Ordinary Miracles (13)

Last week was busy.  A few nights at church, errands to run, kids to run here and there and we were hosting Easter at our house.  Not too many people, but still preparations were needed.  My parents arrived Friday night.  Much of Saturday was spent at Sassy's all day volleyball tournament.  My sister and her two kiddos arrived around lunch time and along with my parents were able to cheer Sassy on a bit (even though her team did not play its best).  We dyed eggs, relaxed, laughed, ate and enjoyed each other's company.  So you see, last week was filled with Ordinary Miracles for me and I would guess you were witness to many ordinary miracles as well.

Now, glance back at your week and think about the ordinary things, people, places or happenings that took place in your life. The ordinary that is usually taken for granted. 

And, tell me what miracles occurred in your life!

(See Previous Ordinary Miracles Here)

Dutch Pancake

I call it a "Dutch Pancake"  a friend of mine calls it a "Pannekoeken"  either way it is easy and yummy!

Ingredients:

Put butter in baking dish and place into a cold oven, then turn on to 400°

While butter melts in the oven, mix up eggs, flour and milk

Recruit a helper to help whisk until smooth

Once the butter melts, pour batter into baking dish ~ close oven and let it bake for 20-22 minutes.

It will come out golden and puffy.

Cut into squares and serve with desired toppings.

Ingredients:

3 Tablespoons ~ butter, cut into pieces
6 Eggs
1 Cup ~ flour
1 Cup ~ Milk

Optional Toppings ~ Maple syrup, fruit, powdered sugar

Directions:
1.  Place butter into a 9x13 baking dish.  Place the dish into the COLD oven and turn it to 400°.
2.  Melt the butter (depending on your oven should take 5-10 mins) ** don't over brown
3. While the butter is melting, in a medium bowl whisk the eggs.  Then add in the flour and milk.  Beat/whisk until the mixture is smooth.  Immediately pour batter into your now hot baking dish.
4.  Bake for 20-22 mins, until puffed up and browned (don't open oven during baking)

Cut into pieces and top as desired.
Personally, I like mine with a drizzle of syrup and lots of fruit ~ raspberries, blueberries, strawberries and peaches are my favorite.

Someday Crafts

Chef in Training

Hope Studios

I've been PINNING

Well, I don't know about you, but I've been pinning lots of goodies lately.   Food, crafts, seasonal stuff, home decor and design, photography tips and on and on.  I have actually been making a few of the food items I've pinned and here are some of my results:

First up ~  Creamed Eggs over Toast.

(via Pinterest)

(but, I'm going to delete it from my boards, so here is the actual website)

This sounded interesting, so I thought we'd give it a try.  

I

Boiled the eggs

Made the "gravy"

Topped the toast.

Ate, Assessed and Added Pepper.

In the end, we decided this would NOT be a remaker.  

Not a lot of flavor ~ but, maybe if you add sausage.......

Next stop ~ Chicken and Black Bean Green Enchilada Rice Bake

(via Pinterest)

(original)

I

Gathered my ingredients

Mixed it up

And layered it in the pans

(I split it into two 8x8 pans so I could put one in the freezer for another day ~ we had already tried this recipe once and knew we liked it!)

Yep, this one is a keeper.  

And Hubby likes to take the leftovers, warm them up and wrap it up in a tortilla. Perfect for a quick lunch!

Last but not Least,  something sweet ~ Peppermint Christmas Tree Meringue Cookies

(Via Pinterest)

(Original)

I made these to take to a cookie exchange at the Parent's group I am co-leader of.

They were quite easy to make, which I definitely like.

They have a minty flavor, but not overwhelming.  Perfect in my opinion.

Since I was bringing them to a meeting, along with 28 gifts (we sponsored a 2 families for Christmas), wrapping paper and a bunch of other stuff, the last thing I wanted to worry about was the cute little chocolate piped stars falling off or breaking apart.  So, although cute, I decided to leave them off ~ this time at least.

I will definitely be making these again!

What, have you been pinning lately?

Have you tried anything?

Forgetful

I couldn't believe it.

I reached in to my huge bottomless pit of a purse.  I reached straight down to the very bottom and slowly pulled my arm back up feeling for it all the way to the top.  Nothing.  I reached down to the right corner.  Nope.  Down to the left corner.  Not there either.  I started to sweat.

My camera.
Not in my purse.

It is always within reach whether in my purse, in my hand, or on top of our refrigerator at home.

And that's where it was today.  I had left it sitting upon the top of the fridge, at home.... in another state.

We had just arrived at my parents home 4 hours away from ours.   I ran to my purse to get my camera to snap a picture and it wasn't there.  How could I have forgotten it on a weekend away.  And not just any weekend, Easter weekend.   You know the weekend of colorful eggs, candies, baskets, excited children and dressed up families.

We colored eggs at my parent's house and I borrowed his camera from on top of the fridge (hmm.... wonder where I get it )

But then our trip continued on.

We went to my hubby's parent's house.

Once again, no camera.  Bummer there was golfing, hot tub time, dressing up, Easter eggs and basket hunting, kite flying and lots of family.

Sure I forgot.  And the moments will be memories captured in our minds instead of on my blog, on paper and potentially in frames.  And as annoyed as I was (and honestly still am ~ although I know I shouldn't be) those "things" do not even begin to compare with what the true meaning of Easter is for my family.  The death and resurrection of our Lord.  And while there are no actual photographs of this blessed event, we remember in our hearts and minds, and we celebrate.  We celebrated with prayer, singing, praise and family.  

I am not perfect.  I forget things.  Not just my camera, but a shirt that my daughter wanted washed so she could wear it to school, a lunch my son wanted to take to school, rolls that needed to be taken out of the freezer for breakfast in the morning and so the list continues.......

But in the end, even though it can be frustrating and feelings can be momentarily hurt, it isn't the "things" that really matter.  And I hope that is something I can teach my children.  For there is SO MUCH MORE.

source

  

76.  The excitement of a little competition
77.  Carnival games
78.  Laughing with my sister
79.  A lazy rainy day
80.  A tip

Yarn Eggs ~ take 2

The kids and I made Yarn Eggs last year before Easter.

You can check that post out here.

I hadn't planned on making them again this year, but Sassy was concerned that we didn't have any Easter decorations up.  So, one day while Sassy and Action were at school and Smiley was down for a nap, I set out to make some small yarn eggs.

I used:

Water Balloons (I wanted smaller eggs than last year)

Bright colored Embroidery Floss (that I took out of a friendship bracelet making kit)

Glue 

and

Water

First I watered down my glue and blew up my balloons.

Then I took my embroidery floss, dipped it into the watered down glue and wrapped, wrapped and wrapped it around my balloons.

 I laid them out to dry.

When they were dry, using my finger, I loosened the floss from the balloon.  

Then I popped the balloon and pulled it out

Voila, cute little Easter Eggs.

And Sassy feels so much better now that we have some Easter decorations up.

Oh, and that fabulous framed Easter Subway Art you see, 

you can get that here courtesy of Chessa from Antsi-Pants