this is our happily ever after

Psalm 37:5-7a

In my quiet time early this morning I came across a familiar verse that seemed to refresh me spiritually and I wanted to share it with you.  Be blessed!

You can right click here, save, and print it in a 4x6

Sour Cream Coffee Cake

This recipe is adapted from one that my Mom has made every Christmas for as long as I can remember.  Everyone LOVES this...it's a tried and true recipe!  I did adapt it a bit...I added some cinnamon and vanilla bean to the batter and I baked it in a bundt pan because I didn't have a 9 inch tube pan. 

Here's the pdf to download and print Download Sour Cream Coffee Cake

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened

1 ¼ cup sugar

2 eggs

1 cup sour cream

½ tsp vanilla

½ tsp cinnamon

Optional: paste from ½ vanilla bean

 

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

¼ tsp salt

 

4 tsp sugar

1 ½ tsp cinnamon

1 cup chopped pecans

 Powdered sugar

 

Directions:

Grease a bundt pan.  Preheat oven to 350. 

 

In a large bowl beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in eggs, one at a time.  Add sour cream, vanilla, vanilla bean, and cinnamon. 

 

In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt.  Fold into butter mixture. 

 

In a small bowl combine 4 tsp sugar, cinnamon, and pecans.

 

Spread about ½ the batter in prepared pan.  Sprinkle the cinnamon/pecan mixture over the batter.  Spread remaining batter on top of pecan mixture. 

 

Bake for 40-50 minutes or until done.  Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes, then invert the cake onto a plate.  Let cool completely on plate and lightly dust with powdered sugar. 

meal plan Monday

Happy Monday to everyone---I have been making very general meal plans the past few months and haven't posted them because they were so general.  It's been so hot that we've been eating a lot of sandwiches, salads, and really quick and easy meals like tacos and BLT's. 

Here's this week meal plan.  I'm trying to use up some things in my pantry, fridge, and freezer and buy little at the market.

Monday--Stewed Okra and Tomatoes over Quinoa

Tuesday--Grilled Fish Sandwiches, Oven Fries, Avocado and Tomato Salad (recipe coming today)

Wednesday--Homemade Pizza and Ceasar Salad

Thursday--Black Bean Wraps with Slaw

Friday--Pasta Fagioli Soup with Pioneer Woman's Olive Cheese Bread

Saturday--Chicken Picatta with Angel Hair and Green Beans

2012 Project Life (week 29)

I feel like the Little Engine that Could with getting caught up on my PL album...I think I can...I think I can...

I've realized that working in small increments of time (as in 2 minutes here and there) is the best way for me to work on Project Life and be a Momma to a 16 month old....a very busy 16 month old.  I just keep the album out and open in my office (which is right off our living/dining/kitchen area) and will slip in to jot out some journaling or add a little embellishment here and there.  My bigger chunks of "me" time during the day and evening are allotted for cooking, laundry, blogging, writing, reading, and photo editing. 

So this week's album begins in Colorado and ends back in Houston.  I added a page protector that has 4x4 slots.  It's from We R Memory Keepers and I'm pretty sure I picked it up at Archivers. 

The red airplane sticker is from Martha Stewart and the Places We Go journaling card is from October Afternoon.  I love the photo of me holding K...it's so me...holding him and talking to/teaching him.  I think I was talking about the colors of the tiger.  Once a teacher...always a teacher!!!

Front of 4x4 photo page..

back of 4x4 page--the photos were all taken of this ape that walked/climbed back and forth over the walkway we were standing on.  I managed to get some cool photos...while praying I didn't get hit with ape poop!!!

Ahh...yes...documenting my child's LOVE for ketchup...he licks the plate he loves it so much.  I swore I wouldn't give him ketchup until he was 3 or 4, but when I realized he needed more protein and he wasn't big on eating meat I tried putting ketchup on the meat and he went for it!

30 Day Photgraphy Challenge (days 1-9)

So, have any of you taken my 30 day photo challenge???  Even just a day or two?  This has really helped me to challenge my creative spirit and make a point to pick up my camera more often.  Have I taken each photo on the exact day?  Nope..but that's fine with me.  These photos help to tell the story of my everyday life and will prompt some journaling in my Project Life album that might not get written otherwise. 

Here we go...

1. Something Red--we're not big movie watchers, but occasionally I'll pick up a RedBox movie and get Brian to watch it with me.  Aunt Gail had told me that Salmon Fishing in the Yemen was really good so I rented it and we really enjoyed it.  Thanks Aunt Gail for the suggestion :)

2. A Guilty Pleasure--Two words...Salted.Caramels

3. Clouds

4. Something on your counter---A Big. Hot. Mess---this is why baking isn't my thing because I make such a huge mess while doing it!

5. Self Portrait---me with no makeup talking on the phone.  I'm strongly considering chopping off my hair and going back to shorter bangs...thoughts???

6. Colorful---We finally got this banner hung in Karsten's bedroom...I made it for his birthday party with the intention of using it in his bedroom...it just took 4 months to do so.  I'm not nearly as organized and driven as many of you think I am :)

7. eyes---his eyes capture everyone's attention and turn my heart into putty

8. Favorite pen/pencil---I'm really weird about pens...when I find one I like I will buy several packs and won't share them and I've been known to take a waiters/waitresses pen because I liked it so much!  Shame on me!  Currently this is my favorite.  Pilot easytouch fine point

9. Sunflare

If you want to print out the 30 day challenge click here: Download 30 Day Photo Challenge 812

2012 Project Life (week 28)

This week began in Houston and ended in Colorado.  Because I had vacation photos I wanted to include there are a few extra page protectors added.

Zucchini Pecan Bread

Zucchini Pecan Bread

Download Zucchini Pecan Bread

Makes one large loaf or 4 small loaves

2 cups sugar

¾ cup canola oil

3 eggs

2 cups zucchini, grated (2 medium zucchini)

2 tsp vanilla

3 cups flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

¼ tsp baking powder

1 Tbsp cinnamon

1 cup chopped pecans

 

Preheat oven to 350.  Grease one loaf pan or 4 small loaf pans.  Beat sugar, oil, and eggs.  Stir in zucchini and vanilla.  Mix dry ingredients.  Stir into egg mixture.  Stir in nuts.  Pour batter into prepared pans.  Bake for 40-60 minutes until cooked through. 

"lost" photos

I upload photos from my 7D at least once or twice a week, but I only upload photos from my purse camera every once in awhile.  I completely forgot about these photos, but they certainly need to be blogged. 

CB was in town for a very short amount of time this summer....as in I was really lucky to get 3 hours with her.  We spent a bit of time at the mall before going to lunch.  I was looking through the sale stuff at Gymboree and she was entertaining Karsten. 

CB...I'll get all of these printed for you and send them your way soon!

This one cracks me up...it's as if he's saying "Well...it's really challenging to be the cutest baby ever, but someone's got to do it and I'm for the job!"

Karsten preparing for a Buc-ees advertisement...if you don't know what Buc-ees is then you clearly don't live in Texas!

These photos were taken in Gruene, TX in late June.  My cousin, Jessica and my brother, Travis.

"Yissy" and Karsten

Taco Soup

I LOVE Taco Soup and there are quite a few recipes out there for it...this is a combination of several and it's very simple.  Here's the printable for you.  Download Taco Soup

Ingredients:

1 lb ground turkey or beef

1 medium sweet onion, finely chopped

1 tsp cumin

2 Tbsp taco seasoning

½ tsp chili powder

1 ½ tsp dry Ranch dressing mix

2  (10 oz) cans diced tomatoes with green chiles (medium or mild)

2  (15 oz) cans red kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1 cup frozen corn

 1-2 cups chicken or beef stock

Optional: grated cheese, avocado, sour cream, tortilla chips

 

Directions

In a large soup pot brown ground meat and onion over medium high heat until cooked through.  Add in seasonings, tomatoes, beans, and stock (as much as you want).  Cook over medium low heat for 20 minutes.  Add in frozen corn and cook another 10 minutes.  Ladle into bowls and serve with optional fixings.