Veteran's Day

I have spent most of my morning reading posts honoring our veterans. I have been crying all morning too.

It is not possible to thank our veterans enough. They lay their lives on the line so we can live in a country that is still free. But it is the wives, the husbands and the children who are left here at home while their soldier is off protecting our nation that I truly admire. Who I am eternally grateful too.

I cannot imagine how it would be to say goodbye and know that it will be 8, 10 18 months until I saw my husband again.

I cannot imagine giving birth without my husband near - and then sending pictures half way around the world so that he could meet my baby.

I cannot imagine welcoming him home to bury him. The very real sacrifice of his life for our freedom.

My husband served in the Air Force before I met him. While he never saw war, he could have and was prepared to.

My many thanks and gratitude to all members of the military and their very generous families.

God Bless You All!

Yummy Chocolate Frosting

Today is my daughter Katie's 17th Birthday!
"Happy Birthday Katie"

She requested Strawberry Poke the Hole Cake. I bought the ingredients to make it but my other daughter didn't know about the request and she made a chocolate cake. Not a huge loss but I didn't have frosting for a chocolate cake.

I improvised and it was really good.

1 container vanilla instant pudding (chocolate would be better but I didn't have any)
2 heaping TBS cooking chocolate powder.
1 cup whole organic milk

Beat together for 2 minutes.

Whip up whipping cream (use really cold beaters and bowl - I put them in the freezer for awhile.) oh, add a TBS of sugar or honey to sweeten.

Fold cream into pudding. Frost cake. It is yummy with shredded chocolate bits on top. (I used Halloween candy).

This Works for Me!

7 quick takes friday

1. This is the first time I have played along with 7 Quick Takes Friday - hello to everyone!

2. I am rereading for the 6th or 7th time Happy Are You Poor by Fr. Thomas Dubay. It changed how I see Gospel Poverty. From the back of the book:

To the modern mind, the concept of poverty is often confused with
destitution. But destitution emphatically is not the Gospel ideal. A love-filled
sharing frugality is the message, and Happy Are You Poor explains the meaning of
this beatitude lived and taught by Jesus Himself.

3. H1N1 has hit my house. Poor Ellie is down for the count. Thankfully vomiting isn't one of her symptoms.

4. 5 Christmas gifts down, a hundred or so to go. Seriously. This is with all the usual - draw names, only buy for godchildren not all nieces and nephews etc. I just have a huge list. (1 husband, 8 children, 1 grandchild, 1 gf, 1bf, 9 godchildren, 5 exchanges, a mom, a dad, a mother-in-law, assorted teachers and coaches - and I am sure I am missing someone important tonight)

5. I got out the Cookie Recipe Books this week, starting to plan my baking....yummy! Snickerdoodles ROCK!

6. I am sad, I will miss Tessa's semi-state competition in band tomorrow because of that vile H1N1 and next week because my favorite cousin in the world's son is being Ordained and I won't miss that. Pray for Deacon Jake that he be a holy priest!

7. I hope my kids will say of me what Thomas Edison said of his mother:

My mother was the making of me. She was so true, so sure of me, and I felt
that I had someone to live for; someone I must not disappoint.

Spicy Peanut Sauce

Spicy Peanut Sauce

(I usually double this batch)
1 1/2 Tbs. creamy peanut butter (organic)
2 Tbs. oil (I use grapeseed) (I haven't tried coconut oil but now that I use it regularly I will be trying it next time)
2 Tbs. reduced sodium soy sauce (regular makes it too salty)
2 Tbs. sugar
2 tsp. rice vinegar (or distilled white)
1/2 tsp. sesame seed oil - dark if possible to find
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
Stir together in small pot and warm until ingredients are well mixed.We eat this over sticky rice but the recipe can also be used for chicken satay.My family absolutely loves this.

My dear friend Laura gave me the recipe and an authentic Asian Hat looking thing to cook the rice in.
I never got the hang of it but love love love my rice cooker.

I have tried bottled peanut sauce but it doesn't come close to this yumminess.

Linked to: Kitchen Stewardship's Octoberfest and Fight Back Friday's at Food Renegade.

This post is also linked to Food on Fridays - no button today. ;op

Why We are THAT Family

Kristin over at We Are That Family is celebrating her 2 year blogoversary and has asked us all to share in the fun and share a THAT Family moment. There are fabulous giveaways to be had..so join in!

Over the years I have had MANY That Family Moments. Let's see, there was the time my toddler fell out of the barn loft onto his head - (he is perfectly fine - miraculous, but that is another post) and all day long whenever anyone assessed him I had to keep saying "no, the BIG knot on his forehead was already there when his big sister pushed him into the coffee table"

Or maybe when that same toddler drove his dad's truck into the house?

Perhaps the time I called 911 because I couldn't find my 2 year old and I was sure she was dead or abducted but in reality she was sleeping in a closet.

Or maybe when my youngest called 911 on the boyfriends cell phone and the police arrived at my parents home.

Just a couple of examples of why we Are That Family!

Happy Blogoversary Kristen!

Ouch Relief

Sometimes my back hurts, a lot. This is what I have used to help with pain relief:

Needed - 1 old sock (or you can make these for Christmas gifts, in that case 1 new sock)

Cheap white rice

Fill sock with rice, tie the end. Stick in microwave for a minute or so - till warm.

Apply to sore spot.

You can use this over and over and over again. I know people use oatmeal (but heat in an oven according to the directions). Beans would work also.

When my back aches this Works for Me!

Things to do with leftover Rice #1 Quick Jambalaya

Sometimes I just want me some jambalaya. It is so yummy. Here is a quick recipe that helps to use up some leftovers, sometimes though I make the extra rice and chicken just for it!

Quick Jambalaya
2 thick slices smoked bacon, diced
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 small green pepper chopped
1 small clove garlic, minced
3 cups cold cooked rice
1 cup canned tomatoes and juice
1 tsp tomato paste
1/2 to 1 cup diced cooked ham or chicken or combo of both
8-12 cooked shrimp (optional)
1 TBS soy sauce (I omit this and use fish sauce because of Joe)
frest ground pepper and salt to taste

Cook bacon in a deep heavy skillet. Cook over low heat until crisp, remove with slotted spoon. Drain. Set aside. Remove all but 1TBS of the bacon fat from the skillet. Add onion, green pepper, and garlic. Cook, stirring frequently, until vegetables are limp. Add remaining ingredients and reserved bacon. Fork-stir until well blended. Cover skillet. Turn heat to low and let mixture cook until heated through.
Makes about 6 servings.

Linked to: Beauty and Bedlam's Tasty Tuesday, Real Food Wednesday