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May 16 2012
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To Taste and See

TO TASTE AND SEE : “DUMP IT ALL IN” SOUP

Wednesday is the day I grocery shop. And Wednesday is the day I cook and bake.

Today was no exception. Except it was EASY! I do like to spend time over an involved recipe, but it was nice today to simply open cans and dump in the ingredients. And out came a really good soup. I mean, really good. So here’s the recipe…

Black Bean and Corn Soup

ready to be shared!

- it’s a Weight Watcher’s recipe from E-MealZ
- it’s 4 pts and 4 servings (Serving = 1 cup)
- E-MealZ is a paid subscription program for weekly meal planning and shopping list. Subscriptions can be tailored to a particular diet and the size of the family. Pretty neat, huh?

Ingredients :
1 c Rotel, undrained
11 oz can white corn, drained
15 oz can black beans, drained & rinsed
(1 T chili powder, ½ t cumin, ¼ t minced garlic)

TIP – In your colander, start with the corn that only needs to drain and is not as messy. Then drain and rinse the black beans.

Crock Pot Instructions : Combine all ingredients in a crock-pot and
cook on low 7 – 8 hours.

Stove Top Instructions : Combine all ingredients in a big pot and bring to a boil, then simmer on low until ready to serve.

I served it with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of mexican shredded cheese. I paired it with Pillsbury French Loaf, which Tyler and I think is just delicious. It was a simple meal ready in minutes.

ALSO! This is an easy meal to double – triple – make however much you want and freeze it or share it with family and friends.

Tyler and I took a big ole portion of this soup to a family of seven – the parents and five big boys! – along with a loaf of bread and a plate of brownies. From what I heard, they liked it, too.

This is my slow cooker and I LOVE it!

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May 12 2012
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Style Inspiration

SPRING STYLE GUIDE : THE LITTLE BLACK DRESS

I’m really excited about the return to the feminine lengths that are showing (not too much leg) this spring. The pencil skirts and A-line dresses are a perfect fit for everybody at any occasion – lunch with the girls, dinner out with your lover, weddings and luncheons and even Easter Sunday. I want to share with you one of my favorites and all of the wonderful ways it can be worn.

(JCREW SPRING /'12) I just want to wear this! What a feminine form for any woman's body. LOVE LOVE LOVE it. And you can wear this any where, for any occasion.

These Mona Dreamweaver pumps from J. Crew are shown in the dress-picture and I do think are a perfect pairing with the dress.

With a pashmina, this dress reads conservative and perfect for a 'meet the parents' dinner.

J. Crew's own statement necklace, the bubble necklace, is perfect for a wedding or any fancy outing.

And with this dress and red lips, you are ready for date night! (I love Mary Kay's NEW nourishine lip gloss in red passion.)

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May 11 2012
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Life and Love, To Celebrate

TRUE LIFE AND LOVE : My Parent’s Anniversary

This is the toast I wrote for my parents’ twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. Today, they celebrate their twenty-seventh. Congratulations! I am humbled and happy by and for y’all.

To Daddy and Mommy. Love, Rachel.

I’ve been here almost all along – and I can honestly say that Stan and Carol Potter, my precious parents, have kept – and are still keeping – their marriage vows.
For better or for worse
In sickness and in health
For richer or for poorer
When I explain my parents’ marriage, I explain that through thick – thin – and thinner my parents have bravely stuck it out together.
I think this commitment that my parents have and hold together from May 11, 1985 to now and until death displays perfectly the powerful, grace-filled gospel of Christ in real, everyday life. Not perfect, but always pursuing.
And my mom and dad know what Paul is talking about when he writes, “Without love you have nothing. Love never fails.”
My parents may not have all that the american dream says they’re supposed to, but they do have overflowing riches eternal in the reality of the gospel.
A twenty-five year marriage in the midst of a culture ravaged with divorce; five children – which Solomon in Proverbs deems a man whose quiver is full a very rich man indeed – who love them deeply and dearly and a life full of …
birth, laughter, holidays, tears, fights, dishes, bottles, diapers, nap time, peanut butter and jelly, sandy shoes, swings, cheetos, oreos, and coke, trips to the gas station for a candy bar with dad, birthdays off from school with mom, and sorry family days; new hairstyles, oriental vacations, cheerleading, movies, diplomas, marriage, and the makings of a legacy of love, laughter, and loyalty. And my dad and mom aren’t even fifty years old yet!
Even today is piece of dad and mom’s marriage – a great family and friends get together to celebrate. We remember the past, celebrate today, and look forward to the future.

Happy Anniversary, daddy and mommy – We all look forward to the next seventy-five years!!

young love. true love. faithful love.

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May 10 2012
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To Taste and See

TASTE AND SEE : Strawberry Bread

Remember those could not resist strawberries from the North Hill’s Farmer’s Market?

See my strawberries?

Well, with them came a pamphlet complete with recipes. I figured if the strawberry patch itself is recommending recipes, they must be good.

So to start – I do plan to make many a baked good with fresh strawberries this season – I baked the Strawberry Bread.

Let me share with you the recipe

** PS before we get started, you should know this makes two loaves. I halved the recipe because one, I only own one loaf pan and two, because I was not sure if we needed two whole loaves of strawberry bread and three, the bread takes an hour to bake and to wait for my pan to be ready to bake the second loaf would have taken… well, too long.

Strawberry Bread

3 C flour
2 C sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
4 eggs, beaten
1/2 C oil
2 1/2 C strawberries, chopped very fine

Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs. Then, stir together remaining ingredients. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients, add wet ingredients, and stir until smooth. Spoon into two greased and floured loaf pans (9x5x3). Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
SOURCE : Ingram’s Strawberries, High Point, NC

I think the before it's baked strawberry mixture looks pretty in my pink mixing bowl

Looks good and tastes good : This is what the yummy bread looked like hot out of the oven. It practically slid out of the pan, too, in perfect form. Of course, I appreciated that!

I love this emile henry scalloped rectangular serving platter I have. It’s been perfect for breads, cookies, even crackers and topped with a bowl of dip.

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May 09 2012
2 Comments
Life and Love

Come What May : May Goals

love this ashley brooke design – cute cute!

April showers bring May flowers. And, girl, this is true in my life. Showers and showers of blessings. So many changes. New life, a new me.
I thought it was perfect that we celebrated Easter at the beginning of April this year. Right on top of celebrating Leland’s 6th month birthday.
Christ has resurrected us in His new life. I am a new mom. The Lord’s good providence has been displayed over and over again to me in the last months.

So now that we are fully into May and I don’t want to miss a moment stewarding well all of the blessings that the Lord has given to me in His good grace, here’s a little list of ‘goals’ I have for May

A. Finish the books I have started. This includes The Christian’s Secret to a Happy Life, The Meaning of Marriage, The Family, and Grace Based Parenting.
B. Begin to work out again. I have loved Power90 in the past, but I just ordered 30 Day Shred because my sister, a few friends, and a couple of moms recommended it to me. Like one of them said, it’s only 20 minutes. I was sold. And I ordered it on amazon that day.
C. Continue to write on my blog Wednesday – Saturday of each week. So far, so good, I’d say :)
D. Tyler and I have made a pact not to drink soda this month.

I don’t want to have too many goals – because like I’ve said in other posts, I can get too goal-oriented and not be God-focused. I want to make sure that every day I really take time to look at and enjoy my husband, my child, and whatever family and friends I encounter that day.

At first glance, I’m a bit overwhelmed. And then I remind myself

Q : How do you eat an elephant?
A : One bite at a time.

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Who is my strength. Who upholds me with His right hand, who is the Lifter of my head.

What are your May goals and to-do’s?

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