Our Christmas 2013 Menu

Roasted Turkey & Gravy

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Mustard Glazed Spiral Ham

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Garlic Smashed Potatoes

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Baked Savory Yams

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Roasted Golden Beets

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Braised Brussels Sprouts & Carrots

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Homemade Cranberry Sauce

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Gerkins & Garlic Dill Pickles

Merry Christmas from our family to yours and here's to an amazing 2014 !!

Beads + my two girlies =

 = hours of OT & good creative mojo !!!!

Home Learners Group - Christmas Card Making

SIXTEEN

So excited to have Nana Val & Grandpa Bill come to celebrate with us !!!

( Anthony's pick - Allergen friendly Lemon Meringue Pie :)

( Keisha's request - chocolate gf cupcakes with 3 different types of icingserved on the china treat stand as she calls it:)

Happy 16th Birthday my Loves !!!!

Lemony Blueberryie muffin goodness :)

 The combination of Lemon & Blueberries has always been one of my fav's :))  These beauties are just so yummy that they really should be considered a dessert !

 If you'd like to whip yourself up a batch or two here you go......

You'll need to mix together in a large bowl 4 cups multi-purpose gluten free four blend, 5 tsp baking powder, 2 tsp xanthum gum and a sprinkling of sea salt.

Oh! if you haven't already....turn your oven to 350 & fill your muffin pan with paper liners :)

I a large measuring cup mix together 1 cup oil, the zest from 1 large organic lemon, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 4 eggs and 1 1/4 cups super fine white sugar.  Mix well.  Then add to dry ingredients and mix well.  Gently mix in 2 to 3 cups blueberries ( fresh or frozen).

Fill muffin pans and bake for approx. 30 minutes or so.

Enjoy :)))

Butternut Squash Soup

 Are these not the sweetest little butternut squash ?

They were shared with us from Jim, Joy, Hailey & James's first veggie garden.....grown with love and gifted in love :))  So often people struggle with what to feed or gift us food wise with our diet restrictions & choices.  Not Jim & Joy !!!  After admiring them for a few day....I decided that I'd roast them up and make some super yummy Butternut Squash soup :)

So first I started by cut them in half and cleaning out the seeds.  Then I just tossed them facing up in a 9 x 13 pan, covered with a piece of foil and into a 400 degree oven until they were soft and smelling done .....

Then I allowed them to cool a bit and scooped out the meat of 5 halves into a bowl ( Keisha needed to snack on one :)  smashed them up a bit more and set aside.

In a medium pot I sauteed up 2 small onions, 2 stalks of celery and a couple tablespoons of olive oil.  Once softened I sprinkled in some salt, pepper, dried parsley & cinnamon to taste.  Let saute a few minutes more.  Then in went the squash and about 6 cups of water ( you can use veggie or poultry stock if you wish).  Allow to simmer for about 45minutes or so....it's not to fussy.  Remove from heat.  Then blend. I prefer to use my hand held wand blender......but a regular counter one would work also....you just may need to do it in batches :)

It's super simple and yummy ......that even my non squash eating Ana Rose loves it !!!!

Kimberley Kufaas Photography

It's no secret how much I personally love documented my family through photography.  For sometime now I've been following Kimberley.  I was first introduced to her when viewing the beautiful photos she had taken for a friends wedding.  Then slowly but surely her work started popping up all over the place :)  I love the energy in her photos !  A few weeks ago Kimberley & I started chatting about a shoot that would encompass my family and Jim & Joy's separately and together.  The goal wasn't so much about our kids this time around....more about the shots that Joy & I felt that were missing for our own personal little families.  Shots that included us for one and then some to help document our relationship with each other :) 

" Twenty-five years of friendship and I believe this is the only "would love to blow it up real big & display it " photo that exist of my Jim & I.  I LOVE everything about it !!!! "

Kimberley thank you so much....each and every one of these shots captures " us " and are perfect ! weird faces and all :)

Indulgences

After almost 2 years......we now have the option of hanging our clothes to dry or not !!!  I feel so indulged and thankful for the gift of "choice":))

Thankfulness......

"......a consciousness of benefits received, expressions of gratitude, the act of giving thanks......"

I am thankful for this ongoing project we call a home....it's warm, dry and all ours !!

I am thankful for full pantries & freezers :)))

I am thankful to have mastered the art of the "fire"....no more mornings like these.

I am thankful for the option and the ability to grow so many beautiful veggies to nourish our bodies.

 I am thankful for a good stock pile of dry wood going into the season and a couple of options for more if needed :)

I am thankful for the skills to preserve our own food......pickles, jams, salsa, jellies, & sauces.....


I am thankful my children are thankful.........

  ( Ana)

 ( Anthony)

 ( Keisha)

( Liam )

I am thankful for the peace of knowing my little boy will flip his letters back & worth until he's mastered them.......just like his new found ability to read....it will come in time :))

I am most thankful for the people I have the great fortune to share my life with.  My beautiful complicated children who challenge, teach and warm my heart every day !  My wonderful diverse friends & family.....loved ones who aren't afraid to be real with me.....ones who will instruct me to knock it off & just go to the friggin doctor already......who know me well enough to tell me to stop ignoring what's not working and quite the job. Who laugh with me, listen to my sometimes cronic " thinking out loud".....who indulge my need to let loose & dance, dance, dance....who give me permission to cry or to be angry....to be real myself.......each and everyone a special gift !!!

Mushrooooooommmmmssss !!!

While we were on our forestry walk Liam and I enjoyed trying to see how many different kinds of fungi we could spot from the path.  We have no idea what their names are...we just enjoyed the hunt :)