Ro-tel Salsa
May 16, 2012 : Filed under Art of Homemaking, Dips & Spreads, Recipe Box
Love spicy food? Love easy recipes? Have I got just the thing for you! This salsa has been a big hit in my home for several years now. The recipe is super simple and can easily be adjusted to suit your family’s tastebuds. Be prepared though, it’s gobbled up quickly and they will want more.
2 cans original Ro-tel tomatoes (10 oz)
1 fresh medium jalapeno pepper, finely chopped1 medium onion, finely chopped
Juice from 1 lime (about 2 tablespoons)
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons dried cilantro or 2 tablespoons of fresh, chopped fine
I dump all the ingredients into the blender, set to pulse, and puree until desired consistency. If you like a more chunky texture, omit the blender, mix together and you’re done. Refrigerate.
This can be eaten right away but the longer the flavors meld, the better it tastes.
Spring Fruit Salad
April 25, 2012 : Filed under Art of Homemaking, In the Kitchen, Recipe Box, Salads
Whenever I hear the words fruit salad my mind automatically sings yummy, yummy. If you are a mom of children who love or have loved The Wiggles you know exactly what I’m talking about.
This recipe is one that is worthy of singing Fruit Salad, Yummy Yummy any day of the week. It is perfect to make for a spring get-together, whether it is brunch or dinner.
Spring Fruit Salad
1 (29 ounce) can sliced peaches in water
1 (20 ounce) can pineapple chunks
1 (3 1/8 ounce) vanilla instant pudding mix
1/2 pint blueberries
1 bunch of red grapes
1 carton strawberries, sliced
Into a large bowl pour peaches and pineapple chunks, including juice from cans.
Stir in vanilla pudding mix until well mixed.
Toss in fresh fruit.
Chill in refrigerator until ready to serve. Serves 18.
Making Clean-Up Fun for Little Ones
April 20, 2012 : Filed under Around the House, Art of Homemaking
No kid wants to stop their fun to clean up! So don’t let them stop. Make the clean up part of the fun! Here are some ideas.
*Have them pick up all the red toys, then the green toys, then the square toys, then the round toys. Give a little treat after each assignment.
*Don’t let them wear everyday clothes for cleaning up – that’s boring! Instead call out a Firefighter or a Princess or a Doctor or a Baker to come help! And make sure those boys are making noise while they clean – they are made for that!
*Have them count while they put toys away, and every time they count one you put a raisin in a bowl. If there are 20 toys out, they’ll get 20 raisins. What’s more fun than a snack?
*Play Eye-Spy. I Spy with my little Eye something that says: “Choo-Choo!” When the right toy is found and put where it belongs, they get a chance to see if YOU can find the right toy and put it away.
*Use the alphabet for young learners. Put away something that starts with a ‘t’ sound, or a ‘b’ sound.
*Set the timer for 30 seconds and see how fast they can go! But the rule is as soon as the timer goes they have to (play dead, or dance, or sing, or twirl, or jump, or pretend to be an airplane…) until the timer goes again (another 30 seconds). Repeat until it’s all cleaned up.
*Hand out bags and see how much they can put in a bag and still carry it to the toy box. See who can put the most in – a sibling (or friend, or you) or them.
*Turn on dance or praise music. Have them put away as many toys as they can until the music stops and then they have to freeze! Do this in short bursts.
*Put away things from biggest to smallest.
*Race. Make 2 equal piles of toys on one side of the room, farthest from the toy box. On your mark, get set… GO! Race with your child to see who can take one from the pile, run it to the toy box and go back for the next until they are all gone. If you win… help out!
Carla Anne Coroy
A Cement Block Garden–Really!
April 17, 2012 : Filed under Around the House, Art of Homemaking, Frugal Living, In the Kitchen
I do not consider myself a gardener, just a want-a-be. For years, I have killed more vegetables in container gardening attempts than my family has eaten. Last year I stepped outside my comfort zone and did the unthinkable…planted a real vegetable garden.
A church in our community started a series of cement block gardens last year that were intriguing. After a couple of weeks of watching their progress, I knew this would be the perfect project. Using cement blocks, landscape fabric to control weeds, and a mixture of gardening soils– cheap dirt and Miracle Grow, the garden was ready in just a few hours time.
Cement blocks are not the prettiest, but they are the cheapest at $1.25 each. For someone who has wasted more money than I care to admit on gardening, they were perfect. Infact, I’m sure if the Homeowners Association knew cement blocks were in my backyard I would be getting a lovely little letter. However, going into year two, plans are in the works to dress the blocks up with either brick or stone. Another project I need to learn how to do!
This year I planted tomatoes, bell peppers, zucchini, yellow squash, romaine lettuce, and strawberries. The romaine and strawberries are planted in the cement block holes. Last year the holes would fill with weeds weekly and quickly became a dreaded chore. There is still some space available and I plan to squeeze in a few more plants and some flowers.
If you are considering gardening–go for it! It is a wonderful way to bless family and friends with fresh produce right from our own yards. If you are a natural green thumb or a beginner like myself, send us your photos and comment with your tips to a successful garden. I would love to know what you have growing success with and what you have planted this year.
* The links above will take you to Lowe’s. I am not being compensated or have I been asked to share these links–just the first home supply store that popped to mind.
Kale Chips
March 29, 2012 : Filed under Appetizers, Art of Homemaking, In the Kitchen, Recipe Box
I’ve been hearing a lot about kale as a marvelous snack food lately. At a $1.69 a bunch, they are much cheaper than a bag of potato chips these days. Health wise, kale is a super veggie filled with vitamins A, C, and K, a great source of minerals, and antioxidants. It even helps lower cholesterol! Check out WebMD for all the details.
As a snack food, it is cheap, easy to make, and delicious to munch on. In full disclosure, this was not a snack everyone in my family of six enjoyed. Everyone tried it, but only my 7-year-old and I actually liked it.
Kale Chips
Bunch of kale
Sea salt
Olive oil
Wash and dry kale leaves and tear into the size of chips. Spread on a baking sheet, toss with olive oil, and sprinkle with sea salt. Bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees.
Last Day to Enter: The Money $aving Mom’s Budget Giveaway
February 24, 2012 : Filed under Art of Homemaking, Frugal Living
Today is the last day to enter our giveaway of Crystal Paine’s new book, The Money Saving Mom’s Budget.
Carla Anne reviewed the book earlier in the week and announced that Crystal will be giving away a copy of her hit book to one of our readers! The entry period ends tonight at midnight–get your entries in asap!
To enter the drawing for a chance to win a copy of The Money Saving Mom’s Budget by Crystal Paine, simply click here for the original post and all the details. (Entries MUST be made on original post to be counted in drawing.)
Be sure and check Crystal’s blog (www.moneysavingmom.com) where she shares daily deals and tips as well as her book, The Money Saving Mom’s Budget: Slash Your Spending, Pay Down Your Debt, Streamline Your Life, and Save Thousands a Year
* Outgoing book links will take you to Amazon.com. Mentoring Moments for Christian Women is an affiliate and receives a commission for sales resulting from using this link.
Heather’s Chicken Noodle Soup
February 22, 2012 : Filed under Art of Homemaking, In the Kitchen, Recipe Box, Soup
Cold and flu season is here again and for some reason nothing seems to taste as good as homemade or at least semi-homemade chicken noodle soup. This is the one I make when the sniffles start in our house, I got it from a friend when we lived in Hartselle, Alabama several years ago. Here’s a little secret, it’s so good I sometimes make it even when we’re not sick.
Chicken Noodle Soup
1 pound cooked chicken, shredded
8 cups chicken broth
2 medium carrots, cut in small pieces
1 medium onion, chopped fine
1 stalk celery chopped
2 tablespoons butter
1 12 ounce package wide egg noodles
1 tablespoon dried parsley
2 teaspoons dried dill weed
1 bay leaf
Salt and pepper to taste
Melt butter in heated large stock pot add chopped vegetables and sauté until slightly tender (about 2 minutes). In a separate pot, cook noodles according to package directions. Drain and cool.
In your large stock pot add broth, chicken, herbs and seasoning to vegetables simmer for 30 minutes then add cooked noodles. Heat thoroughly, remove bay leaf and serve. If you like a more brothy soup you can add additional water.
You can make this even easier by purchasing a precooked rotisserie chicken from the supermarket deli. Another change I sometimes make (because my kids don’t enjoy the thought of onions they can see) is using onion powder rather than the chopped onion, it should be added along with the broth.
Open Hearts and Home
February 17, 2012 : Filed under Around the House, Art of Homemaking
When we were 23 and 24 years old we read a very influential book, “Open Heart, Open Home” by Karen Mains. It basically challenges the idea that your home is your fortress or your showplace. She wrote it after the kid next door from a dysfunctional home repeatedly tracked dirt on her nice carpets, etc. and she was tempted to limit his entrance to her home. Then, of course, the Lord rebuked her and reminded her that it was His house given for her to enjoy and to minister out of so she needed to loosen up and try her best to get lost people and others who needed a shelter to come inside it. That really resonated with us and we have tried to run an open home ever since. We often have an extra half-dozen people for dinner at night and especially on weekends. Sometimes that means someone staying with us for months at a time. Maybe we invite them, and sometimes they invite themselves.
Now if you are going to run an open home you need to make a few adjustments. For starters, you need some new systems of care that are not built on entertaining but on practicing biblical hospitality (meeting the person’s real need). For example a tired college student is fine with a sofa to sleep on. Don’t turn him away because you have no more bedrooms. Tables should be round, not rectangular. Sherry says, “There’s always room for one more at a round table.” You need also to have an attitude adjustment about the cost of food, etc. Don’t calculate it. Just give. And it will be given unto you. Good measure, pressed down, running over. If you look at the context of that verse I really don’t think Jesus was talking about giving in an offering in a church service but giving to real people in life. Share food, money, and beds with people and God will fill your cupboard and bank account back up when they run empty.
An open home is a little messy most of the time, but it is a place of laughter and warmth. I encourage you to open your doors and your kitchen table and invite someone into your life to share community. We have found so much joy that way and our life is a greater influence. Our home is the absolute center of our ministry. Everything “public” flows from there.
Chuck and Sherry Quinley have six children. The Quinleys are 25-year veteran missionaries serving mainly within the 10/40 window of Asia. To follow the Qunileys visit quinley.com and for some great Christian radio, visit their station The Edge.
(from archives)
Favorite Valentine’s Day Desserts
February 13, 2012 : Filed under Art of Homemaking, In the Kitchen, Recipe Box, Special Occasions, Sweets, Valentine's Day
Are you still thinking about what to make for a special family Valentine’s Day dessert? My criteria is simple: chocolate and easy to make. Here are my top picks from MMCW’s Recipe Box for favorite Valentine’s Day Desserts.
Angela’s Caramel Mocha Truffle Cupcakes. Nothing sounds yummier than a truffle cupcake! Angela gives step-by-step instructions in photos to make this an easy dessert to make for Valentine’s Day.
Molly’s authentic Black Forest Cake is one of her family’s favorite desserts. Using a basic boxed cake mix to save time, Molly also shares step-by-step instructions.
Any cake that includes candy bars is a winner in my book any day. Katharine’s Dream Cake combines angel food cake, candy bars, and whipped topping for a delicious dessert.
Diane’s old-fashioned Chocolate Chess Pie is a perfect finish to any Valentine’s meal.
Are you planning a special dessert for tomorrow?
Mama’s Chocolate Chess Pie
3 1/2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 large eggs
1 stick salted butter, melted
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 refrigerated deep-dish pie crust
Mix cocoa, sugar, flour, and eggs. Beat well with an electric mixer until smooth. Add butter, milk, and vanilla. Mix well and pour into pie crust. Bake at 325 degrees about 50 minutes. After 25 minutes of baking, cover crust with a pie shield. When pie is done the center will be a bit shaky. It must cool completely before slicing or the pie will be runny. Top with whipped topping and enjoy!
Diane Berry has been happily married to her husband Todd for 29 years. They have 2 children, daughter Amelia, 16 and a son Taylor, 20. She’s a stay-at-home Mom who enjoys photography, antiquing, reading and baking with her daughter.
