Friday FOOD!

bread and butter pickles

Yield: About 4 cups of pickles

Prep Time: 20 min + marinating time

Cook Time: 5 min

I could eat the whole jar... really.

ingredients:

5 1/2 cups (1 1/2 pounds) thinly sliced pickling cucumbers
1 1/2 Tablespoons kosher salt
1 cup thinly sliced sweet onion
1 cup granulated white sugar
1 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup light brown sugar (packed)
1 1/2 teaspoons mustard seeds
1/2 teaspoon celery seeds
1/8 teaspoon ground turmeric

directions:

1. Combine cucumbers and salt in a large, shallow bowl; cover and chill 1 1/2 hours. Move cucumbers into a colander and rinse thoroughly under cold water. Drain well, and return cucumbers to bowl. Add onion to the bowl.

2. Combine sugar and remaining ingredients in a medium saucepan; bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Pour hot vinegar mixture over cucumber mixture; let stand at room temperature 1 hour. Cover and refrigerate 24 hours. Store in an airtight container in refrigerator up to 2 weeks.

tips:

*Don't cut the cucumbers too terribly thin. You want them to have a little bit of crunch to them!
*You may find that your cucumbers are already ready to sample within just a few hours of marinating in the pickling liquid (rather than waiting an entire 24 hours!)

(Recipe from recipegirl.com. Click on recipe name to view the complete directions.)

Thursday Thanks

Today I am thankful for refrigerators (something I take for granted every day)! People lived for years without them, and some parts of the world still don't have this modern convenience! I am so thankful we can preserve food and enjoy cold food and drinks with our fridges! 

(source)

What are you thankful for?

Wednesday Worship

Motherhood is a Calling

by Nicole Whitacre 

Filed under Motherhood

A wonderful article for mothers today from Rachel Jankovic: 

Live the gospel in the things that no one sees. Sacrifice for your children in places that only they will know about. Put their value ahead of yours. Grow them up in the clean air of gospel living. Your testimony to the gospel in the little details of your life is more valuable to them than you can imagine. If you tell them the gospel, but live to yourself, they will never believe it. Give your life for theirs every day, joyfully. Lay down pettiness. Lay down fussiness. Lay down resentment about the dishes, about the laundry, about how no one knows how hard you work.

Read the entire article here.

{Copied from girltalk.com}

Tuesday Treats

So cute and yummy! Perfect for a evening that's just cool enough for a bonfire! 

{source}

Monday Madness!

My favorite game right now!

Please let me know if you play! I am always looking for friends to play with! :)

Friday FOOD!

Caramel-Almond Ice Cream Torte

David Prince

Serves 12

Total Time: 1hr 20m

Ingredients

Directions

1. Press ½ gallon (4 pints) softened vanilla ice cream into a 9-inch springform pan. Freeze until slightly firm, 10 to 15 minutes.

2. Top with 1 cup caramel sauce (slightly warmed, if too thick) and ½ cup toastedsliced almonds. Freeze until firm, at least 1 hour and up to 2 days. To serve, remove from pan and slice.

Tip

No time to soften your ice cream at room temperature? Microwave it on high in 10-second intervals until it reaches the desired consistency.

Thursday Thanks

Today I am thankful for good drinking water. Dasani is my favorite! There is nothing that quenches my thirst on a hot day like a cold bottle of refreshing water!

What are you thankful for today? 

Wednesday Worship

31 Biblical Virtues to Pray for Your Children

by Bob Hostetler

1. Salvation—"Lord, let salvation spring up within my children, that they may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory." (Isa. 45:8; 2 Tim. 2:10)

2. Growth in Grace—"I pray that my children may grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (2 Pet. 3:18)

3. Love—"Grant, Lord, that my children may learn to live a life of love, through the Spirit who dwells in them." (Gal. 5:25; Eph. 5:2)

4. Honesty and Integrity—"May integrity and honesty be their virtue
and their protection." (Ps. 25:21)

5. Self-Control—"Father, help my children not to be like many others around them, but let them be alert and self-controlled in all they do."
(1 Thess. 5:6)

6. Love for God's Word—"May my children grow to find Your Word more precious than much pure gold and sweeter than honey from the comb." (Ps. 19:10)

7. Justice—"God, help my children to love justice as You do and act justly in all they do." (Ps. 11:7; Mic. 6:8)

8. Mercy—"May my children always be merciful, just as their Father is merciful." (Luke 6:36)

9. Respect (for self, others, and authority)—"Father, grant that my children may show proper respect to everyone, as Your Word commands."
(1 Pet. 2:17)

10. Biblical Self-Esteem—"Help my children develop a strong self-esteem that is rooted in the realization that they are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus." (Eph. 2:10)

11. Faithfulness—"Let love and faithfulness never leave my children, but bind these twin virtues around their necks and write them on the tablet of their hearts." (Prov. 3:3)

12. Courage—"May my children always be strong and courageous in their character and in their actions." (Deut. 31:6)

13. Purity—"Create in them a pure heart, O God, and let that purity of heart be shown in their actions." (Ps. 51:10)

14. Kindness—"Lord, may my children always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else." (1 Thess. 5:15)

15. Generosity—"Grant that my children may be generous and willing to share, and so lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age." (1 Tim. 6:18-19)

16. Peace-Loving—"Father, let my children make every effort to do what leads to peace." (Rom. 14:19)

17. Joy—"May my children be filled with the joy given by the Holy Spirit."
(1 Thess. 1:6)

18. Perseverance—"Lord, teach my children perseverance in all they do, and help them especially to run with perseverance the race marked out for them." (Heb. 12:1)

19. Humility—"God, please cultivate in my children the ability to show true humility toward all." (Titus 3:2)

20. Compassion—"Lord, please clothe my children with the virtue of compassion." (Col. 3:12)

21. Responsibility—"Grant that my children may learn responsibility, for each one should carry his own load." (Gal. 6:5)

22. Contentment—"Father, teach my children the secret of being content in any and every situation, through Him who gives them strength." (Phil. 4:12-13)

23. Faith—"I pray that faith will find root and grow in my children's hearts, that by faith they may gain what has been promised to them." (Luke 17:5-6; Heb. 11:1-40)

24. A Servant's Heart—"God, please help my children develop servant's hearts, that they may serve wholeheartedly, as if they were serving the Lord, not men." (Eph. 6:7)

25. Hope—"May the God of hope grant that my children may overflow with hope and hopefulness by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Rom. 15:13)

26. Willingness and Ability to Work—"Teach my children, Lord, to value work and to work at it with all their heart, as working for the Lord and not for men." (Col. 3:23)

27. Passion for God—"Lord, please instill in my children a soul that 'followeth hard after thee,' one that clings passionately to You." (Ps. 63:8)

28. Self-Discipline—"Father, I pray that my children may acquire a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair."
(Prov. 1:3)

29. Prayerfulness—"Grant, Lord, that my children's lives may be marked by prayerfulness, that they may learn to pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers." (1 Thess. 5:17)

30. Gratitude—"Help my children to live lives that are always overflowing with thankfulness and always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Eph. 5:20; Col. 2:7)

31. A Heart for Missions—"Lord, please help my children to develop a desire to see Your glory declared among the nations, Your marvelous deeds among the peoples." (Ps. 96:3)

© Bob Hostetler. Used with permission. www.ReviveOurHearts.comInfo@ReviveOurHearts.com

Tuesday Treats

The only ice cream cones one should eat outside during these summer days! :)

Monday Message: Heaven & Hell: Hard to Believe

I am looking forward to this upcoming series at our church! All are welcome!

Friday FOOD!

Strawberry Cheesecake Truffles

annies-eats.net

Yield: about 2-3 dozen, depending on size
Ingredients:
For the filling:
8 oz. cream cheese, slightly softened
1 cup plus 2 tbsp. graham cracker crumbs
¼ cup confectioners’ sugar
Splash of vanilla extract
6 tbsp. finely chopped strawberries

For the coating:
16 oz. bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped

For decoration (optional):
Melted milk chocolate
Melted white chocolate, tinted pink with candy coloring

Directions:
In a medium bowl, combine the cream cheese, graham cracker crumbs, confectioners’ sugar and vanilla.  Mix until smooth.  Gently fold in the chopped strawberries until evenly distributed.  Cover and chill the mixture in the refrigerator until firm enough to scoop and mold.  Scoop about 2 teaspoons of the filling and roll into a ball.  Place on a foil- or parchment-lined baking sheet.  Repeat with the remaining filling.  Transfer the baking sheet to the refrigerator or freezer to chill until very firm.

To coat the truffles, melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water.  When completely melted and smooth, dip the filling balls one at a time in the chocolate, gently shaking off the excess before returning to the baking sheet.  Once all of the truffles have been dipped, drizzle with melted milk chocolate and tinted white chocolate for decoration, if desired.  Return the pan to the refrigerator to chill until ready to serve.

Thursday Thanks

(source)

Today I am thankful for Bingo! My husband and I went out to eat tonight, and they were having BINGO night! We played just for fun, and my husband WON - a $50 gift certificate to the restaurant! So fun! :)

What have you won lately? Or wish you had won! ;)

Wednesday Worship

Recommended reading! 

I am reading this daily devotional, and I highly recommend it. Elyse does an excellent job of pointing us to the gospel in our everyday life.

What books are you reading?

Tuesday Treats

Perfect for a warm summer evening on the patio!

 (crate and barrel)

Monday Miscellany

I love picnics! Whether it's a large group picnic at a park or a picnic in the backyard on a blanket, picnics are just perfect for beautiful days!

Friday FOOD!

                                  Smoky Corn On the Cob

Recipe courtesy of Food Network Magazine

Directions

Peel back the husks from the corn and remove the silk. Butter the kernels and sprinkle with salt and smoked paprika. Fold the husks back over the corn and grill over low heat until cooked through, turning occasionally, 12 to 15 minutes.

Thursday Thanks

Today I am thankful for strollers! I love taking the children out for walks in their stroller on a beautiful day. 

And I love this style for a new baby. Definitely on my wish/dream list! :)

Wednesday Worship

"Waiting on God isn't about the suspension of meaning and purpose. It's part of the meaning and purpose that God has brought into my life.  Waiting on God isn't to be viewed as an obstruction in the way of the plan.  Waiting is an essential part of the plan. For the child of God, waiting isn't simply about what I'll receive at the end of my wait.  No, waiting is much more purposeful, efficient, and practical than that. Waiting is fundamentally about what I'll become as I wait.  God is using the wait to do in and through me exactly what He's promised. Through the wait He's changing me.  By means of the wait He's altering the fabric of my thoughts and desires.  Through the wait He's causing me to see and experience new things about Him and His kingdom.  And all of this sharpens me, enabling me to be a more useful tool in His redemptive hands" (emphasis mine).  Paul Tripp


Posted by Nicole Whitacre on the girltalk blog

Tuesday Treats

So cute for any party!

source

Happy Fourth of July!

source

Please Donate Life

A year ago today, my husband received a kidney and pancreas transplant. I am so thankful for his donor! Please consider organ donation if you haven't already.

     http://donatelife.net/

THE NEED IS REAL

110,586 people are waiting for an organ
 18 people will die each day waiting for an organ
 1 organ donor can save up to 8 lives

Friday FOOD!

Monkey Bread

Ingredients

• 3 cans Buttermilk Biscuits (the Non-flaky Ones)
• 1 cup Sugar
• 2 teaspoons (to 3 Teaspoons) Cinnamon
• 2 sticks Butter
• 1/2 cup Brown Sugar
• (2 Tbsp. heavy cream/milk)

Preparation Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Open up all three cans of biscuits and cut each biscuit into quarters.

Next, combine the white sugar with 2-3 teaspoons of cinnamon. (3 teaspoons of cinnamon gives it a fairly strong cinnamon flavor. If you’re not so hot on cinnamon, cut it back to 2 teaspoons.) Dump these into a 1 gallon zip bag and shake to mix evenly.

Drop all of the biscuit quarters into the cinnamon-sugar mix. Once all the biscuit quarters are in the bag seal it and give it a vigorous shake. This will get all those pieces unstuck from one another and nicely coated with cinnamon-sugar. Spread these nuggets out evenly in the bundt pan.

At this point, you’re going to want to melt the two sticks of butter together with ½ cup of brown sugar in a saucepan over medium-high heat. This can be light or dark brown sugar. Cook butter/sugar mixture, stirring for a few minutes until the two become one. Once the brown sugar butter has become one color, you can pour it over the biscuits.

Bake for about 30-40 minutes until the crust is a deep dark brown on top. When its finished cooking, remove it from the oven. If you have the willpower, allow it to cook for about 15-30 minutes before turning it over onto a plate.

via The Pioneer Woman