At our wedding luncheon, two soups were served: Cream of Broccoli, my favorite growing up, and Tomato Spice, Brad's childhood favorite. Our Mom's specialties are very different, but equally delicious. We couldn't choose between the milder, smooth, green soup, or the spicy, red kicker, so we decided to have them both. They're very pretty too.
Tomato Spice Soup(Recipe from Brad's Mom)
Ingredients:
2 large onions
2 garlic cloves
1/4 c. butter
4lbs ripe tomatoes
6 c. chicken stock
4 tbsp. tomato paste
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2-1 tsp. white pepper
2 tbsp basil
Directions:
Chop onion. Mince garlic. Saute with butter until onions are clear in a large saucepan or stock pot.
Coarsely chop tomatoes. Add to pot with remaining ingredients. Bring to boil and simmer for an hour or two. Longer for a stronger flavor.
Cool and run entire mixture through blender. Strain to remove seeds if desired (We like them better in the soup).
Optional: Garnish with fresh basil.
Hint: If you find the soup to spicy, you can swirl in sour cream with a toothpick to tone the flavor down.
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:8-10Trim 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:
Chop onion. Mince garlic. Saute with butter until onions are clear in a large saucepan or stock pot.
Coarsely chop tomatoes. Add to pot with remaining ingredients. Bring to boil and simmer for an hour or two. Longer for a stronger flavor.
Cool and run entire mixture through blender. Strain to remove seeds and skins if desired. A cheesecloth works perfectly.
Optional: Garnish with fresh basil.
Hint: If you find the soup too spicy, you can swirl in sour cream with a toothpick to tone the flavor down.
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
Here is a deliciously simple crock-pot recipe for homemade apple butter that makes the whole house smell something wonderful! Enjoy it warm over ice cream, or on pancakes, waffles, or a slice of crusty French bread! All-Day Apple ButterTime: 15 minutes prep; 12 hours in the crock-pot. Yield: 4 pints Ingredients:
5 1/2 pounds tart cooking apples, peeled and finely chopped
2 1/2 cups sugar
3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp fine sea salt
Directions: Place apples in large slow-cooker (6 quart). Combine spices and sugar and pour over apples. Mix well. Cover and cook on HIGH for 1 hr. Reduce heat to LOW and cook, covered, for 9-11 hours until dark and thickened. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. Uncover and cook on low for 1 hour longer. Stir with a wire whisk until smooth. Spoon into jars or freezer containers, leaving 1 in. head space. Cover and refrigerate or freeze. Makes 4 pints.
First, pick some apples. Try not to eat them all before you get home.
Mildly tart varieties like Ginger Golds are an excellent choice.
Peel and chop 'em up.
Sprinkle with sugar and spice, and everything nice.
Cook all day in the crock-pot until thick and brown and delicious.
Seal, tie with a pretty bow, and give one to a friend.
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. 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 Prairie Homestead, We ARE That Family, Make Ahead Meals, Moms The Word, Allergy Free Wednesdays. Gluten Free Homemakers
The chemical aerosol fresheners you can purchase in the store may send off a pleasant odor, but they wreak havoc on our health! The highly condensed level of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and artificial fragrances can cause headaches, earaches, diarrhea, vomiting - even wheezing in young children!
However, sometimes it take more than just an opened window to clear out an unpleasant odor from a room. This Herbal Mist Air Freshener is completely natural and the scent is as lovely as you choose to make it! Mist in the kitchen after frying onions and bacon, spray inside the diaper pail, and store a bottle in the bathroom.
To make your own herbal spray air freshener, all you need is a clean spritz bottle and 2 basic ingredients:
Distilled water
Essential oil (I've provided some blend suggestions below)
Prepare by adding 7 drops of an essential oil (or a combination of oils) to every 8 oz (1 cup) of water. Experiment with different oil combinations to create a scent that is uniquely you! My personal favorite is a combination of lavender, tea tree, and spearmint - so fresh and invigorating! Essential Oil Air Freshener Blends:
Country Spice | cinnamon, ginger, vanilla, bay
Spring Morning | lavender, rose, geranium, rosemary, sweet orange
In the Woods | sage, thyme, cedar, patchouli, frankincense
Lover's Lane | vanilla, sandalwood, ylang ylang, jasmine, neroli, rose
Far East| patchouli, cedar, sandalwood, lime, coriander
Energizing | basil, lavender, orange, nutmeg, mint
Brad and I love Tacos, fajitas, salsa... any dish with a touch of Mexican flair. But for all the other spice lovers out there, you know how expensive a little packet of seasoning can get! Thankfully, there's a better way. Did you know you can make your own Taco Seasoning mix for a fraction of the cost? And what's more, it's healthier too. No MSG, BHT, ABCs or any other type of cancer-causing preservatives added to the mix. Just your regular old spices ground together to make a stronger, cheaper, and better flavor than any pre-packaged seasoning mix out there.
Shhhh! Just don't tell Old El Paso our little secret. It might not be so good for his business once you try it and get hooked. Here's how to make your own yummy Taco seasoning-for cheap! 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin 1/4 tsp garlic powder 1 tbs chili powder 1/4 tsp. red pepper 1 tsp salt 1 tsp black pepper This recipe seasons 1 lb. of ground hamburg or cubed chicken very well. Decrease the amounts a little if you don't want it very spicy. Feel free to experiment with the measurements of each ingredient to suit your taste. Sometimes I like to add cayenne pepper, or curry to the mix as well.
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:
God
Spouse
Children
House
I start everyday in the Word. I can't make it through the rest of the list with out God's help so it only makes sense to give Him the #1 place in my life.
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
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.
It's that time of year for pumpkins and spice and everything nice! These moist muffins are full of Autumn flavor and finished with a delicious streusal topping. They go as quickly as I can make them!
Time: 15 min. prep Yield: 30 muffins
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/3 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup buttermilk
4 eggs
4 tablespoons molasses
4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
STREUSEL TOPPING:
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
4 tablespoons cold butter
Directions: In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in the pumpkin, buttermilk, eggs, and molasses. Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, spices and salt; add to pumpkin mixture and stir until just blended. Fill paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full.
For topping, combine flour and brown sugar; cut in butter until mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle over batter. Bake at 375° for 17-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pan for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack. Yield: 30 medium muffins.
Enjoy!
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.
