Through My Looking Glass

Make 5 Dinners in ONE hour: Lunch Shrimp Cocktail

2012-04-05T08:30:00.002-06:00

I saw this posting from a fellow blogger and thought it was a great idea. Michelle has a wonderfully creative meal options that take only an hour of your time and you get 5 days meals prepared in advance. Just think, no more worrying about what to make for lunch or dinner because it's already done and all you have to do is heat it up - or in this case thaw it in your fridge. Thank you, Michelle for sharing such a great alternative to the grind of daily prep. Make 5 Dinners in ONE hour: Lunch Shrimp Cocktail: Here is another PB & J alternative for the brown bag lunch. This one is protein packed and light on calories. Shrimp Cocktail! 1-2 bags...

Updating My blog

2012-04-05T02:37:00.000-06:00

I decided to spend a "few" minutes, tonight, updating my blog with a new and pretty spring background so I started searching for one I thought was cute. That was at 8 PM. Thank the Lord for shabbyblogs.com. They have such adorable backgrounds! Then, came time to look for a banner to match the background, insert a picture and blog title and adjust the new banner to fit the blog so it wouldn't be off center. Whew! After that, I had to remove my "Let it Snow" blinkie & find another one I liked. Next, I updated the Daily Quote & Bible Verse (both had been the same for the past few months). Now, it's already after 2:30 AM and I finally finished. So much for taking just a moment out of my already busy schedule. LOL! No wonder I don't update my blog each day. How do people who blog daily keep up with the rest of life? Maybe some day, I'll be better at this blog thing and it won't take me so long. Well, I better drag my weary body to bed, since I have to get up in less than five hours to get the kids off to school.

2012-01-04T09:18:00.000-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

Ezra & his class on Colonial Day

Aaron & Ezra

Ezra explaining life in the New England Colonies

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-30T10:07:00.001-07:00

Do you know which picture is Grace and which picture is Haddy? Put your answer in the comments.

Silent Saturday

2011-11-26T02:03:00.001-07:00

Colorado National Monument

Fruita, Colorado

2011-11-25T14:00:00.000-07:00

Leftover Turkey Nachos

Ingredients

10 oz. Velveta, cubed
3/4 cup salsa
1 cup leftover cubed turkey
Tortilla chips
1/4 cup sour cream (optional)
1/4 cup sliced olives (optional)

Directions

Combine salsa and Velveta in a microwave-safe bowl. Stir in turkey; Microwave for 3 minutes, stirring after 1 minute and then every 30 seconds thereafter until heated through. Serve warm with tortilla chips & top with sour cream & olives, if desired.

Relaxation Day

2011-11-25T11:25:00.001-07:00

Aahhh! It's finally Friday - the day after Thanksgiving. While most people call it Black Friday, I call it Relaxation Friday. A day to just chill with my family after a long week of food and home holiday preparation. The kids are all throughout the house playing the PS3, reading, texting, watching tv or enjoying outdoor activities. I am just sitting here, blogging. No shopping, no cleaning, no cooking, just relaxing. To me, this is quiet bliss.

This leads me to wonder, "what are you doing, today?" Are you taking advantage of the Black Friday sales? Are you cleaning the house from all the feasting of yesterday? Are you decorating your home for Christmas? Are you relaxing, like I am? Are you enjoying a much awaited flick? Or, are you doing something else? I'd love to hear how you are spending your day. Leave a comment to let me know how you pass the time, today.

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

Wordless Wednesday 2

2011-11-23T12:00:00.000-07:00

Ezra smiley face.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

Snow Kids

The Art of Thankfulness

2011-11-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

Many times we live our lives and perhaps, without intention, take for granted all of the wonderful benefits that are ours because of our Savior. Today, let’s practice the art of thankfulness. We have so many rich blessings in Christ, in Whom “we live and move and have our being”. (Acts 17:28) Thankfulness is not just for a special holiday. Rather, it is a deep appreciation for the One Who gave His life for ours. We need to practice it every day. Let us choose to be “overflowing with thankfulness” (Colossians 2:7) each and every day.

Recipe of the Day

This recipe of mine was published in Taste of Home magazine.

Turkey with Sausage-Corn Bread Stuffing

Complement your bird with this savory stuffing from June Kathrein of Delta, Colorado. “I’ve made this recipe for many potlucks and church suppers, and everyone raves about it...even those who usually don’t like stuffing,” says June.

12 ServingsPrep: 1 hour + cooling Bake: 3-3/4 hours + standing

Ingredients

2-1/2 cups yellow cornmeal
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
6 teaspoons baking powder
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
2 eggs
2 cups 2% milk
6 tablespoons canola oil
STUFFING:
1 pound bulk sage pork sausage
1 bunch celery, chopped
2 medium onions, chopped
1 cup chopped fresh mushrooms
1/2 cup chopped sweet red pepper
1/2 cup butter, cubed
1 can (49-1/2 ounces) chicken broth
2 to 3 tablespoons rubbed sage
1 tablespoon poultry seasoning
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 turkey (14 to 16 pounds)
Directions
- In a large bowl, combine the first five ingredients. Combine the
- eggs, milk and oil; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.
- Pour into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Bake at 425° for
- 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool on a wire
- rack.
- In a Dutch oven, cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink;
- drain and set aside. In the same pan, saute the celery, onions,
- mushrooms and red pepper in butter until tender. Stir in the broth,
- seasonings and sausage. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer,
- uncovered, for 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Cut corn bread into
- 1/2-in. cubes; fold into sausage mixture.
- Just before baking, loosely stuff the turkey. Place remaining
- stuffing in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish; cover and
- refrigerate. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking.
- Skewer turkey openings; tie drumsticks together with kitchen string.
- Place breast side up on a rack in a roasting pan. Brush with melted
- butter.
- Bake, uncovered, at 325° for 3-3/4 to 4-1/2 hours or until a meat
- thermometer reads 180° for the turkey and 165° for the
- stuffing, basting occasionally with pan drippings (cover loosely
- with foil if turkey browns too quickly).
- Bake additional stuffing, covered, for 45-50 minutes or until a meat
- thermometer reads 160°. Uncover; bake 10 minutes longer or until
- lightly browned. Cover turkey with foil and let stand for 20 minutes
- before removing stuffing and carving. Yield: 12 servings (16 cups
- stuffing).
Additional butter, melted

Psalm 9:10

2011-11-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

Verse of the Day

Psalm 9:10 “Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.”

Recipe of the Day

Chicken & Veggie Pot Pie

Ingredients

2 medium potatoes cut in ½” pieces
3-4 Tbsp butter
¼ onion, chopped
2 carrots, diced
½ small head of broccoli, cut into small florets
½ cup frozen sweet peas, thawed
1 cup cooked & cubed chicken breast
3 Tbsp flour
½ cup milk (or more if needed)
½ tsp salt
Pepper to taste
1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 beaten egg + 1 tsp water
Pastry for double-crust pie (recipe follows)

Directions

Prepare pie crust. Preheat oven to 375˚. Blanch potatoes in salted boiling water for 2 minutes. Drain and set aside.
Heat butter on medium high. Add onions and sauté a few minutes. Add carrots and sauté a bit more. Add broccoli and sauté a bit more and cover for a minute to release the liquid. Stir in sweet peas and cooked chicken.
Sprinkle flour over mixture and stir until flour dissolves.
Pour milk over vegetables and stir until sauce thickens. Add more milk for a thinner sauce. Stir in potatoes.
Add salt& pepper to taste.
Remove mixture from heat and fill crust halfway. Sprinkle with ¼ cup cheese. Fill crust to top with remaining mixture and add remaining cheese.
Cover with second crust and pinch to seal. Poke holes in top of crust and brush with beaten egg mixture.
Bake at 375˚ for 40-45 minutes until the crust is nice and brown.

Pastry for Double-Crust Pie

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour

½ tsp. salt

½ cup shortening

¼ cup cold water

Directions

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, stir together flour and salt. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add water and mix just until dough comes together, being careful not to over mix. Form into two ball and wrap each with plastic wrap. Place wrapped dough into a bowl and put in refrigerator to rest. Five minutes before use, remove dough from refrigerator. On a lightly floured surface, roll out each dough ball into 10 inch circles.

What's For Dinner Tonight?

2011-11-20T14:30:00.001-07:00

Here's a simple dinner idea for tonight that uses ingredients you probably already have on hand. Hope your family enjoys it as much as mine does.

Tater Tot Casserole

Ingredients

1 lb. lean ground beef

1 small onion, chopped

1 garlic clove, minced

Salt & pepper to taste

3 cups fresh spinach

1 can (14 ½ oz.) green beans, drained

1 can (14 ½ oz.) corn, drained

1 can (14 ½ oz.) sweet peas, drained

1 (10 ½ oz.) can Cream of Mushroom Soup, undiluted

¼ to ½ cup sour cream

1 (32 oz.) package tater tots

1 ½ cups grated cheddar cheese

Additional salt & pepper (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 375°. In a large fry pan, brown ground beef, onion, garlic, salt and pepper. Add spinach to meat mixture and cook until wilted (about 3 minutes). Coat a 13 X 9 inch baking pan with a thin layer of cooking spray. Spread ground beef mixture in baking pan. Layer the green beans, corn and peas on top of meat mixture. In a small bowl, stir together soup and sour cream. Spread on top of vegetables. In rows, lay tater tots on top of soup mixture. Sprinkle with additional salt & pepper, if desired. Bake in oven for 30 minutes or until tater tots are golden. Pull casserole out of oven and sprinkle cheese on top. Return casserole to oven until cheese is melted and casserole is hot & bubbly (about 10 minutes).

Family Vacation

2011-07-22T12:25:00.000-06:00

Our family recently got back from vacationing in sunny Southern California. We had a magnificent time especially since the kids had never been there before. We attended Amber's graduation from Career Care Institute where she officially became a Licensed Vocational Nurse. YEAH! GO AMBER!!

While in California, we were blessed to meet Amber's boyfriend, Garrett and his lovely family. We also played in the ocean at Oxnard Beach while the sun set in the sky. We visited with my sisters, Bobbi & Stephanie & their families and my Dad & step-mom, Sharon. We went to Knott's Berry Farm and had a blast riding the roller coasters, water rides and eating dinner at Johnny Rockets. Of course, we also bought a few of Knott's delicious jellies before leaving! LOL! On the way home, we stopped in Las Vegas for a night and stayed at Circus Circus. Too bad we didn't strike it rich on the penny machines. LOL! Have fun viewing the pictures.

Amber the LVN!

Amber & her Grandmas

Three generations of women

Haddy & me

Aaron & Amber

Beautiful sisters!

Grace playing with Haddy

Grace & Isaiah having fun on the way home.

Aaron, Amber & me

Garrett & Amber

Our Family

Amber's Graduation Program

Isaiah, Micah & Nathanael at Oxnard Beach

Grace posing for a picture with Haddy & me in background.

All of us having fun at Oxnard Beach

Philippians 3:20

2011-06-14T10:06:00.000-06:00

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,” Philippians 3:20
What a relief it is to KNOW that we have our citizenship in heaven! While we live in this world for now, our true home is in heaven with our Father.

Changes

2011-06-02T14:28:00.000-06:00

Life is full of changes. Some are small and some are huge. Some come quickly and some progress slowly and over time.

I am a woman who does not particularly like change. In fact, I usually don't even move my living room furniture around. I much prefer life to stay at the same steady pace all the time. However, there have been a few new things come into my life over the last few months.

First, a few months ago I started trying to eat healthier and exercise three to four times a week. By the way, the Jillian Michaels: Ripped in 30 dvd really kicks my butt! Even after repetitively doing these new things, I still have to convince myself moment by moment that it will all be worth- while when there is less of me (at least physically) to love.

Second, just about three weeks ago, I started collecting and using coupons. I got interested in them after watching a couple of episodes of TLC's Extreme Couponing. The women on that show have really impressed me with their shopping savvy. I'm not sure that I'll have a massive stockpile like they do, but I DO need to save money at the grocery store and clipping coupons for things I buy anyway like Tide detergent and KIX cereal seems like a good way to save my hubby's hard earned dollars.

The last change so far is one that has progressed over the past eighteen years. My son, Christian, graduated from Delta High School just last week. Since he was born, he has continued to grow and change. But, the thought of him leaving home in just three short months to go to college at Adams State chokes me up. Mind you that this is the same child that I couldn't wait to grow up a few years ago. Now that he's older and more mature, I want him to stay home and bake cookies with me. Sigh.

He Knows Us By Name

2011-05-09T09:00:00.008-06:00

And the LORD said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.” Exodus 33:17

The Lord knows us by name. WOW! Such an incredible statement! With the population of the whole world being at 6,917,326,239 (according to the United States Census Bureau) the God of the Universe knows each one of us by name. He knows you and me by our names. We don’t have to be rich, famous or even incredibly intelligent for God to know us by name. He already does.

Prayer

Dear God, King of the Universe,

We pause to give You praise in this sacred moment. You are great and eternal. We praise You for knowing each of us by name. Thank You for Your great salvation in Jesus Christ and for Your Indwelling Spirit.

In Jesus Name, Amen.

The Lord knows us by name. WOW! Such an incredible statement! With the population of the whole world being at 6,917,326,239 (according to the United States Census Bureau), the God of the Universe knows each one of us by name. He knows you and me by our names. We don’t have to be rich, famous or even incredibly intelligent for God to know us by name. He already does.

Prayer
Dear God, King of the Universe,
We pause to give You praise in this sacred moment. You are great and eternal. We praise You for knowing each of us by name. Thank You for Your great salvation in Jesus Christ and for Your Indwelling Spirit.
In Jesus Name , Amen.

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-08T07:03:00.000-06:00

Today is Mother's Day. A day to celebrate and remember the women who have made a huge impact on our lives. While not all mothers are the best, we can at the least be grateful to them for giving us a chance to be born and live in this world.

I am blessed to have a mom who has always tried her to be the best mom she could be - even when I haven't always been the greatest daughter in the world or treated her with the respect she deserves. I can only ask her forgiveness for my mistakes and go on.

I strive to be a good mom to my own children. I do not claim to be an expert, but just as my mom did, I try to do my best. Praise be to God that I don't have to rely on my own wisdom to guide my family! I can put my faith and trust in the One who freely gives me His wisdom through his guiding Holy Spirit and His Holy Word. In Proverbs 31, Solomon describes what God defines as a woman of noble character. She is quite the woman, indeed. While I definitely fall short of this woman's attributes, I pray that God and my family can say these beautiful words of me: "Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate." Proverbs 31:28-31

Day Before Mother's Day

2011-05-07T08:54:00.000-06:00

Well, it's the day before Mother's Day and I stayed up till 2:30 AM cleaning what I'd put off cleaning all week long. I still have more to do, but it will have to wait because today will be filled with baseball. Both Christian and Isaiah have games today. Christian has two games, here in Delta and Isaiah has his final tournament game in Grand Junction. Aaron will go to Christian's game & I'll go to Isaiah's game. Such family togetherness. Of course the rest of the kids will all need (or want) to go in different directions, as well. Nathanael is already at his middle school play practice which he'll be at until about noon. Grace is at Gma's. She usually cleans her house for pay each Saturday, but a few days ago, she decided that today she would do it for free as a special Mother's Day gift. BTW, I sure wish anyone would clean my house for free! Unfortunately, I'm the maid around here. But at least I have a moto: If you want to come to my home to see me - please drop by anytime. If you want to come to see my house - MAKE AN APPOINTMENT! I need to go now so catch ya later.