Green Muffins

fYield: 16-21 muffins

Paper cupcake liners
3 c flour
1 T baking powder
1 t salt
1/2 t baking soda
1 1/2 t cinnamon
1/2 t nutmeg
2 eggs
1/2 c milk
1/2 c oil
1 c sugar
2 c shredded zucchini

1. Preheat oven to 375 and place liners in muffin tins.
2. In large bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
3. In a bowl, beat eggs with electric mixer 1 minute. Beat in milk, oil and sugar. Stir in zucchini until well blended. Add flour mixture to batter a little at a time and stir to mix - it should be a little lumpy. Spoon batter into muffin tins. Sprinkle the tops with sugar.*
4. Bake 20 mins, or until muffin tops are golden brown and spring back when you touch them.
5. Cool muffins on rack.

*I used blue sugar crystals on top and they turned out looking really nice.

14 Weeks

Yesterday was the start of week 14 for us. While I haven't gained any weight yet, I am getting lots bigger and am struggling to find clothes to wear at this stage. Here I am at 14 weeks.

Paco knows there is a baby in mommy's tummy and is starting to rub, touch and kiss the baby. When I put lotion on my tummy, he wants some on his too. I glady comply.

Here sre some darling pictured of Paco and I last night. (He is on a little footstool.)

and kissing el bebe.

Canning Continued...

Yesterday was an exhausting day for me! Roy took Paco to work again so I had the whole day to can and freeze salsa. At the end of the day, we gleaned a whopping 74 pints of salsa for our family! Some canned and some frozen but all in all the ounces = the pints!

Here is what I started with:
One HUGE box of tomatoes and two large wire baskets full of tomatoes from my garden and my brother's garden.

Jalapenos straight from our garden as well.

As I collapsed into bed last night, I felt good and satisfied over a job well done.

Canning Time!

Basil Jelly

I've been wanting to can my salsa but know that will be an all day affair with the hot bath, etc. So, when Roy said he could take Paco to work with him today, I jumped at the chance to can my infamous basil jelly! It is SO easy. The most expensive part is the liquid pectin it calls for but in comparison to store bought - well, there is none!

I got 19 half-pint jars out of 2 1/2 batches of jelly. I used the church kitchen because there was more room there and I had two stoves to make short work of what can be a long process!

After I was done canning and cleaning up the sticky mess that comes with canning jelly, I made two batches of pesto to freeze! There is still plenty of basil in my garden but I am about done with it. I may make more pesto to use fresh while I can and will dry some for cooking this winter.

I must make my salsa this week or risk loosing some of my precious Roma's. We shall see if I can talk Daddy into another "Take Paco to work day."

Until next time - ta ta!

Sloppy Joes

Sloppy Joes

Here is a new way I found to rid myself of some zucchini! Always a welcome recipe these days.

1 lb ground beef
1 small onion, chopped (with my awesome Pampered Chef chopper!!!)
1 med zucchini, finely chopped (again with PC Chopper)
1 med red bell pepper, diced (yep, with chopper)
16 oz salsa (I made my own)
6 rolls, spilt and toasted

In large skillet, brown the beef, onion, zucchini and pepper over med-high heat for 5 min or until meat is browned. Cover, reduce to low heat and cook for 7 more min (until veggies are soft).

Stir in salsa. Bring to a boil, turn heat back to low and simmer, uncovered for 8 mins. When most of the liquid has evaporated, it's done!

Spoon mixture onto each roll and serve.

I topped each sandwich with shredded cheese.

Before cheese - Per serving: 262 calories, 6 g fat (2 g saturated), 658 mg sodium, 51 mg cholesterol.

I doubled this recipe and it was a hit! My salsa wasn't as runny as store bought so I added some tomato sauce to help it along.

Yummy!!!

Funny????

Paco kept saying, "Funny, Moma??? Funny?" It all started when....

he wanted his morning "foffee" with me. Nothing unusual or funny there. Then, I had to find HIS cup and the one he wanted to use this morning. Found it! Wait, there's still something in it - how long has it be there, I wonder?

I open the lid and suddenly, I mean suddenly, I am heaving! Hard! Curdled milk and coffee with cream. I dump it down the sink but the smell doesn't go away. I'm heaving, hard loud heaves and Paco is.....

LAUGHING HYSTERICALLY from his high chair!!!

I get the kitchen spray out and spray everything in the sink, using the hose, I spray all evidence down the drain. I'm still heaving!

I run to the bathroom, hoping I make it. I do. Paco is still laughing saying, "Funny, Moma?!?!" When I finally emerge from the throws of despair, he laughs more and I ask, "Was that funny?" He replies with absolute certainty, "YEAH!"

Ahh, the joys of a two-year old to make a moment easier - or at least "funnier."

Ice Skating in the Heat

Roy and I took Troy, Melynda and Paco to Ice World in Boise yesterday. We had SO much fun! We never have the kids on Saturday as they are either at their birth mother's or have other plans so we tried to think of something we had never done and do it!

I had won a family pass to Ice World in June on KTSY's Family Name Game and we had til the middle of Sept to use the pass.... answer given! We'll go ice skating! They were a little perplexed as to why they had to wear jeans, take sweatshirts and gloves to Boise but they didn't figure it out til we actually told them what we were going to do.

We did some shopping at the Outlet Mall, getting Paco some much needed size 4 clothes for fall. While he is "in" size 3, they fit perfectly and I want them to last a few months if possible so we went up a size! He got a pair of hunting boots (sz 9), a hunting vest, football sweatshirt, jeans and sweats so we're set for a little bit. We actually will need shirts soon but I'll try Ebay for those. I can't believe how big he is!!!

Back to ice skating... it was fun. 30 mins was really long enough with a 2 year old who spent most of his time clinging to Daddy and Bubba or else was in this position:

We had a great day and ended it with dinner at Olive Garden and their never ending pasta bowls for $7.95, including salad and breadsticks. We picked up Reggie and Taylor for this part and Reggie "won" by eating the most bowls of pasta (4), Roy a close 2nd with 3 bowls and Troy was "weak sauce" with only 2 bowls. Melynda and I couldn't even finish our first bowl but the food was delish, service outstanding by a current ACI student and the company was delightful.

We all slept well and were ready for bed.

How Did I Do it Before?

I've been thinking of how busy I am with all the activities the kids are in and our life now and was wondering how I did it before when I was working full-time at the college. Well, it's come to be very simple - I didn't do it all before!!!

My older kids suffered the most. I came home exhausted having to face dinner and life at home and it was hard! I wasn't able to make their games, pick them up from practices, be here when they got home from school, help with homework... the list goes on and on.

Today, I am "usually" prepared for dinner time, happy to see them after school/practices, ready to hear about their days and share my day with them as well! I make their games, am able to pick them up when needed, I am here; which speaks volumes for life after school and kids getting into trouble.

I love my life today. I love being home. I love being able to spend time with Antonio all day and am ready for the breaks when he goes with Daddy or Granda. I love that I am available to help people in the church when they need something during the day, that I can cook and bake during normal hours and not at 10:00 at night when I should be in bed! I love taking naps with Paco. Take right now for an example, Paco just ran up to me and asked for a kiss and a hug so he could go to "work" in the other room. I would have missed that if I wasn't here!!!! Somethings, money just can't buy and my happiness is one of those things.

Don't get me wrong - there are days I watch my husband drive away and think, "Trade ya, today, honey!!!" I miss live adult interaction but have found great friends online. I miss the social part of the college but I make up for it by being a CHS booster and involved in our church!

Some people balance work and life really well. I didn't. I don't. I'm a Mom and Wife and that is as God intended me to be. I'm blessed to have a husband who believes that, too. He has made it his priority to keep me home and he works long hard hours to make it possible. Thanks, honey. I have a great family and support system and that helps me everyday!

So, on this Friday, I am thankful for being able to stay home. It's a different sort of calling but one I feel called to do. "To God Be the Glory!"