My Heart My Home

Tuesday Tastiness #19 - Easy Fruit-Sweetened Berry Crisp

This is my adaptation of a recipe a friend of mine gave me when she was on the Daniel Fast at the beginning of this year. I am not sure if this recipe is on a Daniel Fast website or not, but I think it is. The reason it is a Daniel Fast recipe is that it has no added sugar (only sugar from the fruits) and uses dairy-free margarine or butter. Of course, you know I will only suggest real butter. :o)

I thought it would be a great recipe to share this week since I gave my recipe for granola last week. What timing!

And it tastes wonderful!

Easy Fruit-Sweetened Berry Crisp

2 1/2 cups fresh or frozen berries

1/2 cup apricot preserves (fruit-only type like Smuckers Simply Fruit, etc.) (I am thinking any type of preserves would work if you don't want to use apricot)

1 1/2 cups granola

Butter

Preheat oven to 350. In a bowl, mix berries and preserves. Place berry mixture in a greased 8 x 8 or 9 x 9 dish.

Sprinkle granola evenly over the top of the berries and scatter dots of butter on top of granola (or melt the butter and pour it over).

Bake for about 25 minutes or until granola is a little browned and berries are bubbly. Serves 4-6.

Enjoy!!

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Be sure and stop by A Good Laugh Friday here.

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This post linked to:

The Grocery Cart Challenge Recipe Swap

Food on Fridays at Ann Kroeker

Ultimate Recipe Swap at Life As Mom

Real Food Wednesday at Kelly the Kitchen Kop

Works For Me Wednesday at We Are THAT Family

Tuesday Twister

Monday Encouragement

"When everything is falling apart, you will be safe in His arms."

Sunday's Encouraging Word

"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits; and in His word I put my hope."

Psalm 130:5

Amy's Blogging Bee - My Picks

I really enjoy reading Homestead Revival and Amy has started something new each week - a Blogging Bee where you can write about some of the interesting posts you have read throughout the week and help generate more traffic to other blogs around the blogosphere that your readers may not know about. Since I love reading blogs, I think it's a great idea!

Some of my faves this week were:

- This post at Heavenly Homemakers that gives us a recipe for homemade chewy granola bars. My Tuesday Tastiness post this week was for homemade granola, but I have not found a good recipe for chewy granola bars without traditional brown sugar. I am really looking forward to trying out her recipe that only uses honey as a sweetener! It sounds very simple and easy.

- Sometimes I get overwhelmed at the thought of making a total nutrition changeover, especially as it affects my whole family and the tastes we are are all used to, so I really enjoy reading about simple steps that everyone can take to start out slowly and work more changes in gradually. This post at Keeper of the Home does that just perfectly for me and I am happy to know that I am already doing a lot of those for my family. At least I'm going in the right direction! That's good!

- And if I may post one more that is a blatant request for any readers who may have young teen daughters who enjoy knitting or who may have young teen daughters who just enjoy conversing with other girls, my daughter has a blog over here at Heartfelt Comfort that she would LOVE to have more traffic to and interaction with others who enjoy her same interests.

This post linked to:

Homestead Revival

A Good Laugh Friday

Welcome to the very first A Good Laugh Friday! If you don't know what A Good Laugh Friday is, read about it here. I am excited about posting my good laughs that I've had throughout my week and can't wait to read about yours!

I have to confess that I may have to work my way into this one. Since a good deal of my laughable moments are "you had to be there" ones, this may not turn out to be what I envision it to be. But I'm going to jump in anyway and just do it and hope that it grows into something happy and fun and exciting for everyone.

I can already tell I'm going to have to start walking around with a pen and notepad. We had family in town this week for Spring Break and I laughed so much. Too bad I can only remember ONE of those funny, funny moments:

"I don't know. They're not my pants." I hear that story almost every time we get together and it's funny every time. If you're interested in the story behind that statement, I'd be happy to share. But I don't know whose version to tell - my sister's, my sister-in-law's or my nephew's. :o)

Also:

My 12-year-old daughter grabbed a towel from the linen closet yesterday and out of the blue made the statement, "I think these towels have shrunk. I remember them being bigger." Since we've had the same towels since the day she was born, that just struck me hilarious.

I don't know how to describe how good it feels to me to be able to laugh.

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If you have a good laugh you want to share with the rest of us (especially if yours are better than mine), please write a post about it on your blog, link your post (not your home page) to my blog (and if you want to use my A Good Laugh button above, that would be awesome!), and then come back here to link back to your blog using Mister Linky below.

Beginning This Friday - A Good Laugh

I have a sign in my living room that says, "A Good Laugh is Sunshine in a House".

There was a time a few years ago when I wasn't sure I would ever laugh again. It had been months since I had even been happy enough to smile. My family was traveling a financial path that I was sure would lead to the loss of everything we had ever owned. I envisioned a home under a bridge somewhere. In reality, we have lost much of everything we have ever owned, but not everything. Our financial security at this point is non-existent. Our retirement savings is gone. Our present home is half the size of our previous one, yet we still have 5 people living under our small roof. My husband is self-employed and we are dependent on God for our "daily" bread. We're not young with a lot of time to regroup and recoup. Yet...somehow...it's a good place to be.

Shortly before "the big layoff of 2002", I had decided I needed a Scripture Goal. I came up with Paul's words, "I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content" (Philippians 4:11 ESV) Little did I know at the time, I was about to be tested in that goal. I have no doubts that the desire for it was laid on me by the Holy Spirit. I had never had a Scripture Goal in my life until that time. It was God's timing.

Over the past 8 years, I have been depressed to the point where I wanted God to just take me on home. I knew he could take care of my family while they were still here without me. I have had anxiety attacks where I clutched my Bible close to my chest just to make it through the night. I dreaded and feared the darkness. I have had moments where I thought God had just left us, completely left us. But I have also walked through those dark, dark days back into beautiful light. Although I still have my moments (trust me, I still have my moments), for the most part, I walk through my days in peace, confident in the fact that the only way we will survive and conquer this day-to-day path is to rest, fully rest, in Him alone.

I noticed one day that I had begun laughing again. It was a gradual ascent from darkness and I hadn't noticed that my mood was getting lighter and my stressed emotions were becoming calmer. The situation wasn't changing. We were still traveling the same dark road with no knowledge from one day to the next where our funds for living were going to come from. But...I was learning to trust. To be content.

The road is still wearying. We are still very tired. After 8 years, our situation has not changed. We are still walking daily not knowing how the funds will last through the end of the month. But in the midst of struggle and uncertainty, I am learning to rest.

We don't realize how beautiful the Gift of Laughter is until we have lived without it for an extended period of time and it comes back to us. I thank God for this beautiful gift every time I find myself laughing with friends or family.

I am going to begin, each Friday, listing moments throughout my week that have brought a smile to my face or caused me to laugh. I will add a MckLinky (hopefully I can figure it out!) so you can write about your moments of laughter throughout the week on your blog and link it up with mine. I would love to get some new wonderful friendships going!

So start recording your happy moments. And come back on Friday to join me in listing them here!

This post linked to:

Works For Me Wednesday at We Are THAT Family

Tuesday Tastiness #18 - Granola

It had been a while since I made granola and this week I decided it had just been too long. I made up a batch and am thoroughly enjoying it! I love this recipe because the only sweetener used is a natural one - honey.

As I have started my health food journey along the lines of Sally Fallon's Nourishing Traditions, this recipe is one of those controversial ones that she would not approve of. She believes in soaking grains to neutralize the effects of the phytic acids in grains and, although it seems to make sense to me, I have also read opposing arguments and, honestly, I AM JUST SO CONFUSED. So for now, I do my best. Maybe someday I'll soak. For soaked granola recipes, go here, or here. For more information on soaking grains, go here or here. And for all the information you ever wanted to know about the pros AND cons of soaking, go here. 

Now that I have you thoroughly confused along with me, here's the recipe:

Granola

4 cups rolled oats (I DO use the rolled oats rather than the quick ones. I DO believe the less the processing, the more nutrition)

1/2 cup butter (I DO use real butter) (I have also used a combination of butter and coconut oil)

1/2 cup honey (I have a local supplier and love it!)

1 T cinnamon

1/2 cup coconut ( I buy from the HFS or food coop, not the kind with added sugar on the grocery store shelves)

1/2 cup pecans, almonds or other nuts

Also: Raisins, sunflower seeds, any dried fruit, anything else that sounds good - just throw it in

Melt honey and butter together and pour over all ingredients. (Some say to add the dried fruit after baking. I just add it all in together at the beginning.) Bake on a cookie sheet (I cover with parchment paper) at 350 for about 10 minutes stirring occasionally. Continue to bake until golden brown and crispy. (Do not overbake! Tastes burnt and icky! Not good!) Cool on cookie sheet. Store in an airtight container.

Enjoy!!

I attribute this recipe to an old friend, Tina, at Taste of Health. I could not find her website this morning, so if any of my friends who also know her can direct me to it again, I will be happy to post it here to give her credit. She credits Breadbeckers as her original source, but she modified it to suit her tastes. But I think since she posted this a few years ago, she has gone vegan and raw, so I don't know if she cares whether she gets credit for it or not at this point. lol

This post linked to:

Food on Fridays

Grocery Cart Challenge Recipe Swap

Real Food Wednesday at Kelly the Kitchen Kop

Works For Me Wednesday at We Are THAT Family

Tuesday Tastiness #17 - Mexican Skillet

This week's recipe is one that I consider a healthy, made-from-scratch "hamburger helper". Delicious and easy!

Since I wasn't on top of things this evening, here is the "after" picture. See how much we love it?!

Mexican Skillet

1 lb. hamburger (I use grass-fed/finished when possible)

Onion, diced small, to taste (1/2 cup or so)*

1 16 oz. can tomatoes (I use fresh or frozen from the garden when I have them)*

1 can Rotel (I use mild)*

1 8 oz. can tomato sauce

6 cups cooked rice (I use long-grain brown rice, organic when possible) (Cook 2 cups dry rice in 4 cups water for approximately 6 cups cooked rice)

1 or 2 T salt (I use Real Salt)

1 T cumin

1 T garlic powder

1 T chili powder

1/2 lb. grated cheese (or less if you don't like a lot. We like a lot!)

Brown hamburger with onion in 10-inch cast iron skillet. Add all other ingredients except cheese and simmer 10 minutes or so. Sprinkle cheese over top, cover, and simmer for an additional 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.

*If you don't like "chunky", you can put tomatoes, Rotel, and onion in a blender and blend until smooth. This works well for kids!

This post linked to:

The Grocery Cart Challenge Recipe Swap

Real Food Wednesday at Kelly the Kitchen Kop

Works For Me Wednesday at We Are THAT Family

Tuesday Tastiness #16 - Simple Winter Salad

Today's recipe is a simple one. When making salads in the summer, I love using fresh summer veggies - tomatoes, cucumbers and green peppers from the garden or farmers market. But in the winter, I love to use vegetables that are more hardy and associated with the colder months.

Simple Winter Salad

Romaine Lettuce

Fresh baby spinach leaves

Carrots (I buy regular carrots, not baby carrots, since they are cheaper and I can buy organic for only pennies more than non-organic at Walmart)

Red cabbage

See how simple that is! I just tear the lettuce and spinach into bite-size pieces, slice a carrot (I don't even peel it when I buy organic carrots), and chop up part of a head of red cabbage. Toss it all together and top with my homemade ranch dressing. I usually fill a large serving bowl and have the salad available for two or three days that way. Since there are no veggies in it that break down quickly (like tomatoes in the summer) it will last very well for a few days in the fridge. These particular vegetables are reasonably-priced during the winter months, too, so it is a very cost-effective AND healthy way to eat salad during the winter.

Enjoy!!

This post linked to:

The Grocery Cart Challenge

Real Food Wednesday at Kelly The Kitchen Kop

Works For Me Wednesday at Rocks in my Dryer

Tuesday Tastiness #15 - A Word from God

Today will be an unusual Tuesday Tastiness. We are going to Taste and See that the Lord is GOOD!

I want to encourage you today with an entry from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. It is a wonderful devotional that I love to read and gain beautiful encouragement from. It is written as if God is speaking directly to the reader. Although I got to spend an enjoyable hour and a half or so today in the car with a good friend, my nerves have been on edge and feel a bit frayed this evening. As I was reading through the devotional to catch up on a few entries to help calm those frayed nerves, I came across the February 27 entry that says:

Keep your eyes on Me! Waves of adversity are washing over you, and you feel tempted to give up. As your circumstances consume more and more of your attention, you are losing sight of Me. Yet I am with you always, holding you by your right hand. I am fully aware of your situation, and I will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able to bear.

Your gravest danger is worrying about tomorrow. If you try to carry tomorrow's burdens today, you will stagger under the load and eventually fall flat. You must discipline yourself to live within the boundaries of today. It is in the present moment that I walk close to you, helping you carry your burdens. Keep your focus on My Presence in the present.

Isn't that just awesome!!!! It has really helped me put circumstances back into proper focus and place my attention on the Source tonight. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you.

This post linked to:

Works For Me Wednesday at Rocks in My Dryer