Merry Christmas to All!

Philippians 2:8-10 "And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth." Praise the Lord that he sent a baby, in the most humble and modest form, to save generations of undeserving sinners to come! And he bestowed the most powerful name on his Son - a name that saves, a name that heals, and a name that commands respect, fear, love, and awe. Thank God from the bottom of my heart that You loved us so much that You gave us the most precious gift. Let every knee bow and give you honor and praise!

We are spending our first Christmas as a married couple with my family in beautiful, snow-covered Denver! There is just nothing like a white Christmas, which is very rare down in Texas. It will be a wonderful five day hiatus from work filled with eating, eating, and more eating. Peanut butter ball recipe coming your way! Speaking of cooking, I apologize for the lack of recipes this week. I only had three days of work and refused to do a large grocery run right before leaving on a trip. But God was looking out for us as always and two of my little kiddos gave me a Chick-fil-A gift card and a Subway gift card. Score! You are looking at Monday and Tuesday dinners. It is always better to give than to receive but I am not ashamed to say those gift cards were gladly received indeed!

This past Saturday we expanded our family two-fold and adopted to tiny shelter kittens from the Montgomery County animal shelter. Our prayers go out to those workers and volunteers as they had over 900 pets at the moment and were completely swamped! Angelo, our little orange tabby, is such a mess and absolutely hilarious! He was literally stalking me like a tiger from behind a corner, and yet is the sweetest cuddler ever...almost like a soft scarf just laying there. We are having issues with him wanting to constantly be on our kitchen table (luckily we don't really eat there...we eat on the *cough* couch *cough*...but for a slight germaphobe that is just unacceptable) and try to train him to get down by spraying him with water. The only problem is that he is the ONLY feline in the world who doesn't mind getting wet. In fact, he shakes it off and wants to play with the squirter. Mumford is our teeny tiny little black and white man who likes to perch everywhere. Legs, knees, James's back, you name it. He isn't as cuddly but has to near us constantly. Perching, of course. He will climb our legs to stand on our shoulders like a parrot if he feels slighly ignored. Are we forming bad habits here? We decided his middle name is Ghandi, not only for his meditative state, but also because he is extremely peaceful. Any time Angelo tackles, wrestles, or sits on him, Mum will put his tiny white paws up in the air as if in surrender. And yes, we have become that couple that talks about their cats like they were children. Don't judge. Cat people....you get it!

I hope everyone has an absolutely blessed Christmas and you enjoy the time you spend with those around you. We are here in celebration by His grace alone. All glory, honor, power is Yours AMEN!

Merry Christmas!!!

I got love in my tummy!

Isaiah 9:6 "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." We are governed by the most amazing ruler. Our Wonderful Counselor guides us through all of life's mountains and valleys, never leaving us forgotten or forsaken. Our Mighty God is so powerful that He spoke everything we see into existence with one breath, and not even a sparrow can fall out of the sky without His knowledge. Our Everlasting Father, who always was, is, and will be, eagerly awaits our reunion with Him in Heaven where we get to spend eternity blissfully praising and glorifying Him. Our Prince of Peace comforts us and wipes every tear away, for He knows the very number of hairs on our heads and cares for us so deeply we cannot humanly comprehend it. How awesome is He?? 

Crock Pot Chicken Pot Pie

From: www.creationsbykara.com (found through Pinterest)

*This is the halved version and it made enough to feed at least 3-4 people:

2 potatoes, scrubbed, peeled and diced

1 1/2-2 cups baby carrots, halved (I just chopped my whole carrots into small, thin pieces)

1/2 onion, diced

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 tsp salt

Pepper to taste

*I added a sprinkle of oregano, parsley, and rosemary

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces

1 can cream of chicken soup

1/2-1 cup frozen peas

Biscuits, toast, or pie crust (I chose to make mini pie crusts, recipe to follow)

1. Place all of veggies in bottom of crockpot. Sprinkle with salt and pepper (and additional seasonings if you so choose).

2. Place raw chicken on top of veggies and cover with soup.

3. Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours. 

*Mine was ready in about 3 hours, but I think my crock pot runs hotter than some in the recipes I find. You might need to adjust according to your personal pot :)

4. Add frozen peas and cook 20 minutes longer or until heated through. (In this last step I added a little bit of butter and let it melt through, just to put it over the edge).

5. Serve over toast, biscuits, or pie crust.

Pie crust all the way baby!!!!

Pie Crust

From: my grandma (aka the world's best pie maker...ever. I'm serious.)

*I halved this recipe and made 5 little pie crust "bowls" in a jumbo muffin tin. Sounds like an oxymoron? It all depends on your point of reference :) This is the original version for 2 pie crusts:

2 cups of flour, sifted

1 tsp salt

2/3 cup shortening + 2 Tbsp

*Of course, I didn't make sure I had Crisco before beginning this dinner endeavor. However, I did find some butter-flavored Crisco sticks in the back of the pantry. Oh my goodness, did it make this crust buttery! But the original is still super flaky and buttery....all that a good crust should be. I should warn you, my family and I are pie snobs. Anyhoo...back to the recipe..

1/4 cup water

1. Combine sifted flour and salt.

2. Cut in shortening until uniform.

3. Sprinkle with water 1 Tbsp at a time.

4. Toss with fork.

5. Divide into halves and make shell and top.

Pretty easy, right? I rolled mine out and cut super UN-uniform pieces to lay down in my jumbo muffin pan. Seriously, I thought there was no way these would come out right. And of course, I didn't write down the cooking time when I got this recipe from my mom forever ago so I estimated. For my halved version (5 pie cups), I baked them at 400 degrees for about 17 minutes. I really just picked a low cooking time, kept my eye on them, and kept baking them til they were the delectable light golden brown. Although oddly-shaped, oh my goodness, these pie cups turned out so good! Be sure to spray your muffin pan super well so they just pop out. I spooned a heaping of the chicken pot pie filling in each one and went for it. I wasn't sure how it would all come together but I'm pretty sure James might ask for this every week. He even told me this recipe was blog-worthy haha! The rich filling combined with the salty, flaky crust is just to die for. And a chicken pot pie without any heavy cream? Bingo!

I apologize for the quality of this pic. My camera is still out (but hopefully will be fixed soon!) so I had to resort to my husband's phone camera.

I found this next recipe on Pinterest and tweaked it a bit. It seems like every recipe for pasta with any type of sauce calls for heavy whipping cream which A) I never have and B) has a ton of calories. I decided to modify and use the base of the sauce that I use for the mac n' cheese recipe I've posted on here before. OH MY GOODNESS. It made just enough for James and I to eat our fill but I SO wish it had made more 'cause I would take it for lunch every day. Had just the right amount of kick (James added red pepper flakes before trying his and it was a bit hot haha) and creamy cheesy yumminess. I highly recommend this plus it is a cinch to make. 

Cajun Chicken Pasta

From: www.plainchicken.com (found on Pinterest) + tweaks

4 oz linguine
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
2 tsp cajun seasoning
2 green onions, finely chopped
2 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp flour
1 cup milk
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 dried basil
1/8 tsp pepper
1/8 tsp garlic powder or fresh minced garlic (I used fresh)
1/2 cup (plus a little extra if you love cheese like me) shredded mixed Italian cheeses (I used Great Value Italian style, finely shredded)
Parmesan cheese to top

1. Boil pasta according to package directions.
2. Place chicken and cajun seasoning in bowl, toss to coat.
3. Spray skillet with non-stick spray and heat over medium heat. Saute chicken until tender, about 5-7 minutes.
4. Reduce heat and add green onions.
5. In saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Add flour and stir until smooth and bubbly.
6. Very slowly (this is the key to thick sauce!!!) add milk and stir until thick. Add salt, pepper, basil and garlic and continue to stir and thicken.
7. Add Italian cheese and stir until melted.
8. Add chicken and green onions to hot, drained pasta. Toss with sauce and top with parmesan cheese.

After one bite I told James he would be happy he married me haha! It would be even better with some buttery bread to soak up the leftover sauce in your bowl. That is....if you don't lick it clean like we did....

I wanted to give my students and their families a little gift this holiday season that they could all enjoy and that wouldn't break the bank. I knew exactly what I wanted to give....homemade hot chocolate mix! We made this every winter when I was younger and I would literally drink at least one cup a day. It is the perfect sweetness and dissolves completely, unlike some of the store-bought stuff that leaves chocolate gook at the bottom of your mug. This just simply will not do. I plan on getting some cheap, cute Christmas tins at the Dollar Tree and packaging them up to send home of Friday. If there is any left of course! Oh and just FYI, this recipe makes A TON of hot chocolate powder. Beware. But that just means this is a hot cocoa that encourages the giving spirit! You will have so much you can't help but give it away!!

Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

From: my mom

9.6 oz powdered dry milk

22 oz (or around there) powdered Coffee Mate

2 lbs powdered sugar

2 lbs chocolate Nesquick 

(I couldn't find a two pound container so I bought the one closest to this ballpark estimate. I think it was 37 oz or something like that. You really can't mess this recipe up as long as you get close)

1 tsp salt

1. Mix all ingredients together. Mix, mix, mix, then mix some more until it is all uniform.

**I highly suggest mixing in the biggest tub or container you have (I used my big chili soup pot) and mix outside. Or else you will have a cloud of stickiness descend on every surface in your kitchen.

2. Mix 1/4 cup of hot chocolate with 1 cup of hot water.

3. Sip and enjoy the holiday season!

Good news, Great joy!

Luke 2:9 "An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find the baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.' Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.'" No other news that we can possibly receive in our lives can even compare to the good news the shepherds first received thousands of years ago. A savior came and still lives in us, one who saves us from our sin with a single drop of His precious blood! And like the angel said, this good news is for all people. Let us go out this Christmas season and spread the wonderful truth with those around us - God sent his Son to save each and every one of us! Glory to God!

Pesto Chicken Noodle Soup

from: blogs.babble.com/family-kitchen

6 cups low sodium chicken broth

3 Tbsp tomato sauce

1 heaping Tbsp pesto

1-2 cups egg noodles (I cooked mine prior to making this recipe)

1-2 cooked chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces

1-2 Tbsp olive oil

Salt to taste

1. Bring broth, tomato sauce, and pesto to simmer in a large pot over medium heat.

2. Add noodles and chicken and simmer on medium-low heat for 5 minutes.

3. Add salt as needed (I didn't since I didn't have low sodium broth...mmmm salty).

4. Serve with a little olive oil and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. I added black pepper as well.

THAT. IS IT. So tasty and comforting on a cold night!! The pesto really adds to it.

I had a tupperware of leftover canned pumpkin that I had no idea what to do with. Lucky for me, I found this incredible recipe for pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. O. M. G. The biggest, softest, moistest pumpkin bread-like cookies with gooey chocolate chips. Seriously, what could be better? Plus think of all the vitamin A you are getting! That means we can eat them for breakfast right....

Super Soft Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

from: www.joythebaker.com

2 cups flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp ground cloves

2 eggs

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup oil

1 cup canned pumpkin

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 325. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. Stir flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices together in medium bowl and set aside.

3. In large bowl, beat eggs and sugar on medium speed until smooth and lightened in color, about 1 minute.

4. On low speed, mix oil, pumpkin, and vanilla until blended.

5. Mix in flour mixture to incorporate it. Mix in chocolate chips.

6. Using 1/4 measuring cup, scoop mounds of dough onto prepared cookie sheets about 2 1/2 inches apart. Smooth and flatten the rounds.

7. Bake about 16 minutes until top feels firm and a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Allow to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to wire rack to cool complete.

8. Dust the cookies lightly with powdered sugar.

***NOTE: I used my sifter to sprinkle each with a beautiful dusting of powdered sugar....only to have that powdered sugar soak into the cookie and leave the top sticky. So, either skip this step or do it right before you enjoy them!

This next recipe we tried last night for dinner and oh my goodness, was it good. I got it off of one of my usual reads online but I believe it came originally from McCormick's recipe inspiration packets of spices. I didn't have one of those pre-portioned packets but luckily the blogger took a picture of the back and I could just make out the writing. Luckily I had everything! So cheesy, so warm, so delicious. Nothing is better than Mexican comfort food on a chilly night!

Quesadilla Casserole
from: pearls-handcuffs-happyhour.blogspot.com

Spices in the McCormick packet (or in your own pantry):
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper

1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 (8 oz.) cans tomato sauce
1 (15 oz.) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (8 3/4 oz.) can whole kernel corn, undrained
1 (4 oz.) can chopped green chiles, undrained
6 flour tortillas
2 cups shredded cheese

*I halved the above amounts for James and myself and it worked out perfectly. We each got our fill and still had enough to take for lunch.

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Brown beef and onion, drain excess grease.
3. Add tomato sauce, beans, corn, and green chiles. Mix well.
4. Add all the spices except red pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 5 minutes.
5. Add red pepper to taste.
6. Layer half of the beef mixture on bottom of a baking dish (for the halved version I used an 8x8. If you're going full use a 9x13).
7. Top with half of your tortillas. Add half of the remaining beef mixture and top with half of the cheese.
8. Layer rest of the tortillas, followed by remaining beef mixture, then remaining cheese.
5. Bake for 15 minutes and enjoy!

Craftastic.

Lamentations 3:25-26: "The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord." We have begun the month-long craze of Christmas hustle and bustle. This frantic rush to find everyone just the right gifts at just the right price sometimes has us pulled in a million different directions. Let's make it our goal this Christmas season to shut out the noise of the commercial Christmas and tune in to the quiet peace of the true meaning of this holiday. Put your hope in Him and seek the Lord first, not the marked-down aisles of any store, and He will be good to you! You can count on that promise :)

This Thanksgiving was the first one for us as a married couple and that meant lots of driving to see both sides of the family in a very short amount of time. But it was definitely worth it! This year my younger sister-in-law, a fellow Pinterest devotee, came up with all kinds of craft ideas (both edible and non) for us to produce in our holiday sweat shop (sweat as in the only time we changed out of comfy sweats was for about an hour to eat our Thanksgiving meal and snap a few pics). Not only did she have the ideas in mind, but she went ahead and acquired every single thing that we would need to make them! While my husband and his dad watched the endless football games, my two sisters-in-law and I were busy hot gluing away like mad women. And so, I present to you the results of our labor of love....

Pinterest came through for us majorly on this holiday, in both recipe and craft inspiration. We made this cute little guy to snack on during one of the many football games on Thanksgiving day. I present to you...the turkey cheese ball! Cream cheese, cheddar cheese, finely chopped turkey, and some seasonings (if you want the recipe I can get it from my sis-in-law) formed this turkey's body. His tail feathers are crackers decorated with different colors of cream cheese, dyed with food coloring and pecans cover his body. Slice a red bell pepper for his neck/head and secure with toothpicks. Add details such as eyes and a beak with colored cream cheese (the eyes our skills were able to produce creeped my father-in-law out haha). This cheese had really good flavor...unfortunately however....when it was wrapped in saran wrap chilling in the fridge before adding the details we referred to it as "the turkey cheese brain" (it kinda looks like one...alot). Not a good thought to have in your head as you eat! I actually had to force feed a cracker with a tiny smidge of the cheese ball to my husband who (after whimpering like a small child) admitted that the flavor was good but all he could think of was TURKEY CHEESE BRAIN! Moral of the story.....don't be immature. Ha!

Nothing says fall like acorns! Simplest and cutest (and tastiest) little snack...seriously ever time we opened the fridge we felt the need for another nibble. Little nutter butter cookies form the acorn cap, a Hershey kiss is the nut and a chocolate chip forms the little stem. Secure all parts with a little bit of frosting (we colored white store-bought frosting with food coloring).

Next up: Rice Krispie Pumpkins! My sister-in-law found the recipe on Pinterest and it called for orange jello mix in the traditional rice krispie treat mix. After we made these precious little treats we decided the orange flavoring made it a little too sweet and next time we would stick with food coloring to get the nice pumpkin look. Anyhoo, spray your hands with cooking spray to form the balls without having cereal cemented on your hands by marshmallow glue. Use a tootsie roll for the stem and (attempt to) decorate with green frosting to add leaf embellishments.  

Bet you didn't know the pilgrims had delicious little hats that taste suspiciously like Reese's peanut butter cups?! This is seriously the best dessert ever because you actually get three sweets in one without having to visit the dessert table three different times. (Side story - at a dinner/auction fundraising event at the preschool I totally got called out by the senior pastor of the church for not straying too far from a certain table all night. "You haven't moved very far have you?" Uh no. Thanks for noticing.) White cupcakes, vanilla frosting (I believe my sis-in-law topped hers with the sugar crystal sprinkles but you could do whatev), a Keebler fudge stripe cookie, and an upside-down Reese's peanut butter cup create these super cute Thanksgiving treats. Add detailing with some colored frosting and viola!

Now on to the crafts.....

These reindeer actually began their journey as plain matte glass ornaments. We squeezed brown paint inside and turned them every which way to try to get it all covered. I believe there is an entire bottle of brown paint dried inside my poor Rudolph but that is beside the point. It was actually super entertaining trying to get all the random tiny spots that somehow escaped the paint the first ten squeezes. Then comes the stressful part....trying to get the eyes and mouths straight (mine would be the little guy in the middle sans mouth...I thought it looked cute and had already sweated through one shirt attempting to paint a symmetrical smile). Use brown pipe cleaners to customize your antlers!

These snowmen were actually our first ornament craft and were so stressful we frequently called out "Alcohol! I need alcohol!" Rubbing alcohol that is.....although by the end I was happy to see my margarita on Wednesday night. We discovered that if you mess up you can rub off whatever paint you want with rubbing alcohol as long as it is still wet. Fill a clear glass ornament with fake snow (note to the wise...use a funnel of some sort and be prepared to spend a little while filling Frosty's face). Turned out pretty cute huh?!

This next craft took me back to my childhood days when my sister and I would help my grandma make crafts for an enormous bazaar at her church selling all sorts of handmade Christmas items. Our inspiration came from Pinterest, of course, but we used white tube socks instead of a sweater like the pin. Stuff a tube sock with quilt batting, stuff some more, stuff some more, and then when you are done, stuff it some more! I got tired of stuffing and decided my snowman would just be petite (can you guess which one that would be? Ha!) After you get the size base you desire, secure it with a rubber band then continue stuffing for his head. Secure with another rubber band. You will be left with quite alot of sock that looks like the snowman has a very long ponytail. After singing a couple rounds of "Whip my hair" while making my snowman dance, it was time to cut off the excess. My sis-in-law selflessly made all three hats for our snowmen using black felt and hot glue, first by making a cylinder out of felt. Cut a circle the same size as one end of the cylinder to form the top of the hat. Then, cut a circle with a hole in it (a doughnut, if you will) to form the base. You want your hat to be solid so that you can hide the little tuft of sock ponytail. Buttons form the eyes, as well as the holly berry. Cut the carrot nose and holly leaves out of felt, attach all details with hot glue. We used fabric scraps to make a little scarf. I stuck my little snowman on my husband's desk so he can have a friend while doing homework. I know deep down he appreciates his new companion.

Three ingredients: Jar. Tissue Paper. Modge. Podge. Done! Cover the outside with tissue paper and a thick coat of modge podge. After the podge had completely dried, we added little details like a ribbon around the center and a printed label. I stocked mine with chocolate as my "reindeer treats".

 One of my sis-in-laws spotted these little snow globes at Anthropologie going for 30 bucks! Well, we decided to make our own and I hope no one spends that much money because they are a cinch to make (sorry, Anthro I love you but not your prices). Four ingredients: 1 Ball jar, mini Christmas trees found at a craft store, epsom salts, and ribbon to finish the look. Hot glue the two pieces that comprise the lid together to avoid your snow globe being opened and spilled everywhere. Since your jar will actually be upside down sitting on the lid, hot glue your trees to your lid. Pour some epsom salt into the jar and secure the lid. Flip it over and adjust the amount of snow. After you have the desired snowfall, secure your lid to the jar with hot glue. Finish with a ribbon and there you go! So there Anthro!

Are you feeling the craft bug yet? Next on the list...button wreaths! Super cute and super easy. Start with a wooden circle acquired at any craft store (you know that aisle chock full of unfinished wood at Hobby Lobby? Well, now you have an excuse to go down those wooden halls) and paint whatever color you desire. We chose a shimmery neutral. Next, use a cup to trace a circle onto your wood to use as a guide. Then get to button-ing! I decided on green, red, and brown-ish neutrals for mine (on right). After getting them all situated the way I wanted them I decided to scrap the whole thing and just glue as I go. It's much easier to layer them as you glue versus attempting to layer then move each one while they are still in position. Just wing it :) I set mine up on a little easel in our kitchen and love it!

Last craft pic I promise! We got our inspiration from a little tree my mother-in-law bought and thought we could make our own! I love walking into any store or boutique and thinking "I could totally make that". Now if I actually get the materials and make it is a whole 'nother story but at least the ambition is there right? Start by painting wooden spools brown (another trip down the unfinished wood aisle is in your future yay!) After those dried we covered the middle with wide burlap ribbon. Cut a piece of wire (my mom-in-law found some that kind of looked like thick twine or rope (picture wire wrapped in brown raffia..is that a better image?) and glue it to the inside of the hole going through the top of the spool. Form a star from this same wire (ok, somehow my star came out literally 4 times bigger than either of my sisters-in-law's stars. How this happened I have no idea. All I know is that mine looked like Patrick the starfish from Sponge Bob for the longest time) and glue to the top of your tree trunk wire. For the branches we snipped different sized pieces off of a mini table-top tree and secured with hot glue. Finally, adorn with button "ornaments". I balanced my gigantic star with a gigantic burlap bow and it totally did the trick. Our tree is sitting on our bookcase shelf next to our Christmas tree in the living room. Sadly, they look somewhat similar....hey those fake Christmas trees are not cheap! But I love our Charlie Brown tree and it is the thought that counts :)

Happy Crafting! 'Tis the Season!