Family: A Childhood Easter

As a child, Easter was one of my favorite holidays.  It was a time of year that the snow begins to melt and you can hear the birds singing again.  Everywhere you went you were surrounded by fuzzy little chickies and soft furry bunnies.  Bright pink, purple, blue, green, and yellow overcame the dark and dreariness of winter.  It was a sign that spring was in the air.  The time of new birth and new beginnings.  For me it was especially exciting, because it was one of the only times that I got to get a brand new dress.  Mom would take us all to the store and we would pick something special.  One year in particular stands out to me, because I got a matching hat as well.  I felt so beautiful.  Far from my ordinary mismatched handy downs.  Looking back I realize the importance.  We were dressing up for a most honored occasion.  The celebration of our Saviors return to the throne! 


My parents always made it a big deal.  We would boil and dye eggs.  Even though it could be messy at times, we were each able to do our own.  We would wake Easter morning to baskets filled with goodies.  One year we even found a half eaten carrot and bunny tracks.  It was simple, childish, and delightful.  We would then dress up in our new Easter outfits and head to church.  After weeks of dim mournful services, the church would be a live with praise.  The organ sounded and the words filled my spirit and we would rejoice together in unison for Our Savior, was no longer dead, but RISEN, and is alive!  It was an amazing experience.  The praising didn't end at church we would sing all the way home to our favorite hymns"  Christ IS Risen Alleluia, CHRIST IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD" or "Christ the Lord is Risen today, Alleluia".

Dad would be waiting at home for us, cooking some delicious meal that we would share together.  It was these special moments that I cherished, making me feel complete.  Even if most of the year we were not the traditional family, holidays were always special.

Now that I am a mom, I want to give these kinds of memories to my children.  I want to fill their hearts with wonder and joy.  I want them to have fun and be excited, but most of all I want them to understand the truth of it.  I have been thinking all month about a fun project to do with them the week of Easter.  So when I saw this project come across my face book feed, I knew it was perfect.  Hands on, beautiful, and with great purpose.  A friend of mine, led me to a blog with directions, so I am sharing it below.  Even if you don't have children, it would make a beautiful centerpiece and a reminder, that the tomb is empty and our Savior Lives!

Just click on the link and it will take you to the blog with the directions.
 Mini-Resurrection Garden

 

Quinoa Risotto

I made this the other night and all of us wanted more so I thought it was a good one to share.  It was really delicious.  I served it with steamed chicken and sweet carrots but it could go with a variety of meals.  It was very easy to make.  Now once again this is my creation of risotto.  There would be some that would turn their noses at me for even calling it risotto, but it is my quick, easy, and healthy spin on it!  I don't really care what it is called, it was good, and the kids ate it!!

2 C Cooked Organic Brown Rice
1 C Water
1/2 C Organic Quinoa ( I use TJ organic tricolor)
2 t Each Onion Powder, Garlic Powder
1 C Organic Chicken Broth
1/2 C Organic Sharp Cheddar Cheese Shredded (optional)*
2 T EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil)  I use cold-pressed
1 t Sea Salt

*traditionally Parmesan Cheese is used, but I like the taste the cheddar gives.  Feel free to make it your own!

Cook up your brown rice and put to the side ( you can do this at the same time you begin the quinoa to save time).  In a pot begin to boil 1 C of water.  Add quinoa and spices.  Once it begins to boil, cover and turn heat down to low.  Let simmer until quinoa has absorbed all the water, stirring a few times.  Make sure to keep covered.  This takes about 8-10 minutes.  Heat skillet on low-med and add oil.  Add quinoa to skillet. Begin to alternate 1/3 of rice and then 1/3 chicken broth and mix.  Continue this step 3 times until all of the rice and chicken broth are completely mixed into the quinoa.  At this point it will be complete and delicious for those of you that do not or can not do dairy.  For others add the cheddar cheese for extra texture and flavor.

You can also add very tiny diced veggies, chopped greens, or peas.

Sorry for the lack of pictures.  When I create a meal for the first time I am not sure how it will taste.  It isn't until after we eat it that I decide if it is good enough to make again or share.  By then it is too late because we've already eaten it and there is nothing left to take pictures of.  Maybe I should start taking pictures of empty plates to show that we liked it!

If anyone has a tasty, healthy meal that they would like to share, please email me.  I would be happy to share your recipe on the blog.  Thanks!

Hunting For The Right One

Don't give up on finding a special piece for your home at a good price.  If you can hold out until you find the right one, it is really worth it.  Keep checking craigslist, thrift stores, garage sales, and your local consignment shops.   Sometimes they don't need any work at all.  You can always have fun painting it and making it your own.  The good thing about buying second hand furniture is that you can almost always sell it for the price you paid for it and sometimes more if you have fixed it up a bit.  Another nice thing is that you don't feel bad painting it or making a mistake.

I had been looking for a particular table for my living room for several years.  I knew exactly what I wanted but try as I might I could not find it.  Finally one day while searching the basement of one of my favorite consignment stores I found it.  There is was, all dirty and worn, buried under another forgotten table, stuffed behind a chair for what looked like ages.  It had a 70s style finish to it that was barely noticed under all the dust.  I had to study it for quite a while before I was sure, but I could not deny it, it was the one!  I could see all the beauty of it hidden under all the dust and dark stain.  I took it home and got to work.

I needed to sand the top all the way down to the natural wood, and I wasn't sure what I would find.  It had a thick acrylic like finish to the top and part of me feared that it might not be a pretty wood underneath.  I took it down layer by layer stripping the old a way.  I used 3 different grits of sandpaper.  I started with a course 60 grit.  Once I had the majority of the thick top layer off I then moved up to a softer 150 grit.   I ended with a gentle 220 grit for a nice smooth finish.  I was so excited when I saw the raw beauty of the wood underneath.  It had been there the whole time.  This gorgeous solid wood top with amazing grain to it.  I couldn't believe anyone would cover this up.  Once I got the top sanded and smoothed to my liking, I began to stain it with a dark walnut stain (Rust-Oleum Dark Walnut)  that really brought out the beauty.  I sealed the top with a dark wax coat.  I loved it.  Now I will have you know that the correct way to do this is to use a special goo that would strip the top coats and then you scrap it all off.   I don't like to do that.  I will eventually try it and then I will let you know my experience.  For now, I like to stick to my handy dandy palm sander, which by the way a cheap Black and Decker that we bought 9 years ago.  It works great and has been through A LOT of projects!

The body of the piece I decided to paint in white for a couple reasons.  One was it has such amazing character with its curved legs and metal grate I thought the white would bring out these features.  The other is that I loved the top so much I really wanted it to stick out.  By painting the body white it really emphasized the beauty of the top.  I painted a fresh coat of ASCP (Annie Sloan Chalk Paint) in Old White.  The paint made a huge difference by bringing out the details that I could not have appreciated under all that dark stain.  I absolutely love the way it all turned out.  I am so thankful that I waited for this and did not settle.  Did I mention it only cost about $40!!  

Three Pepper Pasta

My son Jonathan was diagnosed with a disease in his esophagus called E.E.  It causes inflammation that damages the esophagus.  In an attempt to find a remedy for this disease in Jonathan, we have been advised to remove dairy for a period of time.  It has helped in many other cases of E.E.  So with that said, macaroni and cheese is no longer the go to in fast meals for our house.  I have had to come up with some replacements.  I thought I would share one that we have been having lately. This is quick, easy, and I almost always have the ingredients on hand if I have to make a last minute decision on dinner.  It also provides much better nutritional value then macaroni and cheese.   Of course I do not put the cheese on Jonathan's portion. 


2 C Mix of Organic Red, Green, and Yellow Bell Peppers sliced (fresh or frozen)
1/2 C Mushrooms (Optional)
1/2 C Water
1 14 oz can/jar or 2 cups Organic Diced Tomatoes 
2 T OVOO
1/2 C of Marinara Sauce*, Tomato Sauce, or Crushed Tomatoes (save the rest for another meal)
1/2 lb Organic Brown Rice Pasta*
1t each garlic powder, onion powder, basil, and oregano*

In saute pan fill with 1/2 C water, then add veggies, OVOO, and spices and steam on low until peppers are soft.  Boil pasta and strain.  Add to pan with veggies.  Fold in marinara sauce. 

Add diced chicken or sausage for extra protein

Top with fresh graded Parmesan and serve with a crisp salad.  This is perfect for a quick dinner or large group.


*Marina Sauce and Brown Rice Pasta from Trader Joe:s
*I use Simply Organic seasonings