Perhaps we will grow a garden....

A few weeks ago we took the plunge and planted a small vegetable garden.  Dan built a 4 x 4 raised garden bed with scrap pallet wood.  We were given some compost dirt and also added some additional topsoil.  

We planted:

• Tomatoes
• Green, Red, Orange bell peppers
• Jalepeños
• Yellow Hot peppers
• Cucumbers
• Romaine 
• Zucchini
• Judah's bean sprout

We are completely clueless and have not done the necessary research.  I tried...I really tried to pin the most helpful websites and blogs on the subject but I am a hands on learner.  Reading how to do something does nothing for me.  I need to see it, touch it and then do it myself.  Dan was a little frustrated with my lack of planning as we operate quite a bit differently (SHOCKING!).  He is logical and pays attention to details... so when starting to actually plant the little seedlings, he is all reading the directions on the plant tags that say you need to plant them in rows of such and such feet/inches apart, etc.  Well you see the number of plants above and can see that a 4 x 4 box is not very big... Needless to say Dan had to surrender to my way of doing things which is - throw them in the ground and hope for the best!  

Judah was SUPER helpful.  He also had the chance to plant his little baby bean sprout he had started growing in class.  It is probably the only plant that will survive...

Garden Accomplished!

Here is out a couple of weeks because we have received very differing information on how often to water the stupid thing.  We will see if anything makes it.  At least it is colorful and cute with the little "cages"!

Be Still My Soul

<In You I Rest>

This song has been on my heart for a couple of months.  It has been my prayer and when sung in church, I can scarcely make a sound.. just mouth the words and weep as I beg the Lord to wash over me and quiet my anxious soul.  

Since finding out in late January that we were expecting it has been with cautious joy waiting to see if we would make it through the first trimester.  

Last year we were in a similar place-- twice.    

No one really talks about miscarriage and so when it happens, you are completely unprepared.  The loss, grief, and sadness is almost more than you can take when just a day before you were giddy and planning nursery themes.  No one tells you that they are quite common and many times without reason.  You blame yourself and go over in your head what you did wrong.  But mostly you grieve because a precious life was lost.  

So I find comfort in this song and in the knowledge that my God holds the world (and my heart) in His hands.  That He is by my side, comforting me and assuring me of His faithfulness.  I am sad for our loss but His Joy is renewed every morning and today I get to see my little one who is growing strong as we near the 20th week at our doctor appointment.  

God has blessed us so much with each other, Judah, little lemon, our families, our home, food and resources to give to others.  He has never given us a reason to doubt His vast love and grace that He covers us with each new day.  

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.

In you I rest, in You I found my hope
In you I trust, You never let me goI place my life within your hands aloneBe still, my soul 

Your promise revives me;

    it comforts me in all my troubles.   Psalm 119:50

I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. 21 It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world.22 So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. John 16:20-22

A couple of my favorite Pintrest recipes

I am a little addicted to Pintrest. Ok, maybe alot.  I love it for some many practical reasons but also because it is like a never ending giant magazine of ALL THE THINGS!  

I really use it most for finding good (and easy!) recipes.  In fact I try most weeks to incorporate one or two of the thousands of recipes I pin.  These are a couple of my favorites that came out pretty well and some of the adjustments I made.  I hope you enjoy!

Cilantro Lime Chicken - crock pot!

1.5 - 2 pounds of chicken breast or tenderloins
Juice of 2 limes
1 bunch of fresh cilantro, chopped
1 (16oz) bag of frozen corn (or canned)
2 minced garlic cloves (or like 5-10 if you are Cuban or Crazy awesome)
1/2 red onion, chopped (or any onion on hand)
1 can of black beans, drained and rinsed
1 tsp of cumin
Salt and pepper to taste

Optional additions:
2 Chiles in adobo, chopped with a little of the sauce (canned)
1 tsp Smoked paprika

Place all ingredients in slow cooker, give it a stir and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4 hours

Serving suggestions:
-Over rice
-flour or corn tortillas with taco fixings of avocado, sour cream and shredded cheese
-over quinoa
-make into burritos
-over nachos

This recipe always makes a ton so I freeze some, and then use it during the week with the different serving suggestions.  It also can be added to quesadillas or one time i re-heated it in an oven casserole dish with crunched up tortilla chips and cheese on top.  YUM!

The chicken comes out so flavorful! This is one of those dishes that just tastes so good and is great to come home to after a busy day.  

credit from Pintrest: http://octobersmorning.blogspot.com/2012/10/freezer-meal-exchange.html?_sm_au_=iVVPnkkTj5Lj6ZDP 

Oven Baked Chicken Fajitas

Click above for the easy recipe link.  This was super easy, and tasted really good.  I like not having to sit over a pan or pot and take a load off my feet when i get home from work.

And for DESSERT!!

Banana GUILT FREE Ice cream

This is probably one of my favorite pinterest discoveries because I am craving Ice cream ALL THE LIVE LONG DAY. But I really cant have it or should have it as much as I want it! This recipe you will have to try in order to believe just how much in texture and taste this tastes like ice cream-- or at least like a yummy Frosty!

Chocolate Peanut buttercup Guilt free  (Dan's fave)

1-2 Frozen bananas (sliced) per number of servings (For the Liss group I cut up 4-5)

2 Tablespoons Cocoa powder 

2 Tablespoons of Peanut butter (optional or any nut butter you have)

A little milk (depending on what kind of blender you have)

Put all ingredients into your blender or food processor. I used my ninja for this recipe and had to add a couple splashes of milk to get it to the consistency I wanted. 

There are so many variations you can do with this recipe.  Just bananas and....

• Chocolate- cocoa powder (you would be surprised how the sweetness of the bananas make's this "Sugar free"!
• Strawberry- frozen/fresh strawberries
• Any type of Fruit - like mangos!
• My favorite is Cocoa and a tiny bit of cayenne cause i am SPICY 
• Use extracts of mint, almond or vanilla 
• Possibilities are endless!!!!!

Play around with this recipe and let me know what concoction of loveliness you come up with!

Follow me on Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/kjloca