Whatcha Eating? Wednesday

Well I had an angel food cake (thanks Valerie) and didn't want it to go to waste. I didn't have any strawberries, but I had fresh blueberries (thanks Grandpa and Grandma). So, I went on the search for a blueberry sauce recipe. I, of course, went to allrecipes.com and found  a great one. My hubby isn't a big blueberry person and he LOVED it. The kids asked for seconds, so I would say it's a winner.

Ingredients

1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/3 cup water
2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries

Directions
In a  saucepan, combine sugar and cornstarch; gradually stir in water. Add blueberries; bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil for 1 minute, stirring occasionally.

Just getting started...

Boiling real good...

Umm....YUM!!!

Recipe Credited to Ellen Benninger at http://allrecipes.com/recipe/blueberry-breakfast-sauce/detail.aspx

Fit to be "Tied"

So yesterday Jerry asked to wear his checkered bow tie to school. I, of course, said uhh..no. He went on and on so I told him that if he still wanted to wear it he could wear it tomorrow (Tuesday). I was hoping he would get it out of his head and realize how ridiculous it was. Boy! Did that backfire. Not only did he remember the moment he sat down for breakfast, but continually reminded me of it through out the day until it was noon and time to go to school.

I reluctantly said fine Jerry wear the bow tie. So, he did! As I was clipping it on, I asked him what he thought his friends at school would say about this tie. He grinned at me and said, "They'll all laugh!" I said, ok, it's up to you. I told him I was going to take a picture and he said, "Good, so I can see what I look like." (FYI: we do have mirrors). So, I snapped the pic and he eagerly jumped up and down to see and said, "No, get my whole body, so I can see everything." So, I take the second picture. He looked at it very proudly and confidently proclaimed, "I don't look weird!" I told him he looked awesome and took him to school like that. He did look adorable, but I couldn't quit laughing as I dropped him off. I almost wrote a note to his teacher explaining that is wasn't my idea! :-)

Whatcha Eating? Wednesday

Look at that! It's Wednesday...and I'm blogging...a recipe...

So, I thought I should blog a healthy recipe since I don't think I have yet. This recipe came out of a Cooking Light chicken recipe book I got years ago. This has to be my most used recipe book and this has to be one of the dishes I make most often from it. It is so good. It is light and yummy! We usually pair it with some Hawaiian rolls or club crackers. My kids love it too and always ask for seconds.

Caesar Chicken-Pasta Salad

3 cups (about 12 ounces) skinned, shredded roasted chicken breast
3 cups hot cooked penne (about 6 ounces uncooked tubular-shaped pasta)
2 cups thinly sliced romaine lettuce
1 1/2 cups halved cherry tomatoes
1/2 cup thinly sliced fresh basil
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1/3 cup fat-free Caesar dressing
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 (4-ounce) package crumbled feta cheese
1 garlic clove, minced

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl; toss well to coat.


http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/caesar-chicken-pasta-salad-10000000222335/

Hairbows

So, I started trying to make hair bows about a year and a half ago. I tried many different techniques and made a few cute ones, but after not getting them the way I like, my attempts fizzled out. However, i have now came across fabric bows and they are CUTE! So, I attempted 2 different types today. I tried a fabric rosette and some other one that is basically connecting a bunch of tube-shaped pieces of fabric. I will definitely keep making these. I need to work on the rosettes with consistency and stuff, but I really liked the way the other one turned out. So, I wanted to share. Watch out those with little girls, I may use you just for an excuse to make these more. :-)

A few of my first bows

The one I like

Another view

Lady bug rossette

Another rossette

Altar or Catwalk?

Well, I suppose it is something I can't avoid any longer. This blog was on my heart and I really felt that the Lord was pushing me to write something about it, but I really didn't want to. I told Him that I just wrote about the pants/skirts issue and if I wrote this one everyone would think I was just pushing that again...as if He needed my input, right. Come to find out, He didn't much need my opinion or my excuses...so here I am writing once again about women and the way we dress.

DISCLAIMER: This blog is NOT about the pants versus skirts debate. Everyone who has read my blog knows where I stand and I still back that 100%.

I truly pray that before you continue on, you stop and pray right now that the Lord open your eyes and heart to this issue, because it is truly an issue in today's churches. Ask Him to reveal to you anything that He wants you to see. If you sincerely pray that prayer, I think you may be surprised what God can do in you and through you.

Ok, I titled this "Altar or Catwalk?" because sometimes I get confused. I am not trying to be harsh, but sometimes the lines are skewed. When God laid this issue heavy on my heart and I had that conversation about not wanting to do it and such, that very next Sunday I was in the restroom at church, and as I was washing my hands, there was a young lady next to me at another sink. She stood there in front of the mirror fluffing and fixing her hair, turning from one side to the other checking herself out in the mirror, checked the lipstick, the eyeliner, her behind, fluffed some more hair. Then I noticed her clothes, a short skirt, very high heels, and a see-through blouse over a tank top type shirt. Is she going to a runway show or is she going worship the One True and Living God who is Perfectly Holy? That is where the lines have blurred.

Are we waking up on Sunday and choosing our clothes to go stand in the presence of man or our girlfriends or a Perfect, Just, and Holy God? Would you be ashamed to stand before Jesus Himself with some of the things we wear to church? Then why own those clothes at all. Who are we truly trying to impress. We, women, have a responsibility to dress modestly, to cover our bodies up.

1 Sameal 16:7 says, "for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart." This verse holds so much merit, because neither side can ignored. Yes, God looks at the heart and He sees the very motives of what you are doing and this includes dress. He sees why you are dressing the way are, who you are trying to impress, and your neglect of His standards. Then, also importantly, man looks on the outward appearance. Let me say that again man looks on the outward appearance, man looks on the outward appearance, man looks on the outward appearance. It cannot be neglected. We see how each other look. What are your clothes saying about you?

This goes for single woman too, but married woman, do you really want other men to be attracted to your bodies because of the way you dress. Not only is it disrespectful to God, but to your husband. Your body is for His eyes as ordained and given by God, not for all of public's eyes. How much more can you show respect for your husband then by covering yourself up? This also goes for how tight your clothes are, just because it is covering everything doesn't mean you're leaving anything to the imagination. You will be so much more beautiful in his eyes when he knows you are just for his eyes. My husband is an usher and greets at the door. He tells me that he and the other ushers have to look down at the ground sometimes for what some of the women come dressed in. Are you one of them? That breaks my heart that these Christian men have to look away from greeting people due to a lack of obedience. Modest means modest by God's standards, not by man's. We can't choose to be modest off the fashions of this world, for they will pass away, but what we have done here will go on. Do you really want to get to Heaven and see how many men you made stumble?

I do not know why the Lord has laid this burden of women and modesty on my heart so heavy, but I can't ignore it. We need to wake up and stop letting the world mandate how we dress. Search the Scriptures, listen to God, and act in obedience.

I will leave you with some questions we can ask ourselves when we get dressed each and every morning:

1. Will this outfit bring glory to God?
2. Would I want to meet Jesus in this outfit?
3. Will this outfit set me apart from the world?
4. Will this outfit draw attention to certain body parts that can cause others to stumble?
5. Will this outfit show respect to my husband?

Whatcha Eating? Wednesday

Yeah, I know it's Thursday. *Sigh*

Today's recipe is The Million Dollar Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest Winner.

Double Delight Peanut Butter Cookies


1 Roll of refrigerated peanut butter cookies
1/4 cup dry roasted peanuts, finely chopped
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup Creamy Peanut Butter
1/2 cup powder sugar

1. Heat oven to 375°F. In small bowl, mix chopped peanuts, granulated sugar, and cinnamon; set aside.
2. In another small bowl, stir peanut butter and powdered sugar until completely blended. Shape mixture into 24 (1-inch) balls.
3. Cut roll of cookie dough into 12 slices. Cut each slice in half crosswise to make 24 pieces; flatten slightly. Shape 1 cookie dough piece around 1 peanut butter ball, covering completely. Repeat with remaining dough and balls.
4. Roll each covered ball in peanut mixture; gently pat mixture completely onto balls. On ungreased large cookie sheets, place balls 2 inches apart. Spray bottom of drinking glass with no-stick cooking spray; press into remaining peanut mixture. Flatten each ball to 1/4-inch thickness with bottom of glass. Sprinkle any remaining peanut mixture evenly on tops of cookies; gently press into dough.
5. Bake 7 to 12 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Let cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets to cooling rack. Store tightly covered.

These are soooooooooo good! A must try! Enjoy!

Reference: http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2008/04/2008-pillsbury-bake-off-carolyn-gurtz-peanut-butter-cookie-recipe.html

Whatcha Eating? Wednesday

Ha! I bet you thought I forgot again! Well, I didn't. Trust me I wish I did though. I am home sick from church so not feeling 100%. But thought I'd post this real quick.

This recipe is posted by request. It is White Chicken Chili. This is not my recipe. It is a dear friends recipe, Kristin. She was sweet enough to share it with me a couple years ago. She has to be one of the BEST "no recipe" cooks I have ever met. She is amazing! Thank you for sharing this with me. Love you and miss you all!

White Chicken Chili

You can either use a rotisserie chick from the store or use a combo of chicken breasts and thighs.

Put chicken in pan with some butter. Add about 2 tbsp of cumin about half way through cooking. Then add 1/2 tbsp chili powder and 3 cloves minced garlic.

Then add a can of Rotel after a few minutes.

Cook until almost done and you may need to add a little water so that the chicken stays moist. Do this all covered.

When chicken is done, set aside, cool and chop.

Then in a smaller saucepan, chop one green bell pepper and 1 onion. Saute in butter or olive oil. Add a pinch on cayenne and few turns of pepper mill. Add 1 tsp. cumin.

Wen the veggies are done add a block of cubed cream cheese and let it melt down. Add about 8 slices of sliced pepper jack cheese, just torn up. Let that melt down, add a few splashes of milk. Not sure how much, but not runny.

In your crock pot, on low, empty 8 oz of sour cream and a box of chicken stock. Then add 1 jar of green salsa. Then add veggie/cheese mix and the chicken. Then add 2 cans of rinsed/drained pinto beans. Then maybe about a 1/2 cup of milk. Then let heat through on low until ready to eat. You can also add a few chopped jarred jalapenos for extra heat.

ENJOY!

New Beginnings and New Endings

Well, I know it has been a while and I missed two installments of Whatcha Eating? Wednesday, but I cannot apologize. I was in Arizona visiting some family for Christmas! We were very blessed and thankful to be able to go. We have never been home for Christmas since we have had children, so it was very neat to be able to experience that.

Let's see...the kids loved the presents they got. I consider myself blessed that my children do not make these long lists of countless toys for Christmas. When we asked them what they wanted, they each named 2 things...2 things! It blows my mind. When I was child I was making a list all year long, watching commericals just to add something new to the list. I just want my children to grow knowing the true meaning of Christmas and that is Jesus Christ!

I'm not into New Year resolutions, but I read a devotion today talking about starting new endings and I really like it. It talked about how new endings can happen at any point in your life, especially in relation to God's Word and your walk with Christ. So, I want to put former things behind me and strive to walk closer and more intimately with Jesus...every day!

Oh, I might add that on our drive back when leaving Tucumcarri, New Mexico our battery light came on. We decided to push through until we got to Amarillo so we'd have a better chance of getting help. We got there and found a Auto Zone (thanks Grandpa). They tested everything, battery, alternator, starter, etc. It all tested good, so we had no choice but to continue on. The car restarted several times with no problem, so we just went for it. So, we got back home on New Year's Eve and I was sick so I was in bed by 8 pm. By morning I felt much better and we went to church and then after church, the van wold not start. It ended up being the alternator, which was thankfully under warranty. My amazing husband has now got the van up and running like a champ. One thing that cannot go without mentioning is the guy at Auto Zone in town said that when the battery light comes on, you got about 200 miles, no more than 300 miles before the alternator burns up and the vehicle won't move. He obviously doesn't know MY GOD! From Tucumcarri to Saginaw is about 500 miles! God is amazing and am so grateful He got us home safely and to church the next morning at that!

We did not do much New Year's Day. We did "make your own pizza" for dinner, which the kids loved! Between the pizzas and the kids sneaking toppings we didn't have much leftover.

I have more to say, but I think I'll wait for another day. Here's some pics of the kids.

Snow we saw on the drive home.

More snow!