Quick and Easy

Every once in a while you have to hit the "reset" button.

That button where you remind yourself and refocus on goals.

I guess the middle of the year is a good time ...

that and results of recent blood work :)

We are back to focusing on getting more veggies.

We tried an excellent recipe for a grilled veggie sandwich on Friday night.

It was simply grilled zucchini, peppers, and onions brushed with oil and balsamic vinegar
and sprinkled with salt and pepper.

The bread was toasted and spread with a cheese spread.

It was a big hit.

Tonight's quick and easy recipe was:

Spicy Mexican Pork Chops with Pepper and Corn Saute

The pork chops were sprinkled with salt, pepper, and chili powder.

Then they were sauteed for 2 minutes per side in 2 TBSP of olive oil.

Next dump a can of diced tomatoes and green chilies on top and simmer for 20 minutes.

DONE!

The brown rice takes the longest, but it is still easy.

Just follow instructions on bag.

For the Pepper and Corn Saute,

Sautee chopped red onion and two bell peppers
(red, green, or orange look good with the corn).

Then add a bag of frozen corn and heat through.

DONE!

Enjoy!

Truth and Righteousness

Revelation 19:1-2a

And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: For true and righteous are his judgments:

This is our church Bible verse for the week

and part of the Sunday School lesson that I will teach on Sunday morning.

It is also a great reason to be thankful.

It is easy to get down as we look at wickedness around us.

I am thankful that I serve a God that rules with truth and righteousness.

We may not see rewards or punishments in our timing,

but His timing is perfect and can be trusted.
Alleluia ... Praise the Lord!

I am also thankful for the ability that God has given for the body to heal itself.

Hubby was struggling last week with some respiratory "stuff."

With rest, smart eating, and prayer,

he is feeling much better.

Into the Garden

With the house and shed repainted,

I move on to straightening the gardens.

The Lord has sent a break in humidity

and some cooler mornings,

so I am headed to the yard beyond the weekly lawn mowing adventures.

I need to trim around the trees (yes, this involves scissors).

I need to do some weed spraying around gardens and walkways.

And the weeds in the vegetable garden ... well, they are BAD!

On a positive note, the volunteer tomatoes are doing VERY well.

There is minor weeding in the flower gardens and some dead heading as well.

I am focusing on the outside right now,

because soon we will be preparing the inside for a MIL visit.

We are looking forward to an extended visit,
but will have to make the guest room more comfy than our typical 1-2 night stays.

It will be the first visit in our home in over 10 years probably.

I am also looking forward to starting a new book today.

My nephew just self-published a book he wrote for his Senior year of high school.

It is available in hard copy and ebook formats.

Would you like to support him?

Check it out here.

What Will You Transform Today?

What are you desiring to transform in your life?

For me,

it may be health,

it may be my home,

it may be a circumstance,

it may be an added discipline.

It only takes ONE decision.

Will I snack before dinner?

Will it be sweet tea or water?

Willl I stay on top of the cleaning, the weeding, the laundry?

Will I be part of the solution, or part of the problem?

Will I stick to a disciplined schedule or blow it off?

Maybe you are not seeking to "transform" your life,

but now that one decision today could affect you life in a great way.

While this does apply to the adults reading this blog,

I especially challenge my younger readers (yes, you nieces and nephews).

Make wise decisions today!

Spend time in God's Word.

Make wise use of your time.

Be helpful.

Look for ways to minister to the needs of others.

Keep learning all you can today so that the open doors before you are many.

A S-T-R-E-T-C-H-I-N-G Recipe

I have been trying to bring beans back into the recipe picture again.

Since trying to clean up our eating with less packaged foods,

hubby has really started to not mind that meat doesn't always appear at a meal.

Last week, we had a yummy quinoa salad (I leave out onions and add some feta and pepperoni)
 that suited us for 3 days of lunches.

We had a split pea lettuce wraps that fed us for 2 days and had good Asian flavor.

Tonight, we did enjoy meat, but stretched it with beans.

Why not try this simple burrito soon?

Cheesy Beef and Bean Burrito

1 lb ground meat (I used turkey)

1 can pinto beans (rinsed and drained)

1/2 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

optional - cooked rice (I left this out)

6 TBSP sour cream

6 oz shredded cheese

6 TBSP salsa

6 wraps

I browned the meat and then put it and the beans in my mixer to "squish" the beans.

If you wanted to further S-T-R-E-T-C-H the meal, you could add cooked rice here too.

Then I returned the combo to the browning pan and warmed with the spices.

Prepare each burrito with 1/6 of filling, 1 TBSP of sour cream,
1/4 c of shredded cheese, and 1 TBSP of salsa.

These were a pleasant summer meal with minimal heat to the house

and they were not overly hot because they were not baked.

I also liked that they were not super SLOPPY.

I am looking for "cool" meals since we are trying not to use our a/c much until it is replaced.

The drip pan gave way last week and our a/c man is back logged right now.

Using the a/c involves a lot of towels in and around the coils :)

The Lord has given a break in the oppressive heat and some days of overcast.

Actually made it through today with no a/c!

A Recipe That Bears Repeating

Back in 2011 - July to be exact,

I posted a great Watermelon Cooler recipe.

It is on the menu for a treat tonight.

We are definitely in the "dog days" of summer,

but today, neither of us could lounge around in the shade like that summer dog,

so we will enjoy a treat tonight.

Watermelon Coolers

2 1/4 c frozen watermelon cubes

1/4-1/2 c water

2 T honey

2-3 T lime/lemon juice

Blend in blender and serve immediately.

Makes 2 juice glass size portions!

Coupons

On this thankful Thursday,

I am thankful for coupons.

Coupons that allow us special treats.

Coupons that allow us to try new things.

So this morning I am thankful for a coupon to one of our favorite restaurants.

BOGO on a meal at CHIPOTLE!

Two cell numbers mean two coupons!

Not only that,

but I am thankful that they gave me a link to share with you.

Check it out:

https://savorwavs.com/share/5251f7dbe3d4703  

Have you been to Chipotle?

If not ... let me prepare you.

You only have about 5 choices to make ...

Choice one: Type of meal

Burrito

crunchy taco

rice bowl

salad

Second Choice: Rice

Brown Rice 

White Rice

Third Choice: Protein

steak

chicken

chorizo

pork

veggies

tofu (that's not a choice to me)

Fourth: Salsa

Mild salsa

medium salsa

hot salsa

corn salsa

Fifth: MORE

sour cream

guac

lettuce

cheese

Just Painting in the Rain!

OK, so that is not typically the plan,

but I did get caught in a rain storm as I worked today.

I repainted the house in June,

and this week, I am working on repainting the trim

and wiping down the gutters as I go.

It has been hot, very hot,

but I thought I was clear of rain.

Guess I have another 1/4 of the house to finish tomorrow.

Happy Birthday!

Today, I wish my hubby a Happy 38th!

He is such a treasure to me!

See the birthday cards mingled among the sympathy cards.

Both a reminder that life is precious and that we have no guarantee of life.

A Piano Arrangement ...

... that you cannot hear.

Back in April,

I worked to paint the last main area at our church.

The fellowship hall was in need of a fixing up.

The painting was done,

and the junk had to be cleaned out.

One such item was an old player piano ...

it didn't work and it was not able to be tuned.

As it was taken apart,

one of my piano students had an idea.

An idea to make an arrangement from the piano strings.

The notes sit atop the strings

and the curls are where the strings wrapped around the pegs.

It was delivered for my birthday.

I thought it went well with my decor.

It is the "piano arrangement" that you cannot hear.