It should be no surprise to you at this point that we like spicy food…..lots of spicy food. A majority of what I cook for dinner is spicy. My favorite spice is cumin, and lots of it! This recipe from Taste of Home didn’t originally call for cumin…..but I added it. I’m sneaky like that. I love quick and easy soups that I can serve to my family. The best thing about them is that they’re actually better the next day! I love making a big pot of soup and having lunch to pack for Barry all week long – unless it’s a soup that I LOVE and then I keep it all for myself. Sharing is not caring. That’s a lie. [Read more…] |
Pumpkin Chili
I’m always intrigued by recipes that have unusual ingredients in the title and I usually end up making them. I once made brownies with cayenne pepper in them (Brownies With a Kick) and they were delicious! There are exceptions to this rule however. Like, any recipe with “whole fish” in the title is not for me. I don’t want food staring at me while I try to eat it. Or anything that says “live.” No. The point of food is that it’s dead. But Pumpkin Chili? That’s not so scary sounding. I love soups with pumpkin stirred in. It gives it a little something special. This soup is very hearty and the pumpkin gives it a smooth taste. It’s easy to make and it’s very warming during this coooooooooooooooooold season. I’ll just stop right here and tell you that the Farmer’s Almanac was VERY wrong. It is NOT a mild winter. Where do they get their information? [Read more…] |
Spicy White Bean Chowder
I’ve been asked to do some nice, simple soup recipes. Since the cold weather is getting underway I thought now might be a good time to do it. I love soup, but we don’t eat much of it in the summer since it’s hot. Once I tried making a cold cucumber soup – Barry was NOT a fan. He said, “That’s just wrong. Soup is supposed to be hot.” Since then there have been no more cold soups in my house. I’m bitter. Monday is designated Meatless Monday in our home, so in honor of that I’m starting out with something bean-based. Beans, beans, good for your heart……well, you can finish it. [Read more…] |
Crash Hot Sweet Potatoes
I posted the recipe for Crash Hot Potatoes a while back…….and honestly, it’s the best potatoes recipe of all time. OF ALL TIME! I will accept no argument on that. They’re so good, they’ll make you slap your mama. But then, oh my…….I came across Crash Hot Sweet Potatoes from Dlyn. Oh. My. WORD. Honey, if the regular ones make you slap your mama, these might end you up in prison. They are my favorite! I can eat the whole pan. Barry prefers the regular ones, and I like these best…..but we’re not turning down either of them. And strangely, I never have any leftovers. [Read more…] |
Tithe
“I the LORD do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD Almighty. “But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’ “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the LORD Almighty.” Malachi 3:6-11 |
I’ve received a few questions about tithing since I posted the budget series last week. Barry and I thought it best for me to address some of those questions here. I’ll admit, it’s a very touchy subject. If you mention money at church, people get their panties in a wad. BUT, this is what Barry and I believe. Our beliefs are 100% backed by scripture – not what we FEEL. Just because you feel something, doesn’t mean it’s right (contrary to pop culture), only the Word will stand forever. 1 Peter 3:15 says “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” So, I’m setting out to answer these questions, but with an attitude of respect for those who disagree. Maybe when you’re done reading you might change your mind about what our Lord commands. [Read more…] |
Crock Pot Apple Butter
***UPDATE: See this post about our new eating habits. (7/10/11) I now use Sucanat in place of the sugar. Every fall, at the end of the apple season, I buy at least a bushel of apples…..usually more. I eat and bake with a lot of apples. Usually my downstairs refrigerator (yes, I have two) is full of apples during the winter. I knew I wanted to make some apple butter for Christmas gifts, so I was saving some of my bounty for that. Then, someone asked me if I had a good recipe for apple butter, so I decided to do a tutorial and show you how easy it is to make your own. I’m not usually a big fan of apple butter – I think the spices are too strong. So, when I make my own I can adjust that flavor. This is more like spicy apple sauce for us, and the taste is just right. You can adjust the spices to your liking. It’s like Burger King, your way, right away. Oh, and this recipe is for a crock pot! So, you fix it and forget it…..I like giving you all easy recipes. It makes your life just a tad easier. Let’s do it! [Read more…] |
It’s NOT a Curse Word – BUDGET
Budget. Yes, I said it. Budget, budget, budget. It’s really not a bad word. I know most of you out there got the shakes when I said it……budget. Did you know a budget can actually make your life easier? You tell your money where to go instead of wondering where it went. You’re not wondering if you’re going to have enough money through the end of the month – you’ll KNOW you have enough because you wrote it down and planned it out. I’m just here to make your life easier. Trust me…..just do one. Try it. If you hate it, you can quit. Okay, you probably will want to quit at first, but don’t. Give it a few tries and it WILL WORK. Then you’ll love it. You’ll love me. By the way, if you love me, I really enjoy Skittles, M&Ms, and other various candies. |
If you’re married, you need to do your budget together. Trying to do it alone just won’t work. You can try to make it work, but eventually something will backfire. Backfire is scary. It makes you jump. Heavens to Betsy. If you can’t get along about money, then you have serious issues. Dave Ramsey suggests seeking marital counseling if you can’t agree about money. He says the problem isn’t money, but the money is a symptom of the problem. Do your budget together. Guess what? You’re going to fight the first time. You might fight the second, third, and fourth too. But maybe, just maybe, around the 50th time you do it there will be no fights. Work together. Try to avoid decking each other. The kids are watching. Wait until they go to bed for that. My husband says to most couples he counsels that they should go home and have big fight about money…and then make up. 😉 [Read more…] |
Living Debt Free
arry and I started out our marriage with the desire to live debt free. We did Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University before we got married and again after we were married. (Since then we’ve done it a few more times and Barry teaches the class periodically.) We knew it was the way we wanted to live. The only thing we were paying on was a car. So we starting making several extra payments until we had it paid off in less than a year. Then we were debt free! But we wanted to have our own place to live, so we bought a townhouse. Currently, the only debt we have is the house and we’re scheduled to pay it off within the next two years. Every little penny that we get as “extra” we put toward the principal on the house. We cannot stand owing money…..it eats at us. It’s bondage. The Bible says “the borrower is slave to the lender,” and we believe it 100%. So, take a little look with me at the Seven Baby Steps that we’re following from Dave Ramsey and find out that YOU can live debt free too! [Read more…] |
Our Debt Free Story
Next week I’m going to be doing a series on budgeting and living debt free. It’s a great way to begin the year. I’d like to start that off with a post about our debt free story. When Barry and I were first married, we started immediately using the Dave Ramsey budget. Before we got married, we took Financial Peace University together. Since then, we’ve taken it two more times and Barry teaches it. We know the method. We know money – we know budgets. It’s just something that’s in our blood. I realize that this isn’t the case for everyone, so I hope that next week will be beneficial to you all. I want to tell you how it works for us, so that you can know it IS possible to live debt free and that you CAN do it too. Next week will help you get started. |
I grew up knowing about money. My parents lived debt free, so it was natural to me. If we didn’t have the money, we didn’t buy it. Credit was something other people used. They taught me the value of a dollar, and I know I will teach the same to Annie. “Debt is dumb. Cash is king!” Yes, at a young age I guess I was considered quite “tight” with my money……I’m still somewhat tight, but in a good way. I don’t go around throwing money to the wind and it sure doesn’t burn a hole in my pocket. Barry grew up the same. He was also taught how to behave with money, and I’m ever thankful. It has never been strange for Barry and me to handle money the same way. I know a lot of couples have different views about money, but we are blessed to agree with how we should handle it. We talked about the issue before we got married, so we weren’t in the dark. I encourage any of you who are not married to make sure you’re on the same page with money before you get married! If you’re already married, the Financial Peace classes can really help you and your spouse link up. [Read more…] |
How to Make Snow Cream
I have to admit, I’m sorta miffed at the Farmer’s Almanac this year. Last year it was spot on……even to the point that it stated when we’d get large snows. So, of course I, in my naivety, believed that it would be spot on this year. Um, no. When I saw the almanac this fall, it said that we’d have a mild winter, with a few snows. Well guess what?! The Farmer’s Almanac AND Global Warming are both wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong. My friend Lora said she’s thinking about filing lawsuit against the Almanac. Go Lora! You have my support! Big bunch of liars. Anyway, since it’s cold and snowy I thought I’d show you all how to make a nice snowy treat. It’s really easy and quite exciting. I’m sure that after I write this, we’ll have a heat wave with no snow…….at least I’m hoping so. |
First, we need some snow. Don’t eat yellow snow. We want white snow…….and try to avoid the dirty patches. I thought I would get snow off the back deck, but it melted. Sure, it only got up to 24 degrees, but snow can still melt if it’s freezing outside – funny how that happens. So, realize that it’s only currently 11 degrees outside and wuss out. Tell your husband to go out and get it for you…..and give him the sad, pathetic look and tell him you don’t have any shoes on. If he wants to eat some of your delicious snow cream, he’ll probably go. If your kids are older, you can send them outside…..if you trust them to get clean, non-yellow snow. [Read more…] |
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