Saturday, November 30, 2013

Winner Of Homestead Blessings~The Art Of Breadmaking



The winner of the Homestead Blessings~The Art of Breadmaking DVD is.......

Jamie H.

Congratulations, Jamie!

Blessings,


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Friday, November 29, 2013

Black Friday Sale At Lilla Rose!

http://www.lillarose.biz/splendidbeauty
 
Lilla Rose is having a HUGE Black Friday Sale!!  For two days only, November 29 and 30, you'll receive 20% off ALL ITEMS!! 
 
PLUS.....
 
25-50% off select products!!!
 
AND.....
 
FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $50!
 
This sale is only November 29 and 30, so head over to Lilla Rose and start your holiday shopping!  Lilla Rose hair clips make a great gift!  Start shopping for mom and sisters, then don't forget your nieces, babysitters, piano teachers, or Sunday school teachers.  When you've checked those off your list, start shopping for yourself!! 
 
 
Blessings,


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Thursday, November 28, 2013

Happy Thanksgiving!!



Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family and friends.  Give thanks for all the blessings in your life, and remember that God is good!

Blessings,



Homestead For Him now has a Facebook page.  Like what you see here, won't you like my page?!  Click the like button on the sidebar or go HERE!!

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Thanksgiving 2013~Turkey Stock

 
While the thanksgiving turkey can last for a while after the big day, you can also make that bird go farther by using the bones and making a delicious and nutritious stock.
 
Take all the bones and throw them into a large pot.  Get them as clean as you can {because you want to use all that meat!}, but don't worry if there is still some meat on them.  It will add more flavor to your stock.  Throw in some vegetables into the pot as well.  I usually use onions {leave the peels on them}, celery, carrots, and green peppers.  I also add a generous sprinkling of pepper and garlic powder as well.  Then add a splash of vinegar to the pot.  The vinegar helps draw healthy minerals out of the bones.
 
Cover the bones and veggies with water.  Heat it until it is just about to boil, then simmer.  You can simmer it for a few hours or overnight {I'm not a fan of leaving something on the stove overnight, but maybe in a crockpot I would consider it.  Unfortunately, I don't have a crockpot large enough!}.  I had mine on the stove for about 4 hours or so.
 
Strain the veggies from the broth and your ready to go.   I canned this batch, but you can also put it in the freezer.  You now have healthy, delicious homemade turkey stock to make soups with. 
 
A frugal, healthy, and easy way to make your own turkey stock.  And you were going to just throw those bones in the garbage!!
 
Blessings,


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The BEST {And Easiest} Gravy Ever~Thanksgiving 2013

 
 

I am not a gravy lover.  My grandma would make the tastiest gravy, and when she died, my desire for gravy died, too.  I just don't like the taste of store bought gravy, and when I tried to make my own, it never tasted like grandmas.  

So I became one of those people who just has butter with their potatoes.

Then a friend gave me a recipe and said it tastes just like grandma's.  I wondered when she was ever at my grandma's house, but graciously took the recipe.  I reluctantly tried it and was surprised to find....

It tastes just like grandma's!!

This recipe is super easy to make, and the best part is NO LUMPS {A problem I've had when I previously tried to make my own gravy}!!  So in honor of all the grandma's who've spent countless Thanksgivings making their own gravy, lets all make our own gravy this year, too!!  Your family will thank you for it, and you just might start a new tradition!

Easy Turkey Gravy

1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 cups pan drippings

In medium saucepan, melt butter.  Add in black pepper and flour.  Whisk continuously over low heat for 3 minutes.  You'll notice a change in the consistency of the butter/flour mixture as you whisk.  When it goes from pasty to a thinner consistency you have it right.  Add in the turkey drippings.

Continue to whisk over medium~low heat until bubbly and the gravy has thickened.  This should also take about 3 minutes.
Serve with your mashed potatoes and turkey and gladly accept all the praise you'll get for the delicious gravy!


Enjoy!!

Blessings,


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Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Thanksgiving 2013~Squash Seeds, A Yummy Snack!


 
When you make that Thanksgiving Squash, save the seeds from it and make a delicious, easy, and frugal snack with it.  If you love roasted pumpkin seeds, you'll love this, too!

Place the seeds you spooned out of the squash into a bowl.

Add water to the bowl.  This makes it easier to separate the seeds from the other "gunk".  You'll need to get your hands in there to loosen the seeds.
 Pour the seeds through a strainer and rinse with water to remove any leftover "gunk"!  Then pat dry with a towel.
 Place on a cookie sheet, spritz with olive oil and sprinkle with salt.  Bake at 325* for 10~20 minutes.  Cool off and enjoy!
Does the lure of a tasty snack want to make you go out and get a squash?  Give it a try!
 
Blessings,


Homestead For Him now has a Facebook page.  Like what you see here, won't you like my page?!  Click the like button on the sidebar or go HERE!!


Thursday, November 21, 2013

Thanksgiving 2013~Squash~~The Neglected Side Dish


Squash may not be neglected in your family, but in mine it sure is!  I am the only one who loves this creamy, tasty vegetable.  I couldn't even get my family to eat it by telling them it was technically a fruit, not a vegetable!  Anyway, in an effort to get squash into more Thanksgiving dinners, I'm sharing the easy way my grandma made it.

First you start with one or two wonderful looking squash.  Don't be intimidated by that tough outer skin.  Once you get past that, you'll be well on your way to a delicious side dish!
Cut the squash in half lengthwise.  This is how it will look when you open it up.
Scoop out those seeds.  Just grab a spoon and spoon them into a bowl.  Save these seeds.  They will make a delicious snack for later!! 

Put a pat of butter in each well from the scooped out seeds.  Sprinkle with a bit of brown sugar and place in a preheated 375* oven. Bake for 30 minutes or until soft. {it took closer to an hour for both of my squash to completely cook}
 When the squash in soft, scoop it away from the skin.  {sorry, forgot to get a picture of that step!}  Then place the squash into a blender.
Blend for just a moment or two.  I don't like to blend too long, because then it gets the consistency of baby food {and then I don't want to eat it either!}, but enough to get the lumps out and make it creamy.  Add pepper, salt and a little more brown sugar if needed.
ENJOY!!
 
I'm curious, how many of you are squash lovers?  Have a delicious Thanksgiving dinner!
 
 
Blessings,


Homestead For Him now has a Facebook page.  Like what you see here, won't you like my page?!  Click the like button on the sidebar or go HERE!!



Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Thanksgiving 2013~Pumpkin Pie


One of the staples of Thanksgiving in my opinion is pumpkin pie.  I know many of you make "real" pumpkin pie, even rolling out your own crust.  I take the easy way out and use canned pumpkin and ready made pie crust.  I love my pie, but also love saving time to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner.  Here's the simple, yet yummy recipe!

 
Pumpkin Pie
 
1 can (15oz) pumpkin
1 can (14oz) sweetened condensed milk
2 eggs
1TB pumpkin pie spice
pie crust (I cheat and use the ready made roll out kind!)
 
Mix pumpkin, milk, eggs, and spice until smooth.  Pour into pie crust.  Bake at 425* for 15 minutes.  Reduce temp to 350* and bake 40 minutes more.


I can't wait until Thanksgiving dinner to enjoy a piece of pumkin pie!

Blessings,



Homestead For Him now has a Facebook page.  Like what you see here, won't you like my page?!  Click the like button on the sidebar or go HERE!!

Friday, November 15, 2013

Worth Rubies~Feeding Our Families**WITH A GIVEAWAY!!**

 
 
"She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants." Proverbs 31:14-15

The Proverbs 31 woman is quite a busy woman!  We're not only busy eagerly serving our husbands, but we are also spending a lot of time preparing food for them and our families.

A Proverbs 31 woman will go to whatever depths necessary to bring nutritious food to our families.  In this verse it states that she is like a merchant ship.  Merchant ships were also called trading ships because they were full of goods from far away lands that many people bartered to buy and trade goods.  We probably do not need to travel great distances to bring our food home, but we should travel past the nearest McDonald's to put healthy food on our tables.  We need to put some thought and effort into not only planning our meals, but getting our food at the best prices as well.

In order to provide our families with healthy, delicious meals we will need to get a proper start to our day.  This means we will need to get out of bed early {while it is still night} and get going ourselves.  Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and getting our families going with a good, healthy breakfast is just what they need.  This may mean different things in different families.  It might mean a breakfast of eggs, or a breakfast of pancakes, or a breakfast of oatmeal.  It probably doesn't mean sending the kids out the door with a couple of cookies!

What about lunch?  In our house, lunch is pretty simple, but I still need to put some thought into it.  Are we prepared for dinner?  Thawing something out, something in the crockpot, or roasting in the oven? 

Is this an area you are struggling in?  This week lets make a better effort to putting nutritious and delicious meals on the table each day.  Start with a good breakfast.  You might remember my Great Cereal Debate and my struggle with feeding my kids cereal {something I still struggle with at times!}.  This post has some great, EASY alternatives to cereal.  How about dinner.  Think about it now, so you are not struggling at 4:30 to find something decent to eat, then give up and order a pizza!  Make a meal list for the week {check the grocery ads and coordinate meals with sales!} and head to the grocery store.
 
NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY!!!!

I was recently given a DVD of Homestead Blessings~The Art Of Bread Making.  I already have this DVD and love it!  I love the West Ladies {as they call themselves!} and all of their DVD's are wonderful and informative!  Since I already had this DVD, I would love to pass it on to someone else to enjoy!  Bread making is a wonderful skill to learn and this DVD will help to get you started.  Just enter below and I'll announce the winner next week!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have a great {and delicious!} week!

Blessings,


Homestead For Him now has a Facebook page.  Like what you see here, won't you like my page?!  Click the like button on the sidebar or go HERE!!

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Leaving A Legacy


This picture is the door of my laundry chute.  Each time I get clothes out of the chute, I see this and it makes me smile.  This was written by my father~in~law when he made the chute in November of 1968.   It says "Hi Honey Happy Washing Today" and is signed by him with the date.

Looking at this makes me think about the legacy each of us leave.  What kind of legacy will I be leaving my children?  Will that legacy be anger or joy?  Frustration or flexibility?  Contentment or greed?  Love or hate?

 We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.  Psalm 78:4

The most important legacy I can leave my children is to be a follower of Christ.  If I am following the Lord in all I do, my legacy will show that.  You'll see the times I relied on God to meet my needs.  You'll see the obedience even when it may not make sense in the world's eyes.  You'll see my love for Him through all I say and do.

I have to ask myself, is this the legacy I'm leaving?  Are you?

Blessings,


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Thursday, November 7, 2013

Thanksgiving 2013~Cultivating A Heart Of Gratitude

 

As I may have mentioned a time or two, I love Christmas.  But a friend recently pointed out to me that by starting Christmas so early, we miss out on Thanksgiving. 

I realized she is right!  I spend so much time during November planning, either in my head or in reality, for Christmas.  Thanksgiving doesn't get the same amount of planning.  Even on Thanksgiving day, I'm preparing for the holidays since we get our tree the weekend after it.

So this year I am going to be intentional about Thanksgiving.  I'm going to spend the month focusing on the blessings in my life, and cultivating a he♥rt of gratitude.  From decorating to dinner, I'm going to reflect on what I've been blessed with.

The irony here is that this is the first year in many that I will not be making the dinner.  Hubby's family is having a full family Thanksgiving celebration {think reunion} where we will all be bringing something for the dinner {think potluck}.  We are looking forward to seeing aunts, uncles, and cousins.  Many are coming from out of state and we haven't seen in quite a while.

Something else to be thankful for!

Blessings,


Homestead For Him now has a Facebook page.  Like what you see here, won't you like my page?!  Click the "like" button on the sidebar or go HERE!!

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Worth Rubies~A Pause To Reflect



I want to address a few things.  When I started my blog, I had no real idea about what I wanted it to be.  I tried copying things that seemed to work well for other bloggers, but I never really felt like things fit.  After some prayer and reflection early last year, I realized what my mission in writing this blog would be and I try to stick with this.

I found in my own life when I was a young wife and mother, I had a lack of a mentor.  I really didn't know what scripture states about my role as wife and mother.  As a result, both my marriage and family were not what it should have/could have been.   I looked to blogs and Christian writers along with scripture to learn about these things.    This has been a blessing in my marriage, parenting, and home.  What I want to do with this blog is to share with other women what I have learned as a wife, mother, and homemaker, and hopefully encourage other women. 

What I do not want my blog to be is a source of frustration and discouragement.  I feel I need to get very real with you.  I do not write my blog because I am a perfect wife and mother.  I do not write my blog because I have it all together.  I do not write my blog because I know everything about everything. 

If you came to my home and spent the day with me you'd see I'm in the same place you are.  My marriage is not perfect.  I am a sinner married to a sinner.  My children are not perfect.  They argue with each other, are disobedient, and forgetful.  My house is not tidy, and sometimes it's not real clean either!  I struggle with self confidence and fear.  I loose my patience, my temper, my tongue, and sometimes my mind!! 

I pray you will be encouraged by what I write, because I write it not only for you, but myself as well.  When I write about parenting or marriage, I am also writing it to myself.  I desire to be better myself, and want you to find that joy as well.  I don't write about the Proverbs 31 woman because I am one.  I write about the Proverbs 31 woman because I want to be one.  I believe that together we can change the next generation and turn hearts back toward Christ.   

Please, please, please understand that I do not have a perfect marriage, perfect family, and perfect life. Please don't leave this blog discouraged because I am writing about a subject you feel you don't measure up to.  More than likely, I don't either, but am working on it.   

Be encouraged!

Blessings,


Homestead For Him now has a Facebook page.  Like what you see here, won't you like my page?!  Click the like button on the sidebar or go HERE!!