Snow Days

We had snow!  Not nearly the blizzard that was predicted but we did have snow!  Lil G loves to play in the snow, so he and daddy built a "snowman".  This involved hauling buckets of snow, so they could construct their friend, whom Lil G named "Bryan".

This past weekend, we ventured to visit family in Nauvoo.  They had a lot more snow there!  Enough that the kids both got to go sledding for the first time!  Lil G had a blast.  Smunchie tolerated it but did not enjoy the snow nearly as much.

 Sled ride together....

 Followed by a wipe-out!

 Post wipe-out, Smunchie is still A-ok.

Recipe #15: Yogurt 101

I have had multiple requests for a tutorial on how I make yogurt.  I have been making my own yogurt for about three years and I pretty much have a system down, that works for our family.  So, I can share it with you!  

First, some general "yogurt" information, which will, hopefully, guide you on your journey.  Basically, yogurt is controlled curdled milk, made when bacteria ferments in milk, causing it to coagulate.  It has may probiotic benefits but many times, the benefits are overshadowed by the insane amount of sugar in commercially produced products.  Add in the antibiotics/hormones in non-organic yogurt and the benefits quickly disappear.  Therefore, we attempt to eat unflavored, local yogurt, which has a tangy flavor that works beautifully in oatmeal, with fruit and on it's own.  It also doubles as sour cream, and can be substituted for buttermilk in recipes. Unfortunately, the aforementioned local yogurt is hard to come by, especially in the quantities that we consume.  So, yogurt making is a must around here!

Ok, on with the tutorial.  Some things to remember:

• Yogurt is made from other yogurt (i.e.- you need a "starter")
• The bacteria in yogurt is "active" at temperatures between 90 and 110 F.  Colder and the bacteria becomes dormant.  Hotter and the bacteria dies. 
• The longer you ferment, the thicker the result. 
• Yogurt can be finicky.  The bacteria do not like to be disturbed.  Therefore, don't move around your yogurt a lot during the fermentation process.

The players:

• One large pot.  Big enough for a gallon of milk
• A "starter" of yogurt.  You only need about 1/2 cup.  This needs to be organic, if possible.  I find that Stoneyfield works best, as they seem to have the most active cultures
• A gallon of full-fat milk.  I highly recommend that you find grass-fed, local milk, if you can.  The flavor is amazing. 
• Powdered milk.  I know, I know....not the best.  But, it helps thicken the yogurt and is fairly natural.
• A whisk
• A ladle (not pictured)
• A small bowl (not pictured)
• A thermometer.  This one works so well for yogurt making.  It allows you to monitor the yogurt's temperature without disturbing the yogurt (remember how the yogurt is finicky and doesn't like to be disturbed?)

• Take your milk and dump it in your pan, over medium to high heat.  Make sure you shake your milk well, if it is non-homogenized.  Whisk in 1/2 cup of powdered milk per gallon of milk.
• Heat your milk to 180 degrees.  Use your handy thermometer!  Whisk often, to make sure that your milk doesn't scald on the bottom and to make sure that all the milk is uniformly heated to 180.  Tip: keep your milk at 180 degrees for a little longer if you want thicker yogurt.
• Now, cool your milk down.  You need to get the milk down to about 90 degrees (or lower). You can do this by simply letting the milk cool on the counter (it will take a couple of hours).  My preferred method is to put the pan into the sink and put cold water/ice around it.  
• After you milk is cooled to at least 90 degrees, take about 1/2 cup of your yogurt and put it in your small bowl.  Then, ladle in about 1 cup of milk.  Whisk until there are no lumps.  
• Pour the whole shebang back into your milk.  Whisk it well. 
• You can keep your yogurt in the same pan to ferment it.  My preferred method is to go ahead and ladle into the liquid yogurt into jars.  One gallon= 4 large, quart jars. 

Now you need to keep your new yogurt baby warm!  You have a few options.  You can:

• Put your yogurt in the crockpot.  Run in on low, checking frequently with your thermometer.  Make sure you turn off your crockpot when you hit your target zone! Otherwise, you will have burned milk goo.  
• You can put your yogurt in a cooler with a heating pad.  Again, check the temp frequently. 
• My preferred method: Use your oven.  You place the yogurt into the oven, with the thermometer in one of your yogurt containers.  Turn your oven on to it's lowest setting (mine is 170).  Set the alarm on your handy thermometer to 100 degrees.  When the alarm goes off, turn off your oven!  The temp will likely keep increasing to about 110.   Recheck in about two hours and turn on your oven again, if necessary. 

Once you decide your method of keeping your yogurt warm, remember your goal:  Keep it between 90 and 110 for as long as possible.  I find that starting the yogurt in the morning/early afternoon and monitoring all evening, and then letting it go overnight works great.  I end up with delicious, grass-fed yogurt, that is quite akin to Greek yogurt in consistency.  

Enjoy your yogurt making!  Please leave a comment if anything i said was unclear. r

Wordless Wednesday

Tent

On Lil G's actual birthday, mommy and daddy gave him his present.  Mommy and daddy worked together to make Lil G an A-frame tent.  Daddy even routed the edges of the wood, so they were nice and rounded!  Lil G was very excited when he saw his gift.  Uncle Rodger gave Lil G some camping supplies, which he immediately began to use to make coffee for everyone!

 Trying on his canteen, while wearing his "watch"

Recipe #14: No Bake Energy Bites

These are a terrific snack.  They satisfy a sweet tooth without a ton of "junk".

No Bake Energy Bites

1 cup oatmeal

1/2 cup peanut butter (or other nut butter) (I use peanut butter)

1/3 cup honey

1 cup coconut flakes

1/2 cup ground flaxseed

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (I use regular sized chips)

1 tsp vanilla

Mix everything above in a medium bowl until thoroughly incorporated.  Let chill in the refrigerator for half an hour.  Once chilled, roll into balls and enjoy!  Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.

Recipe #13: Chocolate Buttercream Frosting.

Oh My Goodness.  So delicious. You should make this.  As soon as possible.

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks or 1/2 pound), softened (but not melted!)
• 3 1/2 cups confectioners (powdered) sugar
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon table salt
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract or 1 teaspoon almond extract (I used vanilla)
• 4 tablespoons milk or heavy cream (I used heavy cream)

Instructions

1. Cream butter for a few minutes in a mixer with the paddle attachment on medium speed. Turn off the mixer. Sift 3 cups powdered sugar and cocoa into the mixing bowl. Turn your mixer on the lowest speed (so the dry ingredients do not blow everywhere) until the sugar and cocoa are absorbed by the butter. Increase mixer speed to medium and add vanilla extract, salt, and milk/cream and beat for 3 minutes. If your frosting needs a more stiff consistency, add a little more sugar. If your frosting needs to be thinned out, add additional milk 1 tablespoon at a time.

Random Lil G

 Making a frozen banana pop, complete with beak and eyes. 

 "I'm a Mickey Mouse robot!"

Heart shaped Valentine's Day lunch.

Smunchie is Ten Months old

I keep forgetting to post pictures of my little Smunchie!  She is ten months old now and getting ready to start pulling up on furniture.  She loves singing, playing with her big brother and eating whatever she can find on the ground :-)

Lil G is FOUR!

Meeska, Mouska, Mickey Mouse! There's a FOUR YEAR OLD in the Clubhouse!

I have no idea how it happened....but Lil G turns four years old tomorrow!  He is such a light in our lives and we decided to celebrate the little man with a party theme of a famous mouse....Mickey Mouse, to be exact.  He had a blast with his friends at our local "Clubhouse".

The kids started the festivities by making necklaces at "Minnie's Necklace Shoppe".  They enjoyed stringing Fruit Loops onto string to wear for the party.  

Of course, they picked up their "ears" first.  The boys had baseball caps and the girls had hair clips. 

 Smunchie didn't make a necklace.  She spent the time making faces at her Opa instead!

Next, we decided to go ahead and have cake.  I don't know if you know this but cake is the be-all-end-all for a preschool birthday party.  So, I figured it was silly to make the kiddos wait!  We all gathered 'round Lil G, to sing and let him blow out his candles.  He really liked the Mickey Mouse cake, make by mama and Gogie.  The birthday boy did freak us all out by almost climbing onto the table to blow out candles.  Luckily, no damage!

 All the kids were very patient, waiting for their cake.  They also enjoyed the popcorn, Chex Mix and fruits and veggies!

 Papa acted as our photographer for much of the festivities.  He made sure to keep in character though, with his Mickey Mouse ears!

The kids played a lot of Mickey themed games.  In this one, they each pinned Mickey ears onto a picture of the birthday boy, while wearing a mask.  They all got into the spirit of it (even the shy ones)!  Lil G took his turn so quickly that we didn't even get a picture of him!

Next, we played "Pass the Mickey Glove".  The kids passed around a Mickey glove while music played.  When the music stopped, whoever was holding the glove had to do a wacky activity!

Here's Lil G doing his best "Hot dog Dance".

The final activity in the glove was to march around and sing the Mickey Mouse Club song.  The kids really got into their marching and belting out M-I-C-K-E-Y
M-O-U-S-E!

 Next up was "Fishing for Gooeyfish".  Gooeyfish are fish that, for all purposes, look like Swedish Fish candy!  The kids had a blast fishing with the pole that Greg made, for the bags of Gooeyfish.

"Look dad! I caught a fish!"

 What party is complete without presents?  And wow!  Lil G got some awfully nice presents from his generous friends and family.  He loved opening them all and lining them up along the table.

His friends did such a great job watching him open gifts!

 For the final activity, we had a pull-string pinata.  Unfortunately, it didn't work too well!  So, mama busted open the bottom so that the prizes (aka-bouncy balls) could bounce EVERYWHERE!  The kids LOVED chasing down all the balls to take home with them.

It was a wonderful party.  We are so blessed to have such loving friends and family in our lives.  Lil G said over and over again that he had "the best time".