My very special birthday gift

I've spoken several times on this blog of my very special Grandma, Franzi.  Lola was named after her, and I get lots of my love of the kitchen from her. She inspired me every single day of my almost 31 years.

When she died, my mom and aunt were gracious enough to allow me to take some things from her kitchen.  Wooden spoons, bowls, spatulas--those sorts of things.  My favorite thing of hers that I have are her measuring spoons, since I use them almost daily while I am cooking or baking.

Every time I break out one of her things, I think of her--and it's like we have our own private moments all over again.  I can almost hear her over my shoulder saying, "Add just a touch more cinnamon to your zucchini bread, honey."

Or, more accurately, with her thick German accent, "Oooooh.  Dat looks goot." *grin*

Ich liebe dich were my most favorite words to hear from her.  I didn't hear them often, because she usually just said "I love you."  But, I always remember thinking as a girl (and even as a young woman) how cool it was that my Grandma could tell me she loved me in German.

For our family, it was just kind of our thing....and we've said it a lot since she's been gone. "Ich liebe dich, Grandma Franzi. We love you. We miss you."

One thing that has been missing from my almost perfect kitchen is a set of canisters.  Shane decided to fill that gap for me this year--he got me the most beautiful set for my birthday.  They were perfect--exactly what I have been wanting for ages!

At first glance, they look pretty ordinary.

But then, as I looked a bit harder, I noticed that they were not perfect.

They were way beyond perfect.

Have a closer look...

Amazing.

Not that I could ever forget my Grandma Franzi. Not that she is never not with me in spirit.

But now, sitting right next to where I work many hours each day, is the most 

wonderful reminder--both of her and of the amazing love my husband showed

me through this unique and thoughtful gift.

You are awesome, babe.

Ich liebe dich.

Zucchini Bread

I've gotten several requests for this recipe over the last couple of days, so I thought I would share!

This recipe is super special to me, because it is the recipe my Grandmother always used. I follow it exactly--it's never as good as hers was, but it is still the best I've ever tasted. Each time I chomp into a piece, I always think of Grandma Franzi.

Now, for our family, I double the recipe, then double it again to make eight loaves. I bake it all at once, and I've never had any problems. For me, it is a big time and energy saver to do it this way. Two loaves at a time and I would be baking all day long! I have gotten to where I no longer even glance at the recipe, and I can have eight loaves prepared, in the pans, and baking in under 20 minutes.



I've baked a lot of bread!

After baking, I cool the loaves in the pan for a few minutes, then remove and cool the rest of the way on baking racks. Once completely cool, I wrap the bread in one layer of heavy-duty foil, then one layer of Press-n-Seal, then package two loaves into a good gallon-sized freezer baggie. They keep all winter, and taste almost as good as they do when they are fresh out of the oven.

{don't mind the date on the baggie--I reuse them!}

3 C. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 Tbsp. cinnamon
dash nutmeg
1 Tbsp. good vanilla
3 eggs (large)
1 C. oil (I use canola)
2 C. sugar
2 C. grated, unpeeled zucchini
1 C. chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 325. (Okay--here is one deviation of mine from Grandma: I bake mine at 350. I don't know if it is my oven, or the fact that I am baking so many loaves at once, but mine were never done in the middle at 325, but were getting hard on the edges. I do 350 for one hour, five minutes.)

Grease two loaf pans.

This is a very important step. If you don't follow it, you will get done baking, and then this will happen:




Then you will cry over your failed loaf.

Then you will rethink the situation, dry your tears, and rejoice instead--because now you get to eat this loaf instead of having to freeze it. {Or maybe that's just me choosing to find the brighter side?}

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg. In a seperate bowl or Kitchen Aid if you have it, beat eggs; add oil; then sugar and vanilla. Add zucchini and nuts. Add dry ingredients slowly. Mix well. Divide evenly between your two loaf pans. Bake for about one hour and 10 minutes, being careful not to over bake. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean.

Let me know if you try it and like it! I would also love to hear your bread recipe, if it differs from mine.

Lastly--I have zucchini coming out of my ears....besides breading and pan frying, what else do you do with it?

Have a great Friday everyone!

2, 184 hours / 91 days / 13 weeks / 3 MONTHS

To say "I love Lola" would be the understatement of the year.

I am absolutely, completely, totally and utterly in love with this girl.

My daughter.

*squeal*

I still love saying that.

Lola has been such a special addition to our family. Today, she is three months old. She is getting so big so quickly, and she is doing so many things already!

She is trying to roll over.

She can rock a hair bow/flower on her bald head like nobody's business.

She loves to smile at me while she is nursing, subsequently letting all of the milk in her mouth leak out and dribble down her cheeks.

She loves to be talked to, and usually will light up with a big smile.

She sleeps about 8 hours--from 10ish to 6ish--at night.
*love. her.*

She loves her Grandmothers.

She would have loved this Grandmother as well, for whom she was named.
Of that, I am more than certain.

She can fall asleep anywhere, but loves Daddy's cozy arms and chest.

She is just shy of 11 pounds.
She seems huge to me, but almost every one comments on how tiny she is.

She has three of the cutest, most amazing and loving brothers in the history of the world.

She digs her slings.

She looks so amazingly cute in Baby Legs....

....even when she's not so happy.

She is the most smiley first thing in the morning, and is smiling and 'talking' like crazy.

She's like, the smartest three-month old in the history of the world. She can already count....

One

Two

Three
*prodigy*

Oh, and she loves to chew on her fingers. *grin*

She has super long, curly and very girlie eyelashes.

{And I think she is just so pretty. Side note.}

Her Mommy She loves hats....

She has big dimples when she smiles!

She is normally very good-natured, but can throw a mean fit every once and a while.

She quickly returns to her normally happy self, however.

"Awww, Mommy....I'm sorry I threw that fit. I luuuuuuuuuuv you. Please forgive me?"

She is a b@@b baby. No bottles and no pacifiers accepted here!

However, she is--already--an accomplished thumb-sucker.

Seriously--it doesn't get much cuter....

...well, maybe it does.

*grin*

She loves to take walks...

...and usually finds her thumb midway....

....and is fast asleep by the time we get back home.

She loves Daddy....

...and Mommy....

....and the saying on the wall in her room could not be any more true:

Lola, we love you so much, baby girl. You are everything we hoped and prayed for, and so much more. Happy three months!


"I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him."
I Samuel 1:27

Introducing. . . .

Miss Lola Claire Fransisca Merritt

6 pounds, 13 ounces

19 1/2 inches long

Lola Claire because we love it

and Fransisca, after my amazing and wonderful Grandma Franzi

(Franziska--German name and spelling. We updated it a bit, and....

....there's only one Franzi, so we didn't copy the name exactly)

We are so thrilled she is here and are enjoying her immensely.

I'll post more pictures as I am able--thank you all so much for your prayers for our family throughout this entire pregnancy! God has heard and answered. Our little girl is here and safe, and we already love her so very much!