Cocoa

Snow on April 27th = Hot Cocoa on April 27th

And to think that I actually wore flip flops yesterday!

SNOW!!!

IT IS APRIL 27th AND IT IS SNOWING!!!

School Pictures

Today was "School Picture Day" for our homeschool group here in NY. 

Hannah

Cari

The "Cross-eyed-tounge" shot.

The "Jack" shot.

Mini Cheesecakes

These little cups of yumminess are perfect for those days that you just want a little sweetness and not the WHOLE pan of brownies.  This recipe makes 24 mini cheesecakes; all of which can be frozen and taken out one or 5 at a time (depending on how hungry you are).

Mini Cheesecakes

To make the crust:

Combine:

1 c. graham cracker crumbs

1/2 c. sugar

1/3 stick of melted butter

Line your muffin pan with those little paper liners.

Put about 1/2 of a Tablespoon of crust mix into the cups.

Press into the bottom.

Bake crusts for 5 minutes in a 350 degree oven.

To make the cheesecake filling:

ALL INGREDIENTS NEED TO BE ROOM TEMPERATURE!!!

Combine:

1 1/8 c. sugar

1 1/4 Tbsp. cornstarch

1 1/4 # of cream cheese (2 1/2 - 8 oz. blocks)

2 1/2 oz. heavy whipping cream

3 eggs

2 egg yolks

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/8 tsp. salt

Fill cups with cheesecake filling (up to about 1/8" from the top).

Bake for apx. 30 minutes in a 350 degree oven.

(or until it turns a little bit brown on top)

Top with whatever you like.  You could use the yummy caramel or some squished up strawberries.

Our 15th Wedding Anniversary

Yesterday was our 15th wedding anniversary.  My, what 15 years has held for us...

Several weeks ago my neighbor Christy was asking me how long Michael and I had been married and when our anniversary was.  She asked me if she could watch my girls while Michael and I went out on a 'date'.  She wanted to teach the girls how to do some origami.

The day started out like this...  Michael went out to start the car.  It was 31 degrees outside.  He comes back in and sticks his freezing cold hands on my face.  He said he wasn't going to put them on my back (like he does EVERY morning) because it was our anniversary.  How thoughtful - he is just so sweet sometimes.

A couple of weeks ago, one of Michael's professors had talked about a Mexican restaurant in Glens Falls that he loves.  Michael said he even gave directions during class.  So, Michael and I went there on our 'date'.

Michael and I love Mexican food.  We used to frequent the one in NC.  They always give you free chips and salsa and their food is cheap and yummy.  After being here in NY for a while, we were missing that Mexican food, so we searched on our GPS and found one.  We traveled there and found the menu posted up outside of the restaurant.  I am glad they posted it.  Their chips and salsa was $9.00!!!  You could get a quesadilla for $15.00!  We just turned back around on the sidewalk and walked back to our car.

Imagine our surprise when we arrived at El Mexicano and were greeted by the friendly staff there that promptly brought us FREE chips and salsa and a FREE cheese quesadilla (one for each of us).  Then, we ordered our food.  I got two tacos, beans and rice for only $6.00!!!  Then, to top off our wonderful visit to our new FAVORITE Mexican place, they brought out FREE dessert!!!  FREE dessert?!  That place is a keeper for sure!!!

We had plenty of time to talk; remembering our past 15 years and discussing our thoughts on where God will lead us in the next 15.  That's right, thoughts.  Who would have ever thought we would be here?  15 years ago, who would have ever thought that God, in His infinite mercy and grace, would have...
His word says in Jeremiah 29:11 'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.  Thank you Lord, for your infinite mercy and grace.

I thought, in celebration of 15 years, I would share 15 photos with you from our past.  Keep in mind that most of them will be from the past 8 years since before that time period, I did not own a digital camera.  All of my hard copy photos are in NC in a box.  The first from my wedding was taken just today.  I do have a copy of our wedding video and I played it on the TV and took a picture.  Enjoy.

April 14, 1995 - Our Wedding Day

December 24, 2002

May 1, 2003 - The day Cari was born.

December 24, 2003

Easter Day 2004

A wedding we attended in 2004

A trip to Myrtle Beach, SC in 2005

Our first camping trip to Campcreek in WV - 2005

A Lilly family reunion in WV - 2006

A wedding we attended at the beach, 2006

Rollerskating in 2007

Our first trip to Guatemala in 2008

Easter Day 2009

Ticonderoga, NY - 2009

Word Of Life Ranch Fort  - April 14, 2010

Fried Chicken Nuggets

If you have kids, I bet they love chicken nuggets.  My girls do.  I used to buy the frozen ones.  I do not have a food label picture to show you.  Next time you are at the grocery store, check out the label.  I am sure there are ingredients in there you cannot pronounce.  Not only that, they are very expensive.  My girls also loved the ones from Chick-Fil-A.  (I did too.)  Notice both of those statements are 'past tense'.  We have not laid our eyes on a Chick-Fil-A up here yet. 

Michael and I both laugh every time we head to Glens Falls.  There is a road sign for "Friendly's" resturant.  From a distance, it looks exactly like the road sign for "Chick-Fil-A".  We both always look at it and for a split second think - "THERE'S A CHICK-FIL-A!!!"  But, of course, 65 miles per hour, you get to the sign pretty quick and your eyes focus a little closer on the sign and you see it is NOT Chick-Fil-A.

I gladly give you "Fried Chicken Nuggets".  Hannah says they are better than Chick-Fil-A!!!  That is a HUGE compliment - especially from my "Quality Control Food Inspector" (a.k.a. Hannah).

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  The numbers were missing when we arrived.  I use an oven themometer.  These marks are for 350.  I put the first mark on there a little too soon.  My oven takes about 30 minutes to preheat.

Pour some olive oil into a frying pan. Preheat the oil in the frying pan on medium heat. I normally start this first. By the time I cut up the chicken and coat it it is heated up enough.

Next, cut up your chicken into cubes.  I use whole chicken breasts, cut into 4 strips and then cut into about 1 inch pieces.

Next, combine Plain Bread crumbs, salt and pepper (suited to your taste).  When I finish up these breadcrumbs, I am going to make my own. 

I normally use about 1 cup of bread crumbs, 1/2 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper.  I put them all in a bowl with a snap on lid.  Then, I put some of the chicken chunks in and shake them all around to coat them.

 

These are the coated nuggets.

Place your coated nuggets in the hot oil.  Fry on one side for about 4-5 minutes or until it is nice and browned.

 

Flip and fry on the other side 4-5 minutes.

Remove from pan and place onto a baking sheet.  Bake in the oven for apx. 20 minutes.

When they are finised in the oven, remove from pan and place on some towels to soak up some of the oil.

Enjoy.

Picnic

Today was a BEAUTIFUL day in the Adirondack mountains. 

We decided to have a picnic on the playground! 

We had LOTS of fun today playing outside.

Caramel

My newest discovery...  homemade caramel!  Could you even dream it could be this easy?  How many of you buy the caramel to dip your apples in?  How many of you buy the caramel to drizzle on top of your ice cream?  Go ahead, raise your hands...  If you have been reading a while, you know how I can't stand artifical ingredients in things.  Are you ready for this post?

Check out this food label for caramel sauce.

Here is the super easy way to make your own homemade caramel.  Buy a can of sweetened condensed milk.  Remove the label.  DO NOT OPEN THE CAN.  Lay it on it's side in a big pot.  Cover it with water.  Bring to a slight boil and let boil slowly (where the water is sorta ripply, but not crazy bubbly) for 2 hours.  Keep an eye on it and add water as needed to keep the can covered.  Let cool to room temperature!  THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.  Remove the lid.  Wala, you have caramel!

Check out the food label for sweetened condensed milk.

Here are some picture for those of you who want to see...

Here is the can boiling slightly.

Here is the caramel after I removed the lid.

Here is the caramel on top of my mini cheesecakes! 

Yes I made mini cheesecakes!  They are delicious!  That recipe will come soon.

Schroon Lake...

...has THAWED!!!

Dishes

Do you know how much fun it is to teach two little girls how to do dishes?  Under their mother's watchful eye, they got to do the dishes.  You may think, that's crazy, they are 8 and almost 7 years old, they should already be doing the dishes.  But, you do not know how hot my water is when it come out of the tap.  I measured it at 125 degrees F.  And, we do not have an automatic dishwasher.  They have to be extra careful.  Since we use mainly glass, that presents another issue.  Both of my girls wanted to hold the glasses up high and wash them high above the water.  So, I kept reminding them that the glasses are slippery with soap on them and if they were to slide out of their hands, it would hit the sink and bust, getting glass all in their water.  So, they would gently lower the glass close to the water and very gently rub the glasses and plates with their little bitty hands.  They had so much fun.  While one was washing, the other was drying and putting away.  After about an hour, all my supper dishes were done!  I know... I know... it would probably take me about 15 minutes to do the supper dishes.  And, I could use water that was a lot hotter and maybe get those dishes extra germ free.  But, what fun would that be?  My girls are growing up and I love teaching them how to care for our home.  Here are some pics from the evening...