The Baking Girl: Oreo Cookies

The Baking Girl has been busy in the kitchen despite the absence of baking posts here.  Part of the reason is that I gave up sugar for Lent so I ignored her baking!  I don't think I could have given up sugar if it wasn't Lent. And there I was thinking it was such a paltry sacrifice since I am not a big sugar fan (or at least it's not my comfort food). So wrong. So in denial. Coffee without sugar? Eek! Life without Panera cinnamon crunch bagel, Krispy Kreme donuts, truffles, cakes, ice cream, root beer, even gum?!  Have you eaten oatmeal with no sugar? Gross. Don't do it. Life without refined sugar is torture of the purest kind!

But I survived. My on-going love affair with sugar-less coffee and 90 percent dark chocolate is going strong. Trading one addiction for another, what can I say.  It's amazing what 40 days of no sugar can do to the palate. I have zero cravings. I am past the 40 days and there's no going back for me. But just in case I'm sounding like a purist, let me make it real, I have a treat day (Sunday) where I allow myself a sugary treat. My palate doesn't seek it but I give myself the freedom to trick my brain into thinking I am not a slave to sugar-deprivation.  Everything in moderation or some cliche like that.

So since it is a Sunday, my sugar-treat day, I am posting The Baking Girl's recent baking adventure - homemade Oreo cookies- recipe here -   http://gayathriscookspot.com/2012/10/eggless-oreo-cookies/

It is really good (even without the filling!) and the boys really enjoy it. I prefer it without the filling so I'm essentially getting a chocolate cookie. My kids think I'm crazy.  Oh well.  The challenge now is for the Baking Girl to find sugar-free treats for this mama.  I will keep you posted.

As usual, I have pictures to share the deliciousness:

scooping the batter

flattening to size

sugar filling

beating to a creamy consistency

happy baker

yum!!!

Happy Trinity Sunday!

Summer Lovin'

Despite the raging Spring allergies I will pretend Summer is almost here.  We're in the thick of Spring sports hence the blog silence.  It's been fun despite the crazy schedule.  Three different kids with three different playing and practice schedules is my idea of fun (NOT!) I refuse to complain about driving to far-flung locations through rush hour traffic or playing through the rain, wind and the bitter cold. Oh and the porta-potty's. No complaints, just lots of cringing. But I am a sports mother, hear me roar and all that.

The good news is that Summer will (hopefully) be quiet.  It's another year of being home and savoring the heat of the season in the comforts of our air-conditioned home.  No sports allowed.  We are, however, schooling through it all.  Nothing too Harvard oriented, just Latin, Math and Home Ec twice a week.  Home Ec means I will be teaching the older kids to cook semi-complicated recipes, deep-cleaning the house, organizational skills, balancing the books by a miraculous act, etc.  Child labor cloaked in homeschool curriculum. They will love it, right?

So I recently celebrated a birthday.  Hooray!  Turning 45 has made me more aware of how slow my metabolism has become and all the "glitter" growing on my head.  I'm also questioning the last 44 years. What have I done!?!  What have I contributed to the good of society?  How am I growing (or not) in virtue?  I feel a mid-life crisis coming on ;-)  The reality is I don't mind aging but I do mind the lack of tangible achievements.  I should have invented something revolutionary by now but instead I fumble through the everyday working out my salvation in trembling.  I need another 45 years.

On a truly celebratory note, school is almost over! Most of our schooling should be finished in the next two weeks.  We wrapped up Art and History this week.  This is a miracle in itself considering how late we started and all the time off we took for Christmas vacation, snow days and sick days.  And that is the beauty of homeschooling my friends - you do as much as you can when you can, take vacation days at your leisure and still finish on time.  Don't be too impressed, I am delaying the last two book reports for Summer school.  There is no way I'm rushing through the life of Sts. Louis De Montfort and Edmund Campion in the name of a timely book report. I want all my kids to sit through these books even if only one has to write the book report. And this too is the advantage of homeschooling.

As usual this post will not be complete without a smattering of pictures for those of you who refuse to sell your souls to Facebook -

the middle child pitching for the first time after years of coach pitch

ominous

the Baking Girl is running track for the first time and loving it

breakfast in bed with the sweetest note

I was really trying to take a picture of the blooming tree but including her in the frame makes it so much better

the game face

I love this picture of the middle child about to pitch

this is how she feels about school

picking off at first

I love this photo of the oldest about to pitch

Happy Friday and may you mothers be spoiled on Mother's Day.  I know where I'll be - torn about which baseball game to go to.