Around this time of year, coconut seems to move to the front of my baking supplies. You're heard of the perfect coconut cake, right? Well, these coconut-almond macaroons are another perfect Easter recipe. They are great for Passover, too. I especially love making these for my friends who eat gluten-free. The recipe is simple. I've decided and that egg whites and sugar when combined correctly are magical!
Almond Coconut Macaroons
2/3 cup sugar
2 large egg whites
2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut (sometimes I use the extra fine or sometimes the larger shreds or sometimes a mixture of the two)
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment. Whisk together sugar and egg while in large bowl. Stir in the remaining ingredients.
There are two ways to form the macaroons:
1. Form into 12 2-tablespoon mounds and drop each onto sheet, 2 inches apart. (see the photo above)
2. For a more uniform look, spray a mini muffin tin with cooking spray and then pack the tin. Then, turn over the muffin tin onto the sheet and you have perfect little mounds. (see photo below)
Bake macaroons until golden brown on the bottoms and edges, about 15 minutes. Let cool on sheets for 5 minutes. Transfer to wire racks, and let cool completely. Macaroons will keep, covered, for up to 1 week.
In July, Hobby Lobby starts putting out their all their Christmas decor. While that's a bit extreme, let's be honest, everyone loves the memory-evoking, warm-fuzzy effect Christmas decorations have upon us. Especially kids. My kids can't wait for their dad to put Christmas lights on the house and for us to decorate Harold the Christmas tree.
Enter Easter. How do we decorate for Easter? For us in Colorado, it's a fun way to introduce spring color and life, even when the backdrop outside still says "winter." But it's also a great way to create anticipation of the upcoming Easter celebration.
I've given some tips on how to decorate in the past. You don't have to break the bank to do this. Start by using what you have: pastel colored linens, candles, figurines. Consider picking up spring silk flowers or bunny figurines. I raid my nativity sets and pull out the lambs and donkeys (Palm Sunday) to display. Display plastic Easter eggs in baskets or in pretty apothecary jars.
To get the best visual impact, use your decorations in one large arrangement. This is mine on the mantle. Lots of layers and objects that invite the viewer to stay and look around.
Hobby Lobby has a great assortment of items right now. Most are on sale, but considering shopping after Easter for further discounts and stash items away for next year.
I love these incredible spring garlands I saw the other day.
Hobby Lobby also has some Jesus-centered decor, which I always appreciate.
St. Patrick's Day wouldn't be complete with out some shamrocks (or potatoes for that matter).
Supplies:
potato
small heart cookie cutter
knife
green paint
paper for stamping
Cut about 1/4 off the length of the potato. Then insert the heart cookie cutter as deep as it will go. Use your knife to cut cleanly around the heart shape.
Dip your stamp in some green paint and you are in the shamrock business! Three hearts make a shamrock. Add a stem using a paint brush.
Learn about how St. Patrick used shamrocks to teach about the Holy Trinity in this post.
There are many legends about St. Patrick. One involves SNAKES. Now here's a craft your boy will love!
"Some people say there are no snakes in Ireland because Saint Patrick drove them out, just as he had driven out sin. Patrick got rid of the snakes by beating a drum hard and fast. The snakes couldn't stand the noise so they slithered into the sea." -Patrick, Patron Saint of Ireland, by Tomie dePaola
Supplies:
green paint (I used acrylic)
sticks
glue
eyes (googly eyes would be perfect)
piece of ribbon or fabric for tongue
Paint your stick...errr...I mean snake.
Let it dry.
Glue on your tongue.
Find some eyes. I didn't have googly eyes on hand, so we used sequins...
Anne wanted girl-y flower eyes.
Then, play St. Patrick and the snakes. We went outside and tried to scare all the snakes into the sea.
St. Patrick's Day is next Monday. You can learn more about this Christian saint here. We especially lovethis children's book by Tomie dePaloa. It tells the story of St. Patrick and then also about several legends and stories that surround him.
One story that I especially love is how St. Patrick used a shamrock to teach people about the Holy Trinity. One day, while he was teaching, the people were having a hard time understanding how the Trinity worked/functioned/existed. Patrick looked down at his feet and saw a shamrock. He plucked it up and explained that the Trinity is like the shamrock: each leaf represents one part--father, son and holy spirit--but they all share one stem are and are one being.
Creating your own Hill of Calvary is a meaningful Easter activity that will teach the true meaning of the holiday. This grass garden features the hill where Jesus was hung on the cross and a small tomb where he was buried and rose again. It makes a very symbolic centerpiece for your Easter table and its an incredible teaching tool for your little sprout.
Note: It's best to start your Hill of Calvary at least 2 weeks before Easter.
Supplies:
Potting Soil or Jiffy Mix--I do suggest picking up a bag of this. Wal-Mart carries it and it is super cheap. It is used to start seeds and has a good "mulchy" consistency that holds moisture well.
Gravel
A few small rocks
10-inch terra cotta dish
4-inch terra cotta pot
4-inch terra cotta dish
Wheatberries for the grass--make sure they are organic and untreated. I got this big bag for under 2 bucks at Vitamin Cottage.
A good spray bottle
Sticks (for crosses)
Hot glue gun
Raffia or twine
Step 1: Lay the 4 inch pot on its side in the 10 inch dish. Use smallish rocks to hold the pot in place.
Step 2: Pour in a small layer of gravel for drainage.
Step 3: Make mud! The best way to apply the soil/dirt is by first making mud in a separate container. Just put your soil and water in a bucket of some sort and mix it up. Your kids will love the mud pie batter.
Step 4: Take handfuls of the mud and pack it all around the pot and in the dish. You will want to create a nice rounded hill.
Step 5: Spread a thick layer of seed over the ENTIRE soil area. You may have to kind of push it into the soil a bit on the steep sides. This is very important: Don't be stingy with the seed. If you want nice, dense grass, the seed needs to completely cover the surface of the soil. (Don't just sprinkle it.)
Step 6: Cover seed with a very thin layer of your mud mixture.
Step 7: Bring your dish garden inside and put it in warm sunlight. I put mine on a metal TV tray next to our sliding door. Having it up off the ground is a good idea when you have little tots running around. Remember, the terra cotta is porous so it's going to leak some moisture. Don't just set it on your coffee table! Put a tray, plate, etc. underneath it.
Step 8: WATER! For the first 3-4 days you will need to spray and water your hill three times per day. So if you are heading out for the weekend, wait to do this project until you get home. Before the seeds take root, the soil will run off pretty easily...(think erosion) so at first you will mainly need to rely on using a spray bottle to irrigate...
Once the grass takes root and matures, you'll be able to slowly drizzle water on it, without losing your hill. Now that my hill is fully mature, I stick it in the sink, turn the water on VERY low and then use my little sprayer hose to water.
Also note that when the seed first starts to grow, it will actually "push up" some of the soil as seen here. Check out the crack above. Just drizzle water, spray and gently press the soil back down. You don't want it to dry out and just fall off.
Step 9: Watch it grow! Within 2 days you will probably see small white roots shooting out.
Step 10: Make three crosses out of collected sticks. I used hot glue to hold them in place and then wrapped raffia around to secure it and hide glue. Note that the grass will grow faster and higher than you think. Make your crosses a little bit "jumbo" sized because they will need to be nestled down in the grass and yet, you still want to be able to see them.
Where is Jesus?
He has risen! He has risen, INDEED!
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Lessons from the Hill of Calvary:
As you work on creating the project, watering, etc. talk about the Easter story with your child. This is whole Mustard Seed thing in action--planting God's truth--while you are literally planting.
Anne and I had a particularly good conversation as we made the crosses. She wondered why there were three crosses instead of just one for Jesus. We got to talk about how there where two other men who died on the hill with Jesus, but they had actually done some bad things. Jesus was pure and did nothing wrong. He died on the cross for OUR sins.
"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21
Other questions followed:
Anne: "Why he didn't just get down? I would have helped him get down."
Me: "Well, he did it just for us. He knew what we couldn't be with him because of OUR sin, so he died on the cross for OUR sin."
Good, profound truth happens when you are gardening.
This is me with my Grandma Doerman. I still remember this dress that she made for me--dark purple velvet and it had a white satin ribbon sash. I loved it.
This was the year we got my mom the magenta 10-speed. My dad recently had it "tuned up" and she still rides it.
She took it for a test ride in her hot rollers.
Daddy on Christmas morning with one of the many dalamations that my parents have adopted from the local dalmation rescue.
My mom with her brother (my Uncle Dwayne). Man, I wish I had that camper truck!
My mom on Santa's lap.
My very first Christmas.
My very first trip to the snow--my mom said I cried the whole time.
Let's face it, even though we purchase paper gift bags, we use them over and over and over again each year. Last year, I decided to make some fabric gift bags to use for our family gift-giving. I even used some old Christmas PJ pants (just cut off the legs and then seamed the bottom.) Some of the bags were so simple, it literally took the same or less time than it would to wrap a boxed gift. And there's no need for tissue paper.
I also had a stack of fun Christmas-print fabric that I'd been waiting to use on something special. The gift bags were a perfect project because now I will get to see the fun prints again each year. I used beautiful satin or wired-edge ribbon to tie them off.
If the gift is smaller than the package, you can fold it around the gift and then tie it off like a more traditionally-wrapped gift.
The best part of my fabric bags was that at Valentine's Day, I pulled out the red/white bags and clipped valentines to the bags for the kids' gifts.
AND then this last week, I pulled out the Christmas bags, dropped in the gifts, tied the bows (already tucked inside the bags from last Christmas) and whoa-la! Wrapping was done in minutes.
Now, I do still wrap gifts for friends in paper. But for immediate family, these bags are a easy and cute solution. After the unwrapping is done on Christmas morning, I just roll up the ribbon, put in the bag, and then fold up the bag.
So here is my tutorial.
MATERIALS:
Christmas-print yardage
Holiday PJ castoffs
Sewing machine and white thread
What to do:
Cut two pieces and put right sides (printed sides) together. Sew on the three sides. Think: pillowcase.
Trim the bottom two corners. This will create pointed corners when you turn it right-side out.
Turn it right-side out. You can finish the top edge by hemming it or just leave it raw. It looks cute either way.
Ok, so the first of many Christmas events began last night for us. Matt had his work department party and we were asked to bring an appetizer or dessert. In my opinion, there are never enough savory dishes at potlucks. An even when it's just appetizers and desserts, most people don't eat dinner before they come. So this is my go-to hearty, meaty, savory (and sweet) holiday recipe. It's super fast to make and, believe me, there won't be any leftovers to take home.
Sorry...no picture of the dish. But, let's be honest, meatballs aren't the most photogenic food. Oh, but look, here is a town where there are probably lots of Christmas parties happening and I bet they are eating meatballs as they laugh and dance to Christmas music.
Sweet and Sour Cranberry Meatballs
Bag of frozen, store-bought meatballs (I prefer Swedish or regular flavor--not Italian)
1 can of whole-cranberry sauce
2 Tbls. apple cider vinegar
2 Tbls. soy sauce
3 Tbls. brown sugar
Dump the frozen meatballs into a crock pot. Turn on low or high, depending on your time frame. In a separate bowl, mix the cranberry sauce, vinegar, soy sauce and brown sugar. Then pour the mixture on top of the meatballs. Occasionally, stir up the meatballs, coating them in the sauce. Serve once they are hot.
Can I just say that I love Christmas movies?! We don't have the Hallmark station or cable, so I check them out from the library or watch them at my in-laws. We own quite a few on DVD as well. Watching them is one of my favorite things this time of year. Here are some of our favorites.
