Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Thursday, April 17, 2008
I'm addicted to Blogahol...
That’s right, I’m a blogaholic! I’m also a big nerd. What you Angelina? NO! Yes it is true and this why. So like I have maybe 4 people who ever comment on my blogs, so that is 4 (myspace) readers that I know of. That’s alright, I do not really blog for a following, but to share what I find exciting! Which may seem unexciting since it is taking care of my kids and my home. I just wanted to share why this excites me and why I blog about it.
If you have known me for any amount of time and have been to my home prior to the beginning of this year you know that I was a TERRIBLE housekeeper. I remember for Landon’s first birthday my mom flew in for a visit and surprised me. My friend Andrea picked her up from the airport and brought her over. Andrea said she thought about calling to give me a chance to tidy up, but didn’t want to ruin the surprise. When she got to my house it was beyond scary!!! I AM SO SERIOUS! I CAN STILL PICTURE IT AND HOW EMBARRASSED I WAS. Here was my mom, the one who kept such a tidy home and really encouraged me (and forced me at times) to clean up, and she saw how I forced my family to really live. In filth. First let me say, I was sleeping in the middle of the day when she arrived. There were T.V. trays out with the dinner still on them from the night before. Laundry was all over the living room floor and all over the rest of the house. Dirty diapers were laying everywhere that I changed Landon. Toys were all over, the floor had not been swept or mopped in weeks (maybe months). Dishes were in the sink and covering the kitchen counter. None of the beds were made. The bathroom was filthy.. need I go on? I know you are thinking.. yuck! What a disgusting person, who would make her family live like that? Why was her house so messy, she had one kid and no job? I do not have the answers for you other than; I was being a horrible steward of what God had given me.
I tried to blame my husband for as much of the mess as I could, believing HE WAS LAZY and didn’t help me. Was it Jeff’s fault, certainly not. It was all mine. My same friend, Andrea, was a great homemaker. Her house was decorated beautifully and always clean. She would invite us over on the spot and we would walk into her clean and welcoming home. She would make us dinner and made entertaining us seem effortless and made us feel like welcomed family. I envied that but had no idea how to achieve it. I made up excuses for everything. Sometimes I would spend hours on the phone complaining about it. Ha ha.. instead of cleaning up!
Alright, so fast forward to about 18 months ago. Still a sick housekeeper, but not AS bad as before. I could have the house company ready in a matter of hours instead of days, but did all of my work grudgingly and looked at the rest of my family as mess makers and things that stood in the way of completing my domestic duties. (Yes this was my attitude and I was a Christain!) So then I started reading my friend Angel’s blog (check her out if you haven’t). She made homemaking seem like fun! It was her passion. Not just keeping her home, but serving and loving her husband and children. She sparked my interest and at first I thought she was bit nutty and radical! Who puts their husband first like that, who homeschools their kids, and cooks and cleans and loves it all!?! I had never met a woman like that. So I started asking questions, but still no changes… more scoffing on my end I think. I felt like, no normal person is like this!
Then God opened my eyes! That was how the foundations had been laid. Mom, Andrea, Angel. So as I realized I needed a change, I was encouraged to read A WOMAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART. It changed me. And since then my new focus has become my passion. I plan to post a follow up blog on this. Just wanted to share, I don’t want to seem like I am trying to say that I have it all together, just that I am learning and loving every minute of it.
If you have known me for any amount of time and have been to my home prior to the beginning of this year you know that I was a TERRIBLE housekeeper. I remember for Landon’s first birthday my mom flew in for a visit and surprised me. My friend Andrea picked her up from the airport and brought her over. Andrea said she thought about calling to give me a chance to tidy up, but didn’t want to ruin the surprise. When she got to my house it was beyond scary!!! I AM SO SERIOUS! I CAN STILL PICTURE IT AND HOW EMBARRASSED I WAS. Here was my mom, the one who kept such a tidy home and really encouraged me (and forced me at times) to clean up, and she saw how I forced my family to really live. In filth. First let me say, I was sleeping in the middle of the day when she arrived. There were T.V. trays out with the dinner still on them from the night before. Laundry was all over the living room floor and all over the rest of the house. Dirty diapers were laying everywhere that I changed Landon. Toys were all over, the floor had not been swept or mopped in weeks (maybe months). Dishes were in the sink and covering the kitchen counter. None of the beds were made. The bathroom was filthy.. need I go on? I know you are thinking.. yuck! What a disgusting person, who would make her family live like that? Why was her house so messy, she had one kid and no job? I do not have the answers for you other than; I was being a horrible steward of what God had given me.
I tried to blame my husband for as much of the mess as I could, believing HE WAS LAZY and didn’t help me. Was it Jeff’s fault, certainly not. It was all mine. My same friend, Andrea, was a great homemaker. Her house was decorated beautifully and always clean. She would invite us over on the spot and we would walk into her clean and welcoming home. She would make us dinner and made entertaining us seem effortless and made us feel like welcomed family. I envied that but had no idea how to achieve it. I made up excuses for everything. Sometimes I would spend hours on the phone complaining about it. Ha ha.. instead of cleaning up!
Alright, so fast forward to about 18 months ago. Still a sick housekeeper, but not AS bad as before. I could have the house company ready in a matter of hours instead of days, but did all of my work grudgingly and looked at the rest of my family as mess makers and things that stood in the way of completing my domestic duties. (Yes this was my attitude and I was a Christain!) So then I started reading my friend Angel’s blog (check her out if you haven’t). She made homemaking seem like fun! It was her passion. Not just keeping her home, but serving and loving her husband and children. She sparked my interest and at first I thought she was bit nutty and radical! Who puts their husband first like that, who homeschools their kids, and cooks and cleans and loves it all!?! I had never met a woman like that. So I started asking questions, but still no changes… more scoffing on my end I think. I felt like, no normal person is like this!
Then God opened my eyes! That was how the foundations had been laid. Mom, Andrea, Angel. So as I realized I needed a change, I was encouraged to read A WOMAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART. It changed me. And since then my new focus has become my passion. I plan to post a follow up blog on this. Just wanted to share, I don’t want to seem like I am trying to say that I have it all together, just that I am learning and loving every minute of it.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Share Your Bread Recipes
I just got a bread maker – as I have mentioned. I love it. So now I am making homemade bread all the time in place of store bought sandwich bread. My bread maker’s recipe for wheat bread was too dense and wheaty, if you know what I mean. So I modified it and wanted to share. This makes a 2lb loaf of wheat bread that tastes like honey wheat store bought bread.
1 2/3 cups water (75-85 degrees F)
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2 teaspoons salt
2 1/3 cups wheat flour
2 1/3 cups bread flour
3 teaspoons bread machine yeast (just quick rise yeast)
Add ingredients in order listed. Make small indent in flour and add yeast. Do not let yeast come in contact with liquid ingredients. Bake on 2lb wheat bread setting in your machine.
If you have a bread machine recipe that you love, please share. I also have a delicious French bread recipe, but I am sure it is probably a fairly common one.
1 2/3 cups water (75-85 degrees F)
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2 teaspoons salt
2 1/3 cups wheat flour
2 1/3 cups bread flour
3 teaspoons bread machine yeast (just quick rise yeast)
Add ingredients in order listed. Make small indent in flour and add yeast. Do not let yeast come in contact with liquid ingredients. Bake on 2lb wheat bread setting in your machine.
If you have a bread machine recipe that you love, please share. I also have a delicious French bread recipe, but I am sure it is probably a fairly common one.
Happy Cooking
“She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family…”
Proverbs 31: 15(a)
Well, I won’t lie and say that I wake while it is still dark, especially in the summers here, that would be VERY early. But I have been waking up and preparing healthy and filling meals for my family every morning. Again, this is all part of my desire to serve the Lord by serving my family. I am not into organic foods or totally eradicating all junk food (although we don’t purchase any – we may find ourselves eating out more than we like), I just want my family to eat healthily. I have found that menu planning all 3 meals a day has given me a purpose in my kitchen. Each week I make a menu that includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
This is what my menu looks like for this week
Monday:
B) Homemade quiche
L) Grilled cheese sandwiches
D) Chili and Cornbread
Tuesday:
B) Cereal (We have church these mornings and it is too hectic to cook)
L) Peanut butter and honey sandwiches
D) Brats and baked beans
Wednesday
B) Old Fashioned Oatmeal
L) Deli Style Sandwiches
D) Cheeseburgers and potatoes
Thursday
B) Breakfast Casserole
L) Hot ham and cheese sandwiches
D) Pork Chops and Broccoli
Friday
B) French Toast and Sausage
L) Deli Style Sandwiches
D) Mushroom Chicken and Corn on the Cob
Saturday
B) Old Fashioned Oatmeal
L) Peanut butter and honey sandwiches
D) Leftovers (I have a dinner to attend for some friends so won’t be home to cook)
Sunday
B) Pancakes and Sausage (Jeff cooks breakfast on Sundays)
L) Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
D) Pot Roast and Mashed Potatoes
Having the menu for a week or two in advance saves money and manages my time.
Okay and the entire point of this blog was to share a yummy recipe I found on the internet (I don’t remember where). 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!
she provides food for her family…”
Proverbs 31: 15(a)
Well, I won’t lie and say that I wake while it is still dark, especially in the summers here, that would be VERY early. But I have been waking up and preparing healthy and filling meals for my family every morning. Again, this is all part of my desire to serve the Lord by serving my family. I am not into organic foods or totally eradicating all junk food (although we don’t purchase any – we may find ourselves eating out more than we like), I just want my family to eat healthily. I have found that menu planning all 3 meals a day has given me a purpose in my kitchen. Each week I make a menu that includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
This is what my menu looks like for this week
Monday:
B) Homemade quiche
L) Grilled cheese sandwiches
D) Chili and Cornbread
Tuesday:
B) Cereal (We have church these mornings and it is too hectic to cook)
L) Peanut butter and honey sandwiches
D) Brats and baked beans
Wednesday
B) Old Fashioned Oatmeal
L) Deli Style Sandwiches
D) Cheeseburgers and potatoes
Thursday
B) Breakfast Casserole
L) Hot ham and cheese sandwiches
D) Pork Chops and Broccoli
Friday
B) French Toast and Sausage
L) Deli Style Sandwiches
D) Mushroom Chicken and Corn on the Cob
Saturday
B) Old Fashioned Oatmeal
L) Peanut butter and honey sandwiches
D) Leftovers (I have a dinner to attend for some friends so won’t be home to cook)
Sunday
B) Pancakes and Sausage (Jeff cooks breakfast on Sundays)
L) Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
D) Pot Roast and Mashed Potatoes
Having the menu for a week or two in advance saves money and manages my time.
Okay and the entire point of this blog was to share a yummy recipe I found on the internet (I don’t remember where). 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!
Friday, April 11, 2008
Want To Save Some Money?
I have spent a lot of time looking into simple changes that I could make around that house to save us a couple of bucks. I have found 3 that I wanted to share.
1. Make your own wipes!
½ Roll Bounty White Paper Towels
2 Cups Water
1 Tablespoon Baby Oil
2 Tablespoons Baby Shampoo/Wash
This is so easy and they really do work FABULOUS! First thing you will need is an airtight container that can hold ½ a roll of paper towels. Cut the roll of paper towels across the width. In your container pour the ingredients and stir until well blended. Place the paper towels in and close lid. Wait 10 -15 minutes and turn container upside down. Let absorb another 10 -15 minutes. They are done once all of the liquid is absorbed into the towels. Open your container and pull the cardboard roll out and tug the center towel out. Now your wipes will pull from the center to simplify use.
2. Make your own popcorn!
Popcorn is my favorite snack, and I have saved quite a bit of money making mine at home. It is fresh, yummy, and does not have all the junk that microwavable popcorn contains.
Kettle Corn
1/3 Cup Popcorn Kernels
2 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil
2 Tablespoons Sugar
1 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
(Not my pic, borrowed from a google search)
This recipe is delicious! Get out your big pot, the one you use for spaghetti and such. Place oil and 1 kernel of popcorn into your pot, cover and turn heat up to med-high heat. Once the kernel pops remove the lid and pour in your kernels. Leave the lid off and when the kernels are about to pop pour your sugar over the top. You will know because it will start to smell like popcorn and turn white. Immediately cover and gently shake. Once the popping slows and almost stops remove from heat. Immediately pour into a bowl and sprinkle the salt over the top, mix together well. This treat is yummy! And very fast, takes as much time as microwave popping. You will not want to go back.
3. Make your own cleaner!
Vinegar
Water
Baking Soda
So I posted about this earlier and said that once I tried out the recipes I would let you know what I liked the best.
Surface Cleaner:
In a spray bottle mix equal parts vinegar and water, THAT’S IT! If you have a spot that tough sprinkle baking soda on it, spray down and wipe off. It works for glass as well.
Toilets/Tubs:
I wet down the tub with water, shake in some baking soda. Then I soak a cloth in vinegar and scrub. Soap scum and grime come off almost effortlessly.
For the toilet I flush and sprinkle sides with 1 cup baking soda. I scrub with the brush and flush again. Then I pour in the vinegar and scrub and let it sit until the next use, or until I leave the bathroom. (Be careful to not pour in the baking soda and vinegar at the same time or you will have a mess)
*** A friend of mine suggests adding a couple of drops of essential oils to your cleaning solution to give a pleasant fragrance. I have not tried this yet, but I will get around to it. Also, if you are put off by the aroma of vinegar know that it disappears as soon as the area dries (almost immediately).
1. Make your own wipes!
½ Roll Bounty White Paper Towels
2 Cups Water
1 Tablespoon Baby Oil
2 Tablespoons Baby Shampoo/Wash
This is so easy and they really do work FABULOUS! First thing you will need is an airtight container that can hold ½ a roll of paper towels. Cut the roll of paper towels across the width. In your container pour the ingredients and stir until well blended. Place the paper towels in and close lid. Wait 10 -15 minutes and turn container upside down. Let absorb another 10 -15 minutes. They are done once all of the liquid is absorbed into the towels. Open your container and pull the cardboard roll out and tug the center towel out. Now your wipes will pull from the center to simplify use.
2. Make your own popcorn!
Popcorn is my favorite snack, and I have saved quite a bit of money making mine at home. It is fresh, yummy, and does not have all the junk that microwavable popcorn contains.
Kettle Corn
1/3 Cup Popcorn Kernels
2 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil
2 Tablespoons Sugar
1 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
(Not my pic, borrowed from a google search)
This recipe is delicious! Get out your big pot, the one you use for spaghetti and such. Place oil and 1 kernel of popcorn into your pot, cover and turn heat up to med-high heat. Once the kernel pops remove the lid and pour in your kernels. Leave the lid off and when the kernels are about to pop pour your sugar over the top. You will know because it will start to smell like popcorn and turn white. Immediately cover and gently shake. Once the popping slows and almost stops remove from heat. Immediately pour into a bowl and sprinkle the salt over the top, mix together well. This treat is yummy! And very fast, takes as much time as microwave popping. You will not want to go back.
3. Make your own cleaner!
Vinegar
Water
Baking Soda
So I posted about this earlier and said that once I tried out the recipes I would let you know what I liked the best.
Surface Cleaner:
In a spray bottle mix equal parts vinegar and water, THAT’S IT! If you have a spot that tough sprinkle baking soda on it, spray down and wipe off. It works for glass as well.
Toilets/Tubs:
I wet down the tub with water, shake in some baking soda. Then I soak a cloth in vinegar and scrub. Soap scum and grime come off almost effortlessly.
For the toilet I flush and sprinkle sides with 1 cup baking soda. I scrub with the brush and flush again. Then I pour in the vinegar and scrub and let it sit until the next use, or until I leave the bathroom. (Be careful to not pour in the baking soda and vinegar at the same time or you will have a mess)
*** A friend of mine suggests adding a couple of drops of essential oils to your cleaning solution to give a pleasant fragrance. I have not tried this yet, but I will get around to it. Also, if you are put off by the aroma of vinegar know that it disappears as soon as the area dries (almost immediately).
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