Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

{Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies}

This recipe is one I always bring out this time of year.

These cookies are moist and cake like....they are PERFECT with a cup of coffee

They don't last long...That's why I didn't get a real cute picture.  They were gobbled up fast!

You will love this cookie and will pull out the recipe every fall.

Enjoy!

Carla <><

Mix Pumpkin, eggs, sugar, oil, milk, vanilla

Mix Well

 Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt

Add the flour mixture to the wet mixture

Add Chocolate Chips

Mix Well

Brew a pot of coffee and enjoy!!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies:

1 1/2 Cups Pumpkin
1 1/2 White Sugar
2 Eggs
1 tsp Vanilla
3/4 Cup Veg Oil
1 1/2 tsp milk (I use buttermilk)
3 Cups Flour
3 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
 1 pkg chocolate chips

Mix Pumpkin, Sugar, Eggs, Vanilla, Oil, Buttermilk.
Sift Flour, Baking Soda, Baking Powder, Salt.
Mix together. Add Chocolate Chips
Drop by teaspoon on greased cookie sheet

Bake 350 degrees for 10-12 min on greased cookie sheet

Chicken Fajita Dip

{Chicken Fajita Dip}

This is an easy dip that can be put together in very little time.

Perfect for a football game or before party snack.

It just takes a few ingredients that you may already have on hand.

Try this one soon!

Enjoy

Carla <><

Cream Cheese, Salsa, Mexican Style Cheese, Chicken Strips

Place everything into a microwave safe bowl

Melt all ingredients together for about 3-4 min.

Stirring every minute

Now enjoy...see simple!

Chicken Fajita Dip:

1 1/2 Cup Mexican Style Cheese

1 pkg Cream Cheese

3/4 Cup salsa (any salsa will do)

1 pkg Chicken Strips- chopped (southwester or fajita style)

Place all ingredients into a microwave safe bowl.

Heat, Stir, Serve

10 Years and counting....

This week my dear husband and I celebrate 10 years of marriage.

I am so thankful to the Lord for changing my heart little by little over the past 10 years.

He has shown me that it's not all about me!! My husband is worth giving of myself no matter what I'm going to get in return. Boy of boy, did I have a selfish heart 10 years ago.

I've learned to give, forgive, die to self, and enjoy my man!

He is not perfect and neither am I

A great marriage is giving 100%  

100% of the time. No matter what the other one gives!

We have walked through death, illness, new life, times of plenty, hardships, good, bad, and everything in between.  I love you, honey.

I love the steady man you are!

You are good, kind, honest, hard-working, trustworthy, and just down right FUN!!

Looking forward to seeing where the Lord leads us in the next 10 years!

If you want to have a GREAT marriage check out these GREAT resources:

Created To Be His Helpmeet- Debi Pearl

Marriage God's Way

The Power of a Praying Wife

Don't EVER talk bad about your husband to others(especially our mothers).

Build his ego and be thankful for him. Be his best buddy and pour your life into marriage!

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. Genesis 2:24

Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. 1 Corinthians 11:9

And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him Genesis 2:18

Our Family today....with our new addition due next month :)

Easy Taco Soup

SOUP' ON!

The temps are cooling down and soup is on the menu plan.

This week I have two of my favorites on the list.

This easy Taco Soup tops the list. It only takes a few minutes to toss everything together.

Simmer and Reduce heat until ready to eat.  It makes lots and it is GREAT for freezing.

I put some in the freezer for when the baby gets here.  

You will really love this soup..give it a try!!

Happy Fall!

Blessings, 

Carla <><

{Easy Taco Soup}

Ground Turkey, Onion, Green Chilies, Ranch Pkg, Taco Seasoning, Diced Tomatoes, Hominy, Pinto Beans, Kidney Beans

Saute' Onion in Olive Oil. 

Brown Ground Turkey

Add Seasonings

Add remaining ingredients

(I do drain my beans and hominy)

Boil. 

Then reduce heat to warm until ready to serve

We made homemade bread today to serve along side the soup

Soup's On

Enjoy!!

Easy Taco Soup:

1 LB Ground Turkey

Small Onion

Ranch Pkg

Taco Seasoning

Green Chili -small can

Diced Tomatoes- 3 cans

Pinto Beans- 2 cans

Kidney Beans- 1 can

Hominy- 1 can

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1 1/2 Cup Water

Serve with cheese, sour cream, and crushed tortilla chips

MMmmmmmm!

Find this post at:

Creamy Tomato & Pesto Chicken Pasta

{Creamy Tomato & Pesto Chicken Pasta}

This is a recipe I created last month.  I had planned on just making a pesto dish.  The garlic was just to strong so I grabbed a can of diced tomatoes, heavy cream and the rest is history. This was a huge hit with my hubby and will go on the menu plan for sure.  

Hope you enjoy!

Blessings,

Carla <><

Brown 2-3 cubed chicken breasts in olive oil

You can purchase pesto at the grocery or make homemade.

It is very easy. Just toss some basil leaves, pine nuts, garlic, and olive oil into a blender or bullet

Blend until well mixed and smooth.

Add a few spoon fulls to cooked chicken and stir

Add diced tomaotes

Stir

Add about a cup of Parmesan Cheese. Stir

Stir in heavy cream- My mouth is watering all over!!

Stir until smooth

Add cooked pasta

Mix everything well

Serve with warm crusty bread

Creamy Tomato & Pesto Chicken Pasta:

2-3 Chicken Breasts-cubed-cooked

3-4 spoonfuls of pesto

1 can diced tomatoes

1 cup Parmesan cheese

1 cup heavy cream

1 box cooked pasta of choice

top with fresh Parmesan cheese

Classic Chicken Salad

{Classic Chicken Salad}

It can be an elegant tray at a baby or bridal shower.  It can be a simple lunch, or perfect picnic in the park.

It is Chicken Salad and you CAN make it at home.  You don't have to travel to a fancy deli or restaurant.

You just need to gather a few ingredients and a deli roaster chicken and you are all set.

I know you will love this recipe once you give it a try.

Blessings,

Carla <><

Tray we served at my sister's baby shower

Red and Green seedless grapes, celery, pecans, stevia (or: sugar or honey) Hellmann's Mayo

Roast Chicken or Roaster Chicken from local grocery.

Chopped or Shredded

Chop the grapes into fourth and chop celery

Chop pecans

Put everything into a bowl and add Mayo

Mix Well- Add salt and pepper to taste

Best served on a butter croissant

Classic Chicken Salad:

1 Whole Chicken- cooked and chopped

3 Celery Stocks- Chopped

1/2 cup red and green seedless grapes (I used just red)

1/4 cup pecans chopped

1 Cup Mayo -more if needed

1 pkg Stevia (you can use sugar or honey to taste)

Salt and Pepper to taste

Chill and Serve on a butter croissant, soft bread, or a bed of lettuce

You can get creative and add chopped apples which we sometimes do.

Once chilled it may need more mayo if it gets to dry.  Just add a little at a time.

ENJOY!!

Find this recipe at:

Comfy in the Kitchen

Why we Homeschool

It's that time of year again.  The start of another "school year" has quickly come upon us.
As a public school graduate who thought all homeschoolers were "strange" until I met my amazingly normal husband and his normal homeschooling friends I still can't believe I am a homeschool mom myself.

If you would have told me I'd been homeschooling my children I would have called you crazy.  However, as my little ones began to grow up and I started to research and pray over the decision the Lord made it perfectly clear.  Now as the mother of a First Grader, Preschooler, and soon to be newborn I can't imagine my life any other way.


 TIME- I don't have to tell any mom out there just how fast time flies by.  I want to be with my children as much as possible.  Sending them to school would mean lots and lots of time away from home.  I'm just not okay with that.  I love them and want to be with them teaching and training every day.

 EDUCATION- I have no doubt in my mind my children get a better education with me teaching them one on one.  I can move forward when they are ready and spend a little extra time when needed. My daughter is such a social butterfly and I know she would get distracted easily in the classroom.  At home I can encourage her to stay at it and help her succeed. We also never stop learning! Just yesterday my daughter asked me a question about polar bears diets. We were able to seek out the answer together. Always learning.

 CHARACTER- My children get to learn not only reading and writing but how to have godly character.  We spend time memorizing scripture, praying together, and reading our Bible.  We also spend time learning  character traits. My children are not able to get this type of training at school-it's just not permitted anymore in the walls of the schools.

 SHELTER-  Yep, I said it!  I want to shelter my children.  My husband and I pour ourselves into our children everyday.  I have no idea what goes on in the homes of the other children at school.  I do not want my children exposed to evil things at such a young age.  I carry everyday scars and baggage from my public school experience.  As I would shelter a young plant until it is ready to go outside in the harsh environment I will also protect the innocence of my children.

 FLEXIBILITY- Vacation during the less expensive season.  Hang out with my grandparents for a few days. Take a day off.  Work during the weekend.  The options are endless.  We have the freedom to dictate our routine and it makes life so much more enjoyable. This will really be a blessing when the new baby comes.

 FRIENDSHIP- I want my children to become friends. We want our family to be close.  If our children spend all day away from each other this is very difficult to cultivate.  In addition to all the extra activities kids are in these days some siblings rarely see each other.  Our kids are buddies.  They do bicker..but this gives my the blessing of teaching them how to treat one another.

These are just a few of the many reasons why we choose to home educate our children.  For our family it is a perfect fit.  Is everyday perfect?  Not a chance!  It is hard work!  Anything worthwhile is rarely easy.

Here are a few sites I would recommend.   Hope you will be greatly encouraged.

Titus 2- Managers of their School

Abeka Academy

Homeschooling with a meek and quiet spirit

Indoctrination Movie

HSLDA

Holy Spirit-Led Homeschooling

Homemade Floor Cleaner-chemical free

Homemade Floor Cleaner-All Natural

I've been trying to rid our home of harsh chemicals.

One of the biggest places where we find those is in our cleaning products.

Just like with a recipe I've been doing some research and then creating my own formula.

I've been using this floor cleaner for about a month. I am so impressed with the cleaning ability and fresh clean smell...you know real clean not chemical smell.

I use this on my vinyl flooring.  I'm sure it would work great on tile as well.

You may want to check with the manufacture of the floor you have before using.

Hope you enjoy this as much as I have.

Blessings,

Carla <><

Washing Soda, Dish Soap, Distilled White Vinegar, Juice of one lemon

Place 1/4 Cup Washing Soda, 1 TB Clear Liquid Dish Soap, Juice of one Lemon, 1/4 Vinegar, 

 This will foam and bubble for a few seconds

Add 2 Gallons Hot Water

You are ready to scrub away the dirt and grim

Notice my small brush..this is perfect for along the base boards, grates, toilets, and doors

Any where you get a build up of dirt and grim. Or that pesky spot that the mop just won't get.

Homemade Floor Cleaner-Chemical Free:

1/4 Cup Washing Soda (not baking soda)

1 TB Clean Liquid Dish Soap

Juice of one Lemon

1/4 Cup White Distilled Vinegar

2 Gallons Hot Water

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