Friday, September 28, 2007

Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas


... was the new recipe i tried for my family last nite. it was a hit! son wanted 2nds which is his stamp of approval. and when i asked hubby if it was a keeper, he said YES.

i got the recipe from emilie barne's cookbook called "Simply Dinner" i haven't made alot of the recipes in the book but those i have have been wonderful. here's the recipe:

Sour Cream Cheese Enchiladas

2 bunches of green onions, chopped
1 pint (2 cups) sour cream
2 lbs longhorn cheddar cheese, grated
3 6 oz cans enchilada sauce
20 8 inch flour tortillas
butter

Preheat oven to 350. Mix onions into sourcream, leaving out some onions for top of enchiladas (i didn't do this). Warm enchilada sauce in medium saucepan on low. Mix half of the cheese with sour cream mixture. Butter tortillas and fry til soft, dip in warm sauce and fill with sour cream mixture. Fold enchiladas, place in baking dish, folded side down and pour remaining sauce over enchiladas. Bake 30 minutes at 350. Put remaining cheese on top (and onions) 10 minutes before serving.

Optional: add 2 cups cooked chicken

i used bigger tortillas cuz that is what i had and didn't use quite as much cheese as i added the chicken to mine---Yum!!

Have you tried any new recipes lately? I'd love to hear.

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

it's good to be home

as i sit at my computer drinking the final bit of my decaf peppermint mocha, i am reveling in being at home again. after being away for the majority of last week, it feels so good to be home. surrounded by the laundry that needs to be folded, the piles of stuff that needs to find a permanent home, the dishes that need to be washed (yes, i don't have a dishwasher). i relish that i get to serve my family. i haven't always felt this way, in fact just last week i wasn't thankful for all the responsibilities i carry. but then i happened upon this blog, http://joyandchaos.blogspot.com/2007/09/crumbs.html joy says it so well. the Lord used her words to convict me. and now i'm viewing my home, my family and my role differently. go check it out! its worth the read ....

Monday, September 24, 2007

Status Report

Drinking ... decaf carmel mocha in my favorite stainless steel and black mug

Sitting ... on my sofa in my living room

Enjoying ... the quiet, my dog nearby sleeping

Hoping
... an extended weekend getaway with hubby this fall

Reading .... just finished "Peach Cobbler Murder" a cozy mystery

Liking ... the cooler fall weather

Anticipating .... listening to the latest casting crowns cd i just bought. haven't even unwrapped it yet!

Praying .... for my mom as she meets with the oncologist on thursday

Studying .... created to be his helpmeet by debi pearl with online group.

Asking .... for wisdom, discipline and dilegance as i tackle my home responsibilities

Walking ... outside or indoors? i now have a walking dvd i can use on nasty days

Waiting .... on God's timing for our move

Thanking .... God for a successful surgery for my mom last week, and a safe trip there and back for me.

Friday, September 21, 2007

gloomy, gloomy seattle area

we made it!

my mom had her surgery on wed and it went well. she is recovering quite well, much to my astonishment. wish i came out of surgery as well as she does. i know the Lord is with her.

now that the crisis is over, i'm deploring the clouds, the deep grey, solid cover clouds that live here much of the time. its a good thing there is a espresso shop on every corner! (and that is not as much of an exaggeration as it sounds!)

i was able to drive up to a local craft store yesterday. wow, even the outskirts of the area are spawning housing developments and the expected retail that goes with it. but it was great fun to shop for yarn, gaze at the fabric, scour the beading section, and peruse the rest of the store. i started a knit hat for my son with the yarn i picked up and will post a pic of it shortly. we'll see if it turns out ....

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Road Trip!!!

tomorrow evening i'm driving up to boise where my brother and sister in law now reside. tues morning we will be heading out for seattle. i'm excited about a road trip, esp since i won't be doing all of the driving--woo hoo! a luxury for me to be sure.

unfortunately, the reason for the roadtrip is not as delightful. my mom is going in for surgery wed morning. they found cancer in her breasts and she is having a lumpectomy on both sides. the Lord has been faithful. He has given both of us peace and it is amazing to watch my 82 yr old mom lean into the arms of Her Father. she has a blog here www.marj-friendforlife.blogspot.com detailing this journey she's on.

i'm looking forward to seeing my mom and other family members. i'm even looking forward to being back in the seattle area with the rain and clouds, rush hour traffic and crazy drivers. and yes, i'm looking forward to being in the espresso capital of the pacific northwest! so many mocha's, so little time!

look for updates from the land of latte and rain. ta ta for now ---

Friday, September 14, 2007

knitting

the last few years i've been dabbling in knitting. i started with all the scarves that were such the rage and then graduated last year to dish rags. its so much fun to knit, to see a finished product and to give it away to others. now that fall is heading our way and the awful hot temps are almost a thing of the past, i'm thinking of getting out my yarn and needles and doing some more dish cloths. during the summer i found a pattern for a shrug and it doesn't look to hard so that is my goal for the winter. make one for myself and if it turns out then make a few more for the gals in my family.

any knitters out there? any hints or tips you want to pass along to me?

gail

Thursday, September 13, 2007

my fire bug


our son loves fire! its partly in his genes, i was a bit of a firebug as a kid, but it is also part of his obsessive compulsive tendencies from his diagnosis (dx). this summer we went up to the south hills a few times just to light a fire and let joe have fun putting bits of paper or sticks in the fire. as you can see from the picture he really gets into his play!

we have loved watching the ice age movies and we call him our "fire king"!

a perfect loaf




i've been getting back into using my bread maker. with fall here, 2 boys in school needing lunches, i enjoy making bread and trying new recipes. this loaf is from my old faithful recipe: Rich Buttermilk Bread. it makes great bread for sandwiches and toast. mmm!

besides trying new recipes the next goal i have is to mix the dough up in the bread maker but then bake it in the oven, making more than one loaf at a time. the way we go thru bread, i could easily make a loaf a day!

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

changing the blog

i'm going to use this blog now for more than just posting about family. i plan on using it to show off any crafts i do, new recipes i try, funnies i find, as well as talk about the challenge and adventure life in our household brings.

i hope to post often and hope you will enjoy the new theme

gail