Thursday, November 17, 2016

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Life in Pictures: Day ELEVEN

Needing an easy weeknight dinner, tonight I threw together Monte Cristo Sandwiches. Basically, I combined dinner and dessert into one convenient meal.
It was fast.
So easy.
And very, very satisfying.

Monte Cristo

Ingredients:    
                 6 slices of bread
                 6 slices of provolone
                 6 slices of swiss cheese
                 6 slices of turkey
                 6 slices of ham
                 1 cup of flour 
                 1 egg
                 1 Tbsp baking powder
                 1 Tbsp sugar
                 1/4 tsp salt
                 1 cup of water
                 powdered sugar for topping
                 raspberry jam for dipping
Instructions:

In a deep skillet (or deep fryer), heat 1 to 2 inches of vegetable oil to 350 degrees. To assemble sandwich, layer one slice of bread, ham, provolone cheese, turkey, and swiss cheese, and then another slice of bread. Secure all four corners of the sandwich with toothpicks.

For the batter, in a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Blend in the water and egg and mix well. Dip sandwich in the batter, coating all edges and sides. Carefully fry sandwich until golden brown on each side. Remove from oil and place on a paper towel covered plate to soak up the extra oil.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar, remove toothpicks, and serve with your favorite raspberry jam.

Enjoy!

Love,
Rachel



 

Monday, November 14, 2016

Life in Pictures: Day NINE

 Fletcher's most favorite breakfast in the world is Egg-in-a-Hole. Don't get me wrong... He loves puffy German Hotcakes, crepes, and chocolate Malt-o-Meal, but this one wins hands down as the most requested morning meal by this little man.

A weekend treat in our home (as weekdays are oh so busy), the secret to the perfect Egg-in-a-Hole is to get the skillet to a nice medium heat prior to placing the goodies in the pan.  Use generous amounts of real butter (no skimping here), and watch the egg carefully to get that awesome runny consistency. In our home, if that egg is not gushing, it's a major fail.
A little bit of salt.
A dash of pepper.
And if we are really living it up, maple-blueberry sausage links on the side.  Yep, that's a thing and they are spectacular!
Bon Appetit!

Love,
Rachel



Sunday, November 13, 2016

Life in Pictures: Day EIGHT

 This morning as I gazed out our window from bed, the rising sun danced across the crisp fall leaves so perfectly. It felt as though I was admiring a magnificent painting. I turned to Brendon and commented how perfect the light was right now.
Without hesitation, he said, "Go!"
He knew.
Of course, I had been talking about it for days... Wanting so much to capture this movie-like neighborhood of ours. I will admit, no photo I snapped is nearly as majestic as the experience itself, but this will have to do for a first attempt.

Have a beautiful Sunday!

Love,
Rachel

Saturday, November 12, 2016

Life in Pictures: Day SEVEN

This Moment
Oh this child of mine!
Sweet Fletcher was by my side all day, working tirelessly to assemble new beds.  Such a hard worker, this one. Never once did he utter a word of complaint, but always ready with a smile and a helping hand.
Building a home is a very special thing.
Creating it together as a family?
Priceless.
Feeling grateful.

Love,
Rachel



Friday, November 11, 2016

Life in Pictures: Day SIX

"It's very important to write things down instantly, or you can lose the way you were thinking out a line. I have a rule that if I wake up at 3 in the morning and think of something, I write it down. I can't wait until morning - it'll be gone."
- Mary Oliver

Seattle
11.4.2016

As I glanced at this snapshot from last weekend in Seattle, my mind began to run off in deep, contemplative thought. Immediately I started typing as the words flowed from my head to my hands. Putting pen to paper (or fingers to keys) has always been so incredibly therapeutic for me and this image stirred so many feelings of love, happiness, joy, and gratitude for this life of mine. It's truly magical. But in all honesty, it hasn't always been this way and I began writing out my story.
Where I am.
Where I've been. 
Where I am going. 
There's just so, so much!  

Then I paused.
I came to the conclusion that the time has not yet come for me to lay out all of my vulnerabilities; To open myself up completely and share the story of me, through my eyes. No... Not yet. But I will continue to write and write and write. And when I feel it in my soul, as I surely will, then, I will share my journey here in this space.  

Love,
Rachel

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Life in Pictures: Day FIVE

Have you ever seen a carrot this sexy in your entire life??? I didn't have the heart to peel and roast it with our dinner tonight.
Love,
Rachel