T is for Thankful

I have so much to be thankful for.  The other day I was struggling in my mind with some current trials in my life.  The Lord put it on my heart to start thanking Him for the things that I am thankful for.  Wow!  Giving thanks to the Lord for the many blessings in my life really changed my whole attitude.  It took my eyes off of me and back on to him, where they belong.

Recently, my washing machine stopped draining.  I am not sure about you, but having mounds of laundry and not being able to wash them can put a damper on my week pretty fast.  Thankfully, we managed to survive, in other words no one ran out of clean undies.  Although my littlest almost did, but that is another story about not giving your 4 year brother a whole bowl full of prunes. {smile}

Anyhow, I pushed the laundry aside until my husband was able to take a look at the washer.  I am so thankful that it was quick and easy fix and we were able to be back in business with our laundry.

At the same time that washer went on strike, we found out that our furnace was not working properly.  To be more accurate it started emitting unsafe amounts of carbon monoxide into our home, which was totally unknown to us.  It was not at lethal levels,praise the Lord, but if it continued to go undetected it could have been.  The furnace had to be shut off.  In the month of January! 

We have an infrared heater that we were able to use, and the company that was working with us loaned us several heaters of theirs.  It was a challenge to use the heaters because they keep blowing our breakers.  We had to spread them out on our main level to not over load the breakers as much.  Even though we had some heat it was still pretty cold in here since the heaters were so spread out.  

During this time of not having our home as warm and cozy as usually, I was getting a little fussy.  The Lord brought to my mind the a group of homeless men and women that my church had been ministering to that week.  I suddenly became very thankful.  Thankful that I did have a home, and walls to keep the cold out. 

After about two weeks of having the heat turned off, to our amazement, the Lord blessed us with a whole new heating and cooling system.  I am also thankful to have heat again.

Psalm 100:4
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

 

 

Tasty Tuesday - Slow Cooker Swiss Steak {Recipe}

While I do have several tried and true recipes that have become family favorites, I still love to try new recipes.  Don't you?? 

Sometimes when life is crazy and busy it is much easier for me to just stick to what I know.  While I do plan on doing that, to some degree, I am also looking for new recipes.  My goal is to try at least one new recipe a week.  The recipes that I am leaning towards are family friendly, fast and frugal. 

We have tried several new recipes lately that have gone into our favorites box.  The Honey Mustard and Bacon Smothered Chicken is definitely my new favorite, well one of them anyway. 

Have you ever had Swiss Steak before?  When I told a friend of mine, the same friend that I got that awesome meatloaf recipe from, she said her mom used to make that all the time.  I told her I could not believe she had not given me this recipe before!

I made Swiss Steak last week, by accident really.  I had set out to make Beef Stew, but realized I didn't have any potatoes.  Beings that there was snow on the ground, it was cold and I was to lazy to run to the store I improvised.  I grabbed my trusty crock pot cook book and set out on a mission.  I came across Swiss Steak and the rest is history.  The WHOLE family loved it, SCORE!

Slow Cooker Swiss Steak
Serves 6

1 cup of chopped onions
1/2 cup of chopped celery
2lbs. 1/2 inch think round steak (I used 1lb. of stew meat and 1lb. of venison -that is what I had on hand)
1/4 cup flour
3 Tsp. oil
1 tsp. salt
1/4 pepper
16 oz can of diced tomatoes


1.) Place onions and celery in the bottom of your slow cooker.
2.) Cut steak into serving size pieces.  Dredge in 1/4 cup of flour.  Brown on both sides in oil.  Add to slow cooker.
3.) Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
4.) Cover and cook on low for 9 hours (I cheated and cooked mine for 5 hrs on High).

I served this over brown rice, one because brown rice is good for you {smile,} and two because it helps to stretch a meal.  It would also be delicious over noodles or mashed potatoes. 

Have you tried any new family friendly, frugal recipes lately?

           

Honey Mustard and Bacon Smothered Chicken

Last week when I gave you all that Easy Cheesy Kielbasa and Beans recipe, I mentioned that we had another new family favorite.  Here it is.... Honey Mustard and Bacon Smothered Chicken!  Doesn't the name of the recipe alone just make your mouth start to water?!!!

When I saw this recipe it reminded me of my favorite Outback dish, Alice Springs Chicken.  This recipe doesn't call for mushrooms (like the one at Outback), but adding them makes this dish really close to the $15 entree that they sell.

This recipe is very simple and quick.  Once you try it you will agree that it is definitely a keeper!

photo source

Ingredients

• 4 (6-oz.) skinned and boned chicken breasts 
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup honey-mustard dressing (I used the Hot & Sweet Mustard from Trader Joe's mixed with a little bit of honey)
• 8 fully cooked bacon slices
• 1/4 cup (1 oz.) shredded Mexican four-cheese blend 
• sauteed mushrooms (optional)

1. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper.

2. Melt butter with oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat; add chicken, and cook 8 minutes on each side or until done. Reduce heat to medium-low; brush chicken with honey-mustard dressing. If you are adding the sauteed mushrooms, add them on top of each chicken breast. Top each chicken breast with 2 bacon slices, and sprinkle with cheese. Cover and cook 2 minutes or until cheese melts.

Great served over brown rice with asparagus or green beans as a side.  ENJOY!

Menu Planning Monday 1/21/13

Breakfasts

• Cereal & Bananas (2x)
• Egg & Cheese Wraps, Toast & Oranges
• Baked Oatmeal & Apple Slices
• Waffles & Strawberries
• Maple & Brown Sugar Oatmeal
• Blueberry Muffins & Yogurt

Lunches

• Left overs
• Nuggets & Sweet Potato Fries
• Cheese Quesadillas, Salsa & Sour Cream
• Egg Salad Sandwiches, Fruit & Chips
• PB&J's, Fruit & Chips
• Hot Dogs, Tater Tots & Carrots
• Hot Ham & Cheese Sandwiches, Fruit and Celery Sticks

Dinners

• Spaghetti, Homemade Bread & Salad - Did I mention I am making homemade bread now?  More about this later.
• BBQ Chicken (this never got made last week), Squash & Brown Rice
• Beef Stew
• Slow Cooker Tamale Pie, Green Beans
• Country Quiche & Fresh Fruit
• Chicken Fahittas (Crockpot), Black Beans & Rice
• Homemade White Castle Sliders, Potato Wedges & Broccoli 

                                                                                                                                           

Down at the Cross

by Elisha Hoffman


Down at the cross where my Savior died,
Down where for cleansing from sin I cried,
There to my heart was the blood applied;
Glory to His name!

Refrain

Glory to His name, glory to His name:
There to my heart was the blood applied;
Glory to His name!

 

I am so wondrously saved from sin,
Jesus so sweetly abides within;
There at the cross where He took me in;
Glory to His name!

Refrain

 

Oh, precious fountain that saves from sin,
I am so glad I have entered in;
There Jesus saves me and keeps me clean;
Glory to His name!

Refrain

 

Come to this fountain so rich and sweet,
Cast thy poor soul at the Savior’s feet;
Plunge in today, and be made complete;
Glory to His name!

Refrain

Easy Cheesy Kielbasa and Beans

I few weeks back, while I was searching for a specific cookbook, I came across one that I had forgotten about.  I decided to pull it from my shelf, dust it off and take a peak.  While there are a lot of recipes in this book that looked great for some reason I had not yet tried them.  Until now.
 
So far, we have 2 new FAMILY favorites! Plus several more on my list to try out.

This one that I am going to share with you is delicious, even the Hubster said it was a new family favorite! It is very hearty and fits quite nicely into the comfort foods category.

Ingredients  

Makes about 20 cups

• 1 lb ground chuck
• 1 green bell pepper (diced)
• 1 onion (chopped)
• 1 lb sausage (the recipe calls for thinly sliced kielbasa, but I used cooked Italian sausage)
• 2 (10 oz) cans tomato soup (undiluted)
• 2 (10 oz) cans diced tomatoes (undrained)
• 1 (10 oz) can tomatoes and green chiles (undrained)
• 4 (16 oz) cans pinto beans (undrained)
• 4 (15 oz ) cans pork and beans (undrained)
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1. Cook first 3 ingredients in a stockpot over medium-high heat, stirring until meat crumbles and is no longer pink. Remove from pot, and drain.
2. Brown sausage in stockpot; drain and return to pot. Add ground chuck mixture, tomato soup, and next 6 ingredients.
3. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 30 minutes. Stir in cheese.  Enjoy!

I served this over rice.  The rice went really well with it and also helped to stretch this into 2 meals.  

NOTE: To prepare in a slow cooker, brown ground chuck and sausage as directed. Place ground chuck mixture, sausage, and next 7 ingredients in a 5-quart slow cooker. Cook, covered, at LOW 8 to 10 hours. Stir in cheese just before serving.

Have you all found any new family favorites lately? 

Menu Plan Monday 1/14/13

Back by popular demand, Menu Plan Monday! {smile}

Here's what I am planning on serving this week:

Breakfasts
Cereal & Bananas (2x)
Eggs, Toast & Oranges
Baked Oatmeal & Apple Slices
Waffles & Berries
Maple & Brown Sugar Oatmeal
Egg & Cheese Wraps

Lunches
Left overs
Nuggets & Sweet Potato Fries
Cheese Quesadillas, Salsa & Sour Cream
Egg Salad Sandwiches, Fruit & Chips
PB&J's, Fruit & Chips
Hot Dogs, Mac & Cheese, Carrots
Hot Ham & Cheese Sandwiches, Ants on a Log (celery, cream cheese, raisins)

Dinners
BLT's, Tomato Soup, Broccoli
Tacos, Corn
Cowboy BBQ (recipe coming soon)
Potato Soup, Homemade Bread
Homemade Pizza - I am letting the kids made their own mini pizzas.
Easy Cheesy Kielbasa and Beans (look out for the recipe for this new family favorite on Wednesday!)
Breakfast Night - I am either going to do a Quiche or Pancakes and Eggs

Snacks
Yogurt
Apples & Peanut Butter
Ants on a Log
Playgroup Granola
Popcorn
Homemade Trail Mix

Showers of Blessing

This beautiful and encouraging hymn was written by Daniel Whittle in 1883. 

This song was inspired by Ezekiel 34:26: And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing.

There shall be showers of blessing:

This is the promise of love;

There shall be seasons refreshing,

Sent from the Savior above.

Refrain

Showers of blessing,

Showers of blessing we need:

Mercy drops round us are falling,

But for the showers we plead.

 

There shall be showers of blessing,

Precious reviving again;

Over the hills and the valleys,

Sound of abundance of rain.

Refrain

 

There shall be showers of blessing;

Send them upon us, O Lord;

Grant to us now a refreshing,

Come, and now honor Thy Word.

Refrain

 

There shall be showers of blessing:

Oh, that today they might fall,

Now as to God we’re confessing,

Now as on Jesus we call!

Refrain

 

There shall be showers of blessing,

If we but trust and obey;

There shall be seasons refreshing,

If we let God have His way.

Refrain

A Fresh Start in the New Year

As the new year starts I have several things on my heart that I want to focus more on. Here they are, not in any particular order

1) This is one is actually the most important thing so I will list it first. I want to purpose to be in the Word every single day this year. No matter what is going on or how I am feeling or how busy I am. Even if it is just a chapter or just a few verses. Lately, being busy has caused me to neglect to be faithful in the Word. I am choosing to be more of a Mary and less of a Martha this year (Luke 38-42).

2) I am also going to purpose to eat better. I used to eat much healthier then I do now and I had dropped a good bit of weight when I did. Once I got pregnant with number 4 I fell off the wagon into the dark abyss of junk food. I have some health issues and really know better than to be eating just whatever. I have been given the knowledge of what I should and should not be eating, I have just not been following it. So, I am adding juicing and salads back into my world.

3) Remember that part time job I had mentioned. Well, I decided it was not in my best interest to continue with it. This evening was actully my last shift. While the income was a blessing, the bigger goal for me is to get my child care license in place. I have learned over the last few months that Wonder Mom, I am not! There is a limit to what I can accomplish and retain my sanity, I had hit that limit. So for now, the goal is homeschool and getting the childcare going. I have completed 2 of the 4 classes I need so far. Plus I have several inspections to get through. It's a process, but my goal is to really focus on getting it going, hopefully by spring.

4) I also have been praying about my blog. I do love to blog. Doing reviews has been a lot of fun for us. I am hoping to get some things going soon, in addition to continuing with the TOS Crew. I would like to expand my blog beyond reviews. Still praying on this one.

5) A better routine. We do so much better when there is a set routine instead of just loose goosey. I know some mom's are great at "flying by the seat of their pants". I am not one of them. My kids and I do much better when there is an expected flow for the day. We don't run by a super strict 8:30 we do this and 9:00 we do that, but having structure is extremely helpful for us.
I came up with a new routine for our school days. We hae been uing it almost a week now, and so far so good, although it may need a little tweaking as we go on.

The new year is a wonderful time to start fresh. How about you, do you have any new plans or goals this year?