Tag Archives: family time

Christmas Eve Hot Cocoa

19 Dec

The Christmas Season is woven with traditions. Whether big or small they all bring a cherished sense of warmth and togetherness.

One of our traditions is to make hot cocoa on Christmas Eve morning and enjoy it throughout the day and evening. 

It is simplified because it cooks and stays warn throughout the day in your slow cooker.

This is definitely a rich, chocolatey, special hot cocoa that is bound to become one of your holiday favorites!

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Only five ingredients needed!

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Rich, indulgent, chocolatey goodness!

Click here to watch the video

Click here for the printable recipe

 

Wishing you and yours a Very Merry Christmas!

Thanks for visiting!

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing!

Rebecca

Copyright © 2016 · All Rights Reserved · www.andasprinkleoflove.com

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Chicken Enchilada Soup

29 Oct

  The crisp cool air finds eager bellies gathered around the table warming up to steaming bowls of soup. Somehow the changing of season elicits a longing to linger around the table and I find a hearty soup fits in keeping the mood.

I love that this soup takes no time to put together. It truly is a fix it and forget it meal.  Best part is that it is equally loved by my whole family!  

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Chicken Enchilada Soup

 

Click here to watch the video

Click here for the printable recipe

 

I hope you enjoy!!

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

 

 

Copyright © 2016 · All Rights Reserved · www.andasprinkleoflove.com

Homemade Rice-a-Roni

28 Jul Homemade Rice-a-Roni

One of the things that my family collectively loves is my homemade Rice-a-Roni.  Besides being ridiculously yummy, it is also a simple and inexpensive recipe.  As a side dish, this recipe feeds us all with leftovers….hallelujah for that!  Keep reading for the video and printable recipe.

What things do you make homemade that you can find pre-made at the store?  I would love some fresh inspiration!

Homemade Rice-a-Roni

These basic and inexpensive ingredients is all you need to make Homemade Rice-a-Roni.

Homemade Rice-a-Roni

A few simple steps to light, flavorful, fluffy rice goodness!

 

 

Click here to watch the video

Click here for the printable recipe.

 

Thanks for visiting!

Be Blessed and be a Blessing,

Rebecca

 

 

 

 

Copyright © 2016 · All Rights Reserved · www.andasprinkleoflove.com

Lest we Forget

28 May

I am so grateful for the brave men and women who headed the call and left what was familiar and comfortable for a life of upheaval and uncertainty. Today I pause with reflective prayer to honor those who gave their all…the fallen brave who courageously breathed their last breath defending the country and the people they so loved.

To the families who gather around a grave rather than a grill-my prayer is that our Heavenly Father will fill them with grace, peace, and healing. That they would find comfort in each other and that the sweet memories of their loved ones will sustain them until they are reunited in Heaven. Thank you, for your great sacrifice also!

 

As you enjoy your 3 day weekend please remember and pray for all the brave men and women in our military. Pray for the mothers and fathers who will never hold their precious boys and girls in their arms again, for the wives and husbands who will never get to live out the hopes and dreams they planned together, and for the precious children who will never feel the tickle of daddy’s whiskers on their cheek or the soft embrace of their mother’s arms again. The burden is too great to let this weekend go by without a heartfelt sense of gratitude for the meaning behind our three day weekend.

 

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

 

Photo credit: Google Images

 

 

Copyright © 2016 · All Rights Reserved · www.andasprinkleoflove.com

Chicken Pasta Salad

2 May

I am a use up the leftovers kind of gal (one of the things my family loves most about me 😉 ).

I am also a lover of a quick, throw together, minimal dishes kind of meal.  This recipe is a perfect combination of both.  If you are feeling my sentiments than this is for you!

 pasta salad

Click here to watch the video

Click here for the printable recipe

Thanks for visiting!

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

 

 

 

 

 

Copyright © 2016 · All Rights Reserved · www.andasprinkleoflove.com

Homemade Croutons

18 Apr

This is a public service announcement.

It seems for years we have been doing our salad injustice!  We take our beautiful fresh garden greens and top it with stale, artificial tasting, bagged croutons. Why?  Because we didn’t realize making our own was so easy!

I have always been a sorta like croutons kind of girl but once I started making my own, they have pretty much become more than just a salad topping.  My family will eat these for a snack, my daughter’s boyfriend asks to take some home whenever he comes for dinner, and friends and family are always wanting the recipe.

Because I consider you all friends…I want to share the recipe with you too!

Keep reading for the salad changing printable recipe.

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The stars of the show. 8 simple, mostly pantry staples.

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Get your butter, oil and spices in a 9×13 baking dish and place that in your pre-heated oven.

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Cube your baguette into bite size pieces.

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After about 30 minutes, this gloriousness happens! Crispy without the expensive dentist bill and so flavorful!

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Garden fresh salad topped right!

 

Click here for the printable recipe.

See, simple right?

Is there something you make homemade that is much better than store bought?  Please share a link or comment down below, I would love to check it out!

Thanks for visiting.

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

You can also find me on Pinterest

 

Copyright © 2016 · All Rights Reserved · www.andasprinkleoflove.com

Simple Salisbury Steak

16 Apr

One of the greatest successes’ of motherhood has to be the moment when you serve a meal your whole family loves.  It’s a moment when the clouds part, the Hallelujah Chorus is cued, and for the next 30 minutes all is right with the world. You live for those blissful moments, am I right!?!

Anyway, that is what this recipe does for our family and I am pretty confident it could give a moment to you too!

Keep on reading for the printable recipe.

steak

The stars of the show. Ok, don’t let the gravy mixes get you nervous…sometimes mama needs a shortcut.

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Everything but the gravy gets thrown into bowl. Get your hands in there and give it a quick mix.

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I usually shape them into 4-5 patties. They will be thick but that just adds to the yumminess. I promise, they will NEVER know about the hidden mushrooms 🙂

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After browning the beef on both sides you will momentarily remove the patties from the pan so you can get the gravy started….Kinda makes it sound like a party!

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Once the gravy comes together, it is time to add the patties back in. This is where good things happen!

 

Here you have it!  We like to serve this with either mashed potatoes or rice.

Click here for the printable recipe

What recipe brings your whole family together? Please leave a link or comment below, I would love to check it out!

Thanks for visiting!

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

You can also find me on Pinterest

 

 

Copyright © 2016 · All Rights Reserved · www.andasprinkleoflove.com

Joy in Thanksgiving

26 Nov

For me, true joy is found in contentment in where you are, growth from where you have been, expectation of what is to come and gratitude to God for his indescribable gift that daily leads us to a victorious life. When we are in Christ we can find peace in all circumstances. Where there is joy there is thanksgiving.

Today I pray for healed hearts, second chances, grace, happy memories, thoughtful reflections, full bellies, genuine laughter, patience, tenderheartedness, and love.

Happy Thanksgiving! May God Bless you and your families.

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~
Rebecca

                   You can also find me on pinterest

Copyright © 2015 · All Rights Reserved · www.andasprinkleoflove.com

 

Connecting in a Disconnected World

20 Oct

We are such a fast paced busy society.  The 21st century has us overbooked, over stressed, and completely disconnected with each other.  We are families with busy careers and too many activities.  The time spent face to face with each other is being replaced with being shoulder to shoulder in the car distracted by some sort of gadget. I Pods, cell phones, and video games have replaced real human interaction.  Families used to treasure the time around the dinner table just sharing and talking, creating strong family bonds.  Now, it’s a race to throw something in the microwave or visiting the drive thru in between activities.  We are losing the true purpose and beauty of life and our families are missing out on the deep bonds that make family so precious.

Don’t get me wrong, I love social media.  I have reconnected with friends, “watched” families grow through shared pictures, and kept up to date on all the happenings of family and friends near and far.  I love reading blogs and having answers to questions only a Google search away.  But, I am not cultivating real relationships by starring at a screen all day, actually just the opposite is happening.  We are becoming an anti social culture losing our ability to have meaningful person to person relationships.

Having a presence is social media is fantastic and can be incredibly beneficial.  It is a great tool to reach masses, connect, and network.  Placing limits, especially for our children is vital.  We need to give them plenty of opportunities to be disconnected and let them have the chance to develop organic imaginative play, learn social cues and interaction, develop critical thinking skills, proper communication skills, and time to build lasting strong relationships.  In order for my family to see the value of disconnecting I have to demonstrate healthy social media habits.

I found myself slipping lately.  My son called me, “laptop mommy” the other day, YIKES!  I don’t want to be remembered as the mom who wasted her day in front of a screen “Liking” someone else’s memories; I want to be making my own.  Imposing healthy limits on myself will keep me mindful of what is valuable and meaningful.  The importance on being present in your home and limiting outside distractions be it social media or too many activities will have positive impacts on children especially as they grow into their teen years.  Having meals together and making time for each other will greatly reduce the likelihood that your children will abuse drugs and alcohol and they will experience a greater sense of joy and satisfaction not just with their family but life in general.

I am making the commitment to reconnect and be present with those I am with and focus on things that have eternal value.

What are some steps you take to limit computer, cell phone, extra curricular activities, etc..?  I would love to hear from you!   As always, thanks for taking the time to visit.

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

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