Recipes: Apple Bacon Bread
One of our family members is a big fan of Breakfast Breads. I tried a new one recently that was a big hit. It contains a couple popular ingredients, apples and bacon. Apples and bacon have been on sale in a couple of the local stores so that’s what was included in the new breakfast bread.
Apple Bacon Breakfast Bread:
- 1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 1/2 cup Brown Sugar
- 1/2 cup Butter (softened)
- 2/3 cup White Sugar
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla
- 2 Eggs
- 1 1/2 cup All-Purpose Flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1/2 cup Milk
- 1/2 cup Bacon, small pieces
- 1 large Apple, peeled and cubed
Grease a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan or 5 mini loaf pans. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix the cinnamon and brown sugar in a bowl and set aside. In mixer blend together butter and white sugar until smooth. Add vanilla and eggs; blend until combined. Add flour and baking powder and mix until blended. Mix in milk.
Pour half the batter in the greased loaf pan. Sprinkle half the apples, bacon pieces, and cinnamon sugar mixture over the batter. Pour remaining batter over the apple and bacon layer. Top with remaining apples, bacon, and cinnamon sugar mixture. Bake for 45 minutes or until cooked through.
First layer with the apples and bacon sprinkled over the top.
Sprinkled with a little cinnamon and sugar on top!
Hot and delicious!
Whose ready for some Apple Bacon Bread!
Birthday Celebration!
The birthday candles kept relighting!
It has been a crazy few months around our house! Recently, I had the privilege of celebrating another birthday. It was a wonderful day! This year my birthday fell on a Saturday so Jake and the girls made me breakfast, we had delicious food, played games, read books, relaxed, opened gifts, ate cake, and ended the day by watching a movie together.
The cards, gifts, texts, phone calls, messages, emails, and all the best wishes made my day super special. Thankful for my family, friends, the opportunity to celebrate another year, and the many amazing blessings in my life. I have so many great memories and praying that this upcoming year is packed full of even more!
Delicious red velvet cake picked up by my sweet Handsome!
It was rich and tasty!
Cards and goodies from my family. They each picked out and wrapped their own gifts! I even got some cute birthday “notes” on a couple packages! 🙂
The perfect appetizer before a yummy birthday dinner!
Recipes: Homemade Chicken Flavored Dog Biscuits
Homemade Dog Biscuits
The dog at our house is super spoiled, even though she doesn’t realize it. And at times she probably doesn’t deserve to be spoiled, like when she shreds our Wall Street Journal. Guess she is no different than humans, we are spoiled and blessed with so much yet we tend to act out. Overall she’s a wonderful dog, well behaved, and is super great with the kids even if she does get herself into trouble at times.
There is a certain child in our family that especially has a soft spot for animals. She has been BEGGING me to make dog biscuit treats with her for our black, furry, four-legged, mischievous family member! Our family had a roasted chicken a few days ago so I decided it was time to experiment with Homemade Dog Biscuits. The biscuits turned out really well and Skipper, our black lab, now has a giant baggie of homemade dog biscuits. She seems to think they are AMAZING, but she is not a picky eater. The girls love giving her the homemade treats too so everyone’s happy (or at least should be).
Homemade Chicken Flavored Dog Biscuits:
- 1 cup Hot Water
- 2 tablespoons Milk
- 2 Chicken Bouillon Cubes
- 3/4 cup Vegetable or Canola Oil
- 2 Eggs
- 1 cup of diced Chicken pieces (we used the heart, liver, gizzard, and pieces of chicken)
- 5 cups Flour
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Grease a cookie sheet and set aside. Stir all ingredients together to make a thick dough. Knead the dough on a floured surface for 3 minutes. Roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out the shapes (we used a dog bone and bear). Place the cookies on the baking sheet and cook for 35 minutes, turn off oven and leave in the oven for additional 20 minutes. The edges should be slightly brown. Remove from oven and cool. Store in a Ziplock bag or air tight container in the fridge.
Tray full of Homemade Chicken Flavored Dog Biscuits!
The puppy in our family is very happy to get her special homemade treats.
Heart Reflections: A Moment of Silence
Do we know what “silence” sounds like anymore? Having complete silence may drive some people crazy while others are begging for just few minutes every once in awhile. Life gets busy as a Mom, Wife, Business Owner, or whatever title you carry. Your husband needs you, the kids have homework, deadlines are approaching, papers are piling, the house needs clean, laundry done, and a stack of emails are waiting for your reply.
Occasionally we need to take a Moment of Silence to get away from the demands of life. We all need down time to re-group and refresh. I am thankful for a husband that recognizes that and encourages me to take time to myself or out with a group of girlfriends. He encourages me have some time to re-group, rest, focus, pray, and relax. I love my family much, but it is nice to have some time alone and with others.
Sometimes it is during those quiet times that I can focus on what God is trying to teach me. Usually there are items weighing on my heart and mind that I need to work through. There are many times when I am driving I will turn off the radio and focus on some time of quiet. Do you allow yourself some times of quiet? Do you need it? Go ahead turn off the radio, put down your phone, put away your computer, get alone for a few minutes, spend time focusing on the quiet, pray, and allow God to speak to you. Hope you get a “moment of silence” soon!
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3D Printed: Vacuum Cleaner Attachment
My new vacuum cleaner attachment!
One of the cool and very practical items Jake has printed for me using his 3D printer is a vacuum cleaner attachment! Yes, I know it is crazy to get excited about a vacuum cleaner attachment, but I do. My husband knows me very well and this was a perfect gift to print!
The vacuum attachment works well to help easily empty out my household vacuum dirt bin. The new 3D printed attachment is on the vacuum in the garage and when my regular house vacuum dirt bin is full all I have to do it put the container up to the attachment, turn on the garage vacuum, and it is completely cleaned out. No more taking apart the dirty vacuum bin to empty it into a trash can and trying to get out the carpet fuzz or random items that like to get stuck in the corners of the bin. It is a quick, easy, and less messy way to empty my vacuum dirt bin! Thankful for my husband and his thoughtfulness.
Who knew you could print the perfect vacuum cleaner attachment? Awesome!
What’s for Dinner: Our Weekly Menu Plan
Now that we are back from my brothers wedding I need to get the menu planned for this week. It is a busy week so it is a pretty basic menu. Here is our menu plan for the upcoming week:
Our Weekly Menu Plan
- Monday (Beef or Pork Entree): Pulled Pork, Green Beans
- Tuesday (Kid’s Night to Cook): Pizza, Fresh Fruit
- Wednesday (Chicken or Vegetarian Entree): Chicken Casserole, Vegetables
- Thursday (Pasta or Seafood Entree): Poor Man’s Pasta, 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
Our family had a great time in the Midwest celebrating my little brother’s wedding. It was wonderful seeing my family over the Thanksgiving Holiday. The wedding was beautiful, successful, and hopefully they are now relaxing on their honeymoon! I was happy to welcome another sister into our family, WOOHOO!!! Happy for my brother and his new wife.
Now I am back home and need to make some progress with upcoming projects. Here’s what happened this past week and what is going on this week.
Last week’s goals
Family Goals
- Read the book Wonder’s First Race by Joanna Campbell to read to the kids – about halfway through the book
Plan one special activity with the familyPrepare for Upcoming Fall EventsSpend time Monday – Tuesday helping the kids with HomeworkAttend After School ActivitiesLunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night beforePlay a Game with the KidsWatch a movie with the KidsListen to an Audiobook with the KidsThanksgiving Holiday – So Many Reasons to be ThankfulCelebrating Josh & Megan’s Wedding & Activities
Personal Goals
- Drink 8 glasses of water each day – didn’t drink enough when traveling
Continue my YouVersion plan(s)Go to my Doctor Appointments Scheduled this week
Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals
- All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day – took 2 days
Clean House (Basic Speed Clean before the Holiday Activities)
Business Goals
Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
Ministry Goals
Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
Financial Goals
- Payoff the Car – working on it
- Payoff Outstanding Debt – (replacement microwave, refrigerator, hot water heater, and other debt) – working on it
Pay Bills & File Paperwork
My goals for the upcoming week
Family Goals
- Read the book Wonder’s First Race by Joanna Campbell to the kids
- Plan one special activity with the family
- Prepare for Upcoming Winter Events
- Spend time Monday – Friday helping the kids with Homework
- Attend After School Activities
- Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night before
- Play a Game with the Kids
- Start Organizing the Kids Scrapbook Items
- Dr. Appointments for Kids
Personal Goals
- Drink 8 glasses of water each day
- Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
- Go to my Doctor Appointments Scheduled this week
Home (Yard & Pets) Management Goals
- All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
- Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
- Do at least one “Make 1 & Freeze 1″ Meal Prep (make a main dish to eat that day and one to freeze for later)
- Clean House (Focus – Suitcases Unpacked & Put Away from Wedding / Thanksgiving Trip)
- Organize Chaos (Focus – Snack Bins Refilled)
- Yard Cleanup (Focus – Pool and Leaves)
- Pet Care (Focus – Hay Feeder Filled)
Business Goals
- Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
- Respond to Inquiry – Business Relation Emails
- Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
- Work completed for clients
Ministry Goals
- Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
Financial Goals
- Payoff the Car
- Payoff Outstanding Debt – (replacement microwave, refrigerator, hot water heater, and other debt)
- Pay Bills & File Paperwork
- Earn some Creative Cash
- Go grocery shopping one time to one store this week and stay within budget
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.
Why Share My Goals?
- To keep me accountable
- To share a piece of my life with you as I strive to be a better Child of God, Wife, Mom, Friend, Homemaker, Entrepreneur and the many other roles I have each week
- To have my goals consistently written down so I can gauge progress more accurately
- Create healthy habits in my life
- To encourage you to share your goals with me as you continue to grown and learn
How did you do this week on your goals? Feel free to share or link to your list of weekly goals.
The picture above is one that I created for my own purposes, however, The “SMART” acronym was originally coined 30 years ago by Peter Drucker in his classic work, Management by Results.
- Read the book Wonder’s First Race by Joanna Campbell to read to the kids – about halfway through the book
Be Thankful
Sweet Treat from My Husband
There are so many reasons to be thankful for my husband! Not long ago he picked up a box of Dole’s Strawberry Dippers and brought them home for me. Such a sweetheart! The Dole Strawberry Dippers are frozen strawberry halves covered in dark chocolate! Absolutely…..DELICIOUS!!! Thank you baby for the special surprise! He knows me well! YOUR THE BEST!!!
