{today}

today I'm watching this little one for a friend, to see if this is something that Noah and I would like to do on a long-term, regular, part-time basis.  Noah is being so gentle with this sweet little girl, so much more than I expected!  he spent over an hour perched above her, waving at her and patting her gently.  so sweet!  he is going to be a great big brother one day!  it has been fun having another girl around, especially of the sweet, small, snuggly, variety.

Honey Whole Wheat Bread

I am still a very amateur baker, but I am enjoying slowly learning bit by bit about baking bread.  I'm ever so slowly conquering my fear of yeast.  The art of baking bread appeals to me.  It's rustic, romantic, slow, contemplative.  Freshly baked bread is so much better than what can be bought in the store, not to mention SO much cheaper.  Plus, I love the act of making things to nourish my family.

I decided to give this one good loaf recipe a try.  I love that this recipe bakes only 1 loaf, which is perfect for our small family.  I used all whole wheat flour (which, from my research can make the bread more difficult to rise), to meet our preference.  Other than that I followed the recipe as is, but in the future I think I'd like to substitute olive oil for the shortening.

As I worked my way through the bread making process, listening to my favorite worship cd (Fike and Dana), I couldn't help but think about the many references in Scripture to yeast and baking bread.  There's so much profound truth to be found and learned through this ancient act of baking bread.

Matthew 13:33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

Austrian Goulash Soup

I made this Austrian Goulash Soup for dinner tonight.  I thought it was pretty good, but Jeremy and Noah both really seemed to like it.  The few changes I made were to add 2-3 Tbsp sugar, 1 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper, and eliminated the beef shin (although I do think it would add great flavor!).  This would be great over whole wheat egg noodles, or served with homemade bread for dipping.

new favorite cookbook

I just got a new-to-me copy of Deceptively Delicious.  I have only made one recipe so far (which was delicious!), but I am just enamored with this book.  Jessica Seinfeld (yes, Jerry Seinfeld's wife) has a great concept of getting kids to eat veggies, and of making meals more nutritious, by slipping vegetable purees into everything from scrambled eggs, to meatballs, to baked goods.  If you have picky eater kids, or know grown ups who aren't big fans of vegetables then buy this book!  We all like vegetables here, but I always love anyway to make food more nutritious, and still tasty.

memory game

I made this memory game to send to a little boy for his birthday.  It was super simple, quick, and cheap (using supplies that I already had).  I printed out some fun clip art images, modge podged them onto wood, and modge podged scrapbook paper to the other side of the wood.  This could also be really fun by personalizing with pictures of family members, favorite toys, or whatever your little one is into.

Broccoli, Cheese and Rice Casserole

Broccoli, Cheese and Rice Casserole

You could also stir in chopped cooked chicken prior to baking to make this a one dish meal to please meat eaters.


-2 c uncooked brown rice, cooked according to package directions
-4 c broccoli, chopped, and steamed for 5 minutes
-2 Tbsp butter
-1 yellow onion, diced
-1/4 c all-purpose flour
-2 c skim milk
-1/3 c light sour cream
-1 1/2 c shredded cheddar cheese, divided
-1/2 tsp garlic powder
-1/2 tsp black pepper
-1 tsp salt

Melt butter in large pot over medium heat.  Add onion, saute 5 minutes.  Add flour, cook 2-3 minutes stirring constantly.  Add milk, cook stirring constantly until sauce bubbles and thickens.  Remove from heat, stir in 1 c cheese, and sour cream.  Stir garlic powder, salt and pepper into sauce.  Stir broccoli and rice into sauce.  Spread mixture into a greased 13x9 pan.  Top with remaining 1/2 c cheese.  Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

learning from Noah

here are a few things that I'm learning right now from this little man;

• to enjoy the journey, and not be so focused on the destination that I forget to enjoy the present... he never worries about where we are going, but enjoys exactly where we are to the best of his ability, living in the moment
• to delight in simple things... he played for 1 hour the other day with a scrub brush and a spoon
• to play, laugh, and not take myself too seriously
• that if my imperfect human heart is so full of so much unconditional love for this little man, how much more full and perfect is the love of my Heavenly Father for me

Mark 10:14-15  “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. ¹⁵ I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” ¹⁶ Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.

Thank you Lord for this child.  Thank you for the ways that you use him to speak to me.