Granola

Lets make some granola...it's a staple in our house. We love to eat it over some yogurt or just with milk for a yummy breakfast.

Here are the ingredients you will need: rolled oats, wheat germ, coconut, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, pecans, butter, maple syrup, and vanilla

5 c. rolled oats into a large mixing bowl

In goes 3/4 cup wheat germ and 1 1/2 c coconut
1/4 c sunflower seeds1/4 c sesame seeds

1 c chopped pecans

Mix thoroughly

In a saucepan combine 1 stick of butter, 2/3 c maple syrup, 1/4 c sugar and 1 t vanilla

Pour wet ingredients into dry and mix well
Pre-baked granola

Enjoy!

5 c. Rolled Oats
1 1/2 c. coconut
3/4 c. wheat germ
1/4 c. sesame seeds
1/4 c. sunflower seeds
1 c. chopped pecans
1 t cinnamon
1/2 c. melted butter
1/4 c sugar
2/3 c. honey or maple syrup
1 t vanilla

Mix together the first 7 ingredients in large bowl. In a small saucepan over medium heat melt butter, sugar, honey and vanilla until butter and sugar completely dissolved. Then pour butter mixture into dry ingredients and mix well. Then spread into two cookie sheets with sides and bake at 325 for 20-30 minutes.

Memorial Day Parade!

We started off our memorial day with the parade...what fun it was!
Silas didn't waste anytime running after the candy that was liberally thrown at us:)

Gardens & Parks

Spent a few moments at the park before going to Grandpa & Grandma's for lunch.

The kids and I are enjoying doing some gardening...Tia is experiencing dirt with all 5 senses, and Silas is being caught in the act of doing something he isn't supposed to help with, if I had not taken the picture I could have prevented the "plant food" from spilling all over, but at least I have proof:)

The Finished Product!

Our pantry cabinet is finally done! It took a few months but the results were well worth the wait of two coats of paint, sanding and staining the edges, and one coat of polyurethane over the entire cabinet. The counter top was stained once but it turned out terrible so it was sanded down completely and coated with pre-stain treatment, then stained twice and polyurethaned three times for durability

Sweet Little Wobbly Fawn

We had the privilege of seeing a brand new, still wobbly on its legs fawn in our backyard, it brought me back to my childhood when Dad came back from mowing hay with a baby fawn in his lap...such beautiful little creatures.

His Mother was a few feet ahead, it took him a little while to catch up.

Back into the woods to find its Mommy...

too bad when he starts eating our garden we'll want to shoot him.

Silas & Mommy Make Chocolate Chip Cookies

Silas needed some extra diversion today, and Mommy needed something sweet, so we are going to show you how to make chewy chocolate chip cookies.

We found the recipe for chewy chocolate chip cookies here: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/the-chewy-recipe/index.html

First, we melted some butter in a pan, you could use the microwave too, but we like to do it the "natural way"

Pour in the melted butter and add the sugar.

Diligently watching the butter and sugar become creamy
It should look like this creamy texture. Now you can add the eggs, milk, and vanilla.

In a separate bowl combine your dry ingredients.

Then pour it in carefully.
Then its time for the chocolate chips, take a handful from the bag and eat it, then put a few in the dough, then a few more in your mouth, until your have 2 cups of chips in the bowl.
Then look mournfully into the bowl knowing mommy put the bag of chips away already. Just one more handful please!Ahhh! that's better, make sure you lick the beater when your done! Very important step!

Chewy Chocolate Cookies

2 Sticks of unsalted butter (melted)
2 1/4 c flour (whole wheat)
1 t salt
1 t baking soda
1/4 c sugar
1 1/4 c brown sugar
1 egg
1 egg yoke
2 T milk
1 1/2 t vanilla
2 c chocolate chips

Melt butter in sauce pan. Pour into mixer and combine with sugar and mix until creamy. Add egg & yoke, milk, vanilla and mix well. Then add dry ingredients until well combined. Add in the chips until thoroughly mixed in. Place dough in fridge for a little while (it makes cookies a little bit more plump while they are baking) Preheat oven to 375.(I put my oven on 350 for 12 minutes...my oven tends to bake pretty quickly.) Spoon out dough balls onto cookie sheet and bake for about 12-14 minutes. Enjoy!

Look I'm going to take a bite, oh its going to be so good, I had to wait all the way until after I finished my lunch!
Oh my...ummmmm...soooo good!
I like them too Mommy! Why don't you feed me them more often? Instead of the yogurt!

Photo Shoot