Simplicity

My need for simplicity has drawn me to get rid of all of my mismatched collection of dishes. We had a garage sale last weekend and I sold them all...and everything that didn't sell is on it's way to goodwill. Instead, I purchased a 16 piece set of Corelle (aren't they pretty?) that has a 3 year break/chip warranty attached. Good luck, I say, in this boy house. Can I tell you the joy of being able to wash all of my dishes in one load with space left over? Space, people! Ahhhh, a good feeling indeed.

Mmmm Mmmm Monday

This title is probably taken. I am, however, going to take it just for today. And then...if nobody complains, maybe I'll come back next Monday with more Mmmm Mmmm fresh n' healthy recipes!

I tried out two new meals this weekend from the Sue Gregg cookbooks. A friend of mine passed these along to me a while back. Honestly, I don't think I realized the treasure that was stored on my shelf until about a week ago when I began to read through them. I've been convicted lately that my body is truly the temple of the Holy Spirit and that I haven't been feeding it very well lately. I was so focused on 'budget' eating that I was not concentrating on balanced nutrition as much as I needed to. The recipes in her books are not only super tasty, but healthy and designed for the budget shopper! She also shares scripture throughout, great nutrition instruction, as well as shoppings lists and more! Check out the link above for more info!


For breakfast this morning, we tried a variation of Sue's Breakfast Strata. Looks yummy, right? Daddy enjoyed it, but the boys were a little turned off by all the green veggies. I made it yesterday afternoon and let it chill overnight in the fridge. This morning I got up around 6am and popped it straight from the refrigerator into the oven then went back to bed. (It was in a stainless steel casserole dish covered with foil) I let it bake for about 45 minutes covered and then removed foil to let cheese crisp slightly to form a top crust. It was nice to have everything done and wake up to great smells from the kitchen! Recipe below!

Breakfast Strata

Yesterday afternoon we came home to shredded chicken tacos, rice and beans, and cottage cheese. This was from Sue's Main Dish cookbook. I wish I had taken a picture of it yesterday- it was so pretty served with all the fresh veggies and grated cheese! You'll have to settle for second best today... straight out of the tupperware with everything mixed together! Before we left for church in the morning, I boiled the chicken breast and cooked the rice. (Basmati long grain) I don't know about you, but when my family comes home, they are ready to eat NOW! When we came home all I had to do was grate the cheese, chop the veggies, bake the tortillas and fry the rice. Prep time was literally only about 15 minutes! It was really good! Looking forward to the leftovers today! Mmmm! Please email me if you would like this recipe!

Shredded Chicken Tacos

BREAKFAST STRATA (feeds 4-8)

Ingredients:
Whole Wheat Bread (torn into small cubes)
6-8 Eggs
1/2 cup Milk
Veggies of choice (broccoli, onions, spinach, carrots, tomatoes, etc.)
Black beans
1 Cup grated cheese
Ham- cubed or slice
Salt & Pepper to taste

Line greased casserole dish with bread cubes; mix eggs & milk/seasoning until well blended; cut veggies & meat and combine with egg mixture; pour all over bread; spread cheese evenly over top and cover. Bake immediately or let sit in fridge until ready to heat. Bake 375 degrees for one 45 minutes covered; 15 minutes with cover off. Serve warm with fruit and low fat sour cream!

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

This morning my oldest and I decided to make our favorite muffin recipe. I wish you could see how truly huge and gorgeous these turned out! The smell was absolutely overwhelming and quite intoxicating. Mmmmmmm!

Do you see the one missing muffin? It fed all three of us a very generous portion! No kidding, these were huge!

My oldest enjoying his portion and trying to smile at the same time.

Little one finally taking in some calories! (Please ignore the mess in the background! We were playing store with our "new" cash register from Grandma!)

Recipe for Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

Wet Ingredients (Put in blender for a great consistency)
1 cup mashed banana
1 egg
1/4 cup applesauce
1/4 cup oil

Dry Ingredients (Add well to wet and stir in chips)

1.5 cup flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup chocolate chips

(Sprinkle brown sugar over top of batter prior to baking for an extra crispy glaze!)

Bake until golden and when have risen twice the size of batter. 400 degrees approx 30 minutes

"It's Okay...I'm in Training"

"Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud."

Proverbs 16: 18-19

I have never owned a decent set of matching pots and pans. When my husband and I got married (almost eight years ago) we were given lots of different items that we hodge-podged together. After five or six years we "upgraded" to a matching set I found at the thrift store. Those lasted a while, but the last time I made a lemon meringue pie, hubby asked why I had used pepper in the recipe. No dearest, that would be Teflon flakes. It took all of ten seconds to realize that we needed new cookware and fast.

A friend of mine has a great set of Belgique cookware that she purchased years and years ago. They still look absolutely brand new and she raved about how well they have held up over time. So, I went on the hunt and found them at our local Macy's! The best part is that they have a lifetime warranty and I found them on clearance! (Did I mention- they are a matching set?)

My husband wished me a "Happy Valentines Day" and off to the mall I went in my trendy little heels. (Nester, you would have been proud). The housewares department is on the first floor and I entered on the second- so down the escalator I went. Click click...clickety click in those cute little shoes. I found my item and lugged the massive box over to the checkout counter. The attentive sales clerk noticed my heels and suggested that I pull up my vehicle to the delivery dock. I smiled sweetly and said with jest, "Oh, it's okay. I'm in training for a triathlon. If I can't carry this box out to my car- I've really got problems!" We all laughed as I turned to carry my box to my awaiting mini-van. Oh, the pride in my little sinful heart.

Then I saw it. It hadn't concerned me before, but now I saw my dilemma in the horizon. The escalator. The ESCALATOR. It was moving like the currant in an angry river... quickly it would swallow me without a second look. I couldn't go back now. I was a triathlon trainer for goodness sake! I persevered. (It's only now that I think about the elevator: helpful and handy. Waiting for the strollers, the handicapped and me- the heeled triathlon participant.)

Have you ever entered an escalator with no hands? And a box the size of TEXAS?! All I can say is it's a miracle I was going 'up'. 'Down' would have been a tragedy I wrote about from my hospital traction bed.

I jumped on. Literally. Jumped. Then...down...down...down I went. Hard. The box caught my forward fall. I teetered and tottered. I tried to look like a lady as I balanced myself in an upright position. Whew. I was on! I had made it! Oh, rats. I have to get off this thing! That was just as much fun. Okay- sidebar. Have you ever seen 'Wild Hearts Can't be Broken?' Do you remember when the poor blind girl decides against all odds to dive her horse and during her horrific training sessions she reaches out for the reigns and... Yeah, that was me.

Pride definitely goes before a fall. But, it certainly doesn't follow it- especially when all the makeup artists of Macy's are watching you fall onto the second floor of their store.

Breakfast Cookies

Breakfast Cookies

"Wet Ingredients"

1 cup creamy peanut butter (all natural/organic)

2 fresh eggs

1 /4 cup honey

1/ 4 cup applesauce

"Dry Ingredients"

2 cups whole wheat flour (or white blend)

Pinch sea salt

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

"Add-ins"

1/2 cup prepared granola
1/4 cup ground flax seed

1/2 cup moist raisins

1/2 cup chocolate chips

Use hand mixer to add wet ingredients one by one. Then add dry one at a time until completely blended overall.

Work "add-ins" in with your hands until absorbed by dough.

Roll out with rolling pin between two saran wrap layers and use round cookie cutter.

Place on cookie sheet and bake 10 minutes at 375 degrees.

Makes approximately 20