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St. Lucia Surprise

by Filed Under: 12 December, 12 December Saints, Cookies, St. Lucia, St. Lucy 4 Comments

We’ve been down playing the celebration of feast days in our home, trying to find our new rhythm of life.  Also, the focus has been removed from food since we’re simplifying that area of our life, too. 
Today’s feast day celebration for St. Lucy was minimal.  We read a few stories, colored some art work and cleaned to prepare for Christ’s coming.  The day ended with our Christmas Novena.  We all resigned, or so I thought.  I went back downstairs several hours after everyone went to bed.  Here is what I found…..
st lucia cookies
Rose made some delicious no grain chocolate chip cookies.  I had printed this recipe earlier for future use.  I didn’t expect her to stay up to make them tonight.  It was a lovely surprise that I’m sure her siblings will reward with tons of kisses.  Now, I have to be certain that I leave them some to enjoy.

St. Lucia ~ ora pro nobis
Lucy, patron of Sicily, and one of the saints of the Canon of the Mass, was martyred at Syracuse in the persecution of Diocletian about the year 304. The legend of her martyrdom says that she was denounced as a Christian by a rejected suitor. Refusing to apostatize, she was condemned to a brothel, but a mysterious force prevented the persecutors from moving her from the tribunal. After an unsuccessful attempt had been made to burn her to death, her neck was pierced with a dagger.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

by Filed Under: Cookies, Dessert, Recipes Leave a Comment

Rose surprised us with this sweet treat.  She is finding peace with our new lifestyle now that she has realized that baking, occasionally, is still an option.

cookies_thumb1

Prep Time: — | Cook Time: 13 min. | Difficulty: Easy | Servings: 24 small cookies
INGREDIENTS:
  • 1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon coconut flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 8 tablespoons refined coconut oil
  • 3/4 cup pure maple syrup
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 1 cup dark chocolate (or semi-sweet) chocolate chips
PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS:
  • Whisk the coconut flour and the baking soda together in a med. bowl.
  • Mix together the coconut oil, maple syrup, eggs, salt, and vanilla in a large bowl.
  • Add the the dry ingredients into the wet, mix.
  • Add the dark-chocolate chips.
  • Bake at 350 for 13 minutes.

The consistency of these cookies are a bit flakey and soft. However, they are a fine replacement to the traditional version.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Playlist

by Filed Under: 12 December, 12 December Saints, Our Lady of Guadalupe 2 Comments

Dad loves having music playing during the day.  Here is a simple list that he and Rose came up with before leaving for Mass.

 

– Our Lady of Guadalupe by Molly Chesna  – Mother of the Americas – La Guadalupana – The Amazing and Miraculous Image of OLOG – Ave Maria by Luciano Pavarotti  – Salve Regina  – Queen of Peace by Danielle Rose  – I Beheld Her by Cap Singers  – The Angelus – Hail Holy Queen by Danielle Rose – Hail Holy Queen Enthroned Above May Crowning Song – Ave Maris Stella  – Alma Redemptoris Mater

Shepard’s Pie

by Filed Under: Beef, Dinner, Recipes 1 Comment

It could have gone bad.  Dad was gone all day with Rose and Baby G kept me busy.  We spent the day celebrating Our Lady of Guadalupe.  The girls had another ice indoor-soccer game. 

ice soccer day 2

I’ve been here before, it was once a typical pizza night.  I prayed for the graces to fight the urge to order a take-n-bake pizza.  I decided just to make some ground beef.  I figured I’d be inspired once I started to cook.  Sure enough, I planned on making lettuce roll tacos.  I checked the fridge and saw the potato soup (made with coconut milk and carrots) that I had made on Friday.  (It was a splurge for us.  In hindsight, I should have made sweet potato soup—next time.)  The potato soup lead me to recall the Shepard’s Pie recipe that I found here.  I modified the recipe and put together the dish before dad got home and we dashed out the door for soccer.

shepard's pie v2

I popped the already assembled dish into the oven when we returned home.  Everyone showered and got into warm jammies while dinner baked.  It was perfect timing.  So long pizza night!

The dish was a warm and soothing meal on such a cold night.  Everyone enjoyed it.  Papi had seconds. 

shepard's pie

Here is the original recipe from Wellness Mama with my alterations.

 

Ingredients for Healthy Shepard/Cottage Pie:
  • 2 (or more) pounds of ground beef, turkey or other meat
  • 2-3 heads of cauliflower or 3-4 bags of frozen cauliflower 3 cups of left over soup
  • 1 bag of frozen mixed veggies (no corn! It’s not a veggie!) – 3 cups of Kirkland Normady Style Veggie Blend
  • 1-2 onions I was  too lazy to add the onions.
  • 1 egg
  • Seasonings to taste (I used natural beef bouillon, basil, garlic, salt, pepper, oregano and a little cayenne) garlic and all the spices that I could reach
  • 3-4 Tablespoons of butter
  • 4 ounces of cream cheese (optional) 2 ounces to thicken up the left over soup
  • Cheese to top (optional)
How to Make Healthy Shepard/Cottage Pie:
  1. Brown meat in large skillet and season to taste when cooked. Set aside.
  2. Saute diced onion in skillet until somewhat soft. Set aside with meat.
  3. Pour mixed veggies in the skillet to heat on low heat and in the meantime…
  4. In large pot, boil several cups of water. Add cauliflower, cover, and cook until soft enough to mash.
  5. Remove the pot from the heat, pour off the water, and add butter and cream cheese to the pot.
  6. Add spices and mash. (I use a hand blender to make it really smooth)
  7. Mixed veggies should be cooked by now.
  8. Mix the meat, onions mixed veggies, raw egg and any additional seasonings and put in bottom of 9×13 baking dish.
  9. Spread mashed cauliflower soup mixture over it until smooth.
  10. Bake at 350 for approximately 30 minutes.
  11. Add cheese and bake 5 additional minutes (optional).
  12. Serve warm (ore reheat later)

Boys Will Be Boys

by Filed Under: {phfr}, Dad, Dragonfly, Picture Recap

baby blogger

I caught Dragonfly creating a blog.  This was no easy task for him.  It required him to lift up the laptop, carry it to the sofa, and then climb up on the sofa with the laptop in hand.  He was very proud of himself and his brother had to join him.

dad swinging from a tree

Dad couldn’t resist, he had to join the kids and take a turn.  Rose had to coax him off the tree once he climbed up and he jumped off the swing before he actually completed the swing but I have to say, he still has it—fearless childlike need for adventure.

~~~

{pretty, happy, funny, real}

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~
Every Thursday, here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!

Ice Soccer

by Filed Under: Girls, Sports

JOYfilledfamily

The girls started indoor soccer this week.  It was not what they we expected.  The girls play in an indoor roller-hockey facility and it is cooold.

sparkles first indoor soccer game

sweetie's first indoor soccer game

They eventually warmed up and had a great time playing 30 minutes of fast paced soccer.  Sparkles scored the first goal and Sweetie had some nice break-aways.

Papi was a trooper once he got his coffee (hot chocolate).

We are all looking forward to their next game.  We’ll be certain to pack on the layers.

~~~

"Sport, properly directed, develops character, makes a man courageous, a generous loser, and a gracious victor; it refines the senses, gives intellectual penetration, and steels the will to endurance. It is not merely a physical development then. Sport, rightly understood, is an occupation of the whole man, and while perfecting the body as an instrument of the mind, it also makes the mind itself a more refined instrument for the search and communication of truth and helps man to achieve that end to which all others must be subservient, the service and praise of his Creator." 

~ Pope Pius XII, "Sport at the Service of the Spirit," July 29, 1945

Gifts for St. Nicholas

by Filed Under: 12 December, 12 December Saints, Gifts, St. Nicholas 1 Comment

St. Nicholas is the patron saint of many things, one of which is bakers. 

Here is a gift basket that I put together for a St. Nicholas birthday boy.

st nicholas gift basket

The gift basket included the following:

  • melamine mixing bowl – $2.50 (Target dollar spobaking sett)
  • 2 wooden mixing spoons – $1.59
  • measuring cups and spoons – $2.09
  • chef apron & hat – $2.48* (*I found this set and accessories on clearance several years ago. Reg $9.99)
  • matching placemat – $0.34* (reg $1.99)
  • matching tablecloth – $0.74* (reg $2.99)
  • recipe cards – $1 (Target dollar spot)
  • play dough recipe – free
    • magnetic clip – $0.17 ($1/pack of 6 at Target dollar spot.  I used this to display the recipe card on the bowl.) PC072354
    • small bag of flour – $1.77
    • salt – $0.77
    • cream of tartar – $2.79
    • 2 Kool Aid packs – $0.54 (.27 ea)
    • 4 ziploc containers – $1 ($1.99/pack of 6)
  • Lindt chocolate St. Nicholas – $3
    • red glitter foam – $0.20 ($1/pack of 5 at Target dollar spot)
    • gold glitter pipe cleaner – $0.04 ($2/pack of 50 at Target art aisle)
    • printable miter template – FREE from St. Nicholas Center

Total – $21.02 (without tax)

 

St. Nicholas ~ ora pro nobis

 

Celebrating St. Nicholas Linky Party ~ Catholic Cuisine

Food for the Baby

by Filed Under: Baby, Breakfast Leave a Comment

I’m sad to say that I got my lil’ guy on the wrong path.  Things started great when he was an infant.  My babies get their teeth early and I start to introduce whole foods to them once I see the first tooth and there is interest.  I start them on avocado and work from there.  My lil’ guy caught on quick and soon became a good eater.  (My family was following the SAD at the time.)  Things took a drastic turn when my lil’ guy got sick with a stomach flu.  From that point on, he became a picky eater.  I think he correlated his illness with food.  I became worried but trusted that he was getting enough nutrients from nursing.  Then, I found the golden ticket, a food that he would eat—oatmeal (in all forms).  Terrible mistake, I know.  But at the time I was just happy that he was eating something. 

 

Finally, the time has come, we are ready to toss the oatmeal for good!  In the past, this was tough for me because I hate to see me lil’ guy cry for something to eat.  However, I ‘m convinced that he will not starve and now I have an alternative to his favorite meal—Oatmeal without the oats.  I saw the idea on other sites before but passed on them.  There was no way that my lil’ guy would ever try such a dish, or so I thought.  I made the non-oatmeal this morning and guess what, he loved it!!!

Non-oatmeal

I added frozen blueberries to his serving and he dug in.  Praise the Lord!

Good bye oatmeal!

Preciousness of Silence

by Filed Under: Blessed Mother Teresa, Humility, LMC, Missionaries of Charity, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Prayer 5 Comments

Preciousness of Silence

"Lord, set a guard over my mouth;  keep watch at the door of my lips." Ps 141:3

"But Jesus was silent." Mt 26:63

The Silence is Meekness.
When you do not defend yourself against offenses;
When you do not claim your rights;
When you let God defend you;
The Silence is Meekness.

The Silence is Mercy.
When you do not reveal the faults of your brothers to others;
When you readily forgive without inquiring into the past;
When you do not judge, but pray in your heart;
The Silence is Mercy.

The Silence is Patience.
When you accept suffering not with grumbling but joyfully;
When you do not look for human consolations;
When you do not become too anxious, but wait in patience for the seed to germinate;
The Silence is Patience.

The Silence is Humility.
When there is no competition;
When you consider the other person to be better than yourself;
When you let your brothers emerge, grow and mature;
When you joyfully abandon all to the Lord;
When your actions may be misinterpreted;
When you leave to others the glory of the enterprise;
The Silence is Humility.

The Silence is Faith.
When you keep quiet because you know that the Lord will act;
When you renounce the voice of the world to remain in the presence of the Lord;
When you do not labour yourself to be understood;
because it is enough for you to know that the Lord understands you;
The Silence is Faith.

The Silence is Adoration.
When you embrace the cross without asking "Why?";
The Silence is Adoration.

"But Jesus was silent."

~MC & LMC Prayer Book

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