Thankful 30: Part 1

#1 God's Word

# 2 Sharpies and Moleskins

# 3 The Freedom to Homeschool

# 4 Smart, Healthy, Loving and Hilarious Boys

# 5 A Devoted, Sacrificing, and Supportive Husband

#6 abundance

# 7 turtles

# 8 cappuccino

# 9 fun money

Crock Pot Potatoes and Sausage

I found a few recipes for things like this on Pinterest but I decided to jump in head first and try it out myself.

• 4 large white potatoes (any kind would work)
• 2 cups of green beans (I prefer fresh)
• 2 packages of Lil Smokies (you can use any sausage, keilbasa or Polish would be great)
• 2-3 tablespoons of minced garlic
• 1 tabelspoon dried parsley
• about a cup of water, just to keep it steamy in the crock pot and not get dried out
• salt and pepper to taste

I cut the potatoes into chunks with the peelings on (up to you), chopped the green beans into more bit size pieces and dumped everything in. I always start my crock pot on high just to get it going, maybe 30 minutes then switch it to low. This cooked maybe 6 hours and was perfect. The potatoes just need to be cooked through and I like mine pretty soft, so it may not take as long for you. 

Hubs felt like there was something missing from this (like BBQ sauce, so he put it on it himself) but I loved it! It was easy and hearty. Depending on the sausage you use, watch the salt that you add. I didn't need to add any because the Lil Smokies are pretty salty. I will definitely be making this again!

My plate is too small.

I have a lot going on right now. Homeschooling, of course, I'm taking physics (not recommended) and world history, we are  preparing for an international move (and we aren't sure where we are going but we are leaving Mexico), hub's job change, Bible study, my poor husband was sick all weekend, we are celebrating Nikolas' fifth birthday, ugh, there must be more.

I have been very overwhelmed with a lot of anxiety and emotions. I have been turning to food and have gained a few pounds back. I know God has it all figured out and I know He will provide for our family. If I didn't know that I would be in a padded room. Sometimes I am really close to that but then I step back and I give it to God. I can feel my shoulders lift and it feels good. I wish I could stop taking it back though.

Basic Hummus

This is a super basic recipe for hummus. I read quite a few and polled some friends and looked in my pantry to put a simple recipe together. I did not have tahini (sesame paste, peanut butter like consistency) so I used about a tablespoon of almond butter for the nutty flavor. Here goes:

• 2 cans of garbanzo beans (same thing as chick peas), drained
• 4 TBsp of minced garlic (roasted garlic would be great)
• juice of half a lime (lemon is good, too)
• a TBsp or so of cumin (I really like the flavor so I added more than that)
• about 1/8 cup of dried Italian herbs (basil, parsley mix)
• 1 TBsp sea salt
• 1 TBsp toasted almond butter
• 2 TBsp {real Sicilian} olive oil
• 1/4 cup of cold water (added a little at a time)

This was all to my taste, adjust as needed. I put it all in the blender until it was the consistency that I like. Then I put it in the fridge to chill. 

Some additions that I think would be great are:

• Spinach
• Sun dried tomatoes
• Green olives
• Parmesan cheese and little marinara sauce
• chocolate? probably not.

Hubs' Birthday

My husband is a huge Angels Baseball fan, so I ordered some Angels birthday supplies to celebrate. The baseball cake is the top half of the Big Top Cupcake silicon pan. I used this amazing chocolate cake recipe and the "stitches" are those sour straw things. I am so blessed to celebrate this man's birthday every year!

Happy 36th Birthday!

Perfect plates and napkins!

This is part of his collection on the wall, I added the pendant banner.

A special dinner out at this cool ComicX place.

The Good Wife's Guide

The Good Wife's Guide, Embracing Your Role as a Help Meet is outstanding! I would've paid a lot more for this book. It was simple and straight forward and very biblical. This is not for the worldly woman but for the Christian woman that wants to do what is right. This was such a great book for me. It was exactly what I needed right now. I was feeling overwhelmed by my home and needing to take care of everything. This was a new and refreshing perspective. It was enlightening and educational. The book also includes how-to guides and inspiration. Darlene from Time-Warp Wife is a gifted writer and encourager and I highly recommend this book. It is also available in print now.

Overwhelmed Week 3

As I start week 3 I notice that my kitchen has been really clean! I do struggle with getting the dishes done after dinner or before bed. But my sink has been consistently empty and the floor as been swept. Strange days around these parts. Have you gotten 28 Days yet? Click here to find out more!
Week 1
Week 2

Overwhelmed Week 2

I have been following A Slob Comes Clean's e-book plan for bringing hope to your home. I was completely overwhelmed by the mess. I don't consider myself a slob, just a major procrastinator. This book makes it super easy for anyone to follow but it isn't really for people that already have a cleaning plan or don't have any dishes in their sink.
I did pretty good during week 1, other than the day I felt like junk. So we begin week 2. Who is reading or has read the book? Did you have success? Did it help you in any way?

Overwhelmed by the Mess in Your Home?

So, I was looking for a plan to get this place clean. I needed some motivation, big time. First I found this post from Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers. She suggest that we visit A Slob Comes Clean and check out her e-book. Right now (4/2-4/4 only) you can get her e-book for only THREE BUCKS! FOR REAL! Go get it! I just bought it and I need to download and get to readin' it! You can click on the picture to go directly to the book but make sure you check out her blog as well. How do you keep up with your homemaking and stay sane??

Getting Motivated

Today begins my new plan to keep up with my household chores. FOR REAL this time! I have used Motivated Moms before but for some reason I quit. It is super easy and does all the thinking for you, well, the cleaning-thinking. If you are struggling with keeping up with cleaning and taking care of your home then go see what they have to offer. You can view samples and then purchase them for only EIGHT dollars! It is a download, so you get it before you lose your motivation. You could even print it on pretty paper. sigh.

I will check back next week and let you know how I'm doing. Maybe we can start Motivated Moms Mondays? Just a thought.

Yep. she is.

Lasagna a la Crockpot

Super easy and it actually tasted better than I thought it would!

• pound or so of browned ground beef (or turkey or left over pot roast, whatever you want)
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 2 tablespoons dried basil 
• 10 ounces of diced tomatoes (Italian are good)
• small can of tomato paste (or you can use jar sauce, whatever you have on hand)
• 1 cup real parmesan cheese (not Kraft powder), half will go in the mix and half will go on top
• mozzarella cheese (real mozz! see picture if you don't know what real mozz is) 
• 2 or 3 strips of lasagna noodles, uncooked
• 1 cup or so of water
• black pepper to taste

I browned the meat and then mixed everything in my crock. I broke up the pieces of lasagna noodle and mixed them in. I added the water but probably didn't really need it. I was afraid it would get dry. It took about 3.5 hours to cook on low, then I turned it off and topped it with parmesan and more mozzarella. Put the lid back on and let it get all gooey. 

Not the most attractive picture but it was super yummy!

This is the most real mozzarella cheese I could find here. If I was in Italy or even some stores in the US I would get Buffalo Mozzarella that comes in water. It is nothing like the mozz in the states. YUM!

The Gentleness Challenge

As you read last week, I have been struggling with some things. I felt like my umbrella had blown inside out and it was hailing. My husband got me a new umbrella and reminded me that I don't have to hold it all by myself. God is holding the umbrella and my husband is holding my hand. It is day by day, digging out and getting ahead. Satan knows what brings me down, he knows how to hold me there. I have to make the choice to get on the right path every day; every hour; in each challenge of the day.
Today I read two blog posts that lit a path for me. Sam at Sam's Noggin posted about returning to our foundations. And Courtney at Women Living Well is doing The Gentleness Challenge. Go read their posts and be inspired to get on the right track like I was.

Dutch Apple Pie

This was SO good! I made it for dessert after Christmas dinner and it was a huge hit. The topping is the best part.


This is the original recipe. The changes I made are in red.
Pie Crust
1 1/2 cup(s) all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon(s) salt
4 tablespoon(s) margarine or butter
1/4 cup(s) shortening
No Shortening Pie Crust
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (130 g) all purpose flour
1 1/2 tablespoons butter or vegetable oil
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 tablespoons cold water

Apple Filling
2 pound(s) Granny Smith apples, (about 4 large) (Golden Delicious)
2 tablespoon(s) fresh lemon juice (Fresh Lime Juice)
1 container(s) (8 ounces) sour cream
3/4 cup(s) granulated sugar (Raw Sugar)
2 tablespoon(s) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon(s) vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon(s) salt
1 large egg

Streusel Topping
3/4 cup(s) all-purpose flour
1/2 cup(s) walnuts, toasted and chopped (1/3 C Oatmeal)
1/4 cup(s) packed brown sugar (1/3 C)
1/4 cup(s) granulated sugar (1/3 C Raw Sugar)
1 teaspoon(s) ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon(s) grated orange peel
4 tablespoon(s) margarine or butter, cold

Prepare pie crust.

Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Prepare apple filling: Peel, core, and cut apples into 1/4-inch-thick slices. In large bowl, toss apples with lemon juice. In medium bowl, with wire whisk or fork, beat sour cream, sugar, flour, vanilla, salt, and egg just until blended. Stir sour-cream mixture into apple mixture; spoon into chilled pie shell.

Place sheet of foil under pie plate; crimp foil edges to form a rim to catch any drips during baking. (This is a must!) Bake pie 1 hour, covering loosely with foil if apples are browning too quickly.

While pie is baking, prepare streusel topping: In medium bowl, stir flour, walnuts, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and orange peel. With fingertips, blend in cold margarine or butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

After pie has baked 1 hour, turn oven control to 350 degrees F. Sprinkle streusel topping evenly over apples. Bake pie 30 minutes longer or until filling is hot and bubbly and top is golden. Cool pie on wire rack 1 hour to serve warm. Or cool completely to serve at room temperature later. 

(I think 400 degrees was too hot, I would just do 350 for the whole time and cover the apples with foil because they got dark really fast. It was really sweet, so I think I would use less sugar in the topping and more oatmeal. And it was really wet, I'm assuming it was the juice from the apples, not sure what to do with that other than eat it up quick! which is exactly what we did!) 

31 Day Fall Challenge

I loved doing this challenge last fall and I will be doing it again this year. It is simple things you can do to make your home a haven. Go visit Courtney at WomenLivingWell to learn more!

Banana, etc. Bread Recipe

This bread is delicious! I had to share it. I really like it because it isn't super sweet. I adapted it from about seven banana bread recipes that I read, so I will consider this my own. Enjoy!

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp nutmeg
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 3 cups flour (I used 2 cups all purpose, 1 cup whole wheat)
• 2 rip bananas, smashed
• 2 crunchy apples, diced small with peels removed
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 cup chips (I used the peanut butter and chocolate swirl ones)

Pre-heat oven to 350 F. Grease (or use non stick spray) and flour two 9x5x3" loaf pans.

Mix butter and sugar until smooth and then add one egg at a time, beating well after each egg. Add vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, baking powder and salt. Add bananas, apples, raisins and chips. Slowly add in the flour until everything is incorporated.

Split into the two loaf pans. Bake for about 1 hour or until tester comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire rack for ten minutes, remove and then cool completely on the racks. 

Great e-Book on Sale!

I just got this e-book and am loving it so far! You can really personalize your cleaning schedule. I will be working on mine and hopefully posting it next week! but the exciting part is this great e-book is on sale!
Click here to read about the special and get the coupon code! Have you read it? Do you have a cleaning schedule? Is your house clean? I'd love yo hear how you keep up with your home, let me know!

Click here to visit I Dream of Clean.

Pesto Yumminess

I saw a sandwich like this somewhere and I love pesto so I had to try it out. I used a soft baguette, pesto (I prefer to make my own), real mozzarella (the wet kind, not the American Kind) and fresh Roma tomatoes with a bit of salt and pepper. I sliced it all up and put it on the George Foreman grill, aka panini press and melted the cheese. It didn't even last long enough for me to take a picture of! YUM!

A Different Kinda Cupcake?

 I needed to make something for a Goodbye Brunch I was attending and because we are getting close to our vacation we've been trying to use all the groceries that might go bad. I am out of eggs. I was not going to load up the kids to go to the grocery store. Thanks to the amazing technology that we have these days I was able to google "cupcakes egg free" and found some recipes! The one I found was from Milk Allergy Mom but this one is also egg free. I had NO idea how they'd turn out but they are fudgy in the middle like brownies! YUM!

And then I learned a neat trick on Pinterest! You can make your cupcakes heart shaped! It is kind of hard to tell but mine are heart shaped. You just stick a marble on one side and it holds the cupcake liner to make a heart. Cute idea, huh!


Go visit Milk Allergy Mom for the cake recipe and other options! (It made about 15 cupcakes)
This is the recipe I used for frosting, it is super sweet and if I had had some cream cheese I would have used that instead but here you go.
3.5 cups powdered sugar
0.5 cup baking cocoa
.25 cups (1 stick) real butter, room temperature
1 TBsp vanilla
0.5 cup milk (don't pour this all in, add as needed)
Mix together and whip it good. I like to mix it longer to make it a little fluffier. This made enough frosting for probably 24 cupcakes. Frost after cake is cooled, of course. I keep it in the fridge!

Must See but only if you eat food!