Mar142012

It’s “Pi” Day

By Country Gal | March 14, 2012 | Posted in Family Traditions | Tagged , , , | Comment (1)

Happy National “Pi” day everyone!Pies

It’s March 14 – the third month and the fourteenth day – otherwise written as 3.14. Get it?

Remember the pi you used in math years ago? It’s that funny symbol that made all your answers end with decimal points. That pi stands for 3.14.

And since today’s date is 3.14 – today is “pi” day!

Does this make any sense at all?

It doesn’t matter – because as soon as I heard the word “pi” I didn’t think about mathematical symbols.

Nope. My mind immediately went to those yummy round shaped desserts with a crust and delectable fillings.

So Buddy and I went to work this afternoon and created not one – but 2 pies to celebrate!

You might be thinking that’s a mighty thin reason to make a pie.

Yep. I agree. Just as thin as the crust of that chocolate pie! But it’s enough for me!

I think you should find something to celebrate in every day!

That’s why we have shamrock shakes on St. Patrick’s Day.

Cherry pie on Washington’s birthday.

Snow cake to celebrate the first snow of winter.

And egg nest cookies on the day we spot the first robin of spring.

Life is a blessing – find something to celebrate today!

By Country Gal | Posted in Family Traditions | Tagged , , , | Comment (1)
Mar122012

Granola & Granola Bites

By Country Gal | March 12, 2012 | Posted in Chocolate, Cookies and Bars, Cooking and Food, Snacks | Tagged , , | Comments (2)

There’s two recipes in one blog post today. But since you can’t make one without the other – you get a two-fer day!

Watching my teenagers down an entire box of cold cereal in 2 days, caused me to re-evaluate breakfast.

We needed something that would be more filling – and more cost effective. It was time to dig out the granola recipes.

This one has become our new favorite. It’s perfect with some yogurt and sliced fruit.  It does makes a bunch, but around here it goes fast!

GranolaGranola

10 cups oatmeal (I like to use the old-fashioned)
2 cups barley flakes (can just use more oatmeal)
2 cups coconut
2 cups peanuts
2 cups slivered almonds
2 cups sunflower seeds
3/4 cup oil
2 teaspoons vanilla
3/4 cup peanut butter
1-1/2 cup brown sugar or honey

Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl. Mix wet ingredients in a saucepan and cook until dissolved.

Pour the wet ingredients over the dry and mix until everything is moistened.

Pour out on 2 large baking pans. Bake at 275 degrees until golden brown, about 20 minutes, stirring twice.

Now that you have your granola made – it’s time to take some of it and make our new favorite snack – granola bites.

I got the original recipe from my friend Jami at An Oregon Cottage.  These little gems are not only packed with protein and whole grains – they taste great! They make the perfect snack for a teenager who can’t make it to the next meal!

Granola BitesGranola Bites

1 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup honey
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1-1/2 cup granola
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

Mix the peanut butter, honey, and vanilla in a bowl. Add the granola and chocolate chips.

Refrigerate for 3o minutes before shaping into balls with a cookie scoop and rolling in more granola, chopped peanuts or coconut. (This helps take away some of the stickiness)

Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

You can experiment with different nut butters and add dried fruit or different chips.

Enjoy!

By Country Gal | Posted in Chocolate, Cookies and Bars, Cooking and Food, Snacks | Tagged , , | Comments (2)
Mar092012

A Gentle Reminder Part 1

By Country Gal | March 9, 2012 | Posted in Deep Thoughts | Tagged , , | Comments (4)

In the midst of a week in which I spent a great deal of time stressing about things that I had no control over – God sent a beautiful reminder.

Several weeks ago I was given some free bulbs. Since it was the end of January – I knew it was a little late to plant them outside, so I stuck them in a planter in the mudroom.

They were pretty much forgotten, occasionally got watered, and frequently had hats and/or mittens thrown on them.

FlowerBut look what happened!

All I did was push them in the ground and throw them a little water. Then I left them alone.

And one bloomed. Beautifully.

I didn’t fuss, worry, or stress over those bulbs – I just left them to do what God had designed them to do.

I was faithful with my part and God was faithful with His.

Does anyone see the lesson here?

How many times do we worry and fuss over things over which we have no control?

I could never make those bulbs grow on my own – never.  I did what I could do – and left them alone.

Notice only one bulb has bloomed. There are others that look like they might- and still others that don’t even look alive.

No matter how many times I look at them and wring my hands in frustration, or how many nights I lose sleep worrying over them – I can never make those other bulbs bloom.

Never.

Just like so many other things in life.

What are you stewing about today? Is there something you need to commit to the Lord and leave it alone?

Matt 6:27 “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” 

 

By Country Gal | Posted in Deep Thoughts | Tagged , , | Comments (4)
Mar072012

Seeds

By Country Gal | March 7, 2012 | Posted in Gardening | Tagged , , | Comments (10)

SeedI did it again.

I lost all control in the seed aisle at Menards.

I don’t know what caused it – the sunshine, springlike temperatures, the bright orange sale sign – but something snapped.

Jan found me standing in the aisle with a silly grin on my face randomly throwing in seed packets.

A handful of lettuce varieties, several melons, herbs, 3 kinds of winter squash and zucchini  – I was on a roll!

Two different kinds of broccoli – never mind that I haven’t even harvested a broccoli head in the last three years! I’m sure this year I will be able to grow not only the traditional – but a cool Italian variety with spiky heads!

Sunflowers, sweet corn, cauliflower, sweet peppers – you name it – it was probably in my cart.

And it would not have been alone – there were many seeds in my cart.

Sixty-three packets in all. Yes – 63.

So what did my sweet husband say?

Nothing. After all – he had seen this behavior before. :)

He simply bought the seeds, took me home, and listened patiently to my grand garden dreams for the year.

Then – two days later – he took me out and showed me where  we could enlarge the garden. :)

Is it any wonder that I love this guy?!

I’ve linked this post up with The Tuesday Garden Party at An Oregon Cottage.

By Country Gal | Posted in Gardening | Tagged , , | Comments (10)
Mar052012

Chocolate Almond Macaroon Bars

By Country Gal | March 5, 2012 | Posted in Chocolate, Cookies and Bars | Tagged , , | Comments (2)

BarsI couldn’t believe how quickly Dagmar pulled this recipe out when I asked her to make something for a recent potluck!

I guess she’d been drooling over it for sometime – and trust me – it was worth it!

An Oreo cookie crust with a creamy coconut and nut filling covered with a layer of chocolate ganache – oh my!

We didn’t even wait for it to cool down in the fridge before we cut into it and sampled!

Absolutely no calories in these bars – they all fall out when you cut them! ;)

Chocolate Almond Macaroon Bars

2 cups Oreo cookie crumbs
6 tablespoons butter, melted
6 tablespoons powdered sugar
1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
3-3/4 cups coconut
1 cup almond slivers (best if toasted)
1 cup chocolate chips
1/4 cup whipping cream (we used evaporated milk)
1/2 cup white chocolate chips

Combine Oreo crumbs, melted butter and sugar in large bowl. Firmly press crumb mixture on bottom of a greased 9 x 13 inch baking pan.

Stir together the sweetened condensed milk, coconut, and almonds. Carefully drop the mixture by the spoonful over the crust and spread evenly.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until coconut edges begin to brown. Cool.

Melt chocolate chips and whipping cream in double broiler on the stove. Cool until slightly thickened, spread over cooled bars. Sprinkle with the white chocolate chips.

Cover and refrigerate several hours or until set.

Cut into bars and keep hidden in the back of the refrigerator!

Enjoy!

I’ve linked this post with Tempt My Tummy Tuesday at Blessed with Grace and Tasty Tuesday at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam.

By Country Gal | Posted in Chocolate, Cookies and Bars | Tagged , , | Comments (2)