The Amish Pantry Experience

A couple months ago we were driving home from a volleyball tournament and I saw a BAKERY sign.  Yippee!  Being the sweet-treat-lovin’ woman that I am, I followed the sign.  I figured our hard working volleyball player needed a treat after a strenuous morning on the court.    

That sign led us to an average looking farm house that had an “OPEN” sign on the door.  Hmm, I wondered if we were in the right place.  Could this farm house actually be a bakery?

I opened the car door and realized I would have to walk past a whole bunch of chickens to get into the bakery, but I could tell by the aroma in the air it was indeed a bakery, and I’d spent 2 hours on bleachers with a toddler.  I was determined and went for it.  Turns out the chickens could care less that I was there and I made it to the door without any troubles.

I opened the door to this place that we later discovered is called The Amish Pantry.  

OH my goodness. I couldn't believe my eyes!  Cinnamon rolls, cookies, fudge, breads, flavored crackers, spices, cofffffffffeeeee and more.  It all looked so beautiful and smelled so good! 

I can’t even put into words how glad I am that we stopped there that day.  It turns out this was their first day open.  They had two 3 day old goats that needed names.  They were looking for a boy name that started with a C.  My little guy piped up and said “I know, you could call him CARTER, that’s my name!”  So now we go back each week to say hello to Carter the goat. 

On our first trip there I asked if I could take some pictures of this unique little place, so I could tell my friends about it.  As I went back to the van to get my camera, my husband opened his mouth and landed me a gig as their Social Media Coordinator, or whatever. 

Basically this just means I take some half-way decent pictures and post them to a Facebook page I created for The Amish Pantry.  Okay, it’s slightly more complicated than that, but I am loving it so far.  I am so grateful that the owners, Frank and Roxann, have allowed me to take on this adventure.  It’s truly encouraging for me to be able to grow my skills through this “job” (I use that term VERY loosely, it’s mostly just fun) and still be able to be with all my babies each and every day. 

Each time we visit their farm we learn a little more about the owners.  We hear stories from all sorts of people, that just like us, saw the sign and stopped to check it out.  We’re always making new friends because of this welcoming place. 

If you’re curious what this place is all about, visit TheAmish Pantry’s Facebook Page where I’ve uploaded dozens of pictures, and Roxann shares stories from the bakery. 

Forewarning, it’s not your typical bakery experience, and it’s really not all about the sweets (although the sweets are amazing).  There’s something so much more special about this place than any other place around here.  It just feels like home.  I’d love if you stop out and try it for yourself.  If you do, please leave a review on the Facebook page, or back here on my blog.   

If you need recommendations on what to get, my favorites are the Rye bread (Trim Healthy Mama style), 7 grain bread, Flavored cinnamon rolls (only available on Saturdays), and the coffee.  Oh that coffee is darn good! 

Indoor Seating is limited, but cozy.  If you love intermixing with new people, pull up a chair at any old table and someone is sure to join you soon. 

The Outdoor Seating is plentiful.  Just grab a spot anywhere on the lawn. 

The Saturday Breakfast menu includes Biscuits and Gravy, or Breakfast Sandwiches.  Both equally delicious!

 

Carving Out Family Time

 

I’ve been telling our friends and family that it’s been a busy couple of weeks.  But it wasn’t until I tried to schedule plans with two different friends, and couldn’t hardly find any open hours, that I realized just how busy we were.  It was ridiculous.  For people that preach about how important time alone as a family is, we seemed even more ridiculous.  So Saturday we declared it a FAMILY DAY. 

 

I’ll be honest, we had a rough time communicating together in the morning and figuring out what would make everyone happy, since we’ve been so used to doing things on our own for the past however long.   It was rough, but we filled our bellies with breakfast, talked it over, and worked out our plans for the day, TOGETHER.

 

We cleaned the house as a family, visited The Amish Pantry, Breadeaux Pizza, and Fort Custer Maze!

Price Breakdown:

Cleaning- FREE. 

{Cleaning motivation:  We filled a bag of things to donate within 30 minutes.  The less items in your home, the less your air has to run this time of year to cool those items.  In the winter, the less your heat will have to run.  It’s like you’re paying yourself!).

The Amish Pantry- Average cost for a family of 5, with adults getting rolls and kids getting donuts, is about $12. 

{Tip:  You can get a 4 pack of rolls for $5.  The bigger flavored rolls are $3.50, and worth every penny, but if you’re feeding a big family on a budget, go for the 4 pack, or a couple 4 packs!)

Breadeaux Pizza: 1 large pizza, 1 large order of breadsticks, and 5 cookies.  $22

Fort Custer Maze: $6 for adults, $4 for kids, 3 and under Free.  We had a gift certificate we bought from the newspaper, so this was $12 for us. 

Total: $46.  Now I know we could’ve found free things to do around home, but we just really needed to get away.  $46 for a full day out, was so worth it. 

We capped off the day with a stop at Shopko for shoes, and Target for some birthday gifts. 

{Mama Bear Tip: Never head out for the day on an empty stomach.  Eat something, anything, and feed your husband too, because he’s just as likely to get H-Angry, but his may kick in a little later than yours {you know, after he’s had time to complain about your hangriness, but before he realizes he feels the same way.  Wait for it, it’ll hit him too}  I’m sure you keep snacks with you for the kids already.  That’s wise!). 

Oh you guys, It was a good day together, such a good day.  This is exactly what we needed. 

We did have to sacrifice dog sitting (my kids love this), attending a birthday party, watching friends in a race, and a few other little things, to make this happen.  I know it was the right move though.  God first, Family second, then everything else.  We’ve got to keep our priorities straight.

I’ll do separate posts about each of the places we went when I get time. Maybe next week, maybe not, we’ll see! 

Satisfying the Sweet Tooth: Local Honey

 

This little girl of mine has a definite sweet tooth. There is no doubt she got it from her mama.  oops!

 

 While I don't mind enjoying a treat now and then, and believe me I do, I realize how important it is to fill our bodies with real food. 

 

 She and I both like the sweetness of pitted dates, but the other 3 people in the house can't even tolerate them (their loss!).  Honey on the other hand, has never been turned away by any of my little (or big) sweeties.

 

 

We can all agree that there is nothing better than a spoonful of honey.  Except maybe that same spoonful of honey spread on a slice of warm toast, with a smear of our homemade peanut butter.  Oh my word.  Is your mouth watering yet?

The benefits of honey are plentiful.  Here are my top 5 favorite reasons to indulge in the sweet treat:

 

1. It's natural.  Not like the processed foods in the store that are labeled "natural", but loaded full of junk.  This honey is actually pure.

 

2. It's antibacterial and antifungal.  Before you think I'm going overboard, would you let me explain?  I have little kids, some of which put everything in their mouth and touch everything in sight.  I can use all the immune-boosting properties I can get, and so can they!

 

3.  It's a natural cough suppressant and it works far better, and much quicker, than over the counter remedies.  

 

4. It can be used to fight allergies.  Only one of us really suffers here, but the local honey helps immensely!

 

5. It's delicious.  Really that's the only reason I need, the other benefits just help me to enjoy it guilt free.

 

 

This particular bottle of honey was a birthday gift given to my husband from our pastor and his wife. The brand is called Hopp-N-Honey and is available for purchase through them.  Message me if you'd like their contact info.   

 

 

The flavor of this honey compared to other brands I've tried is richer, sweeter, and overall more flavorful than the majority of store-bought honeys that I've sampled.  It's safe to say this is our new favorite. :)

 

 

Home Educator Tip:
I like to tie everything into Home Educating that I can.  When I cracked open the lid on the honey today I also decided we’d watch a show or movie about bees.  We've already watched The Bee Movie over a dozen times, so I wanted something different. I found Reading Rainbow’s “The Life Cycle Of The Honeybee" on Amazon Prime.  It’s episode 8 on Season 1, and free to watch with Amazon Prime, or $1.99 if you don’t have Prime.

 

 

Scoopy Doos Ice Cream and More



In my last post I talked about making a Summer Bucket List.  If you’re anywhere within driving distance of Forest City, Iowa and you ARE making a summer bucket list, I suggest adding a trip to Scoopy Doos.  There are also have several local parks you could stop at. 



My three enjoy the triple slide found at Pammel Park

If the wind isn’t too strong the day you visit, get your ice cream or lunch to-go, and take it down the block, to the gazebo, located on the beautiful Courthouse Square. 

Photo Credit: http://www.iowacourthouses.org/winnebago.html

 

So, You probably want to know more about this Scoopy Doos place I'm suggesting, huh?  Well, read on. 

 

 From the moment you open the door at our local Ice Cream Shop you’re flooded with cheer and kindness.  The walls are painted a beautiful shade of purple, adorned with colorful polka dots.  The tables are mostly brightly colored picnic tables, and the floor showcases a fun black and white checkered pattern.

The first thing you’ll hear is something like “Helloooo” or “Hello!  Welcome to Scoopy Doos” as the staff literally smiles, makes eye contact with you, and walks to the front of the store to greet you. 

 

You just don’t get that everywhere any more, but you always get that there.  They’re about the people, not the sale.  It’s quite refreshing really.

 Oh and the "staff" are actually called "Scoopologists".  How fun is that?!

It sort of makes me feel like applying, just for the cool title! 

If you’ve heard their radio ads you know they have so much more than just ice cream.  I mean they DO have many sweet treats, but also a full menu to order from, any time of day!

Through these French doors you'll find the PARTY ROOM.  It may be rented out for birthday parties, which we've done before.  But the cool part is that if isn't reserved, you can eat in there any time!

 

I dare you to just look into one of these unique mirrors and walk away.  It can't be done.  Both kids {AND ADULTS} love to make faces in them, and dance in front of them. Something about these just makes you do silly things!

 

 The kids and I stopped in after a local MOPS meeting last month and I took some pictures to share with you all.  Please know their menu has many, many more items than I highlight here.

Rather than going on and on (which you know I could totally do all day), I'll post them below and give you a quick caption for each one. 

Here's a birds eye view of our lunch spread.  Thank you to my patient children, for letting me get a shot of this first.  Even though it smelled delicious, they were starving, and we all just wanted to dig right in!



This is a kids meal, called the Kiddy Doo.  It's a kid-size version of the Sloppy Doo (sloppy jo)



The Toddler's grilled cheese was cut into hearts.  The personalization and detail at this place is great.





I had a wrap, with a side of chili.  I'm working on ordering food slightly outside of my "norm" ie. cheeseburger.  This wrap, filled with: spinach, strawberries, chicken and cheese, was perfect!  It stayed together well and satisfied my hunger.
 

After lunch The Ball Player made basketballs out of our trash and cleared the table for us.  I appreciate that it's totally the type of place you can let your kids be themselves. #kidsplayinglikekids





Then it was treat/spelling time.  The 1st grader read every ice cream out loud, before making his final selection.  There are two cases like this one, filled with a variety of flavors.

 

This trip we learned that any of the hard scoop ice cream can be made into a shake.  The Fashionista chose Monster Cookie, with whipped cream.

 

Mint Chip for the win!

 

 

The toddler usually picks PINK (strawberry) ice cream.  This day however, she chose the one with a YE-YOW (yellow) m&m.



I got my ice cream to go, so I was able to enjoy it during nap time. By far my favorite flavor is the Java Chunk.  It's a perfect blend featuring bold flavored coffee ice cream and generous chunks of shaved chocolate.

 

 

 

PRO TIP:  Save back a few of the homemade kettle chips from your meal for dipping in your ice cream.  Yes, I'm serious. 

You can thank me for this one later.

 

 

 

Like Scoopy Doos Ice Cream and More on Facebook for their complete store hours, deals, and updates. 

 

If you make a stop there this summer, be sure to snap a picture and upload it to my facebook wall!

 

 

Disclosure: I was not compensated in any way for this post. All opinions and photos are my own and copyrighted (unless otherwise noted).   I just love Scoopy Doos, and think you all should too!

Pondering The Summer Bucket List: 2015

 

Do you create a Summer Bucket List? 

I’ve made one, and it almost always includes these crazy elaborate crafts, or far off places to visit.  It’s not reasonable.  I end the summer feeling like a failure when I look at my list.  Of course we’ve usually done many fun little things, but they don’t look so great when you write them down.  Ugh, why do I even care if they’re “share worthy”?  I shouldn’t, really. 

I’ve printed off various versions of bucket lists from Pinterest. 

The problem is I have children ranging from a toddler to a preteen, both girls and a boy.  I have yet to find a version that suits our family perfectly.

So this year, I decided to make it simple. I’m still making a Summer Bucket List, because:

 I think they are fun

I like lists,

and it gives us something to look forward to. 

However I am humbly lowering my expectations and deciding that our summer theme will be PRACTICAL.  We’ll probably base it off of free local events, food (because everyone needs to eat), and things we already have on hand, like scooters, bubbles, bikes, kites, etc.  We’ll just take them to more places than our front yard and the same park we always visit.

Are you making a Summer Bucket List?  If so, what will you add to it?

Kitchen Gadgets Giveaway: Part 1.

I recently picked up this set of 3pc Fruit Scoop Set from the consignment shop, NU2U in Forest City.

NU2U is a well-organized second hand store on the main street of town, and they run SALES!
 The prices are great anyway, but once you add in the sales, it’s like a total no-brainer to shop there! I love getting our kids clothing there and love it even more when I find a little something for myself too.

  Friendly Tip: If you're in Forest City, IA visiting NU2U, check out the adorably fun ice cream shop called Scoopy Doos, which is just two doors down. we.love.that.place.  If you're a coffee lover and Java Chunk is one of the ice cream options when you visit, GET IT.  You will not be sorry!


  I first heard about fruit scoops from my friend Amy, over at Modern Rural Living. When I saw the fruit scoops on the shelf I knew I had to buy them, and I couldn’t want to tell Amy about the sweet deal I scored on them ($6 for the set of 3! Brand spankin' new in the package! PLUS they were like 20% off or something that day too).

 Unfortunately I never did get a chance to tell her :(  (you can read about that here). I'm hopeful that she can somehow read this post and know I'm thinking of her!

The fashionista and I were making one of our Saturday morning thrift store runs last weekend when I decided to pop into the grocery store for some cantaloupe, avocados, and kiwis, just so I could give my new fruit scoops a try.

You guys, these things ROCK! There is so much less waste when using them because you can get right up to the peel.

 

They aren’t sharp, so I have no problem letting the kids use them too.

 I’m all for having the kids in the kitchen, even though that almost always means that the meal prep takes longer, and the mess is much bigger. It also means more family fun, and education about our food!

I wouldn’t say these scoops are my favorite kitchen gadget, but they are sure fun and useful!

  I’ve recently added quite a few new things to my kitchen arsenal: I’ll do separate posts on these later, but here is a sneak peek of some of my new toys:

Hamilton Beach K6080 Large Cordless Kettle

THE ORIGINAL ZOODLE SLICER - Premium Vegetable Spiralizer, Spiral Slicer, Zucchini Noodle Pasta Spaghetti Maker

Crock-Pot SCCPCCM350-CH Casserole Crock Slow Cooker, 3.5-Quart, Charcoal -I'll be honest, this one was an impulse buy, and I still have no idea what to make in it!

Oster TSSTTRJBG1 Jelly Bean 2-Slice Toaster uhhh, Hello Beautiful!

 GE Motion-Activated LED Night Light-  These are all over the place here, not just in the kitchen.  I love them!

MaxiMatic MST-900V Elite Platinum Slow Cooker, 8.5-Quart, Stainless Steel- We often have big groups of friends/family here and this crock is perfect for simmering crowd-pleasing soups!

What are your FAVORITE or most useful kitchen gadgets right now?

 

Comment below for a chance to win your very own ZOODLE SLICER, which is honestly my most loved and used kitchen gadget right now.  I'll post on that soon!

This post does contain my affiliate links.  No biggie, you can read all about them here.



The Barrel Drive-In: More Than Just Another Restaurant

Our youngest had her own little soda with her chicken kid's meal at the Barrel Drive in yesterday.
Hey, no judgment please, we are making memories here!
  She hasn't really tasted much soda before, but REALLY enjoyed this treat.  Check out the video:

 

 

I mean really though, who wouldn't love homemade root beer?!  After every sip, she smiled and said the exact same line "My root beer SO spicy!" :)  She thought that carbonation was good stuff!

Others in the dining area got a chuckle out of her as well, since she's two and has absolutely no volume control what-so-ever.  We like to embrace our crazy moments, and share them too. 

  Having grown up in Clear Lake, the Barrel is very familiar to me.  My dad took me there for my 10th birthday and gave me a little wooden jewelry box that I still use today. So naturally this restaurant holds a special place in my heart.  I'm so happy to see all the improvements they've made and that I get to make memories with my little family in this awesome place!

I'm not exaggerating when I say that literally everything on their menu is delicious.  I especially like the French dressing on the salads.

If you're making a summer bucket list,  be sure to add a stop at the Barrel!

Monday Madness: Visit Your Local Library

Monday Madness

As if Mondays aren’t busy enough, let me add one more thing for you to consider adding to your “to-do” list.

Take time this week to visit your local library.  If you don’t have a library card, sign up for one.  If you enjoy your visit make a plan to go back the next week also.  You can spend anywhere from 5 minutes to a couple of hours there.  Our local library carries books for all ages, VHS tapes, DVD’s, CD’s, books on CD, even coloring pages for the kids and games. 

If you have extra books sitting around that you wouldn’t mind donating take them in and ask the librarian if they could use them.