Hooked on Web Helps!

What am I Hooked On this week?

I am hooked on a
couple of web sites that
have made my life easier
and less cluttered.

The first one is Biblegateway.com.
This site helps me almost weekly as
I design our church's service bulletin.

There are so many verse fragments floating
around my head and with this site I am able
to type in a search for either a word or
phrase and most of the time can find what
I am looking for easily...whether I want it
in the King James Version, NIV or others.

The other site that has become very valuable
at our home is allrecipes.com.
Take our Thursday Evening dinner for example.
The meal was to be chicken tacos, however,
the big problem that showed up after the chicken
was all cooked and shredded was that I discovered
we had no taco seasoning.

No problem!

A simple search for taco seasoning brought me
to this page.
Now I am wondering if there will ever be a reason to
purchase those little packets again.
The kids and a guest raved about dinner!

Other favorite recipes from this site are:


Amish White Bread I made this again last night to serve with spare ribs. It is one our family favorites since I made it several months ago.

Pizza Dough...a quick recipe if you are in a time crunch.

Chelsea made this Blueberry Cheesecake and it was great!


Pancakes...Now, out of habit,I usually use a mix for this. But during a sleepover with four of Chelsea's friends a week or so ago I found I was out of mix. A quick click on this site found this delightful and simple recipe. No more box mix for me...unless I am camping or something like that.

We just never know when we might be tapping into this
site for a last minute recipe or idea but we have not
been let down yet. I love reading the reviews.

Maybe you will get Hooked On this site too.

For More Posts featuring Favorite things just
stop by Julia's Hooked on Houses Blog.
She features the neatest things herself and
then there are all of her friends with diverse
interests.

Note: Photos on this page are taken from Allrecipes.com.

A Contented Evening...

This slowing down goal is working.

Last evening the boys had a friend
here and Chelsea was off with two friends
at another home.

I made a new dinner of breaded boneless
chicken breast in enchilada sauce topped
with Swiss Cheese. Just experimenting!

I served it over noodles...however, I would
have preferred rice...because I love rice.
The family prefers noodles. Anyway...it
wasn't too big of a hit with the teen boys.
Jonathan ate it up...but the other two sampled
it and then moved on to the ham and cheese
sandwiches I had offered as a default option.

Anyway, after dinner Warren helped me clean up
the kitchen and we had no place to go.
We weren't needed anywhere! The other
parents had arranged to meet at our house for
the kid exchange. Often we will meet at a local
shopping center...and often it will be a three car
deal with kids trading car seats like crazy!

So, it was awesome to have time to putter around
the kitchen with my favorite guy. But it didn't
stop there. We sat down in the living room.
Together!
I know, I am shocked too.
Loving this slowing down thing!
Before we knew it parents had shown up with,
or to pick up, kids.
They joined us in the living room.

We had a lovely conversation about life
and politics. You know I loved that!

After they left, Warren looked at me
and said, "That was fun!"
I heartily agreed.

Maybe you can teach an old dog new
tricks. I am going to continue to
work on slowing down. Enjoying the
kitchen, and cleaning the dust from
my hanging light in the dining room...
Did that while we were clearing the
table and chatting.

Now, if I could just get to those
nasty cobwebs in the corner....

Sl...ow...ing...do...wn....

How about you?

♥♥Becky K.♥♥

Girl Giggles

One of the highlights of having a daughter is getting to enjoy her friends. Yesterday after bowling we brought home three extra girls. Very often one comes back with us which raises the energy level in the house some...but this was altogether different!

There were the beautiful sounds of giggles coming first from the living room and then from the downstairs family room as these friends enjoyed each other's company. When dinner was served there was initial reservation and then the melting of my heart as seconds were hesitantly requested. Do you think they know that this scores points? Ha!

There was the gentle pleading to please call the other moms and get our ending time moved back...no could do...so...we have all decided that a sleepover will be a must in the near future. One of these girls is moving to Missouri in January so time together is precious. I, for one, am looking forward to this sleepover. These young women are so fun and polite. Chelsea's eyes were just dancing as she thanked me for having the girls over...and she gave me a huge hug!

Our dinner menu:

Not planning on three extra mouths when I put our meat into the crockpot in the morning I added slightly to adjust by making a pot of macaroni and cheese in the microwave. It is so good and easy made this way. And to think of how I used to slave over it and then need so much time for the oven.

We had my infamous Sweet Spare Ribs: I use country style ribs with a mixture of catsup and brown sugar, spiced with cinnamon, poured over the ribs and cooked all day in the crock pot.

Macaroni and cheese: I melt butter (about 4 tablespoons) in the microwave safe bowl that the macaroni ends up in and after being cooked. Last evening I used shell pasta. When it was cooked and drained I added it to the butter, poured in a good amount of milk(probably close to a cup), added an 8 oz package of shredded cheddar cheese and about 6- 8 ounces of a pizza cheese blend. Everything gets stirred well and microwaved until it is bubbly.

A romaine salad with carrots, tomatoes and celery.

A few scalloped potatoes...

and our own fresh frozen corn.

Yummy and seemingly enjoyed by all.

Thanks for coming Emily, Kristen and Courtney. We enjoyed your company!