Imagine A Flower

Imagine, for a moment, will you?

Imagine you find out that a flower is being created just for you. Now, perhaps you didn't particularly want or need a flower. You might not even really feel like taking on the responsibility of watering and caring for it, but, nonetheless, this flower is unique. It is special. It will be created as a reflection of you. It will bear traits and characteristics that you display. Even more amazing, you'll be given the opportunity to shape and influence how the flower grows and turns out. Generations will look upon this flower and those bloomed from its seeds and remember you.

It is empowering. It is exciting. There is something breathtakingly wonderful about knowing that you are about to have an impact on an incredible new creation.

Before you can get your hands on this amazing flower, however, someone else must tend it first. She'll be in charge of making sure it gets adequate light and nutrients, that it is well cared for. It's still your flower, at least in part, and still reflects part of you. But, for now, you must simply wait in the wings until the precious new growth gets bigger.

It's a little scary, really, to have such a vested interest in this little flower and to have to just sit and watch someone else care for it. But it's okay. After all, she is someone you've been close to, someone you've shared with before. Surely she'll do a good job. And, really, you have no choice but to trust her.

As time passes, you realize just how much you want to see that amazing flower designed by our Creator just for you. How much you want to have a role in helping it flourish. How the inconvenience pales next to the beauty. You eagerly await the day you can play a role in the nurturing too.

As long as she lets that day come. Because it is her choice. Never yours. Because you are not the one called to care for it first, you don't count. It matters not that you CAN'T do the tending; you don't count.

This is why I believe in fathers' rights. This is why it's not just "her body, her choice" to me. This is why, as a woman, I feel compelled to stand up for a man.

This is why.

linked to WFMW

Menu Plan: 1/30-I Am Tired

I. Am. Tired.

After hosting a couple of birthday parties yesterday, I'm ready to take it a bit easy! This past week was a whirlwind of preparations. We're battling steady leaks into our home and we spent many late nights priming and painting the main living area. Let's just say hubby and I are a yawning duo on this Sunday night. Fortunately, there's no reason I shouldn't get a good night's rest tonight and then I'll be fresh and ready to go!

So, here's what's hittin' our table this week:

Sunday:

B-Cereal, Applesauce, Milk

L-A's Friend Party- He wanted a baseball theme, so I served up hot dogs, soft pretzels, cracker jack, sliced apples, Gatorade, and baseball cupcakes.

D-A's Family Party- Chicken Lasagna, Broccoli, Baguette

Monday:

B-Vanilla Buttered Pecan Oatmeal, Milk

L-P,B,&J, Apples, Water

D-Homemade Beefaroni, Carrots & Peas

Tuesday:

B-Yogurt Coffee Cake Muffins, Grapes, Milk
L-Beefaroni, Yogurt, Juice

D-Chicken & Veggie Stir Fry

Wednesday:

B-Yogurt Coffee Cake Muffins, Oranges, Milk

L-Hot Dog, Rice, Juice

D-Stuffed Meatball Subs, Green Beans

Thursday:

B-Granola, Raisins, Milk

L-Buttered Macaroni, Peas, Water

D-Souped-Up Tomato Soup, Italian Cheese Bread

Friday:

B-Smoothies, Toast

L-Cheesy Beans & Rice, Water

D-Salsa Chicken Pizza

Saturday:

B-Migas, Juice

L-BBQ Hot Dogs, Corn Bread, Leftover Fruit

D-Ravioli/Meatball Lasagna, Broccoli

There's not a single supper on that menu that I won't thoroughly enjoy! And that Vanilla Buttered Pecan Oatmeal is sounding like just the thing to start our day tomorrow... mmm.

What's your favorite thing you're serving up this week?

This post is linked to Menu Plan Menu.

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

I feel silly even posting a recipe for this. Because, really? You don't need a recipe to make chicken noodle soup! And this particular one isn't even a fancy, spiced up, zesty, exciting one. It is just about as plain jane as it gets. Still, it makes for a tummy-pleasing warm lunch on a cold day and it was a nice bonus after having already gotten five dinners out of those five chicken breasts!

For this simple lunch, I used:

• about 4 cups of stock
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup chicken bits
• 2 carrots, diced
• approx. 1/4 lb spaghetti noodles, cooked separately so it didn't absorb all the stock (Spaghetti is NOT the traditional type of noodle used in soup but it works just fine. And I had it on hand.)
• juice from half a lemon (I had this on hand and it really brightens the flavor of the soup... totally not necessary though.)

I brought my stock and salt to a low boil, added the carrots, then reduced to a simmer. About 15 minutes later, I added the chicken bits. Once they were warmed through, about 5 minutes, I squeezed in the juice of half a lemon and added the noodles.

And that was that.

Our family of five happily ate this for a weekend lunch. The one year old really only ate the carrots out, though, so I would have to say this yielded four servings, not five. Nonetheless, I'd say I got more than money's worth out of five bone-in chicken breasts!

Chicken, Broccoli, & Garlic White Pizza

Oh, my friends...

I adore pizza. I really do. Like, really really. If pizza were a boy and we were in junior high, I would LIKE LIKE it. I have strong feelings about pizza.

The only way I don't enjoy pizza? The same way over and over again. No offense to those of you who have an "old stand-by" but, around these parts, I serve up different styles and toppings constantly. And, while I love a traditional red pizza sauce, I also enjoy the variety of a white pizza now and again.

Ready? Here's how I made this one:

• One batch of pizza dough (I made this the night before and just stuck it, covered, in the fridge. It was perfectly ready for me the next day.)
• approx. 1 1/2 cups ricotta or cottage cheese (Ricotta is better. Cottage is cheaper and readily available. This time, I had cottage. Either yields good results.)
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 8 oz mozzarella cheese, finely shredded
• 1 cup chicken bits (I used the ones I prepped here. Are you counting? This is meal number five that we've made out of five chicken breasts!)
• 1/2 bag frozen broccoli florets (Mine were partially thawed, which was helpful for the larger chunks that I wanted to cut smaller. It's not really necessary though.)

Preheat oven to 450. (Back up a bit when you first open that hot oven or you might just feel your eyelashes curl. Ask me how I know...) Roll or stretch dough to cover pizza pan. Spread cottage cheese (ricotta) like a sauce over the crust. Sprinkle minced garlic evenly over the surface. Top with half of shredded mozzarella. Scatter broccoli and chicken evenly over the mozzarella, then top with remaining mozz. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until cheese gets how you like it- I like it just a bit golden.

~*~*~*~

I use a large pizza pan- 16" diameter- and this pizza fed my family of five. There were NO leftovers and, truth be told, I probably would have eaten another piece if there'd been more. But we were all full enough and content. On the bright side, we had room for the homemade brownies I'd baked. :)

Tomorrow will feature the LAST meal I made from those five chicken breasts- simple chicken soup.

I hope these recipes are encouraging to you! I have a real passion for creating delicious meals that aren't heavy on any pricey ingredients.

linked to:

Tasty Tuesday

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday
Eat At Home's Ingredient Spotlight: Broccoli

Sick Of It

This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

-Psalm 118:24

I'm not preaching to you all. I'm just reminding myself.

Because I'm sick of the snow. Sick of the ice. Sick of making children teary-eyed when they learn they can't see their friends at school. Sick of the drip, drip, drip as the water leaks into my house from all the thick frozen build-up on the roof.

"This is an impressive storm!"

"... another Nor'Easter on Tuesday!"

"Record breaking totals across the state!"

I hear the chipper meteorologists, so excited because they are clearly the main feature of the news shows as of late, and I sigh.

Deeply.

Audibly.

And it's easy for me to find an audience. Those around me are sick of it too.

But then the weak winter sunlight glints of the icicles hanging from my eaves... and in that bright, glorious explosion of light I am reminded that this is a day I've been given... a gift! A gift that our amazing Lord has made.

And I will rejoice and be glad.

Mexican Chicken Frittata

Oh, how I love frittatas! Or baked omelets, I guess. I think true frittatas start with potatoes on the bottom but I, complete rebel that I am, slap any starch I want on the bottom and still call it a frittata. I think I like to sound fancy schmancy.

Anyway, to create this yummy family pleaser, I used my bag of 1 1/2 cups cooked chicken pieces that I picked off of the bone/meat remains I had from prepping my chicken for five meals.

I also used:

2 tablespoons taco seasoning

1/2 cup water

6 eggs

approx. 2 cups old bread, cut or torn in small cubes

1 cup milk

1/2 cup salsa (I make Jessica's recipe.)

4 oz sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

Preheat oven to 375. Toss your chicken bits, taco seasoning, and water in a small saucepan and let simmer until water is reduced by at least half. Remove chicken from pan and let it cool down a bit. Grease an 8" square pan. Do NOT skip greasing your pan. I use cooking spray because butter does NOT work for me but, if you have a better method, please let me know! I'm thinking of trying bacon grease next. Anyhow, scatter the bread around the bottom of the greased pan. In a large bowl, combine eggs, milk, salsa, and cheese. (**At this point, you could absolutely add any or all of the following: diced onion, diced peppers, diced fresh tomato, corn, fresh chopped cilantro, etc. It was karate night around here which meant I wanted NO arguments and quick eating. So I kept it super basic. I don't always.**) Dump egg mixture on top of bread cubes. Bake uncovered for 30-35 minutes until set up and very lightly browned on top.

~*~*~*~*~

This recipe also fed all five of us and, since I was a light eater that night, there was enough left for my husband's lunch the next day.

When I'm Having A Bad Day, I Lie.

It's true.

And I don't even feel all that bad about it.

When I'm having a bad day, I lie...

to my treadmill.

Yes, indeedy, I program that workout and, where it says "enter weight", I push that button until it settles on "250".

That's right, 250.

My reward for adding 100+ pounds on to my actual weight?

An easier workout, friends.

And, yes, I totally realize that I am NOT burning 500 calories in a half hour doing that workout. The fact that the screen says it doesn't make it so.

But, when I'm having a bad day, I'd rather lie to my treadmill than wallow in a vat of cookie dough.

I'd even suggest you try it if you happen to have a bad day too...