Home Notebook

My notebook is a big help when it comes to running my home. I have been asked by a few people if they could have a look at it to see how I fit so much into my day. So here is a glimpse into my handy little notebook.

I made it pretty - after all I look at it every day. Currently it consists of 7 sections:

1. Calendars & Agendas: This includes my weekly calendar with tasks for each day, a yearly calendar with goals to be accomplished through out the year, and my daily and weekly routines.

2. Devotions and Book Notes: Where I right down passages and quotes that speak to me. I keep a list of people to be praying for here.

3. Menus and Grocery Needs: I keep a seasonal menu to put together my weekly menu. I got this idea from here. There is also a food inventory, I shop my house before I go to the store. When I do need something I jot it down on my grocery list also located in this section.

4. Recipes: I print from the Internet so I have quick access to them.

5. Housework: Tips for ways to keep my home clean found here (also where a lot of my notebook pages came from. The rest came from here).

6. Hospitality: Ideas for things I can to do to bless others. For example sending cards to friends, baking for neighbors, inviting people over for meals. I also keep verses that are encouraging to include in my notes.

7. Homemade and Crafting Projects: This is print outs of projects in progress and a list a to-do list of things I hope to make. Currently for my baby nieces and nephews :)

In regards to my schedule and routine I was asked, "What happens if something comes up?"

To that my response is that the notebook is a tool that helps me make the best use of my time and resources for the glory of the Lord. If something comes up it is okay. I don't want to be a slave to my schedule but a servant of the Lord. The whole purpose is to help me best serve my husband, children, and to be able to use my resources to help others. Hope this answers some questions.

Be Loving to Your Children on Purpose

When your children wake and see you for the first time greet them with a smile, a hug, a kiss and a word of encouragement.

Make eye contact with them when they speak to you and smile.

When they misbehave correct them and then let it go. Go back to being loving and happy.

Be firm without yelling.

Be silly with them and make them laugh.

Play with them - what they want to play! - and have fun doing it.

Give them gentle and affectionate touch through out the day.

Let your smile be the last thing they see at night and your kind words the last thing they hear.

*** We all love our children, but making an effort to let them know in a way they can understand makes all the difference in their little hearts ***

"...we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children." 1 Thessalonians 2:7

Caramel Cupcakes

This is my own *secret* recipe ;). I'm not going to share, but I did want to let you see just what a talented baker I have become.

Beer Batter Bread

3 c unbleached all-purpose flour

2 T firmly packed brown sugar

1 T baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 bottle beer, unopened and at room temperature

4 T melted butter

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

In a bowl stir together dry ingredients.

Open beer and add it to bowl all at once, it will fizz.

Stir quickly until combined, it will be lumpy

Pour into greased loaf pan and drizzle with melted butter

Bake 30-40 mins until top is crusty and tester comes out of center clean.

Let rest 5 minutes and then turn onto cooling rack.

Serve same day.

Cut into thick slices and accompany with plenty of butter.

Recipe from Williams-Sonoma

Fresh Wheat Flour

I am so stoked! The mill I purchased (from a friend whose children can no longer have wheat) came today!!! What beautiful flour it made! Thanks again Ember!

Recipes

Breakfast/Lunch:

Quick Quiche

Turkey Focaccia w/ Cranberry Mayo

Main Dishes:

Chicken Nuggets

Fantastic Chili

Super Simple Chicken and Dumplings

Side Dishes:

Cilantro Potato Salad

Desserts/Treats:

Bakery Style Chocolate Chip Cookies

Banana Carrot Muffins w/ Streusel Topping

Bananas Foster Apple DipCaramel Apples

Hot Cocoa

Quick Oatmeal Cookies

Vanilla Bean Biscotti

Snacks:

Pita Chips

Vanilla Yogurt

Granola

Breads:

Baguettes

Beer Batter Bread

Fluffy Wheat Sandwich Bread
Homesteader Corn Bread

Pizza Dough

Sauces/Soups/Seasonings:

Best EVER! Pizza Sauce

Taco Seasoning

Teriyaki Sauce

***I would just like to put in a disclaimer that I am not trying to take credit for any of these recipes! They are just ones my family enjoys and that I use often ***

Baguettes

2 c warm water

5 c bread flour

2 T sugar

2 tsp salt

3 tsp quick rise yeast

2 egg yolks

2 T water

Directions:

Place warm water, flour, sugar, salt, and yeast in bread machine on dough cycle.

After complete turn out onto lightly floured surface. Punch down and divide in half.

Roll out one half into 16x12" rectangle. Cut down the middle so you have two 8x12" rectangles.

Beginning on the 12" roll up the dough, make sure to eliminate any air bubbles. Pinch off ends.

Repeat with other half of remaining dough.

Place rolls on lightly greased baking sheets about 2" apart.

Make deep diagonal slashes every 2"

Cover and let rise in warm place for about 40 mins (or until doubled).

Mix egg yolks and water and brush generously across tops of rolls.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees and bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown.

***

These freeze well. I recommend storing in a plastic bread bag to keep fresh.

Super Simple Chicken and Dumplings

This is L's all time favorite dish!! Grandma made it for him and he LOVED it so I had to learn how to make it. This is what I've come up with and it is pretty "tasty" according to L.

1 lb cooked chicken breast shredded or bite size

2 cans cream of celery soup

3 c chicken broth

1 can refrigerated biscuit dough

salt and pepper

onion powder (my kids don't like onions or I'd just use them)

1/2 cup shredded carrots

1/2 cup frozen peas

Place chicken breasts (you could use thigh meat, but I don't like to), cream of celery, carrots, and chicken broth in a large pot and bring to a boil. Add salt, pepper, and onion powder to taste.

Tear biscuit dough into bite size pieces and drop into pot. Stir, return to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 8-10 minutes or until biscuit dough is cooked through. About 2 minutes before done add in frozen peas.

That's it! :) Quick and Easy

Photo Credit

Banana Carrot Muffins with Streusel Topping

Streusel Topping:

1/4 c all purpose flour

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 c packed light brown sugar

2 T unsalted butter cut into small pieces

Directions:

Place all ingredients in a bowl and press with fork until they resemble "crumbs". I use my fingers to pinch the ingredients together. I think it works faster than the fork.

Banana Carrot Muffins:

3 c all purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

2 c white sugar

1 c vegetable oil

3 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

4 ripe mashed bananas

1 cup finely grated carrots (I use a micro planer to grate them)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees

Sift together, flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

In large bowl beat sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla. Stir in bananas and carrots.

Add dry ingredients but only until all ingredients are wet - don't over mix.

Place liners in muffin cups, lightly grease top of muffin pan to prevent the tops from sticking. Fill each cup to top.

Sprinkle streusel topping on each muffin. Should make approx. 20 muffins

Place in oven and bake for 25 minutes or until tooth pick comes out of center clean

The Word of God

"It teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope - the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ," Titus 2:12-13

"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in humility that comes from wisdom" James 3:13

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." James 1:5

"Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins." James 4:17

Quick Quiche - Repost

This is a great brunch/breakfast for entertaining. It is fast to prep and oh so good.

Quick Quiche
4 eggs
1 cup half and half
½ cup real mayonnaise
2 tablespoons flour
1/3 cup minced onions
Salt and garlic powder
8 oz shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 package frozen chopped spinach
1 (9 inch) unbaked (frozen) pie shell
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Hand whip eggs, half and half, mayonnaise, and flour in a medium mixing bowl. Add remaining ingredients. Pour into an unbaked 9-inch, deep pie crust. Bake 45 minutes to 1 hour or until the top is golden brown. (I put mine on a cookie sheet to prevent a mess in case something spills)
It takes no time to make and just a bit to cook, but it is worth the wait. Happy Cooking!

Deliberate Moments in Motherhood

Mothers wear more hats than Minnie Pearl. A friend recently called and described the feeling of “wearing 10 hats while riding a unicycle”. Yep, we’re all nodding heads.

Which is why deliberate mothering is so important. Deliberate mothering involves, to me, those seemingly smaller things, that are actually the bigger things, that can get so easily crowded out in a busy day.

Things like lingering eye contact, both during instruction and to express deep fondness. Taking time to cuddle small children–and big ones, read to them or just enjoy child-talk.

Taking walks, talking of God’s greatness, His provision for daily bread, His new morning-mercy, and His deep love for us–small moments of greatness.

Deliberate mothering is remembering to teach eager little hands how to crack an egg, and not get too upset when they drop it on the floor…because that moment holds an even bigger “deliberate opportunity”. (I write it…but I’m still aspiring to live it.)

A word of friendship, a word of inspiration (“I love that part of who you are”), small moments each day that weave together a strong, beautiful tapestry of who our children will become.

I will interject a word of warning here: the opposite it also true. If the bulk of their days is spent receiving insult and injury, either by a parent or by peers who seem to default to “survival of the fittest”, so much is lost and so much of that tapestry is left thread-bare.

Gigantic days are made up of small, deliberate moments. Let’s make them.

By: Kelly at Generation Cedar

You might also want to check out his post on Angel's Blog :)

Decorating Eggs

Daddy, we missed you on Easter. This is us decorating our eggs. We had so much fun! Love you and see you in a few days for a visit! Hugs and kisses.

"and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord. Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name." Romans 1:4-5 NLT

Hope everyone had a blessed Resurrection Day!

Starting our Garden

I'll admit it, I have no idea what I'm doing. Gardening is something I failed miserably at when I last attempted, but this time I've done some homework. Hopefully it pays off. Here are the kids planting Oregano, Lemon Basil, and Cilantro. We shall see how this goes, regardless of our success planting was lots of fun!

I think he liked it... but I'm not sure ;)

Yummy Homemade Yogurt

Store bought yogurts are expensive. They contain chemicals for stabilization and many times artificial flavorings. They are harder to digest and lose many of the beneficial bacteria that help the digestive system and kill harmful viruses. It does take some planning, but the prep time before putting in the oven only takes approximately 15-20 mins. Making my own yogurt saves money, is more healthful, reduces waste (eliminates plastic containers from store bought yogurts) and is super easy and yummy.

1/2 gallon milk
2 cups instant dry milk powder
1 cup sugar (or your choice of sweetener)
1 Tablespoon vanilla
8 oz. plain yogurt with active cultures (first batch after that save some of your own)
Kitchen Thermometer
Large pot
**Makes 1/2 gallon

Pour milk and dry milk into pot and stir well.

Heat milk to 180 degrees, stir frequently to avoid burning bottom .

Fill sink with ice and water and place pot inside sink. Add sugar and stir well. Cool down to 110-115 degrees. Add vanilla. Add yogurt and stir well.

Place storage jars on cookie sheet.

Ladle into containers - I use mason jars. They make a nice seal and look pretty.

Heat oven to 110-115 and turn off. Turn on oven light. Place yogurt in oven on upper rack and check oven periodically to make sure it stays between 110-115.

It takes 4-6 hours for the yogurt to set up, but you can let it incubate for up to 12depending on how tart you like it and how much beneficial bacteria you wish it to have.

Be sure to save a batch for the next time you need to make it and use that as your starter yogurt.

If plain vanilla isn't your favorite just add flavors to individual servings. We like to stir in granola and fruits.