Creating a comfortable life one moment at a time
by Lexie
My favorite thing about homemade granola is how customizable it is. Most recipes start with rolled oats and then you can add whatever you like: nuts, pumpkin seeds, dried cranberries, figs, coconut, chocolate chips… There’s really no wrong way to do it, so have fun!
Maple syrup gives the granola most of its flavor; the honey acts as more of a binding agent. The granola is wonderfully crunchy and is great in yogurt, or just plain, by the handful!
Yesterday I wrote a post about mendiants, little French candies made of dark chocolate, dried fruits, and nuts. I spotted them on Manger, a blog written by a beautiful woman with a beautiful family living in a beautiful home in the beautiful countryside of France.
Later in the day, I had a conversation with a friend about how I enjoy websites like Manger that show glimpses of a life well-lived. Of people who are “pulling it off.” But, I told her, when I look at the gorgeous photos, I can’t help but revert to the practical. If you have 14 dogs how are you keeping the dog hair out of the food? I swear I spend half my life sweeping up hair from one dog, let alone 14.
And the mud! I live in the country, too, and it’s really all about mud. How do they manage the mud when they come in from a walk through the picturesque countryside? And dishes! Big families use a lot of dishes. Who’s washing all the dishes? And doing the laundry? How do you get your 15-year-old to pose for a photo? Do you bribe him? Threaten? Do the kids ever argue? When do you find time to write? To work out? How do you stay so thin? Do you ever sit down and just stress-eat your way through a pint of chocolate-peanut butter Haagen-Dazs ice cream?
[Read more…] about Pulling It Off in 2014 / Step One: Declutter
During our Christmas break, I had time to read through the latest stack of magazines from Great-Grandma Too-Too: Victoria, Country Living, Martha Stewart Living, Every Day with Rachael Ray, and Bon Appétit.
There were lots of great articles, but my favorite was a feature on food blogger, Mimi Thorisson. I was intrigued by the idea of a mother of four (six when her step-children are with her) and owner of fourteen dogs having time to come up with such amazing recipes that I went to check out her blog. And I’m so glad I did!
Mimi shared a recipe for mendiants and I think I will never be without them again. Mendiants are dark chocolate drops studded with nuts and bits of dried fruit. Simple to make, delicious, beautiful, and good for you!
[stream provider=video base=x:/www.amomsyear.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/ flv=20140106_140025_1.flv img=x:/www.amomsyear.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/hot_water.png embed=false share=true width=640 height=360 dock=true controlbar=over bandwidth=high autostart=false /]
When the temperatures dip down into the minus 20s (that’s temperature, mind you, not wind chill), there’s only one thing to do: Boil water, throw it into the frozen air, and watch it freeze instantly.
Happy Epiphany! Since it’s still officially the Christmas season (for a few more minutes, anyway), is it all right if I share some of our favorite things from Christmas this year?
First up are these Gingerbread Cities from Better Homes and Gardens. We made one for ourselves and a few to give away. They took some time, but since Lily’s always looking for something to do, it worked out well. A fun note: the recipe is from Gesine Bullock, sister of Sandra Bullock.