pimento cheese

Can we quick get in a last minute summer dish??

I can't stand pimento cheese.
With a passion, I hate it.

But, I really want to like it.
It's as southern as iced tea and I just had to find a homemade recipe that I liked.
So, here we are!

Homemade pimento cheese.
Worlds better than storebought.

Pimento Cheese
Makes about a cup.
3 ounces of cream cheese, softened
1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup grated monterey jack cheese
1/2 cup good quality mayonnaise
Pinch of salt
Pinch of pepper
Pinch of garlic powder
2-3 tablespoons pimentos, smashed or minced
Paprika, for garnish

Whip cream cheese in a stand mixer (or hand mixer) until fluffy.  Add the rest of the ingredients and beat until smooth.  Sprinkle with paprika and serve with veggies or good crackers.
Or on white bread.
Cut into triangles.
Served with iced tea.
:)

grateful.

i'm grateful.

~ that gabe is a little over a month old now and a perfectly healthy baby boy.

~ for my parents who are an extra set of hands and take these yahoos outside to run (and feed chickens, pick peppers, water plants, dig in the dirt) some energy out of them before naptime.

~ that i spent that extra, unexpected week in the hospital with him, but that God used that time to heal my body from natural childbirth so when we got home, i was ready to wrestle with my other two boys.

~ that my husband is home to co-parent in this season of our lives.

~ for God-given patience with my two oldest crazies in homeschooling

~ that it's getting slightly cooler in texas and we can actually enjoy our morning walks together.

~ for a new church family that showered us with gifts and pre-made dinners

~ that all my boys that sleep in past sunrise.  i get to enjoy my tea and watch the sun come up over the pine trees in east texas.  it's quiet time with my husband that i didn't think i'd get with three boys :)

we're going on a bear hunt!

we are going a bear hunt for mv's 4th and jack's 2nd birthdays!
oh, i'm excited.

we are going to have a hayride to look for bears, bear food, and even a real bear to "catch"!
*real bear being a huge bear skin rug of my grandmother's ;)*

here's our set-up so far!

printed invites this year.

nothing like last year.

but, last year, i didn't have a brand new baby.

i get a pass, yes?

painted toilet paper tubes for binoculars!

old woks, of all things, painted into giant toadstools

*compliments of my mama ;)*

crafting fingerprint bear thank you's in school

it's gonna be great fun and we can't wait!!

blueberry bran breakfast cookies

Can I tell you how much we are loving these lately?!
Seriously.
My boys eat two at a time (and they are big) and I won't admit how many I've eaten in one sitting.
They are perfect for on-the-go...very sturdy but nice and moist on the inside.
They will fill you up till lunch but so healthful that you won't think twice about your waistline.
These have lovely bursts of warm blueberry but I'm already dreaming about pumpkin and roasted apples...
Stay tuned :)

*update! I made them even healthier! Instead of the sugars, use an additional 1/2 cup of applesauce, mashed banana, or canned pumpkin (or I used homemade (lower-sugar) jam) and 1/4 cup coconut oil instead of the butter and canola oil. Can't tell the difference!*
**also, I did a batch without the blueberries, and added unsweetened coconut flakes, toasted pecans, and strawberries, and it was divine.**

Blueberry Bran Breakfast Cookies
Makes around 18 big ones.

3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons butter, melted

1/4 cup canola oil

1/4 cup brown sugar

3 tablespoons sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 cup applesauce

1/2 cup bran flakes

1/2 cup rolled oats

1 cup blueberries

1/3 raisins or dried cranberries (optional)

1/3 toasted, chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

Preheat your oven to 350*.
Combine flours, soda, spices, and salt in a large bowl.  Set aside.
Whisk melted butter, oil, sugars, egg, vanilla, and applesauce together in a medium bowl.
Pour wet ingredients into dry and fold together until just mixed.  Don't overmix!
Add bran flakes, rolled oats, blueberries, raisins, and nuts, if using.
Fold in gently.
Scoop out 1/4 cup portions and place on a greased or parchment paper-covered baking sheet.
Bake for 12-14 minutes, until barely golden.
Remove gently and let cool.
Enjoy!

"mine."

kid sushi!

So. Much. Fun.
My boys love regular sushi.  They'll eat it all day long.  They love the pickled ginger.  They love love the soy sauce. Not so much on the wasabi ;)
But, as a treat, on one of our sushi nights, I made the boys some "fun" sushi to go along side.
Hope you enjoy as much as they did!

Kid Sushi
Makes enough rice for several rolls.
1 cup short grain "sushi" rice
1 1/2 cups water
2 tablespoons sugar
Splash of rice wine vinegar
Pinch of salt
Fruit roll ups...homemade, preferably!
Carrots, cucumbers, blanched asparagus, etc, sliced into sticks
Turkey, ham, etc, rolled into little logs
Cream cheese, avocado, sesame seeds, etc, for garnish

Combine the rice, water, sugar, vinegar, and salt in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil.  Simmer, covered, for around 10-15 minutes, until rice is cooked and water absorbed.  Cool slightly.

Lay out your sushi mat, cover with plastic wrap, and lay down a piece of fruit roll up.

Cover with a thin layer of rice.
Use wet hands because the rice will be sticky!

Line up a few deli meat logs, a few slices of veggies, and maybe a swipe of cream cheese.

Using your mat, roll up sushi, carefully, pressing gently.

Unroll, slice with a slightly wet knife, and garnish with sesame seeds!
Enjoy!

lately...

lately, we've been...

potty training this little stinker

success!

enjoying the last of summer

exploring the guadalupe river!

stickering the windows when it gets really hot...

and washing daddy's car when it's even hotter!

and most of all, enjoying our new addition! 

chicken in milk

Okay.
This was my first meal "back".
Meaning, G is now three weeks old and I just got back in the saddle.
Granted, this chicken dish was made last weekend when G was only two weeks old but still.
I need to get used to making three meals a day, seven days a week.
Or maybe I should just enjoy the freezer meals that we have stocked.
Either way, it does feel good to be back.

By the way, how weird does chicken in milk sound?
But I promise, it's one of the best chicken dishes I've made in a long time.
And the weird looking juice at the end?
The. Best. Part.

Chicken in Milk
Serves...how many does a 3 pound chicken serve??

3 pound chicken

Salt and pepper

Olive oil

Butter

2 1/2 cups whole milk

10 garlic cloves, unpeeled
1/2 stick cinnamon
Zest of 2 lemons

Handful fresh rosemary or sage

Wash and dry your chicken.  Season liberally with salt and pepper.
Heat a knob of butter and a healthy drizzle of olive oil in a dutch oven over medium-high heat.
Brown chicken on all sides.
Remove from pot and discard oils.

Place chicken back in and add milk, garlic, cinnamon stick, lemon zest, and rosemary or sage.

Place in a preheated 375* oven, covered.
Bake for 45 minutes.
Pour a glass of wine because you have an infant plus two toddlers and this is your first homemade dinner since.

Baste when you remember.
Then, remove cover and roast for another 45 minutes.

Enjoy fall-apart chicken and serve with the delicious (yet weird looking) jus (pan sauce) over the top of said chicken and maybe some mashed potatoes?
Or just easy sauteed veggies, as seen above.
Rejoice at how easy that was.
:)

first day of school!

First day of school, first day of school!

Come on, wake up, wake up, first day of school!

We started on Monday and are having a blast so far :)