May 31, 2010
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our memorial day
memdaymemday1
daisycombo
grantsplate
memday4
..was spent visiting grant's grandpa's grave, finding sunny flowers, making our new tradition for dinner, and curling up to watch my favorite hitchcock.
not pictured: grant writing a paper, me cleaning bathrooms, enjoying being home together, and grant falling asleep during the movie. (his signature move.)
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happy memorial day!
so, everybody seems to be in on this. apparently today is the start of summer.. how did i miss? i always thought the last day of school kicked off the summer!
well i'm thinking, since it's 'officially' summertime, maybe grant and i should start a memorial day tradition at our house. it would be fun. and i would like it to look something like this..
burgerchef
bestburger
i do need one of these every once in awhile. i'm a cheeseburger girl, body and soul. i'm going to call this the plan for tonight. and i'm definitely making my favorite roasted potato wedges to go with it. happy summertime!
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May 28, 2010
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rhubarbgrowth
i've been meaning to tell you: the rhubarb is growing! it's really exciting. it already looks so rhubarby. and i scored an old school watering can at the thrift store this week-- 75 cents! woohoo.
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May 27, 2010
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you knew it was coming..
cs1
let me show you around..
cs3
cs2
cs4
cs6
cs5
we interrupt our usual programming for the following promotion..
do you want to send your kids to a great camp this summer? come to camp shetek! it's a magical place. the food is homemade, the people are friendly, the cabins are rustic, the games are intense, and God does great things in our hearts! and sometimes, people fall in love. (like me!)
basically, this camp is amazing and i just want everyone to be able to come. you know i'm going to be there! for more information or to print a registration form, check out our site. and you can email me if you have questions. look for another camp post in the near future, where i will talk about the upcoming move to camp.
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poppysprouts
5 things from 5.26.10
today i am wiping out window sills and feeling like the luckiest girl in the world. it's the end of may and no allergies yet. thank You Lord, for this stolen time! i can have the windows open in our house!
today i feel like singing.. this is the day that the Lord has made. i will rejoice and be glad in it.
today, i'm watching my poppies sprout before my very eyes. after only a week, i can see they're already following my orders. grow, guys. grow!
from today, i have 17 days until my job at camp begins, and i am planning to make the most of it. the ideas keep rolling in.. i'm shopping on ebay and learning new bible verses and stocking the freezer with homemade bread, and other plans include..
to keep my plants growing, run outside, use up food on hand, buy few groceries, transplant geraniums, read the books grandma let me borrow, sew something | embroider something, get some real vitamin D, prep for exciting projects on the horizon, cheer grant on as he finishes teaching year 3, cheer haley on as she gets married!
today i stumbled on this verse
'light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.' ecclesiastes 11. 7
thank You Lord, for knowing exactly what's on my mind this morning and for showing Yourself to me through your Word. thank You for creating the sunshine and making it so pleasant to me.
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May 25, 2010
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sewingencyc
yesterday i grabbed a pencil + paper, and in that space of spiral notebook i wrote a new schedule, a list of goals, and generally filled myself up with good intentions. ever since 6th grade, this is how summer vacation has started. i love it. i love that i'm still wired to do it. it's a great feeling to have openness ahead of you. makes me want to wake up early and make my bed.
anyway. in the news around here..
1. i finally dipped into martha's sewing encyclopedia, which feels like a candy store in my lap. it's just too pretty. now i want to make stuffed bunnies and embroider all my napkins. (i got this from the library and am overjoyed that the cd with all the patterns is still included!)
2. we are excited that our tv shows are ending this week.. it was fun while it lasted, but we're ready to reclaim our evenings. goodbye forever, jack bauer.
3. wearing skirts and t-shirts is so fun. i love summer weather.
4. we slept with all the windows open last night. wow. breeze has never felt so nice. we haven't turned the air on yet.. we're playing the how long can we go? game.
5. i made a meal plan from now until we move out to camp --which is when we don't have to buy groceries for 2 months! hooray!
6. dance anthem of the 80's is my favorite song right now. and this one, too.
7. and this.
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May 24, 2010

Penne Frittata with Ricotta & Basil

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{image from a cup of jo}

made this last week and today joanna's talking about it. i agree: it's delisch. thank you sunday suppers and martha stewart living! i never knew pasta and eggs could be so happy together.

penne frittata with ricotta and basil
gently tweaked from martha stewart

6 large eggs
1/2 cup whole milk
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
2 cloves minced garlic
salt and pepper
3 cups cooked and drained whole wheat penne (from 7 oz. dry)
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 T. olive oil
grated mozzarella for garnish

1. preheat oven to 400. whisk together eggs, milk, ricotta, parmesan, garlic, 1 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper. stir in cooked pasta, basil, and oregano.
2. heat a 10-inch ovenproof skillet over med heat. add oil; swirl to coat bottom and sides of pan. pour in egg mixture and cook until edges are just beginning to set, about 2 min.
3. transfer skillet to oven and bake until eggs are cooked, 10 to 12 minutes. invert onto a plate and re-invert onto a serving dish. garnish with mozzarella and basil and cut into wedges.

i served it with chilled marinara sauce, which made it even 10x better.
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powow2010
my friends were just here for a visit.
while they were here, we did our usuals. we talked for hours. literally. we made mac and cheese, sat on blankets on the floor, and shared what God has been doing in our lives. we spent a morning on youtube, talking about justin bieber and how much we love regina spektor, and confessed that we buy songs just because of that one part we really like. we went for a walk to tour my town. we picked dead dandelions and pretended to be belle in that one scene of beauty and the beast. we talked wedding things and discussed the lost art of the rsvp. we watched an alfred hithcock film (of course).
pwpicksdandelions
it reminded me of vintage sleepovers. we really had amazing sleepovers. the only difference now is texting has entered the picture. nowadays, cell phones sit around the room with us, buzzing and chiming as the talk flows. i'm amazed at how artfully these girls flick their fingers around their phones whilst keeping in the conversation. i realized, wow. my friends are so cool and connected. {and here i sit, feeling like a stick-in-the-mud and wondering when texting will enter my life for real.}
it was the perfect little pow-wow before haley gets married. these are girls of incredible quality. every time i'm with them, i'm reminded of it. and i love how much the same we all are. we're truly birds of a feather.
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May 20, 2010
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maybuds
last day of school! summer vacation officially begins at 3:00 pm this afternoon!
remember the feeling? ohhh. it's the best.
bring on the sunscreen, summer camp, and lightning bugs.
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May 19, 2010

Chocolate Zucchini Cake

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choczucc

You shouldn't be very happy with me right now. You won't believe how long ago I made this, and how long i've been holding out on you. I stuck it in the freezer, so as to not eat it all in one sitting. It's my latest dessert love.

I'd like to introduce you to chocolate zucchini loaf cake. (I originally called it bread, but that doesn't fit at all. Besides, how cool and rustic is loaf cake? With its thick, square slices.. mm.)
I broke it out to serve to our company last weekend, knowing they would appreciate its chocolatey grandeur and the perfect texture somewhere between brownie and cake. You might appreciate it too, especially if you love a good bite of chocolate like I do.

Chocolate Zucchini Loaf Cake

2/3 c. all-purpose flour
1/3. c. whole wheat flour
1/2 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 1/2 c. shredded raw zucchini
1/4 c. coconut oil or vegetable oil
1/4 c. applesauce
1/2 c. granulated sugar
1/2 c. raw sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3/4 c. semi sweet or dark chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 and grease a loaf pan. Sift together first 7 ingredients. Set aside.
2. Using a hand mixer, beat the oil, applesauce, sugars, eggs, and vanilla for about 2 min.
3. Fold in zucchini, add the flour mixture, beating just until combined. Fold in chocolate chips.
4. Pour mixture into prepared pan and bake for 55 to 65 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.
5. Remove from oven and place pan on a wire rack to cool for at least 15 min. Then transfer from pan to wire rack and let cool completely. Store in fridge when cool.
Serve warm with vanilla ice cream. Or chilled, with fresh berries.

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May 18, 2010
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a little reveal..
roomreveal
i know i always appreciate seeing how people pull off a room, so i thought i'd do unto others today. you'll notice, i spent less than $10.00 on everything and am blessed with a generous family. you'll also notice, i didn't do any real shopping. like at a real store. (with real life prices.) for the most part, my decorating strategy has become:
1. thrift, thrift, thrift.
2. be patient. wait for something just right. eventually you'll find pieces you need.
2. don't say no to nice stuff that's offered to you!
this method not only fits my budget, but also my small town scene. naturally, the secondhand store in town has become my best friend. (i'm so glad!) what's your strategy for decor?
in other news.. my kitchen window is cracked open, birds are chirping, laundry's folded, i just bought some adele songs, grant only has 13 days left at school, the sun is shining, and just look at this..
mayweather
yesss. i'm going outside. be back after a few miles.
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May 17, 2010
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guestroom
it's official. we have a guest room.
i'm so excited. the room had it's very first occupants this weekend, and we're already booked again for this weekend! yay for company. so, friends, (you know who you are) please come visit! the space is small, but i can promise you homemade desserts and a trip to The Hub.
thanks for coming mom and haley! it was a lovely weekend with you.
and now, off i go into the last week of school! suddenly summer seems awfully close.
we're grilling burgers tonight to celebrate.
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May 14, 2010

Classic Banana Bread

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bananamash

happy friday, friends! after a week of rain and gray, the sun is shining. woohoo. today i'm on a mission to get the house clean as a whistle. mom and sister are coming tonight! and mom hasn't seen our new house yet, so we need to make a good impression, don't we, house?

in other news, i have banana bread to feed my company.
i shared this recipe way back when, but i'm bringing it back for two reasons:
1. it's still my favorite. favorite things should be shouted from the rooftops.
2. i've adapted it a bit. not because it needed it, but because i like to play.

one thing is for sure.. i put sour cream in my banana bread, and i always will. if you guys try it, i think you'll stick with it too.

banbreadcool

banana bread adapted from tesa's recipe

1/2 c. butter, softened
3/4 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. whole wheat flour
2 T. milled flax
1 tsp. baking soda
1 heaping tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. salt
1 c. very ripe bananas, mashed (about 2)
1/2 c. sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 c. chopped walnuts or pecans, optional

1. preheat oven to 350. butter a loaf pan, or several smaller pans.
2. cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, add the eggs; beating well.
3. sift together dry ingredients and combine with butter mixture; blend well.
4. add mashed bananas, sour cream, and vanilla; stir well. stir in nuts, if using.
5. pour into prepared pan, bake 60 minutes, or until cake tester comes out clean.
5.5. cover with foil if getting too brown in oven.
6. let cool in pan 10 minutes, then turn onto wire rack to cool completely.


i'm setting out on my mission. will be cleaning the fridge compartments and making things neat.
what are you doing today?
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May 13, 2010
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anniversaryrose2
grant brought me 3 pink roses last weekend. (i love the things he picks.) and they still look really sweet and alive. it's such a treat to have flowers in the house. it has me thinking romantical thoughts. such as..
i should really pick up writing our 'love story' again. (i'm always motivated to keep at it when you guys ask for more. thanks!) and what with camp just around the corner, my mind is in the right place to do it. maybe once i finish up at preschool-- which will be in one week! whoa. but the busy summer will be here before we know it. hopefully i can get at least one more chapter written before i start forgetting details.
if you missed part of our story so far, you can catch up with any of these chapters..
i still need to write the rest. hold me to it.
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May 12, 2010

Deep Dish Pizza

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leftoverddpizza

monday's lunch = cold deep dish pizza leftover from the weekend. mmm. it might get even better after sitting in the fridge for a day. let me tell you how much i love this recipe: i depend on it. it's never ever failed me. and it's such a nifty little process for two perfect pizza pies. i actually look forward to the work of making of it. but most importantly: it's realllly delicious pizza. the crust is soft, but always gets done in the middle. (a big thank you to my sister in law, for sharing with me!)

recently i've been playing around with the ingredients, and it's still been yummy every time. (but take note: the original recipe will get you the most restaurant-y taste. i recommend trying it by the book first.) you'll see my playing around in parentheses.

pizzadoughball
Heidi's Deep Dish Pizza dough
3/4 c. + 2 T. milk, warmed to 110 degrees
2 tsp. honey
1 pkg. yeast
2 T. olive oil
2 1/3 c. all-purpose flour (i've substituted up to half of this with whole wheat flour)
1/2 tsp. salt

1. in mixer bowl, combine warm milk with honey. dissolve yeast in this for 5 min. add olive oil.
2. sift together dry ingredients. add to mixer bowl. use bread hook to combine and knead until it pulls away from sides and bottom. dough should be easy to handle and just slightly sticky.
3. place dough in a greased bowl, and let rise for 20 minutes until puffy and slightly risen.

..do dishes while you wait..

ddpizzacrust2

4. coat the bottom of two 9 inch round cake pans, or one large jelly roll pan, with olive oil and sprinkle with oregano and basil. heat oven to 400 degrees.
5. if using deep dish pans: divide dough in half and roll each half into a ball. roll out into a 9 1/2" round. press into oiled cake pan. if using a baking sheet, stretch dough out and press to fit. prick with a fork to prevent air bubbles while baking. set in a warm place and let rise 20 minutes.
6. after crust is risen, top with your favorite sauce and toppings. bake for 20 minutes on the bottom rack. after taking it out, brush crust with butter and sprinkle with garlic salt. enjoy.
serving size.. grant can eat a whole pizza pie by himself. i eat half and save half.

*major tip.. if using pepperoni, before putting it on pizza, place slices in a single layer on a paper towel-lined plate and cover with more paper towels. microwave 30 seconds. pat paper towels and soak up excess grease. (yuck.) it will keep your pizza from getting pools.
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May 11, 2010
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hi guys, it's me again. i'm so glad you got to meet grant yesterday. i was just as surprised to see him as you! isn't he clever and charming? i'm so spoiled. he really is the coolest guy i've ever met. like, this cool:
stairjump
stairjump2
grant wanted these taken, and i'm so glad. this is totally him. i hope we see him hack in here again sometime. that was the best blog surprise ever.
last night we celebrated with burgers at our favorite diner, smashing together on the couch for our favorite show, and reading through our skype history. it was funny to see my silly words from way back when. i still can't believe i'm the girl that caught grant harms. the past two years have been bliss. really, i can't imagine how i ever lived without him. i think i love him more than ever, if that's possible.
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May 10, 2010
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Dear Blog,
I don't think that we have formally met. I am Grant. Summer's husband. I'm not sure if your creator will be okay with me barging in like this, especially with all my capital letters and my not well grammar and my lack of exclamation points, but the reason for this hijacking is because I wanted to make you aware of that fact that May 10th marks the two year anniversary of the day that I married Summer. I know that you have grown to enjoy her company over the past year and a half since she created you, just as I have enjoyed her company these two years. Since we are both very fond of her, I thought maybe I could share with you a few of the things that I love about Summer. If you don't mind, here is a list.
I love:
1: Being married to her.
2: Coming home to her everyday after school.
3: Going shopping for groceries with her.
4: Laying on the couch and watching movies with her.
5: Taking naps with her.
6: Talking with her before we fall asleep.
7: Driving in the car with her.
8: Watching her sing along to songs on the computer while she is working on it.
9: Watching her walk.
10: Seeing her try new things.
11: Watching her work in the kitchen.
12: That she does my laundry and makes my lunch everyday...and she enjoys it.
13: Sitting with my arms around her.
14: Eating her food.
15: Taking care of her everyday.
I could go on for awhile, but I'm afraid that I will be discovered pretty soon, so I should probably leave before it is known that I have been in her account. It was nice to meet you Blog. Hopefully we will meet again sometime.
Sincerely,
Grant
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May 9, 2010
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momwithus
40 things mom told me.
1. Jesus loves me, and He died for my sins.
2. if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.
3. when it comes to hair, you can never have too much volume.
4. blow dry upside down.
5. chew with your mouth closed. (i must've heard 'don't chomp' ten thousand times.)
6. wear a solid shirt on picture day.
7. don't expect anything, and then you'll always be pleasantly surprised.
8. wait 20 minutes before you decide to eat more dessert.
9. being a wife and a mom is a very high (and wonderful) calling.
10. spend time with your sisters, or else someday you'll have regrets.
11. black is slimming. and always classy.
12. fold towels in thirds.
13. dating is for finding your husband.
14. make sure the mirrors are clean. sometimes water works best on streaks.
15. your beauty should be on the inside, 'the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit.'
16. remember to say please and thank you.
17. pray first. then decide.
18. act like a lady.
19. think of others before yourself.
20. read this book.
21. someday you'll want to practice the piano.
22. respect your authorities.
23. homemaking is the job that shapes the next generation.
24. the first 20 minutes of a run are the toughest.
25. never say 'i don't like..' always say 'i don't care for any.'
26. be modest.
27. moodiness isn't necessary.
28. peanut butter toast is always good.
29. 'don't worry about tomorrow.. each day has enough trouble of its own'
30. choose your friends wisely.
31. don't ask for things while we're grocery shopping.
32. do it, and do it with a happy heart.
33. God is in control. trust in Him.
34. GO HUSKERS.
35. dust a room from the top, down.
36. i before e, except after c. and always sound it out.
37. love your husband. put him first. be his helper.
38. rice krispie treats are awesome.
39. you can't be perfect the first time you try.
40. love being a girl.
i'm so glad she told me.
well mom, this is your stretch of days. mother's day-anniversary-birthday all wrapped up in a neat little week in may. i hope this post will make you smile. i love you so much. i've learned so much. thank you for giving of yourself everyday, every time.
happy mother's day!
love, summer
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May 5, 2010
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flowerwindow
{note to self: be very grateful for days when you feel fine. the days when you don't need a nap, you can do the laundry and not get winded, and you can breathe through both nostrils. and for heaven's sake, be thankful that you can smell and taste your food.}
so i've been fighting a cold. but happily, i can taste again! things are looking much brighter. my system seems to get attacked by this bug about every 6 weeks. why can't my body fight it off yet? anyone? anyway. hi guys, i'm back! and i want to forget the racket of head colds and phlegm.
recently around here..
1. picked rhubarb with judy. it feels so cool to pick your own food.
2. mother's day breakfast at preschool.
3. grant's started the 3rd class in his master's program.
4. new love for pandora, and ingrid michaelson.
5. grant mowed the lawn on the diagonal. it looks impressive.
6. last batch of granola bars for school lunches.
7. am craving homemade pizza. and i know just the recipe.
8. lost is almost over, thank goodness.
9. visit to the dentist yesterday = no cavities and thumbs up on my flossing! yay.
10. it's been wicked crazy windy. today at preschool, one boy told me, 'we can't go out there! we'll get blown away!' he's probably right.
tonight.
my husband's at class.
turkey and swiss on toast.
clean sheets.
nail painting and dish washing. in reverse order, of course.
feels good to be feeling good.
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May 3, 2010

Candied Pretzels

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candiedpretzels

hello and happy may! isn't it great? i can't wait for that end of school feeling and short sleeves.

over the weekend, i did a little reading in a rather famous book, cooked for a big shindig at camp (made my first strawberry rhubarb pie), and met my new niece! what a cutie. meanwhile, grant continued work on the window trim. my kitchen is looking more and more put-together as projects get finished. i say it's looking more martha stewart. and it's very exciting.

so i've got something extra short and sweet today. we made these candied pretzels to go on top of a chocolate pecan tart for the dinner at camp. they usually belong to a recipe for pineapple pretzel salad, (oh yumm.) but i also like to eat them outside of salad. on tarts, or by the handful. but most of all, with chocolate chips.

Candied Pretzels 
(one of life's little luxuries)

1 cup pretzels, crushed
1/3 cup melted butter
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 chopped pecans, optional

1. combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and spread onto a baking sheet.
2. bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes. break apart and enjoy.
categories:, | 6 comments
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about this blog

Hello, I'm Summer. A people-loving introvert whose hope and life is in Jesus. His promises are my passion and my ministry is homelife. This blog is a place for me to write about everyday things. Especially food. My favorite thing to do is sit around a table, lingering over a long meal with good conversation. I live with my husband and our 2 littles. We like blizzards, thrifting, grammar, guacamole, cheerful hearts, nice manners, good movies, and making simple, real, nutrient-dense food.

"If Christ be anything, He must be everything."
-C.H. Spurgeon

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