Uh-Oh!

Oops, I let my dinner rolls rise too long!

But, oooh were they good!

Fruit of the vine

Yesterday, my MIL sent over several pounds of fresh blueberries! Apparently, there is a family connection with a blueberry farmer (who knew?). I can't tell you how much I love blueberries!

Because I couldn't control myself, we ended up having blueberry pancakes for dinner last night.

Every single one of those puppies were eaten. Olivia even licked the bottom of her plate!

Late last night, I perused the internet for more blueberry recipes. I found one that seemed easy enough and this morning at 8:00am...I was baking! I found a recipe for Blueberry Crumb Bars from the Smitten Kitchen. The recipe is simple so I'll print it here:

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup (2 sticks) cold butter

1 egg

1/4 teaspoon salt

zest and juice of one lemon

4 cups fresh blueberries

1/2 cup sugar

4 teaspoons cornstarch

(Let me tell you right from the start....I did not have a lemon, nor did I have any cornstarch.

The recipe turned out TERRIFIC without either)

Preheat oven to 375 F. Grease a 9x13 inch pan.

In a medium bow, stir together 1 cup sugar, 3 cups flour and baking powder. Mix in salt and lemon zest. Use a fork or pastry cutter to blend in the butter and the egg. The dough will be crumbly. Pat half of the dough into the prepared pan.

In another bowl, stir together the sugar, cornstarch and lemon juice. Gently fold in the blueberries. Sprinkle the blueberry mixture evenly over the crust. Crumble the remaining dough over the berry layer.

Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes. Cool completely (if you can wait that long) before cutting into squares. I recommend serving it with French Vanilla Ice Cream!!!

Here's how mine turned out. Surely not as nice as the Smitten Kitchen....but I bet mine tastes just as good!

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I would also like to introduce you to my first crop of cherry tomatoes! I'm very proud! Dan and I decided to try one of those upside down tomato plant "thingy's" and, well, it worked!



Here's the bad news.....I think 4 cherry tomatoes will be considered my bumper crop! Yes ladies and gentlemen.....That's it for this upside down "thingy". It cost us $9.99 for 4 cherry tomatoes.
What a bargain! Sigh......

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One last thing, if you haven't entered to win the beautiful Rosary made by Barbara at Praying For Grace, click here to enter!

Picture sharing...

We decided to celebrate the Blessed Mother's Birthday this year and make a cake for her. The girls and I baked a bundt cake and I made some blue frosting....you know...to match her flowing robes. Anyway, it was great fun as we did this on Sunday night...sort of helped me to keep my mind off of the fiasco that was to come on Monday. I swear I took a picture of the finished product, but somehow, it's not there now. Our Lady kept watch over the the girls as they worked.

It's important to Dan and I that our kids are at least familiar with the liturgical year. It might seem unnecessary to some, but I want them to know why the colors of the church turn purple in Advent and Lent. I want them to know (and be insterested in) why we strip the altar on Good Friday and why we celebrate the things we do. I would like them to come to know, as I have, the wonderful Saints of our faith who show great strength and virtue. These are the heros and heroines that our kids should identify with. We can learn things together about our faith....and it's fun! I want to pass my faith on to them so they can do the same for their children. In the end, we really have nothing else. Money, property, family photos and heirlooms....these are all nice...but they can't take it with them to heaven (or the other place for that matter!!). What they take in their heart and soul can and will go with them for eternity!!