I grew up in a home where most evenings we had dessert at the end of the meal. It wasn’t something huge like a triple-layered cake, but just a little something sweet. I still enjoy ending the meal with a taste of something sweet.
Small, individual desserts are perfect for a “just enough” serving size! Weight Watchers has a cheesecake recipe that I’ve tweaked a little to come up with a dessert we love!
I bake these individual cheesecakes in small tins I purchased on Amazon. They look like these…
They’re truly the perfect size if you’re wanting to watch your calories, but still enjoy something sweet. I bake them without any crust, then give my guests the option of sprinkling chocolate covered graham crackers on the top. It serves as an inverted crust! Then I top them with fruit, light Cool Whip and chocolate shavings. Wow. They are so good! Here’s the recipe:
Crustless Cheesecakes 3/4 Cup Plain low-fat yogurt 8 oz. Low-fat Cream Cheese 2 Eggs 2/3 Cup sugar 1 tsp Vanilla Light Cool Whip Fresh berries Chocolate shavings Chocolate Graham Crackers, crumbled
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Place small baking tins on a baking sheet. Spray lightly with cooking spray. You could also use a cupcake tin if you don’t have the tins. If you use the tin, line them with cupcake liners.
2. Using an electric mixer, beat together yogurt, cream cheese, eggs, sugar and vanilla. Spoon evenly into baking tins. Bake until top is set, 15-20 minutes; let cool and then chill in refrigerator 2 hours (can make up to 2 days ahead).
3. To serve, slide a knife around the edge of the cheesecake and invert onto a serving plate. Serve with fresh berries, Cool whip and chocolate shavings on top. You can also add the chocolate covered graham crackers on top, if desired.
You could also serve these in their little tins for an easy “pick up and go” dessert. Here’s one just with Cool Whip and chocolate. Not a bad combo!
I’m not sure about the WW points on these, but the version with a crust are 7 points, so if you don’t add the crackers, I’d think it would be one or two points lower! I’ve eaten these in moderation with good success (no weight gain).
These make a great dessert for guests. They aren’t strange in any way with artificial sweeteners – they’re just lighter due to no crust and lightened cream cheese. These would be perfect for Easter, perhaps serving them with fresh blueberries and a little lemon zest on top! Give them a try and tell me if you loved them as much as we did!
A young man who had recently lost his father was asked by a friend,
“What were your father’s last words before he died?“
“My father didn’t have any last words,” the son replied. “Mother was with him right up ’til the end!”
We laugh at a cute little story like that, but the sad truth is, that scenario is lived out in many, many marriages.
I remember once when we were on vacation, a woman and her husband were seated near me as I read at the poolside. The husband’s phone rang, and based on his (loud) conversation, he was talking to one of their adult children. The entire time this man was on the phone, his wife was telling him something he needed to say to their child. It was almost hilarious. The poor guy could hardly express his own thoughts into words because his wife was feeding him lines the whole time he was on the phone. I’m guilty of doing that on a bit of a smaller scale, but it’s still wrong.
Why is it wrong to talk over our husband, or talk for him? I believe it’s the respect issue that comes into play.
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How is respect shown when we remind him what to say, correct what he just said, or talk for him when he’s being talked to? The truth is, we are showing disrespect instead!
Respect is seen when we:
Give our husband a place of honor. In conversation, that place is to be still while he’s talking. We shouldn’t correct, interrupt, or answer for him. He is not our son – he is our husband.
Wait for him to answer – even if it seems like he’s NEVER going to come up with what he’s wanting to say. Many times he doesn’t speak because we are impatient and jump in too quickly. I’ve watched a man literally forming the words and begin to answer, but never be able to say his thoughts because the wife couldn’t wait that long!
Wait for him to finish talking with the other person before we share our thoughts or question. If he’s talking to someone else, we wait, then perhaps motion that we would like to add a thought or question, then wait for him to let us know when he’s able to listen.
Think long and hard about the need to correct him – even later. Unless it’s a serious faux pas that he needs to go back and make right, does it really matter that he said it was three years ago when he built the barn out back, but you know it was four years ago?! Ask if it’s something you can just let go of, and if it is, then do it!
Learn to listen. Be quiet and listen. Nod. Smile. If he’s telling his infamous joke again, let him have his moment of glory and don’t spoil it by exclaiming your disgust or disapproval.
Many husbands that don’t talk in marriage learned not to bother after years of disrespect from their wife. Show your husband honor in conversation and let him have the last words!
If you haven’t gotten on the Sheet Pan dinner Chuck wagon train yet, what are you waiting for? I have been making these for a couple of years now. Everything is tossed onto a large baking pan and roasted in the oven. You can make them to suit your dietary needs and your family’s tastes. They’re hearty and delicious and fast!
We’ve recently had new friends come to dinner who are Vegan. I didn’t see this as an obstacle, but rather a challenge to get creative! Vegetables are an obvious “Yes” for Vegans, so I knew this Sheet Pan dinner would be safe.
If you want to add meat to this, some good options would be chicken breast filets, cubed, or Turkey sausage – both which would be added early to the pan. Then you add the vegetables that don’t require as much cooking time. If you wanted to add shrimp, you could cook the vegetables, then add the shrimp for the last few minutes.
The version I made yesterday for our Vegan friend had Chick Peas, which adds some protein. When it came out of the oven, I tasted it and felt like it needed a little bit more flavor, so I added a little vinaigrette. I’ll add that recipe on the recipe below. This is also a great side dish to a meat – so don’t think this is just Vegan-friendly!
My Menu: Colorful Sheet Pan Dinner Pork Tenderloin (for the meat-eaters) Kale Salad – From Sam’s Club Sour Dough Bread Lemon Sorbet with fresh berries
ColorfulSheet Pan Dinner
1 lb. baby red potatoes, sliced in half lengthwise
1 ½ cups petite baby carrots or sliced carrots
1 can (14oz.) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 teaspoon of EACH dried basil, dried thyme, dried oregano (see notes)
1 teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon garlic powder
2 – 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 lb. asparagus, ends trimmed and cut into thirds
½ large red onion, sliced lengthwise
mineral salt & fresh cracked pepper, to taste
Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper, silpat or lightly grease with cooking spray. Add the potatoes, onions, carrots and chickpeas to the center, drizzle with half the oil and most of the herb & spice mixture, toss well to coat. Every ten minutes I turned the vegetables over with a spatula to ensure even browning. Bake for 20 – 25 minutes or until tender.
Remove the pan from the oven, add the asparagus, add the remaining oil and herb/spice mix, toss to coat, as shown above right. Place back in the oven and roast for 7-8 minutes.
Let cool and serve with sliced avocado and plenty of parsley sprinkled over top.
Dressing I added:
1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 1/2 tsp honey
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 tsp paprika Mix in small jar. Pour over cooked vegetables
Jump on board and make a Sheet pan dinner this week! It’s so delicious!
Myquillin Smith’s book, The Cozy Minimalist has helped me to transform yet another room in my house. You may remember my living room makeover that was completed at this time last year. You can find that post here. The transformation made such a difference and created a space we still love so much.
Soooo, I was very excited to move to our bonus room upstairs to give it some much needed minimalizing. What is crazy is that we called it the Family Room, but our family spent little time up there because it just wasn’t inviting. All the leftover pieces of furniture got put there and it just didn’t flow. I’ll prove it by this embarrassing Before photo…
It pains me to even look at this before photo!
First, I want to say that I prayed about how I wanted to use this room. and I also prayed the Lord would give me wisdom to purchase what was needed and stay in a budget that I had saved for. Use:
We wanted to have groups of people – our family, small group Bible study, folks we would counsel and also guests. We needed good seating, and a place for coffee cups or tea glasses.
I also wanted a place where my grandsons could play and join me for Bible Club.
My husband needed a spot that was good for rest and relaxation; a place to watch football
I wanted and a place where we could be together in the evenings
When I decided to redo the room, I used a beautiful horse painting we were given by the dear man who painted it to guide my colors and style! It’s quite large and I could never find a spot to hang it. Now it’s the centerpiece of the room. I painted the wall behind it a deep blue to accent the colors in the painting and make it “pop.”
One new piece I purchased was a love seat. I looked everywhere for one I loved and finally found one at Robert’s Furniture Store in Greeneville, TN. The sales rep there was so helpful! I couldn’t be happier with our Made in America purchase!
Here’s the first peek at the room…
Per the clear and precise guidance of The Cozy Minimalist, I emptied the room of everything except the big pieces to “quiet” the room. Then I could really focus on what I felt the room needed.
Our sofa was about 25 years old and I was ready for something I was in love with. I sent it to another home where it’s being put to good use because it’s still in perfect condition! Then I went to Facebook Marketplace and searched for a replacement. When I found a white slip covered sofa in perfect condition I knew that’s what I wanted. She was asking more than I felt I wanted to spend. I prayed about it and offered her less. She took it!
Part of the way through the redecorating
Again, following the advice in The Cozy Minimalist, I purchased my rug before choosing paint. These had all the perfect colors from the horse painting and is large enough to go under the sofa and chairs.
The leather Ottoman came from a store in Brevard, NC – MANtiques. I wanted the room to feel masculine and like a library kind of feel, and when I found the leather Ethan Allen ottoman, I knew it would be perfect in our room. I called the store with an offer lower than the price tag. She came down a little, but it still didn’t fit in my budget. I told her I would pray about it and get back to her. The Lord gave me a price to offer. I called back and she said, “I’m happy to give it to you for that!” “Thank you, Lord!” It has storage under the lid, so it’s a great place to hold our games!
We did some furniture swapping in our house and had two chairs that worked perfectly for more seating. Shopping your own house is great and free!! The only other thing I purchased is the large round mirror over the sofa. It came from Hobby Lobby and was purchased at 50% off! I love that it reflects the painting, the blue wall and the good light from the wide window.
I’m still contemplating my curtains. I’m thinking about going with a blue.
The television armoire was built for us by my father-in-law many years ago. I love having the television tucked away from view.
I’ll end with a before and after. Simply click in the middle of the next picture to slide the picture over to reveal the whole before and after photos!
Click in the middle of the picture and slide it over to see the Before and After!
The planning, purchasing and work of the transformation took six months, but it was worth it! We have spent so much more time up there already!
Is there a room in your house you don’t use because it isn’t inviting? I urge you to consider using Myquillen Smith’s techniques. I’m clearly not a minimalist, but her step-by-step guide is so helpful in making decisions in every step of the process. You can’t even imagine how easy it makes decorating! Don’t forget to pray about each decision and let the Lord make the room a blessing for you to use for His glory!
Yesterday I went to our local Ingles to do my grocery shopping. When I had finished and returned to my car, I looked up and saw the car pictured here. That car is not in motion! It’s parked like that! I laughed out loud, then I had to snap a picture. It was too unbelievable not to share.
When my husband sees a car parked like that he’ll say, “For heaven’s sake, if they’d just take five seconds…” It’s true. How much longer would it have taken for them to actually get their car all the way into their space before they jumped out? About five seconds.
When I got home and was thinking about the driver, I thought, “If they get the tail of their car hit, they surely asked for it.” A person who has a license knows the rules of driving. They know what is expected of them when they call themselves a driver, yet so many drivers don’t take the time to do the right thing.
I call myself a Christian. Do I take the extra time to:
Share the Gospel with a stranger?
Stop and pray with a friend who just shared her burden with me?
Write a get well card to someone at church and add a favorite Bible verse?
Volunteer to serve at my church?
Invite an unsaved family to my home for a snack or meal?
None of the things I just mentioned really take that much extra time from our day. Just like the careless driver, we can tend to recklessly plunder our way through our day without slowing down for “five seconds” to just do the right thing.
Don’t allow yourself to be the target for someone’s photo of a careless Christian. Slow down. Consider where you’re parked, then look around to see if you need to straighten things up a bit.
Think about what have you done recently that showed that you were taking the time to do the right thing as a child of God. Ask the Lord to reveal any areas that need to be “straightened out” in your life.
Oh, and take those extra five seconds to park your car in the lines. =)
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RefreshHer 