Diaper Cake and Cupcakes for Baby Shower

Felecia and I shopped Friday for the shower and the Diaper Cake. Then we called Aunt Sherry to come over and put her talent for decor to work and help us assemble it. This was the first diaper cake any of us have made. It came out so sweet.

We tucked little headbands, socks, lotion and baby bath and a few other things in around it. 

The roses are silk and we found silk petals to match to sprinkle on the table along with some candy kisses.

I made cupcakes, chocolate and vanilla with buttercream frosting.

I really do need to take a cake decorating class.

The lettering spells: 

WELCOME LILYANNA ELIZABETH

Preserving the Plums

The morning started cool and breezy with an undertone of autumn in the air. Today, I decided, would be the day to make plum jam. Priscilla and I headed out front with flip flops on our feet and fruit buckets swinging merrily from our arms.

The branches of our tree were weighed down with the pretties tart cherry plums. No ladder was needed to fill the buckets.

I have to admit, picking plums for me was addicting. Out in the front yard of our quiet country home, the warm summer breezes blowing wisps of hair across my face, and all the birds cheerfully going about their busy day. But as much as I was enjoying the picking, I could only use so many plums and there was a LOT more work to be done.

As I worked today, my mind wandered back to the days when my kids were little. They too loved to pick fruit, but not for very long, and they certainly did not want to help out with the kitchen work. All the pitting and cutting that takes so long. My kids remember many a time when I pulled out the famous tale of the 'Little Red Hen,' and read to them how her little chicks did not want to help her either...

But when it was time to eat the bread, they were all lined up ready to have their share. But you know what that mother hen told them? She made it all by herself, and now she will eat it all by herself; and she did! I always read them the scripture about those who would not work should not eat. Reluctantly they would join in the work. Did it pay off to read them that story? Well...

They sure are good and willing helpers now! Priscilla, Felecia and I worked all day, pitting plums. Shane wasn't feeling well due to shots, but he is a hard worker around here too.

We boiled up three large pots of plums and sugar. We started at noon...

and finished a little after 7:00. I had dinner in the oven to boot.
Was it worth all that work? Well what was it that the Little Red Hen always asked when she was done baking her bread?

"Now, who will help me EAT the bread?" asked the Little Red Hen.

"I will!" "I will!" I will!" And we did. I made a batch of fresh whole wheat biscuits to go with dinner and to eat the fruit of our labor.

Oh, and just for a side note, according to my calculations of what a jar of plum preserves cost at a local grocery store, I made $80 worth of jelly today in 7 hours. That makes me worth, with the help of the girls, approximately $11.50 an hour. With the added benefits of not having to leave the home plus pesticide, preservative, and Karo syrup free jelly I'm probably even worth a lot more than that. Not bad huh!?

Chicken Biscuit Casserole and Pumpkin Pie

Last Nights Dinner...YUM!

Chicken Casserole with a Biscuit Topping
I used left over chicken and chicken broth.
I cut up potatoes and carrots and simmered them a few minutes in the broth to soften.
Then I thickened broth with milk and cornstarch, seasoned it and added peas and left over chicken pieces. I poured it all into 2 casserole pans and mixed up a biscuit dough and dropped over the top. Baked it at 400 for about 30 minutes.
My family devoured it and liked it so much,
they ate the left overs, cold, for breakfast this morning.

Felecia and I made two pumpkin pies with the pureed pumpkin we froze from Autumn.

For more of my personal favorite recipes see my Recipe Zaar Cookbook

Lentil Soup

When my daughter was very young, she thought this was called "mental soup." Well to my kids that was a very suitable name for this unappreciated healthy soup. Packed with protein, complete if combined with a grain such as brown rice, a great source of iron, about 15 grams of fiber per cup, low in fat and low glycemic level which is a plus for me with the hypoglycemia plus many other vitamins and minerals especially B vitamins. I love them. The above is a soup I made and then poured over fresh baby spinach and diced avocado. I sprinkle mine with pure sea salt. What a power packed lunch. MMM...

1. Wash two cups of brown lentils.
2. Place in a large bowl and cover with warm water and let sit over night.
3. Drain and rinse.
4. Put in a pot along with plenty of chopped onion, garlic, celery, parsley, a pinch of thyme and some basil.
5. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer to desired texture. (I do not like mine mushy so I try not to cook too long- no longer than an hour)
6. Add salt and pepper.

I make a huge batch and then freeze it in smaller containers for lunches.