Tasty Tuesdays

Confetti Pinwheels

1 pkg of Pillsbury flaky croissants
1 jar nacho cheese
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 yellow bell pepper, chopped
1 pkg green onions, chopped

Spread out croissant. Mash together the perforated lines to make it one large rectangular dough. Spread on nacho cheese within 1/4 in of the sides. Sprinkle entire dough with bell peppers and green onions. Roll the dough into itself starting from the longest side of the rectangle, NOT the shortest, so that it looks longer than it is thick. Press the fold together and smooth it out. Cut into the log at a 1/2 in to 3/4 in thick. Lay pinwheels on a cookie sheet. You should be able to see the insides of the pinwheel...it looks like confetti; go figure, haha. Bake according to package instructions, or until golden brown. Enjoy!

Makes a great appetizer, brunch, game day snack or item to bring for a finger food get together.

Tasty Tuesday

BBQ Chicken Pizza

1 pizza dough, or prebaked pizza crust
1 jar favorite BBQ sauce, (mine is the Head Country hickory smoke with the yellow label.)
1 pkg cheese for pizza
1 pkg pre cooked fajita chicken
1 red bell pepper
1 green bell pepper sliced into small strips

bake pizza dough for 7 min or so (if not premade), remove from oven, spread on BBQ sauce, top with chicken, bell pepper and cheese. Bake for another 7-10 minutes until dough is cooked through. Yummy with ranch dressing on the side and sweet tea : )

Thankful

I always pictured myself as a stay-at-home mom. I was for five blessed years with Price. I treasure those days and I am grateful for them. When Jon's career made some changes, so did our budget. I found myself in need of a job to help cover expenses. We had our house on the market, but no real plans of what to do next. It all depended on when our house sold and what the circumstances were at that time. We felt a little adrift, but God is so good and always so faithful.

In a passing conversation with our pastor at our church, he asked "what are your plans when you sell the house?" I honestly didn't know. I disliked saying those words, because I am 'the girl with a plan'...always. He offered the house the church owned as a rental for us. I thought 'well that is certainly an idea.' After talking to Jon, we truly felt a peace about leaning in that direction. One day, I called Ezell, (the pastor) and asked him if I could take a look at the house. He met me over there and while we were visiting, he said, "you know, we are looking for a secretary for the church. It is just part time, 20 hours a week, but in exchange, you can live here rent and utilities paid." I couldn't believe it! God, yet again, had provided. There was a precious lady at the church who was available to keep Maggie Beth during the 5 hours a day that I would be working. She and Maggie Beth are at work with me during the day. I am able to take Price to school and pick him up. I can attend field trips and school events when I need to. When my kids are sick, I take off work, no questions asked.

All this sounds great, but the reason I love working at the church is because the people I work with are God loving, generous, kind, hard working, diligent but laid back, funny, sweet, caring and wonderful people. Like myself, they are not perfect, but no one expects perfection. There is such grace and love in these sweet people. When I say 'people' I mean the pastor, his wife who is the children's minister, youth pastor, elders and deacons. They pray for my family, this church and each other. They seek God's will for the direction of the church. They put God first and family second and the job third.

I have found it so refreshing to work with people (for over a year now) that are consistent. Sure, there are 'bad' days, or when people are a little more on edge about something, but that is where showing grace comes in. It has been so important for me to work with people who are uplifting and thoughtful. I am blessed beyond measure to have a friendship with my co-workers. It truly is important to the success of a job, particularly the job of a church. Not many people can say they are happy to go to work. I miss staying home sometimes, but I also know God has a purpose for me as the secretary of our church. My path crosses regularly with the needy, hungry, broken, sick and lost.
I am so thankful to God for his provision and his path for me. Though in the days of feeling in limbo, I know he is working all things for good. I am thankful he saw the bigger picture; the one with me as the church secretary for a precious church that loves the Lord. Great is his faithfulness.

Tasty Tuesday

Ham and Cheese Yummies

1-2 packages Pillsbury flaky croissants
1 package sliced American cheese
1 package deli sliced smoked ham

Open croissants. DON'T tear into triangles. Two triangles make a rectangle shape. When you unroll the dough there will be 4 rectangles. On each rectangle mash the perforated lines together and spread the dough out just a bit. On one end, place a slice of cheese. Top with ham. I use 2-3 pieces, kinda mounded. Fold the empty side of the rectangle over the ham and pinch edges together, enclosing the hame and cheese. Bake in oven at 375 for 11-15 minutes. Ovens vary, so just watch for the croissant to be golden brown and not doughy.


I know this 'recipe' is all too basic, but you can get as fancy as you wish. This is simple enough for a Saturday lunch at home with the familyor a quick meal before soccer as the kiddos are doing homework. Its even good for new take on a sandwich for a kid's lunch at school. Just don't pack it when its warm, or it gets soggy in its steam. Wait until it is room temperature to pack it.

Try mesquite turkey, your favorite cheese and a slice of tomato. Add bell peppers, pickles, Swiss cheese, or pepper jack. Use deli sliced roast beef and a drop of your favorite sauce. The possibilities are endless. My kids have fun with this and they always eat better when it is something they have created!

Tasty Tuesday

Chicken in Southwestern Cream Sauce

6 chicken breasts
1 jar of your favorite salsa (I use mild Pace thick and chunky)
1 can sweet corn, drained
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 pkg cream cheese

Place chicken in slow cooker. Pour salsa, corn and black beans on top. Cook for 6-7 hours on low. Throw in the cream cheese an hour before dinner time. Mix cream cheese until smooth before serving. We had Spanish rice on the side and a salad.

Tasty Tuesdays

Creamy Tortellini Soup

4 and 1/2 cups water
1 can vegetable broth
2 packets McCormick alfredo mix

mix these items in a slow cooker. whisk until smooth

add:
2 cloves minced garlic
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp oregano
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 and 1/2 cup mushrooms

mix and let simmer for 5-6 hours

add 2 cups dry cheese tortellini (I used the frozen ones, and dumped in a little more than 2 cups ) to the crock pot, let cook for 45 min-1 hour.

Add:
1- 12 oz can evaporated milk
6 cups torn fresh baby spinach leaves
sprinkle individual servings with shredded parmesan cheese.

This was a delicious meal. It was a teensy bit spicy for my kids to eat. Price kinda wrinkles his nose at mushrooms, but Jon and I really enjoyed it. Fortunately, my in laws took the kids to eat dinner, so Jon brought home a bottle of red wine and we dined on the creamy tortellini soup alone....ahhhh. Might also be good with french bread loaf for dipping.

What's that I hear?....Nothing!!

I was changing sheets and folding laundry on Friday. I could hear Maggie Beth in her room digging through her beaded necklaces and talking to her babies. I kept about my merry way, enjoying the smell of a pumpkin spice candle and Clorox (the smell of order and bliss in my opinion). Suddenly I heard the sound that pierces every mothers heart: silence. I quickly dropped what I was doing to find my dear daughter elbow deep in the toilet. She had unraveled the entire roll of toilet paper and put it in the potty! To my horror, the toilet paper had absorbed most of the water in the bowl. I fetched a plastic bag and began removing the toilet paper by the handful. I even had to reach down into the neck of the toilet to pull out globs of wet mushy toilet paper. My gag reflex is very sensitive when it comes to the toilet (flashbacks of pregnancy with Price). All this time Maggie Beth is right by my side saying "what happened?" When I felt the job was sufficient enough to try to flush the remaining mess, I held the plunger in one hand and crossed my fingers with the other. Luckily, it all went down okay and things were back in working order. I addressed Maggie Beth in a firm voice and said something like "We don't put that much toilet paper in the potty. It makes big mess and can break the potty." Maggie Beth is very sensitive to discipline; especially with me. First the alligator tears began to well up in her eyes, then her bottom lip began to protrude, then finally an audible cry. I said what do you say? "sorry" as she rubbed her chest in a circle (sign language for sorry). I picked her up and said "I forgive you."

Some may think I should have followed up with a time out, but I felt she had understood her wrong doing. I am trying to parent with my spirit. Not that it gives my kids an out, but I try not to think too much about what the parenting book says, or what my friends would/or think I should do, but tap into the Holy Spirit and let him help me evaluate my kid's heart and actions and let him lead me. I want to make a connection with their heart when I discipline and not just make the flesh obey in the moment. More on that another day....