Thankful Thursday

It must be Spring.

I know this because two things happen to me every Spring. First, I always feel the need to go get a fresh new haircut. Second, I start having the desire to fire up the grill and BBQ for dinner every night.

It must be Spring, because today both of those things happened. I went and got myself a shorter, springy haircut and then came home and barbecued dinner.

Springtime gives me so many reasons to be thankful. Here are just a few:

• Warm, sunny days.

• Streets lined with trees that are in full bloom.

• Watching things that appear to be dead start coming back to life again.

• Tulips.

• Warm, sunny days.

• The renewed energy I feel when it is warm and sunny.

• The sound of my grandchildren laughing and playing outdoors.

• Daffodils.

• Waking in the morning to the sound of birds singing.

• Working in the yard.

• Firing up the barbecue.

• Warm, sunny days.

Oh yeah, and I'm also extra-thankful that I get to go see Beth Moore at the Living Proof Live conference this weekend. :)

What is it you're thankful for?

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He Is Risen!!!!

Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. Matthew 28:5-6

We here at Mom2Mom Cafe pray that you all have an amazing day, rejoicing in our Risen Savior!! We pray that your day is blessed beyond measure.

HAPPY EASTER!!

Fruitful Fridays - Clam Chowder and Roux

Well...I did it! For the first time in my life I made CLAM CHOWDER! And I was able to eat it too!

My youngest daughter's teacher's favorite meal is Clam Chowder. Her birthday was this week and my daughter wanted to make her lunch. I was excited that my little girl was wanting to bless her teacher and I really wanted to honor her generosity...even if it meant making something for the first time, then giving it away! I told her teacher I'd give it a go and that the good news was, if she didn't like it, she wasn't going to be able to say that to a Sweet Little Kindergartener! ;-) (Luckily, I have a great relationship with this teacher and she laughed.)

I found a good recipe on AllRecipes.com. If you have never been to this site...you have to go! This is my "Go To" site for any and all recipes. Readers can submit recipes and then they are rated and receive reviews. The best luck I have is to find recipes with 4 or 5 star ratings and then I read as many reviews as I can to make adjustments to the recipes.

Here is the one I found for the Clam Chowder. In reading the reviews, you can rank the reviews by "the most helpful". For this recipe, the most helpful review modified the recipe by making a Roux instead of just adding the flour. I figured...seeing this was a first, why not add another first...I made a Roux, too! (hey, that rhymes!)

If you've never heard of this...

Roux (pronounced "roo" is a thickening agent for soups and sauces with roots dating back more than 300 years in French cuisine. It is made by cooking a flour and oil paste until the raw flavor of the flour cooks out and the roux has achieved the desired color, a properly cooked roux imparts silky-smooth body and a nutty flavor while thickening soups and sauces.

The AllRecipes site also had step-by-step instructions for Making a Roux. I know this had to have made a difference in my chowder. It was so thick and creamy. I am so thankful for the internet. How cool for me to want to do something new and be able to find instructions right at my fingertips!

Thanks for letting me share a "first" with you. Have any of you tried a new recipe lately and want to share it with us?

Empty Tomb Biscuits

Today on the 217 campus, the moms and kids did a baking craft, making Empty Tomb Biscuits. Like the Resurrection Cookies in the Fruitful Friday post last week, these are a fun way to talk with children about the Resurrection of our Savior. Even the three year old that Robyn babysits had a great time with it. On the drive home she was explaining to Robyn all about the biscuit and the story of Jesus, although her Christmas and Easter stories must have been running together in her mind, because she was thinking that it was baby Jesus in the tomb. :)

Thank you to Aryn for doing the craft, and for sharing this fun recipe with the rest of us:


Empty Tomb Biscuits

These biscuits form a hollow center while baking, representing the empty tomb where Christ arose on Easter.

I can refrigerated buttermilk biscuits (like Grands)
¼ cup melted butter
1 bag large marshmallows
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Mix cinnamon and sugar together in a bowl.
Flatten each biscuit until it’s about 5 inches across.
Spread melted butter, cinnamon and sugar on the biscuit.
Place the marshmallow on the center of the biscuit, and then fold the sides around it, forming a “tomb”.
Place biscuit crease side down on a greased baking sheet.
Spread more butter, cinnamon and sugar on top of the biscuit.
Bake in preheated oven for 18-20 minutes, or until lightly browned.

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Fruitful Friday - Resurrection Cookies

Easter is around the corner, and I thought I'd share a great kid friendly EASTER RECIPE!

We did this last year with our 8, almost 7 and 5 year old and it went over really well. I was working with the ingredients and Dad read the scriptures. And the bonus was that they didn't taste half bad....

To be made the evening before Easter.

You need:

1c. whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1c. sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
scotch tape
Bible

Preheat oven to 300 BEFORE BEGINNING.

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces.
Explain that after Jesus was arrested He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl.
Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life.
Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl.
Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.
Read Luke 23:27.

So far the ingredients are not very appetizing.

Add 1 c. sugar.
Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know this and how to belong to Him. Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed.
Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet.
Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matt. 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF.

Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door.
Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matt.27:65-66.

GO TO BED!
Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie.

Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty! Read Matt. 28:1-9

Thanks to Sunday School Network for the recipe I used.

If you try this recipe with your kids, or any others like this, let us know how it turned out!!!