Muffins

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 beaten egg (preferably in small fiesta cup)
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup oil

~grease muffin tin (this recipe makes between 10-12 muffins) or line with paper cups.

In a medium mixing bowl, stir together dry ingredients.  Make well in center, pour in egg, milk, and oil.  Gently stir until slightly mixed.  Add a teacup full of berries and lightly stir them into batter.  Spoon mixture into muffin tins, place in oven and bake at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes, or until lightly golden.

Let rest in pan about 5 minutes then tip out over a wire cooling rack.  Turn them over and sprinkle white sugar on top.  Add a small pat of fresh butter. . . .and watch them disappear.

I made these yesterday and ate one.  When I went back to get another, they were all gone.  I was disappointed until I found one half eaten on the floor of the livingroom, by Caleb’s choo-choo track.  Was is bad that I ate it?

 jam mama. . . .

I haven’t made jam for two years and I’ve been wanting to.  Yesterday I got myself off the couch at about 11 and drove down the road to a fruit and veggie stand.  I bought 4 quarts of fresh native strawberries that were just picked that morning, from a very nice country lady who was sitting with an old old lady behind the produce table. 

Then, we stopped at the grocery store to pick up a bag of sugar, a box of certo, and a case of jam jars.

I got home, cleaned the kitchen, got all my things organized and made two batches of jam.   A batch of strawberry and a batch of strawberry rhubarb.

You should have seen small Grace diving into the warm cup of jam that I set out on the table, with a loaf of soft white bread from the bakery.  She tore of big chunks of bread and dipped the majority of it down into the bright red jam. . . .there is just nothing like that warm, strawberry taste. . . .it’s heavenly.

She called me “jam-mama”.

I woke up last night at 12:30 and Rich was not home yet so I called him.  His plane had just landed, and he pulled in the driveway at about 1:30.  I had the poor guy up at 5 this morning. . . .needless to say, he’s tired but we’re about to go out with the kids and have fun.  It is so good to have my husband back home!

Happy Saturday to all my friends~

love, Shanda   (jam mama)

My cat, Spot, is driving me nuts.  He is lost without Patches (Patches is our little cat that got hit and killed in the road a few weeks ago) and meows forlornly at night.  Last night was the third night in a row that I have been awakened by him crying out on the porch under my window.  So sadly.  I get up, let him in, and then he meows around the house. . . .oh, what to do???  I lost hours of sleep last night because of my poor CAT.   Poor ME, I should say!

So, it was a difficult morning for me, waking up.  I ate my bowl of cereal while Rich worked on his laptop and Caleb (the first one up) watched Kipper the dog on TV.

After eating, I walked over to my small vegetable garden, and harvested a handful of radishes.

Then, I meandered into the woods. . .how refreshing it was.  So cool and dark, with just a hint of morning sunshine coming through the trees.  “Why don’t I walk in here every morning?”,  I thought to myself.

This is what we call the “dam trail”, no cars drive on this road, it leads to a watershed area.  It’s just below our house.

The words from Spurgeon that I shared here yesterday encouraged me a great deal, and I see that they encouraged many of you as well.  My heart was so stirred that I began really reading chunks of the Bible to my children.  I read to them all, including 2 year old Caleb, who got a dose of Genesis (the first chapter) while he ate his cheerios.  I didn’t talk or try to explain verses, I just read the words.  I read the first 4 chapters of Psalms to Grace, and about 5 chapters of 1 Samuel to the boys.  In all, yesterday I read about a total of 10 chapters out loud.

This morning I read the 2nd chapter of Genesis to Caleb and David, and the first 3 chapters of James to Jacob and Ethan, all while they were eating their morning cereal.  I haven’t read anything to Grace yet, but I will.

I hope and pray that God will continue to keep this desire in my heart, to read the pure Word to my children.  I feel I must be faithful in this.

*******

Well, it’s been the hottest week of spring/summer for us here so far.  Yesterday I took the children to Barnes and Noble and on our way home, we passed the bank and saw that the temperature was 104 degrees (thankfully, it won’t be that hot today).  The children have been swimming in the pond a lot. 

Today, I encouraged them (hee hee) to go out into the woods “for the day”.  Caleb, being too young, has to stay home with me.  They haven’t been gone long and I’ve already seen Grace two times.  The first time she came back to give me matches.  She had taken them away from David, who was trying to light them in the woods.  The second time she came back she said, “We forgot one thing.  A bathroom.”  I hope they get settled now.  They took a lot of stuff with them and I am going to make them a picnic.  I just boiled some eggs for deviled eggs, and after I am done here I am going to make no-bake cookies.

Here they are, walking by our long pond (they don’t swim in this one, they catch big bullfrogs out of it).  It’s a perfect day for them to play in the woods.  And yes, they are all coated generously with OFF!  Be gone, ticks!

(picture added later on in day, during naptime)

No-Bake Cookies for Mamas who have run out of cocoa:

3 cups of sugar
3/4 cup butter
3/4 cup milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 cups peanut butter
4 1/2 cups oats

Bring sugar, butter, and milk to a rapid boil–boil 1 minute.  Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and peanut butter.  Mix in oats and drop on waxed paper to cool.

The eggs (perfect lunch for a hot day)  Jacob had 4, Ethan had 4, Grace had 3 1/2 (why half?  Because Caleb started eating one and said, “I not like that” so Grace finished it), and I had.  . . .one.

(picture added later on in day)

 I really love my egg plate,  It makes me happy to use it.  An antique store find, less than $5

(By the time I was done writing this and proof-reading it, David was back home for no good reason, and Ethan came home crying because he fell into the stream and hurt his toes). . . . . . .ugh. . . . . . .

So much for the day in the woods.

We went to Orlando, FL last month for a family vacation.  We spent most of our time at Disney, but there was one day that we had free time and Rich used that day to take Grace to the resort equestrian center for a horseback riding lesson.

Grace loves horses!  She does not have regular lessons here at home, but we thought it would be so special for her to visit the horse farm and have a riding lesson while we were on vacation.  It was worth every penny, as it made a lasting impression on her and will always be a wonderful memory.

I am much more high-strung than Rich (he is very laid back), so I asked him if he would just take her and it would be a special time for just the two of them.  I was so very thankful that we had packed a pair of pants for her and she looked so cute with her little white blouse and her hair in two french braids.  She was able to rent a pair of boots.

I gave Rich the camera, set to “auto” and told him to take lots and lots of pictures, knowing if he did, he would no-doubt get some really good ones.

I was thrilled to look through the photos when they returned, and listen to her tell me all about her experience.

So, while the boys and I watched re-runs of “I love Lucy” and played beachball-volley ball in our hotel room, Grace was doing this:

I really like this picture:

Is anyone having trouble with xanga this morning, or is it just me?  I had to fight with my computer to get this post up!  And blogging is normally so relaxing!  **argh**

Anyway, I hope everyone has a good day.  I am probably going to venture out with the children, we’ve been home a lot and they all seem to be getting restless.  I am going to take them to Old Sturbridge Village, in Massachusetts. 

*************************

Here is a recipe for Orange Slush that I made last night for the kids (Rich worked late).  We all liked it.

1 cup water
1 can (6oz) orange juice concentrate
1 carton (6oz) vanilla yogurt
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup cold milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
10-12 ice cubes

Combine everything but the ice in a blender and process unto smooth.  Add ice cubes, a few at a time, until mixture achieves desired thickness.  Pour into chilled glasses (yeah right, LOL); serve immediately. 

This is the perfect amount for a mom and five children.  David even had seconds.

we ate popcycles. . . . .

we went for a walk by the stream

and found this little guy:

We climbed rocks

and looked for more creatures. . . . . .

We found pretty wild flowers. . ..

and made no-bake cookies.

David (dripping wet from swimming and still in his life-jacket) wants that one:

NO BAKE COOKIES

3 T. cocoa
2 c. sugar
1/2 c. shortening
1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. peanut butter
1 t. vanilla
3 c. oatmeal
1/2 c. nut meats

Boil all of the following:  cocoa, sugar, shortening and milk for 2 minutes.  Then add peanut butter, vanilla, oatmeal, and nut meats.  Drop on wax paper and let harden.

Also, on a hot day sometimes it’s a good idea to hang out in the kitchen sink:

toes

May I indulge in a show and tell?    On my kitchen windowsill you see: a blue glass vase that reminds me of my mom because she collects blue glass.  A fiesta teapot clock is behind the vase.  I found it at a tag sale for 10 CENTS!  See that piece of wood?  It’s something I picked up on a walk, the knot fell out leaving a perfect circle.  I stand at the sink and look at the perfect circle and think about God.  The piece of wood is in a thingy that you use for canning to keep the rim clean while you add the hot liquids (I don’t know the name of it).  I love my old canning jar that I filled w/old white buttons.  Last but not least is my little nutmeg grater, a vase of wildflowers that Jacob picked for me, and a small pitcher that has loose change in it.  They are all things that I like to look at. 

What do you have on your kitchen-sink windowsill?

It’s another hot morning but I’ve heard that a thunderstorm is coming.  I may get to run around outside in the rain today! 

By the way, that picture above of the stream reminds me of Psalm 23.  Maybe one of you can quote it in your comment. 

Yesterday when I found out that Kathy was coming over with her four kids I got to work making COOKIES.

It has become very important to me to have homebaked treats in the house. 

When I read of someone’s food memories about the women in their life, it touches a chord in me because I understand that feeling.

I think of an elderly lady that I used to care for, she was 98, and she repeated the same stories over and over to me.  One of the stories was about her homemade ketchup. . not just about the ketchup, but about the neighborhood children who would come to her house and say, “Can I have a piece of your homemade bread with some homemade ketchup?”  It’s a funny food combination, but after all those years, here was an old lady at the end of her life, remembering the little children who loved her cooking.

( I remember:  Grandma’s cookies, Grandma’s chicken, Mom’s brownies and everything else she makes, Aunt Mary’s cookies, Aunt Carol’s sweet potato casserole, Aunt Colleen’s iced tea and cucumber sandwiches.)

It’s a way to show love, you know!  In the kitchen!  It’s also a way to make really good memories. 

That’s what I want.  I want my friend’s little ones to grow up and come visit me and say, “I remember those muffins you used to make”. . . . “I remember those cookies”.  

It also makes the house smell delicious!

I want to be remembered for my (simple, homebaked, full of love)- food.

Coconut Drop Cookies (from the April/May issue of Taste of Home)

1 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups old fashioned oats
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups flaked coconut
1 cup chopped walnuts, optional

In a large mixing bowl, cream the shortening and sugars.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Beat in vanilla.  Combine the flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well.  Stir in coconut and walnuts.

Drop by rounded tablespoons 3 in. apart onto greased cookie sheets.  Bake at 350 for 11-14 minutes or until lightly browned.  Cool for 2 minutes before removing to cooling racks.  Store in airtight container.  Yield: 5 dozen

Do you have a food memory? 

Baked Oatmeal

A recipe from Amish country in
Lancaster county, PA

(from a bed and breakfast we stayed in
which is owned by an Amish couple)

1/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup milk

Mix all together in a loaf pan.
Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes.

This is a recipe that I make for Rich and myself.  If the kids happen to want some than that’s great.  If not, there’s more for me!

I would eat this with a side of fresh fruit and a glass of cold milk.

The original recipe is doubled and baked in a 9 by 13.

One of my favorite xanga sites, which belongs to my cousin Elisha:

http://www.xanga.com/ElishaDecker   

Pray for me today.  I have had 2 nights of wakeful hours.  Added to the fact that yesterday was so busy means that this morning I feel quite . . .drained.

Verse to share:  “As a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him.  He remembereth that we are dust.”  Psalm 103 

Comforting verse! 

Thumb cookies (from Tasha Tudor’s cookbook, don’t think about frozen critters as you read this)

1 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 tsp salt
2 eggs
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp almond extract
1 (8 oz) jar raspberry jam

Preheat oven to 350.  Line 2 cookie sheets w/parchment paper.

In a large bowl, mix together all the ingredients except the raspberry jam, in the order given.  Roll the dough into teaspoon-sized balls and make indentations with your thumb, fill indentations w/rasp. jam.

Bake for 10-15 minutes until delicately brown.  Cool. 

Pineapple Cookies (this is from an old community cookbooks that my G.Grandma gave me years ago.)

1 c. shortening
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 c. crushed pineapple w/juice
1/2 c. nuts
3 1/2 flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. nutmeg

Mix shortening, sugar and egg.  Stir in pineapple. Stir together flour, soda, salt and nutmeg and add to bowl; stir.  Mix in nuts (I never add nuts)  Chill at least 1 hour.  Drop onto greased cookie sheet.  Bake at 400 for 8-10 minutes.

SThe Recipe Box S

Salmon with Creamy Dill Sauce 

1 salmon fillet (about 2 pounds)
1 to 1 1/2 t. lemon pepper seasoning
1 t. onion salt
1 small onion, sliced and separated into rings
6 lemon slices
1/4 cup butter

DILL SAUCE:
1/3 cup sour cream
1/3 cup mayo.
1 T. finely chopped onion
1 t. lemon juice
1 t. prepared horseradish
3/4 t. dill weed
1/4 t. garlic salt

(I have this taped to the wall in my kitchen by the mixer.)

make food:  one of life’s simple pleasures