I’m sure you’ve noticed the way people from different parts of the United States refer to a can of Sprite as coke, not soda, or how certain words are pronounced with varying syllables based on where you grew up.
Take this “Are you a Yankee or a Rebel?” quiz, which I found at momlovesbeingathome’s blog—thank you!
Come back and comment to this post. Be free to confess how Yankee or Dixie you are. There will be no judgment here.
I am only 40% Dixie.
Categories: about me · history · just for fun
Why is Christmas so magical? I mean, come on. I’m a 35 year old woman with plenty to think of besides drop cookies, pine scents, and sappy music. But I can’t help feeling drawn to it all on this cloudy Colorado day.
“It’s the time of year when the world falls in love,” Johnny Mathis sings to me at this moment. Maybe that’s the magic. Love to all humankind is a great theme, but I think there’s something more than that. It’s not just the presents, either. I adore making lists for the kids that will meet every little dream and wish in their hearts, but it’s not enough, with this headache throbbing, dishes staring, and homework calling, to make me distracted by carols.
The rituals we participate in line our days with meaning and give each family member a chance to embrace the things we hold dear. I need to think about this a little more… what kinds of things can we do more frequently to add buzz—anticipation and joy— to our daily lives?
(Although this is not an official book review, Randy and Lisa Wilson
are friends of mine who have a family ministry of helping parents create milestones and meaning in order to maintain a close-knit family. They do this through ritual and tradition. Celebrations of Faith might be a good reference for those of us with children.)
Categories: about me · booklist · children · christianity · colorado · comfort · family · holidays · homemaking · motherhood · nostalgia · reflection · seasons · traditions · values
Brian and I have gotten closer in the last few months. When I think about why, I have to say it’s because Brian has been relentless. In a good way. Relentless to rub my neck when a headache lasts oh, say, six days, relentless to tell me to rest if I’ve woken up at 3 am, and relentless to work on ways to be more to me than just a friend sitting on our couch and watching the USC game together.
There are things Brian is doing to take care of himself and his family that we have not always been able to make a priority. Things like being able to enjoy a set schedule for his business (now that I’m home more, I get to pick the kids up from school every day), exercising, reading about who we are and why we think the way we do, working to “speak my language” of love, and busting his butt to provide financially through Brian T. Dreiling Design. He is present with me, which is business-type-psychology to say that he listens, invests in, and cares for me. I enjoy the creativity coming out in our relationship, and give Brian much love for enabling it.
Categories: about me · family · fatherhood · health · love · marriage · men · motherhood · parenting · reflection · relationships · time · values · women
Crumb topping is sometimes referred to as streusel or crumble, and is a favorite among breakfast-lovers all over the world. It’s delicious on coffee cake, apple crisp, cobbler, ice cream, bar cookies, and muffins, and savory versions are tasty on casserole, meat, and salad. There are common elements in most crumb recipes; butter, sugar, flour. But what are some variations on this theme? And how can you twist them around to come up with your own favorite crumb topping?
The streusel I made this morning was from my Bisquick Cookbook. It tops the Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake, which is one of their “All-Time Favorite” recipes dating back to 1952. It has to be the easiest form of an incredibly simple process. Mix dry ingredients, then blend or cut in butter until crumbly.
1 /3 c. Bisquick
1/3 c. packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
2 T firm margarine or butter
Another recipe I’ve tried numerous times is one from my favorite Mennonite cookbook: Mennonite Country-Style Recipes & Kitchen Secrets, by Esther Shank. (This book is so good that my mom bought one for each of us when we “grew up.”) One of the recipes I most enjoy is the Apple Pie recipe, topped with soft, buttery crumble. She recommends making a bunch and putting the extra in the freezer for quick sprucing-up of a meal. She also offers the variation of using half flour and half oatmeal, or adding cinnamon if desired. This is a large recipe and enough for three pies. Mix together until crumbly.
3 c. flour
1 c. brown sugar
3/4 c. margarine
I use my Betty Crocker Cookbook religiously for a few recipes, recipes which I now barely need to look up. One of those is the Apple Crisp recipe. It is enhanced with a very dense, buttery crumb topping and is a simple and elegant dessert. I tend to double this recipe, knowing how wonderful it is, and how much my family loves it. All you have to do is mix together!
2/3 - 3/4 c. packed brown sugar
1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. quick-cooking or old-fashioned oats
1/3 c. stick margarine or butter, softened
3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
3/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
nuts (pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds), spices (nutmeg, allspice, pumpkin pie seasoning, cinnamon), >butter<, dried fruit (craisins, raisins, apricots), chocolate chips (these will melt, but we all know how good that possibilty is), mini marshmallows, toffee bits, caramel squares (cut smaller), pretzels (will not be as crunchy, but will add saltiness to the crumble), the list should keep going…
Do you have any great variation ideas or applications for crumble topping? Respond to this post.
Categories: Mennonite · about me · comfort · cookbooks · cooking · family · food · homemaking · motherhood · recipes · variations · women
