QUICK FRIDAY NIGHT MEAL....CHICKEN OR BEEF TACOS WITH FRESH MANGO SALSA

I had cooked up some chicken breast earlier in the week and kept them in a baggie for a quick
meal.....So tonight after a busy busy day I took the cooked chicken breast and tossed with some "taco seasoning" and some olive oil. I then cooked my 1 lb burger with seasoning as well.

I added tomatoes; shredded colby-jack cheese; some of the salsa and sour cream......
It was simple and we had extra "homemade mango salsa " on the side..........
I love the sweetest of mango salsa.........its a different but delicious side...........

Mango Salsa
1-2 fresh mango's peeled then cut and diced....
1 medium red onion
2-2 T lime juice
1T olive oil
2-T cilantro
1 medium plum tomato diced .....
Salt to taste

A LADIES BRUNCH......

This was given a few years back ...but I thought it would be a good Springtime idea to post again..Enjoy...

I HOSTED OUR LADIES MISSIONS BRUNCH
YESTERDAY....I SET THE TABLE WITH
SPRING GREENS AND PINKS THE NIGHT
BEFORE....
I MADE DELICIOUS LEMON-BLUEBERRY
MUFFINS I FOUND ON "NO PLACE LIKE
HOME"....
I SET THE TABLE IN ANTICIPATION FOR
THE "POTLUCK"OTHERS WOULD BRING..
THE MUFFINS WERE SO MOIST AND THEY
YIELDED 18 TO A BATCH........
THE WEATHER WAS RAINY OUTSIDE BUT
TWINKLING CANDLES MADE IT WARM
AND COZY INSIDE.....
I ALSO MADE A "HASHBROWN CASSEROLE"
FROM "TASTE OF HOME". SO EASY AND
DELICIOUS . I ADD SOME SAUSAGE TOO.
MORE PICTURES OF THE MUFFINS..
I HAD A "COFFEE"; WARM BEVERAGES CORNER
AND I PUT APPLE AND GRAPE JUICE ON A TRAY
OPPOSITE FOR THEIR ENJOYMENT....

Yesterday was a day for others.... I hosted a "ladies brunch" at my house for our ladies missions group.
I rarely ( if ever) have a luncheon just for fun. Life is so busy and important that getting together is usually for a specific purpose.... thus our meeting.

I wanted the ladies to feel comfortable; joyful and well-fed. We fellowshipped and then got down to business of our missionaries and others. I love that our leader knows our missionaries
by her heart and their lives and tell us about them. She is a true leader and takes the time to
be informed and then care about each and every lady that attends.

I didnt have to spend much of anything to make a pretty "brunch". Everything I had gotten for .50 to $1 for decorations and table runner included. Then I just had to purchase some food items and it all seemed to go together.

I then asked God to make this simple little "brunch" pleasing and useful for Him>He did and I then Thanked Him afterward.

The rest of the day bought me to a "funeral" that was so sweet . A lady who had a brother who was lost and then found (homeless) and then passed away . This simple "memorial service" was filled with love .Another friend made a beautiful program complete with pictures and poems for funeral. A surprise for my friend. A man who sings wonderfully took time out of his very busy schedule this week to come and sing their favorite songs and honor this man. Flowers sent by our church and friends to come and sit with this lady on behalf of her brother. "Everyone is important!"

When I got home I have to admit I was tired...but it was a good tired full of good things.
Dinner; dishes cleaned up; and talking with my husband sharing our granddaughters fun stories.

As I put my head on my pillow that night I thanked God for His goodness of His day....

WHAT DID SHE SAY???

Have you ever woke up to a beautiful day only to find within a few hours you thought the day was anything but "Beautiful"............

Anything that goes into our minds competes with our emotions and feelings..........

I have heard it wise to put "good things in"..........and good things will come out!

This isnt always easy because daily we are bombarded by negative situations through the radio; television; telephone or cell phone calls; other "negative" people; circumstances beyond our control and the trials of life in general........

I have been kidded by many people saying " I am like PollyAnna". PollyAnna always tried to turn the bad into something good. But........I am afraid sometimes I have been "Negative Nancy"...........and brought something negative into the room just to make sure I was noticed!

You know how you may have pick up clothes in the bathroom a million times; or changed the toilet paper roll every time you go in there and NO one else seems to notice or help!!! :) :)

But you know what a "Negative Nancy" accomplishes?? NOTHING! Nothing but unkind words and sour spirits........I know we are not perfect so I will continue to learn this lesson over and over.....but meanwhile I must GUARD my spirit against such things.....

How do you say?
Read my Bible and study it. His Word will direct your tongue and your ways to "give it to Him" instead of everyone else.

Take a note from PollyAnna and learn to see the good in situations or others...........Mrs Marlene Evans uses to say " Look for the "Gold Glittering" in others...

Dont compare yourself with others. Be what God wants YOU to be and where He wants you to be........

Play good music; read good Christian books; exercise and eat right.

Learn something new. Study it. When my husband became a heart patient and diabetic I was clueless on what to eat; his pains; etc but I have spent 2 years now studying it and it has helped me so much.

Get up.......each day and clean up; fix your hair; take care of yourself . It will help you to tackle what comes your way.....

Rest..........if your body needs it. Again you cannot compare yourself with everyone on this. When
I had my hysterectomy I was very very ill because of many months of low low blood counts.
A Godly lady told me to go home and rest! ( I loved to do for others) but for several months I had to rest and let others bring meals; my husband and children help with the housework .
It was hard but a good lesson on rest for me. I had to do this later in my life as well......

Do for others........not like I said above but sometimes we need to get our minds off ourselves and do something for others. I am in a Ladies Missionary Circle that helps me each month to care for missionaries and others. I might not think of this on my own but this helps remind me to think of others.

I may fight this everyday. We learn over and over......

.This morning my kind hubby took me to breakfast. I was trying to watch what I ate and my hubby ordered. When it came I noticed something was missing I had wanted ( alot!) ha but then I thought............does it really matter?
Did I really need it to call the waitress over to the table again and complain what was wrong and then and wait and wait. making the time for my husband and I unpleasant....No!........I did not..( I am learning). :)  Im glad I let it go for we had a wonderful time together and rest of the day as well.

My husband and I  had also made plans of doing something later in the day together to enjoy the warm weather. He seemed to be heading for home...when I thought.to myself.....Where are we going? I thought you said we would do this? But this time lesson learned and I let it go...and said nothing..I could see how his physical body was exhausted and let that "negative wanter go.......What a difference "letting things go" and going with the flow can make....

Does that make me a saint? No that I am not..but that may make me a smarter wife....( I could have been negative about what I had wanted but why?)..............
We had a wonderful late afternoon; cooked out on the grill and company came for supper....

I dont want to invite "Negative Nancy" to my house again but she may be there hiding behind
the bushes........but for now I will try and look for the "Gold Glittering"!

SAVING MONEY EVERYDAY.......

Saving money has become a normal thing for me to do. My mom did it (she lived during the Great Depression) when they learned to live with what they had.

Our children never thought we didnt have "money" or if we did. We just did our best. We worked hard and saved where we could. We had dinners on the table; went to a Christian school; youth activities and other events. My children worked and paid their way through college.
It just was what we did. No one felt bad about it . We were a team and worked together for the family.....

What are some of the ways we worked on this?

. Dont compare yourself with others. Have the happiest home on the block....Give your best!

. Dont over worry yourself if you have times of feast or famine. Use the same "Plan" and pinch and save.....

. Save with food. Learn to make great dishes with beans; less meat; whole chickens. I have to admit I have done this and then gone back to buying only chicken breast. Do what you can and make it delish!

. Save with furnishings. Bring flowers; pretty quilts; tablecoverings into your home to warm.
I know a lady who didnt have any money for a garden but she researched many sites on the internet and found some FREE plants and seeds for a small garden....

. Save with medical care. Research and educate yourself on what you need and how to provide it for your family.

. Save on clothing and personal care. Sew; thrift stores can help provide on these. Be update and current and help your children to look their best......
Learn to color your hair if needed. You can go get a good haircut for a little money or pay abit more and it may last longer.
Make up; samples of fine perfumes .....can all be found if you look.

. Have a budget. Have a plan then the next time the finances take a "dip" you can take the challenge and have fun saving money everyday.

I LOVE MONDAYS....MOVING FORWARD

I always seem to enjoy Mondays because "something" was given to me on Sundays......

It seems God always knows are needs that run deep inside...........and when you hear a sermon preached you may think it is all about one thing and it turns out to be just what you needed.
I have heard others say " this is just what I needed"..........I think that it is just what God wanted to give to you...........

I will not go through all I heard for I do not think I could do it justice but basically when you
wonder Why you are going through a situation..............we are to

. Remember where we came from and all that God has led us through

. Review the past and know that "He will never leave thee or forsake thee".......otherwise know that He is there with you now......

. And........move forward........even if you fear; doubt; get discouraged.........MOVE FORWARD

Life is life and good and bad things happen to good people.....We can STOP and fear and wonder and worry about what is next or we can remember how God has been merciful to me and
take one step at a time and move forward...........

I watch my granddaughter try to crawl. She has been on her little tummy ; then pushing up hard with her little arms; then rocks on her knees until she moves just an inch around in a circle.
All that struggle............all that she has............not really finding a direction..........but moving forward in her little life ........KNOWING that someone who loves her watches her struggles and
is there saying " you can do it Katy" "you can do it" and someday she will be able to crawl; stand; and then walk in her life.............

I must "remember" to keep moving;........... a little day by day.........

BEEF BOURGUIGNON..........SIMPLY

BEEF BOURGUIGNON..........SIMPLY

This dish is well known through the famous cook "Julie Child". I can remember as a young
girl watching her and looking through her cookbooks.............

But........when I heard about this special dish I wanted to learn how to make it.......** It seemed so hard.........but after searching I realized their are many cooks out there that have adapted newer easier versions of the same delish dish.....I have taken from "Julie Child"; "Barefoot Contessa"; and the "French Chef" and pulled these together simply...........

BEEF BOURGUIGNON

.1-2 lbs of cut up beef ( I use a part of a roast I may buy for Sundays; or stew meat)
. Onions Sliced 1-2 medium
. Pearl Onions (opt)
. Carrots 3 regular or 4 small cut into same size 2" bites
. Flour 1/4 cup
. Butter 1-2 T
. 2-4 garlic cloves * I used the kind in the jar easy...remember to use less
. Bacon
. Mushrooms (opt)
. 3 cups of Grape Juice or Beef Bouillon
. 3 cups of Beef Bouillon

* Cut up meat. ( I do this when I buy it and freeze it cut up)....Dry meat throughly before browning....
* Heat Dutch Oven with 2 T oil. Brown meat on all sides. * Dont overcrowd ...then remove meat to small plate.
* Add cut up onions; carrots and brown 3-4 minutes Turn way down....
* Mix 1/4 cup flour with about a good T butter or butter sub. ............
* Then..........ADD to veggies and stir until mixed........

* Add Beef Broth; Grape juice or more Beef Broth
* Add meat back.........Cover and Bake 2-3 hours at 325...............* I try and reduce some of the broth. It seems to thicken nicely. *** If you need to you may place on stovetop and boil on low reducing the broth to thicken also...

** Meanwhile ( or near the end) saute 6-8 slices of bacon ( or whatever you have **I again use
whats leftover after a breakfast meal)..............** if need be pour a little grease off
** Then add little onions or sliced onions and saute .....Add mushrooms too at this time if you prefer.....
* Set aside these go on top..........

When baking is complete...........I serve with baked potatoes; hard bread; steam broccoli

SPRING CLEANING...GUESTS ARE COMING...

SPRING CLEANING

ITS "SPRING CLEANING' ALL THROUGH
THE HOUSE....GUESTS ARE COMING
SO I WANT THINGS TO BE FRESH AND CLEAN..
HAVING THINGS IN ORDER JUST SEEMS
TO MAKE THINGS GO A LITTLE SMOOTHER....


I have been taking the last few weeks to clean; mop; scrub down; get in the corners sweep; change linens; scrub that bathroom from top to bottom; bring out lighter and brighter items; and add freshness to my home.

This is not always our favorite thing to do nor sometimes does anyone ever even notice the deeds done ...but if its part of my life then I am in charge of making sure it is done right.

Here are some things I did to ready for guests:

. The Bathroom: Scrubbed down from top to bottom. I begin with the tub. I scrub it thoroughly ( not just a shower spray) that never really seems to work for the nitty gritty.... ; take any bottles; extra soap; scrubbies all go into a basket for my own use and place it under a sink or in a closet; ( clear it all out); I scrub down the tiles ; soap dish area; and then rinse and dry making sure the fixtures are sparkling and clean...

. Next... is the toilet. I squirt the toilet bowl cleaner in and swish it all around and up and under
the rim. I then take a cleaner and wipe down all the seat; back of the seat and those little hinges;
the back of the toilet top; under the toilet all around including the back nobody sees but the dirt is back there (ha); and the sides where the little round fixtures hold it to the floor. Then... a quick swipe all around the floor area and corners in the back of the toilet.

. Next the sink and the little ledge above the sink; the mirrors and the lighting fixtures ( if any) above the mirrors; the counters all get a clean wipe down and then a polish for the fixtures to
glistening silver......

.Next, the floor. You may take a quick swiffer but sometimes I have to just get down on the old hands and knees and wipe it down to get in those little corners and spills on walls.

. Last....Fresh clean towels that look pretty. A little soap dispenser for hands to be washed.
And.......( my sister taught me this... a pretty hand towel to lie folded next to the sink for the guest to wipe down their hands)... She always had this in pretty lime greens and whites in her
guest bath.........

. Bedrooms : I make sure all carpets or floors are swept and clean. Under the bed is tidy. ( yes this is a great time to do it ha).

. The linens are fresh and clean and non wrinkled. If I have time I press the pillowcases. ( I know I know that is abit much but this is a a little luxery I do for my own bedroom and it makes things
so nice).

. I place a basket or little bag ( this time I am using a bag) with extra goodies in it such as toothpaste; mints; snacks; Kleenex; snack bars) to use while they are here. I might set some bottles of water also on a nearby nightstand. I may add some fresh flowers in a vase.

. I may make some muffins and leave them in my glass cake dish for them if they wish to have a snack or a quick breakfast to go.........

. I make sure the rest of my home is neat and tidy and de-cluttered.

. Floors swept ( that is a constant for me for we have our two adorable Springer Spaniels) ha; and mopped.

. Kitchen decluttered on the counters and clean and fresh.
. Refrigerator cleaned out and smelling fresh.

. Coffeepot clean and ready for use.

. The yard; porch and any area that will be used clean and tidy.

*** *** Most of all my spirit or attitude. I dont want to have a clean home and a bad spirit fussing at my husband or children because they didnt do their part.... I do not want to be exhausted trying to impress others and unavailable for my family........ I do not want to keep my home clean only for company...........So what do I do??? I do it unto Him! I want to my best ; not always perfect but my best
for God.
I really TRY and do this all the time for my family.

But........when guest are coming it can motivate you to push a little harder and the good thing is that it helps you to end up with a fresh and clean home that you are happy with!!
*******God gives me my home. No matter how humble a place in which you live ; your abode can be used to renew or refresh another ..........