Making a House a Home

I'm a big fan of Mad Hungry (the cookbook AND the cooking show).  Lucinda Scala Quinn's recipes have all been super delicious and easy to follow.  This Spaghetti Bolognese of hers is DELICIOUS! Our whole family heartily recommends this!

Our family has a tradition of celebrating the change of each season with a special tea.  Elizabeth really gets excited about these and even counts down the days!  She was so happy when I told her she could pick out our special dessert for our Springtime tea and she chose these Chocolate Bird Nests.   They were very simple to make and she LOVED being so involved with all the ingredients.  Her favorite part?  Licking the bowl, of course!!!!

Cookie Monster's Homemade Peanut Butter

1 pound (3 cups) dry roasted peanuts, unsalted or lightly salted

1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil

In large bowl, combine peanuts with oil. With a spoon, stir to mix well.

Pour the oiled peanuts into a food processor (I used a blender). Process until very smooth, about 3-4 minutes.

Using a rubber spatula, transfer the peanut butter to a container with a tight-fitting lid. Store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

I'm linking up with....

Today at Raising Homemakers...

Over the years, the “picture” of what a homemaker is, or should be, has faded into one of drudgery, where a dull-minded, incapable woman fulfills her endless, boring duties of cleaning toilets, washing dishes, and vacuuming, reaping no rewards or satisfaction. She has a few children, which makes her job even harder, and the best she can hope for is the day they start school. This picture is being constantly promoted, devastating the sanctity of home and any desire to guard and keep it....(keep reading)...

Okay, well, yes, I will admit that I am a day late, but still, y'all, let's CELEBRATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I do have a good excuse for missing yesterday. A sweet lady from church and her granddaughter and grandson-in-law invited us to go out to eat with them after church. I had planned on celebrating National Pie Day yesterday, but I think celebrating dear friends visiting is way more important!!!

On with the pie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In honor of the day, I chose to celebrate with a simple quiche this year!!! Nope, no dessert pie here this year, but in it's stead a yummy and super easy bacon and cheese quiche. Yum!!

Bacon and Cheese Quiche
1/2 lb cooked bacon, diced
1/2 cup shredded cheese of choice (I used mozzarella and parmesan)
1 (9 inch) deep dish pie crust (uncooked)
4 eggs
1 cup half and half OR whipping cream
1/2 t salt
1/4 t pepper
dash of garlic powder

Place bacon and cheese in the bottom of the pie crust. In a bowl, whisk together remaining ingredients and pour into pie shell. Place on a baking sheet and bake at 375 degrees for 40 to 50 minutes until center is puffed. Allow quiche to stand 5 minutes before cutting.

(Note: I usually use PioneerWoman's pie crust recipe, but this time I used the Cream Cheese Pastry Dough from Mad Hungry.)

What's on YOUR to do list today?

Are any of y'all involved with Good Morning Girls?  The next session is starting up on January 15th and I'd love to be part of a group!!  Let me know if anyone is interested!

His,
Mrs. U

Yes, it's that time of year again. Time to start deciding what pie you will be baking for your family to celebrate National Pie Day this year!! It'll be celebrated on Sunday, January 23, so you've still got a bit of time to pick the pie you want to bake and serve that day!!

So, anyone else want to celebrate National Pie Day with me this year?

The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards (1722-1723)

Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God's help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ's sake.

Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.

1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God's glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriad's of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever.

read the rest here....

Love never fails.

On December 12, 1998, I married the man of my dreams and my very best friend.  I am shocked that these 12 years have gone by so very quickly!!!  How I love my sweet husband!!  He is FAR too good for me!!  I truly thank the Lord daily for allowing me to be his wife. 

“Do we as a society believe that family is so important that we uphold caring for home and children as the best and most important job a woman might ever have?”...continued...

I enjoy reading what Courtney shares at Women Living Well.   She is so encouraging to remind her readers to get in the Word and focus on the Lord.  Right now she has a giveaway for a book entitled "Putting God Back in the Holidays".  Y"all be sure and head over there and enter to win!! 

“Yes, I read the Bible this morning. Don’t ask me what it said, because I don’t remember!”... read more....

 Who's up for a cleaning challenge????

Here's a GREAT challenge from FlyLady if any of y'all want to do this!  I am BAD about stuffing things in the closet, closing the door and walking away and forgetting about it.  I appreciate how FlyLady believes in baby steps- something THIS perfectionist needs to be able to get my homekeeping done!!!

...especially when I get sweet little pictures like this!!

I LOOOOOVE this Writing Claw!!! It's made it so much easier for Elizabeth to hold her pencil. Her fingers simply fit into the little cups and away she goes!!! She would hold it so improperly before that I knew it would lead to handwriting issues later on. I was happy to find this Writing CLAW at our local teacher supply store.

Am I the only person NOT on facebook????

Continue reading here at Mrs. Fuentes' blog...

We've all had recipes that have called for "cold butter, diced".  It's such a pain, in my opinion, to try to dice butter. Even when it's straight out of the refrigerator, it still starts melting pretty fast once your hand starts touching it.

I've discovered a tip that works for me!!  I put the butter in the FREEZER about 20 minutes and then take it out and cut it into sticks and then dice it up.  It's firmer so it cuts more easily and it doesn't melt as quickly when my hands touch it.  After I dice it, I'll put it in a bowl in the refrigerator for a few minutes just to make sure it's cold when I use it.  This way it's perfectly cold for my biscuits or pie crust or whatever I need "cold butter, diced" for!!!