Baked Oatmeal

I've been on a quest to un-drudgerize breakfast for my family.  My kids don't like cereal anymore... even the sugary ones. Why? Well, this mama hates to start the day with a mess and a sink load of dishes, and cereal is the greatest option for minimal mess and dirty dishes. But, I've overdone it! Now that cereal is an unwelcome staple in our home,  I've been collecting easy and healthy breakfast ideas for a little more happiness at breakfast time... tasty, healthy, and quick clean up.

I came across this Baked Oatmeal recipe, and I LOVE it! It takes just a few minutes to throw together, and tastes way better than oatmeal cookies. Two of my kids won't touch regular oatmeal, but they gobble this down.

I've doubled the recipe when we've had guests sleep over. Everyone loved it. Next time we have guests for breakfast, I'm going to make this, and set out a bunch of toppings for an oatmeal bar.

Ingredients:
3 cups oatmeal
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup applesauce
1/4 cup oil
1 cup milk
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Spray 8X8 baking pan with non-stick cooking spray

2. In a large bowl beat the eggs

3. Add all other ingredients

4. Cook for 20-25 minutes

Top with fruit, milk, nuts, or whatever sounds good!
Easily doubled in a 9X13 pan.

Recipe Source: Adapted from Mel's Kitchen Cafe

XO, Nancy

REMEMBERING a loved one who has died

 

 

 

When my mom died, I really struggled with the grieving process.  I learned that there are five stages to the grieving process. There is no particular order or time for each stage. Sometimes we go through each stage and sometimes we skip stages and sometimes we revisit stages. We each grieve

in our own way and in our own time

so don't compare yourself to others and their grieving process.

 

1.  DENIAL and ISOLATION

2.  ANGER

3.  BARGAINING

4.  DEPRESSION

5.  ACCEPTANCE

 

Learn more here and here about these stages.  If you are struggling with the loss of a loved one I encourage you to look at these two websites they give great information.  Don't be afraid to seek grieving counseling if needed.

I believe in life after death and I believe that God has a plan for us.  Learn more here.  I believe that our loved ones are not far away from us and that they still love us and want us to be happy.  During my grieving process, I learned that I could still remember my mom and loved ones by making them apart of my life.  Here are some things that my family has done to REMEMBER those we love that are in heaven.

1. Decorate their grave.  

Balloons, flowers, wreaths etc. for holidays or other special days .

For my mom's birthday, I let the girls buy their favorite "Birthday" Balloon to give to Grandma.

 

2. Donate to a charity in their name.

Karalee, Brett's Mom and Brett

 

My sister has been on a weight loss journey this past year.  Check out her blog here.  She signed up for a 3K run in honor of my mom when she was in Hawaii called NAMI which stands for

National Alliance on Mental Illness.

3. Eat their favorite dinner or treat.

 

My mom's favorite treat was ice cream especially Starlight Mint and

on her birthday I make Chicken Cordon Blue for dinner. 

 

4. Do what they loved. 

My mom was famous for having fun and not following the rules. 

She was a big kid at heart and always made sure she was having fun with us girls.
 

5. Talk about them and share stories about them.

 

 My girls love to hear stories about my mom.  My sisters are great to also tell them stories when we are together.  Talking about your loved one keeps them apart of your life.  In a video we made for my mom's funeral we used the song Please Remember Me by Tim McGraw.  The line that always strikes me is "I will remember you, Will you remember me?"  I want to always be able to say Yes Mom, I remembered you.

Other Ideas:
Watch Movies about them, display their stuff around your house, look at pictures of them, talk to them as if they were here because they are.

What do you do to REMEMBER your loved one?

Jan

Sugar Cookie Cupcakes (Oh so good...)

If I had to choose only one dessert that I could eat the rest of my life, THIS would be it. Serious. That good. Yep. Period.

The cake is an old fashioned recipe, and the frosting is a whipped, out of this world taste. I did not invent the frosting or the cake recipes, but I did adapt them and pair them with one another... One of the wisest decisions of my life.

I've made these for many birthday parties and family get-togethers. Finally, here it is written down. Hopefully for the family archives :)!

Cupcakes (Can also be baked as a cake):
Ingredients:
4 egg whites beaten to stiff peaks
1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
2  cups granulated sugar
3 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
3 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 cups ice water
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees, set 24 cupcake wrappers in pans (or prepare pans otherwise)

1. Beat egg whites to stiff peaks and set aside

2. In a stand mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 3 minutes)

3. Meanwhile, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together

4. Add flour mixture and ice water to creamed butter. Alternate wet and dry until mixed in. Do not over mix!

5. Mix in almond and vanilla extracts

6. Fold in egg whites

7. Bake for 18-22 minutes (for 2 8 inch cakes, bake for 30 minutes)


Frosting:
Ingredients:
10 Tb. Flour
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups milk
2 cups butter (I KNOW... but it's worth it!)
2 cups granulated sugar (NOT powdered sugar)

Directions:
1. In a saucepan, whisk flour and milk together.

2. Then, turn on medium heat. Stir CONSTANTLY until very thick... texture resembles pudding. Make sure all the lumps are whisked out.

3. Cool completely (I put it in another bowl and stick it in the refrigerator).

4. When completely, 100 % cooled (or room temperature), add vanilla. Set aside.

5. Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Make sure to beat past the grainy sugar stage.

6. Add milk/ flour mixture

7. Beat like crazy.

Try not to snitch the whole thing :).

 I love these so much. The extracts and the colors can vary. Different sprinkles make them fun for any occasion. Here's my Valentine version:

XO, Nancy

Breakfast from Heaven

I call this "Breakfast from Heaven" because these recipes are from the cookbooks of our loved ones who live in heaven.  My husband's Grandpa was famous for his "HOTCAKES" and my mom would make us homemade maple syrup when we had pancakes.

Papa Ballard's Hotcake Recipe

Mom's Maple Syrup Recipe

Add Primary Punch to this plate for a complete breakfast.




















Happy Eating.
Jan

10 Fun and Simple Valentine's Day Ideas... (for decor, romance, kids, and more)

Valentine's day is just a couple weeks away, and here are 10 rockstar ideas that you don't want to miss!! Jan and Lauralee blew me away last year with all their Valentine creativity. So fun yet simple to accomplish! If you need an idea to celebrate, sweeten, or beautify any part of your Valentine's season,  you've found the right place...

1.

Valentine Pom Poms

2.

Heart Garland

3.

Valentine Candy Display

4.

Love is in the Air

5.

Valentine Countdown for Kids



6.

30 Day Love Challenge



7.

Chick Flick Quote Quiz



8.

14 Heart Shaped Foods



9.

Clay Owl Valentines



10.

Delicious Valentine Dessert



XO, Nancy

Cooking Bacon in the Oven

Do you hate cooking bacon on the stove with all the greasy mess?  This is a great trick I learned. Cook Bacon in the Oven. Put bacon on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 for fifteen minutes. Turn over once.  If you like your bacon crispy it may take twenty.  Just check after ten is my advice.  My sister also taught me a great trick so that the bacon doesn't have to sit in the grease: put your cookie rack on your cookie sheet and place bacon on cookie rack.  The grease drains in to the cookie sheet so your bacon doesn't have to sit in the grease.

 

Happy Cookin!
Jan

We All Need...

 I have a friend who seems to have her 'ducks in a row' all the time.... always looks classy, generous to others, so organized, funny, relaxed, happy family, hard worker. I've teetered on being really jealous, but I like her too much to let envy into the relationship.

As I've observed how she does EVERYTHING so well, I realized that she DOESN'T DO everything!!! She does what she can, and gets help where she needs it.

Whoa... that was another AHA experience for me... I can't do it all!


 My twins are always telling me as they stomp their feet, "I can do it all by myself!!" Sometimes, we mommies do the same thing in our own, "grown up" sort of way. We think we have to do it all, and then we end up overwhelmed and totally exhausted.

I felt that way not too long ago. It seemed as though I never got a break. From the wee hours of the morning to the stroke of midnight, I was cleaning, cooking, laundering, bathing, chauffeuring,  grocery shopping, entertaining kids, healing owies, and taking care of church or other responsibilities... and more. However, "everything" never got done. I felt so unorganized even though I was constantly working! Ack!!

My friend sent me the name and number of her housekeeper, Adrianna. So, I called her to help me deep clean my house, but then chickened out.

I thought, "I'm a stay at home mom. I should be able to get all of this done. Jenn works full time, that's why she's justified in having someone help her." (blah, blah, blah)

Finally, a few weeks later, I called Adrianna. And... life changed for me!!
She accomplished in one day what it takes more than a week for me to do, because I have so many other little tasks.

Yes, I paid her, and YES it was SOOOO worth it!
I finally felt like I was caught up. Just having a little help mad such a world of difference!

That experience made me think about how much as women, we try to do everything, and be everything to everyone. We are too scared or worried to ask for help. I know though, that
we all NEED help... in one way or another!

I've wondered, why have I been so hesitant at times to accept help or even ask for it??
I'm pretty sure that my reasons may also be your reasons:
-Don't want to impose
-Feel that there should be no reason I can't do it by myself
-I've been taken advantage of in the past, and do not want anyone to think I'm taking advantage of them
-Embarrassment that I even need help
-Too expensive, or I don't want to pay for something I can do myself

The secret is to realize that we are not perfect, nor expected to be. When someone helps us, we can pay them for their services, do something in return, or just accept that someone wants to help us for nothing in return. We can pass it forward when we are able to do so.

It is so liberating to have help when we need it.

Are you overwhelmed or exhausted?
Here are a few suggestions to get some help:

•  Realize that you are not alone! We all need help. It doesn't mean you are a failure! No one can DO EVERYTHING!
• Round up the help you need:
• Your husband
• Make an age appropriate job chart for your children and stick to it (withhold allowance or privileges if they do not help) 
• Trade with friends or sisters
• Accept help when someone offers
• Find the service you need, and pay someone to give it (doesn't have to be permanent.. even a little help goes a LONG way).
• A counselor
• An ecclesiastical leader
• Medicaid, WIC, or Food Stamps if you are struggling financially ( **If you don't need this kind of help, yet judge others. Watch out... you may have to use it also some day. )

Life is a big juggling act. We can't do it alone. Joy comes in giving help, and also receiving it.

XO,

Nancy