Like me..

I realized today that my children strive to be "like me" which, to be honest scared the holy sheets out of me!!!

Mainly because for most of their lives as formidable human beings I have considered them some of the coolest people I have ever known. Yeah, yeah...I know what you are thinking...mommy complex that whole "my kids are better than your kids thing", but that isn't it. Truthfully, not even close. They are just genuinely good people. I would like to take credit for that, but they were "good people" sooo early in life that I have often joked that I could have been a crack hoe and they would have still been the same people.

For many years I imposed my belief systems, thought processes and my actions as well as reactions to adversity onto these children. Today I realize that no matter who they become on their own or how great they are individually...I am still responsible for who they become.

It was something most would consider miniscule, especially since I truly believe they are already better than me at half my age or less. They are smarter, better looking, more intuitive, better decision makers and problem solvers.

What I never fully realized is that no matter how great they are or how much I feel that they outgrow me is that that they still look to me for direction. My eyes fill with tears and my heart swells as I reach deep within myself to find the passions that make my heart leap and my life become an example of what passion with a purpose looks like.

Greatness also needs great purpose.

Easy coffee cake

Easiest coffee cake ever:

Mix up the cake mix using directions on the box

Mix up the cookies using directions on the box

Spray 9x13 pan

Pour cake better in pan

Sprinkle cookie dough over cake

Bake until toothpick comes out clean in center.

FREAKING WOW THIS STUFF IS DELICIOUS!!!

Chicken Livas Dahling

So, I once had chicken livers and couldn't believe how good they were. They were not at all what I had grown up thinking chicken livers were. I grew up in the south so chicken livers were battered and deep fried (most of the time cooked to death and chewy and dry in the center).

These were sauteed with garlic and red wine-WOW!

So, for years I have been making different variations of the sauteed ones. Here is one of my favorite recipes. I certainly hope it changes your mind about these amazing, iron packed little protein packed morsels of tastiness from the heavens!

Ingredients:
1 small pack of fresh organic chicken livers (about 1/2 lb.)
3-4 pieces of bacon or pork belly
3 cloves fresh garlic
1 tbsp. butter

Seasonings (to taste-add anything you like or delete what you don't)
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Dill
Basil
Italian seasoning
Cumin
Paprika

Rinse livers thoroughly and cut any large pieces into smaller pieces to make them all close to a uniform size, pat dry and lie flat on paper towels to absorb any excess moisture

Cook pork on medium heat until crisp and fat has rendered

Season livers with desired seasonings (I like a few herbs and salt, pepper and garlic and onion powder with just a little cumin)
Dust lightly with flour or cornstarch

Remove pork from pan and add butter, once butter is melted add chicken livers in one layer trying not to crowd the pan. 

Cook until bottom is golden brown and crispy, flip and continue cooking (if they begin to pop I put a lid on the pan and check often to ventilate and ale sure they are cooking evenly)
Once browned on both sides, remove from pan and let rest for about 5 minutes or so.

Serve with pork belly and sauce of your choice.

VooDoo- lala cream

So, my best friends tease me about being a witch doctor and making voodoo potions because I make a lot of my skin care items and am enthralled by naturopathic and home healing remedies. Yes, I am a hippie at heart!

 So, here is the recipe for my voodoolala cream.



Organic coconut oil
Tea tree oil
Lavender essential oil
Peppermint essential oil

 So, the strength is something that you will have to play around with to find what is best for you. I like it pretty strong because it doesn't irritate my eyes or skin and I adore the smell (smells like a fab spa). My kids like it weaker and my friend's husband can't stand when he puts it on and goes to bed because he thinks the smell is very strong. The recipe I suggest starting with and adjusting from there is to start with 2 ounces of coconut oil, melt in the microwave (on power level 4 for about 30 seconds should be good, but microwaves vary) or sit in an area above 76 degrees until it is liquid. Add 3 drops of each essential oil. Stir with a toothpick or shake if in a sealed container and refrigerate until it becomes a solid again.

 Voila! You have made a cream that is great for the following things we know of thus far:
bug bites
headaches
bee stings
eczema
acne
dry skin (be careful not to use too much tea tree if making for dry skin as it is a drying agent)
foot fungus and odor
cuticle cream
face cream
eye make-up remover (if mixed weakly as not to irritate the eyes or just use plain coconut oil)
scalp treatment

 If you come up with new uses, please share!