When I stand before God at the end of my life,
I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say,
"I used everything You gave me."
~Erma Bombeck

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February 28, 2011

Monday Musings... Acceptance


I've been given a very special gift. This gift will change my life and my family forever. I'll share soon!


You have to accept whatever comes and the only important thing is that you meet it with courage and with the best that you have to give.
~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Always fall in with what you're asked to accept. Take what is given, and make it over your way. My aim in life has always been to hold my own with whatever's going. Not against: with.
~ Robert Lee Frost

I’m unable to ignore the gift that God gave me, so I’m going to sing.
~Author Unknown

Each day offers us the gift of being a special occasion if we can simply learn that as well as giving,it is blessed to receive with grace and a grateful heart.
~Sarah Ban Breathnach

Everything in life is most fundamentally a gift. And you receive it best and you live it best by holding it with very open hands.
~Leo O'Donovan

February 4, 2011

Friday Favorites (2/4/11)


I know, it's been a while. Crazy! Holidays and sicknesses. I so want to get back to a normal routine. But really what is normal anyway? :)

Just wanted to share some of the projects I found in the last couple of weeks that I love...

Visit Creative Jewish Mom for these Super Simple Paper Flowers.

Visit A Girl and a Glue Gun for a very cute felt Littlest Pet Shop Mat.
Visit Eighteen25 to find out how to make these adorable custom candybar wrappers.

My Creative Way made a Mod Podge Zebra Crayon Bank.

Check out Seven Thirty Three for this super cute sock cupcake tutorial.

I also found some amazing looking recipes!

Visit Our Best Bites for a recipe for baked zuchini fries.

Finding Joy in My Kitchen has a recipe for a yummy and healthy spinach dip.

Check out Recipe Shoebox for this crockpot tomato-basil parmesan soup recipe.

Visit Closet Cooking for a recipe for a colorful Greek 7-layer dip.

Enjoy and happy crafting and cooking!


February 3, 2011

Snow in Houston? And sharing a Chicken and Dumpling recipe....

We are eating meals like this....

because of weather like this!

There is a 70% chance of snow in Houston today. Forecasters say between 1-4 inches. This is a very big deal here! I am going to run a couple of errands this morning, then come home and hunker down and stay warm. To think it was 75 degrees just Monday this week. Crazy weather!

Yesterday, my friend Aamie sent me this recipe. (Thank you Aamie!) I knew I would love it because she made it and shared it with me a couple of months ago. It totally reminds me of the chicken and dumplings Mom and Grandma used to make.

Chicken and Dumplings
 
2 to 3-lb. chicken
4 cups water
6 cubes chicken bouillon
2 T. margarine
1-1/4 t. salt, divided
1-1/4 t. pepper, divided
2 stalks celery, sliced
2 carrots, thinly sliced
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 t. dried, chopped chives, divided
1/2 to 1. cup chicken broth

Thoroughly rinse chicken and place in a Dutch oven. Add water, bouillon cubes, margarine, one t. salt, and one t. pepper. Bring to a boil; reduce to simmer. Add celery and carrots; continue to cook for one hour or until chicken is tender. Remove chicken from broth and bone; set aside. Continue simmering broth.

In mixing bowl, combine flour, 1/2 t. chives, remaining salt and pepper. Slowly add chicken broth to form a dough ( I did this with my hands and almost burned my fingers off!) Knead dough for 5 minutes, then turn the dough mixture onto a floured surface. Roll dough out to 1/4-inch thickness and cut into squares.

Add remaining chives to simmering broth; add dumplings one at a time until all dumplings are in the Dutch oven. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes then add chicken; continue to simmer for an additional 20 minutes.

Oh my gosh! This was so yummy! I was glad that hubs didn't need me to pack the leftovers for lunch so I can have them!

How about you? What is your weather like and how are you staying warm?

I'll let you know if it snows in SE Texas! :)