Photography by Lauren

Spanglish

So one thing I want to do before I die is learn Spanish. Really Any language would do but I have already had a couple of years in high school and  RiGuy speaks it,so Spanish it is. I have been listening to the Coffee Break Spanish pod cast. I'm only on lesson 5 and I am already feeling overwhelmed. I can't think fast enough to respond to the questions being posed. I really like how they present the material and the small amount of material that is covered should be manageable, my brain is just a little bit mushy after a 7 year sabbatical. So I'm asking you, my fellow froggers (friend bloggers, thanxs Cara!) how did you learn a second language? I know I should practice. But I'm very timid to start speaking to people who know what they're talking about. Please any suggestion would be great. Also, if you want to learn another language they have "Coffee Break" lessons for a ton of languages. They are 15 minutes long and not too hard, check 'em out!

Am-maw's Lemon Ice Box Pie

This pie was a staple at every spring and summer gathering we had as a family. In Mississippi spring starts in February, doesn't that sound good right about now? So even if the daffodils aren't blooming where you are, this pie will bring spring to you! It's so fresh and light and rich at the same time. I looove it! No one can make it like my Am-maw did, but I still try every spring.

Lemon Ice Box Pie

Crushed vanilla wafer crust with whole ones on the sides.

Blend together:

1 can condensed milk

½ cup fresh lemon juice

3 egg yolks

Pour into pie crust

Whip Together until you make soft peaks:

3 egg whites

¼ tsp. cream of tarter

Then add ¼ cup sugar. Whip until you make firm peaks

Cover pie with meringue. Bake @ 325 degrees until top turns slightly golden ( 15-25 min)

Chill. Serve cold.

Eggs & Dresses

We had a fabulous Easter with good food and good company. We spent the evening with my brother's family, BBQing & egg hunting. Of all the holidays Easter is my favorite. How can you go wrong with new clothes, spring flowers, yummy food, and no pressure. I love it!  

So after the excitement of 'normal' egg dying wore off K-L decided that she hadn't made a big enough mess and started combining colors, swirling colors, and best of all wearing colors. J thought the eggs needed some fashion and added sunglasses and hats. Our egg friends were a totally hit, better than a new toy, until one cracked and J had a total melt down. I suggested eating it, he looked at me like I was a crazed cannibal! I tried to explain that eggs were food not toys. But for some reason I keep finding the little critters in hidden corners of the playroom.

Hope you had a happy Easter!

Ode to my Mama & the little Red Hen

My Mama would wake up at the crack of dawn everyday to bake us whole wheat bread. Of course she would start every week with grinding the wheat berries to make the whole wheat flour that would eventually become beautiful bread. So about once a year I pay homage to my mother and bake a loaf of bread, starting with the grinding of the wheat. J helped this time around. When he wasn't mumbling about Mario (and other WII related things) he totally got into turning 'popcorn' into flour. For anyone who loves bread as much as me, you have to make this. It is my all time favorite. Of course it's a Cook's Illustrated recipe given to me by Sally.

Easy Multigrain

Sandwich

Bread

1 ¼ cups 7-grain hot cereal mix (Not the cold cereal kind. Try Bob’s Red Mill or Arrowhead Mill brands. Usually found in the baking isle by the oatmeal.)

2 ½ cups boiling water

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 ½ cups whole wheat flour

4 tablespoons honey

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled

2 ½ teaspoons instant yeast

1 tablespoon table salt

¾ cup unsalted pumpkin or sunflower seeds

½ cup old-fashioned rolled oats or quick oats

1. Place cereal mix in bowl of standing mixer and pour boiling water over it; let stand, stirring occasionally, until mixture cools to 100 degrees and resembles thick porridge, about 1 hour. Whisk flours in med. bowl.
2. Add honey, melted butter, and yeast and stir to combine. Attach bowl to standing mixer fitted with dough hook. With mixer running on low speed, add fours, ½ cup at a time, and knead until dough forms ball, 1 ½ to 2 min; cover bowl with plastic and let dough rest 20 min. Add salt and knead on med-low speed until dough clears sides of bowl, 3-4 min (id it does not clear sides, add 2-3 tablespoons additional all-purpose flour and continue mixing.); continue to knead dough for 5 moer min. Add seeds and knead for another 15 sec. Transfer dough to floured work surface and knead by hand until seeds are dispersed and evenly and dough forms smooth, taut ball. Place dough unto greased container with 4-quart capacity; cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise until doubled, 45-60 min.
3. Adjust oven rack to middle position; heat oven to 375 degrees. Spray two 9x5 loaf pans with nonstick cooking spray. Transfer dough to lightly floured work surface and pat into 12x9 –inch rectangle; cut dough in half crosswise with knife or bench scraper. Roll dough piece into log. Keep roll taut by tucking it under itself as you go. Seal loag by pinching seam gently. Spray loaves lightly with cooking spray. Roll each dough log in oats to coat evenly. Place loaf seam-side down in greased loaf pan. Cover lightly with plastic wrap and let rise until almost doubled in sixe, 30-40 min. Bake for 35-40 min. Remove loaves from pans and cool on wire rack before slicing, about 3 hours.

My next 30 years. . .

disclaimer: If your name is Sally or if you can't stand grammatical mistakes proceed with caution. . .

I don't know if it's having my third baby (and possibly last) or turning 30 or a long snowed-in winter but I have had several months of self reflection. You know when I was planning out my life as an 18-year-old I never thought past 30.  I had everything planned out until then. . .

I would                                                                                                                                          1.go to college                                                                                                                              2.go on a mission                                                                                                                          3.go to grad school/become a P.A.                                                                                            4.join the Peace Corps                                                                                                                   5.IF the right guy came a long I might get married

I also wanted to speak a second language, travel all over the world, run a marathon and hike the entire Appalachian Trail (Georgia to Maine baby!) I'm 18, why can't I have it all?

It's funny how plans change. I did get married and I did finish college but then the trail forked and I ended up in a totally different part of the woods. So for a couple of months I have bemoaned the fact that I have accomplished very few of my OG goals. And time is running out. And who cares if they aren't normal goals, who wants to have NORMAL goals. And then I felt guilty for wallowing in self pity because I have a great life. (NORMAL, but great) I love my sweet sweet husband who has always encouraged me to be me. And although some days I want to sell the babies to the zoo I mostly just want to eat them up because they are so deliciously adorable. They say the cutest (and sometime very inappropriate things.) And I love (and am a little bit scared) seeing Riley and me in them. I feel very lucky to be a Mama.

But it wasn't part of the plan this soon. I am the one who changed the plan. I wanted to get married. I thought about it long and hard and I wanted to start a family. I had the chance to go to grad school and I wanted to stay home with my baby. I totally got what I wanted. I'm not willing to miss anything in my kids' lives. I want to be here with them. I want to drink up every minute with my family. So thanks to my friend Sarah, I've devised a new plan:

"My next 30 years."

My next 30 years will be filled with seasons. You know "there is a time & season for everything." And I've decided my next 10 are going to be devoted to my little ones. In 10 short years J will be 16, K 14, C 10. I'm setting goals to be accomplished before I'm 40 but most of them I can share with the kids and we can do them together. I want to GO GREEN. Run a Marathon. Grow & Make & Eat more whole foods. Learn Spanish. Find a Great Volunteer Project. Hike.hike.HIKE. Take my bike to the mountains. See a little bit of the world. Learn to Surf. SKI. Be creative.

I am really excited about this short list. I have like a million little things running around in my mind that I want to do with the kids. I'll let you know how it's going I'll try this thing called 'posting on the blog' from time to time.I feel like writing down this plan of action helps me remember WHO I AM and at the same time I can share myself with my family. Ask me how I'm doing on my "Next 30 years."

4 going on 14

We welcomed in 2008 with a princess party. K-L has been planning this party since she turned 3. There was a princess castle, princess make-overs, princess picture poses, and of course a chocolate princess cake. Oh and 12 little pricesses to share it with.  K-L helped me make these cupcakes for preschool friends. (if she gets within a mile of chocolate it ends up all over her face:)

my baby doll

So I have no idea what I have done during nearly 6 months of maternity leave. But isn't she a doll?