My Mom…

Strawberry "Milk"... Happy Mothers Day!

My Mom is the BEST mom on the planet!  I know that there are those of you that might argue with that statement.  That’s okay… I know I’m right!  My mom is the person who helped shape who I am today mostly by her commitment to model confidence in herself and a whole lot of prayer!  I always thought she was superwoman!!  She is the kind of mom that always works through things, not giving in until she has given her best.  She gives of herself relentlessly… and passionately to all she knows.  She is always available and ready to listen.  I am still not so sure how she manages to pull that one off… as a mom myself now, I often feel like I would like nothing better than to be “unavailable” at times!  She taught me that the “little details matter”…  like sending a card, or giving a positive word or showing you care in some way.  One of the ways she shows her love is through food.

As a kid one of my fondest memories is that of having strawberry or chocolate milk at a meal.  Just the fun of scooping out that flavored, sweet powder from the can with the metal lid and stirring it into a class of cold milk made my day.  I felt like life was rich and simple all at the same time.  Last week I noticed my own children just needed a reminder of the simple fun in life.  So, I whipped up some strawberry milk for dinner.  They had such fun slurping it up with straws and big smiles.  We sat at the table a lot longer than usual that night and spent most of the time just laughing and enjoying each other’s company over bubbly milk.

My mom always encouraged me and my siblings through time in the kitchen as we could just talk freely about whatever cares we had.  As we grew, I held on tightly to those moments with my mom when we just were together, creating memories with great food alongside.  Today, we still love to do just that… every celebration is always about the food and rich with time spent in the kitchen.  I only hope that I can encourage and shape my own kids with the kind of inspiring confidence that my mom has given to me all these years.  Happy Mother’s Day, Mom!  I love you lots!!

Today, I cannot give my kids the simple sweet, flavored powder of my childhood… but I have found another way to accomplish serving such a fun drink.  Here’s the recipe for you and your children to enjoy…

Strawberry Milk

Ingredients:

• Pureed Strawberries, strained through a fine mesh sieve to remove seeds
• 1 cup Coconut Milk (homemade for SCD)
• 1 tsp vanilla, unsweetened
• 1-2 Tbls honey

Method:

1. Place cold coconut milk, vanilla and honey into a blender (you can use a large cup and a hand/immersion blender if you prefer) and blend for a few seconds until frothy.
2. Add pureed strawberries by the tablespoon.  I used about 6 Tbls of the puree per cup of coconut milk.  It really depends on how fruity you want your milk to be.  Blend for a few seconds again.
3. Serve cold in a tall glass with a straw!

Note: If not following SCD, you can use coconut milk in a can.  Look for the unsweetened kind that is full fat, not lite or low fat.  You can also replace the honey with any sweetener you prefer.  If coconut milk is a problem for you, use any milk that you can tolerate.  One of my children prefers rice milk for this yummy, dairy-free treat.

If you are looking for a thicker, milkshake like consistency, try adding a frozen banana when you blend the milk.  That is really delicious!  Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms I know and yet to know!

…The best things your children will learn about God will be from watching you try to find out for yourself.  Jesus said, “Seek and you will find.”  They will not always do what you tell them to do, but they will be–good and bad–as they see you being.  If your children see you seeking, they will seek — the finding part is up to God.”

excerpt from Gently Lead by Polly B. Berends