Hump days are no reason not to search out fun things on the internet – so here you go! Have fun and tell me what you are finding interesting out there!
I really would love to go to this. Its not possible, but still I’d love to go.
I’m doing some series-planning in my head about boys and books. Here is a good list according to age. What books do you read to your children under 3 and how do you keep them sitting still?
All you “I have to do everything” people out there (hello, me) read this by my friend Sharon.
A girl I was briefly able to know during my time in Louisville – is such a breath of fresh air in the blog world. I love her mom-real-ness, her creativity, and everything else.
This 20-something chose to describe herself in 5 words: what would your five words be: Mine would be: introvert, creative, loyal, emotional, lover-of-my-men (1 husband, 2 boys)
I missed a great blogging conference with friends in Arkansas – but a friend posted her thoughts on food blogging.
I love a new month! Bring on September, new menus, new pictures, new reading challenges, new weight challenges, new friends, new adventures. Prime word is NEW!
This month we are going on vacation to a place we both vacationed as children with our families of origin and now we get to introduce our boys to the joy of Vogel State Park. Our older boy turns two so get ready for birthday blogs. Its fun! So, let’s get going!
Having a freezer meal party (pictures forthcoming) and am bringing chicken rice broccoli cheese casserole. Recipe forthcoming
Snickerdoodle Cookie Sandwiches with Spiced Pumpkin Buttercream – recipe forthcoming
I’m very excited that the NCAA is back in full swing. I am definitely a Gator girl even though I’ve lived in 3 different football/basketball states since: NC (I love the Tarheels though), KY (only good thing about Louisville and UK was UofL’s head coach was Charlie Strong, but even he got smart and left for Texas), and now GA. I’d also have to admit if there was one SEC school that I could cheer for other than Florida it would be UGA – and that should make my FIL very happy). But, GO GATORS! Now, onto more important things…
Maybe you aren’t into football like I am, so here are some things you can do during the games, or you can do them and watch like I do – great multitasking.
BBQ chicken is usually for the summer – but now that we are moving into the fall and you might just need some food for a football party of something…make this to continue the summer
This was an amazing article in the NYT and we actually did this for our honeymoon. Yes, almost 3 years ago, we took a road trip up the East Coast that the final turn around spot was PEI. A dream come true. And I loved falling in love with Lucy Maud Montgomery more than her beloved Anne. You must go if you’ve never been.
Little known fact about me is that I adore US History. I wanted to be a high school history teacher because I had a high school history teacher who was an amazing teacher. So, I want to read more on the subject. Add something to my reading list besides Christian books.
When I was growing up I loved the cookies in the mall and the little stand in most malls that served Orange Julius drinks. I want to make my own. I’ve found a few recipes but will try this one this week
I have a journal that I want to use to write down food memories for our boys – so they will hopefully learn to love to cook and enjoy food and family around a table just like I do. One of the first chefs I learned to love was Sara Moulton and here is some of her words on the subject.
I’ve been thrilled with the depth, applicability, and pastoral heart of our pastor here in the ATL metro area – in his sermons that is. He was talking about friendship within the body of Christ this morning and then I just read a great blog post by a friend of mine on the very subject. Live authentic community with others. Believe me, it makes a huge difference in your life.
Life is a sweet journey – for the most part! I’ve been amazingly graced with a really great life.
But, what do you do when life hands you pain? As a believer in the sovereign plan of God and also the fact that God does all things good and for our good – this year has been a tough year to stand firm on that.
This past year has handed me a lot of pain. We are just a year out from one of the most hurtful conversations in my life. In each of these hurtful conversations I took away good and hard lessons.
Of the hardest conversations in my life, one of those conversations earned distrust. One of those conversations earned freedom. And the last of these conversations earned seclusion and doubt and tears.
So, how do you work with pain in your life?
1. First, I couldn’t blog about it. Blogging is one way I think through what is in my head. But, when I know others read my blog – there are some things that I can’t talk about on it. Instead, I chose basically two people in my life to pour out everything to: a pastor’s wife that I knew faced similiar pain in ministry and the other one was my husband. Both of these people shared wisdom with me and hours, whether on the phone or laying on the couch. My husband was a champ during the months that followed this initial conversation and the tears each night for literally months on end that would stream down my face.
2. Know where your trust is? I used to be a very trusting person. That was until people in my life that I trusted let me down. Then, I don’t trust as much. I really think i’ve come to know that God is the only person I can trust 100% of the time. He is the only person who has never sinned and can’t sin – so that means he can’t let me down. And God will never let me down. At some point, every single person in your life will let you down. Its a fact of sin nature. You will let others down. I will let others down. But, God stands.
3. My introvert self became more introverted. Some people would never mark me as an introvert – but I truly am. I thrive on quiet time during the day, on my boys taking their naps, on my panera time each week, on my laying in bed with a book or social media time. I need to recharge. And part of that being an introvert is usually yourself can’t hurt you. But, others hurt me. (and believe me I know I’ve hurt other people). I’d rather stick with the friends I have who are tremendous and leave it at that.
4. I’ve let go of things that we must agree on to be friends. There are only a few BIG things in life that are worth battling over – those mountains you might say. Don’t let battles rage and hurt fly over the little things. Really. You may not see eye to eye with someone and its ok. Love anyway.
5. Learning to love. Reading Ryken’s book this past year and now going through Goff’s Love Does has been a tremendous thought process for me. Loving is hard. It took MONTHS to even be able to look some people in the eye after this recent hurt. Loving others is one of the hardest things to do. Oh, its easy to love people when they are lovable. But, grace and mercy and a generous love is needed when people are not lovable.
6. I know some of you who many know me think I always take everything even keeled and am pretty much a laid back person. But, as my husband will tell you, I am an emotional and passionate person. Tears flow with friends as they share news of hurt with me. After last summer, I didn’t think I would ever be able to cry any more tears.
“You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?” – Psalm 56.8 It gives great comfort to know that the Psalmist was not a stranger to tears. We see him often bringing his heartfelt and tearful please to the Lord. This give me great confidence in knowing that I can do the same thing with the same Savior!
7. But, more tears will come. This year has been one of one hurt after another. And I know that pain is a part of life…so we will start the cycle over again.
How do you handle the pain that life deals you? How do you let God work on your heart with the hope of the Gospel?
Since I’m claiming this blog to be about food, family, and faith – each week I want to give you a quote regarding each of these topics.
I am a lover of Peanuts – the comic strip. Who wouldn’t love Charlie Brown and Woodstock and a beagle who is always bossing people around! I enjoyed the Christmas tribute to Schulz in Louisville when I lived there. He is so right about chocolate.
The longer you are married to your spouse, the more you begin to think like him (or her) and what the other person likes or dislikes becomes you. That is probably how the old adage got started by saying the longer a couple is married they look more and more like each other.
My Mister and I have only been married for (almost) 3 years. One of the blessings of those three years is having someone to cook (and bake) for all the time. Some women find that daunting. I find it challenging in a good way – but I also need to eat out sometimes, even if it is Chick-fil-A.
One of the things that my Mister loves is fruit desserts. So, I wanted to create a sweet fruit recipe that he could enjoy. Two of the unmistakable tastes of summer to me are lemons and bluberries. I remember picking buckets of blueberries at Huber’s Family Farm up in southern Indiana when I lived in Louisville. I could eat a lot just standing there picking in – never filling up my bucket. (To anyone from Huber’s reading this – I really didn’t, I may have snuck one or two (berries, not buckets).
So, with Italian cheeses on hand and some blueberries and lemons, I set out to create this tart. Enjoy the final days of summer!
Blueberry Italian Cheese Tart
Recipe Type: dessert
Cuisine: Tart/Fruit
Author: the charming south kitchen
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 10
A creamy, cheesy sweet tart with blueberries and lemon
Ingredients
For the crust:
1/4 cup powdered sugar
3/4 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg yolk
1/8 tsp kosher salt
1 stick butter, unsalted, melted
1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
For the filling:
8 oz whole milk ricotta cheese
8 oz mascarpone cheese
2 eggs
1 egg yolk
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp real maple syrup
juice of 1 lemon
For the fruit topping:
Whole blueberries
zest of one lemon
Instructions
For the crust:
Mix everything together and press into a removable bottom 9.5 inch tart pan. Put in freezer for about 20 minutes. Poke holes with a fork in bottom of crust. Bake covered with foil for 15 minutes (at 350). Remove foil and bake for another 15. Let cool to room temperature.
For the filling:
Mix everything and combine until no more lumps. Pour filling into cooled crust and bake at 350 for another 40-45 minutes or until filling is set. Let cool slightly
For the topping:
Mix the blueberries with the lemon zest. Scatter on top of tart.
Set in fridge until cold. Serve with cool whip or homemade whipped cream and a sprig of mint – and preferably some decaf!
