A boy having fun...

For more on our day go here. He completed his demolition!

Cheese bites

Cheese bites

Friday, December 25th, 2009 | Recipes

Ingredients
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) canola oil
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) water
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (250 ml) cornstarch
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup (80 ml) Silhouette plain yogurt
- 1/2 cup (125 ml) grated parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup (125 ml) grated mozzarella cheese

Method
- Preheat the oven to 400˚ F (200˚ C).
- Combine all ingredients thoroughly. Pour the mixture into a mini-muffin pan.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the cheese bites are golden brown. Serve hot or at room temperature.

This just sounds good. I may just try these sometime.

my thinking...

So yesterday as I watched our son bounce around on the bouncey thing at the indoor winter fair, I got to thinking how so often I question my faith and yet the moment someone doubts it I'm very quick to defend it.

Seems a bit of a dichotomy to me.

Talked abit about that with hubby and he said...but you are like most folks who question their faith. They don't question what they believe in, they question their own personal faith. and it's like...its so true. Somehow I always wonder if maybe I'm fooling myself. If what I think is personal faith in God is just somehow...not really.

I see how often I fail in my faith. I don't pray enough, I don't delve into God's word enough, I'm easily distracted at church at the best of times and now having a child to mind doesn't help, I don't do enough for other folks, I don't witness enough and so forth. I struggle so much with sin in my life. If I fail in all that...then how can my faith really be real? Make sense?

So it's a bit of a conundrum. My faith is often it seems the size of a mustard seed, which God tells me is sufficient, and yet God's word also tells me that faith is active and moving and such like.

Anyways, these thoughts possess me.

He made it to Church

Hubby dear I think was pleased.

He was able to make it to church yesterday.

We got there a wee bit late.

We sat on the balcony.

He was not able to sing, but he could mouth the words.

He was exhausted the rest of the day, but able to read new books with a four year old.

YEAH!!!!! :)

Make this...it's GOOD!

Chocolate Trifle

Ingredients

• 1 (19.8 ounce) package brownie mix
• 1 (3.9 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 1 (12 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 1 (1.5 ounce) bar chocolate candy

Directions

1. Prepare brownie mix according to package directions and cool completely. Cut into 1 inch squares.
2. In a large bowl, combine pudding mix, water and sweetened condensed milk. Mix until smooth, then fold in 8 ounces whipped topping until no streaks remain.
3. In a trifle bowl or glass serving dish, place half of the brownies, half of the pudding mixture and half of the 12 ounce container of whipped topping. Repeat layers. Shave chocolate onto top layer for garnish. Refrigerate 8 hours before serving.

It is very good. about 1/3 eaten at family dinner.
Justin INSISTED that we bring some home with us.
Jim enjoyed some that we brought home.
I sent 1/2 home with Becky (my niece). She'll enjoy it as well.

Update on Jim

He's off work until the New Year.
His right lung was completely infected and needs to do some healing.
His left lung was partially infected.
Pneumonia is not fun to deal with.

Then he'll be on limited work until doctor's visit on the 19th.

He's getting an x-ray on the 13th.

He's on a variety of meds.

He's up and down. One day he'll be so-so, the next day very tired.
He's NOT well.

He drives me crazy...I know he's not well, I tell that to people. They ask HIM how is he, and he says "oh, I'm fine." I'm fine from a man who gets exhausted drying six glasses or helping a child put away a bit of lego? That's NOT I'm fine. :)

Your continued prayers are appreciated.

Christmas Dinner

Easy baked ham.
- we made a variation though as we didn't have gingerale, so we're trying mulled apple pop instead.

Mom made her curried chicken, I won't be having it as curry and I don't get along.

We'll have mashed taters.

Veggies of some sort (haven't figured those out yet).

Stuffing.

and pie for dessert.

What will you all be having?

Christmas Greetings

Merry Christmas everyone!

Have A hoppy Christmas season, and may you all hop into the New Year eagerly. :)

Jim sent this....

[12/21/2009 5:35:02 PM] jim.on.laptop: 1 . Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.
2 . I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.
3 . There is great need for a sarcasm font.
4 . How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?
5 . Was learning cursive really necessary?
6 . Map Quest really needs to start their directions on #5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.
7 . Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.
8 . I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.
9 . Bad decisions make good stories.
10 . You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.
11 . Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.
12 . I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.
13. "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this -- ever.
14. I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Damn it!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What'd you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?
15 . I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.
16 . I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.
17 . I keep feeling my phone vibrate in my pocket even when it's not in my pocket! What's up with that?
18 . I think the freezer deserves a light as well.
19 . I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lites than Kay.
20. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die. (this one should be a legal requirement)

Holiday Baking

Today I made cookies with Justin.

First batch were the ready make stuff you can buy at the grocery store.

Simply FUN for a four year.
to open a package, to put the cookies on the sheet in whatever way you want until you ask mommy how for apart they can be and then you learn that your finger is two inches long and that's the distance you are supposed to put them! WOW!!!! "I can measure with my finger mommy!"

Lots of fun.
So we have...ah...rather we had four dozen chocolate chip cookies....we have less now. :) We also have some sugar cookies bunnies and such like as well. WELL decorated with sprinkles...AGAIN lots of fun for a four year boy child. :) Could I make them cheaper from scratch ... yes...but could I replace the sheer fun value for a four year learning stuff on his own and me being confident in his discovery abilities to just let him be? NO. So this worked for me.

Then I made banana bread while he played with his lego. Banana bread....in the eyes of a four year NOT fun to make. :)

First... preheat oven to 350.
Then cream 1/2 cup butter with 3/4 c. white sugar until light and fluffy.
To that add two eggs, ONE at a time and beat well.
Then mix in a separate bowl:
1 c. flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 c. whole wheat flour

Add to creamed mixture.
Fold in three large mashed bananas, 1 tsp vanilla extract.
AND if you so desire (but not required) 1/2 c chopped walnuts. (I don't add this)

Place into a greased bread pan.
Cook for 50-60 minutes. Takes 55 minutes in my oven.

let cool for 10 minutes and then let cool completely before storing or serving. :)

Enjoy!

Then papernouten (not sure on the dutch spelling). In english..Peppernut cookies! YUMMY!!!

Here's how to make them.

Beat three eggs until frothy
add 1 cup white sugar and 1 cup brown sugar (packed) Beat until very light and fluffy about 5-6 minutes. Set aside.

Mix together the following: (if you don't want them as strong tasting, cut the spice ingredient amounts in half)
2 3/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp allspice
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp pepper
1.5 tsp grated lemon rind ...or add some lemon juice to the eggs and sugar mix
1/2 cup ground almonds

Mix together the wet and dry ingredients. It is a VERY dry mix.

What I find works best is to ball different amounts together until it kinda sticks together. Then take 1/4 of each ball, dip it in a wee bit of water and play with it until it becomes really pliable. Then form it into a thin rope about 1/2 inch in diameter. Cut into bite-sized chunks (about 1/2 inch) and then cook in preheated 325 degree oven for 15 minutes (until lightly browned)

This recipe filled a whole square tupperware container for us.

These DO NOT last in our household.

Hubby sick

So Doctor called this morning regarding Jim's x-rays.

He's sicker than they thought.

Lots of damage to his right lung. It will take some time to heal.
Instead of the original 10 days or so she's now saying a month.

He'll need more x-rays to monitor things.

This day went different than expected

So today went a bit differently than I would have anticipated.

I anticipated calling one of the elders in church to say that Jim wouldn't be preaching. Did that.

Expected to take care of bunnies. I did.

Did not expect to see Jim looking worse than he did when he had H1N1, but I did.

Did not expect to call gramma to say please come and care for your grandson, your son isn't well and needs to be cared for.

DID NOT expect to be taking hubby to the doctor and then to get a chest x-ray. But I did.

Did expect a diagnosis of pneumonia. Didn't expect the concern that something more might be going on with him. We'll wait and see.

Tomorrow he has another appointment with the family doctor. We'll see what she has to say.

Expected to play games with the boy child this afternoon. Did that. :) Jim dozed off and on. Narcotics can be very good things. :)

Did not expect to make snowflakes out of paper. Did that. Found instructions here. :)

The boy child and I had a lot of fun today. He didn't want to go to bed. :) BUT he did (complete with Milo).

it was a day of some worry, some okay...things will be fine, and some smiles and laughter with a lad. :)

Christmas Letter

If somehow I should have sent a Christmas card but somehow forgot you as I updated my addresses, well...here's the Christmas letter I sent out this year. :)

DO note: if you are part of my regular letter people, don't go there! Wait til you get the card, it's in the mail! :)

The Gyrobike

I have to admit that this version of a training wheel intrigues me.

Wish it didn't cost so much though.

The new story mentioned something like $100.

Here's a youtube thing I found as well.



of course, we offered to buy one to Justin which well....didn't go over so well. Led to a bit of a melt down and a well-expressed growl at his mommy! So let's just say that we're not going there today. :)

Recipe - Fried Rabbit

So I went to Showbunny rabbit recipe site. I've made some rabbit dishes but not very many and I wanted to try something new. I chose this recipe.

GOLDEN BROWN FRIED RABBIT

2 to 3 lb. fryer rabbit
1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
butter/oil

Shake moist pieces of rabbit in plastic bag in flour and seasonings mix. Brown rabbit in butter/oil in heavy skillet, turning to brown evenly on all sides. Reduce heat, cover and cook slowly about 1 hour or until tender. For crisp crust on rabbit uncover for last 10 to 15 minutes of cooking time. Serves 4 to 6.

I'm adding mashed potatoes and mixed peas to the meal.

How to Make Mashed Potatoes:

6 medium potatoes
large pot of salted water
1/4 to 1/3 cup hot milk
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt or amount to suit your taste
pepper to suit your taste

Peel potatoes and cut into chunks about 2 inches in size. Place in large pot of salted water (at least 1 teaspoon of salt in the water) and boil 15 minutes or until potatoes break easily when pierced with a fork.

Drain potatoes well but leave them in the pot.

Add hot milk, beginning with the smaller amount. Add butter. Mash with potato masher and add more milk, butter, salt and pepper if necessary to suit your taste.

Hope it goes over well.
I"m not real certain about my ability to fry rabbit, I've not had much success doing fried chicken, but hey... I have my own home grown fryer and I wanted to try fried fryer! :)

It's slowly coming together

So slowly we are getting the house in better shape.
- most nights the kitchen is clean, The buggy's room was done yesterday, and the living room is mostly in a controlled state of being.
- mom helped tidying the basement and garage while she was here on Saturday caring for the buggy.

Slowly we're getting the backyard cleaned up.
- flower beds are ready for winter, the branches have been broken up for burning, Jim needs to cut up the old garden bed wood for burning
- I need to cut up my wood for rabbit sitting boards.
- and we have this and that and needs destruction or removal.
- So...it's slowly coming together. :)

Yesterday while the lad was a nursery school we put up two tarps. One over the shed to protect the new tarps from the roughness of the shingles, and one tarp over the old tent. Now to put up the other tarp over the new tent and to make a door of some sort for getting into both tents.