Second Sunday: Dessert

You may have "heard" me mention before that our extended family gathers at my parents' house for lunch every second Sunday.  We've done this for about 18 years.  Typically, my mom provides the yummy meal, but every now and then she asks me or my sister to bring something.  This week, I'm taking dessert -- "Apriscotties" to be exact.

This recipe goes back to my days in high school Home Ec.  Our class was broken down into kitchen-groups, and each group had to prepare a recipe that nobody in the group had ever prepared.  One of our group members found this recipe in a pamphlet (if I'm remembering correctly).  We all enjoyed it.  Sometime after that when I prepared it at home, it was a hit too.  I've been making it ever since.

It's super easy, and you only need 7 ingredients.  I confess to being a little sentimental about this recipe --since it's history {in my family} begins with ME.




Apriscotties

1-3/4 c. quick oats

1 c. flour

1 c. packed brown sugar

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. almond extract

1/2 c. margarine

1 - 12 oz. jar apricot preserves

Grease and flour a 9" square or round pan.

Stir together oats, flour, brown sugar, baking powder and almond extract.

Cut in margarine until coarse crumbs form.

Press 3 cups of the mixture into prepared pan.

Spread with preserves, leaving 1/4" margin along sides.

Top with remaining crumbs.

Bake at 375F for 25-30 minutes or until lightly browned.

Enjoy!  -- and Happy Second Sunday!

Check this out (Love it!)

I love this YouTube video link that a friend recently shared on Twitter.

It's an older gentleman talking about how he was encouraged by his parents to keep a journal....  Well, just watch.  It's priceless really.  What a legacy he is leaving to his family!

Muscari (Grape Hyacinths)

Last week, I told you about buying a little pot of Blue Crocus for cheap at the grocery store florist.  I also bought a little pot of Muscari.  When I purchased them, the buds were tiny little clusters at the very bottom of the foliage.  They sprang up fast, though, and here they are today!  I love to watch their transformation.

Muscari and the well-known Hyacinths are both part of the Lily Family, and have a spicy fragrance.

I'm linking up with Ewa at Blueberry Craft and Hobby Time 

for "Flowers on Saturday."
Click on the button to link up and join the fun!

If You Met Me

Writing for 5 minutes on the prompt: "If You Met Me."

Real, true, unscripted, and unedited...

If you met me.. 
GO.

• I hope that you would see God -- by the way I live my life, make my choices, raise my kids.
• I would tell you about my family, who I love like crazy.  Even in the midst of hard things, we stick together and support one another.  
• I would (no doubt) tell you about the part-time work that I enjoy at our church -- in Kids Ministries.  One job is ending until fall, and I'm gearing up for a summer job that will be new and interesting to me.
• I would tell you for sure that I am kind of sick of this hard winter/cold spring weather and ready for some warm sun on my back.  But at the same time, I am reminded (by the daily news) to be thankful that I am not in a tsunami or earthquake zone -- and to pray for the people who ARE. 
• You would no doubt learn that I am a homeschooler, but that I do not brag on that.  It's not how I roll.  I feel uncomfortable around people who can only identify me as a homeschooling mom.  There is much more to me.
• I might talk to you about my latest interests of photography and blogging. 
• You would no doubt learn that I wear my heart on my sleeve, and that sometimes, I have to hold back, because I reveal too much, and "spill over" in my joys or frustrations.  I think it overwhelms people sometimes.
• You would learn that I TREASURE my friendships.  God has blessed me with the most awesome friends -- women who "get" me, and I am thankful for that DAILY.

STOP.

Wee Bit Wednesday {2}

{one} what is one food that, as an adult you love,

but as a child you said you’d never touch? My first reaction is broccoli (which I love) -- but I may have liked that as a child too... I'll think of 16 answers after I hit "publish!"

{two} did you go to college? if yes, what was your major? Yes.  My major was Family & Child Development.

{three} what’s the most wild animal you’ve seen in real life (not counting the zoo)? Wild horses on Carrot Island in North Carolina.

{four} have you ever been to a fortune teller? Ummmm, no.

{five} can you juggle? I can do a super-slow-simplified version -- badly.

{six} hardwood floors or carpet? Carpet.  I've never had hardwood floors, though...

{seven} is it called “soda” or “pop”? Pop.

{eight} what was your first car? A light blue Chevy Monza.

{nine} what is the most decadent dessert you’ve ever eaten? White chocolate raspberry cheesecake.

{ten} how often do you rearrange your furniture? Not very often. We do a little re-arranging at Christmas-time to make room for the tree.

4/05/11 Daybook #2

~FOR TODAY~ 

Outside my window...

it is gray, and wet, and cold.

There are pools of water where there shouldn't be

because of the rain yesterday.

Last evening, ducks were swimming in our yard.

Yes - really. 

I am thinking...

how different my kids are...

My son is "up and at 'em" most mornings.

My daughter is a night owl, doesn't sleep well

-- and hates to get up in the morning.

She is like me (except for not sleeping well!)

I am thankful for...
the song of the birds when I wake up in the morning.

From the kitchen...

a whistling tea kettle.

Time to make my first cup of tea for the day.

I am wearing...

my pajamas and bathrobe still

[it's still early, don't judge]

--and thinking that in a few short months,

it will be summer job time.

We will be dressed and out the door early!

I am creating...

gold ribbon-bows to go on the lilies

for our Chayil girls' graduation.

I am going...
to a Kids Ministries meeting.

I am reading...
Who Do I Lean On?
by Neta Jackson
 

I am hoping...

That my family won't get too cold

at the Indians game.
[In a random act of kindness,
a man at church gave my son
free tickets!]

I am hearing...
the sump pump running.
(Glamorous, I know -- but this is real life!)

Around the house...

things are mostly tidy,

but PAPER is my arch-nemesis!

One of my favorite things...

is watching the birds -- here, there, and everywhere.

Last evening, after the rain,

our yard sounded like a tropical rain forest.

(because I've been there, and know -- not.)

A few plans for the rest of the week...

a meeting,

Chayil graduation rehearsal,

dental appointments for the kids,

and a Tastefully Simple party with friends.

Here is picture I am sharing...

On Friday, we noticed nest-building.  By Monday, there was one egg!

To link up or view other Daybook entries,
go to
The Simple Woman.