One Pot Spaghetti

Genesis 9:3

King James Version (KJV)

Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.

Let me tell you what my husband did. He actually shot and killed a deer this year. I didn’t really think it would ever happen, but the proof is in my freezer full of meat. I’d never cooked venison before and was not excited. My Dad is a hunter, and I think I never really got over finding out that the odd tasting hamburgers he served my brother and me one day weren’t really hamburgers, but deer burgers. You can’t trick a six year old with a fake hamburger. If there’s one thing kids know, it’s what a burger is supposed to taste like. Sorry Dad! I know you tried hard!

Anyways, so I have all this deer meat (venison) neatly packaged in camouflage freezer paper, just waiting for cooking and consumption. Remembering that odd hamburger from my childhood, I decided that the recipe should have lots of other flavor just in case I still didn’t enjoy the flavor of deer. Guess what? Deer makes delicious spaghetti! It was so good that my super picky four year old ate it up without a single complaint. My husband (bless his heart) innocently asked during the meal “So, when are you ever going to cook any of the deer meat?” When I informed him that was what he had been inhaling for the last 10 minutes, he couldn’t believe it. The beef to venison swap couldn’t have gone any better.

If you don’t have any deer meat in your fridge or freezer, don’t worry. I am sure that you could easily swap back in the traditional ground beef or cubed beef steak. Enjoy.

One Pot Venison Spaghetti
[Printable Recipe]

1 to 1-1/2 lb. venison steak, cut into ½” cubes

1 c. chopped onion

1 c. chopped bell pepper

4oz. jar or can of sliced mushrooms, drained (I used shitake)

28oz. can of whole tomatoes (UNdrained)

1 c. water

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. sugar

1 tsp. chili powder

8 oz. uncooked thin spaghetti, broken into thirds

1 c. shredded mozzarella cheese

Spray large skillet or dutch oven with non-stick spray and begin browning meat and onions. While meat is browning, pour can of tomatoes with liquid into a medium mixing bowl and using clean kitchen shears, chop tomatoes in 4-6 pieces each.

Once meat is browned and onions are translucent, pour in tomatoes with liquid, chopped bell pepper, water, mushrooms, salt, sugar, and chili powder. Cover and simmer on medium-low heat for 15-20 minutes for vegetables to soften and flavors to meld.

Raise heat and bring mixture to a boil. When boiling, stir in spaghetti, then reduce heat to a good simmer. Stirring occasionally, simmer until the spaghetti is done to you liking, 10-12 minutes, adding more water if necessary. Sprinkle with mozzarella and let melt.

Makes approximately 6 servings.

Mini Pizza Bites

Philippians 3:14

King James Version (KJV)

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

I was going to post a super yummy OTHER recipe today, but I made these for lunch, and had to share them with you immediately!

I think technically they'd be an appetizer, but wow, they are sooo yummy I could eat them for any meal, snack, treat, brunch, etc. I don't think there is a wrong time to eat these pizza bites! The sides and bottom are crispy crunchy and the middle is soft and deliciously creamy from the cheese. Add them to your Super Bowl menu - you'll hear cheers for sure!

Mini Pizza Bites

[Printable Recipe]

heaping 1/3 cup mini pepperoni rounds or chopped pepperoni

1/3 cup chopped green onion, green part only

1 cup shredded Italian or Pizza Blend cheese

3/4 c. all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 c. heavy cream

Italian blend dried spice

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 

Grease mini-muffin pan with non-stick spray.

In a large bowl, mix together pepperoni, green onion, and shredded cheese, set aside. In a separate bowl add flour, baking powder, and heavy cream and mix well. Pour batter mix over the pepperoni, green onion, and cheese mixture and turn with a spatula to mix well. If batter is too sticky and does not come together well, you can add a tablespoon more of heavy cream at a time until you get a somewhat smooth and workable consistency. 

Spoon batter into greased mini-muffin cups, filling each cup approximately 2/3 full. Lightly sprinkle tops of each cup with Italian seasoning.

Bake 15 minutes or until lightly golden. 

Makes approximately 20 bites.

I have more recipe posts coming up, another musing, and a new photo series titled "First and Fifteen" to start off the new month! 

God Bless you on this beautiful sunny day!

Cross Wreath Project

Philippians 4:8

King James Version (KJV)

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.


I hope your week is going well! It's a dark and stormy day today, so I'm very grateful to be in my dry, warm house wearing my fuzzy slippers and blogging. Some days it just feels so good to stay home.

A day like today would be perfect to make this craft. Since I rededicated my life to God, my goal has been to "shine the light". To let others know about how wonderful God is and how much he means to me. When people come to my house now, before they even come inside they will know that I love Jesus and our house is a house of faith. For the last couple years I've had a cute resin rock on my front porch that I found at Hobby Lobby. It has a cross on it and says "Bless this House". I love that rock, but it's off to the side and down low. I wanted some thing still somewhat subtle (I'm not a flashy person by nature), but that people would definitely see to define our house as a Christian household.  So...I made a cross wreath to hang on my front door. 


As with most crafts, one thing I love about this is how easily you can customize it to your tastes and color-scheme. 


What you need:


1 foam wreath form
an old towel (optional)
Base color ribbon (approx. 8 yards)
Ribbon for flowers (approx. 4 yards)
Plain floral staples or "T" head pins
Pearl-top stick pins
Decorative cross

(This step is totally optional.) I wanted my wreath to be thicker, so I cut up a couple of old hand towels into 2" strips, wrapped the form with them, and secured the ends with floral staples pushed directly into the foam. 

Next, take your base color ribbon, insert a floral staple or "t" pin at the beginning of the ribbon into the foam, and start wrapping the wreath. 

When you come to the end of your first roll of ribbon and need to attach your second roll, align the ribbon ends as shown below, and pin it so that the new ribbon will fold over the pin, making a neat transition.

See? The seam isn't nearly as noticeable. You can make the seam the back side of the wreath or cover it with flowers, etc. if desired.

Finish wrapping the wreath, pin it, and leave the tail-end of the ribbon on for easy straight-style hanging, or make a loop and pin it if you want to hang it from a wreath hanger.

Next is your decorations! There are tons of tutorials on the internet on how to make fabric and ribbon flowers. Feel free to use any of those, this one here, or you can even purchase pre-made fabric flowers at your local craft store now! At my Hobby Lobby they are sold with the beading supplies. 

I used a decorative ribbon that was plain on the back side, so first I folded the ribbon in half and added a dab of hot glue to keep it folded. Then rolled the ribbon several times to make the center of the flower. Once you're happy with your center, begin lightly twisting the ribbon and circling the flower center. Secure it with a dab of hot glue wherever you think it needs securing. Notice that I didn't cut my ribbon to do this flower, but left it attached to the roll. That way I could make my flower as big as I wanted and cut the ribbon when I was happy with my flower. Note: don't make your flower too tight or you'll use a lot of ribbon really fast!

When you're happy with your flower, snip the ribbon, fold it over on the back side and glue down. 

You have a finished flower!

After making my first flower, I realized that I wanted my other two to be a little different. I didn't want the tight center to limit the amount of pretty pins I could put in it. So, I made some really loose smaller flowers. 

Start them the same way, by folding and gluing the end, so you have the pretty side out on both sides. Then fold the ribbon over upon itself and glue to make a flat center, like the second photo. 

 

Begin very loosely folding and gluing to make your flower. 

Finish the same way as the first flower, by snipping your ribbon, folding it over the back of the flower and gluing down. I then glued some curly present ribbon in a coordinating color to the back, just to make it a little more fun. 

I also decided that the flowers could use some green ribbon "leaves".  Just glue loops to the back to make your leaves!

Next, hot glue around the edges of the flower and adhere where you want them on your wreath. Don't get your glue in the very center or your pins won't go through! After gluing, push the decorative pearl pins in the center of the flowers. You could also add buttons for a cute look!

Lastly, I attached a pretty cross I found at Hobby Lobby. It had a small hanger on the back that I put a floral staple through into the wreath. I then glued the rest of the cross to the wreath for extra strength. 

I simply attached the extra ribbon from the wreath to the very top of my front door, using a flat push pin or two to secure it. The pin will be flat enough against the top of the door so as not to impede closing.

God bless!

Strength

Matthew 7:7-8

King James Version (KJV)

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.


I just want to share a link to an encouraging article on Strength from the site "What Christians Want to Know". We're all going through something, but we're never going through it alone! 


Click the link below to read the article:
What Christians Want to Know: Bible Verses About Strength- 25 Encouraging Scripture Quotes

Smile - God loves you!

All Around You

Song of Solomon 6:2

King James Version (KJV)

My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies.

Have you looked around yourself lately? I mean really looked – with your eyes, heart, mind and soul totally open and taking your surroundings in? There is beauty all around us; we’re usually just too busy, distracted, tired or annoyed to really see it.

I recently read a devotional that discussed how Christians can become “bored” in their faith. They wonder why God hasn’t been speaking to them anymore and wonder if they’ve been forgotten. You shouldn’t feel lonely, for proof of God’s wondrous works and love is all around you. In Luke 12:7 (KJV) it states: “But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.”

 

In nature, have you looked around lately? Looked at the nature around us? It’s everywhere – a butterfly flitting through a parking lot, a tiny wildflower blooming in the middle of winter, even dead leaves floating in a birdbath can be beautiful. Have you noticed? Have you thanked God lately for all the neat things he has given us, even if they’re only to look at and stimulate our minds?

Some days, when my eyes, mind, and heart are really open I’m amazed at what God has provided us. I don’t even know if it all has a purpose, but it’s beautiful.

Go out into your yard, or to a park and walk around aimlessly for a few minutes. Don’t be looking for something amazing as if it’s a scavenger hunt you must win. Just take a breath, open your mind and see all the things that God has made. Notice the little things such as the detail on a leaf. Look up to see empty tree branches against the sky. God’s artwork can be breathtaking and renew our spirit at the same time.

 

And you don’t even have to go outside to find such beauty. I have this really cheap, plastic, dollar store quality nightlight…and I think it’s totally beautiful. It’s clear faceted plastic makes me think of a beautiful diamond. God created it too. He made the world and all that is in it.

 

Look at the details of a woven blanket, a scratched and weathered flowerpot, or the wood grain of a table. There is God’s beauty in everything. Nothing is lost in the details, certainly not you.

What ordinary thing have you found beauty in today?

Coco-Granola Energy Bites

Psalm 71:15

King James Version (KJV)

My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.

You’re never too young, too old, too busy, too shy, too ANYTHING to let others know about God! He can forgive anything and is so good to those that love him. Even if life seems crummy here on earth, we can know that we have riches stored up in heaven and that is so exciting to look forward to!

Here is a fun new recipe to keep your energy up!

I love the taste of coconut, but don’t really like the texture of the regular shredded coconut. Something about its stringy texture and how it gets stuck in my teeth just isn’t very appealing. I used Bob’s Red Mill brand unsweetened fine macaroon coconut flakes (usually used for making macaroons) instead and it worked beautifully!

Coco-Granola Energy Bites

(adapted from here)
[Printable Recipe]

2 c. old-fashioned oats (not quick oats)

1 c. unsweetened fine macaroon coconut flakes (plus more for rolling the balls in!)

¾ c. flaxseed (I used whole flaxseed)

1 c. chocolate chips, any flavor (mini if you can find them in your favorite brand!)

1 c. natural peanut butter

2/3 c. honey

2 tsp. vanilla

Mix together dry ingredients (oats, coconut, flaxseed, chocolate chips)  in a medium sized bowl. In smaller bowl, stir together the wet ingredients (peanut butter, honey & vanilla) until well mixed. Then pour the peanut butter mixture over the oats mixture and combine well. Using your hands, a cookie-dough scoop, or meatball tongs, shape the mixture into balls and place onto a large cutting board or cookie sheet. At this point you can either refrigerate the bites and eat as-is, or roll them in more of the coconut flakes and then refrigerate. The extra coconut tastes awesome if you love coconut, and also makes the bites less sticky!

I used my meatball tongs to make approx. 1-1/4” balls and this recipe made about 40 bites for me. Store in a tightly closed container in the fridge!

Here's the play by play:

 Ingredients (brands I used)

 Mix the dry ingredients in one bowl, wet in another bowl before combining. 

This makes sure that everything is very well mixed in the end!

 Combine wet and dry, and begin making your balls.

 You can refrigerate and eat at this point, but they're too sticky for me!

(proceed to next photo!)

 Roll the bites in more coconut  - it makes them cuter too!

 I saved a few plain ones for those in my family that aren't afraid of messy fingers.

Cover them and store in the fridge!

Fast and healthy snacks are ready and waiting!

May God bless you this week!

I have more recipes (and a new craft!) to post soon! 

Crunchy Oven Fried Chicken

Matthew 23:37

King James Version (KJV)

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!


Pinterest is a great resource, isn't it? I tried another recipe from there  and was not disappointed! My super-picky husband even enjoyed the meal. It is a recipe worthy of repeat performances, so here you go:

Crunchy Oven Fried Chicken
(adapted from here)
[Printable Recipe]


Ingredients:
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. Season All brand seasoned salt
3/4 tsp. ground black pepper
2 tsp. paprika
1 c. all-purpose flour
2-3 tbsp. butter

Place chicken breasts into a flat dish and cover with milk. Let soak for 20-30 min.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 

Mix the spices and flour into a ziplock bag or large bowl. 

Put butter in 9-1/2" x 13" quarter sheet bakers pan, and place in oven to melt.

Spread melted butter around with a pastry brush to cover entire bottom of pan.

Drain milk from chicken breasts, and completely dredge each piece in the flour mixed with seasonings. 

Arrange chicken in the pan over the melted butter. Bake for 18 minutes, then turn the chicken pieces over and continue cooking an additional 18 minutes, or until chicken reaches 170 degrees internally. 

Servings: 4

We enjoyed ours with a simple salad, fruit, and sweet potato fries. 

Have a great week! 

I'm working on a new craft but need to buy more ribbon to finish!

God Knows What We Need

Psalm 70

King James Version (KJV)

 MAKE HASTE, O GOD, TO DELIVER ME; MAKE HASTE TO HELP ME, O LORD. Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt.  Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say, Aha, aha.  Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified. But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O LORD, make no tarrying.

So...my heart was hurting when I posted the last post. And isn't it funny how God knows just what you need to hear sometimes? At church this morning the pastor preached on Psalm 70. In it David is hurting and crying out to God. I took two things from his sermon, and they meant so much to me that I had tears in my eyes when listening to him this morning. He said that God knows when we are hurting, and that he hurts too along with us. He does not want us to feel any kind of pain, but sometimes it is necessary for good to happen. Be it within our own soul, or to help someone else. God will not rest until everyone that can be saved or turn their life around has that chance. 


The second thing he said was that when we come to God with our trials and hurts, that he will respond in one of two ways. He either will (1) fix the problem for us, or (2) he will allow the trial to continue, but he will alter us to be able to endure that trial. But we have to have full faith in God that his perfect will be done in our lives. The local Christian radio station has started an acronym for twitter and facebook. It's #FROG - Fully Rely On God. I think it's perfect.


God Bless.

My Plea

Psalm 40:1-3

King James Version (KJV)

I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

Waiting patiently is never an easy thing. We want what we want, and we want it now. We make our pleas to God and pray that it is in his will to make this change in our lives. This is on my heart today.

I’m waiting, I’m praying, I’m trusting in you Lord. You know the deepest desires of my heart and that what I’m asking is for a miracle that only you can provide. You have given me hope while I wait. Those bits of hope make me excited, and help me to not give up. My hopeful spirit wanes some days and I beg of you that much harder, but I know that it is all in your time. I know that you have a plan, and that since it is such a big thing that you have brought me to even ask for this, I know that you are working on me, and can take this to the next level.

I will trust in you always, as I wait for your help. Amen.

Act Justly, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly

Micah 6:8

King James Version (KJV)

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

My son has had a few weeks off of pre-k for the holidays, and we’ve had a lot of fun working on crafts and decorating. My favorite craft that we made was one I found on Pinterest. (adapted from here) It has his hand and footprints along with the meat of the verse above, Micah 6:8. I love this craft because it adds another faith element to our home, looks great, and will forever document my son’s hand and footprints at this age. And it didn’t cost much to do. The frame I bought for it was the most expensive item, and Michael’s Craft store had frames 50% off with a coupon for an additional 25% off as well. Not bad at all.

For this craft I used:

·         16x20” colored matt board/poster board (if you have a baby you could easily do this on a smaller scale than the 16x20 – my boy is almost 5 so I needed the larger size!)

·         Tube of gold paint

·         Paint markers in silver and white

·         Foam paintbrush

·         16x20 frame

·         Child willing to get messy! We actually did ours one hand/foot at a time and cleaned them off immediately so it wasn’t a big deal.

I used the foam paintbrush to paint my son’s hands and feet and then gently placed them on the poster board. I then freehanded the heart with the foam brush. Let it dry. Then I came back with the paint pens to add the lettering. One bit of advice – don’t push too hard on the paint pens or they splatter! (and did all over the painting, but I wasn’t going to do it over, so it stays) If anyone asks, I’ll say it makes it more artistic. Let it dry, frame it, and you have a great new piece of artwork for your home!

Here are the photos:

Take one pair of these...

Add a pair of these.

(Paints used.)

Hand prints, Heart & Footprints - check.

Paint pens to write on the words...

Looking good!

Framed and displayed in the hall by my son's bedroom. 

Have a fabulous week! 

Keep praying for me and I'll keep praying for you!