Bionic children

Each parent undoubtedly believes their child is magical, possessing a certain uniqueness that makes them one of if not the best kid in the world.   If blessed with multiple children, the magic is multiplied, making the world a better place. 

While exhibiting many endearing and fantastically crazy traits, it appears our children also possess a heightened and somewhat bionic sense of smell (the little man) and hearing (the little lady).  I am both impressed and mystified by our little bloodhound and auditory wonder woman as they daily demonstrate their superhuman strengths.

The faintest of smells can be detected by the little man.  He spends much of his day with nose scrunched, questioning, "Smell?"  Long before I have had any olfactory experience of my own, he has identified a new, displeasing, alarming or satisfying smell.  Apartment living has definitely enhanced his God given gift of smell.  There is no telling what new scent we will discover in our hallways on any given day.

Not to be outdone, the little lady spends her days with ears perked, attentive to the many sounds that whir, buzz, bang, clang and chime around her.  Last week after putting her to bed, she appeared at her doorway with a sudden inquiry, "Who's cutting their nails?"  Stunned, I admitted that it was I who was standing at the kitchen sink clipping my nails.  Admittedly we do not have a large apartment;  however, she was able to detect the tiny snap of my brittle nails down a long hallway, and over the sound of her rushing waterfall sound machine.  Call me crazy, but I was impressed.


While their gifts may not rid the world of evil, they do add a certain comedic value to our days. 

Crispy, Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

At the end of each month our refrigerator is always a bit bare, and our cupboards a tad sparse.  This week our cookie jar also sat empty on the counter, which was both sad and unfortunate.   Thus, began my search for a new cookie recipe to satisfy our post-dinner cravings.  Unlike the French, we did not wait until our afternoon allotted snack time to treat ourselves, but enjoyed a warm cookie right out of the oven.  Perfection.   

recipe from Smitten Kitchen

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 - 1 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 egg

1 egg yolk

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper.

2. Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.  In a medium bowl, cream together the melted butter, brown sugar and white sugar until well blended.  (Do yourself a favor and breath deeply, savoring the intoxicating smell.)

3. Beat in the vanilla, egg and egg yolk until light and creamy.  Mix the sifted ingredients until just blended.

4.  Stir in the chocolate chips by hand.  Drop cookie dough 1/4 cup at a time (for giant cookies) or a tablespoon at a time (for smaller cookies) onto prepared cookie sheets.  Cookies should be about 2-3 inches apart.

5. Bake larger cookies for 15-17 minutes, or 10-12 minutes for smaller ones (check cookies before they're done; baking time will vary depending on cookie size), or until the edges are slightly toasted.  Cool on baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to wire rack to cool completely.

Yes. They're that good.  Kid tested.  Doctor approved.



A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words - feel the burn



He Cooks: Cajun Chicken Pasta

We may just have ourselves a new Sunday tradition. 

Without a new recipe in his back pocket, Jeff and I hit a few of my favorite cooking blogs for inspiration.   This weekend's recipe was courtesy of The Pioneer Woman and her tried and true "Cowboy Food." (Recipes her man finds particularly appealing.)  How different can a surgeon's taste buds be than a real life cowboy's?

Ingredients

3 whole Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts, Cut Into Cubes

3 teaspoons Cajun Spice Mix, More To Taste

1 pound Fettuccine

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

2 Tablespoons Butter

1 whole Green Bell Pepper, Seeded And Sliced

1 whole Red Bell Pepper, Seeded And Sliced

1/2 whole Large Red Onion, Sliced

3 cloves Garlic, Minced

4 whole Roma Tomatoes, Diced

2 cups Low Sodium Chicken Broth

1/2 cup White Wine

1 cup Heavy Cream

Cayenne Pepper To Taste

Freshly Ground Black Pepper To Taste

Salt To Taste

Chopped Fresh Parsley for garnish

  I've noticed a pattern in Jeff's choice of Sunday cooking apparel.  Perhaps a manly apron is in order.

 

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain when pasta is still al dente; do not overcook!

Sprinkle 1 1/2 teaspoons Cajun spice over chicken pieces. Toss around to coat. Heat 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a heavy skillet over high heat. Add half the chicken in a single layer; do not stir. Allow chicken to brown on one side, about 1 minute. Flip to the other side and cook an additional minute. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a clean plate.

Repeat with remaining chicken. Remove chicken, leaving pan on high heat.

Add remaining olive oil and butter. When heated, add peppers, onions, and garlic. Sprinkle on remaining Cajun spice, and add salt if needed. Cook over very high heat for 1 minute, stirring gently and trying to get the vegetables as dark/black as possible. Add tomatoes and cook for an additional 30 seconds. Remove all vegetables from the pan.

With the pan over high heat, pour in the wine and chicken broth. Cook on high for 3 to 5 minutes, scraping the bottom of the pan to deglaze. Reduce heat to medium-low and pour in cream, stirring/whisking constantly. Cook sauce over medium-low heat for a few minutes, until cream starts to thicken the mixture. Taste and add freshly ground black pepper, cayenne pepper, and/or salt to taste. Sauce should be spicy!

Finally, add chicken and vegetables to sauce, making sure to include all the juices that have drained onto the plate. Stir and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until mixture is bubbly and hot. Add drained fettuccine and toss to combine.

Top with chopped fresh parsley.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words - "bake sale" (looks more like a rummage sale)



Foundation

When life feels like this...

 

I am reminded of this...

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said—
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

“Fear not, I am with thee, oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My gracious, omnipotent hand.

When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
For I will be with thee thy trouble to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not harm thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.

The soul that on Jesus doth lean for repose,
I will not, I will not, desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.”

 

Ash Wednesday & SlimFAST

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always accuse, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion for his children, so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him. For he knows how we were made; he remembers that we are dust.

Psalm 103:8-14 

Read Through the Gospels 

Today begins the Lenten season, a time of reflection and preparation, turning our hearts and minds towards the glorious resurrection of our Lord and Savior.  Each year, Jeff and I observe Lent by giving up a habit or behavior as a small exercise in self-denial.  Many years we give up the same thing; however, this year we have chosen our own.

Taking inspiration from Jen Hatmaker's mini-7-projects, I have decided to pick one item I buy regularly, go without it, and then reallocate the savings.  The first thing that came to mind was my beloved Slim-Fast Chocolate Peanut Carmel bars.



These bars and I have a history.  While I have attempted to drop a few lbs using the Slim-Fast plan in the past, I have not used the plan in years.  What I have enjoyed for almost three years with a cup of steaming early morning coffee (with the exception of a few months when local Madison grocers stopped carrying them...oh the agony!), are these tasty bars.  I was over the moon when I discovered them on the shelves of our Cleveland grocery store, one of the perks of our relocation, and have been enjoying them ever since.  I wake up craving them, and they have become a part of my early morning routine.  K-cup coffee, bar, devotions.  If Jeff is looking for a quick breakfast before work, he will always ask me first before taking one.  It sounds silly, even as I type, but we all have our little indulgences.  It is ironic that my "guilty pleasure" is a diet bar.

I look forward to this small practice of self-denial, and the opportunity to give at the end of forty days.  This is always a fruitful time in our marriage as we refocus our hearts, observing the season of Lent.  

"Lent isn’t about forfeiting as much as it’s about formation."
-Ann Voskamp

  

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words - daddy's work



gateau au yaourt (Yogurt Cake)

Inspired by my current read, Bringing Up Bebe, the little lady was eager to prepare this simple cake from scratch. 

"The first cake that most French kids learn to bake is gateau au yaourt, in which they use empty yogurt containers to measure out the other ingredients.  It's a light, not-too-sweet cake to which berries, chocolate chips, lemon or a tablespoon of rum can be added.  It's pretty hard to screw up.
...With its orderly measuring and sequencing of ingredients, baking is the perfect lesson in patience.  So is the fact that French families don't devour the cake as soon as it comes out of the oven.  They typically bake in the morning or early afternoon, then wait and eat the cake as a gouter (pronounced goo-tay)- the French afternoon snack."

from Bringing Up Bebe

Ingredients:

2 six-ounce containers plain whole-milk yogurt (use the empty containers to measure the other ingredients)

2 eggs

2 containers sugar (or one, depending on how sweet you like it) (We used one.)

1 teaspoon vanilla

just under 1 container vegetable oil

4 containers flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

Add-ins optional (frozen berries, chocolate chips, or any flavoring you like)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Grease a 9-inch cake pan or loaf pan.

Gently combine the yogurt, eggs, sugar, vanilla and oil.  In a separate bowl, mix the flour and baking powder.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients; mix gently until ingredients are just combined (don't overmix). 

Once combined, stir in add-ins such as frozen berries or chocolate chips.

Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean.  It should be almost crispy on the outside, but springy on the inside.  Allow the cake to cool and serve with tea (if you're feeling fancy) or a giant cup of milk.

My la petite dame, was delighted to crack an egg and demonstrate her cutting skills for the very first time.   Un parfait (perfect) activity.

In all honesty, the experience was sweeter than the cake.  Just sayin'.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words - PG 13 jam session



He Cooks: Steak Tacos with Guacamole and Salsa

I've gotta hand it to the doctor.  He keeps things spicy in our marriage, literally.  Yesterday afternoon, he and the little lady went shopping for all the essentials, so that he could test out yet another new recipe.  This time; however, he invited me into the kitchen, so that we could chop, season and test taste together.  It was such a fun afternoon, and we thoroughly enjoyed the bold and zesty flavors of these bad boys later in the evening. 

You never know how the doctor will surprise you.  After 7 1/2 years of marriage, we are cooking together.  And, I'm enjoying every minute of it.

*This recipe (as is) would be perfect for a gathering of friends for a sporting event, or festive dinner party.  I would recommend halving the recipe if enjoying it as a couple, unless it is your desire to consume tacos for dinner all week long.

** You might want to get all the fixings for margaritas while you're at the store.  We were craving an ice cold 'rita half way through our meal. 



Ingredients

• 3 1/2 pounds skirt steak, cut against the grain into strips (a little smaller than your little finger)
• 20 flour tortillas (4 inch)
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 1 large head Napa cabbage (also called Chinese), cleaned, cut into thin strips, and tossed with the juice of 2 limes

For spice mix:

• 2 tsp chipotle chile powder
• 2 tbsp garlic powder
• 2 tbsp paprika
• 2 tbsp cumin
• 3 tsp kosher or coarse salt

For salsa:

• 1 jalapeño pepper
• 1 red onion, sliced 1/4-inch thick
• 4 plum tomatoes
• 2 oz canola oil
• 1 tsp kosher or coarse salt
• 1/2 bunch cilantro, roughly chopped
• 3 fresh limes, juiced

For guacamole:

• 6 ripe Haas avocados, halved, pits removed, flesh scooped out and placed in large bowl with the juice of 4 limes
• 4 plum tomatoes, small diced (about 2 cups)
• 1 red onion, minced, about 1 cup
• 1 bunch cilantro, roughly chopped
• 2 tsp kosher or coarse salt

For lime crema:

• 2 cups sour cream
• 2 fresh limes

Tip: The salsa, crema, and guacamole can be prepared up to 2 hours ahead of time, wrapped tightly, and refrigerated. When wrapping the guacamole, place a layer of plastic film directly on the surface (and/or keep avocado pits in the bowl) to avoid discoloration from oxidation.


Instructions
To make tacos: Combine spice-mixture ingredients and toss with steak to coat. Set aside. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Warm tortillas on cookie sheet in oven. Heat two large sauté pans to medium-high. When pans are hot, add oil to each pan followed by 1/2 the seasoned meat. Spread meat out evenly and cook without turning while you lay out warm tortillas on a clean work area to get ready for assembly. Cook meat for approximately 3 minutes, turn, and cook for another 3 minutes, stirring occasionally to achieve even coloring. After 3 minutes, turn off heat and allow meat to sit in the pan, becoming just cool enough for you to handle.
To make salsa: Rub jalapeño, onion, and tomatoes lightly with oil and roast in large sauté pan on medium-high, turning frequently until lightly charred all over. Set aside to cool. When cooled, roughly chop and place in a food processor with salt, pulsing until almost smooth but still just a little chunky. Transfer to bowl, add cilantro and lime juice, cover, and refrigerate. (For a milder salsa, use only half the jalapeño.)
To make guacamole: Lightly crush avocados with fork until almost smooth but still a little chunky. Evenly mix in tomatoes, red onion, cilantro, and salt; cover and refrigerate.


Tip: To halve an avocado, insert the tip of a knife along the side until you hit the pit. Cut around the avocado lengthwise, slicing all the way around. Then twist the two halves in opposite directions and the avocado will open perfectly. Scoop out the pit and the flesh with a spoon.
To make lime crema: Whisk 2 cups sour cream together with the juice of 2 fresh limes.


To serve: Spread 1/2 tbsp guacamole on each warmed tortilla, followed by a large pinch of cabbage. Distribute meat evenly and fold tortillas up end to end. Serve immediately on a large platter with the salsa, crema, guacamole, and a bag of your favorite tortilla chips.

Kerry Simon is chef and owner of Simon Kitchen & Bar in Las Vegas and Simon LA in Los Angeles.

Read more: http://www.esquire.com/features/guy-food/steak-tacos-recipe-ll-0307#ixzz1mscA3BId

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words - avoiding eye contact



Old proverb

It has been said that "one musn't cry over spilled milk."




I would like to add the following.


One musn't...


 cry over the content of sippy cups.

cry over snack options.

cry over eaten garlic bread (especially in the middle of crowded school hallways).

cry over television shows ending.

cry over songs played or not played during van rides.

cry over wearing one's jacket in freezing temperatures.

cry over going to bed (after a long, activity-filled day).

On Children

from Out of the Spin Cycle: Devotions to Lighten Your Mother Load

by Jen Hatmaker

"Henri Nouwen wrote, '[A blessing] is more than a word of praise or appreciation; it is more than pointing out someone's talents or good deeds; it is more than putting someone in the light.  To give a blessing is to affirm, to say 'yes' to a person's Belovedness.'

Your children are beloved in so many ways.  They are beautiful in spirit, adored by the Father.  Who they are is wonderful- well beyond what they do.  Your children are innocent and trusting, hilarious, and tender.  Jesus loves them uniquely.  They bring joy and laughter to our families.  Their lives lie ahead of them, full of promise and potential.

We have the privilege to speak this truth into their lives, to call it forth."

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words - whole lotta love



Parenting and Portlandia

Our fate as parents?

We do own a record collection.

 

Kidding...only slightly.

Sweetness

 The little lady and I always like to whip up a little something sweet (and pink) for Valentine's Day.   For this mama, cooking with my lil' gal is about as sweet as it gets.  This year we tested out two new recipes, (easy) Strawberry fudge and Sledge cookies.  In addition, I threw together a batch of our tried and true Smitten Kitchen Oatmeal Raisin cookies that would be donated to the little lady's school bake sale.  These cookies have become a weekly staple in our household after the doctor's continued rave reviews.  In fact, I recently purchased a cookie jar just to hold Jeff's weekly supply. 

Strawberry fudge

Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

from Smitten Kitchen

Ingredients:

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened (I use unsalted butter, but perhaps I ought to be using salted butter with the husband's sodium chloride sensitivity.)

2/3 cup light brown sugar, packed

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (Penzy's if you got it)

1/4 teaspoon salt (bumped that up to 1 full teaspoon)

1 1/2 cup rolled oats

3/4 cup raisins (or chocolate chips if your children have consumed all the raisins in your kitchen)

1/2 cup, chopped walnuts (optional, but if chopped super fine add a lovely texture to the cookies)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, cream the butter, brown sugar, egg and vanilla until smooth. In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt together. Stir this into the butter/sugar mixture. Stir in the oats, raisins/ chocolate chips, and walnuts if using them. (I also think Craisins and white chocolate chips would be a welcomed alternative.)

You can either chill the dough for a few minutes, or scoop the mixture unto parchment lined trays two inches apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes, taking them out when golden at the edges. Allow to cool before transferring to a wire rack. 

***

Sledge Cookies

yields sixty

 (Yup, didn't pay attention to that number.  Ended up freezing half of the batter, after my hand began to cramp.)

I photocopied this recipe out of one of my book club books ages ago; therefore, I cannot provide the original source, but can confirm that these are a tasty alternative to traditional chocolate chip cookies.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) of butter

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

2 tablespoons vanilla

1 tablespoon cinnamon

2 1/2 cups flour

2 1/2 cups oats

One 12-ounce package semisweet chocolate chips

One 12-package butterscotch chips

*Just before dropping the dough onto cookie sheets I realized that salt was not among the ingredients added.  Knowing we prefer a salty cookie in this family, I sprinkled kosher salt onto the dough balls just before baking.  I'm sure they would be delicious without the salt, but a bit of salt helps cut through the sweetness.  

 

 

 

Preheat oven to 350.  Cream the butter and sugars together.  Add the eggs, baking soda, vanilla, and cinnamon.  Mix well.

Gradually add flour at oats.  Stir in chips.  Drop spoonfuls of dough onto an ungreased or parchment lined cookie sheet and bake for 9-11 minutes.  Do not over bake.  Cool for about 5 minutes and remove from cookie sheets.  Cool on racks.

***

A few sweet highlights of our day included:

Receiving packages of love from family and friends, and tearing them open during breakfast.

 Packaging sweet treats to deliver to neighbors. 
Our sweet ones get a thrill out of tip-toeing down the hallways of our building to secretly drop off baked goods.

Getting creative after naps.

"Look Mom!  I made myself!"

Daddy arriving home in time to attend "Special Person Night" at Carol Nursery School.  The little lady was beyond thrilled to have her daddy accompany her to school 1) without her brother and 2) at night! 

Sharing a meal with my valentines.

This year I did not prepare my usual feast of "Biscuits of Love." However, we did enjoy one of the children's favorite meals, Smitten Kitchen's tomato sauce with onion and butter and garlic bread. I have realized that preparing a meal for my family is one of my favorite ways to demonstrate my love for them. And, it does not hurt that I, too, enjoy sitting down to a good meal. A bouquet of roses is sure pretty, but a loaf of warm garlic bread soothes my soul.

*Ironically, Jeff and I will (again) postpone the giving of our gifts to one another.  (We keep things simple over here, he prepares a song on the guitar to sing to me, and I write down the many reasons I love him in a card.  Simple, but extremely meaningful.)  Immediately following "Special Person Night,"  he will drive to Pittsburgh.  Tomorrow is a day full of interviews for him.  We'll look forward to sharing our special moment together another evening.  I know it will be worth the wait!

A real first

Each weekend, I flip through various cookbooks to plan our weekly meals.  I then (in a very type-A and meticulous fashion) write them on a dry erase memo board on our fridge.  Somewhat lame, but mostly helpful, this food memo serves as a daily reminder of meals planned and gives the doctor something to look forward to after a hard day's work.  Every now and then, he has been known to write something clever or humorous on my dry erase board.  I enjoy that quite a bit!  

Sunday morning (with meals planned and posted), Jeff asked me what we were having for dinner.  I replied, "Chicken Pot Pie," knowing it is one of his favorites.  I was not only caught off guard, but completely floored when he suggested that instead of pot pie, he make a new chili recipe.

You should know that my husband is good at many things.  He enjoys setting goals for himself and accomplishing them.  However, never before had he attempted to plan, shop for, and execute a meal in the kitchen, with the exception of flapjacks and boxed Kraft macaroni, which I must admit always tastes better than when I make it.

After our Sunday family nap (please Lord, may we always partake in such a luxury),  he pulled out the mysterious, new chili recipe and we proceeded to make a grocery list.  Then, with little lady in tow, he made his way to the grocery store.  Keeping my phone handy for potential text messages, the little man and I busied ourselves with making valentines.  Four text messages later (including one picture message confirming the type of white bean on his list), they returned. 

He quickly got to work, asking only for a short tutorial on how to chop onions and to occasionally taste the simmering chili.  I could not resist the opportunity to snap a few pictures as he labored, set, and reset the timer following the recipe word. for. word.  I had to hand it to him, he picked a somewhat labor intensive recipe as his first, but leave it to a surgeon to go big or go home. 

Skillfully assembling the spice blend.

Small space; smart solutions. 

"What's daddy doing in the kitchen?" 

"Mmm...it sure smells salty in here!"

Once the little man was down for the night, Jeff encouraged me to take a seat on the couch while he prepared our chili bowls complete with avocado and goat cheese garnishes.  As satisfying as the chili was, in no way did it compare to the sweet satisfaction of watching my husband labor in love all afternoon. 

Love, books, family

This Saturday, we woke to snow flurries, frigid temperatures, and a sick little boy who sounded like a frog when he spoke, which was actually quite darling.  At breakfast, the little lady decided that it would be in everyone's best interest if we postponed our trip to Barnes and Noble to select our Valentine's Day books until after naps.  (Prudence at its best.)

By late afternoon, the snow had stopped and our little man had perked up.  So, we bundled up and made our way to B&N.   Jeff and I look forward to this trip each year as it combines our love of family, books and spending quality time together all in one glorious outing.

Jeff and I went into the shopping trip with a few book selections already in mind.  And, the little man excitedly chose Katy and the Big Snow after recognizing its cover from a pile of books we recently checked out from the library.  "Help! Help!" (familiar lines from the story) he proclaimed as he reached for the book, claiming it as his own.  Our little lady, never missing an opportunity to make life interesting, spent her time in the children's section bouncing from shelf to shelf perusing the toys and nonchalantly grabbing random books saying, "I'll buy this one...no wait...this one!"  She finally zeroed in on a spinning wire rack of Dr. Seuss books, and after a few fast and very intentional spins, settled on I Wish that I Had Duck Feet.   I could not have been more pleased with her pick, as she and I enjoy late night readings of the classic rhyming books. 

After last night's reading just before turning off the light, she told me she, too, would enjoy having duck feet.  And, why wouldn't she?

I cannot wait to dive into my beautiful hard-covered book, a real treat for this mama.

Pancakes from theKitchn

Deemed the "BEST Pancakes Ever!" our family put this new recipe to the test.

Let's just say there was little table chatter as we consumed serving after serving of these golden beauties.  As much as this recipe has served us well, we are looking forward to "shaking things up" in the kitchen.  I'm already looking forward to next weekend's post-church service brunch. (What is it about church that makes one so incredibly famished?  Or are we the only ones?)



recipe from www.theKitchn.com

serves 2-3 people (barely)

5 tablespoons of butter

1 1/4 cups flour

1 tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 egg, separated

1 cup buttermilk (Don't have any on hand?  Add 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice to 1 cup of milk.  Allow to sit for 10 minutes or until it begins to curdle.)

1/4 cup milk

canola oil for frying (not necessary if using a non-stick pan or griddle)

*We added a few blueberries to the "adult pancakes," and they were divine.

1. Melt the butter and set aside to cool.

2. Put the flour, sugar, baking powder and soda, and salt in a medium sized bowl and whisk to combine.

3. In another bowl, add the yolk from the egg, buttermilk and regular milk and whisk until well mixed.  Add the butter and whisk.

4.  Add the yolk and milk mixture to the flour mixture and stir until just barely combined.  Add the egg white and keep stirring until a thick batter is formed.  Do not over mix.

5. Heat a large skillet or griddle, and film with canola oil.  When pan is hot, lower the flame and drop the batter by spoonfuls.  The batter will spread.  When bubbles break on the surface, peek underneath the pancake.  It should be golden brown.  If so, flip and cook on the other side. 

6.  Slather with butter and syrup.  Enjoy!

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words - ready for bed?



Feeling the need to purge?

Half of our former house is currently in "storage" (read: Jeff's former childhood bedroom), perhaps instead of moving it all into a new house, a garage sale is in order.

http://jenhatmaker.com/blog/2012/02/09/for-the-cheaters-shirkers-and-cherry-pickers

Be forewarned, this woman is inspiring.  She may very well change the way you think about life, motherhood, marriage, and following Christ.  Her heart is as big as her beautiful smile. 



Strawberry Oatmeal Bars

I'd like to think that given the opportunity, Ree Drummond and I would become friends.  And, I would be lying if I didn't also include Ina Garten in that pipe dream, but the fact that she caters to the Hampton crowd significantly reduces the chance of us ever meeting.  But, I digress.

These days, when the little lady and I are looking to whip up a little love in the kitchen, we turn to our auburn-haired friend for inspiration.  After watching a recent episode of The Pioneer Woman on the Food Network, we both fell head over heels for her Strawberry Oatmeal Bar recipe.  We will look forward to snacking on these sweet treats all weekend long, the perfect precursor to Valentine's Day.  

recipe by Ree Drummond, 2011

Ingredients:

1 3/4 sticks salted butter, cut into pieces, plus more for greasing the pan (I didn't have salted on hand, so I through in a little extra kosher salt, than the recipe calls for.)

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cup oats

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon salt

one 10 to 12-ounce jar strawberry preserves (She of course, had made her own.  I used Smucker's! Really any flavor of preserves will do.)

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Butter a 9x13 rectangular pan.

2. Mix together the butter, flour, oats, brown sugar, baking powder and salt.  A pastry or dough blender comes in handy for this.

3. Press half of the oat mixture into the prepared pan.  Spread with the preserves.  Sprinkle the other half of the oat mixture over the top and pat lightly.

4. Bake until light brown, 30-40 minutes.  Let cool completely, and then cut into squares.

Unfolding

In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.

Proverbs 16:9

Six years ago, Jeff and I packed up our little love shack in Wauwatosa, WI and moved to Madison, WI to begin his surgical training at the University of Wisconsin. We were confidant we would return one day to the city of (my) birth, the city where we met, fell in love, and married, home of the mighty Brewers, Marcus Amphitheater, State Fair, Miller Brewery AND our families.  Milwaukee was home.

Then, a funny little thing happened half way through Jeff's intern year.  We started to meet people.  Good people who would become our friends.  Friends who would become our family.  No longer would our social calendar be limited to trips to Target (Please don't even ask how often I frequented Target our first year in Madison. Let' just say we were tight.) and day trips to Milwaukee. Slowly but surely, Madison started to feel like home.

And, then an even funnier thing happened.  We became pregnant. Ten months later, our baby girl was born, and we brought her home.  Twenty months later, we brought home a son.  As the amount of space in our town home diminished, our affection for this new city grew.   And, when the time came to turn our keys over to a new owner, there was no denying it, this transitional city had become our home.

 

Fast forward six months and we find ourselves in yet another new city, half way through a year long fellowship.  With Jeff's training nearing completion, the time has come to make some decisions.  Adult decisions.   Decisions many, if not most, of our friends have already had to make, but we have eluded because becoming a doctor conveniently allows you to postpone many of life's big decisions.  The fact that I began my career at 22 and am already retired (?), and my dear husband has yet to begin his, might provide you with the necessary perspective on the matter.

For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plan to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

For the past year, Jeff has been interviewing for various positions in and around the Midwest.  Knowing that proximity to family was a priority, he has concentrated his search in the great state of Wisconsin.  In January of this year, he was blessed to be the proud and very fortunate recipient of not one, but two contracts from medical groups in (...wait for it...) Madison and Milwaukee.  We immediately identified the blessing of having two job opportunities, and the possibility of returning home.  However, it was now a matter of which "home" we wanted to return to.

Oh, and did I mention that in the midst of all of this, my sweet academic of a husband decided he would like to tack on a few extra months of training, so he applied for a six month micro surgery fellowship in Milwaukee?  At this point (fourteen years in), what's six more months?  Am I right, or am I right?  So, I gave him the green light.

At this point it became clear that we had a lot on our table, a few balls in the air, and it was best that we got on our knees to commence in some serious praying. We invited a few of our close friends and family to join us in our focused supplication.  Just days after receiving the Milwaukee contract, I received an email from Jeff.  In it, he identified the challenge of choosing one city over the other and prayed, "that the radiance of heaven would shine down upon one contract, while the other simultaneously burst into flames."  (Seriously, and we wonder why our daughter has a flare for the dramatic.)  I kid you not, within five days of receiving the offer, Jeff received a phone call from the medical group in Milwaukee stating their need to "slow down and reevaluate."  Thirty days later, they withdrew the contract.  [Insert flames. Poof! Actually, it felt more like this.] "Be careful what you pray for, " Jeff jokingly remarked.

Be joyful always; pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

In the moment, there seemed to be two obvious ways to respond to such news.  Either we, a) pout and become discouraged or b) acknowledge that God had specifically answered our (dramatic) prayer request, and with thanksgiving submit to His continued (and faithful) guidance of our family.  While tempted with the former, we went with the later.  And, His peace that surpasses all human understanding filled our hearts and minds as we went about our week, processing this curve ball. 

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

Colossians 4:2

As the dust settled on our divine contractual explosion, the Lord continued to work in our hearts and minds, as well as those of our loving families back home who were working through their own disappointment.  Never before (in our marriage) had we experienced such a direct (and slightly dramatic) answer to prayer.  And, in the week that followed we marveled over the Lord's timing, attention, and direction. 

Two weeks later, Jeff was offered the six month fellowship in Milwaukee, our family's very own consolation prize, a loving nod to the grandparents. (Thank you, Father.)

Talk about a whirlwind. 

It appears we will be able to return home to Milwaukee for six months, and then have the opportunity to plant roots, settle down, find a home (with a yard and garage...hallelujah, sweet Jesus!) in a new city come January of 2013.  We hope that city will be Madison, but that contract has yet to be signed.   The doctor has decided to interview for a position in Pittsburgh next week.   "A backup plan," he says.  I'm just waiting on the Lord to confirm that.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on him, because He cares for you.

1 Peter 5:6-7