Catching Up

I never intended to take such a long break from blogging, but between computer and camera issues needing to be resolved and the typical chaos of having a busy household the months sort of got away from me! 

A photo dump(not many as my camera has been at the shop a lot) from the past few months.

 

 LJ and MC sharing a snack

 

Wish they were always this sweet to each other

 

 A little princess helping mommy make bread

 

 Playing in the leaves

 

These two are so grown up and I have to say, 8 may be my favorite age so far!

The line-up of cousins at the farm on Easter
 

MC was not so interested in hunting eggs

 



 LJ sure was though!

 





Today we went to a pick-you-own strawberry farm and AC and I decided we were going to try making strawberry jam. I've always wanted to learn how to can.

 

We picked lots and lots of strawberries.  My hands may be stained red forever.

But it was worth it because we have 12 half-pint jars of strawberry jam and tons for the freezer to show for our hard work.

In some ways not blogging for a few months was a good thing, but I sure missed it and I love having my version of a scrapbook!  Hope each of you have a great weekend!

 

 

Favorite Soup for Cold Nights

Our family loves soup and we usually have it a couple times per week during our winter months.  Kelly is asking everyone to share their favorite soup recipe, so I thought I would share ours.  I got this recipe many years ago when T and I were first married and I'm pretty sure it was in the Chattanooga Times newspaper...one thing I am really looking foward to with our move is having a great newspaper again!

Tuscan Chicken Stew

1 pound chicken breast cut into 1 inch pcs.
1/2 teaspoon crushed dried rosemary
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons minced garlic
14 ounces chicken broth
16 ounces rinsed and drained cannellini beans
7 ounces roasted red bell pepper, drained and chopped
3 1/2 cups torn baby spinach

Toss the cut up chickn with the rosemary, salt, and pepper.  Brown in the oil over medium-high heat.  When browned, add the garlic and saute 1 minute.
Add the chicken, broth, beans and roasted red pepper to the crockpot and cook on low 4-5 hours.  Stir in the spinach and cook on low 30 minutes to 1 hour.

So easy and delicious!

A Healthy Snack Recipe

One of my goals for 2013 is to continue cutting out as much processed food as possible and keep healthy homemade snacks on hand.  The inspiration for this recipe came from the back of a graham cracker box, but I substituted and added whole grains and coconut oil to make it more nutritious.  The original recipes uses condensed milk and I couldn't come up with a healthier substitution....any one want to share one ?

Banana Graham Cookie Bars

1 1/2 cups graham crackers finely crushed

1/4 cup flax seed meal

3 Tbsp. wheat germ

1/4 cup whole wheat flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk

1/2 cup coconut oil

3 mashed ripe bananas

1-2 cups dark chocolate chips

1 cup finely chopped almonds

1 cup flaked coconut

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1.  To make the graham cracker crumbs, run them through a food processor or place the graham crackers in a plastic bag and roll a rolling pin over until finely crushed.

2.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

3.  Mix together the graham cracker crumbs, flax seed, wheat germ, flour, and baking powder.

4.  In another bowl, beat sweetened condensed milk, coconut oil, and bananas until smooth.  Add vanilla extract.  Add crumb mixture and stir until smooth. Fold in chocolate chips, almonds and coconut.

Pour into a greased 13 x 9 pan and bake 30 min or until set. 

These are so good and got 4 stars from my little ones! 

 

 

Linking to:  Under the table and Dreaming

2012 Christmas and New Years

A little late, but a photo synopsis of our Christmas and New Year

 

 Cooking (and eating!) treats for our friends and neighbors

 

 The Lyla's

 

So many wonderful memories made and now we are knee deep into 2013!

It's hard to believe Christmas is just days away, but the anticipation is building and we are finally having colder weather making it seem a lot more festive.
Because we are back and forth every week and our house is on the market, decorating has been interesting this year, but we have enjoyed it in the time we have been at home.







 

 

  



 



Exterior

 

Merry Christmas!

The Return of our Elf

Our elf, Frosty, had a delayed appearance since the big kids spent the weekend with their cousins, but Monday morning all 4 littles were tickled that he had visited during the night and he even managed to track us down at Nana and Papa's.  To celebrate we had a special breakfast complete with hot chocolate and doughnuts- a perfect way to start a Monday.

This morning we woke up to find Frosty had helped himself to a little snack of toasted marshmallows.  (Of course, everyone had to taste his marshmallow to see if it had a different taste.  It didn't for the record!)  The kids could not believe it and have talked about it all day. 
It's hard to say who enjoys this tradition the most- the parents or the kids!

Thanksgiving 2012

A few pictures for my memory book....

 

 

I am so grateful to have spent the day on the farm with those I love the most, eating delicious food, and making precious memories...we have so much to be thankful for!