Grammy's Funfetti Puffins

As y’all know, I’m not a cook. Baker. Chef of any kind. I CAN cook. And I can do some dishes that taste pretty dadgum delicious! I simply don’t enjoy cooking. I really never have.

BUT…we discovered something about moi soon after Little Leighton (aka LL aka Biscuit) was diagnosed with Celiac disease:

I’m a MEAN Pancake Chef! And I LOVE making what we call  “Gramcakes” for My Biscuit. Gluten-free, of course. My favorite pancake mix is King Arthur. Truly love it and truly treasure making my mini cakes for LL. Because she is ALWAYS extremely sweet about how much she enjoys every bite! Sometimes I put chocolate chips in them. I recently made some with pumpkin, cinnamon and chocolate chips. I package them in bags of 3 and TLC freezes them. She pops them in the microwave 2-3 times a week and serves them with maple syrup (also typically gluten-free) and fresh fruit. Biscuit is in Breakfast Heaven. Fast. Easy. Yummy.

We’ve also used the Hungry Jack Gluten-Free Funfetti Pancake Mix. It’s good. This past weekend, as I was being Nurse ELC to My Sweet Husband and homebound, I decided to make muffins with this mix. I believe they’re going to be a huge success with Biscuit!

The mix calls for water only. I use milk, instead (lactose-free for LL). And I put in an egg. For a denser texture. I baked them at 350 degrees for about 19 minutes. I just had to test them with a toothpick from about 13 minutes.

The Puffins' (pancake+muffin) Plan: TLC will take a couple of these puffins out of the freezer, pop them in the microwave, give Biscuit a side of syrup for dipping and VOILA! Another yummy, easy breakfast option.

I’ve decided to call them Grammy’s Funfetti Puffins! Yes. I’m just too clever for words. (Don't applaud. Just send money. Teeheehee.)

We’ll see what LL thinks soon and I’ll try to remember to report her thoughts…

Gotta scoot…errands!

ttfn, Smooches and Hugs…

beauty from ashes...

a prayer

for when I can’t understand

Dear Father,

Today was one of those days—

You know the ones.

When life just doesn’t make sense.

When the world seems so unfair.

Because it is unfair.

We need You, Lord. I need You.

I need You to wrap your arms around me

And help me understand

That’s it’s a good thing I don’t understand everything.

How can I possibly comprehend Your plan of

intricacy and detail for the entire world?

You are God.

And I am not.

You spoke the world into existence.

You shaped humans from dust.

And only You can create beauty from ashes.

May I anticipate the exquisite work of Your hands

to transform my nothing

into Your everything.

Amen.

                 --Rachel Wojo 

off the hook...

Our landline. As it usually is around 3:00 p.m. every afternoon. Otherwise, we get TOO MANY robocalls. Political, mostly. But also calls for donations to various organizations. We don’t like them. (We donate as much and as often as we can…we don’t really want phone calls requesting money.) We ESPECIALLY abhor the ones that come after 9:00 o’clock PM. Are they kiddin’ us? My Sweet Hubby (MSH) is asleep by 8:30. I’ve fallen dead to the world at least three times, on our couch, between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Occasionally, if I feel like having a bit of fun, I’ll answer. I’ll ask them if they know they’re calling North Central Texas and do they know what Time Zone we’re in? And why are they calling ANYONE after 8:30 p.m? I normally get a “Sorry” and a hang up. A fast hang up!

This week has been different for MSH and me. Tuesday morn, we had a joint “surgery” appointment at a dermatologist’s office in Fort Worth. MSH had a squamous cell carcenoma on his shoulder. I had a basal cell on my chin. We had NO IDEA he was going to walk out with 26 stitches and I’d have 16. Sheesh. I’m bruised. Have a lovely “bump/knot” I don’t quite understand. He’s been in pain since his anesthetic wore off. HOWEVER—the pathology is already back and Doc Pat got it all. Yippee!!! (We love this doctor. He is AWESOME. I know he’d like to do some “work” on my wrinkles/sags/scars. I told him , at our first appointment, I am hugely unconcerned about all of that. HUGELY. In fact, I cherish every wrinkle/sag/scar. I’ve earned them all.)

We stayed in hiding all day Wednesday. Yesterday we had to get out to pick up a script for MSH—who’s also been battling the remains of whatever illness we’ve all had. His cough has been H.O.R.R.I.B.L.E. So awful, TLC cancelled a trip to our casa today. She could hear his commotion as we talked on the phone Wednesday afternoon and decided she wasn’t interested in getting sick. Again. Or having The Sweet Little Princesses pick something up from Pa-Pa. We’re sad. We knew it was the right decision. Sigh. Our primary care Doc—who he’d seen a week ago this past Monday—gave him an antibiotic and two cough meds by phone. He might be a little better today. He’s tired. With his heart condition, every illness he experiences is a concern for me. (If you have a few seconds, we’d treasure a prayer made on his behalf!)

So now it’s Friday. We needed groceries. We made a quick trip to Hellmart—where we saw three WONDERFUL friends and had, had, HAD to visit! Well, I visited with one beautiful young friend (She actually has four kiddos, the oldest being 21. I cannot even wrap my brain around that one.) and HATED having to end our prolonged chat. In the bandaid/bandages/vitamin aisle! We definitely annoyed a few other shoppers. We tried to get out of everywhere’s way. (I don’t like when people do that to me, don’tchaknow. Winky. Wink.)

The other two valued friends were our Sheriff and his sweet wife. He is THE BEST SHERIFF ON EARTH. Truth. She is a cookie. We adore both of them and were THRILLED to see them.

Got home by 2:00. It’s a little dreary. Cloudy. Not as hot as it’s been (We’ve had record heat for October and November in North Central Texas.). We’ve also had rain—for which we are always DEEPLY grateful. The dreariness? Not such a bad thing when you’re retired. Puny/sick-ish. Lazy. And just basically ready for bed at 4:13 p.m.

Here’s hoping each of Y’all has a WONDERFUL Weekend—Wherever in the World Y’all are! Stay well. Get cozy. Be grateful for all of your Blessings! BE SAFE. BE VERY SAFE.

Smooches and BIG HUGS…

NO...

NO. NO. NO.

Repeat after me (ELC):

IT IS NOT NOVEMBER. IT IS NOT REALLY NOVEMBER.

I cannot stand it. Time MUST slow down.

That is all.