Simple Home Living: 12/16/07

Saturday, December 22, 2007

We're talking CUTE aprons!

Pami is this amazing, talented, gifted, smart, cute, pretty, beautiful, fun, very funny woman. Need I say more? OK, I could, but I'll spare her. :-)

We've got this makin' apron thing happening and Pami just sent me pics of the fruit of her hands. Wowsers. Very cute. Adorable, creative. She says, "I didn’t do the embroidery. These are all made from an embroidered kitchen towel (I bought them at Sur La Table) or cloth napkin (Crate&Barrel). I added the little red pockets and “I Love You” red gingham trim and vintage yellow buttons raiding my Mom’s button box – these are the real deal to the pockets for the 2 girls’ red aprons."

Snowy Morning Breakfast

As I'm in gathering recipes for this next week, I
just ran across this one for breakfast. It's called
Snowy Morning Breakfast.

OK, I'm in the desert, so the chances of us having a snowy morning breakfast are close to nil. But, one doesn't have to have snow to bake this for breakfast. I discovered this on Our Kitchen Sink Blog. As I took a peek, there are tons of other recipes that one will want to check out!

Baked Oatmeal
Penzeys 2 1/4 cups old-fashioned oats
2/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
3/4 cup raisins or dried cranberries
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
3 1/3 cups skim milk (I'll use whole milk)
4 egg whites, lightly beaten1 tsp.
vegetable oil (I'll use butter)
1 tsp. pure vanilla extractmilk, yogurt and fruit (optional)

Preheat oven to 350.
Butter an 8-inch glass baking dish. In a large bowl, combine oats, sugar, raisins, walnuts, cinnamon and salt. Mix well. In a medium bowl, combine milk, egg whites, oil and vanilla. Mix well. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until well blended. Pour into the prepared baking dish.

Bake at 350 for 55-60 minutes, or until center is set and firm to the touch. Cool slightly. Serve topped with milk or yogurt and fruit, if desired. Store leftover oatmeal, tightly covered in the refrigerator.

Prep time: 15 minutes. Cooking minutes: 55-60 minutes. Serves: 6-8.

"Nana, will you color with me?"

Butternut squash and Coconut milk soup

Butternut squash and Coconut milk soup
2 cups butternut squash
1 can coconut milk
about 1/3 cup water
Curry to taste

In a deep large saucepan fry up butternut squash.
Add coconut milk. Stir on medium to low heat.

Add curry. Add water as needed. Mash with a

potato masher.

You could also add a diced carrot and some sauteed onion

Rosemary White Bean Soup

My readers know that I love soup, and my husband loves my soup!

I've been looking for good white bean soup to try and this one, from the Barefoot Contessa (on the Food Network) looked like a "must try" because of the rosemary. I love the theraputic smell of rosemary and the flavor it gives to just about anything. Besides, I've got tons of rosemary growing in my potted garden.

Rosemary White Bean Soup
1 pound dried white cannellini beans
4 cups sliced yellow onions (3 onions)
1/4 cup good olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 large branch fresh rosemary (6 to 7 inches)
2 quarts chicken stock
1 bay leaf
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

In a medium bowl, cover the beans with water by at least 1-inch and leave them in the refrigerator for 6 hours or overnight. Drain.

In a large stockpot over low to medium heat, saute the onions with the olive oil until the onions are translucent, 10 to 15 minutes. Add the garlic and cook over low heat for 3 more minutes. Add the drained white beans, rosemary, chicken stock, and bay leaf. Cover, bring to a boil, and simmer for 30 to 40 minutes, until the beans are very soft. Remove the rosemary branch and the bay leaf. Pass the soup through the coarsest blade of a food mill, or place in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade and pulse until coarsely pureed. Return the soup to the pot to reheat and add salt and pepper, to taste. Serve hot.

The Zane Lane is the Winner!

Thanks to all you lovely gals who participated in giving Zane's Blog a new name.

The family loved them all, but the one that we were drawn to was the Zane Lane and it was available with blogspot!

Single Mom for God - Please contact me - Lylahl@aol.com with your mailing address. I'm excited to send your Starbucks Gift Certificates!

Christmas Herb Roasted Leg of Lamb

I've been scouting around looking for yummy holiday recipes so I could have some options to menu plan with for this next week.

Wednesday, I just happened to catch the Barefoot Contessa ( I sure love her stuff and her style!) and this roasted leg of lamb dish on the Food Network. It looked so good, I could almost smell it through the tv. This is an option for me, but on a much smaller version.

Christmas Herb Roasted Leg of Lamb
Ingredients
12 large unpeeled garlic cloves,
divided 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary leaves
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 (6-pound) boneless leg of lamb, trimmed and tied
4 to 5 pounds small unpeeled potatoes (16 to 20 potatoes)
2 tablespoons good olive oil
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

Place the oven rack in the lower third of the oven so the lamb will sit in the middle of the oven.

Instructions:
Peel 6 of the cloves of garlic and place them in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Add the rosemary, 1 tablespoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper, and butter. Process until the garlic and rosemary are finely minced. Thoroughly coat the top and sides of the lamb with the rosemary mixture. Allow to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Toss the potatoes and remaining unpeeled garlic in a bowl with the olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Place in the bottom of a large roasting pan. Place the lamb on top of the potatoes and roast for 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours, or until the internal temperature of the lamb is 135 degrees (rare) or 145 degrees (medium). Remove from the oven and put the lamb on a platter; cover tightly with aluminum foil. Allow the lamb to rest for about 20 minutes. Slice and serve with the potatoes.

Recipe SummaryDifficulty:
Easy Prep Time: 15 minutes
Inactive Prep Time: 50 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Yield: 10 servings

Christmas Shrimp Soup - from Maria's Kitchen

Maria is an amazing cook!

A few weeks ago, while we were at Mike and Anita's (The Nourishing Home), Maria brought and we devoured this spicy shrimp soup. I told Maria, "I have to have this recipe!"

If you have some sinus problems, this is your ticket.
It's fabulous!

Ingredients:

2 lbs. med. size shrimp

2 yellow onions
2 – 3 russet potatoes, diced into small cubes (add with carrots)

4 tomatoes

3 carrots

1 cup rice (long grain)

1 sm. can chipotle chilies

salt & limes

Directions:

Cut onions long ways and sauté in large pan with oil and once the onions are cooked,

Cut tomatoes into wedges add to onions

Cut carrots into half moons and add to onions and tomatoes

add rice - sauté all together

add 2 quarts of water and bring to a boil

add salt to taste

add chipotle chilies (usually 3-4) or if you want it hotter add more

** leave in whole, but don't serve them - just to add flavor

let it simmer until carrots are almost cooked

add shrimp (cleaned) for about the last 15-20 minutes and, then serve!

Our Friends from China

This was a dinner gathering that Michael and I hosted in our home in August. These guys had been here in the Phoenix Valley for nine months. They had been training to be pilots and for the whole time they stayed here in the states, not one American invited them into their home. We were the first for most of them. And, the cool thing was - we were invited to their apartment and they cooked amazing Chinese for us.

Friday, December 21, 2007

Christmas Special Bundt Cake - From my mom's kitchen

Mom made this delectable treat today.

I had to show you and have her send the recipe!

Way to go mom and on your birthday!

Dark chocolate Bundt Cake

8 oz.semisweet Chocolate, Coarsely chopped
1 (16 oz) can of Chocolate syrup
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 larget eggs
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp.vanilla extract

Melt chocolate in a microswave-safe bowl at high for 30-second intervals until melted (about 1 1/2 minutes total). Stir in chocolate syrup until smooth. Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beat at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time. Beat after each addition. Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt, Add to butter mixture,alternately with flour mixture. Beat low speed after each addition. Stir vanilla and melted chocolate just until blended. Pour batter into a greased and floured 14-cup bundt pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour and 20 minutes.......cool cake in pan on a wire rack. 15 minutes..............then turn onto cake stand and garnish.

Garnish -wintry-white icing. strawberry slices and sprinkled with red sugar.

Wintry-white icing
2 cups of powdered sugar
3 to 4 tbsp.milk
1 tsp.vanilla extract.................stir together until smooth............and start slowly pouring.........

Mom's recipe came from Southern Living!

It's Good To Be King - Happy Birthday Honey

Today, I not only celebrate my mom's birthday, but my darling husband's. I am married to the love of my life. I'm thankful that he's the one that God gave me to grow with and to learn to love. I'm thankful that I get to do life with Michael.

When we first got married, we had this cute little morning ritual. He'd say, "Good morning my Queen." And, then I'd say, "Good morning my King."

So, what do I like about my Michael? What is it that I'm celebrating? Here's a snippet:

I celebrate Michael this day, because he's one of the most giving men. He gives to me by stopping at Trader Joes on his way home to get a list of groceries or make a bank deposit, or whatever. He gives to our daughters - and pretty much will drop doing what he's doing to help them out: get fresh bread, dig holes for trees, etc. (Special note - Jenni (who is in Spain) and I did NOT converse about this kind of birthday gift to my husband, her dad. When she sent me what she'd written, I asked if she'd seen this and she had not and still has not. Now, how cool is that?)

I celebrate Michael this day, because he's the best Poppi in the whole world. We both say that we're better grandparents than we were parents. For some reason, God saw fit to give us a five amazing grandchilden. I asked them recently what they liked about Nana and the one thing that came out after a long pause was . . .I cook good. Then, I asked them what they liked about Poppi and the list was endless: he jumps on the bump (the trampoline) with us, he wrestles with us, he plays hide and go seek with us, he dances with me, he plays his guitar for me, he sings me 'night night songs", he plays the computer with me, he twirls me around, he . . . and on and on. And, it's all true.

I celebrate Michael today, because his gifts are a gift not only to me, but to so many others. He's a lover of truth, he's philospher with deep thoughts, he loves to express those deep thoughts (which always amazing me how deep they are), he's an artist - he writes music, sings, writes skits, writes for chorus material and other artsy things.

I celebrate Michael because he loves my God, and he lives to put a smile on His face. I celebrate my husband, because he's not afraid of the truth and he wants truth in the inward parts - even if the truth hurts.

I celebrate Michael, because not only is he my pastor, but the pastor/teacher of a people who sit under his teaching, shepherding and discipling. Michael isn't your normal "pastor." He teaches from the heart and mind of a Jewish thinker. Not meaning to sound racists or anything, but a Gentile mind is just different than a Jewish mind.

Michael loves the people he pastors. He knows that he is accountable to God for those in his care. What I love, is that Michael's created a safe place for us, the sheep, to learn and grow and get ready to see God on That Day. He's passionate that we know God's love for us and that we don't get our identity from others, but from God.

What I also love is that our gathering time (Sunday) is a training time. It's not about him - it's about all of us and God and growing and learning and loving. He doesn't "preach" at us - we are able to ask questions, share comments, etc. It's like a big living room with a bunch of sheep and a tender shepherd. What I also love about my pastor husband is that he pastors us through song.

"Honey. . . there isn't space or

place to write the rest of my

heart toward you . . .but just

know that I'm thankful

you're my King and that

I get to be your Queen.

I love you forever."

Making Aprons - Day Three

Yesterday, I really had fun working

on my apron project - gifts for five

women (2 big and 3 little) in my life.

Day two was spent with Ivana's help.

At one point, she actually ripped off my pattern from the fabric and tossed it away. She was actually being helpful, as she'd seen me throw away the unused pieces

and put them in the fire. I'm sooooo thankful that it only got tossed on the floor.

Making aprons is awfully fun. I'm getting a

little more confident in putting colors

together. I actually asked Michael if it

looked hip . . . he gave his sweet opinions and

gave me a vote of confidence.

I am impressed with the work it takes to make

aprons by those who do this for a living. And, I have

to say, as I've looked at MANY aprons, I'm very

impressed with Marie's Studio.

Today, is day four. I'll have more photos tommorrow.

If you're looking for vintage apron patterns check this out.

Today, I celebrate 2 Special People - My Husband and My Mom

How cool is it to be able to celebrate two for one? What I mean, is that that my darling husband and my dear mother were born on the 21st of December. God saw fit to gift the earth with two people that mean the world to me.

In this post, I celebrate my mom, because she's a gift to me. Not only did she choose to give me live, but often she gave her life for me.

A gift my mom gave me was a love of home.

In spite of years of her working (waitressing, Hughes Aircraft and other odd jobs), my mom would have rather been at home. I remember how hard it was for her to get up and leave early in the morning or late at night to go outside her home and work. My mom valued home.

Another gift my mom gave me was insisting that I (the only daughter) spend time in the kitchen with her. I'm so thankful for this gift. I remember lots of kitchen time, baking cookies for holidays, soups for cold days, making spice cakes, cream puffs, eclairs and of course big dinners of goolash (a cheap, good meal for a big family), chili, roasts, chicken and dumplings and stews. One meal Mom made that I still salivate over is her Pork and Sauerkraut with mashed potatoes. No one can make that like my mom.

Mom gave me another gift. Being a working mom, it would have been easy for her to not cook and let us kids and my dad fend for ourselves, but she didn't. The gift mom gave me was the value of a home cooked meal and dinner as a family around the meal table. Not only was there meal from scratch (no boxed stuff in our house), but mom always found time to decorate her table according to the holiday.

Meals around the table weren't always the most peaceful, with three younger brothers, but it didn't matter, because my mom and dad were all about family. Dad sat at the head of the table and my mom sat to his left. I'll always remember that picture.

Another gift mom gave me was one of having a good laugh. My mom grew up with a lot of pain, and yet, in spite of that, she could always make us laugh. She still does. My daughters and I enjoy the "giggly-laughter" times with my mom.

I remember one time, in Texas, I went out in the country to buy two goats. My old Toyota had a gas leak or something and in order for it to keep going, I needed to pump the gas peddle continually. Mom was with me and she knew that my foot was giving out. If I quit pumping the accelerator, we would have stalled - out on some country road, with two goats in the back seat. Not a good thing

Well, my sweet mom, (while sitting in the passenger seat) reached her left foot over and took over the pumping. I don't think I've ever laughed so hard; two laughing ladies, two goats in the back seat, and old beat up putt putt of a car, chugging on down some lonely Texas back road.

My mom also gave me the gift of showing compassion. She modeled for me a woman who felt deep compassion for the hurting, the down and outer and the one in need. Both my parents did that. Mom also gave me the gift of being a giver. Not only did she have compassion, but she would be moved to give out of that compassion.

I could write 1000 pages about my mom and never complete them - so for time and space sake, I'll end by saying, "Mom, today, I celebrate you. I'm thankful God chose me to be your daughter. And, in spite of space and distance between us, I'm thankful I still have you. I know one day I won't. Candace just finished a book and she quotes a section on her blog - which I'll repeat here:

"Mom, I whispered.
I hadn't said it in so long.
When death takes your mother, it steals that word forever."
(for one more day by Mitch Albom)

Candace writes: I am finishing up this book for our December book group discussion. These three sentences, really the last one, hit me hard and gave me reason to stop and think about its truth. For a moment, I felt pain at the realization that that could ring true for me somday.

Death steals something and creates a loss when we lose the earthly presence of the person.

My hope and peace lies in the knowledge that because my mom and I know Jesus, forever is not eternity. Even still I never want that word stolen from me. I am reminded to love her well; to live a life without regrets.

I love you MOM - Happy Birthday!

Thursday, December 20, 2007

My Mom's Kitchen - Her Chili Recipe. YUM!

My mom is one of God's best cooks!

A few weeks ago, I posted her incredible pototo soup and this past week, I begged her to send me her Chili recipe.

She did so today.

I must say, that my Mom
is a "from scratch only" kind of woman.

I'm proud of that.

Mom says, "I use two of everything."
2 lbs of ground round

Mom says, "Do not use cheap hamburger meat."
Saute one whole onion and 8 garlic minced cloves.
Add ground round and add . .
2 tbsp. chili powder
2 tsp. ground cumin2 tsp. ground oregano
2 tbsp. seasoned salt
1 dried chili pepper, crushed, seeds removed

Then, add 2 cans of diced tomatoes & about 1/4 cup of diced green chillies.
Then add two cans of tomato sauce (10 oz). Take one of your cans and add one cup of water, take second empty can and add one cup of red wine. (Wow, that sounds like it might add some great flavor.)

Next, add two cans of Kidney Beans. Put everything in crock pot and let simmer on low for several hours - at least 4 - 5 hours.

Mom says, "The more you let it simmer the better it tastes."

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Day Two - Busy in My Kitchen - Making Aprons

This is as far as I got today.

Not too far. I had too much

fun watching Ivana play with

my tape measure. She was

so excited to "help" Nana

make aprons.

How in the world do young moms sew with little ones around? Here's Day One.

Wordless Wonders from the Desert - Pictures of a Five Year Old

Zane is five and has an amazing view of his world. One day, a few weeks ago, I gave Zane, one of my grandsons, my digital camera. He took over 120 pictures. At first, I gasped with the thought, but as I viewed each one, I began to slow down and look at my world differently. The rest of the story is here. And, if you want to participate in the contest, it's here. More awesome ideas, pictures and what nots can be found here - where Shannon still has rocks in her dryer.

Wordless Wonders of the Desert

Last week, Ivana and I checked to see if our oranges were ready. There was only ONE orange that didn't still have green on it. But, today? The motherload of oranges! A gift for Christmas!

A little visit with my Somalie friends

Up until recently, I spent Tuesday afternoons in a place I call Somalie Land. I would teach English to Degha and her mother Saadia. I think moreso, they would teach me. On this particular Saturday, I went to visit Degha and see the new little Prince. Is he just not the cutest little munchkin you've seen? I'm a bridge builder. What are you?

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Keep Christmas Simple!

Keep Christmas Simple:

Remember those who are serving us, fighting to protect the freedom we so often take for granted.

Wouldn't it be fitting if this went completely around the world...?! This needs to make headline newsIf you agree, please pass this along. It's a tough, but heartwarming story...with a picture of John Gebhardt in Iraq.

John Gebhardt's wife, Mindy, said that this little girl's entire family was executed. The insurgents intended to execute the little girl also, and shot her in the head...but they failed to kill her. She was cared for in John's hospital and is healing up, but continues to cry and moan. The nurses said John is the only one who seems to calm her down, so John has spent the last four nights holding her while they both slept in that chair. The girl is coming along with her healing. He is a real Star of the war, and represents what America is trying to do.This, my friends, is worth sharing with the WORLD! Go for it!! You'll never see things like this in the news. Please keep this going. Nothing will happen if you don't, but the American public needs to see pictures like this.

James Gates U. S. Navy

Monday, December 17, 2007

Passionate about homemaking and high cholesterol

My friend, Lindsay, is an amazing young mom. I learn from her and her heart for the home and her pursuit of health, organic, being frugal, organization and loving her baby and husband.

I just took a quick visit and she's got a good article on the value of apple cider vinegar. It's worthy to read. It's interesting that today, I'd just gone to the Sprouts to talk to a clerk about my cholesterol - about six months ago, it was on the "high" end.

Don't stop at this post on the importance of vinegar, but go through her whole site, you'll learn things you didn't know!

5 Aprons for 5 Women in My Life

About three weeks ago, Candace asked for a gift.

This gift involves me digging my sewing machine out of my closet.

It involves me making some hip aprons!

It involves me making some creative combo fabric decisions
(NOT easy for me).

And, it involves me (who hasn't sewn for some time) to make mother and daughter aprons - as gifts for Christmas.

In this process, I figured if I'm going to make 2, I might as well make 5 (for my other daughter
and granddaughters).
Now, I must tell you, in spite some creative anxiety, I am very excited to do this love project.

I'm delighted that Candace would ask.

I did find a pattern. It's a design from the Marie-Madeline Studio.

Today - I pulled it all out. I piled my fabric folds into coordinating
colors, then I stood back to survey it all and then I tried to figure out what might look hip with what.

I've even asked my 3 yr. old granddaughter, Ivana what she thought. (Can you tell, I'm not so confident?)

If you have any suggestions from looking at my fabric, as to what you think would look hip, please don't hesitate to write! I'll keep you posted as I sew along.

For fun, here's a picture of my mom in her apron!

It's a contest! Zane's Blog Needs a New Name!

I got the blessing of visiting Zane's class today. He's got an amazing teacher, Mrs. Debbie Fox, and about fifteen other little five year olds. Aren't they too cute? Zane wanted to take pictures, so of course, I let him and he took some great views of his world.

I've been asked what happened to The View From Zane's World blog? I don't know. It's in blog space.

A new blog is needed, because he's become quite the photographer. Below are a few new pics he took today!

This is where you come in, because I need some help. Zane's Blog needs a new name. And, I thought it'd be fun to have a contest, so I'm taking suggestions for a new, funky, fun, name that fits a little 5 year old boy doing life foto ops. The winner will be picked this Saturday. The only glitch is IF the name you post is available with blogspot.

What will the winner win? A gift little certificate to Starbucks!

So, post your blog title suggestions for Zane's new Blog. Thanks!