A Lifestyle Blog that focuses on simplicity, debt free living and seeking to honor the Lord in our daily lives. Look for recipes, cleaning motivation, goal setting, occasional sprinkles of fashion and lots of favorite things mixed in.
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A simple blog about seeking the Lord, savoring life and joyfully serving.
Hi guys. I mentioned in this post how much our family loves squash blossoms and gave a link to Chef John's recipe. Check it out if you would like a more traditional version of squash blossoms. Today I wanted to include a Tex Mex version of my own invention. I hope you enjoy!
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Jalapeno Stuffed Squash blossoms
Filling:
3/4 cup soft cream cheese at room
temperature
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 Tsp. Black Pepper
1/2 Tsp. Garlic Powder
1/2 Tsp. Paprika
1 Tsp. Salt
12 pickled jalapenos
Batter:
1 cup flour
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/4 Tsp. Baking Soda
1/2 Tsp. Black Pepper
1/2 Tsp. Paprika
1 Tsp. Salt
1/4 cup cold water
12 fresh squash blossoms
Olive oil for frying
1 teaspoon all-purpose flour
1.Mix all of the filling ingredients except jalapenos together in a bowl; stir until smooth. Spoon filling into a resealable plastic bag, squeeze out the air, and seal the bag. Cut a small corner off the bag.
2.Gently insert the cut corner of the bag all the way to the bottom of the open end of a blossom and pipe about 1 tablespoon of filling inside. Stuff a jalapeno in the center and cover with the petals covering filling completely.
3.Combine dry batter ingredients in a mixing bowl; slowly whisk in cold water until batter is smooth and resembles pancake batter.
4. Pour olive oil into a skillet and place over medium heat. A quick way to tell if the oil is ready for frying is by dipping the end of a wooden spoon in the oil. If bubbles form around it then the oil is ready.
5.Dust filled squash blossoms lightly with all-purpose flour on all sides. Dip blossoms in batter and let excess batter drip off.
6. Fry until golden brown and drain on a paper towel. Lightly dust with season salt while still warm. Cool and enjoy!
We hope you find this recipe tasy and thank you to my sweet friend Brooke who showed us how wonderful squash blossoms can be!
Happy Friday to you!
These are five favorites from our family to yours...
1.
Disney Cruise Memories (full post coming soon).
2.
Our Wedding Arch
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My Father-In-Law designed and constructed this arch for our wedding day. We said our vows under this arch and my husband brings it with us wherever we go!
3.
Homemade Spinach Dip
Super easy and healthy.
Simply sauté a handful each of chopped carrots, celery and onion in olive oil and throw 2 cups of spinach on top until wilted. Mix in 1/2 a cup of Greek yogurt, 1/4 cup of mayo, 1 Tbsp. of garlic powder, 1 Tsp. paprika, salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy chilled after about an hour.
4.
My Rebounder.
Life has been insanely busy as I mentioned in my last post. Exercise is a priority in order to create a healthy balance of endorphins and stay fit but finding the time has been increasingly difficult. I have been leaving my mini-trampoline in the middle of our great room so I can periodically stop for 60 second bursts of sprinting as a short break at least eight times a day. These mini rebounding sessions help clear out toxins, increase stamina in other areas of life and strengthen the heart. Check out this post to read more about the benefits of rebounding and how rebounding aids your body in removing toxins.
5.
Pura's Stainless Steel baby bottle.
We are very conscious about the products we use and I am not a fan of plastic. Glass bottles were my choice with my last baby but I did break a few. Our children use stainless steel tumblers to drink from on a daily basis so I thought, why not have my baby do the same? A quick search on Amazon brought up several great options. I like Pura because they are all stainless steel, even the collar which holds the silicone nipple. Here is a link . I ordered the monogram from Etsy.
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Our memory verse for the week is Psalm 90:12
So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
We hope you have enjoyed this week's 5 Friday Favorites. Have a lovely weekend.
Grace and peace,
Adoring Family
Our current obsession is a peanut butter chia seed green smoothie. I like to call it a protein shake because of the different sources of plant protein that total 17 grams of protein. This is my son's all time favorite smoothie. Try it and you will be be a believer, promise :) simple, healthy, delicious. My favorite combination!
1 cup almond milk
1 peeled banana
2 tbsp. peanut butter
1 tbsp. chia seeds
1 tbsp. raw honey
2 cups raw spinach
Blend until smooth
Enjoy. Seriously. You will :D
Why add chia seeds?
Chia seeds are an excellent source of alpha-linolenic acid, Omega 3s, antioxidants and fiber. Chia seeds are rich vitamin B, D & E, calcium and iron. They are a complete protein. The gel formed when chia seeds absorb water slows down the conversion of carbohydrates into sugar. This creates more endurance which makes chia seeds a perfect before workout snack. This gel also helps transport toxins out of your colon. Chia seeds absorb more than ten times their weight in water which aids your body's hydration.
We have recently fallen in love with chia seeds and have many fun recipes coming your way! For now we hope you give this one a try.
When someone in our family comes down with an illness there are several home remedies I run to...
1. Healing Chicken Soup
2. Super hot, fresh salsa
3. Silverbiotics
4. Essential oils
5. Probiotics
6. Green smoothies
7. Hot Totties
First thing in the morning I make green smoothies for the sickies and I give them a dose of Silverbiotics. I concoct "hot totties" as mentioned in this post. I then load my diffuser with Thieves and Frankincense and put on a pot of Healing Chicken Soup. I make a big batch of homemade salsa with fresh peppers, onions, garlic and cilantro if I have it. I confine the sickies to a specific couch for two reasons, one is rest and the other is to seclude all those nasty germies. I make sure everyone is cozy with pillows, blankets, books, tissues, water and essential oils.
Here's the breakdown of why we do what we do...
1. Healing Chicken Soup
When we are sick, there is nothing more comforting than homemade chicken soup. I put on a pot of it this morning because we all have little funk going on at our house. I am hoping it is just allergies but our sweet baby has a fever :( her first illness.
Healing Chicken Soup
2 cups chopped celery
2 cups chopped carrots
2 whole onions, chopped
6 cloves of minced garlic
1 whole, organic chicken
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
Sea salt and pepper to taste
In a large stock pot, place all the veggies on the bottom and place the whole chicken on top of them. Fill the pot with water until it is covering the chicken with about two inches to spare. Sprinkle in sea salt and pepper and vinegar. Bring to a boil then turn down to a simmer for 6 hours. The longer the soup cooks, the more nutrients from the bones are incorporated into the broth. The vinegar is a vital ingredient as it helps draw the nutrients from the bones.
Chicken stock has anti inflammatory properties and contains calcium and magnesium. The stock produced is gut healing and contain amino acids that are similar to medicine found in over the counter cold and flu medicine. The soup is a natural decongestant. You will know you have concocted a good stock when the liquid gels after it is refrigerated. We love the comforting smell of chicken stock on the stove.
2. Super hot, fresh salsa
Next, I make a big batch of homemade salsa with fresh peppers, onions, garlic and sea salt.
The peppers are a natural decongestant so it will drain sinuses quickly preventing infection. Jalapeno peppers are full of vitamin c to help boost your immune system. Sea salt kills bacteria and clears the throat of germs.
Onions contain Quercitin which is a natural antibiotic with antiviral, antiseptic and anti-cancer properties. The onion is also anti-inflammatory.
Garlic is a natural antibiotic as well and contains allicin which is antifungal. To obtain these benefits it is best to consume raw, crushed or chopped garlic and wait at least 15 minutes to consume the garlic to utilize the maximum potency of the allicin. I have friends that take garlic like you would take a pill, swallowing it whole with a glass of water. Garlic contains vitamin C and zinc to help you battle your illness.
3. Silverbiotics
I am a firm believer in the power of Silverbiotics. It is a brand of colloidal silver, a natural antibiotic. Even hospitals put colloidal silver on bandages to help patients' wounds heal and fight infection. It is said to shorten the duration of a cold or flu. I have had success in using colloidal silver every time I had mastitis. There are varying opinions on colloidal silver so I encourage you to do your research and draw your own conclusions but know that our family has enjoyed it's healing benefits for years.
4. Essential oils
We diffuse essential oils and apply them topically. Thieves of course, along with Frankincense. I rub both on the bottom of our feet (for the baby I use a carrier like coconut oil). I find the oils to be soothing healing. Frankincense is applied or diffused to relieve pain and congestion. Thieves contains clove, lemon, cinnamon, rosemary and eucalyptus whichcleanses the air and is antiviral and antibacterial. It also supports your lungs, sinuses and boosts immunity.
5. Probiotics We like to keep several sources of probiotics in our arsenal. I make homemade sauerkraut which provides gut friendly lactobacilli. The calcium, vitamin c and magnesium are increased during fermentation rendering it healthier than cabbage in its original state. I also brew water kefir which has a variety of probiotics by the trillion per serving.Water kefir is an excellent source of B vitamins and minerals as well as natural antibiotic and anti-fungal qualities. More information about both of those along with recipes coming in future posts :) Another probiotic source you may have heard of is Kombucha which is readily available at your local health food store or you can try brewing your own.
6. Green smoothies
We drink green smoothies for most of the day.
I believe it is extremely important to give your digestive system a rest when you are healing. This way your body is expending all of it's energy on healing itself and not wasting energy digesting your food. We avoid any dairy products. I am no expert but it has been my personal experience that dairy clogs our digestive systems and contributes to mucus production. Our favorite savory green smoothie recipe is found in this post.
7. Hot Totty Our "Hot Totty" is a actually an apple cider vinegar drink that I wrote about here.
We feel instant relief when sinus symptoms arrive because the acid in the vinegar hinders the survival of the germs that cause a nasty sore throat. Lemon juice aids recovery from the common cold. We drink this apple cider vinegar drink daily but increase the frequency of consumption when we feel the slightest tingle in our throat or stuffy nose.
Our family wishes you good health but if symptoms do sneak their way in your home we hope you find some or all of these home remedies helpful. Grace and Peace, Adoring Family
Please note that we are not offering medical advice and these remedies are not intended to take the place of a doctor. We hope you understand that the user assumes all risk and responsibility for the outcome of any and all side affects incurred from these remedies.
This meal is so easy, so quick and so simple that it has become a regular feature on our weekly meal plan. It requires only 2 ingredients and the use of a blender.
Simply take two cans (or 3 cups) of black beans, measure 1 1/2 cups of salsa and blend until smooth (I have used both a regular blender and an immersion blender). Pour into a pot on the stove and warm to desired temperature. That is all. Easiest meal on the planet. And healthy. And frugal. My favorite things!
Super Food Soup
Black beans are packed with protein, rich in antioxidants, iron, folate and the detoxifying mineral, molybdenum. Black beans contain soluble fiber to improve cardiovascular health and lower your risk of colon cancer. Black beans balance blood sugar because of their high protein and fiber content. Pregnant and nursing mothers would benefit their babies by consuming black beans due to the vitamin B6 (folate) to support brain development. Black beans are high in iron as well, a plus for pregnant women whose blood volume increases by approximately 50% during gestation.
As far as the benefits from the salsa, there is lycopene provided by the tomatoes, vitamin c prevalent in jalapenos and the antiseptic properties of the onion to name a very small few. I'll save the majority of the benefits for another post when I share my simple homemade salsa recipe :)
Thank you to my dear, sweet friend, Jocelyn who made this soup for me using a more sophisticated recipe when I was pregnant with my sweet boy. She served it with sliced green onions and sour cream.
My family enjoys this black bean soup served with chips and salsa, fresh fruit and a small salad. A dollop of fresh guacamole is my favorite garnish but my husband prefers sour cream. We have been known to eat this soup cold with chips and it makes a nice bean dip! It is a simple, delicious, healthy and frugal meal. From our table to yours, we hope you enjoy!
We whipped up this small batch of no bake cookies and adapted it to a clean eating recipe for a tasty afternoon treat. These cookies were amazing and went too fast. I am already craving more! They had a satisfying, chewy texture with a slight crunch and a creamy chocolaty, peanut buttery sweetness. It only took about twenty minutes from start to finish. I love how simple and quick this recipe is which is a must if I am going to be making it in my kitchen :D
Clean Eating No Bake Cookies
1/2 Cup Honey
1/2 Cup Peanut Butter
1/4 Cup Coconut Oil
1/4 Cup Cocoa Powder
1 1/4 Cup Rolled Oats
1/2 Tsp. Vanilla
Bring first four ingredients to a boil and boil for two minutes. Remove from heat and add oats and vanilla. Mix thoroughly and drop by spoonful onto wax paper. Let cool 10-20 minutes. Makes 12 cookies. Just enough but not too much :)
Nutritional values: 169.81 Calories 11.12 g fat .9 g sodium 25.66 Carbohydrates 2.5 g Fiber 11.63 g Sugar 5.47 g Protein
We have already talked about the benefits of honey and coconut oil here. These cookies have the added benefits of cocoa powder which provides zinc, magnesium, iron, and manganese. Cocoa powder also contains the flavonoids epicatechin and catechin which are antioxidants that reduce inflammation. This causes blood vessels to relax and lowers blood pressure which is one reason experts claim dark chocolate is good for the heart.
Oats are considered to be a heart healthy food as well due to the unique fiber beta glucan. This fiber helps clear bad cholesterol from the digestive system which prevents it from entering the blood stream. Beta glucan also stabilizes blood sugar and heightens your body's immune function.
Could these cookies be considered a "super food"? They certainly are a super treat to my family! Let me know if you try them :)
I concocted this little recipe to satisfy my very sweet tooth and give me energy on a cold afternoon. My kids enjoy this drink as well and we have found it can be savored any time of the day, even bedtime. We call it a "white chocolate mint mocha" although there is no chocolate or coffee in it!
...See now, how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey. 1 Samuel 14:29
Adoring Family's "White Chocolate Mint Mocha" 1 1/2 cups almond milk 1 1/2 Tbsps. raw honey 1 Tbsp. coconut oil 1 Tsp. vanilla 1/2 Tsp. pure mint extract Combine ingredients in a small pot and heat slowly on a stovetop. I usually add the honey right at the end so as not to compromise the beneficial nutrients and enzymes in the raw honey. Blend with an immersion blender for 30 to 60 seconds. If you want to make this a mint hot chocolate recipe, simply add 1 or 2 tsps. of cocoa powder. I love the bubbly froth the immersion blender creates. My daughter calls the froth marshmallows :) I doubled the recipe and we sipped this warming treat by the fire while we had our Bible study this morning. And then I had to make more :D
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Adoring Family's "White Chocolate Mint Mocha" has many health benefits. Coconut oil contains lauric acid, a type of medium-chain triglyceride. This fat helps to increase thermogenesis, perfect for warming you up on a cold day. It also boosts metabolism and aids the body in burning fat. It creates a unique energy source and improves cognitive function. What momma doesn't need that in the afternoon?
Raw honey contains the vitamins B6, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid and the minerals calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and zinc to name a few. Honey contains the antioxidant "pinocembrin" which has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer benefits.
Half my kids cannot pronounce half of those words (but it's great when they try) so they obliviously enjoy the frothy mustaches and delicious sweet creamy taste while I smile knowing they are ingesting a healthy, sweet treat.
My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste.
Proverbs 24:13
Grace and peace,
Adoring Family
linked here:
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Urban Naturale
Raising Homemakers
This is How We Roll
Mom 2 Mom
Favorite Things
Get your shine on Thursdays
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When my husband and I were first married we stayed at a quaint bed and breakfast in a charming, little German town. The antique shopping was abundant, the culture inviting and the food, divine. We were served this fluffy dish one morning with a side of crisp bacon and fresh fruit. My husband and I were determined to recreate the experience at home.
Here is the recipe:
GERMAN PANCAKES "EIERKUCHEN"
8 Farm fresh eggs
2 cups milk (I use almond milk)
1/2 cup melted butter
2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1/3 tsp of baking soda
3 tbsp. sugar or maple syrup
dash of salt
Sprinkle of powdered sugar
additional butter 1/4 cup
Preheat oven to 400. Place 9x13 baking dish into oven with 1/4 cup butter to melt. Combine all of the ingredients except powdered sugar in a blender. Pulse until all of the ingredients are combined then blend until no lumps are present. Pour into buttered 9x13 pan. Bake about ten minutes and then dust with powdered sugar. Bake additional 3 minutes. The pancake will be bubbly but will settle once cooled a bit. Serve with maple syrup and fresh fruit.
Do you have a "Go-to" breakfast recipe? German Pancakes would have to be my favorite breakfast to serve my family and guests. It is a unique, simple, quick, "real-food" recipe. I always have the ingredients on hand and they get rave reviews every time I serve them. Did I mention they are simple and easy? A must for this mom of four!
Our lives have been quite eventful since my last post. We have our sweet, newest blessing. What a spunky, luttle bundle of joy she is.
I have kept up with my German recipes and have many to share! German pancakes, Apple Strudel (from my grandmother) and Schnitzel.
Chicken Schnitzel
(AKA, the lazy way to make schnitzel)
4 (6 ounce) boneless skinless chicken breast halves
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon any msg-free season salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/4 cup milk (I use almond milk)
1/2 cup dry breadcrumbs
Directions:
Place each chicken breast half between 2 sheets of heavy-duty plastic wrap; pound to 1/2-inch thickness using a meat mallet or rolling pin. Sprinkle chicken with salts and pepper.
Place flour in a shallow bowl. Combine egg and milk in a shallow dish.
Coat 1 chicken breast half in flour, turning to coat; shake off excess flour.
Dip in egg mixture; dredge in breadcrumb mixture.
Repeat procedure with remaining chicken, flour, egg mixture, and breadcrumbs.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken; sauté 2 1/2 minutes or until browned.Turn heat to low and let simmer until chicken is done.
