S'more Pancakes!

Why not do something really special for your kiddos some morning before school.  I think any kid who sees these on their breakfast plate would be a happy camper.  I have seen several adaptions of this recipe, but I really didn't follow one so I will just tell you what I did.  Take a look.

Yummy...stop drooling:)

Here's what you'll need:

Pancake mix (whatever you prefer...want mine?  Click HERE).

Chocolate Chips

Marshmallow Creme

Graham Crackers

Here's what you do:

Cook your pancakes according to the recipe you use.  Just before you flip them over throw on some chocolate chips.  Once they're done put them on a plate and slather some marshmallow creme over the top.  Sprinkle with chocolate chips and crushed graham crackers (I used cinnamon teddy grahams).  Change up the ingredients for endless possibilities.  I wouldn't recommend serving this everyday...a little sweet maybe...but definitely a really nice treat for the kids.  Blessings.

What's In My Coffee Cupboard

Since my blog is all about the simple life...I thought I'd share what I feel is one of life's simple pleasures...A GOOD cup of coffee.  For all of you who may not be coffee drinkers (shame on you!) maybe its a cup of tea or hot chocolate.  At any rate...here is what's in my coffee cupboard.

I think that at any given time, I have several types of coffee in my house.  This isn't even all that I have right now...I have some flavored coffee as well.  I really love coffee, but having said that, I'm not a person who drinks cup after cup.  I'm more like a 2-3 cup a day drinker.  Seriously, I'm all about the experience of drinking coffee...the taste, the smell etc...I really enjoy my java.  And I enjoy it even more when its cold outside.  So what do you like to drink...what kind of coffee do you prefer?  I love to read your comments so feel free to leave one.  Have a Great Day!



First Day of School

Much as I hate to admit it...there is a certain degree of "fun-ness" (is that a word?) to  the first day of school.  I love the smell of new books and the feel of pages that have never been opened.  I can't say for sure but I'm not totally convinced that my children share these same sentiments.  I'm guessing that when I asked my son if he was ready to start school and he went..."aww..."followed by a contorted face that he wasn't reveling in the whole new book thing like myself.  But school must go on!

I'm so thankful that I get to homeschool.  Sometimes it's hard..I won't lie...but when I think of the alternatives...I realize that is is worth any sort of inconvenience.  When I woke up this morning I prayed that God would help me to be loving, patient and to speak kind words to my children as I teach them.  The "teaching" part is easy.  I was always a nerd in school...I loved school.  But the part that doesn't always come as easy is the patience, love, kindness, long-suffering, understanding.  I dare say that those are the most important.  I'm praying for a great year filled with fun, learning and growing together.  It is such a blessing to be able to have my kids home with me where I can direct their hearts and where they can truly "be themselves" without any sort of peer pressure to be something they're not.  To all of you who are beginning school...have a great year.  Wherever your kids attend school...bathe the school year in prayer, prayer and more prayer.  I don't want my kids to see my flesh as I teach them...I want them to see the fruits of the spirit being exercised in my life. 

My Cozy Kitchen

Today I was busy canning tomatoes and baking some zucchini bread with veggies from our Garden.  As the tomatoes were boiling in the canning pot, two loaves of whole wheat zucchini bread were cooling on the baking rack and simmering on the stove was a lovely pot of macaroni soup. For those of you who read my previous post about my love of macaroni soup... I just couldn't wait...I opened up one of my jars of tomatoes and threw a pot together.  My taste buds appreciated it.  And the thing that makes me most happy is that my kids loved the macaroni soup just like I did when I was little!  I don't think there are many things more cozy to me then the smells of the kitchen and the sounds of my children playing around the house.  All these things are what make a plain ole' house a HOME.  It is what my kids will remember when they are older and what makes me most happy in the here and now.  I am so thankful for the bounty of food the Lord has given us.  He daily loadeth us with benefits!

For the recipe I use for the zucchini bread...click HERE.

And here it is....the love of my life (well besides my hubs).

Have a simply great day everyone.  Remember to stop and be thankful for the little things.

People Chow!

The recipe I'm sharing today has many versions and variations.  However the one I use comes from this lovely Gooseberry Patch Book:

Sorry about the flash in the picture.

The recipe calls for the following:

1 stick of butter

2 Cups of milk chocolate chips

1 cup of creamy peanut butter

1 box of rice Chex (17 1/2 oz.) I have used slightly less with satisfactory results.

1 bag (16 oz.) of confectioners sugar.

Combine butter, peanut butter and chocolate chips in a saucepan.  Melt over medium heat, stirring often. Pour over cereal and mix until thoroughly coated.  Place cereal in a paper sack, sprinkle in powdered sugar.  Fold down the top of the paper sack and shake well.  makes 3 pounds or about 12 servings.

Caution:  This stuff is addicting!  Author is not responsible for any accrued weight while consuming this recipe:)  I wonder if you eat it while walking on a treadmill it "cancels" out calories?

On a different note...every time my kids and I make this recipe it recalls special memories since it's tradition that I make this recipe every Christmas Eve. Do you have a recipe that has a sweet memory attached to it?  If so, share it with us.

"I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month."

 ~Harlan Miller~

Two more little reasons why I LOVE Fall!

I went to the store today to pick up a few misc. items but decided to stroll down the home fragrance aisle and... my heart leapt for joy.  There sitting on the shelf was a whole display of lovely new Fall scents by glade and Airwick.  Knowing I had coupons for these items I grabbed three and left on my merry way.  Is it weird that I look forward to going home and cleaning and then spraying (or plugging in) a Fall scent.  Hey what can I say...I'm easy to please.  Here's what I found!

The sprays are a scent that Glade came out with last year called "Cashmere Woods."  I sooooooo love this scent.  It reminds me of a cross between a woodsy smell and a comfy sweater with the lingering scent of perfume on it. 

The Airwick scent is called "Hot Chocolate and Fireside."  If that doesn't say enough...chocolate and the smell of a cozy fire...I think I'm in love.  Do you have a favorite fall scent?  If so please share it with me in the comment section.  Have a great day:)



Contentment!

As I sat outside this morning drinking my coffee...I realized how content I felt.  As I sat on my porch and felt the warmth of the coffee cup in my hand and the cool breeze brushing against my skin I had such a feeling of contentment.  I really, truly love the simple life.  I like quiet moments and small blessings.  I was thinking to my self how richly I have been blessed and how wonderful God is.  I was thinking about all the wonderful things the Lord has provided for my family and I.  Just last night I was silently thinking (maybe not even praying necessarily) that I wanted to find some new curtains for my bedroom (the ones I bought not long ago were too dark so I used them somwhere else) but right now it's not in the budget...especiall since I have expensive taste sometimes.  We were at a thrift shop and lo and behold I found the most perfect curtains.  They were like new and exactly what I was looking for.  It reminded me once again...that God cares about even the little things and that He hears requests sometimes left unspoken.  Things here have been a little tighter than normal...but that's life.  The thought struck me that I really need not worry about money or the false sense of security it brings...my Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills.  Blessings