Cabelas – It’s worth the drive!

Over the weekend we packed bottles, diapers, spoons, bibs, food, and babies and headed to Cabelas.  Have you ever been to Cabelas?  Well, if you haven’t it definitely is worth the drive!  

It’s a trip we’ve made repeatedly!  Last year we were so excited to go buy things for the babies.  This year they got to go with us.  They had a fabulous time.  I think that it was the endless array of things to look at that fascinated them most.  From the fish, to the deer, to the mountain of animals they were drawn in!  (It could also have been all of the people.  We don’t normally see that many people in a day, week, or month around here!)

 

Runus was especially captivated by these fish.  He wouldn’t even look at his mama long enough for a good picture!  I’m just happy he was happy!

As for Tatey he really liked the safari exhibit.  The zebra’s…they had him at first glance!

 

After, a wonderful adventure to a far away store (it’s over an hour ride!) we were glad to be home!  No matter where we go or how long we’re gone – after a while I crave home!  I don’t think that’s a bad thing either!

Blessings, Miracles, & Wisdom

Blessings are things that I feel each and every one of us take for granted!  I saw an embroidered print the other day that said, “Look for the small miracles and you’ll find they’re everywhere.”  Isn’t that so true.  Miracles are everywhere.  Some we may not even notice and others are in our faces everyday.  I have been given to little blessings, miracles if you will.

Last year at this time they were kicking me and making my back hurt and now they are giggling and laughing!  (And still making my back hurt.)  When I was pregnant I thought I truly understood all of the changes that were happening.  However, I don’t think that anyone is ever prepared for them.  I went to the doctor expecting the news of one baby and was told that I was carrying two!  It truly was one of those blessings I’ve been talking about.  Scary but ultimately a wonderful blessing. 

 My doctor’s told me if I could carry the babies to 32 weeks I would be doing well, 34 great, and if I was able to carry them until 37 fabulous.  At this time last year I started experiencing some of those labor pains we all read about when we’re pregnant. . . I spent Thanksgiving in the hospital with a Magnesium Sulfate dinner instead of turkey.  I was at 32 weeks.  The doctor’s were able to stop the contractions with a lot of help from our prayers and I went home.  Two weeks later I again was admitted and received yet another dose of that evil Mag-Sulfate.  (If anyone has ever had that experience they will understand.  It truly is an evil concoction.  It causes every part of your body to feel like you are on fire, causes your muscles to quiver, and your stomach to feel like it’s being tossed in stormy waters!)  Again, with much prayer I was able to keep my tiny babies inside.  I made it to 36 weeks and this time there was no stopping them.  My tiny miracles were born!  We experienced some rough times but ultimately my miracles survived and are now thriving! 

 

I guess what I’m trying to say is this:   We never know how quickly life can change or what kind of cards we’ll be dealt – but we need to be thankful for the blessings and miracles we’ve been given.  Stop and take time to enjoy your special miracles.  Whether they are crawling through tunnels constructed in your living room like mine or  they are a friend (or mom) who stops by to help when you least expect it and most need  it!

A Top Secret Pumpkin Recipe Revealed!

Well, as usual I must admit another detrimental fact about myself.  My life sort of revolves around food.  Yep, food and my babies.  So, in celebration of that idiotic little secret I’m going to share with you yet another of my secret bakery recipes.  It’s pumpkin whoopie pies.  They are absolutely delectable little devils.  I’m sure that your waistline won’t mind a bit if you indulge in just a couple of these.  (Who am I trying to kid? But anyhow…you really must give them a shot!)

These are one of the best sellers in our market in the fall.  They are kind of like a pumpkin roll without all of the trouble and boy are they ever yummy!

Okay, so here’s the recipe!

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

2 Cups Brown Sugar

1 Cup Butter (Use the real thing!  It really is better!)

 

Cream together and then add the following:

 

1 1/2 Cups Pumpkin

1 teaspoon Cinnamon

1 teaspoon Nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon Cloves

2 eggs

 

Mix together.  Scrape the sides of the bowl and add:

 

2 1/2 Cups Flour

1 1/2 teaspoons Baking Powder

1 1/2 teaspoons Baking Soda

 

Drop (rounded tablespoons for small treats or an ice cream scoop for larger treats) onto a parchment lined baking sheet.  Bake in preheated oven for 16-18 minutes or until cookies spring back from a light touch.  Allow to cool on baking sheets and fill with cream cheese mixture (below).

 

Cream Cheese Filling

1 8 ounce package Cream Cheese

2 pounds of Confectioner’s Sugar

1/2 Cup Butter

1 teaspoon Vanilla

1 teaspoon Cinnamon

Whip together until light and creamy. 

 

To store these tasty little treats use an air tight container.  They may also be wrapped in plastic wrap and frozen very easily!

Wanna Be

 

Okay- I guess it’s time I admitted it.  Here goes!  Hi-My name is the twin mama and I am a wanna be.     I’ve always wanted to be an avid ’scrapbooker’.  “Wanted” that’s the key word.  Before the boys came along my attempts were pretty good.  I had all photos neatly placed in albums with cute little descriptions and random thoughts to tell the story.    But, then it happened.      The reality of life with twin boys caught up with me.  That idyllic row of albums to display went out the window.  I was sorting through a drawer today and came upon my ever-growing pile of pictures.  I hate to admit but these pictures – they go back to the day the babies were born.  I’m always snapping shots of the babies.  I just can’t seem to get them into the albums though.  I am resolute about the fact that I will accomplish the task.  It may be when the babies are in college but someday I promise I WILL get it done!  For now though I’m happy knowing that I have the pictures.  Even if they aren’t in albums worthy of showing family and friends.       I decided the best course of action is to show them to you here.   So, enjoy some random photos I stumbled across today.  I’ll even try to come up with some cute captions for you!    

Don't ya think we're cute?

 

 

     I can roll it! I think I can…I think I can…    

 

Messy faces are a sure sign of a tasty meal!

  Ahhh haahahha…if we work together we can beat the evil mama!                                                                                                                                                                                                               

 

 

Iron Chef Battle: Cheese Winner

Well, we were all taken by a pint sized chef tonight in Kitchen Stadium! None other than the adorable Suzy Q. She knocked all of our socks off with her scrumptious Cheesecake with Blueberry Sauce!
Second place also went to a pint sized chef known as the Farmgirl’s Daughter with her delightful Cheese Roll Ups.
Looks like the grown ups need to take note of the wee ones in the kitchen! Next month’s secret ingredient was chosen by tonights winner. Battle: Noodle coming up next!

A tear to start my day…

This morning as I was perusing the internet I stumbled across a beautiful website that had this picture on it:

This is baby Dana.  Beautiful don’t you think?

I of course clicked on the picture and was linked to this story: 

http://www.danamccaffery.com/openletter.html

 This is a nightmare no parent ever wants to live through!  What a tragic story and so preventable.  My babies have received the pertussis vaccine but  I can’t imagine the panic I would be feeling if they hadn’t.  Please read little Dana’s story!

This picture reminds me so much of ones I have of our little guys.  The difference is they are playing at my feet at this very moment.   Baby Dana- I’m sure she is playing at God’s feet!

Iron Chef Battle: Cheese

I must say cheese is right up there with chocolate as one of my favorite foods!  I like just about any kind, cream cheese, ricotta cheese, cottage cheese, blue cheese, swiss cheese.  The list goes on and on!  As the winner of our last family Iron Chef competition it was up to me to choose the secret ingredient for the next battle.  I decided cheese would be the perfect ingredient! 

That’s right our monthly family Iron Chef Competition is this Wednesday.  Battle Cheese should definitely be a tasty one! I can’t wait to gorge myself on all of that dairy or wait…I guess technically there could also be goat cheese involved. Hmmm I hadn’t thought of that angle until now. I’ll get back to you on the festivities and promise to fill you in on all of the tasty dishes! If we’re lucky maybe the winner will share his/her recipe with us!  I promise to charm it out of them or at least try my very best for you!

 

P.S. I’m still not 100% sure of my recipe. I guess only time will tell!

The Ultimate Fall Dessert!

Okay, I must admit baking is my thing.  I love to do it and it’s sort of my job!  However, I decided to try a new concoction tonight.  Something, to occupy my troubled mind.  (Really, I just wanted a tasty distraction.)  It’s a “no bake” recipe so no need to go to the trouble of heating the oven.  It’s also a one dish mix up so not a lot of dirty dishes!

I decided something along the “pumpkin-ish” lines being fall and all. You didn’t know I was a poet did you?  Back to the recipe here.  This is soooo delicious and I only licked the spoon.  

 We’ll call it:

Pumpkin Turtle Cheesecake

8 oz Cream Cheese, Softened

1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk

1/3 cup Lemon Juice

1/2 cup Sour Cream

1 cup Pumpkin

1 teaspoon Nutmeg (if I wasn’t allergic I’d add Cinnamon, too!)

1 large container Whipped Topping

1 bottle Caramel Ice Cream Topping

2 prepared Graham Cracker crusts

3 cups chopped pecans

 

Combine cream cheese, milk, lemon juice, sour cream, nutmeg & cinnamon (if using) and pumpkin.  Gently fold in 1/2 of the container of whipped topping. 

Set this mixture aside.

 

Place a thin layer of caramel in the bottom of each crust.  Top with about 1/2 of the pecans.  Then add the above mixture filling the shells about level.  (You can devour any left overs straight from the bowl.  I promise I won’t tell!) 

 

You can either decorate with the remaining whipped topping mixture or spread a thin layer over the top.  Next drizzle some Caramel and sprinkle with pecans!  I decided to be festive and made a spider web outline on the top of my pies.  I used whipped cream in a star pattern and then drizzled the caramel for the web and finished it off with the pecans.  Be creative or be simple it still tastes scrumptious!

 

 

 

Bubsy Doodle’s Troubled Mind

 

 

 Even the cutest among us have troubled minds from time to time. We just need to keep in mind that the waters will clear and heck this dessert will make you forget all of your troubles!   It’s sure to bring delight to your belly and  takes troubled minds on a tasty vacation!  As always – I hope you enjoy!

  

 

Pumpkin Cranberry Nut Bread

 

This is or at least used to be my secret recipe for the market.  It makes wonderful gifts for neighbors during the holidays and also freezes really well.  I like to wrap it in clear cellophane and tie it with a raffia bow. 

 I hope that you enjoy this as much as my friends and family always do! ~Rebekah

 

Pumpkin Cranberry Nut Bread

1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree not pumpkin pie mix

4 eggs

1 cup vegetable oil

2/3 cup water

3 cups white sugar

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

2 cups dried cranberries

1 cup chopped walnuts

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease and flour two loaf pans.

In a large bowl, mix together pumpkin puree, eggs, oil, water and sugar until well blended. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger. Stir the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture until just blended. Pour into the prepared pans.

Bake for about 50 minutes in the preheated oven or until a toothpick comes out clean.

A Stranger Next Door…

Something’s been weighing on my mind all day!  And I have been avoiding it!  I’ve taken care of babies, cooked dinner, done laundry, but it’s still there in the back of my mind.  I know the suspense is killing you right?  Well, here goes the steam is about to blow.  It has to do with my grandma.  

The person I still miss every single day.  It has to do with her house and my desire for it to stay the way she left it.  For it to smell like her when I go in. For the sheets to be as pristine as she liked them. For her presence to still feel like it’s there.  But tonight her house isn’t hers any more.  Nope.  There is a stranger sleeping in it.  In her bed, under her sheets, using her refrigerator, and her tv. 

I guess I should explain a little more.  A man (who nobody even knows name) is staying in my grandma’s house while he hunts.  He’s here from Maine and drives a truck that looks very much like mine.  That’s it.  That’s about how much I know of him.  Don’t get me wrong he seems nice but…  So, many unanswered questions.

I understand the need to move on.  I do.  However, this just doesn’t fit with me.   I keep thinking things like “No room at the inn.”  and “What if this is God in disguise testing me?”  I’m sure that he is harmless and he did pay to stay here.  But, what if he is a convict, a murderer, a ….My list goes on. 

Really, though I know I need to get over it and the fact of the matter is this.  My grandma is in heaven probably shaking her head at me glad to have someone in her house using her things.  (Even if he does smell like deer estrus and nobody knows his name!)