Heavenly Homemakers

Encouraging women in homemaking, healthy eating and parenting

Gratituesday: September and Still Standing

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I ran into a friend at the soccer complex Saturday, and her question to me as I headed with my boys to our van cracked me up:  “Why are you leaving? Don’t you live here?” Ha! Yeah, that about sums it up. :)

I try not to whine too much (or too loudly). Forgive me if it seems like I complain about soccer season. I truly love soccer games and practices and watching the birds begin to fly south while I’m at the soccer field and running back and forth from the soccer fields to drop off boys to referee games and coming home from games to scarf down a quick meal so that we can head back to the soccer field again or packing food so we can eat during half time…

I’m serious. Supporting our York College soccer teams and participating in the “Rec-League” with our boys is so stinkin’ much fun! I can’t stay away, and if YC has away games, I try as hard as I can to watch the games online. 

But yes, August through the end of October is just a little bit hectic for us. (I was actually trying to finish the newest eBook project I’m working on by November. I’m pretty sure that is not going to happen.)

So today, I’d like to give a little shout out to God. We’re heading toward the end of September – and I’m still standing. How about that?! Through umpteen jars of applesauce, dozens of soccer games, and countless stinky shin guards and missing soccer socks – I am surviving.

Better than that, I’m lovin’ it. 

Now, just make sure you don’t open our living room closet if you come over and we’ll all get along just fine. (That’s where our cleats and shin guards are kept. You don’t want to go there. Phew!)  ;)

 Share how God is working in your life on your blog, then come link up with us here. If you don’t have a blog, be sure to leave a comment letting us know what you’re grateful for! Please read through the Gratituesday Guidelines so that you understand what kinds of posts you can link up to share here. Posts that are linked but do not fit our Gratituesday theme will be deleted.

If you are linking up a blog post for Gratituesday,
please copy and paste the following sentence into your post! Thanks!

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

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Funky Fresh Kitchen Challenge #5: Try Something New

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This is your fifth and final challenge during our month of the Funky Fresh Kitchen. How about that? We’re almost to the end of the month already!

This week, our Funky Fresh Kitchen Challenge is to try something new. 

I suppose I should clarify by letting you know that my intention with this challenge is that perhaps we all try a new recipe or two. But if you really want to take the challenge beyond my original intent, you are welcome to try sky diving, or walking backwards everywhere you go, or learning to speak Swahili.

Me? I’m going to try my hand at Whole Wheat Pita Bread. (Besides, I already speak fluent Swahili and had a lovely time sky diving with my family yesterday.)

Oh, I am so stinkin’ hilarious.

And boring. 

It is a fact that the idea of trying to make Whole Wheat Pita Bread makes me get all excited and jittery inside. But you couldn’t pay me a million dollars to sky dive. And I think we already know how many languages I speak. (Owhay aboutay uoyay?)

So, just supposing you also have already mastered the art of speaking fluent Swahili, how would you like to join me in trying a new recipe this week? 

Awesome.

Is there something you’ve thought about trying but just haven’t had the motivation to get it done? Now’s the time. Maybe you’d like to try making a Homemade Salad Dressing? Or how about Homemade Donuts? Whole Wheat Bagels? 

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How about trying your hand at Homemade Yogurt, Buttermilk, or Kefir? Or Alfredo Sauce? Or Cheeseburger Macaroni?

Oh, the list can go on and on. Take a look at all of the recipes I have posted on Pinterest. Or simply look through my huge recipes lists on the drop down Recipes link at the top of my site.

Or, of course, you’re welcome to try a recipe from another Website or cookbook. Try anything new that you think your family would like which will take you another step in the direction of having a healthy and Funky Fresh Kitchen.

I’ll report back on Friday to let you know how my Whole Wheat Pita Bread turns out. I’ll provide you with a chance to link up to share your progress too!

Be sure to leave a comment on this post, sharing what you plan to try during this challenge! All comments will be entered in our giveway for two $25 and one $50 gift certificates to the Heavenly Homemakers Shop.

Heavenly Homemaker's Club Members: Access your homepage and all your fantastic resources here! Not a member yet? Please join us!

Menu Plan for the Week (And Funky Fresh Challenge #4 Check-in, Along With My Pitiful Report)

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Here’s our menu for the week. Below, you’ll find my sorry little confession about Funky Fresh Kitchen Challenge #4. :(

Sunday, September 23
Oatmeal, fruit
Cheesy beef and rice, green beans, tossed salad
Huddle at our friends house

Monday, September 24
Whole wheat pancakes, blueberries
BLTs, sweet peppers, apples
Alfredo sauce with pasta, steamed broccoli and carrots

Tuesday, September 25
Easy homemade granola, dried fruit
Homemade pizza pockets, peache
Chicken noodle soup, carrots

Wednesday, September 26
Pancake sausage muffins, applesauce
Tuna salad, fresh tomatoes, sweet peppers, crispy cheese crackers
Roast, carrots, potatoes, gravy, green beans

Thursday, September 27
Pumpkin chocolate chip muffins, apples
Sloppy cornbread muffins, peas
One dish meat and potato casserole, salad

Friday, September 28
Cinnamon apple toast, milk
Creamy mac and cheese, peas
Rice and veggie stir fry with chicken

Saturday, September 29
Scrambled eggs, toast, creamy orange coolers
Leftovers
Calzones, fruit

Well, if you recall, last week our Funky Fresh Kitchen Challenge was to eat more fruits and veggies. So, how did you do?! Did you load up on plenty of servings of broccoli and carrots? Did you try a new variety of fruit? Did you take advantage of all the fresh produce that typically is available this time of year? Did you offer your family a nice variety of fruits and veggies for snacks and meals? Did you make big salads for lunch?

Did you notice that I’m trying to avoid telling you how I did with this challenge? ;)

Um…well. Of all weeks for me to throw out a “eat lots of fruits and vegetables challenge”. 

Not only was it a very busy week full of soccer games that had us on the run each evening, but on Monday I had an appointment with a Natural Doctor, and then began a cleanse of sorts. I’m not sure if you’ve ever done any kind of “de-tox” on your system, but wow, great as it was, this one about knocked me flat. I was pretty much worthless from Monday afternoon until Friday night (at which point I suddenly felt so incredibly good that I made and canned 26 quarts of applesauce – and then, still full of energy, got out a toothbrush to scrub my wooden floors – all while singing folk tunes loudly at a high octave). 

Just kidding about the folk tunes. And the tooth brush. Although I really did make 26 quarts of applesauce. (While jamming with the Newsboys.)  Seriously though – that cleanse did what it was supposed to do because I feel so very good now! 

Well, look at me – still trying to avoid telling you about how I did with the fruit and veggie challenge.

Since I wasn’t feeling the best all week, I had to just slip into “survival mode”. I did bare minimum around the house. I pared down my participation in the boys’ school lessons so that I could put them to work independently – popping my head off the couch occasionally to read History and Bible, and to toss out spelling words. All major projects that might have required me to come up with rubber cement, poster board, or basic brain function were put on hold.

We made great use of the food I had prepped ahead of time and put into the freezer, and I believe we did eat a fruit or a vegetable several times each day. 

But was I intentional about making sure we ate a nice variety of beautifully colored fresh produce? Nope. I actually almost forgot about the challenge in the first place. All I was intentional about this week was drinking plenty of water to keep my body doing what it was supposed to be doing.

And it worked!! Did I mention that once the cleanse had run its course, I felt so good that I ran eight miles, did 30 push-ups, and sorted all of our winter clothing – all while singing folk tunes loudly at a high octave?

Not really. 

But I seriously do feel good. And I plan to play a “re-do” card this week with the fruits and veggies challenge. Feel free to do the same if your week was anything like mine. :)

So, how did you do with the Eat More Fruits and Veggies Challenge? Leave a comment on this post, sharing how the challenge went for you. All comments will be entered in our giveway for two $25 and one $50 gift certificates to the Heavenly Homemakers Shop.

Heavenly Homemaker's Club Members: Access your homepage and all your fantastic resources here! Not a member yet? Please join us!

EASY! Overnight, No Knead Yeast Bread

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No Knead Bread. Let’s make life easier, shall we?

No-Knead Bread

I love having smart friends.

Smart friends who give me great, easy, healthy recipes are my favorite kind of friends. As are my friends who give me chocolate. Or jars. Or hugs. Or the friends who listen to my constant and sometimes nonsensical chatter. And the ones who put up with my unreasonable freak-out moments of stress. And the ones who pray with me. And the ones who deal with me during soccer season when I can’t finish sentences.

Let me just pause and wipe a tear. I really have the best friends ever…

Well now. (stops to loudly blow nose and gain composure)  I really brought all that up to say that one of my great friends, Nikki, shared this recipe with me. She’s one of my smart friends who I believe has done all of the above and then some (God bless her).

Once when I was at her house, she let me try some of the bread she had made that morning. It was great! And then she started telling me how she made it. How you don’t have to knead it. How you start it the night before and how it takes about three minutes to mix up. I think I grabbed her neck, hugged her fiercely, and knocked her over when she handed me the recipe. Not really. I truly can control myself. Usually. But hey, there was a great recipe involved, so no guarantees. See, I told you my friends are great to put up with me.

And now, the easiest bread recipe in the world…

No Knead Yeast BreadYum

5.0 from 1 reviews
EASY! Overnight, No Knead Yeast Bread
 
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Author:
Ingredients
  • 3 cups flour (This recipe works a little better with unbleached white flour, but I prefer to use freshly ground hard white wheat so that it is healthier.)
  • 1 ¾ teaspoon sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon active rise yeast
  • 1 ½ cups water
Instructions
  1. Stir ingredients together in the evening. (No need to proof the yeast.)
  2. Cover and allow dough to sit over-night on the counter-top.
  3. In the morning, dump the dough onto a well floured surface.
  4. Shape it into a ball.
  5. Let it sit for 30 minutes.
  6. Preheat the oven to 450°, heating the baking dish in the oven at the same time.
  7. Place the dough in the hot baking dish.
  8. Cover and bake for 30-40 minutes.

Note:  You need a covered dish to bake this bread.  I found a deep-dish casserole dish with a lid that worked for me, similar to this one. But if I can save up and splurge on this one, would that not be the coolest?

When you mix it and cover it in the evening, it starts out looking like this:

In the morning it will look like this:

After you bake it, it will look like this:

And when you slice it it will look like this:

Once you serve it, it will look like this:

(There’s no picture. The bread is gone. Obviously.)

I highly recommend that you give this recipe a try, and that you consider serving it with this wonderful Calico Beans dish. It’s a wonderful combo!

Heavenly Homemaker's Club Members: Access your homepage and all your fantastic resources here! Not a member yet? Please join us!

Gratituesday: Reading Time

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I have always enjoyed spending time reading to our boys. But during the past two weeks, reading time has become my favorite part of the day.

Two years ago, we read Little Britches together, by Ralph Moody. It is a true story, told by Ralph about he and his family and all of his adventures growing up as a little boy on a ranch. We all enjoyed the book a lot at that time, but Malachi was still pretty little and had a hard time following the story (and being quiet so that the rest of us could follow the story!).

Now, with our boys ages 7, 10, 12, and 15 – we are reading book two in the series by Ralph Moody, called Man of the Family.

I’m not even sure where to begin with my gushing. This book is so, so good. We are all captivated by it and have a hard time putting it down each night so that we can get to bed at a decent time. And I love that it is a book that all four boys are enjoying. (For the record, I believe girls will enjoy this book too. I think that this is safe to say because I am enjoying this book very much, and I am a girl .)  ;)

Beyond the overall enjoyment of the storyline, I am loving what this reading time is providing. Since we are in the middle of our busiest season of the year, it has been so great to have this time when we are all crashed out on the couches reading together at bedtime. Then, after reading time comes prayer time. Then after prayer time comes a great discussion or just random Coppinger silliness – or maybe a little bit of both. (Because we can’t just sit and be serious for too long, you know.)  :)

I love it all. This time to relax and connect with my boys at the end of the day has been wonderful.

(Shoot, I just realized I should mention that while I highly recommend all of Ralph Moody’s books, there is some occasional bad language. I edit as I read, and either keep moving or use it as a teachable moment.)

Share how God is working in your life on your blog, then come link up with us here. If you don’t have a blog, be sure to leave a comment letting us know what you’re grateful for! Please read through the Gratituesday Guidelines so that you understand what kinds of posts you can link up to share here. Posts that are linked but do not fit our Gratituesday theme will be deleted.

If you are linking up a blog post for Gratituesday,
please copy and paste the following sentence into your post! Thanks!

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

Heavenly Homemaker's Club Members: Access your homepage and all your fantastic resources here! Not a member yet? Please join us!

Nutrimill Giveaway from Paula’s Bread!

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It’s time! 

You know how much I love using my Nutrimill to make freshly ground flour for our baked goods. Not only are our breads, muffins, cookies, noodles, and tortillas much healthier when I use freshly ground organic white wheat – there is no comparison in taste compared to store-bought wheat flour. It’s incredible.

How about the cost of buying a mill and grinding our own flour? Well, I worked and saved up hard to buy one, and found that with the money we now save on wholesome, healthy baked goods, my machine paid for itself in no time. And of course, the savings will continue for years, since grinding flour and making our food homemade costs so much less than if I were to buy it pre-made.

www.paulasbread.com

A huge thank you goes out to Paula from Paula’s Bread for offering this giveaway! She always offers the best prices on Nutrimills and other great kitchen appliances. Plus her customer service is wonderful. (I know this because I dropped my canister and cracked it. She had a new one sent out to me before I could even start to cry. Love her.)

Ready to sign up for the giveaway? Leave a comment on this post for a chance to win.

If you would be interested in receiving optional extra entries to this giveaway (yes, I figured you would be) – you can do any or all of the following, but you MUST leave a separate comment here on this post for each of these tasks that you do:

Look at that. If you do all of the above, you’ll have all kinds of chances to win!

 I will draw a random winner on Monday, September 24. Please watch for a post stating the winner as you will be responsible for contacting me if your name is chosen.

Heavenly Homemaker's Club Members: Access your homepage and all your fantastic resources here! Not a member yet? Please join us!

Funky Fresh Challenge: Eat More Fruits and Veggies

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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.

Heavenly Homemaker's Club Members: Access your homepage and all your fantastic resources here! Not a member yet? Please join us!

Menu Plan for the Week

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I’ll get right to the point today and share our menu plan. Then later this afternoon, watch for a new Funky Fresh Kitchen Challenge…and that Nutrimill Giveaway we’ve all been waiting for!

Sunday, September 16
Oatmeal, fruit
Lasagna casserole, green beans, tossed salad
Huddle (at our friend’s house)

Monday, September 17
Whole wheat waffles, peach syrup
Hamburger patties, steamed broccoli and carrots
Alfredo sauce with pasta, tossed salad

Tuesday, September 18
Baked oatmeal cups, fruit smoothies
Chicken burritos, peaches, raw veggies
Beefy enchilada bake, tossed salad

Wednesday, September 19
Cheese and veggie omelets, fruit
Pizza pockets, apple slices
Cheeseburger macaroni, green beans

Thursday, September 20
Chocolate chocolate chip muffins, applesauce
Potato soup, carrot sticks
Italian cream cheese chicken, steamed broccoli and carrots, tossed salad

Friday, September 21
Peanut butter honey toast, bananas
Pigs in a blanket, fruit sala
Grilled bbq chicken, corn on the cob, tossed salad

Saturday, September 22
Homemade donuts
Leftovers
Homemade pizza, tossed salad

Heavenly Homemaker's Club Members: Access your homepage and all your fantastic resources here! Not a member yet? Please join us!

Funky Fresh Kitchen Challenge #3 Check In ~ Serve Someone {Barbeque Brisket and Cake Boys Episode 4…But not at the same time.}

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I have loved reading all of your comments this week as you’ve been serving friends, family, church members, and neighbors this week. Thank you all for joining with me in this Funky Fresh Service Challenge. I know that many have been blessed this week because of you. God is glorified! If you haven’t yet had the chance to serve someone, join this challenge anytime!

Our family had several friends over on Sunday for a meal and to play games. We served Barbecue Brisket, Baked Potatoes, Green Beans, Cream Cheese Corn, Tossed Salad, and Death by Chocolate.

 It was a blessing to have so many friends here, especially during our busy season. Taking time to relax, play games, and visit was just what we needed.

Later in the week, our boys made cupcakes to hand out to our York College Ladies Soccer Team. They recorded another episode of Cake Boys during the process.

Serving others is always a blessing to our family, and I’m so thankful that our boys are learning to experience this joy as well.

I’d love to hear more about how you were able to serve someone this week! Leave a comment here to share. All comments will be entered in our giveway for two $25 and one $50 gift certificates to the Heavenly Homemakers Shop.

Heavenly Homemaker's Club Members: Access your homepage and all your fantastic resources here! Not a member yet? Please join us!

Healthy Crock Pot Recipes: Calico Beans

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This Calico Beans recipe packs a punch when it comes to protein. In my household of men, this is much appreciated. Oh, who am I kidding? I may be the only girl in my household, but give me a bowl of beans, beef, and bacon, and I’m a happy camper. I love me a high protein meal! If all the boys in the house enjoy it too, well now, that’s just a huge perk. :)

Add some chopped sweet green peppers, or even a few chunks of spicy peppers to this recipe if your family enjoys a little “kick”.

Calico BeansYum

Healthy Crock Pot Recipes: Calico Beans
 
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Author:
Serves: 6-8
Ingredients
  • 8 ounces turkey bacon, cut into one-inch pieces
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • ½ cup chopped onion (or 4 Tablespoons minced onion)
  • 1 Tablespoon yellow mustard
  • 2 - 15 ounce cans baked beans (I use Eden Organics, full of healthy ingredients)
  • 1 - 15 ounce can kidney beans
  • ¾ cup ketchup (I recommend homemade ketchup or an organic variety that does not contain high fructose corn syrup)
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 Tablespoon vinegar (I use either red wine or balsamic)
Instructions
  1. In a skillet, brown bacon, ground beef, and onions together.
  2. Drain and dump into a crock pot.
  3. Add remaining ingredients, stirring until mixed.
  4. Cover and cook on low for six hours or on high for three hours.
  5. Or, skip the crock pot and bake this in a covered casserole dish at 350° for an hour.

Of course, you’ll save even more money if you soak and cook your own beans. Read more about this process here.

Calico Beans

I know everyone is different when it comes to craving meat and high protein meals.  Are you like me and feel like you could eat a half a cow sometimes? Or are you content with a small bowl of beans and the occasional peanut? 

Interested in more Crock Pot recipes? You’ll find several to look through here!

Heavenly Homemaker's Club Members: Access your homepage and all your fantastic resources here! Not a member yet? Please join us!