Amigo Dip Bowls

I thought it may be fun to share a recipe for lunch instead of dinner!

As I was going through some pictures...they all seem to look the same. We love Mexican food and the proof is in the repitition of pictures and ingredients!!! :}

Here is an easy dip to make and you can take it from here: You can let me know how you spice it up to make your family HAPPPPEEE!

Amigo Dip

2 ripe avocados, peeled and cut into chunks

8 oz. cream cheese, room temp

1/2 cup Daisy sour cream

1 tsp. lemon juice

2 Tbsp. milk

1 1/2 tsp. chili powder

*Blend all ingredients together in a blender or food processor until nice and creamy

*Spread in the bottom of 4 bowls or tortilla bowls. {I made bread bowls out of leftover fry bread dough} WE LOVE BREAD!!!

*Layer the following ingredients on top:

Black beans or meat if you like... :} Depending if you want a light lunch

Shredded lettuce

Tomatoes, diced

Green onion

Olives

Sour cream and salsa

That is it!!!

Enjoy!

*This serves four

Appetizer variation: Just make it on a platter and serve it with mini tortilla chip rounds! This is perfect made up ahead of time.


Today's little project:



I got the 90's stenciling off this sweet petite garage sale treasure. It is going to be beautiful when it is "fixed up"!


Shared with: titus2sday, women living well

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Raspberry Orange Garden Salad

What a beautiful weekend we enjoyed here in the Northwest! We are loving summer and all the berries.

It is so nice eating dinner outside in the evenings...and it is going to be a shock when we actually have to eat inside at the BIG table again! But for now we are LOVING the beauty of the backyard!

Tonight's Menu:

Lemonade

Raspberry Orange Garden Salad

Fresh Watermelon Slices

Salmon Burgers with Special Sauce

Fried Potaoes


Orange Raspberry Garden Salad

1 bunch fresh spinach, cut with scissors...for dainty bite-sized pieces!

1 head Romaine, chopped

1 small can Mandarin oranges, drained

1/2 cup sliced almonds

Toss above ingredients together and add the dressing right before you are ready to serve dinner.

{Dressing}

1/3 cup olive oil

1/3 cup orange juice

1/4 cup red wine vinegar...plus a bit more if you like

1 Tbsp. sugar

1/2 tsp. kosher salt

6 grinds of fresh pepper...to taste

1 large clove garlic, peeled and crushed

Shake the above in a half pint canning jar.

Now...toss your fresh garden greens, fire up the grill and enjoy a sweet evening outside!

Love to all of you and a very HAPPY MONDAY!




What lovely summer days...











Shared with: stone gable

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Peach Cobbler {in a Bag}

Several weeks ago, I dropped in on my twinsie. As we sipped on tea and chatted, my nephew offered to make a peach cobbler for our family. I was so very excited. I don't know of many pre-teen boys that would offer to do something so sweet for their Auntie! Anyway, needless to say, it was THE BEST peach cobbler I had EVER had. No kidding. It was devoured by my family that night. So, I asked him if he would send me the recipe so that I could share it with you. I hope you enjoy it as much as our family enjoyed it!

PEACH COBBLER {IN A BAG}
Adapted from Betty Crocker


PEACH MIXTURE:

1/2 cup sugar
1 tbs. cornstarch {I used Clear Jel and skipped the cooking part}
one 29 oz. can of peaches {I used four cups of fresh peaches…about 6 large}
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract or pure almond extract

BREAD MIXTURE:

3 Tbs. shortening
1 cup self-rising flour
1 Tbs. sugar
1/2 cup 2% milk


*Heat oven to 400*

*Mix 1/2 cup sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and the cornstarch in a 2-quart saucepan.

*Stir in peaches and vanilla.

*Cook stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils.

*Boil and stir 1 minute.

*Pour into ungreased 8x8 square pan; keep peach mixture hot in the oven.

*Cut shortening into flour and 1 tablespoon sugar until mixture resembles fine crumbs.

*Stir in milk.

*Drop dough by six spoonfulls onto hot peach mixture.

*Bake 25-30 minutes or until topping is golden brown.

I hope you all enjoy!


MY VARIATIONS:

When I pick peaches, I like to pick enough to enjoy a few cobblers throughout the year, so I put all of the peach mixture ingredients into a Ziploc bag and label it with what I need to add for the topping and baking instructions. All you have to do is to REMEMBER to get it out of the freezer and whip up the topping. Sprinkle with cinnamon and coarse sugar.

FAVORITE VARIATION: I HAD TO ADD THE 1/4 cup PEACH SCHNAPPS TO THE MIXTURE. NO WAY AROUND IT. It just puts it over the top! Imagine peaches frozen for months and then thawed and sitting in schnapps for a day. That is all I am going to say. Not to worry. The flavor will stay and the alcohol will go...away...far far away. DONE! lips are sealed! :}

SECOND FAVORITE VARIATION: Add 1/4 cup pure Orange Juice to Peach mixture. Seriously, just try it. You would not believe how it brings out the flavor of the peaches.

Now, every time I make a peach cobbler I remember the hospitality extended to our family through my nephew. It inspires me to want to share a freshly baked peach cobbler with someone I love...AND MAKE SURE MY SON CAN COOK AND BAKE!

Thank you, LANDEN! I LOVE YOU!

Who has nurtured you? Who can you think of who might need to be nurtured?

Ezekiel 34:26 "I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing."

***Sorry...another good ol' archive post!

Shared with: stone gable, women living well, comfy in the kitchen

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Dinner in a Sand Pail

Thank you so much, dear friends, again...for all of your prayers and notes for our Caleb! I think we finally have a handle on the pain. We are hoping for a good night of sleep for him...actually... for everybody tonight! It reminds me of having a newborn in the house. Instead of feedings, it is pain medication and ICE around the clock!

I am, however, taking full advantage of having this opportunity to take care of him and I am enjoying having him HOME! Not too many mommas have the chance to spend as much time with their 17 year-old sons!!

I have often wondered if I would have blogged when our children were young...since we didn't even own a computer until they were both in elementary school...and the answer is absolutely "NO WAY". Based on how busy I have been with taking care of a child who needs help with everything, I now know I am not nearly as talented as all of the young mommy bloggers who are capable of doing major multi-tasking and must have degrees in time management! I even forgot to feed our little dappled doggie today!!!

This morning, I woke up to this hymn on my mind! Though the last few weeks have been filled with lots of ups and downs, we can hold on to the truth that God is faithful! To know that the God of the universe never turns his eye from us for a second can fill us with hope and fill our hearts with PRAISE!

Great is thy faithfulness, O God my father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been, Thou for ever will be
Great is thy faithfulness
Great is thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed thy hand hath provided
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To thy great faithfulness, mercy and love

Great is thy faithfulness
Great is thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed thy hand hath provided
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me
Great is thy faithfulness

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside

Great is thy faithfulness
Great is thy faithfulness
All I have needed thy hand hath provided
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me

BE ENCOURAGED!!





No time for side dishes and gourmet brining and spices? Here is a fun solution! Dinner in a sand pail. Yep! No passing the veggies or bread and butter. Everybody has their own dinner in their pail. And it is still super nutritious and will leave your guests feeling pampered and not overly stuffed. Or this could be a romantic dinner for two after the kiddies are tucked into bed! {One of our favorite summer things to do was to have a late candlelight dinner on the deck after the little ones were thoroughly exhausted from swimming all.day.long!} No babysitters, no fancy restaurants...just the two of us with the babes close by...BLISS!}


Healthy Fish Fillets and Veggies {in parchment} No scrubbing pots and pans for this dinner!

This recipe serves two... but may easily be doubled, doubled again and again...for however many people you are serving!

2 Tbsp. butter

4 cups fresh spinach, washed and stems removed

2 4-6 ounces white fish fillets {I used halibut that was about a 1/2" thick}

Sea salt and fresh ground pepper...or Johnny's Seasoning Salt

half of a zuchini, cut into half and sliced into thin slices

4 baby portabellas, washed and sliced

1 large tomato, seeded and chopped

4 thin slices of lemon

2 Tbsp.olive oil

Parchment Paper

Bakers Twine...now available at Crate&Barrel!


Directions:

Preheat oven to 450*

For each packet, you will want to layer two sheets of parchment that is at least 15" long to keep all of your food inside.





Take your butter and run it down the middle.





Place 2 cups of spinach on top of butter.

Place fish on top.

Sprinkle with salt and pepper or desired seasonings.

Divide the rest of the veggies between two packets

Lay lemons on each and drizzle with olive oil.

Fold packets up: Fold long edge over opposite side and tuck the short ends under.

Place two packets in baking pan and place in oven for about 18 minutes or until fish is opaque in color. Be very careful with steam.

When I am taking this meal to friends, I add the twine for delivery and have them take it off to bake.

To serve: place packets in a bucket with bread, drink, silverware and a tin to place packet in to eat out of! I would suggest mini baguettes to put in your bucket...

VARIATION: You could put the fish in tin foil and cook it over a campfire on the beach...hmmm...dinner on the beach at sunset!

*from the good ol' archives

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Buffalo Taco Salad

Hi friends! I trust you all have had a great weekend. It has been hot here in the Northwest and it finally feels like summer is here! Our tomatoes are coming along, the peppers are ripe and the blueberries are divine! What a treat to pick produce right in the backyard!

Thank you ALL so much for your prayers, thoughts and e-mails in regards to our son, Caleb. Our meeting with the doctors and surgeon was a tough one to swallow. He will need two surgeries on Tuesday. One of the surgeries is complicated and it has to be perfect, or the bone will die. As a momma who hears that her son will not be able to do the job he has dreamed about for so many years...I must say I was just devastated...pleading with God for peace and for wisdom. By later that afternoon, I felt joy. Joy in knowing that this situation is in God's hands and it is exactly what He has ordered for Caleb and for our family.

"Joy is more than happiness...where happiness is circumstatial, joy is not. Joy is an unshakeable confidence in the truths of God, despite circumstances. when our children see an unshakeable confidence in the life of one who says she knows God personally, they are impressed and drawn to know HIM themselves." Elisa Morgan

Henri Nouwen, a Dutch priest who wrote a book called THE WOUNDED HEALER wrote about how we can use our hurts to be able to reach out to others as a wounded healer. That is what we are choosing to do. There has got to be good in this situation or whatever situation you may be in. We are having to trust God. So, we are praying to GOD ALMIGHTY that He would heal Caleb and that the surgeries will be accurate and successful...according to what God has in store for our Caleb!

SOOO, with taking care of a child who has been in a lot of pain, I have opted for easy, simple meals that do not have to be served right away and that are great as leftovers AND that are favorites for the patient! We all love Mexican food...and Caleb loves Buffalo Wild Wings. I adapted this recipe and it should be called WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER. Everybody loves it and I know you will agree! Prep is minimal and your crock pot will do the cookin' for you!


Dinner Menu:

Fresh Ginger Lemonade

Buffalo Taco Salad

Chips and Salsa

Fresh Watermelon Chunks

Cookies and Sorbet


BUFFALO TACO SALAD

4 chicken breast {soaked in salt water overnight and rinsed with fresh, cold water}

1 cup FRANKS RED HOT HOT SAUCE or WING SAUCE

1/2 cup water

*place chicken, sauce and water in crock pot on low for at least 6 hrs. or on high for 4 hrs. Every crock pot is different...so be sure to keep an eye on it.

Chopped romaine lettuce and red leaf lettuce

Shredded cheddar cheese

Olives

Red onion, chopped

Tomato, diced

A bit of fresh cilantro

A bit of blue cheese crumbles

Cooked black beans

Avocado

Blue cheese dressing

Chips, salsa and sour cream served on the side

*Once the chicken is fully cooked, use two forks to pull it apart or "shred" it.

Everybody made their own taco salad and it was easy, nutritious and a cinch to chop up!

*I served this buffet style so that everything would not get soggy. We had the taco salad fixings in Laurissa's homemade taco shells the next day for lunch. OH.SO.YUMMY!

ENJOY!


"A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones"

Proverbs 15:30

*Is there a situation in your life that you could use to be a wounded healer?

Shared with: stone gable

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Orchard Yogurt

My momma and I met up for peach picking in the orchards on Wednesday morning and had so much fun. {I would have pictures to show you, but I had a blank memory card in the camera!}

I love picking peaches with her because we have so much fun talking and I always leave feeling completely inspired by her old fashioned tips on parenting, housekeeping, loving people and her zest for life is truly contagious.

As soon as we were done picking, we drove to another farm and had a picnic lunch in a gazebo. She packed our lunch and I felt completely spoiled! She made fresh tuna sandwiches, green olives, celery sticks, cheese slices, grapes, berries, and melon with toothpicks...and my favorite...placemats for lapmats. The "ARMY NURSE" thinks of everything.

SOOO, that really has nothing to do with yogurt, but since this is a journal as well, I get to document special memories!

About the yogurt: I love Nancy's Yogurt, because it does NOT have gelatin in it...which I can NOT stand the thought of eating. My children love Tillamook yogurt, but it still has gelatin in it...BUT when we pick berries and peaches from the orchards, I love chopping up fresh fruit and adding it to the PLAIN yogurt and putting it into little straight-sided jars. It is so good and good for you. Even organic yogurts have quite a bit of sugar. I would rather have my sugar in ice cream, cobblers and cookies.

*What is one of your favorite things to do with fresh fruit?

*post from the good ol' archives

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{wild} Blueberry Upside-Down Cake

Thank you ALL for your prayers for our Caleb! God has given us so much peace...despite the situation. As I was praying on Saturday, I felt that God took all my fear and anxiety away! We are truly witnessing the power of prayer! We have a meeting with the surgeon on Thursday...so, we will go from there!

I am not sure what it is, but when my children are sick, I want to cook for them and make things better. I guess when a momma feels helpless...it makes you feel better to be doing something that may help!

Caleb loves pineapple upside-down cake, so, this morning at o-dark-thirty...I was up baking...even though he isn't even home yet! How insane is that? The little cakes will be wrapped and frozen for my oh.so.adventurous.full-of-life son! Now I am off to start clean-sheet MONDAY!

Do you...

*have a designated day for laundry?

*do laundry around the clock?

*let your laundry pile up and IGNORE it?

*have a maid? {actually, don't tell me if you have a maid...please!}

Happy Monday to each of YOU!





Blueberry Upside-Down Cake
Adapted from good ol’ Betty Crocker


*Preheat oven to 350*

*Using a 10 inch skillet…

*Melt 1/3 cup butter in hot oven

Then…

*Sprinkle ½ cup brown sugar on the bottom.

*Sprinkle blueberries on the bottom...not too many...or use about 1/4 cup Bonne Maman Wild Blueberry Preserves

*Place a cherry in the middle...or it just would would not be upside-down cake

*Make the cake batter

Cake Batter:

Sift together:

1 ½ cups cake flour {NO SUBSTITUTIONS...it makes a huge difference.}

1 cup sugar

2 tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. salt

Add:

1/2 cup softened butter

2/3 cup milk {I use whipping cream}

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

½ tsp. lemon juice {I use Italian Volcano}

Beat for 2 minutes

Add:

1 EGG

Beat for 2 more minutes.

Pour over fruit.

Bake for about 40 minutes or until done.

VARIATION: I wanted individual cakes, so I used a LARGE Demarle muffin tray. They are basically 6 individual 4 inch cake pans in one.



I sprinkled fresh berries on the bottom {I went a bit CRAZY…You may want to just sprinkle a few and not cover the bottom!} and divided the melted butter and sugar evenly into each “pan”.


Each cake pan got a generous ¼ cup of batter.

I baked the minis for about 25 minutes and they were perfect. My new favorite breakfast cake!



VOILA…6 adorable little blueberry upside-down cakes. I made thee blueberry ones and three classic PINEAPPLE UPSIDE-DOWN CAKES for those who do not like to break the rules!

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