Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Lazy Daisy Cake

My mom once told me she remembers my grandmother making this cake for her as a kid, that story has always stuck with me and I'm sure is the reason I find this cake so remarkably cozy.
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Although there seems to be a million steps to making this cake, it really is remarkably simple. Hot milk and oven work aside, my boys made this cake with almost no help from me.

Lazy Daisy Cake

Cake:
1 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup milk
2 tbsp butter
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 cup sugar

Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt together in a large bowl. Heat the milk, butter and vanilla together just until the butter melts, remove from heat but cover pot to keep the mixture warm.
In a large bowl beat the eggs and sugar together until thick, alternately add the flour and milk mixtures to the egg mixture beginning and ending with the flour (flour, milk, flour, milk, flour). Beat until everything is just combined. Pour the batter into a parchment lined 8 inch sqaure pan and bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick comes out with only a few crumbs on it. Allow the cake to cool about 10 minutes while you prepare the icing...

Broiled Icing
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
3 tbsp butter, melted and cooled
3 tbsp evaporated milk
1/4 cup sweetened shredded coconut

Whisk together brown sugar, butter and evaporated milk, then stir in the coconut. Spread the mixture evenly over the warm cake. Place the cake back into the oven under the broiler (you can move the rack in the oven closer to the broiler if you like... I have a bad history with the broiler so I didn't...) and broil until the topping is bubbly and golden.

Let the cake cool slightly, cut into squares and enjoy!

Monday, April 1, 2013

Musical Monday: The Chickeneers

An interesting version of one of my current favorite songs...
Leave it to my mister to find this...

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

6 Months Old!

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Miss C turned 6 months old last week! So hard to believe how fast time seems to be going in her little life! Right now I'm estimating that she's about 15lbs. She's very dainty and petit just barely fitting into 6 month clothing... she has massive feet though... and lovely long fingers for her chubby little hand. She can sit up on her own and is loving rice cereal, she was an instant pro eating off a spoon. She gives very enthusiastic kisses, complete with a firm grip on either side of your face and all kinds of extra drool. She's still not much of a talker, she squeeks and squeels... sounds a bit like a monkey... and she says mama and dada. Dada she just babbles but my girl knows her mama (or she's at least made the connection that saying mama results in someone giving her attention)! She's become slightly picky with her song choices but "This little light of mine" is always a hit met with sweet little smiles. She has rolled over twice, but I have no illusions of her taking that hobby up, she's quite lazy when it comes to putting her on her belly and would really rather lie there then attempt to push up. Her room is finally ready and she'll be moving in at some point over the next few weeks... as soon as I can cope with her being too big for her Moses basket.

Monday, March 18, 2013

Musical Monday: Of Monsters and Men - Little Talks

I'm sure I've shared this one before but I do love it so! Seems I hear it every time I turn the radio on these days so thought I'd share it again!



Monday, March 11, 2013

Musical Monday: Lumineers - Hey Ho

Love this song!
Happy Monday my dear friend!

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Morning Glory Muffins

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We are a muffin loving family. Eating only one muffin at a time is a rare thing in this household. And as for those cute little mini muffins? Waste of time! My boys wont even believe they've eaten the equivalent to a large muffin until they've had about 10.
Because of our muffin love I'm always looking for healthier muffin options. While this isn't the healthiest you'll find it has carrots in it... so I feel like that's a small victory (and they are so good!)

Morning Glory Muffins
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/4 cups sugar
3 eggs
8 tbsp (1 stick/ 1/2 cup) butter, melted and cooled
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 medium carrots, peeled and grated
1, 8oz can crushed pineapple, drained and pressed dry with paper towels
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1 cup walnuts or pecans, chopped
1/2 cup raisins (optional)

Preheat oven to 375.
Whisk flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt together in a large bowl. In a small bowl whisk the sugar, eggs, melted butter and vanilla until smooth. Fold the sugar mixture into the flour mixture until is just combined. Fold in the carrots, pineapple, coconuts, nuts and raisins until just combined.
Scoop batter into greased or paper cup lined muffin tins and bake until a tooth pick comes out with a few crumbs on it, roughly 25-30 minutes.
Let the muffins cool in the pan for 5 minutes and then remove from pan and allow to cool on a cooling rack.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Life Right Now

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Waiting for transfer papers
Excited for this movie
Saving for this spinning wheel or this one... I just can't decide
Reading Proverbs and James
Drinking Fizz Tabs
Considering a new career path
Searching to define myself as more then just a mom
Expecting all kinds of company over the next few months
Cleaning everything! It's a strange and unknown side of me...
Watching Food Inc and The Bible
Sleeping very little
Thankful for all the clothes we have been given for Charlotte
Renovating bedrooms, 1 down 2 to go!
Donating toys and clothes by the bag full and loving it!
Making giraffe's, dolls, candles, pillows, blankets and so much more!
Eating almonds by the fist full

Monday, March 4, 2013

Musical Monday: Mumford and Sons - Wagon Wheel

My brother in law and his wife came for a visit last week and I heard him playing this song on his phone... naturally I have not been able to get it out of my head since. When I popped onto YouTube to try and find it I found a Mumford and Sons cover... ummm, que the ecstatic squealing? yes... yes...


So it has taken me a few months but I do think I am back on my feet now and you can start looking forward to some normal posting again... I know I've made the promise before, but this time I really mean it... I think...



Friday, February 15, 2013

Bits'n'Pieces

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1. My mister and his new toy
2. Sophie The Giraffe made her first appearance for Miss Charlotte!
3. My mister makes me teary eyed sometimes.
4. Valentine's!
5. Candles, candles and more candles. With all the annoying power outages we have been getting these babies are always close at hand.

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

5 Months!

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My Charlotte turned 5 months old yesterday! So hard to believe...
Right now she weighs 13 pounds and is a wearing a big 0-3 or small 3-6 month clothing. She loves her jolly jumper and chews everything in sight. She just discovered that big ol' left ear of hers and likes to bat and flick at it. She still isn't much of a talker but will squeal with delight when you smile at her and tell her she's pretty. If you laugh at her she will echo you quickly with her own little raspy giggles and she loves to be tickled by her daddy. She is still a very easy going baby and quite content although she has given up her dreamy sleeping habits, waking every 30-45 minutes at night (much like her brothers). Such precious times, I hope so much to remember every second of it!

Monday, February 11, 2013

Musical Monday: Fun - Some Nights

This song is pretty much always stuck in my head!

Happy Monday!

Friday, February 8, 2013

Bits'n'Pieces

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Life around here has been moving at a steady pace. We all seem to have something going on but are slowly figuring out how to mesh everything together so everything gets done.
I have been drinking lots of tea and thoroughly enjoying myself while doing it! I had forgotten just how wonderful tea can make you feel.
Charlotte is growing and changing so fast! She can entertain herself a bit, reach for toys and smack at them, bring things to her mouth to chew on and she loves her jolly jumper like it's no one's business!
I have developed a new love for water color paints... seriously the BEST form of paint for the boys... the mess is so much smaller, requires less prep (covering surfaces and what not) and, personally, I think it looks so much nicer! The boys love that they can still see the picture they are painting beneath the paints and they think turning their water into "mud" is the best thing on the planet.
I subscribed to a fiber club using some of my Christmas money and received my first shipment (this could have happened last week...) of a merino, silk blend... it is dreamy!
My mister bought a snowmobile so I am trying to barter for a spinning wheel... I'll keep you updated on my progress...

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Motherhood

I had plans for this week's posts... but I forgot to type them, go figure!
So in an effort to redeem myself I have included a song for your enjoyment... it pretty much explains everything...

Monday, February 4, 2013

Musical Monday: The Stella's - Perfect

Whew! February already! I'm not quite sure what happened to January or where it went, but all's well in our house hold, if not crazy busy.
I make no apologies for the little code of silence I had going on here last month, but am hoping to break it this month. I've been busy with some projects and working on my 4 F's... I'm afraid fitness is kind of taking over my life...
We can talk about that more later though! for now, lets get back on track with a musical monday...
Love the Stella's!

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Pickled Beets

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Ah beets, I'm not sure when I started loving them. As a child I hated them, but then something clicked and I realized just how wonderful they were. I have been having wild desires for pickled beets the past few months but refused to buy them pre-done in a can (that's another post entirely I'm afraid). Troubles with any pickling recipe I was finding though was they all made a ridiculously huge amount. An amount that would last my family the next 60 years. An amount that started with 10 pounds of beets! So I had enough... I improvised my own recipe scaling it down for a reasonable 2 pounds of beets and they are wonderful!!

Pickled Beets
2 pounds beets
1/3 cup white sugar
3/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup + 1 tbsp white vinegar
Small handful of whole cloves

Place beets in a large pot and cover with water. Boil until fork tender and remove from pot, reserve the beet water and allow everything to cool. Once the beets are cool enough to handle peel and cut into slices or cubes.
Fill sterilized jars with beets (I used 3 regular sized jars) and add several whole cloves to each jar (4-6 depending on your clove love).
In a large sauce pan add 1/3 cup reserved beet water, sugar, salt and vinegar and bring to a rapid boil. Pour the brine over the beets and seal the jars.
Place a rack (or tea towel) on the bottom of a large pot and fill halfway with water and bring the water to a boil. Carefully add the jars to the pot of water, adding more water if necessary to cover the jars completely (leave plenty of space between the jars). Bring the water to a full boil, cover and let the jars boil for 10 minutes. Carefully remove the jars from the pot and allow to cool!

Done and done!  

Monday, January 21, 2013

Musical Monday: Matthew West - Safe & Sound

Kinda love this song... makes me think of all my babies... makes me cry too... seriously, I cry at everything now that I'm a mama, but that's a whole other conversation...


Wednesday, January 16, 2013

The 4 F's of 2013

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It's January... the month where you set goals for the up coming year, vow to loose those last 10 pounds and watch how you spend your money so you can be a millionaire in 5 years. I understand, I've done it too... incase you are just tuning in I am crazy in love with goal setting!
This year though I decided to switch things up and not set any goals... not a one!
I have decided that instead of setting goals I am choosing areas in my life to focus on... with intention if you will.
I decided to stick to a letter theme, because something about that seems fun to me.
So I present to you, my 4 F's for 2013.

1. Faith - Every year I attempt to read my bible in 365 days... every year I fail. This year I decided that setting that goal in the past has never really been about completing the goal but more what it meant, sitting down and intentionally putting time and effort into my spiritual growth. So this year, no goal to read my bible in its entirety, but to just read it. To set aside time each day to read my bible, no matter if it's a few chapters or a few verses, and to pray.

2. Family - I am always thinking of ways to become a better mother, wife, daughter and sister. This year I am going to stop thinking and start acting, I am going to be more present in my kids lives, put more effort into showing my husband how much he means to me and put a greater effort into my longer distance relationships with family.

3. Friends - My mister's job causes us to move, and those that we are close with (who are often in the same profession) to move quite constantly as well. Because of all the moving it can become difficult to make and maintain friendships. I have decided to dedicate more of my time to making and maintaining good friendships. I'm not looking to up my contact list in my phone by any means, but I am looking to grow lasting relationships.

4. Fitness - There was a time (pre-kid, naturally) that I was fit. I might even say I was very fit, not extremely, but very. Then I had kids and finding the time to focus on my health and fitness became harder and harder. This year I've decided to try and get back in shape, don't read loose weight as this is just a side effect of the true focus here, to once again be able to run up the stairs or chase after my kids without getting winded.

I am so excited about 2013 and the focus and intention I am hoping it will bring!!

Monday, January 14, 2013

Musical Monday: Andrews Sisters - Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy Of Company B


This song sets the beat for my week and I'm loving it!

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Be Right Back

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We've had a busy last couple of weeks and are scrambling to catch up to the speed our lives have taken. I'm afraid I need to step away from the computer for a couple of days while I regain my footing from the holiday craziness!
See you in a week!

Monday, January 7, 2013

Z is for Zachary

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You thought I had forgotten hadn't you? No, no... forgetful I am not, just sometimes... delayed. Punctuality is not my strong suit.
I must say, naming a child a name that starts with the letter Z comes in quite handy for projects like this. While most people struggle to think of something creative or original all I have to do is look to my first born.
My Zachary... such a sweet and sensitive little boy. He has an incredibly soft heart and loves deeper then anyone I've ever met. He loves to cuddle, superheros and angry birds. He is learning to read so quickly and colors like a pro. He was the first part of my heart to grow legs and walk around outside of my body. He is the biggest helper any mama could ask for and snores like a 300 pound man!
Ah Zac... growing so fast it makes my heart ache.