Recipe for Sunday Dinner: Lime Chicken Fajitas

As you create a weekly menu, you want to tailor it to the events of the day.  For Sundays, I always want a meal that is quick to the table or already done when we arrive home.  Crock pot meals work well.  Also, you can prep meals to where they are almost done and then simply finish the meal when you get home.

One of my favorite meals is lime chicken fajitas.  It is simple and can be prepped the night before.

I take four boneless, skinless chicken breasts.  I was so excited...I found chicken and ground beef on sale (at Wal-Mart - usually they don't have many meat sales) and grabbed several packages.  You can't beat $1.39 a lb. for meat here in Reno.

  I then pre-cut the breasts into pieces and cook in the skillet with a little oil and water.  I set the meat aside in a container.

Then slice up the peppers and onions.  (I like to use a variety of colors of peppers but sometimes I just use what is cheapest that week.)  Two peppers and two onions.  Store in a container.

When you get home for dinner, simply saute the peppers and onions.  When nearly done, add in the chicken. (You are just heating the chicken since it is already cooked.)  Liberally add lime juice and Cajun seasoning.  It takes maybe 15 min?  You can find my Cajun seasoning recipe here: http://tastetsinreno.blogspot.com/2012/10/recipe-homemade-cajun-seasoning.html

Serve with sour cream, guacamole, cilantro, shredded cheese - whatever toppings you enjoy. :)

Try this recipe for a busy day and you will enjoy a hot meal in minutes!

Creating A DIY Dry Erase Board To Keep Your Schedule Organized

Guest Post from Jenny Musser

I love to make lists!  I'm not sure if it's because I will forget or the fact that I like crossing things off. Maybe both!  

I like to have them out where I can see them but do not like those white boards or cork boards that you get at Office Depot.  I know there are fancy ones that cost more than I want to spend on something like that.  I would much rather buy a new pair of shoes!!   So, I saw this idea on Pinterest.

  All you need is a frame, piece of scrapbook paper and a dry erase marker.  I already had the frames and the marker, so I picked up two pieces of scrapbook paper at Michael's for $.59 each.  

You can write on the glass just like you would a dry erase board.  I have one in my kitchen for a weekly menu and one on my piano to keep track of piano lessons.    If you want a bigger frame you could use fabric as your background. 

 Such an easy and inexpensive project!

PS...This is Rebekah.  There are so many great options to personalizing this idea! 

My project is going to be a daily appointment list, softball schedule and menu.

 Thanks Jenny!  Here are a few more photo ideas I found. :)

This one can be used as a daily To-Do list.  The printable is found in the link below. :)

https://app.box.com/shared/y0rcr7i6xl

If you have a tween or teen daughter who likes to be organized (this would be my Addie who is 10), this would be fun for their room!  They can pick out the colors for the background and write out their week.

This is pretty neat!  All in one place.  You could take one or all of these ideas.

Organizing Your Note Cards

Another thing that was on my to-do list was organize my cards.  I like to keep a supply of thank you and blank cards for writing notes.  If you want to find great cards, check the clearance bins at Michael's.  I love checking their clearance bins!  I found most of these cards for $.50 a pack.

These boxes are in style and so cute!  I picked this one out at Dollar General - it was the perfect size for my card stash.  I also picked up new gel pens - love these for writing cards!

When I checked out at the register, it rang up as $.01 instead of the $3 listed!  Wow!  Thank you, Jesus! :)

Now when I need to write a note, I simply grab my box and I am ready to go. :)  

Organizing The Wal-Mart Bag...Bag.

The last couple weeks, I have been concentrating on the little things.  You know, those things you walk by EVERY day...sigh...and tell yourself, "I really need to do that.  I don't have time right this second.  But I really need to do that SOON."

I drive myself crazy doing this.  My mind won't rest when I see projects half or undone.  

Yep.  There just comes a time when you stop saying "I need to do that"...and YOU JUST DO IT.

And what a great feeling it is...once you finally just do it.  And it never takes that long.  Not really.

So here is number one of that list of things I have been meaning to do for a long time.  Have you seen these?  

It is a bag saver.  

You mount it on your kitchen wall...and wa lah!  You no longer have a Wal-Mart bag storing your Wal-Mart bags...overflowing...stuck in some corner of a closet or pantry!  :)

This is from Wal-Mart...less than $10.  

The Wal-Mart storage bag for Wal-Mart bags has died and been replaced.  Glory hallelujah.  

(We won't mention the fact my husband nearly electrocuted himself installing it.  Side story. :)

What is just ONE thing today that you can "just do" and check off that list?  Just do it! :)

Streamlining That Sunday Morning Breakfast Hour

Sunday mornings are a very hurried time in our home.  

Putting the Sunday dinner in the crockpot.

Shower, dress, hair, make-up.

Style all four daughter's hair.  

Organize all needed materials for services and be out the door by 8:45am.  

Oh yeah...then there was breakfast.  I'm not gonna lie.  Many Sundays, my kids went to church hungry because I forgot to see if everyone poured themselves a bowl of cereal or maybe caught the granola bar I threw at them on the way out the door.

Here is a simple solution for those Sunday mornings.  During the week, make an Egg McMuffin for each member of the family, wrap in foil and freeze.  

On Sunday morning, preheat your oven to 400 degrees.  Pop in until heated through. 

Everyone gets a hot breakfast and no work or dirty pans/dishes were involved.  In fact, since we live much closer to the church now, I bring them with us.  When we get to church, they sit down in the fellowship hall and have their breakfast while I do my Sunday preparations with the coffee bar, nursery, etc.  When finished, simply throw the foil away.  And, since my husband leaves around 7am on Sundays, I can bring him his breakfast right to his office.

AND...

If you make breakfast for a Sunday School class or such, try baking the eggs for Egg McMuffin sandwiches in a cupcake/muffin tin.  It works beautifully!  And really cuts back the work.

I hope this tip may help you on your Sunday mornings!

Keeping Your Sport's Schedule Organized

Attention all coaches, assistants, team moms and more!

This spring season, we have three daughters on three different softball or T-ball teams in our valley's girls community league.  This means three different practice schedules and three different game schedules to keep track of each day and week.  Many days, we have two - three practices/games going on at the same time.  

Autumn's coach, who is in the 8U division, uses a very helpful app to communicate all practices, games and extra events with the parents.  It is called Team Snap.

http://www.teamsnap.com/index.php

This app allows the manager or coach to enter in all the events that the players or parents need to be at.  It send this out in an e-mail to the parent.  The parent will click if the player will be attending this event - communicating with the coach.  You can also manage refreshments if your team parents provide snacks for game days, etc.  It also lists upcoming events at the bottom of the page.

Here is an example of what an e-mail would look like:

Softball and baseball season is here or rapidly approaching!  Try this tool to keep your schedule organized and stress free.  Play ball!

Two Tips for Moms and Those Bath Toys

Guest post by Mrs. Jenny Musser

If you love Pinterest as much as I do then you have probably seen both of these life changing ideas!!  :)  

First is organizing toys in the tub.  All you do is take a shower curtain rod and hang it up.  Then hang a few shower organizers with some shower curtain hooks, add toys and body wash!  I also have one in our bathroom to keep shampoo, conditioners, body wash, shaving cream, etc. in. 

Next is cleaning all those bath toys.  Twice a month I do this and it's so easy.  All you do is put them in the dishwasher!  For all the small toys just put them in a lingerie bag.  So easy!  Love Pinterest!!!

Recipe: Cottage Mashed Potatoes

My husband loves mashed potatoes.  As a new bride, I found this recipe in The Best of Country Cooking Taste of Home Cookbook.  I first made these in our little apartment on the third floor overlooking Cedar Lake in IN.  I have been making them ever since.  The cottage cheese gives the potatoes a wonderful flavor from just a boring mashed potato.  No gravy needed!

Cottage Mashed Potatoes

6-8 Servings  Prep: 10 min. Bake: 35 min.

Ingredients:
4 cups warm mashed potatoes (without added milk and butter)
2 cups (16 ounces) 4% cottage cheese
3/4 cup sour cream
1 to 2 tablespoons grated onion
1-1/2 to 2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted
*Feel feel to omit the almonds if desired.

Directions:
In a bowl, combine potatoes, cottage cheese, sour cream, onion, salt and pepper. Transfer to a greased 2-qt. baking dish. Drizzle with butter.
Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 30 minutes. Sprinkle with almonds.
Bake 5 minutes longer or until heated through. 
Yield: 6-8 servings.

How I Repurposed My Built-In Bookshelves

Organizing lots of things in a small area can be a frustrating and difficult task.

Sometimes, you just don't have room.  So the best thing is to make due with what you have - the best you can.  For the past five years, I have dealt with the issue of a very small pantry.  This is pretty much our kitchen pantry.

And with it being very small, it was difficult to do two things:

1.  To stock up my pantry items.

2.  To keep my pantry items organized.

This past week, I was doing some spring organizing and I desperately was trying to figure out a solution to this small and unorganized thorn in my flesh.

I was sitting on the couch and it hit me.  Right in front of me was a very unused and underutilized area.  The built in bookcase.

This may sound like a crazy idea to some of you.  To turn a built in bookcase that is in your living room into your kitchen pantry?  OK...it may not be for everyone.  But I could sit and complain about my small pantry or I can use what I already have, be creative and unique and try something different.  That is what I did.

I covered up the bookcase with curtain rods and these great curtains - both bought at Big Lots.

Perhaps to the first glance...it simply looks like part of the decor.

This is where my cookbooks and photo albums were moved to. :)

But behind the curtain is the magic.  Finally, a place large enough for a family pantry.  All for the cost of a curtain rod and two curtain panels.

1.  I can now see what food items I have already in stock to use.

2.  Food items do not go to waste because it got stuck where I couldn't see it.

3.  I have room to stock up.

And I was able to reclaim cupboard space for my cooking and baking dishes.

Sometimes, the key is simply using what you already have in a better and wiser way.  :)

My 37th Birthday

Friday was my 37th birthday and my husband, family and friends made it very special!  I thought I would share all the nice things of my day.

The first nice thing was a morning out by myself.  

I wore my new top picked out by Sierra and my bracelet made by Autumn. :)

I had my free breakfast Grand Slam at Denny's - it was delicious!  Especially because I didn't have to cook it or do the dishes afterwards. 

I also enjoyed my favorite drink from Starbucks for my free birthday drink...a salted caramel mocha frappaccino.  

Papa Vern sent me these beautiful roses - yellow roses are my favorite flower. :)

My sister, Rhoda, gave me this beautiful necklace.

My sister, Rachel, gave me this awesome infinity scarf.  I love infinity scarves!

 A friend, Jenny, gave me this yummy Yankee candle.

Another friend, Shannon, gave me this Starbucks card. :)

My husband took me to this little restaurant on Lake Tahoe - gorgeous!  We had this delicious appetizer of ahi.  Mmm!

Then a delicious chicken sandwich plate...

The view from our table...

Taking a stroll on the restaurant's dock.

Wearing one of my new outfits from my husband for my birthday...and my new coat that I bought with my birthday money from my parents!  (The coat was $200 at Penney's...got it for $26.97!)  

Crystal clear waters of Lake Tahoe...

After dinner, we walked Tahoe City and enjoyed the evening.  We then came home and enjoyed a kid-free night - and watched the new movie "Frozen" and ate cherry vanilla ice cream out of the container with two spoons. :)

So thankful for my husband who used his wedding money to make my birthday extra special and for my girls for all the homemade cards and gifts.  I am blessed. Happy Sunday!  

Recipe: Crock Pot Taco Soup

Crock Pot Taco Soup

I love crock pot recipes.  I love any thing that resembles Mexican food.  I love soup.

Hmm...so I LOVE this recipe!  It is so yummy - must have all the toppings to really enjoy.  End out this winter season with a piping bowl of this soup. :)

1 can pinto beans
1 can white kidney beans
1 can whole kernel corn
2 cans diced tomatoes with green chilies
1 envelope taco seasoning
1 envelope Hidden Valley ranch dressing mix
1 lb. ground beef/turkey

Cook the beef/turkey.  Drain.  Add all ingredients to crock pot.  DO NOT DRAIN CANS!  Stir.  Cook on low for 2-3 hours until heated through.

Serve with sour cream, shredded cheese, chopped green onions, cilantro and tortilla chips.

Amazing!  

Losing the Personal Connection

"To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats."  Isaiah 1:11

Today is Sunday.  A day where many of us are busy serving the Lord in some capacity.  And we need that. If the only time church crosses your mind is when you arrive on Sunday morning at 11am, take some time and reevaluate.  In what way can you serve the Lord in your church?

But this is not what this post is about.  It is actually quite the opposite.  Many times for many of us, Sundays are so full and busy with the work of the Lord that we forgo the one on one.

Somedays, that happens with my husband and I.  We are living in the same house...living this life together...but sometimes the personal connection is lost in the living.  

And so it is with the Lord.  HE loves that you are serving HIM in the ministries of your church.  HE loves that you are attending Sunday School, Sunday morning and Sunday evening services to worship and hear HIS Word.  

But HE misses you.  HE wants the personal connection with us.  

Today's challenge:  Take 10 minutes today - just you and Jesus.  HE misses you.

Guest Post: Organizing Your Spice/Recipe Cabinet

Guest Post:  Mrs. Jenny Musser

Reagan and I are finally back home after being gone for almost the whole month of February visiting my parents.  We are getting back into our schedule and I have to start cooking again!  It was really nice not having to cook every night. I love my mom's cooking and they spoiled us and took us to some great restaurants!  So, today I thought I would share my recipe and spice cabinet.  

Pinterest is one of my favorite places to get recipes and I keep most of them there.  When I really like a recipe and I make it often, I will print it off and put it in a binder.  All you need is a binder, dividers and some page protectors. I have one binder just for supper recipes and one for appetizers, desserts, breakfast, drinks and holiday recipes.  You can also decorate your binder.  I had some scrapbook paper so I just used that.  

I also printed out some measurement conversions and keep homemade seasoning mix recipes on the inside of the door.   

I hope these simple tips will help you to get organized!              

Recipe: White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

This is my husband's favorite cookie!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup macadamia nuts, chopped
• 1 cup white baking chips
• Directions
  Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour and baking soda; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Stir in nuts and baking chips.
  Drop by heaping teaspoonfuls 2 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on pans 1 minute. Remove to wire racks to cool completely. Yield: 4-1/2 dozen.
  Freeze option: Freeze cookies, layered between waxed paper, in freezer containers. To use, thaw before serving or, if desired, reheat on a baking sheet in a preheated 350° oven 3-4 minutes.