Well, it's not HOT in my neck of the woods in temperature (not today anyway) but it's sure been a HOT minute since I last posted. For that I am so sorry but it seems my life has been consumed with doctor appointments, tests, and MORE tests, biopsies, surgery and so much more. One day at a time sweet Jesus is all that any of us can ask for. Wanted to pop in on this beautiful Sunday afternoon to share a little about what I've been up too. Marty and I enjoyed a weekend at the beach before I had breast cancer surgery and took advantage of the time I had in between so many doctor appointments and testing. It was sure a good little getaway. We celebrated our 47th wedding anniversary in September. WOW! Just babies! LOL! We were high school sweethearts. Started dating at age 16. Married at age 18 and started a family at age 20. We celebrated Marty's birthday in October. He says that he's feeling his age these days. LOL! He still works 4 days a week and has a long commu
Happy Sunday Afternoon friends. Hope you've all had a great week. I've been doing some cooking, baking and tea making.
I've really been enjoying making and creating loaded teas, shakes, smoothies and coffee drinks. I have not been writing down my recipes but guess I need to start doing that so I can remember what all I done! LOL!
I try to stick with healthy and low calorie drinks and have so many different things that I want to try. But, this is an easy way to get extra vitamins, or Collagen, or protein. I drink lots of water and this helps to give me something to add a little extra taste. Mercy, I'm having too much fun with these teas.
Decided to do a little baking this weekend too for my family. Pumpkin muffins with brown sugar topping was on my list for sure. I had enough batter left for miniature pumpkin chocolate chip muffins so baked a batch of those. If that wasn't enough already, I baked up some peanut butter cookies with chocolate chips. Needless to say my family enjoyed the goodies and carried home some.
I walked outside for a bit and decided to check on my sunflowers and my first one had bloomed for the year. I found it very heart touching since I began planting sunflowers in memory of my late Motherinlove whom I loved so very much. She loved sunflowers and especially this time of the year. I began planting them the year after she had went to heaven. My first bloom was yesterday for this season. Today, was her 7th anniversary of being in Heaven......
Since I knew the weather would be a little cooler today I decided for Sunday Dinner it called for good old soup! Add a little corn bread and salad and well, what more could I want! {Suppose to be in the 80's this week though}
I enjoy using my instapot and for me, it's just a no mess easy way to get some meals cooked around my house. But, I too love a slow cooker. I took about 3 lbs. of boneless pork steaks, a bag of carrots and I cubed some potatoes and popped it all in my instapot. {I had already seasoned my meat with a rub} Whatever seasoning you like. I like lots of seasonings to my food. I added enough beef broth to cover the mixture. I set it on manual for 35 minutes. After all the steam released I made gravy with flour, salt, pepper, and some of the juice from the Instapot. Pour it into the pot and cut it back on for an additional 5 minutes. It was so good. Eat it over rice or if you are like me, just make yourself a bowl and go with it!
It was so hearty and filling.
I love Dr. Tony Evans and follow him on IG and listen to a lot of his pod casts. This spoke to me. May we all remember that God can use us to bless another. The neat thing to me is that HE choses to use us. I don't know about you but I sure don't won't to miss being a blessing to someone else.
I hope that you all enjoy your week and.....
WHO ARE YOU GOING TO BE A BLESSING TO THIS WEEK?
Hugs and blessings, Cindy
My goodness, I'll be right over, grin. Thanks Cindy, you always make me smile. I hope you have a beautiful week ahead.
ReplyDeleteCome girl! I fix something special just for you!
DeleteAll I can say is YUM! What a delicious post! Lol! They guys are in Colorado this week and J sent a picture he got an elk! We will enjoy some delicious steaks and other cuts this winter. I hope A is as lucky!
ReplyDeleteLove your sunflower bloom, too. What a special gift from Heaven! I always think my mom is smiling when one of her flowers blooms in my garden.
Wishing you a lovely week, dear Cindy! Zenda
I have never had elk steak but I hear it is delicious! So happy for J. Yep it's A turn. I told Marty last night that I was just feeling all mushy inside with that sunflower popping out around her homegoing to heaven! (SMILES)
DeleteBeloved and I frequently prayed together that the Lord would use us as salt and light (and a little bit of sugar) to those around us. YOU are that for me with your cheery posts.
ReplyDeleteI made a vegetarian veggie soup in my Instant Pot late last week, ate some and then froze the rest in smaller containers to freeze. The cooler weather that has finally come is a good time to enjoy soups and stews.
And like you, I baked some peanut butter cookies, too! Do great minds think alike or what?!!
You are precious Barbara. I love soups of all kinds and all year round. My oldest granddaughter is already after me to make her favorite, sausage and potato soup. LOL! Had some peanut butter cookies with coffee this morning! YUM! Happy Week to you dear lady. Hugs and blessings, Cindy
DeleteYum on all your goodies that you can share with your sweet family. Cindy you and I are so much alike those times with our families are such blessings. I do not know what I would do if I did not live close to my family to enjoy so much time together. We truly are blessed. Have a great new week. xoxo
ReplyDeleteYes we blessed aren't we? I love cooking and baking for my family. Brings me joy.
DeleteCindy, with all the wonderful food you prepared you were busy! The pumpkin muffins would be so good with a cup of coffee. I am interested in all of the tea drinks you are making. Wishing you a wonderful week sweet lady!
ReplyDeleteI love baking and cooking. Those teas have sure become a favorite. I have googled so many things Pam to get ideas and since I take a regime of vitamins daily I started searching for ideas on how to incorporate them in with some of my teas. They are fun to make.
DeleteWell, I believe you've been a blessing to your family with all those wonderful goodies and meals, etc. It all sounds so delicious. You make me wish I lived close enough for samples!! Yes, we are blessed to be a blessing. I'm fixing dinner tonight for our kids. Monday is their day off from the store (plus Sunday), but they stay so busy all day working on painting furniture, etc., that they really don't have a day off. So I like to fix supper for all of us on Monday evening, although Rose will bring a salad and some red potatoes. We are having chicken and baked beans and apple crisp. Although I am cheating...going to pick up fried chicken at the grocery store. My chicken I wanted to bbq wasn't thawing out fast enough so decided to do this instead.. That's a blessing to me...I was able to go to Bible Study this afternoon too. Praise God. We are both blessed to have our family close by, aren't we? God is so good. Amen. Love your posts.
ReplyDeleteYUM! Chicken sounds good Pam. Girl, every blue moon I break down and order me some friend chicken for a Sunday dinner for my tribe. Marty actually fries the best chicken ever (as everything taste better when cooked outside in big pots) but it's so time consuming for us for a Sunday dinner. I always tell the girl though...I want it hot and fresh! LOL!
DeleteYour baking looks delicious. How nice would it be if cookies and muffins had only 10 calories!!
ReplyDeleteLOL! So true GM. Glad I am not addicted to sweets. But girl, give me a pizza or fried chicken and it's on! LOL!
DeleteYour pumpkin baked goods would be perfect with my pumpkin teas.
ReplyDeleteLoving the cold loaded teas, especially the blood orange ones. What do you use for your base tea blend?
I am having fun Margie with the teas and doing a lot of experimenting. I use different bases for my teas. Girl, I went online and started googling things about the teas . I love using Guarana powder as I like a shot of caffeine. I will post one with a recipe maybe next week. I am trying to get better at writing down what I do. I use a lot of 4C energy sticks, different flavors and sugar free as well as different teas.
DeleteYes, dear Cindy, you need to tell us how to make those special teas! Your baked items look so wonderful, and your family is very lucky to have you. YOU are a blessing! I hope that I am to my family and friends. Have a beautiful week filled with blessings!
ReplyDeleteI am blessed my friend to have my family. I will try and post a recipe or two next week as I am trying to get better about writing it down. We have a wonderful Nutrition shop in our county but my mercy I can make a loaded tea most often for less that $2. Most often around 92 cents per tall glass. That's a huge savings to me. More to spend at the dollar tree! LOL!
DeleteCindy,
ReplyDeleteEverything looks so yummy!!!!
The Teas are interesting too!! Thanks so much for stopping by!! Stay safe, healthy and happy!!
Hugs,
Debbie
Thanks Deb.
DeleteYour loaded teas sound great Cindy, I hope you'll share some recipes! I have an instant pot, but it scares me, and I usually just pull out the slow cooker!
ReplyDeleteJenna
My granny used a pressure cooker when I was growing up so I sorta knew the ropes. But, I use my slow cooker a lot! But that dang Instapot is sure quick cooking and really good for tenderizing your meats right up.
DeleteOh I love that last quote and what you said. God puts us where we need to be sometimes and that happened to me a few days ago. I was so glad to talk to a volunteer on the Florida trails and know what had been going on with her lately. And now I can pray for her. Love your baking and cooking. I baked an apple cake with almond flour. It was SO good! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteAwe...so glad to hear that! Makes me smile. God always knows doesn't He?
DeleteYou are a blessing, sweet Cindy. You are very encouraging and have a great outlook on life. Thanks for inspiring.
ReplyDeleteThank you Bonnie.
DeleteYou've been busy, Cindy! Everything looks delicious. I always try to be a blessing, don't always succeed ;-)
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
I Hope the rest of your week is lovely dear Amalia.
DeleteIt looks like you've had a great week! Your food looks delicious! :) Your teas also sound great. I am trying to learn new recipes for myself, with just the handful of ingredients that I can actually eat. Some days I get frustrated, but most days, I try to look at it like you look at your teas... make it fun and interesting. It's all about perspective, right? Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteAwe, I love creating new recipes. Just need to write down what I do! LOL! Have a good week dear girl.
DeleteOh, my goodness! Those loaded teas look amazing!! I would love to have your recipes! And, you made me get in the mood to make some hamburger veggie soup, or as we call it, "Must Go Soup" where everything in the refrig. must go! Sending love and hugs to you, sweet friend.
ReplyDeleteLOL! Love the name of your soup Cheryl. We love soups and chilis and I could honestly eat soup all year round. My oldest granddaughter is after me to make her some sausage and potato soup. Guess that's on the list now. Happy Day to you dear Cheryl.
DeleteHi Cindy, I am still on vacation but thought I would pop in and say hi! I would love some of those peanut butter chocolate chip cookies and that venison burger soup looks so good! I guess you must have a freezer for the deer meat you get from your hunting. I have only had venison once that I know of. Have a great weekend with your family!♥
ReplyDeleteWe have a chest freezer in our barn and we put all our meats and veggies in the freezer. Sure makes it nice when you need something it's just a step away. Love me some homemade soups of any kind.
DeleteLoaded tea? A whole new concept to me, girl! Sounds intriguing ...
ReplyDeleteThey are good .
DeleteOh, I'm a big junkie too but buy all the Herbalife flavors to make mine with. I do not use the Lift Off as it has too much caffeine for me but without that they are delicious and have at least one everyday. I'm baking Pumpkins Cookies in the morning. Never made them but they sound perfect for this time of year.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy them wirh or without the caffeine but most often I want that hit of caffeine . Lol.
DeleteFirst just in case you have missed it in the past...I love sugar!! I have not been baking in a while but I have had thoughts of baking some bread lately. Plain white and rosemary come to mind YUM....cookies and goodies look great.
ReplyDeleteYum! I haven’t baked bread in a while either . Love rosemary bread too .
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