Strawberry Salad

Jonathan and I have been eating this like its going out of style so I thought I would share.

Servings:4

Salad:

• 4-6 cups Spring salad mix
• 1/4 cup sliced strawberries
• 1/3 cup dried cranberries
• 1 tablespoon of brown sugar roasted chopped pecans

Salad dressing:

• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup aged balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons strawberry preserves
• freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, strawberry preserves, and black pepper.
2. In a large bowl, toss together lettuce, strawberries, craisins. Drizzle salad dressing over the salad, and toss gently to combine. Serve topped with pecans.

Optional: You can add in sliced red onion and blue cheese for more flavor. Or top with chicken or steak.

Sugar Coated Pecans:

• 1 egg white
• 1 tablespoon water
  
• 2 cups pecan halves
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/3 brown sugar
  
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Directions:

1. In a bowl, beat egg white & water until foamy. Add pecans and toss until well coated. Combine sugars and cinnamon; toss pecans to coat. Spread in a single layer on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 300 degrees F for 25-30 minutes or until browned, stirring every 10 minutes. Cool on waxed paper.

Amazing Apple Crisp

Yummy Fall Apple Crisp

This Apple Crisp is amazing. I made it one afternoon since I had apples that needed to be eaten, and Jonathan & I LOVED it. I have actually made it twice in the last two weeks

• 10 cups all-purpose apples, peeled, cored and sliced
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup water (sometimes less depending on apples used)
  
• 1 cup quick-cooking oats
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup butter, melted

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degree C).
2. Place the sliced apples in a 9x13 inch pan. Mix the white sugar, 1 tablespoon flour and ground cinnamon together, and sprinkle over apples. Pour water evenly over all.
3. Combine the oats, 1 cup flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and melted butter together. Crumble evenly over the apple mixture.
4. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for about 45 minutes.

Noahs 1st Halloween

We enjoyed Halloween this year. Noah was so much fun to dress up at a little pumpkin. Jonathan and I spent the evening eating a yummy dinner, handing out candy to the kids, and watching a scary movie. Overall it was a wonderful Halloween.

Happy Fall

(So, I have been busy and have neglected the blog. So, today I will catch up.)

Noah went for his 2 month appointment on October 10th. The doctor said he looks great and is growing and developing right on track. He is above the 95% in both weight and height. He weighed in at 16 lbs and is measuring to be 25 1/4 inches tall.

He is growing SO fast. We are now getting into 6-9 month clothes. Not only is he growing in size but his little personality is shining. Or should be say BIG personality. His new thing is watching television and laughing.

Our 1st Trip...

Noah is now an experienced... not to mention wonderful traveler. We just spent the last week in New York and he was such a good boy. We spent the weekend with Jonathan looking around the city and then Noah and I did some sightseeing Monday and Tuesday. We got a lot of use out of my new Moby Wrap by Lovey Duds I HIGHLY recommend it.

Bible Study...

Womens bible study is off to a good start. I know I am going to enjoy "The Excellent Wife" study. Martha Peace really knows how to tell it like it is. She gives you a good dose of tough love that is fully backed by scripture, which I LOVE, and never appears argumentative. She shares her testimony right up front, so we understand where she was in her walk and why she felt inspired to write this book. I look forward to diving in and learning more about the foundational truths about God, sin and marriage.

Another amazing piece of bible study- Noah did so good in the nursery. The workers went on about how wonderful and sweet he is. When I went to pick him up to go home he was out cold in the play yard. :) Yay. This makes me feel SO much better about leaving him now.

This is the first picture of Uncle Brayden and Noah. We were getting something to eat after having our hair done and Noah got fussy towards the end of dinner. Uncle Brayden came to the rescue. (The quality isn't the best. It was taken from my iPhone.)

Nervous...

Tomorrow morning I begin my journey to become "The Excellent Wife".  I have joined a womens small group on Wednesday mornings and we will be studying the book, "The Excellent Wife" by Martha Peace.  The book explains what God requires of a Christian wife, and also how to obey God's commandments in order to become that wife.  I look forward to be changed by God's grace.

With this comes nerves.  I am not nervous about the study, the socializing with other women, or creating bonds.  However, I am nervous about putting Noah in childcare.  I know this is silly, but I think only natural.  I just keep telling myself it will be good for both of us.  Right?  He needs to interact with other people and I need time for myself and with other christian women.  I pray it goes well. 

Thinking...

As I sit here and watch my beautiful baby boy sleep I begin to think.  Sometimes you experience something in life so powerful and captivating that changes you forever.  God has always gifted me with the use of words, talking, singing, and writing my thoughts, but there have been a few precious moments that have left me speechless.  However, when I gave birth to my Noah David I stood in awe of the experience.  I had the great honor of hearing the first cries of the life from my baby boy.  I have been in some of the most amazing worship experiences a person could imagine... from leading praise in worship for a few years, touring North America singing, to intimate services, but never ever, have I felt God's presence more than in the room at the birth of my son.  As I amazingly and gracefully gave birth to Noah last month, I could sense my Lord saturating the room with His glory.  As my son gasped and his lungs filled for the first time, I knew my Father who had formed him for nine months was literally breathing life into this child.  In a second I felt peace, power, awe, and I worshipped... deeply, weeping, I worshipped.  No great city, no majestic mountain, no stunning ocean view... nothing speaks of His glory like a newborn life.  As I write this, I am thankful.  Thankful to my heavenly Father, who thinks enough of me to honor and trust me with Noah for our time on earth.  I pray for the mercy and wisdom for Jonathan and I to lead him straight back to his Lord.

Noah's 1st pair of...

Chuck Taylors. I must say he is a super stud wearing them too.

Yummy: Chocolate Coconut Oatmeal Cookies

We have our first Small Group gathering and one item I am bringing for our picnic in the park are cookies.  I saw this recipe on a friends blog, and I thought I would try them out. 

Chocolate Coconut Oatmeal Cookies

(Recipe from: Cooking Light Sept 2008)

1 cup all purpose flour

1 cup quick-cooking oats

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

6 tablespoon granulated sugar

1/4 cup butter, softened

1 large egg

3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 cup flaked sweetened coconut

1/3 cup of finely chopped dark chocolate or chips

Preheat oven to 350F.

Spoon flour into a dry measuring cup, level with a knife.  Combine flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; stir with a whisk.

Place sugars and butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended (about 2 minutes).  Add egg, beating well. Beat in vanilla.  Add flour mixture to butter mixture; stir just until combined.  Stir in coconut and chocolate.

Roll into 24 balls.  Bake on cookie sheet at 350F for 14 minutes or until the tips are set and cookies are lightly browned on the bottoms.  Remove from pan and cool on wire rack.

Verdict:  I would make these cookies again.  I liked how the cookies had a chewy center and were crunchy on the outside. Jonathan enjoyed them too.