Giveaway from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds!

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds

***Drawing Closed***

  Did you know that tomatoes come in different colors other than red?

Well, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds is allowing me to give away one packet of seeds for each of the EIGHT different color varieties available!  All organic.  All GMO-free.  All heirloom/non-hybrid.

Take a little lookie-see what we're giving away:

Easy Knitted Dishcloth or Washcloth

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Recently, I saw this great post over at DIY Natural about knitting a dishcloth or washcloth. 

It's a wonderful tutorial.  If you don't know a thing about knitting, they have included YouTube links to show you how.

My daughter has been wanting to learn how to knit and I was a little rusty.  I haven't knitted a thing for about ohhhhh maybe 15 years.  One summer I knitted about 10 pairs of socks for my family for Christmas.  It kinda took the joy for knitting out of me for a while...

Menu Monday, January 28

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Today our son turns 10.  He's our youngest.

Where did the time go?

Nostalgia reigns today.

Monday
B:  Waffles with maple syrup; bacon; bananas
D: Dinner out

The Next American Idol

I don't know if Charlie Askew from Little Rock, Arkansas will be the next American Idol or not.  Heck, I don't even watch TV.  But when I saw this posted earlier, it made me rethink not having cable.  Someone, please let me know when this kid has his first recording out. 

Maple Candied Walnuts

Here's a recipe for a wonderful salad topper.  The funny thing?  I don't even like walnuts.  But, I really love these little babies.  They are sooo easy to make.  And with only three ingredients, I know you're gonna love me.

It's okay.  I'm really okay with fan mail.  Really.

Medicinal Properties of Beets

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Last week, we had beets a couple times in our menu plan.  I'm really trying to get more and different veggies into our meals and I've always thought beets were pretty decent.  Not great, you know, but they weren't bad.

After we had them, something happened.

Seed Ordering Time

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds

Yup, it's that time of the year.  It's seed orderin' time...

(I am so sorry...I keep thinking of Idgie Threadgoode of "Fried Green Tomatoes" fame saying it was hog boilin' time.  I'm glad I'm orderin' seeds and not boilin' hogs, thank you very much.)

Last year I shared with you that I ordered my seeds from the wonderful folks at Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds.  And this year I decided to go back.

Menu Monday, January 21

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Last night we had ham for dinner, so you'll see ham a couple times in this week's meal plan.  Everyone is looking forward to dinner tonight.  Omelets have recently become a favorite and are a great way to use leftovers.

Monday
B: Oatmeal with strawberries
D: Ham & cheese omelets; fried potatoes; green salad with vinaigrette; sliced pears with cinnamon

Cancer Doctor Dr. Burzynski's Case Dismissed!

If you have never heard of Dr. Burzynski, I would HIGHLY recommend you watch this documentary about his dedication to helping cancer victims regain their health!  His story is enlightening, frustrating, and hope-filled...all at the same time.

FINALLY, after battling with the Texas Medical Board for 15 years, they have dropped their case to revoke Dr. Buyzynski's medical license.  To read more about that, you can read the full story on Dr. Mercola's site.  It's a GREAT DAY!!!

Book Review: Echoes

My daughter's favorite author is Robin Jones Gunn.  She has voraciously read every single thing she has written...more than once.  So, when I had an opportunity to review one of Mrs. Gunn's new books from the Glenbrooke series, I didn't even question it.

Julia Child-Inspired Chocolate Mousse

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Last year, I posted a great chocolate mousse recipe.  But since then, I have learned a little more about technique that I want to share.  Also, this recipe is based on Julia Child's own chocolate mousse recipe, with just a minor change from me.   Not so much sweetener (her's has 3/4 C of sugar!) and a little less butter.  Other than that, it is the same.  We don't miss the extra sweetener at all, and the addition of the butter in comparison to my previous recipe makes it just that much more smooth and creamy.

So, I hope you'll try one, or both!  But maybe not on the same day.

Review: Our Square Foot Garden

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This past spring, I shared with you that we added a couple extra raised garden beds and that I was planning on using the Square Foot Gardening principle by Mel Bartholomew.  After our harvest was complete, I wrote down a few of my observations and thought I'd share them with you.  Not all of them have to do with Mr. Batholomew's method, but I hope you find it helpful nonetheless.

Baked Pork Chops with White Wine Sauce

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The more I am diving into French cooking, the more I am loving it.  Take this Julia Child-inspired recipe for instance.  Pork chops.  Can't get much more "down-home" than that, can you?  But in a buttery white wine sauce? 

Dinner just became an event.

Oh, and did I mention it's not only really yummy but really easy, too?  Sorry.  Guess I overlooked that little tidbit.

Orange-Glazed Salmon

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Living in the Pacific Northwest, we get the most amazing salmon.  And because of that, we normally will enjoy it at least a couple of times a month.  

This week our local fishmonger has Sockeye on special.  Sockeye is a super flavorful salmon but it can be mushy if it isn't just right.  So be sure to check that the filet doesn't smell fishy and the flesh is firm.  If you have a good relationship with your fishmonger, which we do, don't be afraid to ask that they pick out a good one for you.  Since we get fish every Friday, they know us and treat us right. 

Book Review: Unglued Devotional

Real.  Honest.  Raw.

Best Ever Broccoli

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Do you like cooked broccoli?  I mean, really?  I must confess, cooked or steamed broccoli has never been one of my favorites.  Until last night.

You gotta try this.  And it is sooooo easy.

Let me know what you think.  Do you like broccoli now, too?

Menu Monday, January 14

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This week I am getting out my seed catalogs and starting to do some garden planning.  I don't know about you, but now that Christmas is over, I'm ready for spring.

Monday
B: Oatmeal with strawberries
D: Leftover chicken, bacon, onion & cheese omelet; green salad; fried potatoes; fruit salad

Simple Braised Beef Pot Roast

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I've been making my beef roasts in the crock pot for a long time and wanted to change things up a bit.  This is a very simple recipe and the results were really good.  As a matter of fact, I think this will be my new go-to recipe for roast when I've got a little extra time.

By the way, don't add any extra broth or water in your baking dish.  The vegetables exude enough.  If you are opting out of the veggies, I would add about 1 cup of beef broth, but you would be missing out on some really flavorful veggies.

The Creamiest Homemade Yogurt

Several months ago I shared with you how to make homemade yogurt.  I love making my own yogurt.  It is simple and inexpensive.  A great thing to do, right?

Except I had one problem.

Menu Monday, January 7

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I have noticed something.  

Since we started having more special dinners at home, my hubby hasn't wanted to go out to dinner as much.

Not quite sure how I feel about that.

Monday
B: Oatmeal with cranberries
D: Tacos with black beans & brown rice; green salad with ranch; mock frozen yogurt

Julia Child's Hollandaise Sauce

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Last week, I had a little extra free time to watch a few episodes from Julia Child's old TV show, "The French Chef" which originally aired in the 60's and 70's.  I had never seen this cooking icon in action before and what an experience!  All of her shows were taped without the benefit of editing or breaks.  Just 28 minutes of pure education and entertainment.

I was inspired, then, when I found that we were having grilled steak for dinner and I had a small amount of smoked salmon left, probably about the equivalent of 1/2 - 2/3 cup is all.  So while Tom was grilling the steak, I flaked the salmon and heated it in a skillet.  Then I made a batch of Hollandaise sauce...my first ever...and it was a raging success.  To serve, I topped each steak with 1-2 heaping tablespoons of smoked salmon and then spooned a generous amount of Hollandaise sauce over the top of each steak.  I wish I had taken my son's advice and taken a picture of our meal because it was not only beautiful, it was absolutely to-die-for.

Book Review: Yours is the Day, Lord, Yours is the Night

Sometimes prayer life needs a little jump start.  So I was really excited to get a copy of a prayer book titled "Your is the Day, Lord, Yours is the Night" by Jeanie & David Gushee.

Crock Pot Cheeseburger Soup

What is it about thick, creamy soups?  Wintertime comfort food.  Yup.

Fresh Pears with Bing Cherry Compote

You may have seen that I posted this recipe earlier this week.  I'm not quite sure what I did, but I found myself having to re-post it.  

I know.  Awkward. 

Studying the Bible Using the S.O.A.P. Method

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In the past, I had made a goal to read the Bible in a year.  It's a big goal.  A noble goal.  BUT... it was a goal that I was utterly challenged by and left me feeling guilty instead of empowered by God's Word!