Uncategorized

Getting to Know Me

RefreshHer24 Comments

Since this is the beginning of my Summer series, I thought we’d start with a little “Getting to Know You” post!

twins 1

Let me tell some details about myself you might not know:

  • I am an identical twin.  I was the bossy one…imagine that.  (Sorry, Dianne!)
  • I was born in Michigan and lived there until I was 13 and we moved to KY.  The rest of my life I’ve been a Southern girl and love that very much!
  • My husband and I have been married nearly 36 years (as of 20th of June).  He is 17 inches taller than me! Someone told us yesterday they used us as a couple to teach their kids opposites! Hmmm… Well, they do attract, don’t they?
  • Fire and I have a lot of stories.  One was in my bedroom, one was at a wedding.  Three have been in a kitchen…and I teach women how to cook.  Yikes!!
  • I love chocolate, but I only eat it a bite or two at a time.  My girls get annoyed at finding chocolate in my kitchen drawers that has turned white from age.
  • I loved writing stories when I was in elementary school and my 4th grade teacher encouraged me to keep writing.  I won first place in a creative writing contest in high school, writing a story for children called, What’s Up In the Sky?
  • My grandmother grew up in England.  It’s my dream to visit there some day.
  • I grew up playing softball with my dad, who pitched fast-pitch for our church team.  Even at my small stature, I could knock the ball over the heads of those in the field.  That was pretty impressive in elementary school!!
  •  My first official job was cashier at Hardees – that was in the day before computer-like cash registers that told you how much change to give!  My mom sat down with me and showed me how to make correct change.  My next job was bus-girl at Holiday Inn restaurant.  My twin sister had the far more glamorous job as hostess! 
  • The only season I don’t love is winter.  I’m an outdoor girl!
  • I have always had an herb garden in every home we’ve lived in.
  • I’ve only gone for about 3 months of my life that I didn’t own a cat…or have the cats owned me???  

So there are a few fun facts about me!

This spring while attending a ladies’ retreat at The Wilds, I met several women who told me they read my blog regularly.  That was such a blessing to hear!  Will you leave a comment and tell me how you found out about my blog, or how long you’ve been reading, or how we met?  I’d love that!!

Do you have a guess as to which one I am in the picture above? =)

Stay refreshed this weekend by attending a Bible preaching church!

Denise Signature 150 px

time

Summer Plans and An Exciting Goal

RefreshHer7 Comments

strawberries a

Happy June everyone!!  I’ve sure loved our spring and I look forward to the summer ahead!  Our tomatoes are planted, my flower boxes are full, the fire pit is primed for marshmallows, the grill is ready for delicious entrees’, pizzas, breads and treats, and the patio is fully decked and ready for guests, afternoon naps and dining alfresco.

My calendar is also filling up with some planned events that I’m excited about – visiting family, shopping excursions, day trips, Bible studies, prayer with friends, home improvements and ICE CREAM are just a sampling of the goals on my list.

Another item that I’m planning is time to work on a project that has been on my “To-Do” list for a very long time.  Some projects take an afternoon, others a week, and yet others months (maybe years!).  This adventure will be taking good chunks of time each day and I’m asking the Lord to help me be intentional to accomplish a long-time desire and get this accomplished.  What am I desiring to do?  I’m longing to do some writing.  But in order to accomplish that, I have to say “no” to some other responsibilities or even interruptions.

My blog is a true love of mine, but it takes lots of time each day.  I’m always thinking about my next post and what I want to share.  Then I write, edit, post photos, edit the photos, edit some more, and then schedule the entry.  I’m not leaving my blog for the summer, I just couldn’t do that after NINE YEARS and  2,195 posts!!     Instead, I’m planning on writing new material every Monday and Friday.  So you’ll still be getting new recipes and ideas for your kitchen on Monday.  Then on Friday I”ll probably post about a sundry different topics.  Tuesday through Thursday will be re-posts from my blog from over the nine years.  I’m sure no one has read every single post, and even I forget what I’ve written!!   So hopefully even though it’s not new material, it will still benefit you to reread it.

My goal is to have a theme for each week ~

  1. Sensational Summer – Ideas for fun with your kids, meals, and dates
  2. Parenting – The joys the struggles, the helps for tough times
  3. Conflict 
  4. Home Comforts
  5. Helpful Tips for Home
  6. Frugal Living
  7. Godly Friends – Being one and and having one.
  8. Knowing and Doing God’s Will
  9. Effective Evangelism

Now, let me ask you, are there other topics you’d like to see covered this summer?  Leave me a comment here and I’ll definitely do what I can to add that to the list! 

I’m excited about what the Lord will do this summer!  How about you?  What plans do you have?  Do you have any ambitious goals you’re seeking to accomplish?  I pray you will do whatever is necessary to make the most of your time for God’s glory!

Lovingly,

Denise Signature 150 px

home · Home decor · Home making · organization · refreshment at home

Kitchen Pantry Tour

RefreshHer6 Comments

pantry11a

My pantry is a corner closet in my kitchen.  It holds all my cooking items, so that would mean ~

wp-1496103227464

  • Canned Goods
  • Baking ingredients
  • Dry Goods
    • Pastas
    • Rice
    • Flours
    • Grits
    • Oatmeal
    • Sugars
    • Dried Fruits
    • Nuts
  • Teas
  • Pudding/Jell-O
  • Cereal
  • Jams, Jellies, Honey

It also holds some paper products

  • Paper plates
  • Plastic cups
  • Plastic silverware
  • Straws
  • Holiday napkins and plates
  • Holiday bags
  • Extra Ziploc Bags

Some seldom used items are stored there.

  • Pressure Cooker
  • Pasta Pot
  • Thermos
  • Small Insulated cooler

So, as you can see, that pantry has lots in it AND I go in and out of there all day long. I tell you all that so you’ll understand why this “Before” picture looks so messy!  It had just gotten out of hand, even though I had a “system” I thought was working.

Pantry

I took a day and half last week and got it under control!

Let me give you a tour of the “After.”  It still has LOTS in it, but it’s labeled better and spread out in a way that doesn’t overwhelm me when I walk inside.

pantr11

I’ll show you each shelf:

Up above ~

pantry 8

pantry 7

I added a little decor inside the pantry.  I hung my “Denise’s Kitchen” sign and my Rooster picture above the shelves.

pantry 6

 

pantry 4

pantry 2

I hung my two dust pans on a wall in here.  The small one is only for sweeping crumbs off the tablecloth.  The large one is for the floor.  I was constantly going to the coat closet down the hall to sweep around the trash can and counters.  This makes life easier!

pantry9

All the holiday paper napkins are in Ziploc bags and labeled.

pantry10

A little vignette on the floor!

pantry 1

 

0524171353a

While my pantry might not be the most beautiful with glass jars and empty shelves, it works for me and I enjoy stepping inside now.  My items are accessible and it makes me smile to open the door!  Mission accomplished!

If you didn’t see this post, you can see how I used vinyl chalkboard to cover the door of my pantry!

Do you have an area in your house that makes you grimace?  I hope this inspires you to do something to that space so you’ll smile instead!

Refresh those spaces!

Denise Signature 150 px

Cooking · Dinner · Home making · main dish · Main entree · Side dish

(L)Oven Monday – “Grilled” Chicken Tenders that Taste Like Cracker Barrel’s

RefreshHerLeave a comment

Chicken Tenderloin 1a

I love it when a restaurant has healthy food that’s so good you don’t feel like you’re missing out when you choose to order wisely!  That’s how I feel about Cracker Barrel’s Grilled Chicken Tenders!  They’re so juicy and flavorful that every bite is like an indulgence.  Recently I found This Copycat recipe on Southern Plate that reminds me so much of that delicious entree!  They’re not really grilled, but they have the taste of it!  Let me show you how simple this recipe is!

“Grilled” Chicken Tenderloins

Ingredients
  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips.
  • 1 cup zesty Italian dressing
  • 2 teaspoons lime juice
  • 3 teaspoons honey
Instructions:
  1. Place chicken in gallon ziplock bag. Combine all other ingredients and pour over. Seal and marinate for at least an hour. Doing this step the night before would make supper a breeze!
  2. Pour all ingredients into a large skillet and cook over medium heat until liquid evaporates and remaining marinade becomes thick and caramelized. This can take from 30-40 minutes.
  3. Coat each piece of chicken in marinade by rubbing it around on the bottom of the pan before removing it.

Here’s what it looked like about half way through the cooking process:

Chicken Tenderloin 3

I cooked my chicken in my electric skillet and it took about 30 minutes, so just keep an eye on the your pan to tell when it’s done.  This is so delicious!  I used the leftovers later in the week for wraps for our lunch and it was delicious cold!  This would be a great staple to keep in the freezer!

Chicken Tenderloin 1

 

If you need a super-simple and fast side to go with a meal, here’s something we love:

Canned Potatoes with Rosemary and Tomatoes

Canned potatoes, drained
1 Tbl. Butter
Grape Tomatoes, halved
Rosemary
Salt
Pepper

0523171749a

Melt butter in small skillet.  Cube the potatoes and add them to the skillet.  Let them get brown and a little “crispy.”  Add herbs and Grape tomatoes. Let cook until tomatoes are warm.

potatoes.jpg

This is a super-easy and yummy meal!  I hope you’ll put it on your menu and then let me know how you like it!

Chicken Tenderloin 2

Do you have a favorite Copycat recipe you make?

With love from my country kitchen,

Denise Signature 150 px

Christian Life · Family life · home · Motherhood · Parenting

Family Friday – The Most Godly Home

RefreshHer4 Comments

baby1a.jpg

This roller coaster of Foster parenting or (grand-parenting!) is not for the faint of heart!  You strap yourself in tight and keep your eyes Upward, knowing that a sovereign God will keep you safe and secure as you guide these little ones and pray about their future.

As I mentioned earlier, my daughter and son-in-law are foster parents to baby boys.  We don’t know what their future will be.  Who will be awarded their custody to care and provide for them all their lives?  Who will teach them of Christ?  Will anyone?  Will they be adopted by family?  Friends?  There are just so many painful questions.

One Sunday a friend left church and told me that she is praying about the future of these sweet little babies, and the way she is praying is this:

Let these children be given to the home
that will point them the most to Christ.

I told her that that was a perfect request!  That’s what we want for these little guys!

Later in the week, the babies were in my home.  I was caring for them.  And then my friend’s prayer request popped into my head.  It made me stop and ask myself, Is what I’m doing today providing right now so that this is the home that is pointing them the most to Christ?

What about you, Mom?  Pretend your child’s future was in the balance and someone was praying that request for your child.  Would YOU be awarded custody of them because of all you did yesterday to point them to the Lord?  Were your words so edifying and Word-filled that they couldn’t help but learn more of your God?  That’s a sobering thought, isn’t it?

That thought made me “get my act together” that day!  I sang Bible songs, I quoted Bible verses while I fed them their bottles.  I even told them Bible stories, even though their ears can hear, but their minds can’t understand.  I wanted my home to be the most godly place in their lives!  That should be any Christian parent’s ambition and joy – whether or not their future is in the balance.  One Day we will give account for how well we taught and trained the children the Lord gave us.

Why not strive today to make your home the most Godly place!

Refresh your child’s spiritual heart,

Denise Signature 150 px