Counting my Blessings

So many of you know how bad I have wanted to be a stay at home mama from the time Norah Kate was born.  Don't get me wrong, I am grateful for the opportunity to work and to have chosen career path where jobs are plentiful.  However, my heart has always been at home with my babies.

I understand that not everyone has that "wish" to be a stay at home mom or wife, and that is ok (it does not make one a better mama than another) :)  BUT I do feel like God put it so strongly on my heart because that is where I am SUPPOSED to be.

Many of you also know that I started back school last March and will be DONE with my Master's in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner in ELEVEN (11!!!!!!!!) short weeks.  How exciting?  It has been a LONG, challenging road to say the least.  I am very proud to have finished school while working (up until recently) and having two small children!

Some people are going to think I am crazy when they read what I am about to say.... but while I have been interviewing for jobs in my new career, I can't help but feel the stress of that internal struggle.  I am excited about advancing my career, but my wish and true desire is still to be home with my children.  I want so badly to be there for everything with them.  Yes, the money as a NP will be wonderful but the hours still long and demanding (and away from my sweet children).  

BUT God has heard my prayers and knows my heart.  A few months ago, I was introduced to something amazing and life changing.  The opportunities have been endless, and God has truly blessed me.  My wish of being able to stay at home is getting more reachable every day.  At first, it started as something to help make ends meet while I was not working to be in school/clinicals full time.  Now, though, I can see myself STAYING HOME (and hopefully in the near and foreseeable future) because of this!  This is so exciting for me, because honestly, staying at home has never even been an OPTION for me (not realistically or financially!!).

I am praying for God's guidance in my future and peace about my intended path.  I am so grateful for his continued blessings on my family during this time!



Freezer Meals

A couple of weeks ago I put up several meals.  I have been meaning for a while now to blog about my experience, but haven't been able to get around to it.  Let me be a little honest too... it was kinda a chaotic (and expensive!) experience, so I have been hesitant to post about it.  Haha!

I have a friend who did her freezer meals and she did all of her hamburger recipes one day and then her chicken ones on another.  I would highly recommend doing that!  I tried to do it all at one time and ended up spending a day and a half in the kitchen !  One good thing though, I am finished with freezer meals for several months!  Our freezer is stocked up!

I didn't want to use freezer meals for every night.  Mostly on the days I couldn't make it to the grocery store that week or on the days I am working.  After all that hard work, I am kinda stingy with them!  I don't use them unless I absolutely have to!  (I don't know why I think like that, food is food and I can make more??)

I put up a stock pot of taco soup, 3 lasagnas, 3 teriyaki chicken, 3 baked spaghetti, chicken stock, shredded chicken, 3 roast beef (with carrots and potatoes), and 3 chicken pot pies.  Whew!

The recipe for the teriyaki chicken and chicken stock I got off of Pinterest (I LOVELOVELOVE me some Pinterest!).  You can find the recipe here.  The chicken stock has very good flavor and has come in handy for many things: chicken & dumplings, chicken & rice, soups, etc.

I will share my recipes for my baked spaghetti, lasagna, and taco soup on this blog post along with a grocery list.

Grocery List

5-6 lbs of hamburger meat
1 pack of spaghetti noodles

1 pack of Oven Ready lasagna noodles by Barilla

Ricotta Cheese

Shredded Parmesan, Mozarella and Cheddar Cheese

1 extra large jar of spaghetti sauce of your choice
2 cans of mushrooms (optional)

Italian spices (I like McCormick)
1 can Black beans

2 cans Red Kidney Beans

2 cans Kernel Corn

2 packets Taco Seasoning

2 packets Ranch Powder

3 cans of Rotel

3 cans Tomatoe sauce/paste
 

6 8x8 tin foil containers (these are perfect for me and Matt, usually allowing large portions for both with enough left over for lunch the next day!)
 

Soup containers (size of your choice, at least 3 of the bigger ones, or you can use small containers for one person meals)

 

 

Recipes

First, brown your ground hamburger in a large skillet, then divide it into three equal parts for each recipe.

-I went ahead and simmered my portions of hamburger meat (approx 3-4 pounds) with the large jar of spaghetti sauce and 2 cans of mushrooms(optional)

 

Lasagna

*I use the recipe on the back of the noodle box except I don't make quite as many layers (I can never seem to fit as many layers as the recipe calls for in my pans).
-Grease bottom of pan
-Spread approximately 3/4 cup of meat sauce on bottom of pan
-Spread out uncooked lasagna noodles
-Spread ricotta cheese/egg/spice mixture over the noodles (Mix the container of ricotta cheese with one egg and a tsp or so of Italian spices)
-Cover with thin layer of meat sauce
-Sprinkle with cheese blend (mozzarella and parmesan)
-Spread out another layer of noodles, ricotta chese, meat sauce
-Top with final layer of noodles, sprinkle with cheese (If you wish you can drizzle with about 1/2 a can of tomatoe sauce for extra-sauciness)

** To Cook: Thaw overnight or during the day.  Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes or until bubbly

 

 

Baked Spaghetti
-Cook your noodles according to box.
-When noodles are done, mix together approx 1/2 of prepared meat sauce used for lasagna & noodles
-Spread in greased pan
-Cover with cheese (mozarella, cheddar, parmesan

**To Cook: Thaw overnight or during the day.  Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes or until bubbly.
 

 

Taco Soup

-Mix together approximately 2 pounds of hamburger meat, canned corn (drained), canned Rotel tomatoes, beans (kidney & black), tomatoe sauce, and a cup or two of water (depending on how "soupy" you want your soup). Bring to simmer.  Add taco and ranch seasoning.  (A dash or two of Tobasco sauce will give you an extra kick if you like spicy!) Simmer for approx. 15 minutes.  Allow soup to cool then transfer to freezer containers.

**To reheat:  Thaw overnight in fridge or under dripping water in sink.  You may also defrost in microwave.  Warm in microwave or over stove top until simmering.  Enjoy!

- You may add sour cream and cheese if you wish.  It is super yummy with some Tostito chips!
- I love using the smaller containers to freeze it in for my lunches and such!

Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Homemade Laundry Detergent

This summer I have been on a major "I wanna be a housewife" kick.  I have put up vegetables, made homemade baby food, made jams and jellies, attempted to pick up sewing, put up some freezer meals... so why not follow the trend and make some homemade laundry detergent?

I know people have been making their own detergent for a while now... especially with the new Pinterest fad, but my mama and I finally jumped on the bandwagon.

 

We got our "recipe" from a lady she works with. 

It SHOULD work with all this in it!!

 

Ingredients

Arm & Hammer Washing Soda

Arm & Hammer Baking Soda

Oxiclean

Borax

2 bars of Fels Naptha Laundry Soap

Purex Crystals (for scent, may use any crystal/scent of your choice if you want scented detergent)

 

Directions

1.) Grind your soap in a food processor until it forms fine crumbles.  Mom & I cut our soap up first so that it would process easier.

2.) We used a 5 gallon buck to mix ours with and a big metal spoon

3.) Layer a little of each powder at a time and stir as you go (makes mixing it all a WHOLE lot easier!)

4.)  That's it folks!  If I had known it was this easy I would have done it lots sooner!

 

How to use

Use 2 tablespoons (1oz) per load.

This detergent is HE compatible.

 

 

This made 274 ounces of laundry detergent for $24. 

 

That means 274 loads of laundry, it averages to only 8 cents a load! 

 

 I like to buy the industrial size Gain from Sam's Club which is about $20 for 225 ounces.  The Gain only makes 146 loads.  If you are a Tide user, it is about $26 for 146 loads.  So, if everything goes according to plan... I should save a little money.

 

I also figured up if you average about 1 load of laundry per day (which is the case for my little family of 3), this batch of detergent would last you for about 9 months!  That's crazy!

 

 Mama & I halved this batch to make sure we liked it.  I can't wait to see how it works! I was so excited I almost washed a load of clean clothes just to try it out!

 

Stay tuned... I plan on sharing my freezer meal making experience!