Some really good cookies!

I am constantly hunting for healthy recipes - mostly whole foods. Once in a while, I run across a cookie or dessert that I just have to try. This is the latest cookie recipe that I found over at Mel's Kitchen Cafe. I made minor changes to the recipe which I noted in blue.

Quinoa Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Granola Cookies

Yield: Makes 3-4 dozen cookies
Cool the quinoa or the chocolate chips melt!
When measuring the cooked and cooled quinoa, don't mash and compress it into the measuring cup. Spoon it into the cup and lightly press so it stays fluffy.
Also, keep in mind these cookies freeze amazingly well after being baked and cooled. 

Ingredients
1 cup solid coconut oil, melted 
3/4 cup honey
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups white whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1 1/2 cups cooked and cooled quinoa (cooked only in water, not broth) - see note above 
2 tablespoons ground flaxseed
2 tablespoons chia seeds
1/2 cup toasted slivered almonds (I skipped because I didn't have any - they would be good!)
1/2 cup dried cherries or cranberries (I skipped because DH doesn't care for either of these - they would be good though!)
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (I used mini chips and they melted quickly with the not cool quinoa.)

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line large, rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper, silpat liners or lightly grease with cooking spray.
   
2. In a large bowl, beat together the oil and honey with an electric mixer. Add the eggs and vanilla and mix until combined. Stir in the flour, salt and baking soda until just combined and a few streaks of dry flour remain. Add the oats, quinoa, flax, chia seeds, almonds, cherries or cranberries and chocolate chips and mix by hand gently (so the dough stays nice and fluffy) until the ingredients are pretty evenly mixed.
   
3. Use a spoon or cookie scoop to scoop the dough into 2-3 tablespoon-sized portions. Bake for 8-10 minutes until the bottoms are browned but the insides are still nice and soft. If you want a thinner cookie (instead of puffy), flatten slightly before baking. 
   
   
   
   http://www.melskitchencafe.com/quinoa-chocolate-chip-oatmeal-granola-cookies/ 

Spring Retreat Projects

Some of the projects that were worked on:

all pieced

ready for binding

great block

ready to send to the long-armer

just needs binding

she started quilting this before we left

A finish! 

Another finish!

log cabin blocks

ready to sandwich and quilt

tiny pieces and little blocks

close to being done

beautiful handwork

piecing finished!

I'll share my work too. I decided a little late to make this into a tablecloth and had to change the layout. It is for the patio table on our screened porch. Not positive I love the design but the colors scream summer to me!

my tablecloth

I finished a pillow cover. It will go on a bed size pillow that we keep on the couch in our family room. Think I'll call it Butterflies and Feathers.

my pillow cover

 This shows the batik on the back of the cover.

pillow cover and back

It was a fun retreat and I look forward to the next time we are all together.

Spring Retreat

I spent the past 3 days in Oregon, IL at the Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center quilting with friends. On Thursday evening, tornadoes hit very close to this Center. We shared the campus with a team I think from Arkansas that came to help with the storm cleanup.

This group tries to quilt together once a year and it is so much fun to renew the friendships. We missed Leona this year - she is in Florida with family.

The rest of us enjoyed beautiful weather and visiting with each other.

We worked hard. Bets brought a number of things to work on.

Saundra stayed busy with a large project.

Ann was working on a large project with small pieces.

Barb had a few different things going.

Polly was able to do everything she planned to do!

Krista sat in front of me and accomplished lots.

Sandy wasn't sure why I need to take pictures...

Well... I needed to catch people sitting on the floor, playing with fabric...

... and someone dressing herself in quilt blocks!

In the next post, I'll share some of the projects.

Ray's Yarn but My Sweater!

We saw the yarn; 

Ray loved the yarn;

 We bought the yarn.

 We bought all they had. 

Then we couldn't find a pattern 

that only used that amount of yarn.  

We just didn't have enough. 

After months of looking, 

the yarn became mine. 

I had no trouble finding a pattern 

that used that amount of yarn. 

The pattern is Laurie by Josée Paquin.

The yarn is Rowan Felted Tweed DK.

The sweater is super soft.

It looks great with a navy scarf I own.

I'm really glad that

we saw the yarn,

Ray loved the yarn,

and we bought the yarn.

Because

I love the yarn too!

Underwear Blue

Two grandsons came to visit on Thursday. They often have a mental list when they come and it usually includes making cookies and sewing. Thursday was no different. After making chocolate chip cookies and eating lunch, we headed upstairs to the sewing rooms. They needed a new project so we began a donation quilt. I had a couple of blocks left from when I tried a technique I saw a while back and they made more.

I do not know where I saw this technique - if you know, please tell me so I can give credit. You do not end up with sharp points or any points for that matter but it is a fun process for beginner sewers.

1. Begin with a square for the center of the block. I'll call this square A.

2. Cut another square the same size as square A. I'll call this square B.

3. Place right sides of square A and B together and sew all four sides with 1/4" seams.  

4. On the wrong side of square B, draw an X from corner to corner. 

5. Now carefully cut the X through the square B side only. 

6. Press the triangles out from the center block.

 

7. Square up the piece. This is the new square A.

Repeat steps 2 - 7 until the block is the size you want it to be.

The center squares all came from a piece of fabric with construction vehicles. Younger grandson picked out a piece of fabric that he liked - the one on the bottom -

and I found some 'plain' yardage in those colors for the points on the blocks. He picked up one piece of blue fabric and called it underwear blue.

Underwear blue? I questioned that but wasn't really getting an answer so I asked the older boy. He said it looked like underwear. What? Later, while they were looking at the fabric, I watched and listened. Then I got it! They thought the selvage looked like the waistband on underwear and the design of the fabric looked like some they owned! I think there might be a lot of underwear fabrics in my stash!

Typically these two boys use the scraps in my stash. It never occurred to me that they've never seen the selvage on yardage. 

Don't you love sewing your children or grandchildren? I do!

Getting Ready... and counting our blessings

Getting ready for the big upcoming trip is keeping me busy! Lodging is pretty much in place. The emphasis is now on food - what will we cook??? I think this is one of the places that the dehydrator is paying off. We'll be taking a number of meals with us. 

Today I began assembling things - mostly for soups. Each packet is labeled so I know the contents and what I need to add.  

So far we have:

• Stir Fry - onion, zucchini, yellow squash, okra, carrots, mushrooms, and pea pods.
• Stir Fry - onion, zucchini, yellow squash, peppers, carrots, mushrooms, and sugar snap peas.
• Cauliflower soup - cauliflower, onions, celery, garlic, carrots, and spices.
• Hamburger Stew - corn, green beans, onions, carrots. The cornstarch and bouillon are in separate bags within the larger packet.
• Potato Carrot Soup - shredded potatoes, carrots, green pepper, onion.
• Vegetable Soup - potatoes, green onions, tomatoes, summer squash and zucchini, carrots, cabbage, and Lima beans.
• Chicken and Vegetable Soup - carrots, green beans, onions, tomatoes, and garlic.
• Shredded Potato Soup - shredded potatoes and green onions.
• Beef Barley Soup - barley, carrots, mushrooms, onions, celery, and a bay leaf.

And a few sides:

• Au Gratin Squash Casserole - summer squash, zucchini, and onions.
• Green beans.
• Carrots.
• Cauliflower.

These are now all packaged in Mylar and labeled - ready to go!

I've tried a few new things in the dehydrator - when it comes to fruit, I haven't found anything that the two older grandsons that live near us don't like! They love the watermelon slices (in the background) and watermelon/apple crazy fruit. Ray isn't crazy about the watermelon.

The strawberry/kiwi crazy fruit is a favorite of mine.

We all like the cantaloupe and especially the banana/cantaloupe crazy fruit.

The banana/pineapple crazy fruit is wonderful!

===========

A year ago we were waiting for Ray's cancer surgery. It was a stressful time. We are so blessed that all seemed to turn out well. We now know the cancer was just leaving the prostate - just turning into Stage 3. Ray continues to do well!

Four years ago we were waiting for my back surgery. It was a stressful time. I am so blessed that it went well and I had Ray, a fantastic caregiver. Technically I am still recovering for another year and I continue to see progress!

We have chosen to enjoy life as much as possible. My Dad always said "Everyday's a holiday!". Oh how right he was! He chose to live his 61 years that way and now we are doing the same. This Easter season we are blessed to still enjoy each day the way we choose. 

We celebrate this Easter with prayers of glory and thanks.

Happy Easter!