Super-Yummy Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread

I have been craving pumpkin bread for a month and I finally bought a pumpkin, processed it into puree and froze it. I wasn't sure what I was going to use it for until I found the gluten-free all purpose baking mix. Eureka!! 

This all-purpose baking mix from Spar has been an answer to prayer. I have all those gluten-free recipes where it calls for 10 different kinds of flour. I mean really who has the time for that much less the money. Anyhoo, thank you Spar!

Ingredients

• 2 cup sugar
• 1 cup Splenda
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 4 eggs
• 2/3 cup water
• 15 ounces of homemade pumpkin puree or 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 3 1/2 cups gluten-free baking mix
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
2. Lightly grease 3- 10x4 inch inch loaf pans.
3. In a large mixing bowl, combine sugar, Splenda, oil and eggs; beat until smooth. Add water and beat until well blended. 
4. Stir in pumpkin. 
5. In medium bowl, combine flour, soda, salt, baking powder, ginger, allspice cinnamon, and clove. 
6. Add dry ingredients to pumpkin mixture and blend just until all ingredients are mixed. 
7. Pour into loaf pans and bake in preheated oven until toothpick comes out clean, about 1 hour.

*You can put full sugar, I just tried to cut it down a bit. Tasted delish with the Splenda but I'm sure it'd be better with full sugar.

Be warned, this stuff is dangerous!!!

Dutch Apple Yumminess!

I made this Dutch Apple Loaf today and it was so good awesome. As a rule I don't love cooked apples but this was so moist and yummy and makes the house smell heavenly. I feel so domestic when I bake and it actually turns out like it's supposed to. This is an interesting recipe 'cause it doesn't have any spices in the dough and only takes some cinnamon in the topping but it's so good even without all the yummy spices. Anyhoo, loved this recipe, so easy and worth the time. Oh yea and I used my apples from my trees. Actually I have about 15 apple trees and only one had fruit this year so I'm making use of my 20 apple harvest. 

Ingredients
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups diced peeled tart apples
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Topping
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 cup cold butter, cubed

Directions
In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in buttermilk and vanilla.
Combine the flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda; gradually add to creamed mixture.
Fold in apples and walnuts.
Pour into a greased 9-in. x 5-in. loaf pan.
For topping, combine the sugar, flour and cinnamon. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle over batter.
Bake at 350° for 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack. 

Yield: 1 loaf (16 slices).

Happy baking!

BTW, I'm linking up with Wise Woman Fall Link-up.

reposted from October 3, 2013

Low Carb Ranch Dressing Recipe

I'm always looking for low carb options and this is a great one. This low carb Ranch dressing is great and sure helps dress up a salad.

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup mayonnaise

2 tablespoon sour cream

4 tablespoons heavy cream

2 teaspoon white vinegar

3 drops Tabasco

1/2 tsp lemon pepper seasoning

1/4 teaspoon granular Splenda

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon celery salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/4 teaspoon dill

1 teaspoon chives

2 teaspoon fresh parsley, minced

DIRECTIONS

Mix all of the ingredients and chill well before serving.

 Around 1.5 net carbs per two tablespoons.

Enjoy!!

A Recipe ~ A Yummy One!

Spicy Chicken & Lime Soup

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp olive oil or butter
• 1 medium  onion
• 2 celery stalks
• 1 medium jalapeno
• 4 cloves of garlic
• 3/4 lb. chicken breast
• 6 C chicken broth
• 1 can (14.5 oz.) chopped tomatoes with chilis
• 1 tsp. oregano
• 1/2 tbsp cumin
• 1 medium lime
• 1/2 bunch cilantro
• 1 medium avocado

Instructions

1. Sautee chopped onions, celery, jalapeno (minus the seeds) and garlic in large pot until translucent, about 5 minutes.

2. Add the chicken breasts, broth, canned tomatoes, oregano, and cumin. Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce heat and simmer, covered for an hour.

3. After an hour, shred the chicken, return to the pot. Squeeze the complete lime into the soup.

4. Roughly cut the cilantro, add to the pot and serve with chopped avocado. 

*my family added tortilla chips to their soup and a dollop of sour cream. 

This is the most amazing recipe. It tastes just like the one I had years ago Mexican restaurant. Not only is this the most flavorsome soup ever but it's low carb too!!! That means I can fill up on it and without guilt! 

Sadly, I can't claim the credit for this recipe and I can't remember where I go it. So just enjoy!

Cranberry-Orange Cake

I found this it in a Christmas with Country Living 1997 book I've been browsing through lately. It was so easy and turned out wonderful. Everyone especially loved the candied orange rind and cranberries. Oh yea and I found some tiny little cranberries here in Croatia and they worked wonderfully and I didn't have to chop them, just put them in whole.

Anyhow, since I'm super lazy and wasn't about to retype an entire page of text I copied it and made it into a PDF for easy printing.

Cranberry-Orange Cake PDF

This is a great holiday cake and went over super well with the Croats and they're a tough crowd to please.

reposted from 2009

Low Carb Taco Soup

I love this time of year. I love crisp days, warm fires and yummo soups! I love the cozy feeling of cuddling on the couch with a blanket and my Baby Love. Last April I completely cut out gluten and started a low carb high fat way of eating. I've lost 50 lbs and cured many of the ailments I was experiencing. Anyhoo, this low carb taco soup is a serious contender for the "Yummiest Soup of the Season or Ever!" award. 

What's great about it is that the family will never know it's low carb cause it just plain delish! My family eats it with corn tortilla chips and they love it!

TACO SOUP 

INGREDIENTS 

1 lb of ground beef

1 small onion, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 tablespoon of cumin

1 teaspoon of chili powder

8 ounces of cream cheese

2 10 ounce cans of Rotel tomatoes (I only added 1 can of tomatoes to try to cut back on the carbs)

1 can of beef broth

3/4 – 1 cup of heavy cream (I added only 1/2 C and it was still creamy)

DIRECTIONS

1. Brown your meat and drain fat

2. Add in garlic and onion and cook till onions are translucent

3. Add in spices and mix well.

4. With the back of a wooden spoon mix or smush in the cream cheese until incorporated. 

5. Add, tomatoes, broth and heavy cream and simmer for 5 minutes. 

6. Enjoy with some chips (if your not low carb) and family!

*The soup may seem a bit thin but it's thickens after a few minutes. 

Makes 8 cups or 6-8 servings

Freezing not recommended

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION

Per 1/6 Recipe: 361 Calories; 29g Fat; 18g Protein; 7g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 6g Net Carbs

Per 1/8 Recipe: 271 Calories; 22g Fat; 13g Protein; 5g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 4g Net Carbs

For more great low carb recipes check out Linda's Low Carb Menus and Recipes








I'm participating in the following blog hops!

12 Awesome Fall Lowcarb Dessert Recipes

I'm sure most of you already know but last April we started a whole new way of eating. First of all I'm completely gluten free and feeling amazing and then at the same time Johnny and I both started Atkins. The last 6 months have been a real learning experience but we've both grown to love this way of eating and we've successfully made it a life style. Between the two if us we've lost a total of 75 lbs and we're not finished yet! Actually Johnny is finished and maintaining but I still have about 20 lbs left to shed. Anyhoo, the old adage: You have to work your plan! is so true with this way of eating but it's worth the time it takes to feel amazing!

So here are some of my favorite picks for Gluten Free / Low Carb Fall recipes from around the blogosphere!

1. I'm so excited to fine this recipe for Pecan Pumpkin Butter Cups at Worth Every Chew. Don't they look delish!

Belated WTG! Monday

Okay so I'm late and I bet you thought I fell off the wagon, right? WRONG!!! I'm so still on the proverbial wagon and after a rut in the path, I'm back on the down-swing.

So after gaining last week I lost 2 lbs. this week. I'm excited about that 'cause maybe it means I'm headed in the right direction again and I'm over the plateau I was on. Okay so maybe it was a self induced plateau but either way it stunk! 

So for my 10th weigh-in I'm down 22 lbs. I should have been more but that old appetite got in the way and Croatia has the best chocolate crepes in Europe.

I only have 3 more weigh-ins before we fly out to the States and I still need to lose 8 lbs. to make it to goal. Huge feat but it can be done but whether I can do it, dunno. 

How'd you do?

Took this recipe directly from Fitness Magazine

Quinoa with Latin Flavors

From: EatingWell

Cilantro, lime and scallions lend a bright finish to delicate quinoa. This versatile side pairs well with seafood, poultry or pork.

Servings: 6 servings, 2/3 cup each

Prep: 30 mins

Total: 45 mins

INGREDIENTS

1 cup  quinoa, (see Note)

2 teaspoons  canola oil

1   medium onion, chopped

1 4-ounce can  chopped green chiles

2 cloves  garlic, minced

1 14-ounce can  reduced-sodium chicken broth, or vegetable broth

1/4 cup  pepitas, toasted (see Note)

3/4 cup  coarsely chopped fresh cilantro

1/2 cup  chopped scallions

2 tablespoons  lime juice

1/4 teaspoon  salt

DIRECTIONS

1. Toast quinoa in a large dry skillet over medium heat, stirring often, until it crackles and becomes aromatic, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a fine sieve and rinse thoroughly.

2. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring often, until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add chiles and garlic; cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Add the quinoa and broth; bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to maintain a gentle simmer, cover and cook until the quinoa is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed, 20 to 25 minutes.

3. Add pepitas, cilantro, scallions, lime juice and salt to the quinoa; mix gently and fluff with a fork.

Tips:
Notes: Quinoa, a delicately flavored grain that was a staple in the ancient Incas' diet, is available in most natural-foods stores and the natural-foods sections of many supermarkets. Toasting the grain before cooking enhances the flavor, and rinsing removes any residue of saponin, quinoa's natural, bitter protective coating.

Hulled pumpkin seeds, also known as pepitas, are dusky green and have a delicate nutty flavor. They can be found in the health-food or bulk sections of many supermarkets.

To toast nuts & seeds on the stovetop: Toast in a small dry skillet over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant and lightly browned, 3 to 5 minutes.

NUTRITION FACTS

Calories 181, Total Fat 6 g, Saturated Fat 1 g, Monounsaturated Fat 2 g, Cholesterol 1 mg, Sodium 196 mg, Carbohydrate 27 g, Fiber 3 g, Protein 7 g, Potassium 379 mg. Daily Values: Vitamin C 25%, Iron 20%. Exchanges: Starch 1.5,Fat 1.
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Above recipe credit goes to Fitness Magazine

WTG! Monday (week 8)

Okay so I've officially been on my diet for 8 weeks. I can't believe that it's been 8 weeks but it has. I have done really well this time around on my diet. Surprisingly shockingly enough, I haven't cheated which is a huge feat for me. So as you read my 1 month stats please keep in mind that I DIDN"T CHEAT! 

Okay, I've lost 20.4 lbs for the last 2 months. I know that's good and actually above average but it's not good enough. This month was killer for me. I stuck to my diet and didn't cheat, exercised a few times and still I only lost 6.4 lbs. this month. Are you kidding me, I didn't even make the average. Bummer! Oh yea and this week I lost 1.3 lbs. 

Along with my 8 week progress report comes measurements too. I lost only 4 inches this month. Wow, talk about a puny month of weight loss! Oh well, 4 inches is still 4 inches right? For the last 2 months I've lost 16 inches altogether. 

So it's bitter-sweet. I'm happy I lost but I'm bummed I'm not managing 2 lbs. a week. Dunno why but it's a fact. Gonna have to shake it up a bit this week and see if I get a different result. 

OH WAIT! Maybe this is a plateau! Could it be? Maybe this too shall pass and I'll have an awesome week, maybe!

How'd you do this week?

Oven "Fried" Pickles from skinnytaste

Okay so this isn't a recipe but it is a link to a recipe. Fried pickles? Where have they been all my life. Swing on over and check out Gina's site, it's packed full of good, low-cal eats!

WTG! Monday & a Recipe

Okay, today I had my 7th weigh-in and it wasn't too shabby. After last weeks flop I was hoping for three pounds but I'll be happy with the 2.0 lbs. I lost this week. I have officially been doing this for 7 weeks and I'm down 19.1 lbs. I have 6 more weigh-ins before we fly out to the States so I can potentially lose more than 12 lbs by then and I need to to make it to my goal by then.
Oh yea and I've up-ed the ante this week, I putting that treadmill to work. I'm not a lover of excercize but since I have only 6 weeks left I need to boost my chances and the "experts" say moving will do it so I'm moving! my goal is to burn 500 calories a day this week and I'm interested to see what a difference it makes on my weigh-in this week.

How did you do???

Homemade Microwave Popcorn



Number of Servings: 2

Ingredients

1/4 Cup popcorn kernels

Vegetable Oil Spray

Salt

Directions

Serves 2

Step 1: Place 1/4 cup unpopped popcorn kernels into a bowl

Step 2: Generously coat the kernels with vegetable oil spray

Step 3: Place the kernels into a LARGE paper bag and fold over 4 or 5 times

Step 4: Microwave on high between 2 - 3 minutes (or till you hear 2 second intervals between pops)

Step 5: (optional) Re coat lightly with oil spray and add salt to taste

VARIATION: You can add any seasoning you like providing it's in powder form however some may change the calorie and fat count. Sugar and cinnamon for the sweet toothed among us. ENJOY!!

Number of Servings: 2

Recipe submitted by SparkPeople user INFINITY-8.

A few missed things!

As missionaries there are many things that we miss living here in Croatia. Obviously we miss our family and friends, that kinda goes without saying but we also have some other loves that are missing from our lives here in Croatia. Sonic, okay who doesn't love Sonic??? I mean you folks in the North really miss out! Sonic is the best drink place around and I really miss it!!

Oh and lest I forget, WALMART, is it even possible to forget Walmart? I would do anything to have an American Walmart here in Croatia. An American Walmart with American products, are you kidding me? I LOVE Walmart!

Oh yea and another fav is Cheddars, this restaurant is wonderful and really inexpensive for today's market. Their prices haven't really changed in the last 10 years and the food is still just as good. Yea, I miss Cheddars too. 

Sometimes there are things or places you miss that you didn't know you even loved until there weren't any anymore. Point in case, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts.  Honestly in the states I didn't really crave these little sugar-laden babies but when they're not available they become pretty desirable.  Hey isn't that true about most things. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence and the doughnuts are always sweeter on the other side of the big blue wet thing. 

Anyhow, my family loves doughnuts so I decided to try to make some real ones. Not the ones from biscuit dough but real live yeast doughnuts. 

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Copycat Recipe #51199

by Roosie

2½ hours | 2 hours prep

24 doughnuts

Doughnuts

• 2 (1/4 ounce) packages yeast
• 1/4 cup water (105-115)
• 1 1/2 cups lukewarm milk (scalded, then cooled)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 cup shortening
• 5 cups all-purpose flour
• canola oil

Creamy Glaze

• 1/3 cup butter
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• 4-6 tablespoons hot water

Chocolate frosting

• 1/3 cup butter
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• 4-6 tablespoons hot water
• 4 ounces milk chocolate chips or semi-sweet chocolate chips

1. Dissolve yeast in warm water in 2 1/2-quart bowl.
2. Add milk, sugar, salt, eggs, shortening and 2 cups flour.
3. Beat on low for 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly.
4. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally.
5. Stir in remaining flour until smooth.
6. Cover and let rise until double, 50-60 minutes.
7. (Dough is ready when indentation remains when touched.) Turn dough onto floured surface; roll around lightly to coat with flour.
8. Gently roll dough 1/2-inch thick with floured rolling pin.
9. Cut with floured doughnut cutter.
10. Cover and let rise until double, 30-40 minutes.
11. Heat vegetable oil in deep fryer to 350°.
12. Slide doughnuts into hot oil with wide spatula.
13. Turn doughnuts as they rise to the surface.
14. Fry until golden brown, about 1 minute on each side.
15. Remove carefully from oil (do not prick surface); drain.
16. Dip the doughnuts into creamy glaze set on rack then when slightly cooled spread chocolate frosting on top.
17. Dip in sprinkles or other toppings after chocolate if desired.
18. Creamy Glaze: Heat butter until melted.
19. Remove from heat.
20. Stir in powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth.
21. Stir in water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency.
22. Chocolate Frosting: Heat butter and chocolate over low heat until chocolate is melted. Remove from heat.
23. Stir in powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth.
24. Stir in water 1 tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency.

I found this copycat recipe on RecipeZaar and it was great. It was a little tricky after I doubled it but it still made some great doughnut. 

Actually they were really easy conisdering they used yeast and I'm a bum when it comes to making yeast bread. I was amazed that they turned out so good and they were fast too. Anyhow after I dipped them in the glaze they were REAL doughnuts. 

Not just some semblance of those sweet American treats but real doughnuts. I took then to a friend's house and they were gone before too long. 

These were a great treat for the missionary who is a little doughnut-home sick or the mom who wants to give it a go. 

Let me know how they come out of you decided to try them. 

YUMMY, you won't be sorry except for maybe the calories! 

Sunshine!

Finally after a week of nonstop rain or drizzle it's finally sunny!! I'm so excited about the potential of the sun and if you could see my clothes line you would understand. I think I'm on load number 6 already. I have high hopes of getting it all done.

Honestly I'm not one of those who can get it all done. I'm sure if that were my focus and didn't take any time for family I could manage to keep a perfect home but often I get off kilter. I have never in all of my almost 19 years of marriage been able to balance everything and honestly I can't see it happening any time soon. I'm  a multi-tasker no, I'm not and I'm sure it's too late for me to learn to be.

Anyhow, I'm trying to get it all done today and as I was walking in the kitchen today I noticed the prettiest setting. It was totally on accident but it was so pretty. It gets hot in the house quick on a warm day if you don't let some of thee cool morning air in. So I was, and it made me happy.. :0)

Anyhow, between the laundry and the fridge that keeps calling my name I managed to change out the flowers in the vase on the red buffet. I found the pale pink roses in the yard and filled the vase with some of the red thorn bush that also grows in our yard. I love having any sort of fresh flowers in the house and really it's possible if you look around nature enough to find then for free! Actually I just heard the washer go off so I better hurry this post up. 

In Croatia we can get Nesquik chocolate milk mix but it's about $10 for a bag that lasts about a week in our house. So yesterday stumbled upon a recipe for chocolate syrup and since it was so easy I printed it. Last night Hannah made it and this morning we enjoyed yummy chocolate milk for breakfast and it cost little to nothing. 

I can't remember where I found this particular recipe but there are lots of them floating out there in Blogville. 

Here's the one Hannah used for her syrup. 

1 C cocoa powder

2 C water

4 C sugar

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

1. In a large pot mix 1 cup of coaoa wth 2 cups of water and cook over and medium heat stirring occasionally. 

2. Add 4 cups of sugar and stir until completely dissolved. 

3. Bring the mixture to a full rolling boil. Reduce heat to medium low and let it boil for 3 minutes. 

4. Remove the syrup from the heat and add 1/4 teaspoon of salt. 

5. Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla. 

6. Stir the syrup. *the syrup will thicken as it cools*

7. Let it cool for 20 minutes and then transfer it to a quart canning jar. Give it a a day or overnight to thicken and you can enjoy it in the morning. 

You can either print out the actually recipe or here is a nice 4x6 recipe card you can print out and place in that old recipe box of yours.

Anyhow, the washer is nagging so I better get!!! Have a great weekend!

 

Hot cocoa anyone?

I remember when we were in the states several years ago, going to Six Flags with the family. I think it was Holiday in the Park and they even had a real snow hill in Texas. It was so cold outside and we were freezing. We noticed everyone walking around holding a steaming mug of something with both hands. It was Hot Cocoa and we wanted some. After finding it and buying the refillable mug we were toasty and warm. Their hot cocoa had a distinct taste, not too sweet, not too think and it had a special something in it that I just couldn't put my finger on until the other night.

After the day of snow we were all ready for something warm so I looked up a hot cocoa recipe online and do you know what, it was the same as Six Flags. I was amazed and instantly transported to Holiday in the Park with my family. It was great. Okay so don't ask me why I rambled so just to introduce a measly hot cocoa recipe but I did and here it is!

Ingredients

• 1 cup nonfat dry milk powder
• 5 tablespoons sugar
• 3 tablespoons baking cocoa
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Dash salt
• 3 cups boiling water

Directions

1. In a saucepan, combine the milk powder, sugar, cocoa, cinnamon and salt. Add boiling water stir until milk powder is dissolved.

Enjoy Y'all!!
for other great recipes like this check out my favorite recipe site: All Recipes

Cranberry - Orange Cake

Okay so yesterday for Johnny's birthday I made a Christmas cake. He said he didn't care what sort of cake I made and I wanted to try this.

I found it in a Christmas with Country Living 1997 book I've been browsing through lately. It was so easy and turned out wonderful. Everyone especially loved the candied orange rind and cranberries. Oh yea and I found some tiny little cranberries here in Croatia and they worked wonderfully and I didn't have to chop them, just put them in whole.

Anyhow, since I'm super lazy and wasn't about to retype an entire page of text I copied it and made it into a PDF for easy printing.

Cranberry-Orange Cake PDF

This is a great holiday cake and went over super well with the Croats and they're a tough crowd to please.

Missionary Pecan Pie

I found this wonderful pecan pie recipe that takes no corn syrup. I called it "Missionary Pecan Pie" because it doesn't take corn syrup and corn syrup is most times almost impossible to find. Anyhow it had rave reviews and they said it was even better than pecan pie with corn syrup. Oh yea and if you don't like pecan pie...Bless your heart, I'll pray for you to get it right!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 eggs
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup chopped pecans

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, beat eggs until foamy, and stir in melted butter. Stir in the brown sugar, white sugar and the flour; mix well. Last add the milk, vanilla and nuts.
3. Pour into an unbaked 9-in pie shell. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes at 400 degrees, then reduce temperature to 350 degrees and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until done.

***Thanks Arlene, I'm a little blond underneath all this brown hair. No offense to you blondies out there!

Cuteness, Dust, Soup, Poetry and Literati

Hey y'all! I can't believe it's Friday already, it doesn't seem possible. Time is flying so fast, it seems like yesterday that we arrived and it's already been 3 weeks. We are finally seeing and end to all this chaos we call life. Things are slow now and we have time for date night, which we went on last night, it was very nice.



CUTENESS
Oh in all the hustle and bustle of getting ready to come here I forgot to report the birth of my newest niece, Kaitlyn. Katie was born on the 31st of December at 10:50 in Texas. You know lots of good things happen in Texas! :0)

BTW. that's my hand holding her, great pic huh?

DUST
I got alot of cleaning done today. One of the things I dislike about houses in Europe is that they are made entirely from cender block and cement and for some reason dust collects like you wouldn't believe. We are vacuuming and dusting almost daily, a bit of a pain actually, but we can a body do?

I unpacked alot today, and I actually almost have the office/sewing room finished. Isn't Johnny so nice to share his office with me, yea he is. Love ya Babe!


SOUP
This is my favorite WW recipe, I simple LOVE it and for 0 pts. what's not to love?


INGREDIENTS
2/3 cup sliced carrot
1/2 cup diced onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 cups fat-free broth (beef, chicken or vegetable)
1-1/2 cups diced green cabbage
1/2 cup green beans
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup diced zucchini


DIRECTIONS
1. In large saucepan sprayed with nonstick cooking spray, saute the carrot, onion and garlic over low heat until softened, about 5 minutes.
2. Add broth, cabbage, beans, tomato paste, basil, oregano and salt; bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer, covered, about 15 minutes or until beans are tender.
3. Stir in zucchini and heat 3-4 minutes.
Serve hot.
Makes four 1-cup servings.
Per Serving: 42 calories; 0 g fat; 2 g fiber


***When I first found this recipe, I thought "No way I can eat cabbage and all that junk" but now after I've started eating it, I love it. The flavor is wonderful.

Also when I want to make it a meal I add some drained and rinsed kidney beans and some grilled chicken. Actually this is what I'm making today for dinner. :0)

Really you can throw in just about any veggies, cawliflower would be good also. Enjoy, we're going to! :0)

POETRY

Stumbing Block or Stepping Stone

Is this a stumbling block or a stepping stone?

Only you can decide.

You don't need to stumble or fall,

With Jesus at your side.

They come in many different forms.

Heartaches, troubles. and loss.

But Jesus showed His love for you.

When He died upon the Cross.

God's word tells us when we are tried,

More than we can bear,

He'll provide a way to escape,

There's a crown for us to wear.

No one could ever make it alone,

On our strength alone we'll fall

But our God is there to help us

If on His name we'll call.

There is no shortage of His power.

He's Master and Ruler of all.

He has plenty of grace for you,

He's listening for your call.

It doesn't matter how big the stone,

Or how small that it may be.

We're safe if we lean upon,

The Man of Galilee.

So Friend, when you've been tried,

Don't feel you're all alone.

Don't let it be a stumbling block,

But make it a STEEPING STONE.

LITERATI

During the winter months it gets really dark here and sometimes it's hard to know what to do when it's so dark so Johnny and I have this ongoing battle over who's best at Literati. So far it would be fair to say that I'm winning but the race is still on. 1 to 0 girls winning.

Well that should take care of my blogging for about a month, wheww that was a mouth full.

Have a great Weekend!!!

Just Stuff

Well the house is coming along, slowly but it's coming. We have all the furniture where it goes and Johnny's side of the office is finished and looking very neat and masculine. The other half of the office is for a futon, when we get the money and my sewing table and stuff. I really want to put up some shelves and put all my fabric where I can actually see it instead of tucked in buckets, we'll see.

We are off to the Police Station this morning, we have permanant residence but we still have to let them know that we're back in the country and sign some papers. Then we'll be legal again, it's a great feeling.

I remember before we were saved that feeling of guilt for sin in our lives, hey a clean conscience is the greatest gift. I'm so glad we get freedom from guilt through Christ! (don't know why I got on that)

I'm not reading anything at the moment, actually I was reading at When Risque is Okay, but it's my second time through so I'm in no hurry. The days seem so short here, not alot of time for anything, well maybe if I budgeted better and didn't blog so much, and read 'em.

Well we are headed to the capitol tomorrow to look at a minivan, I'm sure praying this is the van we have been waiting for. We have decided to wait until God gives us the perfect van. He has always given us what we needed so we're waiting for Him to do it again. With the Euro Dollar being so strong now, we're not getting much for our money. Right now 100 Euros is $150, so we're sure not getting a very good exchange rate, oh we'll we rest in knowing that our Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills.

Thought I would share this picture of Hannah making biscuits for breakfast, they turned out very good, actually they are really fluffy and take oil instead of shortning, much easier. Here's the recipe:

BIG DADDY BISCUITSINGREDIENTS:

2 c. all purpose flour

1 tsp. salt

1 tbsp. baking powder

1 tbsp. sugar

1/3 c. oil

smidgen less than a c. of milk

Mix all the dry ingrdients together. Add oil and cut in with a pastry blender until it looks like rough meal.
Add the milk and combine with a wooden spoon (a must for a good southern cook), sprinkle a bit more flour if the dough is too sticky.
Flour a working area and roll your dough out to about 3/4 of an inch. Okay, for you who have a special cutter for biscuits, get it out, for the rest of us country folk, find that glass that works best. Flour the glass or cutter, :o) and start cutting.
Make sure to reuse the left over dough, I remix it and finish it off.
Put in a preheated over at 150 C. I think thats 325 F. Let bake until lightly brown on top, the darker they get the dryer they will get.

Anyhoo, that's my stuff for today, have a good one!