2 Winners

Sadly, I have no pictures, but that is a testimony to just how good these two recipes are. {because we ate them before I could snap a photo!}
Don't you just sometimes crave chocolate?  That is a common occurrence in our home.  This is the typical scene. 

A young, handsome, ravenous teen waltzes into the kitchen, opens the refrigerator   

and stares into it hoping there will be just the thing to satisfy his appetite.  Dissatisfied   

with the choices (or lack of, in his opinion) he closes the door, only to reopen it in a few

moments hoping that something has magically appeared.  To his dismay, and finally

convinced that there is nothing - and will be nothing - in the refrigerator, he turns to 

Hannah, with pleading, puppy dog eyes and asks, "Would you Pa-leeease make some

cookies?"

We first got this recipe from our dear friend who is a whiz in the kitchen.  Her original recipe is wonderful.  Hannah modified the recipe to be dairy and gluten free.  Truth be told, I think I like the df/gf version even better.  Here is the cookie recipe for you.

THOSE GF CHOCOLATE COOKIES
1-1/4 c. shortening (we use Spectrum)
2 c. sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1-1/2 c. almond flour (Bob's Red Mill)
1/2 c. coconut flour (Bob's Red Mill)
3/4 c. cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp. salt
1 c. chocolate chips

Cream together eggs, vanilla, sugar, and shortening.
Add the dry ingredients, and chocolate chips.  Mix dough in an electric mixer just until combined.
Roll dough into balls and roll the ball in sugar.
Place on a cookie sheet and flatten with the heel of your hand.
Bake at 350. for 8-10 minutes.
Makes about 30 cookies.


Another recipe for you that Hannah recently tweaked was for
Chocolate Zucchini Cake

1-1/2 c. almond flour
1/2 c. coconut flour
2 c. sugar
3/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
4 eggs
1-1/2 c. coconut oil (or other oil)
3 c. grated zucchini
3/4 c. chopped walnuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350.  Grease and flour a 9 x 13 pan.  (She used Pam only).  In a medium bowl, combine the dry ingredients.  Add the eggs and oil, mix well.  Fold in the nuts and zucchini until they are evenly distributed.  Pour into prepared pan.  Bake for 50-60 minutes or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. 
Cool cake completely before frosting with your favorite frosting (Or eat just as is - like we did! )

Hope you enjoy as much we did!

What's cookin'?

Sometimes I like to see how other people do things.  I like to get new ideas.  I am a wonderful copy cat!,but I tweak it if I need to so that it works for me. 

I thought I'd show you how I menu plan.  I made this chart up in MS Word years ago.

If you are unfamiliar with Word - here is what I did.
  1.  Make your title first (whatever you want above your chart.)
  2.  INSERT (In the drop down menu choose table.)
  3.  Select the number of columns and rows you desire.
  4.  Adjust squares for font space and for empty spaces.
  5.  Repeat, if more grids are desired.

I created the space where the days of the week are to allow for writing in the date.  This helps me with planning for any special event (like a birthdays, or guests, or meetings.)

Over the years I have found that planning for the same type of meal on a specific day allows me to plan simply, yet gives us variety.  I use this idea for all the meals. For example.  Breakfast for Monday is muffins.  Each Monday it's a different type of muffin.   Another day we have yogurt with granola, etc.  This is a super easy way to plan.  I know it's not for everyone as some would think this boring, but that's why we don't have the same kind of muffin.  It's different each week.

Lunch is often leftovers or whatever is easy - I don't really plan lunches, I just try to have "stuff" available. 

For suppers I use the same method.  Mondays we have soup and homemade bread.  Each Monday will be a different soup.   I just started having salad and sandwich night.  I usually grill up some yummy Panini sandwich and try a new salad.  So far, so good! 

Some advantages of the way I menu plan.

• I am a visual person and having the grids (like a calendar) lets me get an overall feel for how much of certain things we are eating.  I can balance our meat and meatless dishes a little better - which is better for the budget.
• It helps us use fresh, in season fruits and vegetables. 
• I can more accurately plan quantities (cans of beans needed, for example) - preventing those unexpected stops to the store.
• It makes variety easy - something different each night.
• It has made cooking with food allergies easier.  For example, on soup and bread night - I just make sure the soup is a soup with ingredients we can all eat.  The bread is the side and can be omitted by those who need to.
• It allows for the older children to know what is planned so they can make dinner. :-)

Periodically, I'll go and change the categories of meals.  After all everyone has their likes and dislikes.

Hope this helps you.  I'd love to hear what you've got cookin'.

A day in the life

Sometimes I just wonder where the time goes.  I know that the Grandpas and Grandmas wonder what fills our days.   

Here is a peek into our ordinary life.

 A silly Baby Mary in her jammies wearing my favorite boots.

 Daniel playing Duplos with Abbie

Brushing and braiding beautiful, long hair.

 

 

 Daniel doing some school.  Learning all the names of the months, the order they come in, and how many days each has can be confusing.  I thought we'd make some fun out of it.  I found some 12 x 12 card stock paper with the calendar grid already printed on it.   He decorated January and February.  At the end of February we'll get supplies for March and April and May - the spring months.

 Piano practice

 

The goats come out of the barn to see if this time there might be something to graze on.   "Blah, more of this cold, white stuff!" 

We do not have any in milk right now so the chores are minimal,

just feeding, watering and pen cleaning. 

It's been so cold that last week's snow hasn't melted much.

 The garden is sleeping under a blanket of snow,

but we are dreaming of what we'd like to plant next year.  

 Ellie working hard on phonics.  We are moving slowly and steadily.

I can't wait for the magical day when reading "clicks".  I consider myself so incredibly privileged to teach this skill and instill the love of learning in her. 

Hannah doing her school...on her own comfy bed!  Our whole house is a school house. ;-) 

Mary having a play time.  She is at the age where she gets into EVERYTHING!  While she loves to be with each of us, she plays on her own very well too.

 

 

and then there is juicing.  My goal is to juice each day, but really, it's more like 4-5 days per week.  It's amazing just how much flavor strawberry tops add to juice! 
So delicious. {Thanks for the idea, Keri}

 

 

Lots of dress up happens too.

 

And all this before lunch!

 

Just a bit

 

The forecast said that snow was possible for the foothills...

 

Yep, that's us.  We got about 6". 

 

The girls were super excited to play in the snow first thing this morning. 

All morning Mary Anne kept looking out the window saying, "no, no"  {translation= "snow, snow"}
So this evening, when all the kids went out to play in it before supper, I bundled up Mary too.  By the time I got her dressed in all her snow clothes, she looked like a big, colorful ball.   With all the layers, she could only waddle out to the snow.    

I came in to finish supper and could hear lots of squeals and laughter.  We've got some good hills for sledding and snow boarding!

Did you know...it's a proven fact that hot chocolate with whipped cream tastes so much better after playing in the snow.  

No Greater Love

Is life in vain?
Are we ghosts rattling chains?
When we get what we want
Are the problems still the same?
Cause my hands can't heal
While I'm holding on so tight
And my heart won't care enough
To pick a better fight

Show me the beauty of a life
Show me the beauty of a life
Show me the beauty of a life

No greater love
No greater love
Can you say there's no greater love?

Is it still my turn?
I think I'm the last one left to learn
That the life I lose
Is the least of my concerns

Show me the beauty of a life
Show me the beauty of a life
Show me the beauty of a life

No greater love
No greater love
Can you say there's no greater love?
No greater love
No greater love
Can you say there's no greater love?

So show me the beauty of a life
Show me the beauty of a life
Show me the beauty of a life laid down

Show me the beauty of a life laid down
Laid down
Show me the beauty of a life

No greater love
No greater love
Can you say there's no greater love?
No greater love
No greater love
Can you say there's no greater love?

So show me the beauty of a life
Show me the beauty of a life
Show me the beauty of a life laid down

Jars of Clay -The Shelter album

I was driving home when this song came on through my Zune.  It made me think.

The ultimate example of sacrifice is Christ, of course.   The cross.  
Since I am to be an imitator of Christ {as a Christian} then it begs the question...am I showing this kind of sacrificial love?  Am I willing to put my own desires, plans, schedule aside to serve someone else?  

Lord, give me
           a heart full of compassion,
                         eyes to see the needs,  
                                 and a life laid down!  

Snuggle up and read a good book

Old books.

The rough cut edges of the pages, the cloth or leather cover, the choice of words and use of language in an artful way ~ a way not commonly used today,

and the treasure of the story found inside.
These are the things I look for in a book.

Books let you travel to far away, romantic, or adventurous places.

They allow you meet intriguing people.

They encourage you to think, to ponder and to muse.

"I will have to tell you: you have bewitched me, body and soul,
and I love, I love, I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on".

I recently found a little treasure by Jane Austen entitled,

Love and Friendship and Other Early Works.

 
The cold, winter weather is enticing me to stay inside, snuggle up by the fire, and read a good book ~ I hope to read this one soon.  

Movie adaptations often differ from the book version, but

I adore the Pride and Prejudice movie with Kiera Knightley.

I never tire of Emma with Gwyneth Paltrow.

There is something about that time period and lifestyle that is so enchanting.

 

 

Take the Jane Austen Character Quiz here!

I took this quiz just for fun. {It's no wonder I love the quote above!}

What character you are?  Take the quiz and tell me, won't you?  :-)
 

Twenty - thirteen

2013.

Deep friendships
Purposeful
Passionate
Joy
Faith
Hope
Love
Contentment
Quiet
Fun
Laughter
Creativity
Real
Pure
Simple

{ and then there is coffee, really good food, sunshine, surfing, beaches, and healthy living }

These I seek in earnest in 2013, but above all, an unwavering faith in God, in His Word, in His sovereignty, in His gentle leading and guiding of my life in whatever may come.

May this year for you be full of cherished memories and few regrets.