"Arise, My Love" Newsong

The Lord is Risen!!   Here is one of my favorite Easter song.  If this doesn't give you goose bumps nothing will!

Baking With Bumble: Iced Sugar Cookies, Part 2

Now that the noise in my kitchen has calmed down I will continue with what Bumble and I did after the sugar cookies cooled.

 

First we reached into our cupboard that has been recently cleaned by Stinger and pulled out some icing...

 

 

and some sprinkles...

 

 

We divided the icing into small bowls.

 

 

and created pretty spring colors by adding some food coloring to each one.

Then I let Bumble do the rest.  She iced the cookies... 

 

and sprinkled them.

 

Generously.

 

 Here are her finished spring themed iced sugar cookies...

 

 

Now if we could just cook up a nice warm spring day that would be pretty sweet!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baking With Bumble: Iced Sugar Cookies Part 1

If you are a regular reader of this blog you may remember that Bumble made Iced Sugar Cookies last fall.  She had so much fun I decided to let her make some again, but this time the cookie cutters she used have a spring theme.

 

 

 

Here are the ingredients the cookie mix called for...

 

 

You didn't think I was going to make these from scratch did you?  Here Bumble is adding the egg to the mixture. 

 

I should probably explain why Bumble is wearing a pretty dress to make cookies.  She was playing fashion show prior to us making these.  (I think she may have learned this from her older cousins.)When she plays fashion show she puts on one dress after another and models them for me.  This just happens to be the one she was wearing when I was ready to make cookies.  I didn't make her change! 

 

Now back to the cookies.  Next, stir the batter.  Bumble took the picture below. Since I am hardly ever pictured on this blog I told her to take a picture of me stirring the batter.  Apparently she didn't think my face was important enough to include.   

 

Then roll out the dough on a floured surface.

Here she is using the cookie cutters to make pretty shapes.

 

Then place the cookies on a cookie sheet and bake in the oven according to package directions.

 

Next Bumble will decorate them.  You will have to check back for that though, because I must check to see what all the racket in my kitchen is about...

 

 

 

 

 

Stinger's New GFCF Diet

     Stinger is on a GFCF diet. This stands for food that is gluten free and casein free.  Gluten is a protein found in wheat and casein is a protein found in milk products.  I had removed milk from his diet about two months ago and now I have started him on a gluten free diet as well. 
     Finding foods with no milk/casein products in them wasn't that difficult.  I had to read a lot of labels and Stinger adjusted well to it.  This is now the milk he drinks and that I use to cook his food with if the recipe calls for milk...

 

      I found going both gluten free and casein free to be more difficult and overwhelming.  So overwhelming I didn't know where to start.  I became very frustrated.  Thankfully, I was informed of someone that could help me.  She lives less than a mile from my home and she has done this diet with her son back when gluten free products were not as popular as they are now.  I went with her to our local Giant grocery store (sorry Weis you are lacking in this area!) that has three aisles of nothing but gluten free and organic products.  She shared her knowledge of products with me and I will be indebted to her forever!!!  She put my mind at ease!  Her family's story is a must read and you can read at http://ethancenter.org/ethan/index.html.  She shared with me what products her son liked when he was young and what to substitute for things like butter and cheese.  Yes I bought vegan cheese! I can now make Stinger pancakes, spaghetti, and even rice krispie treats!   I am very thankful that Stinger loves his fruits and vegetables so I try to make that the bulk of his diet. However, it is so nice now to have snacks around that he can eat when fruits or veggies won't do. 

     The changes in Stinger the last couple of weeks have been amazing to watch.  I never knew how much food can effect the demeanor of a person.  It is like the fog is starting to lift and Stinger is now with us!  He has been more interative and even brought me a book yesterday to read to him.  I read the entire book and he stayed on my lap for more!! I will forever remember that moment.  Even Honey has noticed a big change as Stinger is a much happier little boy.  I have seen the exciting changes that eliminating milk has done.  Now we will wait and see if adding a gluten free diet to that will make any more wonderful changes!    

 

Pizza, Ice Cream, and More Deals at Weis This Week

If you are planning on spending $50.00 or more this week at Weis Markets here is a deal for you.

 

 

 

The combined shelf price of the above items totals $16.95.  However I bought them all for a total of $2.99!

Here is how this deal works...

 

When you buy $15.00 (shelf price not sale price) of certain frozen products you will receive $3.00 off instantly at the register.  Both Tony's Pizzas and Breyers are included in this deal.  There is a $0.75 off of 2 coupon that will double to $1.50 that was in a recent Sunday paper.  You will need 2 of these. There is also a coupon in the Weis flyer for the Breyers Ice Cream.  When you spend $50.00 in one trip you can receive 1- Breyers ice Cream for $0.99. 

 

Buy 4- Tony's Pizzas (shelf price $2.99) on sale for $2.00 each= $8.00

1- Breyers Ice Cream (shelf price $4.99) on sale for $0.99 with coupon and a $50.00 purchase= $0.99

 

$8.99-$3.00 off instantly-$3.00 in Tony's Pizza coupons= $2.99

 

Remember to get your club card scanned at the end of the transaction.

 

Queen Bee has 4- $0.75 off of 2 Tony's Pizza coupons up for grabs if anyone wants them to do this deal.  I will not be using them.    

 

 

Also when you spend $50.00 this week you can pick up Hellmann's Mayo for $0.99 as well! Look for the coupon in the flyer! 

 

Purex laundry detergent is also on sale this week for $1.99 each when you buy 2. 

 

There was a $1.00 off of 1 coupon that was in a recent Sunday paper.  If you have 2 of these you can get these for $0.99 cents each!

 

Also Cracker Barrel Cheese is on sale for $2.00 a block this week when you buy 3.  There is a $1.00 off of 1 coupon at http://www.crackerbarrelcheese.com/ .  Look for the banner on top of the page. If you can print three coupons they will all be $1.00 each!

 

Happy shopping this week!

 

 

 

 

The Bee's Basement

The Bee's basement has been dug and the footers have been poured.

 

 

The forms for our basement walls have been put in place...

 

 

and have been poured as well.

Once again it has decided to snow in March!  Hopefully the melting process will not take long and plans can continue this week as scheduled.  The Bees are longing for Spring and the sunshine!

The Bees Make Peanut Butter Eggs

Bumble and I made Peanut Butter Eggs the other day.  I received this recipe from a friend a couple of years ago and have made them around Easter ever since then.  Here are the ingredients...

 

 

2 tsp. vanilla

1/8 tsp. salt

1 cup peanut butter

4 oz cream cheese

evaporated milk

1 to 1 1/2 lb. 10x sugar

milk chocolate melting wafers

egg molds

 

First mix the vanilla, salt, peanut butter, and cream cheese.  Then add the 10x sugar.  I used about 1/2 to 3/4 of a 2 lb. bag.  You can adjust this depending on how sweet you like the filling.   While mixing, gradually add several tablespoons of evaporated milk until the mixture is stiff but creamy. 

 

The mixture will look like this when finished...

Then sample a little bit just to make sure it is good!

 

 

 

Now that the peanut butter mixture has been approved by Bumble, pour some of the chocolate wafers in the microwavable bowl.  Microwave on high for about a minute or two until melted.  If you want to melt the chocolate on the stove that is fine too. 

 

After the chocolate is melted stir it to make sure it is nice and smooth.

 

Then fill the egg molds with the chocolate.  Put in just enough to coat the bottom of the egg mold.

 

Here, Bumble is trying her hand at this...

 

 

Then place the egg molds in the freezer.  It will only take a couple of minutes for the chocolate to harden.  Then take the mold out of the freezer and place some of the peanut butter filling in each egg.  This was Bumble's favorite part to help with.

Then fill the rest of the mold with chocolate. Notice that neatness was not one of our top priorities...

 

Then place in the freezer again.  When the chocolate hardens take the eggs out of the molds.  They will look like this...

 

This recipe makes about 100 eggs this size.  We only made about 50 and ate the rest of the peanut butter filling as is!  It tastes like peanut butter fudge.  Feel free to half this recipe if you would like.  If you do not have egg molds you can shape the filling into egg shapes and dip them in the chocolate.  Now matter what way you decide to make these they will be "egg"cellent!

Up From the Grave He Arose!

 

Stinger's Close Shave

I decided to give Stinger his second haircut yesterday.  It did NOT go well.  I am still mourning the loss of his pretty blonde hair.  This past week Stinger took his battery powered Thomas train and ran it through his hair.  The train was running and his hair wrapped around the wheels.  I had to cut the train out taking some hair with it.  Maybe that is why I thought I had to cut his hair yesterday.  It started with a little trim and then it happened.  Stinger would not sit still and I chopped off a little too much.  It didn't look right. I eventually had to get out the electric trimmers and cut it that way.  So here is my shaved boy...

 

 

He looks fine but I loved his long blonde hair.  I am still kicking myself for trying to do it myself.  I am taking comfort in the fact that hair grows back.  Sorry Stinger.  I promise your signature golden locks will be back soon!    

My "Pop"ular Birthday Present

Bumble finally allowed me to open my birthday present after we got home from church Wednesday night.  Are you curious as to what it was?  Well I will not make you wait any longer. 

 

I received a popcorn popper.  I know this is probably not the most "pop"ular birthday gift, but I actually wanted one of these!

Bumble had fun learning how it worked.  I made sure to keep the manual just in case she had any difficult questions! 

 

Here she is putting the popcorn kernels in the popcorn popper.

 

Then we turned it on and out flew the popcorn.

 

Here is Bumble with the freshly made popcorn.

We decided to make last night movie night. This was the movie of choice...

 

 Here are Bumble and Stinger enjoying the movie and their popcorn.

 

 

Thank you Bumble and Honey for my popcorn popper!  I have a feeling it will be a very "pop"ular appliance in our hive!

Scott Toilet Paper Deal at Weis

 I normally do not get excited about buying toilet paper, but I will admit that changed this week.  There is a Scott Toilet Paper deal at Weis Markets this week I could not pass up.  Here is the deal...

Buy 3- packages Scott Toilet Paper and 1- Kleenex Hand Towels listed in the Weis flyer under the Kimberly-Clark sale section.

 

The shelf price of the Scott Toilet Paper is $9.49 and on sale for $7.49

The Kleenex Hand Towels shelf price is $2.99 and is on sale for $2.00

 

The total sale price for the above items came to $24.47.

I then used 3- $1.00 off of 1 Scott Toilet Paper coupons found in Sunday newspapers and 1- $1.00 off of 1 Weis Coupon found in the Weis Winter Savings Booklet.

For the Kleenex Hand Towels I used a $0.60 off of 1 coupon found at www.coupons.com and an ecoupon that was linked to my Weis Club Card for $0.60 off of 1 that doubled to $1.20.

 

Then since I bought $30.00 (based on shelf price) I received a $10.00 coupon on my next shopping order.  I also received a seperate $3.00 on my next shopping order for buying 3 packages of Scott's Toilet Paper.

 

With all these discounts and including the coupons I received at checkout I only paid $5.67 for everything pictured above.  Who knew toilet paper could be so exciting!

 

Thanks to www.forthemommas.com for the heads up on this deal.  Please check them out for more Weis deals this week!

Queen Bee's Birthday

Today is my birthday.  I have been in constant celebration since this past Saturday thanks to Bumble and Honey.  On Saturday, Honey took me out to eat at Olive Garden while my mom watched the kids.  Thanks Mom!  We had two gift cards to use so Honey splurged a little bit and got dessert to go.  It was chocolate cake.  That night we waited until Bumble and Stinger were in dreamland, and then finally opened the box that was calling out our names all day!

 

 

We sat on our comfy sofa and devoured every last bite! And no, we did not feel guilty!

 

On Sunday after we got home from church Bumble said, "Mommy, I think you need a nap!" Bumble never says this.  If I even lay down during the day she asks me to get up because she wants to play!   I knew something was up!  While I tried to enjoy this new idea called napping, I heard noises in the kitchen.  As it turns out Honey was helping Bumble put up decorations... 

 

 

Then Honey came back to our bedroom and asked me where the cake pan was.  Oh dear! This could be a disaster! How was I to nap when Honey and Bumble were going to bake a cake?  I could hear cupboard doors opening and closing.  The funny thing was I could tell exactly what drawer or cupboard they were in just by the sound! Apparently Honey couldn't find the cake pan, so he used my glass casserole dish!  Then my nonexistent sleep was interrupted again by Honey asking me where I kept the vegetable oil.  The funny thing was I never heard the mixer run.  I did eventually doze off and woke up to this... 

 

I love the fact that I am only going to be three this year! I also love the icing going up the sides of this dish.  I'm not sure if this was Honey or Bumble that did this icing job.  I think it was a little of both!  I was not sure what this was going to taste like but let me tell you,  Honey and Bumble made a very good cake!  Thanks Honey and Bumble for my nap and my cake! 

 

Yesterday, Bumble added to the decorations by making her own.  Don't you love her paper and chain streamers ...

 

and then last night this was on the table.  I have been given instructions not to open it until Bumble tells me I can!

 

Hmmm. I think I will bug her all day long to open it!  Thanks Bumble and Honey for making my birthday extra special!

Construction Update

A lot can happen in a week!  The basement has been dug...

 

 

Slate and stone have been brought in...

 

 

and the septic area has been started.

 

 

Here is a view from what will eventually be our backyard looking towards the road.  Honey was standing on top of a rock pile when he took this.

 

Hopefully the snow that fell yesterday will melt quickly and we will see some more progress this week.