What A Lovely Day!

I was so graciously honored this award from Missy over at "Are You There God? It's Me..."

Pretty cool to think that someone (other than my Mom or Dad:) enjoys my blog! I started this blog as a way to "scrapbook" my life, my kids, my love of cooking, etc. I never really thought anyone would actually enjoy it! So, many thanks Missy for this award! I thoroughly enjoy Missy's blog because we share many of the same interests, and I feel that we are on the same spiritual journey:) Anyhoo, please head on over to check out her great blog!

I am sitting here enjoying a LOVELY autumn thunderstorm. We really did not get many of these this summer, so I am loving every minute of it, well, except the part when the thunder cracked ever so loudly that we soon had three munchkins jump into bed at the same time:) Unfortunately I still have all the sheets laying on top of my garden because of the frost a couple nights ago. *sigh* Oh well, I will enjoy this stormy rainy day, a perfect day for making bread, I do believe!

I cannot WAIT to post one of the suppers we had this week, Monte Cristo's. I had never made them before, and my sister-in-law gave us a jar of raspberry jam which inspired me to make these. It was pure heaven on earth, I tell ya, post soon to come!!

Have a wonderful Thursday, and if you could, say a prayer for my dying 92 year old Grandmother. We are basically in wait right now, but pray that the Lord will bring her home soon, so she won't have to suffer. She is an AMAZING woman who was full of faith and love. I don't think she will ever know how much I have learned from her:)

Blessings,

Crockpot Chili

This is hands down my favorite chili recipe. My sister-in-law gave me this recipe a few years ago, and it is not the only only one I make. Now, she likes to include jalapeno peppers, but I don't want to feel like I'm on fire while eating because then my nose runs, my eyes water, and I forget how stinkin good the chili is. Unfortunately I don't have a pic, forgot to take one last week when I made it. Linking up to Crockpot Wednesdays

Crockpot Chili

6 slices bacon chopped
1 lb. hamburger
1lb. ground turkey
1/2 onion, chopped
1/2 green pepper, chopped

Brown the above 5 together

1 pkg. McCormick chili seasoning
1 large can Bush's baked beans
1 can kidney beans
1 jar salsa or picante sauce
1 small can crushed tomatoes

Simmer 1 hour on stove top or cook on low 4-6 hours

Creamy Tuna and Zucchini Casserole

I make tuna casserole about once every couple months, it has never been a "huge" hit with the daycare kids, but they don't mind it. I had two zucchinis sitting in the fridge that needed to get used, so I took one and chopped it up real fine and added it to the casserole. The kids LOVED it this time! I am always looking for things (like veggies) to add into casseroles/hot dishes to make them healthier. Enjoy!

Tuna and Zucchini Casserole

2 c. elbow macaroni cooked
4 Tbl butter
4Tbl flour
milk
1 clove garlic
1 zucchini finely chopped
1 can tuna, drained
1 c. frozen peas

For the sauce, melt the butter, add garlic and cook for a minute or so, add the flour, again cook for a minute. Add milk until the sauce is the right consistency, add a bit of salt and pepper. Mix can of tun with pasta

and add the sauce. One thing I forgot to do that I normally do is to add in some shredded cheese with the sauce. Makes it creamier:) Finish by adding the cup of frozen peas.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 30-40 minutes.

Linking up to Tasty Tuesday

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday

Tuesdays at the Table

Rainy, Cloudy Weather Makes Me......

Feel cozy and content! We have had so very little rain this summer, that when we do get a day of rain, I thoroughly enjoy it! I light several candles, turn on my cute little lamp on my bakers rack, and just enjoy the soothing sounds of rain.

I am heading down to southern Mn to stay with my Aunt and Uncle this afternoon, I hope to get there around 6:30-7:00, and then tomorrow I am going to visit my Grandma who is in the hospital with pneumonia. My Grandma is a spunky 92 year old who just recently moved into the nursing home. She has been living on her own up until that point. I have always been super close with all my Grandparents, so it's hard to see them go downhill. It amazes me to think of how much she taught me without even knowing she did:) I think about that with my own kids, and most of the time I smile, but I gotta tell ya, sometimes that makes me cringe-the things they will pick up from me! I *try* to model myself the way God intends me to be, but that's not always easy either. I still have that super stubborn (thanks Mom), must be different (thanks Dad), type of personality that makes it hard to be "Godly". All I can do is pray that God will direct my husband and I to teach our girls "His" way and not our way.

Blessings,

STOP!! Move away from the applesauce cake....

If you are not a follower of Finding Joy in My Kitchen, you must mosy your little mouse on over there and check out her blog. Yesterday I made her Applesauce Oatmeal Bread and I can honestly say that I can't stop eating it. It is sooo flavorful (mainly because I made it with homemade applesauce also from her blog:) and dense, a perfect compliment to a hot cup of coffee. A fabulous bread to enjoy with the changing of seasons.

Onto other exciting news, I have been blessed with the start of a head cold, ugh. I think I might need to make some Chicken and Squash soup,(although, now thinking about it, I'm not sure that I trust myself with a knife and this woozy head...) as Brad grabbed a butternut squash out of the garden last night. He took the girls out to grab more tomatoes and they picked pumpkins too, such fun! Rachel came in and needed a knife, so I showed her how to hold it and had to chuckle as she held the knife down, but had her arm completely outstretched while walking as slow as possible!! I hope to can more tomatoes today (we'll see how mama feels) and possible can some apple pie filling.

I also want to share that I have been added to the Foodie Blogroll! If you scroll down, you will see the button for it. I'm excited to add this fun blogroll, and find other great cooking blogs! Have a fabulous "Hump Day", and the second day of fall!!

Verse of the day:
Philippians 2:14-15, " Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blamelss and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine lights in the world..."

How true is this, and a great reminder for me:)

Hmmmm...

I am trying to figure out why my Followers area is not working?? Any ideas, ladies?? I hope to have that back working soon!!

Homemade Corn Dogs

I decided to try my hand at making corn dogs last Friday, as Fridays are usually my "easy" cooking days. The recipe was super easy, and the kiddos really loved thew corn dogs! My only complaint was that you have to eat them right away, I had to put them in the microwave to wait for the tator tots to get done, and they got a little soggy. But all in all, a great recipe, and it's nice to know all the ingredients that went into making them.

Homemade Corn Dogs

1 quart oil for deep frying
1 cup all-purpose flour
2/3 cup yellow cornmeal
1/4 cup white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg, beaten
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 pounds hot dogs (I used Hebrew National hot dogs)
wooden sticks




Heat oil in a deep fryer to 365 degrees F (185 degrees C).
In a large bowl, stir together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder and salt. Make a well in the center, and pour in the egg, buttermilk, and baking soda. Mix until everything is smooth and well blended.
Pat the hot dogs dry with paper towels so that the batter will stick. Insert wooden sticks into the ends. Dip the hot dogs in the batter one at a time, shaking off the excess. Deep fry a few at a time in the hot oil until they are as brown as you like them. Drain on paper towels or serve on paper plates. Enjoy!

Linking up to: Tasty Tuesday , Tempt My Tummy Tuesday , and Tuesdays at the Table
and Crockpot Wednesdays (although it's obviously NOT a crockpot recipe, lol)

Happy eating!