Yael

Love, Love, Love this French-Israeli singer/songwriter! Check her out here

Almond Cranberry Corn Bread

Nut meals can replace up to one-fourth the all-purpose flour in baked goods. Almond meal's hearty texture works well in corn bread. Look for it at health food stores or from Bob's Red Mill (www.bobsredmill.com), or place about 1 cup blanched almonds in a food processor; process until finely ground. If you don't have a cast-iron skillet, you can also bake the bread at 400° in an 8-inch round cake pan for 16 minutes.

Yield

12 servings (serving size: 1 wedge)

Ingredients

• 3 ounces all-purpose flour (about 2/3 cup)
• 2/3 cup yellow cornmeal
• 2/3 cup almond meal
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 tablespoons canola oil
• 1 1/2 tablespoons sliced almonds
• 3/4 cup fat-free buttermilk
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 2 large egg whites
• Cooking spray

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 400°.

2. Weigh or lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour and next 6 ingredients (through salt) in a large bowl.

3. Heat oil in a small skillet over high heat. Add almonds to pan; cook 2 minutes or until lightly toasted, stirring frequently. Strain oil through a fine sieve into flour mixture. Set aside 1 tablespoon almonds. Add remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons almonds to flour mixture. Combine buttermilk, dried cranberries, and egg whites, and add to flour mixture, stirring until well blended.

4. Spoon batter into an 8-inch cast-iron skillet coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle reserved 1 tablespoon toasted almonds over top of batter. Bake bread at 400° for 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes on a wire rack.

Study Time Favorites

A necessity during a six hour study session!

Michelle Willam's "We Break the Dawn." Click here to listen!

Teefless

Yesterday afternoon Ashlyn and Adrianna were playing in the computer chair, which happens to be right next to a window. I stepped out of the bathroom just in time to see Adrianna flying of the chair into the blinds mouth first. We took her to the dentist and he pulled out her front tooth, talk about traumatizing! Nanna was such a trouper through the whole thing, she only cried for the a couple minutes after the initial incident!
Her lips and cheeks are a little little swollen today but she doesn't notice because she to busy watching Sponge Bob! Poor Nanna, she has a long while before her permanent tooth grows in!

Our Morning Routine

Me in the shower, barely popping open the shampoo bottle....

Ashlyn (opening the bathroom door)... Mom, Mom, MOM!
Me: What?
Ashlyn: Are you in here?
Me: Yes
Ashlyn: Ok just checkin

Two seconds later...

Ashlyn: Mom, Mom, MOM!
Me What?
Ashlyn: Are you STILL in here?
Me: YES
Ashlyn: Ok just chekin again

One millisecond later..

Adrianna: Mom, Mom, MOM!
Me: What Adrianna?
Adrianna: Are you taking a shower?
Me: (big sigh) Yes honey.
Adrianna: Ok I'll go tell Ashlyn

1 minute later...

The shower curtain opens and a light from a flashlight is shining in my face...
Ashlyn and Adrianna: Mom we found you, can we have a Popsicle?
Me: (even bigger sigh) Not now.

Finally done with my shower, I shut the door and begin brushing my teeth, one second after shutting the door I notice four small hands underneath the door.
Ashlyn: Mommy can you see my hand... touch it ok!
Adrianna: Mom, please touch my hand.
Ashlyn: (hands flailing about) Mom don't forget to brush your teeth so you don't have stinky breath.

Ahh the joys of motherhood... It's amazing we even make it out the door in the morning!

You Know You're a Mom When....

You can't put on a pair of pants, socks, underwear, etc... without a felt letter, number or some cartoon character being stuck to it!

Self Portrait

One of Ashlyn's many masterpieces, the girl loves to draw!
She's come a long way since this post.