WFMW: Fruit Rinse

Vinegar has SO many uses. One of which I've recently become aware of is a fruit rinse. You can either do this in your sink or a big bowl.

Combine 5 cups of water and 1/2 cup of vinegar. Let your fruit soak in it for a little bit. I usually stir it around with my hand. [With this bowl, I pulled the grapes out and let the apricots and nectarines soak in there completely submerged. I probably wouldn't have put them in together, but you know, it makes for a better picture. :)] It's up to you whether or not you rinse them, I've done it both ways and it doesn't really make a difference...my grapes didn't taste like vinegar. :)

You'll be amazed at how dirty your water looks...it's really quite disturbing. You can't really tell very well, but there was a layer of dirt in there. This is a great way to clean dirt, germs, bacteria, etc off your fruit and they last longer. No more strawberries starting to mold after a couple days! Yay! Store your fruit as usual and enjoy eating them right away without having to wash them first!

**Linking up to We Are THAT Family's Works For Me Wednesday**

A Day With Dad

Mom & Maggie are out of town once again...ahem. Since it's Saturday, and neither one of us have to work...what to do, what to do...

It's a beautiful day out...how about the lake? We decided it would be fun to take Charlie with us. It was his first time riding in the boat and I was unsure how that was going to go since he *loves* to swim. I opted to leave my camera in the truck just in case he decided to jump out of the boat and take us with him. :) Charlie did make one attempt to get in the water, but thankfully he was on the leash so I was sure to pull him back in. Lol We made our way across the lake and let Charlie swim while we batted off the army of flies. Oh, and let's not forget that dad hit his leg getting out of the boat and now has what looks like two knees on one leg...poor guy!

Here we are getting ready to head home and rest before the next event!

Monster Truck Show (plus mud bogging and racing)!

Look who else was there!

Thanks, Dad, for such a fun day!

Recipes

I thought I'd share the recipes for the Oatmeal Bake & Mini Corndog Muffins I mentioned in this post.

Oatmeal Bake

3 cups quick-cooking oats

1 cup packed brown sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 eggs

1 cup milk

1/2 cup butter, melted

Additional milk

In a large bowl, combine the oats, brown sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. In another bowl, whisk the eggs, milk and butter. Stir into oat mixture until blended.

Spoon into a greased 9-in. square baking pan. Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until set. Serve warm with milk.

Mini Corndog Muffins

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2/3 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup corn meal

1 Tbs baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/4 cups milk

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

1/2 cup vegetable oil

3 Tbs butter or margarine, melted

1 pkg hotdogs

Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease mini muffin pan.

Combine flour, sugar, corn meal, baking powder and salt in medium bowl. Add milk, eggs, vegetable oil and butter; stir until just blended. Spoon into muffin cups (about a tablespoon). Cut hotdogs into 6 pieces then put on top of cornbread batter. (You'll have enough hotdogs to do 48 mini muffins, with some cornbread batter left over...I just made regular muffins with the rest of it.)

Bake for 12 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes, then serve warm. They're good by themselves or with your favorite corndog condiments...ketchup, mustard, etc.

(This is a sweet cornbread, and our absolute favorite recipe! If you make it in an 8 in square baking pan, bake for 35 minutes. If you make regular sized muffins, bake them for 18-20 minutes.)

**I deleted my recipe blog (for those of you who even knew about it :), and moved all of the recipes over. So be sure to click on the label 'in the kitchen' to see everything.**

Hello Monday?

Hello Monday. Oh wait...it's Thursday. Is it just me or does anyone else think today feels like Monday? Having a holiday in the middle of the week kinda throws off your schedule.

Hello Thursday! It was a beautiful, yet hot day...and it's only going to get warmer with the weekend...100+!

Hello Oatmeal Bake...definitely a yummy start to the morning. We enjoyed our breakfast even more so by having a picnic per Braxton's request. :)

Hello pooltime. Not only do you provide entertainment, but you help keep us cool with the heat.

Hello mini corndog muffins. Enjoyable lunch for both child and adult.

Hello sunshine...I'm soaking up as much as I can.

Hello cute little feet. Why can't my feet look as cute as his? ;)

Hello garden. You are growing wonderfully...I'm looking forward to enjoying the many things you're beginning to grow!

Hello lavender. Beautiful.

Hello umbrella. Thanks for providing some much needed shade.

Hello popsicle lips and arm. You're cute.

Quote of the day...

While sitting in the pool, Braxton says to me, "Let's take a break and visit."

I sure do love that kid!

*Linking up to Lisa Leonard's Hello Monday*

I was glad...

when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD. ~ Psalm 122:1

I was looking through some old pictures and videos and found this one from 2009...enjoy! Lol

June Photo Challenge - Week 5

Well, June has finally come to a close. While this was fun to do, I started getting tired of it by the middle of the month. Especially this week...I may or may not have missed some days and played 'catch-up'. :) I don't see myself doing this again, but it was fun to give it a try! Without further ado, here are the final pictures for June...

June 24 'on your mind' (I'm planning a baby shower for July 14)

June 25 'something cute'

June 26 'where you shop' 

June 27 'bathroom'

June 28 'on the shelf''

June 29 'soft'

June 30 'friend' (doesn't he look thrilled to be having his picture taken...lol)

Have you been doing the challenge? I'd love to see your pictures!

VBS 2012

Last week we had VBS at church. It was the first VBS I had ever worked in and it was such a blast! I'm not sure what the total attendance was, but I know that we had about 40 the second night. There were 7 profession of faith, and we certainly look forward to see how these young people grow in their relationship with the Lord.

The theme was 'The Good Soldier' and the lessons were from 2 Timothy 2:1-4...'Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.'

Getting ready for pledges and the theme song.

Interrupted by Sgt. Punk

Col. Courageous comes to the rescue

Maggie, Dad & I had fun being in the skit.  (Unfortunately, this is the only pic I have of Maggie & I.)

The kids loved it and it was a great way to teach some basic Bible truths to the kids!

Ticket drawing. Kids would get a ticket for each night they came, bringing a visitor and their Bible. They got to choose a prize if their ticket was drawn.

Penny offering...as I'm sure you figured out, the girls won that night. :)

Pastor had to eat a spoonful of baby food...yuck!

Poor mom was the only girl that had to eat baby food.



Wednesday night we had a reporter from the paper come out. Of course it HAD to be the night Maggie & I made our debut in the skit. ;) You can go see the pictures and read the write-up on Maggie's blog!

Praising the Lord for a great week and already looking forward to next year!

Hello Monday {Demo Derby}

Hello Monday! It's a new week with new opportunities! We went to the Demo Derby this past weekend...I hope you enjoy the pictures throughout this post. :)

Hello rainy days that remind me of Whidbey.

Hello sunshine that peeks through the clouds to warm things up again!

Hello garden...you're looking very lush from all the rain and sunshine!

Hello summertime fun with sidewalk chalk and pool time.

Hello Lizzie-girl...it's so fun watching you walk and rediscover the world around you.

Hello good, Godly music...there's nothing better to listen to.

(I'm loving my new CD by the Assurance Trio from HBBC.)

Hello fresh fruit from the orchards.

Hello eating cherries like they're candy.

Hello Braxton. I loved sitting with you at the Demo Derby and seeing your excitement!

**Linking up to Lisa Leonard's Hello Monday**

June Photo Challenge - Week 4

June 17 'in your bag'

June 18 'something we don't know about you' (this past week was the first time I've ever worked a VBS...and actually, it's the first VBS I've been to in about 15+ years!)

June 19 'imperfect' (I'm reminded of the song "He's still working on me")

June 20 'fave picture you've ever taken'

June 21 'where you slept'

June 22 'from a high angle' (this is from our deck overlooking the town'

June 23 'movement'

Have you been doing the challenge? I'd love to see your pictures!