Baker/cooker extraordinaire....

I realized today that I love cooking and baking. I mean I think I knew this before, however today I realized how much I enjoy it. It amazes me how quickly time slips by when I'm doing this. Also it's amazing to me how organized and efficient I am working by myself. Mind you when someone calls or when Jason gets home look out because I don't shut up after being alone all day.

Anyways today for our (my mom, sister and grandparents) yummy supper I made hamburgers (yummiest recipe ever, always a big hit), potato salad (again a new recipe from my head that I whipped up and everyone seemed to like), spinach salad, maple ginger baked beans, and a chocolate cake with lots and lots of chocolate icing. It was my sister's birthday and she requested extra icing so I had to do it.

(like the candle? that's called improvising when you forgot to get birthday candles)

Just when this wasn't enough I made chocolate chip cookies and a marinade for tomorrow night when we have people over again. I usually don't like having people over but when my place is clean (which it is cause I took care of that on Thursday) and I've got some yummy goodies for them to load up on it's fun. I think I just suck at the whole hospitality thing. However Jason seems to pick up where I lack in that area so maybe I'm just making a bigger deal of it then I should.

Anyways, everything is all cleaned up now and it's time for me to relax. Here's some more pics that my sister took tonight......

my mom and Grammiemy grandfather, who we call Pampie

Jason was very excited about his cake, poor guy I need to bake for him more often

okay okay you caught me, I'm just as obsessed with Kitty as she is with me....actually maybe even more so :) she loves rubbing her head all over my face when I pick her up

Checking in.....

I think I've been a little busy this summer with the randomness of my posting! I've got the next three days off of work. However today is jammed with multiple errands (I know I know I need to get going here seeing as how it's almost 10:00), tomorrow is major cleaning day in this house (I love the cats but man can they make a mess), then Friday I'm celebrating my sister's birthday by having her and the rest of my fam over for a BBQ. So I will enjoy Friday because I'll be cooking and baking all day.

Something has been bugging me. There is someone who has left an anonymous comment on my blog and I've got no idea who. So Mr/Mrs anonymous commenter....perhaps you could reveal yourself or at least give me some more hints! I'm so not good with this type of stuff. Patience is not one of my giftings!

As for God and I......I don't know. I'm really having self esteem issues...this has been an ongoing thing in my life. I'm just admitting it now though. I may have already written about this I can't remember. I'm trying though.....God keeps pulling me to Psalm 139. You know the one about knitting you together in your mother's womb. Some days I'm like "aw God you do love me and I am wonderfully made" other days I'm like "wow what were you thinking God knitting me together in this way, could you not have planned for me to be a little less _______ "(insert whatever I'm not impressed with that day). It's a lovely battle! It will be one that I overcome eventually. It's nuts that this has been more of a struggle for me than my sex abuse. However I know some of this is a direct cause of being sexually abused so I'm still on that journey as well. Oh the ramblings that are occurring on this page right now :) Can't wait to head back to counselling next week. I think I'm in need for another dose of reality!

Until then I will continue to fill my spare minutes daydreaming of our next vacation. The Constable family has decided that we are off to Disney World in May. That's right, out of all the places Jason and I want to go before we do the kid thing Disney World would be top on our list (at least we agree). Yes, I've already been there lots in life. However I've never done the Disney vacation where they pick you up from the airport and you're on only Disney property the whole time. We really wanted that experience of staying in their hotels (the value ones of course...hee hee hee), eating on their meal plan (again the value one) and of course hitting up all 4 parks and 2 water parks. Oh I can't wait to see the big kid I live with in that place. It was so magical going to Disneyland with Jason that I can't even begin to explain how excited I get thinking about Disney World because it's way bigger and better. Anyways, I need to stop the random ramblings for the day, especially this one or I'm going to be off looking up more info on disney vacations and I need to get going.

Hope you all are having a great summer.......

The joys of baking.....

I just spent the last three days at a leadership summit with the leadership team at our church. This is my third year taking part in this. I love it. Halfway through I'm always thinking "crap why did I put myself through this again", but I'm always thankful I did. It's hard to get pushed by God in that extreme way. However it's good for the soul and good for His kingdom if I listen and follow through on the promptings, which I always do after the summit because they're so intense that I can't imagine not. Anyways, it was great and well worth the money.....ah Bill Hybels!

One thing I did learn this weekend is that I have a passion for baking (I kind of knew this but thought it was stupid). I love it! It refreshes me and brings people together. So I could not wait this morning to get up and bake muffins. I love it when I have free time on the weekends because I get to bake muffins for my breakfast for the week. I hate eating store bought things now and never use mixes. So yes I'm spoiled but I'm able to adapt and make wholesome, low fat recipes my way (if any of you ever have any baking questions fire away).

Anyways, found a great muffin recipe that I made this morning....hope you take the time to enjoy these hearty, not too sweet and the perfect amount of banana flavour with the extra kick of chocolate beauties!

Whole Wheat Banana Muffins

Ingredients:
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup white unbleached flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup oatmeal
1 egg
3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup mashed banana (about one banana)
1/4 cup oil (I always use canola when baking)
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup of fair trade chocolate chips

Directions: Combine the flours, baking powder, salt, and oatmeal. Stir. In another bowl, beat egg, stir in milk, banana, oil, and honey. Pour into flour mixture and stir until evenly moist. Stir in chocolate chips. Spoon into greased muffin cups and bake for 15 minutes at 400F.

One of our friends invited us over for supper tonight so I'm off to make a peanut butter pie for dessert....YAY! :)

Not so much.....

So I'm really sucking at this. I just can't find time to post right now. There is so much going on and it's summer. So thanks for continuing to check in on me but it may be a while before I have the time to continue this project. Hope everyone is having a great summer!