Jul 11, 2020 | Breakfast, Food
Our family loves blueberry muffins! We enjoy them, obviously, for breakfast but also throughout the week as a quick snack. Muffin Monday is a staple to our meal schedule because this recipe is easy and delicious, and my family cannot get enough. They also make the perfect snack for little hands.
For breakfast, I typically make a quick batch of muffins with a protein (like turkey sausage) and fruit. These muffins are great for an on-the-go breakfast for the mornings when we have to hurry out of the house.
I’ve ordered muffins from local grocery stores and bakeries, but this Prince Charming of mine does not approve. Maybe it’s because my little guy enjoys helping me bake this family favorite —or maybe he just loves Mommy’s cooking. Either way, blueberry muffins are an awesome filling treat, and Daddy grabs his fair share as well!
If your family loves blueberry muffins and you don’t mind baking them from scratch, then this recipe is for you! (Krusteaz Wild Blueberry Muffin Mix is a favorite of ours when we don’t take the from-scratch way.) However, this recipe is so easy, you may never pick up a boxed mix again.
*You’ll notice I’ve added some suggestions with the ingredients below, but feel free to use the items that your family enjoys. Just don’t forget to add an abundance of LOVE!
Ingredients:
½ cup softened butter (Earth’s Balance)
1 ¼ cups sugar or 1 cup Monk Fruit for my super healthy folk
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups flour
½ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ cup milk (Almond Milk or Oat Milk)
2 cups blueberries, washed, drained and picked over – or 2 cups frozen blueberries, thawed
3 teaspoons sugar (optional)
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 400.
- Mix the butter and 1 1/4 cups sugar until it is light and soft.
- Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each.
- Add vanilla.
- Sift in the flour, salt, and baking powder, into the creamed mixture alternately with the milk.
- Mash 1/2 cup of the blueberries with a fork and mix into the batter.
- Fold in the remaining whole berries.
- Line a 12-cup standard muffin tin (or a 6-cup jumbo muffin tin) with cupcake liners
- Fill with batter.
- Sprinkle the 3 teaspoons sugar over the tops of the muffins, reduce oven heat to 375, and bake at 375 degrees for about 30-35 minutes.
- Remove muffins from the tin and cool for at least 30 minutes.
- Store muffins uncovered in a cool dry place and eat away!
Jun 25, 2020 | Family & Home, Home Organization
Organizing makes my heart happy! I’m always working on home improvement tasks, and it brings me great joy to see it all come together. Like most of my projects, my organization method changes according to the task at hand. I’m constantly moving items around to find the perfect, most efficient places for things.
Regardless, I want to make sure that the most vital items are nearby and easy to find when I need them. Even in my junk drawers, I typically keep a pack of baby wipes, pens, coins, batteries, and the list goes on! I’m sure it’s obvious by now that I like to be prepared.
I have three great tips for getting your drawers organized (regardless of what room those drawers are in) and keeping important items at your fingertips.
Start Fresh
Anytime I’m organizing a new drawer, I begin by removing everything. Doing this gives me a clean slate to work from, and it inspires my vision. Once everything is on the counter, I categorize all the items. This is the time to toss anything unnecessary and take stock of what’s left. After you’ve narrowed down your collection, it’s time to organize everything into containers.
Measure Twice, Cut Once
For deeper drawers, I recommend drawer dividers. For smaller, shallow drawers, I recommend drawer organizers. There’s nothing like seeing all your items in their own spaces. You can also measure your drawers to ensure you purchase the right tools for your project. This way, those dividers will fit perfectly into position. These products and so many others can be found at The Container Store local spots or on their website.
Give Yourself A Win
For clothing, I typically hang the majority of our things, t-shirts included. We use drawer space in the bedrooms for undies and some athletic shorts. For the kids, I like to fold their pajamas and thin lounging sets, putting each outfit together. This way, my kiddos are able to find certain outfits without destroying the whole system. This saves time, gives the kids some independence and maintains my folded arrangement. It’s a win for everyone!
Containers, drawer dividers, and baskets always provide a cleaner look and solve any mess. And the good news is that you don’t have to break the bank to make your drawers look sleek! I prefer iDesign, The Home Edit, and The Container Store products, of course, but I also randomly find other great organizing pieces at Target or At Home Stores. Even the Dollar Store has great organizing items.
Here’s a great tip to leave with you: Don’t leave valuable drawer space filled with unnecessary things! Organizing your drawers is easy and worthwhile. I encourage you to reclaim your junk drawer, today!
Jun 20, 2020 | Food, Main Menu, Tamela's Tailgate Treats
If you’ve met my parents, you’re fully aware that my mom does not have a love for the kitchen. My dad has always been the chef of the family, while our darling diva has a small arsenal of recipes. Now, don’t be fooled, because each meal she does packs a flavorful punch!
My mom, Pam, makes the best chili. It’s perfect at any time of year, especially when you want something easy and delicious. As a young adult experimenting in the kitchen, I’ve added my little twist, which my family and guests absolutely love.
I’ve included a few optional ingredients (like quinoa and corn), but feel free to do whatever works for your family. That’s the great thing about chili; it’s such a simple dish but you can add or remove any ingredient to make it your own. If Mommy dearest is visiting, she literally stands over me to make sure I’m following her recipe to the “T”. I can’t blame her though, because this chili is amazing! You’ll see what I mean when you make it.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 tbsp. of oil (avocado oil)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced (optional)
- 1 white onion diced fine
- 1 green pepper diced fine
- 2 tbsp. tomato paste
- 2lb. ground turkey, beef, or meatless meat crumbles (optional)
- 1 pack of chili seasoning
- 1 tbsp. chili powder
- 1 ½ tsp. ground cumin
- 1 tsp. dried oregano
- 1 ½ tbsp. adobo seasoning
- ½ tsp. paprika
- ½ tsp. curry powder (optional)
- pinch of sea salt
- pinch of ground black pepper
- 2(16-oz) cans kidney chili beans, drained
- 1(16-oz) can pinto chili beans, drained
- 1 cup of quinoa(optional)
- 1 can of whole corn, drained (optional)
- 1 (28-oz) can crushed tomatoes
TOPPINGS
- Shredded cheddar
- Sour cream
- Thinly sliced green onions
- Diced pickles(optional)
DIRECTIONS
- In a large Dutch pot over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and cook until soft for about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant for about one more minute, then add tomato paste and stir. Add ground turkey and adobo seasoning and cook until no longer pink. Drain fat and return to heat.
- Next, add chili and curry powder, cumin, oregano, paprika, and season generously with salt and pepper to your liking. Pour in kidney and pinto chili beans and crushed tomatoes. Add (optional) quinoa or corn, drained if using.
- Bring chili to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Season with more salt and pepper, if necessary.
- Chili gets thicker as it cooks. If you prefer thick chili, let this one simmer for an additional 30 minutes.
- Ladle into bowls and top with cheddar, sour cream, green onions, and diced pickles (optional). Oh, and please don’t forget the love, my secret ingredient!
That’s it; you’re done! Enjoy your new favorite bowl of chili!
Photo cred: Nick Evans (with Macheesmo.com)
Jun 4, 2020 | Books, Faith, Football, Reviews
Champions, like seeds, only gain strength when you bury them. – Matshona Dhliwayo
Finding true victory in the midst of adversity can be challenging. An individual must realize that despite how victorious they may potentially become in the world, true victory only arises when they champion their faith in the Lord. The world’s vision of success often does not align with how God views achievement. Demario was deemed unsuccessful, especially early in life, and despite coming up short many times, he always got up stronger and more determined.
His story is one of how to champion goals and also how to champion faith! His story is compelling, and his book Unsuccessful Champion is a quick read because you will feel like he is sitting down with you to share.
Unsuccessful Champion was written to inspire anyone who has a dream and wants to be successful. We all have different callings in our lives and our paths are unique. Regardless of our journey, there is a champion inside of us, fighting to be the best at what we do.
Champions are founded in the relationships they have with God and their family. Each day, God calls us to live lives that set us apart for His glory. There is no end to what He has planned for us. There are times when what the world has to offer may seem appealing or glamorous but finding true victory and true riches comes from Christ. Regardless of how successful or unsuccessful Demario was at times, his fulfillment and true victory is always in Christ!
Let his story be an example to you—that though your beginning may be small, where you finish can be great.
Forget what people may have said about you or tried to convince you that you could not have. God can change any situation and make it better than our wildest dreams. I recommend this book to anyone who feels discouraged and needs to know that they are not alone. Your worth is not in what the world offers, but in the ultimate prize God has in store for you.
Watch the full book review video here: http://frn.wtb.mybluehost.me/videos/
May 28, 2020 | Family & Home, Parenting
It’s challenging not to raise entitled kids. Children are exposed to so much through technology and their peers. There is always some new toy that all their friends have. As a parent, I desire to spoil them endlessly and treat them like true royalty. It feels natural to want to give any and everything to my children and never deny them. Obviously, that isn’t wise. I would be doing a disservice to them by not preparing them for life. I had to realize, God doesn’t give me everything I desire and certainly not immediately because He knows it’s not always good for me. He is more concerned about me growing in Him and living a life that is a pure reflection of who He is!
We must be good stewards of our children.
Stewardship is a term we use for someone who manages and oversees things belonging to someone else. Our children are not 100% ours. They belong to God. Our job is to raise them to know who they belong to, and that is hard work. If I give my kids the world, never discipline them, and allow them to feel entitled to everything, then I’m not being a good steward of them! Exposing them to an entitled life would be me leading them down a road of destruction. The world would eventually chew them up and spit them out.
As shocking as it sounds, we are all sinners, raising sinners. Kids have their own ideas, opinions, behaviors and misbehaviors. We’re entrusted to nurture, shape, and mold them to honor God, serve others, and discover their passion and purpose through Him. Leaving my children the legacy of Jesus is more important to me than leaving them a legacy of worldly possessions! When our Master checks in to see how well we’ve cared for and invested in the children we’ve been given, what will He see? By following God, He will see stewards who did all they could with what was entrusted to them to bring honor to the one who truly owns it all.
Entitlement can lead to ungratefulness, and no one wants their children to take things for granted, especially in knowing how blessed we are by God.
Take some time to consider what legacy you are leaving behind for your children.
It’s never too late to refocus and lead your children toward Christ, our loving and gracious Creator.
