My continuing education…so to speak

“No one can get an education, for of necessity education is a continuing process.”

-Louis L’Amour

I love to read!

We have books in almost every room in our home, and I am usually reading at least three books at any given time. I have always loved to read. I was the one who would get in trouble for reading past my bedtime with a flashlight. The flashlight would be taken away, but that didn’t stop my. I would sit by window and dream of living with Laura Ingalls out on the prairie…

A few years ago, I was reading a blog post of a friend of mine where she talked about a commonplace book. In this particular blog post, Cheryl talks about the importance of investing in ourselves as wives and moms to be reading good books to encourage us to continue in this path we have chosen to follow.

I have now filled up two composition journals with quotes and Bible verses that have spoken to me over these past few years. I was just thinking today what a gift these will be for my daughter when she is old enough to become a wife and mother.

Have you read any good books lately?

My take on Fiesta Chicken Tortilla Soup

Last week while I was looking through my Pinterest feed, I found a recipe for Fiesta Slow-Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup. Everything sounded great until I saw the words ‘slow-cooker’. Now I know a lot of people just love their crock pots. But I am not one of them. The thought of vegetables slow cooking for hour after hour and turning into mush just does not appeal to me. I would prefer to cook a recipe over the stove top and eat vegetables that still taste fresh. This does require a little more planning and discipline on my part, but it is something I am willing to do to have a good tasting dinner for my family. If you love your crock pot, you will love the simplicity of dumping all of the ingredients into the crock pot for this recipe. If you want the stove top method, follow along with me here:

Fiesta Chicken Tortilla Soup

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• Olive oil
• 2 boneless/skinless chicken breasts, cut into small pieces
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can (15 oz) petite diced tomatoes
• 1 can (10 oz) red enchilada sauce
• 1 can (4 oz) diced green chilies
• 1 can (14.5 oz) black beans, drained
• 10 oz frozen corn kernels
• 1/2 cup uncooked rice
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp oregano
• 2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• 2 limes, juiced
• Extras: tortilla chips, cheese, sour cream, avocado for serving

Over medium-high heat on the stove, heat a couple of tablespoons of olive oil in a large saucepan. Add the chicken pieces and saute until no longer pink. Add the chopped onions and cook until translucent; add the chopped garlic and cook for about 30 seconds more. Then add the rest of the ingredients, except the cilantro, lime juice, and extras. Bring to a boil, then let simmer for at least 30 minutes. Before serving, stir in the chopped cilantro and lime juice.

Note: I am thinking this would be good with browned ground beef instead of the chicken also. In fact, I am going to give it a try this week with some homemade cornbread.

Recipe adapted from Fiesta Slow-Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup

December Photo Project - Day 23

This year, we changed up the traditional Christmas

chocolate fudge recipe.

Kelsey thought it would be a good idea to experiment and try to make cookies and cream fudge.

We started out with the basic fudge recipe: sugar, butter, and evaporated milk. So just follow the recipe for heating up those ingredients. I have always used the stove top version of the recipe, so make sure you have a candy thermometer on hand. Make sure you have a bag of white chocolate chips, one jar of marshmallow creme, vanilla extract, and about 16-20 crushed up oreos ready. Once the sugar, butter, and milk mixture has reached the right temperature, take the pan off of the stove top and add the whilte chocolate chips. Stir until the chips have melted. Then add the marshmallow creme and vanilla. Once the mixture is nice and smooth, stir in the crushed oreos. I like a pan with aluminum foil to make it easier to remove and cut up the fudge.

You can leave the pan on your counter to cool, but I really like a nice cold piece of fudge, so I put the pan in the refrigerator to cool.

Hope you enjoy the recipe!

Making time to be a blessing

Today was yet one more day that we put away the books and did some 'home ec'. This time, Kelsey and I gathered up some art projects, some reading books, and some cookie dough and headed over to the house of a young couple from our church. Right now this couple is taking care of two of their neices while their mom and dad are out of the country taking care of arrangements to adopt and bring home their new little brother. Due to some circumstances beyond everyone's control, the girls will be staying a little bit longer than anyone anticipated with aunt and uncle, who already have three young children of their own.

It is times like these that I am so thankful we have been homeschooling and I am working toward the other end of our homeschooling journey. Book work has its place, but when we can take time from that book work and bless a young family, it just warms my heart. The girls were all so excited when we arrived!

There are many things our kids can do to be a blessing in our communities: rake a neighbor's yard, help to prepare a meal for a new mom and her family, be a mommy's helper, help in the nursery at church, make cards for soldier's serving overseas, etc.

What types of service projects do you and your family do in your area?

InstaFriday

Time for a review of my Instagram photos from the past week!

 

 I was inspired last week by one of the InstaFriday posts to do some organizing in my kitchen. I decided to work on my cupboard at a time. Here is the contents of one cupboard.

 

The picture on the left is at after photo of the cleaned out cupboard, the picture on the right was the one I needed to tackle the next day.

 Compassion Event Volunteer Time! I love being available to help find sponsors for these kids at events and concerts.

 

 The concert we attended this time was really close to home this time. And, the Compassion table was set up inside the auditorium. We enjoyed listening to Heavens to Betsy, Dara Maclean, Jason Castro, and For King and Country. If this concert comes through your town, be sure to go! It was a great night of worship!

 Day 3 of kitchen cupboard cleaning...the dreaded baking cupboard! Yikes!

 

 Ahhh, so much better! And look, there is room on the top shelf!

 

 On Wednesday night, Kelsey decided the two of us should play a game of Scrabble. We only had just a few tiles left by the end of the game.

 

 Even though my photography class was postponed last night, I decided to work on my homework. This little guy sits on a shelf in my entry way. The 'trust God' sign was made by Matthew a really long time ago. Isn't it the perfect reminder for all of us? So simple and so profound...

 

 Another amazingly full cupboard! I believe I have enough tea to last me for years to come! Tea party anyone?

 

Petite Vanilla Bean Scones - these are for Kelsey's game night tonight with some of her friends, but I am exchanging a few of these with a young lady from our church. She made coconut macaroons last night and posted a picture on Instagram. So tonight I will be able to have scones and macaroons...maybe with some tea!

 

Are you on Instagram? Let me know in the comments and I can follow you! Be sure to link up with Life Rearranged each week for our InstaFriday posts too!