It Worked For Me! Wednesday

Since Miracle is the cook in our family, I decided to let her guest post when "It Worked For Me! Wednesday" involves food.  This post is copied directly from her recipe blog.

Funnel Cakes

Actually, they are mini funnel cakes, just so we are clear. I found this recipe here, but I don't quite follow the instructions. They are a lot easier than you might think, so I would encourage you to give it a try.

Dry Ingredients
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup powdered sugar

Wet Ingredients
1 1/3 cups milk
1/4 tsp lemon zest
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg

Mix the dry ingredients together. In a separate bowl, mix all of your wet ingredients together. Combine the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients, and stir until a thick batter forms.
In a small pan, (I use an iron skillet about 6 inches in diameter)heat about 1/2 inch of oil ( I use peanut oil.) Scoop batter into a small funnel, and hold it closed with your finger. When the oil is hot, allow the batter to drop in the pan. Take it easy, don't rush. I like to make a circle and then fill it in. Make sure to criss-cross the batter a lot, to avoid your cakes falling apart. Let the cakes float in the oil.
The cakes are ready to flip, anywhere from 30 seconds to 1 minute. The edges will look almost golden brown. Flip the cake, and let float for 30 seconds to 1 minute.

I usually have a helper, so as soon as I am ready to take them out, I put them on a plate with a paper towel, and she sprinkles powdered sugar on them.

I have never had them any other way, so I don't really know how they would taste with anything else. You can experiment if you want, or you can just eat them as is. We usually have them at dinner, but they would be good as breakfast too. So far, we have paired them with bacon, or sweetened apples.

Simply Sunday

Matthew 11:28

Come unto me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Snapshot Saturday

Miracle is becoming quite the cook.  The other day, we were talking about how good her pizza is and someone asked if she tosses the dough.  I quickly said no and Miracle corrected me.  Then she called me to the kitchen next time she was making pizza.  I know the pictures are fuzzy... her hands and the dough both move quite fast.  

It Worked For Me! Wednesday

Last time Angelica was in the hospital, a friend couldn't get in our apartment to get some things we needed.  I wished that there was an easy way to tell her which key to use.  So, when I found this on Pinterest, I knew the idea was for me.  Now I don't have to remember which shape a key is.  All I have to do is look down at my keys and tell someone what color key to use.  LOVE IT!!

Fun And Games

On Saturday, we stayed around the house and played quite a few board games.  It has been a long time since we have had a game day with few other responsibilities.  When the girls were little, we would often have a game day when I was sick.  Some things haven't changed.  :)

We played four rounds of Jenga.  Guess who didn't make the tower tumble even once?

 That was followed by a friendly round of Chinese Checkers.  

 Then Yahtzee.  

And finally, after the girls were ready for bed, we ended the day with Qwirkle.  We have only had this game since Mother's Day and it is quickly becoming one of our favorites.  

Appalled

Today I read an article about a person running for Senate who uses the words "legitimate" and "rape" together implying that somehow some rapes are more real than others.  I am appalled.  That anyone in today's America still thinks that way blows my mind.  A woman or man who is subjected to the torture of rape and the ongoing terrorism that happens in her/his mind after that life changing event shouldn't have to prove anything. Living through it, and the changes that occur in that person after the event, are proof enough.  It doesn't matter how old or young the victim is... Number of children or sexual partners shouldn't factor into whether or not a person is believed... I don't care if it happens when someone is drunk out of their mind and acting seductively... no matter the foreplay, no should always mean no; and when someone has the guts to stand up after the fact and declare that this happened, no one should have the right to de-legitimize that with their opinions or judgements or statements.  This deluded wanna be Senator also said that pregnancy cannot occur from rape.  Whoa!  If the rape happens at just the wrong time of the month, pregnancy is possible. 

Simply Sunday

Psalm 139:8

If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there.

Snapshot Saturday

On Easter this year, we had fun dyeing more than just eggs...

We dyed Miracle's hair blue as well!

It Worked For Me! Wednesday

I have actually used this site several times.  A few weeks ago, I rearranged the girls' room twice in as many days.  Then, a few weeks later, someone gave the girls a really nice king size bed so we had to rearrange their room again and find space for the twin bed that was being displaced until their bunk beds sold.  So... we opted to use the bed like a day bed and increase seating space in the living room.  

I love this site!  It makes rearranging so much easier.  Even if you are moving into a new house, so long as you know the dimensions of the rooms and furniture, you can plan the arrangement of rooms ahead of time and print out the diagrams to make moving day easier.  No guesswork, no mistakes, and no need for re-dos.  (Unless of course, you happen to have a teenage daughter who can't make up her mind!)

Nationals In Louisville

Last Sunday, we left home and headed to Louisville for the National Fine Arts Festival.  Autumn met us there and spent the week with us.

On Monday, we scouted out parking downtown, registered for the week's events, and took a few minutes to look around downtown.  The girls capped the day off with a dip in the pool.  

On Tuesday we didn't have anything requiring us to be at the convention center so we took a relaxing drive and visited a historic landmark.  Then we went out on paddle boats.  When we got back to the hotel, the girls again decided to cool off in the pool.  

Both girls' presentations were on Wednesday.  The time in between was spent looking around the exhibit hall and admiring the artwork that made it to the national level.  Once again, they ended the day in the pool.  

On Thursday, I opted to stay at the hotel and rest while Autumn took the girls to explore Squire Boone's Caverns.  The girls were quite excited since they had never been in a cave before.  

On Friday, the girls and I headed back to the convention center so that they could each attend a different workshop while I stood in line to pick up their score sheets.  Then we walked around downtown a bit more and snapped photos with a few more horse statues.  

On Saturday, we packed up and headed home.

Simply Sunday

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans that I have for you, says the LORD.  Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.

Snapshot Saturday

In February, the homeschool co-op had the opportunity to have artwork displayed at our local museum.  The theme was "Our Favorite Things."  These are the pictures of opening night.

It Worked For Me! Wednesday

I clicked on this link on Pinterest because I expected to find a new, prettier way to fold sheet sets that keeps them together neatly no matter how many times the closet gets rummaged through. What I found was a bit of encouragement. You see, when I was in my twenties, I figured out that it would be smart to fold the sheets inside the matching pillow case so that sets were easy to find. This site gave four different ways of folding sheet sets and one of those was the way I already do.

So I felt smart because I had already come up with that idea on my own. They give a whole tutorial of how to fold sheets. If that's what you're looking for, head on over. What I got, though, was better than a tutorial. It was a healthy dose of self-esteem.

Simply Sunday

Psalm 91:11-12

For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

Snapshot Saturday

Yesterday was spent mostly as a sewing day.  Among other projects, the girls decided to remake last year's national fine arts t-shirts and give them some personality.

Did You Notice?

I simplified the look of my blog and designed a new header!  I am quite impressed with myself since I am not very good at all things related to technology, but in the end it was really quite simple.  I used a tutorial I found online and picmonkey to design the header.  The rest is just a simple blogger design.  Still, I am proud to have accomplished this without asking for help!

It Worked For Me! Wednesday

This time, I am sharing a recipe, or rather a link to a recipe that I found on Pinterest.

We were having steak and potatoes for dinner.  I told Miracle I would cook the steak if she would cook the dinner rolls.  She hesitated and said that she thought that would take too long.  I told her I had a pinned a recipe for 30 minute dinner rolls.  She said she'd give it a try.

These were divine! 

Miracle said she didn't shape them as pretty as the ones in the picture.  I am sure that is a learned skill.  

She also said that she kept looking at the recipe to see if she had missed something, thinking that this was too easy.  

It says 30 minute dinner rolls.  In reality, it is more like 40 minutes but that is still pretty quick for yeast rolls.  

Miracle also said this would become a staple around our house.  I did a little cheer because since she generally does the cooking, I don't often ask for things and this is something I had hoped would become a regular addition to our meals.  Yeah!