Cornbread Recipe

There is just something about a good piece of cornbread. A hot bowl of pinto beans steaming beside it. Soft butter melting within. We have had lots of people say they don't know how to make this simple dish and they resort to Jiffy mix so we wanted to take a moment to share this recipe with you. This is made with organic ingredients but you can use non-organic measure for measure and it will still come out just fine. Let us know how you like it and post a photo on our FB so we can see how you did!

1 Cup Organic Flour
1 Cup Organic Cornmeal
1/4 Cup Organic Refined Coconut Oil or Olive Oil
2 Pasture Raised Eggs
4 Teaspoons Non- Aluminum Baking Powder
1 Cup Organic Milk
3/4 Teaspoon Sea Salt
1/4 Cup Raw Sugar (If you like yours sweet like we do just add sugar to taste)






Stir together in a medium-size bowl, flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add eggs, milk, and oil. Beat until smooth and pour out into a casserole pan. Or you can use a small cake pan like we did, or you can pour the batter into individual muffin pans. Bake at 425 for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Use a toothpick to make sure the center is cooked through and serve.

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Man From Uncle New & Classic Review

Recently I stumbled upon the Man From Uncle TV series, and instantly fell in love with this classic spy show! Were in the middle of season 1 and are having such fun finding the actors we recognize. Its such a great family friendly show, and you don't even have to worry about all that junk that you so often run into with newer movies.

I have to say I was kind of excited to find out about the movie that came out this month. Mr. Cottage took Cheyenne and I to go see it. All in all, I thought it was a pretty good movie. There were three words or so that I would consider bad words. And one scene involving a young lady wearing nothing but a pair of underwear that I could definitely do with out. I like how they kept it in the same time period, and how it gave a little more of an explanation on how the "team" became a team. Over all it was a pretty good movie, the acting was good and I liked the sound track. It wasn't really gory like lots of movies- which surprised me being a spy movie. But I think I still like the old one best :) I guess I am the classic kind of girl.

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The Wilson County Fair 2015

 

The place where cotton candy, funnel cakes, lights, games, shooting galleries, face painting, competitions and rides that make you question your sanity meet. Welcome to the Wilson County Fair, the biggest in our state. For two weeks every summer people flock to get the fill of fair food,  music, exhibits and rides. Heat nor mud stop this show from going on.

We decided to go on the last day of the fair, a nice smoldering day. After buying our tickets we stopped by the livestock barn to see our dear friend and a few of her goats from  Butterfly-Morn Farm.

Then it was off to get our hands stamped so we could defy gravity and "ride the wind"- or make ourselves sick, which ever comes first.

We started with the Farris Wheel, then moved onto the Gliders- then a quick stop to the mule pulling competition- umm. They didn't much like being hooked up to the thing they were supposed to pull.

Then we stopped by the sheep competitions for a bit before going on to the cattle competition. After checking it out we headed back off to find something else we could do- we chose the "Vertigo" ie. the massive swing.

Brianna and I rode together and dad rode with another little boy. One of my shoes happened to be loose and I was a little worried I was going to lose it and it was going to fall off and smack someone in the head. Right until I looked up and noticed that my sister had her eyes shut (on the swing! LOL!)

This is the target from the shooting gallery. Who knew we had an Anny Oakley in the family. Pretty good for her first time!

After we got off and stopped laughing at my sister we decided to get something to eat. Then the shooting gallery, ice cream truck, and back to the "big kid" rides. We chose this monstrosity- the funniest part Brianna LOVED this one- yes the same one who had her eyes closed on the swing.

We had a great time- but by the end of the night we were so tired and our feet were killing us.

Breadsticks Recipe

5/8 Cup Spring Water

1 Tablespoon refined Coconut Oil or Olive Oil

2 Cups Organic Flour (Can use non-organic)

1 Teaspoon Sea Salt

1/2 Teaspoon Organic Raw Sugar (Can use non-organic)

2 1/2 Teaspoons Yeast

 Pour the water into a medium size bowl, then oil. Follow with the flour, in separate corners add salt, sugar, and yeast. Slowly begin to mix. Once combined and elastic. Cover the bowl with oiled plastic wrap and allow to rise for about an hour- or until doubled in size.

Divide into small even balls and roll into long sausage shapes. Think preschool making clay snakes :) Sprinkle cookie sheet with cornmeal then sprinkle with garlic and salt  and place pizza rolls on top.

Allow to rise again. Melt salted grass fed butter with some garlic powder and baste dough with butter (or oil). Preheat oven to 350 and back for 25 minutes or until golden brown.







#Italian #food #breadsticks #organic #OliveGardenCopyCat  #dinner

Wild Roses Fashion - It's Purple

I came across a picture on Pinterest of Taylor Swift wearing a really vintage looking outfit and posing with a  bike, I thought the look was cute so I re-created with some stuff I had. I really like how this one came out, and thought I would share it with you.

I got the purple sweater and cream skirt from a local vintage store, the sunglasses are from Ross, the bracelet is from Clair's Boutique and the necklace was my grandmother's. I got the purple flower that is in my hair from Walmart to go on a pair of wings- but that is a whole other story. My shoes are from Walmart too. For my hair, I just used a "bump it".

The Golden Braid Book Review

Last week I got the opportunity to read Melanie Dickerson's newest book 'The Golden Braid' . Well let's just say I finished all 300+ pages in 24 hours. It was wonderful!

The Golden Braid is based on Rapunzel- but told in an entirely new way, that will keep you enthralled to the very last page. I love how believable the characters are, and that you never quite knew what to expect.  I love the richness of the characters in this sweet tale.  Trust me friends, you will love it!

 My only regret with this book was that it was finished, I had to stop myself from going to the beginning and starting it all over again. This book has found a close tie with 'The Healer's Apprentice' as my favorite book by her.

The Golden Braid comes out November 17, 2015!

Received this book free for my honest  review. The post contains affiliate links.

Cinnamon Crunch Bagel Recipe

Ingredients:1 1/2 cups warm Bottled Water about 110 F
4 1/2 to 4 3/4 cups of Organic Flour
 2 pkgs of Active Dry Yeast
2 tablespoons Raw Sugar
1 teaspoon Himalayan Pink Salt
1 tablespoon Cinnamon
1 tablespoon Raw Sugar (for the water bath)

Topping:
1 cup Raw Sugar
¼ cup Cinnamon
4 to 6 tablespoons Grass-fed Butter (melted)

Directions:
In a mixing bowl combine 1 1/2 cups of flour and the yeast.

Combine warm water, 3 tablespoons sugar and salt. Pour over flour mixture.

Beat at low speed with an electric mixer for about 1/2 a minute, then stir as much of the remaining flour with a spoon as you can.

Turn out on to a lightly floured surface, kneed in enough of the remaining flour to make a moderately stiff dough that is smooth and elastic.

Cover and let rest for 10 minutes, then cut into 12 even portions.

Shape each one into a smooth ball.

Punch a hole in the center of each and pull gently to widen the hole to about 1 1/2 -2 inches. Place on a greased backing sheet. Cover and let rise for 20 minutes.


Broil 5 inches from heat for 3-4 minutes turning once (tops should not turn brown).

Heat a gallon of water to boiling in a large pan, and add 1 tablespoon of sugar to the water. Cook 4-5 bagels at a time in the boiling water for 7 minutes turning once. Remove bagels with a slotted spoon and drain the water.

Once the bagels are all boiled, brush each bagel with butter and then generously sprinkle the cinnamon and sugar topping.

Then place on a cookie sheet and return to the oven for 25-30 minutes at 375.



Say What You Mean To Say

This year my parents asked me what I wanted for my birthday- I'll be 18. This question keeps me from sleep. It's 10:30 but I can't sleep. What do I want?

• I want to sing "Jesus loves me" with my foster brother one more time, I can almost hear is sleepy voice singing "bible, bible" the only words of the song he could say. 

• I want to laugh with my other foster brother as he eats his "green monster" aka blended avocado. I can almost see his smile- his cheeks coated in green. I want to wrestle my keys away from him as he tries to "blog" by crashing his tiny fingers into my keyboard. And pretend to be annoyed.

• I want to be sitting in the sunshine on a friends horse trailer, listen to the birds sing and the horses, with soggy boots from riding through the creek, and crazy hair from my helmet. 

• I want to splash my feet in the lake while sitting on the dock with old friends and promise again that we will always be friends, and stay up late whispering about home hopes and dreams. I want one more moment with the ones I love. The ones on different journeys, the ones gone too soon.

• I want to wake up early and sit with grandma watching the sun come up and sipping steaming cups of tea. I want to hear her sing all the songs she knew so well. I want to "swing dance" with her one more time, and hold her hand as we walk along.

So tonight as the hours tick by to that moment 18 years ago, I sit and remember- all the people who made me who I am. I treasure their memories- our memories together, and I find that I already have my birthday wish.

As I sit here listening to my radio play ocean waves, I find myself almost afraid of tomorrow, another year that will take me further from them.

The house is silent- but for the sound of the waves, it feels as if the whole world sleeps except for me sitting here with a pen and paper.

What have I learned? In these 18 years?

• Family isn't always by blood- sometimes it's by heart.

• Not everyone is going to be in your life forever, but that's ok.

• Life is unpredictable, enjoy the ride.

• Dream big- it makes life more fun.

• When you get knocked down, with God's help you'll come up stronger, or wiser or both. 

 I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work. ~ Thomas Edison

Say what you mean to say.

Don't assume people know how you feel about them. Tell the people you care about you love them, you miss them, that they are a blessing to you. It only takes a minute- as we were going through my grandmother's things trying to figure out what to send to who, we found a letter from one of my aunts. It had been sent with school pictures of her kids, "don't have time to write, here are the pictures of the kids". Make time- please. Even if you just write "I love you". Do it. Forever is never promised.

• And finally ice cream is always better with a friend. Ice cream loves company- oh wait that's misery.

Breakfast Pockets Recipe

Want something a little different for breakfast? Try this delicious recipe! They are wonderful to make ahead and warm and also for breakfast on the go.  Would be great for back to school breakfast!

The Crust
2 Cups Organic All Purpose Flour
3 Teaspoons Baking Powder
2 Teaspoons Organic Raw Sugar
1/2 Teaspoon Cream of Tartar
1/4 Teaspoon Sea Salt
1/2 Cup Grassfed Butter
2/3 Cup Organic Milk

Stir together in a medium size bowl flour, baking powder, sugar, cream of tartar and salt. Cut in butter until crumbly. Add milk, and stir until combined, but don't over stir. Roll out and mold into a muffin tin (this should make 4-5).

The Stuffing
4 Eggs Scrambled eggs (seasoned how you like it)
2-3 slices Nitrate Free Bacon fried and chopped

Cheese

Cook the eggs seasoned how you like them, add chopped bacon and cheese. Spoon into Muffin Tins. If you want you can add a little (or a lot) more cheese.

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Land Between The Lakes - Elk & Bison Prairie

 "Welcome to Land Between The Lakes", the sign read. A few feet behind it another sign showed the things it had to offer. One of the signs catches our eye, Elk & Bison Prairie-. Now we had to decide, head the three hours home so we could get there sometime just after dark, or go on an adventure. We had the camera, it would only delay us for 20 or 30 minutes, right? 

The adventure won. One of the beauties of home school is that it can/is done every where, which means most if not all of our "adventure" can be marked as a field trip.  Elk & Bison Prairie? Nature Class! What ever we can't blame on school, we just call photography trip.  Isn't it awesome?
 At first, we didn't see anything- well there was lots of grass and trees, and we were a little worried we wouldn't see anything. Then about half way through the "prairie" we started to see Elk and Bison. But they were all pretty far away.

Mrs. Cottage quietly slipped out of the car and focused the camera up a nearby hill and she could see this fella lumbering.  It stopped looking up at her and for awhile they just watched one another. It made a decision to check out this woman invading it's territory and slowly it meandered down the hill not taking its eyes from her.  As it approached the midway point on the hill she slipped back in the open door and watched from the safe cage of our minivan as it continued to come closer.

He came ever closer until he was right up against our car, his back by the mirror on her side of the car.  It just stood there munching the grass.  We all held our breath in the moment amazed by this amazing creature so close to us.

This animal was truly amazing. It just stood there serenely, so close we could have touched it (we didn't of course).

And then this big guy decided he was the official tour guide, and started to escort us very, very slowly through the park. Nice view right?

They are pretty amazing though. The elk just looked like scraggly dear with a big target on the hind end. What? They do.

It took us maybe 25 minutes to make it through the park, but we enjoyed it so much! I've never seen bison so close that I literally could have reached out the window and touched it, don't worry no one did, the only thing that poked out that window was a camera lens. Something about being so near to these creatures is awe inspiring- the fact that they wonder around paying you no attention is so weird, that you want to whisper so they don't take off running like a deer.

The Prairie is open year round from dawn to dusk, you must be in an enclosed car. You are not allowed to walk through the prairie or ride bikes or motorcycles through. To view the wild life that calls the Prairie their home you simply drive on the 3-mile loop. You can always pull to the side and just watch and there are also places you can park and read about the animals/park. But they ask that if an animal is within 50 feet of you or begins to approach you remain in your vehicle.