Blog Fodder, Blodder or Flogger?

It bothers me when I go too long between posting.

It's all because of something exciting.

I have something really really good to share but I am afraid to jinx things before they're permanent.

I'll give you a clue...I've been making a list like this:

It just keeps getting longer and longer and longer. ;)

We've been lucky enough to finally enjoy some time outside and I did my first senior photo shoot (a total blast) and I can't wait to show you pictures from that, here is a sneak peak. 

Easy Corn Fritters...these are fried y'all.

I made chili for dinner.  Chili makes me want corn bread.  Usually I just make a mix but I knew I had some corn meal on hand and looked for a recipe.  On All Recipes there was a "related" recipe for corn fritters.  Anything with the word fritter in it automatically sounds better.  Healthier, no.  Yummier, yes.  So I looked through a few recipes and then made one up and man...these little guys are tasty and are going to be so good with our chili. You will need a skillet for frying, preferabely cast iron. 

1 can whole kernel sweet corn, drained.

1 egg, beaten

1/2 cup C yellow corn meal

1/4 C all-purpose flour

3/4 C drakes mix

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

about a cup of water (more or less)

2 cups of oil for frying-you need about two inches in the pan

Mix up the water and drakes mix so that its the consistency of pancake batter.

Mix in the rest of the ingredients.  

Heat oil until shimmering.

Lower a large spoonfuls of the corn mix into the oil and cook until golden, (about a minute) flip and cook another minute, until golden.  

Remove to a plate lined with paper towel.

Repeat until all the batter is gone, makes about 20 fritters.

Paula Deen would be proud.

Check me out!

My bunny buns made it onto Pinstrosity!

Easter

I didn't get a nice picture of the kids together, or even our family, but oh well.

We had a really wonderful Easter.

I have been more reflective of the Savior this year than in the past since I am reading the book 

Believing Christ.  It's fantastic.

I've thought more about the joy of Easter.

I am so thankful for that empty tomb.

I felt joy in celebrating that instead of getting too caught up with the Bunny and stress holidays can sometimes bring.

My kids got a note from the Bunny on Easter morning letting them know they needed to be good during church and maybe when they got home there would be treats in their baskets.

During church I was in charge of Sharing Time for Primary so I had a basket full of symbols of Easter and then we read scriptures from Matthew to identify what they represented.  I had a piece of red cloth to symbolize the red garment placed on Jesus as he was mocked and beaten by the Roman Soldiers and a white cloth to symbolize the burial clothes put on him before he was laid in the borrowed tomb.  I reflected on the scripture from Isaiah that says, "though your sins be scarlet, they shall be white as snow."  Through Christ we can be transformed from red to white, from sinner to saint.

Lo and behold...when we got home the kids discovered their baskets.  There was much exclamation of joy over the hula-hoop and jump-rope and Noah had a ball with the Hex Bugs.

I had a couple Easter miracles, I was able to make our Easter Feast and have everything hot at the same time!  I made several new recipes and never had a melt-down, everything turned out great.

We had a rotisserie chicken that I brined overnight in a lemon-garlic-herb brine.  Cheesy potatoes, green bean casserole, honey ginger carrots, roasted asparagus, and bunny buns.

Have you seen Pinstrosity?  My buns qualify, although I should note, the Pinterest photo is not of buns, they're cookies.  My buns still tasted good, even if they weren't the cute little bunnies I'd envisioned.

Lol.

I did have a Pin-Win though.  I made a perfect NY style cheesecake.  Seriously perfect.  

Here is the link.

We went to Auntie Jennifer's for dessert and another Egg Hunt.  

It was such a fun, suger-crazed, but still peaceful, happy day.

I hope you all had a joyful Easter.

Early Easter with Grandpa and Grammi

The kids and I finally got to steal away to Union City for a few days to visit Grammi and Grandpa.  It had been too long.  It was refreshing to be away from home for a few days and have some fun.  We went to the Amish store, which I love, and to the Farm store to see the baby chicks and ducklings.  We had fun coloring and hunting for eggs.  We found all but one; it must have made a tasty treat for a passing critter. Noah wasn't all that impressed with finding the eggs, once he had one in his basket he was more interested in just running around outside.  

Thank you Grammi and Grandpa for a fun weekend!

Mom Awards 2013

The Mom Awards this year were awesome.  The best yet I'd say, minus one hiccup.

We decided to do the awards a bit different this year.  We realize that everyone is stylish, everyone is crafty, everyone is spiritual...all to one degree or another and so it seemed silly to bestow a different award to each mother.  We are all truly accomplished. ;)

We had everyone write a few lines or words about each of the moms attending and then put them together in a Wordle.  I "laminated" them with clear contact paper so they'd be more durable.  I attached mine to the fridge, next to the sink, that way when I'm doing dishes I can look up and see all these wonderful things my friends have said and remember that these dishes are important, if never-ending.

Jen put together a tear-jerking slide show.  We contacted family of the moms to obtain photos of them with their babies and she inserted some really beautiful quotes on motherhood.  It's so nice to be reminded once in a while that we're not alone.  That there are other mothers out there who are struggling to be patient, finding joy in the little victories, and striving to be better each day.

Moms are awesome.

Date night

Lucy had a "Kids Night Out," at school so after Noah went to bed, Tony and I had a little stay-at-home date night.  One of the things we really enjoy doing together is cooking.

We had both watched a video that day on how to make better poached eggs (they're my fave) so we decided to try it out with Eggs Benedict.  We used Alton Brown's recipe.  They were really good except a little too lemony...I would use a little less next time.  It was fun spending time together in the kitchen.