Lentil, Chickpea, and Kale Stew

I like to make meatless meals a few times a week that are packed with protein and vegetables.  Here's a new stew that I tried and it was great!

2 cloves garlic, minced
2 T olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1/4 head cabbage chopped

In a large heavy-bottomed pot brown the garlic in oil, then add the onion and cabbage for a few minutes until they are transparent and soft.  Then add all these...

3-4 carrots, chopped
1 small bunch of Kale, rinsed and chopped
1 can Chickpeas, drained
1 C lentils, dry
2 T tomato paste
1 t ginger powder
1 t cumin
1 T lime juice
1/4 t salt, pepper, and turmeric
4 C chicken stock

Bring it up to a boil, lower the heat to medium-low and simmer for 30 min. or more until the lentils are soft.  I served this over couscous, but you could use rice, quinoa, millet or pastina.

My husband loved this.  And his eye doctor just told him to keep eating a lot of kale, apparently it's really good for our eyes!

Let me know how you like this!

When Life Isn't As It 'Should' Be...

Sometimes things don't turn out the way we think they should, right?  Did you get a new job only to discover you preferred your old one?  Have you bought a new house and realized it's not the dream you thought it would be?  Are you and your spouse not where you want to be in your marriage? 

I could go on but you get the idea.  So what do we do when these thoughts hit us?  For me it's time to get back to basics. Here are some facts I remind myself of:

1.  Get the Big Picture - I'm just passing through on this Earth, my real home is in heaven.  Even though this is all I've ever known, I need to rely on my faith that Jesus is preparing a home for me there and all this "Earth stuff" will someday be a distant memory.

2.  Learn Something and Be Patient - There could be a good reason for things to be this way right now.  I need to admit that I'm not as smart as I think I am and I don't see every detail of my life and future.  Bumps in the road are part of life and I need to be patient.

3.  Who's the Boss? - My life is not about me, I'm only here to serve God and give Him glory.  There's something wonderful about realizing that I'm NOT the center of my universe.  I'm one small part of an amazing tapestry that God is weaving.

4.  Look up and look around -   When I focus my attention away from my "sad" circumstance I usually find someone who can use my help, my prayers, a note of encouragement, a hot meal, etc...

Those of us who live in Western civilized cultures MUST remember that we enjoy a standard of living that is positively royal in comparison to millions and millions of people on this planet. As my son tells me regularly when he hears me start to complain "That's a first-world problem, mom."  He's SO right!!  Thanks, Dom!

What do you do when life isn't as it "should" be??

Make a Market Bag!

I love to re-purpose fabric that has otherwise lost its usefulness and turn it into something to be appreciated.  I've made dozens of Market Bags, that's my name for these large, lined, cloth bags with long handles and pockets on the inside.  Here's how it's done!

1.  Cut 2 rectangles of fabric for the outside of the bag, and 2 identical rectangles for the lining.  Mine are generally 16-20 inches by 14-16 inches.  You can make any size that suits you, if want to load these bags with groceries don't skimp on size.

2.  Cut 2 small rectangles of coordinating fabric for pockets, iron the edges under, and sew them onto the lining.

3.  Cut 2 long "straps" or connectors to join front and back of the outside and the lining along 3 sides.

4.  Pin the strap to the front and back sections of the bag, right sides of fabric together, folding the corners into a point.

I make 1/4 inch seams for the outside of the bag, and 5/8 inch seams for the inside.

5.  Press ALL seams open when you're done.  Don't skip this, it makes a big difference!

6.  Cut out long handles, around 2 1/2 to 3 feet and press seams under.  Top stitch the seams shut.

7.  Fit the lining into the outside and fold the top edge of the lining towards the outside.  Then pin it in place.  Sew around the upper edge with a neat top stitch.

8.  Pin the handles onto the bag, sew a rectangle around the area where the handles attach to the bag.

Voila!!  Enjoy your new bag!  I have friends who use their bags to go to the farmer's market, the gym, the grocery store, yard sales, school, and more.  This bag's outside was an old bed ticking that had areas of staining and many holes.  I cut out the bad parts and used the rest to make a few nice market bags.  I've used vintage table cloths, yard sale fabric, quilt tops, old curtains, and old embroideries.  If you make one, I'd love to see a photo!!

Need It or Want It?

Are you trying to live on a budget?  Do you have too much credit card debt?  Too many Americans are drowning in debt, and yet are still lured to buy more stuff that they don't need and can't really afford.  The temptations and pressure to buy "stuff" are everywhere in our society.  

Here's the fact:
Our needs are very simple to define:
 food, clothing, shelter
There are more on this list according to Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, if you're a sociology-minded person. But I'm a simple gal, and I'm going to keep this short.

If you want to break out of the cycle of spending money you don't have on things you don't need, here are a few questions to ask yourself before you buy any luxury item.

1.  Do I need it or do I want it?
2.  Do I already have something like this?
3.  Can I wait a few days before I buy this and think it over?
4.  Do I have the money to buy this?

I'm not against enjoying nice things, I've got plenty.  But they don't control me.  "It's just stuff" is one of my favorite sayings.  The important things in life are the things I'll take to heaven, not what's in my closet.

I've learned over the years, with some help from my gentle questioning husband, to separate needs from wants, to not jump on band-wagon trends, and to wait on major purchases. And if I am unwilling to wait before buying an item, that says something about my heart that isn't good.

Of course I've given in to pressure-impulse buys and regretted wasting our hard-earned dollars.  But I'm learning to live in contentment and thankfulness, not by any other standard.

I will add one more question to our list:

5. How much does it cost?

Notice that it doesn't matter how much I saved.  For some reason the word "SALE" has a magical, spell-casting power over some of us.  It can make us forget common sense and plunge into spending money just because "It's on sale!" But what have I really "saved" if I spent money on items I didn't need or really want in the first place?? 

This is a good lesson for children to learn early on.  We told our boys regularly when they were little, "You will always have all that you need, and some of what you want."  I was not afraid to be the "only parent" that didn't buy certain things.  Your kids need you to teach them how to live sensibly and make tough decisions.  This is one way to do it!

So if your answers to these questions make you realize that you need to pass up that "incredible deal," see if you can walk away.  And don't forget to pat yourself on the back!

Photographs and Memories

Here's another great note from my friend, Susan!

Recently I read an article about people being happy when they looked at photographs from happy times in their past and I realized that I do that with photos all over my house.  I love to see the faces of my children laughing and interacting over the years and I’ve noticed that they, as well as others who come into our home, enjoy it too.  People know that they are important to you if you have their photo displayed - especially people like my little neighbors (ages 7, 5, and 3) next door!  But instead of just making me happy, it reminds me of how God has blessed me over and over throughout the years.  Let me be clear – there weren't always “happy faces.”  There were some rough times too, but the beauty of photographs is that you can delete, throw out or tear up the unhappy ones!

Here are some of my favorite ways to display multiple photos:

          

And below is my favorite.  It’s so easy to switch out photos because they’re attached by little clips.  I’ve had wedding pictures here, old  Christmas photos and now, odds and ends.    

You can use anything in place of the garland.  It just hides

the clips!

Enjoy those happy faces – don’t hide them in a box somewhere!!

Nature's Flu Shot

I'm no doctor, and I'm not suggesting that anyone get or not get flu shots.  So I apologize ahead of time to my friends in the medical field who know way more than I do about how the human body works.  That's my disclaimer!

Let me give you a bit of history on my experience with colds. For most of my life I have gone through cycles where I have spent weeks at a time being miserably sick with bad head colds, chest colds, sore throats, laryngitis, etc.  I'm a teacher, so I have sick students coughing and sneezing on me all the time.  And we teachers cannot take a week off for "just a cold."  Even though for me that has meant dragging myself to school and doing whatever I could to get through the days so I could go home and try to rest.  Unfortunately for me, congestion = inability to sleep because I can't breathe!  Can you sense the vicious cycle?

Well, about a year ago a friend of mine told me about a "Nature's Flu Shot" drink that is promoted online on various sites.  There are different versions if you search, but the main idea is that it has immune-boosting, antiviral, and antibiotic properties that simply help your body fight off disease.  My essential oil-loving friends have discovered that same principal, that there are naturally-occurring substances in foods that can help our bodies.  I suspect that not everyone reacts the same way to these substances, but I like the concept.

I'm pleased to announce that I have been one whole year without a debilitating cold since I started taking my "Nature's Flu Shot" almost every day.  Since February 2013 I did start to get sick 3 or 4 times, but it always was mild and went away in days, not weeks, and I never reached that "miserable" stage that I described before.

Here's the recipe that I use:

6 lemons, juiced
2 T Manuka honey (I order online from Amazon, expensive!)
2 t ginger powder (you can grate fresh ginger too)
1/2 t turmeric
1/4 t cayenne
1 to 2 Cups orange juice (or other juice that you like)

        

The time-consuming part is juicing the lemons.  My old juicer serves me well and gets the job done fast.  I put all this in a small one-quart plastic bottle.  You may need to label this so that some unsuspecting victim doesn't pour a glass of this thinking it's ordinary OJ!

I drink one very small shot per day.  And if I start feeling sick I have 3 or 4 shots a day until all symptoms go away.

Let me end with a couple properties of these ingredients that I read from Web MD:

lemon juice - vitamin C rich, immune-stimulating

ginger - anti-inflammatory, good for digestion

Manuka honey - antibacterial, antioxidant

turmeric - anti-inflammatory

cayenne pepper - good for digestion

Most versions of "Nature's Flu Shot" call for garlic, but I can't consume it raw.  I use garlic in so many other recipes that I don't need to put it in this.

If you use a version of this drink, please leave a comment and let me know how it works for you.  All I know is, I'm hooked and I wanted to share this with my blog friends in case it can help someone like me.

Never Grocery Shop Without A List!

Do you go to the grocery store and wander around?  Do you assume that you'll remember everything you need to buy?  Well, my advice is "Don't Shop Without A List! Ever!"  Why, you ask?  I can tell you from experience that it's next to impossible to remember all the little things that you need, the items that you are running low on, and the uncommon ingredients that you need for that special dish you want to make next week.  And remember, store managers are paid to distract you with "impulse buy" items that you will probably purchase if you don't have a plan in place!

I'm a little OCD, as my husband will tell you.  Years ago, as a new working mom, I made my own grocery list template by walking around our local store and writing down all the items that I would ever buy in aisle-order.  I typed them in columns, made lots of copies, and then I used a highlighter to mark the things I needed when I went to the store.  I got the idea from a teacher I worked with.  Since I try to grocery shop only once a week, I had to make the most of that one trip.  It worked beautifully for us for years.

Now I keep a pile of scrap paper and a pen near the fridge. When something is low or out I write it down.  I never go shopping without my list, it keeps me focused and stops me from buying things I don't need.

You could customize your own list and simply write down the department categories you shop in the most, "Produce, Cereal, Meat, Dairy, etc."  and leave space under each category for your needs.  Or you could search on google, there are plenty of lists to choose from.  Find one that suits you and use it!

If you want to trim your grocery spending, make simple meal plans and never shop without a list!!

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It's Valentine's Day! Let's Eat Chocolate!

Let's be honest, nothing says "I love you" more than melting chocolate, right?  Here's a recipe that is sure to please if you're a chocolate lover.

Molten Chocolate Cakes

1/2 stick butter
4-5 ounces dark chocolate
1 t vanilla
1 t red wine
3/4 cup powdered sugar
2 eggs
1 egg yolk
1/2 cup flour

Grease 4 baking ramekins.  (Mine are 4 inches in diameter.)

Melt the butter on low power in a 4-6 cup pyrex bowl in the microwave.  It usually takes 2-3 minutes on low, stirring occasionally.  Add chocolate and stir until melted, it may need a little more microwave time.  **Be careful if you've never melted chocolate before.  It can seize up and harden if you heat it too much.  That's why the butter is melted first.

Add the vanilla, wine and powdered sugar, stir.  Add the eggs and keep stirring.  It will look strange, just keep stirring.  Finally add flour and the mixture should be shiny and sticky.

Spoon batter into 4 ramekins and bake on a sheet at 425 degrees for 13 minutes.  This is really important!!  Have the oven hot and ready, and don't bake it any longer than 13 minutes or you will overcook these.  I put these ramekins on another small dish and serve with a warning that the ramekin is hot!

I prepare the batter ahead of time when I have guests.  The unbaked ramekins can sit nicely for a few hours while we have dinner.  Then I bake them and serve them hot.  There's never a drop left!

Lowfat Banana and Fruit Bread

In this crazy world we live in where there's so much emphasis on being thin and young and...  I like to focus my attention on being healthy.  I try to walk and exercise, because I like being outside and moving.  I feel better when I've had a morning walk to clear my head, had time to pray and remember what's important in life.

What's this got to do with Banana Bread?  Well, here's a healthy recipe that I've been making and enjoying for years as a breakfast.  I'm a teacher, so my day starts very early and I don't usually like to eat before I leave my house around 6 am.  I take one of these slices with me and eat mid-morning.   It looks like a complicated recipe with a lot of ingredients, but it's not.  It makes 4-5 small loaves and freezes beautifully.

Lowfat Banana and Fruit Bread

2-3 bananas
2 eggs
2 T oil
1 C buttermilk (can be made with 1T vinegar in a cup of milk and let to curdle)
3 T molasses
2 T honey
1/2 C wheat or oat bran
1 1/2 C white flour
1/2 C wheat flour
1/2 C oats
1-2 t flax seeds
2 t baking powder
1 t baking soda
2 t cinnamon
1/2 t ginger
1/4 t nutmeg
1 C chopped dried fruit (craisins, apricots, figs, dates, cherries)
1/2 C chopped walnuts or almonds

Blend all ingredients together in a large mixing bowl.  The batter should be sticky, not runny, add a little extra flour if necessary.

Pour into 4 or 5 greased mini loaf pans.  Bake at 375 degrees for 18-20 minutes until nicely browned.  Test with a toothpick to make sure they're baked through.

I cut the loaves into 4 sections.  My guess is that they are between 100 and 150 calories.  This is loaded with "good for you" ingredients, protein, fiber, flax seeds...

What are your tips for being healthy??

Brighten Up Your Home

Here's another great post from Susan!!  Enjoy...

Especially at this time of year our homes need a little brightening and changing up.  Maybe it’s just that we’re inside so much now that we THINK that we need to make some changes. Instead of going out and spending a lot of money to do that, here’s what I do.  Simple, simple, simple!

1.  Move your wall décor around.  This can be as simple as moving a picture/painting out of one room where you may not see it very often to a more visible spot in your home.  Move a lamp; shift the furniture around; add a plant to a room.  It’s amazing how small changes can change a whole room. 

2. Burn those candles!  For some reason, I’ve bought candles and been given candles as gifts but I must have thought that I was taking them to Heaven with me because I didn’t burn them!  Well, now I use them and what a difference!  The fragrant ones are so enjoyable as they freshen the winter air.  The plainer ones can help change the look of a room as they burn. 

3. Put a strand of white lights up somewhere in your house – on a mantle, in some plants, in a hutch, anywhere!  You will be surprised at how warm and inviting they make your room feel.

4. Buy some fresh flowers for a room that you are in the most.  Walmart has very affordable flowers – just a small bunch will do – and the Flower Boutique was selling a dozen roses for $12.00!  Not around Valentine’s Day of course – but there’s nothing wrong with buying yourself flowers to get through these drab months.

Let us know what you do to brighten up your home in the winter!

Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent

Well, I've heard from some of you that my Powdered Laundry Detergent doesn't dissolve completely in front-loading machines and leaves spots on the fabric.  Here's another recipe that I've tried.  It works just as well as the other one, but its base is Blue Dawn Dish Liquid, so it should dissolve well in any machine!

Here's what you need:

Empty Gallon Plastic Jug

Blue Dawn Dish Liquid

Super Washing Soda (Arm & Hammer)

Borax

Measure 3/4 cup Washing Soda and 3/4 cup Borax into the jug.  

Pour 2-3 cups of very hot water and shake until the powder is dissolved and looks milky like this:

Fill up the jug with tap water up to 5 inches from the top.  Then pour in 1 cup Blue Dawn Liquid.

If you put the lid on the container and roll it around a little the soap will mix in.  The Blue Dawn will settle on the top as it sits.  Just give it a shake before you use it for laundry.

Here's the good part:  You only need 1/4-1/2 cup per load!!  That's right, this nifty mixture will clean a LOT of clothes.  Try it and let me know how it works for you.  I still really like my powdered mixture, but I use this too.  I use this for my cleaning rags, sheets, and towels.

"I Learned the Hard Way" Laundry List

I'm honored to post for you all the first (of many, I hope) entry from my dear friend, Susan.  She has so much to offer to this forum.  Please leave comments and let us know if you try any of these Laundry List items!

I would like to add a few “learning the hard way” items to Maria’s “laundry list”!

I wash all good clothes – shirts, blouses, sweaters, dress pants, and dresses – inside out.  I also wash all dark – black, navy blue, and brown – items inside out.  You won’t believe how much longer the color will last in these items when you wash them this way.

I have always used a clothes line (inside the house and outside – you can also use a rack) because I just fluff these good clothes in the dryer for a few minutes and then line dry on plastic hangers the rest of the way.  This cuts way down on ironing and adds body to the clothes.  It also helps your clothes to last longer – have you ever wondered where all that lint comes from in your dryer????

Another big help is Dawn dishwashing liquid to clean collars – just squirt a line of Dawn along the collar and rub in; wash normally.  It gets rid of the “ring around the collar” marks every time!  It also works on any oil-based stains like magic!

As for ironing, I do most of that inside out too.  It prevents scorching and leaving those “heat” marks from the iron especially on dark clothes.  On dress shirts, you can iron the plackets smoother and easier on the inside and if you have used my method of drying, you probably will only have to iron the collar and placket (both sides of button area) and cuffs of most shirts.  The same applies to dress pants.  The pocket areas will look much better if ironed on the inside and then turn to do the crease in the legs.

What's In Your Closet?

Face it, we all have clothes in our closets and drawers that we shouldn't.  Well, I have 2 bits of advice for clothes. 

The first one comes from another blog that I love to read.  I liked this short list so much that I'm going to repeat it!

What kinds of clothes should we have?

-clothes that we love
-clothes that fit us
-clothes that get us compliments

Isn't that simple?  It makes it easy to thin out items that we used to love to wear, but no longer, easier to get rid of dresses and slacks that just don't fit anymore, and easiest to identify those items that nobody compliments us on.

The second is one word:  UPGRADE
Simply defined, it is -  1 item in = 1 item out

Most stores are having incredible sales now to clear out their winter merchandise.  So, if you buy 2 sweaters on sale, just make a pact with yourself to get rid 2 sweaters that you don't love, that don't fit...you know!

This is a great time of year to fill up a few bags for donation to the Salvation Army or Goodwill.  So, make those tough decisions.  Thin out your closet so that you can actually see all the clothes that you love to wear and that fit you!!  And remember to upgrade!!!