Two Potato Recipes

I've been trying some new recipes lately.  We're trying to move away from as much processed food, like everyone else! 

Kayla and I had these for lunch one day, just to try them out.  Yum!

To make them, cut thin slices in the potato, almost all the way through but not quite.

Brush with olive oil or butter.  

Sprinkle with sea salt and pepper.

Bake at 400 for 40 minutes.  

(That's what the recipe said.  I needed to bake them for at least another 15 minutes.  Maybe next time I'll up the temperature, too.)

Well this is not the most appetizing picture but they tasted really good.  They were even better the second time I made them and didn't burn them!

Sweet potato fries.  I got this recipe from my friend Julie's blog, Plant Pantry.

Baked Sweet Potato Fries

2 large sweet potatoes, sliced into fries (I leave the skin on)

2 T. olive oil (I usually use less to lower the fat content)

1/4 t. garlic powder

1/2 t. paprika

1/2 t. brown sugar

1/2 t. chili powder (I use less b/c my kids don't like them spicy)

1/4 t. sea salt

1.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees

2.  Spread sweet potatoes on a large baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil, tossing gently to coat.

3.  In a small bowl, combine remaining ingredients.  Sprinkle over potatoes, coating evenly and tossing as needed.

4.  Bake in over for 15-25 min. on each side, the smaller and thinner the fries, the faster they will cook. 

Wednesday Afternoon

 Sammy and Lucy helped "hill" the potatoes.  The plants are coming up so pretty!

The past few days have been full!  

And I think it's going to stay that way for a few more.  That's ok, though.  It's all been fun.

There are cousins in town!  So our kids have been having a great time with them and Brian's parents for the past couple of days.

Don't think that time has been lost on us.  Brian and I have been on a couple of dates.  I worked on curriculum for next year while sipping a chocolate milkshake yesterday.  And today it was lunch on the deck with a book.  It's amazing what a little quiet will do for ya!  And it's amazing how "off" things seems to be without those kids around.

In case you're interested, I saw a summer reading challenge over at Redeemed Reader.  The challenge is called Around the World in 60 Days.  I think we'll give it a try, beginning with Around the World by Matt Phelan.

Summer! (Almost)

How do we know it's summertime around here?  Or at least that school's out?
*Allergies.  Half of us can't stand to be outside much right now because of the pollen.  Eyes are red, itchy, and puffy.
*The kids and I rearranged the school/play/catch-all room.  I am always ready to move things around by the time school's done.  It helps us clean up all the stray things that have gotten pushed under and behind furniture all year.
*The hummingbirds are back!
*The kids want fruit smoothies most days for lunch.
*I'm working on putting together summer reading lists for the kids.  I'd love suggestions!
And-

It's time for sun-tea again!

There are flowers to cut and put in vases.

Planting time!  This is probably one of my favorite things to do.

The garden is in and we're planting some flowers.  Self-control is hard at the local nurseries!  I did save a gift card from Christmas so that helps.

Soccer is over but we are right in the middle of t-ball.  I love it.  Feels so American to be out at the ball field when it's hot!

A Few Things

sunset a few nights ago

Isn't that a pretty sunset?  We surely didn't see one tonight with all this rain.  I am glad for the rain, though.  Hoping it will jump-start the garden.  The potatoes are just beginning to peak through-I can't help but walking down there everyday to see what's going on.  Finally!

It has been a very fun, busy weekend. 

   

 
I love that the kids can start their days this way.  Jack was on the swings by around 8:00 with a book.  He was trying to beat the pollen, I think.  Maybe going for some quiet, too.

Friday night we went to a Salem Red Sox game with Brian's parents. It was really a lot of fun.  We had a great dinner before the game.  The weather turned out to be perfect. 

This morning we went to the  Pregnancy Resource Center's Walk For Life.
Kayla's involved in a group called Keepers.  Last month the group had a baby shower for the PRC that the girls planned- they brought the food, plates, decorations, games, gifts etc...  Then today, they walked together and as a team raised over $800.  So proud of our girls!

Favorite Quotes

Favorite quotes from the past couple of weeks:

"Mommy, I love you , love you, so so so so so so much!"

Upon getting out of the bath, "Don't look at me Mom!  I've got nothin' but skin and hair on!"

Kayla writes me notes all the time.  There is usually a question, a yes/no box, and a section for comments.  One of them said, "Mom, can I please not do my math?  I am suffering!"

Didn't work.  

To his dad at the end of the day, "I am happy and content."

Awesome.

I hope we can all say that at the end of a day.

Vists with the Grandmas

The kids and I took a trip to visit my grandmothers Saturday.  I know having them around is a blessing in so many ways.

First we saw Grandma Pearl.  She didn't give me a smile in this picture!  But she actually was the most cheerful and chatty that she's been in a long time.

Then we went up to Grandma Lucy's.  Mom and Dad were there, too.

It was such a treat to see my cousin Crystal, too. It's been a while.  She's my oldest friend.  We were buddies as toddlers and little girls and teenagers.  Love her.

In this picture, it's Crystal, Aunt Donna, Grandma, Mom, and me.

T-Ball and Courage

"Mom, what do you think made Sammy decide to get out there?  Were you praying?"
"Sure was, Jack."
"Me, too."
Jack smiled.
Last night it was Sammy's first t-ball game.  And like his first practice, and second, he hit a wall he couldn't seem to climb.  Too many people.  Too much going on.  Feeling scared, nervous.  We saw that look all over him that said I'm not getting on that field and you can't make me.

And he didn't and we couldn't.
My heart ached watching his daddy siting with him, trying to encourage him out onto the field.
So the kids and I sat on the bleachers, watching and praying for this little guy to remember that God gave him courage before and to remember how much fun he had at practice.   For him to have courage again.  In my mind, praying for God to move Sammy's mountain.

It didn't look like God was going to move Sammy's mountain.  At least not to me.

One inning passed.
Half an inning passed.
Coaches smiled at Sam and tried to get him out there.
Nothing.  Or something?

I heard it.
So soft.
"Mom, could I play first base?"
I took his hand and off we went to find Coach and of course Coach said "You want first base?  Come on out buddy."

Sammy played first base.  He went up to bat.  He played second base.  He got snacks with his team.
He was a happy guy at the end.

I think t-ball will be an ebenezer of sorts for Sam, and us.
A reminder of what God did for him.  A reminder to get back on our knees the next time t-ball or something else is hard.
Sammy says he knows God is bigger than his fears.
I say, "Thank you, Lord."

A Good (Grown-Up) Read

I don't know where Brian heard about this book, The Little Way of Ruthie Leming but he brought it home from the library, devoured it, and passed it to me.  This is one of those books that left me standing in the kitchen, turning the ground beef with a spoon in my right hand and holding the book with my left- cramming in any reading time I could.

It's the true story of  the author, Rod, who grows up in small-town Louisiana and leaves as soon as he is able to see the world.  His sister Ruthie stays.  She gets sick with lung cancer and he watches the ways of the town as it rallies around her and her family.   Rod gives a revealing, honest view into their struggles, choices, and the fruit, both good and bad, from them.

Read it.  It will tug at your heart, for sure.

A Flash

I thought I saw it one day.
Just a flash of a bigger boy but then it was gone and I thought to myself, "No, not yet."
But a few days later I saw it again.
And again.

 

That little boy's barely six-year old face.  Getting a little longer, losing the last of the toddler cheeks.
Looking more like a big boy now.

One who can read and loves to play ball.

The same one, though, who still wants to sit in my lap and lean his head on my shoulder for a story.  The one who still wants me to hold him when he gets hurt or when he's mad at his brother.

 

This boy who gets into all kinds of things when I'm not looking!

This business of watching them grow up is a mixed bag- it breaks my heart and fills it up, all at the same time.

French Bread for a Rainy Monday

It's a rainy Monday.  Maybe one of the last "cool" days of spring?  Here's hoping anyway!
Seems like a good reason to make bread to go along with chili for our dinner tonight.  I love making this Cool Rise French Bread, a recipe I got from our Charlotte cul-de-sac friend, Podso.

Hope you have a happy Monday!

Cool Rise French Bread

2 C flour
2 pkg. active dry yeast (or 2 1/2 Tb. loose)
1 Tb. Sugar
1 Tb. Salt
2 Tb. softened butter or margarine
2 1/4 cups hot tap water

Combine dry ingredients to blend and add the hot water and butter. Mix with electric beater on medium for two minutes. Add one cup flour and beat on high for one minute or thick and elastic. Scrape sides of bowl and gradually mix in enough flour (about 2 more cups) to form a soft dough that leaves the sides of the bowl. Turn out onto floured board, round to a ball, cover with plastic wrap and a towel on top. Let rest for 20 minutes.

Punch down and divide into two equal portions. Roll into approx. 8 x 15 in. rectangle. Roll up tightly like a jelly roll, beginning with the long side. Seal edge and tuck in and seal ends. Place on greased baking sheet, seam side down. Brush with oil and cover loosely with plastic wrap.

Refrigerate from two to 24 hours. Remove, uncover and let stand 10 minutes while preheating oven to 400. Brush gently with cold water and slash tops of loaves at two inch intervals. Bake for 30-40 minutes.