We've taken up the trend of growing avocado trees from seed. We have been saving our avocado seeds throughout the year and trying our best to get them to root. We've has a bit of success and therefore we've planted them in small pots and then combined them into a large pot all together. They've struggled a bit, but they are growing. We haven't read about how long it takes for them to grow larger, but for now we are happy with what we've created. The plants currently share a pot with some ginger found in the back of our refrigerator a few months ago. Waiting to see what happens with that, as well.
There's different way to get them to root, but I've always found that the toothpick balanced on the top of a glass has worked best for us.
I like to wait until there's a good group of roots showing and a small sprout coming from the seed before transferring them to soil.
These are the plants that the seeds above created. This is about a year's worth of growing. There is ginger in the pot with these, but overall there's definite success with the seeds. It's kind of satisfying to know that you can eat the avocados and with a little patience allow it to continue on with life. Everything in this world has a purpose, and I feel that sometimes giving other living things a chance to continue on living, is a great way to appreciate life on a different scale.
Sugar cookies are one of the first things I learned to bake once I was out on my own. But having to ice them and decorate them, is mostly something for holidays and special occasions, unless you have the time and patience. Just having a simple sugar cookie on any day of the year, or even just a quick cookie to take somewhere, or to eat on throughout the week, is something a lot of us enjoy. Sugar cookies, just baked and left by themselves, is such a simple cookie to mix together. The key to these easy sugar cookies is to roll them in sugar before baking, without the hassle of cookie cutters, or icing. Here is my version of "Easy Sugar Cookies" that you can make any time of the year. And the best part, they're soft.
Here's how to make these easy, soft sugar cookies:
2 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking power
3/4 tsp. sea salt
2 sticks butter, softened
1 1/4 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
Mix dry ingredients together and set aside. Using a stand mixer, mix wet ingredients together starting with the butter. Combine butter and sugar, and add the eggs. Combine dry ingredients into wet ingredients and mix well. Form into balls, about two tablespoons for each ball. Roll in granulated sugar, or colored sprinkles, flatten just slightly and lay on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate for about 30-45 minutes, or freeze at this point to bake later.
Bake for 12-16 minutes at 350 degrees.
I would add to allow them to cool before eating, but nothing is better than a warm sugar cookie straight from the oven, so enjoy!
Kiwi Eco Box came this week and it was packed with good things, as always. The Triloka incense cones with the glass burner was a nice surprise. I also love the canvas and mesh bags. Kiwi Eco Box is owned by Ukrainian sisters, and each month I love that I can support them, and Ukraine.
2. This sticker.
This sensory sticker was part of Skylar's swag bag from Spring Fest at Linn Benton Community College. I love how simple, yet beneficial it is. Skylar let me have it and I have is stuck near my laptop keyboard to remind me to breathe and relax from time to time. Having anxiety in many forms, breathing helps in tough situations. Here are similar ones here.
3. This kid.
More days of seeing Skylar off to class. I just love these days!♥
4. This pizza.
We tried the Costco pizza this week. It was decent. We had to season ours with some Italian Seasoning, but overall, it is alright, especially for the price.
5. This swag.
This swag was from Spring Fest at Linn Benton Community College that Skylar went to this week. Spring Fest at LBCC is an event, sort of like a welcome event, but they hold it in spring to welcome new students to the campus. Skylar being part of the Commuter Magazine for the college, he attended to promote the Commuter. He stood at the Commuter table and passed out information on students wanting to get involved with the Commuter. This was all of his swag he picked up that day. One of the items being the sensory sticker I mentioned above.
One last thing:
I love Starbuck's Cheese Danishes, but I wanted to see if I could duplicate that same taste quickly at home. Starbuck's is a wonderful place to go from time to time, but it does add up in price. My go-to is the Vanilla Chai Latte and the warmed Cheese Danish, but let's make it healthier. I experimented a little bit before getting it right. We did still eat the mistakes, but this the the recipe that works for us. You can tweak it a bit to suit your taste, however.
Quick Cheese Danish
8 oz. cream cheese, softened [I used Organic Valley]
1/2 cup sugar [I used organic granulated sugar]
2 teaspoon lemon juice [I used organic Santa Cruz]
3/4 teaspoons vanilla paste [I used Simply Organic]
2 cans crescent rolls [I used Immaculate]
Preheat your oven to the temperature that the crescent roll container states. If you are using the Immaculate brand, it is 375 degrees. Pop your crescent rolls, and lay them flat. Attach two triangles to make a square. Smash them together, but not too flat. Use a rolling pin if needed. Lay them on a parchment-lined baking sheet and set aside. In a stand mixer mix cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice, and paste together until smooth. Taste to make sure it suits your taste. I always use a bit more lemon juice, almost two tablespoons, but start with two teaspoons and work up to make sure you don't get it too sour for your taste. The mixture will lose a bit of the sour taste as it bakes, so play around with what works for you and your pallet.
Spread the mixture over the crescent rolls and leave a bit of space on the edges. I like to fold up the edges just a bit to hold the mixture in the middle, but you don't have to do that part. I also do not make a glaze to go on top, but that is a personal choice, as well. Spread evenly across the crescent roll top. Bake for 11 to 14 minutes, or until the edges of the Danishes turn a golden brown. Allow to cool a bit before serving. They are delicious hot.
Positive affirmations this week: Maybe you need this reminder, maybe not, but life isn't a race. You aren't too old, you aren't running out of time, and you aren't in a race. The only person you should be competing with every day is yourself. A lot of people lost sight on what's important and appreciating where you are in life's journey is the most important thing in life. Even if you want to be somewhere else in your path, give it time and get there with a smile, rather than a frown. You are exactly where you are supposed to be. Let it come to you in time. You are going to change the world! You can do this!🌈
We haven't been to this golf course before, but passing it almost daily we decided to check it out. Jeff has been here before, but it was a first for Skylar and me. It's located in Corvallis, and called Golf City Par-3 and there are only nine holes and with the trees and mounds it was a test of skills, for sure. We had a great day, even though it was wet. It started raining when we reached the ninth hole, but we finished before it started coming down hard. We may revisit this course in the drier months, but definitely more of a challenge when it's wet ground and raining. Side note: If you're afraid of squirrels this place is not for you.☺
Life at a "Swell's" pace is a lifestyle and travel blog chronicling the life and travels while living in Oregon's beautiful Willamette Valley. It is mostly written by Shelly HW. Click the image to learn more»
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