Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Home is A Mother's Day Memory

Home is...
We never did big fancy celebrations for my mom...
I never expected big fancy celebrations for me either.
In fact I prefer to keep it simple.
This year...I was H-A-P-P-Y to get to sleep in...
until noon...thank you very much!
The rest of my day included being awoken by a 2 year old
jumping on my head asking for a gumball,
an 8 year old asking to do something electronic
or take hm to Target to buy more Legos,
weed whacking the backyard, picking up dog poop,
and creating something with leftovers for dinner.
Talk about the life!...I am not really complaining...
It just shows my life as a Mom.
In between all of that whoo-ha, this year,
like the last four years, we went strawberry picking.
Four years ago we were invited to tag along with
some friends while they did this, their annual Mother's day tradition.
We head out to the farm, pick way too many strawberries,
and then head over to the farmhouse for pie!
This is a wonderful way to spend a very
simple and sweet Mothers Day! My kids love it, I love it...
and secretly, I think hubby even likes it.
And we went a little crazy this year...20 pounds of strawberries....

Some I will preserve, many we will eat as they are,
and of course I will make Strawberry Bread.
Sandy has the best recipe for Strawberry Bread.
Seriously the BEST!
Strawberry Bread
(Click HERE for pdf)
(This version is adapted from Sandy's recipe at the Reluctant Entertainer...click HERE for the original version)*
3 cups brown rice flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 tsp. vanilla
2 cups sugar
2 1/2 cups sliced strawberries
4 eggs, beaten
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
Mix it all up – by hand.
Add the berries at the last.
Butter the pans and sprinkle with a cinnamon sugar mixture

Bake at 350 for 35-45 minutes in small loaf pans, or around 60 minutes in 2 large loaf pans.
Remember each oven is different, so make sure and UNDER-SET your timer, so you don’t over bake the bread!

*NOTE: I have experimented with the recipe to cut out the white sugar, oil, etc. by using coconut oil, brown rice sugar, molasses - not such great results - don't mess with perfection! This last time I swapped the all-purpose flour for brown rice flour and the cooking oil for unsweetened applesauce... this way hubby can eat it too...YUMMY! Rave reviews...it's all gone!
Doesn't this photo scream togetherness?!
It's the best we could do. It was freezing cold....
poor strawberries...poor us!
*************************************
504 Main
One last thing... 
I'm Tickled Pink is officially a linky. {yikes!}
I'm Tickled Pink posts will continue as they have
- with my picks for the week -
but I want to see what tickles you pink on your blog!
Feel free to link up...
*a craft*
*a recipe*
*a tip*
*a party*
*a superfantabulous idea*
*a short story*
*a poem*
*A fashion find*
*a favorite product*
*your favorite post*
***anything that you thinks makes your blog fabulous***
I like rules...
but I am going to try and not go crazy with them....
*It does NOT have to be a new post*
*It does NOT have to be pink or pink-related*
*Pretty please...add the I'm Tickled Pink button to the post*
*Leave a comment on the I'm Tickled Pink post*
*Visit 3 people from the link*
*It would be great if you were a follower or subscriber {*wink*}
The linky goes up late (11:00 pm PST) Thursday, 5/13/10, with the post!
Show me watch you got!
And come see what I have to show you!
Signature




61 comments:

  1. Holly,

    I've only been strawbs picking once, but loved it too!

    I'd love to take the kiddies sometime! Looks like you guys had fun!

    Also I'm not lucky with bread..is this fool proof? (I'm a fool when it comes to bread..)

    Yep, motherhood does not get the weekends off... :)

    Oh, just wanted to ask, I have my link party buttons on a separate page as I link to a few every week, is it ok to place your button on it, or is it imperative to be on the post?

    I found from my own link party that quite a few people do the same...

    Just wanted to check first :)

    Love,
    Bird

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  2. Sounds like teh perfect mother's day. I much prefer a day spend with my family just doing the little things.

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  3. Aa, the memories! We used to go strawberry picking almost every year when I was a kid - we ate more while we were picking the strawberries than afterwards. Never had strawberry bread though, it sounds yummy! I love banana bread - so strawberry bread has to be good too!

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  4. We go strawberry and apple picking every year...but Strawberries don't aren't usually ripen around here until June.

    What a fun Mother's Day tradition...

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  5. LOVE strawberry picking. So does Finn, he usually eats his weight in berries. Ours aren't ripe until June so I'm still looking forward to it. Enjoy!

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  6. I have never had or even heard of strawberry bread. This is a new one for me! I will come by tomorrow and link something up! I love your blog and would like to play along!

    I hope to take my girls strawberry picking this summer, here it is QUITE a drive to get to a place but it is worth it!

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  7. Anonymous7:18 AM

    Yes, it shows togetherness and family. Love the tradition. I miss strawberry picking with my family. Why is it that we stop doing those fun things when the kids get older.

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  8. Just letting you know I added your linky button to my blog party page. Hope to be back to link up a project.

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  9. Now I need to see if there are any strawberry farms around here. I really want to do this. Especially since my oldest announced that he now likes strawberries (I don't really believe him, but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.)

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  10. Sounds like you had an awesome Mother's Day! And that strawberry bread sounds delish!!

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  11. Oh how I wish I could eat strawberries. I can't but still make lots of stuff for the family with them but it's so tempting and so not worth it when I do eat one. Oh well. I love the picture of you and the kids though, such a great Mother's day memeory. Plus getting to sleep in until noon, now that's a perfect Mother's day gift.
    I like your idea of the linky for tips, crafts and ideas. I'll have to keep an eye out for that when you decide what you'll like to do. Sometimes I have words of wisdom, rarely but sometimes. :o)
    Take care and have a great and blessed day today. I'm off for the first time in weeks. No plans other then to do some sewing.

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  12. your son and my son would get along great... LEGO LOVERS! seriously my son is always making lego machines... money machines, anything cool he finds off of youtube in the lego department. HA! Strawberry bread... is there such a thing? YUM!!!! never heard of it. Thanks for posting a pic. I will link up to the tickled pink link. Thanks Jenn

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  13. Hi~ were is the link for the tickled pink link party? I just see the button but now linky link? hmmm

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  14. I've been Strawberry picking once...(we have more blueberries here than strawberries), but I loved it and it's something I think the kids would enjoy. What a great way to spend Mother's Day. Thanks for sharing!
    ~Holly

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  15. Anonymous9:21 AM

    That sounds like a great way to spend Mother's Day! The strawberries in my area are not ready until June. I have always wanted to try this. My entire family (The Zoo Crew) go the Zoo every year. We had a blast.

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  16. I can't wait for strawberries to be ready here. I love going to the farm with my boys.

    I will put I'm tickled pink on my list and link up.

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  17. I so want to go strawberry picking, it looks so fun! Excited about your Tickled Pink announcement! Also, I've been MIA for the past 2 weeks so I'm excited to catch back up on your posts. Never thought I'd be happy to say that I'm actually IN TOWN this weekend, haha! Missed you, bloggy friend!
    Heather @ www.savingmoneylivinglife.com

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  18. What a great mother's day to sleep in would be a dream :). I love the picture at least everyone is not crying that would be my world.

    The Bread sounds delish :)

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  19. Love the way you spent your Mother's Day dear Holly...I agree with you about keeping celebrations on a simple level...and you kids are adorable!

    Hope you're having a great week so far my dear friend.

    Cheers: Evi

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  20. I really love strawberry picking! I'm going to try that recipe because I've only made it once and it came out dry with the recipe I have. This one looks good!!!

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  21. You guys are so cute=0)

    xoxo,
    Carol

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  22. What a fun tradition! The baskets you used to pick strawberries are so adorable! I guess you wont be picking berries for awhile!

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  23. Strawberry Bread! I love it!! Okay - I think I love strawberry anything.Very envious of your strawberry picking :)

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  24. Anonymous12:24 PM

    I usually end up making strawberry freezer jam, yummy! Can't wait to make that bread!

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  25. That bread sounds a-ma-zing! I can't wait to make it! Maybe I'll wait until our strawberries are ripe and make it using those...yummy!

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  26. the picture has me laughing, you not looking at the camera your brother all smiles and your mom and you look alike, the bread sounds good and I want to take my son strawberry picking granted he doesn't eat worms he finds like last year YUCK and I will make your bread... I am going to learn how to make my own blueberry jam this year, I have 2 huge blueberry bushes.... I just got told from the town I can't get my 2 female hen chickens zoning, I am so sad....

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  27. That bread looks so so yummmmm! I have got to try it!!

    ~Morgan

    Meet Virginia!
    Meet Virginia!
    Meet Virginia!

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  28. I have the most wonderful memories picking strawberries with my Uncle when we were all little.It looks like you had alot of fun.So...when shall I be by with the Mocha Ventis?*Laughs* I'll just follow my nose to the smell of the Strawberry yummyness!Thanks for following my blog.I look forward to being a reg on your page.Oh! I'm a newbie to this type of blog.I have only blogged on yahoo 360 and myspace in the past.How do I put buttons on my page etc?

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  29. Oooh that does look cold! I'm spoiled - we get our coastal strawberries DELIVERED right to our door from our local CSA. Even though I get a double order each week, there are never enough left over to make something out of. My monkeys gobble them all right up...

    Thanks for sharing! My mother's day sounds a lot like yours...except for the strawberry picking! That DOES sound like fun!

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  30. I'm laughing my ass off looking at your picture. Too funny!!! But strawberry bread sounds really good. May have to try that.

    I used to live right by Schatzie's deli! Small world girlfriend. LOVED living there. Used to see Arnold all the time too. Not there though, on the promenade.

    Lots of yummy love,
    Alex aka Ma What's For Dinner
    www.mawhats4dinner.com

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  31. Hey there.

    I'm stopping by from the Tuesday Tag along :).

    I have always wanted to go pick strawberries, but I dont think I will be anytime soon :(

    http://mylifewithratsandmore.blogspot.com

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  32. Strawberry Picking sounds fun! I will have to try that recipe. Sounds really yummy and a nice alternative to our usual blueberry muffins!

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  33. I've never heard of strawberry bread before. It sounds interesting. Our fresh local berry season here lasts about 3 weeks in early summer so we usually eat them as straight berries because it's so exciting to have them at all. Of course we can buy ones that are shipped in but they never taste as good.

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  34. I love strawberries - we has a u-pick farm down the street from my house, its now a Walmart:(
    Al
    http://almcleary.com/blog/

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  35. We have two strawberry farms down the road from us. I need to go!! Looks like you had a great Mother's Day!!

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  36. Strawberry bread!!!??? I am drooling. Yum. I love strawberries. I will eat them til I pop...that's POP! Just making sure you see it right. ;)

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  37. I have a Sweet Blog Award for you. Please come pick it up at http://traci66.blogspot.com

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  38. That sounds soooo good! I think I'll have to give it a try :) thanks and I completely understand about your mother's day! We probably had the worst mother's day buffet lunch ever!!!

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  39. Those beautiful strawberries remind me of a little bakery in Memphis that makes *the best* strawberry cake... with strawberry frosting, of course! We used to splurge (money-wise and calorie-wise!) on our anniversary and share one of those cakes... delish!

    Oh, and I can't wait for Pinky Linky! (Ewww... sounds like a teletubby... you should just stick with Tickled Pink.)

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  40. When we lived in NH, we got to go berry picking all the time. There's nothing else quite like fresh berries, picked from the vine.

    I've never heard of strawberry bread before, though. Sounds yummy!

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  41. MMMMMM, strawberry bread! Girl, you are weakening my defenses with all of these delicious recipes you've been posting of late!

    I honored you with a little award on my blog tonight if you want to stop by and take a look. :)

    Have a terrific rest of the evening!
    Amy

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  42. Yum! I love that tradition, Holly. Probably because I love strawberries so much, and also because that's such a cool thing to do, that only you would think of it.

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  43. I'm envious ~ our strawberries are weeks away from being in season. The recipe sounds yummy!

    Sweet traditions make everyday a little more special.

    Jo

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  44. Love that picture of you guys!! And can't wait to try that Strawberry bread!
    Glad you had a Happy Mother's Day! It sounded wonderful!
    Kelli @ SustainingCreativity

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  45. Hey there...I just dropped in from Natasha's & glad I did! That Strawberry bread looks heavenly!!! Now I just need to get my husband to make me some :) I am not the best cook :) I better print it off right now!

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  46. I have never had Strawberry bread. Never even heard of it. I don't like strawberries, but my kids do. They love them. Kamden's favorite thing is sweet breads. Banana, Zucchini, Pumpkin...I will have to make this for him!

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  47. We just went strawberry picking this morning. Yum! I like the idea of strawberry picking as a Mother's Day tradition! May need to try that next year!

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  48. Yummy I love strawberries..

    My Round Robin is tomorrow if you want to link up..

    Have a great day...

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  49. Anonymous4:43 PM

    That recipe looks delicious. (And I say that and it doesn't even have chocolate!)

    And phooey...have very limited computer access so no link parties for me for a few days.

    But fear not! I shall...ummm...trying to think of something appropriately dramatic about linking up to blog parties and NOTHING is coming to me.

    Clearly I need some of your strawberry delciousness!

    Lori @ In Pursuit of Martha Points

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  50. Oh my goodness-- Strawberry bread sounds sooo divine! You've been posting some great recipes on here! I'm glad you are doing a link up for Tickled Pink! You better believe I'll be joining in!!! You are so cute Holly! Love the picture of the three of you picking strawberries. I have great memories doing that as a child. My Mom would cut them up and sprinkle LOTS of sugar. Really though, it's such a fond memory, and I'm sure your kids just LOVE it.

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  51. Anonymous6:23 PM

    Ive always wanted to go strawberry picking!

    That bread sounds delish! Mmmm, makes me hungry just thinking about it.

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  52. The strawberry bread sounds yummy, I'm going to have to try it!!

    I so excited about your new "pink" linky party...BTW I'm a new follower:)

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  53. Stopping over from Creative Girl. Love the photo of picking the strawberries. It was freezing in Michigan on Mother's Day also!
    Have a wonderful weekend. sherry

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  54. That is a super cute photo. I refuse to put up the photo of me at Sea World after being drenched at the Whale and Dolphn Show--it was a lovely hair day from 3:15 on...

    cheri

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  55. Hi Holly. Our strawberries are coming on and I cannot wait! Thanks for linking up this week at RE! You had a fun Mother's Day!

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  56. Hopped on over from Bumpkin on a Swing ~ she always leads me in a good direction!

    Strawberry bread - YUM!

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  57. The strawberry picking looks great! I will need to try your recipe and I love that it is gluten free!

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  58. Oh, yum!! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe at the Recipe Share Party. :) I can't wait to give this one a try.

    I too love going berry picking. We're going blackberry picking Monday, but I need to locate a strawberry farm nearby. Just love strawberries in the summer.

    Happy Weekend!
    -Sarah

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  59. We just went strawberry picking as well- such a lovely afternoon:) Thanks for the recipe- that bread looks great.

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  60. The strawberry bread looks fabulous! Every time we go strawberry picking we end up with enough strawberries to feed the neighborhood! So a new recipe will come in handy - thanks for sharing.

    Chelsea

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Thanks for stopping by and joining the conversation! I sure hope you come back for more!