Spinach Quinoa Salad

Spinach Quinoa Salad by my dear friend Monica

Salad

Fresh spinach or mixed greens (spinach ,kale, chard)

cheese of your choice—feta, blue cheese, whatever you want

dried fruit—cherries, cranberries, whatever you want

toasted nuts—pecans, almonds, walnuts, etc.

cooked quinoa—1 cup uncooked yields 2 cups cook.

Dressing

Lemon juice (2-3 lemons)

1 large clove garlic

½ tsp salt

¼ tsp pepper

oil (1-3 ratio to lemon juice)

Shake to combine

Put all salad ingredients in bowl and add however much cooked quinoa you want.  Add dressing and then toss everything.  

A favorite combo for a large party: a large bag of mixed greens, feta cheese, dried cherries, candied pecans, approx.. 2 cups quinoa, and a cup of dressing.  

TRYING TO RAISE good kids when I'm soooo old...

Since we got our first foster baby 6 years ago, I stopped really blogging. It's one thing to ignore my own children to blog, but I just couldn't do it with someone else's baby. (totally kidding, I used to blog when I nursed my babies or they were sleeping) We adopted our Ray on Jan 7th, 2018. PRAISE GOD FINALLY, since we got him when he was 12 weeks old and he is almost 7. 

On August 7, 2016 we got another baby. He was just 6 days old. We still have the little firecracker and I just turned 50. Wow, what a difference raising a toddler when you are a grandma. Lord help me! 

This being the case and summer here, I was intrigued by a podcast I started listening to. I have been in podcast heaven...its the only way I can convince myself to workout at the gym or clean. It has been a lifesaver. 

When I listened to Why you were folding podcast. I heard about The Well-Behaved Child: Discipline That Really Works! I especially appreciate Catherine spending extra time with her show notes. Don't forget to look at them! I have really utilized them, especially since its hard to take notes on a treadmill or with weights in your hands!

I am trying to get my kids to heaven one good behavior at a time. Things always get crazy with the change of schedules. So we are trying the advice from the book and my added stars for good and extra work! 

CHECKS

▪ Checks 1-3 are warnings

▪ Check 4: Lose dessert

▪ Check 5: Lose screens

▪ Check 6: Go to bed 1 hour early

STARS

READING: 15 MIN 1 STAR

SCHOOL DONE BEFORE NOON: 1 STAR

HELP WITH BRADLEY: 1 STAR

HELP WITH RAY: 1 STAR

15MIN EXTRA CLEANING: 1 STAR

5 STARS = 15 MIN SCREEN TIME

I will let you know how it turns out. Please pray for my kids and those in my care that they will be the saints God has created them to be. I pray that their sins will find them out and they won't fall into any bad behaviors.

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+  

T

Mexican Chicken and Black Bean Soup

I found this original recipe on Marathon Mom blog that seems to no longer exist. I changed it up a bit. 

Mexican Chicken and Black Bean Soup

Ingredients

• 3 or 4 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts ( I usually do a family pack)
• 2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, drained
• 2 (15 ounce) cans corn, drained
• 2 (10 ounce) cans diced tomatoes and chiles (like Rotel)
• 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 2 cups water
• Taco seasoning mix
• 4 large garlic cloves, minced
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese

Instructions

1. Place all ingredients except for cream cheese into slow cooker.
2. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or until chicken is cooked.
3. Remove chicken from slow cooker, then turn slow cooker setting to high.
4. Add cream cheese to slow cooker and stir.
5. Shred chicken, then return to pot and stir well.

We serve with tortilla chips, cornbread, soft tacos, or rice. 

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+ 

Teenager Girl Blog...

My 14 year old started a blog. It actually is pretty good! It is called The Least of These.

Check it out and share it.

Thy Will Be Done!!! +JMJ+

Overnight Oats...my favorite peanut butter!!!

OVERNIGHT OATS

1.                  ¼ CUPS OATS

2.                  1/3 CUPS MILK\

3.                  ¼ CUP GREEK YOGURT

4.                  1 ½ TEASPOON CHIA SEEDS

5.                  1 TALBESPOON PEANUT BUTTER

6.                  1 TEASPOON HONEY

   I put all ingredients in an a used up peanut butter jar or whatever I have. Then shake up and leave in refrigerator overnight. Then mix and eat in the morning. Mine usually last a week refrigerated. 

Please send me your favorite overnight oat recipes. 

Thy will be done!!! +JMJ+