Sweet Potato Waffles

It has been awhile since I have been motivated to cook up a ton of veggies to sneak into my kids food. But, I am back to that point and loving it. First of all check out the size of this sweet potato. It is HUGE!! That is the biggest burner on my stove that it is on.


I got this recipe at Cooks.com, but changed it a little bit. It is really good, but while I was making it I remembered why I don't make waffles that often for our family. It takes a long time to make enough. I think I need to invest in a second waffle maker. I love fresh waffles. I doubled the recipe to make enough for all of us. I didn't have OJ, so I used apple juice and it was great. I also ended up adding about 1/4 cup of milk to think it out. These weren't crispy, but seriously, the kids loved them. I also added about 1/2 cup of ground up flax seed (would be 1/4 cup if not doubled).

Ingredients:
1/2 cup of cooked, mashed sweet potato
3 eggs
4 Tablespoons of butter (I melted mine, I think next time I will use 1/2 butte rand 1/2 applesauce or canola oil)
2 Tablespoons sugar (I used brown sugar)
1 Cup flour (I used whole wheat) I also added
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoons salt
pinch of nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (I didn't add this, not a fan of cinnamon all of the time)
1/4 Cup orange juice (I used apple juice)
2/3 cup milk (I used a bit more, at least 2 more tablespoons, if not 1/4 cup)
few drops of vanilla

Mix ingredients in mixer (the recipe suggests a food processor, but my mixer worked fine and you could probably do it by hand too). Batter gets thicker upon standing. Add milk if needed.
Bake in waffle pan according to directions. Top with fresh fruit and syrup. Mine are topped with fresh sliced peaches.

The Joy of Motherhood Comes in Moments

I have often heard this said by several wise mothers who I admire. Today was one of those moments, and it was great.

I really enjoyed working with my kids today to take care of the yard. My two oldest mowed their share of the lawn without complaint.

I weeded the flowerbeds with my 5 year old and learned that she loves crickets and worms, but is afraid of spiders.

My 4 year old is great at picking up sticks.

My 2 year old brought me every piece of play food she could find to feel to her new baby sister.

I painted my 11 year old's nails.

I helped my 10 year old write a talk for church about how Jesus is a God of Miracles. I really just had to type it. He knew his stuff.

My newborn smiled at me.

EVERYONE ate dinner.

My husband took the oldest 5 kids for a bike ride.

The kids played in a huge dirt pile after dinner, and were totally filthy. They had a great time, and of course, I had just cleaned the tub that morning. But that is okay.

I got to go for a 45 minute walk. A police car drove by and DIDN'T go to my house. Thoughts and fears I had about that when I saw the car drive by are for another entry.

These are the days when I am okay with school NOT starting so soon. My prayers will be full of gratitude tonight for the great day I had with the family.

SERENITY NOW!!!!!!!!!!!! T minus 17 and counting

One of my favorite, (I say that about just about all of them) episodes of Seinfeld episodes is when George's dad tries to lower his stress by saying "Serenity Now" to himself when he feels stressed or upset. By the end of the episode he is raising his fists to the heavens shouting "SERENITY NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Well, school starts in 18 more days and I am shouting from my roof top "SERENITY NOW!!!" I love having the kids home and spending time with them. But it is the:

"Mom. can I get up yet? Are you awake?" at 6:30 ( I have made a rule that before 7 AM is my quiet time, but it is not adhered to.)
"Mom, when can I play the computer?" at 7:15 AM My new answer is "never o' clock"
"Mom, what are we having for lunch?" - Seriously, we just finished breakfast, I'm not telling (because I have no idea).
"Mom, can I hold Maddy when she wakes up?" I just got her to sleep for a 3 hour nap (I hope).
"Mom, I'm bored." We had a family home evening and made a whole list of what you can do besides watching TV and going on the computer. "But I don't want to do any of that." Well, then I guess you need a job to do. Here's the broom.
My threat for when they refuse to work together and get along is: If you can't work hard and get along with your brother/sister I am going to take you to an Amish farm where you can wear hot (not attractive, but uncomfortable) clothing and work outside in the sun all day. Is that what you want? Their eyes get big, No, I don't want that.

I know, I know, "I will miss these days." I am enjoying summer, most of it. We have just had a crazy time between moving and the baby coming that it is hard for me to get out and do all of the fun things that I would like to do with them. They are great kids and I know I will cry the first day of school, I always do.

Pasta with Summer Veggies

Not sure what to do with all that zucchini and those tons of tomatoes? This meal was so easy, I think it took maybe 15 minutes to make, gotta love that. You can use many different veggies, these are the ones that I had on hand.

Ingredients:
4 large tomatoes, chopped
1 or 2 small zucchini, cubed (or diced, cut in small squares, whatever)
4 cloves garlic
1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil (you could probably use way less and be just fine)
2 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup white grape juice (or white cooking wine)
salt and pepper to taste
5 to 10 fresh basil leaves, torn (or more if you wish)
Cheese to top
1 pound of pasta (I had bow ties)

Boil water and cook pasta according to directions. While that is happening, cut up veggies, heat oil in pan. Add garlic and saute, do NOT let it turn brown. Add zucchini and let it cook for about 4 to 5 min. Add chicken broth and white grape juice. Bring to a boil and then turn down for a few minutes. Add tomatoes, basil, salt and pepper. Ladle over hot pasta and top with cheese. Serve immediately. I also had some cooked chicken in the freezer that I added too.

Garage Sales

I used to go to garage sales all of the time. I stopped because I realized that I was getting too much stuff. I would go looking for something, but then come home with 5 other things, but not what I originally went there to buy. I am not a snob of used things, ask any of my friends. Used stuff is fine with me. I just end up buying stuff that I don't really need. My husband got to see how addictive the shopping can be...

So, my husband decides that he needs a bike to go on bike rides with the kids and that he is going to go the garage sale route to get one. That is fine. He even left the house on Saturday around 7:30 to go on this shopping adventure.

He called at 7:35. "Do you want a grill?" Absolutely, since the grill I make him use now is a small, wimpy, camp grill that he begs me not to make him grill burgers on one more time. The house on the corner was selling one. So, we got that.

He calls at 8:30. "Do you want a shovel?"
Me: "No, I got one when we moved. Where are you?"
Mike: "At a flea market. They just have some yard tools here, but I won't get any." Which, he didn't, he is better than I.

He calls at 9:00.
Mike: "Do we need a baby swing? This one is $5, battery operated, and works."
Me: "Yes, I sold ours at our yard sale in WI when I thought we were done having kids for "awhile".

Then my friend calls: "We are at a yard sale, did you say you were looking for a play kitchen set? Oh shoot, this one just sold. We'll keep our eyes out for you."

See, I don't need to go to yard sales, I just have people call me. Then I am not the one who is the impulsive shopper. Needless to say, we did not get a bike this weekend. We did get a grill, grill utensils, a tie rack, and a swing. $40 well spent, and I didn't spend any of it.

Chicken on a Stick

These were so easy and a hit with the kids. Who knew that skewers could make chicken more popular. Fortunately, no one lost an eye or had any major puncture wounds when this meal was over. We had some close calls, but all eyes are intact.

Ingredients:
Chicken breast cut into strips(I had chicken tenders, which made this way easier. I didn't even have to cut the chicken up)
Skewers
1/2 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 cup Sprite or other lemon lime soda
2 tablespoons lime juice
1/2 cup soy sauce
chopped fresh cilantro to taste (I used about half a bunch from the store)
2 hot peppers, chopped and seeded (optional)
Salt and Pepper to taste

Mix oil, soda, lime juice, soy sauce, cilantro and chopped hot peppers. Pour over chicken strips. Marinade for awhile (I made this in the morning, but you can probably do it up to 30 minutes before you are going to grill). Soak skewers in water (I soaked ours for at least an hour and they still burned. I will soak them longer next time.) Fire up the grill, put chicken on skewers and cook until no longer pink inside. I used the left overs we had on top of a salad the next day.

My Kryptonite

These are pictures of my nemesis. And a few pictures of something that removes it.

I saw something very disturbing the other day. It was about 97 degrees outside, very, very hot. As I walked through the parking lot a car drove by and I noticed something stringy attached to the tire. It was gum it had run over about 10 feet before. YUCK. Melty gum sticking to the tire, blah, yuck, yuck, YUCK!!!

Seriously, bubble gum is my "Kryptonite". I cannot take the smell of it (ask my husband. If he chews bubble gum I will not let him within 3 feet of me). I gag through that scene in "Elf" where Will Ferrel eats the gum that has been stuck to the bottom of the railing. GAG!!!

When my kids were given "bubble mint" flavored toothpaste by their grandmother, I hid it because it makes me gag. And the thought of scrubbing my kids mouth with a combo flavor of bubble gum and mint grosses me out. Sad, I know.

So, in primary (our classes for young children at church) I was in gum hell. I was teaching the lesson in front of all of the kids and my daughter walks up and spits her gum out in the trash can (WITHOUT wrapping it in something, which is my cardinal rule). I called on one child for an answer and as she starts talking, her gum falls out of her mouth (making me shudder). Then to top it all off the kid in the very front row starts pulling his gum out of his mouth, just playing with it in his fingers. I had to stop and ask anyone who has gum to keep it in their mouth, it grosses me out.

Totally pathetic, I know. But seriously, I gag when I smell it. I think it may be from going to the dentist and getting that nasty fluoride treatment? I don't know. I need to talk to someone about my issues.

What's your "Kryptonite"?

Fresh Tomato and Basil Salad

Whenever we go to a good Italian restaurant, my husband and I always order "Caprese". It is a delicious mix of fresh tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella cheese with a yummy dressing. I tried to copy it, but I don't know how close it is to the real thing. However, Mike and I downed this salad and only one of the kids got a piece, and he really liked it. The others had watermelon and we didn't encourage them to eat the tomatoes because we wanted them. Totally selfish, I know, but it was really good. Fresh tomatoes and basil are 2 of my favorite products of summer.

Ingredients:

2 to 3 large, ripe tomatoes

1/2 pound mozzarella cheese (I prefer the kind that comes in a ball, packed in water, but you can use a block of cheese too)

10 basil leaves (or more if you like) torn

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1 clove garlic, chopped

1 to 2 teaspoons sugar

salt and pepper to taste

Slice tomatoes and cheese. Layer tomatoes, cheese, and stick part of a basil leaf between them. Whisk oil, vinegar, garlic, and sugar together (I mix it in my magic bullet). Add salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle dressing over tomatoes and cheese. Top with any left over basil. This is so good over garlic bread. Enjoy!!

At Least She Was Listening

During lunch I try to tell scripture stories to my kids using the pictures that we have. We came to the picture of Peter trying to walk on the water, and then sinking when he sees the big waves.

That evening while my 5 and 3 year old were in the tub I was cleaning the bathroom (the multi-tasking crazy lady that I am at times) and I hear my 5 year old saying, "Help me, Jesus. Save me, save me" over and over again.

I peeked around the corner and she has the bath toys (a boat and captain of the boat) in the bath and she is holding the captain under water. I asked her what she was doing and she said, "It's the story we did today, you know, the guy sinking in the water." At least she was listening. I guess you never know when what you say and do will make a difference. I guess I should keep on doing it then.

Blueberry Morning Cake

So incredibly easy, and VERY moist and tasty. I made this and ate about 1/3 of it before anyone else got any. So sad, but none the less, true.

Ingredients:
Blueberry muffin mix, enough to make 12 muffins (I got a sweet deal on the fiber one triple pack)
Water, oil, eggs, or whatever the directions call for to make the muffins
1 pint of fresh blueberries, or 2 cups of frozen berries, thawed
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup sugar

Preheat oven to 350 and spray an 8 by 8 pan with non-stick cooking spray. Prepare muffin mix according to package directions. Add blueberries and pour mix into pan. Bake for about 30 minutes. Check to make sure cake is done by inserting toothpick or knife in center, and if it comes out clean it is done. In a saucepan melt butter, add milk and sugar and mix well. After cake has cooled, poke it several times with a fork. Pour glaze over cake and let it sit for a few minutes. Enjoy with a tall glass of milk.