Fresh Strawberry Muffins (Recipe)

Ingredients

  2 eggs

  1/2 cup plain yogurt

  1/4 cup applesauce

  1/2 cup packed brown sugar

  1 tablespoon coconut flakes (optional)

  1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  2 cups whole wheat flour

  2 teaspoons baking powder

  1/2 tablespoon ground cinnamon

  1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

  1/4 teaspoon salt

  3 bananas, mashed

  1 cup sliced strawberries, mashed

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line or lightly spray 12 large muffin cups with cooking spray.

In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs, yogurt, applesauce, brown sugar, coconut, and vanilla.

In a medium mixing bowl, sift or mix together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and pour in the yogurt mixture. Using as few strokes as possible, mix until everything is moistened (lumps are okay). Fold in the mashed bananas and strawberries. Spoon the strawberry muffin batter into prepared muffin cups until completely full.

Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Allow to cool before removing from the muffin tins. Serve warm.
 

Hope to enjoy these!  And you will too!

Josefina's Fandango Birthday Party!

Before I go into the party details, I will give a little background on the party theme.  Josefina is a chariter in the American Girls Books by Valerie Tripp.  She lived in the New Mexican frontier during 1824 on a rancho.  Isobel chose to have a Josefina's Fandango party because she liked the books and Josefina.  I fandango is a celebration for a special occasiond with family and friends, the ended with dancing.

Isobel wanted to dress for the party like Josefina would have dressed.  She would have worn a full skirt that swirls when you spin around and a shawl or rebozo, and a long white blouse and a woven sash that was tied around her waist.  Her hair would have been brushed with a escobetilla (stiff grass brush), and then braided into a long braid that hung down her back.  This is what I made for Isobel to wore:



Rebozo



The fashion- the best I could do in the time I had!


















To start off we had to make the Invitaions.  So we made dancing slippers.  The information was written on the insoles of the slippers.  You can glue bows on the toes, but with my shortness of time, I just drew some bows on.  This is what I came up with: 

We didn't have a birthday cake, instead we had Flan which is a caramel custard that is a traditional Spanish dessert.  You can find with recipe other places I am sure, so I am not going to take the time to write it down.

We also had New Mexican Hot Chocolate.  in a saucepan, combine 6 ounces sweet cooking chocolate, 6 cups milk, 2 seaspoons cinnamon, and 2 teapoons sugar.  Cook the mixture over low heat.  Stir it constantly until the chocolate melts and the mixture is blended.  Just before serving, use an egg beater and beat until frothy.  Add a cinnamon stick stirrer, if you with.

We also had Feast Day cookies.  Here is what you need:

Ingredients:  1 cup chopped pecans (finely grounded), 1 cup softened butter, 1cup pwwdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 2 cups flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt.  Preheat oven to 400.  Mix 1/2 c sugar and butter together, add vanilla.  Mix in the flour, salt, and crushed nuts.  With clean, dry fingers, form the dough into 1-inch balls.  Place the balls on the cookie sheet.  bake for 10 minutes or until the cookies are lightly browned.  Put on wax paper.  Place 1/2 cup powdered sugar in a small bowl.  Roll the warm cookies in powdered sugar until they are completely covered.  Return the cookies to the wax paper to cool.



Feast Day Cookies



We learned the La Vaquerita dance.  We also played a game that would have been played by the children of that time. 

• El Floron or The Flower:  One player is the Guesser.  The other players sis in a circle holding their closed fists out in front of them.  The Guesser closes her eyes.  One of the players hides the floron-a flower blossom or other small object-in her hand.  Then players chant the lines below as the Guesser tries to guess who has the floron.  If the Guesser is correct, she and the hider switch places.  "The flower goes in the hands, And in the hands it has spoken.  Guess who has it, guess who has it, Or be taken for a fool!"

The Craft:

Josefina made blankets on the loom.  So for our craft we were learning some of the pointer on a loom and practiced on our own mini ones.  Here is how to make your own:



You will need (per person)
1 piece of cardboard
Wool or cotton yarn
4 wooden sticks
Scissors

The Loom
Using a ruler, draw lines 1 cm from the other along both sides of the cardboard. Cut the cardboard along these lines stopping around 1/2 cm in from the edge.
Your finished loom should look like this:

The Warp
The warp of the loom will be created by vertical strands which we will then use to weave our design.
String the yarn through the first slit in the cardboard (top left), remember to leave a long enough piece behind (you will need this to tie off your work at the end).  Once you have inserted the yarn in the first slit on the top, move down to the bottom of the cardboard and pass the yarn through the first slit on the left.  Continue this process by passing the yarn through the second slit on the bottom and then bring the yarn to the top of the cardboard and pass it through the second upper slit.  This should be repeated until you have reached the desired width of your warp.  The front side of your cardboard should look like the picture below (many tight vertical strands) and the back should be empty except for the loops between the slits.

Insert one craft stick on the top and the other on the bottom of your loom under the warp.  We will use them to ease the weaving process and to leave the appropriate edge for the project.  Take a long piece of yarn and tie it onto a craft stick.  The craft stick will act like a needle and help us move the piece of yarn through the warp.
The Weft
Start to move the craft stick through the warp. Remember to go over and under the warp strands until you have reached the other side.  With another craft stick, move the weft up towards the top so that there is no room between the strands.

Adding more yarn!  Your weft can be made of many different colors! All you have to do is make a small knot with a new strand of yarn when you reach the edge. 

Finishing the project

Once you have finished the weft, remove the two craft sticks from the ends of your loom. Start to slide the warp off of the cardboard piece. Make sure that you do slip any stitches.  Cut the loops and tie off.
You are done!

Have a Great Party!!!!

Whole Wheat Blueberry Scones Recipe

Prep: 20 min. Bake: 30 min.

Yield: 12 Servings

Ingredients

• 3-3/4 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/4 cup raw brown sugar
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/3 cup cold butter, cubed
• 1-3/4 cups buttermilk
• 1-1/2 cups fresh blueberries
• 1 tablespoon sugar

20 30 50

Directions

• In a large bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, baking powder and baking soda. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in buttermilk just until moistened. Stir in blueberries. Turn onto a floured surface; gently knead 10 times.
• Transfer dough to a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Pat into a 9-in. circle. Cut into 12 wedges, but do not separate. Sprinkle with sugar.
• Bake at 375° for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm. Yield: 1 dozen.

Facebook Prayer!

Starting at the beginning of this year started praying for my friends on facebook.  I decided to start at the beginning of my friends and prayer through to the end, doing at least five a day.  Sometimes I feel lead to prayer for a couple more a day.  It is such a blessing for those that I pray for and it seems like most of the time they just happen to need prayer that day (okay, not just happen, I am sure it is a God thing.)  But I feel that it is more of a blessing to me.  To be able to pray for others is so uplifting and my friends are so thankful!  Most of the time you hear back from at least one a day, if not more.  Sometimes they tell you what they need prayers for, sometimes it is just I really need that right now, and other times it is just to say thank-you.  I try to pray for them as early as I can during the day, so I can say a little prayer up for them throughout the day when I think about them.  That does not happen everyday and I feel bad when it is in the evening that I finally get around to it.  It can be so uplifting on all ends.  If you have the chance to do this challenge, it will mean so much to you!  There is power in Prayer!

Day 100

97 - Eric has learned how to make some flat bread and it is always gone within 30 min. of taking it out of the oven.  It only has 3 ingredients:  1 cup whole wheat flour, 2 Tbs. applesauce, and 4 Tbs water.  Roll it out thin and bake it for about 20min at 400 degrees.

98 - Still making crackers and letting them eat then all up.  I can't keep them around for one day!  Even though I always make two batches.

99- Made some homemade tuna and noodle bake.  The girls loved it!

100 - We did it and have learned a lot.  Something will stick with us and how we will try to keep eating.  Some things will go on the way side.  I will try to let you know soon what some of the things are that we learned, but that will be for another night when it is not so late.

Day 96

Day 95 - The children loved the muffins!  When we got home from church we had a roast with potatoes and carrots in the oven waiting for us!  Was it ever good!  I think that is one of my favorite meals!

Day 96 - Our fist day of getting any snow.  Of course the children had to go out and play with it for a little while!  They are also use to getting some hot cocoa when they come inside, and so they asked for some today.  So after a little research and a little more here is what I came up with:
Homemade Hot Chocolate

Ingredients:

• 3 1/2 cups milk (whole milk for creamier)
• 1/2 cup heavy cream (or milk)
• 8 ounces chocolate, preferably dark
• 3 teaspoons maple syrup or natural sweetener of choice
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon sea salt

Directions:
1) Chop the chocolate very finely.
2) In a medium saucepan, bring the milk and cream to a low simmer over medium heat, whisking occasionally.
3) Add the chocolate, maple syrup, vanilla, and salt. Whisk vigorously until all of the chocolate has melted. Cook for an additional 4 minutes, whisking constantly.
4) Serve with maple whipped cream (recipe follows) if desired.
Serves 4 generously
Maple Whipped Cream
Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 teaspoons maple syrup (more if you like your whipped cream very sweet)
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
Place all ingredients in a large bowl and beat until stiff.

I did not make the cream!  But I would have loved to try it with it!  And I also used 60% cocoa chips!  So my children ended up getting their hot chocolate and asking for more!

Day 94

Day 91 -

Day 92 - We tried a little something differant for our meal!  I made homemade mac-n-cheese and then put some cooked broccli in it.  I was going to put carrets in it too, but ran out of time to get them cut up and cooked.  At first the children would not eat any for it was differant, but after they tried it, they eat it up and asked for more!

Day 93 - Homemade beef stew!  Yummy!

Day 94 - So today was the Christmas parade here in town!  Oh no!  Here comes the candy!  Ya!  Three of my children are in the parade on the churches float!  One young one watching the float  and We didn't come home with any candy!  I liked that!  Have had the oven on for supper tonight, so I went a head and started some muffins for church tomorrow!  We are having Whole wheat pumpkin-applesauce muffins!  They sound good, but I will have to wait for about another 15 min. for them to come out of the oven.  I also just cooked a squash in the oven, so I used that instead of pumpkin.  Anyways here is the recipe if anyone else would like to try it!

Ingredients

• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 cup raw brown sugar
• 1/3 cup fructose
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/2 cup applesauce
• 1/2 cup pumpkin
• 1/3 cup buttermilk (1/3 c. milk plus 1 tsp. lemon juice - let it stand for 5 minutes!)
• 2 eggs, slightly beaten
• 1/4 cup golden raisins (optional)
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease 12 muffin cups, or line the cups with paper muffin liners.
2. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin pie spice; set aside. Combine the brown sugar, fructose, oil, applesauce, pumpkin, buttermilk, and beaten eggs and mix until well blended. Pour the pumpkin mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until combined. Fold in the raisins and pecans, if desired.
3. Divide the batter evenly in the prepared muffin pan. Bake in the preheated oven until the tops spring back when lightly pressed, 15 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool the muffin pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes before removing the muffins from the pan.