Saturday, July 19, 2008

Making Every Day Living Extraordinary!



I have several different ideas rumbling around in my head. All of them pertaining to making the ordinary every day lives we live EXTRAORDINARY! See, I am so not a domestic diva like so many of you neat ladies! Yes, I stay at home. Yes, I believe in making a good home for my family and a welcome home for visitors. But, I don't sew. I am not a decorator. I am not particularly crafty. This will never, ever be one of those sort of blogs because blogging by nature is an extension of our own paticular personality, and that's just not me!

But, that doesn't mean I don't love to bake, or that I don't recognize a great idea when I see it! Or that all teen angst aside I haven't had many wonderful experiences as a wife, mother and friend to fuel some posts to inspire you in this regard. Towards that end, here is a wonderful, easy recipe from my absolute favorite cook on television. She is such a neat person. I love her story and how much she has overcome in her life. You can click on her name below and it will take you to her website.


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From the website of Paula Deen:

Creamy Macaroni and Cheese
Ingredients:
2 cup uncooked elbow macaroni (an 8 ounce box isn't quite 2 cups)
2 1/2 cup (about 10-ounces) grated sharp Cheddar cheese
3 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup sour cream
1 (10 3/4-ounce) can condensed Cheddar cheese soup
4 tablespoon (1/2 stick) butter, cut into pieces
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup whole milk
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Directions:
Boil the macaroni in a 2 quart saucepan in plenty of water until tender, about 7 minutes. Drain. In a medium saucepan, mix butter and cheese. Stir until the cheese melts. In a slow cooker, combine cheese/butter mixture and add the eggs, sour cream, soup, salt, milk, mustard and pepper and stir well. Then add drained macaroni and stir again. Set the slow cooker on low setting and cook for 3 hours, stirring occasionally.

Yield: 12 servings Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 3 hours Ease of Preparation: Easy
Recipe courtesy Paula Deen

I picked this recipe because I have noted in some of my visits that some younger families are having to make grocery money stretch. This means they buy less meat. This recipe gives lots of calcium, protein and flavor. You can get it ready and let it cook in the slow cooker (crock pot) and it won't heat up your kitchen. It will go nicely with some veggies cooked like you enjoy for a nice hot lunch or dinner. Also, cheese is great to buy on sale and stick in the freezer, when you plan to cook with it. Thawed cheese crumbles easy which for cooking is convenient. And since it does crumble easy it helps if you don't have a food processor!

Be on the look out for future posts on making every day lives Extraordinary!

7 comments:

heidi @ ggip said...

That sounds fabulous. We are pinching pennies too. I think I might try this in the crockpot sometime:)

Anonymous said...

You are so not alone in your meager domestic skills. I have a long way to go before I come close to what some of these gifted and talented women do. I have been told I make a pretty good cup of coffee though. :) You're a hoot! (Compliment!) I'm really enjoying your blog!

Denise said...

Sounds very yummy to my tummy.

luvmy4sons said...

I love mac and cheese but can't imagine doing anything other than using it from a box. I know. I am terrible. LOL!

Melissa in Mel's World said...

Yummy!!! We have actually tried a new homemade 4-cheese mac n cheese recipe. The first time I made it my hubby was like, uh, yeah, this is good, but WHERE IS THE MEAT!!!

Ha! I just had to share that with ya!

I like your blog just the way it is...always have, always will!

xoxo,
Melissa

Tiffany said...

Thanks Maria! I love Paula Dean. This is a great idea for my lovies. Especially with the added veggies!~ Blessings!
Oh, and thank you so much for your encouraging words. Your a gem!

She Rose Up said...

Heidi - :) Hope you like it! We do!

Edge - :) Yes, I succeed at coffee too! And lemonade and ice tea! All the important southern beverages! And thank you! I come from a long line of hoots! I am gratified to think the family tradition will continue! ;)

Denise - It is! :)

Leslie - You are NOT terrible! You are SMART! You are one of the most overworked women I know of! You have to be efficent with your resources of time and energy! :)

Mel - LOL! Ha! That sounds like my hubby! Truthfully, our whole household - all of us - we are carnivores! So, here I don't dare serve it without meat! Tee-hee! They might start nibbling on fingers and toes if I did that here! :) and THANK YOU! I reciprocate that feeling COMPLETELY!

I loved your word on Hope yesterday BTW!

Tiffany - Why thank you, Ma'am! I sure hope your lovies enjoy it!

TO ALL:

I pray that you walk in the shelter and blessing of the Lord, and your family members as well.

xoxo,
Maria

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What Does it Mean Anyway? "Free to Fly"...

Well, it's like this: Here are some of the Webster's Dictionary definitions of Free: a : having the legal and political rights of a citizen b : enjoying civil and political liberty c : enjoying political independence or freedom from outside domination d : enjoying personal freedom : not subject to the control or domination of another2 a : not determined by anything beyond its own nature or being : choosing or capable of choosing for itself...having a scope not restricted by qualification 7 a : not obstructed, restricted, or impeded ...Now, here are some of the Webster's Dictionary definitions of Fly:1 a : to move in or pass through the air with wings b : to move through the air or before the wind or through outer space c : to float, wave, or soar in the air ... a : to take flight ...6 : to work successfully ...Examples which apply from Websters: fly high : to be elated - fly in the face of or fly in the teeth of : to stand or act forthrightly or brazenly in defiance or contradiction of

What does this mean in my life? This means that in life we are meant to be free. While historically mankind has not always enjoyed the opportunity to fully appreciate what that means, we are so indescribably fortunate as to live in a time of the greatest spiritual, physical, financial and political freedom ever known. Freedom doesn't come cheap, nor does it come easy. But the best things in life don't come that way do they? As I write this I am struck by how this sounds like a political statement, and for me this is much more of a spiritual thing, but, same goes for that (political that is). Freedom doesn't come easy. And it's worth whatever fight you have to make to overcome in your life in order to live a life that succeeds. Now the questions is - what is success for you? What is your standard? In my mind what is needed is a definite target - because you can't hit and maintain a moving target. A stable, rock-solid, anchor with no variable, yet multi-faceted. Something pure, just and worthy. If you look at any web page of news you can see that our society is certainly lacking in this area. What a great time to live as a rebel! Nowadays to be a rebel, all you have to do is be willing to engage in the battle of life, while anchored to Christ!