Fable of the Porcupine

 

It was the coldest winter ever.  Many animals died because of the cold. The porcupines, realizing the situation, decided to group together to keep warm.  This way they covered and protected themselves; but the quills of each one wounded their closest companions.  After awhile, they decided to distance themselves one from the other and they began to die, alone and frozen.  So they had to make a choice: either accept the quills of their companions or disappear from the Earth.  Wisely, they decided to go back to being together.  They learned to live with the little wounds caused by the close relationship with their companions in order to receive the warmth that came from the others.  This way they were able to survive.  Moral of the story: The best relationship is not the one that brings together perfect people, but when each individual learns to live with the imperfections of others and can admire the other person's good qualities.

The real moral of the story......LEARN TO LIVE WITH THE PRICKS IN YOUR LIFE. 

Lemon Bundt Cake...

  This Lemon Bundt Cake was divine!! Everyone in my household loved it!! Simple and easy to make.
Here is what you will need.

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup plain whole-milk yogurt**
• 1 1/3 cups sugar, divided
• 3 extra-large eggs
• 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest (2 lemons)
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
• For the glaze:
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• I use non-fat Greek yogurt or low-fat yogurt with great results.

Directions

1.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

2.

Grease an 8 1/2 by 4 1/4 by 2 1/2-inch loaf pan. Line the bottom with parchment paper (Don't skip this). Grease and flour the pan.

3.

Or, you can use a bundt cake pan but be sure to great and flour it well (I use Baker's Joy for perfect results)

4.

Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt into 1 bowl.

5.

In another bowl, whisk together the yogurt, 1 cup sugar, the eggs, lemon zest, and vanilla.

6.

Slowly whisk the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.

7.

With a rubber spatula, fold the vegetable oil into the batter, making sure it's all incorporated.

8.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 50 minutes, or until a cake tester placed in the center of the loaf comes out clean.

9.

Meanwhile, cook the 1/3 cup lemon juice and remaining 1/3 cup sugar in a small pan until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is clear. Set aside.

10.

When the cake is done, allow it to cool in the pan for 10 minutes.

11.

Carefully place on a baking rack over a sheet pan.

12.

While the cake is still warm, pour the lemon-sugar mixture over the cake and allow it to soak in. Cool.

13.

For the glaze, combine the confectioners' sugar and lemon juice and pour over the cake.

Have a Blessed Day!!

Marianthi

Fun Christmas family photos!!

    I came up with an idea of cutting their Christmas coloring book pictures. Made the boys cut out pictures of themselves to glue it behind the cut outs. The boys LOVED THIS IDEA!! They had so much fun with the photos!!

Here is what they did!

Thanks for stopping by!


Marianthi

CVS deals 11-8-11

CVS

4 Garnier Moisture rescue gel cream $5.00 each
Breathe Right $9.99


-(4) -$2.00MQ Garnier
-$3 CVSQ Breathe Right
-$1.50 MQ Breathe right

-$5/$30
 -$10CVS Gift Card

Total OOP $4.29 and got back $10CVS gift card

Thanks for stopping by!
Marianthi

Cheesy Garlic bread

I made cheesy garlic bread and it was delicious. I used cuban bread since I had that on hand. Also, I changed the recipe and I adjusted the onions. I thought it would be too powerful for me with 4 onions. So, I changed it to 2 instead My mother in law, middle son & I gobbled it down so fast...lol ( warning these are so yummy))

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups Grated Cheddar Cheese
• 3/4 cups Monterey Jack Cheese, Grated
• 1/2 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
• 1/2 cup Mayonnaise
• 2 whole Green Onions, White And Light Green Parts Minced
• 1 dash Salt
• 1 loaf Crusty French Bread
• 1 stick Butter
• 4 cloves Garlic, Finely Minced

Preparation Instructions

Mix cheeses with the mayonnaise and the green onions. Add dash of salt to taste and set aside or keep in fridge until you need it.
Cut loaf of bread in half, then each half into half again.
Working 1/4 loaf at a time, melt 2 tablespoons butter in a skillet and add 1/4 of the minced garlic. Place 1 of the 1/4 loaves face down in the skillet, swirling it to soak up the butter and garlic. Allow bread to toast in the skillet, removing garlic if it starts to get too brown.
Repeat with remaining butter, garlic, and bread.
Spread cheese mixture on warm loaves and bake in a 425 degree oven until cheese is hot and bubbly, about 10 minutes.
Slice and serve.

 Marianthi

Homemade skincare recipe

 I love trying to use homemade products for my face. Since, my face breaks out easily. Here is one for Acne scars and helps condition your skin, you can use the blend below or something similar that contains rosehip seed oil. I just made some with Avocado oil along with rosehip to see which oils will work best for me.


1 tsp avocado oil
1 tsp jojoba oil
1 tsp pumpkin seed oil
1/2 tsp rosehip seed oil
2 drops carrot seed essential oil (anti-aging)
5 drops lavender EO(anti-aging and anti-acne)
4 drops lemon EO(anti-aging and anti-acne, also removes dead skin cells)
4 drops geranium EO (anti-aging and balances skin's oil production)

For around the eyes, I use macadamia, which is a very light oil:
2 tsp macadamia nut oil
few drops rosehip seed oil
few drops avocado oil (high in vitamin E)
2 drops lavender EO
1 drop lemon EO

These recipes were based on recipes in the book, The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy by Valerie Worwood.

Any homemade skincare recipes you wold like to share??

Have a Blessed Sunday!!

Marianthi

Making a paper bag Dragon

   The kids asked to do a different project. So, right away I knew what I wanted them to make. We made a dragon out of brown paper bag. The boys loved making their own dragons.

All you need is:
Brown paper bag
Construction paper
Wiggle Eyes
Glue
Crepe Paper
Toilet paper roll

1st Step: Open the paper bag and at the bottom of the bag cut out a mouth shape

2nd step :
 Make & glue scales & wings for the dragon out of construction paper. Also, make the tail out of crepe paper. Add the wiggly eyes.

3rd stop: Now take the toilet paper roll and glue it with crepe paper & construction paper making flames.

Last here are the boys with the dragons

Thanks for stopping by!

Marianthi