Butter Tart Squares

We were all in the need for something a little sweet today, and I tried out this recipe from a Taste of Home cookie magazine from 2009.  It is now definitely one of my favorites.  It is easy to make, uses only one bowl (or pot, as the case may be) and uses things that I generally have on hand.  Moreover, it tastes like a butter tart but with the consistency of a brownie.  YUM!!

Caramel Pecan Bars

1 cup butter
2 1/4 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup flaked coconut

In a large saucepan, heat butter and stir in sugar until melted.  Beat in eggs and vanilla.  Combine flour and baking powder, and then mix well into butter and sugar mixture.  Stir in pecans and coconut. (The original recipe calls for 2 cups of pecans, but alas, I didn't have enough.  I substituted in the coconut, and they turned out wonderfully!).  Pour into a greased 9 x 13 inch pan, and bake at 350 degrees for approx. 25 minutes.  Cool completely, and cut into squares.

Enjoy!! (Just for today, we can pretend that butter and sugar are good for us...)

Family Cottage 2011

We spent most of this past week at a great cottage with Jim's side of the family. This has become a family tradition over the past 4-5 years, and it is something that we really look forward to. It is a great time to relax, and to enjoy each others company. Mostly it was about 3 generations of men (plus dogs) fishing, and tow wives who married into the family relaxing, reading, and watching our boys.

Splash!!

The Hole In The Wall

Parenthood challenges us in the most dramatic ways...such as following your kids, despite a nasty case of claustrophobia, into little, tiny, cold and dark cracks in the rocks along this section of the Bruce Trail that we had never visited before. The boys brought along a friend, and we spent the afternoon exploring these great caves, as well as the ruins of an old limestone kiln and the Black River along the trail. We are still a (very) long way from our goal of walking the whole trail system, but as the boys get older, we are able to tackle longer and longer stretches of trail each time we go out. We seem to divide our time these days between exploring new territory, and re-visiting our favorite places close to home.

Black Swallow Tails

Before...

And after.


If we can recognize that change and uncertainty are basic principles, we can greet the future and the transformation we are undergoing with the understanding that we do not know enough to be pessimistic.

~ Hazel Henderson

Family Pic Nic

For the past few years, we have joined up with my Dad and his side of the family for a pic nic in July. The kids love reconnecting with their relatives, and the fact that we gather at a huge water park only adds to their enthusiasm. We shared a fabulous bar b que lunch...

The kids got their faces painted...

Played with balloon swords (many, many swords!!)...

And then headed to the water.

There was a bit of waiting involved (what can you expect for a Sunday in July?)

But apparently it was worth it!

Little Toads

Finding toads tiny toads with a friend...