Yummy homemade tapioca pudding

Today we went back to when I was a kid and my neighbor would make homemade tapioca pudding. I love the taste, and texture. 100 times better then those sugary instant box kind, honest it doesn't compare. So here is the recipe I found online on www.elise.com came out very yummy.

Tapioca Pudding Recipe

Look at the instructions on the package of tapioca that you buy. Some small pearl tapioca requires overnight soaking in water. If your package has that requirement, reduce the milk in the recipe to 2 1/2 cups from 3 cups.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup small pearl tapioca (you can usually find it in the baking section of the grocery store, do not use instant tapioca)
• 3 cups whole milk (or skim milk with cream added)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup of sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla

Method

1 Combine tapioca, milk, and salt in 1 1/2 quart pan on medium high heat. Stir until boiling. Simmer 5 minutes, uncovered at the lowest possible heat, adding sugar gradually.

2 Beat eggs in a separate bowl. Mix in some of the hot tapioca very slowly to equalize the temperature of the two mixtures (to avoid curdling).

3 Return eggs to pan with tapioca. Slowly bring mixture barely to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat and stir several minutes at a low simmer, stirring constantly until you get a nice thick pudding consistency. Cool 15 minutes. Add vanilla. Serve either warm or chilled.

Note: If you want to make a more light and fluffy, but still rich, tapioca pudding, separate the eggs. Use the egg yolks to stir in first to the pan with the tapioca. Once the pudding has become nice and thick, beat the egg whites in a separate bowl to soft peaks. Remove the pan of tapioca pudding from the stove, fold in the beaten egg whites into the pudding.

I want to be Contagious.....

Yesterday my kids and I played out in the snow. So much fun. We laughed, rolled around in the snow, giggled, and just enjoyed ourselves. Then for a moment I just laid in the snow and listened. I listened to the joy that rang out in my yard. While I laid still in the snow my children screamed and laughed...not just any laugh but that hearty belly laugh...so much so that I caught it and was laughing along with them. Then I realized joy is like that too---it gets passed along to others. It's contagious! Infectious. It causes outbreaks of hope and delirious laughter, resulting in unexplainable peace. Joy is caught from those who already have it, and then you expose others to it, whether you really intend to or not. It spreads like a wild fire! And it can't be stopped easily. Even if you infect joy with life's troubles it won't eliminate joy. Pain and sorrow won't eradicate it. Even large doses of grief only hide it or mask the symptoms of joy temporarily. Soon joy breaks out again..."Weeping may last for a night but joy comes in the morning" Psalm 30:5.
Now joy is not like the game of "telephone" remember that game? You and a group of friends would form a circle and one would whisper to the other a sentence...lets say "She sells seashells by the seashore" then it would travel from person to person then finally the last person would reveal the finial outcome "Sally stole some shoes at the shoe store" Yikes that not what joy is like. It doesn't become weaker or distorted when passed along. It only gets better and stronger when it is true joy. To keep it alive you need to feed it. Now you can't just feed it anything you have to feed it truth, hope, and life which can all be found in one place the Bible and it will continue to overtake you and trust me you want it to.

"Being with you , God will fill me with Joy" Psalm 16:11
"Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart" Psalm 119:111
The followers were filled with joy" Acts 13:52
"Ask and you will receive, so that your joy will be the fullest possible joy" John 16:24
"No one can take away your joy" John 16:22

Bitter Butter

"Watch out that no bitterness takes root among you, for as it springs up it causes deep trouble, hurting many in their spiritual lives." Hebrews 12-15

Throughout my christian life I have had experiences that I honestly felt my heart was ripped out of my chest from miscarriage to friends betraying me. In each circumstance I have had to choose whether I was going to get bitter and consume myself with that bitterness or get butter no not better but butter. Butter is when you allow your problem smooth over with God's grace and mercy like butter and let God take over. Butter are the things that you go through and create part of the flavor that makes up who you are.
After I had my decision, one that only I could make, and I knew that once I made that choice, there would be no turning back. Either I am going to trust God to get me through, or I'm going to wallow in bitterness and allow it to hang over my head and eat me alive. In trials you must recognize the fine line between getting bitter or getting butter and decide which way you are going to go. It is not an area that you can "straddle the fence" or change sides. Bitterness will tear you up and do permanent damage unless you make the choice to grab it and take control and let it smooth over with God's grace to help you get through it.
At one point I had to realize that God is still my God no matter what happened, and that what ever wrong that came at me I had to "Forget the former things; do not dwell in the past. See, I (God)am doing a new thing!" Isaiah 43:18-19
It is not easy, but once you decide not to get bitter, it will be your day of new beginnings

Note of the day....things I live by

"Strength of character may be acquired a work, but beauty of character is learned at home. There the affections are trained. There the gentle life reaches us, the true heaven life.

Henry Drummond

Wordless Wednesday

Go Pats

Note of the day....things I live by

"Now, as always the most automated appliance in a household is the mother."

Beverly Jones

Our day today

Today we started our day with wonderful french toast, then moved on to school work. We started our study on planets today. Colby is very excited...He has been asking to learn about the planets. During nap time I was able to finish my throw pillows for my living room out of the old curtains I had in my kitchen. Pretty happy with the results. We played a great game of candyland. Supper I made a Kielbasa bake....I'll post a picture but honest I'll spare you the recipe. Dessert on the other had was perfection. I made a Berry cobbler and it was delish.


Berry Cobbler Recipe

Preheat oven 325

you'll need:

Berries of your choice...I used fresh black berries, strawberries, blueberries
11/4 cup sugar
1 C. all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup milk
4 Tbsp (1/2 stick) butter..melted
1 Tbsp cornstarch
3/4 cup of boiling water

In a medium bowl, mix together 3/4 cup of sugar, the flour, baking powder, and 1/2 tsp salt add milk and melted butter mix well, pour over berries in baking dish.

In a small bowl, mix the remaining 1/4 cup sugar, the cornstarch, and 1/2 tsp salt. Sprinkle over batter. Evenly pour the boiling water all over. Bake 50 mins or until golden brown.

Would Eve have loved the woman in the mirror?

[We] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His own image.
2 Corinthians 3:18

I am learning that God has specific assignments for us. Our ability to fulfill these (His) plans depend on how we see ourselves. Our self-image must line up with God's image of us in order for us to successfully accomplish His purpose for our life. We must make a decision. Do we want to look and live like the world or conform to God's ideal image of us, which surpasses anything that the world could ever give us. Is your self-perception based on someone else's opinion of you, or God's opinion? We need to be more concerned about what God thinks and learn to appreciate who we are are in Christ. I have learned a lot from reading about Adam and Eve. Although they were perfectly created in God's image, they still weren't satisfied. They wanted to improve what God had already made perfect. Genesis 1:26 tells us that God made us in His image, after His likeness, but Adam and Eve lost sight of truth. The serpent conned them into thinking that God had short-changed them. He said, "God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God" (Gen.3:5) Honest they were as good as it gets. Here they were God's handmade perfect design and they still questioned that design after a suggestion or opinion if you will from a measly snake. Is that not what happens to us in a way. As children we think we are amazing, we can do anything, then someone pokes fun, or suggests that we are not as great as we really thought we were and then we begin to lose sight of how amazing God made us and we begin to believe all the measly snakes out there. It's time that speak truth about ourselves and accept how great we really are, and sure there is always room for improvement if it is only to mold ourselves back to God's original image of us. We are all beautiful in God's eyes, black, white, tall, short, old and new. Begin to see yourself s that way.

Delish cinnamon rolls, and pillows

I also finished making my 6 main throw pillows for the living room...I made them out of my old kitchen curtins. I'm pretty pleased.





Today I made cinnamon rolls from scratch.

Note of the day....things I live by

"Children need love, especially when they do not deserve it"

Harold S Hulbert


*****But don't we all need love most when we don't deserve it, Thank you for the blood of Jesus****

National Sanctity of life week

This week kicks off National Sanctity of life ....we as christians should be stand up for the rights of the unborn voices that are dismissed as an "inconvenience at moment" How precious that little life is, and how it is a baby and not a tissue with a heart beat and soul. If you have had an abortion please remember that God forgives you if you allow him to. Here are some websites, also sign the "Fight FOCA" petition. www.rirtl.org

It's Official .....My mother is cancer FREE

My mom received her letter in the mail last week, and she is officially a breast cancer survivor...God is good all the time.....All the time God is good. Thank you Jesus!
In her honor....I will be registering to do the Avon 3 day breast cancer walk....I register next month and hope all will support me to do the walk

My Aunt just sent this to me....I had to cut it out and post it....did you know?

Don't you all even try and act like you all ready knew this either.

I had to go into the kitchen and check this out for myself. Whoever looks at the end of your aluminum foil box? You know when you try to pull some foil out and the roll comes out of the box. Then you have to put the roll back in the box and start over. The darn roll always comes out at the wrong time.

Well, I would like to share this with you. Yesterday I went to throw out an empty Reynolds foil box and for some reason I turned it and looked at the end of the box. And written on the end it said, Press here to lock end. Right there on the end of the box is a tab to lock the roll in place. How long has this little locking tab been there? I then looked at a generic brand of aluminum foil and it had one, too. I then looked at a box of Saran wrap and it had one too! I can't count the number of times the Saran wrap roll has jumped out when I was trying to cover something up.

I'm sharing this with my friends. I hope I'm not the only person that didn't know about this.

My little house on the praire

My babies make me smile...I can't get enough of them

Note of the day....things I live by

You can do everything else right as a parent, but if you don't begin with loving God, you're going to fail"
Alvin Vander Griend

Note of the day....things I live by

"What we desire our children to become, we must endeavor to be before them"

Andrew Combie

Yummy farmhouse chicken, and scallped potatoes

Okay this dinner was a huge hit...Farmhouse Chicken, with scalloped potatoes, green beans cooked with bacon, and rolls

I got this recipe on line on a site that I like, but of course doctored it up for more flavor

Recipe:
4 tbsp of butter
4 tbsp of flour
2 cups of milk
3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breast, cubed
4 celery ribs, chopped...(Mike doesn't like celery so I use celery seed)
1 small onion, chopped ( again Mike doesn't like onion so I use onion powder)
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 cup white wine
1/2 cup shredded swiss cheese
Box of chicken stuffing mix

Saute onion, and prepare stuffing according to package then set aside

In saute pan, melt butter and then add flour slowwly whisking to avoid lumps cook one minute. Slowly add in milk, keep whisking to avoid lumps.
Add in seasoning salt, peper, celery salt if using, mix in wine, and cheese. sample to see if needs any more of anything.
Add chicken, celery, onion cook and stir for 5-10 mins until chicken is cooked.
Pour creamy mixture in to casserole dish, top with stuffing, bake uncovered @ 350 for 30 mins

Scalloped potatoes
Recipe:
6tbsp of flour
1/2 cup of dry milk
1tsp onion powder
salt and pepper to taste
3 cups of milk
4 cups of potatoes sliced really thin
1 onion sliced
butter

place flour, dry milk, onion powder ( if using instead of onion) salt and pepper in to a quart jar and shake, then add in cold milk shake again until flour dissolved. In greased 3 quart casserole dish layer potatoes (onions if using) dot each layer with butter. Add the flour-milk mixture bake 325 for 11/2 hours till potatoes are tender to fork.

Variations: Sometimes I add 11/2 cup of cheese to layers, or you can use meat like cubed ham, bacon or
sausage or add all.

Green beans w/ bacon

Fry bacon in a cast iron skillet with little oil, then when bacon crisp add green beans heat through.

Goop..goop oh messy goop

The kids love when I make this for them to play with. Goop day.......to make:
Mix cornstarch and water, up to you how much you want to have. Go easy on water so you get the goop consistency, which is hard at touch, but when you pick up with finger it just slips through your fingers.
Warning it is messy you'll find it all over them, the table, and the floor, but it's a great reason to mop your floor after.

I love love love my husband

My Michael brought home flowers for me today just because he loves me...and boy do they smell wonderful, and just the look on his face when he gave them to me. Yep he's the best there is.

I make my own pasta...yummy

I thankfully have a pasta making machine we bought at a thrift shop, and it works great. Kids love watching and helping....and honest I have fun making it. While I was making pasta Sadie decided to have a little of her own fun.

Quick and tasty lunch

I forgot I had a can of Pillsbury biscuits in the fridge, I just found today so for the kids lunch we made ham and cheese roll ups in the biscuits, they loved it . We even rolled up hotdogs

My kids don't care for veggies...so what do I do?

I juice the veggies add a little fruit and the love them.
What's in side : Spinach, Kale, sweet potato, carrots, pears, apples, strawberries, and a frozen banana. We love it so much I usually make 2 quarts.

We made our own butter....a lot of work, but yummy

Pour heavy cream and season with salt to taste in an air tight container and shake...shake...shake until you don't hear the more liquid. Again a lot of work but worth it.

Homemade rolls....these are insanely good

Roll recipe:
1 cup warm water 90 degrees
2 tablespoon butter melted
1 egg
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
3 1/4 cups of bread flour
2 1/4 tsp dry yeast

dissolve sugar in water then add yeast...set aside for 15 mins, then pour onto large mixing bowl, add butter, egg, flour and salt mix together when big ball of dough formed, set aside covered in a warm spot let rise for 1 hour, the work out air, on a baking sheet divide dough into round balls cover let rise in warm spot again covered for 30 mins, bake at 375 for 13-14 mins. When done I brush melted butter on each one then sprinkle parm cheese with salt on each.

***side note....these are great also if you bake them with a little pepperoni and cheese in them

Bacon mushroom, cheese burgers in homemade rolls with homemade Macaroni and Cheese

Mac & Cheese recipe
Cook pasta on the side, and set aside.
In small sauce pan use heavy cream or milk (whatever I have on hand) about half the pot, bring to boil the turn down and start blending in flour by the shifting a tablespoon and whisking with a wire whisk. Salt the mixture which is called a rue. Then start adding you choice of cheeses, never stop whisking while adding. taste and see what if you need more salt or pepper. Depending on funds cheese always varies, I do cheddar and swiss, some times gruyuere, fontina, even bleu cheese like I said depends $$$
In baking dish add pasta mix in cheese mixture, blend well, bake 20 mins @ 350, then while that is baking make bread crumbs. In a blender take your bread, blend pour into a hot buttered pan and crisp up bread crumbs, then pour over mac and cheese, broil for like 3 mins just till browned