Your Sacred Calling

Integration?

Stacy McDonald — Tue, 14 May 2013 04:26:46 +0000

This is a guest post from my dear friend, Tonya Chapa from her new blog, The Virtuous Wife. Welcome to the blogging world, Tonya! Be sure to visit her and say hello!

I have been at the Family Economics Conference this past week soaking in the words and wisdom of many godly and gifted speakers. As I was listening, I was thinking, connecting dots, examining our life and the way we do ...

Mama’s Hands

Stacy McDonald — Sat, 11 May 2013 07:00:30 +0000

I wrote this poem a few years ago to encourage mothers in their holy duty of nurturing and training their little ones. Some days are indeed difficult, but what a blessed calling we have!

He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young. (Isaiah 40:11)

God fashioned her with smaller hands,

So she ...

Garlic Feta Dip

Stacy McDonald — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 03:03:37 +0000

8 oz. Feta, crumbled

8 oz. Cream Cheese, softened

3 T. Chopped Fresh Basil

3 T. Chopped Fresh Chives

2 T. Olive Oil

2 T. Balsamic vinegar

1 tsp. granulated garlic

Chop basil in food processor and set aside. Mix the cheeses with a fork (or on pulse in the food processor) until combined. Add oil and vinegar. Mix in herbs. Cover and chill up to 7 days.

Serve with crackers, bread, or on sandwich wraps. May also be ...

Spicy Texas Hummus

Stacy McDonald — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 03:03:04 +0000

This is one of my very favorite high protein snacks – and it’s good for you too. It’s perfect to have on hand if you’re pregnant or nursing and can’t seem to find the time for a healthy snack during the day.Serve it for guests, for your kiddos, or for the hungry hubby who is tempted to browse the pantry shelves looking for sugar or empty calories. You can even serve ...

Pastrami Feta Onion Wraps

Stacy McDonald — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 03:02:06 +0000

I found this recipe on The Parisienne Farm Girl’s website. (She has a lot of good ideas, so be sure to visit!) This particular appetizer went perfectly with our daughter’s Mediterranean Herb Garden themed wedding, so I just couldn’t resist!

But I decided to tweak it a bit to include our yummy Creamy Feta Dip!

Simply spread the Creamy ...

Baba Ghanouj

Stacy McDonald — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 03:01:41 +0000

Ingredients:

3 globe eggplants
¾ C. chopped parsley
6 T. extra virgin olive oil
6 T. Tahini
6 fresh garlic cloves
2 teaspoon ground cumin or dill
5 T. fresh lemon juice
2 drops Young Living lemon essential oil
2-3 tsp. sumac
Salt and cayenne pepper to taste

Oil eggplant, poke holes in skin, and roast cut side down at 400 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until tender. Chop parsley in food processor and set aside. Scoop out eggplant meat and ...

Tabbouleh

Stacy McDonald — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 03:01:02 +0000

My version of tabbouleh uses one of my favorites grains, quinoa, instead of the traditional ingredient, bulgur wheat. Not only do I prefer the taste of quinoa, it is also gluten free and far more nutritious! It’s very high in protein (12%–18%); and, unlike wheat or rice (which are low in lysine), quinoa contains a balanced set of essential amino acids, making it an unusually complete protein source among plant ...

Fruit Water

Stacy McDonald — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 03:00:36 +0000

We served this refreshing drink at our daughter’s wedding instead of punch! It made it easy to refill and was much more thirst quenching!

1 Cup fresh squeezed orange juice

½ C. agave

Costco container of washed strawberries (cut in half)

½ Costco container of fresh pineapple coarsely chopped

Fresh Mint stems and leaves

4 ½ gallons of fresh water and ice

Shake together orange juice and agave in a Mason jar. Add all ingredients to water 2-3 ...

Basil Artichoke Hummus

Stacy McDonald — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 02:58:20 +0000

Ingredients:

29 oz can of garbanzo beans (chick peas), drained
28 oz artichoke hearts, canned, quartered & drained of liquid
1 shallot
2/3 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
3 drops lemon essential oil
2/3 cup tahini
4 garlic cloves
4 T. unfiltered extra virgin olive oil
a handful of fresh chopped basil
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper, ground
Dried basil, oregano, garlic powder, and thyme to taste
sumac
2 ...

Recipes from the Wedding…

Stacy McDonald — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 02:47:42 +0000

Anyone who knows our family, knows that we are “foodie” people. We believe that food should look as good as it tastes, and it should nourish our bodies as much as it nourishes our senses! And that was our goal for our daughter’s wedding.

We started with a Mediterranean herb garden theme (perfect for our daughter, Melissa), and accented it with plenty of fresh herbs, some of which were home grown by a good ...