ABCs of Me: Dinners, Daughters, and Dating

On this blogging journey with Proverbs 31 Mama and others, I have begun to discover things about myself and them along the way.  This week has been hectic.  I have been doing all my planning for the 1st quarter of school this week.  A lot of work, at first, but less work during the actual term.  Middle school(for my oldest) is daunting to say the least.  Anyway, I digress.  Here is my "D" post!

Dinners

Now, I am Southern and proud of it and we say supper but supper doesn't begin with a d so dinner it is.  I love food and I love to eat.  I haven't always loved to cook but as I have matured, I have learned that there is nothing better than watching your family love something that you created for them with love.  I am no Julia Child.  I am more like Paula Deen minus the scandal.  We like our chicken fried and our tea sweet and cold.  That being said, I thought I would list some of my family's favorites.

1. Fried chicken strips.
        Marinate the chicken in Webers herb and white wine marinade for at least an hour. 
        Coat in flour or House Autry chicken dredge.  Cook in about 1 inch of Canola oil until
        brown.  Place on paper towel to dry.  Serve with veggies or over salad.

2. Spaghetti
       My sauce has ruined spaghetti for my kids anywhere else.  Check it out here

3. Salsa
       The freshest, most delicious salsa and it is simple, too.  Find it here

4. Braised pork chops(or anything)
      This is a no brainer.  Whatever meat you choose, chicken breasts(with bone), pork
       chops, ribs, etc, will come out so tender and this is too easy.  Don't tell anyone.
      In a large baking pan, place meat.  Season with salt and pepper and garlic powder.
      Add a little liquid until it fills the bottom about 1/4 inch.  Cover tightly with foil.
     Place in an oven on 300 for about 4 hours.  The smell will drive you mad!


Daughters

Having daughters is amazing!  They see things so differently than boys.  They are a tremendous responsibility!  We have lost the desire for women to be ladies in our society and I find that tragic.  What is wrong with being both soft and strong at the same time?  If it works for Viva paper towels, can't it work for our daughters?  I want to raise my daughters to find their self-worth in their identity in Christ.  I don't want them to compare themselves to those emaciated women on the covers of magazines.  I want them to embrace the bodies that they were given, warts and all.  I want that for myself.  That brings me to my 3rd "D"....

Dating

Boy, am I glad I don't have to be out in the dating world right now!  Seems like a lot of work.  I feel for my daughters and sons as they come of age to date at around 30 ;).  I am so glad that my husband has the gift of discernment because I always wants to see the good in people and often overlook danger.  Beware those who come a calling for my children.  There are some rules that are non-negotiable for dating/courting my babies.  You don't comply, you don't date him/her.  Period!  But, we have many years until they are 30.  We have some time to get used to the idea!

Hop over and check out the other ladies!  Have a great weekend!

Memories

Today, linking up with SITS for a stroll down bloggy memory lane.  Last year, I was talking about food.  I know, SHOCKER!!  Check out what we were eating Sept 29, 2011

The September before that I was talking about food, too but in a different way.  Check out what happened to me in 2010.

In 2009, I was talking about my weight.  Maybe I wouldn't have to if I didn't talk about food so much.  Maybe there is something there.  Just to update this post from 2009, I am down past my weight goal and have kept it off!  Woo hoo!

In 2008, I was writing about what things we do when we are sleep deprived.  I was sleep deprived then with a new baby.  I am sleep deprived now because I stay up too late!  Read about it here

If you want to hook up with my SITStahs, then check them out here.

We Want to Know....

I am hooking up with Mamarazzi for We Want to Know Wednesday.  She and Crazy Mama have some questions to be answered.  I have some experience with these question so I thought I would add my 2 cents worth.  Here are the questions:

1. If you are sick in bed how do you entertain yourself? TV, books, sleep?
2. Do you share your medical drama with the world or keep it to yourself?
3. Do you pray, send healing thoughts & hugs or good vibes to friends when they are ill or sad?
4. If someone offers to bring in dinner to you or your family, do you let them?
5. If you could ask for any meal or treat when you were sick/sad/healing, what would it be? 


1. If you are sick in bed, how do you entertain yourself? TV, Books, sleep?

I have had a lot of experience with this.  I spent 118 days on bed rest with my last child.  81 of those I spent in the hospital.  I spent a lot of time reading, watching TV, sleeping, playing games on POGO.com.  I prayed a lot and wrote journal entries and then prayed some more.  As for TV, there was a writers' strike that year so there were no new shows.  I rewatched all of the Cosby Shows and fell in love with Mike Rowe on Dirty Jobs.  If you want to read a little more about my time in the hospital, then head over here .

2. Do you share your medical drama with the world or keep it to yourself?

I did share what was going on with me through a website called LotsaHelpingHands.  This is an amazing site that lets you keep people updated with what is going on with you and lets them sign up to help out with your needs.  Needs like food, transportation, prayer requests, childcare, etc.  My bed rest was before Facebook became popular so I this was all I had.  My friends sent my writings to their friends and who sent it to theirs.  We ended up getting letters from all over the world saying that they were praying for us.

3. Do you pray, send healing thoughts & hugs or good vibes to friends when they are ill or sad?

I am a firm believer in prayer.  I believe in God hearing those prayers and answering them!  I have seen miracles during my time on bed rest that the doctors couldn't explain medically.  I have prayed for others and seen the healing hand of God.  This study talks about prayer and healing.  But, God can't always be boxed in by science and studies.

4. If someone offers to bring in dinner to you and your family, do you let them? 

Absolutely, I live in the south and that is what we do.  Death, sickness, sadness, stress all call for food to be brought.  I had a hard time letting people help me at first but my husband explained to me that for some people acts of service is a love language for them.  To deny them the pleasure of helping you is to deny them the gift that God has given to them and thus to deny them a blessing.  We were so blessed by the 100s (yes, that number is accurate) of meals brought to us including Thankgiving and Christmas.  I like to take meals to people.  When I can, I do! 

5. If you could ask for any meal or treat when you are sick/sad/healing, what would it be?

My go to comfort food is mashed potatoes!  I love them!  KFC, Bojangles, or home made, I will eat them!  Bring them with gravy though or it is a deal breaker!

So how would you answer these questions?  Check out Mamarazzi's website for others who answered these questions and link up for yourself!    

What's For Supper?

Check out a new blog to which I am a contributor!  I am excited to be a part of this blog with other God-loving women!  Follow us!

  The Proverbs 31 Cook

Tasty Thursday

Tonight we are having something yummy for supper. I needed something quick and easy. My family loves tacos but if you have ever been around small children, you know how messy that can be. So I thought that I would make them smaller and easier to hold.

I make the taco meat according to the seasoning packet. I grate cheese(though not a lot cause my weird children do not like cheese), salsa, lettuce, sour cream and Scoops.

I take the Scoops and heat them for 2 minutes in the oven. I scoop a tiny amount of meat into the chip and let the kids top them as they see fit. Then they can just pick them up and pop them into their mouths. Easy quick and yummy!

This was an answer to my husband's question: Why can't they make a taco shell that doesn't break when the kids bite into it? I will let you know how it goes!