Milk and Honey Toast

This is French Toast, Alton Brown style. I just made it this morning and it was so yummy, I could have eaten it without the syrup. But, it needed something on top. My challah bread was pretty big, so I needed a double recipe. And, if your bread is still not completely dry, you are not going to need to soak the bread in the custard mixture for as long as 30 seconds per side.

French Toast
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 24 minutes
Serves: 4

1c half/half
3 lg eggs
2 tbs honey, warmed in microwave for 20 seconds
1/4 tsp salt
8 1/2 inch slices day old country loaf or challah bread
4 tbs butter

In medium size mixing bowl, whisk together the half-and-half, eggs, honey, and salt. You may do this the night before. When ready to cook, pour custard mixture into a pie pan and set aside
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Dip bread into mixture, allow to soak for 30 seconds on each side, and then remove to a cooling rack that is sitting in a sheet pan and allow to sit for 1-2 minutes.
Over medium-low heat, melt 1 tbs butter in a 10-inch nonstick saute pan. Place 2 slices of bread at a tie into the pan and cook until golden brown, approximately 2-3 minutes per side. Remove from pan and place on rack in oven for 5 minutes. Repeat with all 8 slices. Serve immediately with maple syrup, whipped cream or fruit.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/french-toast-recipe/index.html

FOR TODAY September 15, 2008

Outside My Window...my husband and the four youngest are enjoying the pool on a hot September afternoon.

I am thinking...I am so glad that dress rehersal week and recital weekend are done.

I am thankful for...my oldest daughter. She is beautiful to watch while she is on pointe.

From the kitchen...chicken is marinating for dinner.

I am wearing...a pink t-shirt, dark denim capris, and a silver watch with a light pink face.

I am creating...new dance scrapbooks for each of the girls.

I am going...to my new niece's baptism on Saturday

I am reading...something by Nora Roberts. I don't remember the name.

I am hoping...that the rest of the week is calm after the hectic week last week.

I am hearing...squeels of laughter from the pool.

Around the house...all is quiet. I am the only one inside

One of my favorite things...girls in beautiful dance costumes.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:taking it easy with school; taking the girls to their end of year dance parties; going to my niece's baptism; finding a new bank.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...I didn't get a chance to take pictures this weekend. I was so busy watching and then volunteering at the shows, that I just didn't have the opportunity. What kind of mom is that? LOL Imagine five daughters in lovely ballet costumes.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY August 25, 2008

Outside My Window...I can see a big thunderstorm heading our way. Monsoon on the desert. My oldest is outside standing in the wind. I can't see the foothills because it is raining so hard.

I am thinking...that I am going to have some freaked out kids if the thunder gets any louder. I don't think the "God is bowling with the angels" line is going to work for too much longer.

I am thankful for...onsoon thunderstorms.

From the kitchen...all is dark. We are going to have left overs.

I am wearing...a dark blue skirt, and a t-shirt. Perfect for a stormy, muggy, hot day.

I am creating... a new file box for my office. There is enough room for the bills that need to be paid and to have homeschool paperwork be filed in it.

I am going...to turn off the computer in just a minute. The storm is really amping up.

I am reading...Atonement. I am having a hard time getting into this book. I got about 75 pages in, and I have gone back to the beginning to start over. I am now 50 pages into it. I hope that I don't have to keep doing this.

I am hoping...We get a lot of rain today. That would be awesome.

I am hearing...the younger kids chatting about the storm.

Around the house...kids are getting blankets for "safety." There is a storm coming, you know. :)

One of my favorite things...My new niece. She is a beautiful little girl.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:Just a normal week of homeschool and dance. I am going to a 4-H club meeting for the first time. Jessica wants to get a sheep. Currently, there aren't any sheep leaders, so I guess that I will be taking on that responsibility.

Here is picture thought I am sharing: We have two types of lizzards around here, aligator lizzards and blue belly lizzards. My husband is a lizzard whisperer. This one is sound asleep.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY August 18, 2008

Outside My Window...I can see the trash cans that the two oldest girls haven't gotten around to bringing in.

I am thinking...that next year, I am going to start school after the August birthdays. We had a birthday on Aug. 7 and one on Aug 15. It is just too much to try and do school and try to keep up with the planning of parties.

I am thankful for...my new niece, Erin Sophia

From the kitchen...I haven't started, but I have the makings of Mexican rice sitting out so I can get that going while I take D to piano lessons.

I am wearing...my denim capris, a pretty summer shirt and bare feet.

I am creating...

I am going...to visit my new niece and her family sometime this week. I already had the opportunity to visit her in the hospital when she wasn't even 24 hours old. I am going to make some dinners for her family to freeze.

I am reading...A Mother's Rule for Life

I am hoping...That I can make my errands run smoothly this afternoon. I am trying to figure out which route to take that will involve the least amount of backtracking. Unfortunately, I am still going to have to do that.

I am hearing...the kids who are done with school playing on the Game Cube.

Around the house...it is time to straighten things up. I need to get back in the swing of things. I need to make sure that we are doing the afternoon clean up.

One of my favorite things...the color purple. Have I mentioned that?

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:Recital photos are next weekend. I need to steam costumes for the girls. I need to stop by the church and pick up tickest for the baseball game/concert going on Friday. I need to start on the laundry again.

Here is picture thought I am sharing

This is my little guy. Believe it or not, he was dressed up as a doctor. Notice the Spiderman bedroom slippers. He has an oxford type shirt on over a short sleeve plaid shirt. He has his 'tools' (easter bunny pez dispenser and a plastic fence link). I am not exactly sure what the purpose of the Tupperware shape thing and the bat have to do with being a doc, but there you have it. I like how it is topped off with a John Smith helmet.

The Simple Woman

FOR TODAY August 11, 2008

Outside My Window... I am looking for my husband's car. He should be home any minute.

I am thinking... how different families are and the different dynamics that you have to get used to. And, how do you reconcile the differences in those styles?

I am thankful for... the love of my husband.

From the kitchen... the microwave timer is telling me that it is done defrosting my chicken for dinner.

I am wearing... a cool summer top, demin skirt and bare feet. No make up today.

I am creating... a new prayer journal.

I am going... to visit Staples tonight. They are having a great sale. I figured I would stock up the homeschool stockpile for a reasonable price.

I am reading... Laced by Carol Higgins Clark

I am hoping... that I can mend a strained relationship.

I am hearing... one daughter playing ATV4 on the PlayStation. I can hear the younger ones singing in their rooms.

Around the house... things are getting straightened up in the afternoon pick up time.

One of my favorite things... the color purple. Royal purple.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: My five year old is having her ears pierced tomorrow. A friend of my almost 7 year old is coming to play for the day. My almost 7 year old will be 7 on Friday. Oh, and how could I forget, Mom's Night Out on Wednesday night. I might forgo the MNO this month to stay in and enjoy the Olympics though. I will have to see what is being aired that night.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...This was the night before my 40th birthday. I was at my Mom's house. We had just come from the cemetary from placing my dad's ashes in the vault in the chapel there. After we went out to celebrate Dad and my birthday. Three of my daughters are in the photo, my little guy is next to me. My nephew/godson is in the foreground of the photo. My brother is snoozing next to me and his wife is wearing the purple sweater (they are the parents of my nephew. Somehow when I thought of my dad being dead, I thought I would be older than 39. It was a very happy/sad night. It also happened to be the day after Thanksgiving.

FOR TODAY

August 4, 2008

Outside My Window...There are thunderclouds. The monsoons are starting. So far, we have only had one thunderstorm and I wasn't even home for it.

I am thinking...that it is nice to be starting homeschooling again. I have a normal schedule again.

Although, I have doubled the number of children who are homeschooling this year. We

brought our second daughter home so she can finish high school and daughter number five is

starting kindergarten. So, I have a 10th, 3rd and 2nd grader and one in kindergarten.

I am thankful for...The National Catholic Family Conference. There were awesome speakers and

we had the chance to spend time with good friends.

From the kitchen...it is dark right now. I am going to make some chicken chimichungas for

dinner.

I am wearing...a chocolate brown t-shirt and a flowy white handkercheif style skirt. No shoes.

I am creating...a weekly schedule this week

I am going...actually, no where this week. I guess, that isn't true. I have a plan to go to the farmer's market on Thursday.

I am reading...today I am reading a People Magazine that a friend left behind.

I am hoping...that my small headache goes away and doesn't turn into anything worse.

I am hearing...pages turning, one daughter trying to pound ants, and our oldest playing with the

younger children.

Around the house...a little messy, but nothing that can't be cleaned up.

One of my favorite things...birthdays. My little guy turns three on Thursday.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:Farmer's Market on Thursday. Maybe Mass a couple of times this week. Birthday cake on Thursday. Birthday party on Saturday.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...This is a photo of my husband and daughters Deanna and Allegra at a beach in Lahina, Maui. We were watching our two oldest surf. In the distance you can see the island of Lanai. This was two summers ago. The trip brings back great memories of my parents 40th anniversary, which is why we were in Maui, and my 18th anniversary.

The Simple Woman

FOR TODAY July 28, 2008

Outside My Window...I am looking out my front window and admiring the trees along the riverbed. I can also see part of the desert with the mountains in the backgroud.

I am thinking...It is nice to have all my children home. One was in Australia for two weeks. Two were at camp last week.

I am thankful for...my husband's health. You will see why when you see the photo I am sharing.

From the kitchen...not a creature is stirring, not even a mouse.

I am wearing...a sassy red top, denim capris, and bling flip flops.

I am creating...a list of things that need to be done before my college roommate arrives with her children tomorrow.

I am going...for a swim and a walk tonight. Maybe the walk first and then the swim.

I am reading...I am playing catch up with magazines this week.

I am hoping...that the homeschool year goes smoothly this year.

I am hearing...my daughter Jessica tapping (tap dancing that is, with her bear feet).

Around the house...Things are quiet. It is quiet time. Three are quietly watching a cartoon, two are sleeping (my youngest is two, my oldest just went from winter to summer and her body is not liking it), one is tapping, and I just heard a train go by.

One of my favorite things...having lunch with my mom. I got to do that today.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Missy and her daughters arrive tomorrow. We are planning to hang out around the pool. A couple of the kids have dance rehersal during the day. Farmer's Market is Thursday. The National Catholic Family Conference is this weekend. We are really looking forward to going to that as a family.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...My husband was a passenger in this car. He was injured the worst. He endured three back surgeries in three years. He is finally back to work, Praise God!