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Crunchy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

January 31, 2011

I've been experimenting with granola bars lately.  If you prefer your granola bars crunchy rather than chewy, you'll like this simple recipe using toasted oats, chocolate chips, and honey.

Here's what you'll need:

4 cups of quick cooking oats
1/3 cup melted butter
2/3 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350.

Toast oats on an ungreased baking sheet for about 15 minutes, stirring once halfway through.  Remove oats and let cool to room temperature.

Combine remaining ingredients in a large bowl; add oats and mix thoroughly.  Be sure the oats have cooled first or the chocolate chips will get soft! 

Spread into 9x13 pan, lightly oiled, and press firmly to flatten.

Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown.  Let cool and then cut into bars.  Enjoy!

For more "real food" recipes be sure to visit my Recipe Index.

           Warmly,
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[also shared with Domestically Divine]

 
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Filed Under: Recipes 11 Comments

What We’ve Been Watching

January 28, 2011

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[image: scene from Cranford]

 I've spent the last few days at home nursing an awful head cold.  It's been a hot tea and honey kind of week, and not much has gotten done around here.  I've been trying to take it easy, although yesterday I did bake cookies for friends (Pioneer Woman's Coconut Oatmeal Chewies; have you tried them yet?).  Tonight we have dinner plans with friends, too, so I'm hoping for a miraculous recovery in the next few hours :)

Some of you may remember that we don't watch TV; we have "a" TV, but it's only used as a monitor for occasional videos.  We are voracious readers.  I'll admit, though --- when I am sick, I'm reminded of how nice it is to sit down and turn into a couch potato for a bit. 

Here are a few fairly wholesome shows that we've enjoyed during times like these:

Little House on the Prairie Complete Television Series - every episode from every season is available via Netflix and we enjoy watching these as a family

Adventures in Odyssey - mostly to keep the children occupied for a bit when I really need to rest or close my eyes for a minute

Cranford and Return to Cranford - the theme is a little mature for the children, but nice to watch with my husband in the evening; we both enjoyed these, as the language is rich and captivating

Love Comes Softly and Love's Enduring Promise -  these are part of a Love Comes Softly series, and the only two in the series that we've seen, but are thoroughly enjoyable

What do you do when you're not feeling well?  What videos would you recommend?

           Warmly,
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[also shared with Domestically Divine]

 
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Filed Under: Simple Pleasures 9 Comments

One Way to Love

January 25, 2011

This past weekend we witnessed the union of

two lives,

two loves,

two sweet friends

that now exist as

one.


"For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and the two shall be one flesh." Ephesians 5:31

Since then, I've been pondering the familiar "passage of love" found in 1 Corinthians 13:


"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking..."

My mind keeps pausing there, my heart hurts, and I linger on this portion for awhile:

 
It is not self-seeking.

{Inwardly I groan, because it pains me, pierces me; I know I wrestle with this}

Not self-seeking.

How many times have I sought after my own wants, my own little luxuries, my own time away, my own accomplishments?  "Me.  Me.  Me."  I have times like that.  But it's not about me, not at all.  How could I forget?


 
 

Love is not self-seeking. 
 
It's right there, in the Book. 
 
He's talking to me, to you, to each of us.  I will listen; I want Him to teach me.  I need Him to teach me.
 

And so, precious mamas, for the remainder of this week (longer?), will you come alongside and practice seeking to serve others more?  Seek to serve them graciously, lovingly, faithfully, as you would if you were serving Him?  Do it unto Him?  Prayerfully?

Serve your husbands, your children, your church family, your neighbors?

 
Will you find a way, make the time?

 

What will it look like when you do?  What will you do?  How will you do it?  What will happen?  Will you be changed?  Will they?
 
And then, when we practice it, perhaps even make a lifelong habit of it, in His strength, we can rejoice in the words to follow, that love  "always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."
 

   Serving unto Him,

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Filed Under: Biblical Womanhood, Nurturing Family, Practicing Faith 13 Comments

Healthy & Frugal Meal Plan, Week of 1/24/11

January 23, 2011

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[my homemade whole wheat bagels]

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Need some ideas for meal planning this week?  Our dinners are healthy, homemade, and most cost less than $5 total for our family of four.  We often have leftovers for the next day, too!

One of our favorite meals is pot roast with garlic mashed potatoes, and since I was able to stock up on several English roasts recently for less than $2 a pound, we'll enjoy one of them this week.  What wonderful comfort food for a cold, snowy day!

Here's our meal plan for this week:

Breakfasts
Power muffins
Maple pecan muffins
Crockpot apple oatmeal
Oat groats with blueberries or raisins, maple syrup
Egg frittata with caramelized onions and sour cream, homemade poppyseed bagels

Lunches
Chicken pitas
Egg salad sandwiches on homemade pretzel bread
Turkey bacon and cheddar BLTs on homemade bagels
Leftovers x2

Dinners
Taco soup with crumbled tortilla chips
Cheesy baked spaghetti, salad, and homemade pretzel bread
Black bean and cilantro rice burritos with cheese
Potato soup with turkey bacon and homemade pretzel bread
English pot roast, garlic mashed potatoes, sauteed green beans

Desserts
Apple Pie Cake
Coconut Oatmeal Chewies

What's on your menu this week?  I'd love to hear your ideas!

           Warmly,
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*Also shared at OrgJunkie's Menu Plan Monday

 
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Filed Under: Meal Plans, Recipes 8 Comments

Be a Better Help Meet: 5 Things You Can Do Today

January 21, 2011

Are you a young wife or mother looking for ways to be a better help to your husband?  Here are five simple, practical things you can begin to implement today:

1.  Pray for him.  Do it this morning during your prayer time, or while the children are napping, or while they are busy at play.  Even if it is only five minutes, spend that time in prayer for your husband.

2.  Have dinner ready when he gets home.  It sounds cliche, but he's likely to be hungry when he gets home from work.  A carefully prepared, hot meal will be a blessing to him, especially if you all sit down and enjoy it peacefully together.  Use that time to ask him how his day was, and really listen.

3.  Freshen up before he gets home.  Smooth your hair, be sure you are dressed, clean, feminine, and welcoming in your appearance and demeanor.  Take a moment to freshen up the children, too.  Wash their faces.  If their clothes have peanut butter smears from lunch, change them :)

4.  Quickly clear out any mess from the day.  Ten minutes before your husband gets home, have the children pick up all of the toys that may have ventured into the living room.  Wipe down the coffee table.  Clear the mail and any papers from the kitchen counter or table. 

5.  Create a peaceful atmosphere.  Sit the children down and instruct them how to behave when Daddy arrives.  No arguing, no yelling.  Show your excitement about Daddy coming home, and ask them if they'd like to give Daddy a big hug when he walks in the door.  Do not bombard him with requests and complaints right away.  Greet him with a smile and a twinkle in your eye; then really kiss him.  Make coming home a pleasant time, something he looks forward to, and let your home be an oasis from the stresses of his daily career.  I like to light a candle and keep it burning throughout the day.

Precious mamas, what are some practical things you do each day to be a better help to your husband?

           Warmly,

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*I've been inspired recently by the book Created to be His Help Meet, resulting in my version of this list of "Be a Better Help Meet."  There is a similar one shared in the book, taken from an old home economics book if I remember correctly.  You might enjoy looking into it!  It's a wonderful book!

Filed Under: Biblical Womanhood, Homekeeping, Nurturing Family 19 Comments

Moments that are Holy

January 18, 2011


[scroll to the bottom of this page and pause the music player first, and if you cannot view the video, please click here]

Moments. 

What are you doing with your microscopic, fleeting moments?

Moments that are holy.

"This is how you spend your one life well..." she says.

If you watch nothing else today, please watch this, dear mamas, and embrace your precious little ones a moment longer, sweeter, closer.  I know I did.

            Warmly,
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Filed Under: Books Worth Reading, Contentment, Homekeeping, Nurturing Family, Practicing Faith, Simple Pleasures 5 Comments