Tag Archives: Moms

Baked Apple Cinnamon Dessert

Posted on by
1

Sounds like the perfect fall dish, right? The seasonal aroma was wonderful this morning when I baked it for my Bible study group. If the temperature in San Antonio could just get out of the 90’s, it would really be time to celebrate!

I received this recipe from my MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) mentor — another great thing about MOPS, you find awesome mentors who have mothering wisdom and lots of great recipes 🙂 You can find more of Karen’s recipes at www.karenworth.wordpress.com

Ingredients
1 Granny Smith apple
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
3/4 stick butter
6 oz Mountain Dew
1 can crescent rolls

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Peel, core and cut apple into eight slices. Roll each slice in sugar and cinnamon mixture.

Roll one crescent roll around each apple slice. Place in dish and pour remaining sugar and cinnamon on top. Pour melted butter over top, then 6 ozs Mountain Dew.

Bake 40 minutes at 350 degrees.

You can serve for breakfast or with vanilla ice cream for dessert. Just a note, for our family of four … we always have leftovers. If you’re making for a larger group, of course you can double the recipe.

Happy Fall, Y’all!

New Season of Mothering

Posted on by
9

Last week, I met my {baby} boy’s Pre-K teacher. As we were talking about the things he needed for school … she said, “And no napmat is required, this is the big kid room.” Fighting back tears.

She went on to say, “Homework will go home on Tuesday and will be due on Thursday.” Tears.

From that day until now, I’ve been praying for God to give me strength. As my children grow, I think the most difficult thing as a mom is letting go. It happens slowly, but you see this little independent person developing over time. It’s beautiful and heart-wrenching at the same time. So bittersweet. 

This morning, I dropped him off for his first day. He was excited for a new classroom, more friends and he said, “I’m big like Ella now.”

With my {baby} boy in Pre-K two days a week and speech preschool on different days, my life will change this year. I’ve graduated from the land of spit-up, diaper changes and temper tantrums and have walked through a new door. For the first time in seven years, I’m not in a Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) group. It’s a really weird place.

I’m making adjustments in my own life to help with this new season — Bible Study with wonderful friends, training for my first 5k and continuing to work on my freelance work. It’s a good step, that I must be willing to make.

One thing I will not miss is the isolation that I sometimes felt as a stay-at-home mom of young children. It is more work (mentally) than I ever thought possible. So, if you are in this season (where the nights are long and the days are chaotic), I want to encourage you. It does end. And, when you feel like all your work goes unnoticed, it doesn’t. You are shaping a little soul! All of your loving efforts will show in their personality.

Today, I’m focusing on the positive. I’m remembering the special moments and looking forward to all those we have yet to experience … those memories belong to us. They are uniquely special for our family and no age or independence will ever diminish our bond. Motherhood is such a gift to be cherished! 

Now, it’s your turn — What season of mothering are you in? If your children are out of the baby/toddler stage, what changes have you made to your own schedule?

Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies

Posted on by
4

I can’t believe I have a second grader. As I was leaving the classroom this morning, something happened for the first time … she didn’t want to kiss me in front of the other students. Sigh.

{1st Day of 2nd Grade}

I thought by now, I would have it down. But, it doesn’t get easier. I miss her. Carter and I are both counting down the minutes for pick-up, I’m so anxious to hear every detail about her day!

We have a little tradition for the first day of school. Nothing big or life-changing, but we started with preschool and it has stuck. We make homemade chocolate chip cookies and serve them on a special plate, which she only uses on the first day of school.

She wouldn’t kiss me this morning, but she did ask if there would be homemade chocolate chip cookies on her plate 🙂

I never had a great chocolate chip cookie recipe, until I met my husband. My mother-in-law introduced me to her very own prize-winning homemade recipe. Here it is:

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter at room temperature

6 Tablespoons granulated sugar

6 Tablespoons brown sugar

1 egg

1 cup, plus 2 Tablespoons sifted flour

1/2 teaspoon soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon hot water

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 – 6oz package semi-sweet chocolate chips (or you can also use Hershey’s milk chocolate chips)

Preheat oven to 350. Blend butter with granulated sugar and brown sugar until well blended. Add well-beaten egg. Sift flour, soda and salt in separate bowl. Add flour mixture to butter-sugar mixture. Add hot water and vanilla. Add chocolate chips. Drop by 1/2 teaspoons on cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes. Cool slighty, then remove cookies and put on rack to cool. When cool, store in container with tight lid.*

*A great tip from my mom — Put a piece of bread in the bottom of the air-tight container. It will keep your cookies extra soft.

So, after we enjoy our cookies, she has requested grilled tilapia for dinner. She is keeping me busy today!

Do you have any traditions for the first day of school?