My Blog = My Life: tomato

It's in the garden, amid the blooms and thistles, the soil and the stony ground, the dead seeds and lush vegetation where the story of sin and forgiveness, the Fall and Redemption, and life as one who has been engrafted into Christ can be told with real-life illustrations like no other. How fascinating it is that the place our children love to play is the same ground that can be used for discipling their eternal souls!

"Do you see that clematis? That's such a pretty vine! Jesus said that He was the True Vine. Everyone who loves Jesus has to bear fruit just like those purple flowers. Otherwise the Lord will cut off the dead branches like Mommy does so the rest can grow better."

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. John 15:1-2

"These flowers are called a peonies. Sometimes flowers like to grow in fields of grass where the horses are, even though they'll get cut down when the farmer makes hay. If God even cares about clothing a field of grass with pretty flowers, then we certainly don't have to worry about where we will get our clothes because He cares for us even more!"
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Matthew 6:30

"This pot is made out of clay. The person who made it is called a potter. The Bible says that God is the Potter and we are His clay. He made us and can do with us whatever He wants to do. That should make us very happy because God's plan for His people is perfect - much better than any sort of plan we could think of."

But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. Isaiah 64:8

"These pumpkin seeds are dead. They won't grow if we leave them on the driveway. But if we put them in the garden where the soil is really healthy, they will begin to grow and produce beautiful orange pumpkins! Our hearts have to be like the soil in the garden, ready to receive God's Word with joy and produce fruit. If are hearts are stony like the driveway, than we will fall away from the Lord when temptation comes."

But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Matthew 13: 20, 21, 23

"What kind of plant is this? That's right, a tomato plant! How did you know? Because it has tomatoes! Jesus says of His people that by their fruits we will know them. The best way to tell if someone loves the Lord is if they want to do the things that please Him."

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. Matthew 7:16, 17

"When we're sick, we don't need to buy our medicine from the store. God tells us that the fruit from the plants He made are for food and the leaves are for medicine!"

And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine Ezekiel 47:12

The parallels here only scratch the surface. So much more could be said about Creation, the sin that enter the world by disobedience in Paradise, and what it means to be engrafted into Christ. Next time you're out pulling weeds, pause for a second and whisper these truths in to the eternal souls of your dirt-covered, sun kissed, wee ones.

Like many of you, we are a single-income, larger-than-average, (1.8 or more children), homeschooling family.

And both my husband and I come from a rich, Dutch heritage.

In other words, whether or not we need to be, we enjoy frugal living. I'm also a lover of nutritious, from-scratch, whole-food cooking. Overtime, we've found that you can have one and the other! Here's how we can enjoy a mainlywhole-food diet on a budget (we still eat take-out more often than I'd like to admit!).

Cheap foods that are good for you

1. Whole grains. Oatmeal, brown rice, and quinoa are cheap! For ultimate nutritional value, choose any of these grains and soak them for a hearty breakfast that'll keep you energized all morning.

For a fabulously healthy, gluten-free, blueberry-muffin smelling breakfast, pour 1 cup of steel-cut oats, brown rice, OR quinoa in a crock-pot. Add 1 1/2 cups of almond milk, 1 1/2 cups water, 1-2 Tbsp of ground flax seed, 2-3 Tbsp butter or coconut oil, 1 cup fresh blueberries, cinnamon, sea salt, and sweetener (honey, maple syrup, stevia, or brown sugar) to taste. Stir. Cook on low overnight. Alternately, try using diced apple and a handful of walnut in place of blueberries.
2. Beans and legumes. Beans are one of the cheapest proteins available and can be used to replace meat in a meal. Given a good, over-night soak in purified water, they are a highly digestible form of fiber, complex carbohydrates, iron, and folate - ideal if you're pregnant or breast-feeding.

Our favorite way to enjoy beans are in chili, taco salad, and brownies (there's a Special Agent Brownie recipe in Trim Healthy Mama that's absolutely fabulous!).

3. Eggs. Eggs are one of the very few complete proteins available to us (they contain all 9 essential amino acids), contain only 70 calories, and are chock full of nutrition. Besides being excellent sources of protein and good cholesterol, they also contain iron, vitamins A, D, E, and B12, folate, selenium, and lutein.

Eggs can be cooked quickly in a variety of ways (hard or soft-boiled, fried, poached, scrambled) and provide great structure and texture when added to baked goods.

We enjoy them on their own and in omelettes, crepes, breakfasts bakes, and pizza crust.

Foods worth paying more for

No matter how tight our budget, there are certain foods I don't cheap out on as we feel the extra dollars are insignificant compared to the health benefits. We'd rather "pay the farmer than the pharmacy," as the saying goes.

1. Oil. It's a safe bet that anything you can get in a big plastic jug for $4 is not good for you. Vegetable oils and margarine derived from cheaply grown or genetically modified plants like sunflower, corn, soybean, canola, safflower have little nutrition to begin with and are chemically altered and deodorized in order to make them palatable. Our bodies were not meant to consume them.

Opt instead for healthy saturated fats that are rich in Omega 3 fatty acids. These include butter (preferably organic), coconut, olive, and red palm oil.
2. Fresh, local, organic produce. We can't afford to purchase all of our produce this way, but we try our best to grow or purchase the infamous "Dirty Dozen" organically as these fruits and vegetables contain the highest pesticide residue otherwise:

• Peaches
• Apples
• Celery
• Peppers
• Nectarines
• Strawberries
• Pears
• Cherries
• Spinach
• Lettuce
• Potatoes
• Grapes

• onions
• avocado
• sweet corn
• pineapples
• mango
• asparagus
• bananas
• cabbage
• broccoli
• papaya
• kiwi

Instead, we use coconut or almond milk. They contain high levels of vitamins A & D and are lactose free. They cost slightly more than pasteurized, hormone enhanced cow's milk, but since we rarely use it for more than our morning smoothie, we don't notice a difference in our grocery bill.

As our budget allows, we try to purchase higher quality dairy products like kefir, greek yogurt, cream and cottage cheese.
4. Meat. Cheaper cuts of meat are usually that way because they come from animals that are pumped full of genetically modified grain products, growth hormones, and antibiotics - the sole purpose of which is to fatten an animal up as quickly as possible for slaughter. Food Inc. is a fascinating documentary that explains how the food industry is making us sicker, fatter, and poorer through this process.

Although more expensive, grass-fed, locally raised, organic beef and chicken is a far more nutritious alternative and of much less consequence to your health.
5. Sweeteners. Sugar is cheap, appeals to our pallet, and is easy to come by. Consequently, diabetes, obesity, cancer, heart failure, and a host of other health concerns are also the norm. We stay away from refined sugar as much as possible and use raw honey, pure maple syrup, and stevia instead.

While they should still be used in small quantities, these sweeteners contain healthy enzymes and minerals which are difficult to get from other foods. They also have a healthier Glycemic Index which means they don't mess with your blood sugar levels in the same way refined sugar does.

Where to get healthy food for less

1. Garden. Anyone can grow their own produce, even a little bit. Be it a pot on the balcony of your apartment or a 3 acre market garden, all you need is some seed, soil, water, and sun and you're in business.

We put in a large raise bed last year for free - my husband made a tarp in exchange for a truckload of triple-mix and I used the gift cards I got for my birthday to purchase our seeds and plants.
2. Farmer's Market. Farmer's markets are great places to find local, seasonal produce, cure meats, eggs, honey and maple syrup at a fraction of the price you find in the store. Plus, farmers generally care about individual relationships with their customers and often offer a faithful buyer further discounts and "throw in a little extra."
3. Local Farmer. In the fall, we often purchase 1/4-1/2 a cow from a Christian farmer who grows his beef organically. We get to choose how we'd like it butchered and our freezer is well stocked for several months. We estimate purchasing our meat this way saves us 30% of the store price.

If we had the space for it, we'd love to keep our own chickens. We go through plenty of eggs around here! Thankfully, they are cheap to come by! We buy them from Brad's co-worker whose family keeps organically raised laying hens as a sideline business.

In the summer, we pick our own berries, freeze most of them, and turn some into sauce or jam. A relative of ours keeps a bountiful raspberry patch where we can come and go as we please.

It didn't work out last year because of pregnancy complications, but this summer, my mom, sisters, and I plan on putting up other produce from local farms that we don't grow ourselves: peaches, pears, carrots, pickles, etc.

4. Bulk Stores. I buy most of our grain from The Bulk Barn. We often receive coupons for $3.00 off a purchase of $10.00 or more (which I can easily spend in one visit!). I blend whole kernels with my Wondermill and the stuff I purchase pre-ground (flax), I purchase in small quantities as it goes rancid quickly. I purchase my organice herbs, teas, sea salt, and spices from The Bulk Herb Store.

I also purchase soap and other dried goods here like coconut, almonds, walnuts, and cranberries.
5. Grocery Store. You can save money at the grocery store by using coupons, ad-matching, checking the clearance shelf, and purchasing store-brand non-perishables like brown rice and tomato paste.

The clearance shelf where everything is ripe and ready, is a wonderful place to get greatly discounted produce. If you have a juicer, freeze your juice into Popsicles for a healthy summer treat or into ice cubes for slushies. Peppers and onions can be cut up and bagged for pizza toppings, apples turned into sauce, and mushrooms sauteed in butter for a fine steak topping.
6. Online. I must admit to rarely purchasing groceries online. I prefer to see the product myself. The exception to this is the extra virgin coconut oil I get from Tropical Traditions. The quality is truly remarkable. We use it a lot, especially in desserts like Chunky Cream Pops, Skinny Chocolate, and Peppermint Patties. I'm thankful it regularly goes on sale for 40-50% off.

In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Growing Home. I humbly thank you for your support! Linking to: Mind Body Sole, Raising Homemakers, Deep Roots At Home, Frugally Sustainable, Natural Living Raising Arrows, Time Warp Wife, Far Above Rubies, Homestead Barn Hop, The Better Mom,

These recipes are reprinted with permission from the authors.

Just Like Wheat Thins Crackers | Trim Healthy Mama,
I had my doubts about this recipe. "Just Like Wheat Thins?!" Yeah, right. You need refined flour and sugar to achieve that kind of deliciousness, don't you? Apparently not. These crackers are amazing and taste like the real thing I can't seem to keep our house stocked though - they disappear quickly!

• 3/4 cup flax meal
• 3/4 cup almond flour
• 2 egg whites
• 2 Tbsp. nutritional yeast
• 1 Tbsp. parmeasan cheese
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• dash of black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder
• 1 Tbsp olive or coconut oil
• 1/2 tsp baking soda

Fooled Ya Pizza | Trim Healthy Mama,
I've always felt bad for Brad who used to eat cardboard-like gluten-free pizza crusts while we enjoyed the gluten packed version! I had heard rave reviews about this cauliflower crust from other mamas on the Trim Healthy Mama plan and decided to give it a try even though it sounded pretty gross. Boy, was I wrong! Our entire family enjoys it just as much as the real thing! You'd never know cauliflower was the magic ingredient!

• 1 bag (16 oz.) frozen cauliflower (I used fresh)
• 3/4 cup egg whites
• 2 cups skim mozzarella cheese
• sea salt and other seasonings (I used Epicure's Pizza seasoning blend)
• pizza sauce and other pizza toppings (I used pepperoni, green pepper, red onion, cheddar and mozzarella cheese)

Add egg whites and pulse again.
Add cheese and other seasonings (sea salt, Italian seasoning, onion and garlic powder). Mix ingredients together well with a spatula.
Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and grease well. Spread crust mixture evenly across cookie sheet. Bake at 450 for 20 minutes. Cool.
Add pizza sauce and toppings and broil until toppings are done (I baked it at 400 for 8-10 minutes).

Peanut Squares | Trim Healthy Mama,
These squares are so yummy! A combination of sweet and salty, we enjoy them as a snack and a dessert. They're gerat to give along with a meal to a new mom too.

• 1 cup almond flour
• 1/2 cup dry roasted peanuts, chopped
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 2 tsp Truvia
• 1 pkg cream cheese, softened
• 10 tsp Truvia
• 2/3 cup peanut butter
• 3/4 cup whipping cream

While crust is baking, beat cream cheese and second measurement of Truvia together until light and fluffy. Add peanut butter and beat some more.

In a separate bowl, beat whipped cream. Fold into cream cheese mixture and spread over cooled crust.

Place in refrigerator to chill until set.

Cheeseburger Pie | Trim Healthy Mama,
This is probably our #1 favorite supper on the plan. It's all the goodness of a cheeseburger without the bun. You would never miss it! This is so satisfying and delicious. I make once a week in place of burgers on the barbie.

• 2 lbs of ground beef
• 3 tsp. onion powder
• 1 tsp. sea salt
• 6 oz. grated cheddar cheese
• pickles, tomatoes, red onion
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup mayo
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• sea salt
• ground pepper
• 6 oz. grated cheddar cheese

Chunky Cream Pops | Trim Healthy Mama,
This frozen dessert reminds me of my favorite ice cream, President's Choice Chocolate Fudge Crackle... except it's waaaay healthier, made with good fats and no sugar. We love this treat. It's Brad's favorite of all the desserts I've made from Trim Healthy Mama so far.

• 1 batch of Skinny Chocolate
• 2 8oz. blocks of cream cheese
• 10 tsp. Truvia
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 heaped Tbsp. peanut butter

Spicy Chicken Wings, pg. 323

Taco Salad, pg. 347

Special Agent Brownies, pg. 383

Trim Healthy Pancakes, pg. 223

In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Growing Home. I humbly thank you for your support.

The Round-up:

• Food - 4 out of 5
• Service - 4 out of 5
• Decor - 3.5 out of 5
• Total - 11.5 out of 15

__________________________________________________________

Until about a month ago I'd never ventured into the warm and cozy world of Skara restaurant.

I don't exactly know why this is.

Maybe it was Skara's former life as a middle-of-the-road family restaurant that kept me away -- it's hard for a restaurant to reinvent, after all.

Or maybe it was the fact that until quite recently I lived and worked downtown. A jaunt to South Albert Street wasn't as routine a thing as it is these days.

Maybe I just didn't like Skara's red-and-black colour scheme. Or its aura. OK, kidding about that last part.

Whatever my reasons, I've come to realize they were wrong. All wrong. I've now been to Skara twice with plans to go back for more.

The first thing that struck me about Skara was the size of the place -- a lot bigger than I'd imagined. The restaurant houses a moderately sized dining room with plenty of comfortable booths; a lounge with more booths, several tables and TVs for watching sports; and a private dining room large enough to seat 30 or 40 guests. Even the bathrooms are roomy at Skara (truth be told, I can only speak for the men on that point). The best part of Skara's decor? There's plenty of deep, dark wood and dim lighting. It's like an old-school steakhouse without all the velvet. And it's very relaxing.

Now, as for the food? On both of my visits it has been delicious. The appetizers and a number of the entrees have a Greek/Mediterranean flair to them -- the restaurant is under Greek ownership, so it figures. And of the ones I've sampled, everything has been pretty much perfect. The Calamari is crispy without being too chewy; the Shrimp Ouzeri (tiger prawns and cherry tomatoes sauteed in ouzo) was absolutely delicious, striking just the right blend of sweet and savoury.

The other night I opted to try something from the entree menu. It was a tough choice between the Skara Stuffed Chicken (recommended by our waiter), the Greek Chicken, or the Tomato Feta Garlic Prawns. In the end, the prawns won out. Mr. K, my pal and tablemate, went for the Stuffed Rainbow Trout.

Neither of us were disappointed. The food was brought to the table in good time by our excellent waiter. My prawns were artfully presented in a mound, next to pan-friend veggies and a stuffed potato. Yes, there are many stuffed things at Skara. This isn't a bad thing, in my books.

I guess my only complaint about my dish was that there wasn't quite enough of it to eat. It wasn't exactly small, but then it wasn't huge either. And I have a bit of a reputation for being a "big eater". Or so I'm told.

On the other hand, I definitely didn't go home hungry.

As I hinted above, the service at Skara has been good-to-excellent on both of my visits, particularly the last one on a Friday night. Staff seem to genuinely want to make sure that diners are happy and enjoying their meals -- not always the case in other eateries.

All in all, Skara, you have a new friend. A hungry one. See you again soon.

If I'm in a pinch for time, this is one of my favorite recipes to pull out. It's quick, easy, tasty, and half decently healthy. Everyone loves it - Charity calls it "Pizza Chicken", which should give you a good indicator of its flavor!
Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups tomato sauce (homemade is best!)
• 6 Tbsp Parmesan Cheese, divided
• 6 small boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 1/2 cups Mozzarella, shredded

Books

Motherhood

• Large Family Logistics by Kim Brenneman
• Passionate Housewives Desperate for God by Jennie Chancey and Stacy McDonald
• Raising Godly Tomatoes by L. Elizabeth Krueger
• Parenting On God's Promises by Joel Beeke
• Loving the Little Years by Rachel Jankovic
• The Mother At Home by John S.C. Abbott
• A Mother's Heart by Jean Flemming
• Be Fruitful and Multiply by Nancy Campbell
• A Full Quiver by Rick and Jan Hess
• Fit To Burst by Rachel Jankovic
• The Ministry of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson
• Proverbs for Parenting by Barbara Decker
• Feminine Appeal by Carolyn Mahaney
• Desperate by Sarah Mae and Sally Clarkson
• When Motherhood Feels Too Hard by Kelly Crawford

• Large Family Logistics by Kim Brenneman
• The Hidden Heart of Homemaking by Edith Schaffer
• The Christian Homemaker's Handbook by Pat Ennis
• From Mother to Daughter by Vivienne Bolton
• Homespun Gifts from the Heart by Karen Ehman
• Homespun Memories from the Heart by Karen Ehman
• Mrs. Dunwoodey's Excellent Instructions for Homekeeping by Miriam Lukken
• Home Ec 101 by Heather Solos
• How To Sew A Button by Erin Bried
• Home Economics: Vintage Advice and Practical Science for the 21st Century by Jennifer Trontz

• Upgrade | 10 Secrets To The Best Education For Your Child by Kevin Swanson
• Teaching the Trivium by Harvey and Laurie Bluedorn
• When You Rise Up by R. C. Sproul Jr.
• Dumbing Us Down by John Taylor Gatto
• Weapons of Mass Instruction by John Taylor Gatto
• Indoctrination by Colin Gunn
• The Well-Trained Mind by Susan Wise Bauer
• Lies Homeschooling Moms Believe by Todd Wilson
• Educating The Whole-Hearted Child by Clay and Sally Clarkson
• Hand That Rocks The Cradle: 400 Classics for Children by Nathaniel Bluedorn
• Chucking College by Melanie Ellison

• The Second Mayflower by Kevin Swanson
• Folks, This Ain't Normal by Joel Salatin
• Apostate by Kevin Swanson

• Biblical Economics by R. C. Sproul Jr.
• Whatever Happened to Penny Candy by Richard Maybury
• The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn
• Calvin and Commerce by David Hall

• When Sinners Say "I do" by Dave Harvey
• What Did You Expect? by Paul David Tripp
• The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace
• Reforming Marriage by Douglas Wilson
• Family Driven Faith by Voddie Baucham
• Family Shepherds by Voddie Baucham
• What He Must Be by Voddie Baucham
• I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Joshua Harris
• Of Knights and Fair Maidens by Jeff and Danielle Myers

• Trim Healthy Mama by Pearl Barrett and Serene Allison
• Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon
• Making Babies by Shoshanna Easling

• Bringing Up Boys by Dr. James Dobson
• Created to Work by Bob Schultz
• Future Men by Douglas Wilson
• Boyhood and Beyond by Bob Schultz
• Plants Grown Up by Pam Forster
• Practical Happiness by Bob Schultz
• Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris

• So Much More by Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin
• It's Not That Complicated by Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin
• Joyfully At Home by Jasmine Baucham
• Feminine By Design by Scott Brown
• Beautiful Girlhood by Karen Andreola
• Let Me Be A Woman by Elisabeth Elliott

• End Of The Spear by Steve Saint
• Safely Home by Randy Alcorn
• The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
• Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss
• Lord Foulgrin's Letters by Randy Alcorn
• Deadline by Randy Alcorn
• Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan

• Wisdom and the Millers by Mildred Martin
• Storytime with the Millers by Mildred Martin
• Missionary Stories with the Millers by Mildred Martin
• The Little House Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder
• The Railway Children by Edith Nesbit
• The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
• The Christopher Churchmouse Treasury by Barbara Davoll
• The Bronze Bow by Elisabeth George Speare
• The Door In The Wall by Margaret De Angeli
• The Tanglewood's Secret by Patricia St. John
• Treasures of the Snow by Patricia St. John
• Huguenot Garden by Douglas Jones
• The Minstrel in The Tower by Gloria Skurzynski
• The Hawk That Dare Not Hunt by Day by Scott O'Dell
• Ink On His Fingers by Louise Vernon
• The Answers Books for Kids by Ken Ham
• The Way of the Master: Teaching Kids to Share Their Faith by Kirk Cameron

• The Bible
• Calvin's Commentaries by John Calvin
• The Christian's Reasonable Service by Wilhemus Brakel
• Running Scared by Ed Welch
• War of Words by Paul Tripp
• Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges
• Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper
• Choosing Gratitude by Nancy Leigh DeMoss
• The Answers Book by Ken Ham
• Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible by Matthew Henry

• Homeschooling Day By Day co-authored by yours truly
• The Pursuit of Motherhood co-authored by yours truly
• More Than Rules | Exploring the Heart of Beauty and Modesty by Bambi Moore (read my endorsement)
• Overwhelmed: Hope and Help for the Financially Weary by multiple authors (read my review)
• The Heart Of Simplicity by multiple authors (eBook)
• Trim Healthy Mama (Read my review)
• True Christian Motherhood by June Fuentes (eBook)
• When Motherhood Feels Too Hard by Kelly Crawford (Read my review)
• 31 Days To Clean | Having a Mary House the Martha Way by Sarah Mae

• Answers In Genesis
• Creation Ministries International
• JM Cremps | The Boys Adventure Store

• Deborah & Co. (Read my Maternity Skirt Review)
• Flirty Aprons
• Joyfully Sewn Designs (Read my review of our daughter's dress)
• New Creation Apparel
• Shabby Apple
• Very Jane

• Beeyoutiful (Their Miracle Salve is our favorite hand cream!)
• Bulk Herb Store
• Cowgirl Dirt (natural make-up)

• Beautiful Beet Soup
• Cream Of Broccoli Soup
• GF Cream Soups
• Old-Fashioned Chicken Soup
• Tomato Spice Soup

Appetizers:

• All-Day Apple Butter GF
• Guilt-Free Peppermint Patties GF, THM
• "Just Like Wheat Thins" Crackers GF, THM
• Roasted Red Pepper Butter GF, THM

• Good Morning! Breakfast Smoothie GF

• Best Gluten-Free Pizza Crust EVER! GF, THM
• Cinnamon Raisin Bread
• Cinnamon Raisin Muffins GF, THM
• Coconut Oil Banana Muffins
• "Just Like Wheat Thins" Crackers GF, THM
• Pumpkin Streusel Muffins

• Good Morning! Breakfast Smoothie
• Honey Cinnamon Granola

• Grandma Kroesbergen's Cookies

• Cottage Berry Whip GF, THM
• Chunky Cream Pops GF, THM
• Cream Puffs
• Peanut Butter Chocolate Cheesecake GF, THM
• Tuxedo Cream Dessert GF

• Boerenkool Met Worst GF
• Cheeseburger Pie GF, THM
• Chicken Broccoli Casserole
• Fooled Ya Pizza GF, THM
• Gourmet Mommy's Pizza Recipe
• Linguine with Garlic Sauce GF, THM
• Real-Good Chili GF, THM
• Spinach Quiche
• Spinach Bacon Breakfast Bake GF, THM

• Bacon-Cheese Topped Chicken GF, THM
• Coconut Curried Chicken GF, THM
• Classic Homemade Burgers GF, THM
• Easy Chicken Parmesan GF
• Homemade Sausage GF
• Honey-Mustard Lemon Chicken GF

• Broccoli Raisin Salad GF
• Crunchy Quinoa Salad GF, THM
• Sensational Salad and Dressing GF, THM
• Strawberry Spinach Salad GF, THM
• Taco Salad GF, THM

• Beautiful Beet Soup GF
• Cream Of Broccoli Soup GF
• Old-Fashioned Chicken Soup GF, THM
• Tomato Spice Soup GF, THM

• 3-Ingredient Chocolate Fudge
• 10 Healthy Snacks Children Love
• Cinnamon Raisin Muffins GF, THM
• Coconut Oil Banana Muffins
• Peanut Cream Cheese Squares GF, THM
• Pumpkin Sheet Cake
• Pumpkin Streusel Muffins
• Raspberry Oatmeal Bars
• Snicker Snackers GF
• Two-Bite Brownies GF THM

• How A Single-Income Family Can Afford A Whole-Food Diet
• How I lost 40 lbs Post-Partum
• How To Boil a Perfect Egg GF
• How To Give Your Baby A Healthy Start on Solid Foods GF
• How To Make Gluten-Free Cream Soups GF
• How To Make Your Own Taco Seasoning GF

This recipe comes from Trim Healthy Mama and is reposted with permission fro the authors.

This is probably our #1 favorite supper on the Trim Healthy Mama plan. It's all the goodness of a cheeseburger without the bun. You would never miss it! This is so satisfying and delicious. I make once a week in place of burgers on the barbie. Ingredients:

• 2 lbs of ground beef
• 3 tsp. onion powder
• 1 tsp. sea salt
• 6 oz. grated cheddar cheese
• pickles, tomatoes, red onion
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup mayo
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• sea salt
• ground pepper
• 6 oz. grated cheddar cheese

The Round-up:

• Food - 4 out of 5
• Service - 3 out of 5
• Decor - 4 out of 5
• Total - 11 out of 15

3000 Wascana Drive, Regina, SK.
306-585-3663

________________________________________________
January has been full of calm nights and above-average temperatures. 2010, I like you already.

It makes a person want to get out a bit more often. So, The Mom and I decided to take our appetites to The Willow on Wascana the other day.
OK, it wasn't just the warm weather that lured us to the shores of Wascana Lake. It was the $20 off lunch or dinner promo that The Willow ran for just two days this month.
The Willow opened in August 2004 and has carved out a niche for itself ever since. It's almost definitely the only menu in town that sources all of its meat, fish and poultry from Saskatchewan sources.
It wasn't too busy for a Wednesday night so we chose a corner table in the warm and cozy dining room. As far as atmosphere goes, The Willow has it made. In winter, the wood ceiling and earthy tones make you forget the sub-zero chill outside. On the other hand, summer is all about the great outdoors as you dine on The Willow's gigantic patio overlooking Wascana Lake.
Now what about the food? It's safe to say that The Willow doesn't shy away from taking risks. The new winter menu features Free-Range Elk Tartare, Coffee-Infused Short Ribs, and a Wild Boar Ragout.
The Mom was feeling adventurous so she went with the wild boar.
Boar sounded a little too Lord of the Flies for me, on the other hand, and I can rarely say no to a good homemade sausage. So, I chose the Chorizo Chicken Roulade.
Our plates arrived in no time and I was in love with the chicken dish at first sight. The juicy morsels of chicken wrapped around a chicken chorizo sausage disappeared from my plate quickly, as did the southwest-style corn salsa served on the side.
Now you're probably wondering what on earth wild boar tastes like? So were we. Our waiter told us it was like pork with a bit more fat. He didn't lie about that last part, for sure.
The tender slab of boar was served on top of homemade pappardelle noodles with a tiny Saskatchewan-grown tomato on top. The noodles were great. The boar was... well, it was kind of like eating sushi for the first time. You're a little bit curious and a little bit scared, especially when a few bites of the meat were more fat than flesh.
As for the service, it was good but not great. Our friendly waiter took the time to joke with us a little, but had trouble recommending dishes and explaining some of the ingredients. For a fine-dining restaurant that charges top dollar that just doesn't cut it. Servers should know each menu item inside and out.
That being said, The Willow scores big points for showing Regina that the food we grow and harvest right in our own backyards is as good or better than anything we truck in from a thousand miles away.
www.willowonwascana.ca

It's time for another week of
FLEA... MARKET... FINDS!
I only have a few things to share as I've been running around like crazy trying to get my Christmas act together... Hasn't happened yet! *winks*
Are all of you ready for Christmas? Or did you procrastinate like I did? Next year (God willing) I'm going to start a month in advance like the smart folks!
So I haven't had much time for antiquing but I did manage to sneak in one trip to the Goodwill and one to a local antique mall where I found my first (and favorite) find... This crazy quilt/patchwork robe. I picked it up and put it down a couple of times not really knowing what it was and yet intrigued by it... So I studied it a little more closely and noticed that it was entirely sewn by hand and had two banners with the names of ships along the front. Well I love a little mystery (Don't you?) so home with me it went. I tried to find out more, and did manage to find that both ships were war ships existing at the same time in the 1920's so I'd guess this robe was from around that time period. Must have belonged to the wife of a navy man. This was the 1920's -30's version of being green. No scraps were wasted!
I wonder if groups of ladies gathered together with all their scrap fabric and quilted while talking about their men still at sea?

Chock-a-block full of different fabrics.

The ships...

I love the old florals. The silks aren't faring so well and a few of them are tattered.

From the back

And another feature that really makes this robe interesting is that it's completely reversible! The other side has the most luscious tomato red silk satin! Having been protected from the light it's in amazingly good condition.

I had a hard time finding many of these pieces to get an idea of value? I did find this robe/coat from 1914 housed in a museum in Norway. But no price attached alas.

And this coat is from the 1930's.
That was pretty much it, leading me to believe that these pieces must be a little uncommon. Whatever the case I really enjoyed the learning process with this one, completely outside my areas of expertise... If indeed I even have any *winks*

OK moving on to what turned out to be my industrial style finds... the large rusty suitcase/toolbox was a freebie roadside (full of rusty crusty tools) as well as the galvanized case. The tool box also had a few of the old folding rulers. and the 1920's light fixture was $25 at the Goodwill. As well as the metal cloche with butterflies for 99 cents.

This grate cover was $22 at the antique mall. I really love it, but have no idea what I'm going to do with it.

Do you think this could be a milk case? I have no idea what this was actually used for.

Interior. If you have any idea I'd love to hear! *winks*

One of the freebie folding rulers.

This 1950's ice bucket with lucite handle was $3.50 at the Goodwill.

This brush featuring a ship was also in the large rusty case so FREE!... My favorite price! *winks* Hmmmm another naval-ish find! It does seem to go like that from week to week, a theme seems to appear.

And lastly this old rattan magazine holder ($5) that's as rough as can be, but I really liked the paintings of flowers on each side.

Tattered roses.

That's all for this week. Not some of my best I admit... But thanks for stopping by anyway! I hope you'll leave me a comment. I LOVE to hear from you! Vanna
I'm joining my friends Paula and Patti of Ivy and Elephants for:

The Round-up:

• Food - 4 out of 5
• Service - 3.5 out of 5
• Decor - 4 out of 5
• Total - 11.5 out of 15

2124 Albert Street, Regina, SK
306-545-8811

_______________________________________

Dear Abbey:

It's about this time of year when the intended joy of Christmas starts to compete with the utter madness of Christmas.

The lineups at the grocery store are longer; the parking spots at the Cornwall Centre are fewer -- heck, the lineup just to get out of the parkade is enough to make you cringe. What's a guy to do?
Signed,
Crazy for Christmas

- - - - - - - -
Dear CC:

There are plenty of ways to deal with Christmas Craze. Some of them involve muttering swears underneath your breath. Others involve a simple retreat to a welcoming watering hole.

I suggest the latter.
Yours,
Abbey

- - - - - - - -

Today me and Big Willie opted for an easy Sunday morning and headed over to The Abbey on Albert Street. It was a brutally cold morning to brave the outdoors but the lure of breakfast without having to cook it was enough to get us out there.

I'd been to The Abbey a couple of times since it opened in December '08. My first visit, less than a week after the doors opened, was good but a little rough around the edges. And that's to be fully expected so early in the game.

My second visit, about two months later, left me with a bad taste in my mouth -- literally. A friend and I went for a Sunday-night supper before heading out to a show at the Brandt Centre. I had high hopes that the kitchen would have ironed out the wrinkles by that point but I left feeling happy with the atmosphere yet disappointed with the food, especially a very greasy pizza that was overcooked.

Since that time, I learned that The Abbey hired a new head chef. I was a bit reluctant to go back until a few friends and coworkers reported positive experiences recently.

Today, my third visit proved to be the lucky charm. Big Willie and I were seated quickly on the second-floor balcony overlooking the dining room. We took a few minutes to study the brunch menu and then placed our order.

I decided to keep things simple and ordered The Usual -- two eggs any style (I went with Sunny Side Up), bacon or sausage, hash browns, toast, and a few pieces of fruit. I figure if a kitchen can't get the most basic breakfast items right then there's little hope they'll succeed with anything else.

Big Willie chose The Eden Eggs Benedict (served with tomato and spinach on a homemade biscuit). We also opted to share The Abbey Salad, which came recommended by a friend.

All things said, our only complaint with the food was that it took too long to hit the table (close to half an hour). On the one hand, this wasn't an outrageous amount of time. On the other hand, you start to wonder what's going on after about 15 minutes at breakfast time. Both our waitress and the floor manager gave sincere apologies for the delay, so at least they were aware of the problem.

Otherwise, the food was delicious. I'm not normally a fan of Eggs Benedict but The Eden won me over. I think it was the fresh, crumbly homemade biscuit that did it. Big Willie was pretty pleased with his choice, too.

My eggs were cooked perfectly, not always the case when you order Sunny Side Up. And the best part of The Usual? The crispy sausage, just like we used to eat at home when I was a kid. I'm happy to report that The Abbey serves real sausage -- not the greasy breakfast kind that some people seem to love.

The Abbey Salad, strangely the most expensive item we ordered, was also pretty delish. A Roast Shallot Dressing came drizzled over mixed greens, grilled chicken, bacon, crumbled blue cheese, and a few slices of pear. This salad was a meal in itself and is also on the restaurant's lunch menu. I think it's safe to say I'll be back for it someday.

To make a nice meal even nicer, The Abbey plays host to live jazz music on Sundays from 11-2. Today's warm groove, combined with the awesome Viennese Dark Roast coffee, pretty much made us forget it was 30 degrees below zero, at least for awhile.

All in all, The Abbey is finally coming into its own as a restaurant. Despite the odd glitch here and there, it seems that things are almost nearing perfection.

If they keep this up they might just start to lure me away from La Bodega a bit more often.

Kudos to you, The Abbey.

http://www.theabbeyregina.com/

Harry S. Truman said,
"Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers. "In a world of Sheeple who are content follow where the culture leads, a good Christian book is our favorite gift to give. They're relatively inexpensive, easy to wrap or mail, can be read again and again, and best of all, a good book can make an eternal impact on someone's life.

Books are the perfect gifts, and if you're on our list this Season... well, you know what to expect! Here's a list of 100 titles we've loved and recommend:

Motherhood

1. Large Family Logistics by Kim Brenneman

2. Passionate Housewives Desperate for God by Jennie Chancey and Stacy McDonald

3. Raising Godly Tomatoes by L. Elizabeth Krueger

4. Parenting On God's Promises by Joel Beeke

5. Loving the Little Years by Rachel Jankovic

6. The Mother At Home by John S.C. Abbott

7. A Mother's Heart by Jean Flemming

8. Be Fruitful and Multiply by Nancy Campbell

9. A Full Quiver by Rick and Jan Hess

10. Fit To Burst by Rachel Jankovic

11. The Ministry of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson

12. Proverbs for Parenting by Barbara Decker

13. Feminine Appeal by Carolyn Mahaney

14. Desperate by Sarah Mae and Sally Clarkson
Homemaking

1. Large Family Logistics by Kim Brenneman

2. The Hidden Heart of Homemaking by Edith Schaffer

3. The Christian Homemaker's Handbook by Pat Ennis

4. From Mother to Daughter by Vivienne Bolton

5. Homespun Gifts from the Heart by Karen Ehman

6. Homespun Memories from the Heart by Karen Ehman

7. Mrs. Dunwoodey's Excellent Instructions for Homekeeping by Miriam Lukken

8. Home Ec 101 by Heather Solos

9. How To Sew A Button by Erin Bried

10. Home Economics: Vintage Advice and Practical Science for the 21st Century by Jennifer Trontz
Education

1. Upgrade | 10 Secrets To The Best Education For Your Child by Kevin Swanson

2. Teaching the Trivium by Harvey and Laurie Bluedorn

3. When You Rise Up by R. C. Sproul Jr.

4. Dumbing Us Down by John Taylor Gatto

5. Weapons of Mass Instruction by John Taylor Gatto

6. Indoctrination by Colin Gunn

7. The Well-Trained Mind by Susan Wise Bauer

8. Lies Homeschooling Moms Believe by Todd Wilson

9. Educating The Whole-Hearted Child by Clay and Sally Clarkson

10. Hand That Rocks The Cradle: 400 Classics for Children by Nathaniel Bluedorn

Culture

1. The Second Mayflower by Kevin Swanson

2. Folks, This Ain't Normal by Joel Salatin

3. Apostate by Kevin Swanson

Finances/Economics

1. Biblical Economics by R. C. Sproul Jr.

2. Whatever Happened to Penny Candy by Richard Maybury

3. The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn

4. Calvin and Commerce by David Hall

Marriage/Family
1. When Sinners Say "I do" by Dave Harvey

2. What Did You Expect? by Paul David Tripp

3. The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace

4. Reforming Marriage by Douglas Wilson

5. Family Driven Faith by Voddie Baucham

6. Family Shepherds by Voddie Baucham

7. What He Must Be by Voddie Baucham

8. I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Joshua Harris

9. Of Knights and Fair Maidens by Jeff and Danielle Myers

Food / Health
1. Trim Healthy Mama by Pearl Barrett and Serene Allison

2. Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon

3. Making Babies by Shoshanna Easling

Boys

1. Bringing Up Boys by Dr. James Dobson

2. Created to Work by Bob Schultz

3. Future Men by Douglas Wilson

4. Boyhood and Beyond by Bob Schultz

5. Plants Grown Up by Pam Forster

6. Practical Happiness by Bob Schultz

7. Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris
Single Daughters
1. So Much More by Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin

2. It's Not That Complicated by Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin

3. Joyfully At Home by Jasmine Baucham

4. Feminine By Design by Scott Brown

5. Beautiful Girlhood by Karen Andreola

6. Let Me Be A Woman by Elisabeth Elliott

Novels/Biographies

1. End Of The Spear by Steve Saint

2. Safely Home by Randy Alcorn

3. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

4. Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss

5. Lord Foulgrin's Letters by Randy Alcorn

6. Deadline by Randy Alcorn

7. Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan

Children (Read-A-Louds)

1. Wisdom and the Millers by Mildred Martin

2. Storytime with the Millers by Mildred Martin

3. Missionary Stories with the Millers by Mildred Martin

4. The Little House Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder

5. The Railway Children by Edith Nesbit

6. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

7. The Christopher Churchmouse Treasury by Barbara Davoll

8. The Bronze Bow by Elisabeth George Speare

9. The Door In The Wall by Margaret De Angeli

10. The Tanglewood's Secret by Patricia St. John

11. Treasures of the Snow by Patricia St. John

12. Huguenot Garden by Douglas Jones

13. The Minstrel in The Tower by Gloria Skurzynski

14. The Hawk That Dare Not Hunt by Day by Scott O'Dell

15. Ink On His Fingers by Louise Vernon

16. The Answers Books for Kids by Ken Ham

17. The Way of the Master: Teaching Kids to Share Their Faith by Kirk Cameron
Christian Living/Spiritual Growth

1. The Bible

2. Calvin's Commentaries by John Calvin

3. The Christian's Reasonable Service by Wilhemus Brakel

4. Running Scared by Ed Welch

5. War of Words by Paul Tripp

6. Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges

7. Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper

8. Choosing Gratitude by Nancy Leigh DeMoss

9. The Answers Book by Ken Ham

10. Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible by Matthew Henry

If you enjoyed this post, you may wish to follow Growing Home for updates via Google Friend Connect, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google +, or have them emailed directly to your inbox. This post contains affiliate links. Linking to: Raising Homemakers, Deep Roots At Home, Raising Arrows, A Wise Woman.,Walking Redeemed,, The Modest Mom, A Mama's Story, We ARE That Family, Raising Mighty Arrows, Hearts For Home, Frugal Homeschool Family Time Warp Wife

The Round-up:

• Food - 3.5 out of 5
• Service - 3 out of 5
• Decor - 4 out of 5
• Total - 10.5 out of 15

3255 Quance Street, Regina, SK.
Phone: 306-586-7625

____________________________________________

I have to admit, Regina's East End isn't a part of town I visit all that often. I make the long drive down Victoria Street East once every week or two, usually to pay a visit to Costco. The rest of the time, I prefer doing my shopping in other parts of town where the traffic is a little less likely to cause a headache and a little more likely to support local business.

As a result, I often forget about one of our city's best casual restaurants. Rock Creek Tap and Grill opened about three years ago. The sight of a locally owned restaurant among the many chains that line the East End's streets was a welcome one. To boot, the food was great and the decor was classy, without being all uppity.

I've made several more trips to Rock Creek for good appetizers and great meals since then, but my last trip was almost a year ago. Until yesterday.

We arrived around 1 o'clock and the parking lot was almost totally full. A pretty good sign for a Saturday afternoon. As usual, we sat in the lounge where a table for six was easier to come by. We made ourselves comfortable and managed to score a couple of menus (literally two). Like I said, it was busy. Drinks were a bit slow to come by, as was the waitress to take our order, but thankfully we weren't in any hurry.

When it came time to order, we stuck mainly to pub-food classics, or Comfort Food, as the menu calls it: Chicken Fingers with fries; the Hickory Barbecue Chicken Burger; the Black and Blue Burger (a Cajun-style sirloin burger with blue cheese, bacon, lettuce and tomato); and the Quance Street Club (grilled chicken breast, smoked bacon, pea shoots, tomato, avocado, jack cheese and pesto aioli).

The food hit our table in good time and we dug in with gusto. Things suddenly got very quiet. Only the sound of chewing and the odd, "Mmm, this is good," broke the silence. The portions were hearty, as were the sides. I had a spicy cup of Chicken Vegetable with my Club. With four or five slices of jalapeno pepper floating in the broth, it was an interesting soup. I'll leave it at that.

Big Poppa, my dad, was making short work of his burger with yam fries next to me. Across the table my sister, normally an adventurous diner, was munching on the chicken fingers. It was a choice she didn't regret. The Calgary Boys also had no complaints about their sandwiches. Actually, they ate them so fast that I'm not totally sure what one of them ordered.

Rock Creek's menu is a savvy one -- there's the right mix of classic standbys and new inventions to keep you interested, and to keep you coming back. On the appetizer menu, you'll find everything from Cajun Blackened Guac Scallops to good-'ole nachos (with bacon and banana peppers). The lounge has food and drink specials almost every night of the week, and a bevy of fancy TVs. Can't get tickets to the next Rider game? Try hanging out here. If you can get a parking spot, that is.

www.rockcreekgrill.com

Most women, myself included, get overwhelmed when they read Proverbs 31. There is no way in this world I could get done in one day what she got done in one chapter. That's why it's important to understand that her picture is a portrait of a lifetime, not a summary of Super Woman's day.

We go through seasons of life where we are able to engage in different things; right now I'm mothering through the little years where all the kids are still in car seats, they all need their shoes tied by an adult, and someone else to give them a bath. They aren't quite big enough to make their own beds, make dinner, or watch younger siblings when Mommy needs a nap.

It's busy, exhausting, and rewarding. I have to remind myself not to compare my Chapter 1 to someone else's Chapter 100. I'm not Martha Stewart. She can keep an immaculate home, tend glorious gardens, and grow every vegetable perfectly because she is at a different stage of life and her priorities are different than mine. She does not have three small children, nor does she homeschool. Of course she isn't any less of a person for that, but it would be silly of me to measure myself against her.

I'm responsible for using 24 hours wisely everyday. I use 7-8 of them for sleeping. That leaves me with 16 to manage well. Managing them well means learning how to prioritize and giving the most important things the most attention. In our house, that order looks like this:

1. God
2. Spouse
3. Children
4. House

My husband prefers a good meal to a clean house or an empty laundry basket, so if I have to choose between making dinner or cleaning the shower, the former takes priority.

We believe our primary purpose as parents is to raise our children in the fear of the Lord. It's a hard exhortation to remember when there are crumbs under the table and sticky fingerprints on the window, but if it seems the only thing I accomplish in a day is giving instruction, administering correction, breaking up squabbles, reminding our children of the necessity of their salvation, and teaching them to pray for a clean heart that hates evil and wants to do good, then the most important things have been given the most attention.

I'm told by seasoned mothers whose children have flown the nest that one day you will have time to bake, and sew, sell handmade goodies and keep a spotless house, but you'll probably wish you still had the company of several little people who think you're the world.

To help keep my priorities aligned properly, there are several good things that I just don't do. One day I'd like to do them, but right now I don't have enough time or attention to give them.

1. I don't cloth diaper. I know it's more eco-friendly, and I've heard it's no more work than disposables, but I haven't taken the time to build up a stash. My washing machine doesn't get much of a break as it is and I'm not sure how I'd find the time to keep a clean supply of diapers on hand or the stomach to slosh around poopy diapers in the toilet (or is that not required anymore?) When a pack of 136 diapers goes on sale for $17.99, I stock up.

2. I don't bake my own bread; partly because Brad eats gluten-free and I cannot seem to make a loaf that doesn't taste like a hockey puck, and partly because homemade bread isn't very high on our priority list. I don't eat much bread either. The kids eat store-bought sourdough bread at lunch time. One loaf lasts us a whole week, so the time and effort it takes to make my own doesn't save me any serious coin in the long run.

3. I don't iron. I recently pulled it out for the first time in three years to iron a blazer. Marveling at this new invention, our two-year-old son asked, "Why are you vacuuming your shirt, Mom?" Wrinkle-prone items get pulled from the dryer as soon as the cycle is finished. Sometimes they get hung up on hangers and hung neatly in the closet. Sometimes they lay on top of the dryer until I need to wear them.

4. I don't bath our kids every day. I don't even bath them every other day. We (usually Daddy) bath them when they're dirty (at least once a week, I assure you).

5. I don't use natural remedies for everything. I'm a vaccinated, formula fed kid and grew up taking Tylenol for headaches. I have a long way to go before I'm comfortable knowing what herb to give for what ailment, what homeopathic drops to pour into my baby's mouth when she's teething, and what essential oil to rub into my temples when my head is pounding. I want to though, and I'm slowly learning how, but you'll still find Tylenol in our medicine cupboard.

6. I don't grind my own flours. In fact, my electric grain mill is for sale if anyone is interested.

7. I don't have a large garden. There's not a great deal of room on our city lot. We grow tomatoes, peppers, onions, cucumbers, a few herbs, and whatever happens to seed itself through our compost. It's more of a teaching tool for the kids and it satisfies my gardening itch. I enjoy making Tomato Spice Soup from our produce, but I buy and preserve nearly everything else from local farms.

8. I don't can. I don't know how. It's on my list of things I want to learn. Thankfully, my friend Jill is a great teacher and my Mom is willing to hold my hand and walk me through the process. I'm terrified of things exploding in my face. For the past five summers, I've simply cleaned, cut, bagged, and thrown seasonal produce in the freezer. Gently, of course, so it doesn't get bruised. That much I understand about preserving.

9. I don't dust every week. It's really just a country accent anyway and we're honored when folks take the time to autograph our bookshelves. Kidding. Sort of. I make an effort to dust every Friday on "Housework Day," but sometimes it goes two weeks before it gets done. The kids each get a rag too, which means our carpet is probably due for an interesting homeschool science experiment...

10. I don't sew, knit, or scrapbook. At night, when the kids are in bed and I've got some time to relax, I write. Keeping a blog is the therapy that works for me. It's a fun way to interact and learn from a community of like-minded moms and a bonus to be able to contribute to our family income.

11. I don't coupon. I don't even look at flyers. They go from the mailbox to the recycle bin. I can purchase everything I need from three stores and they're all within 5 minutes of each other. It's quick, convenient, and just one afternoon in town (if you have three children in car seats, you get me).

12. I don't go to the Ladies Bible Study at church. We homeschool.

13. I don't have a phone. I don't want one either. I'm not sure I'd have the self-discipline necessary to give it the same amount of attention I give the non-existent one now. I'm sure it'd be handy one day if I were in a car accident or stranded on the side of the road. I'm relying on the generosity of those passing by and assuming they probably have one I could borrow.

14. I don't exercise. Not deliberately, at least. I've been blessed with a good metabolism and consider giving under-doggies to thirty-five pound toddlers on the swing for half an hour, and chasing our one-speed (fast) son around all day good enough.

15. I don't serve fancy meals. I like to cook a mainly whole food diet, but I don't go all Jacques Pepin on my family. Every morning we have the same smoothie for breakfast. Every afternoon we have the same sandwich for lunch. Snack-wise, I serve simple things I know our kids love. In the evenings, we typically enjoy healthy, low-fuss dinners like Cheeseburger Pie, Taco Salad, or Coconut Curried Chicken. Sometimes we have grilled cheese, or order pizza.

How 'bout you? Are there good things that you don't engage in because you simply don't have the time? What are they? What or who gets the bulk of your attention and what gets the leftovers?

Part 1: Keeping A Growing Home | A Management Series for Moms Part 2: Keeping A Growing Home | Know Your Role! Part 3: Keeping A Growing Home | Making Priorities & 15 Good Things I Don't Do Part 4: Keeping A Growing Home | Time-Saving Home Management Tips Part 5: Keeping A Growing Home | My Daily Schedule

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I made this chili the other day and it turned out to be a real winner! Originally, I was planning to use my Mom's recipe; I've always enjoyed her concoction. But alas, "a little bit of this and a little bit of that" recipes are difficult to duplicate. I scoured the Internet for something that sounded remotely similar and ended up combining two or three recipes that were guaranteed to take the blue ribbon. And please the judges (Brad and Charity) it did! I'm quite certain this will be a staple in our house over the cooler months. Best of all, it's gluten-free!
Ingredients:

• 1 lb. lean ground beef
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 red bell pepper
• 1 pkg. Taco Seasoning (I make my own)
• 3 Tbsp chili powder
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 2 cups peeled, diced tomatoes
• 1 can (15 ounce) red kidney beans
• 1 cup spaghetti sauce (homemade is best, but store-bought will do)
• 1 cup salsa (homemade is best)

Directions:

1. In a large saucepan or stockpot, cook ground beef, onion, and red pepper until meat is browned.
2. Stir in Taco Seasoning, chili powder, and garlic. Fry together.
3. Add remaining ingredients. Lower heat and simmer for 1.5 hours, stirring occasionally.

Right up there with Broccoli Raisin, this is one of our favorite salads. Taco Salad finds its way to our table frequently; once every two weeks or so. We never tire of it. It's fresh, tasty, and simple to prepare. And best of all, it's gluten-free!
I grew up eating this at my parents house, so I'm not entirely sure where the recipe originates; we probably had it memorized before we could talk. My guess is that it comes from Jean Pare's Kids Cooking Book - we wore the cover off that one. What follows is our Trim Healthy Mama version:

Ready in: 15 minutes Serves: 6 *For THMer's, this is a Satisfying meal
Ingredients:

• 1 head of iceberg or romaine lettuce, shredded
• 1 medium tomato, chopped
• 1/4 of an English cucumber, diced
• 1/2 a small red onion, finely chopped
• 1 lb. ground beef, cooked and seasoned with Taco Seasoning (or replace half of ground beef with black beans)
• 1-2 cups Cheddar cheese, grated
• a dollop of sour cream

Burgers are one of our favorite ways to start off a weekend! These are gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, Trim Healthy Mama friendly, and mighty tasty. Topped with crispy, bacon, sharp cheddar, fresh lettuce, juicy onion, tangy mustard, and creamy mayo... it's a guilt-free party in your mouth.

Time: 10 minutes plus grilling
Servings: 5-6 burgers
Gluten free, dairy-free, soy-free, Satisfying for THMer's.

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup finely diced onion
• 1 Tbsp ketchup (no sugar) mixed with 1 Tbsp water
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1/2 cup almond flour
• 1 lb organic ground beef
• Seasonings to taste: salt, pepper, garlic powder

To keep the burgers THM friendly, use portobello mushrooms as buns or a low-carb pita (such as Joseph's) for a Satisfying meal.

We enjoy our burgers with:

• mayo
• mustard
• ketchup
• lettuce
• red onion
• tomato
• cucumbers (or pickles)
• bacon

Last week, I was sent a copy of Real Food for the Real Homemaker and let me tell you, this is one gem of a cookbook! I love a good, hearty, healthy, home-cooked meal almost as much as I enjoy making them so when the opportunity to get creative with new recipes in the kitchen presents itself, I jump!

Real Food for the Real Homemaker sifts through the myriad of information (and misinformation) we've all heard about fats, grains, raw milk, and organic produce and provides a condensed and sensible approach to eating healthy, hearty food that tastes like it came from Grandma's kitchen.

No offense to the authors, but this eBook is reminiscent of those coil-bound United Church Cookbooks put together by sweet little seventy-year-old members of the Ladies Guild. I mean that as the sincerest compliment!

It teaches the basics every cook should know like which kitchen tools are absolutely necessary (and which brands give you the best bang for your buck); how to practice hospitality; how to make granola, yogurt in a crock-pot, and tortillas from scratch; how to save at the grocery store, freezer cook, and substitute ingredients.

Plus, you'll enjoy over 75 home-style recipes with a healthy twist. Among them:

Breads & Breakfast Recipes
Apple Nut Muffins with Caramel Glaze
Baked French Toast
Baked Oatmeal
Banana Bread
Best-Ever Scrambled Eggs
Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting
Chicken, Bacon, and Ranch Quiche
Cornbread
Egg Bake
Egg Sandwiches
Eggs in a Nest
Granola
Orange White-Chocolate Chip Scones
Perfect Pancakes
Popovers
Rolled Biscuits
Sausage Gravy
Simple Cream Biscuits
Tortillas
Yogurt

Sides, Soups, & Salad Recipes
Applesauce
Baked Beans
Caesar Salad
Cheesy Potato-Vegetable Soup
Homemade Garlic-Herb Croutons
Chicken Salad with Grapes and Apples
Chicken Stock
Chili
Cucumber Salad
Fruit Salad with Yogurt Dressing
Fruit Salsa
Ham and Cheese Soup
Italian Pasta Salad
Italian Vinaigrette
Mashed Potatoes
Mushroom Soup
Oven-Fried Potatoes
Peaches with Ginger Syrup
Quick Tomato Soup
Ranch Dressing
Roasted Root Vegetables
Ruby Red Fruit Salad
Tomato and Cucumber Salad
Vegetable Beef Soup
White Chicken Chili

Entrée Recipes Bean, Rice, and Salsa Bowls Cheeseburger Macaroni Skillet Cheesy Chicken-and-Rice Casserole Chicken and Pasta with Balsamic Vinegar Sauce Chicken Fajitas Chicken Parmesan Chicken Pot Pie Chicken Stir-Fry Couscous Chicken Pilaf Creamy Lemon Pasta Fresh Tomato-Vegetable Sauce Fried Rice Grilled Shrimp Pasta Homemade Macaroni and Cheese Meatballs Pasta al Fredo Pizza from Scratch Slow-Cooked Chicken Slow-Cooked Pork Chops with Gravy Slow-Cooked Herbed Pork Roast Stuffed Bell Peppers Tilapia Variations Toasted Tomato-Cheese Sandwiches Tuna-Stuffed Tomatoes

Dessert Recipes
Baked Apples
Butterscotch Pudding
Classic Pie Crust
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Homemade Brownies
Lemon Cheesecake Squares
Lemon-Lime Ice
Rice Pudding
Strawberry Pie

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It's that time of year again where everything in the garden seems to be ready all at the same time and I can't keep up! This was our best year for growing tomatoes. They're a little late turning red because of the cooler weather we've been having, but all the rain at the beginning of the year has given us a bumper crop of large, juicy beefsteaks which we are thoroughly enjoying!

This soup is our favorite way to use up the abundance the Lord has blessed us with. It's so tasty, healthy, and simple to prepare. We even served it at our wedding!

Tomato Spice Soup (Recipe from Brad's Mom)
Time: 15 minutes, plus simmering (2 hours) Servings:8-10 Trim Healthy Mama: Fuel Pull! Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Soy-free, Nut-free, Egg-free

Ingredients:

• 2 large onions
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1/4 c. butter or coconut oil
• 4lbs ripe tomatoes
• 6 c. chicken stock
• 4 tbsp. tomato paste
• 1 1/2 tsp. sea salt or Herbamare
• 1/2-1 tsp. white pepper
• 2 tbsp basil

Directions:

1. Chop onion. Mince garlic. Saute with butter until onions are clear in a large saucepan or stock pot.
2. Coarsely chop tomatoes. Add to pot with remaining ingredients. Bring to boil and simmer for an hour or two. Longer for a stronger flavor.
3. Cool and run entire mixture through blender. Strain to remove seeds and skins if desired. A cheesecloth works perfectly.
4. Optional: Garnish with fresh basil.

If you enjoyed this post, you may wish to follow Growing Home for updates via Google Friend Connect, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google +, or have them emailed directly to your inbox.
In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Growing Home. Thank you for your continued support!
Linking to: Raising Homemakers, Deep Roots At Home, Raising Arrows, Time Warp Wife, A Wise Woman.,Walking Redeemed, The Better Mom, The Modest Mom, A Mama's Story, The Focused Homemaker, Stacy Makes Cents, Gluten-Free Wednesdays. The Prairie Homestead, Nourishing Joy