And Narnialover95!! We also got another one from caitlyn98!!
Awarded by Hapyme5
Happy Fourth of July everyone! Here is a cute quote that goes well with today....
Charissa was out in the garage the other day getting ready to go do animal chores with some of us other girls. She said, "Give me some liberty, or give me some death....but please don't give me both!"
Rebekah informed her, "That means to let you go free, or let you die."
Charissa didn't respond for a moment, then turned to me and said, "That's what it means?!" *waving her hand in the air* "the whole conversation?!" : D Then later she asked me, "Does 'death' mean 'die'?"
* * *
Tonight we went to the annual patriotic concert in our area---it is equal to going to see the fireworks for us...nobody wants to miss it! I loved it : D Usually they have it outdoors, but it was rainy tonight, so the auditorium was packed! There were people standing up in the back and along the sides of the building for the whole program : ) Thankfully, we were able to get seats. Just barely.
Also, some of you know how we like to keep track of how many milkshakes our family gets at the fair each year---well we have officially started counting for this year : ) Last night we got 10 of them. Last year it was 76 in one week : ) I wonder if we'll beat that this year?!!!
Quote of the week:
"The King of love my shepherd is, His goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack if I am His and He is mine forever."
-Sir Henry William Baker-
The Bookshelf
But Not Forsaken
By Helen Good Brennaman
This is a story of a refugee family in the years following World War II. It is fiction, but is based on many real-life tales told to the author by refugee friends. A very neat book!
Video
This is a video of some funny piano playing!
This was posted on our blog several months ago, but we decided to post it again!
Something Funny
I was looking up "Vanilla Cake" on Cooks.com, and I found two of the strangest recipes for vanilla cake.
The first one was this:
Somebody was having too much fun playing around, or else their are really missing out on vanilla cake!!!
Recipe of the Week
Now for a real recipe!
Breakfast Casserole
Four slices bread (any kind)
12 fully cooked sausage links
1-2 cups cheese
6 eggs
2 cups milk
1 teaspoon salt
Tear or cut up the bread and place in a greased 9"X13" pan. Cut the sausage links into small pieces and sprinkle over the bread, along with the cheese. Beat together the eggs, milk, salt, and a dash (or two) of pepper. Pour egg mixture over bread and sausage. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until done.
Favorite Websites
Two places with many neat teacups, teapots, tea cozies, tea jewelry, tea stationery, tea decor, tea aprons, tea anything!
missladybug's blog
Cute Quotes
We have often told the little girls not to water the flowers while the sun is shining on them, or else the sun will scorch the plants.
So, one rainy day the sun started shining while it was still raining, and Bekah said, "Oh no! It's raining on the flowers and the sun is shining, it's going to fry them!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Charissa asked out of the blue, "Is this tomorrow?"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
One night Anna put a tape of Otto Koning's missionary stories in their tape player to listen to while going to sleep. Bekah was whining and said, "I want that music off!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Some things Charissa said while playing house with Bekah:
"Bring your childs too!"
"Mommy, the phone is answering!"
(meaning, the phone is ringing)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Last week, my dear sisters (Susannah and Cassia) and all their dear help, were gone at a orchestra camp! And do you know that it was that same week that the strawberries needed picked! Of course! Usually the four of us older girls do the food preserving together, and even though the younger girls help a lot, it is usually us four who have the bigger portion (understandably : ). Well, I was about to discover how wonderfully well my younger sisters (and Noah!) could pick and help with strawberries!
The first time we went was earlier in June, and because of the frost this spring, there weren't very many--it took us about 1-1/2 hours for several of us to pick a total of 25 lbs!!!! Last week, when we went, we picked about 50 pounds. We thought "Great! Now we just have to pick about 50 more." (Last year we picked 133 lbs. and had some left over, so we figured another hundred pounds would last us until next year.) So the last time we went picking, we brought a few extra pots and bowls to fill. I'm not sure why!
At about 10:30 a.m. Leah, Anna, Bekah, Charissa, Noah and I walked into the big strawberry patch with our many containers, and we picked until about 11:50 a.m. Everybody did great and I was so happy with how well the littles picked with such little whining : ) Any of you with younger siblings konw how hot sun + work sometimes causes whining 
. Towards the end, Noah came up to me and said, "Do I have to pick anymore, 'cause I'm tired!" So I look up, and the poor little dear has sweat running down his red face! He is so cute! When we brought them up for the man to weigh the berries, he asked me if I wanted to know how many pounds we had gotten. I said "yes" because we always like to keep track of those things : D I was SO surprised when he said that it was 100 pounds! I almost wanted to ask, "Are you sure?!"
We took them home and got them all washed, and hulled, made pancake syrup, made jam, and put the extra into the freezers on freezer paper, so they wouldn't all be clumped together when we put them in the bags. Our plan was to put them into bags once they were frozen-- like the next day. By now, my wonderful sisters came home---but they had to work on projects, and Leah and I were helping Anna and Bekah with their projects, so it was several days that those berries were layed out like that, taking up all our freezer space! Yesterday, Leah and I finally piled all those strawberries into our biggest laundry basket, and set up a table outside to bag berries on. The girls had a lot of the tables taken up with 4-H projects, and it was nicer to work outside anyways. And if you dropped any strawberries on the grass, you didn't have to wash the grass like you would need to wash the floor in the kitchen : D So, here are pictures!
My little helpers, helping me clean berries : )
I am amazed, and happy to see that there were not piles of dishes in the background of this picture : D The whole kitchen was a big mess when we were done, so this must have been the next day, after everything was cleaned up : )
Strawberry Pancake Syrup
Fill blender with cleaned strawberries and 3/4 to1 c. of sugar. Blend until smooth. If you want to freeze it, put it into freezer containers and leave a 1/2 inch head space, just as you would for freezer jam. Makes about 3 or 4 pints.
Leah and I bagging the frozen berries.
Leah found a heart shaped berry!
The aftermath : )
2009 Strawberry Inventory
(maybe you didn't want all this information, but I love making lists like this and taking inventory of what we have 
.)
Left over from 2008
Jam: 9 jars
Frozen Berries: 20 bags
Made in 2009:
Jam: 28 jars
Syrup: 11 jars
Frozen Berries: 52 bags
TOTAL of '08 and '09 together:
Jam: 37 jars
Syrup: 11 jars
Frozen Berries: 72 bags
And now, to see what we've been up to, here is a picture of my cute little brother, Isaiah, at 4-H judging today : ) I guess that doesn't show much of the judging part, but I didn't get very many pictures of the other parts : D
Have a great day!
The other day I was out mowing our yard, and noticed that our honeysuckle bushes are blooming! For me, the scent of honeysuckle reminds me of past summers and makes me so excited for the coming one : ) Here are some pictures that I took...it's just too bad I can't post the scent, too!
I cut some to put in my room : )
Yes, I know the desk is messy
. I just liked the mirror's reflection : )
This next picture has nothing to do with honeysuckle, but it was too cute to pass up : )
Have a great summer : )
The cat watching....
...the rabbit on the other side of the yard
Quotes of the week:
"This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us." -- Western Union internal memo, 1876.
"The wireless music box has no imaginable commercial value. Who would pay for a message sent to nobody in particular?" -- David Sarnoff's associates in response to his urgings for investment in the radio in the 1920s
"No flying machine will ever fly from New York to Paris." -- Orville Wright.
"Airplanes are interesting toys but of no military value." -- Marechal Ferdinand Foch, Professor of Strategy, Ecole Superieure de Guerre.
The Bookshelf
"The Inheritance" by Christoph von Schmid
Video
Candid Camera--Museum
Recipe of the Week
Dick's Homemade Ice Cream
Perfect for hot weather : )
2 1/2 c. sugar
6 eggs, beaten
3 c. half and half or whipping cream
2 c. milk
2 T. vanilla
5 drops lemon extract*
Beat all the above ingredients together very well with an electric beater. Heat and stir until mixture is just hot enough to be uncomfortable when you stick you finger in it : D
Pour into an 6 qt. ice cream tin. Add 1 quart more of milk. Dissolve 6 junket tablets in a small amount of water and add to ice cream mixture. Freeze. We have made this without the junket before and it still works : ) In case you are wondering why it is called "Dick's Homemade Ice Cream" ---Dick is a cousin of ours who gave us this recipe, and taught us how to make ice cream : ) He and his wife, Ann, are SO much fun to visit with!
What is Junket?! It is a brand of rennet tablets that help with thickening the ice cream. We used to be able to get ours at Wal-Mart by the ice cream toppings section, but I guess Wal-mart does not believe in them anymore :( Oh dear! Click here to see a picture of Junket.
*this does not make the ice cream taste like lemon, it just gives it a really yummy flavor : )
~Jessica
Favorite Websites
A place to get your digital pictures printed. And they even have a "get the first 50 prints FREE!" deal : )
Click here to see the post they did about poaching the poachers : D
Cute Quotes
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
One day Bekah was telling Leah about a game she and some of the other girls had been playing. She said the game was "True or Floss?"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Noah said: "Where's the garage sale stop sign?"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
One of my favorite things is when the little girls are just starting to read and try to spell words out--here are a few of those words : ) ~Jessica
vgdubou = vegetable
mornene = morning
ice ceem = ice cream
stubbry = strawberry
saled = salad
and one of my most favorites...
weping well loos = weeping willows
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I know we have kind of "disappeared" off the face of the earth, (and even have not posted the last "Seven Sister's Treasures" )! But we have been VERY busy! In one week (and a day ) Cassia and I are going to an orchestra day camp that will be from Monday to Friday, and we are staying with friends there. And, the Monday and Tuesday after that is 4-H general project judging. Then, the week after that is the 4-H fair! We almost live there that whole week because we are bringing/showing four different animals! (And multiples of each ;-) When the crazy-ness is over, we will post about everything we did...that is, probably after camping. CAMPING? Right after the fair!? 
It is a family reunion, so we like to camp then. I didn't say we like coming home and leaving in a few minutes to be gone all weekend, but we do like camping! 
(Okay, I think that is quite enough smiles!)
So, to say all that....the main point I am getting to is that you will most likely see little or no posts for a few weeks! Unless on of us who will probably be staying up all night to finish projects gets into a silly mood and feels like posting about how crazy we are in the middle of the night! :-D
Okay, now to the original post! :-)
On Friday I did some work outside. I enjoy working outside (when I have time!), so this was fun!
We received our strawberry plants in the mail that evening, so after supper (and feeding animals, and washing dishes....), I planted them right before dark. It usually gets dark around 9:30-10:00-ish, so I had time :-)
Here is one of the twenty-five strawberry plants I planted. I know, it is not wise to plant when it is almost dark....the mosquitoes are out to bite!! I learned the hard way :-)
Then, Cassia ran the tiller in-between the rows of corn and beans, and I weeded them.
This is...um....some of the rest of the garden. I intended on weeding it that night, but it did not (obviously)get done! We are doing the square-foot gardening, so hopefully it will be easier to control the weeds! (*Clear throat*!)
I originally started this post last month when we plowed and planted. But, I did not finish it. So, here are the pictures of the beginning
This is out in the field. We are renting an acre North of us to plant more pasture for the goats and plant some of our garden out there. Right now the strawberries, corn, watermelon and pumpkin are out there.
(This is also a "before" picture :-)
~Susannah
Want to join? Click here.
Today...June 8th (!) 2009
Outside my window...It is just getting light. I hope it is warm today
I am thinking...That we really should update in-between the Seven Sister's Treasures and Simple Maiden's Daybook
I am thankful that...As Christians we are supposed to have fun and be joyful, not sober and gloomy.
I am wearing...My nightgown
I am reading...Psalms, Proverbs and Haggai. No other books...still
I am creating...tatted bookmarks, 4-H dress(es) see pictures below, crocheted lace, etc. etc.
One of my favorite things...Not having to use the seam ripper in sewing Which can be quite rare!
For education this week...Science, history, copywork, 4-H, Spanish, spelling, grammar, etc. :-) New math book is here!
A keeper at home skill I am using...Organizing, ("spring") cleaning, cooking, sewing, needlecraft.
A spiritual lesson I am learning...Being a doer of the word and not a hearer only (James 1:22)
A godly character trait I am working on...Patience
For the rest of the week...2 4-H llama meetings, lots of sewing, lots of tatting (both for 4-H), cello lesson, 4-H, 4-H, 4-H! (I am trying to get everything done before I go to a music camp on the last week of June!)
A picture I'd like to share...
This is one of my 4-H dresses....still to be finished
~The skirt 
~Part of the bodice and the other piece is a sleeve :-)
~A close-up of the sleeve, you can kind of see the tucks
~Susannah
Quote of the week:
(We like to use these quotes sometimes )
~Daniel Boone
~Thomas A. Edison
The Bookshelf
"Amy and Her Brothers" by Sarah S. Baker
Video
Just For Laughs--Police Prank With License Plate
Recipe of the Week
Sweet Potato Rolls
Ingredients: ~These are some of our favorite rolls!
- 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and quartered
- 1-1/2 cups water
- 2 packages (1/4 ounce each) active dry yeast
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 6 to 7 cups all-purpose flour
Directions:
In a large saucepan, bring potatoes and water to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until tender. Drain, reserving 1 cup cooking liquid; cool liquid to 110° to 115°. Mash potatoes; set aside 1 cup to cool to 110°-115° (save remaining potatoes for another use).
In a large bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in reserved potato liquid; let stand for 5 minutes. Add reserved mashed potatoes, butter, honey, oil, eggs, salt and 1-1/2 cups flour; beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough.
Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
Punch dough down and turn onto a floured surface; divide into 30 pieces. Shape each piece into a ball. Place 10 balls each in three greased 9-in. round baking pans. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes.
Bake at 400° for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool. Yield: 2-1/2 dozen.
Favorite Websites
A website that has a lot of goat information.
Cute Quotes
Charissa said awhile ago, "Once we were playing, probably like the day after yesterday, and...."
~♫~♫~♫~♫~♫~♫~♫~♫~♫~♫~♫~♫~♫~
A few months ago, Charissa was cutting the peel off of a banana and said, "I wonder how they get the bananas in these things!"
~♫~♫~♫~♫~♫~♫~♫~♫~♫~♫~♫~♫~♫~
Noah asked Daddy, "Daddy, can I go outside if I come back in?"
After Daddy thought about it, he said, "Well, if you come back in!"
Quote of the week:
"And people who do not know the Lord ask why in the world we waste our lives as missionaries. They forget that they too are expending their lives...and when the bubble has burst they will have nothing of eternal significance to show for the years they have wasted."
~Nate Saint~
What are we spending our lives on?
The Bookshelf
"House of Love" by Elizabeth Cheney
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKEeHREK2nQ
ImprovEverywhere--Mobile Desktops
Recipe of the Week
Aunt Donna's No Bake Cookie Bars--the best!!!
1 C. sugar
1/4 C. cocoa powder
1/3 C. milk
2 T. butter
Combine ingredients and cook until it boils for about a minute on medium high heat. Remove from heat and add:
3/4 C. peanut butter
2 C. quick oats
1/4 C. coconut
Stir in peanut butter FAST! Spread in buttered 11"X9" baking pan. Refrigerate until set, then cut into squares. These never last more than two days at our house!
Favorite Websites
A website that has all kinds of bread recipes! I have made the Molasses Oatmeal Bread and it was very good! ~Susannah
This is where my tatting needles and book came from. They also have a few free patterns! ~Susannah
Anna93's blog
Cute Quotes
One of the little girls called Weeping Willows "Weeping Pillows"
Want to join? Click here.
Today...May 25th 2009
Outside my window...Cooler than the last few days, but still quite nice!
I am thinking...About all the letters I need to catch up on!
I am thankful for...Siblings
I am wearing...My chicken jumper
I am reading...Psalms, Proverbs, Joel, and Ezekiel.
I am creating...My 4-H dress, other sewing, etc. The tatted bookmark is done! See pictures below.
One of my favorite things...Planting gardens!
For education this week...Science, history, copywork, 4-H, Spanish, spelling, grammar, etc. :-) New math book is coming soon!
A keeper at home skill I am using...Organizing, cleaning, cooking, sewing, needlecraft.
A spiritual lesson I am learning...Prayer
A godly character trait I am working on...Patience
Scripture I am memorizing...Psalms 138:8
For the rest of the week...Garage sale Thursday-Saturday; graduation to go to on Saturday; cleaning and 4-H llama meeting Thursday; finish planting the garden...I hope :-) and everything else in-between!
A picture I'd like to share...
The tatted bookmark I finished:
~Susannah
Yesterday when we were out doing the grocery shopping, I was behind a truck and noticed his bumper sticker. It read:
" I'll keep my money, my freedom, and my guns, and you can keep the change."
Dishes Before...
During...
After!
Quote of the week:
"He that rises late must trot all day"
~Benjamin Franklin
The Bookshelf
The Hidden Hand--by E.D.E.N. Southworth
We found this on "The HSB Backyard"
Recipe of the Week
Sour Cream
1/4 c. sour cream (as a starter)
1/2 c. heavy whipping cream
1/2 c. whole milk OR more whipping cream (we use goat's milk : )
Mix all together well and pour into a glass jar. Cover with a lid and let set in an even temperatured place, such as in the cupboard over your refrigerator, for 24 hours. It should be thick after that, then you can refrigerate it. When we used homemade sour cream for starter, the sour cream gets a little softer, or "runnier", but still tastes like sour cream. Sour cream is a staple around here, so we were happy to find out a way to save some money, AND use up our abundance of goat milk : )
We usually get the 24 oz. (3 cup) container of sour cream at Wal Mart and it costs over two dollars. The same amount of homemade sour cream (not including the cost of the milk), is only a little over a dollar, especially if you use homemade sour cream as starter. I know, only a dollar's savings doesn't seem like much, but if you buy lots of sour cream, it adds up!
Favorite Websites
This is where my pokebonnet came from : ) ~Jessica
Another hat place : )
This lady did a tutorial on how to make your own pokebonnet--it is so pretty and a lot cheaper than the ones you usually buy : )
Click here.
Cute Quotes
Charissa said, "Stop acting like you're death!"
(She got 'deaf' mixed up with 'death' : )
~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~
Noah came to Cassia and said,
"Charissa told me if the sky turn green then a tomato will come!"
(tomato=tornado)
~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~
Charissa has a space on her chore list that says "Important!" and a space for "What I want to do this week" on that chart. Here is what she wrote beneath each of them:
Important!
Obey!
What I want to do this week:
Obey God and be good!
Good things to put on your list!
Want to join? Click here.
Today...May 18th 2009
Outside my window...A nice, warm and spring-type day!
I am thinking...About the garage sale we are having in two weeks!
I am thankful for...Spring flowers
I am wearing...My yellow jumper with daisies on it.
I am reading...Psalms, Proverbs, Hosa, and Ezekiel. No other books...for now :-)
I am creating...Homemade sour cream, a tatted bookmark and an Edwardian apron for outside!
One of my favorite things...Planting gardens!
For education this week...Science, history, copywork, 4-H, Spanish, spelling, grammar, etc. :-)Dave Ramsey's "Financial Peace School Curriculum" is finished!
A keeper at home skill I am using...Developing good relationships with my siblings, and making sour cream and such! :-)
A spiritual lesson I am learning...Prayer
A godly character trait I am working on...Patience
Scripture I am memorizing...Psalms 138:8
For the rest of the week...Dog club tomorrow night, cello lessons on Wednesday, getting stuff ready for the garage sale, llama meeting Thursday night, cello recital Saturday and I want to get more sewing and tatting done.
A picture I'd like to share...(or two!)
The sour cream I made on Friday. We go through lots of it!
Half of the tatted bookmark :-) I'll post finished pictures when it's done.
~Susannah
Quote of the week:
"Thou hast created us for Thyself, O God,
and our hearts can never be quieted till they find repose in Thee."
-St. Augustine-
The Bookshelf
"Pollyanna" by: Eleanor Porter
A funny video about the separation of church and state
Recipe of the Week
Cappuccino Muffins
Espresso Spread:
4 oz. cream cheese, cubed
1 T. sugar
2 T. French Vanilla Instant Cappuccino
1/2 t. vanilla
1/4 C. semisweet chocolate chips
Muffins:
2 C. flour
3/4 C. sugar
2-1/2 t. baking powder
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. salt
1 C. milk
1/4 C. French Vanilla Instant Cappuccino
1/2 C. butter melted
1 egg, beaten
1 t. vanilla
3/4 C. semisweet chocolate chips
-
In a food processor or blender, combine the spread ingredients; cover and process until well blended. Cover and refrigerate until serving.
-
In a bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. In another bowl, stir milk and cappuccino together until the cappuccino is dissolved. Add the butter, egg and vanilla; mix well. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in the chocolate chips.
-
Fill greased muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 375° for 17-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans. Serve warm with the espresso spread.
Yield: about 14 muffins and 1 cup of spread.
Favorite Websites
and
are good places to find what ever recipes you are looking for! I use them a lot! ~Susannah
We have bought two of her CD's and I have really enjoyed them! At her site you can buy her CD's, buy music that she has arranged, listen to samples of her music, and read about her. ~Cassia
Cute Quotes
Charissa said, "Myself is iching me!"
~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~
Charissa came inside and said, "We cracked two eggs."
Jessica asked her, "What were you doing with the eggs?"
(C) "Um, we accident dropped them on purpose!"
Hello!
I got 2 new rabbits
So here are some pictures of them!
This one's name is Cricket,
I love it when Cricket does this:-)
And this one's name is Cherry!
That day I got them was sunny and rainy. Here is a rainbow that we saw.
There really was a double one but the second one was very faint
Have a nice day!
Anna
Want to join? Click here.
Today...May 11th 2009
Outside my window...are the goats! We moved them to the pasture on the other side of the property and that happens to be outside "my" window!
I am thinking...that Happ's Icecream sounds really good!
I am thankful for...family and friends
I am wearing...My green/daisy/dragonfly dress with an "under jumper" instead of a "under skirt".
I am reading... Psalms, Proverbs, Isaiah; "Praying Backwards", and "His Chosen Bride" (an excellent book!).
I am creating...4-H projects and a new nightgown!
One of my favorite things...History and science!
For education this week...Science, history, copywork, Dave Ramsey's "Financial Peace School Curriculum", Spanish, spelling, grammar, etc. :-)
A keeper at home skill I am using...Cooking, sewing,
A spiritual lesson I am learning...Contentment
A godly character trait I am working on...Patience
For the rest of the week...dentist today, Spanish lesson tomorrow, splitting wood, 4-H llama meeting, cleaning out the flower garden, planting the vegetable and flower garden, sewing, and getting ready for a garage sale. There may be more than that, but that is all I can think of right now :-)
A picture I'd like to share...
"Thi' i' you, Honana!" ("This is you, Susannah") Said my 4 year old brother, Noah. I thought it was pretty cute!
~Susannah
I have kept meaning to post these recipes...but never got to it till now :-) Here and there, since I have been cooking a lot more, I (a few are from my sister) found recipes here and there (and changed a few ) for those things that people always buy. So, I will post some or all of them here for others who want to save and to cook healthy! (Think of all that unnecessary stuff they put in the canned foods! Yuck!)
Instant Vanilla Pudding
Makes the amount of a big box
3/8 C. Sugar
1/8 C Flour
1/4 t. Vanilla
Mix together and it's ready to use!
Ketchup
A really simple, quick, easy to throw together when you need it!
Makes about 3-1/2 cups
1 can (15 oz.) of tomato sauce
1 can (6 oz.) tomato paste
1 C. sugar
4 t. salt
1/2 C. vinegar
Mix together and it's ready to use!
Uncanned Condensed Soup
Cream of Chicken, Cream of Mushroom, Tomato Soup, Mushroom Celery Soup, Cream of Cheese soup, etc....
Makes one 15 oz. can
3 T. butter or oil
3 T. flour
1/4 t. salt
dash of pepper
1-1/4 C. milk
In a saucepan, melt butter and stir in flour. Add seasonings and cook over medium heat until bubbly. Add milk stirring with a wire whisk until thick.
For Tomato Soup: use tomato juice instead of milk. Add dashes of garlic and onion powder, basil and oregano.
Mushroom/Celery Soup: Sauté 1/4 C. chopped mushrooms or celery and 1 T. minced onion in butter before adding flour.
Cream of Mushroom/Chicken Soup: Sauté mushrooms or chicken in butter before adding flour.
Shortcut Refried Beans
Makes 2 (15 oz.) cans
3/4 C. dried pinto beans
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. ground cumin
1/2 t. chili powder
2-1/2 C. warm water
1/2 C. salsa
Grind pinto beans until fine using a food grinder. Place in a saucepan, and whisk in salt, cumin, chili powder, and warm water. Bring to a boil over medium heat, and cook until thick--about 15 minutes. When thick, remove from heat and stir in salsa.
Chili Seasoning Mix
Makes 6 packages
1-1/8 C. flour
1/3 C. chili powder
2 T. ground cumin
1-1/2 T. minced garlic
2 t. sugar
3/4 C. minced onion
2 T. salt
1 T. hot pepper flakes
Combine and divide into 6 containers. 1 package to 1 pound of hamburger.
Alfredo Sauce
4 servings
1/4 C. butter
1 C. heavy cream
1/4 t. minced garlic
1-1/2 C. parmesan cheese
1/4 C. chopped fresh parsley
Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium/low heat. Add cream and simmer for 5 minutes, then add garlic and cheese and whisk quickly, heating through. Stir in parsley and serve.
What do you use the Alfredo Sauce for? Try....
Overstuffed Shells
Serves 12
10-oz. package frozen spinach, thawed and drained
2 C. mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 C. cooked ham, diced
2 C. chicken, cooked and shredded
15 oz. container cottage cheese
1/2 C. grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 C. fresh parsley, minced
1-1/2 t. garlic powder
1-1/2 t. onion powder
2 recipes of Alfredo Sauce, divided
12 oz. package jumbo shell pasta, cooked
Garnish: parsley and tomato, chopped
Mix spinach, 1-1/4 C. mozzarella cheese, ham, chicken, cottage cheese, parmesan cheese, parsley, garlic and onion powders together; set aside. Spread 2 cups Alfredo Sauce into the bottom of an ungreased 9" X 13" pan and one cup in an ungreased 8" X 8" pan. Spoon about 2 T. of filling into each pasta shell; arrange shells in a single layer on top of Alfredo Sauce. Bake at 350° for 35 minutes or until sauce starts to bubble; sprinkle remaining cheese over top. Bake for an additional 5 minutes or until cheese melts; garnish with parsley and tomato. Serve with garlic bread.
10-Minute Enchilada Sauce
Makes 2 (15 oz.) cans
1/4 C. oil
2 T. flour
1/4 C. chili powder
8 oz. tomato sauce
1-1/2 C. water
1/4 t. ground cumin
1/4 t. garlic powder
1/4 t. salt
Mix all ingredients well, heat, and it's ready to serve!!
Taco Seasoning Mix
Makes 1 package
2 t. minced onion
2 t. chili powder
1 t. salt
1 t. ground cumin
1/2 t. minced garlic
1/2 t. cornstarch
1/2 t. oregano
1/2 t. basil
Mix all ingredients together. Store in an air-tight container.
When ready to use: Brown one pound of hamburger. Add Taco Seasoning Mix, 2 T. sugar, 1/2 C. water, and 1/4 C. ketchup. Cook until water is evaporated.
Sausage
Makes one pound
1 lb. hamburger
1/2 t. nutmeg
1/2 t. sage
1/2 t. thyme
1/8 t. cayenne pepper
1 t. salt
Cook all ingredients together. This has been a life saver for those times when I needed sausage and we had none!!!
Veggie Dip
1 C. sourcream, cottage cheese or plain yogurt
1 C. mayonnaise
dash of soy sauce
1 t. dill weed
1/2 t. onion powder
1 t. garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste
Mix all ingredients and serve with vegetables. Very yummy and, in my opion, better than store bought!!
French Dressing
1 C. oil
1/2 C. water
1/2 C. apple cider vinegar
1 C. sugar
2/3 C. ketchup
2 t. salt
2 t. paprika
2 T. mustard
1/4 medium onion
Blend all ingredients together in blender until smooth.
Blender Mayonnaise
Makes 2 cups
2 eggs, at room temperature
2 T. lemon juice
1/2 t. salt
1 t. dry mustard 1-1/4 C. oil
2 T. honey
Combine all ingredients except oil in blender at high speed for 1 minute. Slowly and gradually add oil. Refrigerate in a non-metal container.
Western Dressing
Makes 1 (16 oz.) bottle
2 C. Miracle Whip
1 C. sugar
1/4 C. vineger
1/2 C. ketchup
2 t. mustard
1 t. paprika
4 t. water
1/2 C. oil
1/2 t. salt
Blend all together in blender.
~Susannah
Quote of the week:
"The more obstacles you have, the more opportunities there are for God to do something."
~Clarence W. Jones~
The Bookshelf
An excellent book "to instruct young women to fully and completely trust God with their future, placing their hopes and dreams, even the 'desires of their hearts' into the trustworthy hands of their loving Heavenly Father. "
A funny, and eye-opening video : )
Favorite Websites
More free old-fashioned clip art : )
One of our favorite places to get music : ) You can print it right off--no shipping charges!
Warning - Disclaimer! Not responsible for all the money you may spend here!!!
Also puts out a magazine called "Seasons At Home". We recently got our first issue and it is FULL of neat articles and projects, such as soapmaking, how to make your own beeswax lip balm, yogurt recipes, ribbon embroidery, etc. It was originally Mommy's present, but we girls are just LOVING it!
We love their printable weekly coupons!
A delightful blog that really feels like a tea ~ room!
Cute Quotes
Charissa asked Jessica, "You know the president that the girls say look like me when I was little?"
(J) "Yeah?"
(C) "Does he look like me when I was little?"
(J) "Oh, I don't know. I'd have to see the picture."
(C) "Bekah and Anna said he looks like me when I was little."
Then, Bekah said, "That's what we said way back in the 80's!"
Jessica, of course, laughed, and so did Bekah and Charissa.
Then, Bekah said, "I don't know what I'm talking about!"
~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~
Cassia was looking for Charissa, and hollered up the stairs for her.
Noah walked past her and said, "I don't know where she is, she loot."
Meaning, "she's loosed" in his way of saying "she's lost".
