Taste and see that the Lord is good....Thursday

Okay today's recipe is one of those easy meals I remember making for a special family I use to work for. I'm including it today as I had a walk down memory lane this week. I was able to work for a wonderful family while I attended Ozark. This was my favorite job ever, besides my current job. I was able to travel to Joplin this week with my friend Dawn, I then was able to have a great visit with Debbie at the local IHOP.

I learned so much from this family, that job really helped prepare me for motherhood and the whole parenting process. I am so thankful God placed Debbie and her family in my life both then and now. It's so neat to know that when we have the bond of Christ we have a true bond forever. I am so thankful for all the things "caught" I learned while working for you all. I am anxious to try out this recipe again as I remembered it tasting so good.

I am so thankful I was able to reconnect with Debbie this week, parts of me are sad though as I never realized until this week how much I miss this family. God is good and I'm so thankful for all of you in my life right now.


Smothered Chicken
By Debbie

INGREDIENTS
4skinless, boneless chicken breast
8 slices bacon
16 ounces sour cream
2 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup ( I remember only using 1 of these)



DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Wrap each chicken breast in 2 strips of bacon and place in a glass 9x13 inch baking dish.
In a small bowl, mix the sour cream and soup. Cover the chicken with the sour cream/soup mixture and bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 40 to 50 minutes or until slightly brown on top. Let cool and serve on top of hot, cooked rice if desired.

My Thankful List

I'm a little late on my list but I do want to express my thankfulness on the blog, mainly for my own purposes. Plus I have heard that every time you write down what your thankful for it changes your attitude and I really believe that as it's worked the last couple of weeks.

1. I am thankful for the verse in 2 Chronicles 16:9, " For the eyes of the Lord search to and fro the entire earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. (This version is Tara version a little NIV, ESV, NLT) Sorry folks don't have the bible in front of me.

2. So Thankful for a wonderful week of visiting friends, a little shopping, fun road trips ( one with the kids and one without) .... one was a little bit more relaxing than the other but I'm still thankful. (can u guess which one?)

3. I'm thankful for healthy kids.

4. I'm thankful for this running goal even when I feel a little distracted from it right now.

5. I'm thankful that God teaches me through so many simple things everyday, that His word is so real and so useful in my life.

6. I'm thankful for that small voice that keeps guiding me, to do the right thing.

7. I thankful for so much and I could really journal on this big topic right now.. i think I will...
But some fun things I'm so thankful for are : Chick-fil-a sweet tea and chicken sandwich, Shakey's, great deal on a gallon of milk, not gaining weight after all this, and reconnecting with a friend from the past.

8. I'm so thankful as I feel sometimes the luckiest girl in the world to have so many "rubies" as friends, you all are a blessing in my life.

9. I'm thankful my husband got a cell phone.. yeah we can now text message each other. I love that, but I love him more.

10. I am so thankful now for writing this list..

Running Updates!

11 more weeks till the 1/2 marathon. Doesn't really seem possible that the time has just flown by and yet I'm loving this journey of it all.
Yes it is hard work, but it's so rewarding. I'm probably more excited what this journey is doing to my heart, and my time management skills, Oh don't be suprised I still get off task often but all the important things get done, and the not so important on tara's to do list don't get done.

Here are the one's I just can't keep up on:

1. LAUNDRY...BTW when you use all caps on the internet it's like talking real loud to get the point across...lol. Laugh now good people!!
2. Those upset with me because I haven't called them back
3. Papers around the house... can't seem to throw them out, but really not sure I'll ever use them.
4. T.V. shows, I dvr them all like 3 of them, yet only catch up on them here and there. I do watch idol though on the dvr.
5. My journal, I love it and planning on going back to it after my bible study ends in a few weeks.
6. Ironing and organizing.
7. Deep cleaning
8. Taking the dog out
9. Recycling.. it's so out of control

Here's the one's I do keep up on:

1. My blog here and there.
2. Facebook and email... I'm thinking I need to limit it...I just get sucked in like a old lady watching her soap operas.
3. Text messenging
4. My running schedule and weight training
5. Suppers I'm pretty good at that
6. knowing when I need to spend time with God, and not get caught up in this world.. what a refreshing part of my day...
7. My family and friends.... I love you all.
8. The dishes

My Thankful List

I am thankful for this week, one of those weeks where I'm amazed how fast the went went. Guess when you have stuff going on almost every night that makes for a busy week. I wouldn't of changed a thing though... so you know that means it's pretty good/balanced kinda week. Wow!

1. I am thankful that our family got to have family date night on Friday. I was so relaxed and really enjoyed our little night!

2. I am thankful that I was able to attend Lindsey's Valentine's party and lead the class, it reminded me that I do miss teaching children and how one day that will be part of my life again. I love staying home right now though!

3. I am thankful for what God is doing and even working on with me.

4. I am thankful for all my sista friends! You are wondeeeeeful and bring such fun in my life.

5. I'm thankful for my father-in-law and that he's planned our Valentine's Day for us and many other couples for dinner.

6. Okay I'm thankful for all those who have called this week to talk and to share your heart. I LOVE to talk on the phone!

7. I am so thankful for MOPS, I really enjoy this so much! I love all the ideas from so many wonderful women of God and I'm planning on using the idea of reading a Proverb a day with my kiddos. What a simple idea, to read a proverb everyday that corresponds to the day of the month. Guess this month I'd only read 28 proverbs and skip the rest..... ha ha

8. I'm thankful for you as you read this, that you took a minute of your time to see a small reflection of what I'm thankful for. I do hope you are thankful for so much!

Taste and see Thursday

Taste and see that the Lord is good Thursday. Indeed I do believe that and I know that the Lord is really opening up my eyes. In so many ways that words cannot describe or paint the picture I'd like to show or tell you.

I'll try in a Psalm though as it's like a song.
"Show me your ways, O Lord,
teach me your paths;
guide me in your truth, and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day
long...... according to your love remember me."

Psalm 25:4-5, 7

How sweet those words touch my soul and make my life sweeter.
Today's recipes are some great mexican sides. I'd like to say the first one is a side dish and the 2nd is what we often have for a meal with chips. (I'm not sure it's suppose to be a meal but we do it)

The first one is a recipe from my friend Katie Desotel on cheesy mexican rice. Katie and I are two peas in a pod. We are big time talkers, complete sanguine people. Katie use to live in Keokuk but recently moved to the cold north pole in northern Iowa. I appreciate Katie and her giving spirit. She is always looking to help anyone out, like finding deals on clothes, shoes, giving me great recipes , encouraging me to run and always making me feel so loved! Thank you very much! Katie and I share the love for cooking/baking so anytime we are together we cook in her big kitchen. We love to do Mexican, it usually takes us all night as we get sidetracked very often with other things. (Remember when we got lost, before the GPS thing due to looking at our silly cell phones/ pictures?) I always have so much fun with Katie... my husband thinks I'm crazy for having to stay all night with my friend Katie..what can I say.. I love girl time and it's good for my kids too! I'm looking forward to another girl night this month!! Yeah!

Cheesy Mexican Rice
by
Katie DeSotel

I cup of chicken broth
I cup of salsa
minute rice
3slices of kraft cheese

Mix first two ingredients and bring to boil. Add rice. Throw in cheese on top and put lid on pan. Wait like 5 minutes and mix rice up. This recipe is great with Katie and Tara's chicken chimichangas.
If you make this have me over.... I love it!!!!

Bean Dip
by
Tara

2 lbs hamburger
2 16 oz cans of refried beans
1 large onion
3 tomatos
2 jalapeno peppers (diced)
salt and pepper
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
garlic salt
16 oz shredded sharp cheddar cheese
8 oz mozzarella cheese

Brown meat and onions. Drain. Add all ingredients but cheese. Mix well. Divide mixture into 3 pie plates. Divide cheese and sprinkle on top. Bake 350* for 25 minutes.
Can freeze these and they are great.
If frozen bake for 1 hr or until hot.

Eat with corn chips.

OH if anyone makes this remember it makes 3, yes 3 pie plates so remember who gave you the recipe.. hint hint!

I am thankful!

I am so thankful for so much throughout the week. I really need to write it down so I remember, but I've been not so good at writing down my thoughts lately. Due to well, plain laziness. I know, I know.. I really love my journal and I've been neglecting it... so I plan on getting back to it after my daily bible study with Beth Moore is over in a few weeks. I love her and I am thankful for her... even though I've never met her.

1. I am thankful for a wonderful week with lots of family and extended family time.

2. I am thankful for so much encouragement from random people.

3. I am thankful for the women's exercise class I'm teaching.

4. I am thankful for my one year bible, I look forward to each day's reading. I love the NLT version. It comes alive and really is a fun read. I still love studying from my other bible though.

5. I am thankful for a smaller jean size.

6. I am thankful for the divine appointments this week with random people at the places I did not want to go to. I am so humbled.

7. I'm thankful for text messaging. It is so nice to keep up with friends and is encouraging to me.

8. I'm thankful for Jill and her willingness to step out and volunteer to teach this summer's VBS! I of course will help ya!

9. I'm thankful for chocolate mint brownies, jalapeno bread and my mom cooking supper last night.

10. I am so thankful that I was able to mentally prepare for a long run this week, then put my thoughts into action on Sunday. Yeah I completed 7 miles of running, then 2 more miles of walking back to my car. I feel great and know "I can do all things with Christ who gives me strength"

Taste and see Thursday

Taste and see that the Lord is good Thursday. I do think that Food is so meant to be shared with friends and family. So today I'm posting a recipe from a dear family member who is being laid to rest today. Ruby Campbell is Chad's grandma, who was 88 years young. She was a short little lady that had a heart of gold and loved her grandchildren (chad) and great grandchildren ( our kiddos) so much.
She was born on April Fool's day and I think that made her kinda spunky and liked to be a fun grandma. Grandma Campbell is known for her chip dip, so today I thought I'd post her famous chip dip. I love to make her dip, it's the best with Sterzings potato chips, or veggies (if you want healthy with your dip.... kinda not so much healthy though). I think I will always miss Grandma's chip dip, even if I do make it again. I am so thankful for all the memories we have with her, one lifetime is never long enough with those you love. I am thankful for this recipe and all the recipes/ cookbooks we have from her. She will be missed by all our crew at our house.


Chip Dip
By
Ruby Campbell

1 cup sour cream
1 cup mayonnaise
1 Tablespoon Dill Weed
1 teaspoon Beau Monde
3/4 teaspoon garlic powder or 1 chopped garlic clove. (She uses garlic salt).
1 Tablespoon chopped onion

Chill overnight before serving.