Heavenly Homemakers | Page 427 of 443 | Encouraging women in homemaking, healthy eating and parenting

Find Peace in Your Day…

April 3, 2008 by Laura 5 Comments

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Just a piece of encouragement…

As you go about your day with your children…or co-workers…or spouse…or the people you run into while you’re getting groceries…

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything,
by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving, present you requests to God.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:4-7

Read it again.

Think about it.

It tells us to simply: Rejoice…be gentle…be calm…pray…and accept His peace.

God is good!

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Making Homemade Soft Pretzels…Again…

April 1, 2008 by Laura 118 Comments

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Yes, I am aware that I have already posted this recipe and that MANY of you have told me how much you LOVE these pretzels!

But we were encouraged to re-post our favorite Works for me Wednesday post…and this is by far my favorite…for oh-so-many delicious reasons!

So now you can be re-encouraged to make these pretzels!! Here you go (again)…

Okay, brace yourself.

The recipe I am about to share with you is INCREDIBLE!

Yum

Ask anyone who’s ever tried them.

People have even called me the “Pretzel Lady”. (I’m sure they’ve even called me the “Beautiful Pretzel Lady” and the “Unbelievably Intelligent and Witty Pretzel Lady” behind my back.)

I used to sell these at our local farmers market each week. On my best week, I sold over 100 of them in less than 17 minutes (yes, I timed it).

Okay, so here is the recipe and the step by step tutorial on how to make Laura’s Amazing Soft Pretzels:

Ingredients:

1 cup water
2 Tablespoon yeast
2 teaspoon honey
2 1/2 cups milk
1 stick butter
1/2 cup honey
4 teaspoon salt
8 cups whole wheat flour
butter
salt

(You can make these with white flour and white sugar if you want to have a delicious mound of empty calories…but I have found that using these healthier ingredients does not make us like these pretzels any less!)

Okay, here are the directions for preparing the pretzels that are to die for:

In a large bowl, mix 1 cup very warm water, 2 T. yeast and 2 t. honey. Stir this together and kind of mush the yeast around. Let this sit for a few minutes while you do the next step.

Melt a stick of butter in a large saucepan.

Add 1/2 cup honey, 4 t. salt and 2 1/2 cups of milk. Heat this to 120 degrees.

Pour milk mixture into yeast mixture and stir.

Stir in 8 cups of flour, 2 cups at a time. (add more if you need it)

Knead the dough for 5-10 minutes.

Plop it into a bowl, cover it and let it rise for 1-1 1/2 hours.

And it should look like this:

Pull it out of the bowl and knead it a few times to get the air out.

Pull a ball of dough, about the size of your fist off and get ready to make your very first pretzel! (such a proud moment)

Roll it into a long snake.

Then do this:

Then twist it again to look like this:

Then pick up the ends and pull them down to the bottom. (And please make no snide remarks about my blueish, boney hands. It is always a little cold in my house and my hands are never quite warm AND I inherited my Nana’s boney hands and I know my Nana would have never allowed her hands to be put on a blog while she lovingly told you how to shape a pretzel because she was ashamed of her boney hands, but I’m okay with it. I’m not embarassed at all. Not one bit.)

And then, it should look like this. And if it doesn’t, just undo it and try again. By the time you get to the end of shaping your big blob of dough into pretzels, you’ll have the hang of it and be able to talk on the phone, make a grocery list, check your email, tie someone’s shoe AND shape a pretzel, ALL AT THE SAME TIME!

After you shape each pretzel, put them on a cookie sheet about an inch apart. Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

Melt a stick of butter in a saucepan.

Right when you take the pretzels out of the oven, slather them with butter. Lay it on thick. Don’t hold back.

Then sprinkle salt over them.

And, if at all possible, eat one right out of the oven. They are good two days later too, but OH MY GOODNESS, you HAVE to eat one right out of the oven!

With a glass of milk.

And if you really want to have fun, shape some into hearts!

Whenever I want to make a special treat for my family, this recipe always works for me!

[tags]whole wheat soft pretzels, healthy treats, homemade breads[/tags]

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Just a Bit About My Day…

April 1, 2008 by Laura 3 Comments

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It was a typical day for the Coppinger household. (Translate that to mean…it was loud, crazy, we ate a lot of food, and I’m ready for bed…)

The boys and I had signed up to help deliver Meals on Wheels this morning…so we tried to get a few items of school work checked off of our lists before we had to leave at 10:40.

Well, I tried…but the boys were in slow-mode all morning…

Not only did they not get any school work done before we left…I could barely get them to get their clothes on!

They were incredibly distracted by the fact that their first soccer practice was tonight. This meant that all they could think about was cleats and shin guards at 10:00 am…even though practice wasn’t until 5:45 pm.

And they were NOT hearing me when I kept telling them to GET DRESSED in regular clothes….not soccer clothes…so that we could go do Meals on Wheels.

So, time was ticking away…and the boys are still in their jammies at 10:15. They really are not usually this bad about listening and obeying…but soccer excitement won over Mom this morning.

Here’s what our conversations and activity sounded like this morning:

Me at 10:15 – “Boys…why are you still not dressed? We have to leave in 25 minutes for Meals on Wheels.”

Justus – “Mom, where’s the soccer shirt that Daddy got me in Mexico?”

Me – “In the dryer…but it’s too cold to wear that shirt…and it’s too early to get ready for soccer. Please put on warm clothes so that we can deliver meals.”

Elias – “Hey mom…all of the soccer jerseys are in my closet. How come?”

Me – “Because it was just easier to put them all in one spot during the winter. But…can you please not worry about the soccer shirts right now…and put on your clothes for delivering meals?”

Justus – “Mom…I’m going to put mine and Asa’s soccer shirts in our closet, okay? That way we know right where they are!”

Me – “Justus…please get out of your jammies and put on your clothes for delivering meals!”

Elias – “Mom are my shin guards in the bathroom?”

Me – “Buddy…please stop thinking about soccer clothes and get into your other clothes!”

Justus – “Hey Mom, I found my Mexico soccer shirt!”

Me – “Good…but…GET DRESSED!”

Elias – “Do my soccer cleats still fit?”

Me – “Yes I’m sure they do, but right now we’re going to wear your tennis shoes. Why are you not dressed yet?”

Justus – “Mom, we’ll need to eat an early dinner so that we can make it to soccer practice on time.”

Elias – “What is for dinner?”

Me – “Boys, are you hearing my voice? GET DRESSED!”

Me – “Malachi, let’s get your shoes on so we can go deliver Meals on Wheels.”

Malachi – “Oh, are we gonna ride bikes?” (guess he was thinking of a different kind of wheel…)

Me – “No, we’ll be riding in the van.”

Asa – “I’m going to wear my Heelies…that way I really will be delivering meals on wheels!”

Justus – “Oh, I need to go clean the mud out of my heelies so I can wear mine too!”

Me – “No! Get dressed! You don’t have time to touch your heelies.”

Justus – “Do you know where my long blue soccer socks are?”

Elias – “Oh, I better get mine out.”

Me – “NO! We need to leave in four minutes! No more talking! Get dressed! And do not touch your soccer socks.”

Elias – “Where are we going again?”

<sigh>

Okay…anyway…it might have been comical had I not been so frustrated that I was talking to two brick walls (who couldn’t wait to be playing soccer…).

BUT…once all was said and done…and we were actually DRESSED and out delivering meals…it was such a precious time.

I let the boys take turns going in pairs up to the door with the meals…and they did such a good job. I know the older folks receiving the meals HAD to have felt blessed by these sweet boys bringing them their lunch. I was so proud of them…

They are learning to be servants…(and hopefully they are learning to get dressed before 10:45 am!)

Oh, and one more thing about our day…

This afternoon…I couldn’t find Justus…

The next thing I knew he was coming into the house with a very big (but thankfully not horrible) cut on his finger.

He had been cleaning the mud out of his heelies…

With his pocket knife blade!

(Thank you God that it wasn’t worse!)

We had a nice long talk about how unsafe that was and how anytime he uses his pocket knife…he MUST ask me first…and how he learned his lesson without anything terrible happening…but that it could have been terrible…

Trust me…as he was holding his bleeding finger…THIS TIME…he was listening.

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Gratituesday: Green Grass, Wildflowers and Kisses

April 1, 2008 by Laura 3 Comments

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After a long, long, (long) winter…I really do think spring is here.

I love being able to walk outside and breathe in the air (and not gasp because the air is so cold that it hurts)!

The grass has been yellow and asleep. After a few rains…I’m seeing more and more green grass all the time! It is as if God is painting it green with His rain!

There are blossoms on the trees!

And yesterday, Justus found two lavendar wild flowers in our yard (and picked them and brought them to me with a kiss!)!

It won’t be long now until I can get my hands into the soil and start planting my seeds!

Spring is refreshing, exciting and energizing!

I’m so grateful for the changing of seasons so that we can again be reminded (in case we have forgotten) of God’s mighty hand over nature.

(And just in case it snows again before summer…and it probably will…because I live in Nebraska…I will try to continue to be grateful!) :)

What are you grateful for?! What’s God been doing in your life?

Share with us here….or blog about it yourself and come back and leave a comment to let us know to come and read your Gratituesday post!

Happy Springtime!

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A Great Fruit and Veggie Breakfast!

March 31, 2008 by Laura 9 Comments

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Who knew veggies at breakfast could be SO yummy?!

Yesterday, I wanted to get a good start to my day with the Eat More Fruits and Veggies Challenge, so I whipped out the broccoli at breakfast!

I sauted onion, red and green peppers and broccoli in olive oil for a few minutes…then scrambled eggs into the veggies with salt.

Then I peeled myself an orange…and WOW!!

I could not stop saying..”MMMmmm!!” while I was eating it! It had wonderful flavor…and the sweet, juicy orange with it was so refreshing!

My husband and I both LOVED this dish…and the kids might have liked it…if we would have saved them some! We finished the entire skillet before they even had a chance!

Here’s the recipe:

Veggie Egg ScrambleYum

3 T olive oil
1/4 cup chopped green pepper
1/4 cup chopped red pepper
2 T chopped onion
3/4 cup broccoli
5 eggs
sea salt

Saute the peppers, onions and broccoli in olive oil for 3-5 minutes until veggies are tender crisp. Beat eggs in a bowl. Pour eggs into skillet. Salt to taste. Scramble eggs with the veggies until the eggs are done. Serve with fresh fruit.

Give this dish a try sometime for breakfast (or dinner!).

Do you need to be eating more fruits and veggies?! Come on over and join our Eat More Fruits and Veggies Challenge!

I Surrender All…

March 31, 2008 by Laura 8 Comments

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As I continue to read the book Irresistible Revolution as talked about in this post, I am searching to find answers to what it means to give and love as Jesus gave and loved.

Yesterday at church, we sang the hymn “I Surrender All”. Later my husband and I were talking about this song we’ve sung our whole lives…which begins:

“All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give…”

Do we really surrender all?

Or do we just surrender some…sometimes?

And the question remains. How do we surrender all?

With a family to support and feed and care for…we really can’t just sell all we have and go live among and minister to the the homeless and drug addicts (as the author of this book has done).

So, what does it look like for us?

We’re still searching (and I pray that we always continue to search out how we can surrender all…).

But as I’ve pondered and prayed, I’ve come to this:

For me, as a wife, mother and homemaker…it begins at home. As I care for and raise my family, as I work to make my home a haven, as I work to support and love my husband…

That is where it begins.

And, I can open my heart and home and always be ready to welcome others in.

God gave us a big beautiful home. I can surrender it to Him. And oh the ways He might use it…

So what are your thoughts? What do you think it should look like in your life to surrender all?

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How Big is one Serving of Fruits and Veggies?

March 31, 2008 by Laura 3 Comments

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Does it sound overwhelming to eat five to eight servings of fruits and veggies each day?

What does a “serving” look like anyway?

I’m guessing that you’re picturing that you must sit down to the table with a whole head of cauliflower..a banana…a large carrot…and Larry the Cucumber. And eat it all in one sitting!

But guess what?!

One serving of fruits and veggies is equal to a half cup. That’s not very big!

So, a half of an apple equals one serving. Eat a whole apple…and you’ve just eaten two of your servings for the day!

About six baby carrots…one serving!

Eat a big plate of salad…and you’ve got about three servings right on your plate!

Your side dish of broccoli and carrots at dinner…probably equivilent to two servings.

Go here to find more information on this!

A half cup is NOT very big! You can do lots of those every day!!

Okay now, does that sound more like it?! Can you do it?!

Yes, you CAN do it!!

Now go eat a nice juicy orange (which is equal to two servings) and you’ll be off to a great start!

Come join the Challenge!

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Eat More Fruits and Veggies…the Menu

March 30, 2008 by Laura 4 Comments

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With spring in the air, and more delicious foods becoming available to us…what better time to start eating more fruits and veggies!

Come read about the Eat More Fruits and Veggies Challenge!…and join in! What a great way to take care of yourself and your family!!

Here’s our menu for the week…full of delicious, healthy choices!

Come on and join in the Eat More Fruits and Veggies Challenge!

More Menu Plan Monday…

[tags]healthy eating, eat more fruits and veggies challenge, menu plan[/tags]

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Eat More Fruits and Veggies! The Challenge

March 30, 2008 by Laura 10 Comments

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First it was the NO SUGAR Plunge…

Now…it’s time to take the Eat More Fruits and Veggies Challenge!

Do you know how many servings of fruits and veggies we’re supposed to be eating everyday?

A LOT!

Do you know how much people usually eat everyday?

Not nearly enough!

Do you eat enough?

It is recommended that we eat at least five servings a day. Minimum.

Really, really…we should be eating lots and lots of these wonderful, delicious, healthy foods!

I say…let’s go with the number eight!

So here’s the challenge: Focus on eating at least eight servings a day of fruits and veggies.

Hey, if you eat more than eight a day…great! (By the way, one serving is equal to only a half cup – it’s not very big!)

Set a goal that works for you! If your goal needs to be less than eight servings a day…no problem. You’ve gotta start somewhere!

Let us know you’re going to take the challenge! Keep coming back here for ideas, recipes, and some great fruit and veggie encouragement!!

Come on…it’s the perfect time of year to take this challenge…when everything around us is in bloom and fresh and new!

Do it!! Go to the store and get all kinds of beautifully colored, God given food!!

Come on back tomorrow…we’ll chat some more about this!

SO…WHO’S WITH ME???!!!!

WFMW

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A Dragon For Dinner

March 30, 2008 by Laura 6 Comments

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Saturday, our homeschool group performed the musical, A Dragon for Dinner.

Here’s the cast…which includes a storyteller, a king (Asa), a queen, a princess, maids, a gardeners boy, a prime minister, a security guy (Justus) and a two headed dragon.

Here’s King Asa and Security Guy Justus. (um, Justus doesn’t really have buck teeth…but it kinda looks that way in this picture.) :)

And here are two of the sweetest girls EVER!! (Matt and I are working out contracts with the parents of these girls for arranged marriages for two of our boys…)

A few more shots…

Ah, I wish you could have been there! It was a proud, sweet moment for parents, that’s for sure! These kids worked SO HARD and did such a great job!

Oh, and thankfully, this fairy story had a happy ending…as everyone remembered their lines…the scenery stayed in place…the dragon did not eat the princess…and everyone lived happily ever after.

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