Friday Favorites - My Monthly Mommy Memories, 2010

For this week's edition of Friday Favorites, I agonized over choosing my favorite POD from each month of 2010 for your viewing pleasure. Each of these pictures mean something to me for completely different reasons. Enjoy!

Snow in the Desert!

I remember being shocked to see snow in Phoenix when I first moved here in 1998.  For my international readers who don't know our climate here, it's usually hot and dry.  On Christmas, it was 75 degrees and beautiful.  It rarely rains here and the weather is even more rarely below 32 degrees, so both of those conditions occurring simultaneously...well...it's really, really rare.

But today, my kids saw snow in our backyard.  Most would call it "flurries" but we call it "snow."  You can't even see it in all of the pictures!  Yet, we celebrated.

We ended the excitement with cookies and cocoa.  The perfect end to any snow day!

Worth Framing

Ryan handed me this picture last night. 


Notice the angel in the sky is "bringing a rattle for baby Jesus."  And Mary is wearing earrings.  And the wise man on the left looks like Princess Leah.

I scanned this into my computer immediately.  I plan to print it out, frame it, and pack it away with our Christmas decorations every year.  This kid is too precious!

Almond Flax Granola

Today was cold and rainy, so I decided to try my hand at making granola in the oven instead of my standard crock pot recipe.  I adjusted this recipe just a bit to suit our family preferences and it is delicious! I had to smack Mike and the kids' hands away while the stuff was it was cooling.  I have a feeling it won't last long in our house.

1/3 cup + 1 Tbs. oil, vegetable or canola
2 Tbs. water
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 cup agave nectar (or honey)
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
(Or you can just use 1/2 cup of either maple syrup, agave or honey)
--------------------------
4 cups old fashioned oats
1 cup wheat germ
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup ground flax seed
1 cup pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds (or a combination of the two)
1 cup almonds, chopped or whole (optional)
1 cup coconut (optional)
1 cup raisins or dried cranberries (optional)


Adjust oven racks to middle positions. Preheat to 275 degrees. Line two metal cookie sheets with parchment paper or coat with cooking spray. Set aside.

Bring oil, syrup, agave, cinnamon and water to a simmer in a saucepan over medium-low heat.

Mix the remaining dry ingredients in a large bowl. (I waited to add the raisins until after it was out of the oven, so they would stay plump and unburned) Pour oil/maple syrup mixture over oat mixture and stir to combine.

Pour mixture onto two prepared cookie sheets. If desired, squeeze granola to form small clumps, working a handful at a time.

Bake for 15 minutes, then rotate baking sheets in the oven, baking for another 15 minutes. Stir and continue to bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes longer. (cook time is 45 minutes total)

Let cool. Granola can be stored in an airtight container for up to two weeks. Enjoy!

Makes approximately 8 cups.

Meal Plan 12/27/10

Monday - Christmas dinner leftovers
Tuesday - Healthy Turkey Pot Pie*
Wednesday - Chili
Thursday - Meatloaf Roll Up with provolone, prosciutto and spinach, Whole Wheat Bread
Friday - New Years Eve - out to dinner!
Saturday - Turkey Tetrazzini*
Sunday - Baked Potato Bar (with broccoli and leftover chili)

Other stuff:
{Whole Wheat} Crepes
Homemade Crock Pot Granola
Banana Bread
Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies
Monkey Munch/Muddy Buddies/Puppy Chow

* I'm making 2 pot pies and 2 tetrazzinis with leftover Christmas turkey and homemade turkey stock.  There's a lot of sauteing and simmering involved with both recipes, so they're easy to make simultaneously. 
Eating one, putting the other in the freezer for later.

Christmas Memories

We had a great Christmas this year.  Mike had an awesome 5-day weekend, my mom stayed with us for a few nights (even though she lives locally, it was like having her "in town" for the holiday weekend), I think there was enough ripped wrapping paper to cover the surface of the moon, meltdowns were minimal (except Kaylin, who informed us at 10am on Christmas that she still hadn't eaten breakfast) and nothing broke, exploded or overflowed.  I'd call that a success!

Things I'll remember most about this Christmas:

Deciding to double the batch of Apple Fritters, then accidentally adding 2 cups of milk instead of 2/3 cups.  Which forced me to multiply the recipe by 6 so I didn't waste the organic milk.  Several neighbors got a Christmas Eve surprise breakfast delivery!!!

Ryan insisting that every reindeer needed their own carrot and that Rudolf only likes apples

Jason was more interested in hiding under empty boxes than he was unwrapping presents

He ate his first piece of pumpkin pie (we're still practicing the concept of using a plate)

We sang Happy Birthday to Jesus

Ryan bought everyone such thoughtful gifts at his school store

Mike loved his #1 Dad coffee mug

We didn't have many presents to open because Mike's parents bought us a tv!  We did get awesome new trash/recycle bins, though. (the things that thrill us in the Roose home...)

Ryan's favorite gifts:

Football Game for the Wii

Roller blades

A skateboard

Dress up costumes

A Cardinals helmet

Walkie Talkies that look like cell phones

Kaylin's favorite gifts:

Giant doll house

Beauty shop set (the curlers were not a part of the gift - we were being efficient and doing her hair while opening presents)

A Dora doll

Hello Kitty clothes for her Build-a-Bear

New clothes and baby doll stroller

Pillow pet (this was a favorite of Ryan's, too)

Jason's favorite gifts:

A Horse Webkin

The Puppet Theater (he cracks up when the kids perform for him)

His new "quad" (he's blurry because he figured out how to push the GO button)

The Cozy Coupe (the kids push him all over the house and backyard)

I hope your Christmas was amazing, too!  I'm going to continue to stay off the computer for the next several days, so I'll see you after the New Year!