Kulich

This is the traditional Russian bread made and enjoyed on Pascha, or our Lord's Resurrection. I went to the store and got all the ingredients today and plan to bake tomorrow!
Click on the box to see the recipe up close...then, if you've never made it...consider it...tastes rich and delicious, a bit like the Italian panettone.

Next week, we'll dye eggs, I've successfully dyed my eggs with yellow onion skins to a reddish brown, I like to rub the eggs with a bit of oil on a paper towel to give it a little shine. I'm going to try some new colors this year.

Natural Dyes

Color	Ingredients
Lavender	Small Quantity of Purple Grape Juice Violet Blossoms plus 2 tsp Lemon Juice Red Zinger Tea
Violet Blue	Violet Blossoms Small Quantity of Red Onions Skins (boiled) Hibiscus Tea Red Wine
Blue	Canned Blueberries Red Cabbage Leaves (boiled) Purple Grape Juice
Green	Spinach Leaves (boiled) Liquid Chlorophyll
Greenish Yellow	Yellow Delicious Apple Peels (boiled)
Yellow	Orange or Lemon Peels (boiled) Carrot Tops (boiled) Celery Seed (boiled) Ground Cumin (boiled) Ground Turmeric (boiled) Chamomile Tea Green Tea
Golden Brown	Dill Seeds
Brown	Strong Coffee Instant Coffee Black Walnut Shells (boiled) Black Tea
Orange	Yellow Onion Skins (boiled) Cooked Carrots Chili Powder Paprika
Pink	Beets Cranberries or Juice Raspberries Red Grape Juice Juice from Pickled Beets
Red	Lots of Red Onions Skins (boiled) Canned Cherries with Juice Pomegranate Juice Raspberries

found here: http://chemistry.about.com/od/holidayhowtos/a/eastereggdyes.htm

Saint Patrick

enlightened the people of Ireland using a 3-leaved clover, one God is three beings, like the petals, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It's a great way to explain this to your children, too!
Did you know I was going to be Patrick if I was a boy?

My parents had a trip planned to Ireland, but canceled it... My mom and dad came over yesterday to give Olivia a gift...March 18th is the day we remember Saint Oliva, of Brescia, Italy, one of the early martyrs for her Christian faith. Dad seems to be doing okay, but mom said that he's not...getting sick a lot lately...so please pray for him!

Flax Pancakes

(adapted from Vegan Planet, their recipe is called Flax-Berry Pancakes)

1 1/2 c flour
2 Tbsp sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbsp ground flaxseeds
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 c water
dash of nutmeg and cinnamon

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Set aside.
Combine flax, vanilla and water and mix until thick.
Mix wet ingredients into dry until just combined. We like to top ours with real maple syrup!

This is enough for 2 adults, or 4 children...unless they're really hungry.

February just flew by...

I hope you are having a nice March so far. Warmer weather this week...today it was perhaps 60'F and sunny...had a little picnic in the park with some friends before heading to karate.
Hannah has been reading "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" by C.S. Lewis. I got some new pillows for $10 each at the Frontgate outlet...regular retail price $119!
Saturday we went to the zoo, it was a lovely sunny day for walking and exploring. The 4 tigers cubs are getting big...they were born March 21, 2009...so they're almost 1. The reptile house is one of our favorites, looking at the snakes, small alligators, turtles and tortoises, poison dart frogs, etc. I had a dream about a cobra last night...and that it was in the campground where we were camping. Seems like I always have vivid and crazy, yet funny dreams.
The sensitive plant (Mimosa pudica) is fascinating...
The girls climbed their favorite tree at the zoo (it's near the picnic pavilion behind the carousel) and ate pears.