Grocery Cart Recipe Swap.

It's Friday, and that means another recipe. ;-) This one has been on my mind lately. I guess because I love it, but haven't made it in awhile. I learned about it when I was a girl from a friend of mine. I don't even know the real name for it, so I just call it "skillet chicken", and it is GOOD. ;-) I'm doing this from memory, so I hope I remember it right. ;-)

For more great recipes head over to the Grocery Cart Challenge and visit the links. If you would like to participate just follow the directions there. Enjoy! :-)

Skillet Chicken - for one serving

1 skinless, boneless chicken breast
about 1 T flour
ground ginger
season salt
rosemary or parsley
pepper
1 T butter (I guess you could use EVOO if you want, but HELLO, BUTTER.) :-)

Heat your skillet to medium heat. Wrap your chicken breast in plastic wrap and pound it pretty thin. About 1/2 an inch. Lightly flour each side of the chicken. I don't really measure my seasonings and spices for this, I just sprinkle it on to taste. Melt the butter in the pan, lay seasoned side down and season the other side. Cook each side until brown and cooked through. This won't take long if you pounded it rather thin, so don't overcook it. Serve with a salad.

Love,
Wendy

You can win a $250 Keurig Platinum Brewer!

Gayle over at Grocery Cart Challenge is giving away a Keurig Platinum Brewer plus 4 boxes of K-cups. How awesome is that!? ;-) Please go HERE for more details and sign up for it. She will be giving it away on February 2nd, so hurry! ;-) THANK YOU GAYLE!



Love,
Wendy Darling

Bloggy Giveaways Quarterly Carnival...

FYI, the quarterly carnival begins today. I will not be participating this time around, but if you would care to participate, or sign up for the MANY giveaways just go HERE. ;-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

At least he's honest...

Update: "Profits" as opposed to "prophets"; Proof that medication, lack of sleep and blogging do NOT go together. I have corrected it now. ;-)

On Friday "Little Mark" was retaking a Bible Quiz. I say "retaking", because he chose not to study before said quiz and failed miserably. I went over everything with him, including studying all of the prophets. I knew he would have to list all of the major and minor prophets IN ORDER on the test, so before giving him the quiz I instructed him to be sure to study them, come to me and say them and once he could do that I would give him the quiz.

About an hour later he came to me, rattled off all the major and minor prophets in order and took the test. He made a 98. That is a respectable score, so we moved on.

Later that morning my Mom and I were talking about her new Myspace account. (We are dragging our Mom into the 21st century...) ;-) "Little Mark" then said, "Nana, I know you login and password for myspace." Oh really?! Yes, turns out the little guy heard us discussing it ONCE, several DAYS ago. It is well noted in our family that "Little Mark" has a wonderful memory for phone numbers. He can remember phone numbers we haven't had IN YEARS. I think he has most of my phone book in my cell phone memorized. Seriously.

I then asked the obvious question, "How is that you can remember things like passwords and phone numbers that you hear ONCE, days or even years ago, but it takes you an hour to memorize the minor prophets?"

His response: "Minor Prophets aren't fun."

Allrightythen.....

Love,
Wendy Darling

I got an award! :-)

I want to thank Kwizgiver for honoring me with the "When Life Gives You Lemons Make Lemonade Award". Thank you, Kwizgiver!! ;-) According to the rules I must:

1) You must link back to the person you received the award from.
2) You have to nominate 10 bloggers who are deserving of this award!

So, my 10 will be...

1. Gayle at Grace for Gayle and The Grocery Cart Challenge
2. Melanie at Big Mama
3. Monica at Daily Dwelling
4. Julie at Elisha Rose
5. Dee Dee at Fiddledeedee
6. Leighton at My Best Investments
7. Cleggy at The White Horse
8. Lori at Queen of Dirty Laundry
9. Candace at Be Jolly, By Golly
10. Ree at Pioneer Woman Homeschooling

Thank you to each of you for the joy you bring me, the inspriration, laughter, tears and lessons learned. I love visiting each and every one of you. ;-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

Recipe Swap Friday...

Gayle over at Grocery Cart Challenge is hosting the weekly recipe swap. Thank you, Gayle! ;-) I actually just made the following recipe last night. I saw it on 30 Minute Meals with Rachel Ray, and I had to adjust it a bit, because I didn't have the exact ingredients, but it looked so good I wanted to try it. It was, in a word, "GREAT." ;-)

Chick Pea Salad

1 can Chick Peas (Garbonzo Beans)
1/2 small onion, chopped (she used red onion, but I didn't have red.)
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
1/2 C celery, chopped
1 clove garlic, grated or chopped really fine
1/2 tsp rosemary (she used fresh, but I used dried)
salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp of red wine vinegar
about 1 T of EVOO ( I just drizzled some on and eyeballed it.)

Stir everything together and let set for about 10 minutes. ENJOY. See, very easy, inexpensive and healthy. ;-) For more recipes be sure to head over to the Grocery Cart Challenge. :-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

Pray for President Obama...

I was going to post about today's inauguration later today, but I just saw that Beth Moore has begun a prayer chain for him at her blog. It is no secret that I did not vote for President Obama, but he was elected by a democracy in what I still believe is the greatest country on Earth.

I prayed diligently before the elections, during the elections, and after the elections. I have not stopped praying. Today is not a day to be divided, but to be united in prayer for God to give President Obama wisdom, and a clear direction of where HE would have us to go as a nation.

Please, visit Beth's blog and leave your own prayer for President Obama in the comments.

Love,
Wendy Darling

Apologia Biology Give-Away...

If you homeschool you have probably seen this curriculum. Principled Homeschooler is giving away
a set of "Exploring Creation with Biology" second edition. Please, go over to Principled Homeschooler to sign up for the giveaway. :-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

Better late than never....
UPDATE: I ended up linking this post to Friday's Recipe Swap, so I want to make sure you guys go over to Gayle's at Grocery Cart Challenge to see the other wonderful recipes. :-)

I told y'all the other day that I would be back with a recipe. Obviously, that didn't happen. BUT, I am now here with it. :-) I made these last week to take the Bible Study. Yes, the same Bible Study in which they served the YUMMY Taco Soup. ; -) They were ALL eaten. And there were only 5 of us at the Bible Study. ;-) I guess they liked them. LOL... I know I did,.

OK, here's the recipe.

Spice Cake Cookies

1 box Spice Cake Mix
1 egg
1/2 C oil

Mix all three ingredients together. Dough will be a little "crumbly", but still moist. Form small balls, about 1 inch round. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. As soon as they come out of the oven, flatten the cookie with your spatula. Let set for 2 minutes and then remove from pan. If the dough in your bowl begins to dry out, just mist it with a little water.

These actually make a crispy cookie, and is VERY good. We made them even better by spreading vanilla icing on them. ;-) I bet cream cheese icing would taste good too. ;-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

It's a list...

I have to apologize. I have been meaning to blog for a couple of days now. Truly, I had all kinds of plans, I had the post thought out in my head, and everything. But, LIFE happened, and I just didn't do it.

I sat down at the computer several times to blog, and then I just couldn't get it all down, or I was too tired and changed my mind.... you know how it is.

SO, given all of that I have decided to just give you a list of what I would have blogged about this week. :-)

1. "Little Mark" competed in the county 4-H food show. He competed in 3 categories and came home with 3 blue ribbons. :-) He was excited, and he did very well. Really. The only constructive criticism that the judges had for him was to "relax." ;-) He goes to District in February, and he is looking forward to it.

What did he make you ask? He made these Oatmeal Bars, and these Multi-Grain chips. :-) He also did a place setting.

2. I know I have mentioned it in awhile, but "Little Mark" and I have been going back to the gym 3 days a week. I have been watching my eating, again, even though I have not done the diet I was on. For some reason I just can't seem to do those first 9 days again for phase 1. HOWEVER, I am eating much more fruit and yogurt. I am drinking a lot more water, and watching my portion control. WE EVEN BOUGHT A SCALE! :-) Results? This week I have lost a whopping 1.3 lbs.

OK, so it isn't the huge 15 lbs. I lost the first week last time, but it is a loss! :-)

3. I am almost finished with the Bible Study "Believing God" by Beth Moore. If you have not done this Bible Study may I urge you to RUN to your nearest Christian Bookstore and purchase it. It is amazing. ;-)

4. We begin the Beth Moore Bible Study on "Esther" this Sunday evening at church. I am leading it. ;-) I can't believe I am doing it. The leader of the Ladies Ministry asked me if I would do it, and after a few days of prayer I agreed. Pray for me, please. ;-)

5. A friend loaned me some DVDs to the Moody Science Institute. Y'all, I have fallen in love with the DVDs. I want to own a set! Dr. Irwin Moon did the "films" more than 50 years ago, but they are still relevant today. The way they are put together, the scenery... everything about them is amazing, and glorifies God as our Creator. I have had so much fun watching them with "Little Mark."

That concludes the list. Perhaps I'll be back tomorrow with a recipe. ;-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

Grocery Cart Challenge Recipe Swap...

Obviously my goal to blog more this week didn't work out too well. I'll strive to do better next week. ;-)

Last night I attended our first Singles Bible Study of the new year. I love Bible Study. I love the fellowship, studying the word, and the food.

Did I mention we eat at the Bible Study? I didn't? Well, we do. And it is good.

Last night our host made a Chicken Taco soup. I had never had this before, but OH. MY. WORD. It was amazing. We all had to have the recipe, and even though I have not actually made it, yet, I am passing it on to you today. Because you must make this soup. It taste fantastic, and is very easy.

Chicken Taco Soup

1 family size can of chicken and rice soup
2 cans of water (use the soup can to measure)
2 large cans of canned chicken
1 can of whole kernel corn
1 can of ranch style beans
1 can of Rotel
1 envelope of taco seasoning
1 envelope of Ranch Dressing mix

If you want it "heartier" you can add more corn and beans, etc. You serve this with cheese and Fritos or Tortilla chips. OH, and we also had a salad, because we like to be healthy. ;-)

For more mouth watering recipes please head over to Gayle's at Grocery Cart Challenge. If you like, post your recipe and link up as well. ;-)


Love,
Wendy Darling

Book Recommendations

Hello, Everyone :-) I hope you are having a really great new year. Things are beginning to get back to "normal" here. Whatever "normal" is... ;-) We had a nice two week break from school, and we started back today. "Little Mark" is doing well, so far. ;-)

We went back to the gym today, and I feel like my legs are heavy pieces of cement now. We worked out in the pool for over an hour, and according to the trainer that showed us around when we first joined that is like working out for over two hours on the machines.

It feels it too. But, I'm glad I did it. ;-)

Now that the holidays are over I hope to be better about blogging regularly. I'll strive for that anyway. :-)

For my first post of the new year I thought I would share some books with you that have really helped me the last few years. I guess I could have titled this post something like "Self-Help Day", but who would want to read that?

Now, naturally the Bible will be at the top of the list, so we are just going to give that a given. I can't even tell you how much The Scriptures have changed my life. That would require MANY blog posts just for the Bible. So, we will move on.

Breaking Free by Beth Moore



Now, I have made it very clear how much I enjoy Beth Moore Bible Studies. I did do the Breaking Free Bible Study as well, but before that I read the book. A lot of is covered in the study/workbook, but if you don't want to get into all of that the book is a tremendous help. I learned how to take my negative thoughts "captive", and to just let go of a lot of junk. Junk that was keeping me from not only growing in Christ, but hurting personal relationships with friends and family. This book really helped.

Sink Reflections by Marla Cilley AKA "FlyLady"



If you have not heard of FlyLady you are missing a treat. I cannot tell you how overwhelmed/stressed I used to be. I would be so upset if someone saw my home and it was not "perfect." And, to me, it was NEVER perfect. I would also set myself up for failure by setting unrealistic goals for the day.

I would make a "To do" list for that day and there would literally be 25 things (or more) on the list. BIG projects. Things that would normally take a week a to do. Then, I would kill myself trying to get it all done, and I would beat myself up when I didn't finish the list. OR, I would do most of it and still beat myself because I didn't finish. Not to mention I would be cranky. Can anyone say "martyr syndrome?"

Once I heard about FlyLady and I resolved the fact that I am NOT superwoman I became much more relaxed and much happier. :-)

This book will totally change not only your life, but the entire dynamics of your family/household. :-)

Taking Care of the Me in Mommy by Lisa Whelchel



OK, so I'm not a "Mom." But ANYONE who deals with children on a regular basis, runs a household.... heck, if your a woman you need to read this book. It taught me that it IS okay to take time out for ME. To renew my spirit, my health, my sanity. I can't praise this book enough. :-)

OK, it's a short list, but a good list. Maybe I'll do some more later. ;-) I really hope you were inspired to read one of them. :-)

Love,
Wendy Darling