Tag Archives: homeschool

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

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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

Aldi Grocery Haul-4-25-16

27 Apr

Welcome to my Aldi grocery haul for my family of 5. I am always looking for fresh inspiration and I love to see what other families enjoy buying and eating. I have been loving the beautiful spring/summer fresh fruits and vegetables hitting the shelves….and I love that shopping at Aldi makes it possible for us to eat well and stay in budget.

Click here to see our latest haul.

If you’re an Aldi shopper what are some of your favorite products?  Leave me a comment  or a link, I would LOVE to check it out!

Thanks for visiting!

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

 

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

Photo Credit: Aldi and Google Images

The Day our Music Died

22 Apr

It was a day that will become an “Where were you when” iconic conversation.

The news that Prince had died pulled the heartstrings of people from around the world.

Someone asked, “How can millions mourn a man they never knew?”.  Good question and I think it’s because music is nostalgic.  No one did it bigger or with more influence for this generation than he did.

Nothing has the power to move us and to transport us to a single moment quite like music.  Music helps us to retell our stories and helps preserve our memories. These moments all come together as a unique soundtrack, different like a finger print and it becomes our storyteller.

When he died, of course we mourned the man but also we mourned a piece of our youth that died that morning.

Being Minnesotan we love our own and he felt like ours.  His death brought out a unity in our city that we haven’t seen in a long time.  That day where once stood an enemy became a friend and where once stood a stranger became a brother and sister.  We put our petty differences aside and came together shoulder to shoulder and hand in hand in unity to honor a man passionate about his craft, his city, and his people.

The young and young at heart took to the chilly Minnesota streets to celebrate music, love, life, and humanity.

We were all moved by his talent, his presence on stage, and his quiet thoughtful nature off  stage.

Let our own lives reflect the goodness that brings people together and may we live in such a way that when our curtain falls for the last time that our music will also live on.

Thanks for reading.

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

 

Photo Credit: Bing search https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/13062403_10209557057268140_7435579437116981243_n.jpg?oh=fa949b3b98e7037d6dc798213a12f973&oe=57A24E93

 

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.

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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

Creamy Southwest Chicken Soup

13 Apr

I just love those mindless, economical, quick throw together dinners.  We had a (healthy…I sometimes get called out for the unhealthy recipes….balance, my friends, balance.) baked whole chicken for dinner last night and I used the carcass to whip up a yummy homemade broth for tonight’s dinner. You can definitely use store bought broth and it is just as good.  So if you are interested in not spending a large portion of your evening preparing dinner tonight keep reading for the printable recipe.

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Cast of characters. Mostly pantry staples.

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Dump all the ingredients in to the crock pot, give it a quick stir, and forget-about-it!

 

 

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Soup, glorious, soup! This cooked low and slow in my slow cooker for about 7 hours. Add a little garnish and VOILA! Simple, hearty, family favorite!

 

Click here for the printable recipe

What is your favorite mindless, quick, throw together dinners?  I am always looking for inspiration!

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

Aldi Grocery Haul

12 Apr

 

I thought I would share something a little different.  I am always a little curious and a bit fascinated about how life is for others.  I think we learn new things and become inspired when other’s welcome us into snippets of their life. 

So today I am going to share with you our Aldi’s grocery haul.  This will feed our family of 5 for about 7-10 days. I love that I can feed my family fairly healthy and still stay in budget! 

If you’re interested in watching click Aldi Grocery Haul

If you shop at Aldi what are your favorite things to purchase from there?

Thanks for watching!

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

 

Photo credit: Aldi and Google pictures

 

 

 

Lemon Pudding Cake

17 Mar

Just like a song, a certain food can transport you to a certain moment.  This cake makes me think of Easter of 2009…..my son was one and already a master climber (ask me about the loft incident sometime).  I had just cut the cake and placed it in the center of the table so I could serve my family. Fast forward about eight seconds later and here is my pantless, diapered bottom, sweet son, attacking the cake.  As any good mother would do, I first grabbed my camera before removing him from the cake.

jakes

Oh, Jacob!

This cake looks like you spent hours in the kitchen but really this semi homemade cake is a cinch to make and people will love you forever if you make this for them…true story!

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This is all you need. Bake cake according to package directions.

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Grease cake pans.

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Evenly distribute batter between both pans ( a little over two cups per pan).

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Once cakes are completely cool ( 2-4 hours) mix pudding mix with 1 1/2 milk for about one minute or until thickened.

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Frost each layer with half of pudding mixture and stack.

 

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Frost with whipped topping and refrigerate at least four hours before serving.

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Moist, dense, decadence!

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Middle of the night refrigerator view….the struggle is real friends!

 

Click here for the printable recipe

 

I hope you enjoy the cake as much as we do. 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

Nutella Banana Muffins

29 Feb

There are three things in life I adore…Jesus, my family, and Nutella…….clearly I am a girl who has her priorities in order 😉

One of my most requested recipes is this one. Somehow, something magical happens when you bring Nutella and Bananas together……the clouds part, the sun shines, and for a brief moment siblings get along.

So if you know what is good for you, you’ll keep reading for the recipe.

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The makings of happiness

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Take a minute to mash your bananas well.

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Sift your dry ingredients together.

 

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Add the sugar, oil, vanilla, and egg to the bananas.

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Don’t be shy with the Nutella!

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Bake until they are golden on the outside……..

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…and moist and decadent on the inside. Trust me they are worth the calories!

Nutella Bomb Banana Muffins

by Rebecca Vahdat

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 14-17 minutes

Keywords: bake Nutella Muffins

 

Ingredients (12 muffins)

  • 1 1/2 C. flour
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • 1tsp. baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 2 ripe bananas, mashed
  • 3/4 C. sugar
  • 1/3 C. oil
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
  • 1/2-1 TBSP Nutella per muffin

Instructions

Pre heat oven to 375. Line muffin tin with cupcake liners.

Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt and set aside.

In a separate bowl add bananas and mash well. Stir in sugar, egg, oil, and vanilla and mix well.

Add the dry ingredients to the banana mixture and mix until just combined.

Fill muffin cups 3/4 full and top each unbaked muffin with 1/2-1 TBSP of Nutella and with a knife or toothpick and lightly swirl the Nutella and batter together.

Bake 14-17 minutes.

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I hope you love them as much as we do!  If you make them, stop by and share what you think!  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

A New Year Prayer

31 Dec

I hope you are all having a wonderful celebration with those you love! My prayer for you is that in this new year you will grow deeper in your faith, that your marriages will be stronger and more passionate, that you will find great purpose in being a great parent, to be more intentional with your friendships, and mostly, to find ways to be a blessing to others. May God guide your paths, comfort you, and give you peace as you embark on a shiny New Year

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~
Rebecca

You can also find me on Pinterest

 Image courtesy of [ noppasinw] at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 

 

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

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