Challenges

Photo by David Garrison on Pexels.com

Today was not a great day. I had high hopes for it, but alas, here we are. I got super frustrated when I got more unhelpful advice regarding our housing situation. Then, I was going to take Child #3 to get blood work done at the hospital when I looked over at his legs and realized that he had cut them up terribly. Wonderful! So, if I took him to the hospital for the blood work, they would ship him off to the mental hospital.

So, off to the local Goodwill to donate more items from our over-crowded house instead. This particular store is just two towns East of home.

When we arrived there was no one out there to help me. So I started unloading my own stuff. After a couple bags, I got a cart. I had filled it to the top and traded it for another empty cart by the time an employee came out to yell at me that they wouldn’t accept the shelf that I had brought.

Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

I shot back at him that if someone had been out there to help me, he could have told me that before I took it out of the car! He wasn’t really interested in helping me, and I wasn’t thrilled with him. He tried to excuse himself by telling me that he was so far away, but I cut him off again and told him that I didn’t care. He was so nasty, and to someone who was donating things for the store to sell and make money! All for free! Do you really want to offend someone who is helping you? Then he went on to help another lady, whom he actually asked if he could help! 😡!!!

Why oh why does the world seem to be full of incompetent jerks today?

I’m hoping for a better tomorrow. It is, after all, my birthday.

A birthday cake. Not mine, but you get the idea.

Child #2’s Chimichangas

Yummy chimichangas!

Yesterday, as you may know, was Cinco de Mayo, or Mexican independence day. We, in the states, tend to celebrate it too. Hey, it’s another reason to party, people! So, Child #3 decided that she would make chimichangas. She has been perfecting this recipe for a while now, and I’ll tell you, they are awesome! Thankfully, this recipe makes enough for leftovers (yay, lunch!!!) So, here it is:

Protein Mixture – beef, refried beans, tomato sauce, and spices!

Protein Mixture Ingredients

1 pound lean ground beef

1/2 cup finely chopped onion

1, 16 oz. can refried beans

1, 8 oz. can tomato sauce

2 tsp. chili powder

1 tsp. minced garlic (fresh or jarred, though she used jarred)

1/2 tsp. ground cumin

Fresh salsa sauce!

Sauce Ingredients

1, 4 oz. can chopped green chilies

1, 4 oz. can chopped jalapeno peppers

2, 8 oz. cans tomato sauce

1 tsp. cumin

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. chili powder

Ok, so we had to use crumbles, but they worked!

Other Ingredients

Your favorite gf non-stick cooking spray

18, 6″ corn tortillas (approximately)

1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Directions – Protein Mixture

Preheat your oven to 350° F. Cook beef with onion on medium heat in a large frying pan. When beef is cooked through and onions are soft add refried beans and chili powder, garlic, cumin and can of tomato sauce. Stir to combine and warm through.

Directions – Sauce

In a medium-sized bowl mix the 2 cans of tomato sauce, the green chilies, and the jalapeno peppers. To this add the cumin, salt, and chili powder. Set aside.

Directions – Putting It All Together

Spray a 9″ x 13″ pan with your favorite gf cooking spray. One tortilla at a time, add enough protein mixture to fill, but not overfill said tortilla (about 2 Tbsp.) Top with about 1 Tbsp. of the sauce. Add a sprinkle of the cheddar cheese to the tortilla filling. Place in pan and have someone else with impeccably clean hands hold it in place while you work on the next tortilla. Continue until you have filled your pan. Sprinkle the leftover cheese on top of the pan of chimichangas and slide into the preheated oven. Bake for about 30 minutes or until the tortillas are crispy and the cheese is melted. Enjoy!

Vegan or Vegetarian Note: If you want to make this vegetarian or vegan you could substitute diced mushrooms for the beef, or a can (16 oz.) of kidney beans. As for the cheese, you could try vegan cheese if you so require. Either way, the spices should make however you make it delicious!

A Rainbow Promise & Chocolate Sauce

A rainbow with the storm clearing…such a sign for God’s everlasting promise!

The other day we had a pretty strong storm here in Wisconsin. However, when the clouds moved East, the sun shined in the West and a beautiful rainbow appeared. It reminded me of that very first rainbow and the promise that went along with it. God has not abandoned us, even though the mortgage company is being oh so difficult. God has us.

So, the chocolate sauce. My oldest had brought me a semi-sweet chocolate bar. I am not a huge semi-sweet chocolate person, but thought that I would make my famous homemade chocolate sauce. My mom used to make a version of this when I was a kid and it never failed to dress up plain ice cream in the most delightful way.

Such a special dessert!

Chocolate Sauce

1, 4.3 oz. semi-sweet chocolate bar (or a rounded 1/2 cup of chocolate chips works too!)

1 Tbsp. butter

3 Tbsp. milk

Just starting out in my saucepan.

In a small saucepan (yes, on that thing we call the stove! Though you can use the microwave – just heat, stirring every 30 seconds, until melted and stir together.) melt butter and chocolate in the milk, stirring frequently (or constantly!) until all is melted and combined. Pour over your favorite ice cream and enjoy. Serves 4. Sorry, Child #1! You were at work!

Can’t you just smell that chocolatey goodness?

NOTE: Please keep praying for us! We are now having trouble having the mortgage company accept the buyer’s money to buy our house. It’s asinine. I know God has a purpose for this and He will use all things for good, but with the mortgage sale coming up on Thursday, I’m really trying to not let my anxiety get the better of me!

Good News!

Ha ha! Gotcha! You didn’t think my house looked like this, did you?
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

I was able to sell my house! Yay! What a relief! I contacted a couple of companies who buy homes to fix up and flip. The first one was a bust, but the second gentleman bought the house! So, we have about a month of crazy, frantic packing, etc. and then we will bid our old home adieu!

Thanks, everyone, for all of the prayers. They really do change things, don’t they? May God bless you all! And keep those prayers coming, if you please!

Do we know to where we are moving? Of course not! What, did you think I have this all planned out and organized? But, my friends, God is so good! I will be able to leave our village without a foreclosure sale on my record. Yay!

And bonus…my not so nice (read horrifying!) neighbors will not be my neighbors any longer! YAY!!!!

Now…about that place to live, God?

Tasty Chicken Stew

So hungry now!!!!

I made this stew a few weeks back, and it turned out awesome. I wasn’t sure, because I’ve never had much luck with chicken stew, but this one’s a winner.

Ingredients:

2 lbs. (or so) boneless, skinless chicken thighs

4 large potatoes, peeled and quartered

2 lbs. carrots (I used regular carrots, peeled and cut into 3″ pieces, but you could use baby carrots)

Salt and pepper to taste (I just took my handy salt-pepper shaker and shook it a few times over the meal)

8 oz. Italian dressing

Your favorite nonstick spray

Directions:

Spray your pan (I used a Dutch oven) with your cooking spray. Add chicken, potatoes, and carrots. Season with salt and pepper. Pour the Italian dressing over all of it. Cover and bake at 350°F for 45 minutes or until chicken reaches 165° F and potatoes and carrots can be pierced through with a knife. Enjoy!

Hope Update: I am trying to find a buyer for our home so that we can stop the auction and have a little time to move. Please pray for this and pray for a good home for us too! Thanks, guys!

An Update

Is it Spring yet?
Photo by Oleg Magni on Pexels.com

Ah, my friends it has been too long! I just wanted to update you on why it has been so long! As you may or may not know, I broke three toes on my right foot about 2.5 weeks ago. Yeah, I’m THAT graceful! I tripped, went down and when I was finally able to get upright, I could no longer walk on my right foot – too painful!

So, it has been an interesting journey! Do you ever feel as if God is against you? In my heart, I know He’s not, but on that Sunday morning, it sure felt like it. It even felt more like it two days later when I came down with some horrible gastrointestinal bug. It was horrible (I will spare you the grisly details!) and all five of us had it. It was a well-traveled bug.

Lovely!
Photo by Oleg Magni on Pexels.com

I am slowly getting back to the fact that I can eat again, though my symptoms have disappeared, I am somewhat gun shy, as you might expect. That area is going well, though my foot still throbs from time to time and I still have to hobble around on my crutches. Time is the great healer, for broken bones at least. I am fortunate that I am not a marathon runner, or my podiatrist would have wanted me to have foot surgery. When she asked about it (since I had a 50/50 chance of needing it or not) I felt my eyes get large and my head shook from side to side. Uh-uh!!!!

It has been most difficult staying put and healing, though not that difficult when I had the GI bug. Who wants to go anywhere with that malady? Yuck! I have had to relearn patience and let others do for me, which about kills me (though my children would disagree!) I am tired, but also resting in God’s love.

Looks like a happy place, doesn’t it?
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

I am trying to work out a solution to our housing issue. Please continue to send your prayers at this very difficult time (regarding housing and anything else you want to throw in there – we can use all the help we can get!!!) and we will watch how God works.

Thanks and God bless,

Rita

Vanity Pancakes

Hungry?

Every once in a while we have breakfast for dinner. This is especially popular during Fridays in Lent, when we do not eat meat. Yesterday, Child #2 decided to make vanity pancakes.

Vanity pancakes are light and fluffy. We generally make at least a double batch, since a single batch makes 20, 6″ pancakes. These are great as leftovers, or to be frozen for future use. Once you have poured some on your griddle, you may then place a few chocolate chips, blueberries, or your favorite treat in each pancake. Do not add the treats to the batter! They will stick and burn to your pan!

Mix together:

2 cups sweet sorghum flour                                        In a Separate Small Bowl Mix:

1 cup coconut powder                                                2 Tbsp. baking powder          

2 tsp. sugar                                                                  2 tsp. apple cider vinegar

1 tsp. salt                                                                     2 tsp. water

2 eggs                                           Add to first mixture

2 cups milk

6 Tbsp. canola oil

12 oz. sour cream

Combine all ingredients in first list in a large mixing bowl and mix until well blended.  Add baking powder mixture and stir in on low speed until incorporated.  Drop batter onto a well-greased, 325℉ griddle or frying pan.  Add any desired “extras” at this point. Cook until bubbles form and edges look firm (3 – 5 minutes.)  Flip and cook for another minute until second side is golden.  Makes 20, 6” pancakes.

Serving suggestions: Butter, syrup, jam, honey, etc.

Note: For our vanity pancakes, Child #2 added a few semi-sweet chocolate chips after dropping the batter onto the hot griddle. After they were cooked on both sides, she topped them with butter and tart cherry jam. Yummy!

Note #2: If you would like to make these vegetarian or vegan, the substitutions that can be made are as follows:

2 eggs = 2 Tbsp. flax seed meal and 6 Tbsp. warm water (mix separately in a small bowl and add after baking powder mixture)

2 cups milk = 2 cups almond milk

12 oz. sour cream = 12 oz. soy yogurt

Enjoy!

A Stumble and a Break

What did she do this time?!!
Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

Ah, clumsiness, my old friend. What did she do now? Oh, just broke my foot! I’m nothing if not an overachiever! And yes, since I never broke a bone as a child or even young adult, I’m making up for lost time!

As a child my parents had a special addendum added to their insurance so that any accident where a trip to the emergency room was required was specifically covered. We used that addendum at least yearly for me.

Many times it was due to my sister, however, I was always on the losing end. One time she chased me around the kitchen table, which ended with me running into the sharp edge of the countertop. This was before rounded edges were popular.

Another time I was practicing my violin and she got up close to me and put her fingers on my fingerboard. I backed up and landed with the kerosene heater between my legs. Ouch! Terrible burns! I am familiar with Er’s to say the least. I will spare you any more gorry details.

The violin survived better than my legs!
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

This time I was hurrying to find the whiteout to fix my song cards for Mass this past Sunday. I tripped on my way out of the bedroom and fell, bending the toes on my right foot back. I had trouble getting up, but eventually did, but couldn’t put weight on the foot.

By the time evening came, I knew I had to go to the ER. My foot was broken. 😔. So, here I am again, laid up on the couch.

Ouch!
Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

Healing prayers, please. Also, pray for our housing accommodations, since I was supposed to get a “regular” job to make a mortgage refinance possible. Obviously God has another plan.