• Jan. 16, 2007
Granola Anyone?
Brandie and I made Peanut Butter Granola the other day. It's a big hit around here--and very easy to make!
Peanut Butter Granola
5 cups quick oats
1/2 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup chunky peanut butter
3/4 cup (1/2 a can) 100% apple juice concentrate
1/4 cup oil--but I substitued unsweetened applesauce
Mix oats and brown sugar together in a large bowl. Whisk remaining ingredients in a separate bowl. Pour over oat mixture. Mix with a spoon until it gets very stiff. Finish mixing with your hands. It will be like a stiff cookie dough. Spread on a cookie sheet. Toast at 225 for an hour, stirring every 15 minutes. When it's done you'll have large clumps that are great for snacking and flakes that are wonderful as a cereal with milk.
Just to be different, I made a batch yesterday substituing pumpkin puree from a can for the peanut butter and adding in some cinnamon, nutmeg, and a little pinch of cloves. It was moister so I baked it at 250 for an hour and 15 minutes, still stirring every 15 minutes. When it was finished I added craisins (dried cranberries) and chopped walnuts. With the exception of the nuts, this version is fat free!
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• Jan. 7, 2007
Wedding Showers, Gas, and Socialization
My cousin is getting married! I used to babysit for him when I was a teenager and he was a newborn. (I once accidentally pinned his diaper to him! This was before disposables were the norm, of course.)
Today was the shower for Maryjane, the Bride-to-Be. Although I'd never met Maryjane, Brandie and I went to the luncheon shower. I wanted to meet Maryjane and I wanted Brandie to experience a "grown-up tea party". Brandie was so well-behaved! When introduced to the mother-of-the-bride, she replied very politely, "Very nice to meet you." I was so proud of her!
We were each given a heart cutout and asked to write marital advice for Maryjane. Most everyone said something about the importance of communication. I, on the other hand, had something like this to say...
"Men have gas. Get used to it. It doesn't go away. It doesn't get any better. Complaining about it does not help. Also, never let him start a "project" unles Lowe's is open. You'll regret it if you do!"
Everyone laughed because they know it's true!
Maryjane asked Brandie if she'd like to help with the gifts. Brandie was thrilled! She handed the packages to Maryjane, put the paper in the trashcan, made a pile of ribbons and bows, and kept us all giggling at her innocence and enthusiasm. One gift contained a live rose. Brandie took it to each guest to smell. (She was not shy at all! And "they" say that homeschooled children have issues with socialization!) Brandie also drew a picture for Maryjane and my cousin, Sarah. By the end of the shower, she was giving hugs and kisses. We had a wonderful time.
It was great to finally meet Maryjane and see some of my cousins again. I'm looking forward to attending the wedding in March. Many prayers are being sent heavenward as they prepare to start their life together.
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• Dec. 22, 2006
Pineapple Muffins
Brandie and I made mini muffins for dessert tonight. She was a big help! She even helped entertain Haleigh while the baking was in process. Since we are a two-parent-gastric-bypass family, the recipe has been edited (by me) to make it low sugar and low fat.
Pineapple Muffins
1/2 cup Splenda
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
2 eggs or 1/2 cup egg substitue (like EggBeaters)
1 tsp vanilla
3 T unsweetened applesauce
2 cups flour (I used whole wheat pastry flour)
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
8.5 ounce can of crushed pineapple in unsweetened juice
3/4 cup chopped nuts (optional)
Whisk together sugars, eggs, and vanilla and applesauce. In a separate bowl, stir dry ingredients together. Blend half of the dry mixtrue into the sugar/egg mixture. Stir in pineapple with juice then remaining flour. Stir in nuts. Optionally, you can sprinkle top with a little cinnamon and sugar mixture. Pour into greased loaf pan or muffin pan. Bake loaf for 60-70 minutes. Mini muffins took about 15 minutes and made 30.
I used a Farberware non-stick pan so I didn't grease it and they came out just fine. These are even better the next day!
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• Nov. 23, 2006
Rice Crispie Fiasco!
Brandy and I set out to make Rice Crispie Treats for our family's Thanksgiving Dinner. We measured out the cereal and found out that we only had four of the six cups we needed. So we measured out two cups of Cheerios and added that to the Rice Crispies. Brandy got to stir them together...and stir...and stir....and stir!
I melted the butter and told Brandy that she could add the marshmallows as soon as the butter was ready. It finally melted and I told her to dump them in. She dumped them into the cereal! Some went into the pan with the butter so I was stirring it so it wouldn't burn with one hand and trying to pick marshmallows out of the cereal with the other. After yelling for Rick to come and help, we finally got the marshmallows where they belonged--with a few pieces of cereal mixed in. I then gave Brandy explicit directions on where to dump the cereal! The rest of the recipe went together without any problem. How can you mess up Rice Crispie treats, really?
Brandy got practice in stirring, dumping, and measuring. The best part is that she'll get to tell everyone that she helped!
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• Nov. 22, 2006
It Does a Mom's Heart Good...
I walked in on Brandy last night--rocking "Dolly" singing....
When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His word
What a glory He sheds on our way.
While we do His good will
He abides with us still
And with all who will Trust and Obey.
Trust and Obey
For there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus
But to Trust and Obey.
Just when you think they aren't paying attention, they go and do something like this! I sing this to her and Hailey whenever I rock them. It really does my heart good to hear them sing a hymn--especially this hymn. It was the first hymn I learned all the words to. My grandpa taught it to us. When he passed away, my cousins and I sang it at his funeral.
