Flour Tortillas

I was looking through all these delicious recipes from My Wooden Spoon and I decided to make her flour tortillas. I only made a half batch and that gave me 10 tortillas. They were delicious. Better than any store tortilla I have ever had. What I also really enjoyed was that they didn't crumble. So often the store ones end up cracking and falling apart when you try to use them. I will definitely make these again.

Lori does a great job showing step by step with pictures. Check out her blog and try some of her recipes.

Flour Tortillas - Thanks Lori for sharing your recipe

4 c. flour
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. baking powder
3/4 c. shortening
1-2 cups of HOT water

1. Get the griddle going before you start this part so it will be nice and hot. Sift all dry ingredients together and add shortening. Mix thoroughly. (just like you were making a pie crust.)
2. Add hot water. Obviously you don’t want to burn yourself but the hotter you can stand it, the easier your tortilla dough will be to work with.
3. Knead until soft, smooth dough is formed.
4. Pinch off dough (a little less than the size of a golf-ball) and form into a rounded biscuit looking thing.
5. Dip into flour and roll out.
6. Cook on your tortilla griddle. When you see the bubbles NOT coming up, that’s when you flip or take off.
7. Throw them in your tortilla keeper and enjoy

Creamy Vegetable Bow Tie Toss

This recipe comes from Taste of Home magazine. My Dad and Mom got me a magazine subscription for Christmas last year and I just love this magazine. Talk about some good recipes!

This meal tastes great, is easy to make and is very colorful. I changed the recipe slightly according to what I had on hand. I also didn't make as much as it called for since it was just for me and Mike.

12 ounces uncooked bow tie pasta
2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
2 cups cut fresh asparagus (about 1/2 pound)
2 medium sweet onions, finely chopped
2 medium carrots, sliced
2 medium zucchini, halved and sliced
1 medium sweet yellow pepper, julienned
1/3 cup butter, cubed
2/3 cup chicken broth
1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
1/2 cup prepared ranch dip
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
2 Tablespoons minced fresh basil
1/2 teaspoon salt

Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute vegetables in butter for 5 minutes. Stir in broth; cook for 3 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender.
In a small bowl, combine the sour cream, dip, Parmesan cheese, parsley, basil and salt; stir into skillet and heat through. Drain pasta, add the skillet and toss to coat.

Yield: 12 servings

Spare Bathroom - Done!

Although things didn't go exactly as planned, I can officially say the bathroom is painted.

We had a hard time selecting a color. I didn't want to pick a color that wouldn't match the decorations or would turn out too dark. So after many, many samples we finally picked Nature's Bounty.

So we bought the supplies and I taped the bathroom up on Tuesday and painted on Wednesday.

Thursday I brought the shower curtain back into the bathroom and I realized it didn't match at all. The paint sample looks more like a brown with a tint of "berry" color but as you can see in the picture above it doesn't look like brown at all.

The shower curtain in our master bathroom matched very nicely with the new wall color so I just moved the decorations from the master bathroom to the spare bathroom and it looks great. Although I would have loved all brand new things for the bathroom, I am glad we didn't have to go out and buy anything and spend money we weren't planning on spending.

One project down, lots more to complete.

What is God teaching you?

These flowers came from my rose bush out front. Aren't they beautiful?

I heard the question "What is God teaching you?" being asked to someone the other day and it made me stop and think...how would I respond to such a question?

I did some meditating on the subject and right now in my life the Lord is teaching me to be content in everything...content in the car we have, content in not having children at this time, content in all He has given us.

I am so blessed and yet I choose to focus on the things I don't have, that I think I need, instead of focusing on all He has already given me. If I don't find contentment in how my life is now, I will never be content. There will always be something I think I need to make me happy and the cycle will never end.

Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

What is God teaching you?

Simple Soap Fun

What a great way to save money. Thanks to Christie from Divine Calling for sharing this recipe on how to refill a foam soap dispenser.

It couldn't be any easier.

3 Tablespoons liquid soap (hand or dishwasher soap)

2/3 cup warm water

Pour water and soap into foam dispenser and that's it. You have refilled your foam soap dispenser.

Baking Day

I received an Amish Friendship Bread starter and today was the day to bake it. I had 2 starters because I was doing one for my Mom since she is out of town. Yesterday I was reading through some blogs and came across some recipes I really wanted to try.
I made

• Peanut Butter Granola (big red bowl)
• Big Breakfast Cookie (square pan) - breakfast this morning
• 2 loaves of lemon poppy seed bread* - to take to church tonight
• 1 loaf of chocolate bread*
• Chocolate peanut butter muffins* (green bowl)
• Biscuits - for breakfast tomorrow morning, I am making sausage gravy to go with it

*Note: These *starred* items are from the Amish Friendship mix. I just made them with different pudding flavors.

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Peanut Butter Granola - Thanks to Crystal Miller for sharing her recipe on her blog

6 ½ cups oats
½ t salt
1/3 cup olive oil
¼ cup honey
1 t vanilla
2/3 cup all natural peanut butter
1 cup raisins

Combine oats and salt in a large bowl. In a small sauce pan combine olive oil, honey and peanut butter and heat to combine well. Remove from heat add vanilla.

Pour over the oats and mix well. Spoon onto 1 large jelly roll pan. Bake at 325 for 1 hour, stopping every 15 minutes to stir the granola until it is golden brown.

Let finished granola cool. Add raisins and store in air tight containers

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Big Breakfast Cookie - Thanks to Lori and Farmwife for sharing the recipe

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 C Oil
1/2 C brown sugar
1/3 C wheat germ
2 C Oats (rolled or quick)
1/4 C chocolate chips
1 egg beaten
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2/3 C milk
1 tsp vanilla

DIRECTIONS:
Mix together, pour into 9″ greased pie dish, cook for 30-35 min in 350 oven.

Swap -A- DVD

I was reading through Money Saving Mom blog the other day and I came across her Swap-A-DVD post. I thought "What an excellent idea." I guess this isn't a new concept though since they have one for paperback books and CDs; however, I never heard of it before, so for me this was all new.

To get started all you need to do is find 10 DVDs around your house that you no longer watch.
Go to swapadvd.com, join for free and list your 10 DVDs. Once you list 10 DVDs you receive one credit, so now you can go and select a DVD from the list of many DVDs that other members are looking to swap out. As other members select your DVD, you mail it, they receive it and you get a credit for that DVD so you can find another DVD to get for yourself. You pay for postage when mailing out but you don't have to pay when you receive your DVDs. Hope this all makes sense.

I wanted to try this before I blogged about it. So I posted my 10 DVDs and right away I started getting emails that people wanted the DVDs I listed. I mailed 10 DVDs out on Saturday. I have already gotten 6 credits for DVDs and I have selected 4 movies to be sent to me.

Check it out for yourself. It's actually fun and it's a great way to clean out some of those DVDs you own. Happy swapping.

Free Jewelry - Yes It's True

Thanks to Christie who shared about her wonderful experience with the Silver Jewelry Club, I decided to try it out.

I found this beautiful pendant that had a heart shaped CZ on it which I thought would match my heart shaped diamond engagement ring quite nicely. I ordered it and it came just in time for my anniversary. It is a gorgeous piece. I love it and I just can't believe that all it cost was $5.99 for shipping and handling.

Where can you buy jewelry for that price? pssst... wanna know the secret? Check it out, you'll love it!

This is going to be the first place I look when I need to buy a gift for someone.

Fabulous Day

Yesterday was a wonderful day of worshiping God, celebrating our anniversary and even good shopping deals.

I woke up yesterday and Mike had a card waiting for me in the kitchen. After taking care of the chickens, Betsy and getting ready for church we were out the door. We stopped at Kroger to pick up my newspapers (I am back to buying 2 double papers) and Mike went and got me a Caramel Macchiato. He is so sweet.

After church we went to Publix to change into more comfortable clothes for the day and to do some shopping. They had some really good deals.

• Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce was $1.10 and I had a $1 coupon so that was 10 cents per bottle of bbq sauce (I bought 4 bottles)
• Spray & Wash spray was $1.40 and I had a coupon for $1 off so that is 40 cents a bottle (I bought 4 bottles)
• Dial bar soap the 3 pack was on sale for 97 cents and I had a 60 cent coupon (I bought 2 packs)
• I also got two 1 cent items which ended up being Publix pasta sauce (normally $1.80)

Lets just say I was very happy with my shopping trip. My OOP total was $4.60 and I saved $23.60.

After that Mike took me to The Cheesecake Factory. We hadn't been there in so long and wow the food was so good. I got the farfalle with chicken and garlic and Mike ordered the Hibachi steak. The meal was excellent. Of course you can't go to Cheesecake Factory and not order a cheesecake... so we got a slice of Adam's Peanut Butter Cup Fudge Ripple to take home because we were stuffed from lunch.

We had gotten some movie tickets from our Coke points so Mike took me to watch a movie at the new AMC theater in South Cumming. Lots of new construction there. Anyway they were having some kind of grand opening celebration so we got popcorn for free and a large drink for $1.

After the movie we drove around to see all the new stores and restaurants and we found a Red Robin. We love Red Robin! I see a date night here in the near future :-)

Happy Anniversary Mike

As we celebrate our 6 year anniversary I look back at all we have been through and I praise the Lord for His grace and mercy.

You are an amazing man. Your deep voice and Marine background don't fool me :-) You are gentle, loving, caring and thoughtful.

I have learned so much about being a humble, submissive wife. I know I still have lots to learn so please be patient with me as God continues to change me and mold me.

I look forward to many more years together and I anxiously wait to see how God will use us as we continue to grow in His word.

I love you!

Things About Me

I got this email from Nancy (church friend) and thought it would be nice to put on my blog in case anyone here wants to know more about me :-)
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Some things about me that you may or may not have known in no particular order.

Four jobs I have had:
1. BellSouth Mobility/Cingular/AT&T Wireless
2. Chick-Fil-A
3. Teacher's Aid at Faith Christian School
4. Day Care worker at Faith Christian School

Four movies I've watched more than once:
1. Sound of Music
2. Mary Poppins
3. Facing the Giants
4. Christmas Child

Two places I have lived:
1. Florida (Wilton Manors, Tamarac, Coral Springs, Apopka, Ocala)
2. Argentina

Four favorite places I have been:
1. Niagara Falls (Mike took me last year for our 5 year anniversary)
2. Yosemite (we went on our honeymoon)
3. Brazil (family vacation when I was a child)
4. Blue Ridge Mountains in GA (we rented a cabin for Mike's birthday a few years ago)

Four of my favorite foods:
1. Steak
2. Corn on the cob
3. Watermelon
4. Any homemade dessert

Four places I would rather be right now:
1. Sitting on the couch snuggling with Mike
2. Anywhere with family
3. On vacation somewhere
4. In bed trying to get rid of the headache I have right now

Four things I am looking forward to this year:
1. Celebrating my 6 year anniversary with Mike
2. Family Cruise
3. Church Family Camp
4. Thanksgiving and Christmas

TV Shows that I watch: (We don't have any cable, satelite or anything but if we did...)
1. Food Network
2. HGTV

Mark Your Calendars

I am hosting a Taste of Tupperware party at my house on Friday May 30th at 7pm. I am having this party for 3 reasons.

1. I want to help my friend Rebecca Jeffries with selling her Tupperware. Check out her website.
2. She is offering a special deal to help support Whispering Hope Women's Resource and Pregnancy Center. When anyone buys a $3 Tupperware Large Funnel from her she will include a recipe for a delicious Kiss to make with the funnel and all the profits from those sales (about $2 per funnel) will go to Whispering Hope.
3. Tupperware is celebrating 60 years and has some awesome sales going on. I already have a list of items that I really like. If you can't make it but want to order something just contact Rebecca at beccasforeverbowls@gmail.com and let her know you read my blog.

Let's join together and support a good cause!

Thanks everyone and God Bless You!

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all you Mothers out there.

We had my family over on Saturday. I wanted to make a nice meal for my Mom. She is always the one cooking for everyone and I wanted to give her a break.

Mike grilled steak, chicken and onions and it was so delicious.
I made rosemary potatoes, Chinese slaw, broccoli bake and we ended the day with an ice cream cake. My brothers birthdays are in May so we celebrated that also.

It was a beautiful day. They got to see the chickens and we got to play Pass the Pigs and Sequence.
Family time is always so special. The older I get the more I appreciate it.

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Updated to include Recipes

Broccoli Bake
1 large bag of frozen broccoli
1/2 cup Mayonnaise
1 can Cream of Mushroom or Celery Soup
1 cup grated cheddar cheese

Topping
1 sleeve of Ritz crackers (crushed)
1 stick of butter (melted)

Mix first 4 ingredients together. Pour in casserole dish. In a separate bowl mix crushed Ritz crackers and melted butter together. Sprinkle over top of casserole. Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes or until cheese is melted throughout.

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Chinese Slaw - Thanks to Mrs Gray for sharing her recipe with me
Cabbage - 1 large pkg.
Green onion - 1/2 to 3/4 cup
1 cup Sliced Almonds (browned)
Roman noodles on slaw (crunched up)
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup oil
1/4 cup vinegar
4 Tbsp. soy sauce

Boil sugar, oil, vinegar, and soy sauce together and cool. Toss with cabbage, green onion, almonds, and Roman noodles before serving.

I Love Garage Sales

Although having a garage sale is alot of work, I always enjoy them. I am not sure why, maybe its the time I get to spend with my Mom or maybe its the little extra money I can earn and the satisfaction in knowing that I was able to bless someone else with something I no longer needed.

My Mom and I had a garage sale this past weekend. Friday went really well but Saturday got rained out. We had 4 families worth of stuff that we needed to clear out.

When having a garage sale I always try to price the items reasonably. I keep in mind what I would be willing to pay if I was shopping at a garage sale. Some things are easier to let go of but others sometimes tend to get priced higher because we are just not at the point that we really want to get rid of it.

We woke up at 2:30am on Friday to pull all the stuff out of the garage and arrange it as nicely as possible on the tables or on the driveway. Clothes got hung on the garage door, shoes got put out nicely on the front stairs. We had a customer at 6:30 although our signs said 7 to 2. We welcomed him in and he bought a few things. So our day was off to a good start.

We stayed busy all day. It was great... things were being sold which meant we didn't have to carry them back into the garage. I had a table of products that I buy for really cheap or get them free by using coupons and shopping at drug stores. I was doing a trial to see if those type of items would sell. The test was a great success. God really blessed us that day. Unfortunately, I am not as well organized as Mike so I didn't have an inventory sheet of how many products I started out with.

For all of you out there who shop with coupons and get those great deals at the drug stores I encourage you to buy extra and have a garage sale. Here are the items I sold and how much I sold them for.

• Bleach $1.25
• Fantastic spray bottle $1
• Lysol spray bottle $1
• Glass Plus $1
• Toothbrush $1
• Toothpaste $1.50 for 6.5 oz and $1 for 4oz
• Kids Listerine mouthwash $1
• Dial bar soap 3 pack $1
• Dove bar soap 2 pack $1
• Bic disposable razors 4 pack $2
• Palmolive detergent $1
• Goodys headache powder $1
• Bayer 81mg aspirin $1
• Q Tips $1.25
• Shampoo $1.25 or $1 depending on the brand
• Deodorant $1.50 or $1 depending on brand

The items that didn't sell at all for me were makeup and lip balm products.

Helpful hint: I found these 4 websites that you can advertise your garage sale for free. Mike posted an ad for our garage sale. Not sure if we got any customers from the post but its always worth a try.

• http://www.garagesalehunter.com/
• http://www.garagesalesource.com/
• http://www.kijiji.com/
• http://atlanta.craigslist.org/

Chicken Salad with Peanut Butter Dressing

If you are looking for a light and tasty summer salad this recipe is for you. Enjoy!

8 cups cut-up romaine lettuce
4 cups of chopped chicken (grilled, roasted or rotisserie)
1 large apple, cored and cut into wedges
1 1/2 cups green or red seedless grapes, halved
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1 Tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
2 teaspoons honey
2 teaspoons cider vinegar
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper

Step One - In large bowl mix romaine, chicken, apple and grapes.
Step Two - In a small bowl whisk together water, peanut butter, soy sauce, honey, vinegar, ginger and crushed red pepper. Drizzle peanut butter mixture over salad. Serve and Enjoy!

Makes 6 servings

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Mike and I ate this yesterday and we really enjoyed it.

One Year

It is hard to believe we have been in our house one year. I love this house. It is just the right size for the 2 of us right now but it holds great potential for when we are blessed with children. When that day comes we will finish the basement and our house will double in size.

We have done alot to our house and property but there is much more to be done. It's so easy to find a project to work on around the house.
What's next:

• Hanging family pictures... We have decorated the entire house except for putting up family pictures in the hallway and of course organizing my craft room.
  
• Waterproof the 2 outside decks
• Get stairs built off the back deck to get to the chickens
  
• Paint our 2 bathrooms
• Getting the grass to grow in better
• Build a picnic table and grill area outside

Although this may sound like a Honey Do list... I promise it's not. I hope to do most of this myself so Mike doesn't have to worry about it. He does so much for me already, so hopefully this will be a way I can bless him.