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!
Only $7.95 (less than $2 per week)
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!!!
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)
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!!
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.
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.
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!!
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!!!
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!
Ahhh... which picture best describes how you are feeling today?? Some days I feel just like the frazzled woman on the left, but what I long to be like is the woman below. What is the difference?? Is it because one woman lives in the modern world and the other in days gone by?? Why do I fluctuate between the two in my real life reality??
Do you see the real difference?? The woman on the right has SET ASIDE all distractions and is CHOOSING to focus on GOD and her FAMILY in the MOMENT!!! She isn't being super woman... she is enjoying the moment with her family resting in gratitude for the blessings she has rather than pushing herself to get everything done all at once! Trust me, women in the 'olden days' had just as much to do as we do... it was just different tasks. I think our ability to FOCUS and LIVE in the moment has been destroyed by the fast pace of multitasking!! Days I feel completely stressed out and frazzled are often days when I have loaded my day too full and have placed unrealistic expectations on myself.
As helpful as modern technology is (dishwashers, washing machines, refrigerators, computers, cell phones, vacuums, freezers, ect) it does come with a cost. Never in all history have we had the opportunity to be so involved.... there is so much we can do at once. We've got cell phones, email, internet, texting, I phone Apps, facebook, blogs, mp3 players, and DVR's in addition to good old fashioned land lines, radio, tv and snail mail. We have more options for things to do and places to go than ever before. There are more activities for our kids, more programs at church and a majority of women in the workforce. NONE of those things are bad in and of themselves, but you put them all together and FRAZZLED doesn't even begin to explain how we are feeling.
Am I just on a soap box or do you feel it, too?!! CHOOSING SIMPLICITY might mean we have to make some choices that go against the flow of our culture. Turning off the cell phones, the computers, the tvs for a few hours a day. Being very careful when selecting activities to be involved in and limiting the number of evenings spent outside of the home.
FOCUSING on one thing at a time... really LIVING in the moment rather than trying to get five things done at once and thinking about the next five that need done might go a long way in washing away the FRAZZLED life!! What do you think?? Is there a solution to our modern day frenzy??
TWENTY TWO days into this months challenge... How are things going?? Well...... Eating from the pantry challenge has proved to be very insightful.
What is working: First of all I have been able to stick to the budget I set for us ($168 for the entire month). I have $23 remaining for next week's milk and produce. Second, we had PLENTY of food in the pantry and freezer to eat well balanced meals and we have lots left. This is wonderful and it has shown me that stocking up when things are on sale really, really works. It is a built in savings account... when money is tight we won't go hungry! Third, it has been a fun family project and helped us to save a bundle of money that we are using to go on our first family vacation in FOUR years!! The Indiana state park system offers a stay one night get the second night free offer in the winter.... we reserved a family cabin (completely modern) that includes passes to the indoor water park!! The kids are SO excited!!! They haven't complained once about running out of cold cereal! We leave this Sunday and return on Tuesday evening. Fourth, I have enjoyed baking more!! I actually LOVE to bake so this has been fun for me!
What isn't working: First, I have to admit that my budget didn't go as far as I wanted it to or expected it to. I am always optimistic about how far I can stretch a buck! I realized that there was no way my budget could include non food items.... Yikes! Ok, I am learning exactly how to divide our household budget....
SecondI have learned exactly how much JUNK FOOD my family loves! Actually, this has been a source of great frustration to me.... why can't my husband enjoy my home made goodies as much as his dear little Debbie??!!! And don't get me started on chips and soda. To be completely fair I can't pick on my husband without being honest about myself... I NEED my coffee creamer!!!!!! The kids have been frustrated with not having some of their favorites, but their wants are healthier (string cheese, chunk cheese, tortillas, nacho cheese sauce... hmm.... I am seeing a pattern... CHEESE)! So, a bigger portion of my food budget goes to JUNK food than I would like. How much of an issue do I make of this??? If we HAD to live without these processed foods we could... and my husband would adjust. However, do I need to make a big deal about it right now?? WISDOM is key here!! I am praying.....
Third, soup really does help stretch the food budget and my family has been open to eating more soup this month.... however I know they are looking forward to less soup in the near future! Seriously we have only had soup 1-2 times a week, but for some reason my family is just not big soup fans..... My husband likes MEAT! We have learned that there are a lot of meals we could eat if we really had to STRETCH the food budget.... we can eat SOUP!
One more week of the challenge..... I am packing food for our vacation (cabin has a fully stocked kitchen). I did purchase some additional food for our trip.... used the "vacation fund" from our grocery savings. I didn't have to purchase much and I am able to take most of our food from the pantry. One great thing about this challenge is that it really has been a family project. My husband has NEVER been this involved in our food! The children have been overall very positive and we have LEARNED that we really could eat differently (more soups and beans) to survive if we had to. I will keep praying about the junk food issue.....
How is it going for you?? I would love to hear!
Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING! Heather
Sunday, January 17, 2010
1st Corinthians 13 for Mothers
If I live in a house of spotless beauty with everything in its place, but have not love, I am a housekeeper, not a homemaker. If I have time for waxing, polishing, and decorative achievements, but have not love, my children learn cleanliness, not godliness. If I scream at my children for every infraction, and fault them for every mess they make, but have not love, my children become people-pleasers, not obedient children. Love leaves the dust in search of a child's laugh. Love smiles at the tiny fingerprints on a newly cleaned window. Love wipes away the tears before it wipes up the spilled milk. Love picks up the child before it picks up the toys. Love accepts the fact that I am the ever-present "mommy," the taxi-driver to every childhood event, the counselor when my children fail or are hurt. Love crawls with the baby, walks with the toddler, and runs with the child, then stands aside to let the youth walk into adulthood. Before I became a mother I took glory in my house of perfection. Now I glory in God's perfection of my child. All the projections I had for my house and my children have faded away into insignificance, And what remain are the memories of my kids. Now there abides in my home scratches on most of the furniture, dishes with missing place settings, and bedroom walls full of stickers, posters and markings, But the greatest of all is the Love that permeates my relationships with my children. -Adapted by Jim Fowler
Did you know that Laura Ingals Wilder wrote columns in a newspaper before she published her books?? Read one here and also find a link to more! I really enjoyed it!!
The true secret to simple living: contentment!! Go here to read an excellent post on the riches found in contentment! To get this truth deep into our Spirit and LIFE would transform us is every way! God's plan, God's way really is blessed.
We had a HOME MADE Christmas (as much as possible) this year. Amy shared some fantastic Bath Salt recipes complete with cute gift tags! We gave these as teacher gifts (along with a pumpkin roll or loaf of celebration bread braid) and they were well received. We have also enjoyed using these bath treats ourselves!
Stinky Attitude?? I am at times GUILTY of this. This article really gave me another PUSH to seek God, repent and turn to a genuine GOOD attitude!
How we DRESS... Some more interesting thoughts on the importance of modesty.
Love paper dolls?? This tutorial on One Pearl Button is going to walk me through the steps of creating MAGNETIC paper dolls! I'm thinking that my niece might love these for her birthday!
.....You know what this is and are EXCITED when your husband gives you one!!! :) What is it?? This beauty is a HEATED base for me to set my galvanized chicken watering fount on top of to keep the water from freezing!!!! Now my girls will always have fresh, unfrozen, water to drink! Keeping water available to them in this COLD is hard work and now my life just got a lot easier!
Pray BIG! We serve a BIG God so why do we settle for little prayers?? This Family Life Today broadcast really stirred my spirit and I haven't been able to get it off my mind. I love it when the Holy Spirit uses things like this to shake up my spirit to grow in the ways of God. I have always been a 'prayer', but this message really challenged me in a FRESH way!! Pray BIG!!!!!!!
What about you?? What BIG things are you praying for? Leave a comment or email me and I will pray along with you. With God ALL things are possible!!!
Right now I am praying for three friends each fighting cancer. God is BIGGER than cancer!!! These Moms with young children need to live!!!!
****I originally posted this last January, but this one is worth a rerun... I am always working on our food budget trying to keep it DOWN without making my family eat boring food! Since we are participating in the "Eat from the pantry" challenge we will be specializing in S-T-R-E-T-C-H-I-N-G our food to the max without sacrificing nutrition or flavor!***
Huh?? What?? "Stretchy" Food??? Yes, S-T-R-E-T-C-H-Y food.... stretching the food budget!! Healthy food that stretches the food dollar is one fantastic way to bless not only the physical health of your family, but the financial health as well. Stretchy food does not have to be boring, bland, or weird! Here is a list of our favorite stretchy food (snacks, sides, main dishes, deserts and beverages):
Popcorn (I have a whrily pop as in the picture. It makes GREAT popcorn with as little as 1 tsp of oil. It is also made in a town near me.... AMERICAN made!)
Carrots (I buy the 5 lb bags at Sams. We eat them in soups, as a side and as a crunchy snack dipped in ranch dressing)
Salad
Cereal (when it is on sale with coupons I stock up. We have two kinds of cereal in our house: Breakfast (healthy) and Snack (not as healthy).
Home made Popsicles (you can freeze all kinds of things into Popsicles kids will love) My kids especially love these fudge pops.
Peanut butter (everything from sandwiches, as a dip, on a spoon, etc)
Fresh, in-season fruit (home grown in the garden is the best also I freeze fresh fruit to enjoy when it isn't in season.)
Venison (My hubby is a deer hunter and keeps our freezer stocked)
Home made breads: quick or yeast (Quick (no knead) oatmeal bread)
Brown rice (I have a rice cooker and it is totally WORTH the $18 I paid for it 3 years ago.... perfect rice every time!)
Beans, but you already knew that.... (I am SNEAKY with beans... run them through the blender and you can add them to all kinds of thing without the family knowing it!)
Soups (Many different soups can really stretch the food budget and warm up the body in the winter. They are comfort food!)
Potatoes (when you can find them on sale)
Pasta (so many things you can do with pasta)
Homemade noodles (what a filling and frugal special meal)
Eggs (So many ways you can prepare them. We have a weekly "breakfast" for supper.)
Rice Crispy treats (the store brand products work just fine)
Spice Cake (my favorite recipe from the Depression Era)
Fudge (This wonderful recipe is frugal and makes a BIG pan... a perfect chocolate fix!)
Home made yogurt (I have a saltan yogurt maker that has more than paid for itself many times. We love smoothies made with our home made yogurt... especially in the summer when fresh fruit is abundant.)
Tomato sauce (I buy it by the gallon at sams and make spaghetti sauce, pizza sauce, and chili with it.)
Home made muffins and biscuits
Pancakes and waffles
Tuna
Oatmeal (traditional, granola, in baked goods, granola bars)
Tea
Coffee
WATER
ICE
Kool aid (in the summer it is a nice treat)
Home canned or frozen food from fresh produce from your own garden or from a local source.
These are some of our favorites... What are some of your favorite "stretchy" foods. I would love to give them a try! Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING! Heather
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.
