What's Cooking

  • Intentional Living: Weekly Goals

    Last week was another fun one! Our Community Group did our first overnight camping trip.  We had a lot of great food and fellowship.  The kids had a blast and wanted to know if we could do it again this weekend!  🙂  Although they will probably have to wait a while longer I am thankful that they got to hang out with friends, meet new friends, and created a lot of great memories.  Hopefully this week I will be able to tackle more items on my list!

    Last week’s goals:

    Family Goals

    1. Read to the girls and have them read to me daily – didn’t get to read on the weekend during the camp out
    2. Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
    3. Daily School Activities & Homework Completed
    4. Attend After School Activities
    5. Plan one special Activity with the Family – Camp Out Adventure!!!! 🙂
    6. Attend Parent / Teacher Meetings for the Girls

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise at least 5 days this week
    2. Drink 8 glasses of water each day – didn’t drink enough the last couple of days with all the camp out preparations and cleanup
    3. Finish reading 21 Days to a More Disciplined Life by Crystal Paine – excellent book
    4. Finish reading Impact Equation by Chris Brogan and Julien Smith (I got a pre-release copy to read) – great book
    5. Finish reading The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life by Hannah Whitall Smith – working on it
    6. Reading / listening through my Bible – doing the 90 day plan through YouVersion – staying on track

    Home Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
    3. Start tackling my Fall Organizational Schedule – got a few items done (need to tackle a couple more this week)
    4. Pay all upcoming bills – have a couple that came in the mail during the camp out adventure so they were put on my desk until this week

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    2. Write and Send Out Community Group Email
    3. Write and Send Out Alms & Legs Ministry Team Email
    4. Community Group Camping Adventure

    Financial Goals

    1. Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
    2. Payoff the Van – was able to set aside a little bit extra this month to put towards the van
    3. Emergency Fund – save 3 months worth of living expenses (we are trying to build this back up because we had to take some out for unexpected expenses recently.) – working on it

     

    My goals for the upcoming week:

    Family Goals

    1. Read to the girls and have them read to me daily
    2. Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
    3. Daily School Activities & Homework Completed
    4. Attend After School Activities
    5. Plan one special Activity with the Family
    6. Celebrate Halloween with the Family

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise at least 5 days this week
    2. Drink 8 glasses of water each day
    3. Finish reading The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life by Hannah Whitall Smith
    4. Reading / listening through my Bible – doing the 90 day plan through YouVersion

    Home Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
    3. Tackle Fall Cleaning & Organization Project (Focus – Office / Garage)
    4. Pay all upcoming bills
    5. Finishing cleaning up from Community Group Camp out
    6. Put away all the Halloween Items

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming (November) blog posts
    2. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    3. Schedule November work dates

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    2. Write and Send Out Community Group Email

    Financial Goals

    1. Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
    2. Payoff the Van
    3. Emergency Fund – save 3 months worth of living expenses (we are trying to build this back up because we had to take some out for unexpected expenses recently.)

    I think it is important to share and encourage each other as we seek to improve our lives and the lives of those around us.  I want to live intentionally not just hope all my dreams and goals come true.  When I focus on small steps of improvement I am able to see results as I get closer to my goals.  Some weeks I get closer to the goals I have in my life and other weeks a take a few steps back (life happens, emergencies occur, people get sick).  Once the goals are written down and shared it provides a guideline for what I aim to accomplish this week.

  • Recipe: 3 Easy Seasoned Pumpkin Seed Recipes

    Every Fall our family likes to pick up a couple pumpkins to carve.  One of our favorite parts about carving and enjoying some time together as a family is making toasted pumpkin seeds.  This year was even more special because Grandma Penny and Great Grandma Willa were here to join in the festivities with the girls.

    We did 3 different seasoned pumpkin seed recipes this year.  The two that we did last year were such a huge hit that we did them again plus added one more.  To make it easier on you I have all three recipes in this post.

    P1420239c

    Seasoned Salt Pumpkin Seeds

    • 2 c pumpkin seeds
    • 2 T butter
    • Sprinkle Seasoned Salt (or substitute a 1/2 package ranch package mix)

    Rinse the pumpkin seeds.  Saute pumpkin seeds in the butter for about 5 minutes (until they start to turn brown).  Sprinkle the Seasoned Salt on the  seeds.  Spread seeds into a shallow baking pan and baked at 250 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes or until crispy.  Stirring every 10 minutes.

    P1420241c

    Dill Ranch Pumpkin Seeds

    • 2 c pumpkin seeds
    • 2 T butter
    • 1/2 package Hidden Valley Dill Ranch Mix

    Rinse the pumpkin seeds.  Saute pumpkin seeds in the butter for about 5 minutes (until they start to turn brown).  Sprinkle half the pack of Hidden Valley Dill Ranch Mix (or any flavor of Ranch mix) on the  seeds.  Spread seeds into a shallow baking pan and baked at 250 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes or until crispy.  Stirring every 10 minutes.

    P1420240c

    Cinnamon Apple Cider Pumpkin Seeds

    The cinnamon apple cider pumpkin seed recipe was adapted from the recipe My Retro Kitchen shared on her blog.  I removed the nutmeg from the recipe but otherwise it is the same.  These seeds came out with a perfect mix of sweetness.  The other two recipes were more the salty flavors so adding this sweet one was awesome compliment to the three.  I want to make them again because mine came out a little oily (maybe they needed to cook longer or I had too much butter?).  These were a hit with family and friends, perfect for the Fall festivities!

    • 2 cups pumpkin seeds, cleaned and rinsed
    • 1 1/2 cups apple cider
    • 1 1/2 tablespoons melted butter OR olive oil
    • 1/8 teaspoon salt
    • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
    • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

    Preheat oven to 275 degrees.  Pour the apple cider in a medium sauce pan and bring to a boil.  Add the pumpkin seeds and boil on medium heat for 10 minutes. Drain the seeds and pour them in a large mixing bowl.
    Pour the melted butter or olive oil into the bowl, along with the salt, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.  Mix well to coat and spread pumpkin seed in a single layer onto jelly roll pan or a baking sheet.  Bake for 1 hour, stirring them them every 10 minutes, until butter topping has dried and the pumpkin seeds are golden brown.  Remove from the oven and allow to cool and dry-out the rest of the way on the cookie sheet on top of the stove.  Store in an air-tight container.

    After cleaning out our pumpkins we had a little over 6 cups of pumpkin seeds so we decided it up three ways and made three different recipes.  These seeds were a hit with our family and friends.  The girls had a blast cleaning and carving their pumpkins!

  • Fresh & Healthy: Lunch Box Meals

    Karlie is ready to pack up her lunch!

    I found fresh strawberries marked down at the grocery store last week and after picking out 1 bad strawberry the rest were perfect.  The girls were excited to get strawberries in their lunch this week for their fruit. 🙂

    Lunch Box Meal:

    • Peanut Butter & Jelly or Almond Butter & Jelly Sandwiches
    • Fresh Strawberries
    • Fresh Carrots
    • Cashews or Peanuts
    • Strawberry Yogurt
    • Ritz Cheese Bits or Elf Grahams
    • Bugles or Corn Chips
    • Whole Grain Crackers
    • Cherry Kool-Aid Jammers or Yahoo Chocolate Milk

     Fresh strawberries, carrots and more!

    The girls are always excited to help with their lunches and they do a great job.  This year we have a lot of extra activities going on after school so it has been hard to get all the activities, homework, dinner, baths, lunches made, and everything else done after school so I have been pitching in to help them when it is getting too close to bed time.  If they don’t get a chance to pack their lunches before beds they are always eager to find out what is in them.  Many times I catch them sneaking a glance in their lunches at breakfast or on the way to school.

     

  • Local Activities: “Dine Out for Mom” Event on Thursday, October 25, 2012

    There is a special event going on tomorrow, Thursday, October 25, 2012 called Dine Out For Mom which is a part of the Let There Be Mom organization.  As a Mom with small children it is important for me to remember that life is precious, sweet, and short.  We never know what joys and trials life will bring our way.  You may know of a friend or family member that has gone through serious illness and given only a short amount of time to live.   This event is to remind us to celebrate life, create memories, cherish our family, and help others because our life here on earth is not forever.

    What is Let There Be Mom? It is an organization that provides help to Moms when they or their spouse is diagnosed with a serious illness.  How was it started?   “Let There Be Mom” comes along side the family going through this difficult time to preserve memories.  They do this through a variety of services tailored to meet the needs and wishes of the individual families. Some examples of ways you can get involved – photography, scrapbooks,  journals, videos, meals, errands, special events, care packages, family cookbooks, and many more wonderful activities.  The Dine Out For Mom event tomorrow is designed to help raise funds for this great organization.   When you eat at one of the participating restaurants they will donate a portion of the proceeds to “Let There Be Mom” so they can continue to help families that are losing a loved one.

    Take some time out of your busy day to meet a friend for lunch or take the family out for dinner.  What a great way to spend time with those you love while helping a wonderful organization that is committed to preserving family memories.

    For more information about the “Let There Be Mom” organization, their services, and how to get involved please visit their website.

  • What’s for Dinner: Our Weekly Menu Plan

    We had a blast spending time with extended family last week.  Now we are looking forward to camping out with friends along with a number of fun activities going on this week! Here is our menu plan for the upcoming week:

    Our Weekly Menu Plan

    • Monday (Beef or Seafood Entree):  Japanese Beef & Rice, Easy Vegetable Bake
    • Tuesday (Kid’s Night to Cook):  Kids in the Kitchen – Ham Salad Sandwiches, Fresh Vegetables
    • Wednesday (Chicken or Vegetarian Entree): Blueberry Pancakes, Fresh Fruit
    • Thursday (Pasta or Pork Entree): Baked Ham, Steamed Vegetables
    • Friday, Saturday, & Sunday:  Leftovers, Family Preference, and Hosting

    I have a general pattern I try to follow for my weekly Menu Plan (for example Monday we have a beef or seafood entree and so forth).  It is my goal, at least in the beginning, to have at least the main dish and one side planned.  I will put together the remaining side dishes (veggies / fruits) based on the food items that need to be used up first and compliment the main entree.

    Setting a weekly menu plan helps me utilize my time better, thus freeing up extra time to spend with my family.  On the days that I am working longer hours I can prep the meal in advance so it will be easier to pull together once I am home.  As I go through the menu planning process I will try to share some of our favorite family recipes.  If there is a specific recipe you would like please let me know and I will do my best to accommodate (some recipes are a toss together meal and I do not use any set measurements).

    As a family of four our life can get busy.  What’s for Dinner is our weekly menu planning series and one of the ways to help keep us organized, on schedule, and within budget.  Our family typically eats 6 to 7  dinner meals at home a week.  We do try to go out to eat at least once a month as a special treat.  Breakfasts are eaten at home before work and school, lunches are eaten at work, school, or home, so dinner is our main meal together as a family.  Dinner is our time to reconnect, share, and enjoy being together after a busy day.  Our weekly menu plan covers Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday only because the weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) is our time to spend with family and friends.  The weekends tend to be more spontaneous and my husband (who is the better cook) likes pitching in therefore we keep the menu open for variety.  We use up the leftovers throughout the week for our lunches and on the nights that we are busy or can’t cook.

    Photo by Liz

  • Intentional Living: Weekly Goals

    Last week my Mom, Grandma, several Aunts, and cousin flew in from Kansas to South Carolina for a visit.  My Mom stayed with us the entire time and Grandma came the last half of their time in South Carolina to stay with us.  So thankful to have some time to catch up, get some projects done around the house, and have fun.  The girls loved having Grandma and Great Grandma stay with us.  A lot of great memories!  Jake was traveling for work for part of the week so it was nice having family to spend some time with me while he was away.  Hopefully this week I will be able to tackle more items on my list!

    Last week’s goals:

    Family Goals

    1. Read to the girls and have them read to me daily
    2. Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
    3. Daily School Activities & Homework Completed
    4. Attend After School Activities
    5. Plan one special Activity with the Family
    6. Spend extra time with Grandma, Great Grandma, and extended family

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise at least 5 days this week – only did three days this week
    2. Drink 8 glasses of water each day – didn’t count
    3. Finish reading Impact Equation by Chris Brogan and Julien Smith (I got a pre-release copy to read) – almost done
    4. Finish reading The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life by Hannah Whitall Smith – reading through it

    Home Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
    3. Start tackling my Fall Organizational Schedule – got a few extra projects done thanks to the help of my Mom and Grandma!
    4. Pay all upcoming bills

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts – had guests so took some time off last week
    2. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    3. Get caught up on 5 blog items – took time off with my Mom and Grandma here last week

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    2. Write and Send Out Community Group Email
    3. Write and Send Out Alms & Legs Ministry Team Email
    4. Work out the details of our Community Group Camping Adventure
    5. A Friend Challenged me to read through my Bible – since I am already through the majority of the year I am working on a plan where you can read through the Bible in 90 days by YouVersion – staying up to date

    Financial Goals

    1. Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
    2. Payoff the Van – working on it
    3. Emergency Fund – save 3 months worth of living expenses (we are trying to build this back up because we had to take some out for unexpected expenses recently.) – moving forward

    My goals for the upcoming week:

    Family Goals

    1. Read to the girls and have them read to me daily
    2. Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
    3. Daily School Activities & Homework Completed
    4. Attend After School Activities
    5. Plan one special Activity with the Family
    6. Attend Parent / Teacher Meetings for the Girls

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise at least 5 days this week
    2. Drink 8 glasses of water each day
    3. Finish reading 21 Days to a More Disciplined Life by Crystal Paine
    4. Finish reading Impact Equation by Chris Brogan and Julien Smith (I got a pre-release copy to read)
    5. Finish reading The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life by Hannah Whitall Smith
    6. Reading / listening through my Bible – doing the 90 day plan through YouVersion

    Home Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
    3. Start tackling my Fall Organizational Schedule
    4. Pay all upcoming bills

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    2. Write and Send Out Community Group Email
    3. Write and Send Out Alms & Legs Ministry Team Email
    4. Community Group Camping Adventure

    Financial Goals

    1. Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
    2. Payoff the Van
    3. Emergency Fund – save 3 months worth of living expenses (we are trying to build this back up because we had to take some out for unexpected expenses recently.)

    I think it is important to share and encourage each other as we seek to improve our lives and the lives of those around us.  I want to live intentionally not just hope all my dreams and goals come true.  When I focus on small steps of improvement I am able to see results as I get closer to my goals.  Some weeks I get closer to the goals I have in my life and other weeks a take a few steps back (life happens, emergencies occur, people get sick).  Once the goals are written down and shared it provides a guideline for what I aim to accomplish this week.

  • Recipe: Carmel Apple Dip

    P1190175c

     

    Are you looking for a simple and tasty apple appetizer?  All you have to do is wash the apples.  Core out the middle of one of the apples.  Put 1 tablespoon of lemon juice in the middle and swish it around making sure the entire inside of the apple has been coasted  with lemon juice (the lemon juice helps prevent the apple from browning).  Pour caramel dip in the center of the apple and serve with fresh apple slices.

    You can either buy the already made caramel dip or melt caramels according to the package directions.  Make sure the caramel is cool before pouring it into the apple “serving” bowl.  This recipe is simple, easy, and delicious.  A perfect Fall treat to share with family and friends!

  • Fresh & Healthy: Lunch Box Meals

    P1390533c

    School lunch is ready!

    Today the girls chalkboard note read “You’re the BEST!”  A lot of their lunches consist of leftovers from the evening meals together as our family.  They love it when they get a roast beef sandwich from the roast we had the night before or something similar.

    Lunch Box Meal:

    • Roast Beef & Mash Potato Sandwich
    • Fresh Grapes
    • Fresh Cherry Tomatoes
    • Cashews
    • Peach Yogurt
    • Chocolate & Vanilla Oreos
    • Teddy Grahams
    • Reduced Sugar Orange or Fruit Punch Juice

     

    P1390527c

    Fresh grapes, cherry tomatoes, roast beef sandwich and more!

    The girls really do eat most of the items in their lunch bags!  I have found that the food I pack them hold them longer than when they eat lunches at school.  Part of the reason may be because students that bring lunches get a few extra minutes to eat, plus they can eat any of the leftovers for a snack on the way to our after school activities.

    P1390525c

    Goodies are ready for the girls to packed up.

  • What’s for Dinner: Our Weekly Menu Plan

    My Mom, Grandma, and several Aunts are coming into town this week.  Looking forward to spending some extra time catching up with family.  Here is our menu plan for the upcoming week:

    Our Weekly Menu Plan

    • Monday (Beef or Seafood Entree):  Crockpot Roast, Vegetables
    • Tuesday (Kid’s Night to Cook):  Kids in the Kitchen – Hot Dogs, Steamed Vegetables
    • Wednesday (Chicken or Vegetarian Entree): Chicken Salad Sandwiches, Fresh Fruit
    • Thursday (Pasta or Pork Entree): Homemade Pepperoni Pizza, Fresh Veggies
    • Friday, Saturday, & Sunday:  Leftovers, Family Preference, and Hosting

    I have a general pattern I try to follow for my weekly Menu Plan (for example Monday we have a beef or seafood entree and so forth).  It is my goal, at least in the beginning, to have at least the main dish and one side planned.  I will put together the remaining side dishes (veggies / fruits) based on the food items that need to be used up first and compliment the main entree.

    Setting a weekly menu plan helps me utilize my time better, thus freeing up extra time to spend with my family.  On the days that I am working longer hours I can prep the meal in advance so it will be easier to pull together once I am home.  As I go through the menu planning process I will try to share some of our favorite family recipes.  If there is a specific recipe you would like please let me know and I will do my best to accommodate (some recipes are a toss together meal and I do not use any set measurements).

    As a family of four our life can get busy.  What’s for Dinner is our weekly menu planning series and one of the ways to help keep us organized, on schedule, and within budget.  Our family typically eats 6 to 7  dinner meals at home a week.  We do try to go out to eat at least once a month as a special treat.  Breakfasts are eaten at home before work and school, lunches are eaten at work, school, or home, so dinner is our main meal together as a family.  Dinner is our time to reconnect, share, and enjoy being together after a busy day.  Our weekly menu plan covers Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday only because the weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) is our time to spend with family and friends.  The weekends tend to be more spontaneous and my husband (who is the better cook) likes pitching in therefore we keep the menu open for variety.  We use up the leftovers throughout the week for our lunches and on the nights that we are busy or can’t cook.

    Photo by Liz

  • Intentional Living: Weekly Goals

    One of the best parts about writing down my goals is it gives me a chance to review them weekly, however, it can be quite convicting if it is a rough week.  I was able to get some of the items on my list done this week.  Hopefully this week I will be able to tackle more items on my list!

    Last week’s goals:

    Family Goals

    1. Read to the girls and have them read to me daily – there were a couple nights late nights that I didn’t have a chance to read to the girls
    2. Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
    3. Daily School Activities & Homework Completed
    4. Attend After School Activities
    5. Plan one special Activity with the Family
    6. Go on a Field Trip with the Girls Classes – went with Karlie’s class to the Fire Station

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise at least 5 days this week – almost made it, did 4 days out of the 5
    2. Drink 8 glasses of water each day
    3. Finish reading Impact Equation by Chris Brogan and Julien Smith (I got a pre-release copy to read) – working on it
    4. Finish reading The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life by Hannah Whitall Smith – reading through it

    Home Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
    3. Start tackling my Fall Organizational Schedule – making some progress on it
    4. Pay all upcoming bills

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    3. Get caught up on 5 blog items – got caught up some items
    4. Complete the Website Blog Update

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    2. Write and Send Out Community Group Email
    3. Work out the details of our Community Group Camping Adventure – need to work out the last few details
    4. A Friend Challenged me to read through my Bible – since I am already through the majority of the year I am working on a plan where you can read through the Bible in 90 days by YouVersion – working faithfully through it

    Financial Goals

    1. Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4 – went over this week
    2. Payoff the Van – working on it
    3. Emergency Fund – save 3 months worth of living expenses (we are trying to build this back up because we had to take some out for unexpected expenses recently.) – moving forward slowly

    My goals for the upcoming week:

    Family Goals

    1. Read to the girls and have them read to me daily
    2. Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
    3. Daily School Activities & Homework Completed
    4. Attend After School Activities
    5. Plan one special Activity with the Family
    6. Spend extra time with Grandma, Great Grandma, and extended family

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise at least 5 days this week
    2. Drink 8 glasses of water each day
    3. Finish reading Impact Equation by Chris Brogan and Julien Smith (I got a pre-release copy to read)
    4. Finish reading The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life by Hannah Whitall Smith

    Home Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
    3. Start tackling my Fall Organizational Schedule
    4. Pay all upcoming bills

    Business Goals

    1. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    2. Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
    3. Get caught up on 5 blog items

    Ministry Goals

    1. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    2. Write and Send Out Community Group Email
    3. Write and Send Out Alms & Legs Ministry Team Email
    4. Work out the details of our Community Group Camping Adventure
    5. A Friend Challenged me to read through my Bible – since I am already through the majority of the year I am working on a plan where you can read through the Bible in 90 days by YouVersion

    Financial Goals

    1. Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
    2. Payoff the Van
    3. Emergency Fund – save 3 months worth of living expenses (we are trying to build this back up because we had to take some out for unexpected expenses recently.)

    I think it is important to share and encourage each other as we seek to improve our lives and the lives of those around us.  I want to live intentionally not just hope all my dreams and goals come true.  When I focus on small steps of improvement I am able to see results as I get closer to my goals.  Some weeks I get closer to the goals I have in my life and other weeks a take a few steps back (life happens, emergencies occur, people get sick).  Once the goals are written down and shared it provides a guideline for what I aim to accomplish this week.