Sunday, December 19, 2010

Terrific Chicken Recipe

This is my mom's recipes and one of my favorites! I got some requests for the recipe tonight so I thought you all might like it too.

Rolled Chicken Breasts

6 boneless skinless chicken breasts (if you get the huge ones you can cut them in half)
1 jar of dried beef*
16 oz sour cream
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
Worcestershire sauce (I just slosh one glug in, about a tablespoon)
6 slices of bacon
slivered almonds (optional)

Roll chicken up and wrap with bacon. Line the pan with the dried beef and place wrapped chicken on top. Stir together the sour cream, mushroom soup, and Worcestershire sauce and spoon evenly over the chicken. Top with slivered almonds and bake at 250 degrees for 4 hours. Serve with mashed potatoes! If you are short on ingredients you can make it with 8 oz sour cream and 1 can of soup, but we like having the extra sauce and using it as gravy over the mashed potatoes.

*In case you don't recognize this, it is found by the canned tuna. It is just dried slices of beef. The small can will be enough to cover the bottom of you pan. Here is a link to a picture of it.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

How to be Free From Bitterness.

I have wanted to read How to be Free From Bitterness for some time. I even printed it off last week, but finally read it just last night. It is wonderful. It takes about 10 minutes to read and is worth every bit. Here are a few little excerpts:
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Guilt is what we feel when we sin, and bitterness is what we feel when others sin against us.

Bitterness is always based upon someone else's sin--whether real or imagined.

It is not concerned with how big the sin is; it is based upon how close it is....Bitterness is related to those people who are close.

The bible does not grant anyone the right to be bitter. The text says to get rid of all bitterness (Ephesians 4:31)

Bitterness remembers details...Memory is helped by review, review, and more review.

But suppose he does not quit? Suppose he never quits? Are you going to be bitter the rest of your life because someone else insists on being in sin?
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What can you do if you are bitter? Read on to find help.

Entire article here.

Cinnamon Raisin Biscuits

We got these from Schwans when I was growing up. This recipe tastes just like the ones from my childhood! If you don't have Christmas breakfast already planned then you could make these part of the meal.

Cinnamon Raisin Biscuits

1 c whole wheat flour*
1 c all purpose flour
4 t baking powder
1 t salt
1 t cinnamon
3/4 c butter
1/2 to 1 c milk
1 c raisins

Mix first 5 ingredients and cut butter in until there are no large hunks of butter left. You want it all crumbly and evenly mixed. Then add the raisins and the milk. Start with 1/2c and add more just until it will stick together well. You don't want it too sticky to work with. I like to use this dough whisk to mix it with. Turn the dough onto a floured surface, sprinkle a tiny bit of flour on top of it and knead with floured hands just a bit until it is uniform and not too sticky. Roll to 1/2 inch thick and cut out biscuits. Place on baking sheet with some space between them. Bake at 450 for 10-12 minutes (for 3 inch diameter biscuits). Allow them to cool a good bit and then top with the icing. If they are too hot it will all just run off. Store in an airtight container.

Icing

2 T butter melted
1 1/4 c powdered sugar
little big of water

Mix the butter and powdered sugar as much as you can and then add water just a tiny bit at a time. YOU DON"T WANT IT TOO THIN. Whisk until smooth.

YUM!

*I use freshly ground soft white wheat. Soft wheat flour is also known as whole wheat pastry flour. The soft wheat makes them lighter and fluffier than the hard wheat varieties. If you don't have access to the soft wheat then regular whole wheat flour will work just fine.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Contentment

Everything is needful that He sends; nothing can be needful that He withholds. Be content to bear the cross; others have borne it before you... (John Newton)

Thanks Lori for this quote!

Organizing Tiny Space

My friend Donna posted this video on facebook. This would not work for those with children of course, and it is not very conducive to hospitality (as Donna mentioned in her post). But, I was still motivated to look around and get rid of the things that are cluttering up my house, and taking up my time, that I do not even want or need! Maybe before you unwrap the gifts it would be helpful to do a 27 Fling Boogie.

Wednesday, December 08, 2010

Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk

If you run out during holiday baking, no need to run to the store! My grandmother gave me this recipe years ago and it has helped me in pinch more than once. Happy baking!

Homemade Eagle Bran Milk
1 c powdered milk
1/3 c boiling water
3 T melted butter
pinch of salt
3/4 c sugar
Put all ingredients in blender and process until smooth. Makes 14oz (=to one can) and will keep in the fridge for weeks!

Tuesday, December 07, 2010

The 40 Maryts of Sebaste

Jeremy has told this story of martyrdom to my boys many times. It is an amazing story of faith, perseverance, and the affect that we can have on those watching us.
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In the year 320, Constantine was Emperor of the West and Licinius of the East. Licinius, under pressure from Constantine, had agreed to legalize Christianity in his territory, and the two made an alliance (cemented by the marriage of Licinius to Constantia the sister of Constantine), but now Licinius broke the alliance and made a new attempt to suppress Christianity. He ordered his soldiers to repudiate it on pain of death. In the "Thundering Legion," stationed near Sebaste in Armenia (now Sivas in Turkey), forty soldiers refused, and when promises, threats, and beatings failed to shake them, they were stripped naked one evening and herded onto the middle of a frozen lake, and told, "You may come ashore when you are ready to deny your faith." To tempt them, fires were built on shore, with warm baths, blankets, clothing, and hot food and drink close by. The mother of the youngest soldier was present and encouraged her son from the bank. As night deepened, thirty-nine men stood firm, while one broke and ran to the shore. However, one of the soldiers standing guard on shore was so moved by the steadfastness of the Christians that he stripped off his clothes and ran out to join them. They welcomed him into their company, and so the number of the martyrs remained at forty, and by morning, all were dead of exposure. (One source says that the few in whom a little life remained were stabbed to death at dawn.)

We still have what some scholars believe to be an authentic eyewitness account of their martyrdom. It includes farewell messages to their family and friends written shortly before their deaths.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I found this account of the story here.

Are You Aging Well?

Here is a post to help you answer that question. Are you growing more lovely, or just growing old?

Monday, December 06, 2010

Best Book Ever For Mom's of Littles

I LOVE Loving the Little Years: Motherhood in the Trenches! Rachel Jankovic is the mother of 5 little children (and twins are in the mix). Here is a link to the Amazon listing where you can read 4 great reviews. The one by Amanda Evans is really helpful. If you buy one book this year on mothering, make it this one :0)

Thursday, December 02, 2010

Tell Your Time

Tell Your Time is an amazing little tool! I first saw it over at Money Saving Mom and got it while it was on sale. Right now it is $9 and it will take you about 30 minutes to read. It's short, practical, and easy to apply to your life. What mom does not need a little help figuring out how best to spend her time?