Is it just a little bit ridiculous that I’m the one who wrote the books, and I had forgotten about half of the recipes in them? {she asks, sheepishly…}

I get into recipe ruts, rotating through many of our “old faithfuls”. Or, on the flip side, I continue to experiment with brand new recipes in an effort to keep up with all of the great ideas you all suggest. 

But this week, since we are having a big sale on our Heavenly Homemakers eBook Overload (10 books for $20!) – I was inspired to start flipping through each of the books. Page after page I found recipes that I hadn’t made in a while. I got super excited and started cooking.

Question:  Why have I not been making my Peanut Butter Yogurt Fruit Dip from the time all of the bazillions of apples began making their way into my kitchen this fall?

I seriously couldn’t stop eating this once I started – even though I’d already had a big dinner.
Let’s blame it on my workout earlier in the day, shall we?

And since my Spanish Rice recipe is so very easy, wouldn’t it make sense for me to make it for a quick lunch more often?

I also pulled out my Chocolate Pumpkin Bread recipe. I had forgotten how moist it is.

As you can tell, I’ve been having way too much fun in the kitchen this week. It may not come as a surprise to you that none of the men in my life have complained about the fun I’ve been having revisiting some of our “forgotten” recipes. :)

Up next – Chocolate Mousse. I can’t believe I forgot about this recipe. 

Read more about our Heavenly Homemakers eBook Overload Sale, which will provide you with these healthy, family friendly recipes – plus loads more!

Take advantage of this deal for one last day. Sale ends on at 11:59 pm Thursday, September 27.

Heavenly Homemakers eBook Overload
$51.49
$40.00
$20.00

I decided to check in with you mid-week to hear a little about how the Funky Fresh Kitchen Challenge is going for you so far. Remember, the challenge this week is to “Try Something New“. Have you figured out what to make? Have you given it a go yet?

I had a chance to experiment with Whole Wheat Pita Bread this afternoon. Success!! Oh – except for the fact that a Pig in a Blanket had apparently rolled off the baking pan and onto the oven floor a few days ago. Obviously, I was unaware of this at the time. When I heated my oven to bake the pitas (500°!), my oven started smoking something terrible. When I went to investigate, it turns out I had a blackened pig just a smokin’ away at the bottom of my oven.

Once I aired out my kitchen and continued making pitas, I was very happy with the results. (Happy, that is, with the results of my pitas – not so much my stinky kitchen.)  I’ll share the pita recipe on Friday and give you a chance to share what you tried too!

Now don’t you go telling anyone that the Heavenly Homemaker has pigs smoking in her kitchen. That just doesn’t sound right. ;)

You know I have to throw this “eat more fruits and veggies” challenge out every few months or so, right? During our month of the Funky Fresh Kitchen, it seems like a perfect time to bring it up again. :)

If you already eat lots and lots berries, salads, apples, steamed veggies, raw veggies, bananas, etc. each day, you can leave a comment, check this challenge off your list, and cheerfully go eat another green bean.

But if eating fruits and vegetables is something you struggle with, then can I encourage you to move out of your meat and potato comfort zone just a little bit? I’m not knocking meat and potatoes. I love ’em myself! I just know it’s important to eat many fruits and vegetables along with our steak and spuds.

 

Keeping plenty of fruits and vegetables on hand and serving them regularly for snacks and meals is a great way to have a Funky Fresh Kitchen and to take your family on a journey toward better health.

Feel like giving us excuses like “fresh produce is more expensive than other snacks”? Sorry, I’ve already done the research and the math on that one. It just ain’t true.  (Wow, look at me – pulling out poor grammar just to prove a point.)  Also, I’ve written another post in the past I think you should read encouraging us to be intentional about eating fruits and vegetables. I even went so far as to give you a detailed list of how you can make this work. It looks something like this:

1. Buy fruits and vegetables.
2. Eat them.
3. Repeat.

This is the perfect time of year to get your hands on awesome fresh produce for a great price. We currently have a kitchen full of fresh apples, pears, peaches, sweet peppers, tomatoes, green beans, and okra that we are enjoying constantly…with our meat and potatoes and pasta. See, eating more fruits and veggies doesn’t mean you have to give up other stuff you love. (Except for the junky junk food you should be giving up. For Pete’s sake.)  You just need to be sure you’re getting a diet rich in the nutrients only vegetables and fruit can provide.

Ready to accept this Funky Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Challenge this week? Simply commit to adding a few more servings of these jewels to your menu each day. Then, don’t forget to eat them (see number 2 above).

Leave a comment on this post, sharing what your favorite fruits and veggies are and how you plan to eat more in the upcoming week. All comments will be entered in our giveway for two $25 and one $50 gift certificates to the Heavenly Homemakers Shop.

Of all the challenges during our month of the Funky Fresh Kitchen, this one is probably my favorite. Having clean and organized kitchens is wonderful. Stocking our shelves with wholesome, healthy ingredients is fantastic. But taking the time out of our busy lives to serve someone? Now that’s more beautiful than any sparkling clean kitchen I’ve ever seen. 

While we focus this month on starting fresh, developing a routine, getting ahead, and becoming more organized…let’s also take a moment to look beyond ourselves. Is there someone you know who could use a good dose of something funky and fresh (and delicious!) from your kitchen? A family who could use some encouragement? A neighbor who needs a helping hand? A friend who has served you and you’d like to say “thank you”? 

Spend some time in prayer about this one. Who is God putting on your heart to reach out to? Listen.

Then get into your kitchen and bake up something funky and fresh to deliver to someone. Or cook an extra casserole to share. Or do whatever you feel you can/should do that will bless someone else.

Depending on what you feel you should do, this challenge may not actually involve food. Do you  need to simply make a phone call to chat with someone? Should you write and send a card? Can you focus some prayer time on someone specific?

This challenge really is about taking a deep breath, slowing down, and taking the time to love on others. As an added bonus, I encourage you to get your kids involved. If you’re going through the Learn Your Letters, Learn to Serve curriculum, you’ll easily be able to double up on this one. Oh, and we’ve got a new Funky Fresh Freebie coming up tomorrow that might give you more ideas! :)

Here’s Malachi taking a pie to our friends last year.  :)

As you think of ideas to complete this challenge, please leave your comments here. I know we will all love reading about ways you are planning to serve, and will be inspired by your ideas. All comments will be entered in our giveway for two $25 and one $50 gift certificates to the Heavenly Homemakers Shop.