guest blogger: Casey Ringger!

Joel and I have been privileged to know Casey Ringger. A funny part of our friendship is that Joel and I have separately been friends with her throughout high school, college, and now. It's been fun to know her as a girlfriend, and now enjoy the friendship with another married couple. Learn more about Casey by reading her blog
Casey enjoys writing about God, marriage, school, Charlie - her chocolate lab, and among so much more - recipes!

I'm so grateful for her sharing these great recipes with us!

Do you remember Orange Julius' at the mall? Well, thanks to my friend Katie R. I have a/the recipe for them :) Her family has a tradition of making them on Christmas Day. Art and I made them and they were awesome!!!
Orange Julius
1/3 can frozen OJ concentrate
1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. water
1/4 c. sugar (I used less...just a little)
1/2 t. vanilla (if you have pure extract...use 1/2!)
5-6 ice cubes
Combine all in a blender until smooth. Makes about 3 cups.
Art and I tripled the recipe and it completely filled our blender!!!

This recipe I got from Heavenlyhomemakers.com. It is for Popcorn Chicken but with a twist. Boneless chicken wings with hot sauce always look and smell so good! So I combined ideas.
Popcorn Chicken
3 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (I only used 1 1/2 for Art and I)
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 ts. salt
1/2 ts. garlic powder
butter

Mix the flour, salt, and garlic in a good sized bowl. Cut the chicken into bite sized pieces. Toss the chicken in the flour mixture.
Use your saved butter wrapper to butter a 9x13 baking dish (or use actual butter). Spoon chicken in dish (I did not pour it out because I didn't want a lot of flour in the dish). Spread so they are in a single layer.
Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Stir and bake for another 10 minutes. (I actually baked them for another 10 minutes after that).

They do not look pretty at this stage!!! But this is my twist: Pour the chicken into a container with a lid (or a plastic baggie). Pour some sauce (bbq, hot, etc.) inside and shake. Instant boneless chicken wings!! Art likes bbq and I like hot. I used the generic, regular hot sauce from Wal-mart.

Let me know how these recipes go over with your family!

look what's been baking in my oven!

I have enjoyed being home with a little more freedom since Mylin is growing and able to entertain herself a bit more :)
What I have been enjoying most on my days off (besides my sweet little miss and sweatpants...) is baking!
I have been making lots of bread and cookies
Soon I will get to use my breadmaker, a gift from my friend Leslie who no longer uses it!

Any breadmaker bread-making advice?!

Today I have made gingerbread and butterscotch cookies
I am SO excited about the gingerbread!
I bought a box of gingerbread graham crackers last week since they were on an after the holidays sale (I love gingerbread anything and eat graham crackers often!)
On the side of the box is this surprising and exciting recipe for actual gingerbread!

18 gingerbread graham's finely crushed (2 packages)
1/4 c. flour (I use whole wheat)
1/4 c. sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1 c. milk
1 egg
2 Tbsp honey

mix all and blend. bake at 350 in a 9x4ish pan for about 40 minutes (the recipe calls to make 3 mini loaves). there is also an optional frosting drizzle topping of powdered sugar and water/milk, mixed to desired consistancy and drizzled over top!

I also have been baking my mom's yummy chocolate chip cookies!
Cream together:
1/3 c. shortening
1 c. butter
1 c. sugar
1 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
Then stir in:
3 - 3 1/2 c. flour (again, I use whole wheat)
1 tsp. soda
1 tsp. salt
Then add 12 oz of your favorite chips - I don't do chocolate chip, but always butterscotch!
Bake at 375 for 10-14 minutes!

Let me know how they turn out when you try them!

What have you been baking lately?

She's 7 months old!

Our sweet little miss is 7 months old today :)

Here are her 6 month pictures taken by my friend, Christina of Connelly Photography

Happy lips!

Sad lips :( These are my favorite people - I mean, seriously! How cute are they?!

I love the line 'Little Mismatched - which these clothes are from and also Rufflebutts, where I ordered her rufflebutt with her name on it!

My amazing mother-in-law created this hat! Check out her creations on Etsy site: Dreamland Baby

Kari also made this gorgeous tutu and headband for Mylin for Christmas - what a princess!

2011 Plans, Hopes, and Dreams

When designing this post, I have kept it on hold for many weeks as Joel and I have discussed what we wanted to write in it
I like the few things we've added, but frustrated with myself for the lack of hopes and dreams I have for this year
Where am I going?

This is what we've come up with so far:

Joel...
...will find out where Franklin Electric's headquarters are moving to (which will determine if there is a move in the future for us!)
...will support Rachel as she finishes her degree
...celebrate his 5 year anniversary with FE
...hopes to lose 15 (more) pounds towards his weight loss goal! (he's lost about 10 in the last 2 months!)
...will train for running his first half marathon!

Rachel...
...will graduate with her M.A. from Huntington University!
...wants to find a part-time job as a counselor
...will train for her first half marathon (may do a run/walk combo...)
...will begin to become more involved in worship ministry at church

Mylin...
...will get more teeth!
...learn to walk and talk
...turn one year old :)
...will tell us 'I love you mommy' and 'I love you daddy'!!!!!!!!!! (we sure hope!)

an ode to my tunes

I went a little crazy on amazon.com the past week and bought 7 c.d.s
Gungor - Ancient Skies
Gungor - Beautiful Things
500 Days of Summer Soundtrack
Imogen Heap - Speak for Yourself
Imogen Heap - I Megaphone
Imogen Heap - Ellipse
Frou Frou - Details

I have also been playing a lot of pandora.com around our house when at home with Mylin during the day

She even has her own station - the Lullaby genre! (lllloooovvvveee it!!!)

Any tune recommendations?!