simple blog


A simple blog about seeking the Lord, savoring life and joyfully serving.


Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Albondigas (Meatball) Soup Recipe

Sometimes I post things like this just so I won't forget about it. I really love this tasty soup and it is SO simple and easy to make. It's also delicious and healthy, perfect fo the winter months after Christmas when you are wanting to eat clean and fresh but you need something soothing and warm. 
Super simple soup recipe that you can make during cold and flu season. 
Very soothing, nourishing and healing.

Albondigas actually means meatball in Spanish. This soup can be paired w chips n salsa and maybe a dollop of guacamole on the side. 

For the broth 
Fill up a large pot w water 

3 sticks of celery, diced 

1 onion, chopped

1/2 bag of snow peas sliced into small pieces

1 can diced tomatoes 

1 tsp minced garlic

Garlic salt  and Season salt to taste 

(Next time I make this I am going to try making a purée of 3 roasted tomatoes and 1 whole onion w 3 cloves garlic to add to the broth).

Add 1 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar right before serving

For the meatballs
1 lb ground turkey

1 bag cooked brown rice

1 tsp minced garlic

Handful of finely chopped mint leaves or cilantro  (optional)

2 eggs

Garlic salt to taste

Mix well and roll into balls (I use a Tbsp.) and drop raw meatballs into boiling soup broth. 
Simmer for 30 minutes. That's it! So simple yet a delicious, quick and healing soup.

Hope you enjoy.
Grace & peace,
Adoring Family 








Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Creative Muster #364

We’re thrilled that you’ve chosen to party with us! The Creative Muster is home to some of the most creative bloggers, which means we do a lot of sharing. If you’re looking to get exposure, find some inspiration or meet new people then you’re in the right place. Grab your favorite family friendly posts, share them, then sit back and check out some of the other amazing things that are being shared. There are a ton of great ideas to be found here!


Image Map
Chocolate Peanut Butter Squares from Mrs. Kringle's Kitchen

By linking to this party your are giving us permission to use your images in featured posts.Link to any family friendly post that is created by you. Please no links to giveaways, stores or other parties. ✔ Add the link to your specific post, not your blogs homepage. ✔ Show some love, visit at least two other links. ✔ Encourage others to check out the party. ✔ Not mandatory, but we would love for you to follow us in some way. You can never have too many friends.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!
Click here to enter

Thursday, December 19, 2019

☕️ 5 CHRISTmas Favs, Cozy Cocoa Recipes & Last Minute Gift Ideas


Christmas is next week, y'all! I am so excited! I wish we could have three more weeks of celebrating though. I love squeezing all of the fun advent activities into our days. I will keep up the baking and fun projects but it will not quite be the same. Here are a few Christmas Favs for ya...




1. Josh Garrels Christmas Album. Go here for the full album on YouTube. It's definitely different but so beautiful & relaxing, perfect for a quiet morning. I've mentioned how much I enjoy Josh Garrels before so when he released his Christmas album a few years ago we bought it and have loved it every year since. This is one of my favorites.




2. Cozy Cocoa Days.


I LOVE a Cozy Cocoa party...Everybody wears their cute Christmas pajammies and we set out our bar with our triple crock pot full of a delicious variety of flavored hot chocolates.

I also have wassail in a kettle for those who prefer a healthier option. I put out fun toppings like whipped cream, toffee chips, mini chocolate chips, and of course marshmallows.



My three fav flavors are Mint White Chocolate, Almond Milk and Honey Mocha and the classic Creamy Hot Cocoa.

Mint White Chocolate
For the recipe click here 
(to make this vegan friendly simply replace honey w sugar), I would triple this recipe.


Almond Milk and Honey Mocha
6 cups almond milk
6 Tbsps. raw honey
3 Tbsp. coconut oil
3 Tsp. vanilla 
1 1/2 Tsp. pure mint extract
(to make this vegan friendly, replace honey w sugar)
Mix well and simmer for an hour or two.

Creamy Hot Cocoa Legit, the BEST Hot Chocolate EVER, my kids said so :)
6 cups whole milk
1 1/2 cups whipping cream
1 can of sweetened condensed milk
1 Tsp. vanilla
2 cups chocolate chips (you could do half dark and half milk or all milk or all dark depending on how intense you want your flavor)Mix well and simmer for two hours.
Add mini marshmallows 15 minutes before serving so they get melty. Spoon into cups and add more mini marshmallows on top. *butter beer variation: replace the chocolate chips w butterscotch chips, add 3 Tbsp. butter and use whipped cream drizzled w caramel as a topping. 



I like to whip my ingredients using this blender in the crock pot. I bought this immersion blender in 2015 and it's STILL going strong! 

 3. Christmas Cookie Decorating. 

My kids won this at our youth Christmas White Elephant gift exchange. These aren't quite as tasty as the ones we make but they are certainly cute!I enjoy making assorted shapes and decorating sugar cookies that taste divine.

4. Watching Christmas Movies EVERY NIGHT!
A few of the best ones are
A Christmas Story
Elf
The Grinch (all three)
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Santa Clause (all 3)
The Star
The Nativity
Nester (hard to find but a family favorite)and my all time #1 fav is

It's a Wonderful Life.



Mary Hatch is a beautiful inspiration to me. She is a hard worker, supportive wife and a kind, loving and gentle mother.

5. Last Favorite is Christ Centered Christmas Activities



One of my favorite things about Christmas is how easy it is to find crafts that point to Jesus. We have made baby Jesus ornaments, cross ornaments, Names of Christ Signs, Names of Christ Paper chains, three wise men pictures and the list goes on.



It's always important for us to teach the children young how to see Jesus is the True meaning of Christmas. We find Bible verses and crafts that coincide with those verses or sometimes vice versa. The most important thing is that we are doing something together that solidifies what is truly important, the most perfect Gift, Jesus.



I hope my favorites give you some fun ideas to celebrate with your family. 
Now onto last minute gift ideas...


Gifts under $10


Perfect for your UPS driver! I got mine the big one because he always goes above and beyond for us! I filled it with two oranges and a stack of homemade chocolate chip cookies. Make sure you add a little bag of cookies for his helper, too!


Yesssss, this gorgeous, thick, high quality sweater is UNDER $10! I have it in this color and its perfect w flares and booties or skinny jeans and OTK boots. I wear mine as a boatneck and get many compliments on it. I was pleasantly surprised at the thick and comfy fabric. Really a screaming deal. The navy one is only a few dollars more and I just purchased it. 
Fun gifts to have on hand for a white elephant gift or last minute gift for a child. Add a fluffy blanket for a fun gift for your neighbor.
 

Unique gifts
I would love this lovely bird fountain to sit outside between our chairs on our porch. I love the tranquil sound of water and would enjoy sitting in my chair listening to the peaceful sounds of water trickling.
 
I am trying to think of unique yet useful gifts this year and I always love giving gift baskets w a theme. How beautiful would this vinegar and oil set be in a gift basket w an elite balsamic vinegar and lovely olive oil, a rosemary plant and a fresh loaf of sourdough bread? 


Another cute gift idea is a homemade batch of loose leaf tea mix (I like red raspberry mixed w edible lavender). Add the tea balls (under $4 for two!) and this gorgeous mug ( just under $8) that has a fav Scripture of mine (I've given these out as gifts twice).

Have you already finished up your Christmas shopping. I'm nowhere near close but I am not stressing. I have the hard ones taken care of ;)I hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas and enjoy spending time with your loved ones. Please remember to be gentle on yourself, you don't have to feel bad if you cannot make every festive function you are invited to. It's ok to take some time to rest, refresh, recover and give yourself some space. I find that I need to take a few days so I don't let my home get disorganized and I can take the time to reflect on my blessings and make sure I am not getting flustered. I want to remain gentle and loving in my actions towards others and I find if I am too busy, I become frazzled easily. I hope you are filled with joy and peace this Christmas. Many blessings to all of you. 

Grace and peace,
Adoring Family