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Trust, Food

I am reading The Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer. So often when I pray it is a burden because I am praying in the aura of evil forebodings and not in trust that EVERYTHING works together for good to those who love God.

I am consistently burdened for those in my life who are going through rough times, and I feel like if I am not there whenever they need me, that they won't be able to make it. I have the feeling of being the savior and I know that I am definitely in no way the one to deliver. Only the True Savior, Jesus, can do that. 

In both these areas, I need to be aware of His strength, the power of prayer (which I can go to any time, any where), and His all encompassing love for all creatures.

RECIPES FROM THIS WEEK:

Bacon Wrapped Chicken Strips

Cut chicken breasts into 3rds, coat with chili powder and garlic salt, wrap each strip in 1/2 to 1 strip of  bacon, lay chicken strips in casserole dish and cover with a light layer of brown sugar, bake at 350 - 400 until done, save drippings to make a soup

Taco Salad

1) Brown Ground Beef, half way through add a liberal amount of garlic salt/powder, chili powder, onion powder, cilantro flakes and some cumin (I like cumin but not too much), when done drain fat 2) slice onions and garlic and roast in olive oil in oven 3) cut up romaine hearts and tomatoes 4) serve with tortilla chips, cheese, sour cream and salsa

Cowboy Coffee Cake ~ I love the name, it fits so well. This biscuit-like bread goes great with camp fire coffee on early morning cattle runs. My family devoured it!

MIX WELL:  2 1/2 cups flour, 1 1/4 cups brown sugar, 1/2 t. salt, 2 t. baking powder, 1/2 t. baking soda, 1 t. cinnamon, 1/2 t. nutmeg; ADD and MIX: 2/3 cup melted butter, 1 cup buttermilk, 2 eggs; POUR into 2 greased round cake pans and bake at 325 for 20-25 minutes. I plan to try this recipe with variations, like covering with Nutella and adding fruit to the mix

Home in Him

I was worshiping last night on my way home from visiting my little 5 year old kitty boy, Toby. I was listening to an old Cynthia Clawson CD. It was an awesome time of wailing my heart out. Two songs that really touched me were "Softly and Tenderly" and "I Heard About A Man." Both of these songs stress that Jesus is calling us to come home to Him and that he want to make His home with us.

My love of home, the safety, the comfortable-ness, the place where I can be completely true to who I am, this is the kind of life Jesus wants with us. He is crying from the portals for us to enter into a jolly and comfy, cozy relationship with Him ~ being in the freedom that we were originally made to live in.

He wants to have a deep conversation dinner with us over candlelight and wine. He wants to know our hearts and our struggles and to help us. His desire for us to not choose hurtful choices is not to control us but instead to free us to be hearty, healthy, and happy. 

Holiness is freedom. This is something that I have been thinking about a lot lately. Much deception has led us to believe that doing good is drab, boring. But, Jesus tells us to go and sin no more in order that we may regain our original power and Eden-joy that we were never meant to lose. Sin is the chains.

images from Pinterest

Home Life & Biscuits and Gravy

Home life has really been exciting me lately. Having my home smelling good for everyone who enters, whether it be a lemon candle, simmering cinnamon and nutmeg in water, or dinner cooking. I also try, no matter how discombobulated the home may be, to have sitting areas available and comfortable. I am not able to constantly have my home in pristine order. In fact, it is never in pristine order, but it is safe and snuggly ~ a haven. 

As I have been cooking out of my pantry the past couple of weeks, here is another have on hand dinner:

Biscuits, using Bisquick and water, Gravy - made with bacon grease about a 1/4 an inch in a skillet heated then mixed with flour enough to make it pasty, then add milk and heat until right consistency..it took enough milk to fill a big skillet completely full. Serve with Fried eggs. We had sausage on hand as well, but that is not a necessity.

Home, Homemaking and Quick Recipes from the Pantry

the Coziness of Colonial Homes

I am finally being able to settle back down and do some blogging. So, so much has been going on in our little corner of the world. We are remodeling our bathroom, some of our kitchen, and adding a walk way out front. This is so exciting for me, because it is in my own, married home - something I waited for 35 years for!!!  Our bathroom: multiple colors of gray in the tile accompanied by terracotta/blush paint on the walls and a white square sink. Our kitchen:  a new stainless steel sink with gray tile around it and a beautiful gray tiled backsplash. Pictures coming soon.

Another reason for the lack of blog posts, is that juggling four blogs has been too much and has taken away from my career. I am finally settled in the knowledge that  being a housewife is both a career and what my husband loves for me to do. I read a little snippet about how the home should be managed as a business and this gave me the dignity I needed to both be proud and take seriously the gentle art of homemaking and lovemaking. I will continue with Mrs. Wysiwyg, so stay tuned to this blog for updates on the Chandler's life.

I made two dinners this week that I wanted to share with you. We are trying to use up lots of our pantry food before we grocery shop again. These are things that I can always keep on hand and are great for impromptu dinner guests.  


1) Cream of Chicken Soup, add half cream/half water to make this rich and yummy with lots of garlic powder and some steak seasoning 2) Cheese Toast, 1/2 stick of butter on a cookie sheet in oven, lay 12 pieces of bread on the melted butter, broil til toasted, turn over, broil for a few seconds then sprinkle with grated cheese and melt under broiler.  3) Salad, I simply cut up romaine hearts and offer various dressings

1) Frito Pie, heat Wolf Brand Chili and serve over Fritos and top with grated cheese 2) Salad, I simply cut up romaine hearts and offer various dressings

Housewife as my Career

Been reveling in my home and my career as a happy housewife! Finally am feeling relieved, content, and guiltless in staying home and taking care of my family. Lots of energy lately! We are remolding our home, bit by bit. I have been cooking to my family's tummy's content. Scrubbing and tidying. Enjoying my husband. And, definitely being a cuddle mama to my kitties, who are endless in their need of daddy's and mama's presence.  

Food Pantry ~ my work

I've been given the right-up-my-alley position of librarian and food pantry organizer at my church. Yesterday was my first day. I was to do inventory on our food pantry items. It was easiest to do inventory by first organizing the food. So I made spots for these items:

Peanut Butter
Grape Jelly
Spaghetti Sauce
Spaghetti
Canned Tuna
Canned Chicken
Canned Soup
Ramen Noodles (Beef & Chicken flavored)
Rice
Pinto Beans
Canned Corn
Canned Green Beans
Mac and Cheese

I list these here because I think these are ideal for a package. I also want to add Chili (to have another meat item), Crackers (for people who don't have bread), Tuna & Chicken Lunch Kits, and those soups that are in their own bowl-like or mug-like container and just need boiling water poured over them. 

The items that could be given to truly homeless people, (those who don't have access to cook) are Tuna and Chicken Lunch Kits, Peanut Butter, Jelly, Crackers, Ramen Noodles, and the Soups that need only boiling water (I say these last 2 because if it just takes boiling water poured over, I am hopeful they could find access to that. Maybe even, the church could have heated water to share when they come get their food). 

Just ideas going on in my head. Anyone else had experience with a food pantry? I will say that it also gives me ideas for family living on survival level.

Linked at:
The Better Mom, Time Warp Wife, Growing Home, True Aim Education, We Are That Family, Women Living Well, lowercase letters, Passionate and Creative Homemaking, Consider the Lilies, Raising Homemakers 

image from here