A number of you have asked me to share some information about myself and my husband so you can get to know us better. Your wish is our command!
Archives for 2015
Healthy ‘Microwave’ Popcorn
Popcorn is my favorite evening snack, and I have experimented with several ways of preparing it, including popcorn makers, campfire popcorn pans, and various brands of microwave popcorn.I have even tried cooking it over the stove in a skillet, which my family coined the “Little House on the Prairie method.” Those techniques yielded edible popcorn but still left me in search of the perfect way to prepare my favorite snack.
One evening about ten years ago, my mom announced that she was going to make popcorn. When I asked how she planned to pop it, she told me that she had found a new method online. I was curious but skeptical.
The popcorn my mom made that night turned out to be the best I had ever tasted. I just have to share the recipe with you all.
Healthy "Microwave" Popcorn
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup Popcorn kernels
- 1 Tbsp Coconut oil
- Large glass microwave safe bowl
- Salt and melted butter to taste
Instructions
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Using a spoon, mix the popcorn kernels and coconut oil in a large glass bowl that is micorwave safe until every kernel is coated in oil.
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Put the bowl in the microwave, cover (I use an ordinary microwave cover), and cook for 3-5 minutes (until the kernels pop about two seconds apart). Add melted butter and salt to taste.
Our Vows
Today is our one-month anniversary. (I would call it our “month-iversary,” but Mr. Handsome says that sounds cheesy.) Several readers requested that I post our wedding vows, which seems to be a fitting way to celebrate.
Our vows are a combination of lines from Mr. Handsome’s parents’ vows and vows we found online, as well as principles we learned in marriage counseling. We each read them from a piece of paper at the altar.
My Vows
Today I take you to be my wedded husband, my faithful partner, my best friend, and my
one true love. I promise to love you now and as you grow into the man God
intends. I submit to you as the spiritual leader of our family and the head of
our home, knowing that you will love and lead me as Christ loves and leads the
Church. I will strive for oneness in our relationship, with the oneness of the
Trinity as the leading example. I will be by your side as we serve the Lord
together and set a solid foundation for a ministry-focused family. I will love
and respect and be open and honest with you when we are together and when we
are apart, when our lives are at peace and when they are in turmoil, when I am
proud of you and when I am disappointed in you. I will pray for you and will
compassionately encourage you to seek God in all things. Today I pledge my life
and all that I am to you. With God’s help, I will keep these vows until my
death or yours.
Mr. Handsome’s Vows
Today I take you to be my wedded wife. I promise to love you now and as you
grow into the woman
God intends. I will strive to love you as Christ loves the
Church and to be the spiritual leader of our family. I will be by your side as
we serve the Lord together and set a solid foundation for a ministry-focused
family. I will strive for oneness in our relationship, with the oneness of the
Trinity as the leading example. You are an incredible person, and I intend to
treat you as such. I promise to respect and support you with encouragement and
understanding, to share with you the joys and sorrows of life, and to be open
and honest with you. I will pray for you and will compassionately encourage youto seek God in all things. I recommit to serving Jesus Christ and know that a
close relationship with him will be the most important aspect of our
relationship. Apart from God, you are the most important person in my life, and
I promise to stand by you as long as God gives us life.
Restaurant-Style Queso Blanco Dip
A few days later, I set out to make a healthier, homemade version of this product that would have my husband drooling. After scouring the internet and taking bits and pieces from various recipes, I came up with this one. It takes about five minutes, and it’s sure to make you drool (if you like queso, that is).
After one bite, Mr. Handsome was sold. He said it was the best queso dip he has ever tasted and that it knocks Tostitos® out of the park.
Restaurant-Style Queso Blanco Dip
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb white American cheese*
- 1/4 cup cold water
- 1/3 cup whole milk
Instructions
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Cut cheese into bite-sized chunks, and put in a microwave safe bowl.
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Add water and milk, and stir. Microwave for one minute, and then remove and stir.
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Continue microwaving (stirring every minute) until cheese reaches desired consistency (approximately 4-6 minutes).
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Serve as a dip with tortilla chips or drizzled over Mexican dishes.
Recipe Notes
Dip can be refrigerated and reheated, but be careful not to burn it.
*I used Land O’ Lakes, but it contains a few artificial ingredients (still much better than Tostitos queso dips), so I am on the lookout for an alternative.
Wedding Picture #1
Simple & Delicious Blueberry Pie
Easy Blueberry Pie
Ingredients
Crust:
- 1-3/4 cup flour
- Pinch of salt
- 1/2 cup softened butter
- 3 Tablespoons shortening or butter
- 1/2 cup water
Filling:
- 3-1/2-4 cups of blueberries
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup flour
- Pinch of salt
- 2 teaspoons concentrated lemon juice
Instructions
Crust
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Cut butter and shortening. Add flour and salt. When mixed, add water, but don't stir with spoon. Instead, fluff with fork. (This will make the crust more flaky.)
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Chill dough until firm (10-20 minutes). Flour work surface and rolling pin, and then roll out dough for bottom and top crust.
Filling
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Stir ingredients together, and place in crust. Add top crust.
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Bake at 410F for 10 minutes and then at 350F for 20 minutes. A few minutes before taking the pie out of the oven, coat the crust lightly with butter.
Mr. Handsome Unveils a Surprise
female, I was greatly concerned because my dresser (from childhood) is made of light wood, and Mr. Handsome’s is made of dark wood.
Wedding Prep: Repainting the Barn
DIY Wedding Flowers
When it comes to flowers, I’m not too picky. That’s why I was happy to hand off the task of choosing flowers for the ceremony and reception to my mom and Mr. Handsome’s cousin. Both of them know way more about flowers than I ever will and can pretty much name every type out there.We will order flowers for the corsages and bouquets and some for the tables at the reception. (Once we get our act together on that, I’ll post pictures.) To save money, my mom and mother-in-law came up with the idea of using hanging pots to decorate the church and our outdoor reception venue (aka Mr. Handsome’s family’s backyard).
The initial plan was to order pots of white wave petunias and blue lobelia. (Don’t feel bad if you have no idea what those are; I sure didn’t.) That would have ended up costing $200 for 20 pots, so we were thrilled when the woman at the hardware store came up with a cheaper solution. We purchased pots, soil, and bedding plants for $90 and planted them ourselves.
Saving money is a beautiful thing. Now we just have to keep the flowers alive until the wedding. Mr. Handsome’s grandma (we call her Gram) graciously offered to take on that challenge.
A Wedding Gift Made with Love
We celebrate your union, as this year we celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. Of all the memories, I’m reminded that the best were of the simple things from the heart.
The card was signed by distant relatives who live 2,000 miles away. I had only met them once and was touched that they had taken the time to send a gift, and so soon after the engagement. We hadn’t even finalized our wedding registry yet!
I unwrapped the burlap and found a beautiful, handmade quilt. Each square had a fruit of the Spirit and a Bible verse written in perfect cursive print. I had tears in my eyes as I showed the quilt to Mr. Handsome and our parents. This gift was definitely from the heart, but there was nothing simple about it. She had spent hours making a quilt for us, and we barely knew her. I think this is going to be my favorite wedding gift, and I look forward to hanging it in our home.