Really?!?

This is the week that I give up dairy?
Girl Scout Cookie week?
*sob*

Time to get to work, kid

second time's the charm

I have recently been aware that no cold lasts 15 years, and maybe the reason that I have constant post-nasal drip and coughing is the dairy in my diet.
So, yesterday, I made the decision to cut out dairy for a week or two to see if I feel better.
All day yesterday I had moments of dumbness, like "I am a little munchy, how 'bout some cheese? Oh, right, or some yogurt, hmmm, Chocolate?...nope."
My hope is that this will abate over the course of the next couple of weeks.

I did not, however, give up all dietary fun, and this afternoon the Hug-a-Bugs and myself made a batch of dairy-free cupcakes.

I used the recipe from this book for Emergency Snacking Cake.
I had hoped to make a wacky cake from my Grandma Pearl's recipe, but I couldn't find it.

It went o.k. even though we hit a few snags.

The first is the tiny fit thrown by the Elder when the only apron was going to the Younger, even though I made it for her when she was three.

In an attempt to diffuse the situation I threw together a new apron for the Elder.
Because of an earlier ribbon-buying spree, I had about a yard of cute flower twill tape in the stash and I sewed it along the top edge of a kitchen towel.
Easy make, easy wear, easy care.
The apron situation sorted, we began on the batter.There was enough excitement (and I use that term loosely) making the batter that I forgot the baking soda.
Well, cupcakes don't rise without leavening.

So while the kids ate their lunches, I made a quick second batch and they came out perfectly.

I didn't like these as much as my grandma's recipe, but they do well in a snacking emergency.

I leave you with a hint of spring,My mom took some cuttings from her lilac bushes and put them in water a week or two ago, and her front window is full of greeny goodness, I just had to do the same.
It sure is nice to see something green and growing.

Have a fun afternoon,
Jess

new game

My darling son has invented a new game.
Tire rut maze.
He'll follow the ruts in our neighbors parking pad and get stuck, and then try to find his way out.
It is super cute and fun, and when he gets tired, so to speak, he just stomps across the snow to get out.

Lazy Day

The concert last night was a ton of fun and we got some terrific donations, Thank You!
So today is a lazy day.
On the agenda today is to finish up some work projects, make a pot roast and maybe take the kids to the Children's Museum.

How's your lazy day shaping up?

Caritas

Hi!
Just a reminder that Caritas Vocal Ensemble has its first concert of the season tomorrow.
We always have our first concert of the year at the church where we rehearse and this year they have been generous enough to give us the proceeds.

If you would like to attend, the concert is at Lutheran Church of Christ the Redeemer at 5440 Penn Avenue South, in Minneapolis at 4:00 PM.
We are performing music from all over the world, in six different languages, and composers spanning 5 centuries.

Please come and join us for a fun afternoon of music, and we will have cookies too.

Jess

A Fifth of Yellow

Here it is the last day of Yellow Week.
This cornbread was a little dry, so the honey was a necessity.