Provident Pearls are little nuggets of wisdom that can help you live a better life. I received these from an online friend and it has given me so much food for thought as well as action.
Today's Provident Pearl is:
You can make your own dryer sheets easily with pieces of flannel cut to fit into a ‘wipe’ container. Add some fabric softener and keep sealed. Pop one in each load in the dryer – fewer chemicals and huge savings.
This is my project for the day. I have a leftover baby wipe container from when the boys were in diapers. I picked up a white flannel baby blanket from a garage sale. I will be cutting the blanket up and putting the "flannel sheets" in the wipe container then pour over the fabric softener.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Sourdough Biscuits
Today I had way more starter than I needed. That happens when I don't make bread regularly. The problem is that we just don't eat many sandwiches, so I need more ways to use up this excess starter. We ( and by we I really mean I like sweet breakfast over savory) so the pancakes are great for me, but I would have a revolt in the person of dh if we had pancakes every day. Enter these biscuits. I have a great biscuit recipe, but extra great recipes are always welcome. I really didn't expect this to be a great recipe. I was pleasantly surprised. Try it and I think you will be very happy with the results. I fed my starter the night before to get prepared to make these biscuits this morning.
Sourdough Rolled Biscuits
1 cup of starter
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon of soda
2 Tbsp. sugar
2 tablespoons of cooking oil, or melted butter or shortening
1 cup of flour
2 teaspoons of baking powder
Mix starter and oil. Stir dry ingredients and add to starter and oil. Roll mixture on floured board until 1/2 inch thick. Cut biscuits, let rise for 15 minutes. Bake at 425ºF. for 15 minutes.
Sourdough Rolled Biscuits
1 cup of starter
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon of soda
2 Tbsp. sugar
2 tablespoons of cooking oil, or melted butter or shortening
1 cup of flour
2 teaspoons of baking powder
Mix starter and oil. Stir dry ingredients and add to starter and oil. Roll mixture on floured board until 1/2 inch thick. Cut biscuits, let rise for 15 minutes. Bake at 425ºF. for 15 minutes.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Mom's Best Brownies
I try to make a dessert a couple of times a week. It keeps us out of the stores when the dessert cravings hit. I save money...who can go to Walmart and just buy 1 thing? My ingredients are are simple, and purchased on sale where possible. I control what is in my food, and it helps me rotate through my food storage. Enough reasons to try? How about these are the best darn brownies ever! It's not fancy, it doesn't need to be. I don't find the need for icing, but you could of course try the chocolate icing on this blog. These are quick to make and bake during supper, or afternoon snack time.
Mom's Brownies
3/4 cup baking cocoa
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
1/4 cup margarine or butter
2 eggs (2 Tbsp. egg powder and 4 Tbsp. water)
2 Tbsp. water
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking powder
2 cups sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup flour
1 cup chopped walnuts (any nut will do)
1. Melt the shortening and butter and whisk in the cocoa. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
2. Beat the eggs with water and a pinch of salt until they are foamy. Gradually add the sugar. Beat in the vanilla and the cooled chocolate mixture, then flour and baking powder. Stir in the walnuts.
3. Grease a 13 * 8 inch baking pan, and pour the batter into it, spreading it evenly. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out almost clean. The brownies should still be moist and slightly sticky when they come out the oven, they continue cooking as they cool and will achieve the right texture.
Mom's Brownies
3/4 cup baking cocoa
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
1/4 cup margarine or butter
2 eggs (2 Tbsp. egg powder and 4 Tbsp. water)
2 Tbsp. water
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking powder
2 cups sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup flour
1 cup chopped walnuts (any nut will do)
1. Melt the shortening and butter and whisk in the cocoa. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
2. Beat the eggs with water and a pinch of salt until they are foamy. Gradually add the sugar. Beat in the vanilla and the cooled chocolate mixture, then flour and baking powder. Stir in the walnuts.
3. Grease a 13 * 8 inch baking pan, and pour the batter into it, spreading it evenly. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out almost clean. The brownies should still be moist and slightly sticky when they come out the oven, they continue cooking as they cool and will achieve the right texture.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Menu Plan Monday
Sunday
Hamburgers, Chips, Moos Shakes (from Everydayfoodstorage.net)
Monday:
Ham and Noodle Casserole
Tuesday:
Spaghetti, corn
Wednesday:
Zuppa Toscana (olive garden copycat), salad, breadsticks
Thursday:
Turkey Pot Pie, Salad
Friday:
Pizza, Salad
Saturday:
Fried Rice, Potstickers, Salad
This week for dessert I made the Lemon cake and will probably make scratch brownies later in the week. They are both so simple and good. The ham casserole recipe was torn up. It was bland so Rachel happily took the leftovers to feed the boys. I'll stick with potato and ham recipes. Neil will be home Saturday, so the menu is for him.
Hamburgers, Chips, Moos Shakes (from Everydayfoodstorage.net)
Monday:
Ham and Noodle Casserole
Tuesday:
Spaghetti, corn
Wednesday:
Zuppa Toscana (olive garden copycat), salad, breadsticks
Thursday:
Turkey Pot Pie, Salad
Friday:
Pizza, Salad
Saturday:
Fried Rice, Potstickers, Salad
This week for dessert I made the Lemon cake and will probably make scratch brownies later in the week. They are both so simple and good. The ham casserole recipe was torn up. It was bland so Rachel happily took the leftovers to feed the boys. I'll stick with potato and ham recipes. Neil will be home Saturday, so the menu is for him.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Simple Lemon Cake
I try to bake some kind of dessert at least once a week. It's not usually elaborate, but of course it must be delicious. Since both Neil and Logan love lemon flavors, I try to make something lemon a few times a month. This cake is so good. It's not super sweet, but it is moist, delicious and tender.
Simple Lemon Cake
1/2 cup butter, margarine, or shortening
2 tsp grated lemon rind
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 cup sour cream or plain yogurt
2 eggs
1 1/2 cup plain flour
1 tsp. baking powder
Soften butter and cream with sugar, then add lemon rind and eggs. Add flour and milk. Bake for 45 mins in a moderate oven,
After removing from oven, pour the following mixture over the surface and leave to cool in the tin.
1/2 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup sugar.
Put in a saucepan and heat until sugar is dissolved. Pour over cake.
Simple Lemon Cake
1/2 cup butter, margarine, or shortening
2 tsp grated lemon rind
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 cup sour cream or plain yogurt
2 eggs
1 1/2 cup plain flour
1 tsp. baking powder
Soften butter and cream with sugar, then add lemon rind and eggs. Add flour and milk. Bake for 45 mins in a moderate oven,
After removing from oven, pour the following mixture over the surface and leave to cool in the tin.
1/2 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup sugar.
Put in a saucepan and heat until sugar is dissolved. Pour over cake.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Menu Plan Monday
Its time to work on my menu again. I am trying to empty out my freezer in preparation of making a large meat purchase. Meals will reflect what is in my freezer therefore I will be making minimal purchases for short term and spend instead a little more for long term storage. We didn't get to all the meals on our menu, so a few will carry forward to this week.
Monday:
Breakfast: Sourdough biscuits
Lunch: Sandwiches, chips
Dinner: Chili Beans and Rice, cornbread, salad
Tuesday:
Breakfast: Hot or cold cereal
Lunch: Leftovers
Dinner: Sticky Chicken (Crockpot), Rice, salad
Wednesday:
Breakfast: Sourdough Coffee Cake
Lunch: Leftovers
Dinner: Spaghetti, garlic bread, salad, corn
Thursday:
Breakfast: eggs, bacon, toast
Lunch: Salad or leftovers
Dinner: Mexican Layered Salad
Friday:
Breakfast: Hot or cold cereal
Lunch: Salad, sandwich or leftovers
Dinner: Logan: Pizza, salad Neil and I Potstickers and Fried Rice, salad
Saturday:
Breakfast: eggs, bacon, grits
Lunch: Salad, sandwich or leftovers
Dinner: Turkey Pot Pie, Salad
Sunday:
Breakfast: Sourdough Pancakes
Lunch: Po-boys, chips, pickles
Dinner: Shredded Beef Tacos (crockpot), Pico de Gallo, Refried Beans
For more great menu planning ideas please go to www.orgjunkie.com.
Note: 10,000 step update--I've met my goal for today already this morning. I took it easy this weekend although I did walk both days...more in the 8000 step range. I'm a half a pound down, so it is working. I've also begun to take my measurements for a more accurate, I hope, picture of what I've lost. I haven't adjusted my diet. I'm still following loosely the Weight Watchers plan.
Sunday Sermon
Every Sunday I take notes on the sermon. I'm always finding papers with those notes in odd places. I thought if I posted them, I'd have a place to refer back to them. I don't have commentary, just snippets of the sermon and passages of interest to me.
This summer the Pastor is doing a series called "Ever Wonder?" It is based on questions the congregation submitted over the last few months.
Today's sermon is "Why did God allow sin into the world?"
Roman's 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin' and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.
God did not allow sin into the world man did. God gave Adam and Eve a perfect world. By sinning they made it imperfect. Is it fair that we have to deal with sin? Fairness is not a Biblical value. Fairness would be destroying the world. God gave us choices instead.
"How did God respond to sin?"
Romans 5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment cam upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
He sent his Son, Jesus, to die on the cross.
"Why do I still struggle with sin after I became a Christian?"
We still live in an imperfect world. Romans 7:7-8--What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me a manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
God gives us aid in the form of the Bible. God's law didn't cause disobedience, it gave disobedience a name.
2Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowlegde of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to obedience of Christ;
Thoughts are not the sin--acting on them does. James 1:13 & 14 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God for neither tempteth he any man: vs. 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
God does not tempt anyone. Take those thoughts captive, and call them out. If we don't, they become more powerful.
"Do I just give up?"
Romans 6: 1 & 2 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? vs. 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
God gave us
1. Justification
Romans 5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment cam upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
2. Santification-Process of becoming like Christ-You can tell by the fruits of the person.
Galations 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, vs. 23 Meekness, temperance; against such there is no law.
3. Glorification--this happens in Heaven.
Romans 7: 21-25 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. vs. 22 Fo I delight in the law of God after the inward man; vs. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. vs. 24. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? vs. 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. So I find this law at work when I want to do good, evil is right there with me. We must do everything in our power to live a life in the spirit.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
This summer the Pastor is doing a series called "Ever Wonder?" It is based on questions the congregation submitted over the last few months.
Today's sermon is "Why did God allow sin into the world?"
Roman's 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin' and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.
God did not allow sin into the world man did. God gave Adam and Eve a perfect world. By sinning they made it imperfect. Is it fair that we have to deal with sin? Fairness is not a Biblical value. Fairness would be destroying the world. God gave us choices instead.
"How did God respond to sin?"
Romans 5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment cam upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
He sent his Son, Jesus, to die on the cross.
"Why do I still struggle with sin after I became a Christian?"
We still live in an imperfect world. Romans 7:7-8--What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me a manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
God gives us aid in the form of the Bible. God's law didn't cause disobedience, it gave disobedience a name.
2Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowlegde of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to obedience of Christ;
Thoughts are not the sin--acting on them does. James 1:13 & 14 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God for neither tempteth he any man: vs. 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
God does not tempt anyone. Take those thoughts captive, and call them out. If we don't, they become more powerful.
"Do I just give up?"
Romans 6: 1 & 2 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? vs. 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
God gave us
1. Justification
Romans 5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment cam upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
2. Santification-Process of becoming like Christ-You can tell by the fruits of the person.
Galations 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, vs. 23 Meekness, temperance; against such there is no law.
3. Glorification--this happens in Heaven.
Romans 7: 21-25 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. vs. 22 Fo I delight in the law of God after the inward man; vs. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. vs. 24. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? vs. 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. So I find this law at work when I want to do good, evil is right there with me. We must do everything in our power to live a life in the spirit.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
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