While on vacation this summer by brother-in-law made us nachos for dinner. My kids really don't care for beans so I was shocked when they ate large helpings of the chili topping and even requested it for lunch the next day. Once we were home I attempted to recreate this chicken chili. I guessed at some things but the kids really liked it and once again ate it right up. It's a bit sweet due to the brown sugar.
Chicken Chili:
2 chicken breasts, cooked and chopped or shredded
1 TB olive oil
10oz frozen (or fresh) corn thawed and drained
1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 jars spaghetti sauce (I used Newman's Own Organic tomato & basil)
1 large onion chopped
Chili Powder
Garlic powder
Cayenne pepper
*all spices are to taste
1-2 TB brown sugar (divided use)
Heat oil in large pan over medium high heat. Add onion and saute for a minute, then add 1/2 of the brown sugar and continue to cook onion until lightly caramelized. Add in all other ingredients and cook until hot and bubbly, checking to make sure spice level is right. Serve in bowls topped with cheese or over cheesy nacho chips.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Vegetable goat cheese quiche
A few weeks ago I was looking for a recipe to use up some goat cheese I had purchased. I had already made a beet & peach salad to use up some of the cheese but had about 4oz left. After looking at a few recipes on the internet I decided to make a goat cheese quiche by combining two separate recipes. I have made this quiche twice; once using asparagus and once using two large bunches of swiss chard (leaves & stalks). Both quiche variations were well liked. Here is what I did (links to the original recipes are at the bottom).
Vegetable goat cheese quiche:
For the Crust:
2 tablespoons butter, softened, plus more for pan
1 package (1 pound) frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed
1 large eggs
For the filling:
2 tablespoons butter
12 ounces asparagus, chopped**
1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
1 cup sliced green onions
4 ounces soft goat cheese, crumbled
4 large eggs
3/4 cup milk
To prepare crust, Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Brush a 9-by-2 1/2-inch springform pan with butter. Line the sides of the pan with strips of waxed paper (the same height as pan); brush paper with butter.Squeeze excess moisture from hash browns. Mix in a bowl with butter, 1 egg, 1 teaspoon coarse salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Pat into bottom and up sides of prepared pan, using a moistened dry measuring cup. Place on a rimmed baking sheet; bake until set, 15 to 20 minutes.
Lower oven temperature to 350 degrees.
To prepare filling, melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add asparagus to pan. Sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper over asparagus; sauté 8 minutes or until crisp-tender, stirring frequently. Add onions; sauté 2 minutes or until asparagus just begin to brown. Remove from heat. Spoon asparagus mixture into prepared shell in an even layer. Arrange goat cheese in an even layer over asparagus mixture.
Combine eggs, and milk. Stir in remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, and remaining 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Pour custard into pie plate. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until quiche is almost set in the center. Remove from heat, and cool 5 minutes on a wire rack before slicing.
**If using swiss chard; rinse well. separate leaves and stems. Chop stems and cook in butter for 8 minutes. Add chopped leaves with green onions and saute until wilted.
Crust Recipe
Original filling recipe
Vegetable goat cheese quiche:
For the Crust:
2 tablespoons butter, softened, plus more for pan
1 package (1 pound) frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed
1 large eggs
For the filling:
2 tablespoons butter
12 ounces asparagus, chopped**
1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
1 cup sliced green onions
4 ounces soft goat cheese, crumbled
4 large eggs
3/4 cup milk
To prepare crust, Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Brush a 9-by-2 1/2-inch springform pan with butter. Line the sides of the pan with strips of waxed paper (the same height as pan); brush paper with butter.Squeeze excess moisture from hash browns. Mix in a bowl with butter, 1 egg, 1 teaspoon coarse salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Pat into bottom and up sides of prepared pan, using a moistened dry measuring cup. Place on a rimmed baking sheet; bake until set, 15 to 20 minutes.
Lower oven temperature to 350 degrees.
To prepare filling, melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add asparagus to pan. Sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper over asparagus; sauté 8 minutes or until crisp-tender, stirring frequently. Add onions; sauté 2 minutes or until asparagus just begin to brown. Remove from heat. Spoon asparagus mixture into prepared shell in an even layer. Arrange goat cheese in an even layer over asparagus mixture.
Combine eggs, and milk. Stir in remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, and remaining 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Pour custard into pie plate. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until quiche is almost set in the center. Remove from heat, and cool 5 minutes on a wire rack before slicing.
**If using swiss chard; rinse well. separate leaves and stems. Chop stems and cook in butter for 8 minutes. Add chopped leaves with green onions and saute until wilted.
Crust Recipe
Original filling recipe
Monday, July 2, 2012
Weekly Goals 7/2/12
Here are last weeks goals and how I did on them:
1) Have a daily quiet time = Didn't do this every day, I think I only missed one day though.
2) Exercise 6 days - Done
3) Do one craft/project with the kids - Nope, unless you count the playdoh, clay that they played with for a few hours one day.
4) Make bread, etc for week. - Done
5) Keep up with laundry & ironing - Done
6) Clean off random papers from desk & counters. - Done.
And here are this weeks goals:
1) Daily quiet time
2) Exercise 6 days & Run 5K on Saturday
3) Keep up with laundry & Ironing
4) Do "fun" days with kids (park, etc)
5) Menu plan and grocery list
The next several weeks are very hectic/different weeks for us. My goals will pretty much be the same and will be pretty light as I'm expecting to have to make many adjustments as we go. We have several get-togethers, day trips and a family vacation thrown in so much of my time will be spent just preparing for those as they come up.
I'm hoping to get a post up soon with a few highlights from our recent trip to South Dakota.
1) Have a daily quiet time = Didn't do this every day, I think I only missed one day though.
2) Exercise 6 days - Done
3) Do one craft/project with the kids - Nope, unless you count the playdoh, clay that they played with for a few hours one day.
4) Make bread, etc for week. - Done
5) Keep up with laundry & ironing - Done
6) Clean off random papers from desk & counters. - Done.
And here are this weeks goals:
1) Daily quiet time
2) Exercise 6 days & Run 5K on Saturday
3) Keep up with laundry & Ironing
4) Do "fun" days with kids (park, etc)
5) Menu plan and grocery list
The next several weeks are very hectic/different weeks for us. My goals will pretty much be the same and will be pretty light as I'm expecting to have to make many adjustments as we go. We have several get-togethers, day trips and a family vacation thrown in so much of my time will be spent just preparing for those as they come up.
I'm hoping to get a post up soon with a few highlights from our recent trip to South Dakota.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Weekly goals for week of 6/25/12
Thought I would post some goals for this week.
1) Have a daily quiet time
2) Exercise 6 days
3) Do one craft/project with the kids
4) Make bread, etc for week.
5) Keep up with laundry & ironing
6) Clean off random papers from desk & counters.
Last week Matt & I went on a trip to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. It was a great time away but now I have to get back into the normal routine.
1) Have a daily quiet time
2) Exercise 6 days
3) Do one craft/project with the kids
4) Make bread, etc for week.
5) Keep up with laundry & ironing
6) Clean off random papers from desk & counters.
Last week Matt & I went on a trip to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. It was a great time away but now I have to get back into the normal routine.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
God's "linky" party
I love that God's Word is so perfect; that it links together so beautifully. For my quiet times I have been doing a couple different things depending on the day. Some days I will work on some summer "homework" from a Mom's Bible study I attend during the school year. Other days I will read thru a chapter in the book "Be Satisfied" by Warren Wiersbe and on other days I will simply choose a Bible passage to read.
The summer homework consists of reading a magazine put out by Insight for Living which profiles 20 women that Jesus ministered to during his time here on earth. The other day I did the profile for the Widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-17) she was a widow whose only son had died and as they were carrying him to be buried Jesus entered Nain, was so moved with compassion for this widow that He raised her son from the dead. The theme for this profile focused on Jesus' compassion but also on how we handle when God closes a door on a dream. The question was asked "Now what? What do you do with your faith now?" Do I rest in God and His perfect wisdom or do I set my shoulder and keep pushing against the door thinking I know better?
That particular morning I had a bit of extra time so I decided to read in "Be Satisfied" the title to the next section was "Wisdom helps us see life clearly (Ecc. 7:11-18)" More on God's wisdom! The opening paragraph in this section ended with this statement "When you have God's wisdom, you will be able to accept and deal with the changing experiences of life." My immediate thought was that once again I was being challenged in how I deal with "slammed doors", with changes in my life that I never anticipated. The following is another quote that really spoke to my heart that morning:
The summer homework consists of reading a magazine put out by Insight for Living which profiles 20 women that Jesus ministered to during his time here on earth. The other day I did the profile for the Widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-17) she was a widow whose only son had died and as they were carrying him to be buried Jesus entered Nain, was so moved with compassion for this widow that He raised her son from the dead. The theme for this profile focused on Jesus' compassion but also on how we handle when God closes a door on a dream. The question was asked "Now what? What do you do with your faith now?" Do I rest in God and His perfect wisdom or do I set my shoulder and keep pushing against the door thinking I know better?
That particular morning I had a bit of extra time so I decided to read in "Be Satisfied" the title to the next section was "Wisdom helps us see life clearly (Ecc. 7:11-18)" More on God's wisdom! The opening paragraph in this section ended with this statement "When you have God's wisdom, you will be able to accept and deal with the changing experiences of life." My immediate thought was that once again I was being challenged in how I deal with "slammed doors", with changes in my life that I never anticipated. The following is another quote that really spoke to my heart that morning:
"We don't fully understand all the works of God, but we do
know that "He hath made everything beautiful in it's
time" (Ecc. 3:11). This includes the things we may think are
twisted and ugly."
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" Proverbs 9:10
Often those rough days, that I spoke of in an earlier post, are opportunities for us to see God make the twisted and ugly beautiful and to build a deeper reverance for Him in our hearts. Yet how often, in my selfishness & sinfulness, I miss that opportunity.
I wanted to close with a glimpse of not just God's wisdom but of who God is! By what authority He can grant such wisdom and strength, for everything we might face. Tuesday night I attended a Bible Study and one of the women shared a few verses from Isaiah 40. This morning I decided to read thru this chapter. Many people have memorized and often quote Isaiah 40:31 but I would challenge you to read thru this entire chapter to get a bigger picture of Who the God is that can give us such strength.
Lift up your eyes on high,
And see who has created these things,
Who brings out their host by number;
He calls them all by name,
By the greatness of His might
And the strength of His power;
Not one is missing.
And see who has created these things,
Who brings out their host by number;
He calls them all by name,
By the greatness of His might
And the strength of His power;
Not one is missing.
(40:26)
Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
(40:28-29)
And the most "miraculous" link for me this morning was that God brought all of these lessons full circle in my thinking about needing His wisdom in parenting when, in verses 10-11 He says
Behold, the Lord God shall come with a strong hand,
And His arm shall rule for Him;
Behold, His reward is with Him,
And His work before Him.
And His arm shall rule for Him;
Behold, His reward is with Him,
And His work before Him.
He will feed His flock like a shepherd;
He will gather the lambs with His arm,
And carry them in His bosom,
And gently lead those who are with young.
He will gather the lambs with His arm,
And carry them in His bosom,
And gently lead those who are with young.
God is ready, willing and more than able to carry my family and gently lead us with our children!!!
Wisdom lessons
I wanted to share a couple things that God has been reminding me, teaching me over the past couple of weeks. They've been an encouragement to me and I hope they are to you also.
Last week we had a very rough day. It seemed that all of us were just grumpy and no matter what we tried, obedience was not happening. We were tired, frustrated and overwhelmed. That night, practically in tears, I said to my husband "I just don't know what to do. What will make them listen and behave." Now, I was not doing my best at keeping my own emotions in check which I know lead to much of the friction so I'm not absolving myself of some responsibility.
The next morning I was in the shower and God brought a couple verses in James to my mind. The first was James 1:5 & 6
Last week we had a very rough day. It seemed that all of us were just grumpy and no matter what we tried, obedience was not happening. We were tired, frustrated and overwhelmed. That night, practically in tears, I said to my husband "I just don't know what to do. What will make them listen and behave." Now, I was not doing my best at keeping my own emotions in check which I know lead to much of the friction so I'm not absolving myself of some responsibility.
The next morning I was in the shower and God brought a couple verses in James to my mind. The first was James 1:5 & 6
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God,
who gives to all liberally and without reproach,
and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no
doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea
driven and tossed by the wind.
I may not know how to raise my kids, or how to always control my emotions but God does! He is just waiting for me to seek His wisdom so that he can lavish his love and wisdom on our family. I need only rest in Him having faith that He will keep His promises. So, the next question that came to mind was "what does God's wisdom look like?" Again a verse in James sums this up very well.
But
the wisdom that is from above is first pure,
then peaceable, gentle,
willing to yield, full of mercy and
good fruits, without partiality and
without hypocrisy. 18
Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
James 3:17 & 18
Ouch, those words hit my heart hard! I had certainly not been pure in my speech to my children or husband, I had not been peaceable or gentle. I often fight against yielding to God's will or showing His mercy to those, who ironically, I love the most on this earth. In order for God's righteousness to bear fruit in my life I need to be a peacemaker. I must give up my "rights" and sometimes even my comforts (how many times I would rather sit with a book & cup of tea rather than help one of my children in the bathroom, wipe a nose, etc). But thru all this God promises His wisdom! Wow! What a far better treasure than a cup of tea & good book!
It's always fun to see how God links things together so in another post I will share a couple more things that God has showed me this week building on trusting in Him for wisdom to all of life's circumstances. In closing I want to leave you with two more verses from James. These verses are ones that, while I often struggle to follow, is something I often find myself quoting in my head.
So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift
to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of
man does not produce the righteousness of God.
James 1:19 & 20
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Do you get a "high" from spending time with God?
This was the question that pressed upon my mind this morning as I was showering. For the past several months I have been on a consistent exercise routine. I've gotten to the point where (for the most part) I look forward to my exercise time. I also know when I've really worked hard; I get that "high". A couple weeks ago I switched my exercise routine and noticed that some of the workouts, while still working my muscles just aren't as intense and I don't get that high.
All of this led me to think about my time with God. This is another area I've been working on consistency in and God has been blessing both in providing the time and also teaching and challenging me. Often times, while my time in God's Word works my spiritual "muscles" I don't take the time to intensely meditate on what I've read, what God is saying to me and miss the "high" that comes from pushing myself to the next level of communion with my Father.
My prayer is that I will not be satisfied until I have pressed God, searched His Word and pushed myself to the point of being high on God!
All of this led me to think about my time with God. This is another area I've been working on consistency in and God has been blessing both in providing the time and also teaching and challenging me. Often times, while my time in God's Word works my spiritual "muscles" I don't take the time to intensely meditate on what I've read, what God is saying to me and miss the "high" that comes from pushing myself to the next level of communion with my Father.
My prayer is that I will not be satisfied until I have pressed God, searched His Word and pushed myself to the point of being high on God!
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