Archive for the ‘Books’ Category
More Sticky Chewy
Posted on: November 18, 2009
- In: Baking | Books
- 2 Comments
In the last week I’ve made two new recipes from the Sticky Chewy Messy Gooey cookbook. Both awesome of course. Double Crumble Hot Apple pies I made for my baby bro’s 17th birthday. It’s a crisp and a pie– the best of both worlds. PLUS it’s double the crisp, which is always how I prefer it. I even burned the top layer of crisp and had to pick it off, and still there was plenty. I think I’m going to make another for craft night tomorrow night, just so I can experience it with full crisp. No pictures unfortunately. OH I and drizzled caramel sauce on it too.
I did however get a pic of the Rich Risotto Rice Pudding, which was close to my favorite so far. I love the ultra rich chocolate desserts, but rich and creamy milk with real vanilla bean? Oh yes. I also used the other half of the caramel sauce drizzled on this, topped with a dollop of homemade whipped cream. The picture does not even come close to giving you an idea:
100 Things #45 and #10
Posted on: September 13, 2009
- In: Books | Family
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See Brendan’s face when he gets his train set for his birthday. I was really excited about B’s upcoming birthday when I first wrote this list. I planned a big Thomas birthday with everything, including gifts centered around the theme. That was his 3rd birthday, so only a year and a few months ago. 🙂 The year of the train cake of course.
Memories:
What a cutie!
As a bonus: #10. I don’t remember when I finally did it (it took a while), but I did indeed finish Anna Karenina. One off the list of thousands of books I want to read. Next up: Kristin Lavransdatter:1 The Bridal Wreath. Chad is on the second book in the trilogy, and is dying for me to read it too. 😉
A Homemade Life
Posted on: September 10, 2009
- In: Books
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Just started reading A Homemade Life— I’m about three chapters in. It’s really good so far– really well written and interesting. Haven’t tried any of the recipes so far (each chapter has one), but I wanted to share a quote from the introduction that I really liked. I’m just having a hard time narrowing it down!
“You know, we eat better than most people do in restaurants!” her father would loudly say (much like the Dad in The Castle!).
“It’s not that we knew how to cook especially well, or that we always ate food that was particularly good… What was so satisfying, I think, was something else. It was the steady rhythm of meeting in the kitchen every night, sitting down at the table, and sharing a meal. Dinner didn’t come through a swinging door, balanced on the arm of an anonymous waiter: it was something we made together. We built our family that way– in the kitchen, seven nights a week. We built a life for ourselves, together around that table. And although I couldn’t admit it then, my father was showing me, in his pleasure and in his pride, how to live it: wholly, hungrily, loudly.”
I could quote practically the whole introduction. So much of it hits home for me (“I learned to cook because it was a given… I hardly even thought about it. By a sort of osmosis, I picked up a sense of comfort in the kitchen, and a hunger that lasted long past breakfast, lunch, and dinner.”), and it makes me want the same for my children.
“In the simple acts of cooking and eating, we are creating and continuing the stories that are our lives.”
Now I’m headed over to check out Molly’s blog!
25 Random Facts
Posted on: January 20, 2009
- In: Books | Family | Friends | Misc.
- 5 Comments
My friend over at Scats Thoughtered Tagged me for this. I may be too tired to think though…
I don’t know how I’m going to come up with all 25.
1. I’m about to finish reading The Host by Stephanie Meyers. I’ve read it in like three days, and the only reason it’s not finished is…
2. Sometimes I like to put off finishing a novel when I really like it. Delayed gratification.
3. I love hoodies. I’ve been accused of being obsessed. lol
4. It annoys me that wordpress makes you double space every line like this.
5. Growing up I wanted to be a novelist.
6. I played basketball for 4 years… I wish I would’ve more.
7. I don’t really like candy unless there’s chocolate involved.
8. Last night I finished knitting my first wrist warmer… it’s for my sister-in-law Ginny.
9. I cry every time I see Emma (the one with Gwyneth Paltrow).
10. You may have noticed this already, but I love to read Historical fiction (especially Victorian) and fantasy.
11. I could take or leave most non-fiction books, but I do like to read books on being a better wife/mom/homemaker. Occasionally I’ll get on a different kick too.
12. One of those kicks was a few years ago, and I did a TON of research on self sustained living and farming. Maybe it’ll come in handy some day.
13. I’m starting to get the gardening itch again. Too bad it’s 29 degrees outside!
14. I hate cold weather. I hate being cold. I need some socks on. 🙂
15. I hate talking on the phone. I would rather email any day. There are very rare exceptions to this rule.
16. I’ve been feeling really socially awkward lately. Sure, I’ve always been pretty introverted. But lately I’ve been noticing how extremely uncomfortable I am in groups. Ugh.
17. When my kids aren’t around people still think I’m in highschool. I try to take this as a compliment. I wonder how old you have to be before people stop thinking of you as a kid! 🙂
18. I’d rather clean a really dirty bathroom that organize just about anything. I think I’ve talked about how futile organizing is on this blog before. hehe
19. I couldn’t sleep through a movie if my life depended on it. Maybe that is a little bit of an exaggeration.
20. It takes me half an hour to get to sleep on average.
21. I wish Ikea would move to KC. (I’m trying to be really random here!) My house would thank them.
22. I think that showers are inconvenient. Don’t worry… I still take them. I’ll like them again once it warms up. Probably.
23. I’m working on my first ever baby dress. For Lillian of course. I’m about half way through.
24. When I was young (er) I used to say that there were two types of guys I would never want to marry: A Doctor or a Catholic. Not sure how I came upon this theory. It’s pretty funny now.
25. I just got through cleaning up 3/4 of a container of parmesan cheese that was sprinkled/dumped throughout the downstairs. B is just so much fun (sense the sarcasm)?
Em tagged four people, so I guess I will be just as nice. *evil grin* Chad, Mom, Mo, and Lori (you’re due for an update anyway 🙂 it’s your turn!
More Pumpkin and Ramblings
Posted on: December 3, 2008
- In: Baking | Books | Family
- 2 Comments
I had one more sweet little pumpkin to use up from celebrating fall. So, I finally got around to making a pumpkin pie. I had a few a couple of my Grandma’s really good pie over the weekend, and came home wanting more. The one I made was a lot different than hers (well, as much different as a pumpkin pie can be). I found this recipe and was able to use 1% milk in it. I didn’t miss the fat at all! And it was slightly healthier than your typical thanksgiving desert, so that’s a plus.
For my last fresh pumpkin recipe of the season I’m planning on trying these pumpkin pie bars. I really love Joy’s blog (where that link takes you), as well as the other recipes I’ve tried of hers. I doubt I could go wrong with it, but I’ll be sure to let you know how it goes.
For next Thanksgiving I may make these really cute cupcakes that a friend posted on her blog. If only I’ll remember!
Anyway, as far as the ramblings go: I’ll just stick with the last week, since I’m really behind. We went to back to Enid, OK, where I was born, for Thanksgiving along with my entire family. And I when I say that I mean: Grandma, her 4 sons and wives, 9 grandkids plus 5 spouses , and 9 great-grandkids, plus some extra people. That’s a lot of food. A lot of pumpkin pie. 🙂 It was really nice– I got to meat three of the great-grandkids for the first time. I only wish we could all get together more often!
Unfortunately about half the kids were in some stage of sickness. Poor L had a fever for two days, couldn’t get any sleep, and we finally gave up and brought her home a day early. We were exhausted!
So, now I’m trying to get the holiday decorating done. Normally I would’ve gotten that done by now (I’m really into it), BUT I’ve been a little distracted by Eclipse since I got home. Hey, don’t knock it till you’ve tried it. 🙂 Now that that’s finished I should be able to focus a little more. Trying to save the 4th and last book in the series until our trip back to IL in a couple weeks for Christmas. We’ll see…
Quick Update
Posted on: November 18, 2008
- In: Books | Family | Knitting
- 5 Comments
Look who’s walking.
This has kept me busy.
Well, this too.
There may have been some other stuff as well. More later.
Quoting
Posted on: September 25, 2008
I’m reading a good book: Becoming a Woman Who Pleases God.
Here’s a quote I like from Gary Thomas about how the marriage relationship stimulates spiritual growth (it is a trial sometimes 🙂
“To spiritually benefit from marriage, we have to be honest. We have to look at our disappointments, own up to our ugly attitudes, and confront our selfishness. We also have to rid ourselves of the notion that the difficulties of marriage can be overcome if we simply pray harder or learn a few simple principles. Most of us have discovered that these “simple steps” work only on a superficial level. Why is this? Because there’s a deeper question that needs to be addressed beyond how we can “improve” our marriage: What if God didn’t design marriage to be “easier”? What if God had an end in mind that went beyond our happiness, our comfort, and our desire to be infatuated and happy as if the world were a perfect place? What if God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy? … Your marriage is more than a sacred covenant with another person, it is a spiritual discipline designed to help you know God better, trust Him more fully, and love Him more deeply.”
I guess I never really thought of it like that before! Make sense to me!
Loads of Pics
Posted on: August 16, 2008
Check out L’s newest feat. I came around the corner to find her starting to put her foot up on the first stair. Not ready for this!!! Check out those chubby leg. She really did have clothes on, but she managed to poop on them before this pic.
Here’s B enjoying meal right before that. He asked me to take a pic of him while I was documenting the meal.
Not the greatest pic in the world, but believe me: the food was awesome! There’s a rip-off of Appelbee’s Tequila Lime Chicken that I’ve been making for a few years and love. I got a basic recipe on Topsecretrecipes, and have made it my own. Then we have a salad made of lettuce and the Mexi ranch that is on top of the chicken (pico de gayo and ranch dressing mixed). The pico de gayo was made with all very fresh ingredients, although I bought the tomatoes from the farmer’s market. And last but not least: we have the stuffed banana pepper. The pepper is, of course, from the garden. It’s stuffed with sauteed onion, purple pepper (the only one I’ve gotten from the garden so far), and tomato and cheddar cheese. It’s wrapped in bacon, and then broiled. Delicious!
Here’s a greasy looking pic. I needed a good recipe to take advantage of the abundance of banana peppers I’m getting from my garden. Here’s the recipe. It doesn’t say to sautée the veggies, but I highly recommend it.
And then to top it all off: the most amazing (fresh) peach cobbler ever. I got the recipe from a cook book called Stir Ups: Boot Kickin’ flavor lickin’ recipes from the Great Plains that is put together in my birthplace– Enid, OKlahoma. I must share:
3/4 cup flour
3/4 cup milk
pinch of salt
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon (why not use 1/2 tsp 🙂
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup butter (don’t use margarine pls!)
2 cups fresh peaches, peeled and sliced
1/2 cup sugar (I used splenda)
Sift together flour, salt, cinnamon, and baking powder.
Mix in sugars. Stir in milk and beat.
Melt butter in 9×9 inch baking dish.
Pour batter over butter.
Pour peaches mixed with 1/2 cup sugar over this. Do not stir.
Bake 350 degrees f for 1 hour.
Can use canned peaches if desperate.
I added the parenthesis. What really makes it great is that the batter sort of fries in the butter– amazing! 🙂 Enjoy!
New Books
Posted on: July 18, 2008
- In: Amy Butler | Books
- 2 Comments
I’ve just been looking for a birthday gift for crafting friend, so of course that means my own Amazon wishlist is getting pretty long…
Looking forward to:
Anna Maria’s book is going to be awesome, I just know it! Her blog is on my sidebar.
I’ve just discovered this book. It sounds exactly like what I need! AND the author has a blog!
And how could I resist another Amy Butler book? 🙂 And Amy needs a blog I think.
I guess I’d better start saving my money!!
Random
Posted on: July 18, 2008
This is going to be one of those random, up late sort of blog posts. 🙂 Chad is out playing his first gig with his new band, and I didn’t get to go, so here I am wiling away the time on the computer.
First of all… found a great new blog for any bakers out there: Joy the Baker. I’m adding it to my sidebar asap. It’s funny because she just did a series of posts on the great Cookie Debate. If you’re related to me you will know that this hits pretty close to home for me. I have always used the recipe on the back of the Hershey’s package for my cookies with just a couple little tweaks here and there. I don’t even have it written down. Then, as all you avid readers out there will know, I received this cookbook for Christmas. It has a great cookie recipe that is quite a bit different from my old standby. I’ve made it a few times, and actually like it better than the old version. The only problem is– the rest of my family likes the old way better! Or, at least, we’re split down the middle. Oh no!
I just started reading Augustine’s Confessions, and from the first page I was asking myself “why haven’t I read this before, it’s amazing!” I think I thought it would be over my head or something. It probably is, but I’ll take what I can get out of it! It may take me a year to read through it considering how many books I read at once, but maybe I’ll surprise myself.
Searching For Creativity 