Easy Peasy Chicken and Sauteed Green Beans with Garlic

{encouragement} Cook meals that are "QET" (Quick, Easy, Tasty!)

Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything. Genesis 9:3 

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Finding meals to cook seem like a full time job! There's the research put into what to cook, then buying the groceries, preparing the ingredients and the actual cooking time. With little ones around that makes the task a little more challenging.  However, when I do find a recipe that is quick, easy and tasty then it becomes a staple in our meal schedule.  

Easy Peasy Chicken 

Ingredients:

• 1-2 Packages of Chicken Thighs (can use Large Chicken Wings), from Costco
• Seasonings: Powdered Garlic, Garlic Salt, Brown Sugar, Cumin (or other spices and favorite seasonings you use)

Directions:  (Best if chicken is marinated over night)

1. Line aluminum tray with foil (if you're planning on saving it otherwise the tray will really be hard to clean.
2. Lay out the chicken on the tray - can accommodate up to 6 large thighs. Just make sure they're not overlapping.
3. Season with powered garlic, garlic salt, brown sugar, cumin (or really any spices that are your favorite). Sometimes I've used French onion dip, or teriyaki sauce etc
4. Marinate overnight.
5. When you're ready to bake - Preheat oven to 500 degrees.
6. Drizzle chicken with olive oil to prevent burning.
7. Place chicken in oven and bake for 30 minutes.
8. For a touch of sweet, in the last 5 minutes, baste with honey and sesame oil.

Below are some pictures just for visual: 

• 1-2 Packages of Chicken Thighs (can use Large Chicken Wings), from Costco

 

• Seasonings: Powdered Garlic, Garlic Salt, Brown Sugar, Cumin (or other spices and favorite seasonings you use)

Lay out the chicken on the tray - can accommodate up to 6 large thighs. Just make sure they're not overlapping.

Finished product- super moist chicken that is served well on it's own or over a bed of rice.  Sometimes I cook extra chicken and use the juices from the pan and toss with noodles. Super delish!

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Sauteed Green Beans with Garlic

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons of minced garlic  -I love garlic so I probably put in 3x more as really necessary. So go based on your preference.
• 1 lb of Green Beans
• 2 Tbsp olive oil

Directions:

1. Heat oil in a wok on medium heat.
2. Throw garlic in and saute for about 1 minute.
3. Toss in the green beans and mix it up so the oil coats the beans.
4. Cover and let cook for a 5 minutes.
5. Add a few pinches of kosher salt.
6. Depending on how crunchy or tender will make the cooking time more or less.  I usually cook mine for 10 minutes so it's nice and tender.

Finished product - tender green beans that are bursting with flavor with only a pinch of salt involved.  Love the browned garlic mixed into my rice.

Love One Another

{encouragement} Love others even when you don't feel like it

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love 1 John 4:7-8
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Loving others is hard. Loving others when you don't feel like is even harder. Loving others especially when you don't think they deserve it - well that seems impossible. During this season of life my girls, ages 4.5 and 2.9, are learning how to play with each other pretty well. Some moments can bring out so much happiness and deep rooted joy but on the other hand it can end up on the other side of the spectrum, that's where it can look ugly. Sin issues come blasting out -the yelling, screaming, crying, and sometimes hitting. 

It's funny with kids, just like adults, they all have different personalities and learning types. With my older one, just raising my voice can scare the bajeebers out of her; as for my little one, well - let's just say even on volume 10 of my vocal chords, that won't even make her blink. So needless to say, discipline training for both girls are a bit different. However, no matter what the situation or what type of personality they have- what it comes down to is the heart of the issue-sin/selfishness. From an article I read, it states: "Sin is not just the bad things that we do.  It is also those things that we should do that we don’t." (http://waynestocks.com/2009/09/21/5-things-kids-must-know-about-sin-1-what-is-sin/)

Many times the conflict between the two girls is wanting things their own way and a lack of communication and understanding.  For instance, KA would be preoccupied making a fort or castle out of the chairs, blankets, boxes that are around the house.  She would have a goal in mind of how that fort or castle should look like.  Little Babester comes along with no idea of what her sissy is doing and takes one of the chairs and sits on it.  Oh boy, does that upset KA! So, KA decides to just grab the chair back and claim what is in her mind, rightfully hers.  This leads to an upset little Babester and decides to grab that very chair, which in her mind is rightfully hers, right back. Mine, Mine, Mine! is now what both parties are barking. No one is thinking of the other's well being. So who is to claim the chair?  Well, that's when the referee (Mom) comes into play to work out the issue together. 

Often times I am a bit tired of saying the same thing: "Share with each other," Love one another," "Be kind to each other" but it's the repetition that is needed to make it soak into their little hearts. So in the instance of the chair, I would have both close together and talk it out.  Who really needs it or how can this issue be resolved in the most loving way? What is more loving and pleasant - work together or play alone? Can Babester borrow this chair for a bit and maybe another chair can be used? Can you help KA build the castle to make it a better one? It took much practice and instances to get to the point where KA would surrender her will and think of Babester's well being but by the grace of God, she's getting there. And for Babester - it took a long while to work with her heart issue but she's seeing the rewards of a peaceful relationship with older sis.  She too has been practicing love and thinking of others above herself. {Thank the Lord!} ...but still is a work in progress.

So lately even when the wrong was done, I do have them hug each other and show love and affection. Even when they don't feel like it. Putting those nasty fires of selfishness out with love and affection strengthens the kinship. It really does take tireless repetition and investment of time and effort while they are young, but hopefully one day all these little moments of practicing love towards others (even when you don't feel like) will permeate into more complicated relationships and friendships in the future. 

**Little side note: this is a daily lesson for me as well, to think about with Hubby. Even though I'm constantly preaching this lesson of love-others-even-when-you're-not-up-for-it to the kids but also to myself.  I have to remind myself even when I'm tired, or even if I've had the kids all day, cooked/cleaned endlessly, to keep a good and cheerful attitude is a way I can show love, even when I'm not up for it. I recently heard a talk from a godly woman/wife/mother talking about how to prefer your husband and maybe on another post I can share my notes on that :0)**

Here they are walking to the slide. Babester asked if KA could slide down with her, and KA responded "sure!"

Using their team work skills to tear as much paper up to fill up the toy box. Yep, that is their kind of fun.

Holding KA on the waiting seat of the bathroom (Left). Singing some kind of song and making a choir of it (Right).

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Parenting Training Event

On another note, Hubby and I signed up for a parent training event with Tedd Tripp, author of "Shepherding a Child's Heart" for this Saturday, November 2nd at Crossline Community Church. He'll be discussing some parenting wisdom from a biblical point of view.  Sign up if you're interested on their website, click here , it's only $10 for registration. 

{encouragement} Come out to Fall Fest at Compass Bible Church

Looking around our neighborhood its been infiltrated with some scary goblins, skeletons, flying witches, ghosts and just morbid objects. 

I personally don't like these decorations and don't really want to be walking around them especially at night.  If you're on the same boat and want a more lovely but energetic environment then come out to Fall Fest held at Compass Bible Church.  There'll be rock climbing, train rides, race carts, pony rides, ferris wheels, kiddie corral area with live music, lots of fun game booths and tons of candy! All for FREE ;) As for food-there will be In n Out burgers, hot dogs , churros, cotton candy and beverages (at a cost) so you can eat there too!

My family will be at the game booths from 7-8pm so stop by for a visit!

Hope to see you there!

Family Photos

{encouragement}: take (decent) family photos

But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children--Psalm 103:17

I'm sure many of us busy ladies can attest to having pictures mainly of the little ones or of other people, but not many where all of the family members are together.  Together as a family unit, where all eyes are looking in the same direction, and where all the smiles are for the same cause.  Back in September we were able to get a formal family shoot done. This was only because I won a holiday giveaway and shoot was free.  So kid you not- we probably wouldn't have done one because photographers are quite pricey! I couldn't slap half a grand down for pictures! However after talking to a few friends it came to my understanding that you don't really have to pay a fortune for these things to get done.  Some found Groupon deals, a friend to take the shots with a nice camera or just a junior photographer finding their way into the professional world.  I always thought you had to get those big shot, top dogs to take your family pics - but now I know -there are ways around it!  

Taking these family photos was NOT an easy task. KA (firstborn) is not much of a cooperative picture taker and really could care less if her pictures are forever stamped with her mad dog look. And for Babester (second born) she would do a whole lot more, just as long as there was some incentive to it (i.e. "special treats" like gummies).  However when it came to smiling and saying "cheese" Babester took it to the extreme (as you'll soon see below).  So taking that picture perfect family photo took way longer that I expected-like 2 1/2 hours long! Thankful for the patience and silliness between the photographer and her assistant, we were able to get a few decent shots.  So encouragement for this post is to take the time to get together as a family, with decent clothes, and say "cheese!"

Yes this is Babester's "Cheese" face. Cheesing so hard her eyes aren't showing!

 

Glad the photographer caught this one.  They really do love each other.

 

The parents' face must have started creasing because we were smiling so hard and for so long just to get the kids to put on decent smiles.

  

Clicking the best photo for this setting took the longest! First the kids didn't want to sit on our laps, then they didn't B didn't want to sit on my lap, then KA didn't wan to sit on Daddy's lap... yea, headache!

 

Oh my little KA.  She is getting better at smiling for the camera- just got to do the right things to make her smile!

 

Glad we got this shot of B.  Sometimes life seems rushed where she is forced to grow up too fast and catch up with older sis.  It's good to be a kid.

 

Need to take more pictures with this wonderful and adorable piece of MAN

 

The girls here are really laughing it out loud! Thanks to the Assistant playing peek a boo with them behind the photographer and her instruments.  Hey, whatever it takes to keep them going.  And yea, you notice what's in their hands?

 

Daddy is their hero.  At least for another 20 years ... right?

 

 These little feet won't stay little for long. sniff sniff.

 

Yep, ending the show with what kept them going...gummy worms!

What I Decided to Blog About

{encouragement}:

: to make (someone) more determined, hopeful, or confident
: to make (something) more appealing or more likely to happen

: to make (someone) more likely to do something : to tell or advise (someone) to do something

 
Here I am, I started a blog. One that I will try my very best to maintain and keep alive! Thanks to the handful of gals who have encouraged me to start something, here I am. I warn you I'm not the best writer or thought provoking person but I have learned it's good to share our life.  Thinking of the best topic or idea to blog about was not easy.  I do have a passion for baking and cooking - but honestly I'm not the best there is.  I do love to find fun places to hang out for family outings (especially on a low budget) but I probably wouldn't get much traction because I do love staying at home as well. And I'm not good at any one hobby, so what was there to really blog about?  One thing I've always appreciated from family and friends is {encouragement}. Just as the Bible states: "Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up" [1 Thessalonians 5:11].  So that is the intention of this blog, to be an encouragement.  Some days we'll have it hard - the kids are all over the place, making it so easy to lose it; or other days we'll feel so inadequate as a wife, all we want do is have pity parties.  So let's encourage one another to look towards a Savior that will one day make it worth living a life pleasing to the Lord.

[Sometimes being silly and just being a kid is all it takes.]