Cookbook: The Farm Chicks In The Kitchen

 We've been so blessed by all of the care and concern you've shown while our Historian has been unwell.  Thank you for praying for our little family. I'm happy to report that he is doing well and recovering from surgery.  He is still not able to drive and is sore and tender, but he is healing up nicely. He is home from work and just today has felt well enough to tidy and sort papers and books in his office - no heavy lifting of course (10# limit right now). We were able to attend church yesterday - not for the whole morning, but for the worship service, and that was our first family outing since coming home from the hospital Thursday.  He was very tired after and slept for 3 hours, but it was good to just get out and see our church family again.

 

For my special day, the Historian perused my Amazon wishlist

and ordered a few books for me! He knows me well!

So far my favorite one is The Farm Chicks in the Kitchen: Live Well, Laugh Often, Cook Much! I was on the waiting list at the library for this book for months so I know it is popular - I was so happy to receive it! I love the old time items used everyday 

- it's close to home for me!  I love surrounding myself with simple old kitchen utensils and cookbooks from yesteryear - they remind me of quieter times and my Nanny's kitchen.

The recipes I've used so far are great - comfort foods made with easily obtained everyday ingredients and a little something 'extra' to bring it up a notch. Today I made 'Cheesy Potato Soup' and it was a real hit.  I reduced the fat by using less butter and skim milk cheese and it was still creamy and good. Everyone commented on the nice basil accent. My old recipe uses bacon, sour cream and heavy cream, so this was a good alternative for a family

trying to watch those fat grams!

I also made the 'Maple Oat Scones' and they were quite popular - and amazingly filling. The kids loved the glaze and it really kept them moist. I plan to cut them smaller next time. I made the 'Crunchy Granola' for snacking and 'Nancy's Nutmeg Coffee Cake' to share - all very good!  I love it when I can look through a cookbook and find 5 or more recipes to try right away!  I think I could cook through this whole book and my family would love every  bite!  

Today was the kind of day where I just really wanted to crawl back into bed and start the week tomorrow, but of course, we had schoolwork to do!  We got through everything, got to piano lessons and ballet and I even ran a few errands despite the nasty icy roads.  I guess I'm glad I didn't go back to bed! I have a feeling that the public school kids will have the day off tomorrow since the ice/sleet /hail and freezing rain is still coming down! With all of last week's interruptions and the the week of sickness that the kids had, we need to push on and get caught up in our schedule a bit!  Maybe if it's still nasty tomorrow I'll bake one of the great looking pies in 'The Farm Chicks' and we'll celebrate - spring is just around the corner!

A Boy's Dilemma

What do you do when Mama says it is just too muddy to play baseball in the yard?

 Why you find yourself in the middle of a true boy's dilemma - and if you have any imagination, you quickly figure out there is only one way to solve the problem!

Read about baseball, of course!

After all of the years of struggle we have had with reading with our Storyteller, it is pure joy to see him absorbed in reading something his is passionate about.

I'm praising my Heavenly Father for this reminder of His faithfulness today.

I am so thrilled to see my boy reading that I didn't even bawl him out for parking his wet and muddy self on the couch.  You'll notice it is navy blue and very patterned. For those of you with white duck slipcovers on your couches, I applaud your decorating savvy and bravery, and I envy you just a little bit.  I, however am not ready to follow your lead quite yet - I have clay soil and an almost 10 year old boy, and there isn't enough stain remover in the world to entice me to slipcover in white! Yet!

Escape!

How can it be Friday already? Where did this week go? I am lost in a world of historical fiction and have let the week slip by with my nose in a book! I am escaping the overwhelming desire to get really down about the circumstances of our daily lives by immersing myself in the pages of books! I don't think about replacing water damaged flooring or figuring out how to work our new t.v. when I'm in another time and place reading about settling Texas or fighting crime in 18th century England. I am not concerned about the leaky roof or the cost of getting our van's transmission replaced when I am reading about being lost in the garden or hiding from unsavory men. I cannot help but smile and sigh when I'm caught up in the story of redemption and love, of unlikely suitors or of love overcoming overwhelming odds to flourish, and my mind is totally relieved of the cares of tomorrow. More vein surgery? It's not even on my mind when my nose is in a book!

I know there are many who would never pick up the types of books I am currently indulging in simply because they are fiction, and that's just fine with me. If you look over my bookshelves, you will see my reading tastes are very well diversified, however right now I am not drawn to theology or how-to. My gardening books sit unopened. Sewing books are lined in neat order, but remain on the shelf. Classics and poetry are left in peace. Only my Bible is left open. For this season, inspirational fiction is the purest form of escape, and I am blessed to have so many good books to read!

The only draw back of all this reading is that our house was rather a shambles when Mrs. Helen came yesterday to help with the cleaning! Taking my nose out of the books long enough to get school done, or make meals isn't a problem, but somehow I overlooked the picking up! She whipped us into shape yesterday and all is well - except for the Dreamer's room, which rather looks like a toy factory exploded. We'll have to work on that. The rest of the house is clean, smells good and you can see most of the surfaces clearly! Even my kitchen counter is cleaned off and sparkling!

Lately, my creative abilities have been somewhat repressed by all of the unsettling circumstances of life that we have faced. The trouble with not regularly exercising my creative muscles is that I tend to loose my confidence in trying to accomplish something that makes my heart sing. Some of the books I am reading are spurring me on to some creative ideas in the area of sewing, and the description of a room in one of my reading escapes has given me some ideas for our rooms. Fuel for creativity can be found in the most unlikely places, I find! I am hoping that soon our lives will calm just enough to give me time to create once again, but in the mean time, I am so grateful that God has gifted so many to author books that take me away, encourage my heart, expand my ideas, and inspire my creativity.


So if you're looking for me, I'll be curled up with a hot cup of tea, a cozy throw, and a nice bit of fiction on my lap!

The 'Get What You Really Wanted' Sale

Last night before bed I was attempting to tidy up the kitchen counter a bit when my eyes fell on the sales circulars for today. The 'Get What You Really Wanted' sale ads just blew me away. Stores are capitalizing on our dissatisfaction with the gifts we received for Christmas and encouraging the idea that we are entitled to have 'what we really wanted' for Christmas. It's so sad, and yet today the stores will be filled with customers taking back gifts, not because they don't fit, but because it wasn't what they really wanted - or just to get the cash. It's no wonder that people are discouraged from buying gifts for others - knowing that it will be exchanged, re-gifted, or end up at Goodwill is enough to make anyone feel like Scrooge. Even the whole gift card thing is a waste since something like 1/3 of them will never be redeemed. It's a shame.

It's all about expectations and building them up beyond all reality. It's also about people driving themselves crazy to meet those unrealistic expectations. I ran to the grocery store quickly the other day to get a few things I knew we would need over Christmas. It was crazy busy and the shelves were often bare or almost bare. Everyone was in a hurry and grim faces greeted me at every turn. Exhaustion and stress were in the air and there was no time for the pleasantries. I was in a long line for the check out and gave a bright smile to the lady behind me. She scowled and swore at me, asking what I had to be smiling about and generally insulting and belittling my beliefs as I briefly shared the joy of Christmas for Believers with her. It made me really sad to hear her tirade, but as I've reflected more on what she said, I feel more sorry for her than anything. She was totally stressed about finding just the right gifts, preparing just the right meal and having her home ready for the holidays. She was racking her brain to think of something to give to that hard to buy for husband, and knew that most of what she chose would just be taken back or sit on a shelf, never to be used. While I didn't appreciate her coarse language or the personal insults she lavished on me, I understood her feeling of pushing herself to make an effort knowing that is was probably not going to be appreciated. Christmas just doesn't make sense without Christ.

My husband asked me about a month ago if I really wanted diamonds for Christmas. I laughed and asked him where he got that idea from. He mentioned that all of the t.v. ads, radio commercials, and newspaper fliers were insisiting that every woman needs a diamond for Christmas in order to be truly happy and satisfied. He felt like the advertisers were saying that any other gift would be woefully inadequate. The thing is, while that may be true for some women, it isn't true for me. I have a beautiful diamond on my left hand and I am more than satisfied with it. In this season of my life, practical and useful gifts are very appreciated. I love pretty things, but I I like it best when something I use everyday is both pretty and practical, and I personally don't appreciate spending a great deal of money on something that is just purely for looks. That's just me. I wasn't expecting diamonds, so I wasn't unhappy with the thoughtful gifts my family selected for me - in fact, I was very happy with everything!

I remember as I child a Christmas when my teacher at school had us make a long list for 'Santa' as a writing exercise. She has us 'dream big' and make a really extensive, specific list of our wants and wishes. We brought in the Sears 'Wish Book' and poured over it for hours writing down exactly what we wanted. I got an "A+" on my creative writing assignment. That was the first Christmas that I wasn't satisfied with what I got for Christmas. I was 11 and I remember going to my bedroom and crying great tears of disappointment. Once I had written down my long list of wants, I began to feel like anything less than the sum total of the list was inadequate. My expectations were high, but the reality was it wouldn't have been good for me to get everything I wanted, and my parents knew that. I remember my mum coming into my room and talking about how I felt. She helped me to look at what I had been given with a grateful heart and encouraged me to be content with what I had. I remember leaving my bedroom and going back to the tree and carefully looking over each thing and deciding to enjoy the gifts I'd received - and I did!

A gift is a gift. It is not something we earn, deserve or have a right to. It is not something that we should be critical of or be ungrateful for. Whether it is for Christmas or any other special occasion, we need to have grateful hearts. It all boils down to contentment - knowing that no THING is going to bring peace and satisfaction to our hearts - despite what the advertisers are constantly trying to tells us! Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and for ever - He is the One who fills our hearts with JOY!

Our children are good examples to me. They woke up very early yesterday morning and were excited about opening their stockings in their rooms. Everything they opened was exclaimed over and chatted about. I over heard 'Wow sister, look at this!' and 'Look brother, isn't this nice!' over and over again. Every gift had to be brought in to their half asleep Daddy to show him (even though he had wrapped them all and stuffed their stockings!), and it's virtues were extolled! They only had time to open a few gifts before we went to our friends for a lovely Christmas dinner, but they were happy with that. When we got back home and finished opening their gifts at 7 pm we got big hugs and exclamations of 'thank you - I love it' and 'we're so blessed'! I pray that they will always be so easily satisfied with the simple things in life.

Move Over, Mrs. Fields

I wasn't one of those teenage girls who hung out at the mall with my friends eating big giant cookies and drinking soda while window shopping for clothes. I was working at a fabric store and taking extra classes to get through the torture of high school as quickly and as quietly as possible. I tried my best to fly under the radar - and I think I succeeded. I have met old teachers and former classmates whom I knew right away, but who haven't a clue who I am unless I happen to sneeze. Didn't I mention that I have a very distinctive sneeze?

It wasn't until college, when I was a bit more comfortable in my own skin, and had given up on the constant dieting that I discovered the joy of a really big cookie. I was working in a mall at the time and living on dorm food. My parents had paid for the meal plan, because it was required, but I had classes during mealtimes and was rarely on campus for meals during the weekend. I really got tired of the disgusting bagged lunches that I could request if I had the forethought to make plans more than a week in advance. Like that was going to happen very often!

Some of my co-workers introduced me to 'lunch on the cheap'. Either a hot bowl of take-out soup or a single big cookie that would provide enough nourishment to get me through my hours without too much difficulty. My own Mum's cookies were wonderful - my favorites being Mum's Munchers, a kitchen sink kind of cookie, and Dad's cookies, a soft chewy spice cookie. But Mum's cookies weren't BIG, and her cookie jar was a long way away! There was something about those BIG cookies. You could eat one, knowing that it has enough dough to make three, and still fool yourself into thinking 'I've just had A cookie...'.

It wasn't long before I realized that there really is something to that 'freshman 40' they tease about - I think I found all 40 of those mysterious pounds in the first 12 weeks! I also began to really resent the 1/2 hour of work one cookie represented in cost and eventually gave them up in favor of cheap and nutritious soup and salad.

Fast forward to my life as a pastor's wife. It involved a lot of baking. I love baking and I really enjoyed sharing my baking with all of the congregations that we served. For a while I was on to wonderful rich recipes for super sweet squares that everyone seemed to like. Pretty, elegant, easy and 36 'treats' from one pan. I don't do nearly as much baking now that we are not in ministry, at least not as much 'fancy' baking. Muffins, quick breads, brownies and biscuits are my standbys. I still like to make squares occasionally, but for a sweet treat, I am all about cookies. Maybe it's because of the children. They are my cookie monsters!

When our Dreamer was involved in a city soccer league a few years ago, the parents were asked to bring treats. She requested 'giant' cookies, so I scooped my usual chocolate chip cookie dough with my ice cream scoop and voila! Big Cookies! Our AWANA groups also loved it when I made huge cookies for treats during special occasions. They brought back some pretty fond memories. I've lately been experimenting with other cookie doughs, like my Chewy Oatmeal Cookies, and good old Snickerdoodles. The kids loved the novelty of really Big Cookies.

A few weeks ago when I found Big Fat Cookies at Sam's Club for $10, I had to buy the book! It's been frustrating because I have been looking at the recipes and just waiting until my foot was well enough to bake up a storm! There has also been the time factor. I have quickly made my old standbys because these recipes are a bit more complicated - I actually had to read and follow directions! Some of the wait also involved our need to do a 'staples' type shopping trip. Thankfully the ingredients are, for the most part, common and available.

This week the wait has ended! Big fat cookies fill both cookie jars, and they are wonderful. Our favorites so far are 'super-sized ginger chewies' and 'totally chocolate chocolate chip cookies'. We shared some with friends this afternoon and I think they agree - yummy! Lest you think we are going into massive cookie production, each batch only makes 12 big cookies. I am limiting myself to 1 per batch - eaten very slowly with a big glass of ice cold milk or a hot cup of tea.

When I think of all the expensive mall cookies I once bought, they pale by comparison! They weren't baked with love, after all. It really makes a difference!

Edited: The Historian says my title choice is a bit braggy and boastful, but I didn't mean it to be - it was just for fun! Since the recipes are not my own, and I am humbly passing on information about some really yummy cookies that we are enjoying thanks to the fine work of Mrs. Elinor Klivans, author of my new favorite cookie cook book, I'll leave it with this note. Just smile, please!

This could be the reason ...

for my added pounds! I picked up this book at Sam's Club for $10 when my mum was here, but I haven't tried any of the recipes yet! Just reading them has me all excited! I don't like to complain about the weather, but as soon as this heat lets up a bit, I'll be in the kitchen baking up some big fat cookies! Mmmmm! If you're going to eat a cookie, it might as well be a work of art!

Light Reading

The other day I bought a book purely on impulse - I just needed some light reading to take my mind off my curtain troubles! I was attracted to the cover, though I don't usually judge a book by the cover! I was unfamiliar with the author, but a recommendation from Tracie Peterson was very motivating. I'm glad I followed my impulse because Letter Perfect by Cathy Marie Hake was so much fun!

I laughed out loud, I shed a tear, I was, at times, on the edge of my seat, and I didn't worry about my curtains for a moment! I really like the way this author wove her tale! I enjoyed the fact that her heroine is less than perfect - actually very clumsy, like myself! It is inspirational historical fiction with a murder mystery and a bit of romance thrown into the mix. Perfect for taking my mind off pesky window treatments!

Now back to my sewing table ....

Upper Body Workout

A few days ago I decided it was time for my favorite upper body workout - a visit to the library!
I had intended to sit in the quiet alone for one sweet hour and enjoy looking at the books I had selected and then take only my ideas and a few scribbled notes home. Well, maybe one our two would make it home ....
God had other plans. He brought a sweet woman who I used to attend a wonderful Bible Study with into the library for a Divine Appointment. As we talked I could sense that she needed to share her journey with me. I mostly listened, offered a bit of encouragement, and promised to pray for her and her children, as they seek a new place to live. We were both encouraged after our brief visit, and I am glad to have spent my precious quiet time with her. I didn't get even one book perused before it was time to head out to pick up The Dreamer at ballet.
So ... the books came home with me! All 40 pounds ... my upper body workout!
However, I am so glad I brought them all home! The Southern Living Christmas Cookbook has at least ten recipes I'd like to try - I just need to plan a get together! Nell Hill's Christmas at Home is way over the top for our humble dwelling, but I can take a few ideas and scale them to our budget and setting for sure! Pottery Barn Bathrooms just added more confusion to the decisions I soon have to make concerning our upcoming bathroom renovations - there are just so many lovely 'looks' to choose from. Eclectic Style left me wondering once again where does one get a lovely wardrobe for $10 and a dresser for $1 - I am obviously not shopping the right Thrift Stores!, Martha Stewart Living's Holidays had a few good recipes and made me laugh - it reminded me that I live in the real world of home decorating, which for me includes small children and a budget. Household Wisdom had some lovely and practical ideas for the home, and Susan's Branch's Christmas from the Heart of the Home is full of inspiration for a family Christmas celebration.
The best part is that my body needs this time of reading and reflection. I'm tired, and there is nothing nicer than gazing at lovely books, gleaning a few great ideas and resting a weary body. I am not very good at resting, but hopefully, if I get enough rest I will have the strength to actually try the ideas. If not, I can file them for another time in my scrapbook of ideas for the home.

Christmas Reading

Today we gathered together our favorite Christmas books and tidied the children's book shelves while we were at it! I thought I'd make a list of what we will be reading for the next month or so throughout the day and as we put the children to bed. We have been very blessed with books! Our basket overfloweth! Both children love to be read to and with each changing season the assortment in the book basket changes, so we don't ever get tired of the same stories. We are indeed rich in books, however not all of these books are from a Christian perspective. Some might even be in the 'twaddle' category, but our family has appreciated each book for it's own merits. Enjoy!

Christmas Reading
Jotham’s Journey by Arnold Ytreeide
Jacob’s Gift by Max Lucado
What Nick and Holly Found in Grandpa’s Attic by Melody Carlson
Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett
The Stable the Bob Built by Big Idea Books
Once Upon A Christmas by Alice Gray
Ivy’s Icicle by Gary Bower
Jingle Bells a Candy Cane Book
The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado
Christmas Songs a Happy Day Book
Mary’s First Christmas by Walter Wangerin
My Father’s Angels by Gloria Gaither
The Gift of Father Christmas by D. Morgan
The Legend of the Christmas Stocking by Rick Osborne
Clopper The Christmas Donkey by Emily King
Cow and the Christmas Surprise by Todd Aaron Smith
Mary’s Story an Arch Book
Snow Puppies by Disney
I Wonder … Did Jesus Have a Pet Lamb? by Janette Oke
Favorite Christmas Carols a Happy Day book
The Night Before Christmas
A Christmas Longing by Joni Eareckson Tada
The Indescribable Gift by Richard Exley
Spunky’s First Christmas by Janette Oke
The Legend of the Christmas Tree by Rick Osborne
Polly’s Christmas Present by Irma Wilde
Baby Jesus is Born an Arch Book
The Star of Christmas a BiggIdea Book
Ordinary Baby, Extraordinary Gift by Gloria Gaither
The Pinetree Parable by Liz Curtis Higgs
Mole Hole Holiday - a Little Golden Book
Sing a Song of Christmas
The Littlest Christmas Tree by Thornton W. Burgess
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
The Littlest Angel by Charles Tazewell
If You Take A Mouse To The Movies by Laura Numeroff
Annika’s Secret Wish by Beverly Lewis
The Quiet Little Woman by Louisa May Alcott
The 12 Days of Christmas by Helen Haidle
The Night the Stars Sang
The Candy Maker’s Gift by Helen Haidle
A Child’s Christmas by Thomas Kinkade

I especially wanted to mention Jotham's Journey, An Advent Adventure by Arnold Ytreeide. We read this for the first time last season and we were so taken with the story - we were on the edge of our seats! We laughed, cried and were completely terrified at a few points in the story, and the ending is just so heart warming. The truth of Scripture is woven throughout the tale and it really made us focus our hearts on the Christ Child. As a side benefit the far reaching and often catostrophic results of the sin of one small boy are clearly depicted, and our children were amazed to know that they too can affect the lives of others with their wrong choices. We have decided to read it again this year and can't wait until Sunday to get started!

Cuddle Time

There is something so delightfully wonderful about a freshly scrubbed and washed boy in crisp line dried flannel p.j.'s sitting cozily on his Daddy's lap for stories and a devotional before bed. This is one of the many things I love about The Historian - he takes the time to read to our children daily, and he often reads to me at night. The Dreamer gets to cuddle with her Daddy each morning before he heads to work. She usually begs for a chapter or two of a favorite historical fiction. She also enjoys stories and a devotional each night with her Daddy, though she thinks she is getting too big to sit on his lap so she cuddles very close instead. The Storyteller grabs a place on his Daddy's lap before supper for a story or two - current favorites still include 'Amelia Bedelia' and 'The Berenstain Bears', but there is always room for 'Watch Out For Joel' and 'Christopher Churchmouse' too! We are a book loving family for sure, but more importantly we love to read together! I do all o our read alouds during the day, and our lunch time devotions. When someone is under the weather we snuggle on the couch and read until I loose my voice! I know we will remember the times we have spent reading to our children as precious and dear when they are grown and gone!