Restlessness . . .

There is a restlessness in me this morning. A desire to be creative; to travel and explore. But I feel stuck. Trapped by my 5 day work week and exhaustion. Trapped by lack of finances. Is this how God intended life to be? Isn't there more to life than working, eating and sleeping? I believe there is!

I need some fresh air. A walk and some Jesus music may temporarily cure my blues.

All natural Pumpkin Bars

In my book, Fall equals lots of edible pumpkin goodies! Oh, YUM! I was asked to make a pumpkin dessert of some sort for my dear friend Larissa's baby shower. My pinterest search resulted in this scrumptious, natural recipe!! Wow, were these bars good! 

PUMPKIN BARS

HTTP://WWW.SHAPE.COM/HEALTHY-EATING/COOKING-IDEAS/10-DELICIOUS-WAYS-COOK-PUMPKIN?PAGE=2

I doubled the recipe and made a cream cheese icing to plop on top . . .

Ingredients:
1/2 c. spelt flour (I used wheat flour)
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
5 tbsp. brown sugar
1/2 c. canned pumpkin (or cooked, pureed pumpkin)
2 tbsp. nondairy milk (I used almond milk)
2 tbsp. coconut oil
1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine dry ingredients, then add in wet. Spread mixture into an oiled 8x8 (9x13 if recipe is doubled) pan and cook for 20 minutes. Cream cheese frosting optional.


Enjoy!
-A

Being active while waiting . . .

Recently a key person in my life simply WAS around me. This person's very existence left me in a wake of knowing my life needs to change. They challenged me without words. Who they are and where they are going in life made me realize that I am not OK with where I am at. I have settled for ordinary, the very thing I see and tend to resent in others. There are things in my life that need to change, and I know it. But I find myself not wanting to do it. Because I am comfortable. And so that person's presence stirred things inside of me and began our heart change process . . .

Babe and I are in a season of transition. We want to be in Texas. But in order to get there, the house we currently live in and own must be sold. It has been on the market since May with no promising interest as of yet.

We've struggled with frustration.

But over the past few weeks, we are realizing that God has us in this place, in this moment, for a reason. We are here not to merely exist until the next chapter, but to fulfill what he has called us to do in the here and now. Since our decision to move, we kind of put life on hold. We catch ourselves saying "when we move, then we'll (fill in the blank)" . . . We've just kinda been going through the motions, trying to "cope" until we reach our grand destination.

Last Sunday our Realtor hosted an open house for us. In the morning as I was cleaning, I was praying over our house, asking God to send THE person through that day that would buy our house. I felt the Holy Spirit whisper to me, "even if the buyer doesn't come along today, will you still trust me?" Sigh. Yes, Lord, I'll still trust you (most times easier said than done!). Babe and I went to church that morning and the message stirred so much inside of us. Things that related to situations and people right around us. Both of us had a light bulb go on in our hearts. There is a REASON we are still in Amish town. God has a plan. And maybe the sooner we acknowledge and fulfill that plan, the sooner we can leave :):)
Babe and I have already begun to stir things up in our "ordinary" life. Some big changes, and some small. Changes that will take us out of our comfort zone. Changes that will challenge us to not just exist, but to live with a purpose. We are excited. And for once, OK with still being here.

We are on a journey. And it is wonderfully crazy :) We love it (most of the time!)
Hope you were encouraged today!

-A

a YUMMY meal.

Babe and I took a meal to his brother and sis in law upon the arrival of our cute little niece, Brynlee Lillian. This was the first meal I've ever taken anyone! I love cooking but somehow the idea of making something and transporting it makes me nervous. Will it be overcooked by the time it gets there? What if they don't like what I made them?? We tend to eat very differently than most people, and I'm always afraid they'll think our food is "weird". All that aside and after much debate, I finally decided soup and salad and rolls would be a safe bet. Everything turned out great, if I do say so myself!:)

The menu:

Zuppa Toscana soup

Caesar salad with homemade dressing

dinner rolls

apple butter

peanut butter pie

And so I've decided to post the recipes! :)

                                     

from Cinnamon Spice & Everything Nice

• 4 slices bacon, diced
• 1 lb ground hot Italian sausage (I used mild Italian turkey sausage)
• 1 large yellow onion, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 cups (32 oz) chicken stock
• 3 cups russet potatoes, cubed
• 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 2 cups kale, in bite size pieces
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream (I used half and half)
• parmesan cheese, grated
  

In a large pot, cook the bacon until crispy. Drain the grease. Add the sausage, breaking it apart as it cooks. Once sausage is browned and crumbled, drain off grease leaving a tbsp to saute the onion.

Push the sausage and bacon to the edge of the pot and add the onion to the center; saute until translucent; add garlic; saute until fragrant.

Stir in the stock and potatoes, season with salt and pepper, and simmer for about 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

Add kale and heavy whipping cream. Bring to a simmer. Top with parmesan cheese, when serving. 

Caesar Salad Dressing

http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/caesar-on-the-light-side
Thanks to my friend Mandy Johnson for sharing this recipe with me!

1. 1. 1/3 cup low-fat or nonfat Greek-style yogurt
   2. 2 anchovy fillets, mashed 
      (I used anchovy paste)
   3. 1 garlic clove, minced
   4. 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
   5. 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
   6. 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
   7. 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
   8. Salt and freshly ground pepper

   
   

   1. In a small bowl, whisk the yogurt with the anchovies, garlic, lemon juice and Worcestershire sauce. Whisk in the oil and half of the cheese and season with salt and pepper.
   2. In a large bowl, toss the romaine with half the dressing and the remaining cheese. Serve, passing the remaining dressing at the table.

   
   

   
   

   Peanut Butter Pie

   
   

   

   
   

   
   

   Ingredients

   • 1½ cups graham cracker crumbs
   • ½ cup sugar
   • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
   • ½ cup butter, melted
   • 8 ounces softened cream cheese
   • 1 cup creamy peanut butter (I used all natural peanut butter)
   • 1 cup powdered sugar
   • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
   • 1½ cups heavy cream
   • ¾ cups mini chocolate chips

   Instructions

   1. Stir together graham cracker crumbs, sugar, butter and cinnamon.
   2. Firmly press mixture in to the bottom and up the sides of a 9″ pie pan.
   3. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.
   4. Set aside to cool.
   5. In a large bowl, mix together cream cheese, peanut butter, powdered sugar and vanilla extract using a hand held beater. Set aside.
   6. In a stand mixer with whisk attachment, beat heavy cream until soft peaks form.
   7. Add whipped cream to peanut butter mixture, folding in gently. Just keep gently stirring! It will eventually mix together.
   8. Gently stir in chocolate chips.
   9. Spread peanut butter mixture over cooled crust. Allow to chill for at least 4 hours before serving.

   
   

   
   

   The peanut butter pie is sinfully delightful!!!!!!!!!! I could have eaten waaaaay more but refrained!!
   
   ENJOY:)
   -A

More Chocolate!

It's no secret that I love most things chocolate. Pinterest has been a great resource for me to find not so bad for you recipes including chocolate. Here is my latest fav that helps to satisfy my sweet tooth. 

5 Ingredient No Bake Fudge Drops

by Leanne Vogel 

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour (chill)

Keywords: no bake raw dessert dairy-free gluten-free grain-free paleo refined sugar-free soy-free sugar-free vegan vegetarian chocolate

Ingredients (20 ping pong sized balls)

• 2 tbsp lite coconut milk
• 1/2 cup cashini butter or coconut butter - see note
• 6 medjool dates, pitted
• 2 tbsp cacao powder
• 3 tbsp coconut oil, softened

Instructions

• Line a small baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside
• In the bowl of a processor or blender, combine coconut milk, medjool dates, and coconut oil until smooth. Add remaining ingredients and pulse until fully incorporated.
• Using a tablespoon, spoon mixture onto prepared baking sheet and place in the freezer for 1 hour, or fridge for 3.
• Once a bit more solid, roll each drop of fudge into a ball and place in a plastic container.
• Seal container and return back to freezer until ready to eat.
• note: I chose cashini and/or coconut butter because they’re harder at room temperature and will help to hold the balls together better than say an almond butter or peanut butter. Although I haven’t tried it, you could try omitting the milk and using 1/2 cup of the nut butter of your choice.

Apple Turkey Sausage

My dad is an amazing cook. He is known in our family and circle of friends for his ability to throw random ingredients together and make it taste delicious. Growing up, no matter what time of the day I brought friends over, he almost always whipped something up in the kitchen for my guests. And now, as his married adult daughter, he still cooks for me when he visits! :) I think my favorite memories of my dad are in the kitchen. 

Last time my parents visited, my dad made these amazing sausage patties. Normally, he doesn't follow a recipe, but for once he did so now I can make them to!! 

Savory Apple Turkey Sausage

Ingredients

• 1 large tart apple, peeled and diced
• 2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 pound ground turkey (or chicken)

Directions

• In a large bowl, combine the apple, poultry seasoning, salt and pepper. Crumble chicken over mixture and mix well. Shape into eight 3-in. patties.
• In a large skillet coated with cooking spray, cook patties over medium heat for 5-6 minutes on each side or until a meat thermometer reads 165° and juices run clear. Yield: 8 patties.

Fall decor

The crisp air, cool nights and sunny skies filled with marshmallow-y clouds have brought giddy-ness to my being. My heart feels as though it is singing as I drive along back roads and spot pumpkins at the local roadside stands!! Fall has arrived! And I LOVE it!!
I don't think I realized until the past few years that Fall is most definitely my favorite season. Spring is a close second. There's something so fresh and crisp about Fall. It feels to me like a season of maturing (not sure how to explain that . . .) 

Fall is my favorite season to decorate for. I don't have the outside done yet, but the inside of our house is definitely harvesty :) I know it may be early, but I couldn't resist! 

Hope you feel inspired today :)

-A

Making old into new . . .

While browsing on Pinterest, I came across this fun tutorial for making old necklaces into new ones. When my grandmother passed away, her box of costume jewelry was given to me. Oddly enough, a few of the pieces in the box are coming back in style! And of course, genuine vintage is in! She had this salmon colored necklace that I liked. But it was kind of an awkward length . . . Using the Pinterest tutorial as a guide, I created this piece today :) 

Imagine the possibilities of out dated pieces you could find at Goodwill to re-create! 

-A

Rosemary & Sea Salt Flax Crackers

My parents are visiting from Texas for the week. It is a wonderful treat seeing them and having them in our home. My dad is a great cook and has been spoiling us by cooking on a regular basis! My mom is wonderful at organizing and cleaning. She has cleaned all my windows and has kept the dishes washed and put away her entire stay! I am so spoiled :) 

Both my parents are into healthy eating. My dad is always coming up with and finding new recipes! Because they mostly stay away from breads and other carbs, dad was excited to find this recipe to help satisfy his salty cravings: Rosemary and Sea Salt Flax Crackers!

He showed me how to make them the other day and boy oh boy are they yummy! AND easy . . .

Ingredients:

1 cup ground (or milled) flax seeds

2 eggs

1/2 cup grated parmesan or romano cheese

1 Tsp minced fresh rosemary

Sea salt or kosher salt for sprinkling

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a cookie sheet with nonstick spray.  Add all of the ingredients (except salt) to a medium bowl.  Stir until fully combined.   Spray a clean countertop or large cutting board with nonstick spray.  Spray your rolling pin with nonstick spray.  Form your dough into a ball and place on the greased counter.  Roll it out as thin as you dare.  I went pretty thin (like a wheat thin thickness) and the thinnest ones of the batch were the best.   Use a biscuit or cookie cutter if you have one, or just use a sharp knife to cut a grid of 1  inch-ish squares.  Use a small spatula or pie server to transfer the individual squares (or any shape) onto your pan.  Keep rerolling and cutting your scraps until the dough is all gone.  Sprinkle with salt. Bake for 10 minutes, remove and flip, bake another 3 minutes.  If you want them super crispy, turn the oven off and then put the crackers back in after it's cooled a bit but is still warm.  Leave them in for about an hour and they will continue to dry out until super crispy.  Serve with your favorite cheese or dip!

Update:  Someone suggested rolling the dough between 2 sheets of parchment paper, slicing the dough into squares and transferring the entire sheet onto a pan and baking directly on the parchment  (removing the top piece of paper to bake)

Dad didn't cut his into squares. Just broke off pieces like "bark".

I have all sorts of ideas for this recipe! Add sun dried tomatoes?? How about some chunks of garlic? YUM!!!

-A

Chocolate Pudding (healthy, of course!)

I have a weakness for chocolate!

This may be another favorite dessert recipe! And of course, it's ingredients are better for you than the store bought pudding mix. I tried it once before using almond milk and didn't care for it. It was sort of watery tasting. This time around I used real milk and man is it yummy!!!

Easy Chocolate Pudding Recipe
http://www.foodrenegade.com/easy-chocolate-pudding-recipe/

• 1/3 c. honey
• 4 tbsp. arrowroot powder (or organic corn starch)
• 2 tbsp. cocoa powder 
• 2 c. milk (or coconut milk) 
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 tsp. butter (if using coconut milk, omit this) 

The How-To

1. In a glass measuring cup, whisk together arrowroot powder, cocoa, and milk until relatively smooth. In a small saucepan, combine the honey and the milk mixture over medium heat. Cook until thickened, stirring constantly.

2. Once thickened, remove from heat, stir in vanilla and butter until evenly distributed.

3. Serves 4-6. Enjoy your tasty, warm, gooey, relatively healthy, and definitely easy chocolate pudding!

Enjoy!

Facebook and my thoughts . . .

I love Facebook.

I enjoy looking at pictures that people post of their lives, reading funny status updates and keeping tabs on oversea friends. It's a great resource for staying in touch with local friends too. The birth announcement of a new baby, an engagement or wedding, or a way to share a prayer request; Facebook is a genius tool. 

But like everything else, it comes with some downfalls . . .

The older I get, the more "old fashioned" I realize I am in some areas. I'm not embarrassed by this fact, but at times, I find myself bucking the modern culture instead of embracing it. 

Facebook is one of those things . . .

I disappear from Facebook now and then. Deactivate my account for a few months just to catch my breath. Recently someone took the time to ask me earnestly why I "disappear" from the Facebook world. Here is the shortened version of my reply . . .


1. I want to be more intentional in my relationships.
I want to BE friends with someone in real life, not just over a computer. More coffee dates, texts and cards sent in the mail (yes, MAIL). I want to slow my fast paced life down and enjoy time with people instead of reading about their life or seeing it on Facebook.

2. I struggle with comparison.
It's something I recognize and am dealing with. I've realized that Facebook only magnifies my struggle if I allow it to. People a lot of times posts their most glamorous and sometimes unrealistic pictures of them self and their possessions. If I do not remind myself of who I am in Christ, it's easy for me to tear myself down or become ungrateful.

3. When it comes to Facebook, I'm not a very good time manager.
Enough said :)

All that said, I will most likely return to Facebook at some point. It is a great way to "see" friends and keep in touch. And I do get on hubby's account from time to time. But in case you were wondering why I leave now and then, now you know :)

Would love to hear feedback!

-A

vacationS in a nutshell

Back from vacation! Here's a catch up . . .

Last week Babe and I drove up to NYC for a few days. We spent Tues - Thurs in the Big Apple with my best friend Kristi and her hubs Dan. Kristi and I met in YWAM in Australia in 2005. She is originally from Canada but moved back to AUS after YWAM, where she met Dan. Dan and Kristi are currently living in Australia and were spending some time in the states on 'holiday'. All of us had been to NYC before so we weren't much into touristy things. For us, it was all about spending time together and catching up! 

Orioles and Yankee's game! 

The Aussies wanted to be 'all American' - hot dogs and large sodas

Central Park with our treats for some relax time

What a fun few days it was! Too short if you ask me. Kristi and I may never have lived in the same state, but our friendship is strong and thick. I've never known a sister, but she is to me what I think having a sister would be like. Thank God for technology and smart phones so we can keep in touch on a daily basis. 

________________________________________________________________________

We came home Thursday eve from NYC, worked Friday, packed up and headed off for our annual family camping trip with Babe's family on Saturday. What a fun tradition it has become! 

Camping with with Babe's family mostly involved competition of any kind. The camp ground offers mini golf, swimming, basketball, ping pong, frisbee golf and other activities. While the boys were off getting sweaty, myself and the ladies usually ended up pool side or at our camp site with a good book. It was a good and relaxing time.  

In between our 2 trips, we sold Sophi, my beloved Mustang and first car. After much deliberation, we decided it wasn't worth investing the money in her since we needed a bigger car anyway. Soooo goodbye Sophi.  (proud to say I did NOT cry:) )

On our way home from vacation yesterday, we stopped and purchased our new-to-us car that we've had our eye on for a couple weeks . . . Say hello to MAXIMUS, my new wheels :)

As you can see, it has been a NON STOP past 9 days! But I loved every second of it! Here's to vacation, family, friends and new cars! 

Now, back to "normal" . . . 

Zucchini Craze . . . Frosted Zucchini Brownies

This is now possibly my favorite brownie recipe! They are SO yummy!!!

Frosted Zucchini Brownies
from blogchef

The (italics) are my substitutions to the called for ingredient
½ cup vegetable oil (can use olive oil, coconut oil or apple sauce)
1 ½ cups white sugar (1 1/4th cup agave)
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose flour (wheat flour)
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups zucchini - shredded with skin on
½ cup chopped walnuts 


Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9×13 inch baking dish. 

In a large bowl mix together oil, sugar and 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract until well blended. In another bowl combine the flour, ½ cup cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. A little at a time stir into the sugar mixture. Fold in zucchini and walnuts. The batter will be dry and crumbly, don't worry. Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish.

Place into the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until the brownies spring back when gently touched. Remove from the oven and allow them to cool.

Peanut Butter Cocoa Frosting

(Yields almost 1/2 cup)

• 1/4 cup peanut butter (or other nut butter)
• 4-8 tsp pure maple syrup 
• 2 tbsp cocoa powder
• 4 tsp milk of choice (or more for thinner frosting)
• 3/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
• optional: handful of chocolate chips 

Blend everything (including chips, if using) in a small food processor or Magic Bullet. If you have a bigger processor, it might be best to double the recipe so everything blends more smoothly. Best to store uneaten frosting covered in the fridge.


This new found recipe may be my current cure for chocolate cravings!! Oh yum! 

Lemon-Zucchini Loaf with Lemon Glaze

I am surrounded by lovely people who garden and share their bounty with us. My MIL often has yummy fresh things to send home with us as well as an Amish girl I work with. Zucchini is the one veggie gardeners seem to always have a large crop of. And I LOVE it! There are so many yummy things to make with zucchini. Here is a new favorite . . .

LEMON-ZUCCHINI LOAF WITH LEMON GLAZE by NancyCreativeMakes one 9×5″ loaf 
The notations in parentheses are what I altered

• 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (wheat flour)
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup canola oil (olive oil)
• 2/3 cup sugar (Agave)
• 1/2 cup buttermilk (skim milk)
• Juice of 1 lemon or 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 1 cup grated zucchini (you don’t need to peel the zucchini before grating it)

- Preheat oven to 35o degrees. Grease and flour a 9×5″ loaf pan; set aside.
- In large bowl, blend flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.- In medium bowl, beat 2 eggs well, then add canola oil and sugar, and blend well. Then add the buttermilk, lemon juice, and lemon zest and blend everything well. Fold in zucchini and stir until evenly distributed in mixture.- Add this mixture to the dry ingredients in the large bowl and blend everything together, but don’t over mix.- Pour batter into prepared 9×5″ loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean (if your oven tends to run hot, check the loaf after 40 minutes). Cool in pan 10 minutes, then remove to a wire rack and cool completely. While loaf is cooling, you can make the glaze…

LEMON GLAZE

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• Juice of 1 lemon (or 2 Tablespoons lemon juice)
  In small bowl, mix powdered sugar and lemon juice until well blended. Spoon glaze over cooled loaf. Let glaze set, then serve.
  (For my glaze I mixed up a concoction of honey and lemon juice on the stove top, adding gelatin to make it thick.  I think it was:
  1/2 cup honey
  1 tbsp lemon juice4 tsp cook type clear gel
  I didn't measure exactly so I'm not totally certain.  Play around with it! You can't go wrong with honey and lemon!)

Green Smoothies

Pineapple, pumpkin, spinach and flax seed smoothie

I'm obsessed with smoothies right now! With this hot weather, they're so filling and refreshing.

I struggle with incorporating raw veggies in my daily diet. I love steamed vegetables, but the raw ones don't appeal to me as much. It's much easier for me to grab fruit as a snack. Sooo I started blending my veggies and add a small amount of fruit! SO YUM! 

I know the green kind of looks gross. Babe said it looked disgusting, then he tried it. He liked it :)

I don't have a recipe at all. Whatever veggies or fruit I have in my fridge or freezer, I throw into my blender. And I don't have a fancy blender. Just a basic Oster. Almost all of my smoothies include spinach, flax seeds and some sort of fruit juice. Yesterday I threw in some carrots. I've done watermelon, spinach and mint leaves which is super refreshing! Avocado is great to add too. If you like, you can also add almond milk o r yogurt. Be creative!! If you make one that is to "veggie" tasting, add more fruit!. It's pretty hard to make a gross smoothie when you're using good, fresh fruits and vegetables. 

I would love to hear your smoothie recipes and concoctions! 

Happy blending!

-A

praising in the storm.

Last week was great! The first half anyway... I was finally enjoying work again, had energy and was on a great high. 

And then Thursday rolls around. 

After work I decided to do my grocery shopping. My faithful car of 10 years, Sophi, decided to overheat on me. (I shouldn't have been driving it in the first place on a VERY hot day with a broken fan - but what do I know about cars??) While smoke was pouring out, I was able to pull into a business driveway before she totally shut off. I was blocking the entrance of the business (which was thankfully closed). I began to try to call Babe, father in law, mother in law, brothers in law (3 of them), friends. NO ONE could come to my rescue. It was about 4 in the afternoon so most of the men were at work. A couple would be able to come in about an hour . . . . Talk about a HELPLESS feeling!!!

By this time I've been sitting in the driveway for about half an hour. It's in the heart of touristville, so despite the fact that the business is closed, people are using the parking lot to park. I am getting evil glares from people as they come and go, because they have to go around me (and apparently thought I was just hanging out in the entrance of the driveway to text or something). I am near hysteria. 

A man leans out his window as he is about to go around me to exit the parking lot. He (in a not so nice but not totally mean voice) hollers at me "can you move your car? At least into a parking space?" By this point I am hysterical and yell very angrily "NO, I cannot move my car. IT WON"T START" (I think I almost screamed). By now tears are rolling down my face. He comes to my window and assures me its ok, he didn't realize I was having car trouble and apologizes. 

Talk about feeling like a helpless little girl. He rounded up some men and they pushed me into a parking spot. The kind man and his family asked if I had anyone who could take me home. At this point,  I did not. He asked where I lived, I told him. He smiled and said, we are going to a restaurant and are going right past your house. So, a nice tourist family gave me a ride home. 

And here's my honesty . . . I came home, plopped in my hallway and cried. 

I cried because I felt totally alone (my Babe felt AWFUL that he was so far away!). I cried because I'm pretty attached to my car and had a feeling it had seen it's last day. I cried because I was mad at myself for crying (who does that??!?).

And then, I realized, I'm ok. I wasn't in an accident, I'm not hurt. A nice family brought me home. I am safe. We have a backup car we can use. No matter what, everything will be ok. 

What did I learn from all this? That no matter what situation you're in, there is always something to be thankful for AND God will never leave your side. I am also seeing that I need to work on my first responses :) Instead of wallowing in my self pity, I want to praise Him in the storm. I will work on and improve in this area!

Thanks for reading my looooong story! 

-A

Crock Pot Honey Sesame Chicken and Roasted Parmesan Green Beans

Today is my day off. We have a lot going on around here this week, including a showing of our house on Friday!! I'm bustling around here today, trying to get things done. I have plans this eve so I want to do something quick in the crock pot for dinner. I'm about to head into the kitchen to start on one of our favorite meals. The first time I made it, Babe said it was the best meal I made since we got married! So it's definitely a hit around here!

CROCK POT HONEY SESAME CHICKEN

recipe form: Baby Center / www.chefintraining.com
Ingredients:
2.5 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts (I use thighs)Salt and pepper
1 cup honey
1/2 cup soy sauce
4 tablespoons diced onion
4 tablespoons ketchup
2 tablespoon canola oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
4 teaspoons cornstarch dissolved in 6 Tablespoons water
Sesame seeds (I never seem to have sesame seeds so I just skip them)

Season both sides of chicken with lightly with salt and pepper, put into crock pot. In a small bowl, combine honey, soy sauce, onion, ketchup, oil, garlic and pepper flakes. Pour over chicken.
Cook on low for 3-4 hours or on high 1 1/2 – 2 1/2 hours, or just until chicken is cooked through.
Remove chicken from crock pot, leave sauce. Dissolve 4 teaspoons of cornstarch in 6 tablespoons of water and pour into crock pot. Stir to combine with sauce.

Replace lid and cook sauce on high for ten more minutes or until slightly thickened.
Cut chicken into bite size pieces, then return to pot and toss with sauce before serving.
Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve over rice or noodles.

As our veggie to go with the chicken: Roasted Parmesan Green Beans 

 
Skinnytaste.com

Ingredients:

• 12 oz green beans, trimmed (make sure they are dry)
• 2 tsp olive oil
• kosher salt + fresh cracked pepper to taste
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1 1/2 tbsp shredded parmesan

Directions: 

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum for easy clean-up.
Lay green beans out on the baking sheet and drizzle oil over them. Season with salt, pepper and garlic powder and toss to evenly coat.

Spread them out on the sheet so that they all lay flat and place on the lower third section of your oven. Bake 10 minutes, shake the pan to turn; bake 5 additional minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with grated cheese.

Enjoy!