Appetizer · Side dish

Creamy Homemade Hummus

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Creamy hummus. I learned to love it when we went to Israel. Not only does it taste great as a dip, it actually has lots of good health benefits. I had only purchased it in the store until I recently watched Girl meets Farm on Discovery plus. She made the process look easy…and it really is! It’s a little time consuming, but most of that time is just letting the Chick peas soak overnight! There is very little hands-on time! (I have some lovely pictures of my hummus that I hope I’ll get to finally upload for you to see how creamy this recipe turned out!. In the meantime you can go to my Instagram and see my pictures there. You’ll find me at RefreshHerblog.)

Like any recipe, one benefit of making it yourself is that you can control all the ingredients, adding what you like. The other blessing is the cost. As I figured it, it was at least half the cost of purchasing it, and maybe even a third! This recipe cost me about $3 total and it made a huge bowl of hummus!

My notes: The recipe calls for one cup of chickpeas – I went ahead and cooked the whole bag at one time, then I froze the other half so the next time I need hummus, the chick peas will be ready to process!
This is a basic recipe that needs a little flavor. Adding a sprinkling of paprika on top is good, or adding in sun-dried tomatoes or roasted red peppers would also be good additions!

Here’s the recipe from Girl Meets Farm ~

Creamy Homemade Hummus

Ingredients

1 cup dried chickpeas

1/2 teaspoon baking soda 

3/4 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste 

1 tablespoon lemon juice 

1/2 cup tahini 

2 cloves garlic, optional 

1/4 cup cold water 

Olive oil, for serving 

Finely chopped onion (for topping) or onion wedges (for dipping) 

Chopped fresh parsley, for serving

Fresh pita, for serving

Directions

  1. In a medium bowl, cover the chickpeas with enough water to reach 2 inches above the height of the chickpeas and soak them for 12 hours.
  2. Drain and rinse the chickpeas and place them in a large saucepan with the baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt. Cover them with 1 to 2 inches water and bring the water to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot and simmer until the chickpeas are very soft, about 2 hours. Drain them, let them cool slightly and then transfer to a food processor.

Add the lemon juice, tahini, 1/4 teaspoon salt and the garlic, if using, and blend until very smooth, about 1 minute. With the motor running, drizzle in the water and continue to blend for 1 more minute. Taste and add additional salt to taste. Transfer to a serving dish and top with a drizzle of olive oil and some chopped onion and parsley. Serve with fresh pita and onion wedges and enjoy

You can serve hummus with vegetables or dip pita bread in it. I found lots of recipes using hummus here. If you haven’t tried it, I encourage you to try it with the veggies and then branch out.

Are you a hummus lover?

Valentine Treats · Valentine's Day

Valentine Memories To Keep

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It feels like I am in a constant state of purging. As I wipe out a drawer, straighten a closet or decorate for a holiday, I’m forever finding things that need to be tossed. But there are some things in a family that will be kept forever, and those are the memories of times together. Those days that maybe were ordinary, but made just a little more extraordinary by doing something a little special.

As Valentine’s Day approaches, I’m reminded that over the years we have had some special days in our home on February 14th. We always did something as a family first. Of course our girls received a card from us and often a little box of Whitman’s chocolates too. I usually fixed a special dinner and set the table in red or pink. We would have a dessert together as well, then it was bedtime for the girls so Mommy and Daddy could spend time together.

Our girls grew up knowing that we loved each other. I had heard that the best thing a wife could do for her children was to love their daddy. I had witnessed this in my own home when I was growing up, and I know very well the security it gives. My daughters might not have particularly liked going to bed early, or not being included in the evening’s plans, but they grew to appreciate why those things were so.

As you implement your Valentine’s plans for next weekend, I encourage you to plan for time together as a family, AND be sure to set aside time for you and your husband alone. It is the biblical thing to do. My husband would always tell our girls when we went away for a date, “Your mom and I are going out to make a better home for you.” Your children may not like it now, but they’ll be glad for the sweet memories of a happy home that you’re creating. Those are the best kind of memories because they can’t be put in a box and sent on their way to the trash or to the Goodwill – they’ll be in their hearts forever!

Needs some ideas?

This cake! So easy and my favorite chocolate cake on the planet!

Here’sa post about some simple chocolate and sweet treats!

You can find some budget-friendly gift ideas here.

A-Z ideas are in this post!

Refresh every member of your family this Valentine’s Day!

BEST Bible Journaling
Biblical Womanhood · Christian growth · Godly Character Traits

BEST Bible Journaling

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Recently when I was using a feature on my iPhone, the person with me said, “There are probably so many features on my phone that I don’t even know to use! This is what they had just heard me say ~

Siri, add ketchup and baking soda to my shopping list.

Alright, it’s added!

It’s so helpful to just speak and add a note to my ongoing shopping list! I need that list when I get to the store because I’ll remember things like milk or chicken, but forget things like ketchup and baking soda!

There’s another “list” that I make as I go through my week that is even more helpful, and that’s what God is teaching me each morning as I read His Word. I keep this list, for the most part, in my journal. It’s written with pen and ink. Why do I do this? It’s truly all glory to the Lord as an answer to a prayer that I asked Him for. It came from this passage ~

Jeremiah 15:16

Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.

I realized at one point in my life that God’s Word needed to be a higher priority, that I needed to love it more. It was then that I began to ask the Lord to give me a greater desire for it. God will answer a prayer like that, and I’m so thankful! It’s been a blessed journey!

Are you realizing like I did that you need greater doses of God’s Word? How can you know? Well, ask yourself these questions:

The answer for all of these needs is found in God’s Word. Then when we get God’s answers, it’s so important that we do something with those answers…and that includes putting it into a journal – that ongoing “list” so we won’t forget!

Last week I posted about the importance of writing down what God says to us in our Quiet Time with Him. Today let’s talk about some ways to make it easy and fun to write what God is teaching you. There are lots of ideas out there, but this is what works BEST for me. (Note the acronym that will help you remember the tips)

  • Best method – Use the method that works for you. You could use a paper journal, but if you hate to write, then type it up on your lap top on a Google Document. Or as in my opening illustration, you could even speak your note into your phone. “Hey Siri, make a note in my Bible notes.” What do you want to add? “Joseph is a reflection of Christ.” Typically iPhone notes are tricky because of misunderstanding your words, but my point is, look for the option that works best for you.
  • Equipment – Use good tools that will help you. I keep this little pouch filled with colored pens, highlighters, a straight edge for underlining, and a pencil. I buy the tiniest tip of a marker that will not transfer through pages. I also like buying colored ink and a pretty journal to make it more interesting.
  • Simplify – Keep your writing simple. I like to make bulleted points most of the time, rather than writing lengthy paragraphs.
  • Together – Keep everything in a basket, bin or tote so you can pull it together quickly in the morning. Having to go look for your highlighter or your notebook will only serve to frustrate you instead of encourage you.

Take your time as you read; be still before the Lord. It’s not the amount of things you’ve written down, but what you’re learning that is the most important. As you faithfully listen and the note what you’ve learned, you will look in time to come and see that you have grown deeper in your walk with the Lord. You have God’s Word on that!

I Peter 2:2

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:”

Did this post encourage you to begin journaling or to pick it up again? I pray so! Let’s keep growing until the day we go home to heaven!

refreshing others · refreshment at home · Winter

Perk Up An Afternoon With Winter Tea

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Rather than sharing a recipe today, I’m sharing an idea using food that might perk up your lingering winter months! February can be snowy and cold, so perhaps having a fun event in the afternoon will make it a little more enjoyable!

Last month I spent a good part of one week with my parents in Kentucky. I always love being with them in their home. It’s cozy, inviting, has sunny rooms and comfy places to sit. I was there to help out while my poor mom was dealing with Sciatic nerve pain. I had the fun of cooking and helping with some of the household chores while she rested. My dad does a great job of keeping the house cleaned up, so there wasn’t a whole lot to do when my mealtime work was ended.

But as many older couples have experienced since March, they’ve had few outings, for safety sake. Life can get very routine and drab in the wintertime, and especially so when someone is not well, so I thought it would be fun to do “Winter Tea” one afternoon. I’ve enjoyed that treat many times when I’ve visited them in the past, and I knew it would be something they would enjoy.

I didn’t do a full-fledged tea with cookies, cheese and all the sandwiches – I opted for just dessert. My sister had made a delicious sponge-like cake with raspberry filling for my dad’s Christmas Eve birthday and my mom had popped the leftovers in the freezer. It was perfect. Not only was it good, it also looked really pretty on the Country Roses dishes!

I set the table with the Country Roses dishes, got the hot water in the tea pot and put out flavored teas bags. Then I went to Amazon music and found a playlist of piano songs for an afternoon tea. It added a nice atmosphere for our “event.”

We had such a good time sipping tea, enjoying the cake and ice cream and just lingering at the table chatting. It was a fun way to spend an hour together.

Children would also enjoy a tea! You could use dishes that were a little less fragile, perhaps, but still make it special, pretty and delicious. It takes a little effort, but you could make a fun memory for a child, a group of friends…or your parents.

Why not refresh an afternoon with a lovely cup of tea and cake?

Celebrations · refreshing others

Birthdays and Blessings

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Last weekend was my husband’s birthday. It wasn’t one of those “monumental” numbers, but I believe every birthday should be the best day in the year for the one who’s celebrating. I asked my husband if we could go away for a couple nights. We had an even greater blessing of a quiet three night get away to a lovely lake cottage about an hour away.

The picture below is my favorite place to sit and have my Quiet Time in the morning. The first morning we woke up to a skiff of snow. How beautiful!

I took very simple foods with me for our meals, but we always say that even a peanut butter sandwich would taste like gourmet food at the lake! Breakfast on his birthday didn’t get pictured, but consisted of Eggs in a Basket with sour dough bread, Canadian Bacon, fresh fruit and coffee.

Even oatmeal with fresh fruit tasted heavenly! The view is always breathtaking.

For Birthday supper I made one of my husband’s favorites – Turkey Burgers. I picked up pretzel rolls that put them over the top! I served oven fries and Broccoli Salad to go along with the burgers.

Dale got triple Birthday desserts spread out over the week. We celebrated with our small group with brownies and ice cream and again with our family later in the weekend.

Then we met up with some special friends at Aubrey’s where they brought him a free Turtle Cake and Ice cream. Yum.

For a Non-monumental birthday, I’d say we did lots of celebrating! We are so grateful to the Lord for every day the Lord gives us and for the blessings from His hands.

What do you do to make birthdays special?

Refresh every day like it was a birthday!