thing that has captured our attention and desire." quoted from pg. 182-184 of Broken-Down House by Paul David Tripp
This quote made me realize that it's okay to think about what my family needs, but I need to guard the time and energy that this "thinking" takes from me. I need to be careful that whatever I think I "need" hasn't captured my heart and mind.Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Newspaper Subscriptions
I know that everyone thinks newspapers are a dying artifact of our culture. But, the fact is, I enjoy them! I look forward to the paper delivery on Saturday and the coupons that come with it. I look forward to reading the news in print form.
I have been subscribing to the local newspaper wherever I lived since I was in college. There is a trick I've learned along the way. Usually, promotional rates are for a year period. When the year is over, the weekly rate will go up. I always discover this when the bill takes a big hike for the next period.
That happened to me today. In the past, I've opened up the newspaper to compare rates that they are offering and called to sign up for one of the rates listed. They've stopped publishing these rates, so I called the newspaper. I asked what promotions they have available. Usually, the best rate is only open to new subscriptions. I discovered when I asked that there is a rate available for $1.50 per week (vs. the $4.50/week I had just been charged on the most recent bill). I told the customer service gal I would like to sign up for that promotion. She mentioned it starting when this billing cycle ended. I informed her that I'd like it to start this week. I knew I could ask for that (since I had done this in the past). She good naturedly said "Okay."
My paid up date extended by 2 months with that phone call. Yay!
So, that's my newspaper renewal story :)
I have been subscribing to the local newspaper wherever I lived since I was in college. There is a trick I've learned along the way. Usually, promotional rates are for a year period. When the year is over, the weekly rate will go up. I always discover this when the bill takes a big hike for the next period.
That happened to me today. In the past, I've opened up the newspaper to compare rates that they are offering and called to sign up for one of the rates listed. They've stopped publishing these rates, so I called the newspaper. I asked what promotions they have available. Usually, the best rate is only open to new subscriptions. I discovered when I asked that there is a rate available for $1.50 per week (vs. the $4.50/week I had just been charged on the most recent bill). I told the customer service gal I would like to sign up for that promotion. She mentioned it starting when this billing cycle ended. I informed her that I'd like it to start this week. I knew I could ask for that (since I had done this in the past). She good naturedly said "Okay."
My paid up date extended by 2 months with that phone call. Yay!
So, that's my newspaper renewal story :)
Sunday, September 4, 2011
To See God Provide
One of the things that brings me such sweet joy is to see how God works things out. My younger daughter's tennis shoes started coming apart yesterday. They needed to be replaced ASAP.
At the beginning of the summer, I had bought there the cheapest--yes, literally the cheapest tennis shoes Target had for $10/pr for each of the girls. It was summer and I knew that their sandals would be what they'd wear most of the time and that they'd probably grow some more over the summer. I anticipated buying new tennis shoes in the fall. The girls were happy with them because they liked the colors of the shoes (pink and white) and I was thankful that they didn't mind the cheap construction of them (the price was justified).
Well, fall is here.
The girls are getting to an age where they need better athletic shoes. I want them to have some support for their feet. So, we've been going to the Stride Rite outlet when we can for tennis shoes. But, that takes planning and time. Neither of which I have in the immediate future. So, I went by the Stride Rite store in the mall. The tennis shoes were all very flashy except for some Saucony's that were $49/pr. They did have a buy one get one half off sale, but that would have made two pairs of shoes $75 plus tax. It felt a bit steep to me and the shoe colors were flashier than I'd like. So, we left without any new shoes.
We traveled onward.
I thought we'd stop by Dick's Sporting Goods on the way home just to check to see if they had any. They only had 1 style. It happened to be on sale! They were $30/pr but they only had 1 pair of 12s and my girls both wear size 12. So, the sales associate checked the online store and found the same price online. I learned that if you order them from the store, you won't pay shipping. Yahoo! So, Sami left the store wearing new shoes (I had the cashier throw the old ones away) and Autumn has a package on its way in the mail with her new shoes. Both girls are happy, though Autumn is already pining for her package to arrive. I can't blame her. She was a great sport about it.
It was interesting at the Stride Rite when Sami told me she liked the flashy shoes and I explained that I didn't. I shared with her that I would choose what I thought might be some good choices and ask them if they like them. After this summer's experience with Sami, I know this is important. I bought her some sandals that she only thought were so-so and wouldn't wear them until her old ones were literally falling apart. Thankfully, this one pair came in white/teal/light yellow and the girls both loved the colors!
The total came to $60 plus tax for the two pairs.
I was very thankful to save some money on the shoes and see God provide a pair of shoes that Sami, Autumn, and I all like. It was a little blessing that made me smile.
At the beginning of the summer, I had bought there the cheapest--yes, literally the cheapest tennis shoes Target had for $10/pr for each of the girls. It was summer and I knew that their sandals would be what they'd wear most of the time and that they'd probably grow some more over the summer. I anticipated buying new tennis shoes in the fall. The girls were happy with them because they liked the colors of the shoes (pink and white) and I was thankful that they didn't mind the cheap construction of them (the price was justified).
Well, fall is here.
The girls are getting to an age where they need better athletic shoes. I want them to have some support for their feet. So, we've been going to the Stride Rite outlet when we can for tennis shoes. But, that takes planning and time. Neither of which I have in the immediate future. So, I went by the Stride Rite store in the mall. The tennis shoes were all very flashy except for some Saucony's that were $49/pr. They did have a buy one get one half off sale, but that would have made two pairs of shoes $75 plus tax. It felt a bit steep to me and the shoe colors were flashier than I'd like. So, we left without any new shoes.
We traveled onward.
It was interesting at the Stride Rite when Sami told me she liked the flashy shoes and I explained that I didn't. I shared with her that I would choose what I thought might be some good choices and ask them if they like them. After this summer's experience with Sami, I know this is important. I bought her some sandals that she only thought were so-so and wouldn't wear them until her old ones were literally falling apart. Thankfully, this one pair came in white/teal/light yellow and the girls both loved the colors!
The total came to $60 plus tax for the two pairs.
I was very thankful to save some money on the shoes and see God provide a pair of shoes that Sami, Autumn, and I all like. It was a little blessing that made me smile.
Friday, September 2, 2011
The Sugar Problem and Our Kids
There's been a huge increase in obesity in children in the last decade. It is a growing concern among doctors, educators, and parents. I think it has an awful lot to do with the food we're feeding our children. One of the culprits is sugar.
I was thinking about this and wondering how I could find some good kid-friendly recipes with less sugar when I realized that diabetics must eat less sugar. I found a cookbook for kids with diabetes and was excited to see what was inside it!
The cookbook is America's Best Cookbook for Kids with Diabetes by Colleen Bartley. It's published by Robert Rose Publishing. Honestly, I really like how they format their cookbooks. The fonts are very readable. The spacing is great so that it's easy to follow a recipe and come back to the step you're on as you're cooking. You don't lose track of what you're adding or what you're doing!
In this cookbook, there's a great introduction and discussion about sugars and artificial sweeteners. The discussion about artificial sweeteners isn't very indepth, but it's a good introduction to the topic and gives some food for thought.
As I flipped through the cookbook, I immediately thought "What a great cookbook!" The recipes are all what I what I'd say are "kid-friendly". I have often noticed that well intentioned cookbooks for kids throw in a lot of healthy ingredients that kids are reticent to eat. If you have amiable eaters, that's great. If you don't, you may often find yourself in a pickle like I do.
Over the past few weeks, I've made several recipes from this cookbook. One night we had the fish sticks and the tartar sauce. I was surprised at how well the coating stuck to the fish. I've had a lot of problems with that over the years! Then, a few days ago I made the Baked Apple-Raisin Oatmeal. Of course, my picky eaters won't eat raisins, so I subbed in mini-chocolate chips. I know this adds in sugar, but for an afternoon snack, this was still a lower sugar alternative than cookies. A friend of mine was over and ate some. She commented how much she enjoyed them because it wasn't quite so sweet. Another recipe I made was using the teriyaki sauce from the pork chop recipe. I used it when we barbecued chicken. It good and mild. Each of the recipes were simple and quick to make.
If you a) have picky eater and are looking for simple, healthy recipes or b) have a child with diabetes, then you might really like this cookbook. I did.
Please note note that I received a complimentary copy of this cookbook for review from Robert Rose Publishing.
I was thinking about this and wondering how I could find some good kid-friendly recipes with less sugar when I realized that diabetics must eat less sugar. I found a cookbook for kids with diabetes and was excited to see what was inside it!
In this cookbook, there's a great introduction and discussion about sugars and artificial sweeteners. The discussion about artificial sweeteners isn't very indepth, but it's a good introduction to the topic and gives some food for thought.
As I flipped through the cookbook, I immediately thought "What a great cookbook!" The recipes are all what I what I'd say are "kid-friendly". I have often noticed that well intentioned cookbooks for kids throw in a lot of healthy ingredients that kids are reticent to eat. If you have amiable eaters, that's great. If you don't, you may often find yourself in a pickle like I do.
Over the past few weeks, I've made several recipes from this cookbook. One night we had the fish sticks and the tartar sauce. I was surprised at how well the coating stuck to the fish. I've had a lot of problems with that over the years! Then, a few days ago I made the Baked Apple-Raisin Oatmeal. Of course, my picky eaters won't eat raisins, so I subbed in mini-chocolate chips. I know this adds in sugar, but for an afternoon snack, this was still a lower sugar alternative than cookies. A friend of mine was over and ate some. She commented how much she enjoyed them because it wasn't quite so sweet. Another recipe I made was using the teriyaki sauce from the pork chop recipe. I used it when we barbecued chicken. It good and mild. Each of the recipes were simple and quick to make.
If you a) have picky eater and are looking for simple, healthy recipes or b) have a child with diabetes, then you might really like this cookbook. I did.
Please note note that I received a complimentary copy of this cookbook for review from Robert Rose Publishing.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Birthday Parties
Birthday parties are expensive. A less expensive option than having a party at a bounce place or Chuck e. Cheese's is to have a special party at home. I try to do it as wisely as I can. The parties are always on the back of my mind. During the year as I'm walking through Target, I watch for clearance items that could be the future stuffings of birthday treat bags. I watch for invitations and decorations. I even watch for plates. This has worked as my kids have been little and I've had a lot of say in the themes of their parties. But, as they get older, I am finding they have more opinions and it is important that I listen to them.
Fortunately for me, my girls have loved the princess theme for several years. This year is no exception. So, I've been doing my usual. Collecting supplies, invitations, etc. My girls will have a joint birthday party at the beginning of November. A few years ago I tried to have separate parties. The problem? Six little girls could come to Autumn's party and none to Sami's two weeks later, because everyone had gotten sick. So, now we have one party.
The princess theme can be a little tricky for me because we don't do the whole "Disney Princess" thing in our house. So, what can I do new this year? Well, I found a little book to help me.
It's the Pink Princess Party Cookbook.
Fortunately for me, my girls have loved the princess theme for several years. This year is no exception. So, I've been doing my usual. Collecting supplies, invitations, etc. My girls will have a joint birthday party at the beginning of November. A few years ago I tried to have separate parties. The problem? Six little girls could come to Autumn's party and none to Sami's two weeks later, because everyone had gotten sick. So, now we have one party.
The princess theme can be a little tricky for me because we don't do the whole "Disney Princess" thing in our house. So, what can I do new this year? Well, I found a little book to help me.
It's the Pink Princess Party Cookbook.
Inside you'll find plans for 6 different types of "princess" parties like a "Snowflake princess party" and "Enchanted Pony Princess Party". There's one called the "Spa Princess Party which I think would be perfect for a young tween that mom wants to have a party for and the daughter wants to be a kid and a grown up at the same time.
Each party has food suggestions and recipes as well as crafts you can make. The crafts are appropriate for 6 or 7 year olds to 11 year olds. In the front, the author does say that children can make the recipes and crafts. Her advice is that 5 to 7 year olds will need more help and that children 8 and older will be able to do things with less assistance.
This party guide is smaller than you'd expect. The font is small, but readable. The directions are pretty simple. At first, I thought they were too simple. Then I tried the author's directions for the Snow Princess Punch. She suggests dampening the glasses with a lemon or sugar half (I just used a lemon wedge). It worked well! I've tried putting salt on margarita glasses before with mediocre success. The lemon wedge worked much better! So, I learned through trial and error that the directions were enough with some recipes and crafts. In one craft, the directions weren't quite enough. Or rather--I'd do it a little different. The craft was the Pink Princess Tiara. It would have been nice to know how much room you needed to leave on each end of the pipe cleaner without beads and also that a little bit of space should be left between the beds. The other change I would make is to use glue dots instead of tacky glue. It would be very hard to make 4 or 5 little girls wait an hour for their tiaras to be dry!
As my girls and I looked through the book, we picked from each of the parties what we wanted to include in theirs in a few months. Autumn wanted to do the snowflake meringues, but they didn't go with the other things they picked out. So, we'll save them as a special treat for Christmas.
If you're wanting to throw a princess party for your daughter, this book will give you lots of ideas. Some are easier than others, but amidst the bunch, you'll find enough to have a fun party!
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from Simon and Shuster Publishing.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Confessions of a Sugar-Loving Mom
Two or three weeks ago, I wrote that I was going to cut sugar out of my diet. I did...for a few days. I continued to ponder it and decrease my daily sugar intake, but I didn't continue to cut it out completely. I like sugar!
Almost two weeks ago, I was among friends and our kids. The occasion was a beautiful day and a picnic at one friend's house. The other gals had the discipline to forgo half of an Eskimo Pie for dessert. I didn't. I never buy Eskimo Pies. They were a treat to me. So, I chose to have half of one as my dessert for the day. I felt bad because my friends and I had been discussing forgoing sugar... And there I was eating half an Eskimo Pie! Ay Ay Ay!
After talking with my husband, I've been trying to eat sugar in moderation. If I cut it out completely, I am afraid I will crave it all the more. If I'm able to choose a dish that has less sugar in it, I am. I've cut back the sugar in my coffee and I still drink it before anything sweet in the morning--even yogurt. I've also been taking acidophilus pills because a friend said she had greater success with those than with eating yogurt.
So, that's me. I needed to confess to you that sugar is a weakness of mine--but I'm trying. I respect my friends who are much stronger than me and were able to forgo the Eskimo Pies!
Almost two weeks ago, I was among friends and our kids. The occasion was a beautiful day and a picnic at one friend's house. The other gals had the discipline to forgo half of an Eskimo Pie for dessert. I didn't. I never buy Eskimo Pies. They were a treat to me. So, I chose to have half of one as my dessert for the day. I felt bad because my friends and I had been discussing forgoing sugar... And there I was eating half an Eskimo Pie! Ay Ay Ay!
After talking with my husband, I've been trying to eat sugar in moderation. If I cut it out completely, I am afraid I will crave it all the more. If I'm able to choose a dish that has less sugar in it, I am. I've cut back the sugar in my coffee and I still drink it before anything sweet in the morning--even yogurt. I've also been taking acidophilus pills because a friend said she had greater success with those than with eating yogurt.
So, that's me. I needed to confess to you that sugar is a weakness of mine--but I'm trying. I respect my friends who are much stronger than me and were able to forgo the Eskimo Pies!
Monday, August 15, 2011
Buzzzzzz Bars
I went to college in Oregon. The little coffee shop on campus made these super yummy bars called "Buzz Bars". Before I left college, I somehow got a copy of the recipe even though I didn't work there. Here it is:
For a 9x13 pan:
Cream 2/3 cup butter with 2/3 cup brown sugar. Cream well.
Mix in 1 egg plus 1 egg yolk.
Mix in 2 2/3 cup rolled oats.
Mix in 3/8 cup light corn syrup.
Spread in a 9x13 sprayed with cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes (I did 18 minutes.)
The "crust" will be a little runny, but put immediately into fridge and let cool completely.
Melt 2/3 cup Skippy Natural peanut butter to spreadable consistency in a pyrex measuring cup. I microwaved it for a minute. Spread over the base and cool in the fridge.
Melt 1 cup of chocolate chips in the microwave for 1 minute. Don't overcook the chocolate chips or they'll harden up. Stir for a minute or two. If you need a little more time and the lumps aren't all getting out, microwave for 15 seconds more. When all the lumps are out, pour over the peanut butter and spread with a spatula. When cool, cut and eat them!
Today, I made a bigger pan. I have a half size bun pan (half of the commercial size cookie sheet). It has a low lip, so it works really well for this bar. At the cafe, they used full size bun pans to make them.
If you make the larger pan (18 x 13)like this one that I bought at the webstaurant store online, here are the measurements you'll need:
1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
4 cups uncooked rolled oats
1/2 cup corn syrup
1 cup peanut butter
1 1/3 cups chocolate chips
If you try them, I hope they turn out well for you!
For a 9x13 pan:
Cream 2/3 cup butter with 2/3 cup brown sugar. Cream well.
Mix in 1 egg plus 1 egg yolk.
Mix in 2 2/3 cup rolled oats.
Mix in 3/8 cup light corn syrup.
Spread in a 9x13 sprayed with cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes (I did 18 minutes.)
The "crust" will be a little runny, but put immediately into fridge and let cool completely.
Melt 2/3 cup Skippy Natural peanut butter to spreadable consistency in a pyrex measuring cup. I microwaved it for a minute. Spread over the base and cool in the fridge.
Melt 1 cup of chocolate chips in the microwave for 1 minute. Don't overcook the chocolate chips or they'll harden up. Stir for a minute or two. If you need a little more time and the lumps aren't all getting out, microwave for 15 seconds more. When all the lumps are out, pour over the peanut butter and spread with a spatula. When cool, cut and eat them!
Today, I made a bigger pan. I have a half size bun pan (half of the commercial size cookie sheet). It has a low lip, so it works really well for this bar. At the cafe, they used full size bun pans to make them.
1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
4 cups uncooked rolled oats
1/2 cup corn syrup
1 cup peanut butter
1 1/3 cups chocolate chips
If you try them, I hope they turn out well for you!
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