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The Big White Farmhouse

intentional living, little by little

August 4, 2011

{in the kitchen} Chocolate Crinkles

There’s a little bakery in the downtown part of my parent’s town called Eileen’s.  They sell sandwiches and pastries, but my absolute, hands-down favorite are their Chocolate Crinkles.  The not too sweet, powdery goodness….yum.

So needless to say, when I pulled out the good ol’ Betty Crocker cookbook, looking for a recipe for something sweet with the ingredients I had on hand, I was ecstatic to find a Chocolate Crinkles recipe.  And Betty didn’t let me down.  These weren’t Eileen’s, but they were pretty darn close!  Enjoy!

———————————————————–
Chocolate Crinkles (from Betty Crocker)

2 cups sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4oz. unsweetened baking chocolate, melted and cooled
4 large eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup powdered sugar

Mix sugar, oil, vanilla, and chocolate in a large bowl.  Mix in eggs, one at a time.  Stir in flour, baking powder and salt.  Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours. (I only refrigerated for 2 hours and mine turned out fine.)

Heat the oven to 350.  Grease a cookie sheet with cooking spray or shortening. 

Drop the dough (teaspoon-size, but you can totally wing this) into a bowl of powdered sugar; roll around to coat.  Shape into balls.  Bake 9-11 minutes or until almost no indentation remains when touched.  Immediately remove from cookie sheet to wire rack to cool.

August 3, 2011

{read along} Mitten Strings for God: Play

Mitten Strings for God: Reflections for Mothers in a Hurry
For the rest of my thoughts on this book, you can find them here.
———————————
Play. 

Oh my, did I love this chapter.  Memories of my own carefree childhood came quickly to mind as I read through these pages.  Summertime adventures with my brother and the neighborhood kids.  A special fort made in our swingset.  Riding bikes down the street.  My favorite line: “A day without a schedule is a day of possibilities.” (page 57)

I hope my own children can experience many of the same memories I did growing up.  Lots of games, lots of their imagination come to life.  I want them to look back fondly at their childhood, full of rich experiences. 

Food for thought from this chapter (and one I want to remember as they get older):

“So much of the structure that we impose on our children’s lives is really intended to make our own lives easier.  We don’t want to give up our freedom, and so we fail to grant our children theirs.  As every mother knows, it’s easier to sign up for sports camp than to carve out a week to allow your chilren to follow their own inclinations at home.  But children need time that is utterly their own – time to take up residence in their own lives, time to dream through an afternoon, time to play with the kids next door, time to wake up to their own pleasures.  Above all, they need some time when we adults aren’t calling the shots.” (page 53)

August 2, 2011

{mamma craft} The Pinterest Challenge: Texas Map Art

Source: younghouselove.com via Lorina on Pinterest

Have you heard of this challenge?  Created by two of my favorite blogs, Young House Love and All Bower Power, the challenge is to stop pinning and get creating!  I am cheating a little because I am sharing a project I made a few weeks ago…but, I’ve got PLENTY of pins, so I’m now deciding what to do next! 

This was my inspiration photo on Pinterest:

Source: lollyjaneboutique.blogspot.com via Ashley on Pinterest

I knew I had to make one for Mark with his beloved home state of Texas.  This project was so easy, took about 10 minutes to do and bonus!  I had everything I needed on hand (which is always good, since carting three boys under five around the craft store is probably the equivalent to getting teeth pulled!)

Here is my version:    

I think it’s super cute and I can’t wait to add it to my gallery wall that I am working on for our bedroom! 

Be sure to check out Sherry’s adorable clothespin light (so fun for the laundry room!) and all of the other Pinterest Challenge entries here.

August 1, 2011

{ramblings} A Moment in Time

Unrelated to the story, but still too cute, don’t you think?

Yesterday, I had one of those surreal moments in time, a moment I had dreamt about years ago, a moment I couldn’t wait for…

I distinctly remember when M was a baby, eight months old or so, and just starting to crawl.  The house was so quiet then, with just the drone of daily talk shows filling the silence.  I remember watching him explore his surroundings, full of curiosity, full of life.  I couldn’t help but think to the future…

I can’t wait to see this little one grow. 
It will only be months now until he is walking! 
I hope we have many more children to fill this home.
I can’t imagine the day we have all these little ones running around the house.
I hope there’s lots of laughter.

Flash forward four years to today.  I sat back and watched as my boys chased each other around and around the first floor of the house.  Squeals of laughter filled the air.  Little J crawled back and forth, trying to keep up.  It was so good.  

I am so blessed. 

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The 10 Year Reading Plan for the Great Books of the Western World

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