The Baking Girl : Mini Apple Galettes

The Baking Girl is a fan of the Pioneer Woman.  After a recent episode on mini blueberry galettes, the Baking Girl and I decided we would love an apple version.  Fancy as the name sounds, a galette is really just an apple pie with no top crust. I think I posted a regular sized galette before but I can't seem to find it.  Anyhow this is just a miniature version, perfect for little hands and mouths.

There is nothing complicated with this recipe, it uses a typical pie crust and apple pie recipe. It's an easy recipe for children to follow and if you are a fan of convenience you can always use store bought crust.  We have done that a few times.  The original inspiration, if you are a fan of blueberry is here - http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2014/07/mini-blueberry-galettes/

Pictures to share:

cutting the crust down to size using a soup bowl

apple filling

hard working little hands

ready for the oven

the caramel on the bottom of the pan is yummy!

another baking success

Feast of St. Lucy 2014

I am writing this under the influence of drugs - allergy drugs, that is.  I was exposed to an unknown allergen late Thursday and finally ended up going to urgent care Friday evening. The effects of the medicine prevented us from having our usual early morning St. Lucy breakfast today. I did make it to morning mass but crashed on the couch shortly after. Bernadryl is good that way. Since this is such an important feast in our household I knew I couldn't let it pass without celebrating. We decided to celebrate this evening instead with breakfast for dinner. It worked out really well and the kids were thrilled that the tradition continued.

Before my brain gets all fogged up again here are some pictures to share:

"that's St. Lucy"

you've seen these a million times and here it is again because Christmas tableware is so festive

white chocolate candy pretzels, I do not have pictures of the kids making this as I slept away the allergy itch

store bought cinnamon buns saved the day

I will always remember today -a friend of mine who is moving to Texas (tomorrow!) gave me this gift.  I was in a groggy state when she stopped by but I will see her in Texas soon so she will get a proper thank you.  Thank you Sara!

I hope you all had a wonderful feast day.

Christmas Decorating - Keepin' It Real Edition

This time last week my floors were nicely swept, there was not a speck of dust anywhere, my kitchen counter was empty, the laundry bin was empty and I sat on the comfy couch victorious over another successful Thanksgiving and the deep clean that preceded the feast.  What a difference a few days make. Once the Thanksgiving dishes were put away and the Christmas decorations were brought up the mess quickly escalated. It was hard for me to function in domestic chaos made worse by the coughing/sore throat/fever bug that came through our house. We were all sick and weary and not in prime shape to finish a very big task around here that is Christmas decorating.  So we have decided to downsize the decorating for the time being. We are skipping the live tree (as of today's decision, it may still change last minute) and just sticking to our 5ft. fake tree.  That means less decoration to put out and put away.  I am up for that kind of Christmas this year, simple, no frills.  Well okay, some frill but not ALL the normal frill. Just this year.  Because despite all my complaining about clutter I love Christmas.  I love a festive home. I love every piece of decoration we have, most of them were thoughtfully acquired either by inheritance or purposely purchased.  They have meaning and I am not about to bury all those memories in the name of minimalism.  Not yet.  Maybe when I'm eighty.

And as usual, I have pictures to share. Those of you with OCD tendencies may now walk away from your computers :-)

if it's a surface it will be filled with stuff

mirrors needed to be hung

the ugly before the pretty

but this, the Advent wreath, brings peace in the midst of clutter - that middle candle was from a program in our parish called ADORE, a family adoration night

the kids Advent calendar that reveals a different Scripture passage each day

I shouldn't be complaining, my kids do most of the decorating

the oldest two decorated outdoors

I have yet to finish this altar/mantel

each year we get a special ornament for one another, this one is mine

this one is my husband's

this one is for the baseball playing boy

my husband's Santa collection on the piano

saving the best for last - an empty manger

And now you know why I will never be a Christmas minimalist.

Thanksgiving Recap

Thanksgiving week is over. We are back to books despite the coughing, sneezing and some lingering sore throats.  I think I had it worse than anyone in my household.  I started feeling yucky on Thanksgiving day and by the time the weekend rolled around my voice was almost gone.  I'm still hoarse, this looks like it's staying around for a while.  

Did you brave the stores during Thanksgiving weekend?  I don't think I have ever shopped on Black Friday. My many years in the retail industry has given me a different perspective of sales, Black Friday or Boxing Day (in my country of citizenship), it is not worth the big to-do.  

Anyhow, we had twenty six of the clan over for Thanksgiving dinner.  Two turkeys, copious amounts of potatoes and other goodies, it was a beautiful feast.  Our seating arrangement worked out perfectly, we had an adult table, a highschool and below kids table and a college-aged kids table.  It's amazing to sit there and see all the kids growing up.  I felt old! And accomplished - in a "my house is perfectly clean" kind of way  LOL.  

We did have one missing niece at the table.  She plays college volleyball and their team was playing a tournament game so she wasn't able to fly home for Thanksgiving.  We were able to watch her play after dinner on tv.  Unfortunately, they lost to a very good team.  

Here are some pictures to share - while my house was tidy.  Tomorrow I will post about that messy-maker called Christmas decorating.

the makings of a family feast, we eventually separated these three tables for a better seating arrangement

cousins/ bff's

this is my in-law's special wedding china, this is only used for Thanksgiving, don't be fooled I ate so much more than that dinner roll ;-)

I get hungry everytime I look at this picture

a preview of tomorrow's post - taking Fall decorations down and putting Christmas decorations up

Epiphanies of Beauty - Crown Him With Many Crowns

*Sunday is for Epiphanies of Beauty, Christine's photo link up.  When you are done go visit over there  for more Epiphanies of Beauty posts.

Crown him the Lord of love;
behold his hands and side,
rich wounds, yet visible above,
in beauty glorified:
no angel in the sky
can fully bear that sight,
but downward bends his burning eye
at mysteries so bright.

Crown Him With Many Crowns - Matthew Bridges

The Baking Girl: Apple Fritter On A Snow Day

Whew! What an exciting busy week we are having. On Monday we had the first official snow day, in November, before Thanksgiving!  It was exciting for the kids, they love snow. I love it too but only when I don't have to drive in it.  So on Monday I loved it because we had nowhere to go.  The kids played out in the snow while I cleaned the basement.  Since our sunroom changes from playroom to mudroom in the Winter, the basement then becomes the playroom. The cleaning is also part of getting ready for Thanksgiving as we are back to hosting it in our home this year.  We skipped the hosting last year.  But before that we have a wedding to attend over the weekend.  We're very excited about this because we haven't been to a wedding in a while and certainly not to a Catholic wedding for nearly a decade.  The kids are very excited, they do not remember what a Catholic wedding looks like.

Anyhow, to take a break from this crazy busies (not a word, I know) The Baking Girl treated us to a new recipe - apple fritter!!!  The bonus for the oldest is that it is egg-less.  It was yummy although I would prefer to skip the glaze, my "personal trainer" will not approve LOL. The original vegan recipe is here - http://www.killerbunniesinc.com/2013/09/vegan-apple-fritters-recipe/

As we are not vegans, The Baking Girl used regular milk (as opposed to almond milk),  butter in place of margarine and all-purpose flour instead of cake flour.  She wants to try it with cake flour next time.  This was an easy recipe for the girl and it was a hit with the brothers.  I have to admit it's a hit with me too.  Definitely a keeper.

The kids are armed with their chore list for the rest of the week and I am hoping not to have anymore apple fritter cravings :-)  I hope you're all warm and not too busy getting ready for your Thanksgiving feasts.

Delicious photos to share -

I do not have pictures of batter preparations, I was busy cleaning the basement

golden crunchy goodness on the outside

the glaze is almost not necessary, that's my guilty conscience speaking about the sugar I should be avoiding

an homage to my Aggie niece who gifted me this cup;-)  she is graduating in December right before Christmas

oh did I tell you the battery on our van died?! the husband showed the kids how to replace it

the oldest child shoveling snow

lovely sunset capping off a lovely snow day

Epiphanies of Beauty - If I Were King

*Sunday is for Epiphanies of Beauty, but I forgot to hit publish yesterday, so here it is a day late.  And when you are done here go visit Christine for the rest at Epiphanies of Beauty

I often wish I were a King,
And then I could do anything.

If only I were King of Spain,
I'd take my hat off in the rain.

If only I were King of France,
I wouldn't brush my hair for aunts.

I think, if I were King of Greece,
I'd push things off the mantelpiece.

If I were King of Norroway,
I'd ask an elephant to stay.

If I were King of Babylon,
I'd leave my button gloves undone.

If I were King of Timbuctoo,
I'd think of lovely things to do.

If I were King of anything,
I'd tell the soldiers, "I'm the King!" 

If I Were King - A.A. Milne

Nineteen Days

An email reminded me today that there are only nineteen days until the new liturgical year.  Sigh.  Actually that was an excited sigh, if there was such a thing.  I have been thinking about Advent lately, not in a homeschool-planning kind of way but in a personal devotion kind of way.  There's a desire in my heart for that road to Emmaus moment - "“Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?”(luke 24:32)

I have yet to unpack what that all means, there is all of Advent to figure it out. For starters I bought this book:

It is a compilation of various (short) talks and statements of Saint Pope John Paul II with prayers, Scripture passages and a suggested activity for each day.  The action for the first day is to think about and write down  a few thoughts on what one specifically hopes to achieve this Advent season. I just want my heart to burn within me with a fire of that Love.  I'm sure I will think of other things.

The one thing I did think about is to purchase Advent candles! Now that's progress. I have even purchased two Christmas gifts and the customary Christmas ornament for each child. So you see I'm not exactly falling behind (yet).  

Nineteen days.  Are you ready?

Epiphanies of Beauty: This Time Last Year

*Sunday is for Epiphanies of Beauty, Christine's photo link-up. When you are done here don't forget to visit over there for more Epiphanies of Beauty posts.

"A tingling, misty marvel
  Blew hither in the night,
And now the little peach-trees
  Are clasped in frozen light. 
Upon the apple-branches
  An icy film is caught,
With trailing threads of gossamer
  In pearly patterns wrought. 
The autumn sun, in wonder,
  Is gayly peering through
This silver-tissued network
  Across the frosty blue. 
The weather-vane is fire-tipped,
  The honeysuckle shows
A dazzling icy splendor,
  And crystal is the rose." 
  Evaleen Stein, November Morning

That Extra Hour

I am going through 31-days of blogging withdrawal! Each day I find myself wondering what I should blog about only to remember that the challenge is over now that November is here.

November. How do I love thee?  Only when it's this beautiful outside ;-) The clocks fell back an hour over the weekend.  Unlike in years past, I would have squandered that hour staying up late only to regret it the following morning.  No such frivolity this year.  Instead, my life went on as usual which meant I woke up an hour earlier (as if the clock did not change) moving my exercise time from evening to morning. I am happy to say I love this change in rhythm.  I used to be a lover of slow mornings, savoring the quiet before the rest of the household rises.  But this new rhythm is equally satisfying. Our schoolwork is getting done faster, our chores are up to speed and I can even sneak in a nap here and there. There was no impetus nor forethought over this change. As much as I would have loved to sleep in an extra hour I knew my body will not let me anyway so I figured it couldn't hurt to re-do certain things.  Maybe I'm just getting old ;-) 

Another thing that my body won't let me do anymore is drinking copious amounts of caffeine.  It seems that aversion sets in around Fall which is when I usually switch to tea (darjeeling and rooibos being my two favorites).  For this indulgence (yes I think tea is more indulgent) I asked the Baking Girl to knit me a tea pot cozy to keep my brew hotter, longer.  With this request comes a realization that I have entered a stage in life where I do not have to do everything for everybody anymore.  The kids are taking in more responsibilities in running the household and doing things that are normally on my list or my husband's. This allows me more time for personal pursuits like reading, watching movies (Return to Cranford is on the queue), and praying.  

the kids took over the yard work

There is so much to pray for these days.  The Memorare, being my usual intercessory prayer, seems to be on constant loop in my brain.  My Laudate bookmark is beginning to fill with different prayers for different people and intentions.  There's the novena for three friends whose husbands are suffering the ravages of brain cancer, a private beatification novena (Ven. Solanus Casey) for various healing needs among my friends, a couple of perpetual novenas for general intentions, we also picked up praying the St. Gertrude prayer for the Poor Souls in Purgatory this month. Chances are if you are related to me or you are my friend I am praying for you, if you belong to a forum (homeschool and otherwise) I am a part of, I am praying for you, if no one is praying for you I am praying for you ;-) Please pray for me.

my Fall altar where many petitions are being raised up

For that extra hour, a gift of time I hope not fritter away, I am truly thankful.  I hope you got to sleep in on Sunday morning.

Epiphanies of Beauty - Holy Ground

*Sunday is for Epiphanies of Beauty, Christine's photo link-up. When you are done here don't forget to stop over there for more Epiphanies of Beauty posts.

“Your faith spoke for this child. Baptism for this child was only delayed by time. Your faith suffices. The waters of your womb-were they not the waters of life for this child? Look at your tears. Are they not like the waters of baptism? Do not fear this. God’s ability to love is greater than our fears. Surrender everything to God.”

St. Bernard of Clairvaux in a letter to parents who lost their child through miscarriage.

It Is Finished

Halloween, Easter, New Year and Christmas - these seem to be the busiest day on Facebook.  I can't scroll down far enough to see everybody's pictures and status updates before I get dizzy (I also need new glasses).  So for tonight I will just hide here in my blog with my blogging blinders on, as usual ;-)

Today many things were finished - I finished ALL of the laundry,  the oldest child finished all his First Quarter tests,  and most of all this post would officially finish my commitment to the 31-day blogging challenge.

Commitment.  I have been contemplating this word a lot.  Every so often I would sit there at daily Mass asking (absentmindedly sometimes) why I'm at daily Mass when I can be in my warm bed.  I have to admit that the habit of going daily was first formed out a temporal need (surprise, surprise!).  Then it became a love affair long after the temporal need has been answered.  I was hooked :-)

There are days I get absolutely nothing out of it, at least not in the light bulb-moment sense.  I know I am getting Christ Himself but sometimes He is silent in His presence.  Other times He completely hits me with a two by four in the head LOL.  Last week the two by four came in one word- HEALING.  I come to daily Mass because I need to be healed (mostly from the effects of sin) and I need to pray for the healing of another (or others).  This week it was COMMITMENT.  I come to daily Mass because I am committed to this loving relationship with Christ and He is committed to me.  This loving commitment is what fuels my vocation as mother, teacher and wife.  There are days I chafe under the yoke of it all but knowing that this is not a one-sided and thankless endeavour gives me comfort.

"Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will act"- Psalms 37:5 

And with that, ladies and gentlemen,  my commitment to this 31-day blogging challenge ends.  It is finished. WOO HOO!

A blessed feast of All Saint's and All Soul's to you all.

Trick Or Treat 2014

It was a lovely night to beg for candy.  It wasn't raining (like the past two years) and it wasn't too chilly out.  We live in a neighborhood where one side gets more candy beggars whereas the other side (ours) hardly get any.  As a consequence our neighbors end up giving my kids most of their candy. It is not unusual for us to find candy bags on our front porch from one of the neighbors the day after. And no one gets a rock :-)

I've had my share of candy for the night so I'm off to brush my teeth and go to bed!  Here are some pictures from our night of begging - my fave is the costume my husband made - see below:

ready to beg with their football playing friend

this house was fun, the kids actually told jokes and got double candy

a beautiful day in the neighborhood

before we watch Charlie Brown's the Great Pumpkin the candy trading has to be done, mom and dad get a share of the loot of course!

the older two as Apollo and Artemis. So how cool is this costume?! My husband made this! He took the kids to the craft store and bought fabric.This man is amazing, he can easily craft a Halloween costume and also fix a major plumbing problem (we had last week). There are not enough songs of praise I can sing of this man.

The Baking Girl: Spiced Apple Cupcake

"So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God"

1 Corinthians 10:31

It was a busy kitchen day for The Baking Girl, she baked cupcakes, made orange sherbet, made hot chocolate for the boys who played out in the cold, she helped me make dinner and then she baked French bread.  I have no photos of her baking the French bread because I was taking a nap ;-)  I can't begin to tell you how invaluable her kitchen contributions are to our home. If you haven't done it yet, teach and encourage your kids to cook and/or bake.

The spiced apple cupcake she made today was moist and delicious.  It was good on it's own without the frosting but then again I'm not a big frosting fan.  The recipe can be found here - http://lesliedurso.com/2011/10/spiced-apple-cupcakes-with-cinnamon-frosting/

She did not use nuts (we have allergies) or raisins (we are not fans) and it tasted perfectly fine. As you might have noticed most, if not all, the recipes here do not have eggs due to allergies.  It's always a treat when we find good recipes despite the absence of eggs.

Pictures to share:

the last of the two bushels of apples we picked

scooping it in

ready for the oven

apple chunks are yum!

topped with cinnamon butter cream frosting

The recipe for the easy French bread, of which I have no picture is here: http://holycowvegan.net/2009/07/french-bread-easy-but-delicious-recipe.html