I love (sense the sarcasm?) when I stress and stress about something. Then I finally turn to the one who loves me most and he shows me the way. Usually to get through to me I have to have a ah-ha moment or more like a duh moment. This morning was exactly that! What a wake up to call that is good and possible. If you ask it will be given. And I've found that he knows exactly when to "give" it.

Chocolate Ganache

So the word ganache throws people off. It sounds so, hmmmmm so special? Difficult? I don't know but when I found out how it's made I was like wow. None of those terms apply. Here is the recipe. Try it yourself!

Chocolate Ganache

3/4c. heavy whipping cream
6 - 4oz. bars of semi sweet baking bars (yes 6. This is alot of chocolate!)

Chop up baking chocolate. The smaller the size the quicker it will melt.

Put cream into a heavy sauce pan over medium heat until almost boiling. Remove from heat and add chocolate pieces. Stir until it is melted and smooth. Cool until it is the consistency you need.

(I used tinted fondant to make the hearts and roses)

This makes about 2 1/2 cups of chocolate. I used it for my mini Valentines cakes but there was extra so be sure to either cut the recipe or have some yummy things to dip and use it up for. It can be cooled and becomes a chocolate lump which could be used again but would need very carefully reheated. Over heating chocolate will ruin it so quickly.

Valentine Cakes

I promised to give up the recipe for the little Valentine cakes that I made for our Valentines dinner. I know it's after Valentines but I made it for Valentines Day so what is a girl to do? So maybe make it for Saint Patricks Day? Or Easter? Or just because you love someone. Now knowing me and my fear of venturing out, I followed a recipe and changed a few things. I loved it because it uses a devils food cake as a base, way easy! You do need to have special pans to get the look that I got. If your nearby your welcome to borrow mine or they can be bought (by Wilton). They are available in mini or full cake size. You could also improvise with a bit of bravery and cutting. Here is the basic recipe...

Peanut Butter "cup" cakes 

(which would make sense if they were cupcakes but they are not.

 Weird I know. But they do taste similar to peanut butter cups)

1 package (18.25oz) devil's food cake mix

1 1/3c. water

1/3c. vegetable oil (I use canola, it's better for you) 

3 eggs

1/2 peanut butter

2 1/2T. Milk

1 1/4c. whipped topping

5 cups chocolate icing (this I did NOT use, Philip doesn't care for alot of sweetness but loves chocolate. I don't know if that makes sense but I decided to use a ganache for a clean look and awesome sweetness. Ganache is so easy. If you've never tried it I'll share that recipe too. Check out "The Sugar Cube" tab or it will be here on the home page too)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray pans with pam spray. 

Prepare cake mix with water, oil and eggs following the package instructions.

Fill prepared pans 2/3 full (not fuller because you will have to level them and that is a waste), reserve batter. You will have to repeat this step depending on your choice of pans.

Bake 18-20 minutes. Cool in pan for 10 minutes and gentle remove to cool completely. Repeat.

If you desire a crisp, clean, flat cake trip off the tops of the cakes and invert on a wire rack. If you really don't care, fine, you choose. Actually Phil loves when I "trim" cakes. The pieces hardly make it off the cake!

In a small bowl, combine peanut butter and milk. Stir until smooth and fold in 1/2c. whipped topping until completely combined. Fold in remaining whipped topping. Spoon into cake cavities until level.

Carefully invert one cake upon the next. Top with chocolate frosting (or ganache!)

Makes 10 mini cakes. (Oh and let me just say these are not mini! They are too much for one person but great to share. Enjoy!)

Salmon Cakes

This recipe is from the Mount Joy Mennonite Cookbook and you know we Mennonites know how to cook! No doubt this recipe is no different. I love the quickness and the crispiness of frying these little buggers in oil but baking them would work out better for our health! I never cared for straight salmon although it was pretty good when it was from a great restaurant and so fresh. These cakes were also a great solution for trying to squeeze in more fish without the kiddos noticing.

Salmon Cakes (aka Salmon Croquettes) 

2c. Salmon (to save some $ just buy the salmon in little packs. In the tuna isle)

1 egg

1/4c. milk

1 1/2c. saltines, crushed

1/2c. bread crumbs

2 eggs beaten

additional crumbs

vegetable oil

Flake salmon. Add egg and milk and mix together. Add saltines and bread crumbs, then form into patties. Dip into beaten eggs and bread crumbs. Fry in oil a few minutes on each side or bake.

I found this recipe to be super quick and it was easy to have the ingredients on hand. Pair with a fresh salad and side of rice, voila! Enjoy!

Potty Life!

I know I've done enough posts for the day but I just have to share this with you. Plus if I don't do it right now I'll forget it and it was just too funny not to pass on the laugh.

Potty training has been a challenge. If your kids just did it, then you don't understand quite how I'm feeling right now. We are done potty training Alyssa, finally! She was 3 back in September so you can see how I thought this time would never come. Nothing makes me happier at the moment. Here is what I'm sitting here listening too....

(Alyssa runs to the bathroom and throws up the toilet seat. Must be in a hurry!)
Silence.
"I think I can. I think I can. I think I can." I'm dying with muffled laughter but the self pep talk still goes on.
Then... "oh my" she says.
Silence.
"Mommy, come here I have a surprise for you."

And again I cannot express how happy I am to go and see that surprise. 10 years ago I would've never thought, LOL. So I go down to wipe her but she's already taken matters into her own hands. I ask her if she had wiped, but I already know the answer because there is toilet paper, ummmmm, lets say a bit stuck. haha I love this kid!

Welcome to my life.

Happy Happy Valentines Day!

So hubby and I celebrated our 13th Valentines Day (actually eve.) together.

On our menu:
Boursin cheese with crackers (yummy, but will give you bad breath!)
Wine imported from Italy (oh how I wish I could go there and get it myself)
Filet Mignon (grilled slooooowly over a charcoal grill)
Baked crab cakes
Twice baked potatoes
Green beans with toasted almonds

And for dessert:
Chocolate covered strawberries
Devils food cake with peanut butter filling covered with ganache
(hubby loves ganache! Recipe to follow)

The ickier "green" me

ickier? I don't really know if that is a word but these last two things that I do, and love, but I must say they are not for the squeamish. But for a Mom of two I believe I can, and will be able to handle anything.

(I'm sad that my server is apparently "rejecting" my photos at the moment. I had some great pictures but I'll make sure I include lots of links so you can check out these products yourself, look for the pink links.)

First off I cloth diaper.  The loving term cloth mama, and fluffy butts apply. I didn't even know anyone cared to venture there until I had my second daughter and was trying to find ways to save money. A chat with a friend led to an internet search and OH MY! There is alot of people who cloth diaper and there is a ton of information out there! I'm happy to say I've been cloth diapering over a year now and I've saved over $1000 doing so.

If your interested here are a few sites to get you started...

Information and Sales
Savings Calculator
Need some green facts?

I also use homemade wipes with a homemade wipe solution. I just simply made them by sewing a piece of flannel (in a cute print of course) to a piece of fleece. The choice of sides is nice depending on what your dealing with, haha. I bought a little spray bottle from the dollar store and fill it with water and add about a tablespoon of baby oil and a squirt of soap. I love it, so so simple, not to mention cheap.

A diaper sprayer is a must! Sprayer
Add a liner for nightime. Stay-dry liners
Favorite diaper is the bum genius, hands down, but they are more expensive.
Favorite diaper bag diaper is the fuzzi bunz. (pssst, use these without the insert for a swim diaper!)
Favorite daytime go to is the econobum. Cheapest and basic pre-fold and cover with a snappi.
I've washed with the "special detergent" but found All free and clear to be just as good.

Pros:
Love the softness! Regular diapers feel awful once you've felt cloth.
No chemicals against your babies skin
No bags of diapers to go to the local landfill. (Sources say it takes 500 years for them to decompose)
Easy
Inexpensive
You'll never run out! Unless you don't wash them, haha. No more late night runs to the store!
Adorable little fluffy butts! A fluffy butt is a happy butt! LOL

Cons:
Messier
More laundry

I think I could go on and on with the pros but I'll spare you. I also don't want to preach cloth diapers. I know they are right for my family but they may not be for you. I don't hate. :-) Plus I'll let you in on a little secret... I use disposable once in a while. Mainly if we have a super busy day or the girls are in the care of someone who is uncomfortable with the idea. I'm not against them, I just know cloth is better.

Your probably tired of reading but I have one more secret to share with you... 

I am a Diva! Let me clarify because every time I say that I'm a "diva" my dear hubby pictures Niecy Nash. I am a diva cup wearing woman. There I said it, now your like "you wear what?" Introducing the Diva Cup! Photos 


Now let me explain how I got here. I first found out about this from a dear faraway love of mine. I once asked her "do you need me to send you anything?", then tampons popped into my mind. "Do you need any tampons or anything?",  oh and she's in Africa so I had know idea what was available and that's why the weird questions. With a little laugh she explained that she uses something call a diva cup. Insert major curiosity here. So I did what anyone would do...googled it, and wow. Hmmmmmm...after alot of thinking I decided to try it. If you've checked out the pictures you now know what it looks like and I'm embarrassed to say that I couldn't wait until I got it in the mail. Now I'm even more ashamed to say I couldn't wait till my next period so I could try it. I know I'm weird.

So finally it came. The cup and the period. It was in super cute packaging and a little pink and purple bag with flowers on it to keep it in. And even a Diva pin, not sure where I'd wear this so I put in on the bag :-) After reading all instructions and washing it, I attempted to insert it. Well I felt like I was 14 and in our bathroom trying out tampons for the first time. After reading instructions again, and alot of repositioning and saying "how the heck is this supposed to go it", I got it in. It seemed to be uncomfortable at first, so I took it out and trimmed it as instructed, much better! Put it back in and voila, perfect! I couldn't even feel it! Crazy sweet. Now on to the messy. Removal. For some reason this didn't bother me. I guess after you have two kids you feel like everyone has been "up there" and it doesn't bother you to "go and get it", no problem. A little tug and it's out. Now just empty it and reinsert. This may sound nasty but you can wear it for 12 hours! So I only really take it out in the morning, wash it, reinsert and then take it out, empty, reinsert again before bed. It's that simple.

Now for the "green" part. No more buying tampons. Who wants to anyway? The good ones are expensive and you just use them and throw them away, such a waste. The average woman uses over 15,000 tampons, applicators and pads in their lifetime. That is 250-300 pounds of tampons that are laying in a landfill somewhere. Not to mention the minor detail that it takes 300-500 years for plastic tampon applicators to breakdown. And even then you can't be sure they do at all because they've only been around for about 70 years. So that is our childrens > childrens > childrens > children having to deal with them. Yuck!

There are also cloth pads available, but I have to say I don't even use them. This baby doesn't leak at all! But if your afraid it will leak or just want some extra protection they are available.

Cost : $20-40, and they do recommend replacing once a year. Which I'm thinking is more often than needed but we will see. There are other ones out there "the keeper" and the "moon cup" that are the same idea but I haven't checked out the price details.

Check it out here!

Pros:
No risk of TSS
No chemicals
Cheaper (I'm thinking savings of at least $50 per year)
You'll never running out of tampons
Very comfortable, usually I can't even feel that I have it in
No clogging up the sewer line by accidentally flushing a tampon, I've don't it. Embarrassing.
No pads or tampons laying around for kids to get. Pads are not stickers and tampons are not candy.
No feminine trash. None for us or our next generations to deal with.

Cons:
hmmmmm...trying to think of one.. maybe that it just is a bit more messy and you have to empty it?

I feel like I'm babbling on and on. 

That is it, I'm done. 

If you have any questions let me know. And check them out for yourselves!

Mean Green Recycling Machine!

So I've been doing a bit more for our environment this past year. You don't need to be a non-flushing vegan chic to do little things that will help the environment, not to mention our children's children. The things I've switched go from really simple, duh things, to the harder more time consuming or even gross things. I thought I'd share just a few.

Recycling bin! If you live in town you probably have one. So do you use it or is it just easier to include the recycling in your trash can? You pay for it so use it! If you don't have one, get one. It takes a second to sort, no time at all, plus it will make you feel good. If you don't have a recycling service there are tons of locations that will take it for you, you just have to drop it off. I know a bit more trouble, but seriously!

Shopping bags! I can't say enough about these. You can pick them up at your grocery store, yes they may be a dollar but usually they give you money back when you use them. Our local store sells them for .99 cents, and gives you .05 cents back per bag each time you use them. So in a few weeks they are basically free, and can even make you money over time. More reasons to use them? They fit twice as many groceries in them and they are so strong. Instead of coming home with over a dozen flimsy plastic bags I only have five. If you dislike the green you can find them other places and some even cross into the "cute" category. These are a must! But if you forget them (which I tend to do) and have to take plastic bags home, bring them back to the store on the next trip. Chances are they will recycle them for you (there is usually a huge bin by the doors). A easy switch.

Cleaning Supplies! This change is still a work in progress. You can make any cleaning supplies you want, seriously. It is better for your health, home and wallet. I first started with a simple recipe for cleaning my stainless steel appliances and granite. 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol, squirt of dish soap and 1 quart of water. It's just that simple. Works like a charm. And it's all things I had right here at home. Google homemade cleaning supplies and get ready! Here is a good link to start with: Homemade Cleaning supplies

Pouches! These are just cute. Heck I'd use them even if they weren't awesome for the environment. I stumbled upon them at a home party and loved them. They are made with really high quality, cute fabric, heavy duty velco closure and inside liner that will keep all wetness and mess inside. You can just throw them in the washing machine or simple wipe the inside out. Pictured here is the sandwich size (which is actually larger than a normal sandwich baggie) and the snack size. The girls have their own "print" so they know which one is theirs. I love to pack them with snacks for the car that they can just sit and munch on, mess free, unless of course you have a Giana who loves to dump! They make a great bag for wet clothes or swimsuits. Need a cute travel bag? They can be used for anything! Starting at $8.00. Best of all they are local!!!! Check them out: Posh Pouches  

So there is a few to start with. If your already doing them great, if not I encourage you to. If your not interested in the environment, then save yourself some money! Next up it gets a bit more messy. Read on if I have you curious... (soon to come)

Prayer Request

Giana's tear duct is still clogged/closed. It's very common in babies and should be totally gone by 6 months old. We decided to wait until a year to see if it would correct it's self without surgery. It has not. It did seem to be better during the warmer weather this past summer but now that it's really really cold it's alot worse. So yesterday I broke down and called to set up an appointment with the surgeon at the health campus. It's not until March 9th, and it's just the consultation. And from a friend's experience it's a fairly easy surgery that only takes 15 minutes or so but they still need anesthesia. A huge concern is the money. Such an easy common surgery but I'm hearing that it's about $5000! Yes, you heard that right! Gosh, I'm pretty sure we are all in the wrong profession. So we are just asking prayers that Giana's eye would completely heal in the next month, or Lord willing the surgery be done and be successful, painless and that it would be covered by our insurance. Thanks everyone. Here is a link if your curious...

http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/tc/blocked-tear-ducts-surgery

Breakfast this morning

I have found something wonderful!

Bear Naked!

100% pure and natural granola

There is not a single ingredient in here that I can't pronounce or know what it is. 

No Artificial flavors, No cholesterol, No Hydrogenated oils, No high fructose corn syrup, No Artificial preservatives and No trans fat. 

The number one ingredient...whole grain oats. Yum.

Not to mention the recyclable packaging and cute wording. 

"Word to our Mother!" and "Look inside and see what we're made of" lol

I paired it with fat free vanilla yogurt and a few slices of banana, heaven!

Just thought I'd share. 

p.s. I found it at Darrenkamps in Mount Joy

Hope

I firmly believe that God gives us little signs everywhere. Whether we see them or not depends on whether we are open and looking for them.
I've been feeling a bit, well, under the weather. The winter blues are real and when they are given to someone like me it is quite possibly that it could be detrimental. Scientific studies show that you need to be exposed to sunlight several hours a day to ward them off. The sun hasn't shown it's pretty face around here in a while and I'm having to fight my depression daily.
Today I ventured out. Yes, it's about the worst for weather and slippery as all get out but I had to breath some fresh air. Here is what I found...

The promise of hope shows it's pretty little face everywhere. These little daffodils are determined grow and bloom into something beautiful to brighten our day. As so should we be so determined to make everyone and our own days just as promising. Thank you God for today.