Simple Lives Thursday, #117

By On · 6 Comments

spaininiowa

We have noticed that quite a few blogs are not linking back to one of the Simple Lives Thursday host blogs (see guideline #2, below). If this is you, please realize that this prevents us from choosing you as a featured blog. Thank you for linking back to us!

It’s Simple Lives Thursday! My favorite day of the week where you share your tips and recipes for living a simple life. Whichever blog that you choose to link up your post, it will show up on all 4 sites! As a reminder, this blog hop is a way to share with many people your posts on what you are doing to live a simple life. Whether that’s gardening, raising urban chickens, homeschooling, sewing, making your own deodorant, or cleaning supplies… we want to know about it! If you’re into homeopathy, ways to save $ by conserving energy or other ways to live frugally… we want to know about it! If you bike, cook real food, homestead or farm… we want to know about it!

Your Hosts (for the time being, due to hosts taking breaks)

  1. Wardeh from GNOWFGLINS
  2. Alicia from Culinary Bliss
  3. Me!

Please read and follow the Simple Lives Thursday bloghop rules

1. If linking real, traditional and simple recipes, please make sure all ingredients used are whole. Such as whole grains, vegetables, legumes, meats, even sugar. In order to keep the integrity of “nourishing” food, we will delete any recipes that utilize processed, boxed foods. We are definitely not going to be ingredient policeman, however, please note that this is a hop hosted by advocates of the real, local and sustainable food movements.

2. Please link your posts back to one of the hosting blogs. This is a common blog hop courtesy. This link helps build the Simple Lives Thursday community by sending your readers to all of the other participants posts. We all end up sharing and learning from each other.

3. No giveaway away or otherwise primarily advertising oriented posts. Keep your topics to fit our simple living theme of “consume less, produce more.” We will delete posts that don’t fit.

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Stuffed Heirloom Squash with Sausage, Bacon, Caramelized Onions, and Sage

By On · 6 Comments

stuffed_squash2

After the intense hot summer we had, the cooler days and frigid nights have been welcomed.

Although the weather has been pleasant – we’re still in need of rain.  Usually during this time of the year, the vivid colors of orange, red, and yellow leaves contrast beautifully with the bright green grasses that have been revived in these cooler days. This year, everything is dry.  The parks, especially, are more like desserts with brown grasses and lakes so low and depleted of water, they look more like stagnant pools.

Although this years drought has been devastating, Fall is here and it still carries its beauty.

Especially at the farmers’ market where all sorts of brightly colored pumpkins, squashes, and gourds have survived the drought. I let the boys pick out their favorites and I like to swoon over the heirloom squashes that come in many shapes and sizes. During this time of the year, I stock up on pumpkin and squashes to save for the long winter ahead of us.

They tend to keep for 4-6 months when stored in cool places.

This past weekend, I found two beautiful heirloom squashes suitable for roasting and stuffing. About the size of an acorn squash but shaped like a bell pepper.

squash

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On Raising Leaders

By On · 9 Comments

As mothers, we enjoy to nurture our children.  It’s innate.  Part of who we are.

If a child falls, we quickly come to their needs and cradle them in our arms.  If someone hurts their feelings, we hug them and let them know that they are loved.

As mothers, we also shelter our children to protect their innocence and well being.

After all, they’re our babies and there’s nothing wrong with showing our children we care for them and will do everything within ourselves to be there for them.

However, as a mother with two boys and two nephews, it’s easy to forget that God has given us a special calling.

A call to raise our boys to be leaders.

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Simple Lives Thursday, #116

By On · 7 Comments

spaininiowa

We have noticed that quite a few blogs are not linking back to one of the Simple Lives Thursday host blogs (see guideline #2, below). If this is you, please realize that this prevents us from choosing you as a featured blog. Thank you for linking back to us!

It’s Simple Lives Thursday! My favorite day of the week where you share your tips and recipes for living a simple life. Whichever blog that you choose to link up your post, it will show up on all 4 sites! As a reminder, this blog hop is a way to share with many people your posts on what you are doing to live a simple life. Whether that’s gardening, raising urban chickens, homeschooling, sewing, making your own deodorant, or cleaning supplies… we want to know about it! If you’re into homeopathy, ways to save $ by conserving energy or other ways to live frugally… we want to know about it! If you bike, cook real food, homestead or farm… we want to know about it!

Your Hosts (for the time being, due to hosts taking breaks)

  1. Wardeh from GNOWFGLINS
  2. Alicia from Culinary Bliss
  3. Me!

Please read and follow the Simple Lives Thursday bloghop rules

1. If linking real, traditional and simple recipes, please make sure all ingredients used are whole. Such as whole grains, vegetables, legumes, meats, even sugar. In order to keep the integrity of “nourishing” food, we will delete any recipes that utilize processed, boxed foods. We are definitely not going to be ingredient policeman, however, please note that this is a hop hosted by advocates of the real, local and sustainable food movements.

2. Please link your posts back to one of the hosting blogs. This is a common blog hop courtesy. This link helps build the Simple Lives Thursday community by sending your readers to all of the other participants posts. We all end up sharing and learning from each other.

3. No giveaway away or otherwise primarily advertising oriented posts. Keep your topics to fit our simple living theme of “consume less, produce more.” We will delete posts that don’t fit.

Continue Reading

Eggplant Bechamel Topped with Garlic Breadcrumbs and Fresh Herbs

By On · 6 Comments

eggplant_bechamel2

As the weather cools and the nights shorten, I enjoy warming my home with foods cooked in a creamy bechamel.

A bechamel is a white sauce made with milk or stock, seasoned with onions, and thickened with flour.  It’s a common sauce in French cooking but often used in Spanish as well.

Creamy and silky, it’s a great sauce to pair with many different kinds of vegetables, pasta, or chicken.

I’ve had a tremendous eggplant harvest this year and I’ve found that it pairs really well with bechamel.  Especially when it’s flavors are heightened when topped with garlic breadcrumbs and fresh herbs.

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Simple Lives Thursday, #115

By On · 13 Comments

spaininiowa

We have noticed that quite a few blogs are not linking back to one of the Simple Lives Thursday host blogs (see guideline #2, below). If this is you, please realize that this prevents us from choosing you as a featured blog. Thank you for linking back to us!

It’s Simple Lives Thursday! My favorite day of the week where you share your tips and recipes for living a simple life. Whichever blog that you choose to link up your post, it will show up on all 4 sites! As a reminder, this blog hop is a way to share with many people your posts on what you are doing to live a simple life. Whether that’s gardening, raising urban chickens, homeschooling, sewing, making your own deodorant, or cleaning supplies… we want to know about it! If you’re into homeopathy, ways to save $ by conserving energy or other ways to live frugally… we want to know about it! If you bike, cook real food, homestead or farm… we want to know about it!

Your Hosts (for the time being, due to hosts taking breaks)

  1. Wardeh from GNOWFGLINS
  2. Alicia from Culinary Bliss
  3. Me!

Please read and follow the Simple Lives Thursday bloghop rules

1. If linking real, traditional and simple recipes, please make sure all ingredients used are whole. Such as whole grains, vegetables, legumes, meats, even sugar. In order to keep the integrity of “nourishing” food, we will delete any recipes that utilize processed, boxed foods. We are definitely not going to be ingredient policeman, however, please note that this is a hop hosted by advocates of the real, local and sustainable food movements.

2. Please link your posts back to one of the hosting blogs. This is a common blog hop courtesy. This link helps build the Simple Lives Thursday community by sending your readers to all of the other participants posts. We all end up sharing and learning from each other.

3. No giveaway away or otherwise primarily advertising oriented posts. Keep your topics to fit our simple living theme of “consume less, produce more.” We will delete posts that don’t fit.

Continue Reading