Spring Home Touches
Crafting · Frugal living · Home decor · spring

Spring Home Touches

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I have a favorite You Tube channel that I love to watch. White Cottage Company always leaves me encouraged and inspired! Mary has such great ideas for decorating her home. Recently she showed how she took Dollar Tree fencing and made it look like wrought iron! I couldn’t believe my eyes! I had been looking at Hobby Lobby for a piece like this and it was very expensive! After watching Mary, I wondered if I could replicate what she did. I knew I had to give it a try!

First I purchased four pieces of fencing from Dollar Tree. I clipped off the side pieces where it would attach together. Then I used a white trim paint to paint the front of the fencing. It took me ten minutes per section.

After it dried, I used a piece of sandpaper and roughed up the edges so it would look like the iron was a little worn.

I was gluing three pieces of fencing together, so I used clippers and removed the stakes that would be on the bottom row, but I left the other two with those long stakes. They are what I used to glue the pieces together. If you look carefully at my close up, you can see those long stakes. I used a hot glue gun to glue the rows together and clamped them while they dried. ** NOTE: I think I’ll purchase E6000 glue and reinforce it to make sure it’s sturdy.

The other touch I added in my living room was this framed wreath. I had a picture there that I knew was too small, but couldn’t find something I loved to put in its place. On the day when I was wanting to add the wrought iron fending and also “fix” this wall, I simply prayed, “Lord, would you help me to do this quickly and use things I already have?” I love seeing how God answers those little needs that matter to me. He helped me to know exactly where the fencing would look best, and then brought to my mind this wreath and also the frame – both things I had on hand!

Another project I’m working on is getting longer drapes so I can move my rods up higher! All in God’s time!

My addition of spring touches cost me only $4.75 and a little bit of time! I hope this will inspire you to

  1. Craft something for your home.
  2. Pray about how/what to add.
  3. Use what you already have on hand!

What will you add to your home to freshen it for spring?

Creamy Bow Tie Pasta With Italian Sausage
dinner in 30 minutes · Pasta

Creamy Bow Tie Pasta With Italian Sausage

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 I did it again!  I tried out a new recipe on guests!  I have a reputation for doing this, but it’s not on purpose!  I will sit down to plan my menu, and as I contemplate the night guests will be with us, I’ll consider what’s in the fridge or freezer.  Then it goes from there.  Soon I’m searching Pinterest for a recipe using those ingredients and there it is – a new menu item that sounds amazing!

In this case I was searching for a pasta recipe using Italian sausage because I had gotten a great deal at Kroger recently.

I’m happy to report that this recent recipe was successful in that it turned out as good as it sounded, and everyone loved it!  Mission accomplished, even if it was a bit risky!

I have said in the past that I’m not really a pasta lover, but it seems like that is changing, and it’s mostly because of some incredible recipes that I’ve tried!  I’ve learned that my favorite way to eat pasta is a dish made on the stove top and not baked in the oven after being prepared.  It leaves the pasta tender and the sauce creamy.  What’s not to love about that?  

Here’s the delicious recipe I found with my changes…

Creamy Bow Tie Pasta with Italian Sausage

  • 1 package (12 oz.) bow tie pasta
  • 1 pound mild Italian sausage, casings removed
  • 1/2 cup diced onion
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 can (28 oz.) diced tomatoes, drained and coarsely chopped
  • 1-1/2 cups heavy cream – I used 3/4 2% milk and 3/4 C cream
  • 1 cup packed spinach leaves, cut into thin strips
  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions; drain. (I do NOT cook my pasta al dente when it’s not going to cook longer in the oven.)
  2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet crumble the sausage and add onion. Over medium-high heat until sausage cooked through and browned and onion is tender. Add garlic. Cook one minute. Add the tomatoes and cream/milk. Simmer until the mixture thickens, about 10 minutes. Add the spinach and cook an additional 3 minutes. Add the cooked pasta to the sauce.

You could lighten up this recipe by using all2% milk in place of the heavy cream.  I think you could also use half chicken stock and half milk.  I haven’t tried that yet, but it would still give a creamy sauce with less calories.  At any rate, this was delicious with a nice slice of French bread for soaking up the sauce!  Maybe not good table manners, but delicious!

What’s your favorite way to have pasta – Fresh from the stove top or baked in the oven? 

This is a great weeknight meal…and also a good one for company!

Keeping Berries Fresh Longer
Food Prep · Fruit · refreshment at home

Keeping Berries Fresh Longer

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There’s nothing more disheartening than to buy berries, stick them in the fridge, then a couple days later you find them moldy and mushy!

I have found a way to keep my berries lasting MUCH longer and it’s so simple! Wash and cut berries, removing hulls, etc., then place them into a glass canning jar and cover with a lid. They will stay fresh all week for me when I do this!

Not only do they not go bad as quickly, it’s also so much more convenient to have them all prepped and ready to use! I think your family will be more prone to use berries that are ready for their morning breakfast, than if they have to wash and cut the fruit first!

You’ll have strawberries ready to add to the Angel Food Cake I shared this week, or to top onto your Baked Oatmeal, or yogurt and granola!

Refresh your berries with this simple method!

Go Pray
Conflict · Empty life · Encouragement

Go Pray

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It was one of those epiphany moments. A keen understanding of an essential truth came to me while I was doing a calligraphy drawing on my pantry chalkboard. I had been heavy hearted and downcast regarding a situation and had been slugging my way through the day with it wrapped around my heart like a snake’s grasp on a bird. Then as I was writing the words,

Pray without ceasing.

the Spirit of God whispered to my heart, “Yes, Denise. You need to go pray.”

Earlier in the morning I had my quiet time with the Lord. I had read His Word and spent time in prayer, giving Him praise and also my burdens. Then this issue had cropped up and the quietness had dissipated. Filling its place was unrest and uneasiness. I felt anxious and irritable.

Up until this moment, I had stuffed that anxiety with scrolling Instagram and other futile minute-wasters. The result was only more emptiness.

Now at God’s prompting to obey this verse that I had carefully written on my board, I did just that. I went back to my quiet place – kneeling at chair in a room upstairs. I poured out my heart before God, asking for His intervention and help. I asked Him to help me appropriate the peace that is mine in Christ. Colossians 3:15 I rose from my knees with a peace that truly does pass human understanding.

How foolish it is of me not to return to that place of prayer often, if not physically, at least in my heart. It’s the only place where I’ll find rest. It certainly isn’t in found in my own thoughts or secular entertainment. It’s found in the presence of my Savior.

If your heart feels anxious, instead of stuffing it with a Netflix series, food, or social media, may I encourage you to go find a place to be alone with God and pour out your heart to Him? Why? Because He cares.

Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

I Peter 5:7

He can also do something about your situation! But He is waiting for you to ask.

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

Matthew 7:7

Perhaps this blog post is your epiphany to “Go Pray!” God loves you enough to invite you to bring your burdens to Him, then to listen to you when you do.

Now, Go Pray.

Angel Food Cake – A Perfect Spring Dessert!
baking · cakes · dessert

Angel Food Cake – A Perfect Spring Dessert!

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Angel food cake is a perfect spring dessert. Its light texture is perfect alone or with strawberries that are in the market right now. It’s also low in calories, so if winter added a few pounds, you won’t feel guilty about indulging! I was also amazed at how few ingredients it takes to make one. There are lots of eggs, but other than that, it’s just a few other things added!

I made this last week, and there’s really no comparison to this and what you buy in the bakery department of your grocery store. The texture is so much better. Mine had a nice brown, sugar-y edge that gave it a delicious texture. My only warning is not to make this on a rainy, humid day. Beaten egg whites don’t respond with that kind of atmosphere…I speak from experience!

Here’s the simple recipe from Taste of Home ~

Angel Food Cake

Ingredients

  • 1-1/4 cups egg whites (about 9 large)
  • 1-1/2 cups sugar, divided
  • 1 cup cake flour
  • 1-1/4 teaspoons cream of tartar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

  1. Place egg whites in a large bowl; let stand at room temperature 30 minutes. Sift 1/2 cup sugar and flour together twice; set aside.
  2. Place oven rack in the lowest position. Preheat oven to 350°. Add cream of tartar, extracts and salt to egg whites; beat on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining sugar, about 2 tablespoons at a time, beating on high until stiff peaks form. Gradually fold in flour mixture, about 1/2 cup at a time.
  3. Gently spoon into an ungreased 10-in. tube pan. Cut through batter with a knife to remove air pockets. Bake until lightly browned and entire top appears dry, 35-40 minutes. Immediately invert pan; cool completely, about 1 hour.
  4. Run a knife around side and center tube of pan. Remove cake to a serving plate.

Eggs are usually marked lower in spring, which makes this dessert an incredible value. Give your hand a try at this wonderful cake and I doubt you’ll be buying the ones in the plastic containers at your grocers!