{This Moment in Words}

Last night, we had to do some shopping.  Callie needed several things.  That child just won't stop growing! :)

This was our first expedition into the Jr. department.  I really was not looking forward to it.  We tried on three sizes of the same pair of pants and none of them fit.  Welcome to a growing woman's world Callie!  She was great though.  She never got frustrated, we just laughed about it and moved on.  She showed me some WILD looking things she liked and I silently thanked God for a small budget.  We found an outfit and some other necessary items too.  :)  I don't think I was cut out for this part of mothering.  It's happening too soon for my comfort.  We spent a lot of time in the dressing rooms and Callie was so funny.  We actually had a good time!

On the way home, I was pretty tired.  I was aggravated about the coupon they wouldn't let me use.  I failed to see the small print that it could only be used with their charge card and I was still thinking about this whole growing up business, but the girls were pretty excited. Kate got a new outfit too, and Cameron was all pumped about our upcoming trip South.  Then, Kate suddenly started telling us all about the gray cat that has been coming around lately.  Apparently, it was "on top of the black kitty and the black kitty was saying 'Meeeow'." 

Oh mercy!  It was just the laugh I needed.  I thought Cameron was going to run off the road and Callie was just howling with laughter.  Then Kate got the giggles and she didn't even know what was funny.  It was just the comic relief I needed.

Thank you Lord!

Yummy Gluten Free Chocolate Cake

I have no idea what the copyright laws are concerning posting a recipe from a newish cookbook.  I'm sure there are some and I'm hoping I'm not breaking them.  Since I tweaked this considerably, I think I may be safe. ;)

The original recipe is from Cooking for Isaiah.  It is not a "healthy" cookbook, just gluten and dairy free.  I don't need the dairy free part, just the gluten free part.

I wanted to make a cake to celebrate the first day of school and since I have taught my daughters well in the love of chocolate, and one of them should not have wheat, what better cake to try than the Chocolate Birthday Cake with Whipped Chocolate Frosting from Cooking For Isaiah?

The changes I made from the original was to use instant coffee instead of instant espresso powder and since we call all have milk, I used milk in places where she called for water, and so I didn't add the boiling water to the espresso powder.  Also, I haven't used her flour combination yet.  A good friend of mine who moved several states away and also had a child who could not have wheat gave me a HUGE bag of Bob's Red Mill bean flour, so I'm using that up as I can.  It has a sort of strong flavor if you aren't use to it, so I only use it in chocolate recipes where it is covered up, in combination with other gluten free flours, or if Kate is the only one who will be eating it.  So for this cake I used a combo of bean, almond and rice flours.  The only thing I have noticed in substituting this flour combo is that my finished product is a tad on the greasy side.  It happened with this cake and with the brownie recipe from this book.  So next time I will be reducing the amount of oil called for.  But since this cake sat under a towel overnight before icing, it tasted just fine!

So here it is.....

2 T instant coffee
1 C milk
1/2 c. cold water
2 T vanilla extract
1/2 C vegetable oil  (I will 1/3 or less next time)
2 large eggs, at room temp
1 C Bob's Red Mill bean flour
1/2 C. almond flour
1/2 C. brown rice flour
3/4 C. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 C. light brown sugar
1 C. granulated sugar
2 t. baking powder
1 t. baking soda
1 t. salt
1 t. xanthum powder (DO NOT skip this if you are making with gluten free flours.  You will be tempted to, but don't--trust me)

Now here is what makes this cake irresistable....the frosting
3 C. semisweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 C. milk (the author called for water, I used half and half because I was running out of milk)

Preheat ove to 350.  Grease two 9 inch round cake pans and line with parchment paper (probably not really necessary).

In small bowl whisk together the instant coffe and milk and water.  Add vanilla, oil and eggs and mix well.

In large bowl, whisk together all dry ingredients.  Whisk the egg mixture into the flour mixture and mix until just combined.  (If you hate washing dishes as much as I do and your dishwasher is broken, you might be tempted to just dump all the seperate dry ingredients into the bowl of wet.  You might get some clumps of something in your cake. :)  Divide the batter evenlt between the prepared pans.  Bake 25-30 minutes.  Let cool completely in the pans set on a wire rack.

To make the frosting, melt chocolate chips and milk (or water) either on low in a microwave or over med. heat in double boiler.  Stir until smooth and let cool to room temp.  This takes a while and frosting will not get thicker until really cooled off.  With a handheld mixer, beat on medium -high speed until light and whipped, about 12 minutes.  Cover each layer with frosting and stack.  If it's still not thick enough and you are pressed for time, you can just put both layers together and frost that way.  It will thicken as it sits.  You won't use as much this way and then you can make another cake!

Enjoy!

{This Moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments at SouleMama for all to find and see.

Our Family Photographer

I have had this post typed up for weeks, but the picture somehow disappeared.  We finally found it today in a different file.  So here it is.  I wouldn't even post it except I know some people way down south who will enjoy it. :)  And I'm sure Callie won't mind either.


Callie chose photography for her 4H project this year.  It was the perfect choice since she is always taking pictures anyway. 

The guidelines for first year photography are to show ten pictures of various things, no themes, on a poster with the title "Experiences in Color".  This particular project is what they call "open judging" which means the judge tells the student what he thinks of the photos right then when it is turned in.  The judge had mostly nice things to say and gave a few suggestions for making certain things better.  Callie did a good job, but she did say that even though she got a blue ribbon, she kept thinking about the negative things that the judge told her.  I reminded her that the point is to learn from the remarks so that she can improve and not to take it personally.

I guess that would be good advice for a lot of situations that we go through in life!

Callie did a great job and is already making plans for next year.

The First Day of School 2011

Yesterday was the first day of our new school year.  Kate is now in Kindergarten and Callie is in the 6th grade.

Our day started out with the stack of books at the breakfast table.  Callie always looks forward to seeing what is in her stack.  The night before, Kate said, "Callie said there will be surprises tomorrow."  I think she wasn't quite sure whether to believe Callie or not.  Indeed there were.  Workbooks and picture books and new pencils and even erasers that looked like cell phones, Kate's personal favorite.  I've lost count of how many times she has said "Thank you."  Callie's favorite items were Mary Poppins and this reading journal.  (I didn't even know Mary Poppins was a book until we started home schooling. LOL  I've only read the first two paragraphs and it is already quite different than the movie)

Then we went on our annual First Day of School Field Trip.  That has become a tradition that we all look forward to.  This year we went to the Indianapolis Zoo.  It had been awhile since we had been and there are a few new exhibits that we had not seen yet.  I think Kate's age is the perfect time to really enjoy the zoo and get a lot out of it.

The Zoo was a big hit.  Kate was so excited and Callie was too.  Callie was especially excited to see her friends.  I had forgotten about the water park inside the zoo.  Kate was ecstatic!  She loves playing in the  water.  So after we had seen all of the animals we let them play in the water for probably more than an hour.

Kate petting a shark

My personal favorite at the zoo

Waiting for the bucket of water to dump on her head

Dancing for joy

Callie took this one.  This will definitely be on next years 4H poster!

We left the zoo worn out and happy.  Kate was asleep within 10 minutes once we got in the car.  If only everyday could be field trip day.

After supper we had a special dessert.  Chocolate Cake.  I made it gluten free for Kate and it was so yummy!  Know one would ever guess it's made with bean flour.  I will post the recipe soon.  We do have desserts every once in a while, but I never make cake unless it is some one's birthday.  We will see if this becomes part of our tradition.

This Week We....

Went to the State Fair.  A tradition which is of utmost priority to more than one in this household.  We've only missed two years in over 12.

I don't know who comes up with this stuff, but fried green beans?  They were yummy!!

Callie and Kate in front of the swine barn

Can you tell how HUGE these horses are.  These men come to about the middle of horses necks!  Kate asked if they were "giraffe horses." 

Spent the night in the tent.  Took a chance and left the rain fly off.  Saw the stars shining above in the middle of the night.  Really cool.

Had popcorn and smoothies for lunch.

We cleaned out the barn (all but one part).  A very long overdue project.  The garbage man is not going to like us!

Purchased the rest of our school books.  I love Half-Price books!!!

It was a busy, productive week.  My wonderful husband replaced our camera (I usually call it "my camera") and I haven't even had time to play around with it. 

School starts Monday!!  I'm mostly looking forward to it, but at the beginning of every school year I have moments of freaking out.  "How in the world are we going to get everything done?"  The truth is, we won't.  Some days the chores won't get done or the art project will still be on the table when supper should be.  The most important thing I can do is not "do it all", but have a good attitude no matter what.  Which is sometimes harder.  I think Cameron cares more about coming home to a joyful home than a perfect house.  At least I hope so! ;)

Full Days

We have had days full of fun and friends and family.  Nothing extravagant, like a trip to Disney or anything, just good visits with friends, old and new, and weekends with family.  The intense heat has subsided a bit and we are all grateful for that!  Just one more week before school starts.  Should I start practicing getting up early or sleep in every morning this week?  I might need a few days of practice.  Just to get my system going again!

340.  Having my mom and niece come up for the weekend.

341.  Watching "Babies".  For the third time.

342.  Taking my mom and niece to New India for lunch.  And they liked it!  Maybe not everything, but they went away full.

343.  Lively discussions

344.  Girls day out with "old" friends

345.  The library.  Oh how I love the library.

346.  Holding my new nephew.  There is nothing better than holding a sleeping baby.

347.  Gifts

348.  My in-laws.  Yes, I said my in-laws.  I couldn't have asked for better.  Sometimes I think about other guys I dated and their parents.  Obviously, I'm glad that I chose Cameron, but I'm glad I didn't get some of those other in-laws too.

349.  School planning.  I haven't gotten near as much done as I would like at this point, but I am thankful for what I have gotten done.  I'm struggling to figure out how to get in all the things we have to do with all of the things we want to do.  If Callie and I had it our way it would be reading and art and music and making things.  Oh, and Geography.  Callie loves learning about other cultures.  I'm praying for divine guidance and inspiration.  Feel free to say one for me too!

350.  Kindergarten books in the mail.  I love Kindergarten.  Kate's pretty excited about "doing school like Callie."

351.  Kate can fit into Callie's OLD ballet shoes.  Yea for one less thing that has to be bought!!

352.  Tomatoes from the garden.  And zinnias.

353.  Dairy Queen after church with friends.  What better way to start a new week than with friends and ice cream?

354.  Our first day of school buddies.  We've been doing it together for six years now!  There's no better way to start the year off  than with a field trip with friends who have been there since the birth of our oldest children!

355.  A nice, soft bed at the end of the day.