Manna Milling Moms

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Family Identity

Every night we share the most special time as a family – devotions.  We sit around the kitchen table and we read from the selection for the evening.  We are reading through the New Testament right now and are in Acts.  The children that are too young to read, repeat after Dad as he reads a scripture.  Then each family member who can read takes a turn.  We discuss the reading and then close with prayer.  Some nights we focus our prayer on our family, other times we rotate to pray for our church, friends, extended family, missionaries and other topics.  Occasionally we will also enjoy a time of signing before or after our devotion. 

The time we do devotions is 8:00 PM and it is a wonderful way to wind down the little ones before bed.  The children also get to practice sitting quietly, closing their eyes during prayer, and saying prayers.  As parents, this is a time as a family that we can offer spiritual direction but also correct our children’s behavior.  This is one of the ways we are establishing a family identity.

If you have followed my blog for long, you now that our six children are adopted.  We also have a niece that we are raising.  Our goal for our children is to be more influenced by our family than by others that may enter their lives.  Therefore, we want to create a strong family identity.  This is who we are. 

When my niece came to live with us, my 8 year old daughter told her, “we are a hard working family, we raise our own food, make our own clothes, we don’t watch television, we wear dresses, we go to church, this is just who we are.”  At 8 she already knows some of the core ideas of who we are as a family.  We have family sayings like, “Makaleas never quit!”  We have funny names that we refer to our family as, like the Makaneeta Monkeys. 

On this blog you read lots about what we accomplish on our homestead as a family.  This is all done as a family unit.  It is building our identity.  It is part of who we are and it connects us.  We don’t live this lifestyle just to have done it.  We live this lifestyle because it is a core belief that it enriches our family in so many ways. 

Hannah cometh....

    We have had some rain from the outer bans of the tropical storm Hannah, today.  It was the kind of warm rain that the children could run and play in and that is exactly what they did!

   Seth and I awoke to our first co-op day, and our coffeehouse day!  Seth was so excited that he was awake by 7:30 this morning.  I have tried all week to get him up at 8 a.m!  But, this morning he was up singing and playing and asking if it was time to go to co-op.  He was actually looking forward to "going" to a science class. 

   Before we left, there were chores to be done and Bible time.  Beds were made--the house straightened--Bible--breakfast--a snack and lunch put together and packed up--floors vacuumed.  Then we were off for learning and leisure! 

   Angie did a wonderful job teaching and doing three experiments with the children.  We were studying atoms and molecules.  The children even made molecules out of fruit and toothpicks-which were gobbled up during lunch!  We made copper hydroxycarbonate.  This  was a beautiful shade of blue.  I know that Seth had a wonderful time and learned, too! 

   After the co-op and lunch was over-the children dashed outside to play in the pool.  It was later in the afternoon when the rain started, and we moms encouraged them to go and play in the rain.  They willingly obeyed!  They had a blast!  Seth said he is so tired tonight because he was up early, learned alot and played hard!  Maybe he will go to bed early! 

   Supper was simple.  A combination of leftovers and beef and peppers over rice.  Lee, my stepson, dropped by and stayed for the meal.  He was appreciative as ever.  He actually acted and sounded more upbeat than his last visit--thank you Father!  Prayers answered.  

   The rain seems to be helping my garden a great deal.  Even the collards are responding a little.  I still think I am going to have to replace them.  It is just toooo....hoooottttt for them!  Oh well, live and learn.

   The storm is supposed to be in full swing sometime tonight.  Tomorrow is going to be wet and messy.  I really do not know what I want to do.  I like to iron when it is raining, so that is an option.  I could always bake, quilt on my quilt, read a book, sew or sleep.  Hmm....I guess I will just have to wait and see which one it will be.

                   That is it from the Beale Bungalow!

                                    God Bless!! 

Family Reunion and a recipe

Late Summer....

What a fabulous summer it has been here in GA!  Last August and September were hot, dry, and truly miserable.  This week has been like late summers I remember growing up in MI.  Highs in the upper 80s and lows in the 60s.  It just can't be more perfect than that.  Already tonight at 8pm, it's below 80 degrees... Last year, we didn't get below 80 at all some nights.  It's green here!  We're still very behind for rainfall, but we have HAD rain, and it's beautiful here.  The storm that hit FL several times (I've forgotten the name now, with all the news about Gustav, Hanna, Ike, and Josephine!) gave us 3 days of steady rainfall. 

I've been wanting to get back to blogging, but with school starting, working most Saturdays and every Wednesday morning, and finding a new church, I just haven't felt like I have time to put thoughts together.

School has started for all of us... almost a month ago now.  It's going well... every day is a challenge of course, and things rarely go as planned.   But generally, I'm happy with how the first month has gone.  Seems like there's always a new adjustment... a new homeschool mom to watch them on Wednesday mornings, AWANA starting, etc., and then we start going to a homeschool co-op next Tuesday (a completely new thing for us).  I guess it keeps things exciting. 

I can't sign off without saying HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my wonderful husband!  We're getting ready to have a little birthday party for him.  I'm so thankful for him, and want everyone to know that I'm so happy to be married to him! 

~Michelle

Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?????

I love the song, "Held" by Natalie Grant.  I have sang it and cried tears over it for some time now, but when they played it on the radio the day after my mom died, it became even more near and dear to my heart.

You see so many think bad things happen to good people, and why would God do this.  Why would God take that person away, or let this or that happen.  If He can do all things, and if He is all knowing, why didn't He stop this???  Simply put???  That isn't who God is....and it isn't who He promised He would be either.

Now, before you turn away and close this blog, hear me out.  God never told us we wouldn't have bad times, and trials in our lives.  He never promised to keep us from sadness, sickness, etc.  He didn't say as a child of His that we would never experience these things.  He simply said, when we do.........He would be there for us!!! 

No, life isn't fair sometimes.  A 3 year old dying while swimming with his family.....is not fair.  A 3 year old having her life taken by her father and then killing himself...........certainly not fair.  Loosing both of my parents at age 63 was completely not fair.  I remember speaking to my pastor after they died, and saying it isn't fair!!!  He said you are right.  You got cheated out of more time with your parents.  You feel like you didn't get what you deserved  and it is ok to feel that way, as long as you don't STAY there long.  I think I was there for months, probably longer than I expected to be.  But then I realized, I didn't want to live in the shoulda coulda woulda life.  I wanted to make my parents happy, remembering the good times, not focusing on the unfair moments.

This song talks about that......when all else fails....and you feel like giving up.......that is when,  you will be held.  Close your eyes dear one, fall into his arms, and let Him hold you.  Cry on His shoulder.  He is always there for you.  If you will only stop accusing Him of hurting you, and let Him hold you, and help you to heal.  He didn't do this TO YOU!!!!  And he didn't glory in your trials.  NO, like any loving father, He doesn't like to see you hurting.   Read the words to this song, and if you have the means, please listen to the song.  Just close your eyes and listen. 

Two months is too little.
They let him go.
They had no sudden healing.
To think that providence would
Take a child from his mother while she prays
Is appalling.

Who told us we'd be rescued?
What has changed and why should we be saved from nightmares?
We're asking why this happens
To us who have died to live?
It's unfair.

Chorus:
This is what it means to be held.
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive.
This is what it is to be loved.
And to know that the promise was
When everything fell we'd be held.

This hand is bitterness.
We want to taste it, let the hatred numb our sorrow.
The wise hand opens slowly to lilies of the valley and tomorrow.

(Chorus)
This is what it means to be held.
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive.
This is what it is to be loved.
And to know that the promise was
When everything fell we'd be held.

Bridge:
If hope is born of suffering.
If this is only the beginning.
Can we not wait for one hour watching for our Savior?

(Chorus)
This is what it means to be held.
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive.
This is what it is to be loved.
And to know that the promise was
When everything fell we'd be held.

Blog Contest (Not mine, but ENTER!)

Making You Fall Dinner Menus? (Fall Dinner Ideas and recipes)

 Here are some wonderful fall recipes that my family loves.  I hope your family will love them as well!

1.  Porcupine Meatballs

(serves 4)

This is a recipe my mom has been making since we were little.  I remember taking the recipe to school with me for  Home Ec one day and fixing it.  All the class were supposed to make something, and then everyone voted on which ones they liked the best.  These meatballs were one of the winners.  Now after reading this recipe you might think, as my home ec treacher did, uncooked rice??? YES!!!  I am sure Ms. Pauling...uncooked!!!  She called my mother to make sure before she would let me make them. LOL 

1 lb ground beef

1/2 cup uncooked rice

2 T minced onion or 1 T dried

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

2 cans (10 3/4 oz) tomato soup

1 cup water

1 egg lightly beaten

Combine all ingredients EXCEPT water and tomato soup in a bowl.  Combine and form meatballs and place in a Dutch oven.  Mix water and soup, and por over meatballs.  Bake uncovered at 350 for 40-45 minutes or until done.

2.  Autumn Pork Chops

(serves 4)

4 pork chops

3/4 cup BBQ sauce

3/4 cup apple juice

1 T oil

Brown pork chops on both sides in oil until done.  MIx BBQ sauce and apple juice together and pour over pork chops.  Reduce heat; simmer over low heat for 20 minutes.

3.  Slow Cooker Chicken and RIce

(serves 6)

1 1/2 cup long-cooking rice, uncooked\

2 lbs chicken breasts, cut into strips

8 oz pekg cream of broccoli soup mix

2-3 cups chicken broth

Place rice into a greased crockpot and top with chicken, set aside.  Combine soup and chicken broth and pour over chicken.  Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours, adding more broth if neccessary.

4.  Sausage and Apples

(serves 4)

1 lb pork sausage links

5 aqpples, cored, peeled and sliced

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 tsp EACH: cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla

Brown sausages in a skillet, reduce heart and cover.  Mix remaining ingredients together and add to skillet.  Cover adn simmer until apples and sausages are tender, about 30 minutes.

5.  Skillet BBQ'ed Pork Chops

(serves  4)

4 boneless pork loin chops (1/2 inch thick)

1 T seasoned salt

1 T butter

1 medium onion, chopped

1/2 cup water

1.2 cup packed brown sugar

1 cup honey BBQ sauce

1 T worchestershire sauce

2 tsps. cornstarch

1 cup cold water

Srpinkle pork chops with seasoned salt.  In a large skillet, brown chops on both sides, in butter until browned, and set aside.  In the droppings, saute' onion until golden brown.  Add the water, BBQ sauce, brown sugar, and worchestershire sauce.  Return chops to skillet.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat; cover and simmer 15 minutes or until juices run clear.  Remove porkchops and keep warm.

COmbine cornstarch and cold water until smooth, and stir into skillet.  Bring to a boil and cook and stir for 2 minutes, or until thickened.  Serve this over pork chops.

6.  Apricot Honey Chicken

For some reason chicken and apriocots were born to be together.  LOL  This is a simple quick dish!

(serves 4)

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

1 T oil

3T apricot preserves

2T orange juice

4 tsps honey

In a medium skillet, cook chicken in oil for 7-9 minutes on each side, or until juices run clear.  Combine remaining ingredients and pour over chicken.  Cook for 2 minutes or until heated through.

7.  Cranberry Pork Chops

(4 servings)

1 okg. (5.4) Near East Whole Grain Blends, Roasted Pecan and Garlic

1 T vegetable oil

1 medium yellow onion, halved and sliced

4 boneless pork loin chops, cut 1 inch thick

salt and pepper

1 can (16 oz) whole cranberry sauce

1/4 cup orange juice

Cook whole grain blend according to package directions.  IN a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat.  Add onion, and cook until tender.  Season porkchops with salt and pepper on both sides, and cook in skillet until browned.  Stir in cracnberry sauce adn orange juice.  Heat just to a boil, then reduce heat, cover and simmer for 5-7 minutes.  Serve pork with whole grains and fruit sauce.

8.  Lemon Chicken

I love this lemon sauce, but hubby doesn't.  So I fix the chicken, and the sauce separately, and put the sauce on my chicken and vegetables while Matthew eats his without the sauce.

(serves 4)

4 skinless, bonesless chicken breast halves

3 T flour

2 T EACH: butter and olive oil

1 3/4 cups chicken broth

1/4 cup lemon juice

salt and pepper to taste

Pound chicken breasts to 1/2 inch thickness.  Dredge lightly in flour, reserving the excess.  Melt butter and oil over medium-high heat until it sizzles.  Cook chicken 4-5 minutes, turning once, until done and juices run clear.  Remove chicken.  Stir in flour and cook 2 minutes.  Which in broth and lemon juice; heat to boiling and let thicken.  Return chicken to pan and heat through.  Season with salt and pepper.

9.  Chicken Pot Pie

A favorite of my mom's cooking.  When I miss her, I fix a dish from her favorite recipes to make me feel near her again, and this is one of those. 

(serves 4-6)

2 pastries for a 2 crust pier

1/2 cup EACH: chpopped onion, sliced celery, and flour

3 cups chicken broth

10 oz bag frozen mixed vegetables

6 T butter

3 cups cooked cubed chicken

1 cup peeled and cubed potato

1 tsp celery salt

Cook potatoes and celery until tender; add frozen vegetables and cook another 5 minutes; drain.  Saute' onion in butter until softened.  Blend in flour and salt and brown slightly.  Add broth and cook until thick and bubbly.  Add chicken adn vegetables.  Prepare pastry for the bottom of the pie pan and trim edges.  Pour in filling and top with 2nd pastry.  Seal edges and flute.  Cut steam vents and brush with melted butter or milk.  Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

10.  Chicken Parmigiana with Homemade Marinara Sauce

This is one of my hubby's favorite dishes.  While we were dating, we didn't have much money, and we ate at my apartment alot instead of eating out.  I fixed this dish with bow tie pasta the night that Matthew kneeled on the floor and proposed to me!!!!  I should have known something was up when he pushed his food around the plate and barely ate any of his favorite meal. LOL

(serves 4)

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1/2 cup milk

1 cup flour

2 eggs, beaten

1/2 cup seasoned breadcrumbs

1/2 Parmesan cheese

2 tsps. Italian seasoning

4 T butter

1 cup shredded mozerella cheese

hot cooked pasta

Marinara sauce, recipe to follow

Place milk, egg, and flour in 3 separate shallow dishes.  Combine bread crumbs, Italian seasoning, and Parmesan cheese in a 4th dish.  Dip chicken in milk, roll in flour, dip into egg, then coat in bread crumbs.  Brown chicken in butter over medium-high heat, until golden and juices run clear.  serve with pasta and sauce and cheese.

Marinara sauce

2 T oil

1 onion, chopped

4 garlic cloves, minced

28 oz can tomato sauce

2 T dried parsley

1 tsp dried basil

1/2 tsp dried oregano

Saute onion and garlic in oil until tender.  Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 10 minutes.

Flavors of Fall (Our families favorite fall soups)

Hi all.  I love fall, and the cool weather we have had here in MIssouri for the last two days.  I am afraid it is going to warm up again, and I don't want it to!  LOL  I love fall, the colors, the leaves, the pumpkins, wearing my favorite sweaters, hayrides, etc.  And I do love soup weather as well.  So I decided to share some of my families favorite fall soups and other recipes with you.  I love to cook, and love the compliments I get from my cooking, but like many of you, I simply don't have time to spend 2 hours in the kitchen preparing it!!  So most of mine are crockpot meals (saves electricity anyway), and other quick meals.  Well, here are a few:

1.  South of the Border Chicken Soup

(Serves 4-6??)

(I have posted this before, because I love this soup even in summer with fresh corn and tomatoes instead of frozen or canned, but it is especially good on those cold chilly days.  I shared the recipe with my friend tractorchick72 here on HSB and it is one of her new favs and she says her son loves it as well!!)

1 tsp olive oil

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 cups cooked adn shredded chicken

1 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp chilli powder

2 cans (14.5 each) diced tomato

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup frozen whole kernel corn

1 tsp Worchestershire sauce

1 can (10 3/4 oz) can tomato soup

2 cans (14 1/2 oz each) chicken broth

Saute' garlic and onion in oil.  Stir in reamaing ingredients and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer for one hour.  Optional: Garnish with a dollop of sour cream adn some crushed tortilla chips.  (Yes you can do this in the crockpot!!!!  Super easy!  And this soup freezes very well!)

Yummy Beef Stew

(serves 8)

2 lbs beef stew meat, cut into 1 inch cubes

3T vegetable oil, divided

1 cup water

3 large potatoes, peel and cubed (1 inch)

4 medium carrots, sliced

1 large green pepper, 1/2 inch cubes

4 garlic cloves, minced

1 medium onion, chopped

2 tsps salt

1/2 tsp pepper

2 T instant beef bouillon granules

1 can (14 1/2 oz) diced tomatoews, undrained

Brown meat in oil in a Dutch oven.  Add water, potatoes, carrots, green pepper, garlic, onion, salt and pepper.  Cover and simmer for 2 hours.  Stir in bouillon and tomatoes and heat through before serving.  (This recipe was from a Taste of Home book.  The original recipes calls to put the stew in a nice hollowed out pumpkin and bake it.  Then when scooping out the stew, you scrape the inside of the pumpkin to get some pumpkin in your stew as well.  I am not a real big pumpkin eater unless it is in pie, so I don't do this.  But it does sound interested and fancy doesn't it???)

3.  Broccoli Cheese Soup

(serves 4)

1 cup chopped broccoli

4 cups chopped fresh broccoli

2 cups peeled and diced red potato

1/2 tsps garlic powder

2 2/3 cups chicken broth

1 Bay leaf

3/4 cup shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese

12 oz can evaporated milk

Saute' onion with non-stick cooking spray in a Dutch oven.  Add 2 cups broccoli, potato, garlic powder, bay leaf, and chicken broth; bring to a boil.  Cover, and reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes or until vegetables are tender.  Discard bay leaf.  Puree broccoli mixture in batches and then return to pan.  Stir in remaining broccoli, cheese and milk.  Cook until tender.

4.  Jeanie's Sausage Bean Chowder

This recipe came from my mom's best friend.  She died about 6 months before mom did and I was so glad when I went through my mom's recipes to find this one, still in Jeanie's handwriting on a recipe card!!!  This is one of hubby's favorites!!!)

(serves 6)

2 lbs sausage, browned and drained

2 (16 oz each) cans pinto beans

46 oz tomato juice

4-5 diced potatoes

1/3 cup dried onion

1/2 green pepper, diced

1 Bay Leaf

1/2 tsp each: thyme, and garlic salt

1 1/2 tsps Lowrey's seasoning salt

Combine all ingredients in a Dutch oven (or crock pot) and simmer for 2 hours or until potatoes are done.  Remove bay leaf before serving.

5.  Best In The West Bean Bake

This recipe originally came from my Aunt Mary, my mom's sister, and now the whole family has this recipe and fixes it often.  It is like a baked bean soup almost, and don't forget to serve lots of cornbread with this one!!  YUMMY!!!!  This reminds me of deer season each year at my grandmother's.  They boys would gather early adn go hunting, and the women folk would gather early making hot soups and cornbread and biscuits, pies, cakes and cookies for the gentlemen.  At lunch time, the men came in to show down, and the women folk would clean up afterwards, and then add to if needed for supper.  Supper was the same, eating, and cleaning up.  But the times in between the kids played, the women sewed or crocheted, and visited.  I miss those times!

1 lb hamburger

1 onion, chipped

1 lb bacon, chopped

1/2 cup BBQ sauce  

4 T prepared mustard

1/2 cup ketchup

4 T brown sugar

16 oz can red kidney beans, undrained

16 oz can pork and beans, undrained

16 oz can butter beans, undrained

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

Brown hamburger, bacon and onion in a Dutch oven.  Combine remaining ingredients and bake for 1 hour at 350.   Of course this is another that could be done in the crockpot.   The butter beans sound unusual??? Yeah, maybe it is.  I don't like butter beans, but I love them in this dish. LOL  If you don't like them, or the other beans, substitute your own choice.

6.  Easy Texas Chilli

1 lb lean ground beef

1/3 cup chopped onion

1 garlic clove, minced

1 1/2 cups water

1 T chili opwder

1 tsp salt

16 oz can chilli beans, undrained

6 oz can tomato paste

Brown meat with onion and garlic in a Dutch oven until meat is no longer pink.  Return meat to pan and stir in remaining ingredients.  Cover and simmer for 15 minutes.

7.  White Bean and Ham Soup

2 cans (15 1/2 oz each) great northern beans, rinsed and drained

2 carrots, diced

1 small onion, diced

2 T butter

2 1/2 cups water

1 1/2 cups cubed fully cooked ham

1/2 tsp salt

1/8 tsp white pepper

1 bay leaf

Mash one can of beans, set aside.  IN a large saucepan, saute carrots and oinon in water and add remaining ingredients, including the mashed beans.  Cook over low heat until heated through and discard bay leaf before serving.

8.  Sausage With Four Beans

(serves 6)

1 can (28 oz) whole peeled Italian tomatoes

1 can (15 oz) of EACH : cannelli beans (or great northern), pinto beans, butter beans, kidney beans

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup finely chopped carrot

2 garlic cloved, minced

1 Bay leaf

2 tsps dried parsley flakes

1 tsp dried basil

1.2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp dried thyme

1/8 tsp pepper

1 1/2 pound sweet Italian sausage links

4 pieces precooked bacon, crumbled

Combine all ingredients in a 6 quart crock pot, making sure to polke the sausages down into the liquid.  Cover and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours.  Cut sausages into serving size pieces and serve with bean mixture.

9.  French Onion Soup

(serves 6)

2 T butter

3 large onions, peeled and sliced

1 can (14 1/2 oz) beef broth

3 cups cold water

1 Bay leaf

6 sliced french bread, toasted

\1 cup shredded mozerella cheese

1/4 cup parmesan cheese

Melt butter in a large skiller and cook onions over medium heat until golden brown.  Add broth, water, and Bay leaf.  Stir to combine and simmer for 15 minutes.  Remove bay leaf and preheat broiler.  Ladle soup evenly into 6 ovenproof bowls.  Top each with a toast slice and sprinkle with mozerella and parmesan cheese.  Broil 5-10 minutes or just until cheese is golden.

10.  Italian Bread Soup

(serves 4)

2 cans (14 oz eac) chicken broth

4 cans (14.5 oz each) fire-roasted diced tomatoes, undiced

3 cups Caesar-style croutons

1 cup chopped onion

1 pkt. ( 0.7 oz) Italian dressing mix

grated Parmesan cheese

shredded fresh basil

salt and pepper, to taste

In a slow cooker, combine chicken broth, tomatoes, croutons, onion and dressing mix. Cook on HIGH 4-6 hours.  Season with salt and pepper and serve with parmesan cheese and fresh basil.

I hope your family will love these soups as much as mine does.  Maybe you can start making your own family memories with these yummy cool weather soups.

Please feel free to print out these recipes.

Painful Palin Ponderings