Tag Archives: trust

Taco Soup

18 Sep

The lazy days of summer are just about over. Soon enough the weather will change, the trees will showcase their brilliant colors, and the days will become a little more hectic.  One of my favorite ways to warm-up and to solve the mad dinner rush is to dig out my slow-cooker and make soup.  One of our family favorites is Taco Soup.  Easy, economical, and so yummy! Throw this on in the morning and dinner is done!  I want to hear from you! Do you have a favorite family recipe or maybe an easy and quick go to meal?  I would love to see it. Leave a recipe or a link in the comments below I would l love to see what you’ve got cookin!

What you will need to get started (scroll down for full recipe).
Fry up your ground beef, onion, and garlic until cooked through.
Here, Broukie demonstrates proper ground beef crumbling.
Alison finishes up.
Add the cooked ground beef to your slow-cooker.
The next step is easy-add everything else and give it a good stir.
I needed someone with a little muscle for this step;)
Voila! Turn it on low, cover, and go about your day.
Don’t want to crock pot it? You can add all the ingredients to a
stock pot and simmer for 15-20 minutes and serve.
This is how it looks, mama style. Sharp cheddar cheese,
sour cream, green onion, and Frito’s. What will you add to yours?
If you’re so inclined, enjoy it with a nice glass of chocolate milk!

Taco Soup
-1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
-1 large onion, diced
-1 clove of garlic, finely minced
-1 12oz bottle of green taco sauce
-1 can beef or chicken broth (14-16 oz)
-2 (15oz) cans black beans, drained and rinsed (optional-if you don’t mind the off color)
-15 1/4 oz can of corn, drained
-4 1/2oz can of chopped green chilies
-15oz can of tomato sauce
-1oz packet of taco seasoning
-3-4 Cups of water
-your favorite garnishes

 In a large skillet over medium heat cook the ground beef, diced onion, and minced garlic until the ground beef is no longer pink.  Add the beef mixture to your slow-cooker and add the rest of the ingredients, stir. Cover and cook on low until ready to serve.  Simmer 15-20 minutes for stove top method.
   Add a salad some corn bread muffins for an even heartier meal.  This recipe feeds my family of 5 with leftovers for lunch the next day. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.  Thanks for visiting!
~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~
Rebecca
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I Saw Faith

16 Sep

I held a woman today as she sobbed for her daughter who recently passed away.  I have not drank from that cup so I can’t imagine the debilitating pain of losing a child.  There is nothing, even with my very best intentions, I could do to ease the terrible ache in her soul.  I did experience something extraordinary in the midst of her pain.  I saw real faith.  Not the “God is good because life I going my way” faith but faith in the arena of despair.

This woman, in her profound agony, said “I trust in you, Lord”.  She is battered and beaten, breathlessly crawling her way to the throne to the feet of our Savior and she says in between sobs, “I trust you, Lord”.

Faith that doesn’t doubt God’s goodness but trusts that He is Sovereign.   Faith that says “I’m not OK”, but I will be.  Faith that says “Your will, not mine”.

I know grace is given in accordance to what we are going through but I am not sure if my faith is that unshakeable.

What I do know, is that today, in the brokenhearted face of a mother, I saw faith and hope and trust and Jesus.

Through all the pain and heartache, the victory is still ours!

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

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It’s a Wrap

13 Sep

When we are wanting to whip up something quick but delicious, you will usually find a wrap on our dinner plates. Tortillas are so versatile, you can’t go wrong (well except for that one time…but we won’t talk about here). With a little prep work you can have dinner ready in a jiffy! This recipe will make 6-8 wraps.

You are going to need 1 large green pepper, 1 large onion, 2-3 Roma tomatoes, 
 1 8oz package of fresh mushrooms and 3 cloves of garlic. Chop pepper, onion,
 tomato and mushrooms into bite size pieces and finely chop the garlic. Set aside.
 1 package (8-10) of your favorite tortillas. *You'll want to turn your oven on warm now
 and add your tortillas if you are not microwaving them*
I have chopped up 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts into bite sized pieces.
For spices you are going to need 1 1/2 tsp salt, 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder,
1 tsp of black pepper and 1 tsp turmeric.
In a large skillet heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over med-high heat.
When pan is hot add your chicken breasts and seasonings. cook
6-8 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Remove from pan and set aside.
In the same pan heat another tablespoon of olive and heat over med-high heat.
Add the green peppers, and onions. Cook for about 4-5 minutes or until they are starting to get tender.
Add the mushrooms and tomatoes and cook another 2-3 minutes or until the veggies are
tender add the garlic and cook a minute longer. *Please note that you may have to adjust the cooking temperature of your
stove top*
Add the chicken back in and stir well.  Turn your heat down to low.
Get your tortillas ready.  *If microwaving your tortillas do it now. I add 2-3
at a time and heat for 15-20 seconds and repeat until all tortillas are warmed*
Add filling to center of tortilla and sprinkle on your favorite
cheese ( I used a Mexican 4 cheese blend).
Wrap up like a burrito and enjoy! Makes 6-8
burritos.

Ingredients
3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 large green pepper
1 large onion
2-3 Roma tomatoes
1- 8 oz. package fresh mushrooms
3 garlic cloves
olive oil
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp turmeric
6-8 of your favorite tortillas (burrito size)
Your favorite shredded cheese
Instructions

-Chop green pepper, onion, mushrooms and tomatoes into bite sized pieces.Finely chop the garlic set aside
-Chop chicken breasts into bite sized pieces. In a large skillet heat 2 tablespoons of olive    oil     over 
med-high heat. When pan is hot add the chicken and spices. Cook 6-8 minutes or until cooked 
through. Remove from pan.
- In the same pan add another Tablespoon of olive oil and heat over med-high heat. Add the green pepper and onion. Cook 4-5 minutes or until they are starting to get tender. Add the mushrooms and tomatoes and cook an additional 2-3 minutes or until the veggies are tender. Add garlic and cook a minute longer.
-Add the chicken back in the skillet and mix well. Turn heat down to low.
-Prepare your tortillas by heating them up a bit (if you desire) in the microwave 15-20 seconds
or in a warm oven for 5-10 minutes.
-Add a heaping spoonful in the center of the tortilla and sprinkle on your favorite shredded cheese.
-Wrap up like a burrito and enjoy! Makes 6-8 wraps.

Another great add to these wraps is fresh flat leaf Italian parsley. It gives it such a fresh summery taste! Have fun and experiment with different spices and ingredients. It is fun to get the little ones in the kitchen and let them "design" their own. Our children are more likely to try something new and enjoy it if they had a hand in helping to make it.  Thanks for visiting!

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~
Rebecca
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We Will Never Forget

11 Sep

We all have our stories. Stories, that with time, our children will ask about.  Where we were, who we were with, and how we heard about it.  Stories that regardless of how much time passes will remain freshly etched in our minds and freshly felt in our hearts.

We all saw the horrific images and stayed glued to our TV’s for days.  We remember how eerily quiet the skies were and how we let our differences go to become united as a country.  In one day we saw the very worst and the very best of humanity.  We saw what one human being was willing to give up to save another human being, we saw heroism and bravery on a scale we might never actually get to witness again, and we were brought together as a country, even for just a moment, like we may never experience again.
For the brave men and women on the flights, for the first responders, for our firemen, police officers, for those who stayed back to make sure everyone got out, for those who left last, for those who went back in, for those who never came out, for the doctors, nurses, medical professionals, good Samaritans, clergymen, our brave soldiers, and all those who shed tears for the loved ones they lost-WE WILL NEVER FORGET!

God Bless the USA!!

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~
Rebecca

 

*Photo credit Google images

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BBQ Chicken Quesadillas

8 Sep

Here in the Midwest we get a short season to grill, therefore we do it a lot in the summer. With all that grilling comes leftovers. Honestly, my family isn’t all that excited to eat the leftovers and I am not all excited to waste food. So that leaves me some creativity to turn yesterdays leftovers into something my family will enjoy. Let’s get started!

Here are last nights BBQ chicken breasts. I took them straight from the fridge
and removed the meat from the bone and chopped it into a bite sized dice.
Ingredients:
2 chicken breasts- 2 plum tomatoes diced- 1 small onion diced- shredded lettuce-
burrito sized flour tortillas- Provolone and an Italian shredded blend cheeses-
Sweet Baby Rays BBQ sauce- and some non stick spray.
Heat a skillet over med heat and spray with some non stick spray
(I have used butter it works great I was just trying to save a few calories).
Add a tortilla and sprinkle with your favorite cheese ( I made one quesadilla with an
Italian cheese blend and another with Provolone slices. Both were good but the
Provolone was best). Sprinkle with some chopped onion.
Add enough chicken to evenly cover the tortilla. Squeeze some BBQ sauce all
over the chicken. I didn’t measure but approximately 3-4 Tablespoons of
sauce. Definitely just add all ingredients to your taste.
Add some tomatoes and more cheese. Top with another tortilla and cook
4-5 minutes per side or until tortilla is crispy and cheese is melted.

*Since it can be tricky to flip without a lot of fall out you can just use one
tortilla. Just make like above but go lighter on the filling and flip one side of the tortilla
over so the edges meet.*

I cut it using a pizza cutter. Just like that…You have a crispy, cheesy, BBQ
Quesadilla! I like to top mine with shredded lettuce. YUM! This recipe made 2 large
quesadillas and 2 half quesadillas.
Recipe
*Yields 2 large and 2 half quesadillas
2 chicken breasts
2 plum tomatoes diced
1 small onion diced
shredded lettuce
burrito sized flour tortillas (I used a total of 6)
Shredded Italian cheese blend (or your favorite)
Provolone (or your favorite)
BBQ sauce (I used Sweet Baby Rays BBQ Sauce)
Non stick cooking spray
Heat skillet over Medium heat and spray with non stick spray. Lay tortilla in pan and add cheese. Evenly top tortilla with chicken and add BBQ sauce. Sprinkle with tomatoes and top with more cheese. Lay another tortilla on top of the ingredients and cook 4-5 minutes per side or until tortilla is crispy and cheese is melted. Cut with pizza cutter and serve with your favorite toppings.
This was a big hit with my family! Definitely going on the please make again list! Just like with most of my recipes you can personalize it to your tastes. This would be delicious with some grilled green peppers and mushrooms!
If you are cooking more then 2 quesadillas I would put a foiled lined baking pan in a warm oven to keep the finished quesadillas warm until you are ready to serve. Also, you can cook 2-3 quesadillas at a time on a large griddle.
I hope you enjoy this delicious easy recipe! Thanks for stopping by!
~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~
Rebecca
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My 13th first Day of School

5 Sep

Well, we made it through another summer vacation.  We had a lazy uneventful but fun summer.  I’ll admit, I am very sad to see it end. I am gearing up for my 13th first day of school….YIKES!

I was sitting here thinking back 13 (that flew by) years ago, Labor Day.  My oldest, Alison, was a precious itty bitty five year old with pink glasses.  She was anxious for her first day of kindergarten-I was not! Tuesday came. Even though we could of slept in a bit (because she had the afternoon class), Alison was up early-ready to make it official. Sporting a new outfit, her name tag, and her new pink backpack, that was almost bigger than her-we headed out on a beautiful Colorado day, on our short walk to school.  The classroom was buzzing with excitement as the kiddos explored their classroom and made new friends.  The teacher gave parents a few minutes to take pictures and give extra hugs.  One by one parents started to trickle out until it was just me.  I was thinking “They expect me to leave this precious child who hasn’t left my side for more than 5 minutes for almost 6 years, here alone-without her mama?”.  I made up my mind right then, that she needed me too much to leave. I was gonna stay.  Of course, the kindly teacher assured me that she would be OK and that I would see her in a few hours.  I left that classroom and cried my heart out all the way home. Sad, because life as I knew it had changed forever and it changed so suddenly in just one day. No more leisurely afternoon Hundred Acre Wood picnics, no more late night blanket fort sleepovers, and no more little shadow all the time.  She was a big girl doing big girl things- without me!  Time passed slowly that first day.  Time eventually passed and I made my way to pick her up.  I remember thinking how upset she must of been all day and how glad she will be when she sees me.  I envisioned her plowing through the crowd and jumping into my open arms begging to never go back.  When she saw me she was in tears, but not for the reasons I thought…the girl didn’t want to leave school.  She really burst my bubble.  She had a blast-without me!  Here I was mourning and she was having the time of her life.  Life did change that day but certainly not for the worse.  We just moved into a different season of life and it was still wonderful. Even if she is a high school senior!

Brouke came along and I went through it all again.  Now I am sitting in the same place as I was 13 years ago except this time, my baby-my last born, my only son will be  starting his journey as a first grader.  Yes, I will cry and have a moment but I will look on with joy as I watch my boy learn and grow and I’ll be reminded how very blessed I am.

I know many are here with me.  My prayer for you is that God will be near to each of you as you kiss the sweet faces of your babies as you send them out into the world. May he comfort you as you adjust to a new season. For all our babies, may God watch over each of them as they begin a new school year.  I pray for safety and protection over each of them.  May God Bless each of you!

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~
Rebecca

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New Mama Chicken Casserole

2 Sep

I love, love, love bringing a meal to a new mama. It is such a nice stress reducer for a new family to not have to worry about dinner or having to spend a lot of money eating out the first few days and I’ll admit I kinda like getting my newborn fix! Blessing someone with a homemade meal can be quick, easy and budget friendly! I love this recipe because it can easily be put together and even easier for the recipient to throw it in an oven and serve. This is also a recipe my family loves and it is so easy to personalize it and make it your own!  Keep reading for the printable recipe.

The stars of the show.
mix together the soups, the milk and 1 Cup of cheese. Set aside.
Shred or cut chicken into bite sized pieces.
Add your drained egg noodles to a large bowl.
To the noodles add 1/2 the sauce mixture, the chicken, 1/2 C of cheese, and the peas. Mix well. Add more of the sauce mixture until you get a nice creamy moist consistency. I used all but about 1/8 of a cup of the mixture.
Add to your disposable baking dish and top with the last of the cheese.I brought this dish to the family unbaked so they could eat when they were ready. .
Have fun with this recipe! You can add potato chips on top to make a crunchy crust.  Try using mixed medley of vegetables or use leftover turkey instead of chicken.  I hope you enjoy this simple but yummy recipe. Thanks for stopping by!
 ~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~
Rebecca
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Customizing Jesus

30 Aug

I heard someone say recently “My Jesus isn’t________!” (it was obscene, so I’ll leave out the actual words)  I was floored.  Not only was it shocking but completely Biblically unfounded.

Now, this just might of been a random person ranting and looking for validation for his lifestyle but I see and hear it more and more, people customizing Jesus.

How easy it would be to shop for a Jesus that embraces our sins and condones our lifestyles. Accepting that is doing favors for no one and actually it is depriving them of a real true Savior.

You can’t try on several Jesus’ until you find one that fits you just right.  He is one size fits all.

He is loving and merciful but He is also holy and hates sin.  Not just the “big sins” but all sin, it separates us from Him.

I know our society is quick to remind us that we should be seeking what makes us happy, because God is love, therefore He would want us to be happy.  So, as long as we are happy God is happy. Happiness, though, is so conditional and momentary.  That is not what God has in mind for you.  Being a true follower of Christ will give you so much more than that.  Really seeking the true heart of the Lord will find you seeking righteousness and that will lead you to joy.  Joy brings you peace and contentment because you’re in God’s abiding presence.

Jesus is for everyone. He came to give you everlasting life.  It is a free gift to all who accept it, but it is on His terms not yours.

Seek the Lord the creator of the heavens and earth, the lover of your soul and not the Jesus created by man.

To keep this from getting long winded, if you are wanting to know more about who God is click here for more information.

 

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

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Good Intentions

24 Aug

Image“We are a culture trained to be a great starter but not a finisher”

-Beth Moore, A Woman’s Heart God’s Dwelling Place. Video session 9.

I am a gal filled with good intentions.  I daydream and plan loads of things, good things, and helpful things.  The problem is, is that they usually don’t come to pass.  I have purchased supplies to create beautiful things, and ingredients to cook delicious things to just have them collect dust and turn rotten.  I am by no means a mass collector of stuff, (I actually loathe clutter, even the secret kind) I am just a do it tomorrow person.

When watching the above mentioned video, my heart was deeply convicted.  Out of all I have learned and studied the past 10 weeks in this Bible study God decided this is where he wants me to focus a little more intently and seriously.

I seriously made the exasperated sigh generally reserved for teenage parental annoyance.  Seriously, of all things to call me out on You are choosing to call out my good intentions?

It brought me to a place that had me looking and praying long and hard as to why God was calling out this seemingly, insignificant part of my life.  Here is what I learned.  God wants me to make the most of my gifts and abilities.  By not following through I am falling prey to laziness.  Not just to my good intentions but to the most important parts of my life such as prayer, worship, wife, mother, homemaker, homeschooler, etc… I’ve looked over my life lately and see where my laziness as crept into every facet of my life.  Several verses came to mind but the one that really stuck to me was Proverbs 14:23, “In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.” 

So all my talk and good intentions is stealing my full potential of what God has in store for me.  It never ceases to amaze me that God longs for us to strive for righteousness and He uses, sometimes, interesting outlets to bring forth change in us.

I am always a work in progress but I am sure glad to know that God sees the value in me and puts forth the love and time to help me to be all He has created me to be.  What an awesome God we serve.

Has the Lord convicted you of anything recently?  I would love to know how God is working in your life.

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

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He Sees You

19 Aug

glowing cross

As you begin a new week and you’re feeling the days are mundane and daunting remember…..

To the tired mama’s who watched the sun rise trying to rock a baby back to sleep-He sees you.

To the husband who works tirelessly to support his family but feels unappreciated at home-He sees you.

For  the toilet, tub, and floor that need to be cleaned again-He sees you.

For the person sitting in the exam room wondering how they are going to handle this diagnosis-He sees you.

To the teen mom who is watching all her friends pack and leave for college-He sees you.

For the weary parents who are praying for a miracle-He sees you.

For weary children struggling, caring for their aging parents while caring for their own children-he sees you.

For the single moms wondering how to make your paycheck stretch even further-He sees you.

To those who feel weary, tired, and broken-He sees you.

Our Heavenly Father sees and loves His children.  You’re not alone, Deuteronomy 31:8 says, “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged”.  God is there, with you.  The enemy’s whispers will fill you with doubt and his lies will make you feel like a failure but stay strong and courageous.  The Lord is your peace (John 14:27) ,stronghold (Psalm 27:1), and your comforter (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). 

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

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