I Took the Hand and Followed

My dishes went unwashed today
I didn't make my bed.
I took the little hand and followed
Where eager footsteps led.

Oh yes, we went adventuring
My little child and I,
Exploring all the great outdoors
Beneath the sun and sky.

We watched a robin feed her young
We climbed a sunlit hill
Saw white clouds scamper through the sky
We plucked a daffodil.

That my house was so neglected
That I didn't sweep the stairs
In twenty years no one on earth
Will know or really care.

But that I've helped my little child
To adulthood grow
In twenty years the whole wide world
May look, and see, and know.

Author Unknown

I found this little poem and I had to post it. It's the story of my life! So often I feel the overwhelming guilt of a messy house, but when I stop to think about how fast time is flying by I know that time is well spent with my baby. Every single second counts because someday I won't have these precious moments. It makes me tear up to even think about it. Every stage in life is beautiful and fleeting. I am trying to take full advantage of this chapter, the best one of all. Being a mother is the best thing that has ever happened to me!

Experimenting with Agave

You can probably gather from the name of this website that I am very excited about agave. It seems too good to be true; even sweeter than sugar, but so much healthier! I am no agave expert... I am in the experimental stages. But through trial and error I am learning. So far I have had great luck with 2 trials and no error. Here are the two recipes I have put together in the past few days with RAVE review from the hubby.

Balsamic Vinagrette:
3 TBLS Extra Virgin Olive Oil
3 TBLS Balsamic Vinegar
3 TBLS Agave Nectar

Mix well and serve chilled.

That's it!! It was SO yummy. I think it would be good with minced garlic and cracked pepper as well.

Agave Banana Bread:
1/2 cup melted butter
2/3 cup agave nectar

Mix well. Then add:

1 tsp Mexican Vanilla (or regular, but Mexican is SO much better!)
2 eggs

Mix together. In a separate bowl, combine:

1 1/2 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

Combine dry ingredients with wet. Then fold in:

1/2 cup sour cream
2 medium ripened bananas

Bake in a 9x5 greased pan at 350 (or use convec at 325) Bake for 60 minutes or until a fork comes out clean. Sprinkle with powder sugar.

This recipe usually calls for 1 cup of sugar. It has always been moist, but it was even BETTER with the agave! It was moister (is that a word?) and so delicious.

If you have other agave recipes, please leave them in the comments section and I will post them! ENJOY....

Beautiful Agave

Welcome to Beautiful Agave! I will be posting uplifting quotes and helpful tips. Inspiring thoughts about healthy living, decorating, fashion, motherhood, sisterhood, cooking, baking, gardening, and anything to enrich the lives of women. My hope is that this blog will uplift and enlighten. I want to push myself to live better, therefore this blog is more for me than anyone else, but I am hoping you will find inspiration as you read. Please leave your comments and ideas, and come back often!