Bread and Butter Pickles...

Some wonderful friends gave us a ton of cucumbers recently.

What did we do with them?

Made them into bread and butter pickles, of course.

We were finally able to test them the other night.

Oh, my!

They were heavenly!

Of course... I am a fan of bread and butter pickles.

What Breakfast Looks Like...

Eggs, banana bread, applesauce.

Yeah, baby!

Blessed in Return...

We eat a lot of chicken.

We love it!  We love it no matter how it is cooked.

Lately, however, we have been enjoying roasting these babies...

Now, for a family our size we usually roast 2 and have enough leftover to shred for a meal later in the week.  You know, maybe chicken tacos, a casserole, or whatever.

I like to throw a bunch of potatoes, carrots, onions, celery, etc in a dish and cook along side the chicken.  Man, my house smells so good when these are cooking.

We have a friend at church who handles the cooking for our Wednesday night church meal.  Our church puts on a meal on Wednesday nights, before service, for anyone who wants to come and eat together...

Lately they have had so much excess food products that they have been passing  a lot of things on to us.  What a blessing!  We have received 20 whole chickens in the last 2 weeks alone!  We have received snacks, vegetables...  I can tell you that both of my freezers are FULL! 

They man in charge of the kitchen at church tells me all of the time that he just wants bless others.  How amazing!  It really makes you stop and ask yourself, "How can I bless someone else?"

You don't have to give money or work in a soup kitchen.  There may be something you can do or give that you have right in your own home.  We have been sharing some of our cookies and breads with others lately.  They are always appreciated.  Moms who don't get the privelege of staying at home with their babies often appreciate having some of those items.  It can seem too tiring to make those things when your week is full of work.

God wants to use each of us.  He wants us to love others.  He is working on us, big time, in this area.  Each time you let God use you in this way... you not only bless someone else, but you get blessed in return.

Breakfast...

At least once a week (sometimes more) I like to make a really special breakfast.

Pancakes with strawberry jelly, oranges, bananas and yogurt.

Oh baby!

My Hubby Bakes...

I have felt a little overwhelmed with the cookie making this last week.  I got behing, you see.  In a house with many children... you just can't get behind.

Do you know what my sweet hubby did when he came home from work?  He went straight into the kitchen and made a double batch of pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.  I could have kissed his wonderful face... but there was chocolate on his lips...

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Cream together...

1/2 C white sugar

1 C brown sugar

1 C butter, softened

Then add...

1 C pumpkin

1tsp vanilla

1 egg

Sift together dry ingredients then add to wet ingredients.

2 C flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp pumpkin pie spice ( I leave out if I can't find it easilly)

1/4 tsp salt

Add...

1 C chocolate chips

Bake at 350 for 12 minutes.  Allow to cool slightly before removing from pan.  You can frost these if you like although I don't anymore. 

Frosting...

In saucepan, heat 3 T butter and 1/2 C brown sugar over medium heat until bubbling and thick.  Cool 10 min.  Stir in 1/4 C milk.  Add 2 C powdered sugar and beat till smooth.

Baking...

Can you stand it?!

 This time of year...

I just love warming up the house by baking...

anything!

I don't eat it.  That has been a hard learned lesson.  I do, however, love making yummy stuff and sharing that way with my family.  They, in turn, love eating it.

Then I don't get fat and they get to have a special treat.

Mmmmmm....

Lemon Walnut Bread...

I think I am in love...

Comfort...

Our families favorite meal this winter is baked beans.

Beans, potatoes, ham, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, brown sugar and a splash of hot sauce...

Soooo good!

There is nothing like some good old fashioned homecooked comfort food.

Hanging out at the table with your family....

a big bowl of baked beans...

and a large dish of homemade cornbread.

Comfort...

Sheriff Brysen...

Sheriff Brysen wants you to know that the best lunch in the world is when Mommy makes homemade tortillas and lets the kids make their own tacos.

You just can't beat these babies...

Feeding An Army...

Some days I feel like it takes an army to feed this crew...

but I love it.

It forces me to try new things and variations on old things.

Twice bakes are one of our beloved favorites.

...and any mexican food is always looked forward to.

They gobble it up and if we are lucky, we are left with a little for lunch the next day.

Yummy.

So Worth It...

What happened after Thanksgiving?

I made stock!

We use stock around here a lot...

casseroles

soups

chili

stews

etc......

Some time ago, I got tired of shucking out the big bucks for the premade stock... that, sorry folks... tastes like poo.

So, I make my own and it is so wonderful.

If you haven't given this a try yet... do it!

It is so worth it... and so easy.

vbs, growing up, and family time...

The girls on their way to VBS!

What... you are asking... are these crazy people doing? It is Vacation Bible School this week and the kids are having the best time. This year it is all about the power of Jesus. The kids are learning about God's power as well as the power they have through him. They come home talking about how they don't have to be afraid because God is with them and through him they have power. Amen!

Above is Sydnee rocking out to one of the songs that they sing at VBS.

I love how happy she looks here.
Now, below would be the vbs pick up crew and we were a little bored. Come on... it was about 100 degrees and we arrived a little early. What else were we supposed to do?!

We celebrated Chey's 17th birthday this week. I know that she looks really bored here, but that is mom's fault for taking a bad picture. She had a great time. We ate dinner out and then came home for cake and presents. I am blessed to have had this child in my life for the last 17 years. After almost losing her a couple of years ago, I don't ever want to forget what a blessing each one of the kids is to me.This was tonights dinner. (Bowties and Broccoli) Yummy!
This is dessert tonight. Brownies! It is still cooling on the counter right now. If I can keep the kids out of it for a few more minutes, that is.

Getting to know you...

Todays topics:List…

5 things you collect. Children (haha. We have eight.), fabric, my kids art work, photos, memories.

5 things about your hair. My hair is curly (frizzy), grows way to fast, brown, gives me headaches when I let it grow out because I have so so so much of it, starting to get grey (OMG!!).

5 random things about your pets. Raider farts every single night while the family watches television, he is almost 8 years old, I call him the vacuum cleaner since I let him clean up all of the kids dropped food, is deathly afraid of fireworks or any loud noise really, has a middle name given to him by the kids on the first night he came to live with us and continues to be called by that name when he is in trouble. (rufus, dufus, chocolate, cocoa, dog, frisbee) Don't ask why.

5 things in your junk drawer. tape, pens, paper, calculator, pushpins (I know... boring!)

5 of your favorite summer foods. Chef salad (with way to much dressing, sunflower seeds, croutons, and bacon bits), anything bbq, strawberry shortcake, pasta, grape tomatoes with sea salt and freshly ground pepper...so, very good!