Make Wise Decisions

Chicken Vegetable Noodle Soup

2009-03-18T10:55:00.002-04:00

Blog, schmog. I wish I had more time for my computer. I have such funny stories to share and I am behind on reading my favorite sites. Of course, the internet will be here when my children are grown, so I will try to stay focused on the right things. :-)

I love this soup. It is so simple and easy, as well as yummy and nutritious. It's also light enough for spring and summer weather! I found the original recipe on www.nickjr.com, but I've adapted it to add more vegetables and whole wheat noodles. I decided to try the soup because I have trouble getting Hope and Elizabeth to eat vegetables. I thought if Elizabeth helped me make Dora's recipe, she would be eager to try it.

Her response: I want to help make it, but I'm not going to eat it. Okay?

Meal times present something of a battle these days. Regardless, the soup is really good!

Chicken Vegetable Noodle Soup

1 cup small noodles ( I like whole wheat macaroni. It’s easier for the little ones to eat.)
1 tsp olive oil
2-3 carrots, peeled and cut into bite-sized pieces
1-2 small onions
2 ribs celery
Frozen green beans (as much as you like… I used about half of a 16 oz bag.)
1 box low-sodium chicken broth (more broth or water, if desired)
1-2 tsp Mrs. Dash seasoning (or ½ - 1 tsp thyme…or your favorite seasoning)
2 cups shredded, cooked chicken (use leftover!)
salt and pepper to taste

Heat the oil in a stock pot. Add the carrots, onion, and celery. Stir occasionally, cooking until just tender. Add the broth, green beans, and seasoning. Bring to a boil and simmer for ten minutes. While the soup simmers, cook the pasta.

Add the noodles and chicken and return to a boil. Adjust seasoning. Ladle into bowls and serve. Yummy!

As with most soups, amounts can be adjusted to suit individual tastes. The seasoning can also be adjusted. I recently bought Mrs. Dash for another recipe and thought it might be good in this. It was tasty and different.

Blessings,
Bev

Quiche

2009-03-03T05:59:00.002-05:00

This quiche makes a quick and easy Sunday brunch. I often prepare the mixture before church, then refrigerate. I put it in the oven when we get home, and it's done by the time clothes are changed and put away, and the table is set.

The recipe I started with called for egg substitute, but I use the real thing. Eggs are so tasty, versatile, and nutritious, with only about 75 calories each. (I know there are special medical circumstances that call for using the substitutes, which work fine in this dish.)

The recipe:

(Our last name) Quiche

1 onion
5 slices Canadian Bacon

Sauté together in a bit of water until onions are soft and brown.

Add 1 (small) bag of frozen broccoli to skillet with 2 TBSP water. Cover and cook 4-5 minutes.

Uncover. Add 4 tbsp all purpose flour. Stir. (You can skip the flour if you wish. I sometimes forget it, and the quiche still has a nice texture.)

Pour into a sprayed 9 x 13 pan. Combine 8 eggs and 1 ½ cups of skim milk. (More eggs and less milk, if desired.) Add ½ cup parmesan cheese. Salt and pepper to taste.. Pour egg mixture over broccoli mixture.

(Cover and refrigerate for a few hours, if necessary.)

Bake at 350 for 35 minutes or until knife comes out clean.

Serve with fresh fruit and vegetables (carrots, spinach, cucumbers, tomatoes, strawberries, grapes, pears... ).

Yield: 8 servings. About 5 points per serving.

Yum!

Have a fabulous day!

Bev

Mamma Mia

2009-03-01T20:32:00.003-05:00

A few months ago, I got an email from my friend Karen, with whom I used to teach. She was ordering tickets to see the musical Mamma Mia, and she wanted to know if I would like to join her and some other gals for a ladies' day out. Theater tickets do not normally fit into our feed-seven-people-on-one-small-income budget, but my husband said, "I want you to go. You deserve it."

It makes picking up his socks and underwear so much easier when he says things like that. And when he brings me flowers, which he does regularly. And when he does all the other sweet things he does for me.

Yesterday was the big day. I cannot tell you how much I was looking forward to this outing. We had lunch at a nice restaurant, then walked across the street to the Lexington Opera House, which is very fancy-schmancy, especially in the eyes of this small-town girl. It's simply lovely, and this was only my second visit. The first time, I took the kids to a children's production.

Despite the fact that we ordered tickets months ago, our seats were on the back row, which is WAY up high. The view was still spectacular, though. It was so nice.

I knew Mamma Mia was a big Broadway hit and that there was a movie, but I was not familiar with the plot line. I knew it used songs from ABBA, but had no idea how they fit into the show. I was not prepared to have so much fun!

The plot centers around a young girl about to marry who wants her dad to walk her down the aisle. The problem is that she doesn't know who he is. She finds a diary, finds the three gentlemen who could be the one, and invites them all to the wedding. Thus the fun begins.

The music was fabulous. I am not necessarily an ABBA fan, but it was hard not to enjoy these songs. The costumes. Oh my goodness, they were incredible. Lots of flash, lots of color, lots of 1970s. There was humor, too, and some PG scenes. I wouldn't take my children to the show, but it was good fun nevertheless. There were lots of scenes with young guys sans their shirts, and not a lot of skin from the ladies (short skirts and tank tops, but nothing sleezy), which struck me as odd. (Not that I think there should be scantily clad women running around on stage. It just seemed a bit out of place to see the fellas coming in half naked.) Then it occurred to me that the audience would be filled with mostly women. That was eye candy, or what Mark calls beefcake! Funny. I'm so slow to catch on. It didn't make my toes tingle, but I'm an odd ball.

The best part of the show actually came after the actors took their bows at the end. Before the applause was over, they went back into a long medley of songs from the performance. It was so fun and energetic. I think everyone left the theater humming their favorite tune and dancing a bit. We definitely got our money's worth. If you get the chance, go see the show. I think I'll look for the movie now. I hear Meryl Streep gives a wonderful performace.

(DISCLAIMER: I found this video on youtube. I did not take video of the performance I saw. I listened and obeyed when the director said no recording devices were permitted. The set on this video is what the set looked like yesterday, but the costumes I saw were a bit flashier.)

Blessings (and songs...),
Bev

Slow Cooker Hearty Beef Chili (and Fun Pictures of My Clan)

2009-02-27T21:40:00.007-05:00

Some day, I will start taking pictures of food to post along with my recipes, but until then, I'll just keep posting pictures of my children. They're cuter than the dishes I prepare, anyway.

We took a field trip to the Newport Aquarium with our homeschool group today. We had so much fun, despite the fact that Elizabeth has been under the weather all week and was not feeling her best. She insisted she wanted to go. She fell asleep before we got to the penguins, which are her favorites, but she enjoyed the time she was awake. I took my crew and one of Hannah's friends. There were twelve families in all on the trip. We didn't have the first problem (unless you count the time I took a wrong turn and had to do a u-turn on the interstate). The kids -- and the adults -- were well behaved and fun! Thank God for a safe trip, and for the opportunity to do exciting things like this with my little ones.

I'll share more stories later.

Now, the recipe. This is another from Kraftfoods. I emailed to ask if I could reprint their recipes on my high-traffic (he, he) blog. I got a very nice response telling me I could do so as long as I copied the recipe exactly as it appears and included a nice little quote. Then I accidentally deleted the email without copying the quote. Talented, I am. The gist of it, though, was as follows. This recipe courtesy of Kraftfoods.com. Visit Kraftfoods.com to sign up for their newsletter and family magazine, Kraft Food and Family.

I made this in the crockpot yesterday. I love chili, but I've never made it with salsa. This was super easy and super tasty. Nutritious, too. Try it on a busy day. If you live near me and are expecting snow this weekend, it would be great to warm up with after playing out in the snow, or after church, or after watching the UK game, if you can sit down and watch a basketball game without falling asleep. I remember that I used to enjoy that a great deal, but I don't seem to find the time these days. I digress. I was talking about food. Make this. It's yummy! Go here to print the recipe. (I don't know if it is totally lame to copy and paste recipes from another site onto my blog, but I didn't come up with the recipe on my own and can't take credit for it. It's still so good, though, and I want to share.)

What You Need
1-1/2 lb. lean ground beef
1 can (15 oz.) dark red kidney beans, drained, rinsed
1 can (15 oz.) light red kidney beans, drained, rinsed
1-1/2 cups TACO BELL® HOME ORIGINALS® Thick 'N Chunky Mild Salsa
1 can (16 oz.) no-salt added tomato sauce
2 Tbsp. chili powder
1 onion, chopped
1 cup frozen corn, thawed, drained
1 cup KRAFT Mexican Style Finely Shredded Four Cheese
Make It

BROWN meat; drain. Add to slow cooker with remaining ingredients except cheese; stir. Cover with lid.

COOK on LOW for 5 to 6 hours (or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours).

STIR just before serving. Serve topped with the cheese.
TACO BELL® and HOME ORIGINALS® are trademarks owned and licensed by Taco Bell Corp.
Kraft Kitchens Tips
Serving Suggestion
Serve with a simple side of RITZ Crackers.
Serving Suggestion
For added color and flavor, top individual bowls of chili with BREAKSTONE'S or KNUDSEN Sour Cream, OSCAR MAYER Real Bacon Bits and/or coarsely crushed PREMIUM Saltine Crackers.

Enjoy! I'm preparing for another long night with my 2 year old, who is so over the sleeping thing. I'm open to suggestions if anyone knows the secret to getting her to go to bed at night and stay there until morning.

Bev

Chicken Pot Pie, and A Funny Kid

2009-02-23T07:48:00.006-05:00

I just wanted to share this funny picture of Hope. She bounced into the dining room like this at bedtime last night. I don't know what else to say. She's a funny child.

I also want to encourage you to try a new recipe.

A few weeks ago, Mark asked me to make chicken pot pie. Shortly after that, I received an email from Kraft Foods with a pot pie recipe. Hmmm. Maybe Big Brother really is watching, but hey, if he sends yummy recipes, could he be all that bad?

Actually, I already had a good pot pie recipe, but it called for using phyllo dough, which I have not mastered. I sometimes make it without the crust and we call it Chicken Pot ____. This recipe is much better. Much, much better.

The recipe calls for Neufchatel cheese, which is like fat-free cream cheese. I tried it once before in a dip recipe and it was bad, so I was very skeptical. Trust me, it works here. (You could use the real stuff, too, I would imagine.) I like some ff foods, but my husband and children won't go near them. They loved this. It also calls for Light Zesty Italian Dressing, which my grocery store was out of, so I used FF Caesar Italian. It worked. It really is delicious.

You can print the recipe here. Sign up here to receive weekly emails from Kraft with recipes and fun ideas. They also have a free magazine you can register to receive. We've found several favorites in it, including an ice cream cake made with ice cream sandwiches and cookies that my children often request for birthday cakes. (For what it's worth, I have no connection to Kraft Foods. I'm just sharing what I think is good information.)

Deep Dish Chicken Pot Pie

What You Need

1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/4 cup KRAFT Light Zesty Italian Dressing
4 oz. (1/2 of 8-oz. pkg.) PHILADELPHIA Neufchatel Cheese, cubed
2 Tbsp. flour
1/2 cup fat-free reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen mixed vegetables, thawed
1 refrigerated pie crust (1/2 of 15-oz. pkg.)

HEAT oven to 375°F. Cook chicken in dressing in large skillet on medium heat 2 min. Add Neufchatel cheese; cook and stir until melted. Add flour; mix well. Add broth and vegetables; simmer 5 min.

POUR mixture into deep dish 10-inch pie plate. Arrange pie crust over filling; flute edges. Cut 4 slits in crust to allow steam to escape.

BAKE 30 min. or until crust is golden brown.

Really, it's that simple. Please make this. (If you have a big family, make two. My crew downed all but one serving, which Mark quickly claimed for lunch the next day -- and he does not often ask for leftovers.)

Have a fabulous day!

Bev

Rainforest Trail Mix

2009-02-18T16:30:00.003-05:00

We love trail mix at our house, and there are seemingly endless combinations you can use to make it. Here is another one you can try. I found it on the Nick Jr. website:. This is a really fun way to get children helping in the kitchen, even the little ones.

Diego's version:
3 cups mixed nuts
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup dried bananas
3/4 cup coconut
1 cup dried pineapple

Pour ingredients into a large bowl. Stir until evenly mixed. Enjoy!

My slightly different version:
1 container mixed nuts
1 really generous cup chocolate chips
1 bag tropical dried fruit
1 bag dried apricots (My children like these. I cut each apricot into fourths.)
1/2 can sweetened coconut flakes

Take Hope's hand out of chocolate chips. Take Elizabeth's hand out of chocolate chips. Repeat. Take Hope to table to color because she is not helping. Replace chocolate chips eaten by happy children. Help Elizabeth pour all ingredients into bowl. Help Elizabeth stir. Tell Elizabeth to stop picking out chocolate chips.

Store in airtight container.

If there is any left, we will have this with lunch tomorrow at our co-op. Yummy!

Enjoy!

PS -- Check out this blog. I just read about it on a news site.

It's a Llama

2009-02-16T20:26:00.007-05:00

Elizabeth loves animals. We have so many stuffed animals, plastic animals, animals of various shapes and sizes in our house. She plays with them all day. She carts them from room to room, she pretends with them, she rescues them. She really enjoys them. Hope likes them, too, but she doesn’t insist on being surrounded by her menagerie at night like Elizabeth does.

She knows about animals, too. She has learned from Diego and the Wonder Pets (seriously!). Robert also teaches her a lot. When we go to the library, he always checks out a book or two on her level to read to her. (Is that the sweetest thing? I did not teach him to do that.) We have lots of books and magazines about animals, so she has lots of resources. (In educator speak, that is called having a print-rich environment. The Kentucky Department of Education would approve.)

Last week, I was reading a condensed version of the Lion King to her. When we got to the page with Timon and Pumbaa (yes, I looked up how to spell those names), I told her Pumbaa was a warthog, but I didn’t know what Timon was.

“That’s a meerkat, Mommy.”

“How do you know that? Did Robert teach you?”

“Uhm, no. It just looks like a meerkat.”

Forget fifth graders. I’m not smarter than a four-year-old.

So anyway, I’m saying all this to get to a point. Mark had the day off today, so I took the opportunity to leave the older children at home with him, doing chores and school work, to have some time out with my little girls. I rarely get out with just Elizabeth and Hope. I remember why now. Elizabeth is a delight to travel with. Hope still needs some practice. But I so wanted to enjoy a little Mommy time with them.

Our first stop was the bookstore. I told the girls they could each get one book. We found the clearance table and each chose a nice book. I had one thing to look for, and then we could go. Then they saw the animals. Did I mention that my girls like animals. The books were dropped and they began to plead. I honestly did not mind giving in because, believe it or not, these are not children who go into a store and cry for everything they see. They often ask for books (or critters, of course).

We began to look through the choices. Hope was pulling Backyardigans and Wonder Pets off the shelf faster than I could pick them up, when I saw a Boots the Monkey doll. (For those who do not know, Boots is the best friend of Dora the Explorer. For those who do not know, Dora the Explorer is a fabulous cartoon for preschoolers, at least in this mom's opinion.) Elizabeth has been asking her grandparents for a Boots doll for two years. They have searched high and low. They’ve bid on eBay. They’ve Googled. There are gazillions of Dora dolls, but apparently her best friend Boots is not as popular. I was so excited.

“Elizabeth! Look! They have Boots!”

“Yes, and they have llamas!”

Llamas? I am certain that I did not know what a llama was when I was four, but hey, I couldn’t recognize a meerkat last week, so that’s not saying much.

“But don’t you want a Boots doll? You’ve been looking for one for so long.”

“No. I just want a llama.”

I should have picked up Boots, too, but by this point Hope was getting frustrated at me for not letting her have ALL the animals, and she began to wail. I just wanted to get out of Dodge. Hope doesn’t cry. She wails. I don’t know what else to call it. Maybe howling is a fair description. So howling, wailing, whatever. It was loud. In the quiet bookstore. I did what any loving mom would do. I stuck a paci in her mouth. (Please don’t tell me she is too old for a pacifier. I don’t care. When the paci is not there she reaches for her thumb or finger. I’d rather deal with the paci. We have other issues to work on right now. The paci will go when it goes.)

It didn’t work. She can wail around the pacifier. I have some talented children. I found a chair in the back and sat down with her, holding her tightly until she calmed down. Elizabeth picked out an animal for Hope and we headed to the checkout. But we had to pass the animal shelf again, and thus the wailing began again. All I could do was scoop her squirmy body up and scoot along to the front of the store. Elizabeth, who makes up for this good stuff at other times, walked quietly beside me, cradling her precious llama. I paid for our selections, with a crying (but no longer fighting) child in my arms and we left.

How special this was turning out to be.

We made another stop at Walmart, where Hope was able to remain calm enough not to alert the security folks. I even decided we would have some lunch together at Subway. Elizabeth wanted pizza, which she didn’t touch. Hope fought to stay awake. And I just sat back and smiled at my little beauties. They are so sweet. Even when it’s 3:00 a.m. and they want to color or eat raisins. Even when they have meltdowns at the most inopportune times. They are still incredible, all five of my children are. I am thankful.

My husband and my parents wanted Elizabeth to have the Boots doll. She’s wanted one for so long, and really doesn’t ask for big things. In fact, she doesn’t ask for much at all. So when Mark went out for a haircut this afternoon, he picked it up for her. (So sweet.) Once she saw it, she decided she would be willing to keep it. She’s tucked in bed now, surrounded by her squeaky mouse, her dolphin, her puppy, her llama, and Boots. A dozen or more animals are at the foot of the bed.

These days will pass too quickly, so I want to enjoy and remember them all. I don’t know what I’ll do when she starts asking for real animals. Mark my word – we are not having a squeaky mouse or a monkey in this house, and I don’t think we have room for a llama.

:-)

Blessings,
Bev

...

2009-02-14T20:19:00.006-05:00

I don't understand.

I don't understand why fathers and mothers are taken from children who need them. I don't understand why children must suffer and are taken from parents who love them. I don't understand.

Today, I attended the funeral of SB (no names since I don't have permission to share this story). He was the 46-year-old father of four and husband to a beautiful wife who loved and adored him. It was heart-breaking.

On Monday, members of our homeschool organization received an email saying one of our members, SB, had died unexpectedly. He was riding his bicycle to work, as I assume he did often, when he collapsed in the middle of the street. I think he had a heart attack, but I am not certain.

S and his wife K have four children ranging in age from 5-17. They are a homeschool family. S worked as an accountant for the city. They were active in the church. Their two older children compete on a swim team. They are good people and he was a good dad.

I don't understand why God took him. I know that God does not owe me an explanation. I know that we are not promised tomorrow. I know everything God does is good. But how can it be good to take fathers from children, husbands from wives?

I know we are supposed to be thankful for the years God gave S to his family and friends. I know we are to praise God for his sovereignty. The pastor today reminded us that S belonged to him (God) and not to us. I understand that.

But it still seems too much to bear. When K and the children walked in before the service today, I could not hold back my tears. My heart breaks for them. I believe K is strong and wise, and I believe she will be okay. I believe the children will work through this grief and continue to grow and prosper, making their mother proud and honoring their father's memory.

But it seems so wrong. Five-year-olds shouldn't have to attend their father's funeral. Seventeen-year-olds need their dads. Thirteen year old girls need dads. Eight-year-old boys, full of energy and intelligence, need to grow up with their dads. K needs and loves S. It's too sad.

I admit that I have faced very little personal tragedy in my life. I've dealt with divorce of parents and ALL the baggage that goes with it; I've dealt with personal and family trials, but nothing like this. However, before we met, Mark lost two children in a car accident. I cannot fathom the pain and sadness. He moved on because he had to. He had three other children to raise on his own. He could not fall apart. He treasures the memory of his oldest children. We speak of them often and keep pictures on the wall. He has recovered as much as possible. But I know it still hurts.

K will do what she has to do. But it breaks my heart that she has lost her partner. When two become one, what happens when one is taken away, especially suddenly, unexpectedly, and way too early? How does a body heal? How does a heart heal?

I don't understand.

I don't understand why Osama Bin Laden gets to live while really good people are taken. Why do men and women who murder their children, who neglect or abuse helpless little ones, get to continue eating and breathing while fathers who love their children, who provide for them, who lead them spiritually, who are good, are taken? How can that be good?

How can it be good that Mark lost his little ones? Why does God do that?

I love my Lord. I know my every breath comes from him. I know I am worthy of nothing but death and hell. I know that in biblical terms, none of us is good. I am not challenging God. I am just expressing my feelings with all honesty. I don't understand, and I am sad.

I admit that I am also scared. I am scared of what would happen to us if Mark were taken from us. It seems we just got started building our lives. (Four and a half years is such a short time.) I am scared of how we would make it financially, not to mention the incredible hurt and loss. I am scared of how I could continue to homeschool, which is so important to us. How would I raise the children and make important decisions? I am scared.

Oh, how it scares me to think of God taking me from my family. They need me. I know that. The older ones have already lost so much, and Elizabeth and Hope need their mother. Mark needs me.

Life is hard and uncertain. Oh, may I remember how short it can be, and learn to focus on the important things. May I be a better wife and mother. May I be a better friend, and better servant, a better Christian. May our family find a way to minister to K and her children.

I still don't understand. It still hurts. I cannot fathom what the coming days and months will be like for this family. How I pray that God will wrap his arms around them and comfort them as only he can. How I pray that God will provide financially such that their lives can continue in something of a normal fashion. I pray they can continue to homeschool, that the children can go to college, that they can continue to swim and do all the things they love. I pray that K finds joy and comfort, that her heart heals.

I also humbly pray that God will forgive my foolishness and help me to trust in him with all my heart and lean not into my own understanding. May I acknowledge him in all my ways, and may he direct my paths. May my children grow to do so as well.

Bev

My Four Year Old

2009-02-10T19:37:00.007-05:00

My sweet Elizabeth turned four years old today. What a joy she is to my life. She was also an important part of bringing our family together. I've told this story before, but I want to share it here.

Everything in my world changed the day I married Mark. I became a wife, a mom, and a Texan all in the same moment. I do not recommend taking on all three challenges at once. Seriously. Do not let love blind you. Take it slowly.

Dallas is a big, hot place. Living there is a lot different than living in a small mountain town. You must get on the interstate to go to the grocery store. You must drive 180 mph when you are on the interstate. The interstate is always under construction. The people who are in charge of roads and stuff are forever building huge, multi-layered clover leaf things (pardon my technical language) to make room for the traffic, which means there is only one tiny lane available on which to drive 180 mph with thousands of other drivers, drivers who do not allow for safe stopping distance and who don't care that you are new and are still adjusting to life in the big city. This is only the beginning. If you have to make major life changes, at least stay close to home to do it. But let me move past that part.

Imagine all the other changes and adjustments. I became Mom to three energetic, smart children who were not used to having a mom around to care for them. I came into a house that had been run by a bachelor trying to work full time and feed, clothe, and homeschool those three energetic children. Ladies, your home is not dirty or messy. Trust me. I didn't know how to drive anywhere at first, and I certainly didn't know any neighbors. Our church was on the other side of the city, an hour away (how do I always manage to do that?). (Another side note, in the Texas heat, I was the only ding-dong on my street who opened my blinds during the day. I hated the heat, but I needed light!) It was all crazy and I often felt very alone.

The adjustments were not easy for the children, either. It had been just them and their dad for some time. They were a team. They had survived the divorce together. They got through losing their older brother and sister in a car wreck. They were a tight-knit team. They loved having a new mom to love them. They loved that I was now the cook (with all due respect to Mark and his oatmeal with apple juice and other delectable dishes). But I was different. My rules were different. My way of cleaning, of homeschooling, of organizing, of doing EVERYTHING was different than they were used to. I was an extra set of eyes to see what they were getting in to! Did Dad really think they were going to obey this new lady? Right.

It often seemed like I was the outsider invading this peaceful circle. The way they did things might not have been perfect, but it worked for them and they didn't want me coming in and changing things.

As if learning to be a family was not enough, I got pregnant. If I didn't know better, I would insist it happened when Mark and I exchanged rings during the wedding. It was really that fast. (We love to tease our friend Kim, who gently warned us, "Oh, it takes a while for couples' bodies to get in sync. Be prepared that it will likely take you a while to conceive.") A Texas summer, three children, a new husband (!), and morning sickness, which I am certain was named by a man who obviously knew nothing about pregnancy, or else he would have known that the sickness does not only occur in the morning. Oh, and I was more homesick than I could ever imagine. It was not pretty those first few months.

Then Elizabeth came. She was beautiful and perfect and full of joy. Her siblings loved her right away, and she connected with them. I honestly think she was the bond that God used to bring us all together. We were a family. The us and them feelings did not go away over night, but there was something about having Elizabeth that took away any divisions. Even now, Elizabeth lights up when she sees her siblings and they love when she bounces into the room.

Before Elizabeth was born , Mark was offered a job in Kentucky. The company agreed to let him wait until after the baby came to start work. I cannot express how happy I was to be going home (with due respect to Texans...). After an unplanned, early C-section delivery, I came home from the hospital with the task of finishing our packing and getting us ready for the move. Mark and Hannah got a nasty bug which knocked them out and sent them to bed for several days, and Elizabeth was jaundiced and had to spend several days and nights in a portable tanning bed contraption to help her heal. It was up to the boys, who were 8 and 9 at the time, and me to pack, care for the baby, care for the sick, take care of the dog, and survive. (Did I mention that I was recovering from a C-section?) Again, it was crazy.

But we did it. God blessed our feeble efforts. We worked together. We grew closer. And, praise God, we made it home. (I insisted that I would have strapped Elizabeth to my chest and walked the entire 1000 miles.) Life is still crazy in our home. It's just a different kind of crazy. We love it, most days.

Elizabeth is certainly an important part who we are. Happy Birthday, my precious darling. Thank you for loving me, for teaching me about joy, for loving your Daddy and your siblings. Thank you for the light you bring to your grandparents' eyes, which melts my heart. Thank you for crawling in my bed in the middle of the night and whispering, "Mommy, can I sleep in your bed?" Thank you for snuggling up next to me and putting those tiny, precious hands on my face. I love you more than I ever dreamed possible. May God bless you and draw you close to himself, may he give you the joy of salvation and may you have many, many, many more joyful birthdays.

Mom

Ice and Snow and Cold, Oh My

2009-02-03T13:38:00.008-05:00

Oh, it has been an interesting week here in central Kentucky. The fun started on Tuesday last week (I think) with freezing rain that coated every surface and left a thick layer of ice. Wide spread power outages followed. I was awakened Tuesday night to a flash of light (still don't know what it was) and the sound of my garage door opening a bit. That happened two more times, then everything went quiet. It scared my socks off. Well, I wasn't wearing socks because I was in bed, but it really, really frightened me. I thought our fuse box (right term?) had caught on fire, so I woke Mark and sent him downstairs to check everything. Once he assured me that there was no fire, just broken power lines, I added an extra blanket to everyone's bed, opened my blinds so I could watch the dark, and tried to go back to sleep.

Hope decided it was more fun to play in the dark than to sleep (at 1:00 in the morning!), so I did not sleep. I added layers to her pajamas and watched the neighborhood while she played with Little Ponies in the dark. I have interesting children. Throughout the night, I saw frequent flashes of light as power lines around the area snapped from the weight of the ice. It was scary and fascinating at the same time. Hope did eventually go back to sleep, and so did I, but we were both up again before dawn.

We knew the storm was coming, and we tried to prepare. I asked Mark to stop at the grocery store on his way home from work on Monday to get a few supplies. I wanted to make sure we had plenty to eat if we got snowed in. He got home really late with his shirt tail hanging out and his hair all mussed. He looked rough.

"What's wrong? What happened?" I asked.

"I'm not the only person who stopped on the way home for essentials. Everyone has been listening to Bill Meck." He paused to take a deep breath. "I tried to get milk, but two ladies fought me for the last gallon. I thought I had it, but then an eight year old rammed me with a cart, so I gave up." He held up a mashed loaf of bread. "I did get bread though. Tell me we needed bread. I snatched it off the shelf as a snarky blonde woman was reaching for it. She said some nasty words and grumbled something about taking food from a pregnant lady, but I just kept going."

He was pretty pathetic. But I digress. We had plenty to eat, but we did not have an alternative source of heat. Mark got out early on Wednesday morning to look for a generator or heater, but you don't wait until the storm arrives to look for such supplies. There were none left in the region. Since we did not know how long it would last, we took the children to a motel. Our power was back on that night, but there are still people in the area without power. The ice storm was followed by a short snow storm that dumped about two or three inches of snow on top of the ice. Icing on a cake? Frosting on a popsicle? Crazy.

By the way, in the midst of feeding children and packing for the motel, my dad called from eastern Kentucky and reminded me that I have a brand new kerosene heater in his storage building. I used to live in a little house in the country. When I bought my home, I purchased a kerosene heater because little storms often kick the power off. When I married Mark and moved to Texas, I didn't think we would need the heater, so I asked Dad to hold on to it or pass it along to someone who could use it. When we moved back to Kentucky, I forgot about the heater. Hmph. It's in my garage now. Kerosene is smelly, but at least it will keep us warm if we are without heat again.

Saturday and Sunday brought warmer temperatures and lots of thawing, but there is still a thick layer of ice on my driveway and in my backyard. It's snowing again today, so I have two more inches of snow on top of the nice slick ice. At least the trees and other plants are okay now. It's amazing to see all the tree branches along the streets here. So many broke from the weight of the ice. I don't remember ever seeing trees and bushes completed coated in ice and bent over touching the ground. It has all been quite an experience.

I could say so much more, but it's probably only interesting to me. In all seriousness, the storm was a mere inconvenience for my family. There are others who truly suffered. Twenty-four people lost their lives in Kentucky. As many died from carbon monoxide poisoning as did from hypothermia. So tragic. Please continue to pray for those still without power or who have lost loved ones.

My crazy, er, darling sons are about to go out to sled on our frozen pond (backyard). If I don't spend the afternoon at the ER, I'll take pictures and post again.

Thanks to those of you who have asked where I've been. I love blogging, but it takes time and I really am trying to keep my home and school in order. The blog has to take a lower number on the priority list. I will try to be more consistent, though. I do love writing.

Blessings,
Bev

My First Award!

2009-01-19T05:36:00.004-05:00

I have not been playing in blog-land much lately, but I have been working hard to keep my home and our school in order. Neither is perfect, but I am happy with how things are going. I'm struggling with the weight thing, but each day I get out of bed determined to try again. More on that later, though. Before my gang climbs out of bed and sees this lovely layer of snow waiting for them to play in, I want to talk about my first award. I'm a little embarrassed to say that it has taken me almost two weeks to acknowledge the award, but I know that both of the homeschooling moms who shared it with me understand and would encourage me to continue focusing on family first. That's part of what is so wonderful about them.

My thanks to Tiffany and Michelle for passing along this award:

There are some rules that go with it. You need to link to the person who gave it to you. Then, name seven recipients of your own. Since I am still somewhat new to blogging, I'm not sure I know seven other bloggers well enough, so I am going to share with:

Bonnie, who is funny and lovely (and whose name I really love); she is most definitely the boss;

Suburban Correspondent, who is smart and sensible; she makes me laugh and will make you laugh, too; and

Mary, who is busy and sweet, and whose girls are so beautiful!

I know there are many more lovely blogs out there, and I will want to give this award many times over as I discover them...and I will probably do just that.

Have a wonderful day. I have some yummy recipes to share when time allows and I hope to have pictures of all of us playing in the snow later today, too. It's less than an inch, but we've been so eager to see the fluffy white stuff that we will take this gift with joy and mittens.

Blessings,
Bev

School Room

2009-01-14T10:49:00.006-05:00

I love homeschooling, and I feel like I get better at it each year. (Let’s not think about those first couple of years. Just know that all the older children read and add well, and that is what matters.) We have never had a separate school room, so the children usually work in the living and dining rooms. As Hope and Elizabeth are getting older and more mobile and vociferous, though, managing all five children during the day is becoming more difficult. The little ones are becoming a distraction for the school children. Can you imagine being 11 years old and trying to find prepositional phrases while your 4 year old sister is begging you to play silly putty with her? (Can you imagine being 39 and trying to type a blog entry while your 2 year old is squirming in your lap, trying to push the keys and taste your coffee???)

I digress.

As last semester progressed, I realized something needed to be done. We either had to find another place for school work or lock Hope and Elizabeth in the bedroom and let them watch Nick, Jr. from 8:00 to 3:00 every day. Mark wasn’t so keen on the eight hours of television thing, even though I explained that all the Nick Jr. shows during that time are educational and the girls would be learning a lot about counting, reading, and speaking Spanish. He still wouldn’t go for it, though, so we had to have a plan B.

I couldn’t let the older children do school work in their bedrooms because there are too many distractions. I am certain that most other twelve year old boys would ignore the Lego containers and the Nerf guns and give their full attention to grammar rules and the Battle of Waterloo, but not my guys. They are weak. There would be no work completed. The little ones would not give Hannah any peace, either. They seem to think since all the Barbie dolls and puzzles are in the girls' bedroom, they should have access when they wish. Go figure.

Plan C. I have a tiny bedroom in the basement that I use to, uhm, store things. (Translation: All things I do not have time or space or energy to deal with go there.) We decided to turn at least part of that room into a school room. I worked during Christmas break to clear out enough room for a table and a desk. There is also a daybed in there so they can curl up and read when they wish. The room is not finished yet. I still have some cleaning/organizing to do, and I promised I would hang things on the wall and make it inviting, but I am pleased with how nicely it is turning out.

Being the brilliant mom I am, and knowing how my children behave when I am not looking, I took our baby monitor to the school room so I could hear what is going on when I am not there. I wanted to make sure they were not telling knock-knock jokes or arguing over who gets computer time first instead of doing school work. The funny thing is that the children seem to think the baby monitor is their personal intercom/CB radio system.

When Robert goes downstairs, he leans over and speaks into the monitor. “Breaker, breaker. This is Ramblin’ Robert. I have arrived safely at my destination, Mom. I’ll be starting my math right away.”

I hear all sorts of interesting reports.

“ Breaker 1-9. This is Bruiser and Cruiser. We’re coming up the steps, fully loaded. Clear the lanes, please.”

“I need a spelling test in aisle seven. Cancel that. Hannah is going to administer the test. I’ll bring it to the service desk for grading when I’m finished... Yes, I will check over it first.”

“We need a manager in the math department right away, please. Abel is having trouble with his algebra. We’ve got scraps of paper and eraser bits…and a few tufts of his hair all over the floor. You’ll want to bring a broom…and, uhm, three of those candy canes left over from Christmas.”

I try to fuss at them, but it really makes me laugh. Hey, it could be much worse. At least they aren’t trying to cover the monitor with a sweatshirt so I can’t hear when they are playing the gameboy or listening to the Taylor Swift cd which they snuck downstairs under the aforementioned sweatshirt. At least I know they are working when I’m not looking. Well, okay, they probably aren’t working the whole time, but assignments are being completed, and so far, the room has not been destroyed.

Oh, I must go. I’m being paged. I think someone is trying to buy a ticket for recess.

I’ll catch you on the flip side, good buddies. Over and out.

A Headache Go Away-er

2009-01-11T05:37:00.006-05:00

Last night, I got a headache that came on suddenly and sent me to bed. (I'm much better now.) Soon after I went to my room, Elizabeth came pouncing in and climbed onto the bed with me. She was holding something made from her mega-blocks.

She said, "Mommy, I made you something. It's a headache go away-er. It will make your headache go away." (She also calls it a headache get ridder of.)

Isn't that so sweet? She has such a tender, caring heart. Except when Hope comes near a toy Elizabeth is playing with...but we are working on that.

Elizabeth loves to help clean or pretend to clean with the (toy) supplies she got for Christmas, and I try to get her involved as much as possible. She loves to help Robert clean the bathroom, and she gets so excited when it's "big-cleaning" day. (Oh, may she keep that love for many years to come. May Hope develop the same affinity for housework!)

She folded a big stack of towels the other day and I told her what a great job she did. Her response was, "Robert and Abel taught me how to fold. They teach me lots of good things."

So sweet.

When Mark and I were sitting on the couch watching TV a few days ago, she marched up with some small metal buckets left from Easter baskets, and said, "This one is for mopping. This one has toilet cleaner. And this one is for my toilet wand."

Images of how clean my house will be when she is a teenager flashed through my mind. I looked at my husband, blinked back the tears of joy, and simply said, "I love her."

She is definitely full of character and heart.

Bev

White Bean Chili (Crockpot)

2009-01-10T05:15:00.003-05:00

Yes, we've been eating a lot of soup and chili lately, but they are so easy that I can't resist. I also love using my crockpot because there is less mess and it is less expensive to operate than the oven. Here is another meal that I hope you will make for your family. This makes a huge amount, so you may want to make less or plan to freeze several portions for later. In fact, I had planned to freeze half, but a wrinkle came along and I just served it two nights in a row. (There were no complaints!) I added a green salad and a pan of cornbread.

This is a wonderful dish, and it gives you a chance to eat some of those legumes you probably do not eat very often, like butter beans, black-eyed peas, and garbanzo beans (which I love). The original recipe is from Fix It and Forget It, but I always put my own spin on things. As with many of my dishes, remember that no amounts are specific and ingredients can be adapted to your family’s tastes. You may also want to increase the amount of the spices. Beans are really good for us, but they can be bland.

Make this. It is so good!

White Bean Chili
Makes 10-12 generous servings

1-2 lb ground beef and/or turkey, browned and drained (Use as much as you wish. I had about 1.5 lbs of beef in the freezer, so that's what I used.)
3 bell peppers, chopped
2 onions, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced (If you use garlic often, invest in the pre-minced stuff in the produce section.)
28-30 ounces chicken or vegetable broth
1 can each of butter beans, black-eyed peas, garbanzo beans (chickpeas), navy or great northern beans. (Remember, if you cook from dry, 1 can is about 2 cups.)
(I had kidney beans in the freezer, so I threw in some of those, too.)
4 ounce can chopped green chilies
2 Tbsp chili powder
1 Tbsp cumin
2 tsp dried oregano
2 tsp paprika
2 tsp salt
½ tsp pepper

Combine all ingredients in slow cooker. Cover and cook on low 8-10 hours.

Enjoy!

(Side note: We've been so busy since school started back that I have not had time to play here in blog-world like I enjoy doing. I do have some stories to share and some things to add to my site. They will come when they come... I hope all is well in your world. If you visit, please leave a comment and let me know how you are doing. I love hearing from you and I appreciate the sweet ladies who often have something to say.

And now, it's almost time to go shopping. I love getting out early on Saturday so I have the store almost to myself and I can enjoy some peace and quiet. I may even treat myself to one of those fabulous warm pretzels from Sam's when I'm finished! Have a fabulous weekend! )

Breakfast Burritos

2009-01-09T07:58:00.002-05:00

I saw an ad with a recipe for making breakfast burritos with egg beaters. I wanted to try it, but I wanted to use real eggs. Then I decided I wanted to add more vegetables. And I didn't want to buy fresh basil. So I really created my own recipe. Not a single bite was left on the table. (Of course, I doubled this recipe since I feed seven hungry people in the morning!) Let me know if you try this, and if you like it!

Breakfast Burritos
4 servings…all amounts approximate

4 eggs
1 cup frozen hash browns
½ onion, chopped
1 medium tomato, diced
1 handful fresh spinach, chopped
4 whole wheat tortillas
Your favorite shredded cheese
Fresh basil to sprinkle on top, if desired
Salsa, if desired

Spray skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium heat. Add hash browns and onion. Cook about 9 minutes or until potatoes are brown. Add tomato and spinach to skillet. Combine eggs and pepper, then add to the skillet. Stir to combine, then cook until desired doneness.

Spoon egg mixture onto center of tortilla. Top with salsa, cheese, basil, (whatever topping you like…). Fold in opposite sides of each tortilla and roll up burrito-style.

Enjoy!

Blessings,
Bev

Condolences

2009-01-07T09:48:00.005-05:00

I just learned that one of my former students died serving his country as a Marine in Kuwait on Saturday.

You can read the story here.

My heartfelt sympathies to his family and friends.

Sweet Potato and Carrot Bake

2009-01-07T05:25:00.002-05:00

Sweet Potato and Carrot Bake

Please make this for your family. It is filled with good-for-you stuff and it is so tasty. We scraped the pan on this one. There was not a single bite left. So good.

(The original recipe for this dish came from Cook Once, Eat for a Week, but I made enough changes that I am comfortable calling this recipe my own.)

Amounts need not be exact.

1 (16 oz) bag frozen carrots, or a pound of fresh carrots, sliced.
3 medium sweet potatoes, baked**
1 egg
2 Tbsp sour cream (regular, low-fat, or fat-free will work)
¾ tsp onion powder
¼ tsp pepper
Your favorite shredded cheese

Steam the carrots until they are soft enough to mash, probably 8-10 minutes. (Steaming keeps more of the nutrients than boiling.) Scoop the flesh out of the sweet potatoes. Mash the potatoes and carrots together. (I mashed by hand. They can be lumpy.) Add the egg, sour cream, onion powder, and pepper, and blend. Pour into a 9 x 13 pan, coated with cooking spray. Top with shredded cheese. (You can also stir in the cheese, if you wish. Since I added ff cheddar to one corner for me and fiesta blend for everyone else, I kept it on top.)

At this point, you can cover and refrigerate to cook later in the day, or freeze for later. Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes.

*I was not sure how this would work since we are used to sweet potato casseroles having brown sugar. It’s really tasty, though. This would work as a main dish on vegetable night or as a side dish. I served it with sliced tomatoes and cucumbers, and spinach. I also made tuna patties (see post below).

**About baking the sweet potatoes. My friend Deb taught me years ago that you can bake potatoes in the crockpot. Just wash really well and poke a few holes in them. You do not need to wrap them or add water to the crockpot. Bake on low for 6 hours, or until the potatoes are nice and soft. We had baked sweet potatoes for dinner last week, so I made some extra and froze the flesh to use for this dish.

Enjoy!

Bev

Tuna Patties

2009-01-07T05:23:00.001-05:00

Tuna Patties

I intended to make salmon patties with dinner last night, but I could not read all of the “use by” date on the can, and Abel was convinced it said 2008. We threw the salmon out and I pondered what I was going to serve with dinner. I decided to try salmon patties made with tuna.

The recipe:

(Amounts are estimates.)

2 small cans tuna
2-3 Tbsp wheat germ
¼ cup cornmeal
¼ cup flour
1 onion, finely chopped
1 egg

Stir it all together. Form 8 small patties and place on a small cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes, or until cooked through. (I probably would have baked at 375, but they were in the oven with something else that needed 350.)

I am surprised at how good these were. I have always loved salmon patties and this was a close substitute. Yum!

Chili with Squash and Beans Recipe

2009-01-06T04:48:00.002-05:00

How are you doing with your weight loss efforts? What about other goals you set for the new year? Are you staying on track? My eating was not stellar last week, but I did lose a pound. Naturally, I want to lose five pounds a week, but that is not going to happen. We all know that losing slowly is the most effective way. A pound may not sound like much, but that is four sticks of butter -- and I am glad to have it gone from my waist! This week, I intend to pay more attention to serving sizes and try to reach for the vegetables rather than meat or bread when I need a second serving. I also plan to move more. With homeschooling, working with the children, and playing, er, working at the computer, I am on my bottom A LOT.

We tried a few new recipes last week. The split pea soup will not make it to our table again -- yuck. However, the chili with squash and beans...oh, you must try it. It's so simple, easy, and good for you, not to mention really, really yummy! We will definitely make this again, especially this summer when the squash and zucchini are taking over the garden. Let me know if you try it and what you think!

The original recipe for this dish came from Cook Once, Eat for a Week (2003 edition), but as always, I tweaked it a bit to suit our tastes. The recipe calls for almost 60 ounces of diced tomatoes with green chilies. It has a bit of a kick that my daughter did not like, so I will probably sub half of that with plain diced tomatoes the next time.

Chili with Squash and Beans
(from Cook Once, Eat for a Week, 2003 edition)

¾ lb. ground beef or turkey
1 medium diced onion
1-2 cloves minced garlic
¾ tsp Mrs. Dash seasoning
2 (28 oz) cans diced tomatoes with green chili (for less kick, sub plain diced tomatoes, as much or as little as you wish)
1 pkg chili seasoning, or chili powder to taste
2 (14.5 oz) cans (nonfat) beef broth
1-2 cans black beans (or 2-4 cups if you cook from dry)
2 medium zucchinis, diced
2 medium yellow squash, diced (peels on zucchini and squash)
2 diced green (or any color) bell peppers
1-2 stalks diced celery
1-2 diced carrots

Brown the ground beef with the onion and peppers. Drain any fat. Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 25-30 minutes, until vegetables are tender.

Yields 8-12 servings. This dish will keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or can be frozen and reheated in the microwave. It's also great the next day!

Blessings,
Bev

PS -- Tiffany at Eat at Home nominated me for a blog award. I am really excited, but I've been so busy I have not had time to play around and learn how to post it on my site. I will work on it and pass the award along very soon, though!

Goals for 2009

2009-01-01T06:40:00.002-05:00

I am not crazy about New Year’s Resolutions. The phrase seems to come with the implication that resolutions are lofty, unreachable desires that will soon be abandoned. I do, however, think it is good to set goals and strive to reach them, regardless of what day of the year it is. At this time last year, I wrote out a list of goals for 2008. I posted the list in my bathroom, where I would see it every day. I reached some my goals this year and did not reach others. Some are in progress and I will continue to work on them this year and in years to come. Now it is time to look at 2009.

We have been talking about goals for our family this week. Mark and I have picked up the phrase culture of excellence, and we would like to work that concept into the fabric of our family. Scripture teaches us to do our best at everything, to do each task as if we are doing it for the Lord. (Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:13 ) We would like to instill that practice in the children, as well as embrace it ourselves, so that whether we are cooking meals, cleaning the bathroom, doing schoolwork, reading to little ones, or folding laundry, we give the task at hand our very best. We hope to really work at creating a culture of excellence in our home this coming year.

Mark was also impressed when he learned recently about the list of priorities BYU’s football coach gives his players. He encourages them to focus on faith, family, academics, friends, and then football. (By the way, BYU had a 10-3 season this year.) We like the list, so Mark changed football to fun, and encouraged each of us to set one goal for each category.

So, without further ado, here are some of my goals for 2009. ( These are in addition to my goal of reaching a healthy weight.)

Faith: Be more consistent in my daily devotions. Read my Bible and have quiet time for prayer and reflection at least five days each week. (This was also a goal last year. I did okay, but I want to be more consistent, even when life is busy.)

Family: I want to cultivate my marriage. My bond with Mark is the key to our family’s strength. I want to have a monthly date night, even if that means the children eat pizza a watch a movie in the basement while we have dinner in the dining room together. January’s date is already circled on the calendar!

Academics: Finish my medical transcription course and begin looking for a few hours of at-home work each week.

Friends: Get to know the moms in our homeschool group a little better. There are some beautiful, wise, FUN, ladies in the group, but I am often so busy keeping up with the children that I do not have time to socialize with the adults. I want to spend more time getting to know Beth, Mary, Laura, Gladie, Jane, Tiffany, and the other women.

Fun: I have two for this one. First, I want to spend more time playing with my children. I want to toss the football with them, play volleyball in the backyard, take them to the park and fly kites, and get in the floor with the little ones more. For myself, I want to learn some new activity. Perhaps I’ll find a video and learn a new dance. Hey, I could learn to belly-dance and do my own Subway commercial!

What about you? Do you have goals for 2009? Whatever your plans, I hope your 2009 is filled with joy, happiness, good health, and wise decisions.

Happy New Year!

Bev

Black Bean and Pumpkin Chili Recipe

2008-12-31T06:06:00.002-05:00

I shared this recipe back in October, but I wanted to post it again. I made it again this week (healthy foods for us, remember). It's so yummy, healthy, and EASY. Do not let the pumpkin scare you away. It really just adds a creamier texture. This is so tasty, and even my children loved it. (Well, the two smallest did not, but they want to live on chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, peanut butter, and cheese. It's a challenge for Mom.) Remember that with soup and chili, you usually do not have to measure carefully. Let me know if you make this and if you like it!

Also, someone else checked the ww points. One serving is only 1.5 points, and it is all core.

Enjoy!

Bev

Black Bean and Pumpkin Chili

1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium sweet yellow pepper, chopped (I used green. I'm too cheap to pay for the yellow. The green are good.)
3 garlic cloves, minced (I buy the minced garlic in a jar in the produce section. I use a lot of garlic, onions, and peppers when I cook.)
2 -3 tsp olive oil
3 cups chicken broth
2 cans (15 oz each) black beans, rinsed and drained (or about 4 cups if you cook them yourself)
2 1/2 cups cubed cooked turkey or chicken (Use whatever you have leftover or pick up an inexpensive rotisserie at the grocery store.)
1 can (15 oz) solid pack pumpkin
1 can diced tomatoes (undrained)
2 tsp dried parsley flakes
2 tsp chili powder
1 ½ tsp dried oregano
1 ½ tsp ground cumin
½ tsp salt

In a skillet, sauté the onion, yellow pepper, and garlic in oil until tender. Transfer to a 5-qt slow cooker; stir in the remaining ingredients.

Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or until heated through.

Yield: 10 servings

Happy New Year!

Getting Fit by Forty!

2008-12-29T04:51:00.004-05:00

I will turn 40 in 2009. Yippee!

I have gained a lot of weight in my 30s, and I want to go into my 40s with a healthier body. I know it is stereo-typical to make weight loss a New Year’s Resolution, and that few people succeed, but I am going to try.

My weight-gain started about the time I turned 30, when both my metabolism and activity level decreased. Then, I had a few life changes: marriage, motherhood, cross-country move, career change, pregnancy, another cross-country move, another pregnancy (that’s zero to five children in just over two years), and other adjustments. It has been wonderful, but difficult, much more so than I anticipated. I have eaten my way through every stressful situation. I am still doing so, and that has to stop.

It is time for another change. I am concerned about my health, I am disappointed with the example I am setting for my children, and I am embarrassed about my appearance. I want to be slimmer, healthier, and more energetic as I raise my children and enjoy the coming years with my husband. I can do this.

I had a lot of success following the Weight Watchers Core Plan, but when life got hectic, I stopped going to meetings and got off plan before I reached my goal weight. I am slowly putting those pounds back on. WW recently changed their program and I am no longer a member, but the Core Plan worked for me, so I am going to try to follow it again. Basically, it requires eating healthy foods – fruits, vegetables, lean meats, fat-free (or low fat) dairy, whole grains – and limiting fat, breads, and sweets. There’s more to it, and I’ll talk more about that later, but since I feed seven people each day, and as much as possible I want us eating the same meals, this plan works for us.

Losing weight is the hardest thing I have ever tried to do. It is harder than getting my master’s degree (but I had Pam to help me then). It’s harder than teaching high school English (but I had Denise, Jennifer, April, Clay, Jeff, Rebecca, and lots of other good friends and wonderful, dedicated educators by my side). More difficult than being single and taking care of my own home (but Dad and those great teenagers across the street, as well as other friends and family, helped). I know I am not alone, though. My family, who loves and encourages me, will support me. Maybe some of you will, too.

I already have some menus planned with lots of variety to keep things interesting. I will share recipes, tips, successes, and stumbles as I go. I may struggle and have to start over on the first day of every month. I may be reposting this goal a year from now. But this is important and all I know to do is keep trying.

So what about you? Does anyone else need to shed some pounds and work towards being healthier? Will you join me? If your jeans already fit nicely and you follow the food triangle each day, would you stop by on occasion and encourage me?

Today is day one. I can do this. If weight loss is also your goal, you can do it, too! Here we go!

Blessings,
Bev

Christmas Pictures and Vegetable Strata Recipe

2008-12-28T16:35:00.004-05:00

We had a wonderful holiday with family, and we are enjoying some down time together before school starts back. I hope your holidays were special, too.

I made a really tasty egg dish for lunch today, and I want to share the recipe. The original recipe came from weightwatchers.com, but I adapted it a bit.

Tomorrow, I am blogging about weight loss goals for 2009. If you have some pounds to shed, let me know and we can cheer one another along.

Vegetable Strata

8 Servings

7 slices whole wheat bread, toasted and cut into cubes
2 tsp olive (or your favorite) oil
1 medium red onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
3 slices Canadian bacon, diced
20 oz frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry in a dish towel
10 oz frozen butternut squash, thawed
8 eggs
¾ cup skim milk
½ tsp each, salt and pepper
Your favorite shredded cheese to sprinkle on top

Preheat oven to 375.

Heat oil in skillet and sauté onion until it is soft, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and bacon, and cook until onions start to brown, 3-4 more minutes. Remove from skillet and set aside.

Place spinach, squash, eggs, milk, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Whisk to combine. Add onion mixture and whisk again. Pour in the bread. You may need a spoon to combine this time.

Pour the entire mixture into a 9 x 13 pan coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake until a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean, about 20-25 minutes.

Serve with fresh fruit.

*Notes: I could not find frozen squash. I bought a whole butternut squash in the produce section. I microwaved it for 10 minutes to soften, then cut it in half lengthwise. I scooped out the flesh of one half to use in the dish, then scooped the rest into a bowl and froze it for later.

Also, the original recipe called for 4 eggs and 6 egg whites. I could not justify tossing out 6 egg yolks. Using 8 eggs allows for one egg per serving, which is a great way to get in good nutrients.

**Everyone really liked this. I like spinach, but I didn’t know if anyone else would go for it. They didn’t even try to top it with sour cream or ranch dressing, like they do many other vegetable dishes. It was so yummy and filling. I served it with a small plate of pear slices and peeled Clementines. This would make a great dish for brunch on New Year’s Day or on the weekend.

Enjoy!

Bev

Trail Mix Recipe

2008-12-22T05:13:00.002-05:00

If you need a last minute gift, or something to top off your gift bags, trail mix is quick and easy, and most people really love it. There are also numerous combinations you can use. Try this one.

(I do not measure. I do use store brands for as many ingredients as possible.)

Cheerios -- plain, honey-nut, yogurt, or a bit of each
Chex cereal -- any flavor or flavors
M & Ms -- your favorite flavor
Raisins
Nuts -- any combination (I use plain peanuts) *If anyone is allergic or cannot eat peanuts, remember to leave these out.
Pretzels -- plain, chocolate-covered, whatever -- I like to crunch these up into smaller pieces.

*Other options: coconut flakes, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, dried fruit... other snacks you enjoy

Fill quart-sized ziplocks and share with family and friends.

Have a wonderful weeks, friends! I am off to start baking banana bread and zucchini bread to share with loved ones. That's the last chore. Rock candy is made, trail mix is made, and all is ready to share. I am so very blessed.

Bev

Rock Candy Recipe

2008-12-19T04:59:00.004-05:00

For most of my adult life, I have made most of the Christmas gifts I give. I am positively lousy at deciding what to buy for people, but I make a mean cookie and banana bread, so I go with my strengths. I admit that I have made some pretty goofy gifts over the years, but one that I know is appreciated is the rock candy I make for my dad. I know he loves it, and it pleases me immensely when I get that email saying his container is empty and I need to make more. It also makes me giggle the way he hides it from everyone and jokingly fusses at his wife if she dares ask for a piece.

I'm sharing my recipe here. The candy takes a little work, and it is easier to buy the little bags of pre-wrapped cinnamons at your local grocery store, but I think this is good candy. I am making a big batch this afternoon, so I will try to take pictures and add them to the post tonight. Enjoy!

Rock Candy

1 cup water
1 ¼ cups light corn syrup
3 ¾ cups granulated sugar
liquid food coloring (any color, as much as you wish)
1 tsp cinnamon oil or candy flavoring*
1/3 cup (more or less, as desired)

You need a candy thermometer for this recipe.

*I have not been able to find cinnamon oil at Walmart or Kroger lately, and since I am not willing to go shopping all over town, I have been using cinnamon extract. I use 1 tbsp of extract in place of 1 tsp of oil. Sometimes I add more since my dad likes the candy strong.

In a heavy saucepan, combine water, granulated sugar, corn syrup, and food coloring. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Cover and cook for 3 minutes to dissolve sugar crystals. (Do not lift the lid or stir.)

Uncover and attach candy thermometer to pot. Make sure the thermometer is not touching the bottom of the pot. Cook on medium-high heat without stirring until the hard crack stage. While the candy is cooking, line a cookie sheet with foil and coat foil with cooking spray. This is what you will pour the liquid candy into. Remove candy from heat. Stir in oil or flavoring.

*If you are using cinnamon oil or extract, I highly recommend adding the oil outside. It produces a powerful smoke that will sting your eyes and nostrils if you are not careful. It only takes a moment or two to settle back down so you can bring it inside. The other flavors do not seem to be as strong.

Quickly pour the candy onto the cookie sheet, being extremely careful. I try to have someone else available to help scrape the pot. This stuff gets sticky really fast.

When the candy has hardened, cover it with foil and break into small pieces. I use a meat mallet or a hammer. You may come up with an easier method. I suppose it would be simpler to use candy molds, but I have never tried them.

Place the candy in a ziplock bag and add the confectioner’s sugar. Seal the bag. Put this bag into another bag and seal it. Then, toss the candy and sugar until the sugar is distributed throughout and all the candy has a light coating.

Store in airtight containers. Give to someone special or hide away and keep for yourself.

Blessings,
Bev

Edited to add: In the midst of making candy, I had to leave to take Abel to the evening clinic, where he tested positive for strep throat. I looked at the doctor and said, "I have four more children. I'll see you tomorrow." Thus, I have no exciting candy-making pictures to share. Maybe next time.

Haikus

2008-12-18T13:58:00.004-05:00

Tiffany posted a writing prompt on her blog. She challenged readers to write a haiku about shiny things. My initial thought was to write about my children's eyes, which sparkle and shine, but I strayed a bit from the shiny part. Here are my pitiful little attempts.

Their eyes shine with pride
A goal they worked hard to reach
Blue belts for my boys

Tears are real this time
She pleads with Mommy to stay
It’s scary in the dark

She lights up a room
And finds true joy in learning
Growing up so fast

Full of energy
With my grandma’s eyes… and strength
Innocence and joy

They keep me awake
Make me laugh and cry, and
Teach me about love

Now it's your turn!

Bev

Christmas Meme

2008-12-17T04:53:00.004-05:00

I copied this Christmas meme from Angie , who copied it from another blog. I chose only what I wanted to answer since it was a bit long. I think the questions are fun!

1. When do you put up the Christmas tree? As soon as possible after Thanksgiving.

2. Real or Fake? Fake. Small enough to sit on a table (app. 3’). Charlie Brown would approve.

3. Lights? What color? Multi-colored, mini, not blinking.

4. Theme or No theme? No theme. Just small ornaments the children hang on the tree. Only the top half are left because Hope pulled them off every time I turned my back and I got tired of fighting that battle.

5. What’s under the tree? Gifts for the children.

6. Where do you hang your stockings? All seven hang above the dining room window. I love that you can see their silhouettes from outside.

7. Do you put lights on your house? No, but I put a string of lights along the fence and some on the steps railing. They looked pretty in the snow yesterday.

8. Got any outside lawn decorations? No.

9. Do you put up a nativity? No.

10. Do you hang mistletoe under the door? Yes, under the door between the living room and dining room. Sometimes I stand under it and clear my throat until Mark notices. :-)

11. Got a wreath on your front door? Yes.

12. Favorite Children’s Christmas TV show/cartoon? I like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. I’ve always felt like I belong on the Island of Misfit Toys. I thought I enjoyed the Peanuts cartoons, but I’ve been watching some of them with my children lately, and I had forgotten how much yelling, insulting, and name-calling they have. I guess my ears were not as sensitive when I was a child (how sad). My children did not really enjoy watching.

13. Have you ever seen the Nutcracker Suite Ballet live? Yes, twice, and I enjoyed it.

14. Ever been to the Radio City Music Hall Christmas show? No, but I think it would be fun.

15. Ever gone to the movies on Christmas Day? No, but my brother often goes.

16. Did you know it’s the biggest day of the box-office? I knew a lot of people go that day. I did not know it was the biggest day.

17. Favorite Christmas book or story? The Gift of the Magi, The Legend of the Candy Cane . There are probably others that just aren’t coming to mind right now.

18. Do you stuff your stockings with any types of food? I stuff the children’s stockings with edible goodies and small toys. Hope and Elizabeth get coloring books this year. I’m not telling what the older children get because they sometimes read the blog.

19. Do you go to church on Christmas or Christmas Eve? No. I grew up in a small town and my church did not have Christmas services. The church we attend now does have a Christmas Eve service, which I would attend, but we will be at grandparents’ houses.

20. Have you ever gone Caroling? Yes, and when my children are a little older, I would like to do so again. It’s so much fun! (I hope I get to do all those things I keep putting off until I no longer have anyone in the house who wears diapers.)

21. Favorite Christmas Carol? I love Christmas music. We sometimes play it in July. I love it. One song that stirs my emotions every time is Mary, Did You Know. No one sings it better than my friend Dock, not Kathy Mattea, not Natalie Cole. He sings it with such heart and passion. He is a godly man with a strong, beautiful voice, and I always think of him and his wife this time of year. I really miss seeing them. (Don’t yell at me, Bonnie! I know she really knew, but it had to be hard to comprehend at the same time. It’s still a beautiful song.)

22. What’s your favorite Christmas cookie? All cookies are my favorite. I especially love monster cookies, which my friend Sheryl introduced me to many years/pounds ago. I’ll post the recipe some day.

23. Any “special” foods or candy that you only have at Christmas time? I can’t think of any. I can say that we always have banana pudding at holidays, except for the time my brother was away in the Navy. For some reason all the cooks decided we could not have his favorite dessert when he was not there. My cousin and I revolted and the pudding returned.

24. What do you eat on Christmas EVE? Dinner at my dad’s house: ham, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn bread, rolls, desserts, lots of other yummy stuff...

25. What do you eat on Christmas day? Dinner at my mom’s house: ham, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn bread, rolls, desserts, lots of other yummy stuff...

26. Do you like Eggnog? No, but Mark and the children really do.

27. Do you like candy canes? I don’t love them. I don’t love candy. I love cookies and cakes, unfortunately. I like giving candy canes to the children, though. They all enjoy them. They sometimes use them to stir hot chocolate.

28. Do you send Christmas cards (handmade or bought)? Yes (bought), but mostly to family and friends I do not see often. I include a picture of the children. This year, I included the address for my blog!

29. Do you make a “list”? Yes. Each child gets a gift you want, a gift you need, a gift to wear, and a gift to read. Extended family members receive baked goods. My dad gets homemade cinnamon rock candy. It gives me much joy to give him something I know he enjoys.

30. Do you shop on Black Friday? No!

31. ARE YOU READY FOR CHRISTMAS? For the most part. Shopping is finished, but there is baking to be done.

May your holidays be filled with joy, regardless of how you celebrate!

Bev

Words of Wisdom for Wives

2008-12-15T20:26:00.004-05:00

When I married Mark, the women in his church hosted a shower/welcome party for me. The hostess asked each woman to write her favorite recipes, as well as some words of wisdom for marriage, on recipe cards. They were presented to me as a gift. I still keep the cards in my recipe box, so I see them often. I want to share some of the things those wives wrote. I think it was pretty good advice!

* Communicate, communicate, and communicate some more. It is a key ingredient to a successful marriage.

* Read "The Excellent Wife," by Martha Peace.

* Strive to be a Proverbs 31 wife. Love your husband and do loving things for him, even when you do not feel like doing so. The tone/mood of the wife/mother sets the tone/mood for the entire house.

* Seek help, guidance, and counsel from other godly women. Do not think you have to do it all or figure everything out yourself.

* Be an encourager to your husband! Isaiah 50:4 -- "The sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught."

* Proverbs 15:1 -- "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." These words are so important in a family. They promote peace between husband and wife, parent and child. They stave off many an argument. They open the heart and ears of the other person to hear you speak instead of making him more defensive. These words are hard to follow in the heat of an argument or when you are sure you are correct, or when a child is very irritating or extra disobedient, or when relatives force their two cents of advice on you, or when friends rebuke and correct an action or attitude. These words are well worth keeping at the front of your mind -- a soft answer.

It is easy in the busyness of day to day living to forget these and other important truths that protect our marriages and families. It is important to be reminded of them, however. Even after 4 1/2 years, I still feel so new at being a wife and mother. I still feel like I am trying to figure it all out, and just keeping everyone fed and clothed is sometimes a challenge, much less tending to spiritual needs and trying to be a role model. I fail daily, but I keep trying, and I keep asking for God's grace and mercy.

I also try to keep in mind that Proverbs 21 says it is better for a man to dwell in the corner of the rooftop than to share his home with a contentious woman. When I am tempted to nag (or after I have nagged!) about dirty clothes that don't make it to the laundry basket, or water left on the sink after teeth are brushed, or other matters of equal importance, I try to ask if I am driving my husband to the rooftop. Yes, I want him to do his part in keeping the house picked up, but I need to honor him as well. It is a delicate balance, one I am still trying to acquire. Again, I keep asking for grace and mercy. I am not an excellent wife or mother, but I long to be.

Perhaps you have other words of wisdom to share regarding marriage or family. I would certainly love to hear them.

Blessings,
Bev

When Life Gives You Lasagna, Make Soup

2008-12-10T09:36:00.006-05:00

Elizabeth: (While playing with her Play-Doh factory) Look at the soup I made!

Robert: Elizabeth, that's lasagna. See, it's flat like lasagna noodles.

Elizabeth: Ya...Ya (having trouble saying the word)... I'll just call it soup.

:-)

Here are some pictures of her playing...at 4:30 this morning. So much for getting up early to have quiet time to myself. She looked so sweet, though, feeding "nutritious foods" to her Hippo.

Do you wear crocs?

2008-12-09T20:40:00.003-05:00

I have typed this post several times, but before I can publish it, life interferes. Hope wakes up early, or Elizabeth bumps her head and needs me to hold her (which is better than when she tells me she hurt her bottom and needs me to kiss it...), or Robert and Abel turn into the Pick and Nag brothers and get into a disagreement in which the word butt is used several times. (Please do not get the wrong idea. They are fabulous boys.)

Oh wait. Here are the girls. It seems Dora went off before I could finish typing. Now I must go put my daughters to bed. Priorities and all that. Let's see if I can get back before the session times out.

...

One daughter down. One refusing to close her eyes. But here I go again.

If you wear crocs, you can have them recycled. They are ground up, formed into new shoes, and donated to organizations that work in third world countries. Neat, huh? Someone posted the site on the message board for our homeschool group, and I wanted to share it here. To learn more about the program, go to SolesUnited . To learn where you can donate your used shoes, click here .

Now, it's trivia time.

Who kept time with the Little Drummer Boy? The ox and the lamb.

What do most elves wear on the tips of their shoes? Bells.

Who do we pretend the snowman is in the song "Winter Wonderland"? Parson Brown

... I hear the patter of little feet. She is still not asleep. She is asking for cookies. (No way!) I suspect it will be a long night.

Blessings,
Bev

Wise Decisions

2008-12-07T05:11:00.009-05:00

Today's news provides me with another wise-decisions lesson for my children. This is not a happy story. You can read it here. A 25-year-old woman from Brooklyn has been missing since Wednesday morning, when she left a bar with a registered sex offender.

Now, how many things are wrong with that picture? Hmmm... let's see. I would say you do not need to be in a bar, especially at 4:00 in the morning. Tell me what good can come of that. (Go ahead and yell at me for saying you need not frequent bars. I will not be swayed. I am certain beyond the shadow of a doubt that one can lead an exciting, fulfilling life without spending your evenings in night clubs.) Next, she left the bar with a man I am assuming she did not know. If she did know him, did she know about his criminal record? Just what does one think a man has in mind when he leaves a bar with a woman in the wee hours of the night? He is not interested in hearing about the books she reads or about her dreams of becoming an actress. He does not know a famous producer that he can hook her up with. If he promises any of those things and is sincere, then he can contact her via email or the telephone -- tomorrow -- when it is light outside.

At 25, a woman should know better, but a charming man can be incredibly persuasive. Even strong, intelligent, mature women who have been taught to say no, who know the dangers, can get caught up in the thrill of being at the center of a handsome man's attention. Believe me, silly, giggly, immature teenagers are not the only females whose emotions can get the best of them. A smooth talking man can talk a woman into making very unwise choices, especially if she has alcohol in her system, especially if she is lonely, especially in an environment like a nightclub. (Want to yell at me again? I am not belittling females. I am being honest. We are emotional creatures. Yes, some women are stronger than others. Yes, some can resist or see through a slick proposal, but do you want to take that chance when it comes to your daughter?) I do not mean to say that tragedies like this are the fault of the victim. I am saying that we cannot control the actions of others, so we need to protect ourselves and try to stay out of harm's way.

So how does one avoid pitfalls like this? The answer is easy. You do not go to bars alone. You do not go places with men you do not know. You need to be home during the wee hours of the night! You say there are no other ways for a woman to look for a potential mate? Sure there are -- and believe it or not, nice men go out during daylight hours, too. You say a girl has a right to unwind and have a good time? Sure she does, but there are plenty of safer ways to unwind, make friends, and enjoy yourself.

Am I a prude? You better believe it. Do I want to do everything I can to protect my children and prepare them for adulthood? Absolutely. Do I want to keep them from ever having fun? Of course not! But I want them to learn to find pleasure in the simple things in life, to dream big and pursue their dreams, and to do so wisely. There are enough dangers in day to day living, and we need not go looking for trouble.

My heart breaks for this poor woman and for her loved ones who just want her to come home. I do not know if she is dead or alive, but if she is missing, can it be for a good reason? I doubt it. This is a senseless tragedy. It could have been prevented.

Teach your children to make wise decisions, do all you can to protect them, and pray that they will remember what they have been taught.

Bev

Pictures, Ornament Recipe, and Fun Facts

2008-12-06T19:05:00.004-05:00

I usually have family pictures made this time of year, but with the busyness of our world lately, I have not had time to schedule an appointment. I really wanted to have pics to send with Christmas cards, though, especially for loved ones we do not see often. I decided to use the digital camera and take photos myself. They won't look like the professional ones, but I thought they would be nice.

I worked hard to get this done right, mind you. I dressed the children in red and white. I took lots of practice shots until I found just the right spot (making sure the Christmas tree was not fully in view since Hope pulls all of the ornaments off the bottom half when my back is turned and I got tired of putting them back on). I was ready. The problem was that my darling two-year-old did not want to sit in her sister's lap for pictures. She was not hungry. She was not sleepy. She just did not want to cooperate.

Pictures really are a big deal to me. I really wanted this to work. I did all I could think of to get her to smile long enough to snap one good shot. I bribed her with a lollipop. I did funny dances. I squeaked a duck and jingled some bells. Nothing was working. Then my older children had an idea. I turned a Dora DVD on and sat with the computer in my lap. It worked. We will have Christmas pictures after all. I thought I would share some of the shots that will not be mailed with the cards. Of course, maybe these are the ones I should send. I am certain we would get some laughs!

We had fun decorating for the holidays this week. I don't do anything fancy, but I do enjoy having a few lights along the fence and here and there inside the house. The lights give me joy. I especially enjoy turning them on early in the morning, when I am the only one awake. It's so peaceful and happy. Last year, I was reluctant to take my lights down, so I made heart shaped ornaments, painted them red, and hung them on the set of lights and garland hanging around my back door. I kept that set up until Valentine's Day. I considered making shamrocks and hanging on for another month, but I gave in and packed them away.

There are several ornament recipes online and in my numerous cookbooks, and I do not remember which one I used. (I know it was a really simple one!) Here is one I found that allows you to do the baking in the microwave. I think I'll try that this year!

BAKED DOUGH ORNAMENTS

4 c. all purpose flour
1 c. salt
1 1/2 c. water
Tempera or acrylic paint
String or ribbon
Clear acrylic or varnish

Do not eat the ornament!

Mix all ingredients in large bowl with your hands. Roll into a smooth ball. Roll dough 1/4" thick with rolling pin on waxed paper. If sticky, sprinkle more flour on wax paper. Cut out shapes with cookie cutters or table knife. Use a pencil to make a hole for a string to go through. Bake 4 to 5 minutes in microwave on high. Do one at a time. The time needed and the size/thickness can be changed for different projects. When cooled they can be painted with tempera/acrylic paint. Then sprayed with clear acrylic paint (or varnish) to seal out moisture.

Store in cool, dry place when not being used.

Lots o' fun!

Of course, I cannot end this post without a few important facts about Christmas.

What are the two most popular Christmas colors after red and green?

Silver and Gold.

Hanging a wreath on the front door comes from which ancient culture?

The Romans (or maybe the Persians, depending on what sources you check)

One more...What is the biggest selling Christmas single of all time?

"White Christmas"

A fun site for lots of things Christmas

Blessings,
Bev

Money

2008-12-06T04:14:00.002-05:00

Does it make anyone else the least bit uncomfortable that the people who are leading our nation during an economic recession are not so great at managing their campaign money? Why would we expect them to be stern with banks and automakers who come asking for bailout money when they spend more than they have to get elected?

I am not in favor of more government control on spending, but I would certainly be more impressed by leaders who spend carefully, and who do not spend money they don't have. They might be a little more inclined to work on the national budget in the same manner.

Just a thought...

Democrats in Debt

Clinton's Fundraising

(In the interest of fairness, when I find stories about Republicans in financial trouble, I will share those, too.) My goal is not to embarrass those who spend unwisely, as I certainly am constantly working on that myself, but to bring attention to the practices of those who have been elected to lead our country. I am neither a politician nor a financial advisor, but stories like this frighten me as a mom.

Bev

O.J. Simpson

2008-12-05T14:34:00.001-05:00

Woo. Hoo.

Small comfort to the Brown and Goldman families, but perhaps a small taste of justice nonetheless.

Mom Videos

2008-12-04T20:29:00.008-05:00

Where did this week go??? I have intended to post several times, but bedtime comes before I get to the computer or Hope wakes up early in the morning and wants to help me type. I have several things I want to share, but while I work on getting them written, enjoy the following videos. One was sent by my fun friend Deb. It reminded me of the Mom Song, which you have probably seen but is still really funny. Enjoy, and I hope to be back with more posts soon.

Bev

(I could not get the videos to load directly on the page, so I am pasting in the links. Sorry.)

Go Fish Mom Song

The Mom Song

PS -- Name the two states in the USA with a town called North Pole.

Alaska and New York.

(I love the holidays!)

Remembering the Past...

2008-11-30T20:58:00.009-05:00

I got to worship at my former church this morning, the place I called home before I married my prince charming and moved far, far away. The congregation is small, and it was such a delight to see everyone again. I enjoyed visiting with the Longs, the Brinks, the Holbrooks, the Browns, and the Beldens, as well as meeting some new families. There was not enough time to get caught up, but it warmed my heart to see children who had grown and share hugs with dear friends. Isn't it wonderful to be somewhere that you truly feel loved, to know that people are sincerely glad to see you, and that they mean it when they ask how you are? Wonderful.

The visit also reminded me of a funny story. For a time, I was the only unmarried adult in the congregation. One month, the pastor shared a series of sermons about family. The first week, he preached about God's commands for husbands. The next week, he spoke to wives. The third week, he addressed what God says about children. It was a very informative series, filled with insightful, beautiful lessons, but I remember chuckling to myself that the pastor had preached to everyone in the church but me that month. I didn't fit in either of those categories, so I sort of got a pass.

Want to know what the week four message was about? David, Bathsheba, and the sin of adultery! I kid you not. I'm sure it was just a coincidence. I'm certain the pastor was not trying to make sure everyone heard a message that they could apply directly to their own lives, especially the single gal who needed to be reminded about what trouble she could easily get into. I'm certain that it only seemed like people were looking at me out of the corner of their eyes, then looking at one another with raised eyebrows as he spoke. I'm not really that self-conscious or paranoid. I'm sure it was just one of those things. Regardless, I'm completely over it now. It hardly ever crosses my mind. Really. Like I said, it was so nice to visit this morning.

Want to know what today's sermon was about? Revenge. Like, how if someone does something that embarrasses you or makes you uncomfortable, you ought not try to get back at them by posting about it on your blog. It was a really good message.

Yeah, I have a way to go in my spiritual walk...

Have a wonderful night (and go to bed, Sheryl -- it's late)!

Bev

(Edited to add: Just in case there is doubt, my tone is meant to be light. I have much respect and affection for the pastor and his wife. My intent is to make you laugh, not to be spiteful.)

Big Brother...

2008-11-29T18:31:00.003-05:00

We are having a delightful time visiting with grandparents this weekend. As always, my children are providing plenty of entertainment. Last night, Elizabeth was running in Grandma's house and I could not get her to stop. (That is not the entertaining part.) She ended up sitting quietly on the couch beside Daddy. She did not like it, but she obeyed. We knew when her attention span was gone, though. She began telling us that she was getting bored...that she was not enjoying her time on the couch any longer. Mark basically ignored her complaining until she said, "Daddy, this is about as much fun as watching paint dry!"

That got our attention. We both stopped, stared at her open-mouthed for a few minutes, then composed ourselves enough to ask where she had heard that. She didn't give us an answer, but she did earn a few more minutes on the couch.

We learned later that it was her big brother Robert who taught her such a respectful phrase. You know, that guy who is supposed to protect and defend her, who teaches her good things and sets a fine example for her. I'm sure he did some giggling when he shared the fun new saying he was introducing to her. Unfortunately, he neglected to teach her that it is not the best thing to say to Daddy when trying to get out of trouble.

Funny. It made Pappy, Granny, and Grandma laugh a lot, when Elizabeth was not listening, of course!

Have a great evening!

Bev

My Little Elves

2008-11-28T06:08:00.005-05:00

I love the holidays! I love lights and greenery and happy people and music and snow and ... I just love it all! Thanksgiving was wonderful, and I look forward to a weekend with my parents. Next week, we will put up some decorations and get back to school work. Before I leave, though, let me share some Christmas trivia and a fun video. I'm sure my children will love me for posting it.

How many gifts would you receive if you counted all the gifts in the song "The 12 Days of Christmas?" 364! Gee, I would settle for the five golden rings.

Enjoy the video, then go over to Elf Yourself to create your own. It is free (or $5 if you want to download and keep it). It is easy, if you have pictures you can upload to your computer. It's oh-so-funny, too!

Blessings, Bev

Powdered Doughnuts

2008-11-26T19:07:00.005-05:00

Warning: This post is not about healthy food. It is not about healthy eating. No wise decisions will be shared here. If you are looking for ideas for a nutritious dessert to share with your little darlings, stop reading now. Do a search on Google. There are hundreds, nay, thousands of well-educated, superbly experienced cooks blogging about the good things you can feed your family. This is not what you will find here tonight. Continuing to read is at your own risk.

However, if you would like a little break from all that good-for-your-arteries kind of stuff, you have come to the right place. Let’s talk about doughnuts. This is the easiest way of making doughnuts you will ever find, short of driving down to the nearest Krispy Kreme location and picking up a dozen. (No, these are not even in the same category as Krispy Kreme, but when you want something quick, easy, and sweet, they will definitely suffice.)

The directions (this does not count as a recipe):

Pour 1 to 2 cups of powdered sugar into a pie pan or shallow bowl.

Pour about 1/4 inch of your favorite cooking oil into your deepest skillet (more oil if you wish, but a lot is not really necessary).

Heat the oil over medium high heat.

While the oil is heating, open a can of biscuits. (The bicuits that are layered do not work as well. They sometimes come apart. They will work if that's all you have, but if you are using Pilsbury, the red or blue cans are better.) Use your thumb to gently poke a hole in the biscuit and stretch it out a bit, so you have what looks like a doughnut.

Drop the biscuit into the pan and fry it, being careful not to let it or your fingers get burned. Repeat with the other biscuits in the can. These brown quickly. Turn them once.

When each doughnut is done, place it in the sugar and turn to coat.

Place powdered doughnuts on a clean plate and keep something nearby to swat at hands that try to swipe the doughnuts before you even get them to the table.

After the last doughnut comes out of the skillet, remember to turn off the burner. Your mouth will be watering and you will be focused on getting to the table, but leaving the oil on the stove will lead to a big fire. Not good.

Pour a glass of milk or your favorite beverage. (I recommend cold Diet Pepsi, but to each her own.) Dig in, being careful to wipe the sugar off your lips so as to protect your dignity.

Yum!

We do not fry foods very often here, though my mom and grandmothers definitely cooked that way. While we were making these last night, my daughter looked at me very seriously and asked, “Is this the way you used to cook?”

I had to bite my lip to keep from saying, “Yes, back when I was skinny and hardly ever ate vegetables!”

I sort of thought that would be sending the wrong message, so I just said my mom occasionally fixed these for us when I was growing up. And that is the truth.

Have a wonderful night, and a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Blessings,
Bev

Red Bean Chili

2008-11-26T06:36:00.002-05:00

I am sure this is not the case at your house, but my basement has become the place where stuff gets piled. Any papers that need to be filed or shredded, pile them in the basement. Anything that needs to be put away, but doesn't have a place yet, the basement. School books that are not currently being used. Yep, the basement. It was getting out of control, so I finally decided I need to make cleaning it a priority. I also want to move our school room down there. Currently, the older children work in the "living area," the kitchen, living room, and dining room, which are all sort of connected. The problem is that I also have a 2 and 3 year old who cannot be quiet all day while their siblings work. So, I want to convert one of the two small rooms downstairs into a school room where the older ones can study without pre-schoolers climbing all over them. My goal is to start the new semester down there after Christmas.

So I've been working. I have decided that my neighbors must be bringing their piles of credit card applications, old recipts, school papers, and other Important Things That No One Has Time To Deal With to our basement. How can we generate so much stuff??? I am making progress, though. The file cabinets are in much better order, with drawers for keepsakes, papers for the house, and school work. I filled a laundry basket with junk for the recycle bin, and brought up a stack of old papers that the kids can draw/color/paint on the back of. Yay! Progress.
Some interesting items I found:
*$16 -- in old birthday cards!
*a $25 gift card to Target -- a gift from when Elizabeth was born...almost 4 years ago (Mark checked the number online. It says the card has expired. Bummer.)
*Lots of credit card applications (I shred the parts with our info on them), including several from ESPN. Really, ESPN?
*A package of McDonald's coupons (Hey, maybe we will use those if we need to stop on the way to Grandma's house this weekend.)
*Several "Please subscribe" letters from Fortune Magazine. Fortune magazine? Ha, ha, ha. Oh, if only they knew us. We should be getting requests from the folks at No Fortune But Lots of Children and Lots of Bills Magazine. Yep, we would subscribe to that one. Gee, we could write for it!
*My recipe card for Taco Soup. Don't ask. I have children and sometimes my brain does not work. That should cover any reason why the card is in the basement as opposed to in the little black box where it belongs. It's in the proper place now.
*Receipts and user manuals for appliances I purchased years ago and no longer own: A weed-eater that died long ago; a gas heater I installed my old house, which I sold in 2004; the baby swing that was purchased in last spring's yard sale... and so on, and so on...

There were other things, but I'll let it go at that. I never throw things away. I just don't always put them where they go. But I am working on it.

I've also been putting warm weather clothes away and putting cold weather clothes in the closet. Yes, I'm way behind, but I started all this in October, before my mom and stepmother got sick. Things got a little crazy. Well, I'm always behind, but that's the reason this time. We don't have a lot of closet space, so out-of-season clothes get stored in Rubbermaid bins in the garage.

I cannot believe how much clothing we have for the seven of us. Surely Mr. and Mrs. George, our kindly neighbors, are paying the children to sneak their shorts and T-shirts into the piles, too. Regardless, clothes are now stored, and we will take four bags of out-grown items to Goodwill today! Yippee! (Sidenote: My neighbor's first name is George, so my children call him Mr. George. Thus, they call his wife Mrs. George. She loves it and asked me not to correct them. So, we all call them Mr. and Mrs. George. Sweet.)

I am on the right track! Soon, the children will have a quiet school room and Mark will have his little library back, clutter free. I will keep you updated on this oh-so-exciting drama!

Now, on to the important stuff. The chili recipe. I love, love, love chili, but I've been trying to cut back a little bit on red meat, so I had not made it yet this season. Yesterday was the perfect time. I did make one change to my usual, simple recipe. I usually add plain ole chili powder for seasoning, but I tried a mix I found online. It was good, but I ended up adding more chili powder. I should probably double the seasoning recipe next time. This made a big pot, so we will have it again tonight, which will make preparing for Thanksgiving a bit easier.

The recipe:
(All amounts are estimates. You can add or decrease as suits your tastes.)

1 lb (or more, as desired) ground beef
4 cups kidney beans, cooked and drained (or 2 cans, rinsed and drained)
2 cans diced tomatoes
2 cans tomato sauce
1 onion
1 green pepper
2 cups water
1 serving chili seasoning (see below)

Chili seasoning (adjusted a bit from the one I found):
1 tbsp. chili powder
2 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. ground oregano
1 tbsp. seasoned salt
1 tsp. instant minced onion
1/4 tsp. instant minced garlic (I skipped the dry and added minced garlic.)

Brown the ground beef with the peppers and onions. Drain any fat. (I had a large package of meat that I had browned the day before. I added about 2 cups to the chili. The rest goes in the freezer for the next dish.)

Combine all ingredients in the crockpot. Cook on low 6-8 hours. Top with cheese and sour cream, if desired.

*Remember, if you are using dry beans, cook them on the stove. They release a toxin that is not taken care of in the slow cooker. (I realize that sounds really lame and unspecific. Please do some research on your own. This post is really long already!) http://www.foodreference.com/html/artredkidneybeanpoisoning.html

Yum! Have a great day!

Bev

White Bean Soup (or Chili)

2008-11-24T19:37:00.004-05:00

A couple of funnies, first.

We took our whole gang to the session meeting, where Hannah took membership vows to join the church, on Saturday. I wanted all of us there for this important occasion. There was another family there, also becoming members. This sweet, young family had a newborn (really new -- two weeks old). Mark looked at the little bundle, sighed a big sigh, and looked at me all googly-eyed. I just shook my head no and looked away! He has to be kidding!

(Okay, for the record, I would love to have more children if circumstances were a little different: if I were a little younger, if I didn't have like 400 pounds that I have put on since getting married to lose, if I weren't still trying to figure everything out after going from zero to five children in just over two years...you get the idea.)

I just thought it was funny and sweet. My darling husband would not complain if God sent us five more children. I would not mind either, if God sent them via an alternative route. I do not do pregnancy well.

Second funny... My kids told me a joke today. That is nothing new, but this one really made me chuckle. Here goes. What do you call a rabbit owned by an insect?
A bug's bunny. Ha, ha, ha. Tee, hee, hee.

Okay, onto more serious stuff. This post is about beans, after all. I made white bean soup, or chili, whichever you want to call it, today. I have a recipe that I like, but I wanted to try Stephanie's version. So I sort of combined the two.

The recipe:

4 cups or so of white beans (I used navy beans I had cooked and frozen a few weeks ago.)
1 onion, chopped
2 apples, cut in tiny chunks, peels on (I had a Granny Smith and a Golden Delicious on hand, so that's what went in.)
3 cloves minced garlic (I buy the pre-minced stuff in the jar, and I love it.)
1 (4 oz) can chopped green chilies
2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp ground thyme
1 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
3 cups chicken broth (I made it myself! I cooked a chicken in the crockpot yesterday, then made broth overnight!)
4 cups or so of cooked, chopped chicken (from the freezer)
1/2 cup plain non fat yogurt

I put it all in the crockpot and cooked on high for about 4 hours since some of the ingredients were still frozen. After that, I cooked on low for 2-3 more hours, then turned off the heat and removed the lid to allow it to cool before dinner.

This was good. I don't know if I liked it better than my original recipe (which did not have the apples or the yogurt), but we liked it. This made A LOT, so leftovers went directly into the freezer for another night.

Tomorrow is chili night again. What do you call chili made with kidney beans and ground beef? That's just regular ole chili to me. Anyway, I browned the meat with peppers and onions, and even cooked the beans today. All I have to do tomorrow is put all the ingredients in the crockpot and turn it on. Ahhh...

Long post. I need to go watch Dancing with the Stars. I'll be so sad when the season is over.

Blessings,
Bev

To God Be the Glory

2008-11-23T21:08:00.002-05:00

It is Thanksgiving week, and oh what God gave us to be thankful for this Lord's Day. My beautiful, intelligent, tender-hearted daughter Hannah became a church member this morning. We are presbyterian, so Hannah was baptized as an infant. However, after working through the catechism and growing in many ways, she expressed a desire to make a profession of faith and begin taking communion. When we spoke with our pastor about it, he said he likes to meet with young people before they take membership vows. They met each week for a few months. He had her memorize scripture and made sure that she had an understanding of what it means to be a Christian. They talked about serious theological issues. She understands that she is a sinner saved by God's grace. I think she knows much more scripture than I do. I believe she loves the Lord and loves His word. Oh my, what more could a mother want for her children?

Yesterday, she went before the session, and this morning she stood before the congregation while the pastor welcomed her. She will take communion for the first time in a few weeks.

We sang How Great Thou Art before Grace went before the church. That is one of a handful of songs that I simply cannot sing without being moved to tears. This morning it was especially powerful to me. I could not help but think of the great things God has done for my wonderful family and for me. I am certainly not the mother I dreamed of being. I do not pray with my children as much as I should. We do not always have family Bible reading (We try...). I am certainly not the example of a gentle, quiet, even-tempered mother that I wish I was. I fail in so many ways, and Hannah (all the children) deserve much better. Yet, I know I am trying. They know I am trying. They know I love them, and I know they love me. Even when they want to wring my neck or they think I'm the meanest mom EVER, deep down, we love one another. That is what God has given me. How Great Thou Art. How unworthy we are. God has brought my sweet daughter unto himself, given her his name.

The tears come again even as I write, and all I can think is to pray that God will allow me to see all my children come to know him, and to thank him for such incredible blessings. May I be a better leader and better example for Hannah's siblings, and may I help her grow in grace.

To God be the glory. Great things He has done.

Bev

Roasted Chicken and Sweet Potatoes

2008-11-21T21:03:00.003-05:00

Another simple, easy meal tonight. I sliced chicken breasts into strips and placed them on a large cookie sheet. I sprinkled a small amount of salt, along with lemon pepper on top. On another cookie sheet, I placed sliced sweet potatoes (peels on). I baked them at the same time, in a 400 degree oven, for 25 minutes. While they baked, I cooked a quart of those apples from the freezer and steamed some broccoli.

Quick, yummy, nutritious!

More thoughts to share, but they will have to wait until the weekend. I'm tired, and I am off to bed. In the meantime, check out some of the other blogs listed over on the right. I found a few new ones recently, and I think you will enjoy them. Have a wonderful night!

Bev

Lentil Soup

2008-11-19T19:09:00.003-05:00

I made the most yummy, healthy, inexpensive, easy soup in the crockpot today. It was yet another recipe from Stephanie's Crockpot Blog . If you like to cook, or if you want to learn more about using your crockpot, or if you like to eat, you really should visit this site!

The soup was so good. Go here to see the recipe and a picture. Moroccon Lentil Soup. I made a few minor changes. I did not add garam masala because, well, I did not know what that was until I looked it up on wikipedia, and I could not find it in the spice aisle at my grocery store. I used ground ginger instead of fresh. I also skipped the puree step at the end because my hand mixer would not work. Hmph.

Regardless, everyone over the age of five ate it and enjoyed it. Elizabeth and Hope are living on bananas, grapes, peanut butter, and cheese these days. So much for my desire to feed my children well.

Anyway, this soup was great. There was enough left for dinner tomorrow night (yippee). I will make this again. And did I mention that it is inexpensive and nutritious?

Blessings,
Bev

Chocolate Moment

2008-11-19T10:55:00.004-05:00

Do you know how hard it is to sneak a few M&Ms in this house -- without having to share them? No matter how hard I plan, no matter how I check to make sure everyone is occupied in another room, someone hears the package rattle or smells the candy the moment I open the bag or senses that Mom is alone for a few seconds, and here they come.

Am I selfish? Mean? Perhaps. You know I am not going to let them have candy at 10:30 in the morning, but when a woman lives with five children, I think she deserves a little chocolate when she has the urge!

Furthermore, what do you think of the fact that I cannot even write a short little post for my blog, when my children are supposed to be doing school work, without all of them suddenly needing my attention?

Hmph. I'm off to get some carrots to munch on. Let's see if that brings them running toward the kitchen!

Bev

Potpourri Cooker in Place of Candles

2008-11-18T21:01:00.004-05:00

I love the aroma and the mood created by sweet smelling candles, but we only use candles for birthday cakes in this house. I have five energetic children. That's ten always-moving arms. Twenty never-still limbs. I am not willing to take the risk. But this time of year, I want the house to smell like the holidays, so I use my potpourri cooker. At least if one of the balls no one is supposed to be tossing in the house sails into the pot, I do not have to worry about the house catching on fire.

You do not have to purchase expensive potpourri to use your inexpensive cooker (or potpourri warmer, if that is what you call it). Simply put a little water in the cooker (1/2 to 1 inch), then add whatever spices you like. My favorite combination is vanilla and cinnamon. (This is the only thing for which I use imitation vanilla, which is really inexpensive if you buy the store brand. Cook with the real stuff, though. It's better for you.)

I've tried several combinations, and intend to try more this season. I added whole cloves once, but the smell was so overwhelming, I had to quickly toss the entire batch. I'm thinking of adding pumpkin pie spice, or maybe peppermint extract. I'll let you know if they work well. We had tangerines for lunch today, so I saved the peels and put those in the pot with some water. The smell was too pungent, so I took most of them out. With only a few small peels, the scent was much more pleasant. Mmmmm....

Since my theme is holiday related, let me share yet another Elizabeth story. (That child provides enough material that I could write a book about her alone.) I bought a pack of Christmas trivia cards the other day. I have been reading a few of the cards at breakfast or lunch for the children. This morning's question was, "Where was the first Christmas card created?" Elizabeth's immediate answer: The North Pole.

(The correct answer is England, but Elizabeth's is definitely funnier!)

Have a wonderful night. I need to go see who made it to the finals of Dancing with the Stars.

Bev

Blessings

2008-11-17T04:03:00.003-05:00

When I was single, I went to church alone and I sat by myself, unless some of the sweet, sweet children in the church sat beside me and kept me company. There were more children than adults in our small congregation, so I was certainly never lonely. One beautiful little firecracker named Jenny used to sit on my lap, wiggling and squirming the entire service. (Little did I know she was doing her part to prepare me for motherhood. Both of my girls have been just like her in that area. I hope they pick up some of her other traits, too. She is growing into a beautiful, intellingent, godly young lady.) I even listened to the entire sermon and took notes back then.

Now, just a few short years later, my family travels to church in a van. We fill almost an entire pew in the sanctuary. I feel like I need eight arms to keep both of the little ones in their seat, quiet, and still. I often end up taking one or both of them into the church vestibule for most of the service, so I miss the sermon. There are speakers that allow me to hear the pastor, but my attention is usually focused on the girls. (Mark is great at reviewing.) I do not take notes. Yet, I know this is a short season, so I do not complain about dealing with Elizabeth and Hope. I want them to learn to sit through the service, and I know they will eventually. I am just so thankful for these blessings God has given me. I wanted a family, but I did not know if having one was part of God's plan for me. What changes He has brought to my world in such a short time. How very blessed I am.

May I be a better wife and mother today, and may my savior draw me closer unto himself. May I remember to count my blessings and react to those around me in a gentle, loving way.

May your heart be guided by our savior, as well.

Bev

Easy Apple Butter

2008-11-16T05:05:00.006-05:00

I made apple butter! I am so excited! Before we came home from the mountains (eastern Kentucky) on Wednesday, my uncle brought us a big box of apples. I had no idea what kind they were, other than the kind that grows on trees, as evidenced by the long stems and leaves still attached to many of them. I was not sure what to do with all of them, but with everything else I had to do, and with the condition of my home after a crazy few weeks (think snow globe, all shook up), I needed a quick and easy way to get these yummy orbs preserved. So I went to the internet.

I initially found a recipe that called for making apple butter using pectin. I thought that was for jelly, but being the inexperienced country girl that I am, I just went out and bought pectin. But then I went searching for how to freeze the rest of the apples and found directions for making apple butter for the freezer. The fact that the title contained the word "easy" caught my attention.

The recipe:

5 1/2 lbs. apples, peeled and finely chopped (I did not peel. I washed really well and chopped.)
4 cups sugar, more or less depending on apple sweetness
2-3 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp salt

Place apples in slow cooker. Combine sugar, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Pour over apples and mix well. Cover and cook on high for 1 hour. Reduce heat to low and cook for 9-11 hours or until thickened and dark brown, stirring occasionally. Stir more frequently as it thickens to prevent sticking. Uncover and cook on low 1 hour longer. If desired, stir with a wire whisk until smooth. Spoon into freezer containers, leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Cover and refrigerate or freeze. Makes 4 pints.

I did not schedule the start time well, so mine cooked for about 14 hours. I was not willing to get up in the middle of the night to take care of them, but there was so much liquid in the crockpot when I went to bed that I was not concerned. When I got up, I removed the lid and cooked for about 2 more hours to let the liquid evaporate. I was convinced that I had way overcooked this and no one would touch it with a ten foot pole. I was wrong! My family loved it. Even Mark, who is not crazy about such concoctions, loved it. I made biscuits (okay, from a can...) at lunch so they could enjoy it. I was so proud. The only thing I would do differently is to add less sugar. I think it is a bit too sweet, but I heard no complaints.

As the recipe stated, this made about 4 pints. I spooned it into 4 of those disposable Rubbermaid containers with the twist lids. One went into the refrigerator and the other 3 into the freezer. I hope the freezer does not change their consistency.

Sidenote: After putting the apples in the crockpot, I still had a lot left in the box. I did not have time to make applesauce or anything else, so I simply sliced them and put them in freezer bags. I have FIFTEEN quarts. My freezer is full. I cannot buy anything else that must be kept frozen until we consume the apples and zucchini. Suggestions, anyone?

Second sidenote: Is anyone else's body still operating on Daylight Savings Time? As anyone who has ever been in my presence after the sun goes down can tell you, I am not a night person. If I had my way, I would go to bed at 9:00 each night and get up at 3:30 or 4:00. I love, love, love the quiet and productivity of the wee hours, but my mind stops functioning when I am tired at night. Since the time change, though, I want to go to bed after dinner. I bath the girls and get their pajamas on, ready to read and tuck them in, and the clock says 6:48. I fell asleep in front of the computer while Mark rocked Hope the other night. It was 8:00. I do not remember having this much trouble adjusting in the past. Maybe I'm just getting old. But I am not having trouble waking up in the morning!

Time to get ready for church. Have a blessed day!

Bev

Whole Wheat Biscuits

2008-11-14T07:32:00.002-05:00

Elizabeth slept a little late this morning, so when she started waking up, I teased her and asked if she was going to sleep all day.

"No. I just have a lot of sleepy points this morning."

I love her creative mind!

On to the recipe... I have been wondering if I could make biscuits with whole wheat flour. My gang loves canned biscuits, so I wanted to see if I could make something a little healthier. I realize the words biscuit and healthy are not usually used in the same sentence, but I am adventurous and wanted to try. A quick internet search yielded a few recipes, so I played with them a bit and came up with the following recipe. The biscuits were good. They are not the soft, flaky, perfectly round biscuits that your grandmother made, if your grandmother used lots of Crisco and rolled the dough out with her wooden rolling pin, then used a drinking glass to cut perfect circles, and made a big pan of sausage gravy in her cast-iron skillet while they baked. No, they aren't like that. But they are good. I want to keep looking and playing with this idea in an effort to improve the biscuits, but I will make these again. The children loved them, and that's the important thing to me (other than that healthy thing).

I doubled this recipe and made what my brother calls drip biscuits. You probably call them drop biscuits. Instead of making a thicker dough that I could roll out, I made a wetter batter that I could spoon. I baked one batch in my mini-muffin tin, like my grandmother sometimes did. These make nice, little, bite-sized biscuits. I used the leftover batter to make 6 regular sized biscuits on a cookie sheet. I keep meaning to take pictures that I can post. I will try to remember the next time.

The recipe:

1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup all purpose flour
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
about 1 cup skim milk (I suspect 2%, whole, or buttermilk would work. This is what one of the recipes called for and what I happened to have in the refrigerator.)
1/3 cup oil (I used olive oil, again because that is what I had on hand. I am not an expert on the way different oils affect flavor. I just know olive oil is good for you, and I am not willing to keep five different types in my small kitchen.)

Preheat oven to 400. (You may want to adjust the temperture depending on your oven. I will probably try 425 the next time.) Combine dry ingredients. Combine milk and oil in a separate bowl. Make a depression in the center of the dry ingredients and add the liquid mixture. Stir only until all ingredients are moist. Drop onto a cookie sheet or into mini-muffin cups. Bake until lightly browned, about 12 minutes.

Enjoy!

Blessings,
Bev

What Fun!

2008-11-13T05:05:00.003-05:00

My mom is still in the hospital, but she is stable so I came home for a bit. The children have classes at our co-op today, and I teach an English class. (My mind feels like mush after these crazy past few weeks, so I do not know how much teaching I will do, but we are almost at the end of the semester. Fortunately, this is not a time when I need to be giving difficult lectures. We are winding down and finishing some projects.)

Hannah took some fun pictures of Elizabeth and the boys playing in the leaves last week. I just loved them, and wanted to share. I hope you enjoy them!

Bev

Thou Shalt Not Steal

2008-11-11T05:38:00.003-05:00

Our world has been a little crazy since my mom went into the hospital, as it often is when there is a crisis. My children are being real troopers, but I get some interesting reports about what happens while I am away.

When I called to check on everyone yesterday, Elizabeth (3 1/2 yo) told me how dinner went.

E: We had a good day, Mommy. I ate my pizza like a big girl.
Me: That's great, sweetheart. Mommy is proud of you.
E: Yes, and after I ate my candy, I stole a piece of Abel's candy.
Me: (In my gentle, Mommy tone) Elizabeth, stealing is wrong. You need to ask before you take things.
E: Well, I did ask. But Abel said, "No," and got all mad at me, so I just took it.

We have a bit of work to do.

Blessings,
Bev

Update

2008-11-10T05:21:00.002-05:00

My mother is in the hospital. It is a long story, but it looks like this is going to be a long ordeal. We are dealing with the situation one day at a time. I am three hours from home, staying at my dad's house, and the hospital she is in is a 40 minute drive each way.

On a much brighter note, my children are with me now! Mark kept them for the weekend, but he loaded up school books, clothes, and the football that seems attached to Abel's hand, and brought them to me yesterday. What joy in my heart. It felt like I had been away from them for weeks instead of 55 hours and 27 minutes (uhm, approximately). They will stay with Pappy and Granny while I am at the hospital each day. I do not know how much school work they will do, but Pappy and Granny assure me they will help. It is hard to focus when the schedule is off, but they would be bored and stir crazy if we took the week off.

It did not take long for everything to feel normal again. Shortly after we got here, Hope found some checkers to play with. She loves to carry around little things that she can count, stack, and play with. (Remember the Splenda packets?) At one point, she crammed them into her mouth, then threw a huge fit when I took them away from her. Mean ole mommy. Elizabeth tried to feed her peanut butter sandwich to the dog. "But Mommy, she likes the peanut butter." Robert and Abel went through every board game in the play room. I am not sure what they will do for entertainment the rest of the week. Hannah spent an hour in the bathroom fixing her hair -- before bed! Ahhh. All is right with the world again. The only thing missing is that handsome fella who sleeps in my bed. I wish we were together, but we know this has to be taken care of and we pray this will be a short season.

Time to shower and get ready for the marathon ahead. How thankful I am to have these five beautiful mouths to feed this morning. I will update again soon, and I promise to get back to posting yummy recipes when I am home again. I also have hopes of following through with a resolution to prepare (and post about) healthy meals each day in 2009. I am chewing on details (ha, ha, ha...pardon the pun) and will elaborate soon.

Blessings,
Bev

Quick Note

2008-11-06T19:28:00.003-05:00

I am leaving in the morning to deal with a family emergency. I do not know how serious this is or how long it will take. I hope to be back home with my dear husband and my sweet babies (big and little ones!) soon. Since coming home from the hospital after giving birth to Hope 2+ years ago, I have not spent a single night away from them. Sometimes I take the children and visit my parents while Mark stays home, but I have not left all of them before. This will be difficult for me and them, but I know that God will give us all what we need.

Bev

The Election and a Publication

2008-11-06T02:51:00.004-05:00

I wanted to comment on the election, but Mandy's post says it much better than I could. http://ajourneydownthenarrowroad.blogspot.com/2008/11/curse-and-prayer.html
(Scroll down to the part written in red.)

Like Mandy and many others I've read about and spoken to, I believe that now is the time to stand behind our President-elect and pray for him. This is the leader our citizens chose. I will not always agree with him, and I will not keep my opinions silent, but I will speak of him with honor and respect.

On a much lighter note, I encourage you to take the time to check out Dawn's blog, http://mom2my6pack.blogspot.com/ , today. She received the first copy of her book yesterday and is so excited, as she should be! Her story is fun and exciting (just like her blog), and I am happy for her.

It's 3:00 a.m., when I should be in bed, but I have much to do. Time to shut down the computer and focus on responsibilities.

Until later,
Bev

PS -- I wish I could rename the links I paste in my posts. For example, instead of seeing the address for Mandy's post, I would like to show "Mandy's fabulous post" or something similar. I thought I had learned how to do it, but it is not working here. Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

Hmmm... Upon viewing my post, I see that the addresses are not even showing as links. It looks like I have some learning to do.

Nutty Sweet Potato Soup

2008-11-04T05:54:00.003-05:00

I love watching Ellie Krieger on the Food Network. She makes such yummy dishes that are so nutritious. (I've tried several.) When I saw her make the Nutty Sweet Potato Soup, I knew I had to try it. Mark loves sweet potatoes, and I have been looking for new soup and stew recipes.

The soup takes a little time to prepare, but is relatively easy. After the ingredients cook, you puree the soup, then add peanut butter and honey before serving. When I made this for my family, I took one bite and almost spit it back out. The spices nearly set my mouth on fire. I took my bowl to the sink, THEN I NOTICED THE PEANUT BUTTER AND HONEY ON THE COUNTER. I forgot to add them, and they significantly cool the heat. I'm a ding-dong.

Mark and the older children liked this both with and without the peanut butter. They have requested that I make it again. I will definitely add it to our menus.

I am including both the link to the Food Network site where this recipe is listed, as well as the recipe itself. I copied it directly from the site. I am a little concerned about copyright laws here. If it is not legal for me to post the recipe, someone let me know. Thanks!

The link: http://www.foodnetwork.com:80/recipes/nutty-sweet-potato-soup-recipe/index.html

The recipe:
Nutty Sweet Potato Soup2007 Ellie Krieger, All Rights Reserved

Yield
6 servings, serving size 1 1/2 cups
Times:Prep10 min Inactive Prep-- Cook30 min Total:40 min Recipe Tools:

Directions
1 tablespoon canola oil

Ingredients
1 large onion, diced (about 2 cups)
1 medium red bell pepper, seeded and diced (about 1 cup)
2 medium carrots, diced (about 1 cup)
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 clove garlic, minced (about 1 teaspoon)
1 teaspoon peeled and grated fresh ginger
1 large sweet potato, peeled and cubed (2 cups)
6 cups low-sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth
1 (14.5-ounce) can no salt added diced tomatoes, with their juices
2/3 cup creamy natural peanut butter
2 teaspoons honey
1/2 cup chopped scallion greens (about 3 scallions)

Heat the oil in a large soup pot over a medium-high heat. Add the onions, bell pepper and carrots and cook, stirring until the vegetables soften, about 5 minutes. Add the cayenne, black pepper, garlic and ginger and cook for 1 minute more. Stir in the sweet potato, broth, and tomatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 20 minutes.

*Puree the soup in the pot using an immersion blender or in a regular blender in 2 batches and return the soup to the pot. Add the peanut butter and honey and stir, over low heat, until the peanut butter melts. Serve warm, garnished with the scallions.

*When blending hot liquids: Remove liquid from the heat and allow to cool for at least 5 minutes. Transfer liquid to a blender or food processor and fill it no more than halfway. If using a blender, release one corner of the lid. This prevents the vacuum effect that creates heat explosions. Place a towel over the top of the machine, pulse a few times then process on high speed until smooth.

Enjoy!

Bev

Rustic Autumn Fruit Tart

2008-11-03T05:45:00.004-05:00

I've returned from my long weekend in the mountains. I enjoyed spending time with family (as always!), and my stepmother seems to be feeling little better.

I made this dessert a week or so ago, but have been too busy to post the recipe. It is yet another from the October/November 2008 issue of Taste of Home. I really recommend that you pick up a copy. There are so many great recipes in it, and we are still working on our way through them.

I have never made a pie before, so I thought even the simple preparation for this dish would be a challenge, but it was honestly very easy. I adapted the recipe a bit, so I am recording it my way rather than the way it is in the magazine. My family LOVED this! It's yummy, but you really do not need to feel guilty about indulging in a small serving. I topped ours with whipped topping. (I like ff whipped topping. It's not for everyone, but I sometimes have a few...well, okay, sometimes more than a few bites for dessert.)

The recipe (Plan ahead. Butter and cream cheese must be softened, and dough must chill for one hour. Make this after lunch for dinner tonight if you are home during the day, or after dinner the night before.):

1/2 cup butter, softened
4 ounces cream cheese, softened (I used reduced-fat; it worked well.)
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour (I will try subbing a little whole wheat flour the next time.)
2 large apples, sliced but not peeled
1 medium pear, sliced but not peeled (Peel the fruit if you wish. We like peels left on. It is easier and gives more fiber. The peel softens in baking, but if you do not like that texture, remove it.)
4 1/2 tsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 cup orange juice
1/3 cup brown sugar (I was out and used white.)
1/2 cup apricot jam, warmed (This is added after the tart bakes.)

In a small mixing bowl, beat butter and cream cheese until smooth. Gradually add flour, beat just until mixture forms a ball. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.

In a large bowl, combine apples and pear. In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and spices. Stir in orange juice until blended. Add sugar and blend. Add to the fruit mixture and gently stir to coat.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough into a 14 inch circle (does not need to be a perfect circle). Place in a 9 inch pie pan. (The crust will spill over the edges.) Pour the fruit and juices into the pan. Fold up the edges of the pastry over the fruit, leaving the center uncovered.

Bake at 375 for 40-45 minutes or until crust is golden and filling is bubbly. Spread with apricot jam. (I warmed the jam in a Pyrex measuring cup in the microwave, then used a spoon to pour/brush it over the pie.) Let cool on a cooling rack.

So simple and easy. I suspect this would work with lots of other fruits, but I am not a baking expert. I'll try some variety and let you know since my family insists I make this again. (I just love when they like something enough to ask for an encore!)

Have a wonderful, healthy day!

Bev

Bah! Humbug!

2008-10-31T06:10:00.005-04:00

I am a Halloween Scrooge. I admit it. Our children do not trick or treat. We do not give out candy. We usually do not participate in Halloween events, and I do not believe my children are missing out on anything. They get dress-up opportunities. They get way more candy than they need. We do lots of other fun things.

However, I am not so much opposed that we pretend Halloween does not exist or think anyone who chooses to participate is a heathen. I even let the children watch some of the Halloween cartoons on Nick Jr. and Disney, explaining to Elizabeth and Hope that witches, ghosts, and monsters are not real. They are pretend, just like monkeys who talk (Boots!) and the Backyardigans' adventures.

When I saw "It's a Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" on our Dish guide, I recorded it to watch with the children. I have not seen it since I was a child, but I have memories of enjoying it, along with all the other seasonal Peanuts cartoons. We finished schoolwork on Wednesday and piled into my bedroom to watch together before Daddy got home from work. I was all warm and fuzzy about sharing something from my childhood with my own darlings. The opening scene of the cartoon shows Lucy yelling at Linus for writing a letter to the Great Pumpkin. She calls him stupid and a blockhead, words we do not use at our house (except when Mommy slips and must apologize... ). My 14 year old looked at me with raised eye brows, as if to say, "Hmmm. I'm surprised you are letting us watch this." Then there was the scene with Lucy promising not to move the football and pulling it out of the way, letting Charlie Brown fall on his back. Another look from Hannah. "That Lucy sure is mean," I said, meekly. For the next 20 minutes or so, we watched as children yelled at each other, called one another names, and used the terms stupid and blockhead a lot. Oh, and there was the scene where Snoopy plays the Red Baron, shooting down enemy planes, getting shot down, and crawling through enemy territory. Oh yes, pleasant TV time for my little ones. When it was over, I apologized to my children. I told them I really remembered enjoying the show. I guess my ears are much more sensitive now than they were when I was a child. It appears that my children's are, too. They did not complain, but they did not enjoy the show, and I am wonderfully glad. We will skip this episode in the future...but maybe we'll look for the Thanksgiving show next month and see if my memories of that one are more accurate. Maybe I'll preview it alone first.

But there's more to my Halloween experience. My dad lives in a neighborhood that gets hundreds of trick or treaters, and the city council changed trick or treating to Thursday instead of Friday this year. (I do not know why. Makes no sense to me.) Dad asked if I would come give out candy because he and his wife are under the weather and could not do it. Of course I was glad to help.

Oh, it was quite an experience. I want to share my many thoughts and observations.

I do not know if there is a maximum age for trick or treating, but I think there should be. If you have your car keys in your back pocket, you ought not be coming to ask for Skittles from me. If you plan to vote in Tuesday's Presidential election, you need not be knocking on my door asking for gum. Stop at the Double Kwik and pick up your own when you are filling up the tank.

If your child is not old enough to walk, you may want to consider waiting a year or two before taking him trick or treating. I gave candy to numerous moms and dads carrying tiny little babies dressed in tiny little costumes. Just who is going to eat that candy?

I saw more than one scantily clad young girl at my porch. I wanted to ask where the parents were, but on some occasions, Mom and Dad were right there on the sidewalk, beaming proudly at Sally's pretty costume. What is that about? Why would you want to dress your child like a hooker, or a sexy witch, or a cave woman with a lot of cleavage to show? Are you going to wonder why she wants to dress like that at school? Are you going to let her? Do you plan to encourage her to show as much skin as possible and teach her that boys love to look and that people will like her if she dresses that way??? Arrrgghh!

It is definitely a different era than when I was growing up (and yes, I did observe Halloween growing up). Would you believe that some kids were talking on their cell phone while they were out? They walked up to me, never missing a word in their conversation, held out their bags for a piece of candy, and walked away. It's hard to say thank you when you are chatting about what Bobby is wearing for a costume and what Jenny said to you when you bumped into her outside of the cafeteria today.

The parents are every bit as interesting as the children. One lady, with a lollipop sticking out of her mouth, walked up to me and stuck her hand out. "Trick or Treat," she said. I wasn't sure if she was serious, but she stood there until I put a piece of candy in her hand. She chuckled as she walked back to the other adults she was walking with. (I saw no children with them.) She looked back at me and muttered, "My kids are stingy and won't share." I am not making this up! Gee, I wonder where they learned such poor manners. It was so hard for me not to say, "Then go the friendly Wal-Mart and buy yourself a Snickers bar, Lady." I refrained. But I did not smile.

One child thanked me for his treat, then turned to his mom and told her he was cold and ready to go home. "Don't you want to go on up there to the fancy houses and get the good candy?" Honestly! She really said that. I just smiled and said, "Sorry, just Dum-Dum suckers here." What else can I say about that? I hope her cold little boy enjoys the cheap candy he got here in the ghetto. I hope his manners are a little better than his mother's.

Perhaps my favorite parent observation was the Mom driving around the neighborhood in a golf cart. Several parents let their children out, then drove along the street watching as the child went from house to house. Why park and get out to walk with your child? It's cold, after all. At least they were supervising. Lots of parents just let the children out and waited for them at the corner. Oh yes. I understand letting your child roam free, going door to door in a neighboorhood where you don't know everyone. When it's dark and crowded. Right. But one mom lives in this area and just got out the golf cart. She did not avoid the low temps, but at least she didn't have to walk with the crowds. Interesting.

In all fairness, let me say that there were some really nice children who were dressed in age-appropriate costumes, whose parents made sure they said please and thank you, who stayed on the sidewalk rather than running through the grass to cut in front of other children. I saw lots of kids who had appropriate sized treat bags or buckets, instead of the pillowcases some brought. (PILLOWCASES! Just how much candy are you expecting to get?) There were lots of children who only stopped at my house one time, unlike the double-dippers (those were usually the pillowcase goblins). Lots of nice children enjoying a night out.

My conclusion: For the amount of time, money, and energy spent on costumes, gas, and dental visits, it seems to me parents could get a lot more. They could buy some nice treats rather than going door to door in the cold asking for candy from strangers. They could do something crazier, like playing dress up at home, baking some cookies (or healthy muffins!) together. They could make caramel apples, take lots of pictures, and laugh together. What fun memories they would be making.

But then again, I am a Halloween Scrouge.

Blessings,
Bev

Quick Dinner - Pizza on Pita Bread

2008-10-30T04:53:00.002-04:00

Sometimes, no matter how much you plan, a wrench gets thrown into the schedule and you have to make due. That happened today, and I did not have the time or energy to make what was on our menu. I admit that I was tempted to ask Mark to pick up $6 Hot and Ready pizzas from Little Caesars on the way home, but I resisted. I had whole wheat pita bread and that chicken I had put in the freezer a few days ago. Ah, pizza ingredients.

I spread pizza sauce from a jar on the pita bread. (If I had remembered, I would have sprayed a little olive oil on them first.) I added bite-sized pieces of the chicken and some pineapples. (Any ingredients would work, but I avoid the fatty, though delicious, pepperoni and sausage.) We were out of mozzarella cheese, so I used the fiesta blend we had. I had two cookie sheets with 6 pizzas each on them. I baked them at the same time in a 350 oven until the cheese was melted and the pizza was warmed through (10-15 minutes?). While those baked, I chopped some spinach, tomatoes, and cucumbers for a salad. The little girls will not eat a lot of fresh vegetables yet (but I keep putting the veg. on their plates and urging them to take bites), so I heated some corn for them. Abel and Elizabeth had prepared a jello and fruit dessert earlier in the day, and it turned out really well. Good job, you two! There you go. Dinner was saved with very little effort, and this was much healthier than Little Ceasers (with all due respect to the pizza industry...). Yay for us!

I still have recipes from last weekend and some funny stories to share. I will get to those next week, but today I am off to visit my parents. Enjoy the weekend!

Bev

Beef and Vegetable Pasta Casserole

2008-10-28T20:28:00.002-04:00

This recipe started with one I found in a cookbook, but I made enough changes that I am comfortable calling it mine. This was yet another that I was not sure about, but we all really loved it. It's really simple. It turned out to be bigger than I expected, such that the whole casserole would not fit in my 9 x 13 pan and I had to use a 1.5 qt Corningware for the extra, but there was only one serving left and Mark claimed it for his lunch tomorrow. Wow. My kids eat soooo much lately. I have a teenager daughter and two sons eating their way toward their teens, so maybe I should not be surprised.

The recipe (Note that none of these measurements need be exact. This is a casserole, not a soufflé.)

2 tsp olive (or your favorite) oil
1 lb lean ground beef
1 red onion, diced
1 green (or red or yellow) pepper, diced
2 cans diced tomatoes (I look for the no-salt added.)
1 cup beef stock
1 lb whole wheat penne (or your favorite pasta, but use something whole grain!)
2 zucchini, sliced into bite sized pieces
1 cup of frozen peas (I think frozen peas and carrots would go well here, too.)
Your favorite shredded cheese. I used mozzarella.
About 1/2 tsp each of dried basil, parsley, rosemary, thyme. (You can use whatever herbs you like. These worked well.)

Preheat oven to 400. Cook pasta according to package directions, except cook a little al dente since it will finish in the oven. In the meantime, cook the beef, onion, and pepper in a large skillet. Drain any fat. Add herbs, tomatoes, and beef stock, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes.

Stir in pasta, zucchini, and peas, then carefully pour into a large baking dish. Either sprinkle cheese over the top or stir it into the mix. (The next time, I will mix it in rather than leaving it on top so there's cheese in each bite. A small amount would go a long way, I think.)

Bake for 10-20 minutes, or until heated through and cheese is melted and browned if you like it that way.

Yummy, healthy, filling... I will make this again!

Blessings,
Bev

Chunky Chicken Slaw

2008-10-28T09:58:00.002-04:00

I hit another homerun yesterday, though I really thought this one was a foul ball.

I am making two dishes with chicken this week, so I did a little prep work to make things inexpensive and easier. Before bed on Sunday night, I removed the skin from a whole chicken (not necessary, but I wanted to cut back on fat), placed the chicken in my crockpot, and added a good coating of lemon pepper (no water). I turned the pot on low and let it cook all night. When I got up, I turned off the crockpot, but left the lid on while the chicken cooled. After breakfast, I used a fork and tongs to remove the chicken (it honestly fell right off the bone). I divided it into two bowls; froze one for later in the week and put the other in the refrigerator for the slaw.

After lunch, I prepared the slaw so the flavors would have some time to blend before dinner. It is so quick and easy to make.

The recipe:
(This makes a lot. You may want to halve the recipe.)
2 cups or so of cooked chicken (use leftovers, rotisserie, whatever is easy or available)
1 small cabbage
2 medium carrots
2 scallions, 1 small shallot, or your favorite onion
1 celery stalk
1 Granny Smith (or your favorite) apple
any other fresh vegetables you have that you think might be yummy
Ranch dressing

Shred all the vegetables in a food processor, in small batches, of course. (I put the mixture in the microwave for a few minutes. I have that issue with raw veg.)
Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces and add it to the vegetables. Add Ranch dressing, enough to coat, and stir. (I set some aside to mix with fat-free dressing, which I honestly like. Everyone else had Hidden Valley.)

I served this with a pot of cream of broccoli soup. I thought it was okay, but I did not love it. Everyone else did. Mark even took the leftovers for lunch today. I guess I will be making it again.

Enjoy!

Blessings,
Bev

Meusli

2008-10-28T07:32:00.007-04:00

I truly love learning about healthy eating and introducing exciting new dishes to my family. But when I am following recipes with titles I cannot pronounce or ingredients I have never heard of, I ask myself if this is really necessary. The answer: yes and no. We may lead long, healthy lives without eating this way, but our chances are greater if we learn to consume (and enjoy!) a wider variety of the good-for-us foods God has so richly provided. I did not grow up eating broccoli, spinach, butternut squash (yum!), and so many other delicious vegetables. I ate iceburg lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, peas, carrots, and white potatoes (which are all very good), but I also enjoyed Cap'n Crunch cereal, ravioli from a can, and potted meat. I am trying to develop a taste for more good foods as an adult, but it is not always easy. I believe if I introduce my children to a variety of tastes and flavors, they will be more likely to make better choices as adults.

Thus, I made muesli for breakfast yesterday. I used a recipe from an Australian cookbook that my husband found, so I had to convert some of the measurements (how much is 200 grams of yoghurt, and why is it spelled that way Down Under?!).

The result: I would not choose this over Cap’n Crunch, if we had Cap’n Crunch in the house, which we never do. Oh, but have you had the peanut butter flavor? Sigh. Good stuff, even if it is puffed sugar.

But I digress…This blog is about healthy living and wise choices, after all. I have trouble eating raw fruits, vegetables, and nuts (allergies), so this was not for me. However, my husband and children LOVED it! They had the leftovers for breakfast today. Wow. Very nutritious and easy.

The recipe (adapted slightly from The Total Well Being Diet, Book 2):

(This must be prepared the night before, so if you make it, and I highly recommend that you try it at least once, plan ahead.)

1 cup old fashioned oats
1 cup untoasted meusli (I got this at Whole Foods. Grocery stores may carry it, but our Super Wal-Mart did not.)
1 cup wheat bran
2 cups hot water
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 cup almonds
2/3 cup plain or vanilla yogurt
1 large Granny Smith apple, diced (I left the peel on -- lots of fiber.)
Your choice of fresh or frozen fruit for topping
Honey

Place the oats, meusli, and bran in a large ceramic dish and blend. (This makes a lot. I used a 2-quart CorningWare dish). Add the water and lemon juice. Allow to soak for 30 minutes. Add almonds, yogurt, and apple, and stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Serve with additional yogurt, fruit, and/or honey to taste.

This will keep for 3-4 days, if it lasts that long!

Enjoy!

Political Rally

2008-10-26T20:45:00.005-04:00

I took my children to see Senator Mitch McConnell yesterday. He is doing a campaign bus tour through the state and stopped in Lexington bright and early in the morning. We talk about government and politics a lot in our home, especially around the dinner table. We truly hope to raise active, informed citizens who love their country and are willing to do their part to keep it strong and godly. To enforce that idea, I decided I would take the children to meet and listen to candidates when we have the chance.

During the gubernatorial election last year, I took them to see Governor Ernie Fletcher. We did not necessarily agree with everything he stood for or had done (though I do think he was not as bad a guy as the media wanted us to think, but that's for another entry). I just wanted the kids to see him, to see that he was a real person, not just a faceless authority they heard about on the news. We heard his speech and got to shake hands with him. It was short and did not take a lot of time, but Abel was particularly impressed. For days and weeks afterwards, he kept saying, "I shook the Governor's hand." You better believe he listened a little more each time he heard that name, or news of the election, as well. It gave us an opportunity to talk (and listen!) to him regarding the important issues. Yippee!

So, I decided to try again. I got my crew out at 8:30 on a cold Saturday morning. (Mark had to go into work.) That in and of itself is noteworthy. When we got there, many people were standing outside the Republican headquarters, a small office in a strip mall. After a few moments, Senator McConnell emerged from the bus, greeted some folks, and proceeded inside, where he would give his speech. The problem was that there were more people present than would fit inside. I had five children with me, two in strollers, and I was not the only one there with little ones. Many of us could not fit inside. The boys wormed their way in (I suspect they were looking for the donuts they kept seeing people come out with), but Hannah and I stood outside the door... with the strollers...in the cold...with babies... It was interesting, but you would not believe how well-behaved they all were, especially given the circumstances.

When the speech was over, my dear son waded through the crowd until he got to the front. He was bound and determined to shake another politician's hand, and he got his wish. I was so proud of him, and he was grinning ear to ear. When he came out, he said, "Mom, you know that tobacco issue Dad was talking about last night? Mr. McConnell mentioned it, too." Did you catch that? He was listening! He listened to the speech. This just might work! Just as I started to get a little lump in my throat, he added, "Now, can Robert and I go get a donut?"

I'll have recipes to share later. It's getting late and I have a busy week ahead. I need to get to bed.

Blessings,
Bev

Southwestern Soup

2008-10-24T06:47:00.003-04:00

We have tried several new recipes lately, and will keep many of them. That's so exciting! I receive Weight Watchers magazine and Taste of Home (a gift from my wonderful Aunt Jeanie). Some months I don't even have time to open them, but I stole a few moments and read the new issue of Taste of Home cover to cover when it arrived, dog-earing the pages with recipes I wanted to try. We are slowly and delectably working our way through them.

Last night was Southwestern Soup. Hannah made it by herself and served it with a salad and tortilla chips. (We rarely have chips here, but I thought they would go well with the soup. They did.) I liked the soup, but I think I want to make some adjustments the next time. It had more liquid than I would have liked, and I wonder if adding some black beans or more kidney beans would be an improvement. Nevertheless, it was tasty and we enjoyed it.

Southwestern Soup
(October/November 2008 Taste of Home)

3 cups water
4 cans (8 oz each) tomato sauce
2 cans (16 oz each) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
2 cans (14.5 oz each) chicken broth
2 cups frozen corn
2 cups salsa
2 tsp dried minced onion
1 to 2 tsp dried oregano
1 to 2 tsp dried basil
2 cups (8 oz) shredded cheddar cheese

Tortilla chips, optional

In a dutch oven, combine the first nine ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 10-15 minutes or until heated through .

*We made this in the crockpot. Hannah combined the ingredients in the pot the night before and put it in the refrigerator. Before we left for our co-op, she set the crockpot on low. We turned off the pot and let it stop cooking/start cooling about an hour before dinner. It was still warm, but not steaming. No tongues were burned!

Sprinkle individual servings with cheese. My children also stirred in a dollop of sour cream. Serve with tortilla chips if desired.

Yield: 12 servings, 1 1/3 cups each

Tonight is a recipe from Ellie Krieger, one of my favorite Food Network cooks (chefs?). I am not sure when I will get to post about it since we have a spelling bee tonight and lots of activities tomorrow.

Until later,
Bev

Pan Sauteed Chicken with Vegetables and Herbs

2008-10-23T14:33:00.003-04:00

We tried a new recipe again last night, and it turned out well. I adapted the recipe from a Swanson ad I found in a magazine. It turned out well, but took a little time to prepare. It tastes much like a pot roast with chicken as the base, very tender and juicy with all the flavors blending so nicely. Everyone over the age of four loved it. I wonder if this would work just as well cooking in the crockpot. I think browning the chicken and the vegetables in the skillet first helps bring out the flavor. I will definitely make this again.

Pan Sauteed Chicken with Vegetables and Herbs
(adapted slightly from Swanson recipe)

ground black pepper
paprika
4 chicken breast halves (boneless or bone-in)
2 tsp olive oil
2 small red onions, cut into chunks
1 lb new potatoes, cut into chunks (I used Idaho. Worked just fine.)
8 oz fresh whole baby carrots (about 16), green tops trimmed to 1 inch (I used pre-washed baby carrots that I had on hand.)
1 ½ cups chicken stock
3 Tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp dried oregano or 1 Tbsp fresh
1 tsp dried thyme or 1 Tbsp fresh

1. Heat the oven to 350. Sprinkle chicken on one side with pepper and paprika. Heat the oil in a 12-inch oven safe skillet over medium-high heat. (I do not have an oven safe skillet. I used my deep skillet, then transferred to a glass 9 x 13 to put in the oven.) Add the chicken, seasoned side down. Season the other side and cook until it is well browned on all sides. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside. (This helps the juices come back out in the meat.)

2. Add the onions and potatoes to the skillet and cook for 5 minutes. Add the carrots, stock, lemon juice, and oregano and heat to a boil. Return chicken to the skillet, or transfer everything to an oven-safe pan.

3. Cover and bake for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake for 15 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and vegetables are tender. (I cooked it thoroughly in the skillet.) Sprinkle with the thyme, if desired.

Blessings,
Bev

Who needs toys?

2008-10-22T17:30:00.004-04:00

Why do we spend money on toys? Our living room is overflowing with playthings purchased at Toys R Us and Walmart. But my darling 2 year old, Hope, usually prefers to play with pots, pans, plastic plates and bowls, or even Splenda packets. She woke up and found me working at the computer at 5:30 this morning. She reached for the box of sweetener I had set out while I was pouring the coffee. She took each packet out of the box, one at a time, and placed it on the table (all while squirming in my lap as I tried to finish the newsletter I was typing for our homeschool group). She carried the box into the living room after breakfast and stacked the packets on the couch, counting in both English and Spanish (thank you very much, Dora and Diego). She stacked them on her legs, on my legs, in my palm, on the treadmill, and lots of other places throughout the day. She threw some away, but we caught her before too many made it to the trash.

As I was making dinner tonight, she abandoned her little yellow treasures and got out the cutting boards, pizza pans, and plastic trays. She spread them across the kitchen then used them as stepping stones as she counted some more. What fun. I hope this is a sign of her creativity and simple tastes. May she always find joy in the everyday things of life.

Taco Soup

2008-10-21T21:48:00.002-04:00

Gee, the majority of recipes I've posted are either soup or chili. I guess that's what I really enjoy.

Abel made dinner by himself tonight. I'm very proud of him. He is really learning his way around the kitchen, and truly enjoys it. He made one of our favorites (do I say that about every recipe?), taco soup. I've passed this recipe along so many times that everyone I know has it. It's a Weight Watchers recipe, and there are numerous versions of it. It is simple, easy, inexpensive (!), and yummy. What more could you want?

Taco Soup
1 lg onion, chopped
1 pkg taco seasoning (or to taste)
2 cups frozen corn
1 can (2 cups) chicken broth
1 can black beans
1 can white beans
1 can ff refried beans
1 can diced tomatoes or Rotel

Saute onions (or skip this step and use onion powder if necessary). Add all other ingredients and simmer 30-40 minutes. You can also simmer this for several hours on low in the crockpot, especially if you like the beans soft. Makes 15 cups; 1 point per serving.

Cornbread (Just a bit different than with buttermilk, surprisingly yummy)
2 cups self-rising cornmeal (or ½ cornmeal, ½ flour)
1 ½ tsp oil
2 cups plain ff yogurt
2 large eggs

Preheat oven to 400. Combine dry ingredients in one bowl, and wet in another. Combine just until blended. Bake in non-stick muffin pan for 12-15 minutes, or until brown. Makes 12 muffins.

*Note to those from the south who insist that cornbread only be made in a cast-iron skillet. First, good for you! This can also bake in a skillet. Be aware that you do not need to add a quarter inch of oil or bacon grease to the pan. Just coat it with cooking spray and heat it for a minute or two in the oven before adding the bread batter. (Mark has converted me to olive oil and it is available as a spray now.)

Blessings,
Bev

50th Day of School

2008-10-20T20:34:00.005-04:00

Today was our 50th day of school this year. Yippee! The semester is going so well and I wanted to celebrate, but I couldn't really come up with anything creative to do. I gave the children 50 minutes of recess, and then we made caramel apples before dinner. It was a nice day.

I am reminded that it takes so little to make special moments and special memories. The apples were so simple. (Did you know the caramels now come in little bits, like chocolate chips, so you no longer have to peel all those little cubes? Neat!) The children did all the work while I ooh-ed and ahh-ed and smiled. They melted the caramels, dipped their apples, and put them in the refrigerator to chill. They loved having them for dessert tonight. I didn't spend a lot of money or go to a lot of trouble, but I think my children will remember the time together. I certainly will.

Tomorrow is day 51. May it be full of memorable moments and educational opportunities. Most importantly, may I remember to be thankful for these wonderful blessings God has given me, especially when one of them is sitting in my lap getting into everything on my desk as I try to post to my blog, or when they get out of bed 47 times, with 47 excuses, instead of going to sleep! They are my world, 365 days a year.

Blessings,
Bev

Black Beans and Salsa in the Crockpot

2008-10-19T05:42:00.002-04:00

Have you checked out this blog: http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/ ? It's by a woman named Stephanie who set out to use her crockpot every day for a year. She posts a picture of the ingredients, the recipe, and commentary about each recipe. It is fabulous! Today she wrote about cooking beans in the crockpot, something I do occasionally but not always. She compares the cost of canned beans with cooking your own (you know which is less expensive!), and also mentions that it costs about 2 cents an hour to operate a crockpot. Why am I not using that device each day??? One website I found said it costs about 25 cents an hour to use the oven. Even if those are not exact numbers, based on types of appliance and cost of energy, I would think the comparison (2 to 25) is accurate. (I am only speculating.) Regardless, I'm sure cooking in the crockpot is cheaper than in the oven.

But I digress, I was talking about beans... We make a very simple dish that Mark calls Aztec beans. When it's a busy week (well, busier than normal), I use canned beans, but I try to be economical and use dry. Mark likes the beans to be really soft, so I cook them longer than most people would. The afternoon before we are eating this meal, I put the beans in the crockpot to soak. (I do not turn it on.) Before bed, I drain and rinse, then add fresh water. I cook them on low all night. In the morning, I drain most of the liquid and add a jar or two of salsa. Again, it cooks on low all day.

We eat this like a thick soup topped with shredded cheese (whatever kind is on hand) and sour cream. It is also good with triscuits or tortilla chips (which are not core!). It takes planning ahead, but certainly takes much less time than preparing most meals. And it's yummy and nutrituous, especially if we all eat the salad or fresh vegetables to dip I place on the table.

More later...

Blessings,
Bev

Black Bean and Pumpkin Chili

2008-10-18T13:44:00.002-04:00

The October/November issue of Taste of Home magazine has some fabulous fall recipes. We tried the following chili recipe this week. (I do not know if it is against the rules to post recipes from published sources here, but I will remove them if someone persuades me to, like by telling me they are swearing out a warrant for my arrest.) I used rotisserie chicken instead of turkey, and 2 tsp instead of 2 tbsp of oil. I would not have expected these flavors to go well together, but it was really yummy. Try it on a cool fall day.

Black Bean and Pumpkin Chili

1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium sweet yellow pepper, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 cups chicken broth
2 cans (15 oz each) black beans, rinsed and drained
21/2 cups cubed cooked turkey
1 can (15 oz) solid pack pumpkin
1 can diced tomatoes (undrained)
2 tsp dried parsley flakes
2 tsp chili powder
1 ½ tsp dried oregano
1 ½ tsp ground cumin
½ tsp salt

In a large skillet, sauté the onion, yellow pepper, and garlic in oil until tender. Transfer to a 5-qt slow cooker; stir in the remaining ingredients.

Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or until heated through.

Yield: 10 servings

We are off to a cookout with our homeschool group. It is a beautiful, crisp day here in Lexington, and I am excited about enjoying the fresh air and friendship.

Blessings,
Bev

Cream of Broccoli Soup

2008-10-15T07:40:00.003-04:00

We had another family favorite last night, cream of broccoli soup. A few years ago, I would have thumbed my nose at the very thought, but becoming a mother and joining Weight Watchers (ahem, not so faithful there, but not willing to give up) encouraged me to learn more about healthy eating. It's almost a passion for me now. I love, love, love trying new recipes and experiencing new tastes. Most importantly, I hope I am giving my children the tools they need to be healthy eaters all of their lives. Oh, they love this soup, too. Hannah did not love it from the start, but now she adds shredded cheese and sometimes sour cream, and it works for her. Abel even requests this for his birthday dinner some years. The toddlers do not eat soup yet, but I keep putting it in front of them. They will eventually learn to try it.

Cream of Broccoli Soup
1 medium onion, chopped (or a dash of onion powder)
1 medium garlic clove, minced (or a dash of garlic powder)
2 lbs fresh or frozen broccoli, chopped
4 cups fat free chicken broth
1 cup fat free evaporated milk
salt and pepper to taste

If using onion and garlic, simmer it in ¼ cup of water until onion is soft, about 10 minutes. (If using the powders, just begin with the next step and add powders to the broth.) Add broccoli and broth. Bring to a boil over high heat. Turn down heat and simmer until broccoli is soft but still green, about 8 minutes. Do not cover pot or broccoli will turn grey.
Remove from heat and blend a few cups at a time in the blender or use hand held blender. Add evaporated milk and seasonings. Garnish with fresh chives, if desired.

Yield: Four servings, 1 ¾ cup each. Core or 2 points per serving on WW.

Excuses, excuses...with some good recipes thrown in

2008-10-12T20:16:00.002-04:00

I've not been lazy, honestly! I've had a cold which is trying to become a sinus infection, and we have been on the road. We had some yummy dishes that I want to share, though.

On Wednesday, Hannah made vegetable egg rolls (first time doing it by herself), and they were fabulous! I'm so proud of her. Here's our recipe:

Vegetable Egg Rolls
1 small head cabbage, shredded
about 2 cups carrots, shredded
3-4 scallions (to taste)
8 average egg roll wrappers

*to taste: garlic cloves, soy sauce, ginger (minced root or dried), any other seasonings you like

I shred the veggies in a food processor. Combine shredded vegetables and any seasonings you wish to add. (I like a bit of garlic powder and soy sauce.) I sometimes add a cup or so of corn and peas to the mix. You can add cooked chicken or other meat, but then, of course, they are not vegetable egg rolls. Microwave for a few minutes to soften carrots and cabbage. Place a large spoonful of mixture onto an egg roll and roll up according to directions. Spray lightly with cooking spray. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes, or until brown and crispy.

Yum!

Since we have our homeschool co-op on Thursday and are out most of the day, I usually do a crockpot dish. This week, we also had a field trip on Friday, so I really had to plan ahead. I bought a rotisserie chicken and tore the meat into small pieces, then froze them to be used in these two dishes.

White Chili
8-10 servings.
1 lb large white beans, soaked overnight in water, drained (or 3+ cans white beans, depending on how much you want)
6 cups chicken broth
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 medium onions, chopped (divided)
2 (4 oz) cans chopped green chilies
2 tsp olive oil
2 tsp ground cumin
1 ½ tsp dried oregano
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
4 cups diced cooked chicken
1 cup grated Monterey Jack (or your favorite) cheese
1 jalapeno or serrano pepper, chopped (optional)

1. Combine beans, chicken broth, garlic, and half the onions in a large soup pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until beans are very soft, 3 hours or more. (I just put it all in a crockpot and simmer on low all day.) Add additional water or broth if necessary. Another option: if you like a creamier chili, like a soup, you can puree some or all of the beans in a blender, small amounts at a time, before you add the chicken mixture.
2. In a skillet, sauté remaining onions in oil until tender. Add chilies and seasonings and mix thoroughly. Add to bean mixture. Add chicken and continue to simmer 1 hour. Check seasoning, add jalapeno or serrano to level of desired hotness.
3. Serve topped with grated cheese. Garnish with cilantro, chopped fresh tomatoes, salsa, chopped scallions, and/or guacamole. Serve with fresh warmed flour tortillas or tortilla chips if desired.

Southwestern Chicken-Bean Salad (adapted slightly from Robin Miller/food network)
4 servings

2 medium scallions, chopped
1 medium red or green pepper (or ½ of each), chopped
15 oz canned black beans, rinsed and drained
2 pieces corn on the cob, kernels removed (or 1 cup or so of canned or frozen)
2 tbsp lime juice (lemon works, too)
1 Tbsp your favorite oil
8 oz chicken breast, cooked, skinless, chopped (oh, for crying out loud, use leftovers or get a rotisserie chicken!)
2 tbsp taco seasoning, or to taste
4 tbsp fresh cilantro (optional)
sour cream

Combine scallions, peppers, beans, and corn in a large bowl; toss until well mixed.

Add lime juice and oil to bean mixture; toss to coat. Add chicken, taco seasoning, and cilantro; toss. Top with sour cream and serve.

* This is also yummy wrapped in a tortilla, with salsa and spinach. It would likely go well with chips, pita bread, or corn bread.

See you tomorrow!
Bev

Crispy Peanut Butter Treats

2008-10-07T11:11:00.002-04:00

This recipe is from a Quick Cooking Magazine from 1999. I used to make this dessert and take it to work, and we all loved it. I plan to make it for a cookout we are going to next weekend. (I had to dig through boxes in the garage to find these old magazines. I cut them apart and punched holes in them, then put them in ringbinders years ago.) This is a rice crispy treat for chocolate lovers.

Crispy Peanut Butter Treats

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
¾ cups peanut butter
7 cups crisp rice cereal
1 package peanut butter chips
¼ cup butter or margarine
2 Tbsp water
½ tsp vanilla extract
1 cup confectioners’ sugar

In a large microwave-safe bowl, heat chocolate chips and peanut butter, uncovered, on high for 1 minute; stir. Microwave 30-45 seconds longer or until chips are melted; stir until smooth. Stir in cereal until evenly coated. Pat half into a greased 13 x 9 inch dish. In a microwave safe bowl, heat peanut butter chips and butter, uncovered, on high for 1 minute; stir. Microwave 10-20 more seconds or until chips are melted; stir until smooth. Stir in water, vanilla, and confectioners’ sugar until smooth. Carefully spread over the cereal layer. Carefully press remaining cereal mixture over peanut butter layer. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour. Cut into squares.

Yum!

Bev

Chicken Pasta Salad

2008-10-06T19:32:00.002-04:00

Tonight's dinner was nothing to write about -- spaghetti and meat sauce (yummy, but nothing new), so I want to share a recipe for a dish I made this weekend. This is adapted from a recipe I found in a book about salads. I do not remember the title or the author, but the author's nickname was "The Salad Man." I hope that helps if you decide to look for the book. I found it at our library.

Chicken Pasta Salad
4 Tbsp (or more) Italian salad dressing (ff, light, or regular)
2 tomatoes, cut into bite sized pieces
1/2 chopped red onion
1 lb whole wheat pasta (I like rotini because the juices stick in the spaces.)
1 large head of broccoli, cut into florets (save the stems to use in coleslaw or other dishes)
1-2 cups frozen peas (I do not measure with dishes like this.)
2 cups or so shredded, cooked chicken (I bought a rotisserie chicken. I used some for this and froze the rest to use in my white bean chili later this week.)
Baby spinach or your favorite greens
Salt and Pepper to taste

Mix 3 tbsp of the salad dressing with the tomatoes and onion in a shallow dish. Set aside to marinate.
Cook the pasta for the number of minutes suggested on the package, but add the broccoli 3 minutes before the pasta is cooked. One minute later, add the peas. Drain.

Combine the pasta mixture with the tomato mixture. Add the chicken and seasonings. Toss gently. Serve on top of greens and top with remaining salad dressing.

*My family loved this, and there was enough left for leftovers. About the whole wheat pasta, it is all we eat. I hear people say their children will not touch it, but it is all my children know. You may start the transition by doing half whole wheat and half white (what is the right term?). The whole grains are so much healthier, and frankly, I think whole wheat breads and pastas are delicious. Give them a try!

(2 days in a row...Can I keep it up?)

Blessings,
Bev

Here we go again...

2008-10-05T21:17:00.003-04:00

I'm terribly embarrassed and disappointed about the lack of posting I've done since starting a blog. But today, I'm starting over. I spent a lot of time this summer working on homeschooling and getting my house and yard in order, and though none of those is in perfect condition, it is time to work on the next items on the list: blogging, finishing my medical transcription course, and WINNING THE BATTLE WITH MY WEIGHT. Oh, I am so tired of losing 3-5 pounds, then eating like a bird for the next several weeks. (Birds can eat half or more of their body weight each day; I think I've done that a few times lately.) It's so frustrating!

But I digress. This is not the time to focus on the negatives or the past. This is the time for looking ahead and getting on the right track. For one thing, I am changing the focus of my blog. One of the reasons I do not write, even when I have a few minutes while Mark is putting the baby to bed and the house is quiet, is that I do not think I have anything intersting to write. But one thing that is always interesting to me is food. I love to look for or create new recipes, and I spend a lot of time each week planning and preparing meals for my family. It gives me much joy. I am trying to learn more and more about healthy eating not only for my wonderful husband and children, but also for myself. I did not grow up eating like the food pyramid says I should (and I was thin for the first 30 or so years!), but I want my children to taste and enjoy a variety of fruits, vegetables, and other good foods.

So, I plan to share recipes we try or that I create. Someday, after I figure it all out (!), I would love to publish a cookbook with menus, recipes, ideas for feeding children of all ages, etc. For now, though, I will focus on feeding my family, reaching my goal weight, keeping up with school work, teaching English at our co-op, keeping the house in order, enjoying the children, spending time with Mark, growing spiritually... Yes, all that... and in my free time, I'll... :-)

My first recipe is one I sort of made up. I have made banana bread for years, and lots of people really seemed to enjoy it. It is full of shortening, white flour, and sugar, though. I wanted to make something tasty but a little more nutritious. We have "fend for yourself" mornings a couple of times a week, so having healthy muffins on hand is really nice and helps me not feel guilty about not cooking a hot meal.

Banana Blueberry Bran Muffins

3 med-lg bananas, mashed and set aside
1 to 1 1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries, rinsed and drained
1 1/4 cup skim milk
1 cup bran cereal (Bran Buds or Fiber One, for example)
2 cups whole wheat flour
3/4 cup brown (or white) sugar
1 egg
1/2 - 3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 tsp salt
1 Tbsp baking powder

Combine cereal and milk in a large bowl and set aside to soften while preparing other ingredients.
Combine flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder and stir lightly. Add egg, banana, and applesauce to cereal and stir. Pour dry ingredients into wet and stir only until evenly moistened. Add blueberries.
Spoon into muffin cups (about 2/3 full). Bake at 400 for 15-20 minutes until tester (aka, toothpick) comes out clean. (Test often until you see how long they take with your oven and bakeware.)

I used the large muffin cups and this recipe filled 12 cups. It may do 20 or so of the regular cups.

My children loved these. They are not overly sweet, but very yummy. Top with a small pat of butter or your favorite spread, or have them alone with a glass of milk or a cup of coffee. Enjoy!

My time is up. The babies are fussy and snotty, so I have to go help. I WILL BE BACK TOMORROW...OR TUESDAY...OR... and I will discuss my other goals and other recipes.

Bev

About Swimsuits

2008-05-25T14:10:00.002-04:00

I've decided that my willingness to go out in public wrapped in only a small piece of spandex just so my children can splash around in a big pool is an absolute testament to just how much I love them. Why else would I torture myself - and anyone who happens to glance in my direction - in such a way?

I did manage to find a somewhat conservative (translation: very old-lady like) suit. It's not pretty, but at least it covers the scariest parts, so my children won't feel the need to walk ten paces ahead of or behind me lest anyone know they live in the same house as I do.

The suit does nothing, however, to hide those smiling (sneering?) little dimples on my thighs. Oh what fun the tabloids could have with me if I were a celebrity. Of course, perhaps if I was a celebrity, I wouldn't have fat dimples. I would be thin and beautiful. I would have personal trainer to whip my body into shape, and a cook to prepare wonderfully delicious meals, and a shopper to keep those non-Core foods out of my shopping cart and out of my kitchen. Yes, I would definitely be thinner if I were a celebrity.

Or maybe not. It is not my non-celebrity status that made me fat. It was the cheeseburgers, fries, and oreos, whose numerous evil-though-delicious fats loved my body so much they decided to take up residence. They are difficult inhabitants to evict! It was (and is) all the times I chose to nap, rock a baby, grade school work, cook dinner, wrestle with a baby, nap, or otherwise waste time rather than working out.

But alas, it is swimsuit season, and I have promised my children that we would swim this year, so wear the nasty ole thing I will. Maybe I'll even move around enough to burn out some of those squatters living in my thighs. Perhaps by the time cold weather arrives, enough of them will have gone that I will look a little better in my clothes. Maybe next summer I will want to wear my swimsuit in public. Maybe I'll wear it on Oprah. Hey if Kirsty can do it, why not? Right?

Okay, maybe not. But maybe I will lose a few pounds. Maybe I'll even be able to reach my goal weight this summer and stop paying all that money to Weight Watchers. I'll probably still dread going out in public in my swim suit, but maybe by next summer the wretched garment will be a size smaller.

lollipops

2007-11-11T20:05:00.000-05:00

Remind me to tell you about why our pediatrician can no longer hand out suckers to his patients. Must drag out my soapbox for that one. More later.

strep and hugs

2007-11-11T19:29:00.000-05:00

It's been strep throat week at our house. It began last Sunday night when we returned from visiting family in Eastern Kentucky. Abel and I came home with a sore throat, so Mark sent us to an evening clinic. Abel tested positive for strep but the doctor didn't test me. She said she thought I had a sinus infection, but even if I was positive for strep, it wouldn't change the treatment. Anti-biotics for both of us. It bugged me that my complaint was for sore throat, not sinuses, but I was so tired I probably wouldn't have argued if she had said my arm was broken. I just wanted to feel better.

By Tuesday morning, my tonsils were literally the size of grapes (the green ones!), and had big white patches on them. (Sorry to be gross and graphic.) I was in serious pain each time I swallowed. Do you know how often we swallow in a day? It's a lot, let me assure you. I called the clinic and told them my symptoms. The receptionist called back to tell me the Dr. had called in a prescription for a decongestant.

A decongestant??? Clearly I was not communicating well with this individual. I don't even have a medical degree and lots of experience treating sick people, and I know full well that a decongestant is meant to decongest. I must not have been clear. Congestion was not my problem. The thorny vineyard growing in my throat was the problem. My husband (oh, how I appreciate his wisdom) insisted I go to a different clinic and let someone else with a medical degree look at my throat. I did, and I was right. Congestion and sinuses were not even mentioned! I had the symptoms of strep or tonsillitis. Gee, that makes much more sense. A prescription for stronger anti-biotics, and I was on my way. (How did people live before Z-packs?) Oh, before I left, I asked about my babies. Not to worry, babies don't usually get strep.

Famous last words.

On Wednesday, Robert woke up complaining of sore throat. We decided to check it out, and sure enough he tested positive. Day four, three family members on anti-biotics. In the meantime, several of the family members we were with over the weekend were having the same results. Robert made the ninth person in our extended family to be sick since the weekend. That afternoon, Hope woke up with a high temp. Off we went for the second doctor visit of the day. Yep, she tested positive, too.

"But I didn't think babies got strep," I pleaded to the doctor (as if my pleading would change what they were seeing under the microscope).

"They don't," she politely replied. That's my girl. Already showing the she's exceptional.

Today is Sunday. I thought we were free and clear. No doctor visits since Wednesday. No sore throats or fevers. Regular disobedience resumed. Life was getting back to normal. Then Elizabeth woke up from her nap with a temp of almost 103. Back to the clinic. Oh, and it's the same one where my tonsillitis was diagnosed as a sinus infection. Great. But it's the only thing open on Sunday night besides the ER, and who wants to go there?

She tested negative, but they gave her anti-biotics anyway. Could be a false negative, but with all we've had in our house this week, Dr. thought that was best.

My sweet Elizabeth was such a trooper while we were in the office, though. She let the nurse stick that yucky swab in her mouth not once, but twice. (She got a lollipop from Mom for that one.) She had to hold the thermometer under her tongue. I guess this highly advanced medical facility had never seen or could not afford the thermometers that you just stick in a child's ear. I could go on, but suffice it to say, she was a trooper. While we waited for the test results, which I believe the workers needed to drive across town to acquire, she played quietly.

One of her games was hugging mommy. Sometimes she ran out of mommy hugs. She had to go across the room to get some more. She would pick up another shipment, put them in her pocket, then come back and give them to me. Sometimes she got four hugs, sometimes ten, and a few times, the shipment contained eighteeny-one. I'm not sure how many that is, but I got lots of hugs when that shipment came.

Such a sweetheart. I don't think I knew that you could love so much your heart hurt until I became a mother.

It's the beginning of a new week. Toothbrushes are all changed. Hand-towels have been replaced by papertowels, and everything has been cleaned and Lysoled (is that a word?). Here's to a healthy week and the destruction of all things, well, destructive at our house!

Bev

Sons and Daughters

2007-11-05T14:23:00.000-05:00

My 14 month old had quite an impressive diaper production today. In response, my dear sons dubbed her Lady Poops Alot.

I don't know what else to say to that one.

David Copperfield saga

2007-10-28T15:10:00.000-04:00

I've been reading a bit of the news stories about David Copperfield and the trouble he's being investigated for. A young woman claims that Copperfield raped her, but there's much, much more to the story. The claim is that when the magician sees a woman he likes in the audience, he instructs his assistants to invite her to be one of the volunteers in the show. She is invited backstage afterwards, and I guess things progress (or not) from there.

That's what this 21 year old is claiming happened to her, that she and her family were given special seats at the show, and invited backstage. There, Copperfield allegedly told her he could help her with her modeling career. Later, he invited her to his island (the guy owns an island!), where she discovered she was the only guest. It is there that the alleged rape supposedly occured.

Now, I am in no way condoning rape or any other act of violence. Let me repeat -- I am not saying it is a victim's fault when something like this happens. But I do want to talk about decision making. Just what did that girl (woman) think would happen on the island? What did she think would be expected of her in exchange for Copperfield's help with her career? Was her family invited to visit, or was it only the woman who was invited to visit the home of a man she barely knew, at his expense? Did that not send any red flags flying? What did her family and friends have to say about this rendezvous? What was she thinking?

I remember being 21. I can only imagine how I would have felt and reacted if an older, handsome, RICH, charming man began calling me, flirting with me, inviting me on exotic vacations. Gee, I would have had wobbly knees if that had happened when I was 31. But you have to make wise decisions. You have to overcome the EXTREMELY POWERFUL emotions you feel, and think with your brain. You have to remember all those things you learned growing up about being careful, not talking to strangers (!), not going to dangerous places alone (and, yes, a man's home is a dangerous place for a single, young woman to go alone, whether that home is in the middle of the Atlantic or three blocks down the street).

I don't know what happened between Copperfield and his accuser. I don't know if Copperfield is guilty or innocent. I believe if he's guilty, he should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. But I know that his accuser is lucky to be alive and that she made a bad choice, likely several bad choices. We cannot be responsible for other people's actions, nor can we control them. But we can choose carefully where we go, and what we do and say. I don't mean that a person needs to live in a bubble where they never take any chances, have any fun, or enjoy life. I mean that you have to think. A man old enough to be that girl's father is not going to offer to help her move forward in the modeling world just because he's kind and caring. Surely her father knew that. Surely, somewhere deep in her heart, she knew that, too.

Make wise decisions...

Beverly

Wise Decisions

2007-10-27T05:21:00.000-04:00

"Make wise decisions" is something of a mantra at our house. It is even said more often than, "Because I said so." Mark and I repeat it to remind the children to think before they make choices, and it can refer to something simple like whether you really want that extra serving of pasta, or to a serious temptation like should you take that piece of candy while no one is looking. We want them to learn that all actions have consequences-- some good, some bad. Those consequences can be short term, a stomach ache from eating too much, punishment for stealing, or a peaceful conscience for doing the right thing simply because it's the right thing. Or they can be long term, like losing your privileges for a day (big stuff when you are 11!) or enjoying the toy you saved your allowance to buy.

My husband is only partly joking when he says one of our jobs is to brainwash our children. We want to instill certain lessons and values so deeply that when the children are tested, they will hold firmly to what they know is right or have the thinking skills to analyze a situation carefully and make an informed choice.

I don't mean that we are trying to create little robots that grow up to be just like us (oh heaven help them if that's what they strive for!). We want them to be intelligent, independent, THINKERS. For example, Mark sometimes says he would rather one of the children decide as an adult to attend a different church denomination than he/she was raised in because he has studied their beliefs and practices and find those to be more in line with scripture, than to attend a Presbyterian church all his life because that's what Mom and Dad do. We want them think about their words and actions, and make wise decisions. Hopefully, if we say it enough, and teach them how and why to do so, they will hear it in their minds (and hearts!) always and will listen.

Life is all about making choices. They will choose careers, spouses, purchases, and lifestyles. Our desire is that Hannah, Abel, Robert, Elizabeth, and Hope will learn from the small lessons while they are growing up, and will be well equipped as adults to make choices that will bring them the joy and happiness we so desire for them, and more importantly, will draw them closer to their Lord and Savior and allow them to serve Him well.

May God bless our feeble efforts and give us the wisdom to guide our sweet children.

Bev