No, I haven't stopped baking!

This month started out so bright and full of purpose!  I was going to make something every day for the month of February out of my Southern Living cookbook and blog it.  I was going to be the Julie in "Julie and Julia!" 

The first week started out great but I went way over on my grocery budget for the week.  The second week I went grocery shopping, spent way over again and decided on my way home from Kroger's that I might have to stop this baking and blogging every day.  It was getting way too expensive and I figured out that I typically made my menu for the week according to my budget (since I've been doing this for years!)  Since I would go through the cookbook and decide what to make from it, it blew my budget way out of whack! 

So, I was going to cook for the second week and blog it and tell all you fans (hahaha!) that I was going to have to quit this earlier than expected. That was tuesday night.  But wednesday, I woke up sick and was sick all day. Thursday V got sick so I took care of her and H (who had been sick since Sunday).  Friday, same thing and Saturday.  I pretty much didn't cook at all!

The rest is pretty much history.  I blogged about how I missed so many days blogging but never included why I didn't do any of the cooking.  So, here you have it!  I haven't forgotten about it.  I just ran out of money!  :) 

My dear mother-in-law sent me a message the other day- "where's the recipes?  I'm hungry!!"  :)  I decided then and there I needed to bake something so today I did!  I was waiting for Chad to come home with V (she was out with a group from church) and H was sleeping.  So, I dug out another Southern Living cookbook (desserts only!) and found these lemon bars.  I LOVE lemon!!!!  And I have made many different recipes for lemon bars and I made this conclusion after tasting them....  I will never make another lemon bar recipe again!!!  This is THE ONE!  DELICIOUS!!  I wonder what you will conclude after making them?  :)

Lemon Bars

Combine flour, butter, powdered sugar and vanilla and beat until blended.

Pat this in a greased 9x13 and bake.

While that is baking, combine sugar and cornstarch.  Add eggs, lemon zest, lemon juice and butter.

Doesn't that just look so lemony and good!  (I tasted it and it IS lemony and good!) 

Yes, I know you aren't supposed to eat raw eggs but I just had to!

Pour in the pan and bake for 20-25 min. or until set.

They should look like this and you will say yummmmmmmy. 

Lemon Bars
2 c. flour
1/2 c. powdered sugar
1 c. butter, softened
1 t. vanilla
2 c. sugar
2 T. cornstarch
5 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 t. lemon zest
1/4 c. plus 2 T. lemon juice
2 T. butter, melted
1/4 powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine first 4 ingred.; beat at medium speed until blended.  Pat mixture in a greased 13x9. Bake for 15-18 minutes or til golden brown.
Combine 2 c. sugar and cornstarch.  Add eggs and next 3 ingredients; beat well.  Pour mixture over crust.
Bake for 20-25 minutes or until set.  Let cool completely.  Chill well.
Sift 1/4 c. powdered sugar over top.  Cut into bars.

Enjoy!

Ok, after reading this and typing it, I just realized I only added egg yolks!  What was I thinking????  How did I get that after reading 5 eggs, lightly beaten???  Was I focusing on the "yellow" lemony lemon bars.  Anyhoo, maybe that's why they were so good?  :)

Ok, you didn't think I was just going to finish this without pics of my incredibly precious family?!?

Yesterday, while V and I were at the animal shelter and mall, H and daddy planted flowers. 

He is just the best daddy!

This is H's little flower pot she planted all by herself! (ok, mostly!) :)

You would never guess this is in the church parking lot after church today!  Why oh why, are kids attracted to dirt and rocks when they look so pretty and dressed up?

This afternoon the girls went for a wagon ride! 

I love walking outside and seeing color!

 So precious

Out for a walk!

I hope your Sunday was as blessed as ours.

Some new things mixed with the old

Spring has sprung!  New things have begun! 

The other day Chad pointed out to me our daffodils were coming up and starting to bloom!  And this morning on the way home from dropping V off at school, I saw a big garden of daffodils blooming around the base of a tree.  How pretty to see a beautiful bunch of yellow coming out of the ground.  I love the way things begin new again after being "dead".  Or even life, how it has a way of getting hectic, full of trials and problems but a new day always begins with new hope and  God's mercies for that day.  And I need to remind myself it is only enough for that day.  Not tomorrow.  Nor the next day or the day after that.  Just rest in Him.  Ahhh. 
But as life gets crazy and out of control, nothing can replace that peace that comes only from our Lord.  And we have to go to Him for it, not other people and things.  I am not saying that He can't use other people to comfort us and give us strength and help but we need to go to Him first.  And ask Him to provide for us. He is so faithful.

The other day V and I went to her eye dr. appt.  (thanks Sharon and Taylor for babysitting H!!) 

And my girl got contacts!!  Here she is washing her hands to practice taking them out and putting them in.

The eye dr. put them in so she is trying to take them out.

Now she is trying to put them in!  After about 25 min. of trying, mom stepped in and

had them in after about 10 min.  Oh the joy of helping her in a new thing in her life, one of many to come!  :)

Here is H in her new dress that Sharon bought her!  My little princess. :)

It was a windy day as we were leaving church.

Running towards home...

until she spotted V running towards her and she turned around and took off running to get away from her. 

Too funny!!

A little chilly today, only 46 degrees but really sunny! 

We went out for a walk and visited our neighbors and she had new toys to play with!

I hope you are able to enjoy some new things in your life too!
 

Enjoying family and warm weather

One wonderful thing about being down South is the winter.  As a former Minnesotan, I ask myself, "what winter?"  When Sharon and Taylor were down here, MN got hit with another snowstorm- 17 inches.  Oh my, I sure DO NOT miss that!  Down here, we are in the 50's, 60's or 70's.  Now that's my kind of winter!!!  :)

So, last friday we enjoyed washing the cars in the driveway- in February!!!!!!  Unbelievable!!

I bought H a pair of rain boots and she loves to wear them all over the house!

As I tried to take a picture of H in her new dress and boots, she turned around and posed for me. Not quite sure why she won't turn around!

V painted her nails and she was so proud!

Too cute!

Love those eyes and that smile.

Thank you, God.

I haven't been cooking becuz I've been shopping!

My oh my- what a busy busy week it has been!  We were extremely blessed to have friends from MN come and visit us for the long weekend- what a blast!!  It was a total girls weekend!!!!  Pedicures and shopping, hanging out, talking, drinking coffee, etc. 

Here is a few pics from the awesome weekend.

On Sunday after church, we went to Chili's for lunch.  We were glad it was a beautiful and warm day for them!  Especially since it was snowing back in MN- 17 inches!!

After we dropped Chad and H off at home us girls went out for pedicures!!

Then we went to TCBY on our way home! 

The next day was President's day and unfortunately V had a snow make up day!  So us girls headed to the mall for a day of shopping!!

Taylor and H getting some cotton candy.

 

She did SO good while we shopped and Taylor kept her entertained!

That night we met Chad at his favorite BBQ place!  If you come and visit us- you won't be leaving before Chad takes you here. :)

Sharon and I at Corky's

The next morning we went to downtown Little Rock and walked around. 

Two little divas!!  :)

We had a few hours before they had to be at the airport so we finished the day at another mall for more shopping!!  V wasn't able to be with us monday or tuesday but she did sleep at the hotel for a couple nights and her and Taylor had lots of fun together!

Doing a little shopping at Justice!

She loved the candy store!  Thankfully, she did put the candy back when we had to leave and we didn't buy any.  I think she just had fun being out of her stroller and walking around!

Thanks Sharon and Taylor for visiting us!!