Slow Cooking Thursday

This recipe is one I love to make and take to church suppers and it will even fit in on your Thanksgiving table.

Slow Cooked Broccoli Casserole

2 bags frozen chopped broccoli, partially thawed
1 can cream of celery soup
1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup crushed butter flavor crackers (about 25)
2 tablespoons butter

Combine broccoli, soup, 1 cup cheese, onion, Worcestershire sauce and pepper. Pour into a greased slow cooker. Sprinkle crackers on top and dot with butter.

Cover and cook on high for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Cook 10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.

For more slow cooking recipes visit Diary of a SAHM.

Happy Homemaker Monday

The weather in my neck of the woods: pretty mild considering it is November.

One of my simple pleasures: spending time with my Husband before he goes to work.

On my bedside table: cell phone, clock, cough drops, Bible

On my TV: kids are watching a program I taped on the History of Thanksgiving.

On the menu for tonight: tater tot casserole

On my To Do List: Last night of woman's Bible study for the fall tonight, Wednesday night kids club at church, library on Friday.

New Recipe I tried last week: We had this at the museum on Saturday.


Butternut squash and Apple Soup

3 Tablespoons butter
2 large onions -- chopped
2 Tablespoons curry powder (good quality)
1 teaspoon chili powder
5 cans (6 1/2 cups) chicken stock -- homemade or canned
1 large butternut squash, peeled, seeded, & chopped
3 firm tart apples (ie: Spys, Granny Smiths) -- peeled, cored, & diced salt and pepper to taste 1/2 cup heavy cream
1 Tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped (optional)


In a heavy skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add onions and saute until translucent, approx. 5 mins. Add the curry and chili powders and cook for another 5 minutes. Add half the stock and bring to a boil. Transfer the mixture to a soup kettle, add squash and apples, and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 45 mins. to 1 hour, or until squash is tender. Stir occasionally to prevent vegetables from sticking to the pan.


I skipped this step and used my hand blender. Strain soup and reserve the liquid. Place the pulp in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until pureed. Return the puree, reserved liquid,cream and the remaining chicken stock to a clean soup kettle and bring to a simmer. Ladle the soup into warm soup bowls and sprinkle with chopped parsley or cilantro if desired.
NOTE: This soup can be made ahead or frozen without the cream. 10 servings

In the craft basket: Christmas cards and gifts

Looking forward to: spending time with my Grandmother next week at Thanksgiving.

Homemaking Tip for this week: keep on the kids to put things away!

Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other): the post before this one on my weekend craft day at the museum.

Favorite photo from last week: the pomander ball. The house smells so good!!

Lesson learned the past few days: when you feel the Lord directing you to do something DO IT! A few times over the past month the Lord has been putting my former mother in law (also my children's grandmother) in my path. Her and I never got along, we have a long history of not liking one another. I kept waiting for the perfect time to share the Gospel with her. Well this past weekend she took a full bottle of pain killers and is now in a coma. I'm making supper for her husband tomorrow and taking it to him.

On my Prayer List: family, my kids grandmother, unsaved family and friends.

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses: Acts 24:25 (New King James Version)
Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.”

To read other HHM posts visit Diary of a SAHM.

Crafts 19th Century Style

Today my Mom and I went to our favorite local living history museum and made 6 crafts all for $20. We had such a good time. Click on the link and it will take you to the website.

The first one is a marzipan hedgehog. Isn't he just the cutest thing???! This little guy was made out of almond paste (you can find this in most large grocery stores) with cloves for the eyes and nose. Sliced almonds are the spikes in the back.

This is the other side of him, shows all the almonds. People of the 19th century used marzipan for decorating cakes, and for all types of decorations. I've seen small fruits made out of this.

This is a pomander ball. It is an orange covered with cloves. We took a nail and pierced the orange and pushed the cloves into the hole. Beware if you try this your fingers will hurt..LOL! Then we took cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice and orris root (used to bind the spices all together) and we rolled the orange in it. As the orange dries out it will shrink holding the cloves in place for years to come. The lady that taught this craft had hers for 20 years. I love the smell in the house as I type this...so much like Christmas!!

This one is a tin ornament. It is a star with the current year underneath. This was a lot of fun also. You used a hammer and nail to make all the small holes.
This is our santa dollpin (clothes pin) ornament. He was made with felt and pipe cleaners for his arms. This took us a while to make because we had to wait for the glue to dry.

This is my bird ornament made out of an old wool blanket. I like the simplicity of this. I'm going to try and make more of these.

This is a Christmas cornucopia. Children in the use to make these to hang and get treats in. The picture is of a horse drawn sleigh.

Slow Cooking Thursday

To see more Slow Cooking recipes go on over to Diary of a SAHM.

Baked Beans

1 lb. dried small white beans
6 cups water
1 tsp. salt
1/2 cup molasses
2 tsp. dry mustard
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 med. onion, chopped
1/4 lb. salt pork

Place beans and water in slow cooker. Soak 6 hours or overnight (do not turn the crock pot on). Cover pot and cook on HIGH for 2-3 hours, until beans are tender. Drain, saving liquid.
Mix 1 cup liquid with salt, molasses, mustard, sugar, and onion. Cut salt pork into 2-3 pieces. In slow cooker, combine beans, molasses mixture, and salt pork. Cover and cook for 10-12 hours.

Happy Homemaker Monday

The weather in my neck of the woods: mid 60's in NOVEMBER!! I love it. Sun is shinning and windows are open.

One of my simple pleasures: spending time with my children.

On my bedside table: Bible, cell phone, clock and lamp.

On my TV: nothing! It was on way too much last week with us all being sick.

On the menu for tonight: skillet lasagna, salad, corn

On my To Do List: get caught up on schooling, deep clean the house.

New Recipe I tried last week: nothing.

In the craft basket: scrapbook, faithbook, Christmas Cards.

Looking forward to: a nice quiet week.

Homemaking Tip for this week: I think I said this last week, but when people offer to help you out when you are sick let them!

Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other): didn't read blogs

Favorite photo from last week: Katrina playing with the camera...she is going to be thrilled I posted this...LOL!!!

Lesson learned the past few days: It is very difficult to be sick all at once as a family. We were getting on each other's nerves by weeks end. But arguing isn't going to help any of us. We spent time reading God's word and that helped us a lot!

On my Prayer List: Soldiers and Families of Fort Hood in TX, sick people with the flu, my family.

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses: Psalm 5:3-4 "In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil; with you the wicked cannot dwell.

4 years ago today!!

Four years ago today I married my best friend, soulmate and by far my better half. Come along with me as I take you through our wedding day in pictures. We were married at our favorite place in the area, The Genesee Country Museum. Be aware there are a lot of pictures, this is a very long post.

Here I am waiting for my groom. The girls and I got ready at my sister Missy's house. The guys got ready at our house.

Here I am with my Mom and Dad. I was so excited to get to the church.

This is a picture of my sister Missy and my sister Sherri (this was a few months after her brain injury)

Here are the girls and I, looking at this picture I realize how much Katie and Hannah have changed in just 4 years.

Here is a picture of the guys, my brother Matt, brother in law Steve (our best man), Matt's nephew Dan and Andrew who was being a stinker...ha ha.

I love this picture of Matt and Andrew. This was about the only time Andrew was still! Cracks me up!!

Here is Katie. Boy has she grown up in the past 4 years. She has gone from child to young lady.
This is a picture of Hannah, she also looks like a child in this picture. She has grown into a young lady as well.

My parents sang for us. I love hearing them sing together. This is a picture taken from the balcony in the church.

Our minister forgot to tell Matt he may kiss the bride. But we didn't remember and as he was pronouncing us Man and Wife we stole a smooch!!

The leaves that year were so colorful and bright. The very next day we had a rain and wind storm that knocked all the leaves off the trees. Thank you for coming along down memory lane with me. I LOVE YOU Honey! Thank you for a wonderful 4 years. I look forward to many many more.

Love and Respect Review

I was given the opportunity to read and review books published by Nelson publishers. The first book I chose was Love and Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs. The book is based on Ephesians 5:33 "Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband." The book was boring to read. I felt as if I was in a room listening to a bunch a PHD's talking and it was hard to hold my attention. With that said, the book was full of wonderful information for couples.

The author, Dr. Eggerichs had a lot of good advise for both husbands and wives. It would be better to read it as a couple. Men and women communicate very differently. I know that comes as a huge shock to you right??? It shouldn't, God created us this way. When husbands and wives disagree on something doesn't it sound something like this...she doesn't respect me....he doesn't love me the way....you might not say it out loud but I know many of you think it. That is just what this book covers in detail. He splits the book up for husbands and wives. I liked the fact that there is an appendix in the back of the book with a bunch of questions to ask yourself and for your spouse to as themselves. These statements will make you stop and think before you speak. So many times we do not stop and think about our words or tone while talking to our spouse.

Although this was a bit boring for me I walked away much more aware of how my husband thinks about respect. That in itself is reason enough for couples to read this. No matter how long you have been married. The next time I read this book it will defiantly be with my husband.

Slow Cooking Thursday

One thing with having the flu we all crave spicy food. This is a good one for that. I've even used the spicy sausage to add extra heat.

Easy Jambalaya

2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1 pound smoked sausage, cut into 2-inch slices
1 large onion, chopped
1 large green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 (28 oz.) can diced tomatoes with juice
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 cups chicken broth
1 tablespoon Cajun or Creole spice mix
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 pound extra large shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 3/4 cups long-grain rice
Parsley, optional

Combine chicken, sausage, onion, green pepper, celery, tomatoes, garlic, chicken broth, spice mix, thyme and oregano in a large (5-quart) slow cooker. Cook on low for 5 hours.
Add shrimp and rice; raise heat to high and cook for 30 minutes more. Sprinkle with chopped parsley, if desired.

To see more slow cooking posts visit Diary of a SAHM.

Scrapbook layout challenge #30

I decided to jump in on the scrapbook challenge. I'm a little behind but I figure it will give me something to work on in between projects.

I used all Close to my Heart products:

White Daisy Cardstock

That's Amore paper pack

Tulip ink

With Love stamp set

Field Trip Alphabet stamp set

We went to a living history museum for Mother's Day and those are the pictures I'll place on there as soon as I get them printed.

Happy Homemaker Monday

The weather in my neck of the woods: very cool this morning. I love mornings like this, I put my coat on and step out on the deck to enjoy my time with God.

One of my simple pleasures: hearing the sound of my children laughing and yes even arguing again....it means they feel better. We have all been sick now for about a week. Hannah is still having trouble recovering from this flu.

On my bedside table: hand sanitizer, bible, lamp and a couple of books.

On my TV: a satellite TV Christian radio station called Enlighten, it is all southern gospel.

On the menu for tonight: chili, corn bread, homemade crackers. I am putting it all in the crockpot.

On my To Do List: DISINFECT our home. Anyone have a large enough washing machine...ha ha! Mid week kids club at Church, our anniversary on Thursday, homeschool leaders meeting on Saturday. All pending on our recovery.

New Recipe I tried last week: I did not make a thing!

In the craft basket: cards, family scrapbook, my sister's pregnancy journal, my faithbook.

Looking forward to: everyone getting better SOON!! Just when we think we are all better the cough starts up again. I sanitized the kitchen last night including pots and pans, stove and the refrigerator.

Homemaking Tip for this week: after having a household of germs, make sure you sanitize the forgotten areas of the house, door knobs, windows, the cars-you were going back and forth to the doctor and the store right....germs, the handle of the refrigerator, cupboard handles and doors, furniture, dining room table and chairs, beds including the mattress and pillows.

Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other): sorry but I did not read any blogs this week.

Favorite photo from last week: this was from about a week ago. My wonderful husband knew how I was feeling like I had no space for myself. I love to scrapbook and make cards. But I always had to haul everything out and then put it away again. Well he surprised me with this table that fits just perfectly next to the computer. I love it!! It has a shelf underneath where I can store my sewing machine, craft tubs and some paper. No more digging it out. Thank you so much Honey!!

Lesson learned the past few days: it is very hard to take care of the house when everyone is sick including yourself! When people offer to bring you meals take them up on it. Do not worry about cleaning your house until you are all well, that way you won't have to do it again.

On my Prayer List: my family, church family.

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:Psalm 46:1 "God is our refuge and strength, a very present HELP in trouble."

To read other HHM posts visit Diary of a SAHM.