Parmesan Potatoes & Sausage Stir Fry

Parmesan Potatoes: I washed, pricked and baked potatoes in the microwave, took them out and sliced them into cubes but without cutting them all the way ways through (so they were still attached to skin, but fell open), put pats of butter on each one, sprinkled with Lawry's Seasoning Salt and liberally covered with Parmesan cheese, then put potatoes under broiler for a couple of minutes (watch closely so as not to burn, but just brown a little).

Sausage Stir Fry: Chopped white skinned potatoes, onions, garlic, and apples and cooked in microwave until slightly softened; chopped rings of fully cooked sausage links; melted butter in wok and added sausage and softened veggies/fruit, added a liberal amount of garlic powder,  some garlic salt and a little cayenne pepper, stir fried for a few minutes; then added a good amount of apple cider vinegar, covered wok and let simmer until flavorful and veggies/fruit were fully softened.

linked to time-warp wife & women living well

Salt & Light..an Illustration for children to apply a God-filled Life

¹³"Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.
 ^14-16"Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. (Matthew 5)

SALT SEASONING: I cook with lots of herbs, and adding salt to these herbs makes the SPICE explode with taste. Spicy lives are a great picture of how we can be authentic & honest all balanced with mercy..

Activity: Make some simple foods and add various spices to each dish..talk about the variety in the tastes and the variety we can exhibit in being ourselves as we walk with our friend Jesus..

Activity: Think of the combo of being SPICED with the Armour of God displayed by our Individual personalities: ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6)


LIGHT DISPLAYING GOD-COLORS: My favorite job was at the lab school at my college..one summer water day, the toddlers, preschoolers and us teachers brought tubs of paint outside so the children could paint on paper. Lots of it fell on the concrete and mixed with the water. The children splashed their sweet little feet in it while we sang and danced to "Singin' In The Rain." The colors melded together causing beautiful rainbow-like effects. Reminded one teacher of the holiday Holi in India where the city in drenched in bright colors.


That is to be our life in this world..a love like fireworks..a creative assortment of coloring explosions..meeting others needs according to their individual love languages..

Click on Chart to make bigger

Linked at Growing Home

Semi-Fastfood

Sometime fast food is a necessity. Days full of grocery shopping and all I want to do after putting the mounds of groceries away is put my feet up, thosespur of the moment after church lunch invites where I super speed to tidy my living room and clean my bathroom. Today was one of those grocery days andwhen I called my husband right before checking out, he asked me if I wanted a sandwich from Whataburger. Awww, that sounded wonderful. We got sandwichesfor everyone at home, just sandwiches, and then served chips and juice with them. Both economical and healthier than adding fries and soda.

Love Languages

Now to address Love Languages: My husband is the poster boy for the love language physical touch (see my hubby massage posts). My 7 month old kitty, Tink, is the purrfect example of receiving love through words of affirmation. This sweet, silly fur- bundle of joy will constantly "kill" socks, strings, sweaters. Then she will come to one of her humans with her kill and meow to us until we get down to her level, stroke her and gush, yes I mean gush about what an AMAZING, MIGHTY and BRAVE hunter she is! She is perfectly satisfied and content after the overabundant outpouring of praise. Priceless!

Reading to Your Child & Homemade Curriculum Idea from book, BEDTIME FOR FRANCES

5 Spiritual Reasons to Read to Your Child shared here: Women Living Well

She talks about children's ability to "organize, sequence and clearly express their thoughts" that comes through being read to..I think of my "sticky notes & story books" idea of keeping kiddos engaged and aware through interaction with the book. Today is curriculum day..gonna do a quick kitchen clean-up, then spend a few hours on curriculum..

Here is a curriculum idea I have already implemented:

I try to organize all my PLAY TRAYS according to Maria Montessori's basic categories of 1) Practical Life, 2) Culture, 3) Sensorial, & 4) Language..keeps things focused & simple

PRACTICAL LIFE PLAY TRAY from Bedtime for Frances by Russell Hoban, pictures by Garth Williams
1) I cut out pictures from the book (I chose 9)
2) mounted them to construction paper
3) laminated them
4) hole punched & looped with ribbon
5) bought a 9 pack of mini suction cup hooks from Dollar Tree
6) suctioned hooks on a metal cookie sheet, also from Dollar Tree
* PURPOSE: Children sequence pictures by hanging on hooks
~ helps children understand being afraid & how to both conquer & find comfort (find a fear not verse in the Bible to go to)
~ sequencing helps child understand steps & solution
~ hooking provides small motor work

So Simple, So Healthly, So Refreshing..my New Thirst Quencher..Low Cal, Completely Natural & Caffeinated

In a Gallon Jug, mix 2/3 cup of unsweetened instant tea with a little water to dissolve, fill jug half way with water & half way with 100% juice..so far I have used Apple Juice & Apple Punch, Great Value brand from Walmart..no sugar added..it gives a slight sweetness from the juice & a full body-ness from the tea..new Power Drink!!!

Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium..Inspiration!!!

2 calls for ministry to young children in the past 2 weeks. An opportunity through our church to adopt and/or foster children and an idea I hope to be commissioned to implement: sidewalk Bible school out of my car to refugee children our church ministers to. Inspired by the movie, Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium which I saw for the first time this weekend, I plan to continue to make hands-on interactive curriculum out of books, toys and household items and deliver it to little children with faith and sparkle!!!

Kitty Insights #2

Love the approach of my 3 kitty babies..was watching my baby Tink last night try to decide if she wanted a drink of my water..unlike others animals who just attack what they want, kitties approach actions with caution & deliberation..I really like this example..I so easily decide what I want too quickly and then there is no root for me to hold on with when the wind starts lapping me around..I need to think, question and make sure it's what I really want & is best before I dive in..

Sticky Notes & Story Books

Turn reading time into a hands-on activity through creative Sticky Notes (which can be prepared so quickly) that can be attached to applicable pictures in the book..

Helps keep children focused on what to look for..

My favorite individual Bible Story Books are the Arch Book Series..

Examples:

Paul's Life: 1) Before Salvation & 2) After Salvation..use different color sticky notes for the before & after and SEE the DIFFERENCE that Jesus makes!!!

Write Kiri's Feelings toward Jesus on Sticky Notes, use different colored markers to correlate with the Feelings, stick on corresponding pictures..

Medicinal Kitchen #2

Cinnamon & Honey

Breakfast Ideas:

Cinnamon & Honey Toast

Cinnamon & Honey Oatmeal

Cinnamon & Honey in Plain Yogurt

Cinnamon & Honey in Warm Milk

1) helps clear clogged arteries
2) aids in digestion, preventing gas
3) provide energy
4) when in a drink - cleanses bladder & eases bladder infections, relieves arthritis, & strengthens immune system

Vinegar:

1) contains Pepsin that helps in breaking foods down & absorbing them in the body
2) Pepsin also improves metabolism
3) regulation of blood sugar
4) suppresses appetite
5) antioxidants for heart & cell health

Lemon & Lime Ice Water:

1) Respiratory Health
2) Cancer Prevention
3) Digestive Health
4) Anti-Inflammatory

Medicinal Kitchen

Medicinal Kitchen..info from my husband and my research:

Garlic: 
lowers cholesterol & blood pressure
decreases risk of cancer, especially stomach cancer
produce natural killer cells in the blood
infection prevent-er

Onions:
lowers cholesterol
assists in dissolving blood clots
decreases risk of diabetes
fights off infections
decrease risk of cancers through the compound quercetin
excellent antioxidant

Info found at: Disabled World - Disability News for all the Family: http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/onions-garlic.shtml#ixzz1xbHGmJBK

Capsicum: found in Cayenne & Chili Pepper
raises metabolic rate
absorbs intestinal fat
stabilize blood pressure
lower cholesterol
loaded with vitamin A - key in clear skin & vision & the is greatest killer of free radicals
vitamin C is active in capsicum: to clear blood clots, plaque in the arteries, heal wounds & fight colds
tumor cells die as the capsicum starves them of oxygen
brings down blood sugar levels
stimulates brain & salivary glands, releasing pleasure-feeling endorphins in the body
use externally for arthritis, sore back muscles, rheumatism or sprains and bruises                                      Info found at: Disabled World - Disability News for all the Family: http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/healing-herbs.shtml#ixzz1xbNyDoDG

Here's what some studies have found about the potential health benefits of tea:

• Green tea: Made with steamed tea leaves, it has a high concentration of EGCG and has been widely studied. Green tea’s antioxidants may interfere with the growth of bladder, breast, lung, stomach, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers; prevent clogging of the arteries, burn fat, counteract oxidative stress on the brain, reduce risk of neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, reduce risk of stroke, and improve cholesterol levels.
• Black tea: Made with fermented tea leaves, black tea has the highest caffeine content and forms the basis for flavored teas like chai, along with some instant teas. Studies have shown that black tea may protect lungs from damage caused by exposure to cigarette smoke. It also may reduce the risk of stroke.
• White tea: Uncured and unfermented. One study showed that white tea has the most potent anticancer properties compared to more processed teas.
• Oolong tea: In an animal study, those given antioxidants from oolong tea were found to have lower bad cholesterol levels. One variety of oolong, Wuyi, is heavily marketed as a weight loss supplement, but science hasn’t backed the claims.
• Pu-erh tea: Made from fermented and aged leaves. Considered a black tea, its leaves are pressed into cakes. One animal study showed that animals given pu-erh had less weight gain and reduced LDL cholesterol.

Info found at: http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/tea-types-and-their-health-benefits

Ideas for Play-Learning Time with Kiddos #1

Summer Food

Bagels in the break room today..and not just bagels but Panera bagels..Bagels are one of my very favorite comfort foods..memories of bagel sandwiches as a kid and bagels with coffee on work mornings when I was a nanny..no food quite so cozy. Lately it's been too hot to cook much and when I grocery shop this week, I plan on buying and serving cold cut type foods..bagels and cream cheese, variety of crackers with sliced meats and cheeses, pickles, carrots and celery with dip, tortilla chips and guacamole and salsa, grapes and watermelon, hard boiled eggs. Other nice summer meal ideas are fried eggs on the griddle then toast bread with cheese and place egg on top..and burritos with scrambled eggs, diced onions and bell peppers, salsa and cheese in a tortilla with sour cream on the side..

Our Beautiful Kiddo, Lissie, Class of 2012