Cinnamon Chip Scones

This is NOT healthy lol.Just warning ya....:)

My girls and I had these for our tea party yesterday and I am hooked.Not necessarily on Cinnamon Chip Scones but just on SCONES in general.I have made them before but the recipe must have not been a very good one because they did not have the unbelievable tenderness that these do.SO,this recipe is for cinnamon chip scones but you could leave the chips out (although they *are* delicious) and add just all sorts of stuff! You could also make healthier scones but I think that we will probably just save them for special occasions and use white flour.


3- 3/4 cups flour
1/3 cup sugar
2-1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup cold butter
1 cup buttermilk
1 pkg cinnamon chips
2 TB melted butter and sugar to sprinkle

Combine flour,sugar,baking powder,baking soda and salt.Cut in butter.Stir in buttermilk just until moistened.Fold in chips.Turn outonto floured surface and knead for a minute....just until dough is no longer sticky.Divide in half and pat each half into a 7 inch circle.Brush with butter and sprinkle with sugar.Cut each circle into 6 wedges and place on an ungreased baking sheet.Bake at 425 for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned.

DELICIOUS!!!!!!!!! These literally melt in your mouth and I think they are so beautiful and fancy looking! In the picture above they look smaller because for our tea party I cut one circle into 12 wedges istead of 6 but they are much prettier cut into 6 wedges.:)

Lessons from gates.....

I thought I would share a lesson I have learned recently.....

My dh is a very hard worker and when he does something he is a very serious believer of doing it RIGHT and doing it FAST .He doesn't mess around and just takes his jobs seriously.I love that about him! Well,he tends to be in a hurry alot of the time because of this which I am *not* complaining about! I would NOT change him! :):)

Anyhow,we have two gates in our driveway (because of cattle) that we have to go in and out of every time we leave our house.When dh gets the gate he RUNS :). I am ashamed to admit that I am guilty of being irritated with him now and then for always being in such a hurry.I am even MORE ashamed to admit that when I have gotten the gates in the past I have thought to myself that "I am *not* running".Just because*he* is always in a hurry, does not mean that *I* have to be. (insert embarrassed emoticon)

Well,it never crossed my mind that it was disrespectful to think like that.I mean, he never *told* me to run and get the gates and he *wouldn't* ever tell me something like that....and just because *he* does something it does not mean that *I* have to right? I knew that it irritated him for someone to just walk regularly (he looks at it as rude to everyone else waiting) but even though I never really *thought* the thoughts in my head,looking back,it was almost as if I had the attitude of "I know you don't like it but you are just going to have to put up with it because I don't *have* to do it like that."

I have recently come to believe that I can, and *should* do things that my dh likes,or don't do the things he doesn't like, while he is around just out of respect for him.I don't have to feel that running to get the gates is necessary but I can do it for him just out of respect for him.My previous attitude was a rebellious one and I didn't even realize it.I didn't have the attitude to please my husband but to please myself.

In the mornings I have been riding up with my husband in his big truck(he drives truck) when he leaves for work.I can get his gates (It is a hassle for him to get out of the big truck,pull through the gate,get out again and shut the gate,get back it the truck etc.) and we can also pray together in peace and quiet....:) (Our children get up early) So lately,I kiss him good-bye,get out and RUN to get his gate and give him a big smile and a wave as he leaves......It feels so much better than my previous attitude and I know he appreciates it.(although we haven't even discussed it....I am curious to see if he notices it.....)

Anyhow,just thought I would share with you ladies incase you have the same problem as I did.....:)

Easy French Bread

This is especially  for my dear friend Laurie.....:)

This is PERFECT French Bread!

I thought alot of you might be able to use it.It is the bread I make when I am in a hurry.My Mom found the recipe years ago and it has been a life saver for me alot of times! :) I love to make it with all white flour but usually don't.:)

In a small bowl mix 4.5 tsp of yeast with 1/2 cup warm water and set aside.

In a large bowl place two tsp salt and 2-4 TB butter.Add one cup of boiling water and stir until butter is melted then add 1 cup cold water.Making sure that your mixture is not to hot,(it should be just right) add your yeast mixture and 5-6 cups of flour.Stir until combined....It should be dough but still sticky.Cover and let sit for 45 minutes,stirring down every 15 minutes.NO KNEAD.:)

After 45 minutes,shape into 2 loaves of french bread (or dinner rolls,cinnamon rolls or *anything*) and place on greased cookie sheet.You can cut some fancy slits in the top of the loaves with a knife or scissors.Let rise until doubled and brush with a mixture of 1 egg yolk and 2 TB milk.Bake at 400 for about 25 minutes!

Vitamins vs.Whole foods

I have never taken vitamins.Well,I guess I did once in my first pregnancy.....I did for a little while because that was/is just the thing to do.In pregnancy,you take prenatal vitamins.Everyone does.I haven't taken any "vitamins" since then.I have heard that with the way the world is now,(pollution,depleted soils etc.) that we *can't* get enough vitamins out of the food we eat.I don't believe it.:) I believe that we *do* have to be extremely careful in our food choices.Grow/raise what we can,buy local and be very careful when we buy food from a store.In other words,Wal-Mart is out lol. HERBS are a great source for vitamins and minerals too! I believe that the further that you get away from God's original product,the worse off you are.

Raw milk  It is FULL of amazing  vitamins,minerals,good fats,protein etc.

Eggs  from free ranged chickens.ANOTHER absolutely amazing food that is just loaded with nutrition,*especially* the yolks.Funny that two of the most nutritious foods (raw milk and eggs) are considered *unsafe* and *unhealthy* by the "professionals".

Smoothies.......I use HM yogurt,frozen fruit,vanilla and kale.OJ concentrate is great for making smoothies good without added sugar.I don't use it much though as it is still a sugar.

Apple cider vinegar......A tsp or two a few times a day in water.

Bee pollen I hate the taste of bee pollen so I recently put it into capsules for my dh and I.

Spirulina I have recently started trying to get this into our diet but it really gags me.Capsules are real messy to do.I can stomach it in my smoothie but I sure like my smoothie better without it.Sooooo the other day I thought that I would just mix it with some water and down it THEN drink my GOOD smoothie.NO way could I do it....It was so disgusting lol.I think I will just have to do put it in my smoothies.

Herb tea...I have mentioned this before many times I know:).If you have never read it before,go read my blog post about Nettle and then do a little research on it.Amazing stuff.There are so many wonderful tonic herbs that are safe to take daily.Get educated and have fun making your own tea mixes.

So anyhow,those are our vitamins! :)

Delicious creativity with BUTTER

I LOVE flavored butters!!!! I thought some of you might too so here are a few kinds that I love making.

Garlic- Herb Butter

1 pound butter
4-6 TB minced garlic
2 TB paprika
2-4 TB chopped fresh (or 2 TB dried) basil,rosemary etc.
2 TB sun dried tomato bits

Orange-Honey Butter
(have not made this one or the rose one)

1 pound butter
2/3 cup honey
3 TB fresh grated orange rind

Pineapple-Rose Honey Butter

In addition to the ingredients in Orange-Honey Butter (above) add 2 TB crushed,drained pineapple and 1/2  cup fresh ,minced rose petals and 1 tsp vanilla.

Autumn-Delight Butter

1 pound butter
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
2/3 cup honey

Those are a few ideas but use your imagination!!! For every recipe above just mix all ingredients in a bowl and then I like to shape the butter into 2 logs and wrap in waxed paper.SO pretty for gifts and soooo delicious! Letting the flavors blend before use for a few days is great too.....

The home remedies I reach for first......

I love herbs.I have since I was a teen.I love growing them,gathering them,buying them and making my own teas,tinctures,salves,syrups etc.It is SO fun and satisfying.There are so many different herbs that I love and use but I thought I would post about the very first things that I reach for in almost every illness.

Cayenne/Ginger/Honey-Cayenne and Ginger both STIMULATE the body into high gear which is what you want to do when you are fighting of *anything*.You want your body working at it's best.Cayenne is great for big people.At any sign of *anythig*, pop a couple of cayenne capsules, get into a hot shower or bath and stay in as long as you can.Do that a few times a day.Ginger is a more mild stimulant but is wonderful! It is great for children and adults.A very easy way to give your children ginger is to mix it with honey.Give them a 1/4 to a 1/2 tsp mixed with honey several times a day.Ginger is also wonderful for stomach bugs.If you take enough and keep on it it can truly keep you from getting sick when everyone else is sick around you.It will make you feel hot!!I put it in the bath too.It will really heat you up! When my children are fighting something,one of the first things I do is get them into a hot bath with a stimulant.It really gets the body working well.

Garlic-I can't imagine life without garlic.Both for flavor and medicinal value.Garlic is one of the best natural antibiotics.There are many ways to take it but fresh is best.Chewing it or crushing it is supposed to be the best way to take it,Chewing up a garlic clove is really not as bad as you might think.Just have a glass of water ready.:) You can crush it,chop it,mix it with honey,put it on toast or you can even make a tea out of it.Raw is best but there are still lots of benefits in cooked garlic.My young children are not fond of chewing garlic so I chop it fine and mix it with honey.:) A couple of cloves,several times a day for adults.Less for little ones.Garlic is just fantastic for *everything*.

Echinacea - Another wonderful antibiotic! I love to grow my own echinacea and make tincture.I give a tsp or so of echinacea tincture several times a day.I will put my children on it for a coupe of weeks now and then during flu season just to give their body a boost.

Elderberry-I add fresh elderberry to my tinctures and dried elderberries to my teas.I also make elderberry syrup.They are just FULL of good stuff! They are supposed to be an excellent flu fighter!

HERB TEAS-Yarrow,Catnip,Peppermint,Chamomile and Nettle are a few of the herbs that I reach for first.It would be SUCH a hard decision but I think if I had to choose 5 leafy herbs,they would be the 5 I chose.I don't want to go into a bunch of detail about what each herb is good for as that is not what this post is about.(You can research/Google them and find TONS of info about all of the details.The Bulk Herb Store also has really good information.) BUT,hot herbal tea is wonderful for the immune system.I love to serve it to my children every morning.We go through a gallon some mornings!Yarrow is a powerhouse herb.It is very STRONG and BITTER. I don't usually use it unless I am really worried about an illness or am very serious about fighting something off.It is fantastic stuff though.Nettle (I have a blog post here about Nettle under "herbs") is a wonderful tonic herb FULL of vitamins and minerals.Peppermint is a stimulant, a decongestant,antiseptic (plus lots more!) and also makes yucky herbs taste good! :) Catnip is just a wonderful children's herb overall.Chamomile is delicious,soothing and settles the stomach.I make these herbs seperately or mix them sometimes.

Anyhow,I give my children ALL of the above stuff at the same stuff....:) Other than an occasional tylenol and one child that had antibiotics for Lymes,my children have *never* had ANY other medicine.(That I can remember)Oh,I did buy cough syrup once, years ago ,but only used it a couple of times.I use herbs for *everything*.They WORK!!!

Well done thou good and faithful servant.....

The other day my husband pulled me aside and said to me "Have I ever told you how GOOD you are with our children?" I told him that he had, but he continued to tell me *just* how good of a job I was doing training our children and how much he appreciated it.

I am sure you all can understand how that made my day.I mean,it MADE MY DAY! REALLY! My husband is pleased with me.He thinks I am doing a good job mothering his children.He is HAPPY with me! He says that I do a good job training the children!

It made all of the sacrifice and hard work seem like NOTHING.It just didn't matter.My husband was happy with me and thought I was doing a good job.Since there is nothing (next to pleasing the Lord) that I strive to do more in this life than please my husband,those words were precious to me.

This morning it hit me that it was sort of similiar to the words that I hope to hear someday from the LORD.

"Well done, thou good and faithful servant......" (Matt 25:21,23)

I have always felt that those are the ultimate words of all time.To hear those words someday is my entire reason that I do everything that I do.NOTHING else matters, or is important in the end.I think of all the trials I may go through in this life and they seem like NOTHING.Not when I think of the reward in the end.I don't even mean the reward of heaven.Just to have pleased the Lord with my life.For him to be pleased with me and think that I did a good job! "Well done...."

When I imagine hearing those words in the end it makes my sometimes overwhelming job as a wife and mother seem EASY.It makes me want to do my job 100% .Give it my ALL.I don't care how hard it is!

I want to be pleasing to him.Nothing else matters!

Now that is motivation.