~

"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up."

Deuteronomy 6:5-7

Friday, February 15, 2013

He’s Seven Today!

Iphone (feb 2013) 075

Our sweetheart Nathan turns seven years old today. Look how cute and adorable he was (and still is). Every year we tell him the story of how we went to the hospital to have him on Valentine’s Day. He didn’t want to share his birthday with a holiday so he waited to be born on the 15th. Smile Although, it is fitting that this boy who loves so much, would have his birthday so close to the day we celebrate the ones we love.

Nathan is a true delight to everyone he meets. He has the most tender heart and desires to serve others. He is our snuggler who always wants to be close or holding your hand. He says the most amazingly kind things sometimes and prays enormous prayers with a sweet child-like faith. He is gentle to his younger brothers and is a defender to the helpless. Man, I love this boy.

He loves to ride his bike, bounce on the trampoline, swim, play soccer and basketball. He’s an active little boy. He likes to read books like Frog and Toad or Morris the Moose. He loves to get frozen yogurt, its his favorite treat.

IMG_3170-2211517946-O(rev)

Nathan is a joy to us all. We are so grateful for another year watching this wonderful young boy grow. I pray for many more happy birthdays with him and that God would continue to draw his heart closer to Jesus.

The Lord your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.

Zephaniah 3:17

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

The Most Amazing

Being a homeschool family, our workload during the week is pretty heavy. Breakfast usually consists of something fast but filling. The weekend is a whole other story.

We like to have big family breakfasts on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Ian prefers eggs and fruit, Jacob likes lots and lots of pancakes. We all have our favorites. Last week, Nathan asked me to make some cinnamon rolls because “it had been a long time since we had any”.

Truthfully, I’ve always made store bought cinnamon rolls because they’re easier and I’ve never found a recipe that I really like. I LOVE a good homemade cinnamon roll. They are the best! I’m happy to say, I finally found the perfect recipe for cinnamon rolls.

I found this recipe on Pinterest, but it’s actually the Pioneer Woman's recipe which means it’s awesome. Every recipe I’ve ever tried of hers, I’ve loved. I love Ree Drummond. Did I tell you I met her once? She had a book signing here in Pearland so a few friends and I waited in line for her to sign our cookbooks.

Iphone (jan 2013) 044

 

She was as genuine and funny in person as she is on her blog (and I’m sure on her show too but we don’t have cable so I haven’t seen it). I have a hard time wrapping my mind around how she does it all? Homeschool, cooking show and books, blogging, photography, living on a ranch, etc. She’s my hero.

Back to the recipe. I wanted to share with you the most amazing cinnamon roll recipe courtesy of the Pioneer Woman. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

333323997_04bd8d6c53

Photo credit: The Pioneer Woman Blog

ROLLS:

Adapted from: The Pioneer Woman
Note:   The original recipe makes about seven 8" round aluminum tins of cinnamon rolls.  After cutting the original recipe in half, you'll end up with 3 - 4 tins full of rolls, with 7 - 8 rolls per tin...depending on how large you cut them.
Ingredients: (This is 1/2 the original recipe)

DOUGH:
2 cups whole milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup sugar

1 pkg active dry yeast

4 1/2 cups flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tablespoon salt
FILLING:

1 cup melted butter, plus more as needed

1/8 cup ground cinnamon for sprinkling
1 cup sugar, plus more as needed

Directions:

Mix milk, vegetable oil, and 1/2 cup of sugar in a pan. Scald the mixture (heat until just before the boiling point.) Remove from heat and let it cool 45 minutes to 1 hour.

When the mixture is lukewarm to warm, but NOT hot, sprinkle in package Active Dry Yeast. Let this sit for a minute and then add 4 cups of flour. Stir mixture together. Cover and let rise for at least an hour.

Next, add 1/2 cup flour, the baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir mixture together. From here, you could cover the dough and put it in the fridge until you need it—overnight or even a day or two, if necessary. Just keep your eye on it and if it starts to rise out of the pan, just punch it down. Or, of course, you can just go ahead and make the rolls.

Sprinkle surface generously with flour and roll the dough into a thin rectangular shape, about 1/4" thick. Brush melted butter on top, then sprinkle sugar over the butter, and finish with a generous sprinkling of cinnamon.

Starting with the wide end, roll the dough tightly towards you in a neat line. Next, pinch the seam to the roll to seal it. Spread 1 tbsp of melted butter in each pan/dish. With a sharp knife, begin cutting the dough into 1 inch slices, and laying them in the pans. Let rest for 20-30 minutes. Bake at 375 degrees for 13 - 17 minutes, or until golden.