Living the Home Life

Chipotle Chicken Soup

{ Posted by GrandmaRosie }
{ 12:44 AM, Sun 4 Jan 2009 } { Posted in FROM THE KITCHEN } { 1 comments } { Link }

Chipotle Chicken Soup

1 teaspoon olive oil
1/2 cups chopped yellow onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 fresh tomato, chopped
6 cups chicken broth
1 whole skinless, boneless chicken breast, cooked and shredded
black pepper
1/4 cup canned chipotle chilies
1 cup canned garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
4 sprigs cilantro
1 avocado, cubed; optional
1 cup cooked brown rice; optional
crushed tortilla chips; optional
lemon slices for garnish

In a heavy skillet, heat olive oil and saute onion and garlic until onion is translucent. Add tomato and cook over low heat for about 5 minutes. In a separate large saucepan, bring broth to a boil. Add chicken, sauteed vegetables, pepper, chilies, beans and cilantro. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes, adding extra broth if necessary. If desired stir in avocado, rice or tortilla chips and serve in warmed bowls. Garnish with lemon slices. Serves 8.

Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

{ Posted by GrandmaRosie }
{ 12:43 AM, Sun 4 Jan 2009 } { Posted in FROM THE KITCHEN } { 0 comments } { Link }

Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

1 cup oil
1 cup flour
2 large onions, chopped
2 bell peppers, chopped
4 ribs celery, chopped
4 to 6 cloves garlic, minced
4 quarts chicken stock
2 bay leaves
2 teaspoons Creole seasoning, or to taste
1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 large chicken, cut into pieces
2 pounds andouille or smoked sausage, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 bunch green onions, tops only, chopped
2/3 cup fresh chopped parsley
filé powder to taste

Season the chicken with salt, pepper and Creole seasoning and brown quickly. Brown the sausage, pour off fat and reserve meats. In a large, heavy pot, heat the oil and cook the flour in the oil over medium to high heat, stirring constantly, until the roux reaches a dark reddish brown color, almost the color of coffee or milk chocolate for a Cajun style roux. If you want to save time, or prefer a more New Orleans style roux, cook it to a medium, peanut butter color, over lower heat if you're nervous about burning it. Add the vegetables and stir quickly. This cooks the vegetables and also stops the roux from cooking further. Continue to cook, stirring constantly, for about 4 minutes. Add the stock, seasonings, chicken and sausage. Bring to a boil, then cook for about one hour, skimming fat off the top as needed. Add the chopped scallion tops and parsley, and heat for 5 minutes. Serve over rice in large shallow bowls. Accompany with a good beer and lots of hot, crispy French bread. 12 servings.

Seasoning Cast Iron

{ Posted by GrandmaRosie }
{ 12:41 AM, Sun 4 Jan 2009 } { Posted in KITCHEN TIPS } { 1 comments } { Link }

Seasoning Cast Iron

Seasoned Cast Iron can be considered the "grandfather" to today's "nonstick" cookware. Cast Iron Cookware must be seasoned properly and it will last a life time.

New Pans

Heat the oven to 250F to 300F. Coat the pan with lard or bacon grease. Don't use a liquid vegetable oil because it will leave a sticky surface and the pan will not be properly seasoned. Put the pan in the oven. In 15 minutes, remove the pan and pour out any excess grease. Place the pan back in the oven and bake for 2 hours. Repeating this process several times is recommended as it will help create a stronger "seasoning" bond. Also, when you put the pan into service, it is recommended to use it initially for foods high in fat, such as bacon or foods cooked with fat, because the grease from these foods will help strengthen the seasoning.

Pans that need Reseasoning

If the pan was not seasoned properly or a portion of the seasoning wore off and food sticks to the surface or there is rust, then it should be properly cleaned and reseasoned. Remove any food residue by cleaning the pan thoroughly with hot water and a scouring pad. Heating the pan first to a temperature that is still safe to touch helps open the pores of the metal and makes it easier to clean. Dry the pan immediately with dish towel or paper towel. Season the pan as outlined above.

Caring for Cast Iron Cookware

Seasoning a cast iron pan is a natural way of creating nonstick cookware. And, like you cook and clean the modern nonstick cookware with special care to avoid scratching the surface, your cast iron cookware wants some special attention too. Clean the cookware while it is still hot by rinsing with hot water and scraping when necessary. Do not use a scouring pad or detergent as they will break down the pan's seasoning. Never store food in the cast iron pan as the acid in the food will breakdown the seasoning and the food will take on a metallic flavor. Store your cast iron cookware with the lids off, especially in humid weather, because if covered, moisture can build up and cause rust. Should rust appear, the pan should be reseasoned. When you purchase cast iron cookware, they are medium gray in color, but after usage, they start turning darker. This is normal and should be expected.

Pepper Steak...Crockpot

{ Posted by GrandmaRosie }
{ 12:39 AM, Sun 4 Jan 2009 } { Posted in CROCKPOT COOKING } { 0 comments } { Link }

Pepper Steak

2 pounds round steak, cut in strips
3 bell peppers, sliced lengthwise
2 sliced onions
salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon garlic powder
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon canola oil
1 can beef broth
1/2 cup evaporated milk

Trim all fat from steak and cut into strips. Place 1 teaspoon oil in a nonstick skillet and add steak strips. Brown lightly and put in bottom of crock pot. Combine beef broth, milk, garlic powder, salt, pepper, cornstarch and Worcestershire sauce and add to crock pot. Place sliced peppers and onions on top of steak. If you prefer well done vegetables, place in bottom of crock pot. Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours or on high for about 4 hours. Good served with cooked rice or mashed potatoes.

Salvation is from The Lord

{ Posted by GrandmaRosie }
{ 12:24 AM, Sun 4 Jan 2009 } { Posted in THE WORD } { 0 comments } { Link }

Where would I be without my precious Lord Jesus. Lost and alone in a hostile world.

Salvation is from The Lord

This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.

1 Timothy 4:9,10 NIV

__________________

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

John 3:3-7 KJV

__________________

But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Titus 3:4-7 NASB

__________________

It is God who saved us and chose us to live a holy life. He did this not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan long before the world began--to show his love and kindness to us through Christ Jesus.

And now he has made all of this plain to us by the coming of Christ Jesus, our Savior, who broke the power of death and showed us the way to everlasting life through the Good News.

2 Timothy 1:9,10 NLT

Gladness and Joy!

{ Posted by GrandmaRosie }
{ 2:21 PM, Sat 3 Jan 2009 } { Posted in THE WORD } { 0 comments } { Link }

Gladness and Joy!

The ransomed of the LORD will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
everlasting joy will crown their heads.

Gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Isaiah 51:11 NIV

__________________

Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound:
they shall walk, O LORD,
in the light of thy countenance.

In thy name shall they rejoice all the day:
and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.

Psalm 89:15,16 KJV

__________________

I will rejoice greatly in the LORD,
My soul will exult in my God;

For He has clothed me with garments of salvation,
He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness,
As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

For as the earth brings forth its sprouts,
And as a garden causes the things sown in it to spring up,
So the Lord GOD will cause righteousness
and praise to spring up before all the nations.

Isaiah 61:10,11 NASB

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Blow the trumpets in times of gladness, too, sounding them at your annual festivals and at the beginning of each month to rejoice over your burnt offerings and peace offerings. The trumpets will remind the LORD your God of his covenant with you. I am the LORD your God."

Numbers 10:10 NLT

__________________

Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth;
Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises.

Sing to the LORD with the harp,
With the harp and the sound of a psalm,

With trumpets and the sound of a horn;
Shout joyfully before the LORD, the King.

Psalm 98:4-6 NKJV

Broiled pan-dressed fish

{ Posted by GrandmaRosie }
{ 1:18 PM, Sat 3 Jan 2009 } { Posted in FROM THE KITCHEN } { 0 comments } { Link }

Broiled pan-dressed fish
6 servings

3 pounds pan-dressed fish, fresh or frozen
1/4 cup melted fat or oil
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
3/4 teaspoon paprika
Pepper, as desired

Thaw frozen fish. Clean, wash, and dry fish.

Combine fat and seasonings. Place fish on well-greased broiler pan. Brush
fish inside and out with seasoned fat.

Broil about 4 inches from heat 5 to 8 minutes. Turn fish carefully and brush
on remaining fat. Broil 5 to 8 minutes longer, or until fish flake easily
when tested with a fork.

Menu suggestion
Serve with fried potatoes, spinach, grapefruit salad, and gingerbread.
Family Fare U.S. Department of Agriculture 1970

Week Four Reflections

{ Posted by Charity }
{ 06:31, Saturday, January 3, 2009 } { 0 comments } { Link }

I did not get near as much house work done as I planned durning that week but thats ok everything was still waiting for me afterwards. Durning the kids break and after Christmas we all have been working on getting every room in this house clean. My husband has been a great help durning his break working on one room while I am working on another or while I am watching baby. All the kids have been helping too either by watching the little one while we work or helping pick up around the house.

Things Accomplished

Our room cleaned
Dishes caught up
counter cleaned off and wiped down
Lots of laundry done at laundry mat
Living room worked on (we will be working on this room again)
Boys room worked on
Mp worked on
Laundry room swept and stratened up
Tub and toilet scrubbed
Meal plan done for week
Two week groceries gotten
My daughter birthady presents bought

Today the plan is to work some more on mp room, living room, and boys room. We may also get a new washer today and some paint for the living room. All of next week we will continue to work on the house. The kids start school next week but DH still has next week off until sunday I believe anyway he will be here to help get cuaght up. Sunday I hope to get back on track yet again on my journey to healthy living and posting.

Please pray for this little boy.

{ Posted by GrandmaRosie }
{ 5:20 AM, Sat 3 Jan 2009 } { Posted in I BELIEVE } { 1 comments } { Link }

This came from a friend of mine. Please join us in prayer for this little boy.

Please pray for this little boy.

I'm relaying for the parents and just have enough for the prayer warriors to add another on their list, please.

Jonathan just turned 8 years old the 20th of Dec.

Apparently New Years Eve he had a Asthma attack so severe it caused him to die in his mother's arms, he was clinically dead for 45 mins, the rescue workers revived him as his 9 year old brother Taylor looked on and tried to get a flight for him, but had difficulties getting a helicopter near the home, they finally life flighted him to Columbia Hosp (Missouri) (not sure which one), he crashed on the flight and was brought back.

I recently got off the phone from his mother TeAna and at the moment Jonathan is in a coma, not sure if medically or self induced. He still keeps crashing.

Please keep him and family near in prayer. Thank you all.

Poem by ....Minnie Louise Hoskins...Beautiful Thought to start the Year on

{ Posted by GrandmaRosie }
{ 1:48 AM, Sat 3 Jan 2009 } { Posted in ROSIES RAMBLINGS } { 0 comments } { Link }

I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year
'Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.'

And he replied, 'Go into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way!'

So I went forth and finding the Hand of God
Trod gladly into the night
He led me towards the hills
And the breaking of day in the lone east.

So heart be still!
What need our human life to know
If God hath comprehension?

In all the dizzy strife of things
Both high and low,
God hideth his intention."