Does your family “say grace” or pray over your meals before you eat? In the past I’ve felt that this was a very meaningful expression of my faith. In recent weeks, though, I’ve begun wondering if it’s really that significant. The prayers my husband and I pray before meals are often redundant. We say the same words—nearly verbatim—almost … [Read more...] about Revitalizing Mealtime Prayers
It’s the Little Things About Fall
Fall 2013 officially begins this weekend! It’s the little things about fall that gladden my heart and put a smile on my face. Apples. Though apples are available year-round, they take center stage during fall. I'll soon have caramel apples, apple cider, apple crisp, baked apples, apple pie—they’re all delicious! Changing leaves. I … [Read more...] about It’s the Little Things About Fall
Healthier Queso Dip
The cheesy, spicy flavor of creamy queso dip is practically addictive. Until recently, the only queso dip I was familiar with was made with Rotel® and Velveeta®. As my husband and I have moved in the direction of healthier eating, we’ve eliminated processed cheese products (including Velveeta®) from our diets. We weren’t about to go … [Read more...] about Healthier Queso Dip
21 Cleaning Jobs for Toothbrushes
If you replace toothbrushes at the recommended interval, each member of your household will go through 3-4 toothbrushes each year. Given that each toothbrush costs money and each ends up contributing to the trash your household produces, why not make sure you get your money’s worth and reduce your need for other cleaning equipment by reusing … [Read more...] about 21 Cleaning Jobs for Toothbrushes
Honey Wheat Butterhorns
Though my husband enjoys most of the foods I prepare, he rarely stops in his tracks over the flavor of one. A couple of weeks ago this rare reaction occurred after he took a bite out of a breakfast sausage link encased in a honey wheat butterhorn. I have a feeling I’ll be making lots of these over the coming months! Ingredients (Adapted from … [Read more...] about Honey Wheat Butterhorns
Product Review: Pomi Tomatoes
It’s very difficult to avoid bisphenol A (BPA) if you eat any canned foods. This is especially true of tomatoes because their acidic nature limits what substances can be used to line the cans that contain them (you can read more about this here). After looking into the available options, my household has begun using BPA-free and non-GMO Pomi … [Read more...] about Product Review: Pomi Tomatoes
Dare to Prepare: Assembling a Basic Disaster Preparedness Kit
What basic supplies would you need to survive the immediate aftermath of a disaster? Once a disaster is imminent or in progress, it’s too late to acquire these supplies. However, by taking the time to assemble and maintain a disaster preparedness kit now, your household will have survival supplies on hand. Experts recommend that each of us … [Read more...] about Dare to Prepare: Assembling a Basic Disaster Preparedness Kit
Turkey and Wild Rice Soup
Once there is any hint of cooler fall temperatures, I start craving soup (this explains why there are several soups on our fall menu!). A few weeks ago I began looking for a recipe for a creamy chicken or turkey soup, but I had trouble finding an easy one that didn't call for canned cream of mushroom soup. I decided to try one of the recipes I … [Read more...] about Turkey and Wild Rice Soup
