Summer is here! My take on Squash Chips

I can't believe we are already through Memorial Day, and that means summer is in full swing.  We are really enjoying the fun activities of summer and the children are loving spending time at the swimming pool.  Mommy on the other hand, still has some winter pounds I would like to shed.  I am trying to eat healthy and make sure that I eat only whole foods that are low in fat and calories.

Since it is summer, squash is in season. It is very versatile and easy to prepare. I tried to make squash chips, and thought they would be a fabulous snack poolside.  Well, I confess to you my friends, the first batch was an epic fail!  Yes, I admit, I have flops too.  Needless to say, I sliced the squash too thin on my mandolin and they stuck to the pan, and even pulled the nonstick finish off one.  Let's just say the pan and the squash chips are in the garbage!

My second attempt was much more successful, and are very tasty.  I won't lie, they are not potato chips, but they are a delicious alternative.

So, here is my take on squash chips. Remember, squash has lots of water, and they shrink up.  I can only get two big pans in my oven, but that's OK, because it is enough for me and me only!

I sliced my squash on a mandolin, so be careful, it will slice fingers too.  These were too thin, but the next thicker plate was perfect!

Place the squash on a single layer on a parchment or Silpat lined baking sheet. sprinkle with Kosher salt and pepper.  Or better yet, be creative and try different spices.  I think basil and rosemary might be the next batch.  Bake at 325 degrees until crispy and lightly golden.  Mine took about three and a half hours.

The finished chips... don't laugh, these are zucchini, but I forgot to photograph all the steps.  They work just as well.

I hope you enjoy these as much as I did.  Just remember, they shrink up and don't make as many as you think they will.

Until next time, keep adventuring and looking for joy in the small details of life!

Sarah

Easter Pictures

Every year, since Pickles was born, with the exception of one, we have taken pictures in front of the white azaleas at my Mother-in-Law's house. This year, the azaleas bloomed early, and I knew I was going to miss them.  Well, lucky for me, we were able to make it for pictures, and I was worried I wouldn't have a good one.  Between Pickle's mommy henning, and The Little Man's curiosity, I really thought I would lose my mind!

Just for the record, I think a few reprimands were in order, but no one was hurt taking these photos!

He was fascinated by the statue!

They really love each other!

I can't decide if he is thinking, or thinking about digging in his nose!

Sweet babies!

My rotten boy, about to escape of the back of the bench!

He is telling her something very important.  I think it had to do with trains and choo choo's!

Hunting Easter eggs with the statue!

Are we finished yet?

His favorite statue!  Love this rotten boy!

The light of my life!  Love these two!

I might have one to work with, and if I decide I need to take another, I guess there is always tomorrow!

Until next time, I hope you had a very blessed Easter, and are savoring the small joys of life!

Sarah

Time Flies!

I don't know where the last month has gone, but I am sorry for not posting.  OK, I do know.  To catch everyone up, I decided to go back to school to get my teaching certificate.  Since our Little Man will start 3K this year, I thought it appropriate to do something while they are at school.  I am excited about the opportunity, and have five (5) weeks left!  It is so different when you go back to school as a parent.  I am stressed if I don't make a 100% on everything!  Where was this motivation when I was an undergrad?

Well, I am briefly caught up, and thought I would get you caught up on all the other things going on in our world.  Spring is here, and we have planted our corn garden.  Yes, you read that right, we have an entire garden planted to corn.  I counted as I was planting seeds, and I think there are 557.  If all of this corn makes, we will definitely have corn coming out of our ears! Bada bing... So friends, here is your invite, when it gets ripe, please help take some off of my hands!

Our tomatoes were late getting started, but they are up and have their first set of leaves.  Hopefully they will grow fast, and we can get the other garden planted.  Everything will be at the farm this year, and Scott is getting ready to till it up.  He has a new toy, a 7 foot tiller, so it will giant!  I can't wait to enjoy all of this fresh produce!

I have started an entire little greenhouse full of herbs.  I can't wait to share some little plants with my friends, and have my herb garden fully stocked.  I am thinking about an entire hedge of rosemary, so hopefully we can get this house sold and find a new house and my rosemary dream can become a reality!

Today, I went out to burn our burn pile with all the sticks we have picked up in the backyard, and I came across this pumpkin from last fall.  We grew pumpkins and they were all over the front porch.  When it came time to clean them up, I just threw them on the burn pile.  I hoped they would burn, or compost.  I thought this was really cool when I saw this little plant emerging from the cracked shell.

So, I saw this little sprout in the hull of a charred pumpkin...

I broke away the shell, only to reveal there are lots of little sprouts.

This is just awesome to me.  It is amazing how life can continue even after being charred.  

So, I now have a dilemma whether or not to transplant these little pumpkins, or to just see what happens.  If I transplant them now, we will have pumpkins around July. I guess that is not a bad thing as I can puree it and can it for later use.  Just a thought.

Just as life can grow out of a charred pumpkin, there are no feats we can't accomplish when God is on our side.  Just a little motivation for the morning.

I hope you all have a fabulous day and enjoy nature around you!

Until next time, keep adventuring and looking for joy in the small details of life!

Sarah

Another Birthday

Today, Scott celebrated another birthday!  He was not quite the excited birthday boy... he has the stomach flu! Not exactly the best way to spend your special day. Then to top it off, he went to the farm to check on the cows, and the bull was dead!  Yea, you read that right.  A pretty rotten birthday if I say so myself.   The one request he had was for vanilla cupcakes.  Since everything else was bad, I thought we had to pull through on this one.  I let Pickles make them, and today, well they were from a Confetti Mix.  You guessed it, she made them all by herself.  She did a great job, and had fun in the process.  At least that was a win!

these chicks  love cupcakes

 

Peck, peck yum!

Pretty in pink...

And a perfect one in red for Daddy!

Just in case you wanted to know, she took the photos... wrote the captions, and delivered her Daddy his cupcake with a scoop of ice cream.  

I am beginning to think the illness is just because he realized how old he is!  

Until next time, keep adventuring and looking for joy in the small details of life!

Sarah

Vanilla Cupcakes... Weight Watcher Friendly

Vanilla Cupcake that is only 1 Weight Watchers Point Plus!

OK my friends, I am officially back on the bandwagon. I will get this weight off if it kills me!!!  I am counting points and back to tracking everything that goes in my mouth.  I must say, when you count up every little thing I am amazed at how fast my points go. I know the first week is always the hardest, and I am determined to make it! Tonight I even went and exercised because I am hungry and wanted a few more points for dinner.  I know, pathetic!  However, when all was said and done, I didn't even need those activity points and they are banked for another day!  Yea Me!!!

My weakness is dessert.  I love all things sweet, and I really needed a little pick-me-up. Scott's birthday is tomorrow, and he was asking for vanilla cake.  I know if I make them I will eat one, so I was on a mission to create a low-point cupcake. I found a recipe that was very intriguing and made it my own to suit my personal taste.  The original was on the Biggest Loser website, and it is close, but I think mine is better.

This cupcake is a little more complicated than some, but when you consider it is only 1 point without frosting, it is well worth the little bit of extra effort.  Think angel food cake on vanilla steroids.  Not exactly spongy like Angel Food, but similar.  Let's get this straight... it is not the great buttery cake I like to make, but definitely a great dessert when you are worried about calories or fat.  Because of the lift you achieve with the egg whites, I am almost positive you could make this with Gluten Free Flour and have great results if you are on a gluten free diet.

If you are really feeling adventurous, go ahead and make a strawberry short cake with it.  It would be divine!

In the bowl of your stand mixer beat 5 egg whites until they get good and foamy.

Looks like they are about there.

Slowly add sugar and continue beating at medium high speed. 

Beat until semi- stiff peaks form.  These are perfect!

Add Greek yogurt and vanilla and fold in gently.

Continue to gently fold in the yogurt and vanilla.  Be careful not to overmix.

In a small bowl, combine flour, salt and baking powder and mix well.

Add flour mixture to egg white mixture and continue to fold in gently.

And fold it in more...

The batter will not be smooth, but don't worry... You don't want to break up the egg whites.

Evenly divide batter between 12 muffin cups lined with baking cups.  Mine were pretty full. Don't worry, it will work out great!

A pan of pretty little diet friendly cupcakes.  I just wish you could smell them!

So, here is the recipe...

5 egg whites
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup vanilla fat-free Greek yogurt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Beat egg whites in a super clean bowl of a stand mixer using the whisk attachment until foamy.  Slowly add sugar while the mixer is running and continue beating until semi-firm peaks form. See photo for illustration.  Add yogurt and vanilla and gently fold into egg white mixture.

In a small bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt.  Mix well. Fold flour mixture into egg white mixture until combined.  Be careful not to overmix the batter.

Evenly divide into 12 muffin tins that have been lined with paper baking cups.  Bake at 325 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes until lightly browned and the spring back when touched lightly.

Allow to cool on a wire rack and dust with powdered sugar before serving.

I hope you enjoy this recipe and hopefully I will be inspired to make more delicious foods that are in agreement with my new lifestyle.  I am open to any ideas you might have, and I will try and help you on your journey too.  I have found in my weight loss journey, planning and being prepared are the only way to succeed.  I am going to do this, and you can too!

Until next time, keep adventuring and looking for joy in the small details of life!

Sarah

Mommy Daughter Day = Perfection

Today, Pickles was out of school, and we decided we would make this a Mommy Daughter Day.  I let her choose what she wanted to do, and we did just that.

After a brief stop at Starbucks, we are ready to tackle the Memphis Zoo!

We finally made it on a day when the white tiger was on display!

Pickles just a posing.

Learning to read a map and plotting out next destination.

I share this because it kept grossing me out. This was in the aquarium, and these little worms were everywhere.  The lizard looking creatures kept eating them... Maybe it was feeding time and I just wasn't aware.

Must love a candid snapshot captured by Pickles!

Must love the eggs...The only time she wanted her picture taken.  Just for the record.

LeLe hanging out in the window.  The pandas are so neat, but they were pretty lazy today.

Ye Ye lounging in her dayroom...

After the zoo, we enjoyed a fabulous sushi lunch. Pickles tried my tuna roll and was an instant fan.  So, after the mall, and Whole Foods, we stopped off at Ben and Jerry's to have a little ice cream and play some checkers...

A very happy girl with her silky new pajamas.  What a fabulous day we shared! I can't wait to do it again!!!

I hope you enjoyed our adventure today.  We had a great time, and the best part was the time we spent talking and bonding.  It is amazing how much she understands and observes without being prompted.  I know we will make time to do this much more often!

Until next time, keep adventuring and looking for joy in the small details of life!

Sarah

Who is Polly? She sure knew how to make pie!

We'll call this comfort in a cup... Peach Polly Pie!

Today has been one of those days that Pickles just can't wrap her head around.  Everyone we know has two sets of Grandparents and they get to spend lots and lots of time with them.  It makes me sad that she longs for that which she can't have.

She cherished the time she spent with both Scott's Mom, and my Mom.  She loved Nana (my Mom) and loved to do all kinds of fun things with her.  She still talks about the things that they did.

Since MawMaw (Scott's Mom) became ill, she doesn't really know that she has grandchildren.  Some days she loves them, and other days, they never existed.  It makes me sad, because we never know what the day will hold, and even sadder because some of my most cherished memories are with my grandparents.

Scott's Dad has recently began dating a very sweet lady, and Pickles is so excited that she will have a "Grandmother" figure once again.  They stopped by this afternoon, and she has been daydreaming about all the things they can do together.  She can't wait to spend some time playing with Angel. It is amazing how much it touched her that Angel was interested in the little things that she was doing.  Today, it was making potholders with a loom.

The weaving of potholders jolts my memory back to summers in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas with my Grandparents.  I remember my Grammy teaching me to sew.  I think I was about five and we were making clothes for Barbie.  We sat on the floor and cut out scraps of cloth and sewed them together with a needle and thread, because she said I wasn't ready to use a sewing machine.  I still can feel her thimble on my finger as she took precious time to entertain me!  Another time she saved all of her magazines just for me so I could go through them and pull out all of the perfume adds and smell like a cosmetic counter at the department store. I still don't really care for frosting after she allowed me and my sister to "learn" to decorate cakes with an entire batch on the patio.  We had waxed paper on the tables and tried our best decorating.  She never said we couldn't sample our creations, and we both ended up with the worst stomach ache.  No explanation was necessary to Grammy, she already knew why we skipped out on supper!  Oh the fun I had with Grammy!

So, today has been a challenge trying to explain that she has many special friends and that she is loved by many people that consider her one of their Grandchildren.  I would give anything for her to have more time with my Mom, and all they fun stuff they could have come up with!

In memory of my Mom, I made Polly Pie tonight.  I am not sure who Polly was, but she was a wonderful cook. I think that Polly was a neighbor and she made this lovely cobbler and shared the recipe with my family.  This cobbler was Mom's go to dessert when she needed something tasty but didn't have much time to invest in her dessert.  I love this easy and elegant dessert, and the possibilities as vast as your imagination.  Tonight we are having peach, but any fruit works great. I think my favorites are blueberry, blackberry and apple.  I encourage you to try your very best hand at Polly Pie!

My peaches I put up this summer... Don't they look beautiful! Just put them in a little casserole dish.

Sprinkle with a little cinnamon and nutmeg.

Add sugar...

In another bowl mix flour, sugar, and salt...

add a beaten egg...

stir until it is crumbly...

pour it right over the fruit...

Melt one stick of butter and pour it over...

Ready for the oven...

Delicious and ready to eat!!!

Heaven in a cup... Add a little ice cream if you are so inclined...

Polly Pie

2 bags frozen peaches (you can use 2 large cans too... just pour the juice and all in the pan)
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg, beaten
1 stick butter

Place peaches in a baking dish.  Sprinkle sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg over the top. Mix together flour, remaining sugar, salt and egg until resembles coarse meal.  Sprinkle over fruit.  Melt butter and pour over the top.  Place in a  350 degree oven and bake for about an hour or until golden brown.