SusieQTpies Cafe

How Can Pregnancy Affect Your Body?

2022-10-18T13:13:00.001-05:00

How Can Pregnancy Affect Your Body?

Being pregnant is a long 9 to 10 months, and that affects a woman's body in many positive and negative ways. Being pregnant puts a lot of pressure on the body because you are physically growing another human in your body, and it is good to know what could happen and how you can potentially be helped.

Changes That Can Happen

Changes in the body when pregnant can affect your outward appearance as well as inward. One of the biggest changes during pregnancy that most women go through is hormonal changes because of the change in estrogen and progesterone, and this can transfer nutrients to the womb. Also, there is weight gain which can slow down the circulation of blood and bodily fluids, particularly lower limbs, and this can sometimes result in swollen ankles and wrists. Another common change is taste and smell, which can also be referred to as cravings. Pregnant women sometimes prefer saltier or sweeter foods than non-pregnant women, as well as potentially having a metallic taste in the mouth at the beginning of the pregnancy.

Many pregnant women struggle with certain odors that can make them feel nauseous and try to avoid them as much as possible. Also, changes can occur in hair and nails because of the different types of hormones during pregnancy.

Not All Negative

Bodily changes when pregnant don’t always have to be negative changes. A lot of women have something called ‘pregnancy glow’. This is when the mother has radiant and glowing skin which is caused by surging hormones and increased blood flow. This change doesn’t start or end at a certain point in the pregnancy, and the fluctuating hormone levels make you feel radiant and somewhat glowing. However, not all women experience this because each pregnancy is different, and some women don’t get the glowing feeling but get severe acne instead, so try to expect everything.

What Can Help

When it comes to certain changes, some specialists can help prevent or fix some of the issues. Another issue that a fair few pregnant women suffer from is varicose veins, and there are specialists that can help with medical conditions such as this. For example, a vein specialist at New York Metro Vein can offer professional vein treatment. Pregnancy can cause hormones to fluctuate, which can weaken the vein walls or produce more blood which can cause veins that are enlarged. This can affect women’s confidence, so if there are specialists that can help, then that is also positive.

Conclusion

Pregnancy causes a lot of changes in the body, but it gives you the greatest gift of all, so some people would say it’s all worth it. However, some of these changes leave physical reminders that can affect your self-esteem and leave you feeling down, but there are specialists that can help with this, which gives pregnant women more options. Also, be sure to remember that change doesn’t mean danger, and most changes during pregnancy are common and perfectly normal.

6 Memorable Mother’s Day Gifts

2021-04-21T18:24:00.000-05:00

With busy schedules, work, and social obligations, it can be easy to forget things and keep pushing things back until the last minute. A Mother’s Day gift is a great example of this. With it being so easy to forget to pick up a gift, it can also be easy to do panic buying and order something or go out and buy something that won’t be quite right.

With that in mind, you will find six items that can make great quick and easy Mother’s Day gifts below.

Sweet treats

Mothers Day chocolate gifts can be a great choice of gift. A box of chocolates never goes out of style and can be a classic gift that suits most people with a bit of a sweet tooth.

Cooking

A home-cooked meal can often be the best comforting gift that you can give. Have a look through some old, treasured recipe books or see if there is a family recipe that could be made for a perfect night. This gift is sure to be a thoughtful one.

Playlist

A love of music is universal, which is why making a playlist for someone can be a great way of demonstrating how well you know them and know what they like. It is a very thoughtful gift that shows you care in a kind gesture.

Necklace or jewelry using birthstone

Birthstones might not be the best gift option for everyone, with some people not being into that type of thing, but they can be a sweet, personalized way of showing someone that you really care about them. It’s important when buying a gift that has a birthstone in it that you are definitely sure which stone is the right one, so make sure you check and double-check the month that corresponds to the right stone.

 January – Garnet

 February- Amethyst

 March- Aquamarine

 April- Diamond

 May- Emerald

 June- Pearl or Alexandrite

 July- Ruby

 August- Peridot

 September- Sapphire

 October- Opal or Tourmaline

 November- Topaz or Citrine

 December-Turquoise, Tanzanite, Zircon

Flowers or plants

Flowers are a lovely, colorful addition to any room; they brighten up any corner and bring nature into any home. Grabbing some flowers from a local grocery store or florist is a great way of ensuring your gift is both wanted and beautiful. For a more stand-out gift, a good alternative option is a plant. Indoor plants have been growing in popularity, with more and more people choosing to decorate their homes with bursts of nature throughout different rooms. The most popular indoor house plants are:

 Monstera Deliciosa

 Snake plant

 Pothos plant

 Bird’s Nest Fern

 Rubber tree

 Spider plant

 Ivy (this can look especially good if you have it hanging)

 Dracaena plant

 Peace lily plant

 Philodendron Green plant

Pictures

A picture is (as they say) worth a thousand words, so why not frame a photo of a great family memory? Taking pictures might be common practice, but with everyone using smartphones, it’s becoming less and less common to actually have the photos printed. This unique gift can then be given to commemorate a memory of whatever the image might be.

Super Secret Sunday Sale! This is the Day you Save MONEY!

2020-07-12T07:23:00.002-05:00

Hi Friends!

I have a few questions for you. Do you still send out cards for birthdays, anniversaries or even congrats on the new baby? Card sending seemed to be a dying art but I will tell you that since all the COVID-19 business more people are sending and receiving mail that isn't junk mail.

I love making cards and sending them. I decided to start making more to send. Then I had people wanting to buy my cards so I opened my ETSY shop to make that easier.

Some of you knew already that I opened my ETSY Shop, SusieQsCraftyCafe. I started it last month to sell handmade greeting cards and other gift ideas. Right now my shop is full of cards for all occasions and some gift stickers & magnets.

On Sundays I have a secret sale for my followers. I do hope you check it out.

What type of cards do you mail out the most? The least? What type of cards are you looking for? Check out my shop and let me know if you don't see something you need.

Oh and all my cards are custom made. So when you order you get to pick your color choice and if you want writing inside the card.

Thank you my friends!

Healthy Green Goddess Dressing and Cobb Salad Recipe

2020-06-23T15:13:00.002-05:00

Who loves a good Cobb salad? Hands up here because I do! I actually LOVE salads made anywhere and by anyone but myself. I just have a few salad recipes I have ever loved over the years made by my own hands. Other than that I love salads made by others and from restaurants. I'm not sure why they always taste better elsewhere.

Knowing this, I decided to try and make a few one bowl recipes this spring and summer which has included salads. Last week I shared one of our first one bowl recipes this spring, Super Easy Chicken Lime Fiesta Bowl Recipe. It was a true winner and will be remade in a few weeks. Today's recipe was made and inspired by Panera's Cobb Salad with Green Goddess Dressing. I think I still prefer their salad but this one turned out great and we will definitely make it again.

Chicken Cobb Salad

Cobb Salad

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 spring mix or romaine lettuce

2 tomatoes or 1 pint of cherry/grape tomatoes

4 soft Boiled Eggs

1 lb bacon, cooked & crumbled

1 lb chicken, cooked & chopped

2 avocados, chopped

1 lemon

1 1/2 teaspoons of garlic powder

Directions

1-Soft boil eggs. I cook them until they boil. Take off heat. Put a lid on and set timer for 12 minutes. Then crack & peel.

2-While eggs are cooking, cook chicken. Make this however you want. I cooked mine on low/medium temp with a can of Rotel tomato & green chili and 1 teaspoon of garlic powder. This can also be made in the Instant Pot for 10 minuets. Once the chicken is done, I rough chop it.

3-While eggs & chicken cooking prep rest of the salad ingredients into separate containers.

4 - Fry up bacon. Crumble it once done. The other way I prep this is cut it into pieces before frying. Then just fry pieces.

5-Chop tomatoes. Break up lettuce. Chop avocados and squirt avocado with fresh lemon juice and 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder. All ingredients should be in separate containers.

6- When time to serve salad, put out all the ingredients and let each person make their own salad.

Green Goddess Dressing

Serves 4

Ingredients

1/2 cup olive oil

1/4 cup of plain Greek Yogurt

1/4 cup sour cream

Fresh Chives, handful (or 4 teaspoons)

Fresh Parsley, handful (or 4 teaspoons)

Fresh Basil, handful (or 4 teaspoons)

1 lemon, juiced

1 teaspoon garlic, minced or garlic powder

Salt to taste

Pepper to taste

Directions

1-If you have the right size chopper, food processor or good blender then blend all the ingredients together until herbs are all chopped. If not, add olive oil, yogurt & sour cream into a container with a lid and shake them together.

2- Add rest of ingredients to to a chopper/food processor/blender and blend until all combined.

3-Add the green chopped ingredients into the creamy container and shake. Serve with salad.

Note - I use all fresh herbs but if you don't have access, use dried.

Salad Recipes

Asian Chicken Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing (one of my favorites)

Aunt Salad

Steakhouse Salad

Tostada Salad

Grilled Veggie Salad & other healthy summer recipes

6 Summer Recipes

Super Easy Chicken Lime Fiesta Bowl Recipe

2020-06-14T08:46:00.002-05:00

Get it while it's HOT! One-bowl recipes are IN right now! They are easy to make and perfect for quick summer meals. This meal takes 30 minutes to make. I will share the recipe if you do me a HUGE favor? Please don't let my husband know how easy this recipe is to make.

Chicken Lime Fiesta Bowl
Servings 6

Ingredients
1 box of Zatarain's® Cilantro Lime Rice Mix
1 Tbsp butter for rice mix
1 can black beans
4-6 avocados
1 batch Pico de Gallo (my easy recipe) or salsa
1 bunch cilantro
2 limes
2 jalapeños
1 lb. chicken breast
2 cans Rotel Tomatoes (diced tomatoes with chilies)

Directions
1. Cook rice according to the box. It takes 25 minutes so start this first.
-Follow cooking instructions.

2. Next immediately start chicken. Put chicken in a pan with a lid.
-Dump in both cans of Rotel tomatoes with 1/2 cup of water. Let simmer with lid on.
-After 15 minutes turn chicken over. Let cook another 10-15 minutes.
-Then shred chicken and keep in pan with lid on until ready to serve. You keep on low
if done before ready to serve.

3. While food cooking prep rest of ingredients. I put all in separate containers.
-Open can of beans, rinse with water and let drain.
-Coarse chop up avocado. Each serving gets 1 avocado or 1/2 if you prefer.
Only cut what you need for this meal.
-Coarse chop cilantro.
-Cut lime into wedges.
-Coarse chop jalapeños

4. Make Pico de Gallo or use salsa. If you are making mine, make sure to get the
ingredients, too! It is super easy.

5. Put it all together. I love this part of bowl recipes. Everyone can make their own.
Just so you know, the rice & chicken do not need to be hot to serve this. I keep all
ingredients separate and put away in fridge for next meal.

6. Kitchen Tips: Make it quicker by cooking chicken in the Instant Pot.
Same ingredients. Time will be 10-12 minutes. Or I've been known to grab cooked
chicken from the store. Do whatever works for you. Switch up any of the ingredients
that suits your family. No black beans in the pantry but you have refried beans or
great northern? Use them. Make it your way!

ENJOY!

Here are a few other recipes you might enjoy, too!

Eggy Tostadas

Avocado Feta Salsa
Easy Mango Salsa
Salsa Baked Goat Cheese Its
Tecate Fresh Salsa
Pico De Gallo and Chilled Avocado Soup
Gazpacho dip
Salsa for a Year Recipe
Pico De Gallo
Triple XXX Salsa
and check out these Healthy Summer Grilling recipes!

DIY Tutorial: Turn Stained-Glass Windows into Printable to Color

2020-06-03T13:19:00.000-05:00

Hello Friends!

For almost 4 years I have wanted to turn our church stained-glass windows into printable black and white sheets for our school & church kids to color. When this was originally on my mind I didn't give a thought to it that adults would want to color as well. I also didn't think that anyone else would want a lesson on how to do this! Boy have a learned a lot the past two months! Everyone wants to color and do this with their church windows. So here goes a small tutorial.

Instead of writing all of this out I made a video and uploaded it to YouTube. It is very basic. For you to make your own black and white printables you will need an iPad, Apple Pencil, and Procreate App. Can you use a Surface? Can you use Android? Please check into that. I do not have those devices. These instructions are for Apple products. I'm sure you can even use other apps. Feel free to use the basic design tips I'm sharing and make it work for your devices.

In the video I roughly show you how to turn your stained-glass windows into printables. I do not go into deep detail. It is more of a quick overview. I will gladly share more in-depth videos if it is needed. It is highly recommend by me that you get the Procreate app and start playing with it using my first tutorial. It took me 3 windows to get my stride. Once I'm done with all of our windows I plan on going back and redoing the first 5 because I learned a lot of new tricks just by doing them.

Feel free to follow me on YouTube (where I have this video and a few others. I will keep adding more.) Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest to ask me questions about this process. I will be doing more post and sharing links to the printables I've already made so you can print & color! Watch my video and ask questions. By doing that I will know what specific videos I need to make. I can also have you join in a ZOOM meeting or Facebook LIVE event to show you more.

With being separated from our Church for the past few months I feel as though this was the perfect time to create these black & white printables for my church. What a great way for everyone to connect with their church while being separated from weekly Church Services.

While creating these printables and coloring them on the iPad I have found this as a great way to connect with scripture. Each window has a scripture verse. I also prayed for the families who donated the windows. Now it is time for you to connect with your church family by creating your own stained-glass window printables!

Here is one of the free printables.

Matthew 11:28

3 Ways to Treat Your Skin

2020-04-17T11:18:00.000-05:00

Your skin puts up with quite a bit daily. From sun damage to pollutants in the air, there are so many things that are seemingly out to get your skin. Due to this, it is a good idea to treat your skin from time to time. Not only can certain things help keep your pores clean and your skin fresh, but you might be able to lessen some of the key signs of aging that generally appear on your face.

Here are three ways you can treat yourself and spoil your skin.

1. Laser Skin Care

It might sound overly extravagant, but laser skincare is one of the best ways in which you can spoil your skin. Not only can specific treatments reduce wrinkle appearance, but others will leave your skin rejuvenated and illuminated.

When you choose to treat yourself in this way, you trust the expertise of a qualified physician who can no doubt help you reach your skincare goals. Because of the nature of these procedures, you will want to go with a physician who can back their knowledge of skincare with plenty of experience. YLSC, for instance, is a clinic that specializes in these treatments and is trusted by clients for all their skincare needs.

2. Eat Right

One thing that you can do to spoil your skin every single day is to eat the right foods for optimal skin cell protection and regeneration. Furthermore, stay far away from foods that are known to result in damage to your skin from the inside out. Too much salt can make your skin dehydrated and rough, while too much sugar can result in a dull and listless appearance.

Instead, opt for foods right in omega-3 fatty acids, which help your skin cells to regenerate faster. Because omega-3s don’t naturally occur in the body, your only chances of reaping the skincare benefits they bring are to consume them through the foods you eat. Go for fish like salmon and mackerel that are full of omega-3s. Certain nuts and seeds like walnuts and chia seeds are also excellent sources of this super supplement.

3. Exfoliate

Exfoliating your skin is an excellent and easy way to rid the surface of your skin from dead cells and debris. When you leave such things on your skin’s surface, the result can be a dull look. Moreover, when dead skin cells settle in the fine lines of your face, it can highlight their appearance. You can always treat yourself to an exfoliating facial, but for the best results, it is a good idea to add an exfoliation product to your weekly skincare routine.

Keep in mind that exfoliation is something that should be done every day. You don’t want to completely rid your skin of its natural oils, and you certainly don’t want to damage the new skin cells that form on the surface. Instead, once a week seems to be the right frequency with which to exfoliate your skin.

5 Steps Towards Combining Exercise With Healthy Eating

2019-07-09T13:17:00.003-05:00

When deciding to diet or take part in a healthier lifestyle, many people aim to eat healthier as the first step to a beneficial way of living. However, exercise is just as important for your body as dieting, and it has many health benefits, such as reducing the risk of serious illnesses like cancer and strokes, as well as helping you sleep and controlling your weight.

Invest in Sporting Equipment

Changing your food habits isn’t enough to lead a healthy lifestyle. If you decide to diet through exercise as well as food, you need to make sure that you have the right sporting equipment to enable you to exercise appropriately. Not only this, but many sports that you may be thinking about taking up require certain items of equipment in order to exercise efficiently and or even participate at all.

Clothing is one of the most vital aspects in this as clothing can protect you from the sun, and give you the comfort and flexibility that you need to play well. For instance, high-quality womens golf apparel such as you’ll find on this site can really benefit women interested in taking up the sport in order to diet or have a healthy lifestyle.

Exercising Regularly

In order to combine exercise with healthy eating, you need to find a way of exercising that is right for you. There are many great methods of exercising, and these range from taking power walks, visiting the gym, to taking up a sport. Practicing a new sport, or even an old one that you have enjoyed in the past, can be a great way to engage in exercise as it allows you to exercise in a fun manner if you find a sport that you enjoy. Not only this, but sports can usually be played in a team, meaning that you will also have the opportunity to socialize and meet new people. As well as exercise’s health benefits, exercising regularly as means that you are able to eat more of the yummy foods you love and include a few treats in your diet, as you will be better equipped to maintain your weight and lifestyle.

Eat a Diet that Benefits Your Exercise

However, the food that you eat can complement your exercise regime, and it is important to consider the amount of exercise you are doing when preparing your meals. For instance, lean beef, tuna, whole grains, and dairy products are filled with protein which can help to promote muscle mass and help your body’s recovery after a workout, adding to the hard work that you have just put into your exercise regime.

Eat Before and After Exercise

It is also important not to forget about your diet when you start to exercise as eating before and after exercise is vital to ensure that you remain at your best health and allow your body to recover. For instance, fruit and vegetables such as bananas are perfect for snacks before or throughout the workout as they contain slow releasing carbohydrates that are able to give you the energy that you need to continue.

Create a Diet Plan

You should also create a diet plan if you are thinking about establishing a healthy lifestyle as this will help you to stay on track and even follow your progress throughout your diet. You should plan your meals on a daily basis and ensure that you have the right ingredients to make these, as well as setting targets for you to aim towards if you are eating well and exercising with the aim of dieting.

Cheesy Onion Garlic Bread Recipe is Oooey Gooey Delish!

2019-05-28T10:13:00.000-05:00

Do you need to bring something to a potluck but not sure what to bring? Are you tired of bringing the same old thing? Kick up any potluck with a loaf of this Cheesy Onion Garlic Bread. It will be the hit of the party!

This bread is fantastic. At home I make it with heavy meat dishes like ribs or a roast. It also goes perfect with pasta dishes. Well to tell you the truth, this bread is just oooey gooey good anytime you are in the mood for it. I haven't done this but it would be perfect as just an appetizer served with pizza sauce (meaty pizza sauce). It goes great with beer, too! Make it and Enjoy!

Cheesy Onion Garlic Bread Recipe

Ingredients

1 loaf of French Bread
1 and 1/2 sticks of butter

2 teaspoons garlic powder (or minced fresh garlic)
1 medium to large onion, sliced paper thin and some randomly chopped into smaller bits
10-12 oz. swiss OR mozzarella cheese slices or a combo of both (which I do)
1 1/2 teaspoon poppy seeds
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard

Directions

1. Sauté onions in butter until almost transparent on low-medium heat. Add garlic powder, poppy seeds and mustard. This can take 5-7 minutes.

2. While onions are sautéing, score (use a bread knife and cut into the bread almost to the bottom) bread diagonally on a cutting board. Then turn bread and score diagonally again so you have a diamond pattern. Place on top of a large piece of aluminum foil.

3. Check onions. If onions are soft. Turn off heat and just let pan sit on stovetop. If not done, let it continue to cook on low.

4. Stuff cheese slices into EVERY little slit on the bread. Feel free to add more if you want. Some slits can even have double cheese.

5. Drizzle the hot onion mixture over top of the bread. Make sure to cover everything!

6. Wrap in foil and bake at 375 F. for 15 minutes. Unwrap slightly and bake another 10 minutes to crisp the top...serve and love!

Kitchen Tips:

1- I listed many up above so if you still have questions feel free to message me on social media where you found this recipe or email me at cafescrapper @ gmail . com

2- I've made this bread without onions (not the same but it tasted great). So if you don't want the onions just melt butter really well and add spices and just continue rest of the recipe as is.

3- Have fun with the recipe and make it yours. Try different cheese, try different seasonings, use different breads, etc! Modify this recipe and make it suit your dietary needs being gluten free, dairy free, vegan, etc. Don't look at a recipe and say I can't eat that...make it into something you can eat. Have fun cooking.

4- Again it is great with a heavy meat meal like ribs. But we've been loving it as an appetizer and goes great with beer!

Click to get more bread recipes!

Need more bread recipes? Click the link or photo below. Do you have a bread recipe you want featured on my blog? Message me and I will feature you.

Paprika Glazed Chicken Recipe

2019-02-25T15:24:00.004-06:00

I love the combination of chicken and paprika. My mother-in-law is Hungarian and she has several recipes our family LOVES and we make them over and over using Hungarian paprika.

Take a look at this Paprika Glazed Chicken! I'm totally drooling, aren't you? This recipe uses Pereg Spanish Paprika which I plan on trying out soon. Have you tried Spanish Paprika?

Paprika Glazed Chicken Recipe (Recipe Courtesy The Set Table, Amit Women/Albert Einstein School of Medicine)

Ingredients

One whole chicken cut into eights

1 egg, beaten

Cornflake crumbs

Glaze

4 Tablespoons lemon juice

¼ cup sugar

¼ tsp Pereg Spanish Paprika

¼ tsp Pereg course grind black pepper

Directions

1- Dip chicken into egg, then cornflake crumbs. Place in pan in a single layer. Bake 30 minutes at 400 F.

2- Pour glaze over chicken. Baste several times and bake 30 minutes more.

Are you going to try this recipe? Please let me know if you do and how much you loved it. What sides did you serve with it?

Pereg, a leading producer of all-natural spices from around the world, offers more than 60 spices and spice blends sourced from the best places on earth. Read up on Paprika! It is a fascinating spice!

Paprika – The fourth most consumed spice in the world, paprika often appears in rubs, marinades, stews, chilies, and as a garnish. It’s a key an ingredient in numerous cuisines, from Mexican rices to classic Hungarian goulash to Italian sausages.

All paprika starts life as a type of red Caspicum annum, otherwise known as the bell pepper. Paprika can be smoked, sweet, hot, Hungarian, or Spanish style, depending on the variety of the peppers used and how they are processed. They range in color from bright red to brown, each with its own flavor profile, from mild to spicy. Along with new Spanish paprika, Pereg Natural Foods offers five other varieties: hot, hot oil, smoked, sweet, and sweet oil paprika types to choose from.

Spanish cuisine being a huge trend these days, you may have come across Spanish paprika on a recipe's ingredient list. Also known as pimentón, this spice is becoming very popular in the United States. But what exactly is Spanish paprika and what makes it so special?

There are two types of Spanish paprika: smoked and non-smoked. Spanish paprika is commonly made with smoked peppers, which brings a deeper, smokier flavor to the table. That earthy essence comes from smoke-drying the peppers with oak wood for two weeks before they are ground.

Whether smoked or non-smoked, Spanish paprika is available in three varieties: sweet (dulce), semi-sweet (agridulce), and spicy (picante). The levels of heat and sweetness vary based on the blend of peppers used. Spanish paprika is generally less intense than Hungarian paprika, so it can be used in a multitude of ways

“Spanish paprika can be your best secret ingredient!” says Joy. “It has just enough spiciness to be interesting, and its array of flavors – from sweet to spicy - gives depth to a variety of recipes. We use it in baked eggs, potato casseroles, sprinkled on roasted tomatoes, and in beef stews. Sometimes we use just a hint — not so much that it defines a dish, but just enough to give it a smoky or sweet note in the background.

It's a great spice for adding flavor and depth to vegetarian and vegan dishes, she says, and to dishes that are light on fat. “It’s a must for everyone’s spice cabinet.” Pereg offer six varieties of paprika in all - find them at www.pereg-gourmet.com.

PBfit Healthy Power Balls with George Washington Carver

2019-02-11T08:05:00.001-06:00

February is Black History Month. PBfit is recognizing George Washington Carver and his contributions to the peanut industry. Even though he isn't the direct inventor of peanut butter, he helped establish peanut butter as the nutritious staple ingredient found in 94 percent of American households today! Say what? Isn't that insane? No way would I have guessed 94 percent. If only Mr. Carver could see his impact on our world today.

Read this excerpt from my friends at PBfit:

"Born an African-American slave a year before the practice was outlawed, Carver left home at a young age to pursue education and would eventually earn a master’s degree in agricultural science from Iowa State University. As an agricultural scientist and inventor, he learned that years of growing cotton had depleted the nutrients from soil, resulting in low yields. But by growing nitrogen-fixing plants like peanuts, soybeans and sweet potatoes, the soil could be restored, allowing yield to increase dramatically when the land is reverted to cotton use a few years later. Farmers, of course, loved the high yields of cotton they were now getting from Carver’s crop rotation technique. But the method had an unintended consequence: A surplus of peanuts and other non-cotton products.

In all, he developed more than 300 food, industrial and commercial products from peanuts, including milk, Worcestershire sauce, punches, cooking oils and salad oil, paper, cosmetics, soaps and wood stains. He also experimented with peanut-based medicines, such as antiseptics, laxatives and goiter medications.

In 1921, Carver appeared before the Ways and Means Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives on behalf of the peanut industry, which was seeking tariff protection. He described the wide range of products that could be made from peanuts, which not only earned him a standing ovation but also convinced the committee to approve a high protective tariff for the common legume.

He then became known as “The Peanut Man.”

Succeeding Carver and these other innovators, PBfit is proud to bring peanut butter into the next century so those can enjoy this long-standing pantry pleaser made healthier and in more delicious ways. PBfit is peanut butter powder made with gently pressed roasted peanuts, coconut palm sugar, and a pinch of salt. The result is a delicious, nutritious product that leaves the fat and calories of traditional peanut butter behind. In comparison, it contains 87% less fat and 1/3 the calories.

The versatility of powdered peanut butter adds to the long list of benefits that make PBfit a must have product for every kitchen. Mix with water for that satisfying, creamy peanut butter texture, easily add it to smoothies for a nutrient boost, or use in any recipe where peanut butter is an ingredient.

Experience the next innovation in the peanut butter industry that’s already popular with households. PBfit is the number one selling peanut butter product on Amazon!"

WOW! Thank you Mr. Carver aka "The Peanut Man" and all the others involved in the peanut process the past 100 years.

Have you ever tried PBfit? We LOVE it! Not only is it great for our morning Shakeology but it rocks in other healthy recipes. Below is a recipe for Super Healthy Power Balls. The recipe is from one of our little friends at school. Instead of sandwiches, this little guy brings 3 Kids & adults both love them. Enjoy!

Super Healthy Power Balls

Ingredients

1 cup rolled oats

1/2 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips (We like Enjoy Life Brand)

1/2 cup ground flax seed (I like the chia, flax & hemp mix)

1/2 cup crunchy or smooth peanut butter (we use smooth)

1/4 cup honey

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 scoop Shakeology (chocolate, vanilla or cafe latte)

2 Tablespoons of PBfit (any flavor)

Directions

1-Combine oats, chocolate chips, Shakeology, flax seed, peanut butter, honey and vanilla extract together in a bowl.

2-Form into balls with your hand or use a small cookie dough scoop.

3-Roll or sprinkle balls with PBfit.

4-Arrange balls onto a cookie sheet and put in freezer to set for 30 minutes.

4-Store in fridge or freezer in a freezer safe container/bag. They are also great at room temp.

These are great for lunch, too. There is plenty of healthy protein in these little power balls to go along with your healthy lifestyle.

Tajin Bean Layered Dip by Chef Claudia Sandoval

2019-02-04T13:23:00.002-06:00

Party Time!

Check out this tasty recipe by MasterChef Winner Claudia Sandoval! This layered bean dip includes using Tajin! I have never purchased Tahin but plan to so that I can try out this recipe. Oh my it sounds good! Have you ever used Tahin in recipes. If so with what?

What a great idea for your next tailgating party, light supper night, taco night, etc.

Tajin Bean Layered Dip by Chef Claudia Sandoval

Ingredients:

For the Refried Beans:

2 cans -15 oz. Black Beans

3 garlic cloves, minced

¼ yellow onion, minced

½ cup lard /vegetable shortening

8-12 oz. Shredded Cheese (Oaxaca, Monterrey Jack, or Mozarella)

For the Tajin Sour Cream:

10 oz. Sour Cream

1 ½ tablespoon Tajín

For the Guacamole:

6 hass avocados, mashed

1 lime, juice only

1 teaspoon Tajín

For the Bell Pepper Pico Salsa:

½ cup Red Bell Pepper Chopped

½ cup Green Bell Pepper Chopped

½ cup Red Onion, Chopped

1 cup Tomato, Chopped

½ cup Cilantro Chopped

1 lime, juice only

Tajin to taste

Garnishes:

1 can – 15 oz. Yellow Corn

½ cup Black Olives, sliced

Equipment:

12” Cast Iron Pan

Makes 10 servings

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 F.

1) For Refried Beans: In a blender, add black beans, garlic cloves, and yellow onion. Blend until smooth. In a large non-stick sauté pan melt lard/vegetable shortening and add blended bean mixture. Refry beans by bringing them to a simmer and lowering heat to low for about 10 mins. Beans should be homogenous and should separate from the pan freely when completely refried.

2) Transfer beans to cast iron pan. Sprinkle Cheese over beans and place in oven for 10-15 mins or until cheese melts and is browning. Remove Pan from oven and allow to cool for 15 mins.

3) For Guacamole, mix all ingredients and spread layer over Beans, leaving beans visible around.

4) For Tajin Sour Cream, place ingredients into a bowl and mix. Layer atop Guacamole, layers visible.

5) Layer Yellow Corn over Sour Cream continuing to make circle smaller so that other layers are visible.

6) For Bell Pepper Salsa, Add all ingredients in a bowl and mix to combine. Lastly layer the salsa in the middle of the pan. Sprinkling and garnishing with olives and Cotija cheese. Serve with Chips alongside.

How to Help Your Kids Eat Healthy Meals

2019-01-16T13:30:00.002-06:00

It seems to be a universal problem – getting kids to eat healthy foods and fewer high sugar, high-fat snacks. How many children do you know who would choose a plate of vegetables over a plate of fries for instance? It can seem like the more you try to get them eating nutritious food, the more they resist, even claiming not to like meals they have eaten in the past.

Instead of getting more healthy food into them, you can start to feel like they’re eating fewer and fewer nutritious foodstuffs. Is it possible to change this pattern, and how can you make your kids enthusiastic about eating their greens?

Know your child nutrition

Before you start worrying about your child’s diet, make sure you know what the recommendations are for kids at each stage of their development. For instance, young children need full-fat milk rather than skimmed, and higher rates of certain vitamins and minerals. It’s essential to know what is best for your child nutritionally, so you can manage their nutrient intake and ensure they receive the most appropriate diet for their age.

Hiding the veggies

If your kids don’t know what they’re eating, you can increase their vegetable intake without them even knowing. One of the easiest ways to do this is to add chopped or pureed vegetables to pasta sauce. The redness of the tomatoes hides the color of many vegetables, although leafy greens would darken the sauce and are strong enough in flavor and smell to overwhelm the tomato. Carrots, swede, cauliflower, and peas are particularly good for blending into sauces.

Using the right veggies

Kids tend to prefer sweet flavors, so if you serve a portion of vegetables, use ones that are naturally sweet, like carrots, peas or petit pois, mange tout, tomatoes, and sweetcorn. You can also try some exotic or unusual fruits and vegetables to see if the kids find something they like. Your son may loathe apples and bananas perhaps, but love the taste of Kiwi fruits.

Food art

Younger kids and toddlers often find food that’s been arranged to make a picture is more appealing. For instance, cutting dinosaur shapes from a sandwich, or making a smiley face in a bowl of oatmeal with berries and banana slices.

Getting kids involved in cooking

It can be a messy endeavor, but cooking with kids is a great way to get them connected to their food. If you choose fairly simple recipes to start with and make the process fun and exciting, the kids will enjoy cooking and want to do more. They’re also more likely to want to eat what they’ve made themselves.

Transform fast food ideas into healthy meals

Fast food and takeouts are notorious for their high levels of fat and excess calories, but their appeal to kids is undeniable. Home-made versions can be made with fewer unhealthy ingredients and are usually far better for your kids than bought meals. There are some excellent kids cookbooks available, or you could browse through kid-friendly recipes online. You’ll get some helpful tips on incorporating healthy foods into less healthy sounding meals, for example making home-made burgers or pizza.

Get kids to grow their own food

Growing vegetables and fruits can be a rewarding and enjoyable activity, with the bonus of the being able to harvest the freshest, tastiest produce you can get a few months down the line. Start your kids off with simple, fast-growing crops like salads, peas, carrots, beans, and strawberries to begin with, so the tasks don’t seem arduous and results don’t take too long to achieve. Watching a bean plant grow in a jar of water is a time-honored way of enabling kids to see how a seed develops into a plant, and it’s a lot of fun too.

Go on a foraging walk

The fields and hedgerows are full of fruits and edible plants that can be harvested and added to home-cooked meals, and having a family outing to find and pick them can be a good idea for a fun day out. You must be sure you know what is safe to eat and what isn’t, and if you aren’t sure, join an organized foraging experience so you can ensure no-one eats anything harmful.

Budgeting for healthier living

Parents who are on a budget often worry that healthy foods are more expensive, but this isn’t necessarily the case, so don’t assume healthy equals expensive. There’s no better investment than spending money on health and wellbeing, so buying cooking equipment, gardening tools and seeds, or paying for a cookery class or field trip are excellent ways to invest in your family’s future. If money is tight, look for a financial advice service or credit brokerage that helps you manage your income and borrowings so that you have a few extra dollars to spend on your family’s health.

Discipline and reward

Some parents decide the best approach is a Draconian one – the child eats their dinner or goes hungry.

Variations on this approach are to say your child can’t have dessert if they don’t eat all their main course; or that if they eat all their food, they can have a treat. There are doubts as to whether these strategies are the best ways to tackle the problem because your child could develop an unhealthy relationship with their food that leads to a range of eating disorders as they grow older.

You know there isn’t going to be a single, fool-proof way of getting your kids to want healthy meals; if there were, it would be national news! There are however some strategies you can try that could help. You might need to persevere before achieving results, and you might need to try different ideas or combined strategies before you find one that works for you, and you may even have to use different approaches with different kids. Above all, don’t get overstressed yourself, just do the best you can!

5 Ways to Spruce Up Your Favorite Desserts Using Flavored Syrup

2019-01-11T11:13:00.000-06:00

There is something very pleasurable about eating sweet food after a meal. Craving for sweets after a large meal happens because the sugar helps in digesting the food. Desserts that are made of fruit are an even more recommended food to choose in the menu. In addition, desserts help to lighten up the mood after a heavy meal.

There are ways to make your dessert more attractive and more appetizing. You can add more colors with toppings such as sprinkles, chocolate chips, and marshmallows. A flavored syrup also makes changes in every dessert it touches. Traditional flavors, like the maple syrup and chocolate syrup, are the usual flavors you can see. However, the available flavors in the market keep growing, such as French vanilla flavor, to frosted mint, and even soda-based flavorings.

Here are five ways to make your favorite desserts more appetizing.

1. Coffee (and other beverages)

Flavored syrup is being used by a lot of individuals for their coffee. It doesn't only improve the flavor the coffee, the syrup also enhances the aesthetics of the morning beverage. The usual usage of flavored syrup in the coffee is to transform a cup into a flavored latte. Flavors such as almond, hazelnut, vanilla, peppermint, caramel, and cinnamon are the usual ones being used. On the aesthetic side, a leaf or a flower is usually drawn as designs.

Coffee syrups can also be mixed on a different level to make different kinds of coffee variants. A creamy coffee is called a latte while the cappuccino is a strong coffee but with the creaminess of milk.

2. Fruit Salad

When it comes to fruit salad, mixing and complementing flavors are quite hard. There are fruits that are not meant to be mixed together. One technique being used to ensure the harmony of taste and texture is to mix the similar fruits in one bowl. Berries are mixed with other berries and melons are mixed with other melons. The same thing goes to other kinds of fruits.

To enhance the flavor, and for additional aromatic appeal, a complimentary flavored syrup can be used. An example of a delicious fruit salad with syrup is a recipe from Natasha's Kitchen. Strawberries, grapes, blueberries, and bananas are drizzled with honey and lemon syrup to finish things up.

3. Glaze

You can use the flavored syrup to put a shiny glaze on a lot of pastry dishes, to add more sweetness, and to make the end product more attractive. One such famous example is doughnuts with sugar syrup glaze. These are doughnuts that are usually glazed with milk, water, vanilla, and sugar. Glazing with flavored syrup is an easier alternative, especially if you want to have more flavor options.

4. Toppings

This is one of the most common ways to make your food interesting. Flavored syrup can make your pancake or waffle more interesting with a little touch of fruit and your favorite flavored syrup. Although there is the traditional maple syrup, a change once in a while is welcome for the adventurous.

You can also add custom designs in a cake using flavored syrup. In addition, the flavored syrup is often used on cakes to keep it moist. Bakers often use flavored syrup in their cakes to make more detailed designs and to write messages. Just remember that if you want to add buttercream or other frostings, make sure that the syrup was totally absorbed by the cake. If this is not done right, your frostings will not stick to the cake.

5. Hot Fudge

Although flavored syrup is usually less viscous than fudge sauce, there are other ways to make a hot fudge out of your flavored syrup. A recipe from the Brown Eyed Baker site used heavy cream, dark brown sugar, cocoa powder, ounces of chocolate, unsalted butter, vanilla extract, and syrup to make a hot cocoa fudge sauce. The sauce was then drizzled in an ice cream topped with a cherry. It is also simple to make as all the ingredients are just mixed and boiled five minutes.

The author of the hot fudge recipe recommends making in batches and store it in the back of the refrigerator. You can use the sauce again when you need it by reheating it. Recommendations, such as using peppermint, orange, and raspberry flavors are also recommended by the author.

Cranberry-Orange Orzo Salad Recipe

2018-09-25T14:22:00.002-05:00

Dinner time! Check out this very colorful & healthy side dish just in time for fall. The sweet and tangy cranberry dressing complements the orange in the recipe. This can be a side dish or an alternative meal option for vegetarians!

Cranberry-Orange Orzo Salad Recipe

4 oz. orzo
1 navel orange (about 7 oz.)
2 tbsp. cranberry sauce
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 tbsp. white wine vinegar
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
Pinch chili flakes
4 cups/4 oz. baby arugula
1/4 cup/1 oz. chopped toasted walnuts
1/4 cup/1 oz. dried cranberries

Directions

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
Meanwhile, trim top and bottom ends of orange. Stand fruit on one of the cut ends; remove outer peel, following natural curve of fruit to remove bitter white pith. Working over a bowl to catch juices, cut between membranes to release segments; set aside.
Whisk together cranberry sauce, oil, 2 tbsp orange juice (from segments), vinegar, garlic, salt, pepper and chili flakes; toss with pasta.
Stir in arugula, orange segments, walnuts and dried cranberries.

Tips:

If you don’t have a navel orange, use 2 clementine or mandarin oranges.
Substitute pecans, pumpkin seeds or almonds for walnuts.

Makes 4 servings. Per serving: 277 calories, 12 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 166 mg sodium, 39 g carbohydrate, 3 g fiber, 13 g sugars, 5 g protein

A PastaFits.org original recipe.

More Fall Recipes:

Brussels Sprouts, Dried Cranberries, Caramelized Onion & Sage Penne Pasta Recipe

2018-09-24T14:53:00.003-05:00

Fall screams comfort food! So many of us have been waiting for cooler weather to make a batch of our favorite comfort food. Pasta dishes are included in this list. One way to make pasta dishes more for fall is to add in ingredients that go with the season, like cranberries! Embrace the flavors of fall and the up and coming Thanksgiving with our festive penne recipe. It makes a great side dish for Thanksgiving or as the star of the show in a fall weekday dinner or lunch.

Brussels Sprouts, Dried Cranberries, Caramelized Onion & Sage Penne Pasta

2 Tbsp. vegetable oil, divided
4 cups/1 lb. sliced onion
2 Tbsp. sliced sage leaves
¼ cup/½ oz. dried cranberries (preferably no sugar added)
4 oz. penne
2 cups/9 oz. Brussels sprouts, halved

Directions:

Heat a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add 1 TBSP of the oil and all of the onions. Sprinkle with salt.

Slowly cook, stirring from time to time until golden (about 30 minutes). Stir in the sage leaves and cranberries.

While the onions are caramelizing, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the penne according to package directions. Drain and reserve.

Also while the onions are cooking, bring a small saucepan of salted water to a boil and cook the Brussels sprouts until just softened (about 5 minutes). Drain.

Remove the onion mixture from the pan to a bowl. Heat the same pan over medium high heat. Add the remaining 1 TBSP oil and sauté the Brussels sprouts until browned (about 3 minutes). Stir in the penne and the onion mixture.

Adjust seasoning to taste with salt and pepper.

An exclusive PastaFits.org recipe.

Makes 4 servings

More Fall Recipes:

Brussels Sprouts, Dried Cranberries, Caramelized Onion & Sage Penne Pasta Recipe

Soft Brown Sugar Cookies

Jello Brain Food Recipe

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Spice Bread

Pumpkin Spiced Latte - Hot & Cold

Easy Dinner in a Pumpkin

Baked Vanilla Cinnamon Apples

Zombie Food

15 Pumpkin Recipes

Get Back To School Ready Tips and To Go Lunch Box Meals!

2018-08-08T09:14:00.000-05:00

Back to school time is cray-cray! No matter how much you prepare, things will be crazy in the morning or lunch prep or after school snacking and even at dinner time! Besides food time crazy you are also trying to balance supplies, money, time, schedules and more! Feeling stressed, yet?

Thanks to years of experience and now no longer having little ones to get ready, I can look back and be grateful that we survived all of it! There are so many resources to help you get lunchbox meals planned, meal plans for dinner and even containers to choose from to help you easily do meal prep.

Here are a few recipes from Pasta Fits. You will find a lot of yummy and easy lunch recipes your family will LOVE! I'm also sharing some of my favorite links where I go to for easy meals and meal plans! You can do this!

ABC (Apple, Broccoli, Cheddar) Alphabet Pasta Salad

With all the flavors that kids love, this simple salad is definitely a lunch and

dinner lifesaver.

Makes: 6 servings

Categories: Kid Friendly, Vegetarian

Type of Dish: Lunch, Dinner

Total Time (Prep + Cook): 20 minutes

Season: Any Season

Ingredients:

4 oz alphabet pasta

4 cups small broccoli florets

1/4 cup light ranch dressing

1 apple, cored and diced

1/2 cup shredded reduced-fat mild Cheddar cheese

1 tbsp finely chopped fresh chives

Directions:

1. In large pot of boiling water, cook pasta according to package

directions, adding broccoli in the last 3 minutes of cooking. Rinse with

cold water; drain.

2. Toss together pasta, broccoli and dressing. Stir in apple, Cheddar and

chives.

Tip: Add chopped almonds and raisins for added texture.

Nutrition Facts

Per 1/6 recipe

Calories 150

Fat 4g

Saturated Fat 1.5g

Cholesterol 10mg

Sodium 210mg

Carbohydrate 23g

Fiber 3g

Sugars 5g

Protein 6g

Meets Pasta Fits nutrition guidelines.

Power Crunch Pasta Salad

Makes: 6 servings

Categories: Kid Friendly, Vegetarian

Type of Dish: Lunch, Dinner

Total Time (Prep + Cook): 20 minutes

Season: Any Season

Ingredients:

8 oz whole wheat penne

2 cups/1 1/4 oz. shredded kale, ribs removed

2 cups/4 oz. thinly sliced red cabbage

1 red apple, cored and finely sliced

1 carrot, peeled and cut into matchsticks

1/4 cup/1 oz. dried cranberries

1/4 cup/1 oz. natural sliced almonds

2 tbsp. pumpkin seeds

1 tbsp. chia seeds

Creamy Yogurt-Herb Dressing:

1/2 cup low-fat plain Greek yogurt

3 tbsp. olive oil

2 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley

2 tbsp. chopped fresh chives

1 tbsp. white wine vinegar

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tsp. Dijon mustard

1/4 tsp. each salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Cook penne according to package directions. Rinse in cold water

and drain.

2. Toss together pasta, kale, cabbage, apple, carrot and

cranberries.

3. Creamy Yogurt-Herb Dressing: Whisk together yogurt, olive oil,

parsley, chives, vinegar, garlic, mustard, salt and pepper.

4. Drizzle dressing over salad and toss well to coat. Sprinkle

almonds, pumpkin seeds and chia seeds over salad before

serving.

Tips:

Add crumbled goat cheese if desired.

For added protein, add tofu, cooked shredded chicken or tuna.

Nutrition Facts

Per 1/8 recipe

Calories 250

Fat 9g

Saturated Fat 1g

Cholesterol 0mg

Sodium 115mg

Carbohydrate 34g

Fiber 5g

Sugars 8g

Protein 7g

With a mix of healthy carbs and protein, these unique egg muffins are the ideal solution to busy mornings, afternoon snack cravings, or for spicing up a boring lunch. Make them ahead of time and then grab a few when you’re on the go!

Makes: 6 servings

Categories: Kid Friendly, Vegetarian

Type of Dish: Lunch, Dinner

Total Time (Prep + Cook): 20 minutes

Season: Any Season

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Bring a medium pot of salted water to the boil. Cook the tubetti according to package directions. Drain and reserve.
Distribute the zucchini, red pepper and tubetti evenly between the cups of a non-stick muffin pan.
Season the eggs with salt and pepper. Pour the eggs over the vegetables then sprinkle with basil and cheddar.
Bake for 10 minutes or until cooked through. Cool then wrap for lunch!

*This recipe can be made gluten-free simply by substituting gluten-free tubetti.

Makes 12 muffins.

Per muffin: 161 calories, 10 g total fat, 5 g saturated fat, 7 g carbohydrate, 11 g protein, 1 g dietary fiber, 1 gm sugar, 160 mg sodium, 201 mg cholesterol.

MORE Back To School Resources!

Recipes

Back To School Tips

Best Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies

2018-07-31T13:56:00.004-05:00

I've been making these chocolate chip cookies for 25 years. During our engagement, I opened up a classic church cookbook to find a chocolate chip cookie recipe. While eating the cookies, my soon-to-be husband made comments like, "these need nuts" or "I love a soft cookie" etc. Then when the kiddos came along they made their own comments. The main comment was that the cookies needed more chocolate chips. As time marched on this recipe evolved into one that became a perfect fit for our family. I no longer have a copy of the original recipe but below you will find our family favorite variation!

This recipe easily makes over 10 dozen chocolate chip cookies. You can get a lot less but not too much more that 10 dozen. The amount you get depends on the size of your cookies. I use a small cookie dough scoop which doesn't seem like a lot on the baking sheet but makes a perfect 2-3 bite cookie. Whenever I bake these cookies, I plan on giving them away! The dough can easily be frozen, too.

Best Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

2 cups Butter Crisco (or 1 cup of soft butter and 1 cup of Butter Crisco...either works depending on what I have on hand)

2 1/2 cups brown sugar

1 cup white sugar

3 tsp vanilla

4 eggs

2 tsp baking soda

5 cups flour

1/4 tsp salt

24-30 oz. of mixed chocolate chips (any combo chocolate, semi sweet, dark chocolate, etc)

2 cups of nuts (any variety)

Directions

1-Get a large bowl and a heavy wooden spoon. Preheat oven to 350 F.

2-Add in butter/Crisco and sugars. Cream together.

3-Add in eggs and vanilla. Stir together.

4-Add in flour, baking soda and salt. Mix until combined.

5-Mix in chips.

6-Use a small cookie scoop and scoop cookies onto a parchment lined baking sheet. For larger cookies use other size scoops.

7-Bake for 10-12 minutes for soft cookies. Bake up to 12-14 minutes if you want a crunchier cookie.

Make the recipe and turn it into your own family favorite recipe. Simple changes keeping the basic measurements will be the best way to make changes.

Did you make them? Do you have any questions?

Follow me and let me know at

SusieQTpies Cafe on Facebook
SusieQTpies on Twitter
Susan Buetow on Pinterest
Susie_Buetow on Instagram or MakeTime4Fun on Instagram

Other Cookie Recipes

Soft Brown Sugar Cookies
Nutella Peanut Butter Cookies
Lower Sugar Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies
Classic White Cut Out Sugar Cookies & frosting
List of Sweet Recipes with photos on my blog

Getting Back Into Work After a Career Break

2018-06-20T08:07:00.001-05:00

Our modern society has far higher levels of equality between men and women than it has ever had before, which is a good thing. However, when it comes to child rearing, it’s still predominantly women who take the primary role. It’s often a straightforward economic necessity – if the man earns more, it makes financial sense for him to keep working and his wife to care for the children. It is said, with great wisdom, that raising children is the most important job you’ll ever do, and indeed nurturing the next generation is a crucial role to undertake. Regardless of where you stand personally on women being the primary carers for young families, the fact is that many women do find they have been away from the world of employment for years at a time, and it can be a daunting prospect to get back onto the career ladder.

Revisiting your resume

The first task when starting to look at getting back to a job outside the home, is to review your resume, update it as appropriate, and add any new skills or experience that could be relevant for prospective employers. New skills needn’t have been formally accredited to be worth adding to your resume; it can be anything you’ve mastered since you were last employed, as long as it demonstrates an attribute that will add value. Check on the latest recommendations for resume design and content, as these principles are not set in stone and may have changed over the last few years.

Building up a new career

If you’re fortunate, and can find an employer who is happy to take you on despite your lack of recent experience, you could step back into a similar role to the one you left. However, it’s more likely that you will have to start at a lower level than you were on previously. One smart strategy is to apply to businesses that have good career prospects. For example, if you check out the Dollargeneral com careers pages, you’ll see they have a range of jobs from entry level, through to junior, middle and senior management. You could start at the level you were best suited to, and work your way up in a relatively short time.

Resuming your previous career

If you were in a professional role when you went on your career break, it’s likely to be a subject you have a personal interest in. Therefore, you may well have kept up to date with industry news and developments as part of your continuing professional development. If you’ve kept abreast of what’s been happening, you will find it much easier to resume your career at, or very close to, the level you used to be. For some roles you might need to take various courses to refresh your skills, or to revalidate your qualifications. You can check what you need to do to prepare for work via your professional body, who will be only too happy to help you.

Even if your break has been longer than a few years, if you had the knowledge and skills before you will soon pick them up again, so don’t be afraid of this new chapter in your working life.

The Enduring Word Journaling Bible ESV Giveaway and Review

2018-05-29T09:27:00.000-05:00

Who wants to WIN a brand new ESV translation Journaling Bible??? You can win one from Concordia Publishing House by entering on GoodReads! Here is my review of the bible and then go to The Enduring Word Bible Giveaway and enter to win your very own copy!

The Enduring Word Bible by Concordia Publishing House
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm super excited to have a copy of the new "The Enduring Word Bible" from CPH. From what Ive read it's the first journaling bible in the ESV translation. ESV is a common translation and does a good job at staying close to the original scripture text and easy for us to read.
I love the easy to read font, soft yet durable cover, edging on the bible pages, the weight of the bible pages and most of all, since it is a journaling bible I LOVE all of the scripture drawings in the bible. There are over 300 of them in there for us to color. The drawings go perfectly with the scripture versus and they have inspired me to add in my own drawings as I read the bible.

This journaling bible is great for beginners or for those who have been bible journaling for ages!

View all my reviews

I love how the bible stays flat when open. This is great for bible journaling.

Beautiful artwork and easy to read font!

Full page illustrations to color.

Do you need Bible Journaling tips & resources?

Join my Creative Coloring and Bible Journaling Facebook Group
Sign up for my blog Newsletter to keep up when I post about bible journaling
Check out my post where I shared Free and On the Cheap Bible Journaling Resources

Bible Journaling, Praying in Color, Adult Coloring pages and MORE!

2018-04-25T15:18:00.001-05:00

Thanks to all of my followers who have been patient with me while I took some time off of blogging. I still blog for others as a business but haven't kept up with my own blog in about 2 years.

To kick off my hiatus, here is a list of bible journaling, coloring pages and Praying in Color resources. Feel free to pin and reshare! I plan on sharing more recipes, crafty things, bible journaling and more!

Bible Journaling & Praying in Color Resources

Contact

Susan Buetow

cafescrapper @ gmail. com (join all the spaces together)

Creative Coloring & Bible Journaling Facebook Group - Susan Buetow

Bible Journaling Pinterest Board - Susan Buetow

Visual Faith Coach (Mid West) - Susan Buetow
Find me here to learn more about Visual Faith Ministry and have me come speak at your next event

Visual Faith Pinterest Board (new so follow and watch it grow)

SusieQTpies Cafe http://www.susieqtpiescafe.com/

Free or on the cheap sites to visit for printables, ideas, examples, tips and more!

Amanda Arneill - lettering

The Bright Bible Facebook page

Dawn Nicole Designs - hand lettering & font ideas

Flanders Family - free printables

JoDitt - free coloring pages

Journaling the Bible

Karen Dornacher

KarenScraps - bible journaling and craft fun

Little House Studio - Free printables

LWML coloring sheets

Mary Dean Draws - scripture coloring pages

Paper Praises - bible journaling

Praying In Color by Sybil Macbeth

Pure Joy Creative

Rachel Wojo - Bible Journaling

Sally Sulcove - bible journaling

Sue Carroll - Fun printables

The Holy Mess - free bible journaling kit

The Thinking Closet - bible journaling

Unconventionally Steadfast - Visual Faith resources

Visual Faith Ministries - free resources

Vintage Grace - Visual Faith

1 Art House - doodle 101

ETSY

BibleVerse Coloring

KarlaDornacher

PureJoyCreative

Kids in Church

Adults & Kid Visual Church Lectionary Bulletins & special services Series B

Lessons for Lambs - One Year Lectionary kid bulletins

Cookies, Fruit and Coffee! Oh My Sweetness! #ad

2017-10-04T10:59:00.001-05:00

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of In The Raw and SheSpeaks. All opinions are entirely my own.

Oh my sweet goodness! We are living in the good times because of all of the available products, seasonings, and spices we have to enhance the flavors of our foods. We also know that we have to watch our intake of particular foods, one of which is sugar.

How do you cut back on sugar when baking? How about in your morning cup of tea or coffee? How about on fruit? Sometimes you want a lil' extra sweet treat without the calories of white sugar. For me, I love using Organic Stevia In The Raw® which allows for the little extra sweetness without the calories or guilt. Did you know that Organic Stevia In The Raw® give only 3 calories but provides the sweetening equivalence of two teaspoons of sugar (32 calories!!) Oh my sweet goodness!

Do you ever sweeten your food with Organic Stevia In The Raw®? If so what do you sweeten? Do you just sweeten your food or do you also use it for others in your home? Every time I've substituted white sugar for Organic Stevia In The Raw® no one has noticed! I love that I can cut back the use of white sugar in the home for this clean, lower calorie, non-GMO, organic, gluten-free product!

One easy peasy way I like to get in a lil' sweet treat is to take fresh fruit like strawberries and blueberries and mix with Greek Yogurt. I then give a 1 packet sprinkle of Organic Stevia In The Raw® to cut the tangy taste of the yogurt and give the mix a small sweet kick! I could eat this every day for breakfast.

I also love adding in 1 packet to a cup of tea, especially in the evenings when I'm wanting a little sweet treat after dinner. It works every time to cut the craving of a big, high carb/high calorie dessert.

I'm a huge fan of coffee, too! Check out my video of adding Organic Stevia In The Raw® in my work coffee cup! Just 1 packet does the trick!

When it comes to baking goodies, Organic Stevia In The Raw® can be substituted with white sugar. You can go check out their website for the conversion chart to convert existing recipes from sugar to Organic Stevia In The Raw®. I did that below when I made a batch of my old time fav Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies! NO ONE even knew I made the substitution and I've been making these cookies for 20 years!

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 c. butter Crisco
2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup Organic Stevia In The Raw®
2 tsp. vanilla
4 eggs
2 tsp. baking soda
5 c. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
16 oz chocolate chips, your choice

Cream shortening and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour, soda and salt. Mix in chips. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Bake longer for a crunchier cookie. Make 100 cookies.

Kitchen Notes- Use this dough for a skillet cookie. Bake it at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

I challenge you to make the change from white sugar to Organic Stevia In The Raw®! You will be amazed by the no change in taste while enjoying the less calorie option of using less white sugar!

Follow Organic Stevia In The Raw® on social media to learn more about this product! Here are their links!

Last but surely not least, go enter the SheSpeaks giveaway to win your own Organic Stevia In The Raw®

Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker Discount Code & New Christmas Holiday Tradition! #christmas #ad

2016-11-14T18:30:00.001-06:00

What are some of your holiday traditions? Do you have any traditions you want to start? One tradition I would love to start is going to see a Holiday show every year. This can include plays, musicals and ballets! This year we are headed to the ballet in Chicago! The ballet is the Great Russian Nutcracker by the Moscow Ballet!

In 1993, Moscow Ballet toured the Great Russian Nutcracker to Washington DC, Baltimore, Syracuse, Orlando, Ft Lauderdale, New Haven, Reading and Charleston WV for the first time to critical acclaim. Directed and choreographed by Stanislav Vlasov, former soloist with the Bolshoi Ballet, and well known as a "Grand Dance Artist," the inaugural six-week tour starred principal ballerina Lillia Sabitova. It also featured the innovative rolling backgrounds first created by a St Petersburg Conservatory of Music producer, and which were the inspiration for Eisenstein's cinematic technique. Since then the annual tour has increased to include about 100 performances on the tour to cities from San Juan to Calgary, and from New York to California, traveling with two simultaneously touring companies of forty dancers each.

Would you love to take your family to the ballet? I have a special code for my readers! Here is the information! My readers can SAVE 15% Off Moscow Ballet's Nutcracker CODE: BALLET. Use this code and click HERE to check out the tickets!

Fall Pumpkin Spiced Latte Hot & Cold Healthier Recipes

2016-09-15T08:36:00.001-05:00

Today my MOVE EVERY DAY group is celebrating the half way point! We've been moving more every day for the month of September. We are learning new ways to get started on a healthier journey and motivating each other daily to keep going.

Want in the group? Leave a comment with an email, find me at my office, Coach SusieQTpies or email me at susieqtpies@beachbodycoach.com and I'll let you know when the next one starts up!

Since it is the half way point we are celebrating the typical American way with FOOD! Food that is healthier or more nutrient dense than let's say a snickers bar (haha now you want one, right?)

My group will share recipes that are on the healthier side. I know that I don't need any extra temptations this week to make something not so healthy! Below are 2 recipes for Pumpkin! Pumpkin season is going full force! The warm version has half the calories as your typical latte and the cold version is so healthier you won't even realize it is a meal in a glass! I'll share some of our favorite healthier recipes again this week! So stop back in! Enjoy!

Remember if you want more info on the MOVE EVERY DAY GROUP or our HEALTHIER EATING group email me or leave a comment with your email. We will be starting up new groups soon!

This is the healthier version aka way less sugar of the typical pumpkin spice latte. This one has half the calories of your favorite pumpkin fall treat. Thanks to Beachbody for sharing the recipe.

Pumpkin Spice Latte - counts as 1 yellow with the 21 Day Fix!

Total Time: 10 min.
Prep Time: 5 min.
Cooking Time: 5 min.
Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients:
1 cup nonfat milk
1 Tbsp. pumpkin puree
¼ tsp. pumpkin pie spice
2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 cup brewed black coffee or 1 shot espresso
1 dash ground nutmeg (to taste; optional)

Preparation:
1. Heat milk, pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, and extract in medium saucepan over medium heat; cook for 4 to 5 minutes, or until mixture is hot, but not boiling. It is ready when there are many small bubbles on the sides of the saucepan.
2. Remove from heat; mix vigorously with a whisk until frothy.
3. Pour coffee or espresso into serving mug; top with milk mixture.
4. Top with nutmeg if desired.
5. Yours won't look like the photo unless you know how to do the fancy pouring, which I do not. The photo is from Beachbody! lol

Healthy Pumpkin Spiced Smoothie aka Shake- counts as 1 Red 2 Yellow with the 21 Day Fix (you can get ride of the milk and just have water to cut down to 1 yellow)

Total Time: 5 min.
Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients:
1 cup unsweetened almond milk or nonfat milk
1 serving of Chocolate, Cafe Latte or Vanilla Shakeology (click link to get more info)
1/2 cup canned pure pumpkin
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1/4 cup water
3 ice cubes

Directions:
1. Add all ingredients to a shaker cup and shake. Drink up!
2. Optional directions include adding all ingredients to a blender and blend! Drink up!
3. Optional directions include freezing the pumpkin and spice mixture in ice cube trays. Then add that to your shake 3-4 cubes. You can still hand shake or blend in a blender.

Video!

Fall Pumpkin Spiced Latte Hot & Cold Healthier Recipes

2016-09-15T08:36:00.000-05:00

Healthy Pumpkin Spiced Smoothie aka Shake- counts as 1 Red 2 Yellow with the 21 Day Fix (you can get ride of the milk and just have water to cut down to 1 yellow)