Savoring the Little Moments

Stress. Lately it seems I can't hide from it. The economy ... so many people suffering ... our children ... surgery ... church and school ... homework ... looking for a house ...

I'm trying to figure out how to keep from exploding in the coming year. The thought that keeps occurring to me is that I need to enjoy daily the small, pleasurable moments of my life.

I'm reminded of a book I read a few years ago by Anna Quindlen, "A Short Guide to a Happy Life." She talks about witnessing family members die and how it has given her a greater appreciation for life. I watched my own mother die fairly young and realize life is short, but it is still so difficult for me to simply slow down and enjoy. Here are a few quotes from her book:

"The lights came on ... I was never again going to be able to see life as anything except a great gift. It's ironic that we forget so often how wonderful life really is."

"It is so easy to waste our lives: our days, our hours, our minutes ... It is so easy to exist instead of live. Unless you know there is a clock ticking. So many of us changed our lives when we heard a biological clock and decided to have kids. But that sound is a murmur compared to the tolling of mortality."

"Get a life in which you notice the smell of salt water pushing itself on a breeze over the dunes, a life in which you stop and watch how a red-tailed hawk circles over a pond and a stand of pines. Get a life in which you pay attention to the baby as she scowls with concentration when she tries to pick up a Cheerio with her thumb and first finger. Turn off your cell phone. Turn off your regular phone, for that matter. Keep still. Be present."

" ... think of life as a terminal illness, because, if you do, you will live it with joy and passion, as it ought to be lived."

May we all live "The Good Life" in our small moments.

Basic Pancakes

Pancakes are really cheap to make from scratch and quite tasty also! Mark Bittman, author of "How to Cook Everything" says of pancakes, "Americans must have been sadly alienated from the kitchen for pancake mixes to ever have gained a foothold in the market, for these are ridiculously easy to make." He has shamed me into never buying pancake mix again ... except maybe for camping! :) Click here for his recipe with lots of detail. Below is my edited version of his recipe:

Basic Pancakes
Makes 4 to 6 servings

2 cups all-purpose flour (I use whole wheat flour)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar, optional
2 eggs
1 1/2 to 2 cups milk (I use skim milk)
2 tablespoons melted, cooled butter (optional) (I use olive or canola oil)
plus unmelted butter for cooking, or use neutral oil

I mix the dry ingredients, add the other ingredients into the same bowl and use a wisk to stir for about 30 seconds. Then cook 'em up!

We freeze these and waffles all the time for a really quick breakfast for the kids. Just throw them in the toaster frozen or nuke them and you're off!

Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk

Found this recipe at tiphero.com a day too late! (By-the-way, Tip Hero is a great website to find money saving ideas.) I was making pumpkin pies with my left over pumpkin puree and all I needed was Sweetened Condensed Milk. I hate running to the store for one item. If I had this recipe it could have saved me the trip and also some money! Haven't tried it yet, but looks like it should work fine. If anyone tries it before I do, let me know how it worked for you! Happy Holiday baking!

Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 cup dry powdered milk
1/3 cup warm water
2/3 cup sugar
3 TBS melted butter

Mix together in a blender until smooth. Refrigerate. Makes 1 1/4 cups or one can of homemade Eagle milk.

Fun Holiday Idea

A few years ago I got a fun idea for Halloween decorations from a friend of mine. She takes a picture of her daughter in her costume every Halloween and buys a cheap frame at Ross or at an after Halloween sale and frames it for the next year. I started doing this and have quite a few framed pictures now. I haven't paid more than a few dollars for each frame. It makes me smile every year. I think I'll really enjoy them when I'm an empty-nester and have all these fun memories to look at each year. I think this would also be really fun to do for Christmas.