Creativity At Work

The last time I posted, I mentioned that I was going to Scrapbook Weekend. Well in 24 hours, I got 32 pages done (16 double page spreads). I worked my tail off and got very little sleep. It made me motivated to keep going once I got home and have gotten close to 20 more pages done since. B is finally 2 in his scrapbook and he is 4 1/2 in actual age. The good news is that L is on his way and I will be getting to start his scrapbook soon. He will be 2 in just over a month.

I have been bust making cakes and cards as well. Here is a card I made tonight:





I have been staying busy with all of the kids in my house, so I haven't been getting to cook and bake as much as I like to, but I did make up a new biscuit recipe today; and it turned out fabulously.

Yeast Biscuits

1/2 c. warm water
1 tsp. sugar
1 packet yeast
(mix together and let set)

2 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. sugar
2/3 c. shortening
(Mix together in a mixing bowl until flour looks like little white peas)

Add in yeast mixture and 1/2 cup of milk. If dough is dry, add a bit more milk. It took about 2/3 cup milk and dough was sticky. Flour your counter and dump the dough onto the counter. Kneed for about a minute, just until no Long sticky. Roll out with a rolling pin and cut biscuits (I use a glass to cut them out).  
I used a cast iron skillet to bake mine in, but a baking sheet works fine. Brush the tops of the biscuits with a bit of milk and bake at 400 for 10-15 min or until just browned. This makes about 10 biscuits.

Bake & Enjoy and Until next time,
MommyShelle C

Life...Where does the time go?

Just yesterday, I was weighing the pros & cons of staying home with our boys.

Really, it was 6 months ago already and I now have 4 others to care for as well.

I love it (most days).

I like it (most days).

I hate it (less days).

But, mostly, I am glad that I did it. I can't believe it has already been 6 months. I really does feel like yesterday.

I had a friend bring me lunch today and she still is amazed by the whole transition and swears she could never do it. (You could if you had to)


Just a glimpse of what has been going on...



Spaghetti O lunch with Daddy!

This weekend is our semi-annual Scrapbook weekend with the girls and all the Daddies are their own. Here is a glimpse of what it looks like with 8 girls in 1 condo for 3 days!

So until next time after a few days of a much needed break,

 MommyShelle C

Oatmeal Applesauce Cookies

I love oatmeal cookies, but J gets tired of me always putting chocolate chips in them, so I made up a new recipe this afternoon.

Oatmeal Applesauce Cookies
1 c. margarine
3/4 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. sugar
2 eggs
1/3 c. applesauce
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon (if using cinnamon applesauce, omit this)
2 c. flour
1 1/2 c. oatmeal
1 tsp baking soda

Mix together in the order listed and bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes.

These do NOT get very dark, are not overly sweet and are a pretty dense cookie (goes great with a glass of milk!)

Enjoy!
MommyShelle C

Domesticated...I am getting there.

So, before I was a SAHM, I was 'just a mom.' Ha!

I have always loved to cook, been tolerant of cleaning, and obsessed on some level with organization.

Since becoming a SAHM, I have found a new love: baking!

Primarily this love has morphed into homemade bread. In the last week I have made5 loves of white bread, 2 pans of cinnamon rolls, a loaf of cinnamon raisin bread, a pan of dinner rolls and a batch of biscuits. YUMMY!

I am also certain that all of these things will find me back the recent 7 pounds I have managed to lose.

Now, if I only I could make myself clean a little more and make a little less mess each time I do this baking, my house would be a bit more presentable a bit more often.

MommyShelle C

Creamy Pork Chops & Rice

I only made 3 pork chops for this recipe, but make more of the chops & sauce as needed:

*Season the pork chops how ever you like but I used; salt, pepper, garlic powder & season salt.
*Put about 2 tbsp. olive oil in skillet & cook pork chops until done (about 5 min per side for 1/2 inch chop)
*Remove chops from pan and set aside
*Add about 1/3 -1/2 cup of Chicken broth to pan and stir with whisk to get all of the gunk off the bottom of the pan. This gunk is delicious and DO NOT waste it.
*Add 2 oz. cream cheese and 2-3 tbsp. butter to broth in pan. Whisk until smooth.
*Splash a couple of splashes of Worcestershire Sauce in there for some yummy flavor.
*Add salt & pepper to taste. Add more broth until the consistency that you prefer.
*Finally, pour the juice off the setting chops into cream sauce, whisk & serve over the chops & rice.

**I made a quick brown rice to serve with this and it was great together.