Southern Maiden Recipe Blog

Turkey Chilaquiles

2011-12-17T19:44:00.000-08:00

Found this recipe on GRIT Magazine's website and it was pretty good:

Turkey Chilaquiles Recipe

1 can (10 ¾ ounces) condensed cream of chicken soup
½ cup mild green chile salsa
1 can (4 ounces) diced green chiles, undrained
8 cups slightly crushed tortilla chips, divided
2 to 3 cups cooked, shredded turkey, divided
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese, divided
Sliced pitted black olives, for garnish
Heat oven to 350°F.
In bowl, combine soup, salsa and chiles; mix well.
In 2- or 2 ½ -quart casserole, place 1⁄3 chips, top with 1⁄3 turkey. Spread 1⁄3 soup mixture over turkey, and sprinkle with 1⁄3 cheese. Repeat layers.
Bake, uncovered, for 15 minutes, or until casserole is heated through and cheese is melted. Garnish with olives.

All Natural Homemade Deodorant

2011-12-16T11:51:00.000-08:00

Howdy Yall! Thought I'd share a recipe link on how to make all natural deodorant. I made this this past Monday. I LIKE/LOVE IT! It's even better than store bought in my opinion. For years I would have issues using store bought deodorants. They contain aluminum and that is toxic to our bodies. My lymph nodes in my arm pits would become tender and swell. It's because using antiperspirants does not allow you to sweat your toxins out that are in the body. And because of that the toxins have to go somewhere and that means they get stored in your lymph nodes...we have many lymph nodes in different places in our bodies. And by that happening we are at a great risk for cancer. Sweating is a natural thing. We need to sweat. Sweat is a form of cooling the body down.

The link to this recipe is down below. Sorry about the dates on the pictures. I forget to change it 99% of the time. You can use whatever container you would like to use even an old deodorant container.

Passionate Homemaking-All Natural Deodorant

Beeswax Lotion

2011-12-16T11:34:00.000-08:00

I made this this past Monday for the first time. I like it! I had already been using either coconut oil or olive oil for a moisturizer instead of lotion but this is better as far as not dropping oil on your clothes or everywhere for that matter. There are some amazing things about coconut oil and olive oil. Coconut oil is anti-fungal for one. I recommend researching these two oils. They are wonderful!

Here's the link to the recipe: http://asonomagarden.wordpress.com/2011/09/19/how-to-make-an-easy-beeswax-lotion/

Lavender Lemonade

2011-12-05T09:26:00.000-08:00

Directions: In a 2 quart pyrex measuring bowl (I never use one. I heat mine up on the stove since we purposely don't have a microwave). Place 8 cups of water in and 7 heaping tbs of lavender flowers. Boil 24 minutes in microwave. Steep 2-3 hours in a 1 gallon container. Put two cap fulls of Country Time lemonade (if you do not want to use that since it's full of junk you can always use lemon juice but I'd add a little at a time. I usually squeeze lemons but I use less than what I would for regular lemonade. So, maybe 4 lemons...I'd do according to your taste then add sugar according to your taste. If it to tart no matter what then pour a little of the lemonade out and add more water and sugar. I should of wrote down my adjustments but the thing on the sugar is that I have never measured the sugar out when I make any kind of sweet tea or lemonade...I like my stuff sweet so why measure anymore?). Strain lavender water into container. Add enough water to fill to top of container. Then you're done:) Chill till you're ready to drink.

Hope yall enjoy this! I have been meaning to post this recipe for ages but never got around to it till now:)

I love lavender and it's tartness!

Tomatillo Salsa Verde

2011-11-30T09:14:00.000-08:00

Note: I did not use any oregano, or cilantro(I forgot to buy). I will include the link so you can read the comments/reviews to get an idea if you want to tweak the recipe or not. I blended mine first then cooked it. I use a little bit of vinegar and lime juice instead of water but next time I will just use a little bit of lime juice only since it has enough liquid if you blend it first. It is soooo yummy!

Tomatillo Salsa Verde

Ingredients:
1 pound tomatillos, husked ( I used the ones from our garden and I didn't weigh to see if it was a pound)
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 serrano chile peppers, minced (I used 4 Thai peppers instead.)
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 1/2 teaspoons salt, or to taste
2 cups water
Directions
Place tomatillos, onion, garlic, and chile pepper into a saucepan. Season with cilantro, oregano, cumin, and salt; pour in water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until the tomatillos are soft, 10 to 15 minutes.
Using a blender, carefully puree the tomatillos and water in batches until smooth.

2011-11-30T06:21:00.000-08:00

Here's an update on our garden: http://thecwardfamily.blogspot.com/2011/11/november-garden-update.html

Thought yall might like to see pictures:)

2011-11-30T04:59:00.000-08:00

Duck eggs! Don't know if you can tell but the yolks are huge! I found out never use them when fresh. Need to let them sit for a week before using that includes boiling them. They are great for baking with.

A soft cheese-Queso Blanco made from raw cow's milk.

Recipe for Queso Blanco:
Most of the supplies you will need to turn out this simple cheese are probably already in your kitchen. The ingredients could not be more basic.

1gallon whole milk
1/8 apple cider vinegar (acv)

In a large pot, heat milk, stirring to prevent scorching, until it reaches 200 degrees F. Add the acv in a thing trickle, and continue to stir until the curds separate from the whey. Do not let milk boil or the cheese will be ruined.

Line colander with butter muslin, old bleached pillow case, bleached sheet, or nut milk bag. Then ladle the curds into the colander. Tie the four corners of the muslin intoa knot and hang the bag to drain for several hours. Refrigerate several hours, until the cheese sets. Store in refrigerator.
-From the book"Just In Case: How to be self -sufficient when the unexpected happens" by Kathy Harrison

Let me know if any of yall try this and what you think.

Have a blessed day!

Sincerely,

K

2011-11-04T12:12:00.000-07:00

Don't try to find Mr. Right. Learn to be Miss right, and the one who finds you will be Mr. Right.~ Preparing To Be A Help Meet by Debi Pearl

What is your take on this quote? I'd like to hear your thoughts.

Remember Again!

2011-11-04T12:09:00.000-07:00

As you run hard and fast after Jesus, look to the left and to the right and marry the man who is running beside you.

Are you running hard and fast after Jesus or are you just sitting around being spiritual? Running is doing. Get started doing what the Lord would want you to do & get acquainted with those in your circle.

Remember:

2011-10-31T20:38:00.000-07:00

"Run hard and fast after Jesus and look to the left or the right and marry the person who is at your side."~ Preparing To Be A Help Meet by Debi Pearl

DIY

2011-09-26T07:35:00.000-07:00

I have done alot of DIY from www.diynatural.com. I really recommend checking it out. They have a recipe for making your own super easy and yummy chocolate syrup, fabric softener, dryer sheets, hand sanitizer, laundry soap, etc. I have done the dryer sheets, softener, mouth wash, chocolate syrup,and facial cleanser. It makes me really happy to do things or make things myself. The recipes are simple and easy and I pretty much have everything in these recipes already. They also have a recipe for dishwasher detergent.

Here's a link to making your own liquid handsoap: Homemade Non Toxic Liquid Hand Soap This is the one I used. I grated a lye soap bar and mine turned out a little thin (it made a gallon's worth which is great)but it still works fine but if it is too thin to your liking you can always add vegetable glycerine to thicken it up. If it's not cleaning the grease from your family's hands when you work on vehicles then it might be because the liquid is thin and needs a thickener or you could always try vinegar in a wash bowl and wash hands that way or add vegetable glycerine the the vinegar. I am thinking of doing one of those with the vinegar since my Dad had a little trouble getting his off. Vinegar cuts grease hence my reason for suggesting it.

Here are some recipes for dish soap and liquid handsoap:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsKjvE-rWm0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ge0CLqtbdAY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbw63Ww2D8I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dSdoCmAVLI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVvq72x7OIQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qsd-KcN1ex8 -make things last longer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwJFSmUpm-4

Enjoy!

Guarding Your Thoughts - Preparing To Be A Help Meet - Conversations

2011-08-29T17:23:00.000-07:00

Guarding Your Thoughts

This is what I have been trying to do even more so after reading the book. I am going to commit more verses to memory that will help with guarding my thoughts. There are so many Scripture verses in the book that is good for that. I am writing them down to go through and learn. The book was convicting. I was convicted even more about my conduct and habits that I have as a young unmarried woman that need to be worked on. I was convicted about quiet disobedience. I didn't recognize it as disobedience at first. I couldn't understand why my Dad would say that I was at times. I saw through this book that I had been in some ways just that. Not that I have been wicked in the sense of being a worldly person and living a worldly lifestyle but it was just in the small things. How I am now is going to carry over into marriage if I ever do have that privilege and so now is the time for me to work on the things I need to by asking and praying for the Lord to change me but of course with a willing heart to change otherwise it wouldn't work. It's be like banging up against a brick wall and there not being a budge at all if there wasn't a willing heart. I have watched young women I know get married and have problems because they didn't take care of the things they needed to before they married. I for one do not want to be like that! Sorry, I want to become Miss Right for when Mr. Right comes along. I want to be what I need to be for whoever He is. And if I desire to marry a preacher then what good would I be if I didn't work on the things that I need to??? I'd be a bad example to other young women and older ladies alike. I'd be a poor excuse of a christian. And I do not want that. I do not want to be a hinderance to anyone. The book also, was encouraging and I definitely learned somethings. I think there was only one thing I disagreed on and that's it. I do highly encourage other young ladies and married ladies to read,"Preparing To Be A Help Meet."

Water Fluoridation DVD

2011-08-12T09:27:00.000-07:00

Water Fluoridation DVD
You can watch this video free until August 13th.

Every Man A Shepherd/Pastor 8-13-08 Pt.1

2011-07-21T17:05:00.000-07:00

<p>Daddy Preaching!</p> This was a convicting sermon for me when I recorded it that night while he preached.. It didn't have anything to do with women necessarily but for me it had to do with submission to my earthly authority. It's always a struggle for young ladies and older ladies alike. What a blessing this sermon was. So, proud of my Daddy for preaching what the Lord wanted and not ommitting a thing. It takes confidence from the Lord to preach something like this. I encourage yall to listen to the rest of this sermon. It's broken down into 3 parts. I hope this is a blessing to yall:)

Homemade cheese

2011-06-12T16:00:00.000-07:00

Howdy! It's been awhile since I posted so here am I finally posted pictures of the cheese(chevre/ goat) I made from raw goat's milk. I usually half the recipe but the last time I decided not to half the recipe. I will include the youtube link for the video I watched on how to make it. My next goal is to make feta cheese. I just need to order the extra ingredients for making the feta.

How To Make Goat Cheese/Chevre

(This was taken this month. Sorry, about the wrong date. I need to change the date I just keep forgetting.)

Homemade Vanilla Icecream

2011-02-14T18:25:00.000-08:00

6eggs, 2c sugar (I use raw turbinado sugar called Sugar in the Raw), up to a qt of cream, 1tsp vanilla.

Mix eggs and sugar together. Add cream and vanilla then add milk up to fill line in the icecream freezer container then freeze. can use the Still frozen method or use your icecream maker according to it's directions.

My friend's mom gave me this recipe and we liked it. I think this will be a keeper. There's no heating it up or anything which is super nice. It's nice and simple.

Ginger Candy

2011-02-14T18:18:00.000-08:00

from learningherbs.com written by Rosalee

Ginger Candy:

Ginger is one of those spices that does everything. Rather than seeing it as a "Jack of all trades" without ever truly performing well in one area, I see it as a renaissance spice; doing it all and doing it extremely well. Ginger originally comes to us from Asia and nowadays most of the ginger found in North America is grown in Jamaica.
Ginger is found fresh in most US grocery stores all year round. Quality ginger is firm and vibrant looking. If ginger at your store is wrinkled or soft, request that fresher ginger be made available.
If you take a bite of fresh ginger you’ll notice it’s quite spicy! If you compare fresh ginger with dried ginger you’ll notice that the dried ginger is even spicier. Fresh ginger is classified as warming, while dried ginger is hot. Because of this we use them for different purposes, with more caution being used with dried ginger, as it is more heating.
You know how some people can experience discomfort after eating food that is too spicy for them? The same principle applies here.
Let’s look at a few ways in which ginger can be used.
Ginger tea is often drunk after meals to help with the digestive process. Anytime a meal doesn’t sit right just reach for ginger tea and ginger candy.
But why wait to drink ginger after eating when you can include it in your meals!
Ginger is a powerful antimicrobial, which is why, like garlic, it has been traditionally used in cooking to help preserve foods and keep them safe for eating. We regularly add ginger to our meals, especially those involving meat.
Ginger is also the herb of choice for motion sickness. When making first aid kits for those who often get car sickness I include ginger candy and ginger tincture; both work quickly to quell the nausea.
Ginger excels at helping relieve many different kinds of pain.
Ginger can calm spasms, making it a great ally for women with menstrual cramping. Ginger can reduce pain receptors and is often used by those with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis to reduce pain. It works especially well for those with arthritic pain who also feel cold or who know that heat can relieve the pain.
Herbalist Steven Buhner recommends cooled ginger tea as an external wash for burns. Not only does it prevent infection, it also acts as a pain reliever.
Ginger is a perfect herb for many symptoms of colds and the flu.
Fever: In the beginning stages of a fever when you feel cold and are shivering, a strong ginger tea is a great way to help your body warm up. In herbalism we call this a stimulating diaphoretic.
Congestion: Ginger keeps mucous flowing and can break up thick congested mucous in the sinuses and lungs. We call this a stimulating expectorant.
Sore Throat: Ginger is antimicrobial and pain relieving. Taken as a tea or as an infused honey it soothes painful sore throats.
Coughs: I recently came down with a cold and I was coughing nonstop especially at night when I laid down to sleep. I found that by sucking on a ginger candy it quelled my cough and relieved my sore throat, and I was soon sleeping peacefully.
Ginger candy can bring welcome relief for colds and the flu or even motion sickness but is also a sweet and spicy treat.
To make ginger candy you’ll need...

A pound of fresh ginger
About a pound of sugar
Water
Saucepan
Kitchen scale (very helpful)
Wax Paper

Begin by preparing the ginger. I don’t feel that it’s necessary to peel ginger. However, if you’d like to do this I recommend using a spoon to gently scrape off the papery sheath. Once the root is either peeled or well washed, slice it fairly thin, but not paper thin.

Place the sliced ginger into the saucepan and cover it with water. Bring to a boil and then simmer for about 30-40 minutes. It’s done when the ginger has become more translucent.

Drain off the ginger tea and reserve 1/4 cup. The rest you can drink but you may want to dilute it a little since it’s going to be very strong!

To determine how much sugar you will use, weigh the ginger. You’ll use the same amount of sugar by weight. So if your ginger weighs 8 oz then measure out 8 oz of sugar by weight.

Return the ginger to the saucepan along with the sugar and the 1/4 cup of ginger tea.

Turn the stove to medium high heat and stir the ginger frequently. The sugar will quickly dissolve and what will remain is the ginger and the sugar liquid. Once this starts to simmer turn the heat down to medium and continue to stir very frequently.

In between stirrings lay out a sheet of wax paper on the counter.
Total stirring time will be around 20 minutes. During the twenty minutes the liquid will continue to reduce and will finally crystalize. Remove the pan from heat once the mixture looks fairly dry.
Warning: If you don’t stir often enough the mixture will easily scorch.
Lay the ginger out on the prepared wax paper and allow to cool.

Once cool keep these in a covered container in a cool place. They should keep for at least a couple of weeks.

Homemade Cough Syrup

2011-02-14T18:15:00.000-08:00

My Brother goes nuts over this...He likes it way too much. -Licorice can be used to make a wonderfully soothing honey cough syrup. Licorice is a demulcent that will help break up mucus settled in your lungs, and it is an expectorant so it will help expel the mucus as well. Licorice is also a calming herb so it can help us to get our much-needed rest when we are sick. Besides all of this it has a wonderful sweet taste (50 times sweeter than white sugar) that makes your medicine a pleasure to take.

The honey is anti-microbial, so it may help relieve the cause behind your cough as well as soothing your sore throat if you have one. One caution, though.
Please do not give your honey cough syrup to a child under the age of one. Honey can contain spores that could lead to botulism in the very young until they have built up enough beneficial bacteria in their digestive tract to deal with the spores.

How to make it:

First, make a decoction of the licorice. Measure out 1/2 cup of dried licorice root into a saucepan. Add 2 cups of water.

Bring the water to a boil and let it simmer for about 20 minutes or until the water is reduced by half.

Strain.

Add 1/2 cup of honey while the tea is still warm. Stir until the honey dissolves fully.

Cool and then pour into a glass jar with a tight lid.

Store your syrup in the refrigerator. It will last in there for about one month.
Take one teaspoon of syrup as needed for coughs. One teaspoon every hour or two is probably a good rule of thumb for a stubborn cough.

Licorice is also very soothing for sore throats and stomachaches and because it is anti-viral can help cure colds and flus, so these are other good uses for your licorice honey cough syrup.

Another cough syrup recipe: Onion cough syrup

Slice onions, put into a pint canning jar then cover with honey and let sit for an hour or more till honey has soaked up onion smell.Then strain onions. For those who don't like the taste of onions you can put a tsp of the syrup in a mug of hot tea otherwise you can just take a tsp. For persistent coughs take a tsp every hour.

Choke cherry cough syrup:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lV8jV4o-mvU

Pumpkin Chili

2011-02-06T16:03:00.000-08:00

Pumpkin Chili (Despite how it sounds this is super delicious. My Brother liked this alot!)
2TBS olive oil, 1/2C chopped onion, 1C chopped bell pep, 1lb ground beef, 4C diced tomatoes, 2C pureed pumpkin, 2C tomato sauce, 1C dried kidney beans cooked first & drain, 1 cup of frozen corn, 1 TBS chili powder, 1tsp cumin, s & p.

Directions:
Saute onions & pep in oil. Add ground beef. Cook until browned & drain. Put in crock pot & add all ingredients except corn. Cook 4-6 hours adding corn last hour of cooking.

I hope to make this again later this month since I have some pumkin frozen in the freezer from when I baked the pumpkins last year.

Sour Cream Pumpkin Coffee Cake

2011-02-06T16:01:00.000-08:00

Sour Cream Pumpkin Coffee Cake

1/2C butter, 3/4C cane juice crystals (Rapadura, Sucanat, or raw Turbinado sugar at Wal-Mart), 1t vanilla, 3 eggs, 2C whole wheat or unbleached flour, 1t b. soda, 1C s.cream, 2C pumpkin puree, 1 egg, 1/3C cj crystals, 1t pumpkin spice or 1/2t cinnamon, 1/8t ginger, 1/8t nutmeg, 1/8t allspice, 1/8t cloves

Streusel: 1C Sucanat, 1/3C butter, 2t cinnamon, 1C nut-chopped (optional)

Directions:
Using a mixer cream butter, cj crystals & vanilla.
Add the eggs & make sure everything is well combined.

In a separate bowl mix the flour, b.powder, & butter/cj mix. Do this by alternating between the flour & the s. cream. Make sure to mix well after each addition.

In a smaller bowl mix together the pumpkin, 1 egg 1/3C cj crystals & spices.

Prepare streusal by mixing all ingred. except nuts until well blended.

Spray 13x9 pan w/nonstick spray. Spoon half cake batter into pan makin' sure to spread it to the corners of pan. Sprinkle half of streusel over batter. Spread pumpkin mixture over this. Carefully spread rest of the cake batter over the top of pumpkin mix.

Bake @ 350 for 50-60 minutes or till done.

Pumpkin Cookies
1C butter, 1/2C sucanat, 1/2C cj crystals (see above recipe for substituting these w/Turbinado), 1C pureed pumpkin, 1 egg, 1 t vanilla, 2C whole wheat flour or unbleached flour, 1t b. soda, 2t cinnamon, 1/4 salt

Frosting: 3T butter, 1/2 brown sugar, 1/4C powdered sugar or powdered sucanat

Directions:
Cream butter, cj crystals & sucanat together. Mixing well. Add pumpkin, egg, and vanilla. Mix well until well combined. Add remaining ingred. Drop by spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake cookies 10-12 minutes @ 350 degrees. Let cool completely and frost.

To make frosting:

Ina saucepan on medium heat combine butter & brown sugar. Let it cook until it is smooth & bubbly, be very careful not to let this burn & stir constantly. After it starts to bubble let it cook 1 minute. Remove from heat & stir milk in. Add powdered sugar. Quickly frost cookies before frosting hardens. it hardens real quick.

Cortido (Latin American Sauerkraut)

2011-02-06T15:59:00.000-08:00

Makes 2 quarts- yummy!

1 large cabbage, cored, and shredded
1C carrots, grated
2 medium onions( I use1/2 to1 onion), quartered lengthwise and very finely sliced
1tbs dried oregano
1/4-1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1 tbs sea salt
4tbs whey (if not available use an additional 1 tbs of sea salt)

This delicious spicy condiment goes beautifully with Mexican and Latin American food of all types. It is traditionally made with pineapple vinegar but can also be prepared with whey and salt. Like traditional sauerkraut, cortido improves with age.

In a large bowl mix cabbage with carrots, onions, oregano, red chile flakes ( I use red pepper flakes), sea salt and whey. Pound with a wooden hammer or a meat pounder for about 10 minutes to release juices. Place in 2 quart sized, wide- mouth jars or 2qt/ half gallon jar from Ace Hardware and press down firmly with a pounder or meat hammer until juices come to top of the cabbage (if it doesn't just add purified filtered water). The top of the cabbage mixture should be at least 1 inch below the top of the jars. Cover tightly and keep at room temp erature ofr 3 days before transferring to cold storage.

Kimchi (Korean Saurerkraut)

2011-02-06T15:43:00.000-08:00

Makes 2 quarts - This is very good. We try to eat a side dish of these kind of foods when eating a meal. Helps with digestion.

1 head of Napa cabbage, cored, shredded
1 bunch of green onions, chopped
1C carrots grated
1/2c daikon radishes, grated (optional)-I didn't use these
1tbs freshly grated ginger
1/2tsp dried chile flakes(I used red pepper)
1tbs sea salt
4tbs whey (if not available add an additional 1tbs of sea salt- I use Balien's course sea salt for this)

Place vegetables, ginger, red chile flakes, sea salt and whey in bowl and pound with a wooden pounder or meat hammer(I just use my fist) to release juices(never really get any juice). Place in a quart size jar(you can always buy Ball's two quart canning jars/half a gallon ones from Ace Hardware Store), wide mouth mason jar and press down firmly with a pounder or hammer until juices come to top of the cabbage( or if not enough juice add purified filtered water). The top of the vegetables should be 1 inch below the top of the jar. Cover tightly and keep at room temperature for about 3 days before transferring to cold storage.

Taken from Fermented vegetables and fruits section of Nourishing Traditions Cookbook by Mary Enig & Sally Fallon

Carob Bavarian Cream

2011-02-06T15:28:00.000-08:00

1tbs gelatin
1/2C water
1/4C maple syrup (I used Log Cabins new natural syrup that is made of rice and maple)
4 egg yolks (make sure these are pasteur fed -so not to get salmonella-& if they are fed good food they yolks should be orange)
1tbs vanilla extract
1/2C carob powder( I get this at the healthfood store)
1tbs chocolate extract (optional), I didn't have any
4 egg whites
pinch of salt
2C heavy cream, not ultra pasteurized

Warm gelatin in water over very low heat until melted. Place eggs, yolk, carob, maple syrup, optional chocolate extract and vanilla in food processor (I think I just used the stand mixer or hand held mixer). Blend about 1 minute. Add gelatin mixture while motor is running. Remove processing bowl to refrigerator. In a clean bowl beat egg whites with salt till stiff. Remove processing bowl from refrigerator and process egg yolk mixture once more. Whip cream and fold into egg yolk mixture and then fold in egg whites into cream mixture. Place in a serving dish, cover and chill well.

Baked Custard

2011-02-06T15:18:00.000-08:00

This recipe is delicious and rich...something to have as an occasional treat.

Baked Custard taken from the cookbook Nourishing Traditions by Mary Enig and Sally Fallon

1C whole milk
1C heavy cream, not ultrapasteurized
1/4C honey or Rapadura (I used raw turbinado sugar. I buy 2lb box from Wal-mart)
5 egg yolks
1tsp vanilla ( I think I added 2)extract

Warm milk and cream gently over a low flame. Meanwhile, beat rapadura or honey with egg yolks.
Slowly add milk and cream miture to eggs, beating constantly. Blend vanilla and pour into individual cups (didn't have any so I poured into a 13x9 glass dish). Place in a pan of hot water and bake at 325 degrees for about 1 hour, or until knife inserted into the custar coems out clean. Chill well.

I guess I didn't take a pic of this because I don't remember taking one...sorry. We loved this! My brother ahd the same reaction I did when I first tasted it....hmm hmm hmmm:)

comfrey-infusion

2011-01-01T14:19:00.000-08:00

Homemade Laundry soap

2010-11-17T22:23:00.000-08:00

Recipe for Making Your Own Laundry Soap
I have been making this for quite awhile and it works pretty well. The recipe calls for a 2 gallon bucket but I double the recipe and use a 5 gallon bucket.

Homemade Household Cleaners

Raw Flax Crackers

2010-11-17T21:10:00.000-08:00

Dehydrated Flax Crackers

We like these crackers a bunch! They are great dipped in s.cream or salsa.

Nettle Infusion: herbal nutrition with herbal infusions

2010-11-17T20:44:00.000-08:00

No 'Poo

2010-07-21T17:33:00.001-07:00

Ingredients:

Baking soda
32 oz bottle or use old shampoo bottle- can always adjust measurements to the size of the bottle and what measurements of b.soda work for you
water(if you can use distilled the better)

Directions:

Warm 2 (12oz) glasses of water into the pan. You just wanna get it warm. Then mix in 4tbs of baking soda & stir for an extra minute then pour mixture into large bottle.

*If you have hard water/well water, here is what to do. Bring 1 quart of water to a boil. Turn off heat and add b. soda. It will really foam up so make sure your pot is big enough. Give it a little stir just to make sure all the soda dissolved and let it sit until cooled.

Using the No Shampoo Method

2010-07-21T16:59:00.000-07:00

I have no idea what she's talkin' about because I use vinegar on top of my head and it makes it nice, clean, and shiny not oily or stringy. lol

Going No Shampoo -- Part 2

2010-07-21T16:45:00.000-07:00

Going No Shampoo (no poo method)

2010-07-21T16:39:00.000-07:00

I have been usin' the b. soda this week and it seems to work great! I have some stuff to make my own herbal mixture to go along with it. For the last 2 years I have been using vinegar as a hair rinse. It cleans your scalp and rids it of build up from shampoo. ~Karla

How To Make Ginger Soda

2010-07-21T10:58:00.000-07:00

How to Make Soda: Lacto Fermented Soda pt. 2

How To Make Soda: How to Make Ginger Soda

How To Make Soda: How To Make Ginger Soda Pt.2

Cuttin' ginger up to make the soda syrup.

Scale to weigh the ginger.

Soda culture

Letting the Soda cool to room temp after makin' the syrup and pouring it in and filling it up with more water and some starter culture. This turned out great! We like it alot! Plus, it's healthy and puts good bacteria into your body:)

How to Make Soda: Lacto Fermented Soda Culture Making Par...

2010-07-21T10:46:00.000-07:00

Yogurt Cheese & Whey

2010-07-21T10:44:00.000-07:00

Yoghurt Cheese tastes like cream cheese!~ Use a nut mylk/ sprout bag or some really good cheese cloth(will need to use like three pieces on top of another) and take room temperature yogurt pour yogurt into cheese cloth over a bowl and tie the cheese cloth then use a paper clip to clip onto a hook or sink and let drip into bowl for 24 hours so as to let the yogurt and whey separate. You can use whey in soups and whatever else (Nourishing Traditions by Sall Fallon & Mary Enig have a few recipes using whey in it.) Here's a youtube video on it : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvVeMTM0Mog

Whey

Homemade yogurt

2010-07-21T10:36:00.000-07:00

Pour 1 quart of whole milk into a saucepan and warm milk over medium heat until bubles form around the edge of the pan. Remove from heat and let cool until milk is lukewarm. You should be able hold finger comfortably in the milk for ten seconds. -Then add (2tbs)plain yogurt (use plain yogurt and make sure that the label says active or live yogurt cultures) or yogurt starter and stir until well combined. Pour Mixture into a wide mouthed jar ( I just use the regular mason jars). If using a powdered starter, follow pkg instructions. Place jar in a warm spot, and let sit 4 to 6 hours. Don't disturb it, or you risk breaking the yogurts structure and it won't set. For an even thicker yogurt, with a texture more like that of store bought yogurt, you can add 1 tbs of gelatin to the milk with the starter. I didn't use any gelatin and don't plan on it. I think it's fine the way it is.

Squeezing lime into my Brother's yogurt. He wanted that for flavouring. I normally use honey in my Pa's and mine but sometimes add cinnamon, too. I like to put raisins in mine or make parfaits and use whatever else we have in the fruit department in our fridge.

Being a goofball:)

Feminine Challenge Day 1

2010-06-04T20:53:00.000-07:00

Howdy everyone! As you all know I already wear dresses/skirts on a daily basis and modest one at that but I have been wanting to take part in this for quite sometime just for fun. Yes, I said fun:)

Here's my outfit for the day:

Floral light pink button up top with a pinkish t-shirt to go along with it underneath, denim tiered skirt, and brown cowgirl boots.

Sprouting Pics

2010-05-25T20:08:00.000-07:00

Have no idea what this is in the first pic. I forgot to label it! Second pic is lentils. They sprouted so well!!!

Raw Banana Cinnamon Icecream & Homemade Almond Milk

2010-05-25T20:03:00.000-07:00

I saw this super easy recipe on youtube and had to try it!

Here's the link:

Raw Banana Cinnamon Icecream

I think I should of let the banana's freeze a little bit longer so the icecream would of been thicker. But, we all liked it!

We bought a bunch of mixed nuts from the Farmers Market and so I cracked a cup's worth of almonds to make almond milk for the icecream recipe.

Almond milk recipe:
1 cup of almonds (soak overnight. it helps to digest them better.)
3-4 cups of purified water
- You can add honey and vanilla to the left over almond milk and then drink it:)

Blend in a blender.
Strain the milk through a nut bag or painters strain bag to get the pulp out of the milk. You can use the almond pulp in crackers or cookies. Or maybe you can make almond butter with the pulp? To make almond butter put almonds or pulp in food processor and add 3 tbs of olive oil, coconut oil, or palm oil. If it's not to the consistency of peanut butter and you would like it to be add a little more oil at a time until desired consistency.

Almond pulp.

Homemade Sauerkraut

2010-05-25T19:41:00.000-07:00

Homemade sauerkraut is healthier for you than the store bought. Store bought version- after they culture it they then proceed to cook it thus killing the good bacteria(probiotics), and enzymes in it.

I love homemade sauerkraut! It has a crunch and I like that alot!

Here's a pic:
I used purple cabbage and green cabbage for this 1 gallon. As, you can see that at the bottom the water is reddish purple from the purple cabbage.

I tried a different sauerkraut recipe this time around although it's not too different from the previous ones that I posted before.

SAUERKRAUT:
Makes 1 quart (I used to cabbages hence the gallon)

1 medium cabbage, cored and shredded
1tbs caraway seeds (I didn't use these, didn't like them in the other recipe I used!)
1tbs sea salt
4tbs whey (page 87) (if not available, use an additional 1 tbs salt)

In a bowl, mix cabbage with caraway seeds(didn't use these), sea salt and whey. pound with a wooden pounder or meat pounder (I think I used my fist) for about 10 minutes to release juices. Place in a quart-sized, wide mouth mason jar and press down firmly with a pounder or meat hammer until juices come to the top of cabbage. The top of the cabbage should be at least 1 inch below top of the jar. Cover tightly and keep at room temperature for about 3 days before transferring to cold storage. The sauerkraut may be eaten immediately, but improves with age. We started eating it day 3 and still have some left and I still haven't put it in the fridge and it is still really yummy:)

Taken from the book:
Nourishing Traditions
The cookbook that challenges politically correct nutrition and the diet dictocrats
Revised second edition
by Sally Fallon with Mary G. Enig, Ph.D

Raw Fudge & Homemade Peanut Butter

2010-05-25T19:18:00.000-07:00

Hi, everyone! I thought I'd share a video on raw fudge with you that I found on youtube.

Raw Fudge Recipe

Here's what mine looked like after I made it and refrigerated it for awhile. It was pretty good!!!

I use homemade peanut butter. We had bought some unroasted peanuts from the Farmer's Market.
I shelled them then put them on a pan, drizzled organic pal oil on them then roasted them in the oven for 7-8 minutes. Then the next day I used the food processor to make peanut butter. I will include the link two two different videos on instructions on making it. I added more oil as I went along (when I thought I should add more).
Here's the links:

How To Make Peanut Butter

How To Make Homemade Peanut Butter

Homemade peanut butter in a peanut butter jar I kept (specifically so I could put the homemade in it)when I used up the store bought. Homemade is YUMMY!!!

Basic Lye Soap Recipe

2010-05-18T06:20:00.000-07:00

I like this recipe alot!!!! It's a keeper!

First off, safety. Rubber gloves are recommended, however I personally don't use them. Second, keep white vinegar near by when working with lye, it will counteract and neutralize the lye if it splatters on you. Make sure to always have it handy. Third, do not use aluminum. Use either enamel coated pan or glass saucepan( I use a 2 quart glass pyrex measuring cup). Use a wooden spoon to stir. You can also use a plastic pitcher or plastic pan to mix lye. CAUTION: DO NOT breath in vapours from lye. Stand back while mixing lye with water. If using glass to mix it in, I set my saucepan in a plastic dish (plastic tub you get on the same isle as dish drainer/ silver ware tray)to be sure that if it shatters it won't be such a mess. I haven't had that happen but I know someone who has. Better to be cautious.

Soap making is very easy. This recipe is no heating and all that. There are people who make it that way but this recipe is less nerve wracking and turns out the same.

You will need:
12oz 100% lye (1 1/2c)
3pounds lard
3c water (cold)

The day before: Place 3 cups water in refrigerator.
Place lard in a flat bottom plastic dish pan and allow to come to room temperature overnight.

1. Place water in saucepan. Slowly pour lye in water while stirring with wooden spoon. Stir until crystal's are dissolved. It will be hot. DO not breath in vapours. Best done outside. Let sit 1 hour.

2. Slowly drizzle lye water into lard while stirring constantly, (can be done indoors). After all the lye is added, continue stirring until pudding like consistency. May take 1/2 hour or more.

Let set over night. Cut into bars with thin knife. Should be able to turn out onto towel. If not firm enough yet, let set another day. Then let them set for two weeks until dry Turning every couple days.

NOTE: you can always use a mold instead of the plastic dish pan. After making this once I plan on getting a mold to use otherwise the edges are rough and I don't have time to shave the edges but might do that someday to try to make re-milled soap.

Also, some of the dry crystal's got on my skin and made me itch and when the soap had hardened and I touched it it made my skin itch but once it's been in water I had no problem and I like the soap alot! Just thought I'd share with ya in case that happens to someone else to encourage them not to quit making this:)

HAVE FUN!

Sprouting Seeds

2010-05-12T08:11:00.000-07:00

Howdy! I thought I'd share this excerpt from a book I have because I am very interested in sprouting my own seeds:)

Taken from the book: Just in Case, How to be self sufficient when the unexpected happens. By Kathy Harrison

I consider sprouting seeds to be one of the cornerstones of the preparedness pantry. They are inexpensive, take up very little room, and do not need any fancy equipment to process. After a diet of canned and dried food, our bodies will crave something green and alive. Sprouts will fill the bill nicely. Sprouts add crunch to sandwiches and a vitamin boost to scrambled eggs and casseroles. They are tasty eaten right out of hand and make a terrific addition to a stir fry. I have even added a handful to bread batter with excellent results.

Sprouts contain vitamins,proteins, minerals, enzymes, and fiber. All of these may be in short supply if you are eating for any length of time out of storage(those who stockpile and there was a crisis for them to eat from their stockpile). If you have a bag of lentils in your pantry, you have what you need to get started.
Most although not all, seeds and beans are good for sprouting. The following list is of the best:

Alfalfa, Amaranth, Barley(hull-less), broccoli,
buckwheat, cabbage, clover, flax, lentils, oats(hull-less), peas, pumpkin, radish, rye, spelt, sunflower, & wheat.

Each sprout has a unique flavor. Lentils and alfalfa are mild, for example, while radish has a bite to it.

As is usually the case, you can purchase rather complicated equipment for sprouting. I have seen a couple of these, and while they look pretty impressive and do a fine job of sprouting seeds, I did not find that they did a better job than I was able to do with a few things I already had in my kitchen. I not only saved a bit of money, but also saved the space a sprouter would take up in my kitchen and that's just as important.

The equipment is as simple as a glass jar, a rubber band, a piece of cheesecloth, and some seeds.

Sort out any foreign matter from the seeds. Soak two tablespoons of seeds in warm water for an hour or two. Drain, then place in a quart jar. Secure piece of cheesecloth around the top with rubber band. Put the jar in a dark cabinet. Two or three times a day, rinse the seeds with warm water, and drain through cheese cloth. In two or three days you will have sprouts. If you leave them in the sun for a few hours, the sprouts will turn a lovely green and will increase their vitamin content. I have started to make my last rinse in very cold water, and the sprouts seem crisper. Harvest sprouts when they are about three times longer than the seed they came from.

There are a couple things to know. Tomato and potato seed sprouts should never be eaten, as they are poisonous. Do not use nay seeds that have been treated with fungicides or pesticides for agricultural use. Bean sprouts have the same protein-binding substance as beans, but they must be cooked for a couple of minutes to make it available.

The biggest challenge will be keeping your sprouts from going sour. You will know by the slimy texture and foul odor that a batch has gone bad and you will need to dispose of it. You really have to be diligent about rinsing you seeds. The problem is that the jar of seeds should be kept in a dark cabinet. I used to forget about them until it was too late I finally set up a system of rinsing my sprouts before each meal. After a few weeks it became a habit, and I rarely forget anymore.

I also had a problem of finding myself sprout deprived. Sometimes I wanted sprouts and they weren't quite ready. I solved that problem by staggering my sprouts, beginning a new batch every other day.

Sprouts will store in a perforated plastic bag in your refrigerator or any other very cool. dark spot for a few days. You shouldn't have to throw any out if you get into the habit of popping a few into whatever you are cooking.

Karla's note: they use sprouted seeds in Ezekiel bread. I was sent some Ezekiel bread recipes from my friend, Karen, so if any are interested in making your own let me know and I'd be happy to pass the recipes along:)

Videos on sprouting:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoaIpZZfcFc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY2Ezu5GYMo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CVJ9e4SzBo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4n5p1rmTiw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udiZvl7tLt8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owPgJr3ESng

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-1V4vtV8Yo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqv65dhRgD4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUOu-3gsu6A

More videos on youtube.

Lavender Sugar Cookies

2010-04-26T18:08:00.000-07:00

1/2 C unsalted butter, softened
1 C sugar
2 eggs
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract(I added a little more)
2 tsp lavender flowers, ground
1 1/2 cups of sifted flour
2tsp baking powder

Directions:

(Grind lavender flowers in blender
& store in a covered jar w/the
recipe so it's all ready to use
and keeps well.)

Cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs, vanilla,
lavender flowers.

Sift flour and baking powder together and add to
butter mixture. Drop by spoonfuls of batter on
ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 8 minutes, just until edges are brown.

Cool and enjoy!

Water Kefir

2010-04-19T15:15:00.000-07:00

I wanted to let everyone know that I am selling water Kefir grains. If anyone is interested let me know. It is $16 including shipping and handling or if you would like a mason jar to put the Kefir in so you can get started right away once you receive your Kefir then it will be $20 all together with shipping and handling included. Once you buy the grains you won't have to buy them again because if they are healthy they will reproduce and you will have more grains!

Milk Kefir: Milk Kefir vs. Water Kefir

Milk kefir and water kefir are essentially very similar. Both exist in the form of small crystalline grains which can be brewed into drinks and both confer huge health benefits to the people that include them in their diet. The main difference between them – and the reason why many people prefer water kefir – is the difference in versatility between them.

Milk kefir grains were the first kind of grains used to brew drinks. Since they have been around a lot longer, they have had more time to become widespread popularity and are currently well known throughout Russia and Eastern Europe (which is a pretty wide area).

They are also popular in the west, although not yet to the same extent. One of the great limiting factors on milk kefir popularity is the fact that there are many people out there who do not enjoy “milky foods”, or simply cannot digest them.

Water kefir grains provide all of the same health benefits as milk kefir, whilst being much more versatile! It is fun to experiment with them and see just how much they can do. If you start to cultivate your water kefir and then want to make a milk-based drink with them, you can just transfer a few of the grains into some milk. After a brief “lag phase”, the bacteria inside the grains will adjust to living off milk and start acting like milk kefir!

Water kefir grains really are that versatile. Many water kefir enthusiasts also enjoy brewing their grains with grape juice or coconut water, since it opens up whole new avenues of recipes that can be made with the finished drinks.

Many probiotics – the types of foods that, like kefir, contain helpful bacteria – are made from milk products. Pro-biotic yogurts are great, but not if you don’t like yogurt!

Water kefir grains allow you to make probiotic foods without always having to involve dairy, which is something milk kefir grains cannot achieve. They can be brewed into drinks (starting with almost any sugary liquid) or simply eaten, and can benefit almost anyone.

Although milk kefir grains are more widespread, and often easier to come across than water kefir grains, with a little effort it is usually possible to find someone who is happy to send you the things you need to get started making water kefir for yourself.

What is Kefir?

Strictly speaking, Kefir is the substance that exists as “Kefir grains,” that either look like pieces of cauliflower (in the case of Milk Kefir) or like little crystals (in the case of Water Kefir)..

These grains are living colonies of bacteria and yeasts that live in perfect harmony together, and have been around for thousands of years! One day someone discovered that if these strange-looking grains were brewed into a drink, the person that drank it would experience enormous health benefits. The idea soon spread, and Kefir is now popular as a health drink all over the world.

Kefir, which actually means “feel good” in Turkish, is a handcrafted, effervescent, cultured and enzyme-rich probiotic drink that's filled with friendly micro-organisms that help balance your inner ecosystem.

Drinking Water Kefir may help you achieve your optimal health, strengthen your immune system, and help to prevent diseases of all kinds.

Here's just a some of the MANY benefits of drinking Water Kefir:

Contains a wide variety of good bacteria and beneficial yeasts as well as many vitamins, minerals, amino acids and enzymes. (including Vitamin c, Vitamin B, and

Has antibiotic and anti fungal properties.

Contributes to a healthy immune system and has been used to help patients suffering from many conditions, including AIDS, chronic fatigue syndrome, herpes, Candida, autoimmune diseases and cancer.

Can stop unhealthy food cravings, especially cravings for sugar and sweet foods. (For some)

Aids in the digestion of all foods.

Has a tonifying affect on the intestines, reduces bloating, and flattens the abdominals!

It appears to cleanse the liver.

Many see changes in their complexion and overall condition of their skin.

Brown liver spots may fade as can skin tags, moles, warts, etc.

With high levels of valuable minerals, including potassium, natural sodium, and chloride, the hair, skin and nails become stronger and have a prettier shine.

It appears to have a beneficial, cleansing effect on the endocrine system (adrenals, thyroid, pituitary, ovaries). Women find that their periods are healthier; some who had experienced early menopause have found this important monthly cleansing returning again.

It increases energy and gives you an overall feeling of good health.

Its tranquilizing effect on the nervous system has benefited many who suffer from sleep disorders, depression, ADHD and autism.

Drinking water kefir regularly can help, promote bowel movement, relieve all intestinal disorders, reduce flatulence and help create an all together healthier digestive system.

It's cleansing effect on the whole body helps to establish a balancing of the insides for optimum health and longevity.

It can also ameliorate eczema, psoriasis, and acne.

It tastes great... and it's a really inexpensive drink to make!

~ I myself have noticed a difference. It definitely detoxifies.

Peach Cobbler

2010-04-19T15:01:00.000-07:00

Howdy, Everyone!

It's been awhile since I have posted so here I am:) I wanted to share a video and a recipe with you.
I saw an excerpt of the West Ladies in The Art of Cooking and they were making peach cobbler. So, I decided to look for a recipe similar to their and I found one! I made it Saturday and it turned out pretty good. My Dad agreed and said, "That was good!"

So, here's the video and I will include the recipe underneath it.:
The Art of Cooking

Ingredients

* 2 cups fresh peaches
* 1/2 cup sugar (for peaches)
* 1/4 lb butter
* 3/4 cup milk, for batter

Batter

* 1/2 cup sugar
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 3/4 cup flour

Directions:

1.Heat the peaches in saucepan with 1/2 cup sugar, til good and hot.
2.(if using canned peaches, don't add sugar).
3.Melt butter in 2 qt baking dish. ( I doubled the recipe and baked it in my 12 inch cast iron skillet)
4.Mix dry ingredients for batter.
5.Add 3/4 cup milk, beating until all the lumps are gone.
6.Pour batter onto melted butter.
7.DO NOT STIR!
8.Spoon hot peaches onto the batter.
9.DO NOT STIR!
10.Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes, or until top is golden brown.
11. The batter will have risen to the top, making a beautiful golden crust.
12. This is also good with plums, boysenberries, apricots etc.

ENJOY!!! - I forgot to take a pic of it after I took it out of the oven...I know I am terrible!

About Foods High in Iron: Nutrition & Healthy Eating | eHow.com

2010-02-20T18:59:00.000-08:00

About Foods High in Iron: Nutrition & Healthy Eating | eHow.com

Sit Still By J. Danson Smith

2010-02-11T09:58:00.000-08:00

Sit still, my daughter! Just sit calmly still!
Nor deem these days, these waiting days, as ill!
The One who loves thee best, who plans thy way,
Hath not forgotten thy great need today!
And, if He waits, 'tis sure he waits to prove
To thee, His tender child, His heart's deep love.

Sit still, my daughter! Just sit calmly still!
Thou longest much to know thy dear Lord's will!
While anxious thoughts would almost steal their way
Corrodingly within, because of His delay-
Persuade thyself in simple faith to rest
That He, who knows and loves, will do the best.

Sit still, my daughter! Just sit calmly still!
Nor move one step, not even one, until
His way hath opened. Then, ah then, how sweet!
How glad thy heart, and then how swift thy feet
Thy inner being then, ah then, how strong!
And waiting days not counted then too long.

Sit still, my daughter! Just sit calmly still!
What higher service could'st thou for Him fill?
'Tis hard! Ah, yes! But choicest things must cost!
For lack of losing all how much is lost!
'Tis hard, 'tis, true! But then-He giveth grace
To count the hardest spot the sweetest place.

This painting is an artist's rendition of Ruth waiting for Boaz
when Naomi says to her "Sit still, my daughter, until thou
know how the matter will fall..."

Southwest Black Bean Soup

2010-02-02T16:07:00.000-08:00

Prep:15 minutes 30 minutes total 6 servings

1tbs olive or canola oil (I think I used either corn or vegetable)
1 medium chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 to 2 jalapenos (you can seed them if you want), finely chopped
2 cans (15 oz each) (I used a bag of dry black beans) black beans
1 can diced or fire roasted diced tomatoes
1 3/4C chicken broth (32oz carton or 14 oz can)
2tsp Cumin
2tbs chopped fresh cilantro
Sour cream or lime wedge-optional (we used both...we squeezed the lime int each of our bowls and it was so good!)

Directions:

1. Heat oil over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, & jalapenos; cook 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender.

2. Stir in beans(if you used dry beans ya need to boil them till tender- I boiled them 20 minutes in b.soda then drained and rinsed then boiled in plain water till they were tender. I won't soak them overnight again b/c it didn't help soften them up), tomatoes, broth, & cumin. Reduce heat to medium low; cover & simmer 15 minutes. Remove from heat minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in cilantro. Top individual servings w/s. cream & serve with lime wedges.

Enjoy!

Tagged!!!

2010-01-26T17:58:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I was tagged by Dave and am finally going to do this tag.

Do quick post about the person that tagged you saying thanks.
Thanks Dave for tagging me and for following me!

2, Answer the 10 questions

3, Follow 3 new blogs and list them.

4, Tag 6 people

5, Challenge one person to do something fun or crazy

Here are the 10 questions:

1: Have you ever been to a rodeo? Yeehaw!!! Yes, I have and they are awsome!!!!!

2: Have you ever tried to ride a cow? No...but, I had this crazy idea that if I could train one from the time it was little that I might could ride it once it's bigger:)

3: Have you ever milked a cow or goat? No

4: Have you ever been to a Demolition Derby? No

5: What is your favorite Country song? The fleshly side of me would like to listen to country but I do not listen to country...that's for the world not God's people.

b: Who's the artist? See above

6: Do you like to hunt? I never been, but I want to.

7: Have you ever cooked your breakfast over an open fire in your backyard? No.

8: Have you ever thought that the muck was shallow and when you stepped in it, you sank knee deep? Maybe...I don't remember if I did it had to be when I was younger.

9: What is the hardest thing you have ever done? putting my pride aside and finally surrendering my will to God and repenting and asking Christ to be my Lord and Saviour.

10: (The question is optional) What's one of your most embarrassing moments? Saying something that was somethin' only said around family. Spillin' orange juice on a guy's hand as I was refillin' his orange juice at a church breakfast....that was pretty embarrassing but he forgave me whoever he was.

I Tag:

Miss Courtney @ cowgirlofaith.blogspot.com
and I can't think of anyone else:)

New blogs :

Recently, I started following:

cowgirlofaith.blogspot.com
http://feathering-the-nest.blogspot.com/
http://stevenandersonfamily.blogspot.com/

I challenge Courtney to go puddle jumpin' or to go sit in a field while it is rainin' as long as, it ain't real chilly:)

Cloth Diapers Go Green

2010-01-14T19:00:00.000-08:00

So glad that cloth is makin' more of a comeback in the sense that there is a store openin' up.

Cloth is back as diapers go 'green'
BY JENNIFER PALMER The Oklahoman Comments Comment on this article7
Published: January 13, 2010

When Morgan Harris decided to cloth-diaper her son, Spencer, there was no place in Oklahoma City she could go if she wanted to look at the products before buying.

Online shopping seemed overwhelming, so she ordered the most popular style. She wasn’t completely happy with them. Two years of research and experimenting later, she now has knowledge to share.

Harris, 30, wants to promote use of cloth diapers to other Oklahoma City parents through the retail store she’s opening next month, Green Bambino.

At 5113 N Shartel Ave., the store will stock a variety of cloth diaper styles and brands — from old-fashioned flat diapers with pins to newer, more user-friendly styles.

"If they can touch and feel and see how easy they are to use, they’ll be cloth diaper fans,” she said of future customers.

The store also will carry cloth diaper accessories, eco-friendly laundry detergents, baby carriers and organic gifts and toys.

Book-learning in practice
Harris learned the ins and outs of small business during a five-year stint working at Full Circle Bookstore. She stayed home with her son after he was born nearly two years ago and that’s when she discovered there was no cloth diaper retailer in the city.

"There’s no reason for it to be this way in Oklahoma City,” she said.

With the economy tanking and consumers more focused on frugality and protecting the environment, she said it was the perfect time to open a cloth diaper store.

An abundance of new cloth diapers — introduced recently — proved to her that it was a blooming market.

Use, re-use, repeat
Once open, Green Bambino will host classes on cloth diapering. Harris said she hopes to become a resource for people with questions such as which diapers to choose and how to wash them.

She also plans to offer a gift registry.

With a product mix focused on sustainability, it was natural to design the store with the environment in mind, she said. She hired bgDesign, an architectural firm whose partners designed the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum.

Low VOC paints, an eco-friendly sealant used on the existing floor and display cases made from architectural salvage and antiques, will give the store a "green” existence.

Jeremy Gardner, co-director of bgDesign, said the project has gotten him to think outside the box.

"It causes you to be more creative. We have a tight budget so we spend a little more time on how we display the products,” he said.

Old doors and recycled glass are being transformed into shelving and an old postal sorter has new life as a display cabinet.

All items have been sourced locally.

Harris said she’s also using recycled paper business cards and gift cards, and designed bags so they can be reused.

The store is already generating interest among like-minded mamas, she said.

"We’ve already got 70 Facebook fans and we’re not even open yet,” she said.

Read more: http://www.newsok.com/article/3431706?searched=green%20bambino&custom_click=search#ixzz0ceaWBi3J

Say What? Chaste? Discreet? What's that??? Be silent in church???

2010-01-07T11:00:00.000-08:00

As I have finished reading Created to Be His Help Meet (yes, I know some don't agree with her on things)on Tuesday I have remembered some letters she or her husband had received from young men. I have shared them with my Pa and I have thought about it and I can honestly say that it is true about the way a "woman" dresses. I have written an article on this before on my xanga(www.xanga.com/virtuouswoman4jesus...not sure if you will find it so if ya don't go to my profile and it will be in the section of favourite thing to wear if I remember right) but I believe one can never hear it enough. This was on my mind and heart the other day but I didn't get a chance to write about it till today.

NOTE: You might get a wild hair to curse me for this post so if that's the case I will warn you that your comments will be deleted. I will not sit around and argue...I have things to do and do not sit around arguing on hours end. The BIBLE is clear and I will follow it. I encourage you to seek to follow God's words and His ways. With that being said have a nice day.

Women shame their husbands or fathers by the way they dress. They have become what some call eye candy(you can look but ya can't touch). But, at the same time some get pleasure from tempting men and makin' them lust after them and it becomes a game almost. Then there are some whose parents are supposed to be christians and yet they let them wear tight, low shirts, short skirts, shorts, tight pants(although, no matter what kind of pants they still show form and not feminine) and who knows what else and yet, the parents get mad when the boys or even men look at their daughters funny or just right out stare...I just wanna say well, DUH!!! Men are by sight and they need help to protect themselves. I have heard people say well they are gonna look anyways no matter what I wear...that may be true but you will be held accountable for the way you dress and present yourself, so if a girl or woman dress in long modest skirts or dresses, shirts that cover all your chest and hit the tip of the bottom of your neck that are loose shirts or sweaters and no one can see every curve of your body then you will have no blame on your side and it will be the man's fault. People almost forget that pornography is rampant and they act like the way a woman dresses wouldn't bother a man...HELLO WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE!!!! Men have a hormone drive and sometimes seein' an immodest woman can cause them great struggle or cause them to commit sight adultry. There are tons in churches today even ones that call themselves baptist that have tons of inviting teenage girls and women by the way they dress...there is no need to go on the street to find one all you have to do is go to church!!! Church was or is supposed to be a safe haven from the world but yet men are not finding rest or safety at church but have to be on guard there, as well, for the sake of their testimony lest Satan get the upper hand. Men have to avert their eyes and make a conscious effort to focus on the face. The way they dress almost says come and get me...even the women who are married! Let me say this honey, men who have been into porno at one time even those who have only seen 2 minutes worth and never looked at it again will always struggle with it on and off even saved men and for some of them they cannot see a woman's calves/legs because even that causes them thoughts. It takes two to commit adultry.

Bathsheba thought she could bathe anywhere she wanted and she cost people their lives, dignity, and put a curse on people. She cause a man whom God considered a man after His own heart to fall...grant it he should of been with his men but like I said it takes two and he let his flesh win over his love for God...women can have a powerful effect on men...in a sense they hold heaven or hell in their hands when it comes to a man.

1 Timothy 2: 9 & 10, In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

1 Peter3:4, But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

Shouldn't we be dressing (act,or present ourselves) in a way that professes godliness if we are born of the Spirit? Normally, what is in our heart will show up on the outside...it starts with the heart. It is a matter of the heart. Those who want to go far and beyond so that if they slide a little that it won't be much if they do. Many always try to walk the edge and see what they can get away with.

Honestly, how is dressing immodest feminine??? How is showing your legs or every curve of your body feminine??? How is that lady -like??? People don't have any shame today or pride or even care that they don't even respect themselves. How can women expect men or others to show them respect when they themselves do NOT respect their own selves.

A man should want his wife to keep her body for him only and ought to want her to cover herself up. Can you just imagine a man's wife causing other men to lust??? There are pastors even whose wives tempt other men. Some are embarrassed by their pastor's wife or music minster's wife and how they dress that they don't want to invite others to come to their church. Women are not chaste or discreet anymore and those are 2 things listed in God's book.

There a young men who have quit the church because of the dress in the church and it isn't being preached about or against in the churches today and if it is it is a rarity. EVEN other women do NOT want to see a woman showing herself off....when flesh is shown it causes everyone to stare even if it doesn't cause a person to have problems but the people will think oh why can't she cover up, it's disgusting!

There are men who are unmarried and have avoided their friends because their friends have married a woman who brings her husband shame by the way she dresses and it makes it hard by their immodest dress on those unmarried men. The unmarried men want a good wife that won't dress like that. And their friends who married the immodest woman thought that once they married the woman would sober up...think again! You cannot change her for the better unless she has a tender heart to change.

There was a young man who said one time that he sees a woman and she is modest until she starts walkin' then you see her leg through the slit of her skirt and she isn't so modest after all until she quits walkin again- that is a type of strip tease...teasin' a man to look...quite shocking I know...many of ya'll wouldn't have considered or thought of that one. I could be even more blunt but I don't know who all reads this so I won't.

Now, I want to go ahead and speak about women wearing skirts or dresses...Deu 22:5 is clear...The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God. - Abomination means sin by the way. It's interestingly enough that ya don't usually hear preachers mention this verse but they have no problem mentioning other verses that speak about other things that are an abomination...they have wives to please or don't wanna upset people in the church...many men compromise because of it. So, for any to say that they aren't sayin it's a sin for a woman to wear pants is wrong because that verse is clear and yes, I know some sweet women who wear pants but there are alot of sweet women out there who are even lost. So, that is overused. No, I don't go around tellin' those women they are wrong...but, if they ask me why i wear them all the time then I will tell them why. I have heard the argument that the priests wore robes or skirts but did you know that with Deu 22:5 that there obviously was a difference in men's clothing and women's otherwise God would not have taken time to have that put in there? Plus, haven't you seen where it says they girt their loins? ANd you have heard mentioned in the Bible the word girdle right? They girt their loins by tuckin' their robe or skirt into their girdle when they ran or worked or fought(not everyone was like Rome). And women try to use that argument a lot of times to justify them wearing pants. I even heard one say well, then why don't men go back to wearing robes? Pants have never been a woman's clothing in past so why now??? What makes now any different? What's wrong with being made different than men? What's wrong with lookin' like a lady? What's wrong with people givin' you more respect? One woman told me of how she went somewhere and how this man opened the door for her and not the woman that had pants on! Back in the day it was disgraceful for a woman to be wearin' trousers. We have come far from being distinctive in the way we dress. A man ought to be able to look at a woman and not guess but know it is a woman. Today, we get disgusted when men wear women's clothing - dresses and skirts and we call them cross dressers but what about the women who are cross-dressin'? If we wear full dresses or skirts we can do anything in them and if we can't then maybe we aren't supposed to be doing them. I have ridden a horse in a long tiered skirt and it worked quite well. I have camped, hiked, fished,and gardened in one.

Seriously, it is okay to be the weaker vessel. God didn't make us different to say that man is superior or whatever. He made him to lead to be over the woman and that's just that. Why is it that we think that God's design is not right? WHy is it that women want to work out in a man's work place and dress and do everything a man can do just to prove she is as good as he is? Men are good at what they do and women are good at they were designed to do( some just need help learnin' how to but when they get it down others will be in awe that she is great at her job). If we're the weaker vessel then we should be distinctively different than the man. I mean we have women that usurp authority in churches or somewhere else preachin'(makes me wonder who's the leader in their family).
-1 Timothy 2:12, But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
And women are out somewhere else teachin' men in a school setting at college... yes, they hire women to teach men.
Women are to be in silence not teach or usurp the authority of man.
-1 Timothy 2:11 says, Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
And that is what women aren't doin' today. They give testimonies and prayer requests during church in front of everybody. They ask other men and not their fathers or husbands spiritual questions. They do so many things they ought not...they are tryin to be the modern woman whether they realize it or not. People forget that we are in a battle and satan desires women to do the opposite of the Scriptures and God's design.

Well, that's all for now, I have more I will write about on women and their roles and what the Bible say about a woman later on.

Hope everyone has a wonderful- good and blessed afternoon:)

Until next time.

Glorying in God's goodness,

K

Red Pepper Soup

2009-12-21T18:37:00.000-08:00

2Tbs butter
4 red bell peppers
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves of garlic, minced
24 oz. chicken broth
1/2C heavy cream (I didn't use heavy cream but I can't remember what I did instead)
1/8tsp ground black pepper

Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Place the red bell pepper, onion, garlic in the saucepan and saute for 5 to 10 minutes, or until tender.

Pour in chicken broth, stirring well, reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes. Transfer to a blender and puree until smooth.

Run the soup through a strainer and return the liquid to the saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir in the heavy cream and the ground black pepper and allow to heat through, about 5 to 10 minutes.

Makes 4-6 servings.

2 Step Pumpkin Cheesecake

2009-12-21T18:08:00.000-08:00

Ingredients:
1 8oz. pkg cream cheese (softened)
1C pumpkin
1/2C sugar
1/2tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 8oz. whipped cream topping
1 graham cracker crust (9in.)

Directions:

1. beat cream cheese, pumpkin, sugar, pumpkin pie spice in a large bowl w/wire whisk or electric mixer until smooth.
2. gently stir in whipped topping.
3. spoon into crust and refrigerate 3 hours or until set.

Graham cracker crust:

1 1/4C grahams
6Tbs melted butter
1/4C sugar
Mix together.

Bake crust at 375 degrees for 6-9 minutes.

Give Away At Modest Apparel USA

2009-12-21T17:17:00.000-08:00

Modest Apparel USA is giving away a $25 gift certificate. Go to At the Fence for more details.

Basic Carrot Rice

2009-12-21T17:07:00.000-08:00

2 2/3C water
1C carrots (cut into small slices)
1tsp butter
1 1/4C long grain rice(I used brown rice)

Directions:

Melt butter in medium sauce pan over medium high heat.
Stir in rice and saute 2min. Stir in water and bring to to
boil. Stir in carrots & pepper or any other spices you would like.
Cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer 20 - 30 minutes or until
rice is tender and liquid gone. Toss gently before serving.

Tack onto previous post: Strong -willed???

2009-12-20T15:38:00.000-08:00

One thing I wish i would of included in the previous post is that what we as strong- willed young women ought to desire and pray for is a meek, quiet, gentle, submissive, sweet, and humble spirit. Even with being strong- willed the Bible is still very clear that children ought to obey their parents in the Lord and to honour them.

Eph. 6:1, Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

Eph. 6:2, Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)

Strong willed???

2009-12-20T15:32:00.000-08:00

As some of you know I had used the blog Maiden Waiting for Her Beloved. And you also, know I made it private. I did that because I am not using that anymore. This year has been an interesting one and one of lessons. I learned that parents who have trusted Christ as their personal Saviour and who are truly God's have more insight and wisdom than I could have! Especially, if it's a Dad who can see right through another guy or man. This year I "met" a guy through a friend which will not happen again unless they want to give him my Dad's email address. Because things were done in a way that went against my convictions and beliefs but I didn't listen always to my Dad warning me or to God showing red flags.

I learned never tell everything to a guy before he can tell on himself. Wait and don't tell everything. Just hear what he has to say and then tell him whether you disagree and do not assume he believes the same or agrees with you. Listen to your parents even more so if they are saved. I have a lost mother who kept asking me and even other people asking me if I was sure about it all. My Dad never had total peace about it all. And if it would of been God's will then everything would of fell into place. The KJB says "How can two walk together except they be agreed"? And that is very true. The more I learned and grew in the Lord and other areas I could see we didn't agree and my Dad would ask me about it because even he could see it, as well. Also, there was character issues that bothered me, as well. I kept struggling with it over and over. I tried to make it be right but it never could. I kept thinkin' in my mind about the fact that I really didn't wanna be miserable married to the guy because we weren't headed in the same direction. I would of had to push my convictions and beliefs aside. I didn't want to be like that or stifled. And let me tell ya when it was all over I had this weight gone that I had during that whole time! I asked God to help me get over it all and to only have feelings/love like that for the man He has for me to marry. And God did and I was over it pretty quick! God was so good and my Pa was very good to me and got me out of the house. My friend Courtney was a real blessing to me, as well.

Now, I told ya all that to get to the things I learned about myself. For one I am strong-willed. I have noticed that about two of my friends who have come from broken homes, as well. Being strong- willed is not necessarily bad if used for good like for instance standing on what you believe and not being pushed over(plus, if you ever get married your husband does not have to worry about his wife givin' in or whatever. he will know he can trust her). It is not good to use your strong- willedness in the wrong way....in fact it'll lead to sin. Being strong- willed can cause a woman to be uptight sometimes.The downside to being strong- willed is this I want to see it happen, now or something like that kind of attitude. For instance when you think a man should take the lead with whatever it is right, then. No, we ought to just sit back and wait and let God lead him(if he knows Christ as his personal Saviour). At the same time I know I want a real strong leader and one that will stand up for what's right no matter what.

Ya know that saying that girls marry men that are like their Daddies? Well, I know that in regards to a man getting fired up about the Bible, street preaching, being a doer of the Bible not just a hearer, important issues,a preacher, a man after God's own heart, etc. And yes, I would hope that my husband has a beard and is a cowboy considering I love the South and western alot! My Pa is a leader and he doesn't like people pushin' him over. That's the kind of man I want but one that is laid back which my Pa can be laid back at the same time. He is funny but also, serious. So, yeah there are other things I am sure I could list. Those are what I want in a husband and some other things I didn't list. I know there are many of you unmarried young ladies who have things you are prayin' for and desire in a husband.

Well, I will let ya go, now BUT I do want to encourage ya'll to stop by my dearest friend, Courtney's blog. I really enjoy it and it has been a blessing to me.

Love,

Karla

Eating Healthy with Sauerkraut: Fermented Foods & Digestion | eHow.com

2009-12-18T13:11:00.000-08:00

Eating Healthy with Sauerkraut: Fermented Foods & Digestion | eHow.com

Okay, so i don't like sauerkraut but my Pa does. He had mentioned to me about wanting some sauerkraut and how it'd be nice if I could figure out how to make it. Well, we got a book about fermenting foods, preserving foods in oil and vinegar without freezin' or cannin'. This video above is actually one that my Pa sent me after I had decided what recipe I was gonna go by. I already have the sauerkraut fermenting right, now but I looked at the video today and found out it is pretty similar to what I did. Here is what I did:

SAUERKRAUT IN GLASS JARS:

Firm cabbage Scald the jars and rubber seals. Grate the cabbage and pack it firmly, adding some
of the bay leaves or juniper berries as you fill them.
10 juniper berries or Top off eech jar with one tbs of course sea salt and a bit of hot, unchlorinated
1 or 2 bay leaves water. With very juicy cabbage, only a few spoonfuls of water are needed.
Close each jar with it's rubber seal. Let Stand for 2 to 3 days in the kitchen
1tbs coarse sea salt then store in cellar(we don't have one but you can store somewhere nice and cool
per jar of cabbage like the garage or a cool room). Wait one month before eating.

Hot water The woman who gave this recipe also prepares her pickles this way.
sliced if they are large, but stored in smaller jars.
1qt glass jar w/rubber
seals

Created To Be His Help Meet by Debi Pearl

2009-12-17T10:02:00.000-08:00

Howdy!
I was recently given a book by my dearest friend and sister Courtney's Mama because I had commented about how someone told me that Debi Pearl's book made it sound like a woman is to be a doormat. Well, I have been reading it and I can understand why my friend might come to that conclusion but I don't believe that's what Mrs. Pearl meant for it to sound like. I like the book and have had others recommend it to me before(And they aren't door mats). I had been reading on where she mentions being thankful and learning to thank God for things and even when we are down in the dumps. What was interesting is when my Dad preached on the difference of David and his son Solomon. David thanked God alot. Just look at the book of Psalms. After God gave Solomon wisdom and more he didn't even thank God for it. My Pa also mentioned about thanking God even for the little things and when we are down in the dumps. When ya start thanking God it's hard to not smile after awhile if you weren't already smiling. I am thankful for that sermon and thankful that I have the opportunity to read this book. I might not agree on a couple things but overall I would recommend this book. Alot of times it's easy to not thank God and well sometimes it's really laziness or pride but God deserves our thanks for we really do not deserve anything at all even the walls on our house or a roof over our head. In the Bible we were only promised food and rainment( might of spelled that wrong).

Those are my thoughts for today. Hope everyone enjoys their day:)

Hoping and trusting in my Lord & Saviour,

Karla

2009-12-14T16:09:00.000-08:00

Live simply so that others can simply live.

We have a brief opportunity of a lifetime on the earth.

Forward ever, backward never!

Never say, No Lord.

-Missionary quotes

Charity

2009-12-02T08:36:00.000-08:00

Howdy! Awhile back a dear friend of mine asked me if I thought the word Charity was interchangeable or not. Well, I finally looked the word up. I found it many times in the New Testament but found the definition or definitions for it. From what I can see it shows that it isn't exactly interchangeable.

1Corinthians 13:4-8, 13
Charity suffereth long, [and] is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Charity never faileth: but whether [there be] prophecies, they shall fail; whether [there be] tongues, they shall cease; whether [there be] knowledge, it shall vanish away.

Hope these are a blessing! We all need to remember what charity means so we can act accordingly by God's grace, of course:)

Pumpkin Pancakes

2009-11-06T12:36:00.000-08:00

Prep time:20 min Cook time: 20 min Servings: 12

Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups milk
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 egg
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons vinegar
Directions
1.In a separate bowl, mix together the milk, pumpkin, egg, oil and vinegar. Combine the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, allspice, cinnamon, ginger and salt, stir into the pumpkin mixture just enough to combine.
2.Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.

Baked Pumpkin Bread

2009-11-06T12:31:00.000-08:00

Prep time: 10 min Cook time:1 hour Original Recipe Yield 1 - 9x5 inch loaf

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup solid pack pumpkin puree
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 egg
2 tablespoons butter, softened
Directions
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2.Sift the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg into a large bowl. Mix in the pumpkin, brown sugar, buttermilk, egg and butter until well blended. Pour into a 9x5 inch loaf pan and smooth the top.
3.Bake for 1 hour in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Addictive Pumpkin Muffins

2009-11-06T12:27:00.000-08:00

Prep: 15 min Bake time: 35 min Ready in: 1 hour Servings:36

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups raisins
4 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
4 cups white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons nutmeg
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves
6 eggs
1 (29 ounce) can pumpkin - I baked a pumpkin and scooped the pumpkin out and used that instead of a can of pumpkin then just measured in a cup 29 oz.

1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 cup chopped walnuts

Note: I used chocolate chips in one batch and dried cranberries in another instead of using walnuts or raisins. And I don't think I used cloves.

Directions
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 C). Grease three 12 cup muffin pans, or line with paper muffin liners. Soak raisins in hot water for ten minutes to plump, then drain.
2.In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon, and ground cloves. In a separate bowl, mix the eggs, pumpkin, and applesauce, until smooth. Add this mixture to the dry ingredients and stir thoroughly to make a smooth batter. Stir the raisins and walnuts into the batter. Spoon batter into the prepared muffin cups.
3.Bake for 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Carrot Cake

2009-10-21T13:24:00.000-07:00

2 cps flour 2 cps sugar

3 cps shredded carrots 4 eggs

1 cp veg. oil 1 tsp bkg. powder

1 tsp. bkg. soda 1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. salt

Combine flour, sugar, powder, soda, salt and cinnamon. Add carrots (shred in food processor or 'shred' setting on blender), oil and eggs. Beat med. speed for 2 min. Place in floured 9x13 325F 50-60 min. or until toothpick comes out clean. Serve w/ cream cheese frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting

8 oz. cream cheese 1/4 cp. butter

1 tsp. vanilla 2 cps. 10x sugar

Bring cheese and butter to room temp. Blend together. Gradually add sugar. Finish with vanilla. Spread at room temp over cooled cake. Enjoy!

This was sooooo good! A friend gave me this recipe.

Mayonnaise

2009-10-19T18:50:00.000-07:00

Mayonnaise:

Makes 1 ¼ Cups

2 egg yolks
½ tsp. dry mustard
1 tsp. salt dash cayenne (Note: I put a tsp of cayenne and it was too much,so season as to how much you want in it.)
1 Cup salad OR olive oil
2 Tbls lemon juice OR vinegar

1. with electric mixer on med. Speed beat:
Egg, mustard, salt, and cayenne until think
2. add ¼ cup oil one drop at a time

3. gradually add 1Tbl lemon juice, ½ cup oil
Beating constantly

4. slowly add the rest of lemon juice and oil

5. cover and keep in the fridge.

Banana Cream Pie

2009-10-19T18:47:00.003-07:00

~ When I figure out how to make banana pudding homemade then I will let ya know!!!

3- BANANAS
3 PKGS.- {4 SERVING SIZE INSTANT} BANANA CREAM PUDDING MIX
1 PKG- DREAM WHIP
4 CUPS MILK
2 tsp. PURE VANILLA OR FRENCH VANILLA
Mix all the above with electric mixer until thick

2- GRAHAM CRACKER PIE SHELLS

POUR PIE SHELLS ½ FULL OF PUDDING MIXTURE THEN
LAYER A LAYER OF SLICED BANANAS THEM POUR THE REST OF
MIXTURE ON TOP COVERING THE SLICED BANANAS.

1- CONTAINER COOL WHIP OR REAL WHIPPED CREAM

TOP PIES WITH WHIP TOPPING OR WHIPPED CREAM

PUT IN FRIDGE FOR 1 HOUR AND SERVE COLD

DO NOT LEAVE THE PIES OUT OF THE COOLER TO LONG AS TOPPING
WILL RUN.

Jalapeno Cornbread

2009-10-19T16:59:00.000-07:00

Prep time: 18 minutes-Total time: 40 minutes

Ingredients:

1-1/2 cups yellow cornmeal
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 tbs sugar
1-1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 large eggs, beaten
1 cup milk
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
2 tbs light corn syrup
1/4 cup jalapeno pepper, minced
as needed- non- stick cooking spray or oil

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 2. In a medium bowl, sift together cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, chili powder and salt. 3. In a separate bowl, stir together eggs, milk, melted butter and corn syrup. 4. With a rubber spatula, fold the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients; stir until just combined. Pour jalapenos into mixture & stir. 5. Spray an 8"x8" baking dish with cooking spray or rub oil all over the inside of dish. Pour mixture into pan. 6. Bake 22-25 minutes, until lightly browned on top and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool and cut into squares. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Makes approximately 9- 12 servings

Enjoy!

White Bean Turkey Chili

2009-10-19T16:45:00.000-07:00

Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook time:25 minutes Servings: 8

Ingredients:

1 tsp oil
1-1/2 lbs. boneless, skinless turkey breast fillets cut up into bite size pieces, or use 24 oz. ground turkey.
1 cup raw onions, chopped.
2lbs canned white beans, drained and rinsed.
3-2/3 cups chicken broth(low sodium).
1/3 lbs. canned tomato paste
1/2lbs canned chopped green chilies, undrained.
1 tsp. ground cumin

Directions:

In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium high heat until hot. Add turkey & onions; Cook and stir until turkey is no longer pink. Stir in remaining ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; simmer 10 to 15 minutes; stirring occasionally.

Enjoy!

German Chocolate Cake

2009-10-19T16:26:00.000-07:00

Prep:50 minutes Bake:30 minutes Cool:1 hour Oven:150 degrees

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 4-ounce pkg. sweet baking chocolate (I used semi sweet choco chips)
3/4 cup shortening(I used liquid vegetable oil instead of shortening)
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup buttermilk or sour milk
hint:(if you don't have buttmilk on hand then you can substitute sour milk in the same amount. For each cup of osur milk needed, add 1 tbs of lemon juice or vinegar and stir together in a measuering cup or any cup.)
1 Recipe Coconut- pecan frosting (I never have put pecans in it because they are more pricy and I tend to only use them for bread or pies)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Grease and flour 8x1 1/2-inch or 9x1 1/2-inch round baking pans or grease one 13x9x2-inch baking pan; set pan(s) aside. Mix flour, baking soda, & salt; set aside.
2.In a saucepan combine chocolate & 1/2 cup water. Cook & stir on low heat till melted; cool.
3. In large mixing bowl beat shortening or oil with an electric mixer on medium to high speed 30 seconds. Add sugar; beat till fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat on low speed till combined. Beat on on medium speed 1 minute. Stir in chocolate mixture. Add dry mixture and buttermilk alternately to beaten mixture; beat on low speed after each addition till combined. Pour batter into prepared pan(s).
4. Bake at 350 degrees in the oven for 30 to 40 minutes or until wooden toothpick comes out clean. Cool thoroughly then spread frosting. Makes 12 servings.

Coconut-Pecan Frosting:

Ingredients:

1egg
1 5ounce can evaporated milk
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cup flaked coconut
1/2 cup pecans (optional)

Directions:

In a meduim saucepan slightly beat egg(you might have to spoon out some cooked egg pieces from cooking the egg). Stir in evaporated milk, sugar, and butter. Cook and stir over medium heat about 12 minutes or till thickened and bubbly. Remove fromheat; stir in flaked coconut and chopped pecans. Cover and cool accordingly.

Enjoy!

2009-09-26T18:41:00.001-07:00

Our family blog is www.thecwardfamily.blogspot.com

Chicken Tortilla Soup

2009-09-21T19:35:00.000-07:00

This was so good! My family liked it. I tripled the recipe and ended up having two big tupper wares extra and stuck them in the freezer. We had some yesterday for lunch and I will be taking the other tupper ware bowl to next Sunday's church dinner.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Servings: 4
Preparation Time: 10 min.
Cooking Time: 50 min.

Ingredients:
■1 tsp. olive oil
■1 mediumonion\cooked, chopped
■2 clove garlic, minced
■2 chicken breast, cooked and chopped (or use packaged chicken pieces)
■1 cup corn
■1 Tbs. hot sauce, optional
■1 tsp. ground cumin
■1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
■1 tsp. chili powder
■3-1/3 cups chicken broth
■1-3/4 cups Mexican style diced tomatoes, undrained
■1 can tomato soup
■20 tortilla chip

Cooking Directions:
Heat oil in Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and sautÃ© for 2-3 minutes. Stir in chicken, corn, hot sauce (if desired), cumin, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, chicken broth, tomatoes and tomato soup. Simmer for 45 minutes to one hour to meld the flavors. Break tortilla chips in small bite size pieces. Top each bowl of soup with a generous amount of chips. Although this recipe has a few more ingredients than my normal recipes, itâ€™s well worth it when you taste it! Make extra and freeze for 2-3 months.

Praise the Lord for children

2009-09-04T12:57:00.000-07:00

Today, I am still having some pain from the wreck. The good news is the cab compnay got in touch with my Dad and said they would cover the damage that their driver did to our van when he ran into me( WHICH THEY SHOULD)and pay for chiropractor bills for my back/neck. I have been taking some cell food so that should help, as well. I have to rest in between doing chores and cannot do all the chores that I normally do because of my back and such. My arm is sore, too.

We got bunk beds and my 6 year old brother(who is just so cute) said that it's kind of like a two story house except a two story bed...children are so funny:)

I will have to post a picture of my brother with his missing two front teeth. It is quite cute and funny. It's funny how he talks with his teeth missing.

I sit with him and have him read the Bible a few verses a day. He is currently in Genesis 7. It's amazing how reading that good ol' AV 1611 that it expands ones vocabulary especially my brother learning words he doesn't know and might not no till later on if we didn't have him start reading the Bible, now. I had him draw a picture to go with what he learned from reading the Bible. It is of the windows of heaven opened with rain and animals of every sort. I will have to take a picture of his drawing and post it. He was wanting to go camping again but I can't go until my back is better from the wreck and I don't want to be left out because I enjoy camping very much.

I still have to say PRAISE GOD that I got to witness to the guy, though! God is just so merciful and good!

Oh, Sunday I took two home made cakes to church for our church dinner. On was a chocolate cake with truffle frosting and the other was a yellow cake with white frosting. I didn't pay close attention to the chocolate cake recipe and instead of putting unsweetened chocolate in it I put semi sweet chocolate chips in it which I was supposed to only use in the frosting! FYI- read and make sure what is supposed to go in there *smiles*.

Do any of ya'll get the Above Rubies magazine through snail mail? I like the helpful information in it. I really enjoyed reading how this one woman's husband has a zero tolerance zone for teenagers. They refer to them as young adults so as to give them a better picture of what is expected of them. Not to say they cannot have a little enjoyment but if you look back maybe a hundred or two years ago young adults were not immature at 16 they were mature and ready for life. I am thankful for a father who has made me grow up. I have come to realize that I don't have to be immature and down to where they are to be a blessing to them. I have also come to realize that they are that way because of their upbringing and parents do not realize what they are doing by letting them be foolish. I have noticed that some of these daughters who are at home and have graduated are more mature than most because of the way their parents have taught them and treated them. I think it is very important that families are close and homeschooling is an important role in it, as well. But, that doesn't mean just because they are home schooled they won't know how to socialize or they will be sheltered. It all depends on what is allowed in the home. i know quite a few people who home schooled their children but ya can't tell because they are like everyone else in the world and there's not much difference because of what they let into the home. It's not always bad to have your children sheltered but also make sure at certain age groups they are aware of the stuff that they need to be aware of so that they can avoid it or understand what it is that's going on. Like for instance we have a chick tract that my brother found in a drawer but I couldn't go into detail all that was in it because of the subject but I just said well it talks of how it is a sin for a man to like another man in the same way as a man liking a woman and that's all I said and left it at that. He doesn't need to know all about it at 6 years old. He is at an age that it's not always appropriate for him to know it all and he's innocent and it's good to keep it that way.

Well, I better get going... I want to try and get a few dishes done before I rest again.

Have a blessed day!

Yesterday Morning

2009-09-02T21:11:00.000-07:00

his morning(Tuesday) after I took my dad to work I got in a wreck. Surprisingly, I wasn't the one who hit anyone(since I haven't had much sleep last night and woke up about 2 or 3 this morn). I was stopped behind someone and letting them turn and after they turned I was just starting to go and a Yellow Taxi cab hit me. I was so scared. At first I was shocked and didn't understand what happend and so I drove a few yards when I realized I had been hit so I stopped the van and turned the engine off. I was shaking and crying. I found the insurance document and realized how it all happened and that it wasn't my fault, so I wasn't in trouble or anything. I didn't know if anyone called the police or not until the taxi guy came up and asked me if I was ok. I told him I was and asked if he had called 911 and he said no because he thought I might and I said no because I have no phone at all. So, he called it in and I had to move the van into a parking lot. He couldn't move his car at all. The front of his taxi was smashed, but our van only needs the bumper, the light, the back door replaced. I was cold standing outside and shaky(nervous and stuff). We were there for aawhile. The guy was two miles away from me when he saw me but looked down and when he looked back up he was pretty close that he tried to miss me. I am still kinda shook up, but the thought that hit me as we were waiting for the cop to show that God may have provided this opportunity for me to witness. So, as we were waiting for the cop to be done calling in or whatever he was doing in his car I gave him two different tracts. Asked him if he went to church and he said he works all the time. I said ok. Then I asked him if he would of died today in that wreck if he knew for a 100% sure if he was going to Heaven and he said no. I asked why he said that and he said because he had done so many things to repent of. I told him that i didn't know if anyone had talked to him or heard any of this before. He said it's been awhile. I quoted Scripture(wouldn't ya know it that I couldn't remember references!grrr). I said by one man entered sin in the world which was Adam and he acted as if he knew. I said there is none righteous no not one. I said for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. I told him that a person can know for sure whether they are going to heaven and not hell. I found out that he was an absent catholic. I asked him if he grew up catholic and he said catholic and southern baptist and kinda confusing. I said yes, I can see why it would be confusing. I didn't get much further than that because he was more concerned about what had happened and what was going on(he will be out of work for awhile since he has been a taxi cab driver, driving the company car). Honestly, I can say praise the Lord for the wreck! Witnessing to people will help me grow even more. I had to let go and just do it anyways because I know the Lord would want me to witness for Him and that it's not my own power that I can do it. I also thought about how there are quite a few bad cops but at the same time they are souls that need truth, too. All I can do is try to witness and let them do what they want with what they've been told. And by the way that cop talked to us with tobacco right there in his mouth between his lower lip and teeth and he spat in a cup(ewwwwwwwwww)! Leave it to me to notice little weird stuff. I am weird....praise God I guess for that! But, praise God I am safe. I am just exhausted, very exhausted. It seems God might be pruning me what for I don't know but I want to be found faithful even if I am alone and lonely.

P.S all I have is some pain in my neck and mainly middle and upper back. Arm is sore and so is my right leg. My Legs are swollen some... guess it'll be awhile before my Dad can teach me to change the oil and tire...that's a bummer.

2009-08-31T10:34:00.000-07:00

I moved here everyone from maidenwaitinforherbeloved.blogspot.com! I decided to get rid of it and start a new one:) Everyone enjoy!

2009-08-12T13:03:00.000-07:00

Home made German Chocolate Cake

I will have to post the recipe sometime.

Hamburger buns, sandwhich buns, or hot dog buns

2009-06-11T07:22:00.000-07:00

I made these ahead of time then froze them until a day or two ahead of when I would need them.

Ingredients

* 6 cups flour
* 1 tablespoon salt
* 1/4 cup sugar
* 2 cups water (warm)
* 1 tablespoon yeast
* 2 eggs, well beaten
* 1 cup oil

Directions

1. Dissolve yeast in water with a pinch of sugar.
2. Mix in with other ingredients.
3.Knead for 10 minutes on a floured surface.
4. Let rise until doubled in bulk (about 45 minutes).
5. Punch down and let rise again.
6. Punch down and form into bun shapes (hamburger or hot dog).
7. Make them on the small side as they do raise a little more when you bake them.
8. Let rise until double.
9.Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes.
10.Let cool until just warm to the touch; place in a sealed bag to soften crust.
11. Makes 16-20 hamburger rolls.
12. NOTE: You can cut this in half.
13.Double wrap and freeze any remaining ones.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 (101g)

Recipe makes 16 servings
Calories 314
Calories from Fat 132 (42%)
Amount Per Serving %DV
Total Fat 14.7g 22%
Saturated Fat 2.3g 11%
Monounsaturated Fat 6.2g
Polyunsaturated Fat 5.4g
Trans Fat 0.0g
Cholesterol 26mg 8%
Sodium 446mg 18%
Potassium 73mg 2%
Total Carbohydrate 39.2g 13%
Dietary Fiber 1.4g 5%
Sugars 3.3g
Protein 5.9g 11%

Old-Fashioned Biscuits (as shown on Clabber Girl can)

2009-05-08T18:28:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

* 2 cups all-purpose flour (I used self rising flour)
* 2 1/2 teaspoons Clabber Girl Baking Powder
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/3 cup shortening(I used oil or liquid shortening if that's what ya wanna call it)
* 3/4 cup milk
* 1 tablespoon soft margarine or butter

Instructions:

In a medium mixing bowl stir together flour, baking powder, and salt. Using a pastry blender, cut in shortening till mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Make a well in the center of the flour mixture. Add the milk all at once. Using a fork, stir just till moistened and dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl (dough will be sticky).

On a floured surface, lightly knead dough with floured hands for 30 seconds or till nearly smooth. Lightly roll dough to 3/4-inch thickness. Cut dough with a 2 1/2-inch biscuit cutter, dipping cutter into flour between cuts.

Place biscuits close together on a lightly greased baking sheet. Brush tops with soft margarine. Bake in a 475° oven for 11 to 15 minutes or till golden brown. Serve warm.

Sweet Potato Biscuits

2009-05-05T12:19:00.000-07:00

I made these Saturday and they were wonderful!

Sweet Potato Biscuits
Cooking Light
Sweet Potato Biscuits from Cooking Light

Cutting in the butter makes for flaky, delicate biscuits. Be sure to stop cutting in the butter while there are still pebble-sized pieces. If you work it longer, the biscuits will be tough.
Yield

16 servings (serving size: 1 biscuit)
Ingredients

* 2 cups all-purpose flour (about 9 ounces)
* 1 tablespoon sugar
* 2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 5 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
* 1 cup pureed cooked sweet potatoes, cooled
* 1/3 cup fat-free milk
* Cooking spray

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400°.

Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Cut in butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse meal. Combine sweet potato and milk in a small bowl; add potato mixture to flour mixture, stirring just until moist.

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface; knead lightly 5 times. Roll dough to a 3/4-inch thickness; cut with a 2-inch biscuit cutter into 10 biscuits. Place biscuits on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Gather remaining dough. Roll to a 3/4-inch thickness. Cut with a 2-inch biscuit cutter into 6 biscuits. Place the biscuits on prepared baking sheet. Discard any remaining scraps.

Bake at 400° for 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from pan; cool 5 minutes on wire racks. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Nutritional Information

Calories:
124 (27% from fat)
Fat:
3.7g (sat 2.3g,mono 0.9g,poly 0.2g)
Protein:
2.3g
Carbohydrate:
20.1g
Fiber:
1.3g
Cholesterol:
9.5mg
Iron:
1mg
Sodium:
173mg
Calcium:
47mg

Lorrie Hulston Corvin, Cooking Light, JANUARY 2007

Dinner Rolls

2009-04-14T13:19:00.000-07:00

1cup water ( I heat up the water with the butter in it until the water is warm)
2tbs butter, softened
1 egg
3 1/4 cups Gold Medal Better for Bread flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
3 tsps regular active dry yeast OR 3tsps quick acting active dry yeast

Directions:
1. Place all dough ingredients in bread pan in the order listed.
2.Grease cookie sheet (I use butter). Divide dough into 15 pieces. Shape each into ball(if it sticks to hands flour hands each time you shape each into ball) Place 2 inches apart on cookie sheet. Brush with margarine. Cover; let rise 30 to 40 minutes( I double the time to two hours unless I think it needs more time when I check on it).
3. Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Brush tops with butter if desired.

Home Made Bread & Cheese

2009-03-19T16:42:00.000-07:00

Hello!

It's been a while since I updated. I made some sour dough bread in my bread machine and decided to cut a couple slices and use them for grilled cheese. I used 100% real provolone cheese. And it was delicious!!!

Here's a picture:

I had just taken a bite when I had the thought to take a picture of it.

Home Made Pizza

2009-02-02T17:58:00.000-08:00

I made home made pizza for Sunday's lunch. Miss Emily shared a crust recipe with me and it turned out well. For the toppings I put banana peppers, jalapenos, pepperoni, black olives, and mozzarella cheese, of course after I spread the pizza sauce on it. I put cheese on the sauce then the toppings then another layer of cheese over the toppings.

Here are a couple pics:

Baking Soda

2009-01-28T19:01:00.000-08:00

Hello! I decided to talk about baking soda and how useful it can be. Plus, it is cheap.

For Baby: Bath: Add 2 tablespoons soda to bathwater to soften skin and minimize the need for soap. Diaper odor: Add 1/2 cup soda to water in diaper pail. Soak diapers and pants. Soda neutralizes acid and makes laundering more effective. Clean bottles: Mix 4 tablespoons soda with 1 quart water. Fill bottles, let stand overnight. Rinse well, then air dry. Removes sour milk taste and odor.

Baking specialties: As called for in your favourite recipes.

To Clean: Use directly on all surfaces as a no scratch scouring powder. Combine 4 tablespoons soda with 1 quart water for an all purpose cleaner. To clean oven and stove top drip pan. Combine soda with water to make a thick paste.(Note: This is not a heavy duty oven cleaner.) For crusted cookware, boil half a pot of water with 2 tablespoons each soda and vinegar.

To Deodorize: Place opened box in refrigerator and freezer. Stir every 2 weeks to expose fresh soda. Replace with new box every 2 months.(Reuse old boxes for household cleaning.)

For Health Care: Bathwater: 1/2 cup soda in bathwater softens water and skin.
Mouthwash: Dissolve 1 teaspoon soda in a half glass of warm water and gargle.
Tooth powder: Dampen toothbrush, coat with soda and brush.

For Pet Care: To deodorize Kitty Litter: Sprinkle 16 ounces of soda in litter box and cover with litter. Replace as necessary, As pet shampoo rub soda into pets fur; Comb or brush out. Ideal when tub bath isn't convenient. A handful of soda in pet's bathwater helps eliminate odors.

Swimming Pool Care: As directed by your pool's manufacturer.

Bee Sting: Pour some soda onto a small plate then add enough water to make a paste. Then apply to the swollen are of the bee sting and after an hour it should go down and just keep washing it and reapplying until there is no more swelling or redness and looks normal.

Tick Bite: Again pour some soda onto a small plate, add enough water to make a paste. Then apply to area of the tick bite. It will draw out the poison and will push out the tick head if it still remains in the skin. If there is need to repeat steps then do so. Once it has drawn the poison out and tick head there then will be a scab left. (We did this when we got tick bites at the Martin Nature Park Center. The ticks had a spot on them and carry Rocky Mountain Fever. But, by making a paste out of the soda it took care of any chances of us getting ill.)

Deodorant: Pour enough of soda into hand and rub the under arm. Kills the odor and works well for those who cannot use anti-perspirant.

Garden Stuffed Baked Potatoes

2009-01-27T04:58:00.000-08:00

I had told Mrs. L that I was going to put up a new recipe on here and she loves recipes.

This recipe is what I used for our church fellowship dinner.

Garden Stuffed Baked Potatoes

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 45 minutes unless you bake the potato in the oven for an hour like I did instead of using the microwave.

What you'll need:
- 4 russet potatoes
- 1 10 ounce package of frozen chopped broccoli
- 1/2 cup of ranch salad dressing
-salt
-pepper
-2 tsp. of dried parsley
-2 tbs. of butter
-1 tbs. of oil
-1 small onion

Step 1:

Preheat oven to 425
Microwave pierced potatoes on high for 12 minutes;
bake for 15 minutes. Slice off potato tops. Scoop out pulp, keeping skins intact. Mash pulp in a medium bowl

Step 2:

Heat a small skillet over medium heat; add butter. Add onion and saute until tender; about 5 minutes. Add onion and broccoli(I boiled broccoli first then drained the water then mixed them in with everything else), and salad dressing to pulp; mix well.

Step 3:

Brush outside of [potato skin shells with oil.

Step 4:

Spoon potato mixture into shells, dividing evenly. Place on a baking sheet. Bake potatoes until heated through, about 15 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley; salt and pepper to taste.

Tip:

-You can always precook these potatoes, then cool to room temperature. Wrap and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Then just reheat in the microwave for 5 minutes.

-Rubbing the outside of the potatoes with oil before baking will help them absorb more heat and allows the potatoes to cook more quickly- reducing cooking time by a few minutes. It also makes the skins more crisp and nicely brown.

- A variation to this recipe: you can add 1 cup of cheddar cheese to the potato pulp mixture or top the stuffed potatoes with cheese before baking in step 4.

- Also, you can dice any left over beef, chicken, or fish and add to these vegetable packed potatoes. You'll have an economical, nutritious dinner that includes most of the major food groups.

Enjoy!

Note: You will have some of the mixture left over once you scoop it into the potatoes, so then you can add it to whatever meal you want. It is still tasty even though it's not in the potato.

2008-11-04T21:08:00.000-08:00

5 Reasons Why Christians Should Not Obtain a State Marriage License

by Pastor Matt Trewhella

Every year thousands of Christians amble down to their local county courthouse and obtain a marriage license from the State in order to marry their future spouse. They do this unquestioningly. They do it because their pastor has told them to go get one, and besides, "everybody else gets one." This pamphlet attempts to answer the question - why should we not get one?

1. The definition of a "license" demands that we not obtain one to marry. Black’s Law Dictionary defines "license" as, "The permission by competent authority to do an act which without such permission, would be illegal." We need to ask ourselves- why should it be illegal to marry without the State’s permission? More importantly, why should we need the State’s permission to participate in something which God instituted (Gen. 2:18-24)? We should not need the State’s permission to marry nor should we grovel before state officials to seek it. What if you apply and the State says "no"? You must understand that the authority to license implies the power to prohibit. A license by definition "confers a right" to do something. The State cannot grant the right to marry. It is a God-given right.

2. When you marry with a marriage license, you grant the State jurisdiction over your marriage. When you marry with a marriage license, your marriage is a creature of the State. It is a corporation of the State! Therefore, they have jurisdiction over your marriage including the fruit of your marriage. What is the fruit of your marriage? Your children and every piece of property you own. There is plenty of case law in American jurisprudence which declares this to be true.

In 1993, parents were upset here in Wisconsin because a test was being administered to their children in the government schools which was very invasive of the family’s privacy. When parents complained, they were shocked by the school bureaucrats who informed them that their children were required to take the test by law and that they would have to take the test because they (the government school) had jurisdiction over their children. When parents asked the bureaucrats what gave them jurisdiction, the bureaucrats answered, "your marriage license and their birth certificates." Judicially, and in increasing fashion, practically, your state marriage license has far-reaching implications.

3. When you marry with a marriage license, you place yourself under a body of law which is immoral. By obtaining a marriage license, you place yourself under the jurisdiction of Family Court which is governed by unbiblical and immoral laws. Under these laws, you can divorce for any reason. Often, the courts side with the spouse who is in rebellion to God, and castigates the spouse who remains faithful by ordering him or her not to speak about the Bible or other matters of faith when present with the children.

As a minister, I cannot in good conscience perform a marriage which would place people under this immoral body of laws. I also cannot marry someone with a marriage license because to do so I have to act as an agent of the State! I would have to sign the marriage license, and I would have to mail it into the State. Given the State’s demand to usurp the place of God and family regarding marriage, and given it’s unbiblical, immoral laws to govern marriage, it would be an act of treason for me to do so.

4. The marriage license invades and removes God-given parental authority. When you read the Bible, you see that God intended for children to have their father’s blessing regarding whom they married. Daughters were to be given in marriage by their fathers (Dt. 22:16; Ex. 22:17; I Cor. 7:38). We have a vestige of this in our culture today in that the father takes his daughter to the front of the altar and the minister asks, "Who gives this woman to be married to this man?"

Historically, there was no requirement to obtain a marriage license in colonial America. When you read the laws of the colonies and then the states, you see only two requirements for marriage. First, you had to obtain your parents permission to marry, and second, you had to post public notice of the marriage 5-15 days before the ceremony.

Notice you had to obtain your parents permission. Back then you saw godly government displayed in that the State recognized the parents authority by demanding that the parents permission be obtained. Today, the all-encompassing ungodly State demands that their permission be obtained to marry.

By issuing marriage licenses, the State is saying, "You don’t need your parents permission, you need our permission." If parents are opposed to their child’s marrying a certain person and refuse to give their permission, the child can do an end run around the parents authority by obtaining the State’s permission, and marry anyway. This is an invasion and removal of God-given parental authority by the State.

5. When you marry with a marriage license, you are like a polygamist. From the State’s point of view, when you marry with a marriage license, you are not just marrying your spouse, but you are also marrying the State.

The most blatant declaration of this fact that I have ever found is a brochure entitled "With This Ring I Thee Wed." It is found in county courthouses across Ohio where people go to obtain their marriage licenses. It is published by the Ohio State Bar Association. The opening paragraph under the subtitle "Marriage Vows" states, "Actually, when you repeat your marriage vows you enter into a legal contract. There are three parties to that contract. 1.You; 2. Your husband or wife, as the case may be; and 3. the State of Ohio."

See, the State and the lawyers know that when you marry with a marriage license, you are not just marrying your spouse, you are marrying the State! You are like a polygamist! You are not just making a vow to your spouse, but you are making a vow to the State and your spouse. You are also giving undue jurisdiction to the State.

When Does the State Have Jurisdiction Over a Marriage?

God intended the State to have jurisdiction over a marriage for two reasons - 1). in the case of divorce, and 2). when crimes are committed i.e., adultery, bigamy. etc. Unfortunately, the State now allows divorce for any reason, and it does not prosecute for adultery.

In either case, divorce or crime, a marriage license is not necessary for the courts to determine whether a marriage existed or not. What is needed are witnesses. This is why you have a best man and a maid of honor. They should sign the marriage certificate in your family Bible, and the wedding day guest book should be kept.

Marriage was instituted by God, therefore it is a God-given right. According to Scripture, it is to be governed by the family, and the State only has jurisdiction in the cases of divorce or crime.

History of Marriage Licenses in America

George Washington was married without a marriage license. So, how did we come to this place in America where marriage licenses are issued?

Historically, all the states in America had laws outlawing the marriage of blacks and whites. In the mid-1800’s, certain states began allowing interracial marriages or miscegenation as long as those marrying received a license from the state. In other words they had to receive permission to do an act which without such permission would have been illegal.

Blacks Law Dictionary points to this historical fact when it defines "marriage license" as, "A license or permission granted by public authority to persons who intend to intermarry." "Intermarry" is defined in Black’s Law Dictionary as, "Miscegenation; mixed or interracial marriages."

Give the State an inch and they will take a 100 miles (or as one elderly woman once said to me "10,000 miles.") Not long after these licenses were issued, some states began requiring all people who marry to obtain a marriage license. In 1923, the Federal Government established the Uniform Marriage and Marriage License Act (they later established the Uniform Marriage and Divorce Act). By 1929, every state in the Union had adopted marriage license laws.

What Should We Do?

Christian couples should not be marrying with State marriage licenses, nor should ministers be marrying people with State marriage licenses. Some have said to me, "If someone is married without a marriage license, then they aren’t really married." Given the fact that states may soon legalize same-sex marriages, we need to ask ourselves, "If a man and a man marry with a State marriage license, and a man and woman marry without a State marriage license - who’s really married? Is it the two men with a marriage license, or the man and woman without a marriage license? In reality, this contention that people are not really married unless they obtain a marriage license simply reveals how Statist we are in our thinking. We need to think biblically. (As for homosexuals marrying, outlaw sodomy as God's law demands, and there will be no threat of sodomites marrying.)

You should not have to obtain a license from the State to marry someone anymore than you should have to obtain a license from the State to be a parent, which some in academic and legislative circles are currently pushing to be made law.

When I marry a couple, I always buy them a Family Bible which contains birth and death records, and a marriage certificate. We record the marriage in the Family Bible. What’s recorded in a Family Bible will stand up as legal evidence in any court of law in America. Early Americans were married without a marriage license. They simply recorded their marriages in their Family Bibles. So should we.

(Pastor Trewhella has been marrying couples without marriage licenses for ten years. Many other pastors also refuse to marry couples with State marriage licenses.)

This pamphlet is not comprehensive in scope. Rather, the purpose of this pamphlet is to make you think and give you a starting point to do further study of your own. If you would like an audio sermon regarding this matter, just send a gift of at least five dollars in cash to: Mercy Seat Christian Church 10240 W. National Ave. PMB #129 Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53227.

www.mercyseat.net)

This pamphlet is available in print form. Click here to order.

A Prayer for Womanhood

2008-09-28T14:10:00.000-07:00

Hello! I found this on a blog over on xanga
and thought I'd share this with you.

A Prayer for Womanhood

God, give each true good woman
Her own small house to keep,
No heart should ache with longing,
No hurt should go too deep.....
Grant her age-old desire:
A house to love and sweep.
Give her a man beside her,
A kind man, and a true,
And let them work together
And love, a lifetime through,
And let her mother children
As gentle women do.
Give her a shelf for dishes,
And a shining box for bread,
A white cloth for her table,
And a white spread for her bed,
A shaded lamp at nightfall,
And a row of books much read.
God, let her work with laughter,
And let her rest with sleep.
No life can truly offer
A peace more sure and deep....
God, give each true woman
Her own small house to keep

~Grace Noll Crowell , 1934 ~

Landed

2008-07-19T12:29:00.000-07:00

Well, I landed in Mississippi Wednesday afternoon. And guess what? Mrs. Wilson's baby still hasn't come. We thought that he would, since she's already gone through the pre-labour stage before I got here. We really hope the baby hurries up, since I will fly back on the 30th of this month. But, God knows.

While I am here Mr. Wilson and his sister are going to take me to see an iridologist in Pensacola, Florida next Monday. Then we will go to the Bible Baptist Bookstore, although I also wanted to meet the pastor of the church there, but it didn't work out to go there on a Wednesday night for the service.

It's been great here! Their son is so cute. He will be 1 next month.

Well, I that all I have to say and I am a little tired, so I will go for now. Just thought I would update.

2008-07-01T11:57:00.000-07:00

2008-06-30T19:02:00.000-07:00

My Pa & me after church on a Wednesday night.

Commit Thy Way

2008-06-25T12:43:00.000-07:00

Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

Psalm 37: 4 & 5

I read this in Psalms this morning as part of my Bible reading. It was as if the Lord did this on purpose. It seems that lately I have had a little bit of struggle with being unmarried. And I don't know why. I want to be focused on God and doing what I am supposed to do in the here and now.

I remember have a talk with my Dad and I told him that I didn't want to marry 5 or 10 years down the road. I wanted it to be sooner than that. It seems like quite along time from, now. But, my Pa's reply was, 'Just take it one day at a time. That's all we are supposed to do.'

I am so glad that I had that conversation with my Pa. I will always remember what he said. I am glad that all I have to do is take it one day at a time.

Being unmarried is a time to learn new things or master things like arts and crafts. What I do now, could either be a help or lack of for marriage should God so choose to bless me with that aspect of life.

Most women are to get married, but there are a few who are not.

I just need to remember that no matter at what age if I do get married that God can still bless me with a lot of children if He chooses to.

So, while we are in this time of our life as stay at home daughters preparing to be keepers at home that we need to 'Delight ourselves also in the Lord' and he will give us our desires, but only if they are good desires then will he give them to us. We just need to commit our way to him, trust in him, and he and only he will bring it to pass(the right man). We just have to busy ourselves(maybe even more, if we are not busy enough).

Things to do that might help keep one busy:

Learn to sew if you don't know how. If you don't have money for a sewing machine practice hand stitching. Pray for the material, the thread, and anything else if it is expensive. Look for deals. I subscribe to email updates from Hobby Lobby and sometimes they will have a 99 cents sale on Simplicity or McCall's patterns for a limited time.

Learn to crochet.

Learn to knit.

Learn how to embroider.

Read about history, home making, etc. Just make sure it is actual learning not romance( it gets you to think about a guy or the future and daydreaming). You could use this as a research tool.

Spend time with siblings, and teach them things or do stuff with them.

Try out a simple new recipe.

Bake something for someone maybe someone who has lost someone dear to them or someone who needs to smile or just for fun.

Work on penmanship. I have a Spencerian Theory book for that, I just need to get back at that.

Exercise.

Plant a garden and make sure and take care of it.

If you play an instrument then practice it.

Memorize scripture or read more of the Bible. That is the best way to memorize(to read more of it over and over again).

Help others.

Quilt or learn to quilt.

Learn how to budget( read a book on it, too) and be frugal(look for deals on stuff).

Participate in making food for church get togethers.

Baby sit for a married couple who would like a night out.

There are more I could probably list, but I won't.

And now, I must get off!

I hope everyone has a truly blessed day!!!

Karla

Two Documentaries

2008-05-09T16:45:00.000-07:00

Hi, Ladies! I found out at Mrs. Wilson's blog that The Botkin's have made two more documentaries. Now, I may not agree with them on the reformed theology over at Vision Forum(www.visionforum.org), but they have some wonderful things in regards to daughters and family. Although, all I really need is the Bible! But, I do enjoy their material.

What is Biblical Femininity? (DVD)

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$15.00

Authors: Anna Sofia Botkin and Elizabeth Botkin

Format: DVD (40 minutes)

Product Number: 44560

Age Range: Great for the Entire Family

Cultivating Sturdy Virtue in Today’s Daughters

For several generations, feminists have actively subverted godly womanhood and redefined the priorities of daughters, pushing girls toward independence and indifference for the role that God has designed for them. Thankfully, many Christians are beginning to see the futility of the feminist ideal, yet this question must be clearly answered: just what is “biblical femininity”?

In this powerful message, Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin seek to explain what biblical femininity is and what it is not. True femininity, they maintain, is not based on tradition, stereotypes, or romantic images from the past. It doesn’t matter how “girly” a girl’s clothes are or how good her manners are — if a lady’s heart is not devoted to putting biblical priorities first, she’s not practicing femininity as God designed it. Given at the Vision Forum Ministries’ Father & Daughter Retreat, this inspirational message provides hope and encouragement for ladies young and old.

Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin are the only daughters of Geoff and Victoria Botkin, and they, along with their five brothers, share their family’s vision for cultural reformation. As the authors of the best-selling book, So Much More, and the producers of the recent film, Return of the Daughters, their passion is to encourage daughters to embrace biblical femininity and to rebuild Christian culture, starting with the culture of the home.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Training Dominion-Oriented Daughters (DVD)

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$15.00

Usually Ships in 3-5 Days

Author: Geoff Botkin

Format: DVD (34 minutes)

Product Number: 44572

Age Range: Great for the Entire Family

How do you teach a shy daughter to go outside of herself? What kind of toys should you give your girls? What examples of regal conduct should you put before them to emulate? Is it wise to foster romanticism or sentimentalism in your daughters? What sort of academic priorities should you set for your girls? What about hobbies?

In this helpful talk, Geoff Botkin shares how he and his wife Victoria sought to answer these questions, offering a personal glimpse into how they have endeavored to wisely raise their daughters, Anna Sofia and Elizabeth, for dominion-oriented service for the kingdom of God. Geoff explains that even amidst perilous times daughters can be encouraged to look and smile at the future.

Geoff Botkin is a Christian leader and founding member of the Western Conservatory for the Arts. He has lectured on philosophy and history at Hillsdale College, on politics at the Heritage Foundation, on film at the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival, and on theology at worldview conferences in the U.S. and New Zealand. He and his wife Victoria currently reside in San Antonio, Texas, along with their seven children — Isaac, David, Anna Sofia, Elizabeth, Benjamin, Lucas, and Noah.

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	Reclaiming the Culture Collection (7 DVDs) Save 20%
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For Those Who are Stay-at-Home Wives

2008-03-12T11:02:00.000-07:00

The Blue Bowl

All day long I did the little things,
The little things that do not show;
I brought the kindling for the fire,
I set the candles in a row,
I filled a bowl with marigolds—
The shallow bowl you love the best—
And made the house a pleasant place
Where weariness may take its rest.

The hours sped on, my eager feet
Could not keep pace with my desire.
So much to do! So little time!
I could not let my body tire.
Yet when the coming of the night
Blotted the garden from my sight,
And on the narrow graveled walks
Between the guarding flower stalks
I heard your step, I was not through
With services I meant for you.

You came into the quiet room
That glowed enchanted with the bloom
Of yellow flame. I saw your face;
Illumined by the firelit space,
Slowly grow still and comforted—
“It’s good to be at home,” you said.

~ Blanch Bane Kuder

The link to "I am a Stay-at-Home- Wife is in the article section on the side bar if you wives or even unmarried women are interested.

2008-02-26T15:27:00.000-08:00

God's Plan for Finding a Mate

I want to begin by telling you one of the most beautiful love stories you will ever hear. Chad and Heidi Eves were married November 22, 1997 in Flint, Michigan. Their story was featured in an NBC Dateline segment titled "My One and Only."

The NBC crew spent many hours over a period of several days interviewing the parents and shooting film of Chad and Heidi. They taped the couple before they were married and also filmed the wedding itself.

An NBC representative told Chad and Heidi's parents that their story was the most praised documentary ever done according to the feedback NBC received. The network received over 100 faxes and e-mails praising the segment, and only one or two complaints. I'll tell you about one of the "complaints" later in the message.

I've spent several joyful hours on the telephone interviewing Chad, Heidi and each of their parents. I wondered, "How could this happen when these two families lived 3 ½ hours apart?" The Eves lived in Canada and the Hayden's lived in Michigan.

Chad and Heidi actually met in Flint, Michigan in January of 1997, when Heidi's parents began driving 2 ½ hours to the same church Chad's parents were attending. Chad's parents, Frank and Barb Eves, were driving an hour and a half from Canada.

Chad told me that he was actually friends with Heidi's brothers before he got to know her. He said, "We got to know each other by me being in and out of their home. I never paid that much attention to her. She was just their sister."

Telling me of how it all came to be, Chad's Dad said, "It probably started when Chad was about 12 and I was talking with he and his brother about what was happening in society. We were looking for a better way for them to get to the marriage altar. For about three years we talked to them about the statistics in the world and about the Biblical perspective."

By age 15 Chad had developed his own convictions. He was saying things like, "Why should someone waste their time going out with a lot of people that they're not going to wind up with? They not only go through the highs and lows of emotions, they also waste a lot of money and time. Plus, you would wind up comparing what you had in the past with what you're going to have in the future."

Chad's father related to me a conversation Chad had with a 21 year old fellow who had fathered a baby but had not married the girl. Chad said, "You've got a baby and you didn't marry the girl?!"

When the fellow asked his view, Chad replied, "I take the view that I'm not going to go out with any girl until I find the one that God directs me to and then I'll marry her!"

The fellow just laughed at Chad.

Mr. Eves told me Chad was a very strong willed, first born son. But about a year before the relationship with Heidi began, Chad said, "Dad, I want you and me to develop an even stronger relationship as a father and son." Dad was thrilled. They talked a lot, spent time with each other, and drew closer in their relationship.

Several months later, as they were loading the trunk of the car, Chad said, "Dad, I think I've found the one."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Heidi's Dad told me that they began teaching Heidi the basic principles when she was younger, but about age14, Heidi made a commitment to do what they then called "courtship." He said, "The Lord really led us into this, I guess, based on our own past failures. We realized that God must have a better way to bring individuals to the most important commitment outside of salvation."

One of the things Mr. Hayden told me was that he and Heidi used to go on "dates" together. (Incidentally, I am for that type of "dating"!) One of the things they would do on these "dates" was discuss the character of various young men.

Mr. Hayden had developed what he called an "evaluation form." They would seek to humbly discern what young men were like in several areas of life. Neal would say to Heidi, "Rate this young man from 1 to 5 on "Personal Grooming." How about "Moral Freedom," "Financial Freedom," "Proper Friendships," "Response to adults," "Personal struggles," etc.? They rated each young man from 1 to 5 in each area.

Of course there were areas they didn't know about, but the purpose of the evaluation was not to be critical or judgmental, but rather to teach discernment. Neal was adamant that he was not going to be involved in a parent arranged marriage, and he wanted his daughter to be able to discern the character of a young man for herself.

When I asked Chad's mother, Barb Eves, to share with me how Chad came to realize that Heidi was God's choice for his life, she replied, "Chad and his brother had a ministry of just serving others. They would just go and help people do whatever they needed to do."

When they found out the Hayden's were going to tear down a barn, the boys both went to help them do it. While they were there, the Lord seemed to say to Chad, "Heidi is to be your wife." Chad then prayed and sought God's will further, and a few days later (in late spring of 1997) Chad told his Dad, "I think I've found the one."

After discussing with Chad how he felt the Lord was leading him, Mr. Eves asked Chad to create a journal over the next several days wherein he would write whatever insights or thoughts or prayers the Lord seemed to impress on his heart.

Chad would get alone in his room and read the Bible and pray and whatever he felt God was saying to him he would write down. When asked what the journal was like, I was told: "It wasn't something super spiritual. It was 5 to 10 pages of Chad's heart. Some of it was like him talking to the Lord. He might write down some Scripture he read, then his insights, then something else like, "Lord, I know I'm not worthy to care for Heidi, but if you would allow me to demonstrate my love for her I would be so grateful."

What did Heidi know about what was going on at this point? Absolutely nothing. (Wasn't that mean?!)

In the early summer of 1997, Chad's parents took Heidi's parents to dinner on a Friday evening. As they conversed at the table, Heidi's father commented that he had received a call the previous day from a fellow I'll call "Jerry" who was interested in Heidi.

"Jerry" said, "I hear you're looking for someone for your daughter to date!" The Hayden's and Eve's had a good laugh as Mr. Hayden told how he explained to "Jerry" that they didn't believe in dating. But he wound up setting a time the next Tuesday to meet with the young man to talk to him.

Chad's parents looked at each other, then explained that the reason they wanted to meet with the Hayden's was because their son Chad felt like the Lord had spoken to his heart about Heidi. Though Chad didn't know it was going to happen, his Dad gave Heidi's Dad the journal Chad had written. Also included in the journal were insights from Chad's brother and Chad's parents.

The following Friday was the night that Mr. and Mrs. Hayden often left all their children behind and went out together. With neither Heidi nor any of the other children knowing anything about what was going on, Mr. Hayden drove and met Chad while Mrs. Hayden visited with Chad's mother and got to know her better.

For 3 ½ hours Mr. Hayden discussed, as Chad put it laughingly, "Everything from what kind of toothpaste I used, to what my greatest struggles were, and my greatest victory."

Three different times over a period of three weeks Chad and Heidi's Dad met and talked for hours.

Heidi still knew nothing. Even her brothers didn't know. Chad told me that he "actually grew a little more distant to her outwardly during that time." He was trying to make sure he didn't defraud her in any way.

Heidi's Dad told me, "I didn't want Heidi's heart to be turning toward an individual until I had evaluated him. It would've made it difficult for her to keep her heart from turning toward Chad prematurely if the parties involved had not first objectively evaluated the situation."

Mr. Hayden said, "My wife decided before me. The journal helped convince her. It showed Chad's heart. It showed he was hearing from God."

Another strong factor that influenced Mr. Hayden was the strong relationship he and his wife had with Chad's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Eves.

On Saturday, three weeks after his first meeting with Chad, Mr. Hayden went on what he called a "Prayer walk." At that time the Lord seemed to impress on his heart Psalms 34:3 and 4. Both verses held separate key thoughts to him.

"O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together."

The other verse says, "I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears."

Mr. Hayden took Heidi on a date that night. Without letting her know of Chad's interest, he had her do an "evaluation form" in relation to several fellows in their new church whom they had not evaluated before.

Chad was one of those fellows. Mr. Hayden said, "I wanted an objective evaluation without any emotional ties." Chad and one other fellow came out close to the top.

At that point Dad said, "Heidi, there has been a young man who has expressed an interest in starting a courtship with you."

Heidi had overheard part of the conversation when "Jerry" had called three weeks earlier and figured out who it was on the phone and why he might be calling. She told her Dad later that she immediately thought of "Jerry" and was ready to say "No."

Her Dad continued, "And this young man is Chad Eves."

Heidi looked at her Dad and said, "Chad? Me?" And she began weeping!

She was really quiet for a long time, and then she said, "Yes, I would like that."

When she got home that night, her Mom greeted her with the question, "Did ya'll have a good date?" Heidi threw her arms around her Mom's neck and said, "Mom, you knew this all along!"

Mr. Hayden called the Eves that night and told them Heidi's decision. Saturday night about midnight, Chad arrived home from work and Chad's Mom said, "Chad, we need to talk." Chad told me that he looked at his Mother and said, "Oh no. She said, ‘No' didn't she?" And Mom smiled and said, "No. Actually she said ‘Yes.'"

Chad said, "I hardly slept that night."

Chad's folks had moved from Canada to Michigan, but the families still lived an hour and a half apart.

They agreed to meet at church on Sunday morning 30 minutes earlier than usual. With the new couple in the center, both sets of parents prayed for God's direction and blessing to be able to get started right. Then Chad and Heidi were given 30 minutes to talk.

The new couple sat together in church. During the fellowship time, the pastor asked if anyone had a testimony to give. Both fathers came forward and formally announced the beginning of the relationship. Chad and Heidi stood and everyone applauded.

Chad's Dad clarified for me what was taking place from their perspective. He said, "When Chad went into it, it wasn't to see if she was the one. It was, ‘She IS the one! The purpose of this is marriage."

Several weeks later, in August, the families made a trip together. Chad had purchased a diamond ring and wanted to formally ask Heidi to marry him. At Muskegon, Michigan, the couple walked out on a pier on Lake Michigan. Chad stepped over to a rock. Then he coaxed Heidi over on to the rock. He said, "I wanted to be standing on the rock." Chad asked. Heidi said "Yes." And Chad handed her the ring. She slipped the ring on her finger since Chad had decided not to touch her at all until their wedding day

On November 22, 1997 Chad and Heidi touched and kissed for the first time at the marriage altar.

How many of you would agree with me that that was a beautiful story?

Why was it beautiful? It was beautiful because it was Biblical!

As Chad and Heidi rode away from their wedding reception, one of the NBC crew said to Chad's father, "I've never been through anything like this in my life. Our last assignment before we came here to Michigan was in Alaska. We were in a town where 70% of the town was infected with sexually transmitted diseases. The epidemic was traced back to the High School. We came here from there and here we see a Biblical perspective."

Mr. Hayden was telling me how they came to the decision to allow NBC to come in. He said, "I knew this would bring a whole new level of pressure to bear on this whole situation. But we knew that God's goal through our family was to bring glory to Himself . Our goal as a family is to make God look good. When I explained to the family about letting NBC come in, I said, ‘What is our goal as a family?' And they all replied, ‘To make God look good.' So then I explained to the family that this was an opportunity for us to do that."

Mr. Hayden told the NBC producer, "I know how you folks sometimes work, so I want to be up front with you. I want to see how you guys can make something so good look bad." If you saw the Dateline story, you know that the biggest criticism against the plan Chad and Heidi followed to get married came from a sociology professor who said, "[It] might make a more secure marriage in the sense that everybody has decided to vote for the institutions and traditions of the past. But it might not make a very happy one."

My response to that is: "Does that mean the insecurity of dating and defrauding and fornication and divorce is supposedly producing happiness?!"

I talked to a secular college professor who told me:

"I use that video of Chad and Heidi in my college class every semester. I have girls in tears who have lost their virtue. I have guys who are speechless. I have young men who have ‘partied,' and they look me right in the eye and say, ‘that's the way I want to get married.'

"A young man from Florida with no church or religion said, ‘that's the way it ought to be.'

"Every semester I have shown it in the class, the response comes immediately: ‘I'm saving myself for my husband. This is how I want to live and how I want to court.'"

The professor told me that a silence falls over the class while the video is playing. Then he said, "When Chad and Heidi kiss, every semester kids burst into tears."

He viewed some as tears of regret and some as tears of commitment.

Why was Chad and Heidi's story so romantic and so beautiful and so "right" that even the world sits up in amazement?

Because they and their parents followed four key Biblical pattern principles that everyone should follow to get safely and properly to the marriage altar.

These are essential principles for committed Christians who love God and love His Word and want to please the Lord.

They are principles that will work for anyone anywhere in any culture at any time in the world because they are the principles designed and appointed by God to "fit" with this part of human life.

Have you noticed that there are certain key principles that work with marriage that will make anyone's marriage happier and more successful?

Lost or saved people, either one, will have better, happier marriages that are more likely to survive the rain and wind and floods of life if they both recognize that marriage is a covenant not a contract; if the husband lives for his wife instead of for himself; if the wife willingly submits to the husband's servant leadership; and if they will regularly and faithfully communicate about anything and everything that is going on in their lives.

These are universal principles that everyone ought to follow and that will work for anyone because marriage was designed for mankind and not just for Christians.

And the principles to get to the marriage altar are universal principles that everyone ought to follow and that will work for anyone because these principles were made by God to "fit" with the people that God created.

When there are problems getting to the marriage altar those problems can be traced to a violation of one or more of these principles.

And when there are problems in marriage, those problems can always be traced to a violation of the principles designed by God for marriage itself or to the principles designed by God for getting to the marriage altar.

Chad's Dad said to me "I believe each situation is unique, but there should be some things consistent with each relationship."

originally at http://www.drsmdavis.com/1Godsplan.htm

To listen to the series by Dr. S.M. Davis free online go to www.biblepreaching.com and scroll down till you find the series.

I hope ya'll enjoy this story!

Karla

2007-12-11T18:58:00.000-08:00

Beatitudes for Homemakers By Ella May Miller (Keepers at Home is what it should say)

2007-11-09T20:18:00.000-08:00

Blessed is she whose daily tasks are a work of love; for her willing hands and happy heart transform duty into joyous service to all her family and God.

Blessed is she who opens the door to welcome both stranger and well-loved friends; for gracious hospitality is a test of brotherly love.

Blessed is she who mends both stockings and broken toys and broken hearts; for her understanding is a balm to her husband and children.

Blessed is she who scours and scrubs; for well she knows that cleanliness is one expression of godliness.

Blessed is she whom children love; for the love of a child is of greater value than fortune or fame.
Blessed is she who sings in her work; for music lightens the heaviest load and brightens the dullest chore.

Blessed is she who dusts away doubt and fear and sweeps all the cobwebs of confusion; for her faith will triumph over all adversity.

Blessed is she who serves laughter and smiles with every meal; for her cheerfulness is an aid to mental and physical digestion.

Blessed is she who introduces Jesus Christ to her children; for Godly sons and daughters shall be her reward.

Blessed is she who preserves the sacredness of the Christian home; for hers is a divine trust that crowns her with dignity.

Women working

2007-08-15T06:04:00.000-07:00

I don't know where all of you stand with Christian women working. My brother and sister-in-law had a good discussion with my parents last night at dinner about it. My sister-in-law is having to work because my brother isn't making enough money to be able to save anything, so that's what all of her paychecks are going to, savings.

Look at what Titus 2:4-5 says "That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed."

Look at the the older Christian women are to be doing; teaching the younger women, not mothers to be keepers at home. Do you know what a keeper truly is? If you look at the English, you could translate that to mean a housekeeper, a homemaker. But it's SO MUCH more than that!

The Greek word we get "keeper" from means "(a guard; be "ware"); a stayer at home, that is, domestically inclined (a "good housekeeper"): - keeper at home" The very first definition of it is a guard. How can a woman, not a mother, be a true guardian of her home if she works outside of it??? She can't!

Let's use my mom's example. If you were a guard at a military base, if that was your life 24/7, to be a guard, would they send you to England and expect you to guard the base? NO!! You cannot be a true guard if you're not there all the time. A woman is to see the attacks of Satan coming at her home and be prepared to defend and protect her home. She absolutely CANNOT do this if she's busy in the work-force.

God's Word is so pure, so perfect. He gives us so much in it, it's amazing! I love going back to the original language, you get such a deeper meaning of things that way and can truly see what God was trying to get through our thick sculls.

I hope this has given you something to think about.

God bless!
Nancy