Well, I’m no Rachael Ray, but I love to cook. And bake. And be inventive with food. And be artistic with food. Living with five rather picky eaters (well…I guess Ellie isn’t picky…yet ) has squelched all of this a bit; having peace at the supper table has trumped being adventurous with food for this season of life.
However, last evening we had this delectable treat for dessert, and it was a winner…
Oh my. Who knew how easy it was to actually make shortcakes? It’s so easy! You must try…
1/3 cup of shortening
2 cups flour
2 T sugar
3 t baking powder
1 t salt
3/4 cup milk
Heat oven to 450. Cut shortening into flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in medium bowl until mixture looks like fine crumbs. Stir in milk until just blended.
Turn dough onto lightly floured surface. Gently smooth into a ball. Knead 20 – 25 times. Roll 1/2 inch thick. Cut with knife into 6 wedges. Place about 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake 10 – 12 minutes or until golden brown.
Split shortcakes horizontally in half while hot. Spread butter on split sides. Fill with strawberries; replace tops. Top with strawberries and sweetened whipped cream.
(The baking and enjoying of these shortcakes was bittersweet, though, I must say. I used my last bit of Canadian baking powder in them. Would any of my Canadian readers like to send a care package?)
Yes, school…let me explain. For the past couple of months Noah has had the privilege of attending a Christian Montessori preschool (for free!). There is a training centre right here on the college campus, and recently they invited children between the ages of 3-6 to attend. It’s a beautiful thing. The students in the training centre have real, live children to “train” on, and my kids are learning about everything from geography to prayer to sewing. (Yes…sewing!)
So…now that Phoebe is three and potty-trained she can go with Noah! How cool is that? She was so excited today, and it was so cute to watch them walk over together. It’s literally a stones throw away from our front door, too. Well… depends on who’s throwing the stone, I guess.
Well, first my littlest baby turns nine months old and then – like, the next day – my other baby turns THREE! It’s almost too much for one week.
Phoebe had a birthday fit for a princess. We had a party for her last evening with some other little princesses and princes. Here she is waiting for all the royal guests…
This was her big present. She hopped on and started peddling like a pro. It was very cute.
Here, also, if you’d like to take a peek, is a little slideshow that we prepared for “Phoebe’s 3rd Birthday Ice Cream Cake Social.” (Dave came up with that name for the Evite – makes me giggle.)
Really not sure how this happened, but my little newborn baby girl is 9 months old today. That went by way too fast. Why does a 9 month pregnancy seen like an eternity, but these precious baby days seem to zoom by so fast? *sigh*
Look who has kept herself clean and (mostly) dry for the past four days. That’s right, we’re on our way to having only one diapered bottom at the Horsman house. Exciting stuff, I tell ya… Seriously, though, a newly potty trained toddler is one of those things that can make a parent jump for joy.
Yippity Skippity! Tomorrow is our last day of school! We’re planning on doing a bit of summer school in July and August - just a half hour to an hour each day of math and language arts review – but for the month of June we will be free spirits. So happy and proud of us all. We did it!
Would any of my Canadian readers like to send a care package?)
