Chocolate Cheesecake

I like to make things from scratch then I know exactly what went into what I have made. I wouldn't call myself an extraordinary baker but I do okay, my children like my brownies, cakes and cookies. So as always I asked Elijah what he would like for his birthday dessert. My children usually ask for brownies (which I ice like a cake) or chocolate cake. He asked for chocolate fudge cheesecake... Oh Chocolate Fudge Cheesecake.

Now some of you may find this hard to believe... I have never made a cheesecake before. I have made cheesecake brownies but that is entirely different. It really came down to a fear of the unknown. I just never tried because if seemed too difficult. Well I am glad to say that it was much easier than I thought and this family just might be having cheesecake a little more often. Don't worry I am not going to get carried away and have it every week or anything like that, but it could become a feature at birthday parties around here.

I don't think it would win any ribbons at the county fair for looks but the children all gave it a thumbs up for taste and that is whats important right!?! Here is a little look at the cheesecake.

Making Granola...

I thought I would share my recipe for granola. It is something we all love here and it is really good for you too! First thing to do is gather all your ingredients together.

You are going to need;

6 cups rolled oats
1 cup sunflower seeds (raw)
2 cups sliced almonds *
1/2 cup sesame seeds (raw)
1/2 cup flax seeds
1 cup shredded coconut (raw)
mix together and set aside
* You can use cashews, walnuts, hazelnuts or any combination you enjoy.

In separate bowl combine;

2 tsp cinnamon
3/4 - 1 cup maple syrup or honey
1/2 cup olive oil
1 tsp salt

I mix together the oil, maple syrup, salt and cinnamon (you can also add a little vanilla if you like to this mixture) and then mix it into the dry ingredients.
Place the mixture onto two large cookie sheets. (I love to use my bar pans from Pampered Chef.)

This is going to brown up in the oven you will need to gauge the time as everyone's ovens vary a bit. As a rule I set my oven for 350 and flip it after about 10 minutes and then I repeat that about every 5 minutes until I am happy with that golden granola colour.
Next step is adding in the dried fruit whatever you like. This time I had raisins, currants, cranberries and apricots. If I can find blueberries dried I love to throw them in too, dried apple would be nice as well. (I don't normally arrange my fruit on a plate like that I just toss it into the bowl. I did the plate thing just for you guys :) )Just a shot of the fruit looking yummy!!

Add the dried fruit to the granola and your done!!
One of my favorite ways to eat granola is on top of some apple sauce. I thing everyone in our family has a favorite way to eat granola, some like it all by itself, some like it on top of yogurt or ice cream, and some like to put in with their oatmeal or by itself with milk on top!!It stores great in mason jars but any airtight container will work fine. Enjoy!

Happy Birthday!!!

Wow, 12 years ago today I became a Mommy for the first time. I can close my eyes and remember it like it was just yesterday. Today we celebrated Elijah he is 12 years old and is so glad to be able to legally sit in the front seat of the car. He is growing and changing so much. I love to celebrate each of my children on their special day as I tell them their birth story and remember things about them as they grow and change. We talked about his obsession with dinosaurs; we used to think that he would never have any other interests. Thankfully his interests have expanded to include many, many things.
Elijah Happy Birthday you are much loved and cherished we look forward to watching you grow into the man that God is shaping you into.

How we did!

I had meant to check in at the end of the day and let you all know how the list went. Here is the break down...

*Clean the kitchen -DONE

*laundry -Okay This is rarely ever completed even when I think it is all finished someone finds a sock in their boot or something is spilled and it all starts over again.

*homeschool -This is an everyday thing around here.

*play room needs organizing -Yes completed!!!

*homeschool room needs rejigging -Partially completed but not 100% completed.

*correspondence (letter writing) -I haven't even started it yet :(

*We use Mangers of Their Home and our master schedule needs some work -Still working on this one.

*Joshua has informed me we need more cookies :) -We made Brownies instead but we still need some cookies I am told.

*Bathrooms need cleaning -This got done!

*Children's rooms need some organization -They are both looking good for the time being.

*I have one short e-book I want to read and I want to finish another book that I am reading. -Not done.

*Make breadcrumbs -DONE!

*Time with Mocha -Yep!

*Make supper -Of Course!!

*clean up after supper -Yes

*Joel has just informed me he needs a bath -It did happen but not until the next day

*Of course bedtime stories we are currently reading Alice in Wonderland and Mossflower -Still reading Mossflower but we have finished Alice in Wonderland and have moved on to Alice Through the Looking Glass

There you have it!

What we hope to do today....

Today as with most days I have a huge to do list. I usually figure I won't get everything on the list done but I still try to cram as much as I can in.
I found this photo and thought it was too funny not sure where to give credit but it does have Swatch on it so I figure it must have come from an ad of theirs Thanks Swatch! I use to have lists on 'post its' but have misplaced too many things that way now I try to write my lists on paper in my 'Home management binder' :) I was never as bad as that guy!

We were off to a lazy start this morning so we decided to have a "Big Breakfast" which is kind of like brunch. Today it consisted of eggs (hard boiled, fried and scrambled) bacon, fried potatoes, toast, fruit, yogurt and homemade granola with apple juice or lemonade. So now we are all stuffed and the work for the day needs to get going.

*Clean the kitchen
*laundry
*homeschool
*play room needs organizing
*homeschool room needs rejigging
*correspondence (letter writing)
*We use Mangers of Their Home and our master schedule needs some work
*Joshua has informed me we need more cookies :)
*Bathrooms need cleaning
*Children's rooms need some organization
*I have one short e-book I want to read and I want to finish another book that I am reading.
*Make breadcrumbs
*Time with Mocha
*Make supper
*clean up after supper
*Joel has just informed me he needs a bath
*Of course bedtime stories we are currently reading Alice in Wonderland and Mossflower

I will have to check in here and let you know how things are going!!!

Haiti

I cannot believe it is now over 2 weeks ago that Haiti was hit with such a horrible earthquake. I thing I am probably the last blogger to weigh in on what has happened there. I guess I have struggled with what can be said that has not already been said, yet at the same time I would not want my silence on the matter to communicate a lack of compassion or concern. I have been humbled and brought to my knees by it.

I think for most of us it is impossible to fathom the amount of lose and destruction these people are dealing with. The scale of it is so huge I heard on the news that they figure it will be a ten year process of cleaning up and rebuilding Haiti. That is enormous. I think of the struggles that Dave and I have been through and when compared to what this nation is going through how small our struggles seem.

The images fill my mind and to be frank I don't want to forget them. I do not want to get so wrapped up in my day to day activities that I forget. I do not want to be numb to the suffering of others. I sat watching the news one night with Hannah asleep at my side, (She has taken to getting out of bed and coming downstairs to me another post entirely) I saw little orphaned children in the street with one woman trying to care for all of them. They had no medical care next to no food or water only what this one woman could find. I could not help but compare them to Hannah who lay asleep, warm, with a full belly, beside her Momma. She knew if she woke from a scary dream how to find me. Than as I cried watching these little ones alone, hurting, injured, hungry, sitting in the street I could not help but think how I wish I could go and comfort them and bring them home with me. Of course I knew that was not realistic.

The one woman who was taking care of all these little orphans (many with injuries) was asked by the journalist if she was angry. "Oh no," she replied, "this is where I have been placed and this is where I'll stay." She wasn't angry that no aid had reached them she wasn't mad at the countless people who walked by her and these children. She was committed to staying with them until such time as she was no longer needed until then she was prepared to stay on and serve and comfort these little one. She had in essence laid down her life for the lest of these. How am I laying down my life for the lest of these?

Luke 12:48 ...From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
I once read that if you have a roof over your head, clothes on your back and 20 dollars in your pocket you are richer than 80% of the world. I would not be surprised if those statistics have climbed. I heard on the news that prior to the earthquake the average Haitian survived on $2 a day. If you live in the western world than you are one 'whom much has been given.' Dave and I went through a really difficult period of time financially but even through that we had clothing a home and food. Yes, I know we have homeless here too, but that is definitely a minority here. For those of us to whom much is given, much is required of us... we are the MUCH.

Photo of Orestro Oclore taken by Jewel Samad/AFP?Getty images

How then can we help, first and foremost pray drop on your knees and pray. Pray like it were your children sitting orphaned and alone on those streets. Ask God to give you dreams and visions of how to help. Maybe it is a bake sale or a garage sale to raise money for Haiti. Maybe you have some cash that you can send there are many organizations accept donations for Haiti. Compassion International is accepting donations and Compassion Canada which is part of Compassion International is my personal favorite but as I said there are countless other organizations with which you can get involved with.

Photo of Orestro Oclore taken by Jewel Samad/AFP?Getty images

With all this said, (and by no means am I trying to take away from the massive needs in Haiti) be aware of the needs in your own community.
Matthew 25:35- For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

Photo from CNN article

The sandwich and the snuggle!

This is one sandwich I thought was destined to end up somewhere other than Joel's tummy. Amazingly enough Mocha was content to just cuddle even with it being a PEANUT BUTTER and jam sandwich!Mocha is turning out to be a really sweet puppy she is about 5 months old in this picture!!!