- Without having time with God our housework will be just cleaning up after others. When we do it after time with God, it’s our way of showing God’s love to those who live with us.
- Without having time with God, going to do our jobs will be part of our daily grind. When we do it after time with God, it’s a ministry to others.
- Without having time with God, spending time with the children all day will be a display of gritting our teeth and waiting it out until nap time. When we do this after time with God, it is pouring out our life to point them to Christ.
- Without having time with God, cooking a meal will only seem to create more messes to clean up for people who don’t appreciate it. When we do this after time with God it is done with purpose.
- Without having time with God, a decision to be made will be decided based on our energy level. When we do this after time with God, He guides us and gives us strength to take the next right step and we find our day is profitable for eternal purposes.
“If we as women say yes to everything that comes our way, we will eventually end up saying no to the things that matter most.” We may need to say to good things – like …sleep, shopping, time with friends, or leading a ministry, if it means that would keep us from the best things.
With love,
A Peek From My Porch
Yesterday marked the first day of Autumn. Tennessee welcomed it in with a low of 45 degrees! My husband and I sat out on the front porch Monday night with steaming cups of coffee and the chilly night air about us. As much as I love summer, I have to admit that it was lovely. To sit out there and listen to the stillness, the geese flying into the corn field across the way and hear the corn stalks on the porch crunching in the breeze was a reminder that this season is one of slowing down a little. That is a blessing from the God who created the seasons. I’m thankful!
Last week I drug out the bins of my fall decor to give the inside of my house a touch of fall here and there. I decided not to do my mantles yet, but just add some subtle touches in a few spots. If you peeked in from the porch this is what you’d see:
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| This is my favorite Yankee Candle scent ~ Autumn Pumpkin. It smells so wonderful in the house when this is burning! |
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| The twinkly lights in the basket in front of the fire place are a pre-cursor to the fireplace being lit! |
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| Foyer table |
The place where I did go all out was my front porch. If you’re friends with me on Facebook you’ve seen pics, but for those that haven’t seen it, here it is:
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| Liza sweetly posed for this shot! =^..^= |
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Have you put out any fall decor yet? I hope this will inspire you a little to add a few touches somewhere. Then sit down with a cup of coffee and slow your pace.
With love from my country porch,
Sensory Memories
I turned on Pandora Radio on my computer while I was doing housework. A familiar sounding song began playing, and then all of the sudden the recognition of it enveloped me – Somewhere My Love! Immediately, I was taken back to my childhood when my sister’s alarm clock played that song so beautifully. I loved hearing it play. It was soothing and comforting. Suddenly, I could remember my childhood home, and feel the warmth and love I found there. Music will do that.
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Yesterday Whitney posted about a Pumpkin Muffin recipe that I made while she was growing up. She recently made the recipe, and while enjoying the baked good was “transported back (to) the kitchen table, laughing and talking with my family.” Food will do that.
The smell of a candle awakens a memory of a place. A perfume scent recalls a person. In short, our senses remember things. Because of that, we should use that in a favorable way to create memories for our families. May I suggest a few ways?
- Play the same few CD’s for several months at dinnertime. Or play a certain CD during a particular season each year. Playing music at mealtime is helpful in keeping the atmosphere calm and quiet, but it also creates an audio memory.
- Have seasonal foods that are your signature recipes. For instance, make a pumpkin bar in the fall, your famous sugar cookies at Christmas, Lemon meringue pie in spring and blueberry muffins in summer. Those tastes and the smells of those baked goods will bring back memories of mealtimes at home.
- Burn candles in your home, or use potpourri scents to fragrance your home. It will freshen your house and create a memory of the smell home.
What’s Cookin’ in the Country?
Food communicates love – at least in our family. It lets our family or guests know that we cared enough to create the meal or dish that would please their taste buds and appetites.
My husband had been away on a trip for a few days, and to let him know how glad I was to have him home, I baked up a batch of Ultimate Ginger cookies – one of his favorite cookies he gets at a bakery we frequent. He was a happy guy! Actually I was pretty happy, too! These are an old-fashioned cookie with a soft chewiness that is irresistible.
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While my husband was on his trip to Amish Country, he found HUGE red peppers for 50 cents each! He brought home a bag full, so I used them to make an old favorite recipe for Chicken Fajitas. The homemade marinade makes the chicken breasts so moist and flavorful! I’ve shared a baked fajita recipe that’s good if you’re short on time, but the recipe I’m sharing today is the BEST FAJITA RECIPE!
For our Sunday dinner of Chicken Fajitas, I added a salad and salad dressing I’d seen on Pioneer woman. I get weary of a regular Tossed Salad, and this was just the ticket for a great change! Greens, crisp apple cubes, pecans, Feta (or Blue Cheese) all mix together and are tossed with a delicious homemade vinaigrette dressing. It’s super fresh tasting salad!
We had the Ginger cookies for dessert. These were chewy, huge, and wonderful! All you need is a glass of milk or a cup of coffee for dunking, and you have not only the ultimate cookie, but the ultimate dessert!
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Ingredients
12 ounces, weight Salad Greens (spring Mix)
2 whole Apples, Cored And Sliced Very Thin
1/2 cup Pecan Halves
1/4 cup Dried Cherries
6 ounces, weight Blue Cheese, Cut Into Chunks – I used Feta
1 Tablespoon (heaping) Dijon Mustard
1 Tablespoon Maple Syrup (more To Taste)
1 teaspoon Apple Cider Vinegar (more To Taste)
1/4 cup Olive Oil
Salt And Pepper, to taste
Preparation Instructions
Add greens, apple slices, pecan halves, dried cherries, and blue cheese chunks into a large salad bowl.
In a small jar, mix Dijon, maple syrup, vinegar, olive oil, and salt and pepper. Put the lid on the jar and shake well to mix.
Pour a little salad dressing over the top of the salad and toss to combine. Taste salad and add more salad dressing to taste.
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Ingredients
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup dark brown sugar, lightly packed
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup unsulfured molasses
1 extra-large egg, at room temperature
1 1/4 cups chopped crystallized ginger (6 ounces)
Granulated sugar, for rolling the cookies
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 sheet pans with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, and salt and then combine the mixture with your hands. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the brown sugar, oil, and molasses on medium speed for 5 minutes. Turn the mixer to low speed, add the egg, and beat for 1 minute. Scrape the bowl with a rubber spatula and beat for 1 more minute. With the mixer still on low, slowly add the dry ingredients to the bowl and mix on medium speed for 2 minutes. Add the crystallized ginger and mix until combined.
Scoop the dough with 2 spoons or a small ice cream scoop. With your hands, roll each cookie into a 1 3/4-inch ball and then flatten them lightly with your fingers. Press both sides of each cookie in granulated sugar and place them on the sheet pans. Bake for exactly 13 minutes. The cookies will be crackled on the top and soft inside. Let the cookies cool on the sheets for 1 to 2 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
Which of these recipes would tell your family or guests that you care? I hope you’ll put it on your menu for this week! It’s okay to choose a recipe for your taste buds too! I think I’d have a hard time saying which of these recipes is my favorite! They’re all winners in my cookbook!
With love from my country kitchen,
Freshen Up Friday
Stay refreshed,
