More to be Desired than Gold

 

[amazon_link id=”0964091003″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]More to be desired than gold: A collection of true stories[/amazon_link]

Christy Wilson

This book has some amazing stories!  I really enjoyed it a lot!  The author was a long time missionary in Afghanistan, pastor and teacher at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. This book is a compilation of stories from his extensive work.  It is amazing to see how God is at work changing peoples hearts and changing lives! Continue reading “More to be Desired than Gold”

Curried Mixed Nuts with Kaffir Lime and Cayenne

These are AMAZING!  OMG!!!  I could eat these anytime!  Sweet to curb the sweet tooth and salty to cure those cravings too!  We loves these for game nights, sitting and chatting with friends or an evening snack before bed.  These are modeled off of Trader Joe’s Chili Lime Spiced Mixed Nuts which are OUT OF THIS WORLD!  Unfortunately I can’t afford to be buying these each week, so I HAD to find a substitute.  If you’ve never had these nuts you are definitely missing out!  Or maybe you would be better off not trying them! Continue reading “Curried Mixed Nuts with Kaffir Lime and Cayenne”

Life!

I just saw this video from a marriage blog I’m subscribed to.  I just thought it was too true not to share!  If only life was a song and dance! 😉 Continue reading “Life!”

Nourishing Traditions Book Review: Part XIII – Hors D’Oeuvres & Dips

This is one thing I don’t often make… hor d’oeuvres unless it’s around the holidays!  Dips I do make a bit more often for our Bible study, girls nights, game nights or just hanging with friends.  We LOVE having people over and I always think it’s extra nice to have something to eat: dinner, snacks or dessert!   Continue reading “Nourishing Traditions Book Review: Part XIII – Hors D’Oeuvres & Dips”

Roasted Vegetables and Chickpeas

The main reason I picked this recipe is because I almost always have these ingredients on hand!  I knew this would be an easy whip it together recipe when I don’t have a change to go grocery shopping or I’m at the end of the week and only have carrots and potatoes left!It turns out that it is amazing!  Granted, this is the first time I made it and I added meat to it.  It looks like the recipe is slated as a side dish, but I wanted it to be the main course.  I added some [amazon_link id=”B0018R9TN8″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]nitrate, nitrite free kielbasa[/amazon_link] to it and WOW we all loved it!  Both boys asked for seconds and finished it down to the last potato!  My boys will usually eat what is on their plate, but they don’t often ask for more, unless it’s cake or ice cream, or something like that!Also, as we are still working on getting our house ready to put on the market, and we have riped up all the flooring on the downstairs this week and the place is in shambles!  Cooking alone was a feat! The vinyl floor has been ripped up, but the glue is still there, so I can’t let the baby crawl around (or try too… she would get stuck) and if any of us stand in one place for too long we walk right out of our shoes.  Trying to pull your shoe off the floor with your foot still in it feels a lot like two fingers stuck together with super glue!

And if any of you haven’t picked up on my Type A personality… I don’t do well with messes, and this place looks like it is undergoing MAJOR construction!  We went to the playground today and spent a lot of time outside because I couldn’t’t deal!  Also poor baby Aisling hardly went downstairs except to go outside today.  I just didn’t want her hands on the concrete sticky floor and in her mouth… YUCK.. .talk about chemicals… and who knows what else is in the air after ripping up carpet and vinyl… best to just get outside in the fresh air!
So, all that to say… this recipe took me about 10 minutes to throw together and then it took about 1.5 hours to cook and we went to the playground while it was in the oven.  Came back home, spread a blanket on the floor and had a picnic dinner since the kitchen table isn’t usable at the moment!  It might have been an inconvenience for us, but the kids saw it as an adventure and LOVED every minute!
So if you are in a time crunch, this is a great recipe.  MUCH quicker than a lot of my recipes and I don’t like spending longer than an hour preparing dinner in the first place!  The only caveat to add is that I did soak the chickpeas in water and a splash of vinegar over night and then simmered on low for much of the afternoon before cooking them with the rest of the veggies.This recipe I found from the Better Homes and Gardens magazine from November 2011 and it’s definitely a keeper!  And another bonus: BHG claims it is only $0.43 a serving if calculated as a side dish for 8.  It was a main dish for us, added meat, and it easily served 2 adults and 2 kids.

I’ll also make my usual disclaimer, that I’ve changed/edited/perfected the recipe to my liking.  The original can be viewed here!

Roasted Vegetables and Chickpeas (I added the meat)

Ingredients:

1 lb kielbasa – nitrate, nitrite free preferably
5 carrots, peeled and cut in 2-inch pieces
1 pound sweet potatoes, peeled and cut in chunks
1 large red onion, peeled, halved, and cut in 1-inch wedges
1 pound red or russet potatoes, cut in cubes
12-15 cloves garlic, crushed but still whole
⅔ cup dried chick peas soaked, cooked and drained (equal to about 1-16 oz can)
2 – 3 tablespoons coconut oil
1 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
1 TBSP maple syrup or molassas
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Position an oven rack in center of oven. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Place all vegetables, meat, garlic, and chickpeas in a large shallow roasting pan. In a small bowl combine the oil, rosemary, brown sugar, salt, and pepper. Drizzle over vegetables and meat; toss well to coat.
  2. Roast, uncovered, about 1 hour to 1.5 hours or until vegetables are lightly browned and tender, stirring twice.

Let me know what you think!  Any changes for you?

Menstrual Care

Caution: TMI for the male readers out there… or some of you! It may not bother you, but just wanna give a FYI!!!!

Since my kids are pretty close together I’ve been pregnant or breast feeding since October of 2006! So all that to say I haven’t had many periods in there! I think I’ve had maybe7 or 8 max! It’s been quite nice, I must say! I also have an 12 month old and the ole crimson tide hasn’t yet returned! 😉 HALELUJAH! Continue reading “Menstrual Care”

Thai Beef Tacos with Lime-Cilantro Slaw (optional with fish)

Just this week we had these for dinner with fish instead of steak.  I had forgotten how good they are! We had dinner with some friends and they agreed they were tasty as well!

I think I’ve mentioned it 1000 times before, but I don’t cook fish very often.  This is a favorite and will be repeated!  Hopefully we don’t get tired of it!  It is so simple and delish!  The slaw to go with it is what makes them so yummy!  I’ve used this same slaw with steak tacos as well and it is just as good.

The original recipe is from Cooking Light in April of 2007.  I don’t think we tried it until last year, so either I had some one’s hand-me-magazines (and I’m glad they didn’t rip out this recipe!) or I just kept the recipe that long!  I’m really not sure which it is.  The original can be viewed here and was for steak, but I almost like the fish better.

The first part of the recipe is for seasoning the steak, which is also amazing.  If you are using this recipe for the fish, then just bake or broil til done.  I used salmon and didn’t season it at all.  The slaw had plenty of seasoning that blended well with the salmon.

As usual, the recipe listed here is VERY similar to the original, but with my own additions/subtractions/clarifications.

 

Ingredients

Steak:
1 tablespoon sugar
1 ½ teaspoons grated peeled fresh ginger
1 ½ teaspoons fish sauce
½ teaspoon chili garlic sauce (such as Lee Kum Kee)
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 garlic cloves grated
1 pound flank steak, trimmed
Cooking oil

Slaw:
¼ cup fresh lime juice (lemon works just as well)
 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1 ½ teaspoons peeled finely grated fresh ginger
1 ½ teaspoons fish sauce (we like [amazon_link id=”B004M050W2″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Red Boat[/amazon_link])
½ teaspoon chili garlic sauce
4 garlic cloves, grated
3 cups thinly sliced cabbage
2 cups finely grated carrots
¼  cup sliced green onions
½  cup chopped fresh cilantro

Remaining ingredients:
8 (6-inch) fat-free flour tortillas (corn tortillas are much better for the fish tacos)
Or for a grain free option try my tortillas!

Instructions:

To prepare steak:
  1. Combine first 6 ingredients in a large zip-top plastic bag. Add steak to bag; seal and marinate in refrigerator 2 hours, turning occasionally.
  2. Prepare grill or broiler.
  3. Remove steak from bag; discard marinade. Place steak on grill rack or broiler pan coated with cooking spray; cook 5 minutes on each side or until desired degree of doneness. Let stand 5 minutes. Cut steak diagonally across grain into thin slices.

To prepare fish:

  1. Place in baking dish and bake for approximately 20-30 minutes or until desired dress of doneness. Or grill or briol.
  2. After finished, shred fish into small pieces.

To prepare slaw:

  1. Combine juice and next 6 ingredients (through garlic cloves) in a large bowl. Add cabbage and next 3 ingredients (through cilantro); toss well to combine.

Lia Huber, Cooking Light
APRIL 2007

Enjoy these tasty tacos and let me know how they turn out for you!

 

Nourishing Traditions Book Review: Part XII – Sauces, Marinades & Condiments

This was a really fun chapter to read and I think may now be my favorite!  Each recipe looks so exciting and super simple!  Some of these I have tried and some not.  I now have a huge list of things to make!  Sauces added to poultry, fish and meats increase the flavor and make eating that much more enjoyable. Continue reading “Nourishing Traditions Book Review: Part XII – Sauces, Marinades & Condiments”

The Convent: A Novel

[amazon_link id=”B0046RF8Y6″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]The Convent: A Novel[/amazon_link]
The Convent: A Novel
by Panos Karnezis

This was a VERY quick read and finished it in the first three days of our vacation last week!  It was recommended to me from the World Magazine and I usually really like the book recommendations I receive from there. Continue reading “The Convent: A Novel”

Homemade Mustard

Condiments are easy to buy, but even easier to make on your own.  It’s also great because most of the ingredients are already in the kitchen!  If you run out of one, just make it again and you don’t have to figure out who is going to run to the grocery store before dinner can be completed!  We have truly benefited from making our own mayonnaise, salad dressings, ketchup and the like. Continue reading “Homemade Mustard”