Lee's To Do List

Where We Learn

Fake Betty Crocker Brownie Mix

How to Host a Clothing Exchange

DIY Body Wash

Nutella Pretzel Brownies

Apple Cider Donut Holes

Apple Cider Doughnut Holes

adapted from Feastie

makes approximately 36 mini muffins/"donut holes"

Ingredients:

• 1 c. white flour
• 1 c. whole wheat flour
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 egg
• 2/3 c. brown sugar
• 2/3 c. apple butter
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/3 c. honey
• 1/2 c. apple cider
• 1/3 c. plain yogurt
• 2 Tbsp applesauce

Topping:

• 2 Tbsp unsalted butter, 1/4 c. sugar, 1Tbsp cinnamon

OR

• Powdered sugar

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and spray mini muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray.
2. Combine dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
3. In another bowl, combine all wet ingredients. Do not over mix.
4. Slowly pour wet ingredients into dry mixture.
5. Use a cookie scoop to fill muffin pan.  Obviously we over filled our tin.  But they were yummy still.  Bake for 10-12 min and cool.
6. Melt butter.  Brush donut holes lightly with the butter and dip into sugar/cinnamon mixture.  OR... dust with powdered sugar.

These are so yummy!  I made them for breakfast while we had company.  But the kids got ahold of them the night before and dug in.  We had a couple for dessert and I had a hard time staying out of them for the rest of the night.  Perfect way to celebrate the beginning of fall!

Do you have any favorite apple recipes?

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Hello, Y'ALL!

Hey guys,
You might have notice that things have been a little quiet around here lately.  There's been a post or two here and there, but for the most part, August (and even July) were pretty slow.  Actually, it ended up being an unexpected, but very welcome break.  July is always busy around here.  That's usually when we plan our trips to see family.  And August... well, August was just unplanned, smashed together fun at the end of the summer.  It was one of those situations where a couple of days go by and before you know it, it's been a month since you've written any real content and you're just praying that people are as busy as you are.  :-)  Right?

But September has arrived and with it greater motivation and inspiration.  And tons of ideas that are waiting to bust out of my brain.  We've had some big changes in our family over the summer that I'll share with you soon.  So with that, I'm altering my writing schedule to about 3-4 days a week, but I'm so excited to be sharing you again.

Fall has hit full force in our house.  We went from being surrounded by smoke due to the fires around us to now having cool(er) days and longer drying time for my laundry.  But although it's still in the low 90's here, I'm dreaming of pumpkin pastries and apple desserts.  I'm in the mood to bake this week and promise I'll be sharing some yummy recipes with you guys in the near future.

We're also planning a 1 year old birthday party.  Our foster son is turning ONE!  So although I can't share pictures of him, I'll try to share a few of the cake and party this month as well.

Being a mom of three has officially hit with full force as our fall schedule is being finalized.  Kids back in school, one homeschooling, and one crawler and I'm feeling like a mom.  But before I get too sentimental (or crazy), let me share a few photos from our busy summer.

Taking the kids to see Rio

at the Dollar Theater

Noah and Cousin Jasmine

on the quad

Finishing Swim Lessons

Finishing Swim Lessons

Bunches of Cousins

Celebrating Cousin Dylan's Graduation

at a Giant's Game

Lydia playing at the beach

Noah running from the waves

Noah and Daddy playing in the water

Noah and Mommy on the Slip N Slide

Noah playing T-Ball

Cousins Lydia, Natalie, and Noah

at the Fair

Noah and Lydia at the Fair

with Great-Grandma

So that's what we've been up to.  Good memories and I'm amazed at how quickly it all went.  There's more to come to keep reading.  I'm so blessed to be journeying with all of you.

What have you all been up to lately?

Happy Labor Day!

(Image Credit)

Have a Safe and Wonderful Holiday!

Bookmarks for August 2012

*Bookmarks is an online book club hosted at Creative2xmom. Here we discuss the books we've read in the past month as well as the suggested reading. Our suggested reading for August was Handmade Home by Amanda Blake Soule.

These are the books I read this month:

Running for My Life by Lopez Lomong--Click here for my review.

Word Spirit Power by Kendall, Carrin, and Taylor-- Click here for my husband's review.

Our suggested reading for this month was Handmade Home by Amanda Blake Soule--I have good things about Soule's Creative Family, but haven't been able to get my hands on it.  So when I saw this title listed at the library, I had to pick it up.  I wasn't prepared however for all the sewing projects in this book (I know.  It's in the sub-title).  And for a non-sewer like myself, I just skipped several parts.  My sewing abilities are BAD. I can't get through a straight line with jamming the needle.  Although I will say, it has inspired me to make some eye pillows.  They're a cute little gift and maybe I'll get over my fear of the sewing machine to put together a few for Christmas.  Besides the sewing, there was several other projects that I'd like to try: handmade journals, a treasure bag, a rack for the hall, etc.  I think what I loved most about this book was that everything was made with found material, recycling treasure that no one else wants.  This is a cute little book that I want to keep in mind for "someday" when I have more time.  

So what are your bookmarks this month?

Tell us in the comments about the books you're chewing on. Or link up a review from your own blog. Let's share the books we're finding, good and bad. And give us your thoughts on Handmade Home by Amanda Blake Soule.

And come back Friday September 28th as we discuss 5 Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman and other books you're reading.  

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