Milk & Toast

Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. . .

Why?

Maybe because its so simple - a little something to start your morning that can give you energy to lunch.
It doesn't have to be elaborate - like pancakes, muffins, or eggs (although, I am a fan of these choices, on special occasions). You can just pop an english muffin in your toaster and in a minute or so you are spreading soft cream cheese on the tops and grabbing your mug of coffee (or, in my case, tea or milk).

Mmmm - so good.

I used to skip breakfast for coffee when I was younger, only to end up spent by noon. . . the kick of caffeine would last for a couple of hours, but then would wear off, leaving me cranky. I slowly weaned myself back into the thought of eating breakfast with a banana on the way out the door. It felt like a lump was in my throat, and all morning long, I could feel it slowly sinking into my tummy. Ughh. I tried oatmeal - apples - lowfat poptarts - cold cereal - bagels . . . I found my favorite to be boring old toast of all things. Toast is like a peanut butter staple (oooh, and it tastes sooo good with smooth and creamy peanut butter)- there is just something so wholesome about it, something so classic, so delicious.

MMMMmmmmm . . . . breakfast - and, can you guess what I am having this morning ;)

Cornbread

I love cornbread.

I could eat mounds and mounds of it, daily if I had a chance. (Good thing I don't! ;)

This recipe from allrecipes.com was so good, so sweet and yummy that it could even stand on its own two feet without butter and honey. But then again, I guess that's just my opinion ;)


Grandmother's (not mine, somebody's) Buttermilk Cornbread

Ingredients:

• 1/4 pound butter
• 2/3 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
  

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8 inch square pan.
2. Melt butter in large skillet. Remove from heat and stir in sugar. Quickly add eggs and beat until well blended. Combine buttermilk with baking soda and stir into mixture in pan. Stir in cornmeal, flour, and salt until well blended and few lumps remain. Pour batter into the prepared pan.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Fourth Sunday of Advent

A simple breakfast -
juice and cinnamon rolls -
&
a sweet Sabbath preparing for the celebration of the birth of of Savior :)

In Dulci Jubilo

In sweet rejoicing,
now sing and be glad!
All our joy
lies in the manger;
It shines like the sun
in the mother's lap.
You are the alpha and omega!

As I was helping mom with writing these touching lyrics on a poster board I couldn't help but get teary at 'All our joy lies in the manger".
What a beautiful thought, our Saviour, and our King - not just a baby, OUR JOY!!! All of our Joy is in Him! HE IS OUR JOY!!!

This past Sunday, we both woke to the sun rising in our east side window - as it was peeking through the blinds, it caught H's sleepy eyelids and he rolled over back to the fleeting night. I rose, enlivened by the morning and made some oh-so-original Betty Crocker blueberry muffins, turkey bacon, and scrambled eggs. The last time I made any of these items is too long ago to remember. All of them together - don't even ask . . . maybe in the early days of our marriage. The simplicity of the morning made it easier for us to reflect on our Scripture readings and each other. After all, Sabbath meals should NOT be stressful.

Beautiful rest and renewal got us off to a new week, and we are all going to need it this week. Especially my precious mom, who is having jaw surgery this Wednesday to help cure her sleep apnea. Please keep her in your prayers - it will be a long road to complete recovery.

Thank you! May He be your Joy this week!!!

Cold, Wet and Sniffy

No, we are not sick. Just a little sniffy. Mountain cedar seems to be confused. The weather is warm, then wet and cold. It blooms, spreads pollen, and then shrinks. We are happy when it shrinks. Unfortunately, allergies just seem to be year-round here in ol' San Antone.

And speaking of slumps - our poor Spurs are down with our two best players gimping with sprained ankles. . . 2 losses = sad times :( We still love 'em though!

Its been raining all day, tidge on the nippish side of things. Coat weather makes me happy :) H and I dream of getting back to the northwest someday, where days like these are the norm.

Don't worry Texas, we are still here and will be here for a while :)

I tasted the worst thing yet this season. Trying to get in the 'spirit' foodwise, I tried Sonic's new peppermint blast - BLEH!!!! I think that the biggest turnoff was the gaggy "mint" green color (more like green food coloring not all the way mixed).

Gag. The taste was too vile to post.

What possessed me to venture into peppermint land anyway?

Grab Bag

My tummy is warm and full from delicious creamy tomato & basil soup and a grilled cheese sandwich (thank you Steph, you sweetie :)

I just pulled on my jammies and I am determined to go to bed before 11 tonight. . . we'll see if I hold to that - I have to get some laundry done first.

I am looking down at my napping pup - he was rather frustrated with me earlier because I wasn't playing with him. Poor little guy wore himself out being agitated. Now his little belly is sticking out from his sideways position as he snores. He reminds me of a college student, with his ability to sleep anywhere at anytime.

This Sunday is the first Advent - I am contemplating how to make it special. We have a candle wreath somewhere in our junk room - I cringe at the thought of trying to find it.

And food, yes, the food. I always look forward to the food. ;)

I am eager to twist some sweet bread braids this year. I think I have only made twisty bread once, a long while ago.

I am starting to get into the Christmas spirit, slowly, I have one more day to enjoy some sanity.

My lovey comes home tomorrow!

Quest

Okay, once upon a time, I tasted a delicious dish which was basically like a 'chicken lasagna', and it was love at first bite.

Alas, I cannot remember who made it, but then it dawned on me that someone out there might have a recipe similar up their sleeve . (I love sharing recipes!)

I remember it having a lovely blend of white cheeses, basil, pesto, and tomatoes. . . mmmm

??? Anyone ??? ;)