Monday, March 12, 2012

Zucchini Bites...


Just made another new recipe from Pinterest.  BOY you can discover some yummy things on there!!!

This one is Zucchini Tots or Zucchini Bites.  SUPER!!  I loved them and the girls said they were, "okay".  Then they proceeded to eat them all.  Ahem, 'nough said.


yields: 20 mini muffins


1 cups zucchini, grated
1 egg
1/4 yellow onion, diced
1/4 cup cheese Parmesan (I used the canned stuff)
1/4 cup bread crumbs (I used Italian style)
Tiny pinch of salt
Fresh black pepper

1. Preheat oven to 400F. Spray a mini-muffin tin with non-stick spray, set aside.
2. Grate the zucchini and then place in a dish towel to squeeze out the excess water- like when using frozen spinach.
3. In a bowl combine, the egg, onion, cheese, bread crumbs, zucchini, salt and pepper.
4. Using a spoon or a cookie scoop, fill the muffin cups half full. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the top is browned and set.

Tuesday, March 06, 2012

Slow-Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup...


I made Slow-Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup recently and YUM was it good and YAY was it easy!!!  I did use more cilantro than the recipe called for, but that's what cooking is all about, isn't it?  Making it something YOUR family enjoys!!

I really enjoy using Allrecipes to find great recipes! And reading the comments is always helpful,  too!!

Monday, March 05, 2012

Do you use a dish drainer???




Just curious how many of you use a dish drainer?  If you do not use one, do you just dry as you wash?  And what do you do when you have a ton of dishes??

If you DO you use, how long do you let your dishes sit there?  And do you ever put the dish drainer away??

Friday, February 17, 2012

Happy 100th Day of School!!


Today is our 100th day of school here for Elizabeth, who is in kindergarten this year.  We're celebrating by counting to 100 a lot today!!  Groups of tens, groups of fives, (even by twos!!!) a hundred pennies, a hundred things to glue to our above sign.  LOTS of things related to 100!!

How do y'all celebrate the 100th day of school in your homeschool?

Thursday, February 09, 2012

"Grilled" Cheese Sandwich....


How many times do your children want a grilled cheese sandwich and you stand at the stove making one sandwich at a time?  Tons of times, right?  Me, too.  Well, recently I was talking with lady at church who works in a school cafeteria.  She mentioned they served grilled cheese sandwiches that day.  "How in the WORLD do you make THAT many grilled cheese sandwiches?" I asked.  That's when she shared this recipe with me- you bake them in the oven!!!!!!

I heated the oven to 425 degrees then spread each slice of bread on one side only with butter.  I laid the buttered side down for 1/2 the bread slices and then place my cheese on top.  I put the rest of the bread on top with the buttered side facing up.  I baked them in the oven for about 7  minutes, then flipped them over and baked another 6 minutes (but watch your oven- temps vary!!!!)  They each came out DELICIOUS!!!  By far the EASIEST "grilled" cheese sandwiches I've ever made!!!

Tuesday, February 07, 2012

Strawberry Oatmeal Bars...


Elizabeth (now 5 1/2, can you believe it??) really enjoys watching cooking shows.  Her favorite?  Pioneer Woman!!!  This past Saturday, Ree made Strawberry Oatmeal Bars.  Elizabeth said we just HAD to make them, so last night we did! 

These are super simple and delicious!  All of us love them and this recipe WILL be repeated many times, I can tell!  This time we used strawberry preserves, but I also plan on making this with raspberry and apricot preserves, too!

Strawberry Oatmeal Bars

Ingredients

  • 1 3/4 sticks salted butter, cut into pieces, plus more for greasing pan
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cup oats
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • One 10 to 12-ounce jar strawberry preserves

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-by-13-inch rectangular pan.

Mix together the butter, flour, oats, brown sugar, baking powder and salt. Press half the oat mixture into the prepared pan. Spread with the strawberry preserves. Sprinkle the other half of the oat mixture over the top and pat lightly. Bake until light brown, 30 to 40 minutes. Let cool completely, and then cut into squares.

Monday, January 02, 2012

The Gentleness Challenge...



OOOOOOOOH how this convicted me as I read this morning!!!  Go here and read the challenge that Courtney has given. 

Anyone up for a challenge??

Monday, November 28, 2011

Homemade croutons...


Yummy, crunchy croutons.  Who doesn't love 'em?  That's usually everyone's favorite part of a salad, right?  Well, why buy premade croutons when you can make your own?

 First, choose the bread you want to use.  Here I used whole wheat bread, but I have also used day-old rolls,  French bread, or white bread.  Cut them up into the size croutons you and your family like.


Here's where you get creative- spices.  Salt and pepper are needed for whatever other spices you choose.  Today I used Parmesan cheese and garlic powder.  Use whatever favorite flavors your family prefers and sprinkle about a teaspoon of each over all your cut up bread.



We LOVE garlic in our family and always make sure we use TONS of it.

After you've added the spices you like, drizzle olive oil over the bread cubes.  Start off with 3-4 T and, using your hands, toss the bread cubes around, making sure that all the bread is covered in oil.  The spices that you added earlier will be tossed around, too, to make sure they are more evenly distributed.  If the bread still looks too dry, then add a little more oil and toss. 


Here they are!  All ready for the oven!


Bake at 300 degrees for 30-40 minutes, taking them out to toss them around in the pan every 10 minutes.  Watch closely to make sure that they do not burn.  You want your croutons nicely browned all over, but not burned. 


Mmmmmm!!!!  The finished product!!  Yummy, crunchy, flavorful, homemade croutons!! 

Monday, November 21, 2011

Bar Keepers Friend...


This product, ladies and gentlemen, is my new best friend!!!  For YEARS I have heard how awesome Bar Keepers Friend is. For some odd reason, I only thought this product was at specialty stores so I never bothered to look for it.  Lo and behold, there it was last week at Walmart of all places!  Sitting on the bottom shelf, just waiting for me to bring it home and give it a try.

Mr. U suggested that I clean the worst pot first.  I got my stainless steel pots and pans almost 2 years ago and this pot is the one that I always use to steep tea bags in to make sweet tea.  The pot is THIS STAINED in less than 2 years of making tea!!


But just LOOK at how shiny the same pot is after I used Bar Keepers Friend!!! 

I am SOLD!  I will most definitely keep some on hand now- at all times!!  So far I've scrubbed TONS of things.  What is it about a new cleaning product that makes you want to clean and clean?  LOL!!!









Do any of y'all love Bar Keepers Friend?  If you haven't tried it, I highly recommend it!!

Monday, November 14, 2011

Who knew? Cleaning your washing machine!!!!


Will someone PLEASE tell me that I am not the last one to learn that we are supposed to clean our washing machines????  Seriously, I had no idea!  Yes, I wash the outside of the machine, but I never gave any thought to the inside of it!!  So what's a girl to do?  Yes, GOOGLE THE ANSWER!!  And here's I found...

Throw in dirty clothes, add some detergent, turn a dial and come back later to clean clothes. Ever wonder where all that dirt goes? Most of it rushes away with the drain water; but some lurks in your machine and can cause laundry to appear dull and gray...

Keep reading....and then be sure and tell me if you've ever cleaned your washing machine!!

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Mothering on our Knees...



I love this post from Lorie.  While I do not (yet) have the resource she recommends, I can gain a lot from the 10 prayer topics she shares.

As she says, "Good mothering must always begins on our knees." 

Friday, October 21, 2011

Homemade Butterfingers????






Oh y'all!!  I am on Pinterest (who isn't, right?) and recently found a recipe for homemade Butterfingers!  And the secret is..... are you ready??...... CANDY CORN!!!  
The texture is not exactly like the store bought Butterfingers, but the taste is very, very close to it.  Mr. U is a major Butterfinger fan and REALLY likes these.  

So since they are sooo easy, why don't you give Homemade Butterfingers a shot?  They are DELICIOUS, for sure!!

Monday, October 17, 2011

Housework, Again?


“I’ve swept the floor three times already and it’s dirty again!”
 
Does this reality discourage you, make you want to walk away some days?

Keep reading what Kelly shares at Generation Cedar....

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Do you know the bones of your Bible?




Thank you to Do Not Depart for a GREAT article reminding us why we need to memorize the books of the Bible!!!  Read here...

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Saturday, August 13, 2011

A Fun Giveaway!

 A new website called Your Home. Well Done. has some GREAT ideas to encourage the homemaker AND the homeschooling mom!  Gretchen, the owner of Your Home. Well Done. says,
"Do you find yourself getting overwhelmed by the how’s? How will I find the time to get all my tasks accomplished? How do I manage my family’s schedule? How do I home educate my children when I don’t even remember grammar rules, the presidents, who did what when, etc? How do I sneak some “me time” in when I can’t even catch my breath?!

Do you find yourself wanting help but don’t even know where to start? Are you ready to roll up your sleeves, take action, and see lasting results? You are not alone. Let’s do this!"
And guess what?  Gretchen is having a giveaway to celebrate!!!  Here's how to enter!!
Your Home. Well Done. is celebrating "Back to School" week. This week on my website I will be posting activities, projects, tour of our school room, and will be having a prize giveaway! It is for a year subscription to FamilyFun Magazine. The deadline is Tuesday, August 16th EST 12:00 and the winner will be announced on Wed. August 17th. In order to participate in the drawing become a fan on my Facebook page- Your Home. Well Done. If they don't have a Facebook account then they can email me their name at yourhomewelldone@gmail.com

Be sure and visit Your Home. Well Done. on Facebook and enter to win!!!

Monday, August 08, 2011

Cleaning tips from all of you...



 On this post, I asked for cleaning tips and WOW did I get some great ones!!  Listed below are all the tips that y'all shared.  Thank you so much, ladies, for sharing all of these!!  I know many of us will benefit greatly from them!!


-Oh boy, cleaning tips...keep it natural (store bought or homemade cleaners) and I love baking soda and vinegar! They have so many uses. Oh, and I like to put half lemons in the garbage disposer to freshen up about once a week :-)

-My tip is to make a cleaning check list for my non-readers. I took pictures of the things that needed cleaning and then used the pictures to make a check list for the room they were responsible for.

-I really love Barkeeper's Friend for stubborn countertop stains and for cleaning the sink and stove.

-Cleaning tips? Get rid of what isn't used and declutter every nook and cranny every 6 months. and those wet / dry covered swiffer heads work great to pick up dog hair that sweeping leaves behind.

-As far as a cleaning tip, one thing I found is that while you are waiting for something, talking on the phone, watching the kids in the tub, do cleaning the in room you are in. If you are on the phone, cleaning goes by fast and it is amazing how nice it looks and you got a visit with a friend. While the kids are in the tub, shine the sink, wash the toilet (crack the window if you are worried about fumes) and sweep the floor, wiping around the toilet too. Give the kids a wash rag and some baking soda and have them clean the tub. The baking soda won't hurt them and it will get the tub cleaner!

-I think one of my best cleaning tips is getting the children involved! When they help so much more can be done! And with things like Norwex microfiber cloths being available they can do so much more to help!

-Tip: Train your young ones to help, and when they get older, they can take over most of the cleaning/laundry/yardwork

-Hmm, a cleaning tip from me is one I've often gone back to that I learned from Fly Lady: Do something everyday. Start with the kitchen sink. Even when it seems overwhelming, just keeping ONE thing sparkly (the kitchen sink) and it will spur you on.

-My one cleaning tip: wipe something up or off EVERY time you are in the bathroom. If you are drinking enough water you will be in there lots. This really does KEEP the bathroom clean!!

-Tip: I clean the bathroom while my girls are in the tub. I can be right there and keep an eye on them, but get some cleaning done. I use Trader Joe's multi-purpose cleaner so no worries about fumes.

  I also have my 3 & 4 year olds help with the laundry. They fold the towels and their clothes and are getting really good at it. They also sort the laundry for me. We make a game of it and they LOVE laundry time. You would think I was giving them a huge reward.

  OxiClean is wonderful for getting stains out of the carpet and I put a half of scoop in with each load of laundry (placed in the tub with the clothes) and it keeps the whites so white and pretty and they come out so fresh and clean smelling.

-Cleaning tip: Using a couple of drops of liquid dishwasher soap and a scotchbrite pad makes stainless steel sinks sparkle and removes stains. Just be sure to rinse it well.

-I'm not sure this is the best cleaning tip...but we like clean kitchen floors. When we have company coming, of course we scrub and clean. After everyone leaves (usually it's a large family) I feel the floor is dirtier than it was before they came! So my option is to just spot clean any major dirt quickly before the company visit and do a good scrub after they leave! Like I said...maybe not the best cleaning tip, but it works for us. :)

-White Vinegar and Baking Soda make a wonderful cleaning paste!
We even washed our clear vinyl shower curtain in this - came out looking like new!

-My cleaning tip is: to make a chart and list things to do daily in blue and then have one or two weekly chores added as well in red.

-My cleaning tip would be to establish a schedule to maintain cleanliness and prevent you from having to pull out the super harsh chemical products.

-One of my favourite cleaning tips is to spread the cleaning tasks and laundry over the week instead of doing a whole house clean or all the laundry once a week. I prefer this to the giant clean-a-thons.

-Cleaning tip: we are in the process of selling and relocating and so in order to put our house on the market and keep it clean, I had to declutter, declutter and declutter some more. :-) Now that I've gone through things to prepare for my move, I realized how much stuff I didn't really need. I think setting aside time to declutter (even if your not moving) can really motivate you and encourage you to do the next thing on your list.

Friday, August 05, 2011

And the winner is....


Congratulations, Deb!!  You are the winner!!  I will contact you and get your email information.

And by the way, if y'all have never been to Deb's blog before, please stop by!!  She is talented, loves the Lord and seems so warm and friendly!
 


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