Frost(ed) Creations

That's the name of my new business, Frost(ed) Creations!  I have loved baking for a long time and always seem to be making muffins, cupcakes, breads etc.  For Valentine's day we made cupcakes with the girls for our neighbors, they were a hit and I was asked to make 48 for a birthday party.  So Saturday was spent in the kitchen (my favorite place) baking and icing.  When our friend came to pick them up she asked me about making whole-wheat muffins for her family, and Frost(ed) Creations was born! 

ALOT has been happening around here and I can't wait to share it with y'all.

Till then,
The Southern Homemaker

Politics on President's Day

President's Day seems like a good time to write about my family's history in politics.

It started back in 1987.  My Dad was working as the Georgia state director for Pat Robertson's presidential campaign and was looking for volunteers.  So one day a homeschool mother brought her two daughters up to the headquarters to volunteer.  My Mom was a 19yr homeschool grad/beauty queen (she actually had won several pageants) and Dad was a sharp young politico, and as they say "the rest is history".  They began courting when Dad and my maternal-grandfather "Papa Lyle" where both serving as delegates to the 1988 Republican National Convention in New Orleans, and married 8mo later.

Our family has been heavily involved ever since.  Trivia-If you watch Mike Huckabee's speech after winning the Iowa caucuses you can see yours truly right behind his left shoulder.

Now almost 25 years since the Lord called our family into the political arena my brother at the age of 20 is running for vice-chairman of our local Republican Party. 

I can't begin to say how proud I am of him!  I have looked up to him as long has I can remember (being 6' 4" doesn't hurt) and have always been so thankful that he was my big brother.  I didn't mind being Tonto to his Lone Ranger, the private to his sergeant, or indian to his cowboy, I loved every minute of it!  Now that we are both grown-up our roles haven't really changed that much, I'm the assistant to his businessman, the campaign manager to his candidate, I play the best friend to his hero.  And he really is a hero, he is my hero.

The Best Big Brother on the Block!

The other evening we asked my brother if he could go by the store and pick-up a few things on his way home from work.  He walked in with the groceries and two bouquets of flowers for Mom and me, and three heart shaped ballons for the little girls.  Now I ask you, do I have the best big brother on the block or what?

Yarn and Old-fashioned Homemaking

My precious sisters playing with their yarn.  They don't use it for knitting, instead they use it for a game.  "Let's see how long it takes us to unwind this yarn through the entire house, and how long it takes Katie to wind it up again."  They love it, but I would prefer some go-fish, marbles or dodge-brick.  Anything but winding up a several thousand square-foot yarn web!  So I finally decided to teach them how to wind it themselves, the result was a precious picture of two future homemakers.  Another thing I love about this photo is the patchwork quilt on the toddler bed in the background.  It was hand-quilted by my great-grandmother shortly before she passed-away.  It is one of my most cherished possessions and will go in my hopechest to be used in my own home one day.

The Homemaker Hockey Mask

Marc-Andre Fleury of the Pittsburgh Penguins, 2009 NHL (National Hockey League) Stanley Cup Champions

Miss-Abbey Frosty of the Mayberry Munchkins, 2011 NHL (National Homemakers League) Sippy Cup Champions

Chocolate Lover

I have a sister who is a chocolate lover, I can't imagine who she gets it from.... oh yeah ME!!! When we made chocolate pudding together a few days ago she got to lick the spatula and her expressive face was a sight to behold.

Gingerbread Pancakes

This weeks new recipe comes from yet another wonderful coffee table... I mean cookbook from Williams-Sonoma, Essentials of Breakfast and Brunch.

                                                                        photo credit-williams-sonoma.com

Gingerbread Pancakes
1 1/4 cups of all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon of baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ginger
1/8 teaspoon cloves
1/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons molasses
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.

In a large bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves. In another bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, eggs, molasses, melted butter and 3/4 cup of water. Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture and stir just until blended. There will be some small lumps.

Place a large griddle or frying pan over medium heat until hot enough for a drop of water to sizzle and then immediately evaporate.  Melt 1/2 teaspoon of butter in the pan. For each pancake, ladle about 1/4 cup of batter onto the hot buttered surface. Cook until small  bubbles appear and the edges start to look dry, about 3-4 minutes, lift the pancake to check if the underside is done; do not let the pancakes darken to much. Carefully turn the pancakes and cook until lightly browned on the second sides, about 1 minute longer. Transfer to an ovenproof platter and place in the oven to keep warm. Repeat with the remaining batter, buttering the griddle/pan each time. Makes 8 pancakes

                                                                 Lots of little bowls

                                             My helper for the day "Dimple Darling"

Unfortunately I don't have a picture of the finished product but I was um.... shall we say "preoccupied".

One Month of Blogging Giveaway

Well it's been one month since I started this blog.  I have thoroughly enjoyed sharing with y'all and hearing from you.  Tonight I pulled out a DVD I had not watched in awhile, The Return of the Daughters.

                                                                                                              photo credit-visionforum.com

I was so encouraged and refreshed! This is by far one of the best resources on being a stay-at-home daughter out there, I cannot recommend it enough.  I know most of the young women featured personally and they are such blessings to me and all they meet.  To celebrate the one-month anniversary of this blog I am giving away a copy of The Return of the Daughters.  To enter just leave a comment saying what kind of posts you would like to see on Southern Homemaking in the future.  The winner will be randomly selected, and announced next Saturday.

Goals for the Month

I have always been a good starter, but not much of a finisher. This month I hope to change that by setting 3 realistic goals and achieving them.

Goal 1-Finish that sampler I started back during WWII.

Goal 2-Finish one book on my nightstand.

Goal 3-Make one new recipe each week.

Well those are my 3 basic goals for February. I'll be posting updates so y'all can keep me accountable.

New recipe this week "Gingerbread Pancakes" coming soon.