Give Peas a Chance

Free Friday- Mother's Day Blessings

2013-05-24T09:00:00.000-04:00

OK, this is a total re post because I was just so shocked, excited, and well, thankful, and excited. I entered my book below in NerdWallet's Mother's Day Your Way Contest, AND I won for Best Overall Entry. Isn't that crazy? I mean, of course I think it's the BEST gift ever. I was just so surprised.
My girls did update my book. Sweet drawings, and little notes. I had a wonderful Mother's Day.

The girls (and DH) made me breakfast in bed. I heard my middle girl, sweet Piglet, up early that morning in the schoolroom. She was crafting something. I wasn't sure what. But on the weekends she's usually up, both my older girls. My oldest reading, my middle girl crafting, sometimes reading. When I got up they brought me breakfast. I walked out of the room and Piglet had laid out a baby blanket in front of my door. She said it was my red carpet. So sweet.
DH had taken the girls out to buy cards for me. Piglet laid them all out on the couch. She set them up, with stuffed animals, little trinkets. She's my gift giver. So very thoughtful and kind. We got to go to church and we just spend time together. Perfection.

I'm just so thankful and blessed, such perfect timing.

Be sure to check out all the wonderful entries and winners on NerdWallet's blog.

Back to my book, it's not too late to start one for Mother's Day or Father's Day. I think a Christmas or Thanksgiving tradition would be great. The whole family could draw or write on a page each year.

Anyway, here's my post-

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Engraved Serviceware today $14.99

2013-05-24T08:51:00.002-04:00

Today on Pick Your Plum, you know how I feel about Pick Your Plum here on Give Peas A Chance right? This is one of my FAVORITE items from them. The deal goes live at 0900 EST. If I have guessed correctly what it is, you should go and pick them QUICK so they don't run out on you! Last time they were $20.

I'd love if you SHARED/LIKED/PINNED this post and check them out in about 15 minutes!! http://tracking.pickyourplum.com/SH58

If you pin this post leave me a link to your pin on Pinterest :)

Roasted Tomato Basil Cod

2013-05-23T09:30:00.000-04:00

A simple, yummy meal. Fragrant from the fresh basil, and the mango salsa gives texture and more flavor. I really need to get more of my fish recipes typed out and posted on here. Sigh.
The Cod is roasted with a pat of my homemade ghee and basil that I keep in my freezer. I just make the compound, and freeze it in an ice cube tray or in rolls. I also topped the Cod with cherry tomatoes.
Once roasted, the Cod is topped with Mango Salsa.
The Mango Salsa has mango, cucumber, cilantro, red bell pepper, garlic, salt, jalapeno, lime juice, and onion.
Easy Peasy.
Looking for more Whole 30 here on Give Peas A Chance?

Wednesday Words- Caring And Sharing

2013-05-22T08:44:00.000-04:00

I will be pinning and/or sharing some of your links. Have a great day!

Share your recipes and tips for sharing a meal with a family that needs a pick me up and new moms.

Read posting guidelines HERE.

Join me over on Facebook
Check out all of the great dishes being linked up on Facebook
Here they are on Pinterest

Prayers For Oklahoma

2013-05-21T09:29:00.000-04:00

I wanted to just let you all know that I'm cancelling this weeks Take It Tuesday.
Please keep Oklahoma and all those affected, all those hurting in your prayers.
Check with your local Red Cross if you are making a donation, or check Samaritan's Purse to make a donation and see where you can help.

Psalm 34:18

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Dear Jesus. So much on my heart, it's heavy. Please draw those that are hurting close to you. Please give strength and wisdom to those who need you so badly right now.

2013 Bento 99-110

2013-05-21T00:00:00.000-04:00

It's "Take It Tuesday" here on Give Peas A Chance, and while I don't pack Bento's anymore (or rarely do) I still use the label, so that's why the title says Bento.
I also have an invite for you all! Scroll on down...

In the lunches above

Congee

Bananas

Waters

Fruit Snacks (not pictured)

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GPAC Best Caprese Salad

2013-05-20T10:36:00.001-04:00

I LOVE Caprese salads. SO for this "Manic Monday" post, I'm re sharing this salad. And the whole post really.
I can't wait for summer and beautiful, juicy, summer tomatoes. Do you like Caprese salads?

Find more "ManIc MoNdaY" posts here.

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Baked Pancakes

2013-05-18T10:30:00.000-04:00

I saw this recipe on Pinterest, the original post is on the Big Red Kitchen blog. I was skeptical that these would taste good, then my family finished off the whole pan. Surprisingly these weren't heavy and dense. They were pretty fluffy. The recipe is easily adapted and you can add fruit, flavors, and more. I would make these again, especially for a crowd.

Dutch Baby

There are several pancake recipes on Give Peas A Chance, but here are some of them. If you search pancakes, more posts will come up.
Buttermilk Pancakes
Coconut Cream Pancakes
Yogurt Banana Pancakes
Crepes

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2013 Bento 92-98

2013-05-14T10:00:00.000-04:00

It's "Take It Tuesday" here on Give Peas A Chance, and while I don't pack Bento's anymore I still use the label, so that's why the title says Bento.

In the Planetbox

Chipotle Honey Chicken
Bell Peppers
Watermelon
Sunflower Seeds

Brookside Acai Blueberry Chocolates

The rest was for Diva

Oatmeal with cinnamon, honey, butter, and cream

Watermelon

Red Bell Peppers

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Manic Monday- Pineapple Pork Ribs

2013-05-13T13:56:00.001-04:00

I haven't made these Pineapple Pork ribs in a while! I think I'll put them on the menu!
You can find the simple recipe HERE, they are an oldie but goodie here on Give Peas A Chance.

Have a fantastic Manic Monday!

Find more "ManIc MoNdaY" posts here.

Popovers with Strawberry Honey Butter

2013-05-11T09:30:00.000-04:00

Yummy. Really yummy. Strawberries are coming in season too, so you must try these! Perhaps tomorrow for Mother's Day?
I based this popover recipe on the Dutch Baby we like so much. I used to make these in a muffin tin, same with my Yorkshire Pudding. Then I went to Zulily one day and Chicago Metallic was on there, so I got this little pan. But if you don't have a pan just use a muffin tin.

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Whole Food, Clean Eating, Give Peas A Chance

2013-05-09T09:30:00.000-04:00

IMAGE CREDIT LINK

There's no recipe in this blogpost. But I thought I would share a Pinterest board with you. It's a board where I've posted some farms in the Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia areas.

These farms specialize in grass fed beef/meats, organically grown vegetables, and milk products that are hormone free. Food that is pesticide free, herbicide free, hormone free. Whole foods that are "clean", non GMO also.
If you know of any farms I've missed please let me know, AND if you have resources for your area leave me a note in the comments section and we can all find resources. If you have a Pinterest account, start a board and share the resources so that we can support local farmers that are growing and raising our food responsibly!

I read through most of these sites to check, but you'll have to do your own research before you purchase.

Here's a link to my Pinterest board HERE.

Some farms and resources I've pinned so far but check the board for all of them!

Polyface Farms
Holly Grove Farm

Mount Vernon Grass Fed

Chapel's Country Creamery

Silky Cow LLC (Raw milk heard shares)
Washington's Green Grocer

West Wind Farm (Mountain grazed beef and more)

Really Raw Honey (Baltimore MD) I didn't pin this because the website wouldn't let me.

Free Friday- Best Mother's Day Gift Ever

2013-05-08T23:45:00.000-04:00

The new "Little Black Book".

**Another update!! I won the NerdWallet Contest for Best Overall entry! I was so surprised! Go check out the other amazing entries.
**It's not Friday, but I just didn't want to wait to post this, just in case you want to run out and get a book of your own ;) **
It's almost Mother's day. I wanted to share with you all the best gift ever. See that black book up there? It's a little worn looking. But, that's it. The best gift ever I mean. I know it doesn't look like much, but didn't your mother teach you not to judge a book by it's cover? ;)

Let me tell you about this book. About how a black, 9x13 inch (ish), less than $15, blank book could be the best gift ever. I haven't had this book for long, since about 2011. But every holiday, birthday, or anytime my girls want to get me a gift they use this book. They draw pictures, write letters or poetry for me. They fill the blank pages with their artwork and thoughts. I get to see their writing improve, their pictures get more detail. I get to look back and see what they are "into" at the moment. Princess flying unicorns, snakes, peacocks, and more. On some pages the girls have just traced their hands. At the beginning my oldest girl had to help my youngest by writing her name and date for her. Now my youngest can write her own name. *sniff*

I love my book. It's very special to me. When it's full, I'll add another. It's perfect, there's no wondering what to get mom, there's no need to spend money on trinkets. There's no cards and papers scattered all over the place.

How sweet are Diva's pictures of us on the beach and having a tea party? She even wrote a poem.

Piglet's picture on the left and Pixie's on the right.

This year I think I'll do a questionnaire with my girls and record their answers in my book.

Questions like

What do you think a mom's easiest job is?
What do you think a mom's hardest job is?
What is something your mom is great at?
What is something your mom loves to do when she's alone? (Errm I don't know if that's a good one, alone? huh? What's that? But I'm brainstorming here.)

What is your mom's favorite food?
What is something your mom always says?
How tall is your mom?
What was your mom like as a little girl?

What other questions should I ask?
Also what about you? Do you have a favorite Mother's day gift you've received or given?
Would you like to see more Mother's Day posts? Check out Nerd Wallets Mother's Day Your Way Contest entries!

Don't forget to enter my giveaway/s here.

Wednesday Words- Proverbs 31

2013-05-08T09:30:00.000-04:00

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

I just made this, and haven't done anything with it. Any ideas? Also let me know if you want a copy without my link on it.

2013 Bento 84-91

2013-05-07T09:30:00.000-04:00

I am so sorry for all the pictures in this post. Taken in a rush, sometimes at night with nothing but my yucky dining room lights. Sigh.

Happy Take It Tuesday!

These are in our Planetboxes, although Piglet asked me last week if I'd pack her a "real" bento. So maybe I can muster up some energy for that.

(Above)

Roasted Chicken

Romaine

Carrots

Bell Peppers

Tomatoes

Sunsweet Prunes

Rice Pudding (with Cinnamon and Cardamom)

Pork Carnitas

Lettuce

Simple Cabbage Salad

Mango Salsa

Pixie and I shared the Planetbox it has- I just packed it because we tend to graze.

Simple Cabbage Salad

Watermelon - that's alll her because I don't really like watermelon

Mango

Diva and Piglet

Spaghetti

Mango
Watermelon

Manic Monday- Super Sugga Cookies

2013-05-06T09:30:00.000-04:00

I know I just posted these on May (the) Fourth (be with you). BUT here are more pictures, and the link to the only Sugga Sugga Cookie recipe I use here on Give Peas A Chance.

Have a wonderful MaNic MonDaY!!
Find more "ManIc MoNdaY" posts here.

May The Fourth Be With You... (Star Wars Nerdiness)

2013-05-04T12:22:00.000-04:00

ANNNND I didn't even get a post up for today. I had meant to but I never got around to it so here is a quick post before "soccer Saturday" starts around here. It's May 4th, I had been thinking about it since April! Yes. I am a nerd. Yes I do have a Star Wars shirt on right now.

Anyway, thank goodness for late games this weekend.

Above is a Sugga Sugga cookie, as are the ones below. BEST Sugar Cookie Recipe EVER. I don't use any other recipe here on Give Peas A Chance.

Here are a couple of recent lunches, you can find more here.

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Grass Jelly Drink

2013-05-04T10:30:00.000-04:00

I grew up drinking this. My mom would make it for us as a treat. So refreshing and cooling. The beautiful dark brown/black cubes of jelly is Grass Jelly. It doesn't taste like grass, if it does at all it's mild. Not sweet, not salty. It's cooling. Just slightly bitter, not much. Thicker than Jello, but a little less dense than say Jello Jigglers. You'll often see it being served in Boba tea houses along with beans, jack fruit, Boba/tapioca pearls.

Growing up my mom mixed this with a light simple syrup, sometimes steeped with Pandan leaves and lots of crushed ice. Often she would add a splash of soy milk. Sometimes we'd have it with coconut milk, and it's cream, and a simple syrup. Now, I drink it with almond milk and a simple syrup. Sometimes coconut milk, simple syrup, basil seed, and pandan tapioca.

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Free Friday- Some Words About Kids

2013-05-03T09:30:00.000-04:00

Someecards

I get nervous when I don't hear my kids fighting. If they aren't fighting they are quietly planning an uprising.

Greek Chicken Kabobs With Greek Seasoning Blend

2013-05-02T16:19:00.002-04:00

These were a hit with the whole family. I thought I had made too much but there wasn't any leftover! The Greek Seasoning blend is easy to make, I had everything on hand. If you don't have fried lemon zest/peel, just omit and when you're marinating add fresh lemon zest.

Serve this with some Tzatziki sauce if you like, and pita bread.

The seasoning is versatile. Use it for other meats, or in a cucumber, yogurt salad dressing, in a vinaigrette So many things to use it with.

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Multi Prize Mother's Day Giveaway! #momsgifts

2013-05-01T00:10:00.000-04:00

My sweet girls.

Do you have any plans this Mother's Day? We don't live near either of our parents, so I get to spend Mother's day with our immediate family. I don't really have any plans. I'm not even sure what day it's on this year? We may go out to eat or something
What about gifts? Do you send cards to special women in your life that have "mothered" you, to your mom, aunts, grandma's? I have every intention of sending cards out, some years I have them stamped and ready and they never get sent out, I'm horrible. But we try to call/Skype people. As far as gifts for me,I have a blank sketch book that my girls draw pictures in or write letters in for me. They use it for birthdays, holidays, and just because when they want to "give" me something. The pages are signed and dated, my older girls help Pixie write the date. It's quite special to me. I'm tearing up writing about it, yes I am a sap.

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2013 Bento 77-83

2013-04-30T09:30:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Take it Tuesday!
In our handy Planetboxes.

Leftovers of grilled chicken, fried chicken, steak

Steamed broccoli

Red peppers

Strawberries

Clementines

Cinnamon apples

Acai berry chocolate things from Brookside Chocolates

I apologize for the pictures lately, I'm just glad I got pictures :)
Above is
Rice Pudding
Bacon
String Cheese
Red Bell Peppers
Kinda just thrown together but that's how most of our lunches are. About the rice pudding, I made it last night and it just kept growing in the pot! So I had a convo with DH that went like this-

"Umm. Honey, do you want some rice pudding?"
Dh- "sure, I'll be done in a minute."
"well, how much do you want, because I made... some, I have a lot ."
DH- "Well, can't you put some in the fridge for the girls tomorrow."
"I could. But I'm running out of containers, and I'm thinking I'll have to freeze some, because... well the rice grew."

AND in the AM Diva got out the BIG bowl to serve some and said- this is a lot of rice pudding! LOL.

In our lovely Lock N Lock's
Chicken Cesar Salad
Sunflower Seeds
Sunsweet Prunes

Manic Monday- Pineapple Prep 101

2013-04-29T17:58:00.000-04:00

Happy MaNiC MOnDAy! I posted this tutorial in 2008, and that whole post is a HOT mess. Whew. I reused some of the pictures, and took a few new ones. It looks a lot better even though it doesn't look awesome ;).

But this is still the best way to prep a pineapple. No fancy tools and it leaves you a lot more pineapple to enjoy!

What to do with Pineapple

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Tropical Preserves

Fresh Cranberry Relish

Strawberry Pineapple Paradise Pops

Freeze it for smoothies

Pineapple Pork Ribs

GPAC- Bacon Kettle Corn

2013-04-27T09:30:00.000-04:00

I honestly didn't think you could do much to Kettle Corn. I mean it's so simple. Sweet, salty, crunchy goodness. Well folks I was so wrong. I'm fine with admitting I was wrong, really. Now I puffy heart bacon, pork belly, pork fat in general. I like using home rendered lard for cooking, eating the Chicharrón, making Khai Pa Lo. Bacon and I are tight. Because if loving bacon is wrong, I don't want to be right. I'm talking Bacon Crack-ers tight. So why didn't ever do this before is beyond me. This recipe came about one night when I was cooking ahead for the weekend, and I needed bacon grease because my mason jar in the refrigerator was running low. It was a Friday night, I remember because it was movie night and I was making Kettle Corn for the movie. I put some bacon in the oven for the next day. The beautiful aroma filled the air- for reals. It was like this throughout my house-

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Coconut Limeade Slushie

2013-04-25T09:30:00.000-04:00

This may be one of my favorite drinks lately on Give Peas A Chance. I may have squealed with delight when I threw it together and it was so good. That doesn't always happen when I throw stuff together. So, yay! This Coconut Limeade Slushie came about one day when the weather was messing with us around here. It was pretending to be all warm for a stretch, but it lied. Really. Moving on, I had a bag of limes and thought about making my Cherry Vanilla Limeade. I didn't have cherries which is fine, my mom didn't ever use cherries. But then I thought I wanted something creamy. So I threw this together in the Vitamix and it was YUM. SO very good, the girls and I slurped it up, and later that week I made another batch. DH wasn't home to enjoy the goodness. We sat outside, the older girls ran up and down the sidewalk with Pixie trailing behind on her Radio Flyer tricycle. Happy to have our "Summer toes" as we call them, in sandals. Then, it got cold again. Sigh. It's OK I can still have my Coconut Limeade Slushies.

These are fairly simple to make and they can be made Whole30 compliant fairly easily. I hope you get to pack away those snow boots, if you haven't already and make up a batch of these.
Click here for more Whole30 posts.
More Give Peas A Chance on Chowstalker.

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