Rhubarb!

This year we joined a CSA for the first time.  (CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture~for about $20 a week we get to go to a local delivery spot and pickup a huge sack full of eggs, bread, cheese, fruit, and vegetables straight from the farm, all grown organically.)  Yesterday, was our first delivery, and BOY! were we excited!  It was full of delicious things, and one perplexing thing...rhubarb.  I've never been a rhubarb fan.  I've only had it in pie though, and I think it was the texture that bothered me more than the taste.   I was determined to turn our pile of rhubarb into something my family would like.  I searched online and found a recipe for rhubarb muffins. 

These are absolutely delicious...even my boys love them and had 2 apiece for breakfast this morning (and they can be pretty picky!)

Cinnamon Topped Rhubarb Muffins

Ingredients:

1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1/4 cup butter
1 (8oz) cup sour cream
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 tea baking soda
1/2 tea cinnamon
1 1/2 cups chopped rhubarb
1 tbs sugar
1/2 tea cinnamon

Directions:

Heat oven to 375 F. in large bowl combine brown sugar and butter. beat at medium speed until well mixed (1-2 min). Add sour cream and eggs; continue beating ; scraping bowl often, until well mixed (1-2 min) in medium bowl. stir together flour baking soda and 1/2 tea cinnamon. By hand, stir flour mixture into sour cream mixture just until moistened. Fold in rhubarb. Spoon into greased muffin pans. in small bowl stir together 1 tbs sugar and 1/2 tea cinnamon, sprinkle onto each muffin. bake for 25 to 30 min or until lightly browned. cool 10 min; remove from pans.

Recipe from: http://www.rhubarbinfo.com/recipes

Amazing Weekend

We have had a wonderful few days around these parts. We did home repair on Wednesday, and knocked a couple of to do items off our to do list. Our fireplace is now functioning for the first time in a year (thanks in part to the removal of a family of mice, but that is a whole other post), and we have new outdoor light fixtures.


Decorations courtesy of Charlie and Sammy

Thursday was a double celebration for us, as we also celebrated my baby turning 3. Which should be impossible, as Sam was just born yesterday. The party was at Casa de la Kleffman this year, which I loved, as I love to cook big dinners. The turkey turned out great, thanks to whatever they do at the Butterball factory, and my sister brought an AMAZING gourmet mac 'n cheese recipe, which my hips thoroughly enjoyed. I vote for it to become a Thanksgiving tradition.



After the dishes were done, we had birthday cake in addition to our pie and pumpkin crumble cake. Isn't this 3 year old boy as delicious as the turkey?



Sammy had a blast celebrating with his cousins. I love that this bunch is the best of buds...



Sammy's favorite present was a Spider man costume from my sister, and he has worn it every night since. In fact, he insists on wearing it to bed. I have had to sneak it into the wash.



On Friday I went to Target for the Black Friday experience with the awesome Christi, and I scored a few deals. The best part though was breakfast at Summer Kitchen afterwards. Have you noticed yet how much I've eaten this weekend?! SO MUCH FOOD!

Friday was the actual day of Sammy's birthday, so I wanted to do something fun to make it special for him. So, after some encouragement that I could handle it from my sister and Christi, we went to a Christmas tree farm. You see, we have had an artificial tree for 14 years now, ever since I moved into my first apartment in college. I grew up having real trees for Christmas with my parents, but once I was on my own, I was completely intimidated by the tree stand. You know that thing the man in the family has to fiddle with for three hours, and then even after that the tree is still crooked, and then a day later the tree falls down anyway? After hearing the farm we went too has a special "Marriage Saving Tree Stand" they sell to make it easy, I braved my fears to help Sam have a special day. We got on a hay ride and rode out to the tree field, picked out our own special tree, and got to see it cut down (this part made Sam sad-he was sure the tree wasn't liking this!) Charlie loved the free hot chocolate they offered and the machine that shook the trees to get the dead needles off. It's a good thing Evan talked me into the tree we got, because this one almost reaches the ceiling, and the one I wanted was even taller.



We all had fun decorating, and I have to admit, this tree looks and smells SOOO much better than our artificial one.



And the tree stand was a breeze. I think we will be making a return trip next year. When we had decked the inside and outside of our halls, we celebrated with a viewing of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, our new Christmas video.

We've had such a fabulous weekend, I am not sure I am ready to go back to work tomorrow. We are ready for Advent and the Christmas season though. I LOVE this time of year!

A Little Chocolate for the Ladies

When I did my student teaching, God used it as an excuse to introduce me to my fairy godmother. The very special woman I student taught with has become one of my closest friends, mentors, and my "fairy godmother". My children sleep under handmade quilts made by her, and I have more quilts in my home because she taught me the art. In short, I love her dearly.

A couple of weeks ago when I was feeling down, she sent me an email reminding me that sometimes we just need a little chocolate in our lives. So, she sent me this recipe. It is a YUMMY single serving 2 seconds to make chocolate cake. Give it a try the next time you need a chocolate fix.

MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE

1 Coffee Mug

4 tablespoons flour (plain flour, not self-rising)
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons baking cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
Small splash of vanilla

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well . Add the egg
and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well.
Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla, and mix
again.

Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at
1000 watts. The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be
alarmed!

Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if
desired.

EAT! (this can serve 2 if you want to share!)