What I've been up to...

I can't believe it! I'm posting before another month has sped by..yippee!

I've been trying to get my focus and start preparing for Christmas. Yes, I know, Thanksgiving hasn't happened yet. But, I plan on making our gifts for Christmas again this year and I really ought to be moving...don't you think?

So, I've been checking patterns, making lists, gathering materials and slowly starting my projects. Hopefully, I will get my momentum going here and have time for every thing I want to make.

I also have been making up some baby food for Rowan. I could buy it, but it is much more expensive that way and at least this way, I can see what is in my food for her. I've also found that some recipes they have out there include common allergens for our family and so I have to be careful. I'm sure I'll buy some jars here and there, but I am hoping to make most of what she needs and also have her eating what we eat sooner than later(even if all mooshed up;-)

A week or so back I made up some Pear Sauce. At the time I only had a hand mill. I will just say that this is NOT the best way to puree up a large amount of sauce...I'm just saying...

So, I asked my parents for a blender for my birthday ;-) and they delivered!

On Monday, I baked up some Acorn Squash and then pureed it in my new blender...NICE! Today I decided I better get to the Granny Smith apples and cooked them up on the stove. Again, the blender did a bang-up job on the applesauce..lovely, smooth sauce :-)

(The finished product from this weeks baby food making~in the bag:Acorn squash, in the ice cube tray and small tub:applesauce)

I really enjoy making Rowan's food. I hope she enjoys it too. Next up: carrots :-)

On Wednesday we had a special day that we took off from school and work. It was Homeschool Day at the Discovery Kingdom park(what used to be Marine World). What a blast that was! How can you not enjoy being surrounded by a bunch of (mostly) like-minded folks that do not look at you funny for having 4 kids? It was great. We were able to see most of the animals in the park and enjoy some rides too. We saw the Tiger show at Odin's Temple of the Tiger..very cool and Shouka the Killer Whale(very awesome and Fiona got drenched) as well as the bird show..lovely!

The kids, Dan and I all had a great time. I'm glad we could do it. So, I'll leave you with a few pics from our day :-)

Liam soberly waiting for the adventure to begin. Can't you tell he's excited?

The kids really liked seeing the elephants up close. Fiona was our expert...she could tell that there were both Asian AND African elephants there. Mom and Dad said no, we didn't think so...but the trainer validated our little lady :-) The kiddos wanted to ride the elephants, but it was an extra cost...sorry kids!

Here is the male, white Bengal Tiger diving...only 1 year old and already 300 lbs! Oh my goodness..he was beautiful! By the way, while here, I happened to get to meet one of my bloggy friends, Rebecca! So awesome..only wish we could have talked a bit longer.

And last but surely not least, Shouka the Killer Whale or Orca :-) What a beautiful creature! She is amazing. Fiona sat right up in the "Splash Zone" and got very wet. She didn't mind but I'm glad I moved up a few seats or Rowan(who I was wearing at the time) and I would have been drenched.

This was a great trip and a wonderful opportunity to see the variety in God's creation. He is truly an awesome God and His creation is a testament to His power and might for sure!

Blessings,

Sommer

A Little Holiday Baking

I know most of you have probably already started and completed several batches of Christmas cookies. However, I haven't seemed to get my act together until recently:-) So, this last Saturday I decided to do some baking!

I found a wonderfully simple recipe for Holiday Spritz cookies in my new Taste of Home magazine and thought I'd give them a whirl! So, I donned my new apron(sent to me by my dear friend Tilly~didn't she do a wonderful job? Thanks sweetie!!!) and pulled out my cookie press. I received this cookie press a couple of years ago, but this was the first time I've ever used it. I never had found a recipe for these kind of cookies that looked good to me.



Above you see me in my apron, stirring the cookie dough. This was an exceptionally easy and simple recipe. So I've decided I should share it with you all here....

Holiday Spritz

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp rum extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
Colored sugar

In a small mixing bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and extract. Combine flour and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture.

Using a cookie press fitted with the disk of your choice, press cookies 1 inch apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Sprinkle with colored sugar.

Bake at 375* for 6-9 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool for 2 minutes before removing to wire racks. Yield: 7 dozen

This was such a hit with my family, that we will be making them again this Thursday to take to our caroling event with our homeschool group:-) My children requested these:-) I may decide to use vanilla next time though, although the rum extract wasn't very strong. I just love vanilla!

Tomorrow, I hope to bake oatmeal cookies and pumpkin bread! And we will probably make some sugar cookies later in the week. Those are a must for Christmas! Who can resist icing cookies with the kids? Not me!!! Perhaps I will share pics of those too:-)

Blessings,

Sommer

A Yummy Treat!

Tonight we are attending our church's Thanksgiving Dinner. It is always a good time of fun and fellowship. We attended last year and had a really nice time, and so we decided again to go this year:-) Everyone was asked to bring a particular side or dessert...I decided to go with pie. I LOVE pie!

And this is such a yummy one, that I thought I'd share the recipe with you all! I do hope you enjoy it!

Maple Custard Pie(from PIE by Ken Haedrich)

1 single crust pie pastry

Filling:
1 ¼ cups heavy or whipping cream
½ cup pure maple syrup(although I have used imitation…but pure is better J)
1/3 cup sugar
½ tsp vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
4 large egg yolks


1) If you haven’t already, prepare the pastry and refrigerate until firm enough to roll, about 1 hour.

2) On a sheet of lightly floured waxed paper, roll the pastry into a 12 or 13 inch circle with a floured rolling pin. Invert the pastry over a 9-inch standard or 9 ½ inch deepdish pie pan, center, and peel off the paper. Tuck pastry into the pan, without stretching it, and sculpt the edge so it is even with the rim. Place in the freezer for 15 minutes, then partially prebake and let cool.

3) Set oven temperature to 350* F.

4) Combine all the filling ingredients in a large bowl and whisk briefly, until evenly mixed. Pour the filling into the cooled pie shell.

5) Place the pie on the center oven rack and bake until the filling is nicely browned and set, 35-40 minutes total. Rotate the pie 180*, so that the part that faced the back of the oven now faces forward, 10-15 minutes before it is done. The middle should be jiggly but not soupy .

6) Transfer the pie to a wire rack and let cool thoroughly. Serve at room temperature, or, better yet, cover with loosely tented aluminum foil and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight before serving.

Yummy to the Tummy!

I tried out a lovely new recipe last night for dessert. Thank you Tilly for sharing it and for the tips:-) If you go here, you'll see the recipe in it's original form.

Because Fiona has nut allergies, we left out the almonds. I also took a tip from Tilly that she gave to me later, and added brown sugar to the tops of the muffins just out of the oven. What a nice touch.

These were a hit with my family and now they are gone, but....I took pictures!



I think we will be making these again sometime!

Blessings,
Sommer

A Berry Yummy Recipe!

I've been wanting to make something for dessert using berries that I bought a month or so ago. I knew I wouldn't use them right away so I froze them. They were luscious, big blueberries and some lovely, tart blackberries....yum!

So, in my searching around and asking for a good recipe....I was pointed to this particular recipe, Blackberry Skillet Cobbler. I was so excited to find a use for these tasties! Yes, it does just call for blackberries...so I substituted 2 cups with blueberries:-)

Last night I baked this up...

May I just say that it was so delicious. My hubby and kids(well, one kid)really enjoyed it. And, as suggested, we had vanilla ice cream along with it, drizzled with juice from the cobbler. Here is the serving I dished up for my sweet hubby...

I really enjoyed this recipe! This was a wonderful way to use up the summer's berry bounty. Do try it...you'll be very pleased:-)

Blessings,

Sommer