Happy Halloween!

It used to be that I had Halloween costumes planned by early October. Somehow as the children have gotten older I have gotten out of that mindset, I think assuming that if we talked about it early on it would be sufficient to execute on the day of. . . what was I thinking?

Our ward's Trunk or Treat was last night. In the morning, MyGirl declared she was going to be a black cat like she was when Cowgirl was with her two years ago. However, in all our decluttering, apparently the ears and tail were part of the "donations," so around 2pm she decided to be a Nestle Crunch bar. We had to be out of the house at 6 and I didn't have Little Buddy's outfit completely done yet either, though I had found the hat which he couldn't. So, its not great, but that's what an unwillingness to go to the store, and buy something you already donated costs when you're short on time. In the end, though, she won an award, so she was happy - "Most Crunchiest."



Originally wanting to be a spy wearing all back and a ski mask to cover his head, he changed into an FBI agent, when we realized we already had a hat, a T-shirt and a lanyard with "FBI" written on them. The Cricut came in handy to create the letters for the back of his sweat jacket, and yes, I realized the F was a little crooked, but since he proceeded to lie down on the sofa following his photo shoot, and they became all wrinkly and ripped, I made another set, and they looked fine. Another friend was also an agent, only wearing shorts, and did I feel sorry for him. It was so cold last night, I had a quilt over my lap to hand out the candy, which saved me.

Finally, since Cowgirl keeps asking me to show her the new kitchen countertops, here we are-
Faux Granite for about 15% of the price of real granite.

Easy Recipes

Of course it would be nice if I had pictures, but I don't.

Instead, I have Super Easy recipes that taste really good, so I thought I'd share.

Easy Cheesy Enchiladas

1 can Costco chicken breast
1 can chopped green chilies (4 oz.)
1/2 small yellow onion, diced - keep it raw
Monterrey Jack Cheese - about 1 1/2 cups, grated
(I used sliced from the Costco multi-cheese pack and just grated it, holding it all together)
1 pkg. flour tortillas (I used 8 out of the 10 pack)
1 can (15 oz.) tomato sauce
1 tsp. chili powder

Pour 1/3 can of tomato sauce in the bottom of a glass 9 x 13 pan.
Shake a little of your chili powder over it.
Mix the chicken, chilies, onion, and cheese.
Spoon into the center of the tortillas and roll them up and place into the glass pan.
Pour the remainder of the chili powder into the can of tomato sauce. Stir with a spoon then pour the rest of that tomato sauce over the rolled tortillas. Cover with foil and place in your refrigerator for 3 hours.
(I had a doctor's appt. and wanted them ready to bake when I got home, but I think I'm going to do this before church on Sunday too.)
Take out, remove the foil and bake at 350 for 25 -30 minutes. (Peek inside and see if the cheese is bubbing, then its done.)

This took about five minutes to put together and MyMike LOVED these - It's a keeper!
Sad news for me, though, I'm trying to be dairy free this month, so I had leftover chili and listened to the raves. Then I had to try one bite, and it was really good so if you're up with cheese, try this:-)

Italian Flat Bread

I got this recipe from my sister-in-law, Rebecca, at Thanksgiving last year. I've adapted it a bit and highly recommend it!

In a bowl combine
1 cup white flour
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. sugar
one packet quick-rise yeast
1 c. very warm water
1 T. olive oil

Knead 1-2 minutes. Let rise in bowl for 20 minutes. Pat into a circular shape on a lightly greased round pizza stone.
Season with salt, garlic powder, oregano and thyme all over. Drizzle olive oil lightly over everything. Sprinkle half with grated parmesan cheese. Bake at 450 for 15 min. When it comes out, use your pizza cutter to slice into triangle wedges and serve. My children love this! Me too!
(Rebecca's version had Italian dressing brushed across the dough before adding the seasonings and cheese across the whole thing. It was really good, but its good without it too. Try it either way.)

And, my new favorite breakfast:

Autumn Spice Granola -
Adapted form Myra's blog - Happy Housewife Loving Life
I'm making my second batch tomorrow.

3 1/2 cups old fashioned oats
1/2 cup ground flax
1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
1 T. cinnamon plus 1/2 teaspoon
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1/8 cup unsweetened apple sauce
2 tsp. vanilla
3/4 cup raisins

Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl. Mix liquid ingredients and pour over the dry. Stir until well coated. Pour it into 1 10 x 15 sheet pan lined with a silpat. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Take out and stir it all around the bake it for another 10-15 minutes until evenly browned. (Keep your eye on it the last few minutes.) Cool and store in an airtight container and Enjoy!
This tastes like Fall in every spoonful!

Bon Appetit!

Stuff

The Lord is good to me. He's given me another opportunity to push the pause button in my life and rest. In my stillness, the Lord has been talking to me about STUFF. As I look around my house (and especially down in my basement,) I've realized I don't need as much as I have. I am proving the tithing blessings, that "there shall not be room enough to receive it." (Malachi 3:10)



As General Conference comes around once more and I think back to the messages over the years, "Reduce and Simplify" is one that I cannot forget. I am grateful that regularly the Lord nudges me in the right direction, and I am eagerly looking forward to tomorrow's messages. I am so easily distracted by the "stuff" of my world. Part of the stress I was feeling in August was due to stuff. I NEED to heed more carefully the words of living prophets!



All week long in my scripture study I have been returning to "Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust doth corrupt, ... but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven... for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also... ye cannot serve God and mammon." (3 Nephi 13:19-24) As I read this, it is a commandment coming directly from the Savior. To see the hypocrisy within myself is painful, admittedly. At the same time, "the truth shall make you free."



Then I read this account of a family who is choosing to serve a mission in Haiti for their church. As the mother talked about what she was learning from her "stuff," it resonated loudly within me. I am grateful I found it. Time for me to make more changes within!

http://allthingshendrick.blogspot.com/2010/08/when-heaven-speaks-through-little-girl.html



And then in the same chapter of 3 Nephi or Matthew 6, I read,
"Consider the lilies of the field how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin...Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, even so will he clothe you, if ye are not of little faith.... Take therefore no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself." Amen.