MORE JAM & BREAD

 

We've been playing around with our bread recipes and have honed in on our favorites.
Our staple loaves are variations on our initial molasses bread, with tweaks depending on what we're going for.

 

Today we made our take on a Seeded Omega-3 Sandwich Bread with Strawberry Chia Seed Jam.

YUM!

This bread isn't as sweet as the molasses bread which makes it nice for sandwiches, but I have to say our darkest molasses bread recipe still wins as my all time favorite, though I do appreciate the other varieties we've come up with so far including this one today:

 

Seeded Omega-3 Sandwich Bread 

 

3 lb. recipe divided to two 12" loaf pans

2 1/2 cups warm water plus 3 Tbsp. (100-110 degrees)

2 Tbsp. olive oil

1/4 cup molasses (organic unsulphured blackstrap)

 

1/2 cup honey

 

2 tsp. sea salt

6 cups whole wheat flour

1/2 cup ground flax meal

4 Tbsp. chia seeds

2 Tbsp. whole flax seeds

2 cups whole oats

4 1/2 tsp. yeast (2 packets) active dry or bread machine

 

Put ingredients into bread machine pan in order listed. Set to "dough". (It may need a bit of help incorporating.)

Once dough is finished, divide evenly. Top each loaf with sunflower seeds/chia seeds & (optional) egg wash.

 

Bake @ 375 degrees for 30 min.

 

 

. . . . . .

 

Strawberry Chia Seed Jam

Blend:

2 cups strawberries
(fresh or thawed from frozen)

2 Tbsp. chia seeds

2 Tbsp. honey

 

 

. . . . . .

More jam & bread...so yummy and fun!
 

As for our next reevaluation...A raised bed edible garden is in the works for a backyard renovation project.
It'll be an ongoing experiment for us (small scale for now) that we've always wanted to explore. Can't wait!!

 

"And God said...'I have given every green plant for food.'"

Genesis 1:29-30

MY KNIGHTS

There are often armored knights in our home...

 

(making their best "knight face" here)

 

"Boys protect the girls," they like to say.

I remind my boys that knights are kind as well as brave, so they smile for their mama...

 

"Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

Let all that you do be done in love."
1 Corinthians 16:13-14

 

I'll blink and my boys will be men, providers and protectors in the making.

By God's grace, may we train them up well.

 

"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it."
Proverbs 22:6

 

How I love my valiant and kind little knights!

 

"Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God,

that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil."

Ephesians 6:10-11

JAM & BREAD

It's magical having a gooey newborn in the house. Makes me want to...cleanse something.

 

 

She's so precious, innocent, unstained. It brings out the mama bear in me I suppose, this instinct to preserve and protect. I've found myself considering how to simplify life even more, eliminate the unnecessary, be good stewards of all that we've been entrusted with.

 

"Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful."

1 Corinthians 4:2

 

As we've been reevaluating lately, we realize there are always new things we can do (and not do) to glorify God in how we live.

"Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every
defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God."
2 Corinthians 7:1

 

Some of our ideas are simple, some lofty, but it's our desire to glorify God in everything we do, big and small!

 

"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

1 Corinthians 10:31

 

These are the roots that motivate our pursuits. This is the filter through which we view all that we do.

. . . . . .

 

Today, as we set out to make sandwiches with our freshly baked bread (so fun!) the kids were hoping for jam instead of honey.

Our traditional (and less than healthful) jam had fallen off the regular grocery list, but not to worry...a quick Google search

led us straight to a perfectly pure 3 ingredient jam that is delicious and thanks to its minimalism, back on the menu!

 

Mixed Berry Jam

 

2 cups mixed berries

(thawed from our frozen smoothie fruit)

 

2 Tbsp. honey

 

2 Tbsp. ground flaxseed meal

(makes the berry/honey mixture gelatinous as it sits)

 

We blended...

 

 

poured...

 

(...into a recycled jam jar)

 

and spread...

 

 

Easy, simple...jam & bread.

 

I wonder what other adventurous reevaluations we'll be trying out next???

 

"And God said,

'Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed

that is on the face of all the earth,

and every tree with seed in its fruit.

You shall have them for food.'"

Genesis 1:29

BAKING BREAD

 

We got a bread machine...just one of the many things we've aimed to simplify over the years, baking bread.

Our initial attempts turned out surprisingly yummy and I think we're all hooked!

 

(our first loaves...oatmeal molasses bread)

 

In looking for a bread machine, we ended up buying the largest model we could find (3 lb.), yet still in the lower price range. It sits back on our countertop for easy access and we think we'll use it a few times each week. We also bought two 12" loaf pans so we can just make dough in the machine and then bake more traditional sandwich loaves in the oven with minimal efforts or mess.

 

It's a win, win.

 

With our family size, buying healthy bread has become a pretty big monthly expense (among other things we're currently reevaluating, dietary and otherwise). Investing in a bread machine and figuring out recipe costs, we can see that we'll break even quickly then start saving money over the long haul, all the while eating only the wholesome ingredients we've chosen.

 

Win, win!

  

We're on the lookout now for new, simple breads the kids can bake on their own.

We're also doing our homework and headed toward smarter online bulk buying in the near future.

It's fun, cost effective, and natural (a worthy combination in my book), our latest endeavor...baking bread.

 

{happy bread box}

 

 "She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands.

She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar.

She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens.

She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong."

Proverbs 31:13-17



NOBLE IS...

 

sweet

 

patient

 

a hard worker

 

easy going

 

gentle

 

joyful

 

strong

 

obedient

 

kind

 

complex & simple

 

thoughtful

 

willing

 

polite

 

generous

 

a good brother

 

athletic/acrobatic

 

fun

 

innately noble (the Lord knew)

 

a beloved son, brother, child of God

 

FIVE!!

 

 

Noble, we are so proud of how you're growing up to know and trust the Lord more all the time. He will never leave you or forsake you. He loves you! You are precious to Him, to all of us and it's our privilege to journey through life alongside you.

 

HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY, NOBLE!!

WE LOVE YOU!!

 

"But he who is noble plans noble things, and on noble things he stands."

Isaiah 32:8

MOTHER'S DAY

 

Yesterday was a sweet and simple day...just my speed. We nestled at home enjoying thoughtful meals, worship, and handmade keepsake treasures as we commemorated motherhood. Thank you, family, for making me feel so special and especially for my favorite gift of all...a new family photo with Willow in the mix. Sure, Nova's eyes are closed and it was a bit of a ramshackle operation, but I love that it's real us. So, thanks for the memories and for the nostalgia of being surrounded by my very favorite people in the whole wide world. I praise God for allowing me to be your wife and mother and I love each and every one of you more than you could know!

 

XO

 

"Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him."

Psalm 127:3

DANCING WITH DAUGHTERS

It started off with Olia. The irresistibly tender melody of Brodie's latest song
beckoned her daddy's hand and before she knew it...she was twirling!

 

Sitting nursing, I grabbed my phone and snapped a photo, the moment too sweet to pass up.

And so it began, their father's heart on display, his love for them dancing with daughters.

One by one, he'd take their hand,

show them how special they are.

 

And I watched on, tears and all...

...as he danced with each of his daughters.

Wasn't it just yesterday that Aida was the infant babe in his arms?

How the years fly on and so will they, but this is now and it's precious.

He'd danced with them all when he took my hand. By now all the children had gathered around. They watched us dance a reassuring embrace that spoke of love and faithfulness. He told me what we both needed to hear, that this road we're on, we're on together.

The song played soundtrack to life in the background as time stood still for a memory.

Then we all sat silent and prayed, thanked God in sacredness for our many blessings right here, right now, an offering of gratitude raised. It was an unexpected surprise, this sweet moment in our ordinary day that left its mark...because he danced with his daughters.

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him."
Psalm 28:7

"Let them praise his name with dancing,
making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!"
Psalm 149:3

(the song)

GETTING TO KNOW WILLOW

 

She's sweet and patient, gentle, attached.

 

 

She melts her daddy,

 

 

knows her mommy and trusts, fills my heart with joy!

 

 

She's a miracle,

(first photo)

an angel baby.

(first bath)

She brings delight, casting light on the beauty of God's creativity.

 

 

 She's enchanted her siblings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From the hospital to home, we've made so many memories already with our newest beloved addition.

 

 

(seconds old)

 

(going home!)

 

It's been an honor and a privilege these first few days...
and this is only the beginning of getting to know Willow.

(one week old today)

"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

Psalm 139:13-14

CIRCLE OF LOVE

 

There's no shortage of LOVE for this baby around here!

 

 

"Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him."
Psalm 127:3