Sunday, February 28, 2010

Simple Family Supper: March Menu Plan Kit

It is 5 O'clock... What is for supper?? Eliminate this stress from your life!! The Simple Family Supper March Menu Plan Kit is ready for you to down load today. Stress free supper prep is possible with the complete organization Simple Family Supper provides.

25 Page March Menu Plan Kit Includes:
  • Complete month menu plan
  • Detailed weekly shopping lists
  • EASY to prepare, family friendly recipes
  • 4 BONUS fish recipes (Lent season) You can use them even if you don't practice Lent :) Fish is HEALTHY!
Print it off NOW!
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Only $7.95 (less than $2 per week)

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March Menu Plan Kit Recipe List:
  • Easy Stroganoff
  • Lasagna Soup
  • Chicken Stir Fry
  • Sausage and Scalloped Potatoes
  • Club Quesadilla
  • Ranch Chicken
  • Crunchy Mexican Bake
  • Savory Chicken Sandwich
  • Italian Pot Roast
  • Pizza Potatoes
  • Tex Mex Pitas
  • Cranberry Pork Roast
  • Almost Lasagna
  • Easy Chicken Pot Pie
  • Italian Beef Sandwiches
  • Cordon Blue Stromboli
  • Chicken and Rice Soup
  • Honey Chicken
  • Pizza Crescents
  • Pork BBQ on Buns
  • BONUS: Perch Fillets
  • BONUS: Baked Fish and Rice
  • BONUS: Maple Salmon
  • BONUS: Italian Fish Fillets

Eliminate Supper Time stress!!!
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If you have any questions or comments (I am always eager to hear from you) please contact me at simplefamilysupper @ ffni . com (don't include the spaces)

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Monday, February 22, 2010

Choosing Simplicity: REST .... deep rest!

Weariness plagues our nation and women are the weariest of all. So many balls to juggle, so many things calling our name. From the moment we wake till we drift off to sleep our minds race with all there is to do, where we need to go and all the ways we are failing. The clouds of expectations looms over us.... often we believe that we lack in doing anything the way we should. There is always more, more to do and more we didn't get done. The exhaustion we feel penetrates deep to our bones and we long for a day of renewal.

We turn to all kinds of things to refresh us and calm the storm raging within. We exercise, we eat, we read, we watch tv, we take vacations, we participate in hobbies, we surf the web, we inhale chocolate, we call a friend. Yet, even after we have done these things to 'relax' and 'spend time on me' we still feel the daggers of exhaustion. The few moments of respite are erased by the pressures of life. How can we keep going, how can we have deep rest for our weary souls??

This past weekend I went to a ladies retreat at a local church. It was absolutely wonderful to "retreat" from the stresses of daily life, but even a retreat is just for a day. Life carries on and the pressures are still there. However, I was exposed to two verses this weekend that I had never heard (or if I had don't remember it). These verses are the secret to lasting rest! They are the promise to cling to, my new LIFE verse for the moment!!!! I now understand WHY nothing I do brings me complete rest. Why nothing I try works to relieve the weariness that plagues my heart. I was looking to what I can do, not to the ONLY source of rest that my soul NEEDS!

TRUE and LASTING rest!!!! REAL rest!!!

Psalm 62:1 (niv)
"My soul finds rest in God alone;
my salvation comes from him."

Psalm 62:5 (niv)
"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
my hope comes from him."

Going to anything but Jesus will not give us lasting rest! Ever wonder why even after doing nothing but veg in front of the tv for a couple of hours we can still feel exhausted? Ever wonder why nothing seems to completely sooth the unwound nerves?? The word of God is TRUE! NOTHING will give us REST except for JESUS!!! Time in the word, time in prayer, time in worship, time listening to our Lord God is the only place we will find rest!! Our SPIRITS need HIS refreshing and NOTHING we can do on this world will ever take the place of RESTING in our God!!!!

Today..... In those daily moments of sheer exhaustion, utter stress and feelings of failure reach for REST in Jesus! We NEED our daily time with God! We need moments WITH Him, resting in HIM throughout the day. Accept and receive the promise of REST that God offers!!!!

Start now! Turn on this song and allow God to bring you REST!!


Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Monday, February 15, 2010

You know you are a country girl when.......

You totally ENJOY a romantic Valentine's Day afternoon spent with your hubby out working in the barn!! LOL!! I spent the afternoon with my husband (and middle son) out rebuilding our chicken coop. We totally enjoyed our time together.... I know it is crazy, but hey, we are just country folk!! There is something so wonderful about working together and creating something that will benefit our family. We are both DOING people so working together suits us both just fine.

I have had chickens for six years and over that time our chicken wire has rusted and we had some holes... something got in and destroyed my flock... very sad day! Now, thanks to my husband's great uncle we are getting a new one year old flock! Yea! Our coop is totally fortified and ready to keep them all safe and sound. When I say fortified I mean it! This week I will once again have chickens.... I have really missed them! I am also missing my barn cats.... saw four mice yesterday... haven't seen live mice out in the barn in three years.... where oh where did my barn cats go?! I HATE mice!!

I'll post pictures of my new flock as soon as they are settled in.

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Happy Vintage Valentine's Day!!
































































Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Cheery Cherry Cookies... as requested by my Grandma!

My Grandmother called this morning and asked me to email her this recipe...... She said it is perfect for Valentines Day and I think she is right!! It is fun having a grandma plugged in to technology... she is one hip 85 year old even has a facebook page!! I just wish I was in Texas to enjoy these cookies with her!

Happy Valentine's weekend and enjoy the cookie recipe!

Cheery Cherry Cookies
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup butter
1 egg
2 TBL milk
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp backing soda
1/2 cup maraschino cherries, drained and chopped
1/2 cup pecans
1/2 cup flaked coconut

Cream brown sugar, butter, egg, milk and vanilla. Combine flour, slat and baking soda; gradually add to creamed mixture. Fold in cherries, pecans and coconut. Drop by teaspoonful onto un-greased baking sheets. Bake at 375* for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Makes 4 dozen.

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Thursday, February 11, 2010

My Motto for S.I.M.P.L.E. Living


Choosing Simplicity.... breaking it down to the basics. I am CHOOSING simplicity by focusing on SIMPLE!

S = Surrendering pre-conceived expectaions. There are so many to let go of.
I = Identify the basics of day to day life and focus on them.
M = Map it out! A plan, a goal!
P = Purge! Less is More!
L = Leadership - being a home manager does not mean that I do it all myself!
E = Enjoy the moment! Live in TODAY..."If's" and "When's" never bring joy.

Simplicity is not relying on the things of the world to bring me peace and joy!!!!!!! The thing of this world (possessions, accomplishments, beauty, fame, popularity, wealth) never give lasting joy. Only through JESUS can I experience true and lasting peace, joy and abundant life! Cry out to HIM, He will be there! HE will fill you with His love, his forgiveness, his joy!! Life is HARD, but with Christ life has real and lasting meaning. Our time here on earth is so short, eternity with Him is going to be wonderful!!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Monday, February 8, 2010

Peanut Butter Granola

My real life friend, Melissa, told me about PEANUT BUTTER GRANOLA! She led me to Hillbilly Housewife where I found the recipe my friend uses. I have since tweaked it to make it my own.... seriously, I just can't make a recipe without changing it up in one way or another!! I am a creative person to the core! I also wanted to add in some more protein and fiber. Below you will find the recipe as I make it.... LOVE it served with both milk or yogurt. I also really enjoy it with coconut sprinkled on top..... YUMMY!! Enjoy!

Peanut Butter Granola
Ingredients:
  • 1/4 cup butter or coconut oil (or a mixture)
  • 1/3 cup (natural) peanut butter
  • 1/3 cup honey (or brown sugar plus 1 TBL water)
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups rolled oats
  • 3/4 cup oat bran
  • 3/4 cup dry milk powder
Directions:

Begin by melting the butter (and or coconut oil) and peanut butter together in a 3-quart saucepan. Add the honey (or brown sugar and water), vanilla and salt. Stir the mixture until it is smooth and hot throughout. It doesn’t need to boil. Add the oats, oat bran and powdered milk. Stir until the oats are completely coated with the sticky gooey peanut butter mixture. It will be chunky. Turn the mixture into an un-greased cookie sheet, or a large 9 by 13-inch pan. Spread the granola out evenly and bake it at 375° for 10 minutes. It will be brown and crispy. Now remove it from the oven and allow it to cool right there in the pan. Break it up into pieces after it is cooled. Transfer the granola to a sealed jar or container. ENJOY!!!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather


Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Life has been a little different.....

I have been missing from the computer for the last week due to two events. First we were away from home enjoying a 2 night family vacation.... our first family vacation in four years! It was WONDERFUL! We took advantage of the Indiana State Park system's "stay one night get the second free" winter special and stayed at a Brown County State park in one of their family cabins. They have an indoor water park (passes come with the rental of the cabin) and so we were able to enjoy some 'summer time' fun at the pool!! We had a GREAT time!!!!! It was an extremely affordable way for us to have a family vacation. The cabin had a complete kitchen and so we were able to cook our meals and enjoy them right in our cozy cabin.

When we got home our computer (has been giving us fits for a while) decided to STOP! YIKES!! Not only do we like to get online, but we have a business to run..... So the old computer went to the computer guy for four days. Now we have it back (all clear of massive infections) and running smoothly. I now have TWO virus programs and TWO spyware programs to keep us safe (hopefully). I have always had one of each, but that isn't enough anymore........ frustrating! Our computer is also getting OLD and we will have to budget replacement in the next year.

I will be away from the computer the next few days while Chris and I get away for some COUPLE time!!! Nothing like packing vacation time so close together, but the State Park's winter special was just too good to turn down. Chris and I will enjoy our 3 days/2 nights together celebrating our 17 year "Together" anniversary! I can't believe that I have now been with my husband longer than I was alive before I met him! He was my high school sweet heart and God blessed me with a GOOD man right from the start!! I was saved from heart ached that comes from multiple dating relationships. I am glad that our get away falls on this special anniversary.... I love to celebrate all kinds of things! I feel that celebrating life is important! I am so thankful for my mother in law staying with the kids (and getting them all off to school/babysitters in the mornings). I think that the kids are looking forward to their time AWAY from us and we are!! :)

I'll be back next week.....
I do have one sad homestead experience to share and many SPRING fever dreams!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather