Bag'o LOVE!!

Every night Hayden asks her daddy if he would put her in a bag... For 3 years at least 10 times a week she would get her bag.. the best thing about this is having another little babe in that bag! LYLABELL!! 

 WE LOVE OUR DADDY!! HE'S THE BEST!

god is <3 

Chocolate-Hazelnut Gelato on the Food Network

   This is so simple! I'm using raw sliced almonds instead of hazelnuts AND those are about to lay in the oven for a few minutes!
 We are now waiting for the ingredience to chill    : -   )  !!!!
The ice-cream maker is prepped and ready to go!! After I whip up some home-made mac n' cheese.. the Gelato should be ready! ((pictures will come later)) I hope our friends and family can enjoy the recipes I post. I know our family does <3

  Love,
Jessica Shenk
  p.s. best moments ahead: .. Baking cinnamon and raisin bread with my husband <3 <3!!




UPDATE:
  Gelato... DELICIOUS!! Using toasted sliced almonds in the mix was the best idea.. it gives the Gelato an almost peanut butter taste.. it has just the right amount of chocolate for a savory cold snack!! I can't wait to make this again! 
  Cinnamon Raisin Bread: SOOO GOOD!! Just had a slice with some butter spread.. SIMPLY DELICIOUS! Though I was a little exhausted my husband still packed the bread with a punch of goodness! Tomorrow I'll be making white bread.. I'm getting tired of shopping for factory made bread .. the girls will have to make due with our homemade loaves. Super excited again for tomorrow.. I have left over whipping cream so I'm going to make up some whip topping.. now I need to figure out what to place the lovely delightful cream upon!?  Pictures to come.. I hope! 
 Praying this quick update brings joy and peace to our family and friends <3 
Love always,
Jessi Shenk 

Chocolate-Hazelnut Gelato on the Food Network   <-clicking on the link with provide the ice-cream recipe!

Here is the Cinnamon Raisin Bread recipe! 

Ingredients 

• 1/2 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
• 2 tablespoons warm water (105 degrees to 115 degrees)
• 1 cup warm milk (110 to 115 degrees F)
• 2 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2-3/4 cups and 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup raisins
• 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1-1/2 teaspoons water
• GLAZE:
• 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1-1/2 teaspoons milk

In a mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add milk, 1/3 cup sugar, oil, salt and 2 cups flour. Beat until smooth. Add raisins and enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1-1/4 hours. Punch dough down. On a lightly floured surface, divide in half. Roll each into a 15-in. x 7-in. rectangle. Combine cinnamon and remaining sugar; sprinkle over dough. Sprinkle with water. Starting with a short side, roll up tightly, jelly-roll style. Pinch seams and ends to seal. Place, seam side down, in two greased 9-in. x 5-in. x 3-in. loaf pans. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely. Combine glaze ingredients; drizzle over loaves.

breakfast!

A common breakfast food around our home is chicken sausage! SUPER DELICIOUS!! Trader Joe's delivers the best AND it's always cheap!! We also love potatoes and eggs.. one thing we only have on special occasions.. BACON! : ( The greatest thing about only buying bacon every 2-3 months.. is getting it cut fresh from the deli.. thick, peppered slices .... so worth the wait! EGGS!!..Dun, dun dun! It has taken me 5 years to prefect our breakfast eggs, just the way my husband loves them! You might be thinking.. 5 years!? Well.. I hated making eggs so we rarely ate them.. then about a year ago we really dove into the egg business.. lol : ) And with trial and error.. the perfect egg was born! I am a master chef with over medium and scrambled eggs! Pancakes are another thing that took me a while to perfect .. but making pancakes everyday over the course of a few years.. can really bore a person : ) lol !! There are only so many blueberries and bananas you can mix in!
  We haven't had a coffee maker in months.. today would be the second morning my husband and I got to enjoy a warm cup of Joe, provided by our new coffee maker of course!

 Thought of the morning:
 Breakfast time for my family is bonding time.. Made with love, any meal can become that way. Especially when the man of the house prays over our food; it gives me a little more peace knowing that what we're eating has been blessed by our Father. Only the past few weeks have I come to realize how important it is to God, that we say grace before we eat.Our food travels .. as well as handled by a number of people and/or machines.. Not to mention.. God is our provider- why would we not take the time to ask Him for His grace??
 These are my thoughts.. I hope this letter finds our family and friends in a wonderful place.
 God is love.
Jessica Shenk

Just wanted to update the Pratt and Shenk family!!
       Today is November 3rd! As a family we have just celebrated our newest.. Lylabell Grace Shenk's 1st birthday! Now the snow is falling and winter soups are on my mind. I should be baking whole wheat bread real soon.. hopefully I can whip up one of my cravings.. Turkey and White Bean Chili!! :  ) The words of Rachael Ray: "YUM-O!"
 The girls and I were in the Valley for a week visiting family and friends.. Grandma Shenk was able to spend an entire day with both girls <3 She took them to a pumpkin patch AND hand-made a Snow White Princesses dress for Hayden Jade! She wore her new dress for 3 days!
       Hayden also spent 3 days with Grandma and Grandpa Pratt!! She got to hang out at church for a Harvest Party with fun games and dancing!
      Grandma Pratt had a successful surgery at OHSU.. She's at home now with a recovering period of 3 months.. Let's hope their solution to her issues.. is just that- a solution! We'll know more soon!

Christopher has been working overtime for his family.. which means fewer days/nights here at home. But that is something we live around.. It's bitter sweet, I tell ya! And speaking of Christopher- He just got home from an over night work schedule.. which means I'm off of here to give him more kisses!
 I hope this quick note finds our family and friends in a good place. We love every one of you!

God is love.

 Mrs. Shenk

This picture was taken by me.. Driving from my in-laws house in Grand Ronde to McMinnville, the morning of my mommy's surgery. It was so calming to know that God had made this morning.. there for the day and it's events were guided by Christ. (( a very peaceful feeling )) 

HAPPY 1st Birthday Lylabell Grace!

 Singing "Happy Birthday" to LB .. I guess we were off key .. we made her cry! 

Looking up at Daddy for reassurance .. she was so confused!! hehehe : ) 

 "Ok.. this is so yummy!! I'm all better now!" Lylabell Grace is 1 !!! 

 Eating her Birthday cake <3 She's allllll better now!

 Her new toy! 

 Sissy wanted to have matching dresses for LB's birthday!! Thank you Target for the discounted dresses!! WE LOVE A DEAL! <3 .. & they are super cute together! <3 sister love.. can't beat that! 

 Hayden and Lylabell Shenk <3 bffs <3 Big sister teaching little sister!