Recipe Box

Yesterday was one of my favorite Saturdays ever as a family of five- in the morning we had a great little hike up Kennesaw Mtn in misty weather, followed by checking out a farmers market I haven't been to, followed by picking up a few cupcakes at a bakery I've been eyeing since we moved here. It was a sweet day from start to finish.

Sadly, my camera battery was dead, so I've got no photos to show for it. Instead, I'm passing on a few recent adventures in my kitchen.

1. Eggplant was on sale at Publix the other week, thus Eggplant and Portobello Mushroom Melts with Granna's Not Really Fried Okra. The sandwiches were awesome- Jake was a big fan, so there's hope your husband might be, too.

2. I know I mentioned I'm into okra this summer- we also tried this Okra and Corn Maque Choux. I should have taken a picture because it is so colorful, but most dinnertimes hardly have time for eating, much less photographing!

3. Scarlotte asked for the recipe for Jake's cake at his surprise party. It's a long funny story that I'll tell at some point- but the cake itself is a dark chocolate box mix. The icing is Julie Boldt's recipe that she gave me when Jake and I were newlyweds- it is SO easy and absolutely amazing every time. I even used it on some cupcakes for Jake's office the other day, and it piped perfectly out of the bag.

Mocha Icing

2 sticks butter, softened

1 1 lb. box of powdered sugar

1 T instant coffee granules

Dissolve coffee into 1 T cool water. Cream butter, add sugar in small amounts, beating after each addition. When half the sugar has been added, mix in small amounts of coffee alternately with remaining sugar. *If you want an even stronger coffee taste, you can always add a little more coffee and thicken the icing with a tad more powdered sugar.

4. Sandy gave me that Deceptively Delicious book by Jessica Seinfeld a few years ago- the one that sneaks fruit and veggie purees into normal dishes. Since I am constantly pureeing fruits and veggies for the twins, I thought I might get into doing a little extra to try some of these recipes. My first one was a HUGE hit for the three of us old enough for peanut butter.

Peanut Butter and Banana Muffins

nonstick cooking spray

1 c firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup natural peanut butter

1/2 cup carrot or cauliflower puree (I used carrot)

1/2 cup banana puree

1 large egg white

1 cup whole wheat flower

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1. Preheat oven to 350, coat 12 cup muffin tin with cooking spray or line with baking cups.

2. In a large mixing bowl, use a wooden spoon to mix 1/2 c brown sugar with the peanut butter, vegetable and banana purees, and the egg white.

3. Put flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl or ziploc and stir or shake to mix. Add to bowl with peanut butter mixture and stir just to combine (batter will be lumpy, do not overmix.) Add remaining 1/2 c brown sugar and stir once or twice.

4. Divide batter among muffin cups and bake until muffins are lightly browned and toothpick comes out clean, 15-20 minutes (my oven's fast and took closer to 13 min). Turn muffins out on rack to cool.

5. Store in airtight container at room temp for 2 days or wrap individually and freeze up to a month.

Abandon

Each...

in...
her very own way. Joy's showing off her newest trick- clapping!

And the chances that Blythe ingested some form of a plant despite my best efforts: around 80%.

Circumstances

Today has been a day that included one difficult circumstance after another, including a trip to the doctor for one of the girls that resulted in a diagnosis that necessitated the delay of our long-planned trip this weekend to see our dear friends, the Lloyds, in Pensacola.

I tried to redeem the day with a post-nap front yard blanket of toys, easel and watercolors. After coating the girls in bug spray (they inherited not only Jake's good looks, but also his skin that mosquitos love) to fend off the dive-bombing predators, I ran inside to wash the poison off my hands. I moved this citronella candle I was using to assist in the mosquito defense 10 feet away from the blanket- everyone was distracted and happy, the candle a safe distance away.

After less than 20 seconds inside, I cleared the doorway in time to see Abby Jane dump her watercoloring water on the candle just as Blythe was one foot away from touching the flame.

I truly believe the Holy Spirit moved my child to do that. How would a two-year-old know to put out a flame with water? We cannot think of a single instance she has ever seen a fire put out with water. Much less to convert anything she might have read about to dumping her watercoloring water out.

I was dumbfounded and humbled by the miracle I had just seen. I just read this weekend in A Mother's Heart by Jean Fleming, the phrase, "God is our only circumstance." (Highly, highly recommend the book, by the way.) In all the craziness of today, it just takes an instant to realize how "God towers above our circumstances."

That photo of the dirty old candle with a puddle of water in it will always be a reminder that our God is a God of miracles, Who is always working and moving and protecting us, even when we don't see the puddle of water to prove it.

A last thought. If I had only seen the flame put out with water, I might have missed the fact that Abby Jane saved her sister from being burned. I would have only seen her over by the candle making a mess. How often in life do we only focus on the bad side of an event that God allows, and not what He's saving us from, totally missing seeing the miracle?

Focusing

One of Blythe's favorite things to do is follow her big sister around- this was after church yesterday!

We're doing a parenting study by Chip Ingram in our small group at church, and Sunday's lesson was on building bonding relationships with your kids (in order for your values and beliefs to hold have any influence on them), and one part of that building is FOCUSING on your kids... not constantly multi-tasking or being distracted by other things when you are with them.

Sometimes getting OUT is the best way to do that! Here is some park time yesterday- we had the park to ourselves as it was another 90-something degree day!

Today, Jake blessed my socks off by letting me take Joy for a 2 for 1! It was Joy's turn, which was convenient as she is in such a delightful stage right now! As we played on a blanket under a shady tree at a park, I felt so overwhelmed with all the mama-love I could focus on JUST JOY. It was such a sweet time with that sweet girl, enjoying a beautiful summer morning almost as much as her smiles!

White Water

My sweet friend Kristin gave me a guest pass to join her, her sweet little ones, and a few other of our friends at White Water today! As of yesterday, my association with White Water was some crazy fun water slides, the Little Hooch (lazy river that goes around the park), the wave pool, and fat ladies in bikinis.

As of today, my association is OH SO much fun with my 2 year old!!

With Maddy...

Her first little water slide that warmed her up for some slightly bigger ones! She probably did this one 30 times, though.

I put away my camera so I could play more, but just picture pure delight and excitement at almost everything- her favorite slides were the ones coming off the ship pictured at the top.

They had a few different areas for little kids, and this one had a big slide that we could do together- she loved it.

The only down side was that the nature of a two year old and a water park is not conducive to me actually getting to hang out much with the other sweet mama friends, but hopefully we'll have more of that soon!

Big thanks also goes out to Sandy, who watched my youngest two while I had some sweet time with Jane! When we got there, my friend Ericka said, "I just want you to know that I am totally here for you if you need any help today!" I was puzzled at first, then realized she thought I had three in my backseat, not just one! Sweet friend...

Nine Months

I truly did not think this picture was going to happen. Blythe is busy and very on the move these days! This month, Blythe started crawling, pulling up, walking while holding onto fingers and actually took two little steps on her own this past weekend! We decided it didn't really count as there was no repeat performance. She is still a toothless wonder who can eat anything I offer.

This is my Joy. She remains my snuggly, contented child who doesn't seem to feel the need to crawl yet. She laughs, talks, and waves all the time. Although, "mamamama" is my personal favorite, she has several sounds she can make, including the most recent, "dadada!" She can stand holding onto our fingers or other objects, but is not pulling up. She still only has those two teeth and has only rejected one food so far- YOGURT! Who has ever heard of a child not like yogurt?

Strangely, crawling has seemed to make Blythe less contented, though she does follow us everywhere. I personally think she wants to go straight to running- that seems more her speed!

Joy's Go Go Gadget arms- her reach and flexibility compensates for her otherwise lack of mobility! She does seem to move various places a little while sitting on her bottom, but I haven't seen how it happens...
Activity table time
Abby Jane getting Joy's ticklish tummy!
Trouble. Just trouble.

Surprising Jake

We had a little surprise family shindig for Jake at the park yesterday afternoon to celebrate him finishing his coursework. He had no idea, much like the last time he had a surprise party...

Sandy (Ken was out of town), my mom, the Gillies family, and my Grandaddy and Granny Joan braved the 90 degree heat for a fun morning and picnic at the park!

When Jake was halfway done with his coursework a year and a half ago, he got half a cake.

So this time around, he got the whole thing (don't laugh at the off-centered writing, I was on a phone date with my sweet friend Michelle and was not giving my full attention!)

Congrats again, Babe!