Finding Joy
While many people experience fleeting happiness from time to time, some fail to learn to appreciate the joys of just living life. In my never-ending quest to find joy (and thus find my true self), I am recording the everyday events of my life as a mother, wife, homeschooler, nurse, professor, Christian, and constantly-evolving human being. Hopefully, both the writer and readers can be lifted a step higher as we share our insights.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Neopolitan Baby Blanket
I made this blanket for a friend's baby shower. The pattern is available at http://www.maggiescrochet.com/leisure-arts-our-best-baby-afghans-p-552.html
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Chicken Tacos
3-4 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
1 pkg taco seasoning mix
1 1/2 cups salsa or picante sauce
10-12 7-inch flour tortillas
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Additional toppings such as shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sliced black olives, and sour cream
Combine salsa and taco seasoning in a saucepan. Add the chicken. Let simmer about five minutes. Meanwhile prepare toppings for tacos. Just before serving, heat flour tortillas. Spoon 1/2 cup chicken filling into each tortilla and sprinkle with cheese. Add additional toppings and enjoy.
1 pkg taco seasoning mix
1 1/2 cups salsa or picante sauce
10-12 7-inch flour tortillas
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Additional toppings such as shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sliced black olives, and sour cream
Combine salsa and taco seasoning in a saucepan. Add the chicken. Let simmer about five minutes. Meanwhile prepare toppings for tacos. Just before serving, heat flour tortillas. Spoon 1/2 cup chicken filling into each tortilla and sprinkle with cheese. Add additional toppings and enjoy.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
30 Minute Chicken and Dumplings
Ingredients:
2-3 cups cooked, chopped chicken
1 carrot, thinly sliced
1 celery rib, chopped
1/2 tsp minced garlic
1 T. butter
1/2 tsp. dried, chopped rosemary
3 cans condensed Cream of Chicken Soup (fine to use reduced fat soup for all or part)
3 3/4 cups water
2 cups self-rising flour
1/4 cup shortening
7 oz milk
1/2 tsp. dried, chopped parsley
1/8 tsp. ground black pepper
In a large Dutch oven, saute onion, celery, and garlic in the butter. When vegetables are soft, add in canned soup, water, carrots, and rosemary. Bring to a low boil, then reduce heat to simmer.
While soup mixture is simmering, put self-rising flour into a mixing bowl. Add shortening and using two knives (or a pastry cutter) cut the shortening into the flour until the shortening pieces are pea-sized. Add parsley and pepper. Add the milk and stir just until moistened. Knead the dough ten times. (Too much kneading will make the dough tough). (You can skip this step and use canned biscuits that you tear in half but I REALLLY like the homemade ones much better).
Drop dough into boiling soup mixture with a spoon. (You will have about 20-24 dumplings). Cover the Dutch oven with a lid (DO NOT REMOVE IT!) and allow the dumplings to cookover low heat for 15 minutes. DO NOT Stir dumplings during cooking or after the 15 minute cooking period.
Place about 1/3 cup chicken in a bowl then gently ladle soup and 3-4 dumplings over the top. Serves 6-10.
2-3 cups cooked, chopped chicken
1 carrot, thinly sliced
1 celery rib, chopped
1/2 tsp minced garlic
1 T. butter
1/2 tsp. dried, chopped rosemary
3 cans condensed Cream of Chicken Soup (fine to use reduced fat soup for all or part)
3 3/4 cups water
2 cups self-rising flour
1/4 cup shortening
7 oz milk
1/2 tsp. dried, chopped parsley
1/8 tsp. ground black pepper
In a large Dutch oven, saute onion, celery, and garlic in the butter. When vegetables are soft, add in canned soup, water, carrots, and rosemary. Bring to a low boil, then reduce heat to simmer.
While soup mixture is simmering, put self-rising flour into a mixing bowl. Add shortening and using two knives (or a pastry cutter) cut the shortening into the flour until the shortening pieces are pea-sized. Add parsley and pepper. Add the milk and stir just until moistened. Knead the dough ten times. (Too much kneading will make the dough tough). (You can skip this step and use canned biscuits that you tear in half but I REALLLY like the homemade ones much better).
Drop dough into boiling soup mixture with a spoon. (You will have about 20-24 dumplings). Cover the Dutch oven with a lid (DO NOT REMOVE IT!) and allow the dumplings to cookover low heat for 15 minutes. DO NOT Stir dumplings during cooking or after the 15 minute cooking period.
Place about 1/3 cup chicken in a bowl then gently ladle soup and 3-4 dumplings over the top. Serves 6-10.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Fettucini Alfredo with Chicken and Mushrooms
5 T. + 1 T. butter
2 cups heavy cream
1 tsp minced garlic
1/4 tsp pepper
3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 pounds cooked, chopped chicken
1 1/2 cups sliced mushrooms
1 tsp dried chopped parsley
12 oz fettucini, prepared according to package directions
Melt 5 T butter in a heavy saucepan. Add cream, garlic, and pepper. Just before the cream mixture comes to a boil, add the parmesan and mozzarella cheeses. Allow to simmer and thicken, stirring regularly. In a small skillet, melt the other T of butter. Saute the mushrooms until tender. Place the fettucini on a platter. Top with chicken and mushrooms. Stir the parsley into the alfredo sauce then pour over the fettucini, chicken and mushrooms. Serve immediately.
2 cups heavy cream
1 tsp minced garlic
1/4 tsp pepper
3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 pounds cooked, chopped chicken
1 1/2 cups sliced mushrooms
1 tsp dried chopped parsley
12 oz fettucini, prepared according to package directions
Melt 5 T butter in a heavy saucepan. Add cream, garlic, and pepper. Just before the cream mixture comes to a boil, add the parmesan and mozzarella cheeses. Allow to simmer and thicken, stirring regularly. In a small skillet, melt the other T of butter. Saute the mushrooms until tender. Place the fettucini on a platter. Top with chicken and mushrooms. Stir the parsley into the alfredo sauce then pour over the fettucini, chicken and mushrooms. Serve immediately.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Harvest Pork Chops in the Slow Cooker
6-8 bone in pork chops (1/2 to 3/4 in. thick)
1 onion, sliced
2 T. vegetable oil
1/2 cup catsup
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 tsp garlic powder
12 oz cranberry-orange relish OR 1 can whole berry cranberry sauce mixed with 4 oz orange juice concentrate.
1/4 cup cold water
1T. corn starch
Heat the oil in a skillet then lightly brown each side of the porkchops. Place chops in slow cooker and top with onion slices. Whisk together catsup, brown sugar, soy sauce, and garlic powder. Pour over chops and onions. Put lid on slow cooker and cook on low temperature for 4-5 hours.
When chops are done, remove from slow cooker and set aside on a platter. Combine 1/2 cup of the sauce left in the slow cooker with the cranberry orange relish in a small saucepan. Heat the cranberry mixture over low heat. Meanwhile, whisk together cold water and cornstarch. When cranberry mixture is boiling, stir in cornstarch mixture. Stir until thickened. Pour sauce over porkchops and serve.
1 onion, sliced
2 T. vegetable oil
1/2 cup catsup
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 tsp garlic powder
12 oz cranberry-orange relish OR 1 can whole berry cranberry sauce mixed with 4 oz orange juice concentrate.
1/4 cup cold water
1T. corn starch
Heat the oil in a skillet then lightly brown each side of the porkchops. Place chops in slow cooker and top with onion slices. Whisk together catsup, brown sugar, soy sauce, and garlic powder. Pour over chops and onions. Put lid on slow cooker and cook on low temperature for 4-5 hours.
When chops are done, remove from slow cooker and set aside on a platter. Combine 1/2 cup of the sauce left in the slow cooker with the cranberry orange relish in a small saucepan. Heat the cranberry mixture over low heat. Meanwhile, whisk together cold water and cornstarch. When cranberry mixture is boiling, stir in cornstarch mixture. Stir until thickened. Pour sauce over porkchops and serve.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Coconut - Orange No Bake Cookies
1 12oz box vanilla wafers, crushed (I like to run them through the food processor.)
1 6oz can orange juice concentrate, thawed
16 oz powdered sugar (3 3/4 cups)
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 cup chopped walnuts
2 cups coconut
Combine all ingredients except coconut. Stir until well blended. Shape into 1 inch balls. Pour coconut into shallow dish and roll cookies in it. Store cookies in airtight container. Makes 4-5 dozen.
This recipe came from my aunt, Avalon ("Glory") Young. Aunt Glory never had children of her own so she loved to dote on the nieces and nephews. I don't remember lots of details about her but everything I do remember involves me sitting on her lap or at her knee near the recliner in her living room.
1 6oz can orange juice concentrate, thawed
16 oz powdered sugar (3 3/4 cups)
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 cup chopped walnuts
2 cups coconut
Combine all ingredients except coconut. Stir until well blended. Shape into 1 inch balls. Pour coconut into shallow dish and roll cookies in it. Store cookies in airtight container. Makes 4-5 dozen.
This recipe came from my aunt, Avalon ("Glory") Young. Aunt Glory never had children of her own so she loved to dote on the nieces and nephews. I don't remember lots of details about her but everything I do remember involves me sitting on her lap or at her knee near the recliner in her living room.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
For my daughter on her birthday
When you were born
You were brought to me
Sleeping in a soft, warm blanket.
My heart skipped a beat,
And I determined to become a better person.
Something Had Changed…
When you were a toddler
You took your first wobbly, unsure steps
Making your way across new territory.
My heart beat quickly
And I felt nervous as you ventured away from me.
Something Had Changed…
When you were four years old
You got angry and cross with me
Saying that Santa would never bring me any presents.
My heart broke a little
And I realized that my love extended beyond hurt and tears.
Something Had Changed…
When you were a teenager
You became more independent
Driving, dating, and amazing us with your passion for learning.
My heart almost burst with pride
And I learned that your success was my greatest triumph.
Something Had Changed…
When you became an adult
You held me when I cried over a disappointment
Telling me that you would always be in my corner.
My heart was soothed
And I knew that having you for a friend was a gift.
Something Had Changed…
Now, looking back, I have become aware of a Great Truth:
Your existence makes me want to be a better person;
Your new adventures still make me feel nervous;
Your anger and tears will never change my love;
Your accomplishments bring me lasting joy and
Your presence brings me comfort and peace.
I am so very grateful that….Nothing Has Changed.
You were brought to me
Sleeping in a soft, warm blanket.
My heart skipped a beat,
And I determined to become a better person.
Something Had Changed…
When you were a toddler
You took your first wobbly, unsure steps
Making your way across new territory.
My heart beat quickly
And I felt nervous as you ventured away from me.
Something Had Changed…
When you were four years old
You got angry and cross with me
Saying that Santa would never bring me any presents.
My heart broke a little
And I realized that my love extended beyond hurt and tears.
Something Had Changed…
When you were a teenager
You became more independent
Driving, dating, and amazing us with your passion for learning.
My heart almost burst with pride
And I learned that your success was my greatest triumph.
Something Had Changed…
When you became an adult
You held me when I cried over a disappointment
Telling me that you would always be in my corner.
My heart was soothed
And I knew that having you for a friend was a gift.
Something Had Changed…
Now, looking back, I have become aware of a Great Truth:
Your existence makes me want to be a better person;
Your new adventures still make me feel nervous;
Your anger and tears will never change my love;
Your accomplishments bring me lasting joy and
Your presence brings me comfort and peace.
I am so very grateful that….Nothing Has Changed.
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