Sea Salt Caramel Coffee

It's National Coffee Day!!

To celebrate, here is my version of a Salted Caramel Mocha Coffee.

You will need:
-half & half (or your favorite creamer or milk)*
-chocolate sauce
-caramel sauce
-whipped cream
-sea salt
-brewed coffee

 Place 2-4 Tbsp. of half & half (depending on how creamy you like it) into a cup.  Add 1 tbsp. each of caramel sauce and chocolate sauce.

Heat in microwave for about 15 seconds, till warm.  Use a whisk to blend together and make it a bit frothy.

 Add coffee.  Top with whipped cream.  Drizzle whipped cream with a bit of chocolate sauce and caramel sauce (if desired).

Sprinkle the top of the coffee with a little bit of coarse ground sea salt. I rubbed the sea salt together in my hand over the cup.  Just a pinch goes a long way, but adds a delightful sweet/salty flavor to the coffee!

 

*You can also make this with milk, up to a 1/4 C. just heat and froth the same way as above.  

Enjoy!

Taking the "Crazy" out of Mornings

The other day a friend shared how crazy and stressed out her mornings had been lately trying to get three kids up, fed, dressed and out the door on time.  Tears, frustration, and unkind words are not a great way to start the day, not to mention the stress of misplaced items, missed buses or being late because of a chaotic morning.

It wasn't all that long ago I used to have to get 9 kids (my 3 kids plus our 6 foster children (all 6 of which were under 6!) up, dressed, delivered to 2 different schools, one or more to the agency for an appt. or visit--usually before 9 am.  I know what crazy mornings are like!

Here are some ideas that helped take some of the craziness out of our mornings (these ideas aren't new or even all that original, but hopefully having them in one spot will inspire you):

Plan the night before (the more you can do the night before, the easier the morning will be, especially if you are not a morning person! If you are a morning person, a lot of this could be done before anyone else is up)

*Get the coffeemaker ready

*Lay out clothes (including socks, underwear, etc...)-including any uniforms, etc..  needed later in the day

*You could also have kids put on some of the next days clothes to wear to bed (if appropriate), Example, t-shirts, sweat pants, etc....

*Plan breakfast and prep as much as possible
               -set the table
               -if you are serving cereal place the cereal in bowls the night before and cover with a napkin or plastic bowl cover (older kids can grab their own milk and pour over cereal or              help the younger kids)
                -pour milk into cups the night before and place in fridge
                -pre-cook bacon so all it needs is a quick reheat
                -bake muffins and wrap in plastic wrap-set on table
                -cut up fruit and place in bowl of 7up or Sprite, in fridge, ready to drain and serve
               -portion out peanut butter and jelly in small cups or baggies to be squeezed on toast
               -make your oatmeal in the crockpot so it is ready to go in the morning

*Pack lunch or set out lunch money the night before

 *Make sure homework is checked, bags are packed and set by door

 *Write reminders on sticky note and stick to door (IE...don't forget lunch from fridge, etc....) or have a specific place for memos.  Our back door was metal so we just used magnets to stick stuff to the door that needed to go out with us.

*Place toothpaste on toothbrushes (this also lets you know who forgot to brush in the morning)

*Don't forget to set out things like shoes, boots, coats, hats, gloves, etc...  Have a specific spot for everything by the door so no one forgets.  We made bags for each kid that hung in our entry where they placed their stuff--if we were in a hurry we just grabbed the bags and then they could put on hats, gloves, etc.. in the car.

In the morning:

*First things first--pray before your feet even hit the floor for a smooth morning and a good attitude for everyone involved!

*Don't sweat the small stuff--unless you are having company the minute you walk through the door, ask yourself if it really matters if the beds don't get made till afternoon. (I know, I like the beds made in the morning too, but I learned that it was just one more source of stress in the morning)

*Set the mood for the morning--turn on some fun music (or sing a favorite song)  to get everyone moving and greet everyone with a kind word and a hug. My kids still remember being woken up to a silly song called "Wake Up, You Sleepyhead!" 

*Use a timer to help keep everyone moving.  Challenge them to get dressed and to the table before the timer goes off (2-5 minutes depending on age).  You can make it into a game or even have stickers or prizes (like choice of seat at table, etc...) for the first person to finish (make sure the winner didn't skip a step (like socks, etc...)).  We tried to have each kids get to pick something as they finished (1 st kid--choose seat, 2nd kid--favorite cup, 3rd kids--napkin, etc.... so everyone felt like a winner.  Sometimes the last kids simply got a big hug and a "good job".

*Plan to leave 10 minutes early, that way you have a little cushion (just don't tell the kids (or maybe even your husband))

*Assign older kids to help younger (if you can)--it helps them feel important and keeps them focused

*Remember that no matter how well planned you are, things can still go wrong (the baby blows out a diaper, the toddler toss his cookies on his shoes, etc...) just take a deep breath and keep calm--your reaction will help determine the reaction of those around you.

*No matter what--send your kids out the door with a hug and a kind word--even an apology if necessary!


Mornings can be busy and chaotic, hopefully you will find something here that will help you take just a little bit of the "crazy" out of your morning and help you to enjoy those brief moments that you have together!

Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal Mix

Here is another mix recipe for your collection:


Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal Mix

1 C. quick oats (grind in blender or food processor till finely ground)
1 C. quick oats (leave whole)
3/4-1C. brown sugar
1 Tbsp. maple flavoring
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2  tsp. nutmeg

Combine brown sugar, maple flavoring, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg in a medium bowl.  Stir to thoroughly combine the sugar and extract (a mixer is really helpful for this).  Add in oats and ground oats.  Stir to combine.  Store in airtight container.

To Serve:

Place 2/3 C. oatmeal mix in a bowl and add hot water to desired consistency.

For Apple-cinnamon oatmeal-substitute vanilla extract for the maple and add 1/2 C. dried apple pieces.

*Just like the packets you buy in the store, only you can control the ingredients.
*Package in individual baggies for quick, single serving sizes.
*Add more oats and ground oats to make a less sweet mix.
*Double, triple or quadruple the recipe and store in a large jar, scoop out how much you need.
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Vacation Time

I am taking some time to spend with my family--we have had so much going on this summer and need some time to relax, do some fun things together and get ready for school.  We have company coming in for a while and are hoping to take a few "field trips" around the area.

I will be back to regular posting on Sept. 19th.

Have a great couple of weeks!

Pumpkin Praline Muffins

I know many of you are gearing up for back to school.  Muffins are one of my favorite foods because they are quick and easy to make, freeze beautifully and served with some yogurt or milk and a piece of fruit  make a healthy breakfast or snack.

This is one of my favorite muffin recipes, it is fairly low in calories, and has a decent amount of protein and fiber.

Pumpkin Praline Muffins

1 3/4 C. whole wheat pastry flour (this adds fiber and flavor and your kids won't notice it's "good" for them)
1/2 C. oatmeal (ground finely)
1/2 C. brown sugar
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1 Tbsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 C. skim milk
1 large egg
2/3 C. mashed pumpkin (not the pie filling)
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Topping
1 Tbsp. finely chopped pecans
1 Tbsp. brown sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Prepare muffin pan with liners and then lightly coat with cooking spray.

Mix flour, ground oatmeal, sugar, baking powder and pumpkin pie spice in a bowl. 

In a separate bowl mix milk, egg, pumpkin and vanilla.

Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir just till moistened.

Place batter in prepared pan, filling 3/4 full.

Mix topping ingredients together and sprinkle over muffins.

Bake 15-18 minutes until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Cool for 5 minutes.  Remove from pan.

Serve warm or at room temperature.

~Makes 12 muffins

~Store in airtight container at room temperature for two days or wrap individual muffins and freeze.

~Put frozen muffins in a lunchbox, they will be defrosted and ready to eat by lunch time.

~Approx. Nutritional Info:  Calories: 128, Fiber 3.2 gms, Protein 3.2 gms, Carbs 27 gms, Fat 1.2 gms

Tortilla Mix

Here is another mix for your collection!

Our family loves Mexican food: tacos, burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas--pretty much anything you wrap in a tortilla.  The cost of store bought tortillas seems to keep going up--$1.67 for 10 tortillas?! 
Homemade tortillas are not only very easy and inexpensive to make (about $.25 for 10) they taste so much better than the store bought ones.

Tortilla Mix
16 C. flour (use unbleached or add up to 1/2 whole wheat)
2 Tbsp. baking powder
2 Tbsp. salt (you can use a little less, but some salt really does make a difference in the flavor)
1/2 C-1C. shortening  (I like about 3/4 C. of palm shortening (no trans fat!))

Combine dry ingredients in a bowl and stir with whisk to fully mix.  Cut in shortening with pastry blender or hands.  Store mix in airtight container.


To Make:

Place 2 C. tortilla mix in a bowl, making a well in the center.  Add 1/2-3/4 C. warm water, a little at a time, mixing until you have a soft dough.

Knead dough for a short time till it becomes elastic.

Cover with plastic and let it rest 10-15 minutes.

Form small balls, pull the dough around the bottom of the ball to make top smooth.  Set aside, covered with plastic wrap.

Dip dough balls in flour and roll out thinly.

Cook on preheated dry griddle until top begins to bubble, Flip and cook for about 15 seconds more.

To keep warm: stack between towels.

Wrap in plastic wrap and store in refrigerator.

Zucchini Bread

Easy Zucchini Bread

Here is just one great recipe to use up all the zucchini floating around this time of year.

2 C. sugar
3 eggs
3 C. flour (I use 1/2 unbleached, 1/2 whole wheat pastry flour)
1/2 C. oil
1/2 C. applesauce or apple butter
2 C. shredded zucchini
1 Tbsp. cinnamon
1 tsp.baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1 C. nuts (optional)


Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix eggs, sugar, oil, applesauce, zucchini and vanilla in a bowl.  In a separate bowl combine dry ingredients.  Add dry ingredients to zucchini mixture and stir to combine.  Place mixture in 2 greased loaf pans.  Bake for 60-65 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Cool on wire rack, wrap and freeze.

*Zucchini bread makes a quick easy breakfast with some yogurt and fruit.
*Fruit breads are great to have on hand for last minute company or to share with a family in need.

Zucchini bread wrapped and freezer ready

~Things are still crazy busy around here, but I do have some posts I am working on--hopefully it won't be so long between posts!

Quick Summer Update

Just so you don't think I forgot about you all--here is a quick summer update!

What a crazy, busy summer we have been having!  I wish I could say we have been taking exciting vacations or accomplishing amazing things--but really, it has just been everyday stuff.  I had a list of things that I wanted to accomplish this summer: projects around the house, craft projects, and even starting on Christmas decorations and presents, but sadly, my list is hanging forlornly on the fridge in hopes I will remember to take it down and conquer it's tasks.  Between the kid's work and babysitting schedules, drivers ed (and trying to squeeze in the required 40 driving hours needed), and my husband's crazy travel and work schedule some days I am not sure if I am coming or going.  It is the summer of the chauffeur (that would be me!).   

I am working on several tutorials--but my camera battery died and I misplaced the charger--so hopefully SOON I will have some new post up.  We are also coming up on canning season, so hopefully I will be able to add some more canning posts.  I am hoping to do some spaghetti sauce and relish soon!

Hope you are all enjoying your summer!

All-purpose Cleaner

No, I haven't forgotten about you all!  We have just been busy enjoying the summer weather and trying to find time to do some family things together.  It seems like it gets harder to find family time as our kids get older, between different work schedules, travel,  friends and hobbies, everyone is always going in a different direction.  I have also spent a few days working on my UFO (un-finished objects) sewing box and helping a friend with some sewing.  I finished up a stack of layering tank tops for my daughter and am working on a purse I cut a year and a half ago!  

On to today's post--my favorite all purpose cleaner.  I have been making my own cleaning products for years.  I started making my own cleaners simply because we were on a limited budget and I disliked spending $4 for bathroom cleaner that smelled funny.  A lot of my original recipes came from reading old magazines (even in the 60's women were trying to save money on cleaners) and books and then experimenting till I found something I liked and worked well for me. 

All-Purpose Cleaner

1/2 C. vinegar* (a great disinfectant)
1 tsp. borax (add water softening properties)
1 tsp. liquid soap (use castille or dish detergent)
2 tsp. baking soda (add disinfecting and odor removing)
15 drops Tea Tree essential oil (a great antibacterial-antimicrobial oil) (Or use your favorite essential oil)
warm water

Use a funnel to pour vinegar, borax, liquid soap and baking soda into empty spray bottle.  Beware when you add the baking soda the mixture will foam up a bit. 

Fill bottle with warm water to within 1" of top.

Place  top on bottle and shake gently to mix.  Be sure to label your bottle.

~I use this spray for all my general purpose cleaning in the kitchen and bath.

*I use an orange vinegar--place orange peels  in a jar and cover with white vinegar.  The orange oils in the peels help break down grease, disinfect and add a pleasant smell.  Add additional vinegar as needed.  Replace peels every 3-4 months. 

~This also works with lemon, lime or grapefruit rinds.  Or use your favorite herbs for an herbal vinegar, lavender and thyme work well but make a dark colored vinegar (it doesn't stain).

~I use the orange vinegar straight for cleaning the greasy range hood and to clean our grill.

Garlic Oven Fries

Garlic Oven Fries

Pair these with hamburgers and shakes for an All-American meal!

Baked Garlic Oven Fries

Olive Oil
Minced Garlic
Rosemary (or favorite herb)
Potatoes


This is one of those makes as much as you need recipes, so no measurements are given.

To make the Garlic Oil:
Place olive oil in small saucepan, add 1-2 Tbsp. minced garlic per 1/2 C. of oil.  Add in a few sprigs of fresh rosemary or other herb.

Garlic oil with Basil

Heat over med.-low heat and simmer for about 10 minutes.  Remove from heat and cool.  Strain and store in airtight container.

Wash and cut desired amount of potatoes into french fry sticks (we use 1 potato per person).

 

Toss cut fries with just enough oil to lightly coat.  I use about 1 Tbsp. oil per 3-4 potatoes.  Place on greased baking sheet and bake at 450 degrees for 35-45 minutes, until golden brown.  Turn potatoes a couple of times during baking to brown on all sides.

Add salt and pepper to taste and dip in some homemade ketchup!