Recipe--Baked Oatmeal

Over the years, I’ve had a bit of a love-hate relationship with oatmeal. I’ve gone through periods when I’ve enjoyed it, and others when I just don’t. I know it’s a wonderful, hearty, fiber-filled breakfast and that it’s good for me!

I had tried a baked oatmeal recipe awhile ago, and didn’t care for the gummy texture that much. But recently Mom made this version from “The Homestead Blessings Cookbook” and I loved it! Not only was it tasty, it was also naturally sweetened, and I could make a dairy-free version for myself using coconut milk. I think we’ve found a new favorite!

Baked Oatmeal

½ cup melted butter

2 teaspoons baking powder

½ cup honey

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1 cup milk

3 cups oats

1 to 1 ½ cups fruit (we use raisins)

Mix all ingredients and pour into 10x10” pan (we used a 9x13” pan) and bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes. Serves 9. Optional: top with warm cream, milk, maple syrup, honey, or applesauce. Enjoy!

The Blog Post That Almost Wasn't

I had planned to write a post today about our family vacation to Puerto Rico (which we just returned from.) I was looking forward to a leisurely day since we’re still on vacation another week while we have family visiting us in Texas. But—as happens quite often—my day turned into an unprecedented adventure!

This morning, we got a text from someone my Uncle needed to have a meeting with. They wanted to know if we could be there in an hour. I quickly ate some breakfast and left to take him. After we dropped him off, Ben and I went to Starbucks and relaxed for about an hour while we waited for him to finish.

On our way to pick him up, we swung by church so I could drop off a book and pick up a different book from one of our Pastors. Then we picked up my Uncle and drove down the road to show him around the airport and the area where my Dad works, while we killed time before his next appointment at 12:00 p.m.

I took him over to that meeting, and then Ben and I went to Walmart and did our non-perishable grocery shopping. We still had time to kill before picking up my Uncle, so we went to a bookstore and browsed for awhile.

That’s when the adventure began. When I came outside, I noticed my tire. I had known I needed to replace it soon, but I wasn’t expecting this soon. I texted a picture to my Dad to find out how bad the situation was.

Then we drove back to pick up my Uncle. The three of us went to McAlister’s Deli for lunch. As we were sitting there, I get a call from my Dad. He says NOT TO DRIVE ON A TIRE LOOKING LIKE THAT. I talk with him for a few minutes, trying to determine our options. I hang up and call Mom to discuss it with her. Then she hangs up to call my Dad. She calls back and says we should drive over to Sam’s Club which was only a quarter-of-a-mile down the road. She had talked with someone there who would get us all hooked up with a set of new tires.

We finish our lunch and drive over there. We find the guy she talked to, and he tries to find our member number. The number we gave him supposedly expired and he couldn’t’ find the new one. We tried looking it up by name, phone number, and zip code before we finally found it. Twenty minutes later, they finally start working on the car and tell us we have 45 minutes to an hour to wait.

So we decide to do our perishable grocery shopping at Sam’s Club. We get all that done, and still have to wait about 15 minutes in the cafeteria.

Once we finally got the car, we drove to Braum’s to pick up some ice cream to have later that week. Somehow, I got lost. I get on the freeway when I wasn’t supposed to and missed the turn. I have to get off, turn around, and go back around.

We FINALLY get the ice cream and head for home. We didn’t arrive until about 4:30 p.m. We had expected to be back by 1 or 2 o’clock.

After all that running around, I was very tired! So that, my friends, is why there is no vacation post yet. J I promise it will come soon! If I can manage to have a normal day, sans any unexpected adventures, that is . . .

Blogger Challenge Day 29: 3 Wishes

1. That I could have all my friends and family in one place at one time. I don’t think this will come true until heaven!

2. That I could control the weather. J It would probably be 75-80 degrees every day, rain once a month, be cool (50 degrees) and fall-ish in October, and snow only in December.

3. I wish that I could travel anywhere I wanted to, without money being an issue. There are so many places I would go!

*Your turn! What’s something you wish for? Leave us a comment!*

Blogger Challenge Day 28: Something That Stresses You Out

Unfortunately, I tend to be stressed out by the small things in life. I can take the big things in stride! J I get stressed when I don’t know details and specifics. I like to know what’s going to happen and when. But on the other hand, I can be quite spontaneous at times. I think maybe I just have a control problem. J

A funny little thing that bothers me is when we have two of the same thing open in our house (i.e. one almost-gone jar of strawberry jam and a brand new jar with one spoonful gone.) Drives me a little crazy!

*Now it’s your turn to confess. J What stresses you out? Being late? Having to speak in public? Share in the comments!*

Blogger Challenge Day 20: Nicknames

Nicknames are usually something we either take pride in, or don’t like at all. J I’ve acquired several nicknames over the years; some I like, and others . . . well . . . not so much. But I will still post them:

 

“Bonk”—This nickname was given to me by a childhood friend who couldn’t say “Bianca.”

 

“Gawk-y”—Josiah coined this term somehow.

 

“Gonk”—Ben’s combination of the above two nicknames. J

 

“Scotland Yard”—In 8^th grade, I became obsessed with Scotland Yard. I’ve also always had a knack for knowing just about everything there is to know about someone. I’m still a sponge; I don’t forget a conversation, family connection, or a name!

 

“Bi-AN-ca!”—Not a nickname, but a unique way of saying my name. The little kids in Haiti came up with this one, after I carefully enunciated my name to them. J

 

*Now it’s your turn! What is one of your nicknames? Please share in the comments; I can’t be the only one with such strange nicknames! J*

Recipe--Healthy Peanut Butter Cookies

I think everyone in our family loves peanut butter (and thankfully, we have no allergies!) We all love a good peanut butter cookie. This recipe is incredibly simple and fast, and the cookies have a melt-in-your-mouth quality to them.

 

These cookies are great to make with kids! I made them a couple of weeks ago when we babysat over Memorial Day weekend. Kids are always amusing to have in the kitchen. J At one point, I turned around to catch the 3-year-old stuffing her face with the dough. Just as I got her to stop, her older brother sneezed right into his bowl of dough. :-P I took a deep breath, and kept going. It’s going to get baked anyway! J

 

Healthy Peanut Butter Cookies

 

 

½ Cup peanut butter

¼ cup honey

2 Tablespoons oil

½ teaspoon vanilla

¼ teaspoon salt

1 Cup whole wheat flour*

 

Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix ingredients. Roll into balls and flatten with fork on greased baking sheet. Bake for 8 minutes. Yield: 18 small cookies, or 10 medium cookies (medium cookies pictured above.)

 

* You can also use white flour, or half white and half wheat. And we mix these by hand--no mixer needed.

 

Recipe--Parmesan-Garlic Biscuits

One night last week while Dad was out of town, we had a “simple supper” at home. Normally we have a great big salad of some kind, with some type of bread. Mom tried a new recipe from her “5 Ingredients or Less” cookbook. These parmesan-garlic biscuits were QUITE addicting and VERY good! J Below, it says that it serves 8. To be perfectly honest, we doubled the recipe, and the 6 of us ate it all. J So maybe we have a carb problem, but these are really quite easy and delicious!

 

Parmesan-Garlic Biscuits

 

 

3 Tablespoons butter, melted

¼ teaspoon celery seed

2 cloves garlic, minced

12-oz. tube refrigerated biscuits

2 Tablespoons parmesan cheese

 

Coat bottom of a 9” pie pan with butter; add celery seed and garlic. Slice each biscuit into quarters; arrange on top of butter mixture. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese; bake at 425° F for 12 to 15 minutes. Invert onto a serving plate to serve. Makes 8 servings.

 

Notes: These are the “pull-apart” kind of biscuit. We used a cake pan rather than pie pan. And Mom was “generous” with the butter, celery seed, garlic, and parmesan cheese! J

Blogger Challenge Day 18: Something You Regret

There are many things that I regret in life. Some things I had no control over, such as not being able to say goodbye to my Grandpa before he died. Other things, I did have control over. I regret times when I have not realized how much I valued a relationship until I was separated from that friend.

One of my biggest regrets was one I realized 4 years ago. God convicted me of the fact that I was simply “going through the motions” in my relationship with Him. I read my Bible and prayed every day, but it was a ritual, not a passionate, REAL relationship. I wanted a life full of Jesus, as John 10:10 talks about (“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”)

That night, I resolved to change--and by God’s grace and through His strength--that resolve stuck. God has brought me so far over the past 4 years, but I still have far to go. One of my greatest goals in life—aside from bringing glory, honor, and praise to my Savior in everything I do—is to live without regrets. It requires taking risks. Just one example is loving people the way Christ loved. When you love, you open yourself up to be hurt sometimes. But I will never regret showing the love of Christ to someone!

My Grandma

~Posted by Bianca (Tribute written to share at the funeral)

Dear Grandma:

The last time I stood here in this sanctuary, you were in front of me sitting in your wheelchair beside the second pew. You were dressed in your favorite blue dress, wearing your string of beads. Today, you’re still in front of me, wearing that same blue dress and beads. But you’re not really here. The Grandma I knew and loved isn’t here.

God had impressed on my heart the last time we saw you that we wouldn’t see you again. The rest of the family expected you would live at least a few more months. But for some reason, I just knew you wouldn’t be here in March when we were scheduled to come and visit again. The day of your death, I told Mom that very morning that it would be ironic if you and Grandpa passed a month apart. I never dreamed that less than 12 hours later, you would already be with him.

When we got the call at 11:00 p.m. that you had passed, I was hurt and angry. Why did God allow us to lose you and Grandpa just three weeks apart? Didn’t He know that my shattered heart still hadn’t healed from losing Grandpa? Why didn’t He allow us to have time to say goodbye, to be by your side when you passed? How could He take you away from me?

But following those questions, God immediately brought to mind the answers. HE is sovereign over all and His timing is absolutely perfect. He has known the day and hour of your death since before you were born. He knows the pain I’m feeling because He experienced it. He experienced far more pain and hurt than I ever will. He endured that pain so that you and I could have the hope we have in His salvation!

It’s selfish of me to think of God taking you from us, when really, He GAVE us far more time with you than we ever imagined we would have. When you were diagnosed with emphysema in 1997, the doctors only gave you 5 or 6 more years to live. You made it 16 more years. When you were diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2006, you should have only lived a couple more years. Seven years later, you defied the odds.

Now for the first time in decades, you have no breathing problems. You don’t have smoker’s cough. You can run and never grow winded. Your body is no longer in pain from arthritis. You can eat and drink and never have to worry about whether or not you’ll be able to eat and drink tomorrow. Your hands no longer tremble. Your memory is sharper than ever. You are no longer wheelchair bound. And best of all: you will be with your sweetheart of 57 years this Valentine’s day.

I will miss your funny expressions, seeing your face when we kids finally understood the joke you were telling us, warming your coffee, talking about national events over dinner, your sweet potatoes, sharing the newspaper with you, sitting out on the back porch watching the birds, going to the beauty parlor with you, listening to the funny stories of your growing-up years, your sharp observations and memory, and your blunt but kind way of speaking. Your death has left a gaping hole in my heart that only the God of all comfort can fill. I can’t wait to join you before His throne someday soon. It’s not “Goodbye”, Grandma. It’s only “See you later.”

Love Your Granddaughter,

Bianca

Blogger Challenge Day 11: Favorite TV Shows

Unlike many Americans, I actually don’t watch a lot of TV. I tend to watch more movies than I do TV, and I only watch maybe 3 or 4 movies in a week at most. So it’s a bit hard to pick favorite TV shows. J But there are a few shows I do enjoy watching from time to time (usually I watch them on DVD.)

 

Probably one of my favorite TV shows is The Andy Griffith Show. Yes, it’s quite old. J Other old shows I like to watch are Leave It to Beaver and Ozzie and Harriet. A newer show that I enjoy watching (and would watch more often if we got the channel) is 19 Kids and Counting.

 

Once in a blue moon, I get to watch a cooking show, which I like. I also enjoy watching home improvement shows like This Old House with my Dad. When we stay at hotels I sometimes like to watch shows where people “flip” houses or yards.

 

*Alright, now it’s YOUR turn: what are some of your favorite TV shows? Share in the comments!*

 

Blogger Challenge Day 10: Something You're Afraid Of

One of my goals for 2013 was to face my fears. In a lot of ways, I’ve already come a long way. J Living in wild Texas, I slay poisonous spiders on a regular basis without any squeamishness (I’d much rather hurt them before they hurt me!) As a family, we moved across the country and started from scratch at a new church, in a new community, and a new job for my Dad. My brother and I have committed to spend a month of our summer break in a third-world country where we will have no running water, not be able to speak with or understand 90% of the people, and will travel without our parents for the first time.

But one of my favorite quotes is “True courage is not the absence of fear. It is refusing to allow fear to control your actions” (Gregg Harris as quoted in “Do Hard Things” by Alex and Brett Harris.)

While there isn’t a whole lot I’m afraid of, there are a few things that one could say I dread. I dread going to the dentist office. I don’t tremble in fear, but I cringe at the thought of getting my teeth poked and prodded.

I also have a slight fear of bloody wounds. Getting hurt internally (pulling a muscle, breaking a bone, getting sick, etc.) doesn’t bother me at all, but the thought of, or hearing someone describe, any injury involving blood makes me cringe. I guess I can cross surgeon off my future career list. J

*Alright, now that I’ve confessed, I want to hear from you! What is one of your fears? I promise not to laugh. J Really! Share in the comments!*

Bad Doggies

No folks, you’re not seeing snow in Texas (I kind of wish it was snow. . .)

That white stuff is the stuffing from our porch furniture cushions. During the night, our very suspicious neighboring dogs decided that stuffing would make a delightful midnight snack.

What do you think? Does he look guilty?

Recipe--Curried Chickpeas

I was in heaven when my Mom made this recipe recently. Chickpeas, curry, cilantro, AND rice in the same recipe? How could I NOT love it!?!?

OK, I admit, the crazy-girl-with-her-face-in-the-cilantro-bag is . . . me. You could probably sprinkle cilantro on anything and I would eat it. I feel tremendous grief for those who don’t like cilantro.

Needless to say, I loved this recipe and the rest of the family really enjoyed it. We usually double this recipe. We girls ate ours without the chutney because we gave up sugar for Lent. I have yet to try it with the chutney, but I like it just fine the way it is! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Curried Chickpeas

1 15-oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

3 medium ripe tomatoes, diced (or 2 14.5-oz cans diced tomatoes

2 teaspoons curry powder (add more or less, to taste)

1 8-or-9 oz jar sweet and spicy mango chutney; or 1 fresh mango, chopped

2 cups cooked short-grain brown rice, or 1 ¼ cups cooked bulgur

Chopped cilantro, to taste

In a saucepan, combine chickpeas, tomatoes, and curry powder. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, and cook for 3-4 minutes. Cover until ready to use. Stir chutney or mango into cooked rice or bulgur.

Just before serving, add chopped cilantro to rice mixture. Mound rice or bulgur on each plate and top with chickpea mixture and more cilantro. Makes 3-4 servings. Enjoy!

A Correction

Last Friday, when we posted about our favorite candies, we were guilty of a terrible oversight. Well, it was an oversight depending on how you define “candy.” You see, the candy we were thinking of is the type you might get trick-or-treating, or that you buy individually packaged from the stores. Cheap candy.

Then our Grandpa left us a comment wondering why nobody mentioned his fudge as a favorite.

Snack time at Grandma and Grandpa’s house.

But you see, we don’t even think about Grandpa’s fudge as being at the level of the common, everyday, ordinary candies we mentioned. Comparing Grandpa’s Fudge to a Reese’s peanut butter cup is like comparing the finest Filet Mignon with a McDonald’s hamburger. They don’t even deserve to be in the same sentence!

All of us can say overwhelmingly that Grandpa’s fudge is our favorite candy on this earth. We just think of it as more of a delicacy; a dessert that deserves its very own category! So please don’t hide the fudge next time we visit, Grandpa! We really didn’t mean to forget! J

We could do dozens of posts on our other favorite “gourmet” treats, like Malley’s Bordeaux, chocolate covered Oreos, chocolate covered candy corn, sponge candy. . .

Transformation

Long ago, before I knew the Lord, I blended in well with all the others like me. On the outside, I looked normal, healthy, even attractive. But inside, there was a different view.

Deep in my heart, there was darkness; empty places; slime encircling seeds void of life, for they had not yet died to self.

But the One who loved me enough to die for me saw beyond the sadness, and heard the silent, desperate pleas. He set out to fashion me, bit by bit, into the wonder He had always intended. This will hurt, but I will be with you, He said. And He picked up His tools, and pierced through the façade, all the way down to the deepest, darkest recesses of my heart.

My soul cried out in pain, as His practiced hands scraped away all that clung to its walls. Lovingly yet firmly, He worked away, and bit by bit, all that displeased Him was removed, and I could breathe.

But He wasn’t finished yet…

There was more work to be done…more chiseling, shaping, and molding. Sometimes His cuts went deep into my flesh, and again I cried. I will never leave you nor forsake you, He whispered.

And as He worked, a song began to grow inside me. A song that radiated from the very throne of God; sung since the beginning, when the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy! The song grew, and filled me with new life, and in spite of my flaws and imperfections, His love shone through.

Thereafter, when darkness surrounded me, I had no fear. His love and His goodness were always inside me, just as He promised. His presence lit up the darkness, and banished it.

‘Though I’m still a work in progress, I rejoice in the transformation He has wrought. The pain had a purpose, and the losses birthed life.

(Inspired by “The Pumpkin Patch Parable” by Liz Curtis Higgs)

(posted by Betsy)

Favorite Desserts

Desserts are something that we all enjoy (and in our family, something for which we have a weakness. J) Below are some of our favorite desserts, and I’m sorry for those of you who may be hungry while reading this J:

Mark—Most anything sweet. My wife’s triple chocolate cake would probably be top on the list. My mom’s deep dish peach pie with some French vanilla bean ice cream is outstanding. Pecan pie (warm with whipped cream) and cherry pie are both outstanding. A good Crème Brûlée is also hard to pass up. Past that . . . anything chocolate!!

Triple Chocolate Cake.

Betsy—Most of the year, my favorite dessert is warm apple pie à la mode. This time of year, I also enjoy pumpkin pie (cold!) and pumpkin pudding (hot!) with homemade whipped cream. And during the hot months, I like butter pecan ice cream with chocolate syrup drizzled over it.

Apple Pie.

Bianca—I think my number one dessert would be ice cream. I’m not too picky when it comes to flavors, but I don’t like sherbet. I also like cakes of all sorts especially carrot cake, tres leches cake, and my Mom’s triple chocolate cake. I’m not a big fan of pudding, unless it’s either hot tapioca pudding, or hot pumpkin pudding with homemade whipped cream!



Strawberry cheesecake ice cream.

Ben—My favorite dessert is cake! I love carrot cake, chocolate cheesecake and tres leches cake.

Tres Leches Cake.

Rubia—My top favorite dessert is ice cream! My favorite flavors of ice cream are chocolate and butter pecan. I also love peach pie and cobbler. I like cheesecake too!

Carrot Cake.

Roma—I really like carrot cake, any cake that’s chocolate, and cheesecake. I also like any kind of brownie, ice cream, and pumpkin pudding.

Hot pumpkin pudding with whipped cream.

Josiah—One of my favorite desserts is chocolate chip cheesecake. I also like brownies and chocolate cupcakes. Basically, I like chocolate! J

Chocolate chip cheesecake.

A Movie No One Would Expect You To Love

If we were all honest, I think we would admit we all have movies that we like, that no one would expect us to enjoy. Maybe a young man enjoys a movie classified as a “chick flick” or an adult enjoys a “kids” movie. Here are some of our favorite movies that people probably wouldn’t expect us to like:

Mark— I enjoyed the movie “Kit” – this was an American Girl story.  There were two things I liked about the movie: it was set during WWII (a time period that I enjoy studying), and it showed how families came together to help one another.

Betsy— I really enjoy the movie “Facing the Giants.” Even though it revolves around football, I love the filming, the story line, the excitement and action, and the acting. I also really enjoy the movie “Frosty the Snowman.” I still get a lump in my throat when Frosty melts, and the movie just brings back happy memories of my childhood Christmases.

Bianca—One movie that probably no one would expect me to love is the “End of the Spear.” Most people probably wouldn’t think a girl would like a movie with such a violent theme. But because the story is true, I think it is something people need to know about. It sobers me to realize that there are still people dying for their Christian faith. I need to pray for them every day.

Ben—I love Disney Pixar movies. My favorite is “Ratatouille.” I also like “Meet the Robinsons,” “Up,” “Cars 1,” and the “Toy Story” series. I like the “Toy Story” trilogy because it brings back memories from my childhood.

Rubia—I like the “Love Comes Softly” movie series (“Love Comes Softly,” “Love’s Enduring Promise,” “Love’s Long Journey,” “Love’s Abiding Joy,” and “Love’s Unending Legacy.”)

Roma—A lot of kids these days like more modern movies, but I also enjoy older movies such as “The Sound of Music;” black and white shows like “Ozzie and Harriet;” and also “Pamela’s Prayer.”

Josiah—I like the movie “Eloise at Christmastime.” Even though Eloise is a girl, I like how she acts like a spy sometimes.

Guilty Pleasures

Guilty pleasures are something that we all have. They aren’t necessarily bad or wrong things, but perhaps not always the best for us. Or maybe it’s something we do too often. So please be understanding when you read ours! They’re not necessarily things we do often, so keep that in mind!

Mark—I like to eat chocolate chips when I get home from work. I also like Frosty's from Wendy’s. If Sunday afternoon naps count, then I take one of those.

Betsy—I like to eat peanut-butter and chocolate chip sandwiches for lunch! At least I sometimes add raisins, too—those are healthy, right? I sometimes enjoy re-reading my favorite children’s books, instead of the more instructive and edifying homeschool books I should be reading. And if I could, I would spend a whole day lolling around in my pj’s. That’s one thing I love about New Year’s Day…it’s Pajama Day!

Bianca—I have a rather guilty pleasure of splurging on $4-$5 smoothies at Tropical Smoothie. I really love the Bahama Mama and Sunrise, Sunset smoothies. But I don’t do that very often! I also enjoy sitting and reading for a whole afternoon. That’s a guilty pleasure because 1) usually there’s some other work that I could/should be doing and 2) I usually binge-read novels (good novels, but still novels.)

Ben—My guilty pleasure is reaching into the chocolate chip container and tossing a bunch of yummy chocolate chips down my throat. J I get this from Daddy! I also like playing Madden (a computer football game) almost every day, but only for 15 minutes. When I go down to practice drums, I end up spending an hour down there reading books from our various shelves.

Rubia—Sometimes—like the others—I snack on unhealthy things when I should be avoiding sugar. I also read longer than I’m supposed to (especially with interesting books! J)

Roma—Sometimes I read dog books, when instead I should be doing my devotions in the morning (oops! J) Other times I get chocolate chips from the cabinet also like Ben and Dad.

Josiah—I like to eat marshmallows before breakfast with my juice. I also like playing computer games as Ben does. Mom only lets me do that twice a week.