Thoughts for Today

When we've given all our questions to God,

when we're not grumbling about the past or

anxious about the future, when our tomorrows are in His keeping,

we are free to wake up every morning and say,

"God, You've given me today as a gift. Show me how to glorify you in it."

-from Calm my Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow, pg 203

Beef Stew

Beef Stew

I personally think this is the best beef stew ever, you've got to try it

Work great on the stove top or crockpot!

Combine:

1/2 cup flour

2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp garlic salt

1/4 tsp pepper

Toss with 1 pound stew meat, diced till all meat is floured

Heat 3 TB oil in pot on stove

Add floured meat and cook slightly, maybe 3-4 minutes

Add:

2 onions, chopped

2 cups beef broth

1 cup water

2 cups, or 16 ounce can whole or diced tomatoes

1 bay leaf

3/4 tsp thyme

2 whole cloves

Heat to boiling

Add:

4 cups carrots, sliced into coins

4 cups potatoes, diced

** Put everything in crockpot at this point and let cook about 4 hours on high or 6-8 on low

OR

continue cooking on stovetop on low simmer till potatoes and carrots are desired tenderness - maybe 2 hours?

A few minutes before serving from either stove or crockpot - you can add 1 - 1/2 cups of frozen peas or lima beans. Either will cook in just a couple minutes.

BEFORE SERVING - REMOVE CLOVES AND BAY LEAF from soup!

Stores great for lunches and leftovers too!

Spring Cleaning: Cupboards, Drawers & Utensils

Another week of Spring Cleaning from Nourishing Gourmet's Spring Cleaning. I am combining 2 weeks worth of cleaning into 1 post, even though I spread it out over a couple days. Life has been busy and I didn't get a chance to blog about the cupboards.

You can read more on the Cupboard cleaning and hints in this post here!

I did do it though! The cupboards needed basic straightening and re-organization. Nothing too exciting or changing. Several of my cupboards need this every couple weeks anyway!

...... speaking of which, does anyone else need to go back and clean their refrigerator again already! I do!

Now onto drawers and utensils.................

I got the canister that sits by my stove cleaned out and EVEN cleaned the canister itself. Doesn't it look nice!

I weeded out a couple utensils I haven't been using and stuck them in my box of stuff I "plan to get rid of if I realize I really don't need it out"- I reorganized and cleaned out the silverware drawer- how do so many crumbs get in that silly silverware thing-y when all you put in there is clean silverware and the drawer is closed most of the time?!

I actually spent quite a bit of time straightening and cleaning up the kitchen this morning. After a busy couple days and couple weeks of company- it needed a little attention and since I am doing grocery shopping tomorrow, I thought organizing and going through the kitchen would make sure my grocery list was complete.

Thoughts for Today

My Life is but a Weaving

My life is but a weaving

between my Lord and me;

I cannot choose the colors,

He worketh steadily.

Oft times He weaveth sorrow,

And I, in foolish pride,

Forget He sees the upper,

And I the under side.

Not 'til the loom is silent

and the shuttles cease to fly,

Shall God unroll the canvas

and explain the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful

in the Weaver's skillful hand,

As the threads of gold and silver

in the pattern He has planned.

He knows, He loves, He cares,

nothing this truth can dim.

He gives His very best to those

who leave the choice with Him.

~Author Unknown

Spring Cleaning: Pots/Pans and 1 Cupboard

Here's goes another week of

Spring Cleaning over at Nourishing Gourmet!

I straightened out my pots and pans cupboard. They are in a corner cabinet and though they all fit nicely, they often get rearranged and need stacked properly again. I also keep my muffin tins and some rarely used items in the bottom with my foils and ziplock bags so that could use a little attention as well! Everything is stacked nicely and organized. Makes things so much nicer. Sorry, no picture, hard spot to get a decent look at it!

I also straightened out my cups cupboard - it needed it badly. I am wanting to phase out alot of the kids plastic cups and had hidden some away that somehow snuck out again and needed re-hidden. I figure if I don't use them for a number of months I can get rid of them without wondering if I could live without them. So they are in the "waiting" spot to get rid of hopefully!

This is "before" on the cups...... will try and get an "after" taken soon!

I also cleaned out my spice/baking stuff cupboard between this week and last. It is much easier now that I re-arranged some stuff and have extra spices out of the way in the basket. It is working nicely and things are easy to find.

What are you cleaning this week?

Lemonade

With the days getting warmer I have been enjoying making lemonade lately. Here's the recipe I have been using, you can adjust your sweetener to your taste, and yes, any type of sugar would work as well, but I wanted to try and find one with honey that I liked to avoid more refined sugar! And to mix it up somedays I make it with lime juice instead of lemon :-)

1/2 cup honey

Mix with about 1 cup boiling water and stir to dissolve.

Add 1/2 cup lemon juice and stir.

Pour into a 1 quart jar and add water till full.

Refrigerate till cold and enjoy!

This post is part of Nourishing Gourmet's Pennywise Platter Thursday!

Thoughts for Today

On Faith~

"Faith enables us to be content even when life doesn't make sense."

" Faith is rooted in God's character."

"Faith is based on God's Word, not on our feelings."

"God is in control of all the uncontrollables in our lives: What we can't see, what doesn't make sense to us and what we don't understand."

"Faith looks to God, but feelings look to what is going on around us. Faith hopes in who God is and in what He has promised."

(from "Calm My Anxious Heart", by Linda Dillow, Chapter 9)

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1