Last week during the busyness of packing, I was thankful to have my menu in place. I did these tacos and cooked the taco meat in the crock pot. It was great to literally have to do nothing but occasionally break up the meat with a potato masher! The addition of the beans and corn were delicious!

Simply put the meat in the crock pot and break it up into small pieces. Turn the crock pot on low for a couple of hours. I added about 1/4 Cup water to the meat after about an hour, to keep it from drying out. Occasionally use a potato masher to break up the meat into small pieces. Drain. Add taco seasoning, corn and black beans to the meat.

I’ve just started using corn tortillas. These are more thin than some – I don’t care for the thick ones. I spray my non-stick pan with Pam and then I also spray the tortilla.  Let it cook on one side until it gets nice and brown, then flip it over. At this point, I add the filling and cheese, then fold it over and let it crisp up a bit.

To serve, top with tomatoes and sour cream.

Having the filling ready literally made this a 15 minute meal!

I’ve been thinking about the first meal I’ll make in our new home. I think I at least have the dessert idea! I saw Pioneer Woman make an Apple Tart on her show this weekend and it looks incredible, as well as simple! Check this out!

I’m also eating a bit of humble pie today. I’ve been so excited that this was our scheduled moving week. HOWEVER, (there’s always a “however” on house closings!), right now it looks like we could be on hold for up to six weeks. Unless, of course the Lord moves in and opens the door both figuratively and in reality. We are waiting for one piece of paper to be filed. I’m trying to think of all the great things I’m going to get accomplished in this time. I need to make the most of this and not sulk. After ten years of waiting, what’s six more weeks? Who knows, I might even get in some serious cooking while we wait! If I do, I’ll share it next Monday on What’s Cookin’ in the Parsonage. If we move, you’ll see a whole new post here next Monday!

Happy cooking!

With love and a waiting heart,

And lastly, I’ve been keeping up with my menu I planned on Sunday. This Tomato Pie was ridiculously delicious! I’ve made a recipe for years with cheddar cheese in it – this one has Parmesan Cheese and I like it much better! I made a light crust and used light mayo to lessen the calories. It was a great summer recipe and a fantastic use of the fresh tomatoes I’ve been given.

Going to the conference and cooking a home cooked meal in the midst of the craziness of packing and getting ready to move were good things for me.  It felt good to do something “normal.”  It helped  me take a breath and be ready to go back to the task of boxing up all the other rooms in the house.

If you’re going through anything that’s overwhelming like dealing with a loved one’s illness or trial, or maybe you’re feeling the frenzy of school schedules beginning again, do something “normal.”  Go shop for the birthday gift you need to buy, stop at Dairy Queen for a treat, go to the library and check out a “just for fun” book to read – anything that will remind you that it won’t always be this way.  I bet you’ll feel refreshed and better able to deal with the situation at hand.

With love from the parsonage windows,

Okay, I have a confession…I didn’t cook at all this weekend.  My head is hung, not in shame, but because I’m doodling on my paper.  I got to attend the Becoming Conference in Black Mountain, SC this weekend!  My sweet daughter, Whitney invited me to attend with her, and I’m so glad I got to go.  It was something totally new and different, refreshing, enlightening and just FUN!  So my doodling on paper is an effort to try to remember all the great things that I learned while I was away and then make a plan to implement those good ideas!

In reference to today’s subject of cooking, let me tell you about session I attended on freezer cooking.  This sweet woman, Jackie Brown, writer of Mom on a Mission, shared some great tips on preparing meals, not just for your own family, but also enough to share with others. Her motto is “Sharing Christ through freezer cooking.”  I loved her perspective on being prepared to be a blessing to others.  It goes along with our Discipleship theme at Boones Creek Bible Church.  I mean, it’s great to know where you’re going with your own meal plan and how you’re going to provide for your family, but if you’re also able to reach out to others in a way that is simple and thoughtful, that’s icing on the cake!  I hope you’ll check out her site.  She’s got menu plans, recipes that are healthy, and a great perspective on mealtime.

How about if I share my menu for this week with you?  This is going to be a crazy two weeks with finishing our packing and preparing to move (loud, happy squeal here!), but I am resolved to use my crock pot and the great fresh vegetables that others have shared with us, to provide healthy meals to sustain us while we pack and heft those boxes!

Tomato Pie
Crock Pot Beef and Gravy
Tacos using Crock Pot Taco Meat – Love this new idea!
Stuffed Baked Potatoes topped with Crab meat (I found the imitation crab meat on sale!)
Fresh Garden Veggies and Corn Bread

What’s on your menu this week?  Do you have a plan for how you make meals for others?

With love from my parsonage kitchen,