Monday, January 14, 2013

Homemade Healthy Chocolate Granola


Prep time: 10min       Total time: 25min        yields: 5 cups

Ingredients:                 
1 c. melted coconut oil (Olive oil is cheaper, but coconut oil has lots of health benefits!)
1 c. honey
½ c. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tbs. vanilla extract
½ tsp. salt
5 c. old fashion rolled oats (Not quick cooking)
Nut, coconut flakes, seeds, and dried fruits are all optional 

Line and grease a large cookie sheet. Preheat oven to 375 F. 
In a large bowl whisk together melted coconut oil, honey, cocoa, vanilla, and salt. Stir in oats and any addition things like nuts, dried fruit, etc…  Spread mixture on lined and greased cookie sheet and bake for 10-15 min.

 Notes:  Keep a close eye on the granola while it’s baking, it’s no good if it’s burnt; you want the granola to still be just a little soft because when it cools it will harden some. I recommend storing leftover granola in an airtight container. The more times you make this the more you will find what works best for you: you may like less or no cocoa powder, no or more salt, or like it baked more or a little less….. This is a really simple recipe that you can play with! This recipe can be cut back if you don’t need 5 cups of granola, for my family 5 cups will last all of two days. 

~Maddy~

Friday, November 30, 2012

The Truth Behind a Trial


Summer is past, Thanksgiving has come and gone, and I feel the rest of this year is whizzing past me.  2012 has been a good year in many ways and many new things have been discovered, learned, accomplished, and put away for a season. I hope to bring all of the things out of the *attic* soon, but for now, other things call. It’s exciting to think of what the New Year may hold… a little scary too, but what I really want to talk about doesn’t change from season to season: it will be the same no matter what the New Year holds! I want to write about the faithfulness of the Lord. I usually right about fairly superficial things: crafts, recipes, decorating, gardening, so on, but none of these mean much without purpose.  My purpose in life is to serve my Creator by serving others… it is the most fulfilling thing you can imagine…. I didn’t say it’s always spectacular or pretty, but it truly is fulfilling when my heart is set on someone other than me! 

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” Romans 12:1-2 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:33 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 “ I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” Acts 20:35. 

 On this fulfilling journey, (serving God by serving primarily my family), there are some hardships and pains I have and will encounter: everyone has hardships and trials. They come in many colors and packages, and mine happens to be that my Mom has bone cancer. This means a lot of different things for my family, but I can sum it all up by saying, a lot of things have been flipped upside down. I struggle with many fears:  that I won’t be able to handle my circumstances, that I’m not strong enough, that I will mess up or do something wrong... etc, but then the truth of God’s word finds me in those moments and shines in my fearful heart the light of truth: “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9 “ Theses things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33. 

When I am honest, I must say that I learn a great deal through trials! Trials teach me to focus on others, to sympathize with others better, to not strive in my own strength, and to lean on the arms of Jesus. So in the moments when I can’t go one step farther I remember that I don’t have to, God’s strength is sufficient for me and he is faithful to provide what I need when I need it! 

“But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” Psalms 86:15 “22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 Thy mercies are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 “God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.” 1 Corinthians 1:9. 

Deuteronomy 7:9 has become one of the most comforting verses to me, “ Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments  to a thousand generations;”  
The truth behind whatever trial you face is God is faithful! I am so thankful to be serving ‘the faithful God’!  

~Maddy~

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Time flies when you're having fun!!!!!

Wow! What a busy Summer! As you can tell, we haven't had much time to post, and I still don't have a lot of time; so this post will be short and sweet! This Summer has been extremely busy... just the way I like it! As I get older I appreciate the different season of weather and life so much more, in fact though I love Fall, I am sad that our crazy Summer is coming to end and this chapter (Summer 2012) is closing. God has been so good to us this Summer, as He always has in the past, and I thought I would just share a few highlights from the past few months. Later I will hopefully get the chance to expound on some of the gardening, canning and cooking...fun!
        As for canning

          Fig preserves
        Cherry preserves
        Pear preserves   
          Peaches
           Pears
                 And then........  
   120 quarts of GREEN BEANS!



                                                                        All work and no play makes *Jake* a dull boy! ;D









    Olivia got bored....so she brought the weighted exercise ball to life!
           and so the Summer went by......more life flew by!

                                                                             
I can't wait to tell all about the canning experience and share some great recipes (mainly for cupcakes! <3) .......for now......the house needs painting the laundry needs sorting and the bacon, for delicious BLT's, needs frying!


Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Farmers' Market is in full swing! Lots of yummy vegetables are coming inn and plenty of ripe fruit as well! Me and Audrey are in an extremely busy season and do not expect be able to come back out to Market until September, but there is still lots to see at The Hitching Lot Farmers' Market downtown Columbus!
                                                                                  










                                                                       
                                                                              
                                                                  Farmers' Market schedule
                                                                           Directions

Monday, May 14, 2012

Make your own edible arrangment

We had a tea party/brunch for Mother's Day and one of the very neat things we made was an edible arrangement. Not only would we have to drive to pick, but we would have to pay $$$ a great deal more than if we just made it! I figured that we save at least $72 by making our own!                                                          So this is what you'll need to make your own edible arrangement:
Fruit (I would suggest grapes, pineapple, watermelon, honey dew, cantaloupe, strawberries, blueberries, peaches.... stay away from fruit that is really soft, like bananas!)
skewers (12''-18'')
A large vase, basket, or decorative container
Foam (To support/hold the skewers)
Chocolate chips for melting (Optional)
Kale or Lettuce for covering the foam around the base

Wash all the fruit (Use a drop or two of grapefruit seed oil, more on that later!)
Cut your fruit into wedges, balls, cubes, and other fun shapes! (We used a cookie cutter to make heart and star shapes.) 
 Place the strawberries on the skewers and dip in chocolate. I then had an extra vase or two on hand to place the strawberries in rather than laying them down on a pan. (That would make an undesirable flat side on the strawberry!)

This was the final product!  Amazing!
I would like to say that a little creativity goes a long way on projects like these, and that this was Audrey's project (except for the strawberry dipping ;D) and she did an amazing job!