Editing, ain’t nobody got time for that. {Perspectives on Motherhood and Writing}

September 30, 2014 ~ Emily ~ 1 Comment

Crystal Stine is someone I’ve admire from afar and I’m so pleased that she agreed to participate in this series. I appreciate her thoughts on efficiency and leaving a legacy with our words.

This Perspectives on Motherhood and Writing series has been a major encouragement to me and has had a great response from other readers. I Perspectives coming to you every Tuesday through December, but I’d love to keep this series going as long as momma writers want to share. If you’d like to share your perspective or know someone whose perspective should be shared, shoot me an email (emgardner8@gmail.com)!

To catch up on previous Motherhood and Writing posts, head to the Archives page!

Motherhood and Writing Crystal

Why do you write/blog?

I write to encourage, inspire and equip women to find, build and stay in community. I also write to share about the things I love that I think my community will love – from products to causes, real life family moments and everything in between!

How long have you been writing/blogging?

I’ve had a passion for writing since the 7th grade, when my Language Arts teacher put a note on a project that said “You’re very good. Would you like to write for the school newspaper?” I haven’t looked back since :) {the official answer is “2009” for when my blog started though…I’m older than the internet, otherwise I totally would have had one in 7th grade}

How has your current season of life impacted your writing/blogging?

Right now my current season of life includes working full time from home, some travel, and raising a toddler with my husband. It’s glorious and ordinary and I find myself writing in the “in between” times, usually late at night in front of the TV while watching Project Runway. What I write about and where I write are more intentional as I see the impact my words have on the legacy I leave my daughter.

How has this season of life changed your writing habits?

I’ve become much more efficient, using tools like PicMonkey & Canva to create blog post images that will work across all my social media platforms. I use tools like BufferApp to schedule blog promotion, and when I write late at night there is very little editing that happens before I hit “publish.” I don’t plan much in advance because I seem to write the best, most authentic pieces right when God puts them on my heart.

What is your writing/blogging battle cry?

No one can do it all – but we can all do something. Whether it’s a season to step back and focus on motherhood or to jump in and try something new with blogging, our goal should never be to do ALL the things, but to seek God and where He wants our attention.

How does faith, writing, and motherhood intersect in your daily life?

God has given me a daughter to be my mirror. Not only is she my mini-me physically, she reflects back to me the good, the bad, and the ugly of who I am in this season. God uses her to refine my heart, and I use writing to process what He’s doing in my life, to encourage other women but also to leave a written legacy for my daughter.

Crystal is passionate about living authentically in the beautiful, messy, unfinished parts of life. She encourages women daily as the Editorial & Marketing Manager at (in)courage and through her writing.

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Caprese Egg Puff

September 27, 2014 ~ Emily ~ Leave a comment

Caprese Egg Puff

I consider myself some sort of green-black thumb hybrid. I excel at dealing with the dead things (weeding is therapeutic), but the growing/keeping alive part is intimidating. So, I count my gardening efforts this Summer to be a major success.

What do those gardening efforts look like, you ask? Resuscitating a vine whose bloom I was positive had faded, fighting the heat to keep two tomato plants alive, and nurturing a basil plant from infancy to flourishing adulthood.

Basil

The latter was my shining gardening accomplishment. Mostly because my mom was the one who actually discovered the vine wasn’t dead and there’s a distinct difference between alive and thriving when it comes to my tomatoes. But the basil plant, in it’s hot pink, dollar store beach bucket has gone from baby to burgeoning over the past three months and I am oh, so proud.

What makes the basil success even sweeter (herbier?) is that we’ve used it! Tiny slices made their way into cheesey eggs and crockpot marinara. Handfuls went into a delicious pesto we ate on homemade pizza.

My endless supply of basil prompted this new take on Chile Egg Puff. It’s cheesy, eggy foundation is the perfect base for endless variations. This particular version plays on the classic Italian caprese salad of mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil.

I nixed the chiles from the original, adding diced fresh tomatoes and tons of julienned basil in their stead. Out went the cheddar and in came the mozzarella.

Caprese Egg Puff

It may be sacrilege to the memories tied to the original Chile Egg Puff, but I might like this version better. Maybe that’s the basil pride talking… Either version has the same appeal – a protein packed, cheese riddled egg soufflé perfect for any meal of the day. Both egg puffs have been great to have around during No Sugar September.

A note about the tomatoes: I’m fairly particular about removing all tomato boogers before dicing. Cut tomatoes into quarters and run your thumb around the inside to loosen the snotty seeds. Discard and proceed with dicing your now booger free tomatoes.

To chiffonade basil: Stack basil leaves together. Roll into a little basil log. Place your basil log on a cutting board and hold in place. Slice through the basil log as thinly as possible. Separate all the tiny basil ribbons you’ve just created and resist the urge to throw into the air like they were dollar bills.

Caprese Egg Puff

Author: Emily C. Gardner

The flavors of a garden fresh caprese salad puts an Italian spin on this delicious and hearty egg soufflé.

Ingredients

10 eggs
1/2 cup flour (whole wheat works great)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups (16 oz) cottage cheese
4 cups (1lb) mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 cup diced fresh tomatoes
1/4 – 1/2 cup basil, chopped (I used 1/2 cup, but I love basil…)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9 x 13 inch pan, set aside.
In a medium bowl, beat eggs until light and lemon colored. Add flour, salat, baking powder, cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese, and butter. Mix thoroughly. Fold in tomatoes and basil.
Pour mixture into prepared pan. Bake for 35 minutes or until top is golden and center appears firm.
Serve immediately. (Negotiable. I like it at every temperature. But, it’s the most soufflé like straight from the oven.)

the intimacy of reading

September 25, 2014 ~ Emily ~ Leave a comment

The intimacy of reading

I can see the warm light of our living room lamp casting a halo like glow over a basket of books. I can see the low white bookshelf in my Gramma’s spare room, filled with Angelina Ballerina and other mouse books. I can see the bright yellow cover of my One Year Bible that my mom read out of every night before bed.

Some of my earliest memories are tied to reading and books.Those memories are indicative of a lifelong love of literature. I desire to instill a similar love in James and any future children. We make reading to him a priority, a priority that is easy to keep.

I love the intimacy of reading with James, snuggling as close as his squirmy little body will allow. I treasure the proximity we share as I turn the pages and he grabs and pulls, more intent on eating than absorbing content.

I love watching him engage with the pages, grasping and patting. Sometimes he just stares at the colors, other times he helps me turn the page, eager to discover what’s next. I love watching him learn and grow. When we first started reading together, he was an infant – just a lump of baby flesh in my arms, barely able to stay awake for my recitation of Barnyard Dance.

As he matures, he is more attentive, more aware. He focuses and anticipates the discovery of something new on the next page. Sometimes I point things out to him – the pretty flower, the funny face. Other times I let him discover on his own, waiting patiently for him to find bumble bee or lift the flap to see what’s underneath.

He wiggles and wrestles. He sits and snuggles. He may last through the whole book or he may start crying before we reach the second page. Even if he doesn’t notice the words or understand the plot, even if he gets distracted or upset, I am always thankful for the time we spend together with a book in front of us.

I wonder if God experiences our time in the Word like I experience reading with James?

I think He cherishes the intimacy developed as we crack open the Bible, lean into Scripture, and rest in His truths.

I think God loves watching us engage with the pages of Scripture, eager to discover what’s next. He is pleased to see us learning and growing.

In our infancy, we are a lump in His Father arms, being bottle fed the words. As we mature as Christ-followers, we become more attentive, more aware.

Sometimes He points things out to us. Sometimes He lets us work things out on our own, waiting patiently for us to discover truth and wisdom.

Sometimes we wriggle and wrestle with discomfort as we read. Other times we sit in silence. We may gobble up chapters or chew on a verse. Sometimes we just sit in God’s lap and cry without having read one word.

Even if we get distracted or upset, God still cherishes the time we spend with Him, His Word in front of us.

It’s not like I’m writing the Bible. {Perspectives on Motherhood and Writing}

September 23, 2014 ~ Emily ~ 2 Comments

Today’s Perspectives on Motherhood and Writing guest is Shannon Coe, another of my fellow Kindred Grace contributors. Her maturity is inspiring and convicting. (Plus, she made me laugh!)

Catch up on previous posts in this series on the Perspectives on Motherhood and Writing archives page!

Why do you write/blog?

I started writing to leave somewhat of a gift to my sons. They didn’t know the full story of the miracle of our family and if I didn’t write it down, it would be lost to them. It kind of morphed into more when my story touched so many lives, in so many different ways. For me, it is a connection to others and a way to share things in my heart that I normally do not express in person.

How long have you been writing/blogging?

I’ve been writing for three years. I wrote anonymously for the first year, then added my name and started sharing my blog with others after that.

How has your current season of life impacted your writing/blogging?

Not the way I thought it would. I have more writing time than I would have had if I wrote when my children were little, but I need so much ‘runway’ time to get flying with words. I don’t know if that’s age or if I have ADHD and never knew it because- children. And I have a hard time with the quiet. I wish I had been gifted with this purpose when my sons were little. I would have enjoyed writing during that time. But God picked this time and I am learning to write in this quieter season. But it’s not all that young mom’s dream of. At least not for me.

How has this season of life changed your writing habits?

I am getting up at 4-5am to get some serious writing done or staying up way late into the night. I think that is what the young moms have to do as well. I gave the years I would have thought to be a perfect season for writing to starting a business. I won’t second guess God on that.

And seasons can be extremely short. Like on the planets that have really short orbits. They don’t necessarily mean years. My seasons are changing quite rapidly. I am adapting by not panicking and by not putting pressure to perform on myself. If writing is a gift, and for heaven’s sake it’s not like I am writing the Bible, then this gift will perfect itself and be used for the Kingdom of God. I won’t trade writing for time with my family. But I will trade it for household chores. That’s fair. :-)

What is your writing/blogging battle cry?

I want women to know their calling is great. They aren’t second in the work for God. They are incredibly strong and they are some of the stealthiest and fiercest warriors on the battlefield. I want to rally the weak and wounded. I would gather all those who don’t fit in and pull them close to me and say, “Let’s go to war, sister.” I want to help them fight for their families and build the Kingdom of God.

How does faith, writing, and motherhood intersect in your daily life?

Oh, such a fascinating thought and question. If we could pull these three things together for women: their faith, words (written or read) and motherhood, you’d have the most threatening warrior for God.

I think of motherhood, and for me, this is what makes me rise up when I want to stay fallen. My faith makes me believe that I need to keep fighting. And my writing needs to help others. I live in battlefield imagery (the consequences of raising four sons?) and when I see these three things come together in a woman, she is pretty powerful and I haven’t met her equal.

Shannon Coe is a speaker and writer who loves to tend to women and care for their spirit. She wants to kneel beside the weary and help them look up to the hills where their Help comes from. She never plans on retiring, and if people will listen and read, she will keep sharing how God can redeem, restore, and use women to do a mighty work for God.

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Carrot Cake Oat Bars

September 22, 2014 ~ Emily ~ Leave a comment

Carrot Cake Oat Bars

I like to cook (a lot), but I love to bake. It’s true that I have an affinity for carbs in all forms, being able to whip up breads, cookies, and such is not the only reason I prefer baking. My perfectionist leanings thrive within the confines of a recipe. Where cooking is Picasso, baking is paint-by-numbers.

I like paint-by-numbers. Which is why I rarely deviate from a recipe. But some recipes just cry out to be adapted and made multiple different ways. I felt that way with homemade Clif Bars. Even though I only posted the Cinnamon Golden Raisin variety, I never made them the same way twice. There was a Chocolate Chip Coconut and a Trail Mix version, too.

These Oat Bars are the same way. I found the recipe on Pinterest, made it as per the recipe once, and then kept thinking of different flavor ideas.

The bones of these oat bars are a nutrient rich combination of rolled oats, whole wheat flour, and milk (of any sort). The need for butter in the original is eliminated by using unsweetened applesauce. They are sweetened with honey, making them perfect for No Sugar September and why I even found the recipe in the first place.

Carrot Cake Oat Bars So, the Carrot Cake version? I had a ton of leftover carrot puree from stockpiling James’ baby food and wondered if it would be an acceptable substitute for the unsweetened applesauce in the oat bars. The idea snowballed from there…

Sidenote: Carrot puree is super easy to make (peel, chop, and boil two large carrots and then blend in a food processor), but I’d imagine canned pumpkin would be a great substitute in this recipe.

My mind immediately went to carrot cake (because I’ve been sugar deprived, perhaps?) and I played off the flavors and mix-ins that are traditionally found in carrot cake – cinnamon, nuts, and raisins. Now that I think of it, crushed pineapple would be a tasty addition, too, but that’s getting into Hummingbird territory and we can’t mix cakes now can we.

Walnut Grinder

Oat Mixture

Carrot Mixture

The end result of all this carrot oatiness is a dense, filling bar that is perfect to pack in a lunch, tuck in a carry on, or nibble on throughout the day. I’ve enjoyed mine with a slice of cheese or scoop of apple butter and a glass of milk. Tim takes them to work for an afternoon snack. They’d be amazing for a newly nursing mom who is in that eat everything, always hungry stage.

Carrot Cake Oat Bars

If you were wanting to make these a little desserty and still keep them refined sugar free, blend cream cheese and maple syrup together to spread on top and cut into squares.

And because I kept thinking of ways to adapt the original, I’ve got a Chocolate Peanut Butter version coming atcha soon. In the meantime, enjoy some Carrot Cake!

Carrot Cake Oat Bars

Author: Emily C. Gardner

Cook time: 35 mins

Total time: 35 mins

Serves: 8 bars

A nutrient rich, filling snack bar with no refined sugar. Enjoy them plain, with apple butter, cheese, or a little cream cheese/maple syrup frosting.

Ingredients

2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup raisins
1 1/2 cups milk (any variety)
1/2 cup carrot puree
3 tablespoons honey
1 large egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Lightly coat an 8 x 8 inch baking pan with cooking spray and set aside.
In a large bowl, stir together oats, WW flour, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, baking powder, salt, walnuts, and raisins. (Be sure to separate the raisins to avoid gross raisin clumps in your bars.)
In a saucepan over medium heat, whisk milk, carrot puree, honey, egg, and vanilla until the honey is melted and all the ingredients are combined. It will be a lovely shade of peach!
Pour the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until combined.
Put batter in prepared pan. Bake for 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Cool and cut into bars.

Notes

Any variety of milk or milk substitute will work. [br]I use an old fashioned nut grinder to get an even fine chop on my walnuts. [br]Pecans or almonds would be nice, too. [br]If you don’t have allspice, use 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg.[br]You could totally use currants or golden raisins instead of raisins.