Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Bowls


For some reason I've been very slow in getting my most popular recipe up on my blog. I mean, I am a procrastinator, but come on! I've had this blog for almost a year now. You'd think I would get it up at some point. Oh well, better late than never!

First, a little back story: Kyle hated black beans. He told me that I was not allowed to put them in this recipe. Rather than saying what I really wanted to, I told him that he could pick around the black beans. Long story short, it was too much of a hassle to pick them out, so he ended up eating them.

This recipe makes a lot, so I invited a couple of my friends over to eat with us, one of who was a self-proclaimed black bean hater. I eventually got her to shut up and try the black beans. Another friend came over when we had finished eating (another self-proclaimed black bean hater) and we convinced her to try the food, too.

It's funny how all three stopped being black bean haters once I got them to actually eat this recipe.

I've had more than one person ask me for my recipe (which should have made me post this recipe sooner; again with the procrastination). I had a bunch of people over from my church to help out with some things around my house, and, because this recipe makes so much, this was the first recipe that came to mind when I knew I would have to feed everybody. Everybody loved it.

Alright, enough procrastinating. Below you will find the recipe for my most popular dish, Chicken Taco Bowls.

Spray the inside of your slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray. Put 1.5 lbs of boneless, skinless chicken breasts in the bottom of the cooker. Add 1 15 oz can of black beans (drained), 1 15 oz can of corn (drained), and 1 16 oz jar of taco sauce (I use Ortega medium heat). Sprinkle in 1 Tbsp chili powder, 1/2 Tbsp cumin, 1/2 Tbsp minced garlic, 1/2 tsp dried oregano, 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, 1/4 tsp salt, and a dash of black pepper. Add 1/4 cup water and give everything a good stir, then cover and let cook on low for 6-8 hours.


Cook rice according to the package right before the food is done (2 cups of water per cup of rice, boil then let simmer for anywhere from 20-45 minutes, depending on the rice you use). When the rice is done, shred the chicken, then build the bowls by putting rice in the bowl, followed by the chicken, and topped with desired toppings (salsa, sour cream, cheese, etc.).


Serve and enjoy!

I used black rice on this particular day. Looks strange; tastes amazing!

Chicken Taco Bowls


Ingredients


1.5 lbs chicken breast
1 15 oz can corn (drained)
1 15 oz can black beans (drained)
16 oz  taco sauce (I use Ortega, medium heat)
1 Tbsp chili powder
1/2 Tbsp cumin
1/2 Tbsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp salt
black pepper (for taste)
1/4 cup water
Rice (however much you want to eat)
Desired toppings

Directions


Spray the inside of your slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. Place the chicken in the bottom of the slow cooker, and pour in the corn, beans, taco sauce, and water; sprinkle in the seasonings; stir; let cook on low for 6-8 hours.

When the food is close to being done, cook the rice according to the package (typically 2 cups of water per cup of rice, boil and let simmer for anywhere from 20-45 minutes, depending on the rice you use).

When the chicken is done, shred it and serve this delicious concoction on top of the rice. Top with your desired toppings and enjoy!

Molly

Recipe adapted from Budget Bytes Slow Cooker Taco Chicken Bowls.

Sunday, August 2, 2015

Bloggers Co-Op Sharing is Caring Weekly LinkUp 8/2 #SharingIsCaringLinkUp

 
 

WELCOME TO BLOGGER CO-OP "SHARING IS CARING" SUNDAY LINKUP


Welcome to the second week of the Sharing is Caring Sunday Linkup, brought to you by the Bloggers Co-Op! The Bloggers Co-Op is a group of bloggers who want to share and grow together; what better way to do so than by linking up with each other and other awesome bloggers?

Feel free to link up your favorite, family-friendly post from this past week. In fact, you can link UP TO 3 of your favorite posts from this past week! All we ask is that you follow at least one host each week, link up NO MORE THAN 3 of your posts (family friendly only, please!), visit at least 2 posts for every post you link up, and spread the word! (The more people who know about the link up, the more people will be likely to see your posts!) See the rules below.

This link-up will be open all week long, so please feel free to drop by any day and add your post, plus check out other bloggers' posts!

This week's blogger highlight is Molly over at A Bibliophile's View: Fitness, Food, and Faith.

HOSTS:


Molly: A Bibliophile's View: Fitness, Food, and Faith
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**GOOGLE+

Nancy: Things That Make People Go Aww
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Patricia: Tricia's Treasures 
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Melinda: My So Called Balanced Life 
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Christy: Christy's Cozy Corners 
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Angie: AngieWagg's Blog 
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Ondria: Mommy's Block Party  
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Kelly: Kelly's Thoughts On Things 
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Pam: PinkMama's Place 
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Christina: Momknowsbest2.com 
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

Maria: Adventures of the Mommy Homemaker
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

STEPS:

  1. Please follow at least *one host* each week! 
  2. You can share UP TO 3(!!!) of your favorite blog posts (family friendly only, please!)
  3. Please visit at least 2 others for every link you enter. 
  4. By linking up, you are giving us permission to share your post on our social media pages 
  5. Please spread the word about the LinkUp because the more people who see the link up-more people see your posts! 
  6. Please use the ‪#‎SharingIsCaringLinkUp‬ hashtag so we can find your posts and share them too!
Just add your link by clicking the link below, or just browse and share some of the other blog posts. Remember: Sharing is Caring!!!





Wednesday, July 29, 2015

A God of Small Things, Big Things, and Things In Between


A lot of the time when we contemplate having an eternal, infinite God so huge that he created the entire universe and everything it in – from tiny little atoms and their components to everything they make up – we can feel overwhelmed and doubt if that same God has the time, patience, and/or interest to consider us and care about our problems. I mean, why should God care if I pass my Psychology exam if there are so many bigger things to focus on – like ISIS? But when it comes down to it, God is a God of big things, small things, and things in between.

How do I know this? The Bible has lots of references, such as Matthew 6:26-34.

"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Matthew 10:29-31 is another verse that shows how God is interested in things both big and small.

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

These verses illustrate several points, two of which I am going to focus on. The first is that God cares about the birds and the plants. Compared to how many children are going to bed hungry, the many diseases plaguing the world, political turmoil, and countless other things, birds and plants can seem inconsequential to us. Yet, as Matthew 10:29 says, not one sparrow will fall to the ground and escape God’s knowledge. So, though these things seem small and inconsequential to us, they are important to God. The second point is that God cares about us. As Genesis 1:27 tells us, humans are made in the image of God. We matter to him. Although all of his creations are special to him, we are the most special – the most important – to him. And as you can see from the verses above, if he takes care of things that are of less importance, he will take care of us, who are worth so much more. God is a God of both big things and small things.

Aside from the Bible, I like to look at my own experiences for proof that he cares for both big and small things, and even the things in between.

A couple months ago I woke up with a horrible stomach ache. Not to get into TMI territory, but I thought I was going to be sick. Seriously. Instead of getting up and doing something – like going to get a bucket or pills – I sat in bed and prayed to God to take away my pain. I won’t say the pain was gone instantly, but it did begin to fade instantly. A stomach ache doesn’t stand up next to all of the issues going on in the world, but God cared enough about me to take away my pain almost instantly when I asked.

My family got a phone call from one of my mom’s friends late at night a few weeks back. She said that her brother had been in a motorcycle accident and was in ICU. He had internal bleeding and was in an induced coma. He hadn’t been wearing a helmet. The family had been asking for – and receiving – lots of prayers. He should have died. But he didn’t. He is going to recover. God cared enough about this man’s life that he allowed him to survive an accident that should have killed him.

So we can see that God is a God of both small things and big things. But what about the things that fall somewhere in between suffering from a bit of pain and almost dying?

A couple weeks ago I woke up in the middle of the night and was hit with the realization that I’m going back to school and that if I don’t get more scholarships then I don’t have enough money to cover all of the expenses. I knew I had enough money for tuition, but what about books? What about gas? What about food? This is something that I’ve been anxious about for a while, but it just sort of hit me at that point. Was I not supposed to go back to school? Did I make a mistake when I decided to pass up the opportunity to become a grant writer so I could go back to school? Was I not supposed to be a teacher? Had I royally screwed up? I said some prayers and finally managed to fall back to sleep. I was too lazy to turn my alarm clock off when it came on, so I just laid in bed for a few minutes and listened to the radio. After a while a commercial came on that was basically encouraging people to become teachers. “That’s uncanny,” I thought. Later on that day I got onto my school account and saw that I had been awarded another scholarship.

God cared enough to take away my stomach ache, to save a man's life, and to encourage me and help me out financially when it comes to school. If you ask me, that's awesome.

The next time you feel weird asking God for something or you start doubting if he really cares for you, try remembering the things that he has done for you so far in your life. Look at the Bible. Reflect on the times someone you know told you about answered prayers. God cares. He cares about the big things, the small things, and even the things in between.

Cheers!

Molly

Sunday, July 26, 2015

Bloggers Co-Op Sharing is Caring Weekly LinkUp 7/26 #SharingIsCaringLinkUp

 
 

WELCOME TO BLOGGER CO-OP "SHARING IS CARING" SUNDAY LINKUP


Have a family friendly blog post you'd like to share? Go ahead and link it up here with the Bloggers Co-Op Sharing is Caring Link Up! In fact, you can link UP TO 3 of your favorite posts from this past week! The Bloggers Co-Op is a group of bloggers who want to share and grow together; what better way to do so than by linking up with each other and other awesome bloggers?

This link-up will be open all week long, so please feel free to drop by any day and add your post, plus check out other bloggers' posts!

HOSTS:


Molly: A Bibliophile's View: Fitness, Food, and Faith
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**GOOGLE+

Nancy: Things That Make People Go Aww
TWITTER*FACEBOOK*PINTEREST*INSTAGRAM*GOOGLE+

Patricia: Tricia's Treasures 
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

Melinda: My So Called Balanced Life 
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

Christy: Christy's Cozy Corners 
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

Angie: AngieWagg's Blog 
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

Ondria: Mommy's Block Party  
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

Kelly: Kelly's Thoughts On Things 
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

Pam: PinkMama's Place 
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

Christina: Momknowsbest2.com 
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

Maria: Adventures of the Mommy Homemaker
TWITTER**FACEBOOK**PINTEREST**INSTAGRAM**GOOGLE+

STEPS:

  1. Please follow at least *one host* each week! 
  2. You can share UP TO 3(!!!) of your favorite blog posts (family friendly only, please!)
  3. Please visit at least 2 others for every link you enter. 
  4. By linking up, you are giving us permission to share your post on our social media pages 
  5. Please spread the word about the LinkUp because the more people who see the link up-more people see your posts! 
  6. Please use the ‪#‎SharingIsCaringLinkUp‬ hashtag so we can find your posts and share them too!
Just click on the link: Add your link, or just browse and share some of the other blog posts. Remember: Sharing is Caring!!!




Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Soft and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies


Chocolate chip cookies: the go-to favorite cookie for a lot of people. Personally, oatmeal raisin is my favorite (yes, I know I’m weird; I take after my grandma!) but I still like a good chocolate chip cookie. Preferably, ooey-gooey chocolate chip cookies that have been a bit under-baked. What about you guys? What are your favorite kinds of cookies, and do you prefer them soft or a bit crunchy?


There are so many chocolate chip cookie recipes out there; probably each person (well, each baking person) has their own recipe. I like my grandma’s recipe, my cousin’s recipe, and even the kind I get in a box at Walmart, but the recipe below is probably my favorite. It uses two kinds of sugar, a cup of butter, and a whole bag of chocolate chips. What’s not to love?

Like I said, I believe every person has their own chocolate chip recipe, but if you’re looking for a new one - or one in general if you’re just getting into baking – I highly recommend this one!


Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.

First, mix 2 ½ cups of all-purpose flour, ½ tsp baking soda, and ¼ tsp of salt in a bowl. Set aside.

In a separate bowl, cream together 1 cup of brown sugar, ½ cup white sugar, and 1 cup (2 sticks) of butter with a hand mixer (or, if you’re lucky, a stand mixer). When the butter and sugar are creamed, add 2 eggs and 2 tsps of vanilla and mix.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and beat with the mixer, then add one package (2 cups) of semi-sweet chocolate chips and stir until mixed.


Make dough balls (about the size of a ping-pong ball) and place them on a baking sheet with about 1 ½ inches between them. Bake for about 15 minutes, until the edges are golden brown and the middles are still gooey. Let the cookies set on the tray for about five minutes, then move them to a cooling rack.


Serve warm with a nice big glass of milk and enjoy! Store the remaining cookies in an airtight container with a piece of bread to keep them from getting hard.


This recipe makes about 3 dozen cookies.

Soft and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies


Ingredients


2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
½ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
1 cup brown sugar
½ cup white sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) cold butter, cut into chunks
2 eggs
2 tsps vanilla
1 package (16 oz) semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions


Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.

Mix 2 ½ cups of all-purpose flour, ½ tsp baking soda, and ¼ tsp of salt in a bowl. Set aside. In a separate bowl, cream together 1 cup of brown sugar, ½ cup white sugar, and 1 cup (2 sticks) of butter with a hand mixer (or, if you’re lucky, a stand mixer). When the butter and sugar are creamed, add 2 eggs and 2 tsps of vanilla and mix. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and beat with the mixer, then add one package (2 cups) of semi-sweet chocolate chips and stir until mixed.

Make dough balls (about the size of a ping-pong ball) and place them on a baking sheet with about 1 to 1 ½ inches between them. Bake for about 15 minutes, until the edges are golden brown and the middles are still gooey. Let the cookies set on the tray for about five minutes, then move them to a cooling rack.

Serve warm with a nice big glass of milk and enjoy! Store the remaining cookies in an airtight container with a piece of bread to keep from getting hard.

Don’t forget to tell me your favorite kind of cookies and if you like them soft or crunchy in the comments! I’d love to know!

Molly

Monday, July 13, 2015

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen Book Review


I am a huge fan of fantasy and sci-fi books. I mean, I read to escape my life, so why not go somewhere completely out-there? The idea of reading “YA contemporary fiction” didn’t used to appeal to me. I remember going to this secondhand bookshop when I was about 16 and asking the shop lady if she had any young adult books. “We have some Sarah Dessen books. Those are pretty popular with the young crowd,” she said, then proceeded to show me a stack of contemporary fiction novels. *sigh*

Honestly, one of the reasons why I was hesitant to read YA contemporary fiction was because I had this idea that they were filled with and fueled by sex, drugs, alcohol, parties. After all, that’s what’s popular.

It wasn’t until a few years later that I read one of Dessen’s books. My mom had picked up a few of her books at the Goodwill so I had them on my shelves, but I didn’t read any until I joined a book club during my senior year of high school. The first book we read for the book club was Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen, which was one that I owned. It didn’t sound too horrible, so I decided to give it a go.


I loved it.

Dessen gets the struggle of being a teenager; the struggle of being old enough, but not old enough (you know, when you’re a “big girl/boy” who’s expected to be responsible but no one really takes you seriously?). Don’t get me wrong, there are elements of “popular” themes (ie alcohol, parties, etc.) in her books, but they aren’t a main focus. The characters might drink, but they aren’t the obnoxious “Hey, let’s go out and get smashed!” kind of characters. The characters are human beings, with flaws and strengths and actual personalities. They are people.

I found Dessen’s latest novel, Saint Anything, during a trip to Target. It sounded interesting, but I needed to save my money for a new summer wardrobe (apparently my 20-year-old self does not share the same style as my 16-year-old self), and I am always hesitant to buy books that I haven’t read yet. So, even though it was 20% of the cover price and it was a signed copy, I put the book down and requested it from the library. 

I finished it about a week after checking it out, and went back to Target to claim that signed copy as mine (deciding that thrift shopping for new clothes was good enough for me).


Sydney has always lived in the shadow of her older brother, Peyton – a situation that becomes even worse when Peyton hits a kid when drunk driving, sentencing the kid to a life of lower body paralysis. Rather than dealing with the stares, whispers, and opinions of her classmates, Sydney decides to transfer to a new school, leaving all associations with Peyton behind her – or so she hopes (and her mother hopes not). A new school brings a new scene – including a new after school scene. Soon, Sydney finds herself drawn out of her Peyton-centered family and into the Chatham family, where she finally feels like she belongs, even if they are just barely more put together than her own family, with Layla’s knack for dating losers, Rosie’s history with drugs, and Mrs. Chatham’s failing health. And then there’s Mac, who Sydney might be falling for, despite Layla’s “no dating the best friend’s brother!” rule. As the front flap says: Saint Anything is Sarah Dessen’s deepest and most psychologically probing novel yet, telling an engrossing story of a girl discovering friendship, love, and herself.

My description barely does it justice, and the front flap barely does it justice. The plot is good, yes, but it’s the entire theme of the book that pulls it together; it’s the characters themselves, and their struggles and battles and victories and losses and journeys. 

It’s not just a book about a girl with a brother who has screwed up big time – it’s a book about a girl who feels invisible in her brother’s shadow because everything he does, whether good or bad, is more important than anything that she does. It’s not just a book about a girl finding a cute guy to crush on, fantasize about, and then, finally, go out with – it’s a book about a girl who finds a guy who accepts her and her baggage, and shows her his own baggage, hoping that she’ll accept him, too. It’s not just a book about finding friendship and a “niche” – it’s a book about finding a family that accepts you, flaws and all. As New York Times bestselling novelist Jodi Picoult says, Saint Anything is a poignant and honest story.

Saint Anything resonated with me even though my brother never made a mistake so huge that it landed him in prison, and I believe that it will resonate with many others, too. After all, who hasn’t suffered at the expense of someone else’s poor choices (no matter how big or small)? And who doesn’t want to find that niche – that family – where they and their baggage are welcomed with open arms? I highly recommend this book, especially to teenagers/young adults, and adults who remember what it’s like being a teenager.

Happy reading!

Molly

Confession: I didn't originally like the title or the cover art. Then I read the book and I think both are brilliant. Sarah Dessen's books always have a way of surprising me!

Sunday, July 12, 2015

Derma e Purifying Products Giveaway (Open to US only, 18+; ends 8/2/15)


Sponsored by: Derma e
Hosted by: Kelly's Thoughts On Things

My skin gets super oily, but it's also sensitive so I need to be careful about the products I use. Derma e is doctor-developed and all natural, so I have a feeling their products would be my face's new best friend. Kelly over at Kelly's Thoughts on Things had the chance to review derma e purifying products (worth $125!) and now she's hosting a giveaway for these products. Enter to win below!

Family owned and operated for over 30 years, derma e® has pioneered the development of vitamin-rich, high-performance antioxidant skincare solutions. The award-winning line features doctor-developed, consumer-tested and clinically-tested face care, body care and treatment products that are free of parabens, phthalates, mineral oil and petrolatum. Every formula is cruelty-free and 100 percent vegan. Manufacturing and operations are offset 100 percent by wind power. derma e® can be found in over 16,500 retail outlets across the U.S. with additional distribution in 25 countries internationally.
It happens day in and day out. Oil, sweat, bacteria and micropollutants build up on skin and clog pores, leading to visible damage such as acne, blemishes, sensitivity, fine lines, wrinkles, thinning or sagging skin. That’s why derma e® brings you Purifying Skincare. Doctor developed and clinically tested, it’s like a deep detox program to cleanse and reboot skin every day so it glows with pure health for years to come. Specially designed for oily, active or urban skin types, Purifying formulas work naturally to draw out toxins, replenish vital nutrients and restore skin’s resistance to oxidative stress. Plus, the line is allergy tested and made with minimal ingredients, so it’s also safe for reactive skin.

Giveaway:

One (1) winner will win Derma e Purifying Products. This Giveaway is open to US residents only, ages 18 and older. The Giveaway will run from July 11, 2015 until 11:59pm EST on August 2, 2015. One entry per household.

This blog is not responsible for prize fulfillment.

Enter using the Giveaway Tools Form Below. Good Luck!