Sunday Morning Treat

Here it is and I warned that it doesn't look good - but I promise it is. The kids say it tastes more like a dessert than breakfast and Paul thought it was as good as strawberry shortcake. I was just happy to have something to pull out of the fridge ready made before the get ready for church rush began.

This is what my Dad emailed me:

Birchermüseli (named after Dr. Bircher of Zürich)

This is a dish made from rolled oats and plenty of fruit and you can feel how healthy it is when you eat it. We used to live on this on our missions in Switzerland and after a Bern zone conference fast, we would head down to the Bärengraben Restaurant for a big bowl of this topped with whipped cream.. you can of course omit the latter but it is really good.

1 ½ cups of Swiss Familia Müseli or just 1 ½ cup of Quaker rolled oats (lots cheaper)

1 ¼ cup of milk

¾ cup of plain or fruit yogurt

1 Tbsp lemon juice (or take a small lime and squeeze it; I took a small lime that grew on Rick and Gemina’s front yard)

¼ cup orange juice

Mix well

Two unpeeled apples grated or shredded (we like the tart Granny Smith ones)

10 Strawberries sliced if you have them

½ Banana sliced thinly

1 cup halved seedless grapes

My Variations:

If you do not have the seedless grapes, half cup of raisins

I like to add a handful of chopped nuts (unsalted) either walnuts, pecans or whatever you have around.. can get them in bulk at Costco.

Refrigerate overnight in a container (lasts a long time)… serve with a whipped cream topping and it is heaven and healthy love Dad

Thanks Dad - everyone loved it and we'll make it again for tomorrow and maybe even Christmas morning!

We love Muesli

I stopped buying Cherrios (and any other dry cereal) for my family about two years ago. I don't know why but it seemed even after two full bowls, the kids would be hungry again within one hour. But dry cereal is quick and I'm not up to cooking a hot breakfast every morning. So I offered Museli on top of yogurt and was surprised how much they liked it. What was even more surprising was how long it kept them satisfied - it sustained them until lunchtime (this is a great meal to feed the kids before church).

Now we eat Muesli regularly for breakfast. In one meal our family can consume 2 qts of yogurt and at least 12 oz. of Museli. To keep costs down I now make my yogurt the way Emily recently posted and ordered my Museli in bulk. We really like this familia brand and I was able to special order it in bulk at a wholesale price. I ordered 4 cases and I'm hoping it will last us at least for 6 months.

My Dad, who is mostly Swiss and served his mission in Switzerland, loves it also and actually mixes up his own Museli. I will experiment with that when our stash is running low. For now though I have enough work just making the 6 qts of yogurt we go through each week. We will however take his suggestion of adding fresh grapes or shredded apples and let it sit over night. I believe that is called Birchermuesli.

So give it a try.  Believe me it is a lot tastier than it looks.

Wordfull Wednesday: Grateful

I’m most grateful for things
That aren’t really things.
Warm feelings and love,
The joy that they bring.

Take everything from me,
No different I’d be.

Things may be taken,
But real gifts aren’t shaken.

The lessons I learn,
And knowledge I yearn.
Those who are here,
And angels still near.

The life that I live
With opportunities to give.
My soul as it sharpens,
With life as it happens.

In good times and bad
Greatest blessings are had.
I’m most grateful for things,
That aren’t really things.

More Wordful Wednesday here

Tipi Painting

This has been one of our most fun home school projects.  It reminded me of the activity I did in Mrs. Brockhouse's 1st grade class where we collected chestnuts and used them to dye old sheets which were then made into Native American costumes.  We cut fringes along the bottom and then painted our own with different Native American symbols.  There are a lot of facts and dates that have been lost in my memory from school but this activity I can recall with exactness - it was fun!

So for this year's Thanksgiving I pulled out the old canvas tent I sewed over 5 years ago.  We didn't paint it then because the kids weren't old enough.  I'm glad I waited because what they created it just beautiful.  We thought to add Bear prints along the bottom but then it was suggested that we put human prints with our names next to them.  This is something that we will save for years.

We will also use it to perform our little Thanksgiving skit.  The only thing we need to make now is the Mayflower - good thing my mom is going to get a new TV tomorrow because we could use a huge box. 

Making Breakfast Fun

Each of the older three children are assigned to help with our meal preparations.  These assignments of breakfast helper, lunchtime helper, and dinner helper extend for an entire year so by the end of the year they have enough experience to prepare a few meals independently.  

This year Peter is my breakfast helper.  So far he has mastered serving yogurt with muesli, cracking eggs without shells, and thawing out bread then toasting it - we are still working on flipping pancakes and french toast though.

Peter had fun with the toaster this morning.  He discovered if you balance a LEGO mini-fig on the push down pad it will be launched into the air when the toast is ready.  He also tried a Playmobil figure but that wasn't as much fun because they were too heavy and just plopped down on their face. 

Funny Weather, Funny Peter

The weather in Utah is always a bit funny.  It snowed last May and also in the beginning of October.  But this week seemed too good to be true, sunny and almost 60 degrees everyday!

 We've been outside for the most of it and Peter refused to change his outfit for four days.  It was his favorite from summer and wanted to get as many wears out of it as he could.  But as the sun goes down  it gets quite cool so he grabbed his mittens to warm up.

Picture Day

Today was our family picture day.  We had several failed attempts at a family photo last year so today I arranged for a professional to take it.  I've been putting it of for several weeks though because I'm still adjusting to my new hair color.  But time was running out, the leaves are almost all fallen and it is getting cold outside!  Our best chance was this week no matter what my hair looks like.

It kind of felt like getting all the kids ready for church again - it was exhausting.  I told Maryanna to practice her smile and this is what she gave me.  That is actually a pretty natural look for her.