Chickens...

I wrote this last fall. Tell me what you think.  : )

O.K. I'm not A.D.D.

Really, I'm not.(well maybe a little. . .)

My problem is that I sometimes have multiple thoughts running through my head at once. My thoughts and actions usually resemble the book "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie". Sometimes it is a bad thing. For example :

     I sit down to read my Biology textbook and remember the dress that I am altering for a friend. I get up to go make sure that it is ready for her to try on and see the embroidery pattern that I started last night. I sit and work on that for a while until I either get bored, or remember a post that I am working on for this blog. So I get up to go finish the post, only to find my brother on the computer. I wrestle him off and start "Google-ing" whatever comes to mind, usually using key words like vintage, sewing, tutorials, and patterns. I find a random knitting pattern from the 1940's, print the pattern, and grab my knitting needles. I can't find a yarn that would suit the pattern so I put the pattern on my desk for "later". I see the Biology textbook on the desk but toss the knitting pattern on top of the open book. Now I'm starting to get hungry. One of three things will happen next. I will either 1) dig in the pantry to try to find a snack bar, 2) notice that I have access to all the ingredients for a new recipe that I found while "Google-ing" and try to convince my mom to let me make it (usually the answer is no), or 3) it is now so late that mom tells me to make supper. After supper mom reminds me that I still haven't finished reading Biology. I go back to the desk and fight the urge to attempt the knitting pattern that I tossed onto my desk. Since I am a morning person, I am to tired to read Biology at this point, but I force myself to read something(usually forgetting it thereafter). I then take a shower, crawl into bed, and read either the book that I got for Christmas but haven't found the time to read yet, or the book that I started reading a few months back but never finished.

My mom says that I waste a whole lot of time. And after reading this, you may think this, too. You may say that I waste a lot of my time every day. But the truth is I waste my school time doing projects and my project time doing school. This cycle leaves both myself and my mom very frustrated. I still struggle to control my thoughts and actions, but I am getting better, though. Trust me, it was a lot worse. At least I'm finishing my schoolwork.

I write all of this to say that it does get better. With time and patience it does get better.

Oh yeah! you may be asking yourself "what in the world does all her ramblings have to do with chickens?!" A good friend of my mom called it "chasing chickens". Jumping from one thing to the next. Sometimes when we say something totally random, my mom will say, "Oh look! It's a chicken!"


Fly with Christ!
Rachel : )
P.S. For those of you who think you are above those who have trouble controlling their thoughts, I personally think that everyone has those A.D.D. moments. Just my two cents!

Starting Your Day

Not everyone gets up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed in the mornings. Not everyone is a "morning" person. I get that, I really do! Although I am a morning person, I live with people who aren't. {like my sister} Not everyone can roll out of bed with a smile on their face and be ready to face the day. But there a few things that may help start your days better.

1. Have a quiet time with God. If you start your day talking with Him, it could help put your thoughts in the right frame of mind. Along with your Bible, The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren is a good book to read, but their are countless others.
2. Exercise! 30 minutes of exercise a day can get your blood pumping and your brain working better. {Speaking from personal experience here}
3. And lastly, eat a good breakfast. The say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Your breakfast should not be too heavy because you are trying to "break a fast" after having not eaten for over 8 hours. But it shouldn't be too light, or else your brain won't have enough energy to start the day.

A good breakfast, like other meals, should consist of many food groups, not just one:
Fruit ~ Fresh fruit has a lot of natural sugars that are needed to help start your day. You can eat them whole, in smoothies, and juiced in a juicer.
Vegetable ~ Veggies can be for breakfast, too! You can eat them raw, or put them in something like a frittata. They can also be juiced.
Meat ~ Bacon and sausage aren't the only sources of animal protein that you can eat for breakfast. Turkey meats are much leaner and healthier than pork. Eggs are also a good option for breakfast. They can be prepared in many healthy ways. Some of my favorite are boiled, poached, and scrambled.
Grains ~ This is probably the most common breakfast item of the modern world. With many types of cereals, hot and cold, and baked goods, it easy to overload on this group in the morning, but they are a good addition to breakfast. REAL grits, oats, rice, and wheat are good choices.
Dairy ~ Dairy can be eaten for breakfast. Milk in your cereal and cheese in your grits (my favorite!) are good for breakfast.

Poached eggs on a bed of cheese grits

Waldorf Salad

Fresh orange juice

Fresh strawberries

Fly with Christ!
Rachel : )

Crusty Bread

After a long day at work, I decided to bring you a recipe that I have been needing to share for a while. The recipe comes from Janet @ Simply So Good and will probably be the easiest bread recipe you will ever try. No kneading involved. (Really!) Three ingredients. (Yes, only three!) I told you it was easy. The hardest part of the recipe is waiting. After you mix up the dough, it has to sit on the counter for 12 to 18 hours. (talk about fix it and forget it!) With that said, here is the recipe:

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. yeast

In a large bowl combine flour, yeast, and salt. 

Stir in about 1 1/2 cups warm water. 

Mix until a soft dough forms.

Place in a large, greased bowl and cover. Let rise for 12 to 18 hours on the counter. 

That's it, for now. Come back later. 

And now we're back. Long time, no see! Anyway... Preheat your oven to 450 degrees. Place you dutch oven in the oven to preheat for at least 30 minutes. 

Dump the dough onto a heavily floured surface. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest for 30 minutes.

Place the dough into the preheated dutch oven, cover with the lid, and bake for 30 minutes.

Take out of the oven and ENJOY! This bread also makes great french toast!

Fly with Christ!
Rachel : )

Simple Italian Soup

Stephen once told me that our kitchen pantry to me is like his Lego box. I can look at the different pieces in the "box" and see what fits together well. Here is the latest result of my imagination.

Simple Italian Soup:
1 med. onion
1-2 cloves of garlic
1 can diced tomatoes, drained (or fresh)
1-2 tbsp. Pizza topping (see note)
1 can cooked chicken, drained
1/2 bag pasta (approx. 8 oz.)
32 fl. oz. chicken broth

 Chop onions and garlic.
 

  Saute onions and garlic in a little olive oil until soft. Butter or any other oil can also be used.
 

 Add tomatoes and pizza spices and cook for a few more minutes.
 

Note: We get this pizza topping at a store in Charlotte, TN. You might also be able to use an Italian spice mix instead.

 Add the chicken (break apart if the pieces are too big).
 

Add the pasta and chicken broth.

Cook until the pasta is done. Top with Parmesan cheese if desired.

Fly with Christ!
Rachel : )

Juicing {Waldorf Salad}

Dad and I bought a juicer on Saturday! It is so much fun to watch the fruits and vegetables go in whole and come out as a juice. You do have to be careful not to juice fruits and vegetables that have too much natural sugar in them. This would cause your blood sugar levels to spike.

Our favorite recipe so far is called a Waldorf Salad:
5 pieces of kale
2 celery sticks
2 apples
{P.S. We make this recipe to serve 4 people. Don't think that you have to drink it all by yourself!}

 Wash the ingredients. You don't have to cut the core out of the apple, but we do.

 Run all the ingredients through the juicer.

And VOILA! Fresh juice like you would not believe! The taste is incredible and it is healthy!!!

Bonus Recipe! Apple Cooler:

1 Cucumber

2 Apples

4 sprigs of fresh Mint

1/2 inch piece of Ginger Root

*Run all ingredients through the juicer and enjoy*

Fly with Christ!
Rachel : )

Fish in a Pouch

First spring was here...then it wasn't...then it was...then it wasn't... Now the temperature is 84 degrees with air so thick you can almost swim in it! Oh, yeah! And the pollen is piling up on everyone and everything.

Enough about the weather. On to today's post...

Today I have decided to bring a new recipe along with some tips about healthy eating. Since spring is now here, officially, I have jumped back on the health bandwagon. Healthy eating doesn't have to be difficult or bland. Just follow a few tips and you'll be fine! (These are just a few guidelines that I try to follow)

• Eat whole foods. Think of the foods that God intended for us to eat! This would include any minimally processed fruits, vegetables, meats, and whole grains. Like eating baked chicken instead of a frozen chicken casserole, or sliced strawberries instead of strawberry jam.
• Eat lean meats. This would include chicken, turkey, fish, and some beef. Avoid pork if possible. It is not the healthiest meat, and it is usually processed with a lot of salt like bacon. And only eat beef if you can find lean, organic, and healthy meat. We are fortunate to get our beef from my uncle's farm. This stuff is the real deal!
• Try and eat at least 1 to 2 servings of vegetables at mealtimes. This will reduce the need for more meat. Try to make your plate colorful! Hamburgers, french fries, and sodas are all one color: BROWN.
• Eat locally as much as possible. If you live in the middle of Oklahoma, then you probably won't be able to find local Atlantic salmon. Just by what you can locally. Local foods can be healthier because they are picked when they are ripe, and don't have to travel thousands of miles to get to the dinner table. Eating locally also benefits you local economy.
• Watch your portions! Visualize the proper serving size. Meat should be about the size of a deck of cards. Vegetables and fruits should be about the size of a tennis ball. 

Now to demonstrate some of the tips above, I will give you a new recipe to try. This recipe came from a children's cookbook by Emril Lagasse. I love recipes from children's cookbooks because they are so simple, easy, and tasty! This recipe is called "Fish in a Pouch."

Ingredients:
1 stick of butter, softened (although 1/2 of a stick is plenty)
2 t Worcestershire sauce
1 T chopped fresh parsley
1 t minced garlic (about 1 large clove)
1/8 t salt
1/8 t white pepper
4 fish fillets such as flounder, sole, cod, scrod, or whitefish (we used salmon)
2 t Baby Bam (or other seasoning mix)

 Mix the butter with the next 5 ingredients. 

 Sprinkle about 1/2 t of the Baby Bam onto each fillet.

Smear the butter mixture over each fillet.

 Seal the fish pieces and bake at 375 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes.

And voila! Wonderful, healthy fish that looks great and tastes awesome!

We served this up on a bed of brown rice with green beans on the side. Yummy and colorful! Enjoy eating healthy and feeling great!  : )

Fly with Christ!
Rachel : )