Changes....and Baked Oatmeal

Wow! I haven't posted in over a year and thought I was locked out of my own blog. I couldn't find it. There have been so many changes in Blogger that I was momentarily lost. But....I'm back and more changes are on the way. I'm changing my format from a little mom and pop :) blog about the family to something more interesting to all of us (not that my family isn't interesting, but you all know what I mean...all the grandma stuff can get old I guess). My focus is going to be more food related. I love to cook and especially bake and get lots of requests for recipes. I am always flattered and give them the recipe. So I decided that this might be a better way to do it.  I'm going to blog about some of the recipes I love to make and hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoy making them.

Along with this will be some changes in my blog itself. Those are under construction and will come a little later but since I had a request for a recipe I decided to get started.

The recipe I will give you today is one that my family has enjoyed for many years. It does have a background. Some recipes I just get from a cookbook, blog, magazine or such, but some are special in that they are ones I requested from someone. In April, 1995 we had the first Woman of Worth Retreat in Ohio. It was at a little rustic Mennonite camp ground near Wooster called Camp Luz.  Camp Luz was special. It was kind of small and primitive compared to what we now have (think Heartland and Beulah Beach). Even with that thought I have very special memories of the years at Camp Luz. The group was more intimate because the size was smaller. If you all remember we even had to rinse our own dishes. But I have such good memories of those years. Pranks pulled on each other that everyone was involved in because of the size of the group. Suitcases emptied and items scattered all over the building, underclothes removed and placed in the freezer...etc. Good, clean, fun. God's presence felt in such a special way. Remember the year the guys came and set up the stuff for taping the sessions and when it was done they were all blank. Obviously we weren't supposed to have those recorded. Special times.

Along with that fun was good, old fashioned food. The first morning they served something none of us were familiar with. As a matter of fact, we had to ask what it was. It was Baked Oatmeal, served with vanilla yogurt and fresh fruit. I have to say I was not sure about this but soon realized something so plain was absolutely fabulous. I asked them if they would be willing to share the recipe. I had bought an Amish cookbook from a shop on the way there the day  before and promptly wrote the shared recipe in the front cover. I still use that same recipe today. I hope you all love it as well as my family has.

This is my go to recipe when we have company. I usually serve Baked Oatmeal and Breakfast Casserole. But that's for another day, if you like.

Baked Oatmeal

Spray 9x13 pan with cooking spray.

Mix thoroughly:

2 eggs, beaten
1 cup milk
1/2 cup oil (can use 1/4 cup oil, 1/4 cup applesauce)
3/4 cups brown sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp vanilla
cinnamon to taste

Stir in:

3 cups quick oats

Put in pan. Bake at 350 for 20 - 25 minutes til set and brown around the edges. Don't let it get to dry.

My family prefers it served with cooked apples and whipped cream. I have also used chunky applesauce. Leftovers (if there are any) are even good heated and served with milk.

**To really lighten the recipe I have used skim milk and replaced the oil totally with applesauce with good success. It gives a little different texture and I don't do this for company but it's still good.

I hope you enjoy it. Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think. Thanks!

Our kids are growing....

I just had to post this picture from Labor Day weekend.  Breanna was so excited to see how much taller then me she is and of course C.J. had to show he is almost there.  Jay'von just wanted in on the picture but it does show how tall he is going to be in just a few short (no pun intended) years.



Aren't they cute.  Breanna is 10 years old.  C.J. and Jay'von both have birthdays in a couple of weeks.  C.J. will be 9 and Jay'von will be 4.  I guess I have some tall grandchildren.  Three out of four, at least. 

I'll have to post some more summer pictures soon and I have some new recipes I have tried this summer I want to share.  Be back soon!

She's Finished! (for now)

I just want to take the time to congratulate Courtney on reaching another milestone in her career climb. She graduated this weekend with her RN and we are very proud of her accomplishment. She plans to  continue school this fall for her BSN and maybe her Masters after that.  She has ambition and goals and I admire her for striving and achieving those goals.  She works hard and I know she can do whatever she sets her mind to.  Congratulations, Courtney!  We love you.



Courtney Janelle Sherron, RN





Jay'v congratulating Mama.

 Quote of the day: Sonya (Courtney's friend) taught Jay'von to say Congratulations to Courtney after her pinning ceremony on Thursday night.  On Friday morning Jay'v and I were driving to Morgantown to attend Sonya's ROTC officier's commissioning ceremony.  Jay'v didn't want to get up early to do this.  He kept saying he wanted to go back home.  I told him we wanted to go to Sonya graduation.  He said "I don't want to go to Sonya's gradulation and already went to Mommy's gradulation last night!"

Random thoughts.....

There are lots of random thoughts running through my head right now.  Some of the things I could write about; It's  one of the coldest springs I remember, Easter, Breanna and Carolyn's birthday's, Mother's day, Courts upcoming graduation.... I could go on and on and on and on. I think you get the picture. 

I think I will suffice it to say I will just post a couple pictures from the last couple of weeks and do a longer post next week when I have more time.

Enjoy!  These are from Easter weekend which was also Carolyn's birthday.  She is 29 and has never had her birthday on Easter.  Someone did some research and found it has been over a hundred years since Easter was on April 24 and will be that many more before it happens again.  So she enjoyed a once in a lifetime occurrence. 






Carolyn, George and Zara on Carolyn's Birthday



Baby Zara having some quality time with Papa



Courtney and Jay'von



Breanna and C.J.



Breanna with her birthday cheesecake....

Well that about covers the last few weeks.  I'm not sure why we don't have any pictures of Chuck and Danielle.  They must have been hiding from the camera. 

Have a great week! It's going to be a busy one.  Mother's Day is tomorrow and Courtney graduates with her RN on Thursday night. I'll be back after it's all over. 

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!

Thirty-three years ago today I began a new chapter of my life.  It was no longer "my" life but "our" life.  It has been an intersting journey with many hills and valleys but definitely worth the ride. 

Our day was sunny and beautiful after a snow storm the day before.  I remember driving home from decorating the reception hall and crying all the way because of the "blizzard" it was right then.  But it soon melted and the next day was wonderful.  I think you call that typical Ohio weather.

There have been lots of changes in our life in the last thirty-three years.  We have added a son and two daughters, a daughter-in-law and son-in-law, and four wonderful, precosious, beautiful grandchildren to our family.  We are so blessed! 

I am thankful to say I have a wonderful husband, too.  He has been a union carpenter for 32 years and I have to say he is one person in a thousand who loves his work.  I never have to drag him up in the morning to go to work.  I feel blessed in that area because I have worked with people that were not that fortunate. 

He also has made it possible for me to be home the last three years to take care of Jay'von so Courtney could go to school for her nursing degree.  I realize he has sacrificed and worked extra hours so I could do that but he didn't complain.  He's just that kind of guy.  Our children never went to daycare (I didn't work until they were in school), and he knew I didn't want that for our grandchildren, either. 

He also loves to help around the house.  He is a champion cookie baker and loves to make jam and jelly.  It has been so many years since I made jam I probably forget how.  He is famous around here for his Hot Pepper Jelly (yes, it is made with hot peppers) that we serve on cream cheese with crackers.  We have to make extra since we give away so much. And, yes, I do gladly admit that he made it instead of me. I am proud to say I have a hammer slinging, wooden spoon stirring, apron wearing (nail and kitchen) husband! 

Thanks, Charlie, for being such a wonderful husband and putting up with my quirks for thirty-three years.  I hope we have at least that many more.  I love you!

One Thing....

I have been thinking a lot about change.  I'm sure we all have things in our life we want to change.  Whether it be eating right, breaking a habit that we are bound to or just being more consistent in our devotions or exercise we all have things we want to do differently.  I am beginning to realize the only way to change things is by taking one thing at a time. 

I am a person who wants to jump in totally at once and  then quickly gets discouraged.  That is not a good thing when it comes to making changes in real life.   We need to start slow and make the changes one at a time.  I have heard if you do something for 6 weeks it becomes a habit.  So choose something you really want to change in your life and do it.....one day at a time.....for 6 weeks and see what happens.  I'm ready!!  See, there I go again,  ready to jump right in and fall flat on my face. But that's OK.  At least I have determination and for some of my issues it will take real determination. 

I need to lose about 100 pounds. There, I have said it.  Yes, that is a BIG goal.  But, you know, if I take one day at a time and change the way I look at it, it will happen.  This will mean changing my eating (and cooking) habits and adding exercise to my already busy life. 

I say my "cooking"  habits because I recently decided that I show my love by cooking and baking things I know people will enjoy.  I just love to get in the kitchen and create things I know people like to eat.  Now tell me how to overcome that.  It is really hard to make homemade cinnamon rolls from Helen Deitz recipe and not want to eat them.  Any of you that knew Helen know that her rolls were wonderful.  I'm not saying that mine are near as good as hers but they are good and I love to make them for people.  I made a big batch for Valentine's Day and gave them away (but ate a few in the meantime). 

I try to be disciplined and not eat what I make and sometimes I succeed but more likely not.  So, tell me, do I quit baking and feel depressed or continue and try to be superdieter and leave it alone.  I realize I should have willpower and I'm sure as I lose the weight it will feel so good I might be able to pass things up but I'm scared that won't happen. 

So I have decided, with God's help, I am taking one day at a time and do whatever I have to do to get through that day.  If I need to bake for some occasion I will make sure nothing is left in my kitchen for temping me the next day.  If I slip up I will be ready to pick right back up where I left off. 

I am declaring today as my new start to an old problem.  I will keep you updated on my progress.  Let me know if you want to join me in this journey.  You know the saying the more the merrier.    

Thank God for our new blessing!

Zara Chriselda Ann Cheriyan
Born 3/7/2011 @ 8:25 pm
6 lb 11 oz    -    19" long

Little Zara is now a week old and it is time to welcome her publicly into our family.   She is already such a little blessing who has wrapped her self around Neena and Papa's hearts already.   

Congratulations Carolyn and George!  You did good!!