Hi-De-Ho, A New Recipe and Fun Napkins for You to Make!

Hi-De-Ho and away we go...

The other night I was getting ready to make a recipe for supper, you know the famous question..."What would you all like for supper?" For our family, supper time is a special time, nothing fancy but we do look forward to it. It's a time of gathering together and just enjoying good food and conversation.

Well to make a long story short I had my eyes in my Betty Crocker's cookbook I've had since I first married in 1980. My eyes fell upon this recipe I've never tried. And ya know? It was so the Lord....I had everything on hand, and it turned out very nicely! It was a very pretty dish as well and I think it will be nice for company. A tried & true type of recipe that should suit most tastebuds.

Here it is, and a picture to boot.

Chicken-Broccoli Bake

(The broccoli was brighter, and it had a pretty glaze)

2 T butter

2 T oil, I used olive oil

6 small chicken breasts (about 2 pounds) I used 4 huge breasts, boneless, skinless, and sliced thinly.

1/2 tsp. garlic salt, I used garlic powder and my own salt

1 can (10 3/4 o) condensed cream of chicken soup, I use healthy request.

1 can (4 oz.) mushroom stems and pieces

1/4 c. water

1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

1/2 tsp. dried thyme leaves

2 packages (10 oz. each) frozen broccoli spears. (I used florets, half a huge economy bag)

1/2 tsp. salt

Heat butter and oil in oblong baking dish, 13 x 9 or larger in my case, In 400 degree oven til melted. Place chicken in dish, turning to coat with margarine mixture. Arrange chicken skin sides up; sprinkle with garlic salt. Cook uncovered 30 minutes.

Mix soup, mushrooms (with liquid), water, Worcestershire sauce and thyme. Rinse broccoli under running cold water to separate; drain. Remove chicken from oven; drain fat if needed. Arrange broccoli along sides of chicken; sprinkle with salt. Spoon soup mixture over broccoli.

Cook uncovered until chicken is done and broccoli is tender, about 30 minutes. Garnish with paprika and ripe olives if desired. 6 servings

Dd24, Marianna made roasted potatoes drizzled with olive oil with fresh rosemary, fennel, oregano and some lavender sage from her herb garden. : )

My little napkin project. Fun & Easy.

This is some Mary Enghelbreit fabric my daughter found on clearance. It's black with tiny little red cherries & white dots on it. I cut sqares I had left over from a skirt I had made. I made most of my squares around 10 inches, some are not perfectly this size, I just did what I could. I didn't hem the edges, I just zig-zagged the edges on my handy dandy Brothers machine. A couple of years ago, I bought the least expensive (at the time) Brothers model from Walmart and am so satisfied with my little machine. It's the blue & white model.

Edit 11.5.10 I have also recently purchased the pink & white Brothers machine so our daughters would have a machine so we can have fun sewing at the same time. I am very satisfied with that particular Brothers machine as well. You can't beat the reasonable price online at Walmart.

Another thing I've found that works well for our cloth napkins is when I find the cute handkerchiefs from Hobby Lobby? I cut those in fourths, and do the same with them. And I have 4 new napkins per handkerchief. It's fun, it's easy and I can afford to pick cute patterns. It doesn't have to be matchy-matchy poo-poo.

Here is what I did with my napkins so my family can grab a napkin easily:

Sweetness. Comforting, Cozy, Cotton Cloth Napkins

Special thanks and appreciation to my dear friend, Adam, a sweet Christian young man. He graciously gave me the "Beautiful Blogger" award. Y'all go say hello to Adam, he's a nice Christian fella. One thing I especially appreciate about Adam and his sister, they are very kind and considerate to me, leaving comments from time to time as they see fit even though I'm old enough to be their mama. : )

For thoughts on appreciation, respect and good manners feel free to stop by my visionforaGodlyhome.blogspot

Have a sweet rest of the week folks!

This post is also linked to Life as Mom for more money saving tips and encouragments. : )

Change Begins at the Dinner Table

All great change in America begins at the dinner table.
~Ronald Reagan


Three of our four daughters. The pics speak for themselves.... A fun patriotic family evening...



Each generation goes further than the generation preceding it because it stands on the shoulders of that generation. You will have opportunities beyond anything we've ever known.
~Ronald Reagan

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Little Projects Anyone?



Projects anyone? I call them little "doodle dandies". I call a lot of things little "doodle dandies". ; )

Do you ever wonder what to do with those little mint tins? Those little doodle dandies? I like little craft projects, I'm an "art" person, an HSP, highly sensitive person, yes that's me... I usually color outside the box in various ways if you will.... Even in highschool, I would turn out several fashion illustrations a week, and they would usually be displayed in the showcase at school along with a portrait every now and then.... My media? For the fashion illustrations I used pastels, colored pencils, a Bic black ball point stick pen, and a child's watercolor paint set, those little dime store ones. Yes indeed. For my portraits, a number two pencil worked fine. If something works don't fix it, and don't complicate it. I was the girl who didn't buy many record albums, only the very special most favorite ones...the radio worked. : )

Here is one of my little projects I threw together, I just (try to) do and K.I.S.S. "Keep it simple sweetie" If we overcomplicate things it stresses us and we are not happy campers... Have you ever been around someone who complicates things unecessarily? They aren't much fun to be with are they? So I just try to have fun, and only detail things that are worthy of detailing in life... Keeps a smile on my face...And a smile on my family's face too. : )

Here is my tin I painted and mod podged, the little print on the front is of a painting of Udine, Italy. My grandma was from Naples, Italy and I'm thinking this scene looks similar to Naples. My grandpa was from Bisacquino, Sicily, Italy. The little pic is from the thumbnails on the back of my calendar from last year.

I first glued white paper on the top of the box, then the little pic. I painted over the white paper and sides with shades of white and green acrylics. I then brushed the modge podge on the painted part carefully around the pic... purposely leaving brush marks for that old world painted look. I gave this to my mom for an Easter gift, a little something. I like little somethings.... She uses it for her vitamins and cough drops etc. I think it would also be nice for little stevia packets too.



What's for dinner tonight at your house? Lea, my oldest cooked a Greek dinner last night and it was so much fun! She even made little name cards with her chosen Greek names for us!

I'm not sure what I'm making tonight yet... Yes, the dinner table is an important place to be for a family. : )

Have a nice rest of the week. K.I.S.S. (keep it simple sweetie) ~Amelia

Oh Y'all! You Have to Hear This!

Oh y'all, you must hear this old fashioned radio program from 1943... http://shar.es/mqyl6 This is a Kraft Music Hall Bing Crosby show, as a matter of fact it was done on December 30, 1943. My birthday is December 30, but 1960. ; )

But oh you must hear this sweet program...It is SO interesting. Songs about Americans being warned not to speak secrets of our country, war ration coupons etc. Women celebrating their femininity unabashedly. Just the unity and love for God and country. Oh I wish it were more like that once again in the way of respect and morality...So much more of a sweet spirit.

Hmm... 1943, my parents were 13 years old then... My dad was in a private military school in Biloxi Mississippi back then. My dad had lost his mother (who I was named after) when he was eleven, and in their family the best thing in their eyes was to send their son to this particular private military school. So my father went to this military school from around the age of eleven. I have a shoebox full of his letters home, the V for Victory stamp on each one. His brother, ten years his senior was a graduate of this very military school as well. You would not believe the sweet tidings I've read in my father's letters home. My dad tells me that when he was there, they used wooden "dummies" for guns because the real guns were being used at in WWII.

This radio program reminds me of what it must have been like in those times. A love for God and Country. A healthy fear of God. Loyalty to one's country.

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Today I tried to go through my closet trying to remove some clothes I no longer use. Why is it when I read those articles on decluttering they make it sound so simple? If you don't wear something in two years blah-blah toss it.

Hmmmmm... Not so easy when you forgot about the item since you are so lazy as not to want to reach to the back of the closet and you now discover you really like this item....and re-discovering it is like a new clothing item! ; ) Not so easy when you're hubby is the "George Bailey" in the community....and you've learned to scrimp and not toss quite so easily as the working gal with the salaried hubby down the street.

Now I'm not complaining no siree bobbie. I love my home and my hubby for that matter and I think it's truly wonderful that he works in a less than wealthy part of town actually helping people buy and sell their homes and enjoys the sweet people greatly, but this gal has learned to be quite resourceful by George! I figure every dime or penny for that matter I save is added to my hubby's commission to support our family....So I've had the best time re-wardrobing etc. My latest project is cloth napkins. (pics to come) But to make a long story short, I did manage to give 9 items away today, the fit was just too far gone. And the other day I did get rid of over a dozen pair of shoes, some were too high, last December I suffered a pinched nerve in my back so I have to be much more careful in the height of heels. And I've learned no shiny black patent shoes are beautiful enough if they pinch my feet and make my feet feel like they are on fire! So they went out too.

Oh me oh my... the Joy of Life. : ) I grew up in a home where obviously my parents were raised during the Great Depression and my grandparents saved everything....and I mean everything.


Here is my hubby and I at his 35th high school reunion a year and a half ago, he is so funny...He was having such a fun time with his friends. That's yours truly next to him... Me. ; ) That's one of my favorite things to do, wear a turtleneck or some kind of knit top, belt it and pair it with a black skirt. No muss, no fuss just simple elegance.



I just felt like blogging this afternoon, some things really struck my heart today, just memories and so forth.

Here's a pic of my dear dad graduating military school as I had written about.

My dad when he was a little boy... so cute. A head full of curly blond hair...
College age...That's my dad!

You know what? I found a plaster ornament hiding in my closet today... I had wanted to paint it for my dad for Christmas, it's of an old retro Santa Claus in an airplane flying to deliver gifts, my dad once flew for a hobby....He was and is quite the practical joker, a salty writer too not to mention a hot shot flyer, bless his heart.

Do you know that once my dad wrote a Christmas card to our town pound on behalf of our dog, Minnie Pearl?

The news of the card from our most precious dog, Minnie Pearl made it to 60 Minutes on National TV!

The horrible and awful day Minnie Pearl died, she had been hit by a car. My poor dad ran out of his restaurant and sat in the street weeping, holding our precious dog as his friend, Harlan guided traffic around my poor dad...I told you today opened up so many memories...

Now he has the start of macular degeneration and is unable to fly at the age of 80. I'll have plenty of time to paint his ornament for next Christmas. : ) Praying for my dad's healing.

Hope you all are having a glorious week so far. Take care now, your fellow Soldier for Christ, and your fellow traveler in this crazy world we are in. We will look upon the hills from whence comes our help. The Lord. I'm doing fine, just a sentimental day with much to be grateful for. Amelia : )

I have some serious thoughts on, Roe vs. Wade and What has Happened to Us? March.10...VisionForaGodlyHome.Blogspot

Sew-So-Fun! & The Doctor & The Girl (1949)

Definition: So-Fun

This is my little word I use when I think something is just that! So-Fun! My 27 year old used to use it when she was little, and I thought it was so cute... She would say in her little girl voice: "We played outside with pots and pans and made pretend food out of things we found and it was just so-fun! Just so-fun!"




Look what I've been up to! One of my Sew-Fun projects which is SO.....FUN! So-fun!







I have re-wardrobed this beautiful Victorian print blouse...I saw this blouse a year ago at a resale shop, I loved the lovely Victorian rose print and the vibrant burgundy background, but it was a quite boxie cut, even being a size larger than I normally would wear.



I pleated the shoulders at the front and over to the back a few inches down as well as the front waist area, around 6 inches or so... to make a pretty and feminine fit! I also cut off the cuffs plus a few inches to make a lightweight quarter sleeve.

This was a fun and fascinating project!

I am really enjoying this book, New From Old. This is where I found this neat idea! Now please know I am not an expert seamstress, I keep my projects very simple. And remember, take it from me, perfection is evil! ; ) This does not have to be perfect! Just have fun and experiment, if it's not perfect, so what! : )



Let's see now, what else? I made this too: A....Scarf Holder-Organizer. So-fun! Easy to do and practical too! I'm using mine a great deal lately, after all...scarves are a great pick-me-up for a blouse or tshirt.

I've also made a very neat skirt & ponytail scrunch out of a most charming green & cream colored farm print toile from this patten: I use skirt 'A' on Simplicity Pattern #4881 This is a great little pattern for beginners or for people like me who like to keep it simple. Sew fun! So-fun!


Another great and so-fun book I found from another blogger is Mrs. Sharp's Traditions. This book is so adorable, lots of fun & practical ideas for your family to make life even more of a sweet party!

I made a recipe of Irish Soda bread last week, it was quick and easy from Mrs. Sharp's book. There are very cute little witty articles, crafts and monthly whismsical ideas, Victorian illustrations galore. Just great eye candy....A beautiful book indeed with wonderful suggestions for making family life so-fun!


Movie Suggestion...

We recently viewed this movie, it was sobering but such a neat movie. A precious story of a doctor from a well-to-do family, he starts out as somewhat of a jerky snob, his father being a well known doctor... but watch and see what happens. Love conquers all and God uses it in a major way. Also the result of sin is shown. The movie does have a scene where a little boy with Diphtheria is given an emergency tracheotomy in his home. The doctor has a single wayward sister who becomes pregnant due to her carefree ways. It's so very sad and sobering what becomes of her and teaches a very strong life lesson. As a whole, this movie was wonderful and uplifting to see a doctor who really cares as his heart is challenged and changed. The ripple effects of his change in character reflect beautifully in his family and community.

I love the old actor, Charles Coburn. He plays the patriarch doc of the family. In real life he became an actor later in life, I belive in his 50s and I think that is just the greatest. Also Glenn Ford plays an excellent part as a caring doctor and husband. Glenn Ford is another one of our 40s actors who left his career, volunteering to serve for our country during WWII. Greatness indeed.

Made in 1949, I present: The Doctor and the Girl

Edit 5.20.10 The video parts have been deleted from youtube but here is a link.

(video deleted from youtube)

I hope you enjoy it, you be the judge as far as mature subject matter and the ages and maturity of your children. My husband, daughters and I were very intrigued though by this movie. Very intrigued. Give us more doctors like the part of Dr. Michael Corday.

And may I say that sin is not glorified in this movie, the consequences are very clear in a tasteful way as typical of the 1940s when the country had a healthy fear of God.

Let's pray for our country, the battle may have been briefly lost but the war is far from won! Let's speak out with wisdom but let's always remember...the Victor's Wreath will be won in our prayer closets. Let's prayerfully speak out with boldness and discernment as needed with the Biblical weapons of our warfare as Soldiers for Christ.

Let's keep our homes peaceful and sweet. I have more of a serious article on Roe Vs. Wade, What Has Become of Us? on VisionForaGodlyHome.Blogspot

Joltin' Joe has left and gone away but Sunday's coming folks, I can guarantee...

Take care all, and if you like...Come drop a line and let me know... What ya been up to! : )

~Amelia

The Fighting Sullivans and The Fight for The Family

Oh my, lately I'm seeing so much, just so much, just so much in the way of young people going the way of the world and the parents going the way of the world too! Lately there has even been a movie of Christian genre that has things being said in it, and we just could not go there. Oh parents, please let's make sure and let's do our homework on such things. Plugged In from Dr. Dobson's ministry. Focus on the Family is a supurb way to see what a movie contains in language etc.

But I don't want to dwell on so much of that.

What I do want to exuberantly proclaim is there is so much better out there!

Here is one movie our family greatly enjoyed and this one is a dandy! It's the true story of The Sullivan Brothers who fought in WWII. This movie takes you from their precious young lives as young lads in the Great Depression...oh so precious...This family was rich in love for each other and a had a healthy respect and love for God which is clearly shown in the movie.



Sometimes I see the plastic world out there and my heart aches...Let's go back to when simple was good and right. Let's go back to what is truly important. Let's not buy into the culture around us.

This movie is GREAT in this mom's opinion...Our entire family loved it. At first you may wonder where the movie is taking you; but never a dull moment. ; )

These young men turned out to be great heroes. Great heroes. Here is a clip, I affectionately share with you this week. :) Just typing this up and watching these clips bring tears to my eyes. When the movie ended there was a quietness in the room, you'll see why if you watch this sweet movie in entirity. It will gently shake you to the core.



One thing you may notice about the movie is that not only is this a true story but you may not recognize many of the actors... Why? Because many of who were considered more famous actors were at War fighting and defending our country during WWII.

Also...Take note on the young people's dress even at casual events. How refreshing.





Enjoy and be blessed: The Fighting Sullivans (1944) Oh that they would make movies like they used too!






Here is also an inspiring account of the true Sullivan Brothers as given by Al Sullivan's grand-daughter.







In the movie you will see that the boys had a darling dog given to them, they called it a genuine mongrel. ; ) It is so darn cute....But as the young boys grow into young men, if you look closely and notice, you will see a beautiful drawing; a portrait of the dog's face in the younger brother's room as he is then a young man. It spoke volumes. But you'll have to look for it.





Speaking of our doglets and pets I have found a neat book I've been gleaning from:

Dr. Pittcairn's Complete Guide to natural health For Dogs & Cats There's some great advice, recipes etc. for dog food, treats and even what vaccination is needed. And ya know? I think some of this info may not be so bad for us humans either. ; )





Enjoy your week all, let's take notice of our surroundings and discern and thank God for the Beauty He gives. He is there, in a bird's sweet song, in our precious dog's wagging tale. He is there.



I still have an entry on Our Plan or God's Plan and recently posted Roe Vs. Wade, What Has Become of Us? on Vision for a Godly Home if you would like to read that one. : ) May God be glorified. May we all be found faithful.



We are Pilgrims on a narrow road. May all who come behind us find us faithful. His love endures forever, give thanks for He is good.

Slippers & Heartfelt Patriotic 40s Movies

One of our daughters and I have been making these, it's been kinda fun; I like calling them fancy ballerina slippers.


Our daughter found a two pair pack at Ross, I let her have first dibs and she picked the off-white, so I kept the black, I wear a lot of black and figured the black would stay cleaner looking anyhow right? : ) The black is so very elegant.


I found a small roll of tulle at Hobby Lobby on sale for around $1.99. I made a little "bunch" actually a nice size, slightly eccentric looking, ; ) gathered bunch, which made a flower, if you will, and sewed it upon the top....too cute. I didn't cut the bow from my shoes first, that would just kill me to cut that cute little bow off. I sewed my outrageous tulle flower over the little bow. So I have a big netted off-white flower upon my black slippers, pretty snazzy I say. I've also added an elegant black velvet bow upon each off-white tulle puff, you could do these cutsie or elegant what ever your druthers. ; )

I also found that the author of the site for the slippers has graciously put up a sewing tutorial this week. The author is adorable, and comes up with some some really creative goodies we could all make. This tutorial would be good for young ladies who don't know anything about sewing. It's sad but true, there are young ladies out there not being trained in homemaking.




It's Movie Time!




Pride of the Marines (1945)

An excellent movie with John Garfield, unconditional love is clearly shown as a soldier goes through an intense trial most of us would not do so well with. A really great movie. I will give you a clue, it has a nice ending. ; )



Also if you haven't seen Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo, you are missing out indeed...

Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944)

The story of the Doolittle Raid. Many, many classic stars in this movie such as Spencer Tracey, Robert Mitchum, Van Johnson and that cutie pie Phyllis Thaxter. This is a fantastic movie and another example of that unconditional love to a severely wounded and disabled soldier. I have an antique copy of the book which contains letters from the missionaries who ministered to the soldier who lost his leg, written to the soldier's mother back then. The book I have is actually written by the soldier who lost his leg due to injury in the Doolittle Raid mission. When I found the book in an antique store it was like finding a treasure for me.

Found the trailer here:


Don't you just love that ending part...the sweet exchange by husband and wife, played by Van Johnson and Phyllis Thaxter?

Here is Part I of Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo to get you started. It appears all parts are there so grab it in entirity while you can. : ) Enjoy!





Air Force (1943)

Following is the trailer of Air Force; the opening is so much of what America was made of back then. You have to just love that Air Force theme song, if that doesn't touch your heart what will?

There are some very real war scenes in this movie, some amazing, some cruel.

Some of it reminds me of when I was a little girl and my dad was flying, even though he was in the army, he loved flying... that familiar roaring buzzing gunning noise... My mom in her 50s dress pushing me in my tot swing as Dad would fly over, I still remember it til this day.

One of my favorite parts of the movie is the little dog the soldiers take under their wing...oh how so very precious. The little dog is actually seen in the movie on a mission on the plane. What a contrast, the innocent little dog on such a life and death mission. John Garfield also stars in this movie as well.



I'm not so sure this trailer does the movie justice, but here it is, I hope you will enjoy it. : )




And last but not least this is my mom and dad, this is taken in probably 1953 or so. They will both turn 80 this week. This is definitely one of my most favorite photos of my parents with my dad in his uniform.

Blessings to All, and may God have mercy upon our nation.

Pour yourself some coffee and come on by my other blog if you get a chance, Vision For a Godly Home Be blessed and edified. : ) Have a sweet week!

Easy Enchilada Soup Will Make You Smile

I thought I would share one of our favorite soups we enjoy on a cold night like tonight! Do you like this gal's apron? I do! In our home we all really like aprons and some of us collect them, and we use them quite often too. : )

While we're talking aprons and cozy soups...

I retrieved this recipe some years ago from www.flylady.net She has some very nice crockpot recipes that can be tweaked or simplified as you see fit.

This is so easy in a crockpot and everyone seems to be wearing smiles when I present this for supper.

Here goes:

Tortilla Enchilada Soup
(It's not Italian but it is good stuff indeed!)

This feeds our family of 6 very well.

Ingredients:

Two boxes of chicken broth

Three boneless chicken breasts or you may use two cans of chicken if you're in a pinch.

Three 10 oz. size cans or one large and two 10 oz. of red enchilada sauce, I've mixed green with red and it works fine.

One jar of picante sauce, I've found that the 16 oz. jar of VanDeWalle Farms (mild) is a good choice, medium works fine for our family but we do well with spicy. (We keep a shaker of cayenne on our table if that tells you anything.

1 T. cumin

One nice size bag of frozen mixed vegetables.

One cup uncooked brown rice. Add at the beginning of cooking time.

Combine all ingredients except for frozen veggies so veggies will be a bit fresher tasting.

Add frozen mixed vegetables added last 30 minutes before soup is done.
Right around that time I take the chicken breasts out and shred them.


I let mine cook for 6 hours in that crockpot. It's easy! Just dump-dump-dump! You're done!

We enjoy eating this scrumptious soup with tortilla chips or corn tortillas on top of each bowl and some shredded cheese as well as fresh avocado slices. We also use a dollop of sour cream or plain yogurt with shredded cilantro.

And of course, any of the ingredients could be replaced by more natural whole foods or dairy free ingredients as well.




Take care all, stay warm, keep your eyes on the Lord. K.I.S.S. Keep it simple sweeties!

Amelia

If you like, you may enjoy my other site: http://visionforagodlyhome.blogspot.com/ May we encourage one another as we see the day approaching.


This post is linked to LifeAsMom.com for the Ultimate Recipe Swap.