Amazing (Title submitted by Zander)

We decided to open gifts today. I had plenty of time to make Cinnamon rolls and since BreAnne knows that it's a Christmas Morning tradition....I made some for her.  I think I would have even without her BIG hints. ::snort:: 

We had a leisurely morning and opened gifts. 

Krista

Arielle and I decided an American Girl Doll and books would be the perfect gift for Stacia this year. I wanted to get one that would go along with the period we are studying in History. We quickly discovered most of the earlier dolls were retired. I turned to ebay and the results are this Felicity and a Kirsten doll (Arielle decided she wanted one for her collection too).

Stacia

Zander

Arielle

Nolan  - lots of new games! 

Dakota - Sonic Screwdriver

 I received these candle rings from my mom....of course they were too perfect not to take a run as Princess Leah!

I tend to get the girls a cookbook each year - usually a baking one for BreAnne. She likes to bake and she excels at it. Zander chose a  "food cookbook" this year for BreAnne as she's going to "have to learn to cook." Krista loves to cook and Bre loves to bake...it has worked.  Of course, Izaak has been on his own for a couple of decades and is proficient at cooking. BreAnne is a good sport...and I know she'll excel at cooking within months. Michael taught me how to cook. Zander picked out (with a bit of coaching) a Pioneer Woman Cookbook for Bre - hard to go wrong with Ree. Krista received the Eat to Live Cookbook (which will fit her eating style much better than Ree). 

BreAnne & Izaak 

Grandma T knows Bre

Stacia's handiwork for Krista

 Michael, Krista and I eventually headed out to bring home dinner - Papa Murphy's.  We came home to an empty home and evidence of an epic Nerf battle. 

Dinner was followed by more discussions, a movie and a trial run of Ticket to Ride. 

BreAnne and I ended the evening working on addresses for wedding invitations. Yep - wedding in 7 1/2 weeks. 

Is she texting Emily? We're excited to meet up with J family - soon. 

Arielle

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Date Honey (Vegan/Daniel Fast Friendly)

I found this on The Ultimate Daniel Fast website.  It's sweet - but no sugar - just dates! I've frosted sugar free cookies with it, used it as the sweetener for cookies, added cinnamon and used it as the filling for cinnamon rolls and dipped my finger in it to lick. 

1 C pitted dates
1 C water
1/2 tsp cinnamon 

Put dates and water in a small saucepan, make sure dates are completely covered (add more water if needed). 

Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low. 

Simmer 45 - 60 min. (Mine takes 45). 

Remove from heat; let cool 15 min (I forgot). Pour all into blender and puree until smooth. 

Sprinkle in cinnamon and stir. 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

"Parmesan Cheese" (Vegan)

1 Cup lightly-salted cashew halves
1 C Nutritional Yeast flakes
1/4 - 1/2 tsp  garlic powder (optional)

Note - discovered adding nutritional yeast flakes to this makes the flavor much more cheese like - start with 1/4 C and adjust to taste.

Add cashews to food processor or blended. Process about 15 seconds until cashews resemble the texture of Parmesan cheese.

I found this over at The Ultimate Daniel Fast.  T

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

House Rules

They surprised me! They wanted to go to WALMART on the day after Christmas. ::snort:: They wanted to people watch AND buy any clearanced Chocolate Oranges.  

Before we left we put color and glitter in our hair. It is still my goal to make the "People of Walmart" cut while we live here. Arielle assures me I've probably already made the cut. ::snort::  We went to Walmart. Alas, no chocolate oranges for the greedy hoards of Gherkins.....but I DID get grocery shopping for the week done. I am acclimating to Walmart - slowly. 

Krista created Bridal Shower invitations. I added addresses. Zander stamped them and we mailed the bulk of the invites.

We settled in to visit and play while we waited for Dakota to arrive (and Izaak and BreAnne, but mostly Dakota).  They showed up in time for dinner and we had a fun evening together.

We sat around the tables well after the food was gone....adults were talking...youth and kids began a game of Thirty-one.

Dakota

Nolan has found it always helps to sing Opera to your cards

We have this "thing" known as "Gherkin House Rules." No game is ever played EXACTLY as written. This has perturbed some in the home - but it continues. It was no great surprise then when TWISTER became NINJA TWISTER.....

Nolan the human pretzel

Just before the crash of 2013

 

Somehow I missed snapping a photo of Bre.  I was cooking and everyone was visiting when she RAN IN THE DOOR and hugged Michael. It just all happened so unexpectedly and then we were "being" and I forgot.....I'll take care of that today.

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

"Original" Yumm Sauce

Cafe Yumm is an Oregon based restaurant which began in Eugene. I've eaten at Cafe Yumm a few times while visiting Eugene. After talking with Krista about what she likes to eat these days (vegetarian) I decided to google to find a recipe for Yumm sauce.  Krista puts rice and veggies in a bowl, tops it with Yumm sauce and takes it to work. This would be a good vegan topping for baked potatoes, pasta, veggies....

This was the perfect meal for us today.....I steamed rice, sauteed some veggies, set out cheese, olives, tomatoes, avocado, cucumbers, black beans, chicken, TVP crumbles. Everyone built their own bowl....vegan, vegetarian and omnivore. Most liked the sauce but salsa, soy sauce, teriyaki sauce and ketchup were available as well.  Below is the recipe we used. 

Ingredients - 
For the Yumm Sauce 
1/2 C water
1/2 C fresh lemon juice
1/2 C oil
1/2 C almond meal or finely chopped almonds (I just blended them up)
1/3 C nutritional yeast
1/2 C cooked garbanzo beans (Chick Peas)
1/4 C cooked soybeans or 1/3 C tofu (I used tofu)
1-2 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp curry powder
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried cilantro (I left out)
Chipotle powder (Several of us added this for a kick)

For the Original Yumm Bowl 
Brown rice, cooked
Black beans, cooked
Shredded cheddar cheese (opt)
Salsa
Diced fresh tomato
Sliced fresh avocado
Sliced black olives
Sour Cream
Fresh Cilantro sprigs

Directions

Mix water and lemon juice together and set aside. Measure oil and set aside. 

Process the rest of the ingredients until fully ground - about 15 seconds. 

With the machine running, pour lemon juice/water into the feed tube at a steady stream. Process for a minute. 

With the machine running pour oil into the feed tube at a steady pace. Process until smooth and creamy - about 15 seconds. 

Store in a covered jar overnight for flavors to mingle. I made ours in the a.m. and we used it at lunch. 

Directions to Assembly the Original Yumm bowl  I don't think any of us followed this - but it gives you and idea

Place a scoop of brown rice in a bowl, latyer a scoop of black beans over the rice. Drizze the rice and beans with a desired amount of Yumm sauce, sprinkle cheese over rice if desired. 

Spoon a dollop of salsa in the middle of the bowl, spoon tomato, avocado, olives around the permieter. Place a dollop of sour cream in the center of the bowl (we didn't), garnish with cilantro sprigs and serve. 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Happy Birthday Jesus 2013

I woke up at 0400  - which guaranteed plenty of time for some Christmas Morning solitude and reflection......

 And plenty of time to get the traditional Cinnamon rolls going for breakfast. The big pan is the normal-though-healthier-cinnamon rolls. The bottom pan was made without dairy, eggs or sugar...... date honey and cinnamon...coconut cream....good - best when warm. LOL  They are vegan but not Daniel Fast friendly....

The kids and Michael taught me Gin Rummy and I played with the remote "clicker" for my camera while we waited for the rolls to rise and then bake. 

A shot without produce in the foreground ::wink:: 

We are happy to be home and to have Krista with us today too. We opened Christmas Stockings and gifts from my parents. 

The girls cracked me up - the same pose with a perfectly good chair in between them

We began our celebration reading and sharing from Luke 2

 The kids went out yesterday and filled my stocking. These crack me up. Arielle said there were perfect as they are toe socks like Japan, warm and fuzzy and they are mis-matched. She and I have an on-going joke.....I buy her socks...she mis-matches them.

Stacia won the most excited award...a container full of dimes

I found THIS in my Christmas stocking....

Pearls - wow. 

I had asked Krista what she usually had for lunch/dinner these days. She mentioned Cafe Yumm. I googled....and we made some Yumm sauce and had rice bowls for lunch. 

We spent the afternoon putting puzzles together, visiting, playing games, going to Frozen...

Mom and Dad gave Michael the world's smallest puzzle - 234...look at how tiny the pieces are

Working on the tiny puzzle

Happy Birthday Jesus

We were happy to communicate with Josiah, Bre, both Grandmas, Siblings via Facebook and text messages. Michael enjoyed touching base via the phone with Mom G and John and Mary. We loved our family Skype with the two of the Texas Gherkins this afternoon. 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...