Flour Power!

Baking bread really shouldn't require so much clean up, but when kids are involved, time is the essence of cleanup.

The kids were great until it got a little out of hand. Really? Did you have to put it in her barely-there hair? Now when I put her in the tub it's going to make a beautiful creamy paste on her head! Oh and it did, she was a pasty mess in the tub. Took extra bubbles to get that out.

You can barely see my nice bread dough on the counter. This was my first successful attempt at making my Grandmothers sweet rolls. I used my mixer for 1/2 the job then did the mixing manually. That seems to be the key. I think the mixer mixes too much (if that makes any sense!).

Oh he looks so proud of how well he buried his sister in flour! She had a great time too - slapping her hands in the piles of it on her highchair. Crazy kids!

Being Frugal

Check out this great website for frugal idea's and coupons galore!!
http://thefrugalgirls.com/

Staying Up Past Dark

It was such a beautiful night that we just had to enjoy it. We roasted hot dogs and made s'mores! Daniel loved it. Not to mention he slept great that night. Maybe keeping him up later is the key? Maybe it was that cool fresh air?!

"What? I get to stay up late!! Oooh I'm so excited!!"

"Thanks for the special snack Dad!"

"Mmmmm. This tasted great but I only had two bites because I was so busy making 'parking lots' with my sidewalk chalk". 

"Oh no! MOM, I need a napkin!"

Raspberry Cheeks

We took a trip to the farm on Monday to pick raspberries and raid the garden. Although we were contending with the honey bees who were busy at work, we picked a pretty nice amount of berries.

Little miss raspberry cheeks!

We also found a bunch of celery! That was fun, I've never picked fresh celery before. Smelled so good!

Lydia chomped on the celery, along with a fresh carrot. 

Daniel loves giving Lydia kisses! She giggles. 

Happy Birthday

Yea, so where did those last 3 years go??

Mmmm, best cake ever. I found a really good recipe a few years ago. Makes the perfect, super moist, heavy, chocolate cake! Secrect ingredient - coffee (decaf in this case).

Spent the day at the zoo

Nice kitty, nice kitty

Such a great game!

Duplo

Cake and ice cream with friends.

Fun day!

Freezing Corn

Every year we freeze about 50 bags of fresh sweet corn. It's enough for about 1 bag per week. This year my parents grew enough corn for us to freeze what we needed. It's one of those 'family fun' things to look forward to in the fall.

Here's how we do it:

• Find 2 huge stock pots and start boiling water
• Husk about 6-7 dozen cobs of corn
• Add 8-12 cobs per stock pot, let water come to a boil again and cook for about 10 minutes.
• Take cobs out with tongs and put them in ice cold water (well water is great for this)
• Add 8-12 more cobs of corn to the boiling water before it begins to cool
• After the cobs have chilled for a bit (about 10 minutes) put them on the counter to cool down and rest.
• Continue the process until all cobs are cooked and cooled.
• Next, cut the corn off the cob. A corn cob peeler saves a lot of time and effort.  
• Measure about 2 cups per 1/2 gallon zip lock bag
• Label and freeze
• Will keep in the freezer for 1 year

The finished product, bagged up and ready to freeze.

I usually lay them flat in the freezer and spread them out for a day so they can freeze properly. Then I'll stack them in a pile.

Decorative Painting

My little man loves to paint and since my husband, the talented woodworker that he is, had a few extra shelves that he didn't want, we decided to splash them with color.

Because we would be using acrylic paint I decided it would be best to do this outside. It was a lovely day anyway! I covered our miniature picnic table with an old plastic table cloth and taped it on underneath so it wouldnt blow away. I used an old egg carton to put puddles of paint in, an old black bowl filled with water to wash out the brushs and one of Dad's old t-shirts to protect clothes.

 The day before, they painted the board white. This was a good idea so our colors would show up really good. I had some makeup sponges to dabble on paint with and we found some wooden circles to use as stamps. But the brushes were the most fun of course!

The finished product! We waited a couple hours for one layer of paint to dry before we added a few more colors. The colors end up matching my kitchen wall so I think that's a perfect place to hang it up!

Egg Allergies

When I went to have coffee with my friend, I brought the nummy fruit salad (previous post) because her son has an egg allergy. He is also allergic to peanuts and some dairy.

No eggs for you!

When her son was born she nursed him until he was a year old and that entire year he had a slight rash and hive like bumps, but her pediatrician assured her that he was fine. Since Mommy knows best, she got a second opinion and took him to an allergist. Results showed that he was allergic to egg, peanuts, wheat and dairy!! This turned her world upside down!

Travis, now 6, has been able to have some dairy and wheat but is still deathly allergic to egg and peanuts. He eats a lot of fruit, vegetables and meat. She said it has been a blessing because it has forced her family to create much healthier meals. The day I was there, he had the fruit I brought and corn on the cob for a snack! Now, if all kids would do that, they could have vending machines in schools again!!

But wait, you CAN have dessert!

So back to having coffee - I always like to bring a dessert or pastry when I visit friends but I had the hardest time finding a cookie, bar or cake recipe that did not have a single egg in it. I learned that there is egg substitute that you can purchase to replace eggs in any recipe! Who knew!

And even cookies for a snack!!

My friend showed me what she makes when she bakes. From Cherrybrook Kitchens, these Arthur chocolate chip cookies are super soft and delicious! She said they are expensive so it's a treat when they can have them but look -- they are peanut free, dairy free, egg free and nut free!! That covers all allergies for her!! I was totally amazed that they make something like this. Cherrybrook has a huge variety of baking mixes that are all peanut free, dairy free, egg free and nut free. I thought for sure she ordered them online but she told me they can be purchased in the organic foods section at the local grocery store.

I'm so thankful for the allergies that God gave to the people who created Cherrybrook Kitchen - I'm not so sure they are thankfull, but they are able to help out everyone else with the same problem.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him..." Romans 8:28

Fresh Summer Fruit Salad

nummmy nummy fruit in the tummy!

I went to have coffee with a friend the other day and decided to bring fruit rather than a pastry like I usually do. I opened the fridge and used any fruit I could find. This was a great way for me to use up fruits that were losing their freshness. So here's the simple recipe:

Summer Fruit Salad

1 baby watermelon - seedless, diced

1 cantaloupe, seeds removed, diced

1 quart fresh strawberries, hulled, sliced

2 cups grapes, sliced

1 pineapple, diced

2 apples, diced with 1TB fresh lemon juice

1/2 cup orange juice

1/4 cup mint leaves if you have them on hand

Add: kiwi, blackberries, raspberries or any other fruit you have on hand. 

**The orange juice was the key to making it extra sweet and juicy! 

Mine held up for 2 days in the fridge. 

A couple spoonfuls of this fruit salad twice a day and you will have eaten your days worth of fruit. The food pyramid suggests 2-4 servings of fruit each day. One serving can be: 

• One apple, orange or banana 
• A 1/2 cup chopped fruit 
• 3/4 cup of 100% fruit juice 

Although it's expensive, we need to have it in our diets to stay strong and healthy so eat up!!

HG Music Festival Food and Fun!

We attended Higher Ground Music Festival last weekend. Camped in our old hunting shack of a camper and had a pretty good time. My favorite part about camping is always the FOOD!

Lydia enjoyed the cooler of food too! 

We made mini pizza's over the fire...two slices of bread with any kind of fillings you can think of! 

Thanks Dad!

Schwans Bomb Pops to cool off.

S'mores. Try adding carmel topping next time! mmmm

My personal bag of Kettle Corn. I look forward to this popcorn every year! It's the perfect combination of sweet and salty. I found a website where you will soon be able to have fresh kettle corn shipped to your house! If that's a little extreme here is the recipe to do it at home - Kettle Corn Recipe

Flying high with Dad

One of those jumping things with a slide

Too pooped to party!

24 hour Crock Pickles

I'm always amazed at what one little seed can produce!

My mom came over the other day with a bucket of fresh cukes, well knowing that I probably wouldn't have the time to actually can them so she showed me this quick alternative. The only difference is that these cant be Christmas gifts because their fridge life is about 6 months.

  

Only a few on-hand ingredients are needed; vinegar, canning salt, sugar, a crock, canning jars and veggies from the garden - dill, onion and cukes.  

Recipe:
5-6 medium sized cukes fresh from the garden. You can use the tiny ones too!
1 medium sized onion - any color, sliced
Dill from garden
3/4 c. sugar
1/4 c. canning salt
2 pints water
1 pint vinegar

• Boil together sugar, salt, water and vinegar.
• Cut cukes lengthwise as big or little as you prefer. I cut out the seeds - just my own personal preference. 
• Place dill and onion on the bottom of your crock, add the cukes and another stem of dill on top. Pour liquid over the top.  
• Cover and let sit on counter for 24 hours. 
• Transfer to canning jars and refrigerate for up to 6 months in canning jars. 

Simple, quick and really tasty. 

Not everyone has a garden around here and might really enjoy fresh pickles so I think I'll put a ribbon around
the lid, with
a little label and give a few jars out to my neighbors. 

Daniels first pickle - 2010

Spuds, Bugs and DE

I walked in the house the other day and 

this was sitting on my counter! 

In the spring Daniel helped plant the potato's so now that it's time to dig them up, he gets all excited to dig in the dirt and grab the big ones, but his favorites are the little tiny ones! I have found that if they plant and pick them, they'll eat them!

These nasty little creatures lived short lives in our garden this year. We got rid of any in sight by stuffing them in a jar. Squished a few and actually had to toss a few plants because they were so eaten up. After about a week of that, they were gone!! Other years, if the the plants are covered in bugs, we could use Diatomaceous Earth (DE). 

"Diatomaceous Earth (D.E.) Organic Crawling Insect Killer With all the concerns about pesticides today - you can rest assured that Diatomaceous Earth is safe & effective. Made from the finely ground fossils of prehistoric fresh water diatoms. Diatomaceous Earth (D.E.) kills common household and garden pests like roaches, ants, fleas, beetles..."

Sprinkle it on the plants at the onset of potato bug season. To insects DE is a lethal dust with microscopic razor sharp edges. The sharp edges cut through the insects protective covering drying it out and killing them when they are either dusted with DE or if its applied as a wettable powder spray. If they ingest the DE it will shred their insides!! 

It's nice to know that if you use D.E rather than a poison, the food and the kids will still be safe in yard and garden! Basically DE is a powdered rock used as a nontoxic, all-natural insecticide; a form of unrefined diatomite (diatomite is a soft powdery porous rock). 

DE is NOT the same thing as the DE used in swimming pools. Pool grade DE, produced for pool filters, is treated with heat, causing the formerly amorphous silicon dioxide to crystallize. Pool grade DE should never be used for pest control.

Fishin' for Dinner

FISH! I don't know too many people who don't like fish, although we do live in the land of 10,000 lakes so you pretty much have to love it! I was also curious about the health Benefits and mercury consumption and here's what I found out....

Daniel and Lydia, heading to the 'lake' to go fishing!

Health Benefits:

• Eating fish gives us one of the highest quality proteins, vitamins and minerals! I love fish and could eat it just about every day. I'm talking about cold water fish like crappies, walleye and northern which are a little fattier than white-fleshed fish like cod and halibut, pollack and bass which are really low in fat.
• The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends eating a variety of 'fatty' fish at least twice a week as a preventative against cardiovascular disease! I wonder if that why my Grandpa is still strong and healthy after all his heart attacks and bypasses - Grandpa and Grandma lived on a lake for most of their life and ate fish all the time.

Mercury:

• Trace amounts of mercury are generally found in fish since it occurs naturally in soil, rocks, streams, lakes and oceans. But now the prevalence of mercury as an industrial byproduct has caused some fish to contain high levels. That would be older, larger predatory fish like shark, swordfish, mackerel and tile fish (which I don't think we'll find in our lakes!).
• Luckily if we eat fish that are lower on the food chain we shouldn't have to worry about mercury levels unless lake reports show high percentages, but even then it's just a warning to slow consumption. 
• Also, pregnant or nursing women have to be careful of the amount of consumption because it can cause harm the developing nervous systems.

Didnt catch much but had a great time trying!!

I'm glad to see that it's one of the best quality proteins you can get your hands on! I have to say, there is something amazing about FRESH fish, spiced and fried in butter! Best ever! And for some reason it ALWAYS tastes better when eaten at the lake! 

Red Raspberry Leaf

Aside from it's edible, sweet, delicious fruit, the raspberry plant is also known for it's amazing medicinal properties. The rapsberry leaves are especially beneficial for expectant mothers, and because of the high vitamin and mineral content, these leaves are also an herbal remedy for several other ailments as well!

For pregnancy:

• Red raspberry contains vitamins and minerals like vitamins A, B, C and E, potassium, phosphorus and calcium which make red raspberry leaves a tonic for pregnant women and boost the immune system. 
• The leaves contain carotenoids and alkaloids like fragrine. The alkaloid fragrine tones the muscles of the pelvic region and uterus so they can contract more efficiently during labor, making  the process of delivery easier, faster and less painful!! 
• Red raspberry leaf promotes better blood circulation, eases morning sickness, prevents  postpartum hemmorage, relieves constipation, prevents miscarriages and promotes lactation and bone development for baby. That's alot for a little fruit leaf. 

For Fertility:

• The leaves of the raspberry plant are believed to cure infertility in both men and women. Combining the leaf with red clover leaf can enhance it's benefits for fertility.
• Women with irregular menstrual cycles can take this leaf or tea to regulate their cycle and reduce PMS. 

Other Benefits For Everyone:

• Red raspberry leaves provide relief in diarrhea
• Ideal for treating skin irritation and improves skin firmness
• Prevents dehydration and lowers the level of blood sugar in diabetic patients
• Is used to treat flu, upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, fever and rubella

How to Prepare It:
Add 2 teaspoons of red raspberry leaves to 1 cup of boiling water. Allow the leaves to steep for 12-15 minutes to prepare the tea. The tea should be drank hot to get all the best benefits.

I either purchase bulk amounts of red raspberry leaf at the food co-op or order it online from Present Moment Herbs and Books. I store it in an air-tight jar in my cupboard. Every night (pregnant or not) I drink 2 large coffee cups of tea with 1 tablespoon of local honey. Sometimes I'll add peppermint and chamomile to it as well.

I have seen first hand the AMAZING benefits this tea has given me - from firmer skin to producing 'higher yields' in lactaion and easier labor and delivery. It tastes really good too.

Benefits & How To Use Flax Seed

FLAX - the most powerful food on the PLANET!! It has the proven possibility of reducing your risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke, cholesterol and diabetes. That's a lot of stuff for just a little seed to do!

Check out these benefits!!

Heart Disease:

The #1 killer in America! Helps reduce total cholesterol, LDL levels (bad cholesterol), triglycerides. Reduces clotting time, thereby reducing chance for heart attacks and strokes. Keeps arteries clear and pliable. 

Cancer: 

Flax seed is high in lignans which have anti-tumor properties. Lignans also act as antioxidants that could mirror the results of Tamoxifen, the anti-cancer drug for breast cancer. 

Constipation:
Flax seed's all natural fiber helps absorb water, which softens stools and allow it to pass through the colon quickly. Drink a lot of water when adding fiber to your diet because with out enough liquids fiber can actually cause constipation!

Menopause:
Flax is a phytoestrogen (an estrogen like substance found in plants). These phytoestrogens act as a natural hormone therapy to help stabilize hormonal levels.

Inflammation:
High in Omega-3 essential fatty acids, flax aid in inflammatory disorders like rheumatoid arthritis.

Immune System:
Flax contains lignans and ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), which affect immune cells and compounds that control immune reaction.

Depression:
A diet high in Omega-3 fatty acids decrease the risk of depression and Alzheimer's.

How can you use flax?

• Use it in baking - replace 1/4 to 1/2 c. of the flour with ground flax if the recipe calls for more than 2c. 
• Use it in cooking - meatloaf, beef stew, meatballs, chili, chicken parmesan or enchilada's.  Use 2-4TB.
• Use it everyday - in your oatmeal, smoothies, soup or yogurt. 
• Whole flax keeps longer - store in freezer for up to a year.

I like to keep a canning jar full of ground flax in my fridge for quick use on salads, cereal, hamburgers and...well,  I pretty much put a tablespoon or so in everything I cook!! Shhhhh, it's a secret!!

Choco-Cherry Grahams

Choco-Cherry Grahams are a kitchen creation! These are a super easy, fun snack for you and the kids. They would also be a nice addition to a children's birthday party... and simple enough to make at a picnic. 

A Decadent Delight!

Graham cracker square

Nutella spread

Maraschino cherries 

Marshmallows

Maraschino cherries are super sweet which gives it a rich flavor alongside the Nutella spread. Nutella is a hazelnut spread with skim milk and cocoa - tastes a lot like chocolate to me!