1-31-13 Happy Birthday Joshua

****We love you Joshua Daniel!!!****

But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 19:14

 

1-29-13 Chicken Pot Pie

Another favorite recipe that I want to share and archive in the cloud.

*warning*

This recipe, although very delicious, is very time-consuming. I did not make this when I had only little ones to feed; back then we did store-bought which worked just fine. Only since I have lots of kitchen help have we started making this, and even then it takes us 45 minutes to an hour for three of us to get it ready for the oven. This time, however, includes deboning chicken carcasses or old hens, which could be eliminated by dicing cooked chicken breasts. Also, these amounts fill a 12 quart kettle with filling, which makes one 9x13 pan and two 10x15 pans.  We cook two for our supper and save the third for lunch the next day or share it with someone else. We haven’t had good results with freezing it but haven’t needed to because it doesn’t last long enough! Also we make the biscuit topping from scratch; this time could be reduced using packaged prepared biscuits.  Regardless of the time it takes, since it is often requested in the winter, we are happy to make it for our family; because, like I said, it is delicious, and also because it is very hearty, economical, and nutritious. We often prepare it early in the day and then refrigerate it until we’re ready to bake it. With a salad or applesauce, it is a complete meal in one pan.

The original recipe comes from Whole Foods For The Whole Family, published by La Leche League International, but we’ve altered (and enlarged) it quite it bit to suit our family. The original recipe makes enough for a 3-quart pan and would also take substantially less time than the way we do it.

4 quarts chicken stock

1 tablespoon dried parsley

1 1/2 tablespoons salt

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup chopped celery

3 cups sliced carrots

3 cups diced potatoes

2 cups green beans, cut small

2 cups peas

2 cups corn

4-6 cups chopped cooked chicken

1 1/2 cups flour

1 1/2 cups water

Biscuit Topping

Combine first eight ingredients in large stockpot. Simmer until vegetables are tender. Add peas, corn, and chicken. Mix flour and water in a separate bowl; stir into vegetable/meat mixture. Simmer until thickened, stirring frequently. Remove from heat. Prepare Biscuit Topping (below). Spoon chicken mixture into greased pans.Top with Biscuit Topping. [Hint: roll out on floured surface. Roll the topping around the rolling pin to transfer from floured surface to the pan, then unroll onto the mixture. Works slick!][thanks for the tip, LK!!] Bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes; reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees and bake until biscuits are golden brown and mixture is bubbly. May substitute chopped turkey or beef for chicken.

Biscuit Topping

6 cups flour (we use whole wheat but white is probably fine too)

3 tablespoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar

3/4 teaspoon salt

3 sticks cold butter

3 cups milk

Mix all dry ingredients, then cut in butter. Add milk, then mix well. Divide into thirds. Roll out on floured surface and transfer to pans.

**This is also the recipe we use for sausage gravy. We don’t do roll/cut biscuits; rather, we drop them by large spoonsful onto greased pans and bake at 450 for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown. Let them set a few minutes to absorb butter from bottom of pan . Mmmm!  These freeze well.**

1-28-13 Saturday

by Kaitlyn

Saturday we butchered with Dave & Beth and Jeff Kieser and his boys.

The little kids watched the killing from the house.

Mom took this picture from the window where the little kids were watching.

Mom and Tori were inside working on food for supper, so there are no pictures of the hanging, gutting, or skinning.

Josh stood and watched the whole time.

Packaging the meat.

THE END.

1-27-13 The Christian Home

Another Christian home was established today as Andy & Michelle became one in Christ. This song, always sung at our weddings, is a beautiful picture of God’s heart towards the Christian home.

The Christian Home (Hymns of Zion #64)

There is beauty all around, When there’s love at home;

There is joy in every sound, When there’s love at home.

Peace and plenty here abide, Smiling sweet on every side,

Time doth softly, sweetly glide, When there’s love at home.

Love at home, love at home,

Time doth softly sweetly glide,

When there’s love at home.

In the cottage there is joy, When there’s love at home;

Hate and envy ne’er annoy, When there’s love at home.

Roses blossom ‘neath our feet, All the earth’s a garden sweet,

Making a life a bliss complete, When there’s love at home.

Love at home, love at home,

Time doth softly sweetly glide,

When there’s love at home.

Kindly heaven smiles above, When there’s love at home;

all the earth is filled with love, When there’s love at home.

Sweeter sings the brooklet by, Brighter beams the azure sky;

O there’s One who smiles on high, When there’s love at home.

Love at home, love at home,

Time doth softly sweetly glide,

When there’s love at home.

1-26-13 Week In Review

First a re-cap from last week – Jesse Fischer installed the kitchen backsplash tile. It looks great!!

 

Monday. Lots of helpers to make barbeque.

Tuesday

Also, Tuesday was Restmor (see previous post).

Wednesday was another beautiful day for skating after school.

Thursday – still more skating, but no px of it. Coloring is the rage around here lately -

Friday -

1-25-13 Tuesday

We were glad for a large healthy group of friends to help us sing at Restmor. We were also glad that most of them could stay for lunch and fellowship afterwards.

Some of the older kids skated awhile then came in and played UNO with a littles crowd. Clockwise from 12:00 – Jewel, Josh, Tori, Julia, Sarah, Lexi, Laura, Sarah, Caleb

Some of the older kids stayed out a l-o-n-g time! l-r Kate, Kate, Seth, Jacob, Megan

It was cold but a gorgeous day!

Jacob, Derek.

Andrew, Julia. Micah in the background.

Joshua.

l-r Julia, Andrew, Jewel, Josh, Caleb

Clockwise from noon – Kate, Laura, Tori, Lexi, Megan, Derek, Seth, Sarah

l-r Megan, Paige, Kate, Sarah

Scattergories.

Counting Rainbows.

It was a wonderful day which we all thoroughly enjoyed, and we hope you all did too. Thanks for making the effort to come!

 

 

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High

Psalm 92:1