What We Read-A Recap

Here are a few of our very favorite kid's books we have read over the past few weeks:

"Farmer McPeepers and His Missing Milk Cows" by Katy Duffield, available here

This book is hilarious.....or maybe just really, really hilarious to this mommy who loves a silly book...especially one about farm life. A blind as a bat (I can relate, Farmer, I really can) farmer and his super mischievous cows that are "up to no good". Baby boy's favorite part was the hoe down because he liked to look at the pictures of the people playing instruments. We read this a LOT! 

"Gerald McBoing Boing" by Dr. Seuss, available here

This was one of my nephew's (and my sister's) very favorite books to read and I absolutely can see why. There are a few things that I quickly love about a kid's book and they are: rhyming (am I the only mom that feels like a rhyming book is better to read out loud? not always, but definitely sometimes!), great artwork, humor. And, this book definitely has all three! Get ready to have your kid in giggles and practice your noise making while reading this book!

"The Bear Who Shared" by Catherine Rayner, available here

This is a super cute book about a very patient bear with a kind heart. Love the pretty artwork in this book and I love any book that teaches children about sharing and friendship

The next two books are actually ones that we got through our school book fair but we love them so I couldn't pass adding them to our favorites list:

"Finklehopper Frog" by Irene Livingston, available here

This book is another great one to read aloud. It is a fun rhyming book about accepting others for their differences.

"Iggy Pig's Snowball Fight" by Vivian French, available here

After last year's winter storms, I decided this year I would stock up on books about winter and snow for all the days we were snowed in to our house......even though we barely got four flakes of snow, we have still really enjoyed reading from our large selection of snow books. This is one of those books and, I kid you not, this is the book we read EVERY Saturday and Sunday at nap time. 

That's plenty for now! We are headed to the library again this evening to swap out our books so we will see what we come up with!! 

What We Read

As I mentioned before, we LOVE LOVE LOVE going to the library and getting new books to read and we try to go once a week or so. I usually make a list of call numbers of books I want to get for myself before hand...this allows me to get my mommy books with a super stealth quickness which means less time trying to wrangle/entertain/keep-strapped-in-his-stroller a toddler who has yet to really perfect his "whisper voice". For his books, we just grab a stack of books that sound interesting/have neat covers (i know, i know, "you can't judge a book by it's cover" buuuuuuut when it comes to the kiddo's books, we really sometimes do) and wait and sit and read them when we get home. This means we have hit a few jackpots on super great books and have taken home a few that don't make it to the "read before bed every single night and sometimes two times" pile. From here on out, I will be listing on here some of our favorite reads and I hope you enjoy!

Happy Birthday, Miller!

Happy birthday, Miller! For those of you who do not know about the Woodruff family, please, please go here and read this precious family's story. This sweet family I know through a mutual very close friend and to say that they have touched my heart is the GREATEST understatement. On this day last year, their amazing son, Miller McNeil Woodruff was born and in a very short 87 days, he changed the lives of everyone around him and his family and God called him to Heaven where he is today celebrating with what can only be the very, very best 1st birthday party ever. Please, please, please take a minute to read their story and say some prayers for them today and everyday. I am humbled to even know this family on a first name basis and am so very proud of everything they have done to educate us about SMA. Miller, while I never met you personally or got to hold your sweet, sweet face, I have followed your story and your family's story and you, without a doubt, have made such a HUGE impact on my heart. I know your mommy and daddy and big brother, Cole, miss you more than words could ever express as does everyone else that has been so touched by their strength and faith. I know you are happy and healthy celebrating this big day up in Heaven!!! Please continue to make your presence known and felt by all of us especially your sweet family!! We're with Miller!! /\/\/\/\/\

Fave Foods-Fudge Brownies

Good morning! Just wanted to pop in and share a new recipe I made for the boys last night. I made Chicken Parmesan which was nothing fancy so I don't have a recipe to share there but I thought I would treat the boys to some dessert as well...because, really, who doesn't like dessert?! Sadly though, because we do LOVE dessert so much (and because my clothes are beginning to get more than a little snug...what is it again? "calories are little things that stitch up your clothes in the middle of the night"? um, not exactly :/ ) I decided to tinker with some "lighter" recipe versions of some of Husband's favorite foods. I do have lots of recipes that are my go to from various sources such as Cooking Light cookbooks, Oxygen magazine recipe section, etc but wanted to try some new things. Recently, I took my son to the library and signed us both up for our own library cards. Best thing I have ever done. I am very proud to say that he LOVES to read and we have a blast every week going and picking out new books (some are hits, some are misses but all are funny in some way). Perhaps, I should start a little section on the books we pick up that we really enjoy? Hmm....wait, I am getting way off track here...now, where was I??

oh, yes.....BROWNIES!!!!!!!!!

(please excuse my terrible picture here....and the fact that I forgot to take a photo BEFORE I told the boys (and myself) that the brownies were, in fact, ready to eat!

On our trip to the library last week, I added "Secrets of Fat-Free Baking" by Sandra Woodruff, RD (available here) to my book pile and I am SO glad that I did! This book is awesome! If you want to try and learn some how to's and shortcuts on "lightening" up your favorite recipes, please give this book a quick read. So, on to the recipe. For my first recipe attempt from the book, I decided to make "Fat Free Fudge Brownies" p. 58. Now, I know that just because something is "fat free" doesn't mean it is "healthy" and gives us a free pass to stuff our faces HOWEVER, it does make me feel a smidge better about treating my family to a little something baked every once in a while. Anyhoo, these brownies were super good and were exactly as their name describes....gooey, fudge-like, and delicious!! 

Fat Free Fudge Brownies      

Makes 16 Servings (these little guys pack a pretty rich punch so one will settle any craving you are having!)

Ingredients:

3/4 cup unbleached flour (I used all-purpose flour)

1/4 cup plus 2 TBSP cocoa powder

1 cup sugar

1/4 tsp salt (says "optional", I used it)

1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce

3 egg whites

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup chopped walnuts (also "optional", I did not use because Husband no like-y the walnuts)

Directions:

• Combine flour, cocoa, sugar, and salt and stir to mix well. Stir in the applesauce, egg whites, and vanilla extract. Fold in the nuts if desired.
• Coat an 8 inch square pan with nonstick cooking spray. Spread the batter evenly in the pan, and bake at 325 degrees for 23 to 25 minutes, or just until the edges are firm and the center is almost set. 
• Cool to room temperature, cut into squares, and serve.

So easy and so delicious. These would be great topped with some fresh sliced strawberries and do not forget a glass of milk! You will thank me later ;) or, maybe you won't...depends on how many brownies you end up eating!! 

Enjoy!

                                     

Sunday Sweets-French Breakfast Puffs

This Sunday for church, I made Pioneer Woman's, French Breakfast Puffs and oh my goodness, were they ever delicious!! I had to send them with Husband due to scheduling and naps for the birthday party that afternoon so I didn't get to see reactions first hand but there weren't any leftovers sent back home which is always a good sign (although, I didn't get a photo before he left so I was secretly hoping one would have made it back home to snap a pic of). Since I followed the recipe exactly, I won't bore you with typing it out on here but please, please go HERE and make these SOON! I think you could also omit the outer coating and use the basic recipe as a sweet bread/muffin or as a base for fruit topping, pudding, etc....the possibilities are endless!! Sorry about the lack of photo...I do know I will be making another batch again very soon so I will be sure to get a photo then!!

To tide you over and convince you to try these tasties out, here is the photo from Pioneer Woman's website for the recipe:

um, yeah, they really are as good as they look...

Fave Foods-Beef Enchiladas

Sunday night I made a new beef enchilada recipe and it was SO very good! Husband has a bit more limited list of favorite foods then I do so I try to listen to his requests, likes, and dislikes when I choose our menu for the week. I have always, always made Chicken Enchiladas (I can't seem to find the recipe online anywhere so I will have to post is later tonight) but Husband asked a while ago if I would make beef instead. Challenge accepted! I very closely based the recipe off of Pioneer Woman's recipe (I stinking LOVE her...anyone else? She cracks me up), found here. (I made only a few tiny changes and will note below).

Beef Enchiladas

Makes 6 large enchiladas

For the sauce:

1 tbsp flour

2 tbsp canola oil (increased from 1 tbsp-this step seemed like it needed a little extra to look like her photo)

1 28 ounce can of red enchilada sauce (I used mild)

2 cups chicken broth

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

For the meat:

1 lb ground beef (I decreased from the original 1 1/2 lbs-since there are only 2 of us)

1 medium white onion, finely diced

1 7 ounce can diced green chilies (decreased from 2 of the 4 ounce cans)

1/2 tsp salt

6 medium flour tortillas (I chose flour tortillas and omitted the frying step)

3 cups grated Mexican blend shredded cheese (instead of Sharp Cheddar)

chopped cilantro for garnish, if you like it, which i do!

Due to Husband's dislikes, I omitted the olives, green onions, and incorporated cilantro...I sprinkled some fresh cilantro on top of my plate and it was delicious!

Directions:

To make the sauce:

In a medium sauce pan, whisk together flour and oil over medium heat and allow to cook for about one minute. Add red sauce, chicken broth, salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and allow to simmer while you cook the meat. 

To make the meat:

Cook ground beef and diced onion in a skillet until brown then drain excess fat. Add green chilies and salt. Remove from heat and set aside. 

To assemble:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 x 13 glass baking dish with nonstick spray. Dip each flour tortilla in the sauce and then fill with a large scoop meat mixture and a big pinch of the shredded cheese. Roll up the enchilada and place seam down in baking dish. Repeat with all 6 tortillas. Spoon remaining sauce over meat and top with a generous helping of shredded cheese. Husband loves cheese so in our house the more, merrier!

Bake, uncovered, for 20 minutes until hot and bubbly. Allow to cool a few minutes before serving. Serve with a sprinkle of fresh cilantro and light sour cream (this will just make your heart feel better about all the cheese)

This recipe was a HUGE success in our house! And, was much quicker to put together than my normal chicken recipe...although maybe quicker to my waist line as well. ;) If you make this and try any other variations, please let me know! I would love to hear about it!! 

Fave Foods

I love food. like, seriously, love food....and I REALLY love cooking and baking things. So, I will be sharing a few of my favorites recipes and a few hilarious fails! Speaking of fails, I will also be posting "Sunday Sweets". I have been cooking breakfast for our church, Harbor Church, for a couple of months now and I want to start a section on what we have to eat. Enjoy!