Because I haven’t in a while and because they are too good not to share!

These are a few recipes I have been intending to share and have not so here they are:

This is a recipe I got from Supper Club, which I miss dearly :(   So I have been cooking it a while but don’t think I have ever shared the recipe and my family loves it and every time others eat it with us or I give the recipe to someone they love it as well.  It really doesn’t get any easier than this:

Chicken Taco Meat: 

1 bag boneless skinless chicken breasts

1 can rotel

2 packets taco seasoning mix

fresh cilantro (optional)

Throw it all in the crock pot and cook on high for 4-5 hours.  I buy the bag of frozen chicken and I put it in frozen.  If the meat is not frozen I am sure it will cook in less time.  Also, you can cook on low for a longer period of time.  We love cilantro so I always chop some and throw it in and it gives it a great taste but that is a matter of taste.  Once done, take the meat out and shred.  Serve on soft or hard shells with all the fixins’  

 

A couple months ago some friends of ours from Seminary, the May’s came to spend the weekend with us and to speak at our church.  We had a great time and stayed up REALLY late talking!  Elizabeth was telling me about this recipe and so Elleigh and I had to try it out and OH.MY.WORD!!!  SO, SO GOOD!!!  Cream cheese and oreos-that has got to be good!

Oreo Truffles:

1 package oreo cookies (divided… use cookie including the cream center)
1 8oz. package cream cheese (softened)
chocolate bark (white or milk or semi-sweet-whatever you prefer)

1. Finely crush 7 cookies in a food processor or place them in a ziploc bag and crush into a fine consistency. Reserve for later.

2. Crush remaining cookies and stir in softened cream cheese. Use the back of a large spoon to help mash the two together.

3. Roll the mixture into 1″ balls and place on wax paper covered cookie sheet.

4.  Place in freezer until chilled before rolling

5. Melt chocolate as directed on the package and then dip balls into chocolate, tap off extra and set aside on wax paper covered cookie sheet to dry. You can sprinkle the tops with the 7 crushed cookies for decoration.

6. Once dry, refrigerate and enjoy!

Makes about 36 truffles.

 

I make potato soup a good bit in the fall and winter.  It is a favorite around here.  I always make it from scratch and could not begin to tell you how much of anything I put in it!  Several weeks ago I ran across this recipe for potato soup and thought I would give it a try.  A and the girls prefer my potato soup over any other (except my mama’s which is the same for the most part-she has no idea how much of anything she puts in anything!)  I thought this recipe sounded like a quick and easy one.  It was really quick, easy, and good.  We all liked it.  I assured them this would not be replacing MY potato soup but a good recipe to use when you were short on time. 

Easy Potato Soup

4 cans (or 2 box cartons) Chicken Broth

1 Packet Country Gravy Mix

1 2lb. Bag of Cubed Hash browns

1/2 med. Onion (optional)

2 cups Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese

1. Simply whisk the broth and gravy mix together and bring to a boil.

2. Finely dice onion and add to mixture.

3. Then add the hash browns. Season with S & P to taste.

4. Bring to a boil and cook on med-high for 20+ minutes, or until hash browns are soft.

5. Then incorporate all of the cheese, and stir often so it does not stick to bottom of pan.

This soup is much “soupier” than my soup.  We thought it needed more potatoes.  Probably a bag and a half.  I think 2 bags would be too much.  But, if you like it really soupy then it is fine with 1 bag.  We garnished with crumbled bacon and I did not have any green onions but that would be really good. 

I thought the County Gravy Mix sounded strange but it really gives the soup a great flavor.  The gravy mix reminds me of another thing I do for a quick meal.  I brown 1 lb of sausage and drain.  I make 2 packets of the gravy mix (Pioneer brand is really good and you can use the sausage flavor or black pepper or just the country) and then I add the sausage to it.  Bake some biscuits while you are doing this and you have a quick, hot, tasty meal!  We really like breakfast for dinner in the fall and winter. 

Hope you enjoy some of these!  My sweet husband dug sweet potatoes today with one of the farmers in our church.  He leaves for Africa on Monday and needed them up before he left.  So, I have 2 five gallon buckets of sweet potatoes.  I love them!  Soon I might be posting some new sweet potato recipes because I may have to be looking for some new ways to prepare them!

Refresher!

Last yr near our anniversary A and I got away for a night and Nanna and Grandy came to keep the girls.  We decided then that if at all possible we would make it a priority to “get away” for a night or 2 every year.  It was so good for us (individually and as a couple).  So as the time approached this yr we had the big debate of who would keep the girls.  It is not worth it to us to get away if we cant get them off our mind and are worried about them.  We had about given up because we just couldn’t seem to work out anything with them.  Our sweet friend Mrs. Melba and I were talking several weeks back about our weekends and plans, etc and I told her we had planned to go out of town but were not sure.  A few days later she came to me and told me she wanted to keep the girls at our house for us to go.  The girls love her and since she offered I did not feel like I was burdening anyone.  

We went to the same place as last yr-Southlake which is one of our favorite places.  They have a really neat town center with a hotel there and you can walk everywhere.  It was especially nice this year because we live in the country and a little “civilization” as I call it is always nice.  I do love coming “home” to the country though!

A enjoying Starbucks of course!  OK, I enjoyed it too!!! Quick pic before Dinner on Sat nt The weather was really nasty on Sat.  We were able to walk around some on Sat morning.  It was really muggy and cloudy.  We ate lunch and were headed back to the room and we got stuck in a really bad thunderstorm.  We camped out in Crate & Barrell.  We both love that store but never buy anything.  We just spent a lot of time looking during the thunderstorm.  After the bad stuff was over we made our way back to the hotel and the rain had not slacked off as much as we thought and was blowing like crazy so we got drenched. 

We watched some football!  We love watching football with the girls but it was nice to watch a full game with no interruptions!    Took this shot outside as we walked to get a late night cup of coffee.  It was a wonderful refresher that could not have come at a better time.  The girls had a great time and they all survived (including Mrs. Melba).  I am thankful for someone like her to love on our kids and make them feel extra special and to give up her time for them (and us!)  I am thankful for a husband who wants to spend time with me, knows the importance of that time, and insists that we have our time.  I am thankful that it doesn’t matter to us what we are doing as long as we are together.   I am thankful that after 14 years of marriage I LOVE my time alone with him more than ever!!! 

I am thankful that the stomach bug Sallie has waited until we got home.  I am thankful for an amazing refresher before coming back to reality!  I am thankful for my reality too!

A lot of This and That

It’s been over a week since I posted so my head feels full! So, what’s been going on here? A lot of this and that!

Awana is finally settling down some. We are really excited about what God is doing through this ministry. It is a lot of work but well worth it when you hear those little kids saying their memory verses and on Sunday morning when you walk in the sanctuary and those kids and their parents are there. We appreciate your prayers as this ministry and the growth we are experiencing has led us to a place of decision making in many areas. Please pray as a church we make the decisions God would have us to make and that we are united in our decisions. It has been and continues to be very challenging in that many of our kids who are coming have varying issues at home. The Lord has really shown us all a lot through this. We are being forced to minister to the “not so easy to minister to” and for that I am grateful. I needed that reality check for sure. It is a big responsibility to know that we are quite possibly the only way these kids are ever introduced to Jesus. A couple of weeks ago a little girl was at check-in and one of our secretaries asked if she had her Bible. Her response was, “what is a Bible?” I was standing there and for the secretary and myself it was as though time stood still for a little bit. All we could do was look at each other. Yes, in rural Texas a 1st grader asked “what is a Bible?” There is much to do and it is our job as Christians to do it. It has all made me think about how we live in our own little worlds and have no idea what life is like for so many right around us. I am as guilty as anyone about saying “oh, they would make a great addition to our church” based on the fact that they appear to be a good Christian family while there are people in very unfortunate circumstances (whether they put themselves in those situations or not) who are headed for an eternity in hell and taking their kids with them. Now we need those “good Christian families” to help us to reach out to the lost world BUT we have to be willing to reach out to those not as “desirable” as well. Praise you God for opening my eyes! May I never forget what you have shown me… and may I always have a passion for sharing you with EVERYONE. We also have some special needs children and I am determined that whatever it takes we will minister to these children. Obviously I have a passion for children with special needs and I think too often they are left out at church. So, we are working through those issues one child at a time.

I have a video of Lizzie and Millie saying their memory verses but I can’t get it to upload. It is amazing how much they are learning and retaining. Here they are in their class listening to their Bible story. A couple of weeks ago we had Crazy Hair Night. 4 Hall Girls has some crazy hair! Sallie in the right corner. She is loving it! Mrs. Melba (love her crazy hair) is her leader and she is great with her. I love these dresses! I saw them at Target a while back and they did not have both their sizes and I just couldn’t bring myself to get one of them and not the other. So I was in a different Target last week and they had both sizes and were on CLEARANCE! Even more in love with the $10 cute dresses!!! Also love that it is trendy to put long sleeves under sleevless or short sleeve clothing which helps me to stretch their summer clothes. This is one of my favorite pics of Sallie! She is looking so grown up though… She is still loving school. We have been beyond satisfied with her teachers at school. There is a real love and concern for her well-being. I know it is all part of God’s plan for us being here.

This is a portion of an email I received from one of her special ed teachers:

Sallie loves the other kids and loves being with them! They are all sweet to her and really don't think of her much differently than anyone else, and they are fascinated with trying to learn a few signs to communicate with her. She is so independent, but loves to be part of the group and she is quick to follow along w/ what they are doing. I love watching her say the Pledge each morning - she just moves her mouth as if she knows every word and puts her hand on her heart and smiles the whole time. She smiles all the time in gym too. She loves running and playing tag - no fear - she is right in the middle of it all! The kids are careful around her, but not so much that she feels any different than any of the rest. I can tell the young coach that teaches our P.E. just loves her. (Coach Price) Of course, what coach wouldn't love her? - she has such a great attitude!

This is a portion of an email I received from her general ed teacher (last week she got a FM system for her BAHA):

Today was neat, she responded well to hearing my voice:) It was amazing actually. Ya'll are so blessed. I want you both to know that I specifically pray for each of my students in the morning and Sallie is covered in prayer.

I can’t begin to tell you how much it means to us that she is with teachers who love her and also take their time to share with us. Yes, we are so blessed by her. I wish it had not taken me so long to realize just how blessed we are!

We went for an appt last week and based on her test results we have the green light from her audiologist to move forward with implanting the BAHA. Now we have to get the green light from her ENT which will involve more testing and then on to battle insurance and then hopefully on to the 2 surgeries. Prayers appreciated!

Elleigh is liking school better. For the most part most of the people are nice to her. The drama drives her crazy! Some how she always seems to be the one that girls want to talk to about their drama! There was some drama when I was a teenager but nothing like there is now. Once again, just amazed at how mean most girls are and unfortunately it is often girls who call themselves Christians. I wish they could realize WHO they represent and also that they are affecting lives forever by their actions. We were discussing tonight how she found it easier to be friends with boys. I understand! After all, I married one of those friends (14 years ago TODAY!!!)

My days with Lizzie and Millie had gotten so much more pleasant until recently. Do not misunderstand! I love them dearly and I love my time with them BUT that does not mean it is always easy. I was just sharing with A about a month or so back how much they had changed and how our days were so much easier. I spoke too soon! Apparently the past couple of weeks we have entered a new phase and it is not pretty! I can’t take my eyes off them because they are constantly plotting and into something. Of course they share a room and bedtime has become a nightmare! They want to play and talk and not go to sleep which makes for whiny girls the next day! They are really into pitching fits right now which drives me crazy! Doing school with them is a challenge. They are just on different levels and that really frustrates Millie. I have hope that this too shall pass! By the end of the day I am just beat! I feel like I am living for bedtime! Wouldn’t trade this time for anything, just being real!

They are learning a lot at dance and enjoying it. Lizzie and Millie’s classes are back to back and because we live 10 minutes from town each way we stay in town during that time. Sometimes we run errands and sometimes we just sit in the car and I work on different things and the girls play or whatever. This was Mill yesterday. She is such a free spirit and this picture shows her true personality! She is really different than the other girls. She is just in her own world and really funny. She is so much fun to be around (most of the time!). However, sometimes our personalities clash! I find myself saying “Millie, concentrate” a lot! Lizzie loves Tap best Little Bitty Mill Mill!

Camping Out

I heard those 2 words over and over and over on Friday!  For the past month or so we had planned to go camping on Friday but we were not going to tell the little girls until we were ready to go.  #1 in case something happened and we didn’t get to and #2 because they would ask a million time when we were going!  They overheard us on Thursday so as I knew would happen they asked a million times when are we going “camping out” as they say.  They were so excited and we did have a great time!  There are lots of pics to prove it! 

    

   

   Our site had a little shelter with electricity so it was nice to have b’fast on the griddle This was the area at the back of our site.  Can you tell from all the pics how much the girls enjoyed this area?  The priss really surprised us!  She loved it the most!  

     We camped at Fort Richardson which is a state park and has a historical center.  These are the pics from there. This was the officer’s quarters and I thought this place was beautiful Outside of the old hospital              TIRED girls by the end of our time!

   

We look forward to going again.  A said we had to visit all the state parks in TX.  That could take a while!  It was a very inexpensive way to get away, not far from home and most importantly a great way just to spend time together.