November 28, 2015

Taking Stock, Vol. VII

Making: beef wellington. Dad's birthday was on Thanksgiving this year, and that's what he requested. It was an adventure, and turned out wonderfully! 
Cooking: oh, lots. Cranberry sauce, green beans and bacon, the beef wellington, pecan pie, soup, lemon curd...holiday weekend stuff.
Drinking: hot chocolate.
Reading: these Royal Diaries I loved when I was younger. I don't have the whole series, but they all look interesting.
Wanting: to make clove-oranges today. 
Looking: forward to decorating.
Playing: Christmas music, because that's legal now. 
Wasting: juices. We got some at BB's the other week, but they're a bit too cucumber-y for me. Maybe I'll get around to drinking them, but they were only fifty cents each.
Sewing: ~
Wishing: we could put up the Christmas tree this weekend, but alas! I have to wait till next Saturday.
Enjoying: sleeping in this week.
Waiting: for Daddy to start this year's reading of "Miracles on Maple Hill". 
Liking: this yummy bread my sister brought over yesterday. She changed it up with rosemary, garlic, and walnuts.
Wondering: ~
Loving: the freedom I feel to toss my plans of working out to the winds, and hang out with my family, cook good food, and stuff my face instead. 
Hoping: I'll be able to get back into the rhythm of school next week.
Marveling: ~
Needing: to find a monologue and sign the contract for my audition that's in a week or so. Yup, I'm so responsible. At least I reserved an audition time all by myself!  
Smelling: evergreens.
Wearing: aaaall the sweaters. 
Following: Butter Nutrition.
Noticing: what a foodie family we are.
Knowing: ~
Thinking: that I totally should have been a hobbit.
Feeling: thankful that all my siblings and their families could be here for Thanksgiving. 
Bookmarking: ~

November 27, 2015

Giving thanks for...

It's a day late, but ya know...cooking, family, and pie.

1. the fact that everyone could be here for Thanksgiving
2. my parents
3. my sister
4. all my brothers
5. theatre and singing opportunities through The Academy (spellcheck says "theatre" is incorrect. Spellcheck got no class)
6. learning to appreciate my body and how to take care of it
7. learning to let go of schedules, plans, and what I think should happen
8. devotions in the morning
9. lights in the kitchen
10. Pumpkin Spice Roll ice cream (it is thing)
11. being able to learn through Veritas Press.
12. family 
13. traditions
14. movie and game nights
15. a patient Redeemer and Friend
16. the beautiful moon last night
17. my nieces
18. the view out back
19. changing seasons
20. having the knowledge and tools to be healthy
21. Thanksgiving break (and breaks in general)
22. my journal
23. youth choir
24. mercies new every morning
25. old and new friends
26. hikes
27. hot chocolate
28. candles
29. (almost) free reign over the kitchen
30. talks with Mom
31. snow
32. chickens and the vegetable garden
33. Christmas lights 
34. the seasonal colors of the kitchen: butternut squash, pomegranates, parsley...
35. family (again)

November 22, 2015

Links: some laughs, some food, and a story

haha (edible miniature yoga mats...).

tee hee.

The Great British Baking Show is so addictive. Pretty food! Unusual flavors! British accents! I should start narrating everything I do in the kitchen and pretend I know what I'm doing: "then we add the butter because...the recipe said so...and because butter".

My uncle's journey with cancer, on my aunt's blog.

November 15, 2015

Grain-free biscuit...dinner roll...things

I'm not sure what to call these. They're not flaky enough to be biscuits, but they're not soft and mounded enough to be rolls. They make excellent breakfast sandwiches, though, so I guess I'll call them biscuits.


Grain Free Biscuits
Makes about 6-7 biscuits--adapted from The Preppy Paleo
3/4 c. arrowroot flour (tapioca should work too)
1/4 c. ground flax seed
6 T. coconut flour
2 t. baking powder
1 t. salt
1/2 c. water
1/2 c. olive oil
1 egg
1 t. apple cider vinegar

Preheat oven to 350 and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Mix together dry ingredients. Stir in wet ingredients. Let the batter sit for a while so the coconut flour can soak up some of the liquid. After a few minutes, scoop out the batter in quarter cup amounts and plop onto parchment paper. Bake for 35 minutes and let cool completely before storing in an air tight container.

November 6, 2015

Links: A whole lot of randomness so I can't think of a title

What food additives look like before they end up in food.

My chemistry class is the best. We start class with music, our teacher (who is also a pastor) preaches us devil sermons, and to celebrate Mole Day Eve we watched Jurassic Cookie in class. (I promise we discuss chemistry as well)

And of course, grain-free (but nonetheless delicious) things I want to make during Thanksgiving break: chocolate pecan pie, pumpkin roll, pumpkin-apple pie, apple pie, pumpkin panna cotta tart, scalloped sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, mashed cauliflower, and who knows what else!