Chicken Jambalaya
6 servings

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
1 tablespoon oil
3 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 cups uncooked rice
1/2 cup celery, thinly sliced
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
2 -3 teaspoons Cajun or Creole seasoning
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
1 can (14 1/2 ounces) petite diced tomatoes, undrained

Saute chicken in oil for 2-3 minutes, or until nicely browned. Stir in the broth, rice, celery, onion, green pepper, seasoning, garlic, and hot pepper sauce; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 50-60 minutes. Stir in tomatoes; cover and simmer 10 minutes longer or until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender. Remove from heat; let stand for 5 minutes. Enjoy!

Shine Your Sink Every Day...

the FlyLady way!

To keep my sink shiny I have a friend -

Mrs. Meyer!

Thank you to Mrs. Wilt, of The Sparrow's Nest, for introducing us!

My reminder for all those times when the sink isn't quite so 'shiny'...

Thank you God for dirty dishes;

They have a tale to tell.

While other folk go hungry,

We're eating very well.

With home and health and happiness,

We shouldn't want to fuss;

For by this stack of evidence,

God's been very good to us!

The Laundry Room

"Keep it clean and orderly. Decorate it cheerfully so that it won't be a trial for you to get in there and do your work. Keep the dryer and washer free from clutter on the tops. Hang shelves for your supplies and detergents. Have respect for yourself and treat your clothes with thankfulness and love. Your family is special. Each one deserves to have clothing which fits properly and has not been treated horribly by shoving all the colors and textures into one large load. All your family's clothes should be able to have the label - washed with tender loving care!"

from Treasury of Vintage Homekeeping Skills by Martha Greene

The Laundry Schedule

Monday - dish towels, bath towels, undergarments
Tuesday - white shirts, tan/gray shirts, black/blue shirts
Wednesday - maroon/red shirts, camouflage (yes, I have enough to do a separate load of camo each week!)
Thursday - light colors, dark colors
Friday - dress clothes, Dryel
Saturday - sheets, bedspreads, blankets

Some homekeepers like to do all the laundry one day a week - two or three loads each day, started early, works for me!

The Laundry Baskets

A labeled basket for each load makes sorting laundry painless!

(And a husband that builds all the shelves you could ever need to hold those baskets makes doing laundry a joy!)

Ode to the Backyard Clothesline

You'll say I'm "quaintly countrified,"
Old fashioned - as you please.
But I love the sight of fresh, clean laundry
Tossing in the breeze.
To suspend each garment on the line,
Then give the wind full play;
To caress and gently fragrance
In that sweet "outdoorsy"way.
They bask in sunny radiance,
Towels neatly hung in rows;
Snowy linens snapping crisply
Darling dancing baby clothes.
And when at dusk I gather them
I feel extremely blessed
That line-dried and sun kissed cleanliness
Clothe the ones that I love best.

by Juanita M. Vernon

from Treasury of Vintage Homekeeping Skills by Martha Greene

Yesterday afternoon, I had just finished preparing the corn and black bean salsa. The scent of chopped onion and cilantro, as well as the freshly squeezed lime juice was still lingering in the air. My sweet husband happened to pass by my computer as I was posting the picture of the salsa. He said, "Mmmm...is that 'smell-a-vision'?" :-)

Spiral Pasta Salad

Spiral Pasta Salad
12 servings

1 package (12 ounces) tri color spiral pasta
3 tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
1/4 small onion, thinly sliced
1 can (2 1/4 ounces) sliced ripe olives, drained
3 tablespoons vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon dried marjoram
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup olive oil

Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and rinse in cold water. Combine pasta, tomato, pepper, onion, and olives. Combine vinegar, honey, mustard and spices. Whisk in oil. Pour over pasta and toss to coat. Refrigerate until serving and enjoy!

Linked to Gooseberry Patch Recipe Roundup - Summertime Fun, Gooseberry Patch Recipe Roundup - Potluck Favorites.

Favorite Homekeeping and Home Organization Books

Better Homes and Gardens - Making a House a Home
Emilie Barnes - The Creative Home Organizer
Emilie Barnes - Household Hints
Martha Greene - Treasury of Vintage Homekeeping Skills
Cheryl Mendelson - Home Comforts
Donna Otto - Get More Done in Less Time
Deniece Schofield - Confessions of an Organized Housewife
Deniece Schofield - Confessions of a Happily Organized Family

Home School Helps

for resources

• rainbowresource
• christianbookdistributors
• christianlibertypress

for curriculum

• oldfashionededucation
• amblesideonline
• notebookingpages
• nationalgeographic
• enchantedlearning
• worksheetworks
• saxonmathhomeschoolonlineactivities
• wordlywise3000onlineactivities

for planning

• donnayoung

for encouragement

• smoothingtheway

for fun

• bookitprogram

Rainy Evening Game

Basari

Happy Cinco di Mayo!

Creamy Chicken Enchiladas
(makes two pans - one to eat and one to freeze!)
10 servings

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon dried minced onion
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
5 cups cooked chicken, shredded
20 flour tortillas
2 cans condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
2 cups (16 ounces) sour cream
1 cup milk
2 cans (4 ounces each) chopped green chilies
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded Mexican blend cheese

Beat cream cheese, water, onion powder, cumin, salt and pepper until smooth. Stir in chicken. Place 1/4 cup mixture down center of each tortilla and place seam side down in 2 greased 13x9x2 in. baking dishes. Combine soup, sour cream, milk and chilies; pour over enchiladas. Baked, uncovered at 350° for 30-40 minutes or until bubbly. Sprinkle with cheese and bake 5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Enjoy!

I used all low fat ingredients in this recipe to help it not be such a "girdle buster". :-) My family didn't notice a thing and the recipe was still so rich that one enchilada was very satisfying.

Corn and Black Bean Salsa

Corn and Black Bean Salsa
6 cups

1 can whole kernel corn, drained and rinsed

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

2 tomatoes, seeded and chopped

1/2 small red onion, chopped

1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced

1/4 teaspoon salt

juice of 1 lime

Combine ingredients. Cover and refrigerate until serving. Enjoy!

Chocolate Chip Muffins

Chocolate Chip Muffins
1 dozen

2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
3/4 cup chocolate chips

Grease bottoms only of 12 muffin cups or line with baking cups. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt; mix well. In a small bowl, combine milk, oil and egg; blend well. Add dry ingredients all at once; stir just until dry ingredients are moistened. Stir in chocolate chips. Fill cups 2/3 full. Bake at 400° for 15-20 minutes. Enjoy!

Linked to Gooseberry Patch Recipe Round Up

Thrifting Treasure

Betty Crocker's Guide to Easy Entertaining 1959

"The hostess who thinks of her party as a gift to her friends can't go wrong - a gift of people with whom they'll have fun - a gift of food they will enjoy - a gift of herself by having that food ready to serve without confusion - and a gift of confidence by letting them know what kind of a party is planned and how to dress for it."

Rainy Days and Mondays Always...

...make me smile! :-)

Happiness

Happiness 

Happiness is something
we create in our mind,
It’s not something you search for
and so seldom find.
It’s just waking up
and beginning the day
By counting our blessings
and kneeling to pray.
It’s giving up thoughts
that breed discontent
And accepting what comes
as a “gift heaven sent.”
It's giving up wishing
for things we have not
And making the best of
whatever we've got.
It’s knowing that life
is determined for us,
And pursuing our tasks
without fret, fume or fuss
For it is by completing
what God gives us to do
That we find real contentment
and happiness, too.

~Helen Steiner Rice

Anne of Green Gables

Miss Potter

"It's a toxic world, but you have the power

to protect yourself. Feed your life from the well of sweetness."

~ Susan Branch

Best Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies

Best Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies
3 dozen

¾ cup butter
½ cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 ¼ cups flour
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon baking soda
2 cups chocolate chips

Combine butter and sugars and then add egg and vanilla. Combine dry ingredients; add to wet and mix well. Add chocolate chips. Roll into 36 balls and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. (Parchment paper makes the best cookies!) Bake at 325° for 15 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes on cookie sheets and then transfer to wire rack to finish cooling. (Don't overcook - cookies should be a bit undone when you pull them out of  the oven.  They will continue cooking for the 5 minutes they are on the cookie sheet.  This will make them perfectly soft and chewy for days if kept  sealed tightly in a cookie jar.)  Enjoy!

Linked to Gooseberry Patch Recipe Roundup

Miss Daisy...

...is nine months old today!

Supper Menus
May 5th-10th

Monday
creamy chicken enchiladas, corn and black bean salsa, guacamole, tortilla chips
Tuesday
submarine sandwiches, spiral pasta salad
Wednesday
chicken jambalaya, country cornbread muffins
Thursday
chalupas, spanish rice, pico di gallo, tortilla chips
Friday
stuffed bell peppers, garlic bread
Saturday
hamburgers, spicy potato wedges, easy baked beans