summer recipes Archives | Heavenly Homemakers

Grilled Pizza Tortillas – a 10 Minute Meal!

June 27, 2021 by Laura Leave a Comment

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I shared a similar idea a few years ago, and it’s good enough that I’m bringing it back! Not sure what to make for dinner? Have everyone build Pizza Tortillas. Then throw them on the grill!

Yum

This isn’t even a recipe. This is all too easy. You can look at the picture and know exactly what to do because it is self-explanatory.

Laura answers the hard questions about making Grilled Pizza Tortillas below:

What is the base of this Grilled Pizza Tortilla you speak of? That would be a…tortilla.
How many tortillas should we use? However many your family can eat.
What should I put on top of my Grilled Pizza Tortilla? Whatever you want. I suggest pizza toppings. Those make the best kind of pizzas.
How much of the toppings should I use? As much or as little as you like.
What kind of cheese should I use? What kind of cheese do you like? {Laura answers a question with a question}
Where do I cook Grilled Pizza Tortillas? On the grill.
How long do I cook Grilled Pizza Tortillas? Until they are done.
Sauce or no sauce? Now that’s a good question. I mean, they were all good questions.

But about the sauce…

I skip the sauce on these Grilled Pizza Tortillas. I think they cook better and taste better when they are sauce-less, with the cheese directly on the tortilla, then toppings on top of the cheese. But THEN. After you cook them, you can dip them in pizza sauce as you’re eating. Perfection!

So now you know all about making Grilled Pizza Tortillas. Your family will love this!

Want more super fast food ideas for this summer?

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How to Make Easy Fruit Cobbler

September 24, 2019 by Laura Leave a Comment

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Hopefully, we’ve all been taking advantage of summer and fall to pick and preserve all the fresh fruit we can get our hands on. Now let’s learn about how to make Easy Fruit Cobbler!

Almost 12 years into sharing recipes here with you, I am shocked that I have yet to post our favorite fruit cobbler recipe! This is, hands down, Matt’s favorite dessert. And who am I kidding? Sometimes we make it and eat it for breakfast. It’s fruit and bread, am I right?

What fruits work best for Easy Fruit CobblerYum

In our experience, with the exception of melons and citrus, just about any fruits will work. Our favorites are:

Peach (our favorite, favorite!)
Strawberry
Raspberry
Blueberry
Boysenberry (Matt’s favorite since he grew up in California – but we don’t have access to these berries in Nebraska!)
Blackberry
Apple
Pear
Cherry

You can buy fresh or frozen fruit at the store or farmer’s market to use in these cobblers. Our favorite and most economical option is to use whatever fruit we’ve been blessed to pick and preserve. We grab peaches or berries that we’ve frozen during the summer and quickly make an Easy Fruit Cobbler to enjoy!

Use as much or as little sugar as you prefer. Through the years, I’ve cut the sugar content down in this recipe (so we can eat it for breakfast, you know?). And of course, I use freshly ground wheat flour. So our cobblers are made with whole grains, healthy fats, and amazing fruit!

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—- > Want to know more about grinding fresh flour and using whole grains? Read these posts! <—–

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I love that using whole grains in dessert and treat recipes takes them up a notch on the healthy scale! Yes, these are still sweet treats to be eaten in moderation. But when we cut down the sugar content, use whole grains, and use all wholesome, real food ingredients – we’ve got ourselves a dessert that is actually nourishing!

Easy Fruit Cobbler

How to Make Easy Fruit Cobbler

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Author: Laura

Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

TOPPING:
1 cup whole grain flour (I use freshly ground soft white wheat)
2 Tablespoons brown sugar or sucanat
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ cup melted butter
1 egg
3 Tablespoons milk
FRUIT:
6 cups fresh or frozen fruit, washed and sliced if needed
¼-1/2 cup brown sugar or sucanat, depending on your taste

Instructions

In a medium saucepan, cook fruit and sugar until soft and syrupy.
Pour fruit mixture into a 9x9 inch baking dish.
Mix together topping ingredients, beginning with dry ingredients first.
Add melted butter, egg, and milk until well combined.
Spoon mounds of topping over the fruit filling in the baking dish.
Bake in a 400 degree oven for 20-25 minutes or until cobbler is bubbly and topping is golden brown.
Serve as-is, or topped with ice cream or milk

If you prefer a crunchy topping instead of a cake topping, try this awesome Fruit Crisp Recipe instead!

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77 Screen-Free Summer Activities for Kids

June 25, 2019 by Laura 1 Comment

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Looking for some fun activities to do with your kids this summer? I’ve enjoyed 22 summers with kids (and counting!), so I certainly have a few ideas to share! (Subscribe here so you won’t miss out!) Today’s post includes: 77 Screen-Free Summer Activities for Kids

Huge List of Screen-Free Activitiesfor Summer Fun

List of Screen-Free Activities for Summer Fun

You might remember seeing this list a couple summers ago. It is huge and wonderful, and therefore well worth posting again! Get ready to be inspired as you see all of these great screen-free activity ideas!

Ready to get lots of ideas of ways to spend time with your kids and their friends while staying away from screens? Here we go!

Read, Read Read!

We’ve already talked about all the good books to read! (Did you see this list?) First and foremost, cooling off under the fan with a good book is a perfect screen free option this summer. Look over our list of great book suggestions. Join our Summer Reading Party. Read, read, read!

Have a Board Games Tournament

Huge List of Screen-Free Activitiesfor Summer Fun

Select any of the following, making adjustments depending on your kids’ ages. If your kids are old enough, enjoying any of these games in tournament form could be a blast! Even if your kids are “too old” for little kid games, sometimes it’s fun to pull them out and have a “Throw Back Game Day!”

UNO
Skip Bo
Rummikub
Chutes and Ladders
Farkle
Checkers
Monopoly
Scrabble
Bananagrams
Rummikub
Headbanz

Have Fun With Bubbles

Have Bubble Races – Hold your bubble on your wand and see who can go the farthest.
Set up a Bubble Obstacle Course – Create an obstacle course and try to get through it without your bubble popping.
Hold a Bubble Contest – Compete for who has the biggest bubble, smallest bubble, one that flies the highest, one that lasts the longest…
Make Big Bubbles – Use lids from different sized cottage cheese, yogurt, or sour cream containers to cut into fun bubble rings. Dip the the rings into the tubs of homemade bubbles, made as directed below. This makes great big bubbles!
Check out these Bubble Guns for an extra level of fun!

Need a Homemade Bubble Recipe?

5.0 from 1 reviews

Homemade Bubbles

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Author: Laura

Ingredients

12 cups water
1 cup dish soap
1 cup cornstarch
2 Tablespoons baking powder

Instructions

Mix ingredients in a bucket or tub, stirring gently.
Allow mixture to sit for one hour before having bubble fun!

Use Sidewalk Chalk in a Fun New Way

Use Water – Dip your sidewalk chalk in water and see how that changes the color and consistency of the art.
Have Sidewalk Chalk Contests – Compete for who can draw the silliest, biggest, smallest, brightest, largest, most accurate, etc.
Use Sidewalk Chalk to Decorate Rocks – It is like dyeing Easter eggs, only with chalk and rocks!
Spread the Love – Write a message of love, encouragement or fun on a neighbor’s sidewalk. Leave a Welcome Home message on a vacationing family’s driveway.

Enjoy Outdoor and Backyard Games

Ladder Ball
Bocce Ball
Kubb
Lawn darts
Soccer
Water Balloons
Hopscotch
Jacks
Four Square
Obstacle course / Outdoor Olympics
Hold jump rope contests, hula-hoop contests, or roller skating contests
Leaf, bug and flower collections or tree identification game
Cloud identification and imagination game

Set up Some Water Games

Jump on the trampoline with sprinkler underneath
Use a fun sprinkler to add fun to the play
Slip and Slide
Fill a kiddie pool with ice cubes and water

Set up Sand Box Fun

Use the sand to draw pictures
Bury small toys in the sand box and let the kids hunt for them
Add water to build castles and other creations
New sand toys and shovels are always fun
This dump truck won’t rust if left out in the rain
Durable watering can, shovel and rake

Go on New Adventures

Park Hop – Go from one park to another in your town and surrounding areas, take a friend, have a picnic
Have a Progressive Dinner – Start with salad at one house, hors d’oeuvres at a second, main course at another and end up with dessert at a final house
Go Geocaching – With a smart phone and some hiking shoes, you can make this happen. Don’t have a smart phone? Try a handheld GPS. You will have to scout your locations in advance and bring a list.
Go on a Treasure Hunt or Scavenger Hunt – Create a series of clues and a treasure at the end.
Go a New Way – Have a destination to which you like to bike or walk? Try taking a different route.
Look Online – Use the internet to find new, fun, free things to do in your area
Camp out in the backyard – If you can’t do over night, then pitch the tent in the yard for an instant playhouse/fort/hideaway

Set up Creative Indoor Play

Sensory Bins with Rice, Beans, or Salt – Let kids play in containers of rice, beans or salt. They can draw letters, shapes and pictures.
Play with and draw in Shaving Cream
Make Homemade Playdough (Mix 2 cups baking soda, 1 cup cornstarch and 1.5 cups warm water. Stir all together and bring to a boil over medium heat. Pour into something to cool. Once it is cool, knead it and you can play away. If you want to add color, put food coloring in the water before boiling the mixture.
Paint with Water Colors – Cover the dining room table with large sheets of paper and let the kids paint away
Make a Selfie – Take a large sheet of paper and trace the child’s whole body. Let them decorate and draw the shape to resemble themselves.
Hold a Talent Show – Do Mom and Dad have talent? What about the kids? Show it off! Don’t forget the video camera!
Get out Simple Art Supplies – Use pine cones, pipe cleaners and googly eyes to create a miniature family
Have a Lego Contest
Hold a Coloring Contest

Cook Together

Make Popsicles
Hold a Chili Cook-Off
Make a Picnic
Hold a Cooking Contest (i.e. Who makes the best cookies?)
Take advantage of this time to Teach Your Kids to Cook

Fun Kid Friendly Recipes

Here’s to a great summer of fun with our kids! Here are other ideas we’ve shared so far:

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Easy Recipes for Fourth of July

June 20, 2019 by Laura Leave a Comment

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I shared this post two years ago, and wanted to re-share as we all get ready for this fun holiday! Here are our favorite easy recipes for Fourth of July! Plus some tips for keeping your holiday prep simple!

Yum

The thing about making special food for any holiday is that too often the cooking and the clean up take away from our holiday fun. Here’s what I suggest you do this Fourth of July and every special day:

Choose simple recipes.
Make everything you can ahead of time so you can enjoy the day.
Stick with basic sides like watermelon and other fresh fruit, corn on the cob, and tossed salad (all easy to prep!).
Get your family involved in helping with prep and clean up.
Embrace the paper plate. (Do whatever you want with this piece of advice. Most of the time I avoid disposables, but to everything there is a season. So if I really want to enjoy my people and not stand at the sink rinsing a bunch of dishes, I pull out the paper products.)

watermelon

Now let’s talk about the simple recipes. Of course we will choose simple recipes. We love Simple. This is how we survive each day and also how we make holidays special. We keep it simple. We stick with basics. We go with what we know everyone likes. The beauty of all of this is that our food tastes amazing even without extra effort! (Real food is cool like that. It tastes great because it’s real and it can’t help but taste wonderful!)

13 of my favorite simple recipes for the Fourth of July!

Along with the typical grilled burgers and hot dogs, there are so many simple recipes for fun treats and side dishes that are perfect to enjoy on this special day. All of these recipes allow me to make them ahead of time and serve at mealtime. They taste amazing and are festive too!

1. Americana Cheesecake Parfaits

The cheesecake part of this recipe (white) whips together in just a few seconds. Add strawberries (red) and blueberries (blue) and you’ve got a beautiful and super delicious treat for the 4th!

Americana Cheesecake Parfaits

2. Raspberry Sweet or Unsweet Tea

Making fruit teas like this is super simple, and this Raspberry Tea turns a pretty shade of red. I’m thinking we could throw some frozen blueberries into the glass to make it a perfect Fourth of July drink. You might also want to try Peach Sweet (or Unsweet) Tea or Mango Sweet (or Unsweet) Tea so that you can set out a variety of good choices.

How to Make Raspberry Sweet or Unsweet Tea

3. Strawberry-Blueberry Shortcake

Strawberries and Blueberries appear to be the real food MVP of the Fourth of July. Raspberries too. Make this simple Shortcake Recipe, then set out blue and red berries along with whipped cream.

Strawberry Shortcake with Whole Wheat and Honey

4. Strawberry-Blueberry Shortcake Waffles

This is the same idea, but you can make your shortcake in the waffle iron for a pretty and fun twist on this favorite dessert. Might as well serve it for breakfast, because why not?

shortcake waffle4

5. Strawberry-Blueberry Shortcake Muffins

Okay fine. One more Shortcake variation and then I’ll move on. Sometimes it’s fun to make your shortcake batter in muffin tins and serve them as individual cakes with fruit and whipped cream on the side!

strawberry_shortcake_muffins_2

6. Very Berry Brownie Cups

Phew, this recipe has been on my site since before I had an actual camera. But the recipe is as good as ever and fun for people to build their own brownie cup!

7. Pineapple Cream Dessert

Orange you glad I didn’t say strawberries and blueberries again? This recipe is so refreshing on a hot summer day that it makes its way onto this list even though it’s not red, white, or blue. (But far be it for me to say that you can’t add strawberries and blueberries as a garnish.)

pineapple dessert 3

8. No Flour Monster Bars

This recipe makes the list because everyone loves them. Also, they are easy to make ahead of time and set out for grab-and-go snacking. If you want, you could stir in some red, white, and blue M&M’s, but you never heard that from me. Food coloring is bad. Avoid it at all costs. ;)

Real Food Monster Cookie Bars

9. Cream Cheese Fruit Dip

Here I go again with the red and blue berries. Serve them with this simple dip and it will be a big hit!

strawberry_dip_2

10. Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies

See if you can find some 4th of Julyish mini-muffin paper liners. Make these super simple cookies with stars in the middle!

11. Brownie Sundae Bar

This is super fun if you’re feeding a crowd, so everyone can build their brownie sundae however they like!

Build a Brownie Sundae Bar

12. Grilled Chicken

There is NOTHING better than this chicken on the grill. Click over to read how easy this is and read how to keep your chicken from drying out on the grill. This is a hit every time we make it!

13. Cream Cheese Corn

I’m not sure there is a side dish more perfect than this one for the 4th of July. Wow is it delicious! And it’s easy, and includes only 4 ingredients!

Creating this list has made me want to make every single one of these recipes for the 4th! I think I just might.

What are your Fourth of July plans? What are your favorite foods to make for the 4th?

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Summer Activities with Kids: Plan and Host a Party

June 18, 2019 by Laura 2 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

Looking for some fun activities to do with your kids this summer? I’ve enjoyed 22 summers with kids (and counting!), so I certainly have a few ideas to share! Stay tuned during the next few weeks as we provide all kinds of suggestions for making your summer with your kids meaningful. (Subscribe here so you won’t miss out!) Today’s idea: Plan and Host a Party!

No need to wait for a birthday or other special occasion for an excuse to host a party! Why not host a party just for the fun of it?

But I’m NOT a Party Planner!!

Not a party planning kind of person? ME NEITHER!!!! For me, planning “parties” with my kids has been more about planning fun get-togethers with their friends. When you see the list of ideas we came up with below, I think you’ll get excited about wanting to plan a “party” too!

Today we’re talking about ways to host a party while keeping it super simple! Remember, this is about finding fun ways to spend time with your kids and love others this summer. You can work with your kids to plan a party, but if you do it right, it won’t cost much or be very difficult either!

Here’s an example of something our family did a few years ago:

When Malachi was younger, he LOVED everything Lego! So just for fun, one summer we worked together and hosted a Lego Party with his friends. (It is important to note that his birthday is in December and we hosted this party in July. Because it was just for fun! No gifts, no pressure – just good ol’ Lego fun!)

We spent some time on Pinterest together, looking for fun ideas others had already thought of. We spent just a few dollars to put together some small treats and activities…

We “went all out” and made a Lego-shaped pinata and guess what we filled it with? Well, Legos, of course! (In a ziplock, oy!) Once the pinata had busted open, the boys dumped them out on the living room floor and had fun building together. Cost for this fun party game? Um, practically nothing. We already had the Legos. We covered the box with construction paper. It was so simple!

Just for kicks, if you’d like to learn more about How we Hosted a Lego Party on the Cheap, here are the details!

Another time, our boys decided together to host a Nerf Gun Party. They planned the whole thing themselves, which ultimately meant that they called and invited their friends, then everyone came over and shot nerf bullets at each other. And because my boys were into making cakes back in those sweet days, after the gun war, they fed everyone cake. Ah, the love language of boys. :)

What about Teens?

I really wish I had pictures, but none of us can find them on our phones! Last summer though, Elias decided to have a very belated birthday party – even though he’d turned 16 earlier in January. He invited a bunch of friends and helped me plan what to do and what food to serve.

We got a fire going in our Fire Pit (we have this one – such a fantastic investment, by the way!). The kids made their own brats and smores, they played lawn games, they kicked a soccer ball around. It was a blast and WHY CAN’T I FIND PICTURES??? Ah, I guess the memories will live forever in our hearts.

Inexpensive Summer Party Ideas

What do your kids and their friends love to do? Just like Malachi loved Legos and planned and hosted a Lego Party, select what your kids love and go with it! No need to be fancy. No need to spend money. Just pick a theme, invite your friends, and have some fun!

Here are a few ideas to get you and your kids started on brainstorming for fun party plans!

Water Games and Watermelon Party
Sack Lunch on the Lawn Party (everyone can bring their own packed lunch!)
Sidewalk Chalk Contest
Badminton and Brownies Party
Princess or Super Hero Dress Up Party
Lego Party
Popcorn and a Movie Party
Smores Making Party
Crafts and Snacks Party
Cooking or Baking Party
Cookie or Cupcake Decorating Party
Swimming Party
Book Swap Party
Trampoline and Treats Party
Popsicles and Play Party
Board Game Bonanza
Bike Trail Party (ride bikes together, ending in a special location for a treat!)
Card Game Tournament
Ice Cream Sundae Bar Party
Lawn Games and Snacks Party

If you and your kids start brainstorming, there’s no end to the ideas you’ll come up with! See how easy? See how fun? See how inexpensive?

Need some fun Lawn Game Ideas?

Ultimate Disc Game
Kubb
Lawn Bowling
Yard Dice
Ladder Ball
Molkky
Washer Toss
Ring Toss
Frisbee Golf (Disc Golf) Set
Floating Pong

Need some fun Board Game and Card Game Ideas?

5-Second Rule
Spot It!
The Game of Things
Rummikub
Settlers of Catan (With extentions, which you’ll need if you have more than 4 players.)
Settlers of Catan Cities and Knights (This is an expansion of Settlers of Catan. This is our favorite add on to regular Setters.)
Seafarers of Catan (Also an expansion of Settlers.)
Ticket to Ride
Carcossonne
Bohnanza (This one is unique. Great for older kids and adults. We love this one!)
Life
Risk
Manhattan
Guestures
Taboo
Blink (Malachi and I play this quick card game a lot while the older brothers are at basketball practice.)
Headbandz
Acquire
Sequence
Clue
Apples to Apple Junior (This is probably our favorite group game. We don’t recommend the regular version of this game because the cards are less familiar to the kids.)
Scattergories
Pictionary
Cranium
Boggle (This game totally counts as school work, but no one knows they’re learning.)
Monopoly
Sorry
Quelf (I’ve actually decided that I very much dislike this one. The kids like it though.)
Racko
Balderdash
Yahtzee
Farkle
Pass the Pigs
Huskerdu (great for younger kids – still fun for adults)
Mastermind
Skipbo

Need some fun Party Food Ideas?

Brownie Sundae Bar
Butterscotch Bars
Caramel Apple Dip
Cheesecake Brownies
Chocolate Chip Brownies
Chocolate Whipped Cream on Strawberries or In Your Coffee
Death By Chocolate
Homemade Ice Cream
Ice Cream Sandwiches
Monster Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars – no flour!
Peanut Butter Brownie Cups
Pineapple Cream Dessert – Low Sugar!
Pudding Pops

Ready to Plan and Host a Party with your kids this summer?

What food, game, and theme ideas do you have?

Here’s to a great summer of fun with our kids! Here are other ideas we’ve shared so far:

Stay tuned for more fun Summer Kid Activity ideas!

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

50+ Crock Pot Recipes for Summertime

June 11, 2019 by Laura Leave a Comment

This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

Too hot to cook? If it isn’t already, it will be soon. Temps will continue climbing throughout the summertime! Never fear. Here are 50+ Crock Pot Recipes to rescue you from your hot kitchen!

50+ Crock Pot Recipes for SummertimeYum

What I love about the crock pot is that not only does it help us avoid heating up the kitchen, it saves us a lot of time too! Typically making food in the crock pot means that we make our meal early in the day – then at dinnertime, the food is ready and we sit down and eat!

Most of the recipes you see listed below are main dishes. But we’ve got a few sides, drinks, and desserts too! You’ll be pleased to know that most of the recipes listed below take just a few minutes to prepare. I LOVE THIS!!!

I especially love the pasta recipes listed here. It is incredibly easy to dump dry pasta into the pot along with a few other ingredients, then have dinner ready just a few hours later!

Main Dishes in the Crock Pot

Even if you don’t like Sauerkraut, I really encourage you to try the Hamburger Sauerkraut Dip recipe listed below. It is so delicious! Make it a meal on a hot summer day!

Snacks and Side Dishes in the Crock Pot

Sometimes we feel like baking even when it’s too hot to bake!

Desserts in the Crock Pot

What Crock Pot Should You Get?

I would say that just about any Crock Pot is a good choice. But my personal preference is one that is programmable. I love that I can set it and walk away, knowing it will automatically turn off when it is finished cooking and switch to a “Keep Warm” setting. I have this one and I love it!

What are your favorite foods to make in the Crock Pot?

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Final Day 6 for $6 Summer Survival Package!

July 1, 2018 by Laura Leave a Comment

This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

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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Summer Survival 6 for $6 eBook Package

June 25, 2018 by Laura 2 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

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!!!

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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21 No-Bake Snacks for Summer

June 22, 2017 by Laura 5 Comments

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Frozen Yogurt Cups

Why is it that when a girl has had a variety of guests moving in and out of her house for three weeks straight and needs to get three of her sons packed and ready to head to camp for a week…

Her washing machine breaks?

It waited until the exact moment we used our last clean towel and needed to put clean sheets on the bed for our oldest son who was coming home from traveling (with a full suitcase of dirty camp clothes). No big deal.

I actually had to laugh when it happened because this was the fourth break-down in a series of doozies. “Of course my washing machine just broke,” I said to my dirty sheets as I pulled them back out of the washer. “The timing couldn’t be better; I can’t wait to tell Matt.”

Ahhh, Matt. At the time of my broken washing machine discovery, that guy was on our roof trying to find the source of a major leak issue. And the day before he’d been on the roof of one of our rental houses doing the exact same thing.

We still haven’t made a decision about buying a new-to-us vehicle since our van died a few weeks ago. And did I mention my grill won’t stay lit? Eh…who needs grilled steak or my very favorite grilled chicken? Who even does?

One might say, “The Coppingers sure are having a rough summer,” but I’m here to say that I’m actually having a great summer! When I look at the big picture of my life I see what’s actually true:

No fewer than four families offered to loan us a car until we get our van situation figured out. Four families! We took one family up on their offer because they had a car they weren’t even using right now. God provides.
Matt was able to stop the roofing work he was doing in order to spend a few hours fixing our washing machine. It was ready to go again just before the boys needed to wash laundry and pack. God provides.
We haven’t had rain since the leaky roof discovery, and while we always welcome rain for the farms and gardens, we are thankful that Matt was able to fix the leak situations before the next downpour. God provides.
I miss the grill but until we can figure that issue out, I’ve got two crock pots, a stove-top, and have recently come up with a passel of Waffle Iron Recipes that help me avoid heating up the house with an oven. All together now…God provides.

Inconvenience isn’t the same as heart-ache. Broken things are just broken things. So who even cares that my coffee pot stopped working? Oh yeah, by the way, my coffee pot also stopped working. Now that one did threaten to push me over the edge into a pit of despair. I don’t even need transportation or clean clothes, but I do need coffee. I kid, I kid. Also, Mr. Coffee himself sent me a new one at no charge so does God provide? Oh yes I think He does.

21 No-Bake Snacks

And with that, I shall share with you 20 No-Bake Snack and Treat Recipes. We all need these whether we have a grill, a working vehicle, or a washing machine. Avoid turning on the oven and fill your fridge and freezer with these. They are low in sugar and super refreshing and tasty!

How’s your summer going? Are all things in working order at your house?

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Cinnamon Nectarine Muffins

August 14, 2014 by Laura 10 Comments

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I am well aware that I feed an army each day. But sometimes, the reality of how much food it actually takes to feed this army leaves me with my mouth hanging open.

Take, for instance, the fact that we got 20 pounds of nectarines last week in our Azure Standard order. Within only 5 days, our family had polished off 15 pounds of them. Do you know how many nectarines that is? Neither do I. But it was a lot of nectarines.

As the box was emptying, I decided to get a little bit creative. Some of the nectarines were getting pretty soft – a little too soft to slice nicely. Therefore, into the food processor they went, skin and all. (I did remove the pit. I thought I’d mention that for those of you who were considering throwing the entire piece of fruit directly into the machine. Don’t do that.) The food processor turned out a very nice nectarine puree, which when stirred into other fine ingredients, turned out a most deliciously moist muffin.

Feel free to sub peaches for nectarines in this recipe. :)

Cinnamon Nectarine Muffins

Cinnamon Nectarine MuffinsYum

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/4 cup sucanat
3/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 3/4 cups nectarine or peach puree (4-5 peaches or nectarines)
1/3 cup sour cream
1/4 cup melted butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg

In a large bowl, mix together flour, sucanat, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Stir in pureed fruit, sour cream, melted butter, vanilla, and egg. Once mixed, scoop batter into well buttered or paper-lined muffin tins. Bake in a 400° oven for 25-30 minutes or until muffins are golden brown. Makes about 15 muffins.

I found that these muffins required a little more baking time than a typical muffin. You may want to prick one with a toothpick to make sure it comes out clean so the muffins aren’t doughy.

Which do you like best: nectarines or peaches?

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