if heaven is made of muffins..

so have you ever had those cinnamon muffin melts from tastefully simple? they are one of the best things my mouth has ever met!! well it's been awhile since i've had them, and since that stuff is pretty pricey, i don't buy it.  instead, i tried to find a recipe that was similar.  resul = major success!!

i have wanted something sweet--as usual. but for once, not chocolate! i thought of these and found an awesome recipe. here is what i used:

•  1 cup sugar
• 2/3 cup butter flavored crisco (called for crisco, but i buy the butter flavor for my chocolate chip cookies. you could also use butter instead--might not be quite the same. i saw other recipes using just butter though)
• 3 cups flour
• 3 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup milk (i used whole)

combine flour, baking powder, salt& cinnamon in a bowl. in another bowl, cream crisco and sugar. then add 2 eggs and mix.

 add about 1/3 flour mixture and fold in. then about 1/3 cup of milk, fold in. repeat until both flour mixture and milk have been added.

what you end up with

fill 2/3 full of mix & bake @ 350 for 20 min.

extra!! so i filled a small ceramic dish with the rest..

mini cake for myself :)

here they are hot out of the oven!!

dip them in melted butter & cinnamon sugar mixture..and viola!

i didn't even have to share with tag..he's napping :)

so one for me, and one for the baby. ok. 2 for me!

these are amazing!! please make them..they will make someone's day!!

and here's the mini cake..delsih!!

chicken & noodles: it's what's for dinner

 

tonight we had chicken & noodles over mashed potatoes, with green beans and biscuits...just what i was craving!! this is one of the easiest, yet tastiest meals ever!

 

here's what i used:

1/2 bag of noodles

4 chicken bullion cubes

4 cups of water

4 frozen chicken tenders (i buy tyson)

food keeps tag busy while mommy's cooking. 1st & 2nd snack :)

first i boiled 4 cups of water, threw in my bullion cubes and the frozen chicken. i let that simmer (covered) for about 45 minutes or so--until the chicken was pull-apart worthy. i removed the chicken and shred it with 2 forks.

i added the noodles and shredded chicken back into the chicken broth. let it simmer until the noodles are fully cooked. i added some corn starch to thicken the sauce so it wasn't so "wet"

 here is the finished yummy-ness!

 "baby bear"

 "mama bear"

 "papa bear"



my thoughts for the day..

i am not one of those people who don't like to get into a political debate. in fact, i can't stand them.  i think it's because i have such strong beliefs--such as abortion and same-sex marriage. don't get me wrong, i stand up  for what i believe in, but i'd rather not go head-to-head with someone who doesn't share the same beliefs as i have--the beliefs and morals that i have learned through the word of God.  where all the answers are. you know, the Bible. plain and simple. it's what God has to say..end of the story. period.

when all this stuff comes on the news about the debt ceiling, blah, blah, blah. i completely tune out. not because i don't care. well i kinda don't. but mostly because the government will never control my family's personal finances. God will. He has never failed in taking care of my family. never. not even once.  there are months where what we are bringing in and what goes out does not add up, but we always have our bills paid and food on the table. we are beyond blessed by our heavenly father. i am so thankful for our lives and the things that He has blessed us with.

most people in our financial situation would laugh at me for staying home full-time. but it's something that i have prayed about time and again. how did i know? well part of it was the financial class we took through our church. the other was some lady i didn't really know. just a teacher i was subbing with one day last spring. she said that i was so lucky to stay home with my son--her children were older. she said a day does not go by that she doesn't regret not staying home with them when they were younger. she said your kids grow up once. once they're grown, they're grown. you can always go back to teaching, but your kids grow up once. WOW! that is exactly what i needed to hear. i know that was the confirmation from God telling me to do what my heart was telling me to do--and from Him as well.

we took a crown financial class last fall that has drastically changed our view on money. i now look at things and think, "is that a need or a want?" ok, i can't say that i have perfected that view. and probably never will. but i have put it into use more times that i can count. i've had many moms tell me they want to stay home, but can't. one income just isn't enough. i would in most cases, disagree. no, i don't know every person's finances--but it usually comes down to spending. living and leading a moderate lifestyle. do i love shopping? absolutely! but it's not a necessity all the time. tag is our first child, so he will be lucky to get new things--or nice things, gently used. i love to go to practically perfect--a resale clothing store in our town. i have gotten the best stuff there! once the baby comes--if it's a boy, he will wear tag's clothes. the only cost we will have is diapers/wipes..breastmilk is free :) and if it's a girl, it will be re-sale and old navy clearance! the stuff they mark down a few times, and then have an additional 50% off--thrift stores can't even beat those prices!!

then it comes to tithing. something we used to just do. if we forgot a week, i didn't think twice. now i do.  micah is not working a salary job--but at an hourly wage. some weeks are great and others, not so much.  i know that giving to the church is something people grumble at--i grew up passing the offering plate to my parents and watching them give every sunday. so i am pretty lucky to have a positive view on giving.  i know it's to expand the kingdom of God. and i know that when we are faithful to God, He will be faithful to us. and once again, He has never failed.

i guess i just wanted to share because i am so sick of hearing about all this government debt. i just think of all the times God has provided for us when i was in doubt and how i should be more thankful in my every day life for everything He has given us. Thank you, Lord. and thank you for not letting me worry over the troubles of our government!!

“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious in Christ Jesus.” – Phil 4:19

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

‘Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ Isaiah 41:10

bagels with my babies



so awhile back i wanted to make some bagels. i found a few recipes, but they were so time consuming! i decided not to. yet lately i have been wanting to make them again. when looking for a new recipe, i type what it is i'm wanting to make into google and then hit images. i am big on how thing look before i try them. i have a picture in my head--so if the picture speaks to me--then that's the one!

• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
•  2 cups bread flour
• 1 tablespoon yeast
• 1 tablespoonon salt (too much--i will use 1/2 T  next time--maybe less)
• 1 3/4 cup warm water

dissolve the yeast and sugar in warm water. let sit for 5 minutes.

while that is sitting, mix the four and salt together until well blended. after 5 minutes, add flour mixture to yeast mixture. stir with a spoon until it has come together.

flour your surface and knead for 10 minutes--what a workout! tag helped :)

:)

after a 10 minute arm workout..

place in a warm place for an hour. i used the microwave. still warm from heating up the water.

cut into quarters, then into thirds. grab the corners and tuck them under forming a ball. let rest 30 minutes. then poke a hole in the middle and let rest another 10 minutes.

boil the bagels on one side for 2 minutes. flip and boil the other side for 1 minute.  remove with a slotted spoon and lay on a paper towel.

Place in a 400 degree oven. i only baked mine for 15 minutes--i like them a little softer.

the end result!!

 no cream cheese :( but butter and black raspberry preserves was delish!!

these were very time consuming. well a lot of waiting around time, but was totally worth it and super easy. i will make them again! next time cinnamon crunch!

yum-o, easy taco soup

so yes, it is a million degrees out, but a pregnant lady knows what she wants...well maybe not. but when it comes to food she sure does!! i made this taco soup this past winter and it was the tastiest soup i have ever had!! i couldn't find the recipe i followed last time, so i decided i would do what i could remember and go by taste. the only ingredient i didn't have on hand was carrots. last time i had carrots in it and it was sooo goood!

i started out with these ingredients:

• 1 can pinto beans (rinse & drain)
• 2 tablespoons chili pepper
• 1/2 bag o frozen corn
• 2 cans of rotel
•  6 chicken bullion cubes to 3 bottles of water so about 7 cups water (we have a water softener)
• 2 chicken breasts--uncooked

 i usually slow cook my chicken, but didn't want to take the time. so i boiled the water, threw in the bullion cubes along with the raw chicken. i turned the heat down to a simmer and covered. i left it for about 30 minutes or so. i took the cooked chicken out and shred it--it turned out great!

then i threw everything in..rinsed and drained pinto beans 2 cans of rotel (including juices) 1/2 bag of frozen corn and the shredded chicken. and then added the chili powder. give it a quick stir. i turned up the heat to a boil and then back down to simmer for the rest of the afternoon--put the lid back on and let it go for a couple hours.

the end result! YUMMY! i of course don't eat it plain. pile on the sour cream and cheese, please! we had some nacho doritos so i threw some of those on top, too.

17 months..and counting!



so today my BABY is 17 months old...tear! when i was pregnant, people would tell me all the time, "they grow up so fast! enjoy every second." i would kind of laugh and smile..and think, yeah i know..you're only the 20th person to tell me that today! well if i had a dime for every time i told a new pregnant friend or new mom that same thing, i would be..well...like all those other moms out there :)  it's SO, SO true, and you can't comprehend that feeling of, "where did the last year and a half go?" scratch that. the last 2 years. it seems like yesterday micah and i were in the ultrasound room hearing the tech. say, "there's your little boy!" i can still remember the tear coming down my face and thinking..that's our little boy..the little boy that at the time we had no clue how much of an impact he would make on our lives. our tag :) our crazy, non-stop, full of life, smiley, and never-ending joy, tag :)

10.05.10 - the first time we saw you :) 18 weeks

3 weeks old and my love for our tag over-flowing!!

last summer..and now this summer i can't get him to stop running around the pool to get in!

12 weeks old :)

micah's 1st father's day and one of my favorite pictures:)

we went to lake erie for the weekend with friends!

nothing more to say..our greatest blessing. period.

just turned 1!

one of my favorites!!

as i was looking through the mass amount of pictures in the 'tag' folder on our desktop, i may have shed a few tears. it is so unreal how the last almost year and a half has gone by so fast! how our world changed in a blink of an eye and how it will never be the same. we are so blessed and thankful for our son. he has brought unspeakable, unthinkable amounts of joy and laughter to our lives. i can't imagine being able to have our cup over-flow once again with another baby byrd on the way!! i will take the advice of past  moms who have said it to me, and from myself when i say to new moms..."THEY GROW UP SO FAST. ENJOY EVERY SECOND" and we will :)

love for baby byrd