So Many Changes...

This one is a long time coming....
but it won't be a long one.

Things are upside down and right side up around here~
Moving and changing and coming up roses.

He is so good~ He is so real~ He is love.

We have been grabbing a hold of summer around here and making the most of the heat.

Pal catching some rays in the hammock

waiting for a christening in ridiculous heat

Loving Uncle's pool

Goggles

superhero

 The next post won't be so long in coming.... ah~ summer

Thirteen ~

Thirteen years ago... after a bit 'o' labour

I met the most amazing little bundle~ tiny and dark haired, he didn't make a peep:

no crying

just wide open eyes

taking everything in

wrapped in blue

my first boy

my son.

When you are quiet...

When you are goofy...

When you are flying...

You bring so much joy.

 'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. 

Jeremiah 29:11

Turkish~ish Burgers

This one is a keeper~ an amazing combination of flavours and an effort that you won't mind making... because you are going to love eating!

Turkish~ish Burgers

1 large Red Onion, Diced and Divided

1 bunch Fresh Cilantro, Minced and Divided

2 Tbsp Minced Garlic, Divided

1 can Diced Tomatoes

1 lb Hamburger

1 lb Mild Italian Sausage, Casings removed

1 Tbsp Seasoned Salt

1 Tbsp Hot Curry Powder

2 Slices of White Bread, cubed

1 Large Egg

1 Large Container Plain Balkan Yogurt

4 Pieces Naan Bread, Toasted

Start by chopping the onion into a small dice and the cilantro until it is fine. Empty the tomatoes into a medium saucepan and set to simmer gently with 1/4 of the onion, and 1 Tbsp of the minced garlic.

Add both meats to a bowl and season with the Seasoned Salt and Curry Powder. Add 1/2 of the onion, 1 Tbsp of the Minced garlic, the cubed bread, egg and 1/2 of the cilantro to the meat and mix until well combined.

Form patties and fire up the grill. These will take about 15-20 minutes and need to be cooked to medium well.

While the burgers are grilling, empty the yogurt into a medium saucepan with 1/4 of the onion and 1/4 of the cilantro. Put the heat to low and stir regularly until warmed through.

Toast the Naan. Add the last bit of cilantro to your simmering tomatoes, stir to combine, bring your burgers in from the grill, and get ready to pull the plate together!

Break up your Toasted Naan on each plate, pour about a 1/4 cup of the tomato mixture over the Naan, add the same amount of the Yogurt sauce and top with one of the burgers.  You can top it with a bit more Yogurt if you'd like it~ you won't regret it.

Enjoy!

Roasted Potato Casserole!

We all love this casserole dish... but no one knows what it should be called. The gang refers to it as Potato Casserole on Steroids... I can't bring myself to call it that ~ but it's good; it's really, really good.

Roasted Potato Casserole

6 Large Baking Potatoes, diced

2 Tbsp Old Bay Seasoning

1 Tbsp Fresh Thyme

1/4 cup Butter, melted

1/4 cup Canola Oil

2 Tbsp Spicy Garlic Oil

~

1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup

2 cups Sour Cream

1 cup Caesar Salad Dressing

1/2 pkg of Bacon, cooked and diced

1 cup Gouda, shredded

1 cup Cheddar, shredded

1/2 bunch Green Onion, sliced

3 cups Caesar Croutons, crushed

1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese

1/4 cup Butter, melted

Preheat your oven to 350, and line a pan with foil. Dice the potatoes and put them into a bowl. Sprinkle them with the Old Bay Seasoning and the Thyme.

Melt butter and mix with oils, pour over potatoes and transfer to lined pan.

Bake for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Once they are nice and brown, remove from oven and allow them to cool a bit.

Mix the soups, sour cream, dressing, cheeses, bacon and onions in a large bowl. Add the cooled potatoes and mix until well coated and creamy looking. Press the mixture into a 9x13" pan.

Mix crushed Croutons in a bowl with Parmesan Cheese and melted Butter. Spread evenly over the potato mixture and cover with foil. Bake for 30 minutes, remove foil and bake for 15 more minutes. Your crust should be nice and crispy brown. 

Let the casserole sit for a few minutes, then dish it up....

Whatever you decide to call this dish... 

Caesar Potato Casserole (my idea)

Samson Casserole (the Husbands idea)

Potato Casserole on Steroids (Timbit and Goobs idea)

Buff Potatoes (Bud's idea)

Enjoy it!

It's just a weed...

But I love the way it looks in pictures... the humble dandelion~ enemy of every lawn caring person~ but so pretty in its falling apart.

By the Lake

In the backyard

Escape

Expectations and Value....

My Goodness~ this has been rolling around in my head for a while.

As a Mom, I want my kids to know their value... to understand that they are precious, important and loved by God and their Family.

I have failed in this so many times,

but God.

I want them to find security in the knowing, the strength to stand in the knowing, the freedom to make mistakes in the knowing.

My expectations for them are high~ but those expectations need to be balanced by love... 

I need to know this... what a struggle that knowing has been

Small choices~ thoughts taken captive

cycles broken

truths accepted and applied

hearts made new

minds transformed

Living with, growing in the Expectations of this amazing Walk... because I am loved... and He is everything

Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding... Proverbs 2:2

Taco Salad!

The weather has stopped dancing between wet and dry long enough today to enjoy a summer salad~ and this one is a 'gang' favorite.

Here is my go-to:

Taco Seasoning

1 Tbsp Chili Powder

1 Tbsp Club House Tex Mex seasoning

¼ Tbsp Garlic Powder

1 tsp Sea Salt

1 tsp Black Pepper

1 tsp Ground Cumin

½ tsp Paprika

¼ tsp Onion Powder

¼ tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes

¼ tsp Dried Oregano
pinch of Cayenne Pepper

pinch of Cinnamon

pinch of Cocoa

½ tsp Cornstarch 

Taco Seasoning

Taco Seasoning with Timbit

Once you've got the seasoning mixed~ you are good to go....

Some of the ingredients

Taco Salad

1 lb ground beef

1 red onion, chopped

2 tbsp taco seasoning

1/4 cup water

1 can black beans, rinsed

1 can kidney beans, rinsed

1 can corn, drained

1 yellow pepper, diced

2 cups grated cheddar

4 small tomatoes, diced

2 bags iceberg lettuce

salad dressing (your fave)

nacho chips

Step 1. Brown the meat

Step 2. Add the onion

Step 3. Add the seasoning, and water

Step 4. When brown, add beans, pepper and corn

Step 5. Mix well and let cool

Step 6. Mix the lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and cooled meat mixture in a large bowl. Pour your favorite salad dressing over everything (we use ranch) and serve with crushed nacho chips.

Enjoy!!