Dessert to the Rescue: Toasted Snowballs in Homemade Chocolate Sauce

A couple of years ago, I made this dessert for my family for the first time.  Ever since then, they ask for it often (like, every day). The original recipe came from Susan Branch's cookbook, Autumn.  The recipe below is generally the same with just few slight adaptations of my own. This dessert can be made ahead of time, which is nice if you are having guests over. To serve, simply warm the syrup, make a puddle on your favorite dish and place a snowball in the center.  If you want to get fancy, serve with a mint leaf garnish on the side. Enjoy!!

To Toast the Coconut:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread sweetened coconut on a cookie sheet (I use about 1/2 bag for 1/2 gallon ice cream) and bake for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally until toasted. Watch it carefully, it can burn quickly!

To Prepare the Ice Cream:
Note: If you can find cinnamon ice-cream at your grocer, that is the easiest way to prepare this dessert. I, however, have not been able to find it over the past couple of years, so this is my improvisation!

Soften 1/2 gallon of good vanilla bean ice cream, and scoop out the entire container into a large bowl. In a smaller bowl combine until well blended 1/2 cup (do not pack) brown sugar, 3 tablespoons of ground cinnamon (more or less to your liking) and 1/4 teaspoon of salt.

Sprinkle cinnamon mixture over ice cream and stir until well combined.  You can use a stand up mixer with a paddle attachment if you like, but do not use a hand mixer.  Return to freezer until firm enough to scoop into balls that will hold their shape.

Scoop out 1/2 cup size portions into round balls and roll in coconut, giving each one a generous coating.  Store in an airtight container until ready to serve.  I like to make these ahead of time, but you can save this step until you are ready to serve if you like.

Homemade Chocolate Sauce Recipe:
 **You will never buy Hershey's syrup ever again!!**
3/4 c. milk (whole milk works best)
1 Tbs. real butter
3 oz. unsweetened chocolate (use a high quality baking chocolate)
1 1/2  c. sugar
3 Tbs. light corn syrup
1 tsp. vanilla (Mexican vanilla is wonderful if you have it!)

Note: If you do not have unsweetened chocolate on hand, you may also substitute 1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips and reduce the sugar amount to 1 cup, and the recipe will turn out fine.

Heat milk over low heat and melt butter and chocolate in it, stirring constantly until smooth.  Add in sugar and corn syrup and cook, stirring for about 5 minutes.  Stir in vanilla.  Serve hot or cold. Refrigerate any leftovers.

Any leftover sauce is best polished off during the kids' nap time, and pairs well with everything, including the crusts of leftover pb & j sandwiches caked in Cheetos dust. 

Whole30 Friendly Coconut Almond "Cereal" ~ For the Love of My Carb-Craving Husband

Love can make a person do crazy things.  I'm talking crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy.

For example, agreeing to embark upon the Whole30 with your husband during the season where football, birthdays, and Halloween inspirations make the the diary-carb-sugar possibilities extra yummy.

{95%of husbands believe that muscle flexing will convince their wives to give up chocolate and cream in their coffee for an entire month.  Or something like that.}

As I was processing Steve's request to tackle this detachment-from-all-things-delicious-diet my pregnancy brain freaked out a little knowing that baby #7 loves to remind me of his/her presence with frequent bouts of nausea. If macaroni and cheese is the only food that sounds remotely edible at 3 a.m., then you eat the macaroni, right?

Just the thought of a slab of bacon or pound of raw hamburger staring at me like roadkill from the fridge did not have a positive effect on my gag reflex.

But, when the one you love has spent two years fighting Lyme Disease with little improvement, and he's desperately seeking a little relief from his symptoms, you don't think about macaroni or road-kill, you think about him and you say, YES.

Now, I've been through the Whole30 six times (thoughts on that here, here and here) and this is the third time partnering up with Steve. At the end of those 30 day experiences with him, I have the same conclusion about my husband: He will never, ever, ever, ever, never, give up grains.

He's just a meat and potatoes with a side of bread (like a loaf of bread) kind of guy.  And, lucky for him, his Usain Bolt metabolism can handle the same caloric intake as a horse. But, I do think the reduction of grains in his diet, helps tremendously with the inflammation in his joints.

Every night, since we've been married, he's either eaten a pb&j or a bowl of cereal before bed, but of course that's all a big no-no on this diet.  So, this time around, I thought that surely I could find a recipe that would resemble cereal in some way, and still be Whole30 approved.

Luckily, I found this recipe a few days ago, and after making a few alterations, asked Steve to give it a try. Judging by his reaction, I seriously think he fell in love with me all over again! 

If you're a lover of sugary cereals, this probably will not fulfill your every expectation for a bowl of nourishment, but since that's not the case for us, this cereal is more than satisfying.

Whadda ya pour on top?

We substitute canned coconut milk for regular milk, this is not the coconut milk in the refrigerated section (because of all of the fillers and additives, it is not Whole30 approved).

Tip: Pour a can of coconut milk into a glass jar with a tight fitting lid, add a couple of ice cubes and shake vigorously. After the milk and cream are combined, remove the ice cubes and store milk in the fridge until you're ready to use it.  A shaker bottle, the ones that come with the stainless steal ball whisk, work great, too.

Coconut Almond Cereal

{Printable Recipe}

- 1-7oz. bag (about 2 cups) of unsweetened coconut flakes {I like this brand}

- 1 cup sliced almonds

- Cinnamon (about a tablespoon)

- Nutmeg (about a teaspoon)

- Ginger (about a teaspoon)

- Salt (about 1/4 teaspoon)

Mix the almonds and coconut flakes together and spread out evenly on a rimmed baking sheet. Combine all of the spices together and sprinkle liberally over the top of the coconut/almond mixture.* Do not stir. Bake at 250 stirring after 5 minutes and every 2-3 minutes after until the coconut is lightly toasted. Watch it carefully, as the coconut can turn dark quickly.  Store in an air-tight container.

* Adjust the spices according to your own tastes.  For me, the more spices, the more flavorful the cereal, and most of the time, I don't measure, I just sprinkle away.  Just remember that nutmeg and ginger are very pungent, so I recommend using a significantly greater amount of cinnamon than nutmeg and ginger.

Our favorite toppings: sliced banana, fresh blueberries, sliced fresh strawberries, apple juice-sweetened, dried cranberries (in limited amounts).

Food, Family, Fun & Fashion ~ My Picks for This Year's Football Season

Happy September everyone!  I absolutely love this time of year for so many reasons, one of them being that it's football season! As we were walking out of church on Sunday, George closed his eyes, took a deep breath of the evening air, and said to me,

"Do you know what that is, Mom? That's the smell of football season!"

I thought it was pizza and beer, but whatever.

Actually, all of the boys have heard me say those exact words so many times, that I'm pretty sure they'll say the same thing to their kids one day.  Benedict plays in his first freshman game on Thursday, our favorite college team kicks off their season this weekend, and next weekend Andrew's football team takes the field.  I. am. pumped.

This photo and quote is from a few years back, but it truly speaks of our family's love for the game and for each other, and it's one of my favorites!

{Over the years I've received quite a few messages asking about youth sports and how our family manages all of that.  This page is probably due for some fresh thoughts on the topic, but for now you can check out what I've already shared here, here, and here. }

For the kids, football season is all about the game, stats, highlights, chest bumps, grunting, and food. For the football mom, it's much simpler: family, food, fashion, and fun.

A couple of years ago, I started browsing Pinterest for recipes and realistically achievable ideas that will really make the season special. And, every September, I look forward to adding new finds to the list. {Check out my "Game Day" board for more goodies!}

Here are my top picks for this year :

(all links conveniently compiled at the end of the post)

This is a one pan wonder.  Can you go wrong with ooey-gooey hot ham and cheese?

Okay, so this isn't a typical game day recipe, but don't these wraps look yummy? I'm not sure if my boys will eat them, but that just means more for me!

Dips!! Need I say more?

Steve and I really are big fans of hot wings. I'm giving this slow-cooker version a try, hopefully it'll be a winner in my man's book!

Game day is not the same without your favorite brew iced up nice and cold. But sometimes it's nice to run the option play.This recipe is from Red Robin's summer beer menu, and it's quite tasty!

Spiked apple cider? Yes, please!

Ya gotta have a little something on the buffet for your half-time sweet tooth.
Bonus: These can be made days in advance, which is a nice game day time saver.

I'm so glad there are more creative people on this earth than me, because they come up with all of these fun ideas, and I get to enjoy them! Virtual hug to the one responsible for turning an ice cream sandwich into a post game masterpiece.

This website has so many fantastic ideas for custom shirts.  Both Ben and Andrew's team colors are green and gold, and they share the same number (their daddy's), so I've got this one on order in green with #24 on the helmet.

The chances of you seeing this beauty on my wrist this fall are about as promising as Tom Brady bringing an air pump to the game.  

And this, this is a game day outfit that you might find in my imaginary closet, and I would wear it to the imaginary game where my husband and I have imaginary box seats, only the sweater would be grey, the shirt purple check and the shoes black and grey leopard print.

These are my imaginary nails that go with my imaginary outfit above.

Got any game day goodies to share with me??
I'd love to hear about 'em!

LINKS:

Ham & Cheese Sliders

Pretzel Sticks

Slow Cooker Chicken Wings

Chicken Club Lettuce Wraps

Dip Recipes

Fall Cocktails

Blue Moon Cooler 

Ice Cream Sandwiches

Leather cuff

Cardigan & Denim Ensemble

Nail Art

Custom Logo Tee

Basil In Abundance ~ 3 Yummy Takes on One of My Favorite Herbs

Every spring the boys and I really look forward to planning and planting our garden.  Last year, in order to make room for more veggies, we moved our big variety of herbs into large round planters, which are located close to the house for easy access.  Herbs are super easy to plant from seed and can be prolific all summer long if they are tended properly.

This year we have had an abundance of basil, which is a-okay by me, because it adds such a fresh flavor to so many dishes.  But basil can be stretched beyond marinara and Caprese salad.  Here are my three favorite ways to really enjoy the beauty of this spectacular herb.

- 1. -

First things first, a cocktail.  Even if you say you're not a gin drinker, you really do have to try this one.  It's light, refreshing, and the hint of basil makes it really special.  It's simply a modified version of a Basil Gimlet.

 For a single cocktail you will need:

- 1 small bunch of basil leaves (about 6-7 good sized leaves, extra for garnish)

- 1/2 oz simple syrup (more if you prefer a sweeter drink)

- 1 oz freshly squeezed lime juice

- 2 oz of good gin (I like Hendricks or Wheat State)

- club soda

Place the basil leaves between the palms of your hands and roll gently a few times to release all that magical flavor.  Toss the leaves into a cocktail shaker along with the lime juice and simple syrup, and muddle together. Add the gin and a generous amount of ice.  Place the top on the shaker and shake vigorously (about 40-50 times).  To make a gimlet, strain into a martini glass.  To make the spritzer, strain into a tall glass over ice leaving room at the top for a splash of club soda.  Garnish with a basil leaf. Tip: If you don't have a cocktail shaker, use a mason jar! Just be sure you to strain the cocktail before serving.

- 2.  -

If you ask my kids what my favorite thing to eat is, they will probably tell you salad.  Even though that's far from true, it is what they see me eat almost every day.  I really love the variety of herbs and veggies that summer gardening offers.  It means I can ditch the lettuce and get creative, filling my bowl up with everything but lettuce.   Fresh herbs can be a great component of any salad.  My favorites are basil, parsley, cilantro, and dill.

This salad that I whipped up yesterday had cucumbers, grape tomatoes, celery, red onion, yellow bell peppers, parsley, basil, black olives, fresh corn shaved off the cob, and a simple dressing of balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper. You could easily add a protein of diced chicken, shrimp, hard-cooked eggs, or your favorite cheese to give a little more umph.

- 3. -

Pesto.  Just thinking about it makes me hungry! Pesto is a staple in our kitchen, because it can be used in such a wonderful variety of ways, and it really is simple to make.  In the winter months, I can usually find a nice substitute for homemade at Sam's club or my local grocer.  Here are just a few of the ways we enjoy pesto:

- Mix into mayo and spread on sandwiches, or use it to make chicken salad.

- Add a little lemon juice or sun dried tomatoes to it and stir into a pasta salad.

- Brush onto chicken before adding breadcrumbs, then bake.

- Brush over grilled fish.

- Serve over warm, roasted vegetables.

- Serve with warm, crusty french bread as an appetizer.

- Spread over pizza crust and top with fresh mozzarella, broil until bubbly.

Although pesto is a delicious addition to any pantry, it can also be quite pricey if you're using the traditional pine nuts in the recipe.  I substitute walnuts in mine.  Walnuts are easy to find virtually every grocery store and are a budget-friendly substitution. You can give the pesto a little kick by adding red pepper flakes to taste.

Easy Walnut Pesto:
1/2 cup walnuts
3 tablespoons chopped garlic (9 cloves)
5 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups good olive oil
1 cup freshly grated paremsan cheese

Place the walnuts and garlic in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade.  Process for 30 seconds.  Add the basil leaves, salt, and pepper. With the processor running, slowly pour the olive oil into the bowl through the feed tube and process until the pesto is thoroughly pureed.  Add the parmesan and puree for a minute.  Serve, or store the pesto in the refrigerator or freezer with a thin film of olive oil on top.

(Adapted from Ina Garten's original recipe.)

Do you have a favorite use for basil? 

I'd love to hear about it in the comments!

You Had Me At Margarita ~ Creamy Coconut and Cool Mint Margarita {Recipe}

Normally I like to begin my Friday posts with something like "Happy Friday!" or "Hellooooo Friday!" (insert unlimited enthusiasm and favorite uncoordinated cheerleader jump), because I want to ring in the weekend with you guys! But, celebrations are gonna be on pause for a little while...

Por Que?

Because, while the rest of the world is planning their summer vacations and neighborhood BBQ's, farmers are spending these warm months doing that little thing called feeding the world. I'm married to one of those farmer guys, and farmers don't get weekends off during the summer. Which means farm mamas don't get weekends off.  Which means, please pass the booze.

I'm up to my armpits in grass-stained baseball uniforms and greasy jeans, but my hands are still free, so thus, I blog. Although there's half a dozen more meaningful things I could write about, I'm just gonna go ahead and do the right thing here, and make sure you all go into the weekend well-prepared for whatever may come your way, such as toddlers plugging up the toilet with Hot Wheels during your first attempt at showering for the week (I love sharing personal experiences).

And, by prepared, I mean stocking up on the ingredients for this amazing cocktail, because friends, we owe it to ourselves (and our families)!

When I came across the original recipe for this margarita, I wanted to make it for a special occasion, so I whipped up a batch for Mother's Day brunch last month. With the first sip, I knew that not only was this recipe was a keeper, but that it had earned a spot on my list of favorites.

The recipe is currently my screen saver. So handy.

Call me me picky or prideful or whatever, but because cocktails are kind of like shoes and music - everybody has different tastes - I had to tweak the original recipe just a tad to fit my own (no offense original recipe prize-winning person.)  Those few simple changes have been taste-tested and mother approved, so I hope you guys like it!

Let me know what you think!

I'm off to the land of tractors and amber waves of grain.  Have a great weekend!

COCONUT MINT MARGARITA RECIPE 

{Serves 3 - 4}

The original recipe for this cocktail called for Patron Tequila, but hello, if you're buying diapers, you're probably not drinking $Patron$.  There are plenty of good tequilas out there that are great for mixing and won't send your budget off the cliff.  I like this one and this one, too.

INGREDIENTS

1 Box Outshine Creamy Coconut Fruit Bars

2/3 cup of blue agave tequila (or a splash more)

1/3 cup freshly squeezed lime juice

4 - 5 mint leaves (optional, see notes below)

4 tablespoons simple syrup (more or less depending on taste)

RIMMING SUGAR: 

Muddle together for 1-2 minutes:

1 tablespoon finely shredded unsweetened coconut (like this brand)

2 mint leaves (remove any large pieces before rimming the glasses)

Then add:

2 tablespoons sugar

Dash or two of salt 

DIRECTIONS:

Using a wedge of lime, wet the rim of each glass then dip the glass into the coconut sugar mixture.  I like to put my glasses in the freezer while I make the cocktail.  Place tequila, lime and mint leaves in the blender and pulse until mint leaves are finely chopped.  Scrape coconut bars off of the sticks into the tequila mixture along with a cup of ice and blend well.  Pour the coconut mint margarita into the glasses and garnish with a mint sprig or traditional lime wedge.

*If you prefer a more smooth margarita, but still want the mint infused flavor, you might try making a mint infused simple syrup instead of adding the mint directly to the tequila mixture. I like the little specks of mint in the margarita, but my hubby isn't such a fan.  I think the mint simple syrup is a nice compromise!

PRINTABLE RECIPE

My favorite summer time sip from last year?? It's all right here!

Apple Picking Adventures - and - A Recipe That will Double Your Love For Fall!

Oh happy fall!! Isn't this time of year glorious?? Several years ago, I read this quote by William Cullen Bryant: 

Autumn, the year's last loveliest smile.

His words seem to capture every pure and perfect joy of the season.  Last week several families from our homeschool group met for apple picking at a local orchard.  When I saw the announcement for the excursion on our Facebook page, I was beyond excited, and couldn't wait to spend a few glorious hours outdoors in nature with the boys.

The day was cool and overcast, even sprinkling at times.  The crisp air and light precipitation made the apples on the trees sparkle, the lanes of deep, dense foliage glow.  Steve and I both noticed that there was a lovely feeling of calm, a sort of gentleness to the orchard that was so inviting and wonderfully relaxing.

The very kind and generous owners of the orchard gave us permission to eat as much as we wanted, which filled the boys with an eagerness to try each and every variety.  We were all very tickled at Charlie, who must have eaten a dozen apples, biting into one after another, juice dripping down the curves of his little chin, and stuffing the cores deep in the pocket of his hoodie.

Oh, sweet innocence!

It was quite a site to stand under the arching branches and look up into the boughs of twigs and leaves weighed down with great masses of fruit.  I loved the way the boys took their time carefully scanning each tree for the perfect piece of deliciousness, then strategically shimmying the apple picker beneath their fruit of choice, tugging gently until it popped off the branch.  Victory!!

A few of the varieties we enjoyed picking and sampling were Braeburn, Pink Lady (very crisp with a tart, lemonade like finish), Gala and our favorite, Criterion.  I had never heard of that variety before. Criterion are green, like a Granny Smith, but sweeter and very crisp and juicy. I wish this variety was available in stores, because I would buy them often.

One of the great highlights of the outing was that Steve was able to come with us.  This is such a rare occasion, as his responsibilities with work don't afford him many daytime opportunities to join us for school events.  

The boys loved having him along, and I did too! Holding Joey for the entire morning, he gave my arms a much needed break, so that I could walk freely along the lanes with the older ones.

As we strolled out of the orchard to the owner's homestead to pay for the apples, Andrew mentioned to me that his experience at the orchard made him want to grow all of his own food, because it would be much more fun than going to the grocery store.  All of the boys chimed in then, and eagerly requesting that Steve and I fill the yard with fruit trees so that they can pick and eat all they want!

We all tried to guess just how many pounds of apples we had picked.  Henry's guess was spot on - twenty pounds!  The owner let little Charlie stand up on the scale, too, which he thought was quite fun.

On the drive home, the boys laid out all of their requests for baking with the apples - pie, muffins, applesauce and most of all our family favorite, Warm Apple Cake with Cinnamon Bourbon Sauce. We make it every year, and always say we should have it more often.  I hope you enjoy the recipe as much as we do!

{Printable Version}

Sauce:

{Recipe adapted from Gooseberry Patch, Backyard Gatherings}

Kid-Approved Power-Packed Protein Bites

Happy Friday!! If you haven't already signed up for the Nuun Hydration GIVEAWAY, I hope you will give it a go (just click here)! I've really had a lot of fun writing for the Health & Fitness portion of the blog this week, and thought I'd round out the week with a little "Flash Back Friday" post.

The flash-back post, which has received a lot of pins on Pinterest, is a recipe for protein bites - basically a healthy form of a no-bake cookie that my kids really love.  I love them, too. They're easy to make, taste delicious and are packed full of healthy ingredients that create a great snack for your kids, pre-workout fuel for you, or post-workout recovery food as well.

Another bonus: they're actually filling! So, unlike the store-bought granola bars, which don't seem to satisfy my boys' healthy appetites, these won't leave your littles nagging you all day long for something more to eat.

I've made a few updates to the original recipe to make it even healthier and tastier! I hope you enjoy them!

Have a great weekend!!

Protein Packed Power Bites
{Printable Version}

1 cup crisp brown rice

1 cup whole grain oats (I like Bobs Red Mill, Gluten Free)

1 cup protein powder, chocolate or vanilla (We prefer one low in sugar, like this one.)

1/2 cup unsweetened coconut (We like this brand.)

2 tablespoons (more if you like) chia seeds

1/2 cup raw honey or agave nectar (or half and half)

1/2 cup natural peanut butter (or your favorite nut butter)

2 tablespoons water (or more to achieve desired consistency)

Measure all ingredients into a mixing bowl.  Blend together with a large spoon or spatula until evenly combined, adding more water if necessary.  Shape into balls (a melon ball scoop makes this step easy!), and place on a waxed paper covered pan.  Refrigerate until set.  Store any left overs in the refrigerator, or freeze for later use.  Enjoy!

Ten Kids, Texas and a Salsa Emergency

Do you know how many kids ate waffles at my breakfast table this morning? Ten.  TEN!! Well, technically one ate rice cereal and another had mama's milk, so only eight ate waffles, but still, TEN KIDS AROUND MY TABLE!! 

We love us some Jim!

My sister, her husband and their cutie-tootie kiddos are visiting us from Switzerland, and we are loving every precious minute of time we get to spend together.  Yes, it's a little crowded here, I mean 14 people under this roof....whoa.  If you divide the square footage of our Hobbit hole by 14, that means each person gets about as much space as a bunny hut to make themselves cozy. But, on a positive note, the walls are still in tact (for the most part), there is beer in the fridge and the city pool and park are just around the corner should anyone happen to need a break from the closeness.  I mean, coziness.

Whenever my sis comes home, her one and only culinary request is for Mexican food. Of course, we could go out to eat, but since 10 kids 13 and under at a restaurant might be a bit much for my nervous system, I was happy to honor her request right here in mi cocina.  

I bought all of the ingredients for carne asada, fresh guacamole, cilantro lime rice and of course margaritas! True to form, I forgot ONE thing.  Salsa.  Um, hello?? This is not a minor Mexican meal ingredient! One does not simply sip a margarita without chips and salsa!  Thankfully, I had the necessary ingredients to whip up a batch of some homemade.  My forgetfullness turned out to be a blessing in disguise, because I don't think I'll ever buy salsa from the store again.  My little concoction is super easy, super simple and super delish!

Joey and I are heading to Texas this weekend for the Edel Gathering (WAHOO!!!), and I can't wait to sample some delicious Tex Mex while I'm there. After being spoiled by Austin's finest fare, I might have to tweak this recipe a bit, but for now, it's pretty darn tasty. After a couple of margaritas, I promise you, it will taste even better *wink.*

Super Simple Restaurant Style Salsa

• 2 cans diced tomatoes, drained
• 1/2 small yellow onion
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1/2 - 1 teaspoon salt (to taste)
• fresh ground pepper (to taste)
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (more or less to taste)
• juice of 1 large lime, or 2 small
• 1 tablespoon sugar (more if you like)
• 1 fist-full of fresh cilantro (about 2 heaping tablespoons chopped)

For a smooth salsa, place all of the ingredients in a blender and pulse to desired consistency.  If you're like me and a admittedly too lazy to assemble, use, disassemble and wash a blender, an immersion blender is the answer.  Serve with your favorite chips, cerveza and/or margarita!

Blue Moon Cooler - My Celebrating Baby Summer Sip

Before we get down to bizness - if you haven't signed up for the Father's Day giveaway, or sent me your prayer requests to take to the hospital, it's not too late!! After you print out my awesome summer beer recipe (below) you can follow this link to the giveaway and prayer post.

At 5:00 a.m. this morning I woke up wondering if the abdominal pain I was feeling was due to a full bladder, a mild gaseous reaction to the kale smoothie I heroically consumed (instead of chocolate) yesterday afternoon, or a legitimate contraction.

Turns out it was a mix of the three. Ooo-eee!!

Life around here feels pretty lined up and in order for my escape to the hospital, so blogging seems to be a good distraction from the uneventful contractions that I'm hoping will get revved up here soon....

Steve and I have been exchanging a lot of little thoughts that go something like: "I can't wait until ______________", or I just love it when ____________________," or "I have really missed __________________" (fill in anything and everything about having a newborn) - their soft little baby buns, falling asleep with the adorable milk drool running down a rosy cheek, breathing in their sweet, gentle scent as they rest peacefully on your chest....the list goes on!  

And, really the best way to enjoy adoring a newborn in the summer is by relaxing out on the porch with your feet up and a yummy sipper in hand, yes? The few weeks post delivery is the only time in life when I'm really good at ignoring the mountain of laundry growing faster than the deficit, a three day old bowl of spilled cheerios permanently fixed to the floor or the Lone Ranger videos that have been on repeat for 48 hours.

I must confess, however, that the baby party actually begins before the camp out on the porch...

For the past three births, family and friends have not come empty handed to the hospital. And, I'm not talkin' balloons and flowers here. No Sir Ree Bob! They come ready to celebrate, ready to toast, and we happily accept. I, more than anyone, enthusiastically look forward to their "gifts!" For George, it was Texas style margaritas, for Henry, mimosas, for Charlie, Crown and Coke, for this little angel - per mom's request - a summer beer.

My sister-in-law who, by the way, is beyond awesome, has kindly volunteered to be the bartender. That's when you know your friendship is reeeally real!

I'm honestly not trying to scandalize anyone here.  If you feel that you must tell me that I shouldn't sip a hop pop post delivery, feel free, I'll be checking blog comments and e-mails sometime next month. 

I thought I would post an extra enormous photo just in case you needed some convincing that this drink might actually taste good.  Anyway, if you enjoy a really good summer beer, something light, refreshing, cool and delicious, this recipe is a winner!!  

*Let's hope I'll be raising my glass to Baby Husband sooner than later - Cheers, everyone!!*

{Printable Recipe}

70 Pounds of Crawfish on My Porch and Other Amusements {7QT Friday}

- 1. -

Expressions

George, our child of a thousand expressions.  One of these days I'm going to dedicate an entire post filled with pictures of this guy's facial contortions. He really is quite gifted.  Given the fact that his every thought and feeling is clearly defined for all to see from the neck up, I can't imagine him ever raking in the cash at a poker table, but Broadway seems like a strong possibility.  

On Sunday, George begged us to let him keep one of the crawfish that we bought for the boil as a pet.  We had our own squeemish expressions over his request, and after rejoicing over our reluctant consent, George promptly named his new friend Rocky.  Because, he said, "Rocky is tough like a crawfish, and every year I can keep one crawfish from the bunch and name it Rocky. Rocky 2, Rocky 3, Rocky 4, Rocky 5 - just like the movies (none of which he has seen, but whatever, we're rollin' with it).

- 2. -

Crawfish

If you were here last week, you may remember me mentioning something about a Feast of the Divine Mercy party cancellation due to a big fire that erupted at a dairy where my husband and his father were attending to some business.  Without going into detail, I'll just say this: It was bad, very bad. Steve called with the news on Wednesday saying he most likely wouldn't be home until Saturday or Sunday due to his need to manage damages at the dairy.  I was so very thankful that no one was hurt, and maybe just a little bit sad that we would have to cancel the Divine Mercy/John Paul II crawfish boil party that we'd scheduled for Saturday night.

Sometime on Friday, my honey called to inform me that he had forgotten to cancel the order for the crawfish, and that UPS would be delivering them first thing on Saturday morning. 

70 POUNDS people, 70 POUNDS!! Imagine that in beef, what is that, like half a cow??? 

I really don't want to roll this post into a pregnancy pity party, but I'm going to for just a second. First things first, I am sa-woooolllleeeennn (swollen).  Feet hands and everything in between always retain more water than the Gulf of Mexico the last month of every pregnancy.  So, between trying to care for 5 boys by myself, homeschool, and ignore the contractions I'm having while scraping unmentionables out from beneath the appliances (nesting is a bit out of control) I now 

had a boatful of crustaceans sitting on my porch.

You would think that the buckets of tears I cried last week over missing my husband, having to cancel the party and the ballooning state of my flesh would have alleviated some of the swelling, but no, comfort is not in the cards these days.

Steve staggered in late Saturday afternoon, exhausted and we just stared at each other, then the crawfish, then each other, then....well we fell asleep. 

What did we end up doing with the 70 pounds of seafood??...

Despite being utterly exhausted, we decided to just cook 'em up anyway, all 70 pounds, and then we enlisted our family and neighbors to come to help us eat 'em.  To our surprise, they were awfully tasty! So tasty that next year we will be hosting our first annual Divine Mercy crawfish boil party, barring any fires or other major catastrophes, that is.

- 3. -

Deliciousness

{Printable Recipe}

This is the cake that I had planned to serve at the Divine Mercy/John Paul II party.  I made two of them ahead of time, since they stay fresh in the fridge for a few days, and we ate both of them, oh, you know we did!  I remember my mom making this cake for bridal showers and other special occasions when I was younger, and I always thought it was so pretty with it's colorful stripes, cool creamy topping and sweet petite garnish.  If you would like to try the recipe, you can find it right here.

- 4. -

Track & Field

Yesterday was Ben's last track meet for the season. I can honestly say that I'm a little sad that the season is over.  Our family has had so much fun being together outdoors, watching all of the events, and socializing with the other wonderful families who's kids attend our small school. Ben's events were the high jump, 100m hurdles, 800 and 4x100 relay.  He had a fun, rewarding season and won a few medals too!

- 5. -

Weekly Funny

I can't help sharing this.  You know, sometimes people try to be funny about parenthood, and honestly, they're just not. funny. at. all.  But, this guy is. And, I love that he not only makes me and Steve laugh, somehow his humor also helps us to feel like we're not really drowning in an ocean of spit up and diapers all buy ourselves. Thanks, Jim.

- 6. -

One More Quote

Like many parents, Steve and I like to spend a good deal of of our time together talking about the funny things our kids say or the sweet or ridiculous things they do, because remembering helps us to get over the little behavior bumps in the road and relish the goodness of our boys.  

The week before Easter, Steve's mom asked the boys which apostle they would choose to be if they could be any one of them. When it came time for Andrew to answer, he matter-of-factly said, "I'd be Judas." (Uh, okay?) Of course Granny was curious to learn his reason why, and so Andrew simply explained, "Well, if I were Judas, I would change history because I would choose a different path than he did."

Right. Not John, John the beloved, whom Jesus says he loves. Nope, Judas, the betrayer, the shameful, the lost.

I would change history.  Wise words from an 11 year old boy has us pondering our daily decisions, the sincerity of our efforts toward living a life of virtue, the ways in which our choices affect others, how each of our life stories are written with decisions and actions that we can't take back, and how we will be remembered for those decisions.  

- 7. - 

Something Lovely

{Visit Melissa's Website!}

On Monday, I'll be giving teaming up with Melissa, the owner of Full of Grace Divine Designs jewelry, who will gift one of my lucky readers with a piece of her beautiful, handmade jewelry for a giveaway I'm hosting in honor of Mother's Day.  We hope to see you here next week where you can sign up for a chance to win!

Have a fantastic weekend, my friends!!