Potato Pancakes with Fried Eggs and Turkey Hash

On Sunday, I cooked a large turkey and the "fixin's" for our little Christmas at home with the kids.  I then went searching for some really good "leftover" recipes and tried this one tonight.  I'll be honest, I was a little scared as I was making it but, in my husband's words, "this is fantastic, I would order it in a restaurant" which means he liked it :-)  This recipe came from Food Network.

Ingredients

• 1 cup leftover mashed potatoes, at room temperature
• 1 large egg, plus 4 for frying
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon finely chopped sage
• Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 5 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 small onion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
• 1 small red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and chopped
• 8 ounces diced leftover turkey meat, about 2 cups
• 1/2 cup leftover turkey gravy
• 1/4 cup leftover cooked corn kernels
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley

Directions

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.
In a bowl, mix the potatoes, egg, and milk together until combined. Add the flour, season with salt and pepper, and mix until smooth. Heat 2 teaspoons oil on a non-stick griddle over medium heat; pour about 1/3 cup of the batter onto the warm griddle, gently spread it to a circle about 4" wide, and cook, flipping once, until golden brown, 3-4 minutes per side. Transfer to the oven to keep warm. Repeat with remaining batter.
Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a small skillet over medium low heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the red pepper and cook until softened, about 4 minutes more. Add the turkey, gravy, and corn and cook, stirring, until turkey is heated through. Season hash with salt and pepper, stir in the parsley, and keep warm over low heat.
Heat the remaining teaspoon of oil on the griddle over medium-high heat. Crack the eggs onto the griddle and cook until desired doneness. To serve, put a warm potato cake on each of 4 plates; top the cakes with a fried egg and divide the hash evenly among them.

Notes:
* I made the hash first, than the pancakes and eggs so I didn't need to really keep the pancakes warm.  If you cook together, one could cook the pancakes and one the eggs so they are both done at the same time
* The pancakes were REALLY good - and the yolk acts like the "syrup" so it isn't dry.  If you wanted you could use a little sour cream with chives to dip it in as well
*This would be an easy meal to do anytime - if you have a roast chicken and mashed potatoes - just make extra potatoes and make this recipe the next night.   I actually didn't have gravy left so I just used a packet mix to make some and it was the exact right amount for the hash. 

Song of the Week "Love Me"

Have you heard the song out by JJ Heller - Love Me?  The first time I heard this I had to sit in my car until the song finshed - I couldn't stop listening.  What a powerful message the song brings.  Just read the lyics!  Haven't we all uttered those words at some point - "Who will love me for me?" 

He cries in the corner where nobody sees
He's the kid with the story no one would believe
He prays every night, "Dear God won't you please...
Could you send someone here who will love me?"

Who will love me for me
Not for what I have done or what I will become
Who will love me for me
'Cause nobody has shown me what love
What love really means

Her office is shrinking a little each day
She's the woman whose husband has run away
She'll go to the gym after working today
Maybe if she was thinner
Then he would've stayed
And she says...

Who will love me for me?
Not for what I have done or what I will become
Who will love me for me?
'Cause nobody has shown me what love, what love really means

He's waiting to die as he sits all alone
He's a man in a cell who regrets what he's done
He utters a cry from the depths of his soul
"Oh Lord, forgive me, I want to go home"

Then he heard a voice somewhere deep inside
And it said
"I know you've murdered and I know you've lied
I have watched you suffer all of your life
And now that you'll listen, I'll tell you that I..."

I will love you for you
Not for what you have done or what you will become
I will love you for you
I will give you the love
The love that you never knew

Scroll down to the bottom to click on the you tube video - I wish I could add this to my player but it isn't out there so make sure and pause the player to listen :-)

Life on Purpose - Part 2

Welcome to part 2 of "Life on Purpose" - planning your 2011 with purpose so that you accomplish what you really want to do and not be taken over by the "little" things that seem to eat away at our daily lives. 

If you missed the first post or either of the first two documents just click here to see the original post. 

Next, is creating your task map.  You may want to open or download the document first by clicking here so that what I say makes sense.  On this page are two circles, the large circle should include everything that you do for your family or yourself.  The documents gives a few ideas to get you started but just list away.  The inside circle should include your "work" tasks - whatever you do for work.  (If you are a stay at home mom this may overlap or it should also be anything you volunteer for such as room mom, Nursery Coordinator, etc - anything that isn't home related)  Once you have finished with listing everything - take time to underline the 2 items in each area that cause you the most stress and circle the two things that you enjoy the most.  One project you can work on is how to make those two items NOT stressful - whether it be learning more about the item (such as finances, budgeting, organizing, ect) or delegating it to someone else - and another project is how to find more time for the two items that you enjoy the most.   I will admit that this one worksheet is one I struggle with the most - I already have my daily chores broken up into what I do on specific days so I had already done this step, just in a differant way.

Have you ever sat down and thought about your year in advance - making note of the important things each month.  The next worksheet I really enjoyed and I'll share both a blank one and mine (as much as is done now)  With this worksheet, list everything major that you need to do each month for example, Darryl's birthday is in February so in January one of my items is "Plan Darryl's birthday" so that I actually remember to plan for it.  Than I also add in February "Darryl's Birthday".  By doing this list, you can see at a glance the top items that you need to get done each month but it does something else.  One of our goals this next year is to paint the outside of our house so I can look at my month by month plan and see which month(s) I can plug this item into by seeing which months are the least busy.  Obviously, since it is painting, I need to look between April-Sept. and than take a month that is the least full so I know I won't have to work around other items to get it done.  You can see mine here.  This is also the place to write down the things you do once a year or once every three months  like clean out the garage, clean out the attic, change the screens, change filters.  This is a road map of your year.  You may notice that as I share documents, they start to get a little more specific - we started with just a brainstorm of ideas and now we are writing down monthly items . .. .so you can guess that we are going to get to goals, monthly, weekly and daily to do's. 

So, now, take time to fill out your task map and your month-by-month plan.  This is also a good time to pull out your 2011 calendar and fill out birth dates and any items that are already set - get those dates written in NOW so you don't double book yourself (and it can help you fill out that month-by-month document!)

Your Task Map

Month-By-Month Plan

My Theme Word for 2011

One of the blogs I follow, Women Living Well, is one of my favorites for encouragement and lessons.  Courtney's posts often cause me to stop and think.  Throughout December she posted a Peace on Earth December Challenge.

I have not participated in this Challenge - I had some other things I was focusing on throughout the month of December and didn't take the time to follow too closely but the title of this weeks post caught my attention and I read the whole thing.

One of the areas I've focused on this month is "Life on Purpose". I shared a post here with the first steps for setting up this system and have another post that I'll put up tomorrow.  All "Life on Purpose" is, basically, is a way to plan your 2011 so that you make time for the most important things in your life so that those things that aren't so important, don't take over.  I'm hopeful that I can get two more "Life on Purpose" posts up this week as well so you have all the info prior to the new year!

So, when I read Courtney's post about a Theme Word for 2011, it seemed to fit right into what I was doing already.  She challenges each of us to find time to get alone (she suggests going outside but, here in the North, it is way too cold and snowy to think outside!).  The scripture she suggests is Matthew 27 and 28 (but maybe you have a favorite scripture to read too!) than, take time to evaluate 2010 and commit 2011 to living your life completely for God.

There are 5 areas to evaluate - evaluate 2010 and decide what to do for 2011:
1. Evaluate your walk with God
2. Evaluate your marriage
3. Evaluate your children
4. Evaluate your Health
5. Evaluate your ministry

Courtney offers great questions and suggestions for each of the above areas so, if you are interested, read her post to read the full article.

Once done with your evaluation, take time to chose a them word for your year - what one word wraps up all of your goals for the next year.  I know, if you read her article, it will seem like I'm copying her, but I'm really not - something I have felt the need to work on is . . .to Simplify my life.  To take out those things that are not important which includes clutter in my home, things in our schedule, anything that gets in the way of my family relaxing and enjoying time together - laughing, listening, and loving fully.  Time passes much to quickly to have to spend hours every day cleaning and dusting, we have so many fun things we want to do each day!  I want my children and my husband to enjoy a peaceful, relaxing home, which I believe begins with Simplifying those things around us. 

Take time this week to focus on those areas, write them down somewhere for you to see, and look at them daily.  Search for ways to accomplish them - to do one item each week for each goal. 

Toy Packaging

So, with two little boys, I spent hours today taking all of their toys out of their packaging.  There were twisty ties to untwist, wires to unwind, strings to break, and those little clips to turn so they unlock.  Oh, and yes, their were even toys that had screws holding them to the packaging.  As I worked on the packages this song ran through my head . . .. .have you heard it?  It is by Sara Evans and is called "Toy Packaging" - I've searched for a video or MP3 I could attach but can't find one so this link at least gives you the lyrics!

Sara Groves - Toy Packaging lyrics | LyricsMode.com

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas

Merry Christmas !

I thought I would share our Christmas Card and Letter today since, for the most part, everyone has recieved them.  So, Merry Christmas from Our Family to yours!

I couldn't get our actual card to load but this is the main picture :-)

Christmas 2010

Merry Christmas!  Isn’t it great that it is once again time to catch up with all of our family and friends – some we see often and many that we do not!  Our year has been filled with excitement, unexpected changes, and lots of laughs!

When I sent out our letter last year, we were awaiting the birth of our second little boy!  Nathan Adam Koll arrived on December 22, 2010.  He is quickly approaching his first birthday and it is so hard to believe!  He was our “stocking stuffer” last year and this year, he just wants to eat the stockings J  Nathan is our bundle of e.n.e.r.g.y.  He never stops when his eyes are open – he always has to be moving, chewing, grabbing, crawling, climbing . . . . you name it!  He is taking all those teetering steps and is just itching to be able to race after his big brother!  Nate always has a smile on his face and loves to play with anything his brother doesn’t want him too!!!  Joshua turned 2 on October 22.  He is our thinker.  He can sit and play with his cars or look at books for hours.  He is also the one that will line up all of his cars across the living room floor, step back to take a look before moving one or two just slightly so that they are perfectly spaced.  He is very neat and likes things to be in their place.  He doesn’t enjoy having anything on his hands (like sticky food!) and cleans off the table for me J  Josh is also extremely happy and content and loves music, both playing and listening to it.

With the birth of Nate, we made the decision that I would stay home full time and it has been the absolute best decision we could have made.  I love being able to be with the boys all day – playing, reading and teaching them each day.  Josh and I have “Mommy Time” each day where we work on flashcards, read books, color, sing songs and more.  So, I resigned from Independent Bank in January after working there for 7 years.  This decision was one of true faith and God has provided – Darryl was able to take on a second job doing something that he has done on and off for 25 years (wow!).  What is he doing?  He drives a cab in Grand Rapids!  It is something he really enjoys because he is technically his own boss and he has met some interesting people along the way.  This sacrifice has meant long hours for him – between the two jobs he often put in 80 hours a week, working 6 days a week.  He was still working at Clothing Care here in Ionia as a Route Salesman but this has also recently changed.  After 8 years, he was laid off on December 2, 2010.  We knew that this was more than likely going to happen but we had not expected it quite yet.  The good news is that he was able to switch to full time at the cab company for the time being which will help us meet all of our needs.  God works that way, doesn’t He?

So, lots of changes for both of us over this past year with jobs!  I was able to start babysitting for a friend in November who returned to work after having her first baby.  I enjoy watching the little guy and he is well entertained by my boys too!

Our animals are still doing well.  China has learned to enjoy the boys as they have gotten older but she still likes her couch potato life.  Misty would prefer to not have any children in the house J but she has adjusted well and knows how to keep away.  Ironically, her favorite place to sleep is on the floor in Josh’s room which is right where the boys can get her.  Don’t really understand that one but, she’s a cat, what do you expect?  Strat’s favorite activity is still to sleep.  So we let her to do!!!  She does enjoy the boys which is a little surprising. 

Darryl is still playing guitar in the group Alive!  With the two jobs, it has been more stressful this year especially on weekends where concerts often fall on his only day off, Sunday.  But, it is still a great pastime for him and keeps him playing.  He has also started recording some of his own arrangements which is a hobby he loves even more.  I enjoy listening to his creations!  I still love to Scrapbook and spend as much time as I can trying to get current with my photos.  I also sell Creative Memories on the side but do most of it online so it is slow growing!!  Otherwise, I have gotten into writing my own blog and really enjoy it.  It gives me an outlet to write and share things.  Along with that, I also love to read blogs J  It is fun to find ideas, recipes, crafts, and teaching helps out there in blogland.  Both Darryl and I have gotten involved  in our church Praise Band once again and it feels good to be back plus it gives me a night out every few weeks for practice!  I’m also back to playing piano there as well – I wish I had more time to practice but what can you do?

We did accomplish one house project out of necessity.  When we moved in, there was a slight crack in the bathtub.  Over 7 years, it slowly got bigger until it needed to be replaced.  In March we stepped into a small bathroom redo with putting in a new bathtub, painting and redecorating.  If I say so myself, it looks very nice J  I think (those of you that have read my letters all of these years will laugh at this) my kitchen may actually get its small make-over this next year!  Remember?  That was the room that was supposed to be done FIRST when we moved in so long ago!!!   We are also hoping to be able to get the house painted next summer too (we had planned to do it this year but that pesky crack in the bathtub took its place) so, as always, lots and lots of plans but who knows what the next year will bring. 

Along the way, we also enjoyed some fun times throughout the year.  In May, we took our first family vacation and rented a small condo in the Upper Peninsula near Marquette.  We thought it would be cool in the North . . . but instead, they broke records and it was pushing 100 degrees most of the week.  Who would have thought that we would have stepped foot into Lake Superior at the end of May?  Well, we did!!  It was a very relaxing time with lots of afternoons spent on the beaches playing in the sand.  I will confess that making an eight hour drive with two kids under 2 was a little bit of an adventure in itself but we learned quickly that Darryl fit very well in the back seat between two car seats and is a fantastic entertainer J   From home, we also enjoyed a trip to Frederick Meijer Gardens – we had no idea they had such a fantastic Children’s area and we look forward to returning often in the years to come.  Of course, we visited the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids to see all of the animals (who were sleeping because it was so hot the day we went!) and we found a fantastic Splash Park!  On a very hot Sunday (this summer was EXTREMELY hot) we drove to Millennium Park in Grand Rapids planning on getting in the Lake there but instead, we found this (very neat and clean) Splash Park.  If you have never been to a Splash Park– it is a big cement pad with all kinds of water “things” (for lack of a better word) that shoot water everywhere – out of the ground, through spray guns, and even buckets dumping water as you run under them.  We spent hours there and the boys loved it. (Mom loved it because there was no sand, dirt, weeds, or bugs crawling on me!)  Along the way we also visited several local parks and, of course, went to a huge Pumpkin Patch to run through corn mazes, pick pumpkins, drink cider and get our wagon stolen. What? Yup!  We came out of the Cedar Mill to find out wagon stolen.  Apparently, the thief heard my wailing (seriously – I was so mad, I was very loud!) about how anyone could steal from children, and turned around.  They did return it after making up a not very good story but at least we have a story to tell now J  and yes, our wagon will be clearly labeled as belonging to The Koll’s before we take it out again!

We are looking forward to what this next year brings us; it is exciting to be starting some new things and see where it all leads us over the course of the year.  Some of those exciting things are:  My brother Kel and family will be returning to the states in the spring from Brazil; The McMaster Family reunion that will be coming up this summer; our big family Christmas with all of my brothers and their families this year and, of course, lots of fun activities with our boys!   More than anything, we enjoy our little family and are trying to take in every moment with the two little boys that have blessed our lives. 

May you and your family enjoy the True Meaning of the Christmas Season and make time for each other throughout this very busy season!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Darryl, Jackie, Joshua and Nathan Koll

(China, Misty and Strat  too!)

Traditions

What a great time of year to talk about Traditions.  I'm a firm believe that Traditions only happen if you create them and keep doing them.  I would gather that most of us have great memories from our childhood based on traditions - no matter how silly they seemed!

First, I thought I would share our current traditions for Christmas time.  On Christmas Eve, we normally go to my parents and attend the Christmas Eve Service at my brother's church.  After that, we gather at my parents for snacks and laughs.  Growing up both Darryl and I opened one gift on Christmas Eve and we are starting that with the boys this year - they have one gift to open :-) .  Christmas morning starts with some special food.  From my family tradition, we have Eggs, bacon, and toast than, from Darryl's side, we have cinnamon rolls and Orange Julius.  It is a very yummy breakfast!!  We also open stockings Christmas morning  - usually just before breakfast.  We aren't allowed to do anything else until all the dishes are done from breakfast - granted, now my mom has a dishwasher so their isn't near the wait that there was when we were growing up!.  Finally, we get to open presents and we follow my family tradition - we open one at a time - it is not a free for all.  It makes the morning last so much longer and you get to watch everyone else receive those special things too! 

Second, I wanted to share some traditions we are starting this year.  I already mentioned the Christmas Eve gift.  We are also going to start reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas" to the boys before bed on Christmas Eve.  What a perfect story for that night!!  Than, we will also add reading the Christmas Story on Christmas morning.  I should clarify that my dad read the story often on our Christmas mornings too but as adults, we don't always take time to read it.  We want to make this an important part of the morning for the boys, though. 

Third, we've been doing a lot of thinking about Christmas and how we can instill into our boys the true meaning of Christmas; teach them about giving back; and yet still have the excitement of receiving gifts too.   I did a little research on where the "gift - giving" idea came into Christmas and was surprised to learn that it really came into play during the Victorian Era but the idea was being done as far back as before Christ's birth.  During the Victorian Era, people where filled with friendliness and Charity and gift giving goes hand and hand with that so gifts were given to show kindness.  They didn't just hand out a pile of gifts though - they did things like a Cobweb party where each person was assigned a color and than shown a room with different colored yarn strung through the room.  They had to follow their color to find their gift.  This is just one example.  It wasn't until the 19th century that Christmas met with commercialism and merchants took full advantage of pushing the idea of gifts.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not doing away with gifts :-)  I think it is fun to shop for my family but I just wanted some back ground on this!  So, here are some of the ideas we are planning on incorporating over the next few years (many of these ideas I shared in a post here):

To Teach The Real Meaning of the Season: Taking an idea from here, we will be doing a the Jesus tree next Christmas.  I plan on picking up a small tree for the dining room to use for this and we will use the lessons on the names of Jesus for our family devotion time.  I look forward to making this more in depth each year as the boys grow and eventually having each of them do research to talk about the different names.  There are also some teaching units I want to use in the coming years that focus on Christ birth so that the many of our lessons will revolve around the Christmas story. 

To Teach the importance of giving: We will be doing two shoe boxes next year for Samaritan's Purse.  I plan on doing one for each of my boys.  We will do a box for a boy that is their same age group so that they can pick out the items for the box.  Who knows, in years to come, we may have the means to do more than just those two.  We will be doing goodie boxes for our neighbors.  We'll back some goodies and maybe include a small gift but I think it is good for the boys to walk to the neighbors (with us of course!) and say "Merry Christmas" and give something away.  Another thing we will do that is also fun - is go light hunting.  Once we find the best of the best, we'll come home and write Thank-yous. 

To Count Down to the Big Day: What better way to build excitement than to count the days?  This is where the "just for fun" stuff comes into play.  Again, I've stated some of this before.  I want to incorporate the "Elf on the Shelf" game.  I'm also working on a better book list based on the two blogs I follow to do a book a day for December along with an activity for each book.  We love to read so I think it would be fun for the boys to have a book to unwrap each day as a surprise for the day.  I also am planning on making some advent bags - if I plan well enough, I'll make them big enough to put the books in too - so we can open the bag and take out a small gift each day and maybe have an activity we can do each day. 

Gift Giving: We will still do gifts without a doubt.  What is more fun that letting a kid look through the Toys-R-Us Christmas book and picking out things they like?  Or seeing their faces (or my face for that matter - I love gifts too!)  What I do want to do though, is encourage my kids to also be creative in the gifts that they give - to pick out things for family because it is something they know they will love.  I guess, to teach them that it REALLY is just as much fun to give as it is to recieve, especially when you take time to think about what you are giving. 

Yes, those are lots of ideas but, a lot of the items double up or take just a few moments each day and yet build so many memories!  AND I plan on having everything made for all projects for December by the end of July so that we can just have fun in December.

So, what are your tradtions?  Do you have one tradition that you love?  Enjoy your Christmas and make lots of fun memories to look back on for years to come!