Use Summer Grilling for Winter Menus

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summer grilling for winters menuUse summer grilling for winter menus for variety to plain meals. As snow flies and grills are tucked away, we’ll miss distinct aromas and flavors. Or, will we? With little effort, foods can be frozen and kept to enhance winter menus.

Note:simple tips to prepare foods for freezing with little or no freezer burn.
As we use grilled foods to enhance our winter menus, we want to be sure to package the meats properly. At the end of this article is an easy way to prepare foods for freezing; be sure to read entire article for freezing tips.

Follow these easy steps for cook-out flavors in winter.

1. While you have the grill fired up this summer, cook extra meats for the freezer. Right now summer meats are often on sale so purchase with winter menu in mind. Our son knows when he fires up our grill, he will be cooking extra for the freezer.
2. Choose quality meats; especially hot dogs. It is worth a few cents extra now in order to have plump, juicy meat when thawed.
3. Plan to freeze meats the day they are cooked or following morning. This insures a fresh product when ready to use.
4. Consider how you might vary your winter menu with grilled meats. Think beyond sandwiches! Grilled hot dogs, brats, burgers, or other meets will add flavor and zest to casseroles, soups, eggs, pastas and other dishes.
5. When Old Man Winter raises his head, plan an indoor picnic. Spread mustard on buns, toast them in a skillet and prepare hot dogs or hamburgers with all the fixings. Toss a salad and enjoy the fun.

Easy way to get the air out of a bag for freezing.
For this example, we will use about six grilled wieners in a quart zip lock bag. Place cooled wieners in bag and get as much air out as you can. Leave bag open about one inch at the top. Immerse bag and contents in a large bowl of water. Hold on to the open part of bag and do not let any water get in. As you immerse the bag and contents, the water will push the air from the bag through the tiny opening. Quickly close bag, remove from water and dry.

This will work especially well when freezing small amounts of leftovers such as casseroles. Spoon food into bag, fold bag until you are left with just the top. Again, hold the open corner and immerse before closing. I freeze spaghetti and such as that and it works well with no freezer burn. Mark the bags well with date and contents and toss them in freezer.

I trust you are enjoying God’s beautiful creation this time of year; taking time to rest; and getting lots of hugs and encouragement.

I am sending you blessings and hugs,

Did you know My Mother My Child is available as e-book? Click here for more information.

A Dose of Laughter is Good Medicine

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a dose of laughter is good medicineCaring for family may mean creating your own sunshine!

“Good morning, Sunshine! Are you sunshiny this morning? It’s a new day…wake up– let’s you and me go cheer up the world! We got one fun day ahead of us, are you ready? Move ‘em, Mommy, move ‘em!”

My happy voice and spring in my step let Mother know we were in for a great day. Her little tired eyes slowly opened and the wrinkled frown on her face was gently transformed into a big, enthusiastic smile. Those beautiful blue eyes sparkled as if she were a child once more anticipating a day at the carnival.

I knew the day would be long and hard.

It took one or two hours to get her out of bed, cleaned up and into the living room for her breakfast. My body was tired before the day began yet no one else was available to help with so much of her care. Many of the personal, tedious, routine tasks are left for caregivers to do themselves. I knew from experience my day as well as hers would go much better if it began in the right way. Mother had become so much like a child, living in and for the moment at hand. She seemed to reflect the atmosphere around her. I worked hard to keep her happy and cleaned up.

Another story began to unfold as our children and family in the other room picked up on the levity. I could hear the conversation drift from concern and sadness to laughter and excitement as they, too, anticipated a delightful morning.

Not only am I reminded again how very infectious a simple laugh can be, I also recognize the overwhelming responsibility I have, not simply to the one I’m caring for, but also to those around me. God has given me a unique opportunity to share my love for Jesus in a real, tangible way by living out the love He has put inside me.

I am praying for each person reading this post that God will put a spark inside you; that you will re-discover the joy of laughter. Laughter is, after all, good medicine! God said it; now scientists have proven it—isn’t that just amazing?

“Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure… You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” From Psalm 16:9-11 NIV

Hugs,

My Mother My Child is an account of my personal walk through eight years of caring; of learning to laugh in the hard times; of learning to cry; and mostly, learning to lean on the One Who has all the answers for us.

5 Simple Helps to Brighten Your Workday

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5 Simple Helps to Brighten Your Workday

Has Long Winter become Stressful Summer with no end in sight?

Whether you are a parent, or caring for family or friend, or full-time caregiver; it is quite often difficult work, filled with daily challenges. It can take all the energies and resources you seem to have available and then some. It changes priorities, ties you down and wears you out; and can easily seem to be a thankless job.

Can you relate? Are the tasks looming before you overwhelming at times?  Do you wish for help only to find the help was inadequate at best? Do you often feel you would have been better off to do the work yourself although you know you cannot do it all.

Trust me to the end of this article; there is hope and there is help.

Like water heating in a teakettle; these feelings can quickly boil and soon break out into unkind words or actions if not held at bay. (I speak from experience here).

There are no easy answers or quick-fixes. People in each situation are different; circumstances vary; needs versus wants must be defined for your particular responsibilities.

Here are five simple ideas that have helped me cope with a load too heavy to carry.

#1 Breathe. Too simple? Not really! When you feel stress coming, stop long enough to look away from the situation and breathe deeply. Stand up tall, close your eyes and breathe in for five counts through your nose. Hold that a few seconds, then slowly breathe out through your mouth. Relax, repeat.

#2 Hum or sing a little bit. I confess I am not a singer (my entire family will agree). However, when things got really tough with Momma, I would sing softly, “Jesus loves me, this I know … “as I continued my work. Even today when life gets crazy around me, I softly sing that song and my spirit quiets inside. By the way, when I smile and softly break into song now, the entire family recognizes it is time to back off and give Momma room to regroup!

#3 Exercise. Even when you feel you cannot do any exercise—no time, energy or ability—you can do something. A very simple stretch works wonders. Stand on tip toes behind a chair for balance and slowly lower and raise your body. Reach for the stars, one hand, then the other, then both. A few minutes every hour or so will help keep your blood flowing and your body limber.

#4 Write. Keep a notebook handy to jot down your feelings—good and not so good. Let all that anger flow from your brain through your fingers and onto the page. Don’t fail to find something good to write down about the one you are caring for and about yourself.

#5 Smile. Now, I know this suggestion sounds a little misplaced. Just try it, look in the mirror and smile—big, big cheesy grin. You tried it and giggled, didn’t you? Laughter IS the best medicine!

Perhaps caring for others can be a thankless job and overwhelming at times. But truthfully,  it is foremost a fantastic blessing, an opportunity to be Jesus’ hands and feet to someone. It’s a privilege, an awesome responsibility, an opportunity to encourage, to make a hurting soul feel happy and loved. The ability to care is a gift from God.

“Because the Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need! He lets me rest in the meadow grass and leads me beside the quiet streams. He gives me new strength. He helps me do what honors him the most.” (Psalm 23:1-3, TLB).

Blessings and hugs to you as you care for others,

Have you read my book? If so, please take time to follow this link and write a comment. It will be so helpful to get the word out. Thanks!