Heavenly Homemakers

Encouraging women in homemaking, healthy eating and parenting

That One Time I Got to Be a Speaker for the Homemaking Ministries Online Conference (Plus, win a NutriMill?!)

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I’m not sure which to tell you about first: the Homemaking Ministries Online Conference I was invited to speak for, or the NutriMill Grain Mill you have a chance to win!

I guess I’ll try to share both at once. :)

Coming in just a few weeks, you’ll want to take part in the 2018 Homemaking Ministries Online Conference. I was honored with an invitation to be a speaker and have had so much fun preparing!!

You’ll want to sign up to learn more about this conference here and when you do, you’ll be signed up to win some awesome homemaking prizes, including an actual Grain Mill!!!

There are more prizes where that came from. But more importantly, the Homemaking Ministries Conference covers much needed topics like:

  • Gospel-Centered Parenting
  • Overcoming Anger
  • Biblical Marriage
  • Your Identity in Christ
  • and many, many other kitchen, home, and Christ-focused topics.

As for my topic, I get to share from my 21 years of experience teaching my kids to cook. It’s been a blast working on this, especially once I realized how much my kids’ ability to cook is such a blessed part of our family’s ministries. Who knew? More on that during the conference!

When you sign up before July 9 to get info about the conference, you’ll not only be registered for the giveaway, you’ll also be given a chance to get a huge early bird discount. We’re talking a $20 savings! Plus this, which takes your savings up to $25:

So hurry over to sign up for the Homemaking Ministries Conference before July 9!

I can’t wait to share more as the conference dates get closer.

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

Simple Summer Suppers: Sloppy Joes

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Sloppy Joes are one of our favorite Simple Summer Suppers.


I love them because I can make a big batch and freeze to use as needed. This recipe becomes a no-brainer, so you can simply brown meat, add a few key ingredients, and supper is served!

(For the record, our family calls the evening meal “dinner” but somehow in the summer it feels lighter and cooler to call it supper. It’s kind of like how it feels more special to call Sunday’s lunch “dinner” even though we eat at noon. But I digress.)

Sloppy Joes are easy to make and keep warm in the crock pot to serve to a large crowd. They can be eaten in the yard for a summer picnic. They taste great with simple sides like raw veggies, cold watermelon or cantaloupe, cole slaw, or baked beans.

Make Sloppy Joes with any ground meat you have: beef, turkey, chicken, venison, or lamb. Eat them on buns or with tortilla chips. Or skip the carbs and eat the meat in a bed of lettuce!

Simple Summer Suppers: Sloppy Joes

5.0 from 2 reviews
Simple Summer Suppers: Sloppy Joes
 
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Serves: 4-6
Ingredients
  • 2 lbs ground meat (beef, turkey, venison or lamb)
  • 2 T. minced onion
  • 1 cup ketchup
  • 1 teaspoon mustard
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 Tablespoon worchestershire sauce
  • sea salt to taste
Instructions
  1. Brown meat and onion together.
  2. Add remaining ingredients, stirring well.
  3. Allow mixture to simmer in the skillet for a few minutes.

sloppy_joe_1

Have you seen our other Simple Summer Suppers? Here’s a running list:

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Have you become a Simple Meals member yet? You will LOVE how simple all the recipes are, and better yet, you’ll love that we do all the planning for you!

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

Simple Summer Supper: Broccoli Bacon Salad

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I promise not all of the Simple Summer Suppers we’re going to share have bacon in them. (At least I think I promise this. Yes. I do. I promise.) But it only made sense that this Broccoli Bacon Salad recipe follow the BLT Wraps recipe. Because obviously you made extra bacon when you made the BLT Wraps, right?

When one makes bacon, one should always make extra. This is not so all the people can over-eat the bacon. This is so the mother can get ahead in the kitchen. And who am I kidding? Here’s the real reason I make lots of bacon at one time:

I don’t want my hair to smell like bacon any more than is necessary.

When I make bacon my hair, clothes, and house absorb the delicious smell of bacon. But I don’t want to wear bacon hair for three days, nor do I want my house to constantly smell as if I’m burning a bacon-scented candle. (I am amused and slightly horrified that these actually exist.)

So I make bacon bits like this, or I bake bacon in strips like this. I make many pounds at one time so I can get ahead and then I wash my hair. The end.

Now that we have the bacon cooking situation under control, we can make all kinds of delicious meals in a hurry! This Broccoli Bacon Salad is packed with flavor! Of course it’s easy to make, because easy recipes are the only kind I like to make and share.

Broccoli Bacon Salad

5.0 from 1 reviews
Simple Summer Supper: Broccoli Bacon Salad
 
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Serves: 3-6
Ingredients
  • ¾ cup mayonnaise (I use Hain Safflower Mayo)
  • 2 Tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 5 cups of chopped broccoli (1 large head)
  • 2 Tablespoons chopped onion
  • 8 slices of cooked bacon bits
  • ¾ cup grated cheddar cheese
Instructions
  1. In a large bowl, combine broccoli, onion, bacon, and cheese.
  2. Stir in mayonnaise and vinegar.
  3. Serve right away or make ahead and chill until serving time.


Truly, this Broccoli Bacon Salad is a meal in and of itself. It can be packed in a lunch or eaten on the road. It can be made ahead of time and pulled out of the fridge for an instant meal. It makes a perfect Simple Summer Supper on a hot day!

You can look forward to getting more Simple Summer Supper ideas like this during the entire month of July. Stay tuned! (Be sure to subscribe here for free so you don’t miss any of these ideas and posts!)

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

Final Day 6 for $6 Summer Survival Package!

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Didn’t pick up this amazing package, designed especially to help you survive your summer in style? Grab it today while it’s only $6!

It’s an eBook package worth $32.70, but for one last day, we’re charging $6.

This package is extra special because it focuses on simple summer food, gardening, getting your kids to eat fresh summer veggies, and even finding awesome activities to do with your kids that do not involve a screen. It’s ridiculously fun, and it’s all for just six bucks!

What’s in the 6 for $6 Summer Survival Package

Simple Summer Suppers – $6.95 Value

Screen Free Summer – $3.95 value

How to Eat Your Fruits…and Veggies Too! – $4.95 value

Heavenly Homemaker’s Guide to Gardening and Preserving – $6.95 value

Beat the Heat! – $4.95 value

What to Do with the Chicken in Your Kitchen – $4.95 value

Ready to dig in? Read all the book details here. Get this entire Summer Survival Package for just $6! Offer ends Monday, July 2.

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

Simple Summer Suppers: BLT Wraps

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Through the month of July, we’re going to share Simple Summer Supper recipes. First up: BLT Wraps!

Like this recipe for BLT Wraps, some of the ideas we’ll share have been on our site for quite a while. We figured this was the perfect time to refresh your memory and pull out some oldies but goodies. These BLT Wraps are a big favorite at our house for sure! (Pssst! We’ve got some new ideas to share too!)

Are you like me in the summer? I love the sunshine and the heat, but figuring out our evening meal often leaves me stumped! I don’t want to turn on the oven. I don’t have a lot of motivation to stand over a stove. I like our food to be simple…

Oh wait. I like our food to be simple every day of the year; not just in the summertime. :)

So here we are, avoiding soups and casseroles but still needing to eat. I highly recommend making bacon bits like this, then taking a few minutes to make these fabulous BLT Wraps!

Simple Summer Suppers: BLT Wraps

Simple Summer Suppers: BLT Wraps
 
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Serves: 4-6
Ingredients
  • 4 ounces softened cream cheese
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 8 slices cooked and crumbled bacon
  • ½ cup chopped tomatoes
  • ½ cup shredded spinach, romaine, or green leaf lettuce
  • 3 eight-inch whole wheat tortillas
Instructions
  1. Mix cream cheese and mayonnaise until smooth.
  2. Stir in bacon crumbles and chopped tomatoes.
  3. Spread mixture onto tortillas.
  4. Sprinkle shredded lettuce on top evenly.
  5. Roll tortillas up tightly.
  6. Cut each into 5 diagonal slices.
  7. Chill until ready to serve.

Helpful Hint: When cooking your bacon for these wraps, I recommend cutting your bacon with kitchen shears. I also recommend cooking several pounds at a time so you can get ahead and pull out bacon bits for easy recipes like this one!

What are your favorite Simple Summer Suppers? 

You can look forward to getting more ideas like this during the entire month of July. Stay tuned! (Be sure to subscribe here for free so you don’t miss any of these ideas and posts!)

Have you become a Simple Meals member yet? You will LOVE how simple all the recipes are, and better yet, you’ll love that we do all the planning for you!

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

Just Say No to Russet Potatoes and Red Delicious Apples (When Sub-Par Food Doesn’t Inspire You to Eat Well)

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Could it be that you’ve only been eating sub-par food and have been missing out on what better varieties of real food have to offer? It’s possible that you might actually enjoy healthy eating – you just don’t know it yet!

While ordering a burger with a friend during a dinner out recently, I said, “No cheese please.” The person taking my order teased me by saying, “Ok, but you’re missing out on the best part!”

I agree. Cheese on a burger is fabuloso. But not when it’s fake, American cheese. I just can’t. It ruins the taste of my burger, it sticks to the roof of my mouth, it comes off the bun like a weird piece of plastic. I certainly don’t want to appear to be a food snob. I just like my food to taste good.

This is why I don’t buy russet potatoes any more. I mean, they’re fine. They’re okay. But Yukon Gold potatoes? Now those are incredible!!! They make every potato dish taste better. And they are more nutritious too. Score!

Red delicious apples? I’ve never liked them. They are flavorless and grainy and the skin is weird (bless their hearts). But give me a Gala, a Pink Lady, an Empire apple – oh the list goes on. There are so many fabulous apples choices available to us. Why settle for what doesn’t taste great?

I usually skip Iceberg Lettuce and go for more nourishing greens that are more flavorful and fun. Margarine is a non-food and you already know how I feel about that. But I will say that since I switched over to real butter a few years ago, my baked goods and all food using butter tastes 100% better.

Fresh or frozen veggies vs. canned veggies? There’s no comparison. Real cream compared to commercial creamer? Oh my.

In summary: Real food tastes incredible and when you eat it you will feel that you are eating like royalty.

Stop settling for sub-par food and go for what tastes amazing!

The prices of these great food varieties are only slightly higher (if they are higher at all) than their sub-par food counterparts. (I did a big real food price comparison here. You’ll LOVE the results I found about the price of real, healthy food!!)

Leave a comment to share what some of your favorite real foods are! It’s fun to hear what inspires others to eat well!

Did you get this awesome FREE PRINTABLE yet? It shares all our favorite real food substitutions that makes food tastes so delicious! Get yours here.

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

Is it too early to start counting down to Christmas??

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Special thanks to Mojosavings.com for sponsoring this post.

We have a fun countdown calendar in our living room that includes a special tile for every occasion: graduation, birthday, Easter, you name it. We can change the tile depending on what holiday or special day is pending, and change the number blocks to help us count down to the big day. Cute as it is, I’m kind of terrible with keeping up with it, so often it says 0 Days until Graduation for an entire month or as of late, 47 Days until Birthday. (I think I switched it last Tuesday??)

My kids are too old and too boy to think much about the cuteness of a countdown calendar. (Unless it happens to be their birthday that’s coming up. That’s when they tend to pay a little more attention. They do tend to get pretty excited as we count down to Christmas (don’t we all?!). In case you were wondering, there are only 181 days until Christmas. You’re welcome.

As much as I love Christmas, I don’t even want to think about it right now. I’m currently soaking up every minute of summertime! Christmas will come soon enough, and that is when it is worth taking a good look at the Lego Advent Calendars featured at Mojosavings. This is a very fun site that finds all the great deals and shares them with us so we don’t have to work so hard!

Now I really hate to bring it up as it’s also a little bit too early to start talking about Back to School savings. But seeing as that’s going to be right around the corner also (sniff), you’ll want to remember Mojosavings as they post all the latest and greatest of relevant deals and coupons.

COUPONS!!! The only thing better than a good deal is a good deal paired with a coupon, right?!

Now, I’m sort of done with the task of cutting coupons (no time for that!), but if I find great coupons that are digital and take no effort to use? I am all over it. Mojosavings does the work for us so all we have to do is search their site for the latest Kohls, Target, Walmart, etc. deals and coupons. And boom. There’s the deal, here’s a coupon, go therefore and save money.

So for whatever occasion you’re counting down the days, be sure to remember Mojosavings as a great site for finding deals and coupons to save you money on the big day!

As for me, I should probably go change the numbers on our countdown calendar. After all, it’s MY birthday coming up next and I’d hate for my family to think it is still 47 days away…

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

Make-Ahead Mac-n-Cheese For a Crowd

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I’d never tried Make-Ahead Mac-n-Cheese before, but figured it was worth a shot! I wondered: Could I make my easy Mac-n-Cheese for a crowd, then put it in the crock pot to stay warm? After all, I didn’t want to be a slave to the stove just as my guests were arriving.

Obviously it worked marvelously, otherwise I wouldn’t be here telling you about it. I definitely feel that this dish is best fresh, right off the stove. But the day I was feeding 25 teens, I needed a side I could make ahead and keep warm. As it turns out, we can make Creamy Mac and Cheese en mass, then put it in a crock pot to stay warm until serving time.

A few small details about making Mac-n-Cheese for a Crowd: Plan to use lots of sea salt. It can be rather bland otherwise. I even go the extra mile and stir in some garlic powder for a little extra pazazz.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: When making this Creamy Mac and Cheese, always remove it from the heat BEFORE you add the cheese. It’s not difficult, but breaking this creamy mac-n-cheese rule will give you weirdly textured pasta. So cook your pasta in the milk, slide it off the heat, then add cheese. See how simple?

Make-Ahead Mac-n-Cheese for a Crowd

Make-Ahead Mac-n-Cheese For a Crowd
 
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Author:
Serves: 25-30
Ingredients
  • 32 ounces dry pasta (I use whole wheat noodles)
  • 6½ cups whole milk
  • Sea salt to taste (1-2 teaspoons)
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 3-4 cups shredded cheese (I use Colby jack; cheddar is also great)
Instructions
  1. Mix pasta, milk, sea salt, and garlic powder in a large sauce pan. (I've found it best to divide ingredients into two large pots for faster and more even cooking.)
  2. Cook over medium-high heat stirring almost constantly until the pasta is tender (10-15 minutes).
  3. Remove from heat. (IMPORTANT!)
  4. Add cheese and stir until melted.
  5. Transfer Mac-n-Cheese to a large (6-8 quart) crock pot.
  6. Keep warm at "lo" setting for up to three hours.
  7. Stir in a bit more milk at serving time as needed.

 

When making a large amount of Mac-n-Cheese like this, I usually use this variety of whole wheat elbow noodles.

Need more ideas for cooking for a crowd? Check out this link:

44 Meals to Feed a Large Crowd

Did you download a free Simple Ingredients list yet? Keep all the basic ingredients on hand that you need to put together delicious, Simple Meals!

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

Summer Survival 6 for $6 eBook Package

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In case you didn’t know this already: I LOVE SUMMER!! I love the break from all the crazy schedules, I love the church camps, the people we get to see, the swimming, the food, and the SUNSHINE. I love everything about summer and yes, I even love being hot. So in celebration of summer and everything I love, I created this:

It’s an eBook package worth $32.70, but for one week only, we’re charging $6. BECAUSE IT’S SUMMMMMMMERRRRRRRR!!!

This package is extra special because it focuses on simple summer food, gardening, getting your kids to eat fresh summer veggies, and even finding awesome activities to do with your kids that do not involve a screen. It’s ridiculously fun, and it’s all for just six bucks!

What’s in the 6 for $6 Summer Survival Package:

Simple Summer Suppers – $6.95 Value

Simple Summer Suppers is a brand new eBook that we’re releasing just in time to include in this offer! (Notice that the full price of this one new book is higher than the cost of the entire package? Whooop!) This book gives you a sneak peek into the 13 great simple summer supper ideas we’ll be sharing here during the month of July. Too hot to cook, too tired to care, but the people still need to eat? This book’s got you covered!

Screen Free Summer – $3.95 value

This book is also brand new!! (Yep, we’ve been busy!) Get dozens of great ideas for fun to have as a family to make the most of your summer days. Get fun recipes, cute printables, oodles of games and activities to do inside and out. Wait till you see all the creative ways to use sidewalk chalk!

How to Eat Your Fruits…and Veggies Too! – $4.95 value

We pulled out this oldie-but-goodie that I originally wrote in 2008 and re-worked it to add more and better ideas. There’s no better time than summer to focus on adding more fruits and veggies to your diet. Learn fun new ways to encourage your kids to eat these gems, and who knows? You might start liking a few new fruits and veggies too!

Heavenly Homemaker’s Guide to Gardening and Preserving – $6.95 value

I wrote this back in 2009 and just like the book above, we re-worked it a little bit just for this occasion! There are picture of my babies in this eBook, because in 2009, my boys were little guys helping me snap green beans, shuck corn, and plant potatoes. Be still my heart. They still do all of the above, they’re just a lot taller than they were in 2009. Learn some simple gardening and preserving basics in this eBook. Get the kids involved!

Beat the Heat! – $4.95 value

Get 33 fabulous ideas and 49 simple recipes to help you beat the heat this summer! From fun ways to use the crock pot (while avoiding the oven) to some awesome summer snack ideas, this eBook is delightfully refreshing!

What to Do with the Chicken in Your Kitchen – $4.95 value

Aww, this gem is one of the first eBooks I ever wrote. I loved the chicken in 2007, I love it today. This eBook is everything chicken – basic, simple, delicious recipes you’ll love!

Ready to dig in? Get this entire Summer Survival Package for just $6! Offer ends Monday, July 2.

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

The Easiest 4th of July Menu

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The 4th of July menu I’m about to share with you is going to make you drool. You’ve been warned. Grab a napkin.

The Easiest 4th of July Menu

What I love about the food on the 4th of July is well, eating it I suppose. The flavors, the atmosphere, the excitement – well, 4th of July food tastes so amazing!

This is the 4th of July Menu I suggest as it is incredibly simple and absolutely mouth watering! It comes with plenty of options to fit your family’s preferences!

1. Select Your Meat

Burgers and dogs are great, but my absolute favorite meat to grill is this Simple Grilled Chicken. The key is to select boneless chicken thighs instead of boneless chicken breasts. This will create the most flavorful, juicy chicken you ever did grill.

Prefer to grill chicken legs? I suggest that you follow these great recipe options, then grill them instead of bake them. SUPER easy, and inexpensive too!

2. Select Simple Side Dishes

Fruits and veggies are the easiest foods to prepare and serve, and they are the healthiest too! So don’t stress over the sides. It’s as easy slicing a watermelon!

Our favorite simple side dish ideas for the 4th of July are:

3. Select a Dessert

Though why stop with one? It’s a holiday, after all. :) Our favorites include:

4. Select Fun Drinks

I’m usually a “do you want water or ice water?” kind of a gal. But on a special holiday, I enjoy serving special drinks! Here are some fun options:

What are your favorite foods to eat on the 4th of July?

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Love inspiration for menu planning? Want us to plan your meals for you? You got it! Simple Meals makes putting food on the table for your family easier than ever. For just $1/week? Sure thing!

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