He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young
. {Isaiah 40:11}

27 March 2013

Homemade Saltines

I mentioned that I made these a few weeks ago when the kids were sick and I wasn't about to run four kids out the door so I found this recipe at Restless Chipotle.
For ease I copied it word for word here...
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       4 cups flour (all purpose, bread, whole wheat or a mixture- be creative
       1 Tablespoon Baking Powder
       1/4 cup unsalted butter
       1 1/3 cup whole milk
       Salt crystals for sprinkling
       1 egg yolk + 1 tablespoon water OR 1 egg white + 1 tablespoon water, beaten together for egg wash.
  1. Mix together the flour, baking powder, and butter .
  2. If you are adding seasonings mix those in with the dry ingredients.
  3. Cut butter into flour mixture until it forms coarse crumbs.
  4. Add the milk and knead to form a ball.
  5. Divide in 4 parts and roll out paper thin on a floured surface. The thinner they are the crisper they will be.
  6. Cut the dough into squares (a pizza wheel works great for that!)
  7. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and prick all over with a fork.
  8. Brush with the egg wash and sprinkle with salt (or cracked pepper ..or..)
  9. Bake at 325 until golden brown..about 15- 20 minutes. (check after 10 minutes)
Notes:
The yield of this recipe is largely dependent on how you cut the crackers. The nutrition information is based on cutting them into 36 large crackers.
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I switched out a portion of the white flour for home ground wheat flour.
Another tip is to roll the dough as thin as you are able. The thinner the better and the more authentic the taste.
These were really easy, rather quick, and tasty. I don't think they replace regular saltines for flavor because, let's be honest, there's nothing like a saltine... but it's a really good alternative if you're trying to do more homemade or just don't want to run to the store and they're so buttery you can't eat just one. I know I sure didn't!


11 March 2013

Cozi: Family Organizing

Just recently Hubs and I were talking about how we have been needing to streamline our calendar.s He makes appointments while at work, puts them into his phone, and I don't hear about them until he's about to walk out the door for them OR the kids and I have appointments and I need him to take a late lunch and he forgets...

We tried syncing our calendars through "sharing" on our phones but that wasn't working for some techy reason... and then I found Cozi.

I wasn't even looking for it but someone I follow on Pinterest pinned a link to Modern Parents Messy Kids about several different family organizing sources, Cozi, being the first suggestion.

I figured it couldn't hurt to try and, so far, I'm impressed.

Cozi keeps a calendar which you can add and see events to from your smart phone, PC, Kindle, iPad.... Each family member is assigned a color and your calendar will be all prettified as you add more events. Hubs can now open the Cozi app, right on his phone, and see where the kids and I will be during the mornings, see what's on the lunch menu for CJ's school, and know what dinner plans are without needing to check with me. If I put it in the calender, he can see it!

Cozi doesn't only allow you to share your schedule... with it you can share shopping lists! This thrills me to no end because now when Hubs is out and about he can swing by the store without needing me to text him a list (first world problems, I know). What a great way to set up Hubs to score extra points with me! He can just show up with things I need! OR  if he's out of shaving cream he can throw it on the list and I won't have to see the disappointment on his face when he realizes I JUST got home from the store and he needed deodorant anymore.You can create your own catagories of lists too so if you have a party coming up or  need items for a recipe you can create specific lists for just those things.

There are also options for a to do list and journaling. Why journaling? If something happens throughout the day you want to share and don't want to forget, you can jot them down for later. How smart!

Overall, I love the premise of this site and so far it seems to do just what I need it to.
Give it a gander over at Cozi.com.
Happy Monday!

06 March 2013

This Sick Day Brought to You By...

Hubs is on day 5 of being under the weather. He was able to go back to work yesterday but was exhausted by lunch time.
Miss Mak went to bed with a fever last night and has been on the couch and napping on and off all morning.
I have been dumping probiotics, omega-3s, and bone broth into the kids like it's my job; washing hands until my hands beg for lotion; and avoiding sugar like it's the plague.
So far, it's just a fever for Mak and exhaustion for Hubs, but I feel a little off as though my body is waiting for everyone else to get better so it can fall apart.
Yay.
We are surviving though and I felt it necessary to give a few shout-outs for making sanity possible this week...

PBS, without your constant streaming of child friendly, educational shows (except for Barney. I am NOT thankful for Barney). I'd have nothing left to offer my couch-bound baby and her 22 month old-driving mommy nuts with her whining-sister without you.
Bleach, Vinegar, and the Washing Machine, for obvious reasons.
Two crockpots, with which I can keep perpetual broth a'boilin' in and still make an easy dinner at the same time. 

Pinterest and the homemade saltine recipe I found on it, with all the soup and broth I've been pumping into our family Hubs has become weary and needed a little extra something to sink his teeth into. Rather than sending him to the store and endangering countless healthy individuals I found this recipe and within thirty minutes had something that tastes a lot like the "real thing" and with ingredients I could pronounce. (Recipe to come).
Preschool, who took my four year old off my hands for four hours today and limited his exposure to his three year old sister who can't help but want to play with big brother.
This little dude's face, which I could stare at for hours as he coos and tells me about his life's plans. I melt at the sight of this double chinned beauty. He makes every day seem "not so bad" even now, in the midst of his growth spurt that has him up every two hours, day and night.
Coffee, my little piece of heaven that I enjoy during nap time when the whole house is asleep. That's right. Four kids. One nap time. God is good!
And that's that.
I hope you're all well as the sick season ends and the disinfection sunshine returns!!!


01 March 2013

Kitchen Wall

Hi There! 
I'm not sure how long you've been dropping in for but I'm so glad you have! 
Just thought you should know
So... Yesterday I finally got a teensy bit of motivation to do something I've been intending to do for months now. 
First of all, do you remember this wall?
It started out a year and a half ago looking quaint... and wallpaper... and bordered... and blue.
Cute but not for us.
So we took it off.
 I should say we TRIED to take it off.
After a good long stretch I gave up we covered it.
 And then I painted it with chalkboard paint with the intention of "doing something" up there eventually.
Months passed and I finally got an itch to git'r done.
 First I conditioned it... 

 And then I got a little out of control!
I'm not gonna lie... as it would clearly be an attempt in futility...beautiful chalkboard art is NOT my forte.
And I may have gone a little overboard.
This will take some practice.
But for now, I'm gonna get used to it and see how it goes.
 Any suggestions?
Have a blessed weekend!

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