Strawberry Rhubarb Shortcake

It has been an interesting week. A friend and I agreed to skip the sugar this week. You know, no candy, sweets, etc. We didn't skip fruit though, no worries!!

We had a few exceptions and mine was dessert last night. We had company and I wanted my dessert!!! Side note, it's going so well we are doing it again next week. Sunday is our "free" day and I may need a fancy sugary coffee drink Monday night since I will be driving through the night but other than that, no sugar.

Oops, where was I? Oh yeah, strawberry shortcake. :) Well, I started dessert and realized I had a teensy tiny problem. I have NO white sugar in my house. NONE!!! I really didn't feel like running to the store. If you have several children yourself, I am sure you completely understand the agony of running to the store for one single item, them in tow.

I decided to once again make my guests my guinea pigs. Some of you know that feeling already, haha.

I made the shortcake from Robert Irvine's strawberry shortcake recipe. Instead of white sugar I used packed brown sugar. The cake turned out really good.
After baking the cake I put it on a plate to cool then sliced it into 2 layers.

Next I spread a layer of strawberry rhubarb filling between the layers.

I made the filling by cooking together 2 stalks of rhubarb(chopped), 6-8 strawberries (quartered), approximately 1 cup of water, 2 tablespoons honey, and 1.5 tablespoons cornstarch. I cooked this mixture on medium, stirring frequently until it was fairly thick. After taking it off the burner I let it cool then put it between the layers.

After I plated each slice I heaped sliced strawberries on and around it, and spooned ginger honey whipped cream on the top.

To make the whipped cream I put approximately 1 cup heavy whipping cream in a chilled bowl. Then I drizzled honey over the beaters - not much. Maybe a teaspoon. AS I starting beating the cream I sprinkled approximately 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger into the mixture. The whipped cream was done when it formed stiff peaks.

I admit that it was the best sugar I have had all week!!!

Keeping My Head Above Water

I don't know about you but some days I feel like I can barely keep my head above water. Actually, scratch that. Some weeks is more like it. Between housecleaning for other people, homeschooling, deal finding, parenting, being a wife, only having one car to be 2 different places in, church, and trying to provide healthy meals, I struggle. Oh yeah, add cleaning my house, eating right, and exercise to that.

Some days I feel like it is a never ending struggle just to see straight ahead let alone look at what is going on in the world around me, and in my friends' and family's life.

I cut my housecleaning down 2 jobs thinking that at least I get one more day every other week but don't you know, there is always something else that creeps in. My husband finally got the promotion we have been waiting(and working hard) for. This is great and honestly, such an answer to prayers. It has been a long hard two years. The only problem is that it is 25 miles away. No traffic, it is a 45 minute to 1 hour commute. Between now and then, a couple of weeks from now, I need to get schedules figured out and get in the routine of them. There isn't much room for error. I will either be home without a car for 12 hours or have the car and be an hour away all day. I admit, my life is daunting enough right now. Adding that makes me exhausted and yes, makes me cry. On top of it, Dave will be gone many more hours, so will be able to help me out with the house and yard much less. We already don't have enough hours in the day!!!

I know, have faith. I do. I know it will work out. It's just a mountain that I have to tackle, something to pray about, and motivation for me to get in gear and MOVE.

Look at the bright side. At least I have 9 months to get my house packed up for yet another HOUSE move.

Until next time, 1 stroke at a time. You know, if I just keep swimming I will eventually get to the edge, right?