~What's Cooking Wednesdays~ Coconut Cake from Scratch!

I love coconut! Growing up, I did not like it at all, but I sure do now! =)

This year for our Anniversary (our elopment Anniversary!), I made a coconut cake and icing from scratch! Next time I will either double the icing recipe or make it with sour cream though. It was good, just thin.

Here is the recipes I used:

Silver White Cake
Serves: 12

Prep: 10 min; Bake: 45 min; Cool: 1 hr 10 min

2 1/4 cups all-purpose or 2 1/2 cup cake flour
1 2/3 cups sugar
2/3 cup shortening
1 1/4 cups milk
3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract or almond extract
5 large egg whites

1. Heat oven to 350°. Grease bottom and sides of rectangular pan, 13 X 9 X 2 inches, 2 round pans, 9 X 1 1/2 inches, or 3 round pans, 8 X 1 1/2 inches, with shortening; lightly flour. (Note: I used an 8 inch round and a 8x8 inch square. To make the heart, you cut the round in half and put the rounds above the square, forming a heart shape!).
2. Beat all ingredients except egg whites and White Mountain Frosting in large bowl with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly. Beat on high speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally.
3. Beat in egg whites on high speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour into pan(s).
4. Bake rectangle 40 to 45 minutes, 9-inch rounds 30 to 35 minutes, 8-inch rounds 23 to 28 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean or until cake springs back when touched lightly in center. Cool rectangle in pan on wire rack. Cool rounds 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
5. Frost rectangle or fill round layers and frost with White Mountain Frosting.
*Do not use self-rising flour.


FROSTING:
1 cup sugar
2 egg whites
1/2 cup water
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups flaked coconut
For frosting, in a large heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, egg whites, water, salt and cream of tartar over low heat or double boiler over simmering water. With a portable mixer, beat on low speed for 1 minute. Continue beating on low over low heat until frosting reaches 160 degrees F, about 12 minutes. Pour into a large mixing bowl; add vanilla. Beat on high until frosting forms stiff peaks, about 7 minutes.
Spread frosting over top and sides of cake. Sprinkle with coconut. Store in the refrigerator.


For more great recipes each week, and to join "What's Cppking Wednesdays", visit Jess's blog, "It's All About The Savings"!

"Spring Into Health" Blog Event!! Info and List of Sponsers!!

I am so excited about the "Spring Into Health" blog event!

I have been blessed with a lot of great sponsors and the reviews and giveaways are just looking wonderful (and healthy!)! I think everyone is going to enjoy the products and hope you all have a great time!

Please get the blog event button and share it on your blog, etc!

The event will be starting right after Easter, so keep checking back so you can be in on all the action!

Here is the button (and the link to it is on the sidebar)




And now......The list of sponsors so far!!!

The Straight Stitch

KellysJewelry

me & gogi

Stonyfield




Frontier Coop




Morning Glories Handpainted Glassware


Green Mountain Coffee



Tropical Traditions

Keep checking back as I add more sponsors!

Thanks!

~Hannah

Some Quotes on Wisdom, Freedom & the Loss of Freedom

I wanted to share some quotes and a cartoon from The Patriot Post today.
I receieve The Patriot Post by email and highly recommend it!
~Hannah

"In the formation of our constitution the wisdom of all ages is collected -- the legislators are antiquity are consulted, as well as the opinions and interests of the millions who are concerned. It short, it is an empire of reason." --Noah Webster, An Examination into the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution, 1787

"The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. ... [I]t is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable -- and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come!" --Patrick Henry

"A terrible thing happened to America on Sunday, March 21, 2010. The country took its biggest step ever down a road diametrically opposed to its original intent of keeping the state small so that the individual can be free and great." --columnist Dennis Prager

~Health Tip Tuesday~ Dandelions!

Dandelions!
The past few days, our front yard has had a huge spread of dandelions blooming in it! I just love dandelions! Funny, most folks do not like them and many think they are a weed, but you can use the whole dandelion plant for many different remedies and recipes!

Dandelion recipes from Learning herbs!

And many more recipes:
How to Make Roasted Dandelion Root Coffee,
Dandelion salad, wine, etc.,
Dandelion Potato Salad Recipe
Cream of Dandelion Soup Recipe

Dandelion-Pineapple Juice
"Cool off with a refreshing glass of dandelion-pineapple juice. It's easy to make, and loaded with the vitamins and anti-oxidants that your body needs.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
•1 large handful fresh dandelion greens, washed
•10-12 ounces pineapple juice
•5-6 ice cubes
Preparation:
1. Place the dandelion greens and pineapple juice in a blender and puree.
2. Add ice to the blender and pulse or serve in a tall glass over ice."

Dandelion Soup
(From Herbalpedia)
2 Tbsp butter
1/8 tsp thyme
2 Tbsp flour
1 bay leaf
2 cups milk
1 hard-boiled egg, peeled and sliced (garnish)
2 cups dandelion flowers
1/8 tsp celery seed
Melt the butter in a medium-sized saucepan
over low heat. Mix in the flour to form a paste.
Stir in the milk a little a time until smooth.
Mix in the dandelions, celery seed, thyme and
bay leaf. Simmer until the flowers are tender,
15-20 minutes. Remove the bay leaf before
serving. Garnish with slices of hard-boiled
egg.

Also from Herbalpedia
"How to Roast Dandelion Roots
Cut off the leaves and scrub the roots. Lay the
roots on a baking sheet with the oven turned to
its lowest setting and the door ajar. It may take
3-4 hours until the roots are shriveled and snap
easily. They are done when the insides of the
roots are dark brown."
You can read about dandelion Here and Here on Herbal Legacy!
And Here at Botanical.

Debi Pearl sums up the dandelion very well in her article Here.
"The flowers have traditionally been made into a wine or tonic and used as a liver cleanser. Its effectiveness has been scientifically validated. The leaves can be eaten as a salad, cooked green, or made into a green drink. The root of the dandelion can be roasted for a coffee like drink. Dandelions are high in vitamins and minerals, especially calcium and vitamins A and C. They are high in protein, iron, manganese, potassium, and sodium—all nutritive salts for the blood. It is often used to treat anemia. As a food source, the dandelion could be invaluable. Most physical problems could be helped if not completely cured by a balance of nutrients.
As a medicinal herb the dandelion is a remarkable friend. It is a potent diuretic, which means it helps flush excess water from the body. As a diuretic, it can be used to reduce bloating before your cycle, or anytime you have swelling around your ankles or hands, which might indicate you are retaining water. As a diuretic, it can help keep the urinary passages flushed in case of irritation or infection. It could even bring some relief in congestive heart problems, which is water collecting around the heart.
Dandelion also stimulates the flow of bile, which makes it a good tonic for the liver and gallbladder. Most herb books recommend it for a wide variety of liver disorders.
Dandelion neutralizes acids in the body, thus it is often used by people as they lose weight to help keep the acid levels down, which rise as a person loses weight. Dandelion has antioxidants that help cleanse the body, which is why it is mentioned in many herbals as a help for people suffering with cancer. Because of its anti-toxin activities, many herbalists suggest dandelion to treat various skin problems."

I will be posting our dandelion cookie making sometime soon (hopefully in the next few days!), so keep an eye out for that!
Happy dandelion picking and cooking!
God bless your health!
~Hannah

~Music Mondays~ "Just To Be With You"!

Today I wanted to share one of my favorite Third day songs! "Love Song"!! I always call it "Just to be with you" though! =) I love how it paints the breathtaking picture of what Jesus has done just to be with us! And He would do it all again! Wow! Just makes you cry and praise the Lord for all His wondrous love that He just poured out for us! And continues to bless us with! He is soooooo good to me and you!

When I was looking for "Love Song" by Third Day, I stumbled across this song by Paul Baloche! I have never heard him before but this song fits so well as a reply to the song above!
Christ is telling all He has done to be with us, and we are here, empty, needing Him to feel us. "All I want, all I need is Just to be with" Him!

Here is Paul Baloche telling the story behind the song.

This Easter, Praise the Lord that He made a way for us to be with Him!

God bless your Monday and week ahead!

~Hannah

For more music to start your week on the right note, visit Shawntele's blog, "Saved By Grace"!

~Menu Plan Monday~ Busy Week Ahead!

I have been working on a huge "Spring Into Health" blog event! This week I am doing some reviews and still gathering up sponsors, products, etc!
The event should start right after Easter (or sooner!) so come join the fun! =) Will be posting the list of sponsors I have this week, I hope! And have the blog event button ready!
We took off homeschool last week, but have to get back to it today!
Also hope to help husband with some of his projects, get ready for Easter, start some seeds in trays for the garden, and I hope to do as much on here as I can without it interrupting family life!
We have been eating some new cereals and yogurt for breakfast and loving it, so that is mostly on the menu for breakfast this week! Also hope to use my yogurt maker again this week to make more!!

Don't forget to enter the "What's in The Bible?" giveaway while you are here too! You are going to love "What's In The Bible?"!!! It is a favorite in our house!

For hundreds of blogs to surf and great menu plans and recipes to find, visit Organize Junkie.

Here is my tentative menu for this week!
Mon.
breakfast=cold cereal & bananas
lunch=BBQ or tuna sandwiches
supper= marinated chicken & rice
Tues.
breakfast= cold cereal or yogurt
lunch= ham sandwiches
supper= turkey & dressing
Wed.
breakfast= yogurt & cereal
lunch= spaghetti squash casserole
supper=leftover turkey & dressing
Thurs.
breakfast= yogurt & cereal
lunch= tuna pitas
supper=cookout at river (burgers or smoked sausages?)!
Fri.
breakfast= omelets
lunch=leftover buffet
supper=fried chicken
Sat.
breakfast= brunch eggs
lunch= ham and corn cakes
supper= leftover chicken
Sun.
breakfast= cold cereal
lunch= Easter lunch @ my sister's
supper= leftover buffet

~Spiritual Sundays~ God Is Able To Deliver You!

For more uplifting, Spiritual Sunday readings, visit Spiritual Sundays blogspot!
In my daily Bible reading for yesterday, I read the book of Joel. I found it very appropriate for our day and time. At the time of the book of Joel, God's people are struggling, they have endured much suffering from their many sins of wondering away from Him and His laws. But he will rescue them from their enemies, when they cry out to Him and turn from their evil ways and return to following His laws.

In My Bible reading for today, I read Daniel chapter 1-3. In chapter 3 we read of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego being thrown into the fiery furnace. Here were three men who became very powerful in a country that was conquering and ruling a lot at that time in history. They had become powerful because they were wise, men of God. And yet when the king who had appointed them to their high positions saw and heard that they would not bow to his idol, Nebuchadnezzar was furious! No one told Him what to do or not do and when he made a command Everyone obeyed! But as soon as he saw four men in the fiery furnace he says the "form of the fourth is like the Son of God" and calls them "servants of the Most High God" (Daniel 3:25 & 26)! truly amazing how fast he turned from burning God's servants and being furious that they did not bow to his idol, to blessing the Most High God!

Growing up there was a song we had on tape, (that I tried to find to share here today, but I do not know the writers and could not find it. =( ), that we use to love to listen to and I also think of when I read about God delivery them from the fire.

Some of the lyrics are:

"God is able, God is able,

To deliver from the fire,

He will rescue those who serve Him

When the flames are burning higher"

One of the verses says something like:

"Don't you know that some things never change

And our fiery trials are still the same.......

The Lord will face the fire with you,

Stand with the saints and say,

My God will provide a Way."

How true and appropriate these lyrics are for us today!

No matter what we face, God will face it with us!

I wanted to share this hymn with you today too!

"He Is Able to Deliver Thee"

Words & Music: Wil­liam A. Og­den

"’Tis the grandest theme through the ages rung;
’Tis the grandest theme for a mortal tongue;
’Tis the grandest theme that the world e’er sung,
“Our God is able to deliver thee.”

Refrain

He is able to deliver thee,
He is able to deliver thee;
Though by sin oppressed, go to Him for rest;
“Our God is able to deliver thee.”

’Tis the grandest theme in the earth or main;
’Tis the grandest theme for a mortal strain;
’Tis the grandest theme, tell the world again,
“Our God is able to deliver thee.”

Refrain

’Tis the grandest theme, let the tidings roll,
To the guilty heart, to the sinful soul;
Look to God in faith, He will make thee whole,
“Our God is able to deliver thee.”

Refrain"

God bless you and fill you spiritually!

~Hannah

"Something For Squirt" Winner!

The winner for "Something For Squrit" according to True Random Number Generator
is
Result: 3

Alexis said...
"Your button is on my blog roll"

Congratulations Alexis!

Winner confirmed.

~Health Tip~ Chickweed!

Here in the south, I have noticed that chickweed grows from fall thru spring! But it does not grow really thick in most places that I have seen it, compared to pictures of it growing up in northern states!
So I have not been able to make anything with chickweed, Yet! Just wait though, (beware chickweed!) I want to make some chickweed ointment, chickweed eye rinse, chickweed pesto, chickweed steamed, chickweed in salad, chickweed on sandwiches, etc!

Here are some chickweed recipes:
Prodigal Gardens,
Learning Herbs,
Herbal Cuisine,
Medicinal Herbs


From Edible Chesapeake:
"Chickweed (Stellaria media)
One of the first weeds to greet us in the spring, chickweed is chock full of beneficial nutrients. It contains vitamins B6 and B12, vitamin C, vitamin D, biotin, choline, inositol and rutin. Chickweed also provides us with a variety of minerals including calcium, copper, iron, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and silicon. It contains saponin, which dissolves thickened cell walls and membranes, giving chickweed a reputation as a weight-loss aid. Beneman likes to use chickweed as a self-sown cover crop for some of her larger, taller vegetables, like tomatoes. She cautions against using it with crops such as lettuce, since chickweed will take up too much space and compete for nutrients. Chickweed has a pleasant, mild flavor and can be used instead of sprouts in a salad or on a sandwich or even wilted like spinach."

Learn more and see more pictures about chickweed at Wildman Steve Brill's!

From More Than Alive:

"Chickweed is high or very high in:
•Aluminum
•Calcium
•Cobalt
•Iron
•Magnesium
•Manganese
•Phosphorus
•Potassium
•Protein
•Silicon
•Vitamin A
•Zinc

Has been used in the following:

•Acne
•Allergies
•Appetite Depressant
•Blood Poisoning
•Blood Purifier
•Boils
•Bowels
•Burns
•Cancer
•Fatty Tumors
•Hayfever
•Hemorrhoids-bleeding
•Obesity
•Plague, blood vessels
•Psoriasis
•Skin
•Sores
•Weight Loss
•Wounds "

From Herbal Legacy:
"For others who suffered from asthma, as well as any respiratory condition. Dr. Christopher developed Lung & Bronchial, a formula of chick-weed, marshmallow root, mullein leaves, comfrey leaves, and lobelia. He chose all of the herbs in the formula for their ability to rebuild the lungs and expel the thick mucus secretions that accompany so many respiratory conditions. Some also soothe inflamed tissue, relieve pain, and heal hemorrhaging tissues in the lungs. In addition to Lung & Bronchial, Dr. Christopher recommended a sound diet, plenty of steam-distilled water, oil massage, and external application of Complete Tissue & Bone ointment.
One of the most valuable herbs in the formula is chickweed. It soothes, softens, and reduces irritation of the mucous membranes while relieving the cough of colds, influenza, and bronchitis. It activates the liver to eliminate the toxins related to these conditions. A powerful expectorant, it increases the secretions of the broncho-pulmonary membrane, facilitating the discharge of mucus."

God bless your health!
~Hannah

DISCLAIMER
This information is not intended for the use of diagnosing any disease, condition or prescribing any treatment whatsoever. It is offered for informational and educational use only, and for use in maintaining and promoting good health in cooperation with a licensed medical practitioner.
In the event the reader of this post uses the information without the approval of a health care provider, he/she is prescribing for himself/herself and assuming full responsibility for it. This is his/her right to do so, but Preparing For Our Children's Future assumes no responsibility for his/her actions.

My Easter "Splurge"!

I hardly ever buy stuff for just me. Yeah, I know, I am not a "normal' female! But I knew that! When I buy things, I make sure that my whole family can benefit from them! I prefer to go without and spend for my family and when they are happy and have what they need, I find joy in that!
Last month, I had the opportunity to spend some money though (yay, naughty me!) and of course I went for mostly books! I purchased books that I knew my whole family (and even others) could benefit from though.
I wanted to get the children a treat for Easter and since the oldest is reading I got the Billy & Blaze book for her and a Dora reading set for her and the youngest (who Loves Dora!).

Plus I bought them a dvd! I never do that! I think this was the second dvd we have bought! Lol! But they love "Ice Age" and had not seen "Dawn of the Dinosaurs". Sure enough, the whole family loves it!

I also bought a bunch of seeds, but hope to post about that later!

The top herb book on my list has been:

Rosemary Gladstar's Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health

So I knew I wanted to get that one! Now if I could just discipline myself to read more, so I can soak in all this great herbal information!!!!!
Rosemary's book is full of recipes, pictures and info on herbs and health.



I would love to grow most of my herbs and have started growing some, but I would like to know more about how to do it right when I do more! I have been gathering up a lot of herb seeds, so I finally got
Growing 101 Herbs that Heal by Tammi Hartung!

This book is packed with info! I was surprised! I assumed it was all about growing herbs, but has So Much more! How to store herbs, making herbal preparations, recipes, garden plans, and about marketing your herbs, etc!!

Another book I have had on my wish list for a Long time is:
"Rejuvenate Your Life, Recipes for Energy" by Serene Allison

I was very excited to finally get it and read over some of the pages! She gives tons of info and advice on how to make and cook healthy for your family and switching to healthy foods. Also love that she tells where they get their foods! I look forward to being able to eat more like her family, but know that I will probably end up just using a lot of her recipes and ideas, since we do canning and cook on a woodstove!

My other purchase was also from Above Rubies!

"Who Am I?" Two-Disk DVD Set by Nancy Campbell

I have been wanting a dvd set from Nancy Campbell for a long time now, and when I saw the new set, and it was cheaper then her other set ("Reclaiming God's Plan For Women") I decided to get it. Nancy is so inspiring and I love her speeches. My husband was disappointed in her misspeaking some (like when she says that male and female are two separate species) but I hope people know that she must have misspoke there! Maybe I should have bought the other dvd set.....Oh well, I want to share your messages with other women, and thought her dvds would be good. Has anyone else had women over to their house to hear her dvds? Would love to hear how that went for you!

Yolife Yogurt Maker (Product Review)!

A while back the CSN stores contacted me to do a product review for them and I was very excited about the opportunity and all the great products that they carry! They have a huge line of great barstools and I would love to have a couple of them!
It was hard to choose what to review, till I saw the Yolife Yogurt maker! I knew that my family would love to have some homemade yogurt and this would be great for making healthy breakfast choices for them!
I was very excited to get my Yolife! To be honest I did not know anything about making yogurt! So I can say that this maker works great for newbies!
The Yolife comes with seven 6 oz. glass jars, with lids, so that you can conveniently have yogurt everyday of the week!
It comes with two covers, one short (to go over the 6 oz. jars that is included) and a tall cover. With the tall cover, you can easily place two quart jars in the Yolife, or your own glass or plastic containers (up to 80 oz. at a time according to the manual)!
The Yolife makes yogurt in 8-12 hours, so you can get it started the night before and have your yummy yogurt the next day!
I used a yogurt starter to make my yogurt and the tall cover, since I used my own jars (plain canning jars). And I used some home-canned blueberries to flavor the yogurt. It was tart, but after I added a little sugar, the children gobbled it up! I look forward to trying out new flavors and sweeteners, as I make more yogurt in my Yolife!
As a mom, I am always looking for ways to cook and feed my family better, so the Yolife was a good choice! Children love yogurt and it is a good way for them to get important probiotics! And with homemade yogurt they will get more probiotics then from store bought.
I highly recommend the Yolife and give it 5 stars!
You have to try it!

Want one? Buy it HERE at the CSN store!
Thank you CSN stores for the opportunity!
~Hannah

"What's In The Bible?" Review and Giveaway!

*GIVEAWAY CLOSED*


Children are sponges and absorb everything they see and hear. Most children today spend several hours every week in front of the TV watching shows. But until now parents have not had the option of popping in a show that is entertaining, educational and about the Bible!
I have been searching for years for some movies that my children would enjoy watching and would teach them the truths of the Bible, and at the same time keep them excited about learning and hearing the Bible!
My children are young, but they absolutely love these movies and go around singing the songs, talking about the characters and most importantly to me, they talk about the Bible and all the things they have learned and the stories and people in the Bible!
"What's In the Bible" is the ultimate family time show that will keep young and old entertained and learning! Perfect for Sunday school lessons, homeschooler's, and anyone with children of any age!
I grew up in a Christian home where the Bible was read often and I have learned so much that I did not even know, just from watching, "What's In The Bible" with my family!
I believe this series of movies will be a far bigger hit and favorite then Veggie Tales and that it will bring people closer to God and His Word! This is what our country needs right now for the younger generations!
In the first dvd "In The Beginning" you and your family will be introduced to all the characters and get to discuss the Who, What, Why and Where of the Bible and go through the journey of Genesis! In the second dvd "Let My People Go" you will journey through Exodus! It is an adventure that you will never forget!

To learn more visit "What's In The Bible?"

and to purchase visit Tyndale House Publishers.

Now for a giveaway!!!

One winner will receive two certificates, for free copy's of each DVD ("In the Beginning" and "Let My People Go").

Mandatory Entry:
Tell me who you would like to win this for and why.

Please leave your email address in your comment or have it visible on your profile.

Extra Entries After completing mandatory Entry:
-Become a Facebook fan of "What's In The Bible?" (1 entry)

-Join the "What's In The Bible?" newsletter (1 entry)
-Follow my blog (1 entry)
-Follow me on Networked Blogs (1 entry)
-Add my blog button to your sidebar and leave a link of where I can find it(2 entries)
-Write a blog post about this giveaway and leave the link to your post below (5 entries)

That gives you 11 chances to win! Have fun!
Please leave a comment per entry that you qualify for, for each entry to count!

This giveaway is open to everyone (if winner is outside U.S., they need to mail the certificate to Tyndale) and Ends on April 16th at 12 am central. The winner will be chosen at random using random.org.
The prize will be sent from me to the winner.


Disclaimer:
For purposes of this review, I received a copy of "What's In the Bible?" 1 & 2 from Tyndale House Publishers.

~Menu Plan Monday~ Whole Lotta Baking & Pita bread!

I am so happy that I was blessed to do a lot of baking last week! I made pita bread, banana bread, french bread, brownies, and yesterday I made two double batches of pita bread (which made 24 pitas), and a Anniversary cake for us! Hope to do more baking thru the week! Maybe more french bread?!

Here is my pita bread from yesterday!

I would love to hear if anyone makes their own yogurt, how do you like to sweeten and flavor it? I made may first batch of yogurt yesterday and look forward to experimenting more! I will be posting my review on the Yolife this week too!
And does anyone make breakfast cereal? Would love to see your recipes!

Don't forget to enter my giveaways while you are here too! posting the "What's in The Bible?" review and giveaway today! You are going to love "What's In The Bible?"!!!

Also I have been working on a huge blog event for you! It is going to start in April (or sooner!) so come join the fun! "Spring Into Health" is the blog event! Already have some great sponsors and they have some exciting products to giveaway! =) Will be posting the list of sponsors I have so far this week too!

For hundreds of blogs to surf and great menu plans and recipes to find, visit Organize Junkie.

Here is my tentative menu for this week!

Mon.
breakfast=homemade blueberry yogurt and baked oatmeal
lunch= pork loin, dressing, greenbeans & corn
supper= swiss burgers & rice
Tues.
breakfast= brunch eggs on pita bread
lunch= leftover swiss burgers & rice
supper= leftover pork loin, dressing, greenbeans & corn
Wed.
breakfast= bacon & cheese omelets
lunch= BBQ on Pitas 7 pork'n beans
supper=leftovers
Thurs.
breakfast= cold cereal
lunch= leftover BBQ on Pitas 7 pork'n beans
supper= chicken Progresso soup
Fri.
breakfast= cold cereal
lunch= salmon patties & pitas
supper= leftover buffet!
Sat.
breakfast= brunch eggs on pita or English muffins
lunch=leftover salmon patties & pitas
supper= tacos
Sun.
breakfast= omelets
lunch= chicken (fried or marinated) & creamy coleslaw
supper= tacos

God bless your week and menu & cooking!

~Hannah

Family Fridays! Giveaways! (List Your Giveaways)

Well it has been a busy Friday here! Trying to do some spring cleaning while the sun is out! Just love this weather!

I have two Easter giveaways that have low enteries! Hope you all will stop by and enter them! They are from great Etsy shops and will be perfect for anyones Easter baskets!

"Something For Squirt" Handmade Teddy Bear

Scented Easter Egg Goat Milk Soaps (pick from Blueberry or Strawberry scent!)

I also have some Very exciting news! I am planning a big blog event for next month! I will be posting more on that soon, so keep your eye out for that news!

Next week I will be posting a review and giveaway for "What's In The Bible?" !! So come back on Monday or Tuesday to enter that!

Share your Giveaways below!

Thanks!

God bless your weekend!

~Word Filled Wednesday~ Great Things!

This weeks Word Filled Wednesday is at Critty Joy! Go by for more inspiration and to share your Word Filled Wednesday post!

Graphic from "A Source of Joy" by my friend Abigail Paul!

Psalm 126 (New King James Version)
A Song of Ascents.
1 "When the LORD brought back the captivity of Zion,
We were like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
And our tongue with singing.
Then they said among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them.”
3 The LORD has done great things for us,
And we are glad.
4 Bring back our captivity, O LORD,
As the streams in the South.
5 Those who sow in tears
Shall reap in joy.
6 He who continually goes forth weeping,
Bearing seed for sowing,
Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
Bringing his sheaves with him."

In my daily Bible reading plan, I am reading in Ezekiel.

The children of Judah and Israel are scattered across the countries, dying and being killed, taken captive etc. But over and over, no matter how the Lord's wrath poured upon their wickedness, He also saved a remnant of His chosen people. He kept His promises and He took care of them and continued to do great things for them!

Psalms 126 was when the remnant of Israel was returning from their captivity in Babylon. They had left in tears, but returned rejoicing and praising God for once again doing great things for them!

Praise God for the great things that He does for you Everyday!

~Hannah

~What's Cooking Wednesdays~ Pita, Breads, Etc!

I am very happy to share several recipes here today! If you want to join the fun and find more great recipes, visit Jess's blog, "It's All About the Savings", for "What's Cooking Wednesdays"!!

The recipe I am most excited about today is my pita bread! I had not made it before and was worried it would not riase very, but it did Great and it taste SOO Good! I think I will start making big batches of them and freezing them, so we do not have to buy sandwich bread anymore!! Yippee!

From the reviews I read on this recipe, I knew I could make it with wheat flour and to knead it the full 8 minutes to get it to raise better. I used half wheat, half white, but now that I know how well it does, I think I will try all wheat next time!
Traditional Pita Bread
(From All Recipes.com)

Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 5 Minutes
Ready In: 25 Minutes
Servings: 12

Ingredients:
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
1 1/4 cups warm water (110 degrees to
115 degrees F) 2 teaspoons salt
3 cups all-purpose flour

Directions:
1. In a mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Stir in salt and enough flour to form a soft dough. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Do not let rise. Divide dough into six pieces; knead each for 1 minute. Roll each into a 5-in. circle. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes. Place upside down on greased baking sheets. Bake at 500 degrees F for 5-10 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

I also made some French bread, from my Betty Crocker cookbook ("Everything You Need to Know to Cook Today"), but could not find it online! Did find this one that is a lot like it though (from Betty Crocker),
French Bread recipe.

And I made one big loaf of our family favorite Banana bread! The recipe is from my mom's "Whole Foods For the Whole Family Cookbook"! I would love to have one! They are the best cookbooks! =) I will try to share this recipe sometime too!

I hope to make some brunch eggs this week too! But I think I will try them on my french bread!

Brunch Eggs on English Muffins
(from Betty Crocker)
Prep Time: 25 min
Total Time: 25 min
Makes: 4 servings

1 teaspoon butter or margarine
2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (1 oz)
2 teaspoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon chopped fresh or 1/4 teaspoon dried basil leaves
Dash of ground red pepper (cayenne)
2 English muffins, split
4 thin slices fully cooked Canadian-style bacon (2 oz)
8 eggs, beaten
Freshly ground pepper
1. In 1-quart nonstick saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Stir in flour; remove from heat. Gradually stir in milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute; remove from heat. Stir in cheeses, basil and red pepper; keep warm.
2. Toast English muffins. In 10-inch nonstick skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until brown on both sides. Remove from skillet; keep warm. 3. Heat same skillet over medium heat. Pour eggs into skillet. As mixture begins to set at bottom and side, gently lift cooked portions with spatula so that thin, uncooked portion can flow to bottom. Avoid constant stirring. Cook 3 to 4 minutes or until eggs are thickened throughout but still moist.
4. Place 1 slice bacon on each muffin half. Top with eggs. Spoon about 2 tablespoons sauce over eggs. Sprinkle with pepper.

As soon as I have some tuna cans (you use them to form the muffins) I hope to make English muffins!
This recipe looks good!

Whole Wheat English Muffins
(from allrecipes.com)

Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 20 Minutes Ready In: 40 Minutes
Servings: 10

Ingredients:
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
3 tablespoons sugar, divided
1/4 cup warm water (105 degrees to 115
degrees)
1 cup milk, scalded
3 tablespoons butter or margarine 3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup whole wheat flour
3 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1 egg, beaten
Cornmeal

Directions:
1. Dissolve yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar in water. Set aside. In a mixing bowl, combine milk, butter, salt, whole wheat flour and 1 cup all-purpose flour. Beat well with an electric mixer. Add egg and yeast mixture; beat until smooth. By hand, stir in enough remaining all-purpose flour to make a soft dough. Knead on a lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl; cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. Punch dough down. Place on floured surface. Roll to 1/2-in. thickness. Cut into 4-in. circles. Allow to rise until doubled. Lightly sprinkle an electric fry pan or griddle with cornmeal. Bake over low heat for 10 minutes until nicely browned. Turn and bake 10 minutes longer. Cool. Store in the refrigerator. To serve, split with a fork and toast.

God bless your cooking!

~Hannah

~Health Tip Tuesdays~ Pumpkin Seeds

~Health Tip Tuesdays~

Pumpkin Seeds!

I have not had pumpkin seeds in such a long time! But I have been reading about them lately, and I have already decided to grow some pumpkins this year, mainly for the seeds! (I will also save some of the seeds for planting next year if they grow well).

So how good are pumpkin seeds for you?

Well here is some of the info I have found and combined just for you!

From Rebecca Wood:

"The seeds from pumpkins, or any other variety of winter squash, make a healthy and tasty snack. They're protein rich and an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, iron, zinc, phosphorus and vitamin A.

Commercially available green pumpkin seeds, also known as pepitas, have had their fibrous white hull removed. To hull your home-prepared seeds, crack each seed individually between your teeth, discard the hull and savor the tender kernel.

It's faster to crunch and swallow the seeds and hulls together. This, incidentally, is a home remedy for expelling pinworms or other intestinal parasites. As the seed and hull pass through your digestive tract, the seed is assimilated and the fibrous, indigestible hull gently scours out unwelcome guests.

To roast pumpkin seeds place them on a lightly buttered cookie sheet and add a pat of butter and a dash of cinnamon or curry powder and salt. Bake for about 15 minutes in a preheated 350°F oven, stirring once, until the seeds are aromatic and lightly browned."

For Parasites and Worms Herbal Legacy says:

"A simple herbal aid for a mild case of worms is to use pumpkin seeds (Cucurbitaceae). It is best when fresh seeds are used. To make the infusion, steep one ounce of crushed seeds for fifteen to twenty minutes in a pint of boiling hot water. Dosage: One teacupful or more (up to one pint daily), six days a week for one to three weeks. Also eat one to two ounces of the pumpkin seeds each day. [HHH p.124]

Another "Seed" Aid is to Combine the Following:

1 part pumpkin seeds, crushed (Cucurbitaceae)
1 part watermelon seeds, crushed (Citrullus vulgaris)
1 part cucumber seeds, crushed (Cucumis sativus)

Dosage: Take one pint of emulsion (two ounces of seeds triturated in honey and distilled water) in doses at two hour intervals; or take one to two tablespoons of the crushed seeds in honey, syrup, etc., in three doses at two hour intervals.

The patient should fast during this treatment, then take an appropriate cathartic several hours after the last dosage such as senna tea or preferably the lower bowel formula [Fen LB]. Use this procedure at least three days in a row. [HHH p.124]".

By the way, is case you are wondering "[HHH p.124]" means that the quote is from Dr. Christopers book, "Herbal Home Health Care". I Highly recommend this book to everyone!

From: REJUVENATE YOUR LIFE: Recipes for Energy by Serene Allison

"ZINC BUILDER MILK

3/4 - 1 cup raw pumpkin seeds
3 cups distilled water
1 scant TBS. of honey or pure maple syrup
Optional-1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
Blend until creamy and frothy."

And here is a trea from the Bulk Herb Store:

"Smoothies/Blended Drinks
Basic recipe:
1/2 - 1 c. liquid of choice (apple juice, orange juice, coffee, yogurt, milk, water, etc.)
1 banana, fresh or frozen in 1" pieces
1/4 c. fresh or frozen fruit of choice (strawberries, cherries, blueberries, etc.)
1 Tbls. Chia seeds
1 Tbls. seeds or nuts (sesame, sunflower, pumpkin, flax seeds, soaked almonds or brazil nuts)
Directions:
Blend and serve.The more fruit you add the thicker the drink. With a 1/4 cup of liquid you can create a pudding-like dessert from any fresh fruit and liquid of your choice."


You can buy pumpkin seeds from:

Tropical Traditions,
Natural Zing

And you can buy pumpkin seed oil from
Mountian Rose Herbs!

So pumpkin seeds have essential, unsaturated fatty acids, are loaded with zinc, and are a super food! Wow! Sooo much packed into a seed!
I am really looking forward to using them more and introducing them to my children! =)

God bless your health!
~Hannah

~Music Monday~ "Criminal On The Cross"

Easter, Christ death and Resurrection have been weighing heavily on my mind lately. I may tell you more about it later or may not. But it has just been there. This song really moved me to praise and worship and it is just so wonderful to hear the lyrics and think of all Christ has done for me!

"Praise God! I'm Saved! I'm saved like the criminal on the cross!"

God is sooo Good! Praise His Most Holy Name! I think I am going to watch the "Passion of the Christ" since I have not gotten to yet, and just have a good, emotional time of thinking of all Christ has done for me and the price He paid so that I could be free!

For more great music to get your week off on the right note, visit Shawntele's blog, "Saved By Grace"!

Hope you have a blessed Monday and week ahead! ~Hannah

"Criminal On The Cross"

By Acappella

~Menu Plan Monday~ Craving Fresh Vegetables! *Sigh*!

If you have been following my blog for long, you know we eat mainly out of our pantry and homecanned foods! I enjoy doing this and it saves us a ton of money and trips to the store!=)
But, I miss fresh fruits and veggies! I have really been craving salad so we got stuff for tacos last week! YUM! Have some lettuce and tomato left to eat this week too!
We also got some bananas and strawberries! What a treat!
What I am really looking forward to is starting the garden and fresh greens from the garden!!!! Hope to start some seeds this week if the weather will let me!
Plan on doing a lot of baking in my wood cook stove! Want to make french bread, pita bread, banana bread, etc! May even make some brownies! I have been trying to cut back on sweets lately though. I found I can go thru a day without chocolate! Lol!

Don't Forget to Enter my Easter Giveaways while You are here!

"Prudence" Handmade Teddy Bear (perfect for the Easter basket!!)

Scented Easter Egg (Goat Milk) Soap!!

For hundreds of blogs to surf and great menu plans and recipes to find, visit Organize Junkie.

Here is my tentative menu for this week! It is mainly the main dish/meat and I will add what canned veggies I have to the meal!

Mon.
breakfast= rice
lunch=grill cheese sandwiches
supper=porkchops, salad and homefries
Tues.
breakfast=breakfast "pizza" but made from biscuits, like THIS RECIPE
lunch=turkey pitas or sandwiches
supper= leftover porkchops
Wed.
breakfast= cold cereal
lunch=salmon patties
supper=meatloaf
Thurs.
breakfast=banana bread
lunch= leftover salmon
supper=leftover meatloaf

Fri.
breakfast= Brunch Eggs on french bread
lunch=spaghetti

supper=turkey or chicken and dressing
Sat.
breakfast=omelets
lunch=spaghetti
supper= turkey or chicken and dressing
Sun.
breakfast= probably brunch eggs again?
lunch=swiss burgers and salad
supper=leftover buffet

Butterfly Felt Tea Set on Sale At OhNelly's!

I have some very exciting news!

The giveaway for the OhNelly Etsy shop ended last night and the winner choose the Checkers set!

BUT the item not chosen by the winner of the Oh Nelly Etsy Shop giveaway is now on sale for the next week.
That's right! You can go buy the Butterfly Tea Set right now on sale!!!
Follow the link for a great deal on the butterfly tea set.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=42567974

A Big thank you to the OhNelly shop for offering this to my blog followers!

Winners for AllegrasCloset & OhNelly Giveaways!!

And the winners are.....

For the lavender tutu at AllegrasCloset:

True Random Number Generator
Min:1
Max:32
Result: 15

Heavenly Savings said...
"Have your button on right sidebar!!!"

Winner confirmed! Congratulations Heavenly Savings!!



For the checkers set at OhNelly:

True Random Number Generator
Min:1
Max:41
Result: 18

DuMei said...
"I follow via google friend connect"

Winner confirmed! Congratulations DuMei!

~Scented Easter Egg Soaps~ Giveaway!

Spring is a time for baby goats and goats milk so what a great time to stock up on that goats milk soap!!! And you know you are going to need some soap for all the outdoors work you have planned!
So it is time to welcome spring and welcome you to a wonderful Etsy shop filled with great goats milk soaps!!
I love goats milk soaps so I was very excited to find KcSoapsNmore and all her neat goat milk soap creations! How neat to have good soap that is soooo Cute too! Just love it!
I knew my children would love it for Easter! If you have followed my blog much, you know I prefer gifts and things that my family can use and benefit from, and KcSoapsNmore is just the shop for that! Gifts that my family can use And enjoy!
The first little soaps I fell in love with are the Rich Dark Chocolate Easter Bunny Mini Soap Set! How adorable and great for Easter!

A lot of KcSoapsNmore soaps look good enough to eat! Lol! The Raspberry Cream Cupcakes would be great for birthday parties, Easter, and baby showers!


For summer, the Mini Soapsicle Set would be be such a treat!
These soaps look like they would be great for children to use.

My girls and I were very excited to receive our strawberry scented, Easter egg soaps! They came in a cute little package that would be great to add to any Easter basket or give as a gift to anyone! The soap smells SOOOO good! Makes you smell like a field full of fresh strawberries! =)

The soap lathers up really well, so it does not take much soap, which means this soap will last a long time! Another great plus!


Meet Our Featured Etsy store and Owner!
Here is what the owner of KcSoapsNmore shared with us about her and her store:
What inspired the name of your Etsy store? Kc is my pen name. My maiden name started with a C-so my intitals growing up was KC-it just kinda stuck. So Kc Soaps and More-the more is your getting much more than just a bar of soap.

What insired you to open your Etsy store? I had been making soap and my sister in law talked me into opening a shop and I did.

Would you like to share a little bit about yourself? I am an at home mom of two little girls (5 & 2) and loving husband of 8 years that puts up with me-ha ha, and two cats.

Now for the sweet smelling giveaway! One winner will get a set of scented Easter egg soaps!

They get to pick from the Blueberry scent!

Or the Strawberry scent!

Mandatory Entry:
Tell me which scent you would choose if you won AND visit KcSoapsNmore and tell me another product you would like to purchase.
Please leave your email address in your comment or have it visible on your profile.

Extra Entries After completing mandatory Entry:

-Follow my blog (1 entry)

-Add my blog button to your sidebar and leave a link of where I can find it(2 entries)

-Heart KcSoapsNmore Etsy Shop (1 entry)

-Purchase a product from KcSoapsNmore during the time of this giveaway (10 entries per purchase)

-Write a blog post about this giveaway and leave the link to your post below (5 entries)

That gives you 20 chances to win! Have fun!
Please leave a comment per entry that you qualify for, for each entry to count!

This giveaway is open to the U.S. and Canada and Ends on March 28th at 12 am central. The winner will be chosen at random using random.org.
The prize will be sent directly from KcSoapsNmore to the winner.


Disclaimer:
For purposes of this review, I received some soaps from KcSoapsNmore.

~What's Cooking Wednesdays~ Carrot Muffins (2 Recipes!)

Time for "What's Cooking Wednesday"! Link up and join the fun at Jess's blog, "It's All About the Savings"! (By the way, she has a huge blog event coming up the first of April)!

I have started baking more that I finally have an oven! Last week I made oatmeal, carrot muffins and we enjoyed them so much I made another batch this week!
I also found a carrot, date muffin recipe that I hope to try soon! Someone gave us a big bag of dates a while back and I have not made anything with dates before! Should be fun to try some new things out!
Here are the recipes! Enjoy!

OATMEAL CARROT MUFFINS
(recipe from Cooks.com)
1/2 c. oil
3/4 c. brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. grated carrots
1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1/2 c. flour
1 c. rolled oats
1 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. soda
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
Nuts, as desired

Combine oil, brown sugar, egg, vanilla and carrots. Mix well. In another bowl, combine dry ingredients. Stir into first mixture. Add nuts. Spoon batter into muffin papers in muffin tins. Bake in 400 degree oven for 15-20 minutes. Makes 12 muffins.


CARROT - DATE MUFFINS
(recipe from Cooks.com)

1 c. oatmeal
1 c. flour
1/2 c. walnuts
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 tbsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. carrots, shredded
1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. dates, chopped
1/2 c. vegetable oil
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Grease muffin tins. Combine oats, flour, walnuts, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, soda and salt. Add combined remaining ingredients, stirring until moistened. Fill muffin cups. Bake 18 to 20 minutes.

~Health Tip Tuesdays~ Drink Your Food & Chew Your Liquids!

~Health Tip Tuesdays~

We live in a day and age where fast food is great and eating on the run is the norm! What a life! No time to sit and enjoy a meal and when we do, we are still in a rush to do something or go on to something or somewhere else!

Growing up I can remember my grandma always telling us to chew our food really good and I thought it was crazy that she made my dad chew like 40 times per bite when he was growing up!

But I have learned the importance of taking your time to eat and drink and as Dr. Christopher says you need to "drink your food and chew your liquids"!

We may eat healthy foods and cleanse our colon ever so often, but as long as we are not chewing our food well enough and getting saliva mixed thoroughly with our food and liquids, our digestion system is going to work poorly to say the lest!

Heartburn, flatulence, constipation, and many other discomforts and health problems are caused by poor eating habits. Once you think about it, doesn't it make more since that we just take our time eating and drinking, instead of hurrying along and suffering thru the aches and pains of poor digestion?

Relax and be happy when you eat! make dinner time a good time and have everyone lay their complaints and stressful discussions aside while ya'll are eating. Discuss pleasant things and laugh a little! =)

Chew, chew, chew! Chew everything very well! your solid foods and your liquids. Swish them around in your mouth and make sure that they get covered and mixed with saliva. Your mouth is the first part of the digestion process and it is important that the saliva is on the foods so that the stomach can break it all up for your body to be able to use it.

Teach your children while they are young, to take their time eating and make eating time a pleasant time, so that their bodies digestion will be much more pleasant!

God bless your health!

~Hannah

For disclaimer and more health tips visit my previous post Here!