“Worldliness”

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:31:59 -0500

I’m thinking about how easy it is to blend in with the people around you.

“We have a gospel mission: not only to preach Christ but to live in a way consistent with out profession of faith. As women, you can actually detract from the gospel mission by dressing immodestly, or you can enhance the gospel mission by dressing in a way that reflects the transforming power of the gospel at work in you. The humble woman, the modest woman, is concerned about the lost. and her dress reflects that concern.

Make this your aim: that there be no contradiction between your gospel message and the clothes you wear. May your modest dress be a humble witness to the One who gave himself as a ransom for all.”

-C.J. Mahaney, Worldliness

Are you witnessing in the way you dress? Or are you blending in?

Jessalyn

Thanks for stopping by! Make sure you subscribe by clicking here!

“Healthy” Cookies

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 15:28:06 -0500

I tweaked this Weight Watcher’s recipe to have wheat flour, no Sweet and Low (blah), and to include some nuts. The outcome was a really soft cookie that, though it tasted markedly healthy, was very yummy. In fact I found them a little addicting. I don’t know what it is about them, but I just kept wanting to eat more and more. These cookies would make a great breakfast, snack, or dessert ~whatever you are in the mood for!

Soft Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 4 teaspoons Truvia
• 1 egg
• 2 cups natural applesauce (no sugar added)
• 3 cups quick-cooking oats
• 1 cup wheat flour
• 1 cup white flour
• cinnamon (however much you want)
• 3/4 cup raisins
• 1/4 cup glazed walnuts (broken up into little pieces)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Cream together first four ingredients
3. Stir in the rest of the ingredients
4. Drop onto nonstick cookie sheet
5. Bake about 10 minutes, or until lightly browned on edges.
6. DO NOT OVER BAKE; these cookies are meant to be soft.
7. DO NOT UNDER BAKE; :) a couple of mine were doughy in the center because I didn’t leave them in long enough.

Makes 24 servings at 170 calories a piece.

Enjoy!!!!!!!

Jessalyn
Did you like this recipe? Make sure to subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any other tasty treats!

Bookmarked

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 09:36:28 -0500

I haven’t necessarily had a lot of free time to write, but I have gotten little moments to myself to read some encouraging, challenging, and interesting posts in the last few weeks. Here is my latest round up.

(1) Russell Moore always has such wonderfully thought provoking posts over at Moore to the Point. I have read two such posts recently. The first was called “Ecological Catastrophe and the Uneasy Evangelical Conscience.” This was a great post about the oil spill and how Christians don’t always respond to environmental catastrophes well. The second post was a heart breaking post called “Abba Changes Everything” This was published in Christianity Today’s July issue and is a great piece on adoption.

(1) Another great author I have been enjoying lately is Jasmine Baucham. She not only has a blog of her own, but contributes to Ladies Against Feminism regularly. This post titled “A Dream Deferred” is a personal testimony of bringing your “dreams” under the authority of the Lord with the rest of your life. It is a great piece that focuses on combating the world’s philosophy of making any sacrifice necessary to pursue your “dream.”

(1) Just for fun, here is a yummy post on making your own pizza dough (even stuffed crust!) over at Raising Homemakers.

Jessalyn
Make sure to subscribe by clicking here so you never miss a post!

Did you miss the last bookmarks I posted? Just click here to see what I was encouraged by last.

Living Life

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 15:24:50 -0500

Imagine me rocking not only this 30 pound “baby,” but my precious 7 pound newborn as well. Now, imagine that both of them are screaming at the top of their lungs and the only thing calming them is the rhythmic sway of my fabulous glider and the gentle “shooshing” of this barely-holding-it-together-mommy. Such was my day yesterday. If anyone had walked into my apartment at that moment they probably would have laughed at me. Either that or they would have made some “wise” comment about having two children under the age of two. But when each of my beautiful boys felt secure in my arms and as their breathing finally began to even out, they slowly drifted off into peaceful sleep. At that moment (as in so many others) this thanks-filled-mommy offered up praise to her maker, the one who created these perfect blessings.

So this is the way things have been going lately. Slowly, ever so slowly, I am adjusting to being the mother of two and even slower than that, I am gaining mastery of my home again. So, if you don’t see me around here very often you will know why. I am probably reading Goodnight Moon to my little boy for the unteenth time, or changing my spit up soaked blouse for the second time that day, or possibly, just possibly I am vacuuming our Gold Fish-littered floor. Most likely I am changing a diaper (early potty training tips anyone?) or nursing my sweet little Hudson. But whatever I am doing, I am loving it and praying that it honors the Lord.

Jessalyn

If this was your first time to visit Desiring Virtue, you may want to subscribe, just click here!

More posts related to The Christian Life and Homemaking.

A Swaggering Story

Wed, 7 Jul 2010 10:00:07 -0500

Ok, so I promised I would keep you posted on my Swag Buck progress. I am a few days shy of having been a swag buck(er) for two months. Since then I have earned a total of 4,121 “bucks.” That is way more than I ever would have imagined. What does that mean in monetary terms? Well, here is a break down of the gift cards I could trade my bucks in for:

9 ($5) Amazon gift cards
or
10 ($25) Restaurant.com gift cards
or
3 ($10) Barnes & Noble gift cards
or
3 ($10) Starbucks gift cards.... MMMmmmmmmm!
or
1 ($20) Target gift card
or
1 ($20) Disney.com gift card
or
1($25) Macy’s gift card
or
2 ($15) iTunes gift cards

These are just the ones that I would be interested in... there are more options! Plus there is an actual store where you can buy DVDs, books, electronics, all kinds of stuff. I am just shocked at how fast these “bucks” add up! So what are we going to buy with our new found wealth? Well, I must admit that the Starbucks option is very, very tempting. But for now I am trying to be patient and save up for the grand prize: a $300 Apple gift card! How long will it take me to get to that glorious card? Well, at this rate I should get there around November of 2011. Of course that could pick up or drop down depending on my Swag Buck activity. That seems like a long time to wait, but to me it is totally worth it! ~Especially because I am not “working” to get that $300.

You may be asking yourself how I earn these swag bucks so quickly. If so keep reading and I will share some tips with you:

1. Use Swag Bucks to search the web. Our preferred search engine is Google, but since signing up for Swag Bucks we use it first, and then if we can’t find what we are looking for we revert back to our Google search bar. When you search using Swag Bucks you randomly win bucks... and I do mean randomly!
2. Get the Swag Bucks toolbar. The toolbar not only makes it easier to search, but it will randomly award you bucks for no reason at all, they will just pop up on your screen!
3. When you are going to order online, order through Swag Bucks. There are a lot of incentive programs through Swag Bucks. Sometimes you earn bucks per every dollar you spend (like at Target.com) and sometimes you can simply get a certain amount of bucks for purchasing from a certain store (like ProFlowers).
4. Look for Swag Codes. Ok, so I am not very good at this, but I know other people who find them all the time. Supposedly they just appear at any time all over the Swag Bucks network. That means that their search page, their blog, their Facebook Fan Page, Twitter page, and many others may contain a special code that you can trade in for swag bucks!
5. Get rid of your old electronics! What do you do with your old cell phones and iPods? Well, if you have nothing better to do you can send them in to Swag Bucks and get more bucks for them!
6. Answer a question. That is right, every day Swag Bucks takes a poll and will reward you for your answer with one big old buck!
7. Share the love! This is the most profitable way to earn swag bucks. Any time someone signs up under you, you earn bucks as they earn bucks. Up until their 1,000th point you profit from their profits! Having people under you really speeds up your earning.

I have done all of these things except send in an old electronic device... though I may do that soon as well. All of these tips have helped make our swag bucks rise and rise! Over all I am very pleased with my experience, but I will keep you updated as the year goes on. If you are curious about Swag Bucks just click the link below to get started yourself!

Jessalyn
Have you subscribed yet, make sure you do before you leave! Just click here.

New Link to “Motive and Methods” Series

Tue, 6 Jul 2010 17:35:31 -0500

I have been so blessed to hear from many of you who were challenged by the information shared in the recent series “Motives and Methods.... a look at birth control.” I have even had the privilege of hearing from a few women who decided to stop using the pill altogether as a result of the series. Praise God! I would have been happy if only one person had been effected by it, but am so thankful that more were. Please continue to spread the information that I shared and feel free to link to the series whenever it would be helpful. I have added a link to Desiring Virtue’s homepage under the Popular Series heading so that it will be easy to get to in the future.

Jessalyn

Thanks for visiting Desiring Virtue! To subscribe click here.

Did you miss the “Motives and Methods” series? Just click here to get started.

Contented

Tue, 6 Jul 2010 12:48:05 -0500

Last night my sister-in-law and I were talking about how envious we can be of couples our age who already have homes (house homes, not apartment homes). After all, we could be such better hostesses if we just had more room to fit more people. For instance, just think of the wonderful holiday dinners I could host if I had a table that sat more than four people! We noted that the desire to have a house doesn’t usually poke up its head until we are visiting someone else’s house... then our apartments are seen for what they really are: depressingly small.

“Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” -Galatians 5

Have you ever realized that you just can’t live without something even though you’ve been living without that very thing just fine? It seems like the sins of envy and discontent are permanently hibernating within my soul waiting to be awakened by the sight of a sparkly new toaster, a smart phone, a house, a larger dining room table. My life is happy and peaceful until my eyes lay hold of a new item that I simply must have. Then the turbulence rises within my heart and cries out “I really really need that;” my thoughts begin to revolve around it, and soon I am enslaved to it.

About a month ago I was helping my brother and his wife move into their new apartment down the road. It is their first home together and they have tons of beautiful, new kitchen utensils and appliances. I couldn’t help but envy their sharper than sharp knives or their four slotted toaster that has an option for bagels! Soon everything I had in my kitchen seemed like garage sale fodder.

“For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.”-Ephesians 5

What do we say about God when we have such thoughts? Surely when I spurn the things he has given me and chase after the things he has withheld I proclaim loudly that he hasn’t given me the good stuff. If he hasn’t given me the good stuff, then is he good?

“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” -Matthew 6

God is good. Good is God. He defines what is perfect and beautiful and lovely. His very nature is all that is good. He doesn’t give out second rate blessings or less than wonderful gifts. All that I have is from him and therefore it is perfect. He is the only one who knows me for who I truly am. He knows my needs, desires, and my shortcomings. Not only that, but he knows my future! His gifts are perfect because they come from the one who knows exactly what I need and when I need it. Just as he gives me what I truly need, he withholds the things I don’t need. He doesn’t just have my desires in mind, but my soul, my good.

Laying in bed last night, staring into the face of my beautiful little boy (peacefully sleeping in the co-sleeper next to me), I thanked God for the countless gifts he has given me. From the important ones like my sons to the simple ones like a comfortable bed to sleep in. He has withheld nothing from me, nothing that is for my good. I’ve got plenty of the good stuff.

“I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” -Philippians 4

Jessalyn

If this was your first time to visit Desiring Virtue, you may want to subscribe, just click here!

More posts related to The Christian Life and Homemaking.

Bookmarked

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 10:19:00 -0500

Ahhh, it’s been so long since I have given you some good bookmarks. Today I have quite a few of them for you. There is so much good stuff out there, so many interesting topics to read about!

1.)

First I have a link to Passionate Homemaking (have you noticed that I visit there a lot?). Kat wrote a helpful post for mothers titled “10 Keys to Patient Motherhood”. Most of the tips are pretty strait forward, but it is still helpful to be reminded of them!

2.)

Here is a great post from Ladies Against Feminism about the tragedy of Christian women marrying unbelievers. “A Place in the Paradigm” explores the motives behind such a decision and how we, as a Christian community, can help guard against such decisions.

3.)

Do you believe that you can still dress feminine while wearing pants? If you do, here is a great post from Empowered Traditionalist on how to wear those pants while maintaining a certain amount of “frill.” I like this article titled “Pants and Femininity” because I too often fall into the t-shirt and jeans category, which does not leave me feeling very womanly!

4.)

Last, but not least, here is a small, but encouraging post from Raising Homemakers called “Embrace Homemaking-Be Busy At Home”. If you are feeling overwhelmed by your calling to be a homemaker I think you will find some inspiration there.

Well, there you have it! I hope you enjoy these posts and have a great weekend. I will be enjoying the company of my Grandmother this weekend as she visits our new little boy.

Jessalyn

Make sure to subscribe by clicking here so you never miss a post!

What to Pack for the Hospital; Pt. 2

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 10:30:08 -0500

Yesterday we looked at a list of items that my friends and I feel are “Must Haves” while at the hospital. Today we are going to look at some items that aren’t as imperative, but will make your stay way more comfortable and maybe even a little bit like a small vacation... ok, so a vacation might be a little over the top, but you know what I mean!

The Luxuries:
• A Robe. A nice, comfortable robe can not only help you keep covered up, but keep you warm!
• Books and Games. You never know how long your delivery will take or how long you will be stuck at the hospital. Reruns of Everybody Loves Raymond can get old, so you may want to bring some reading material, cards, etc... to keep you and your husband entertained.
• Quarters. Bringing a few dollars in quarters will help your hubby get some drinks and snacks from the vending machine.
• Laptop (and other electronics). For some people this is a must have, but for others it is a luxury. Again, the point being to post pics online while you stay at the hospital.... or even do a blog post!
• A Snack Bag for Guests. In the must haves I mentioned bringing snacks for you and your husband, but one of my friends mentioned providing snacks for guests. This would be especially thoughtful if you have a long delivery and a bunch of family waiting on baby’s arrival.
• A Comfortable Nursing Bra. Wearing a bra in the hospital will make you feel more... presentable and will keep those hugs from being too awkward! (of course you will just have to deal with this until after the delivery because you aren’t allowed to wear anything under your hospital gown.)
• A Journal. Taking a few moments to record your thoughts and emotions as you bring a life into this world will be something you treasure for the rest of your life-and something your child treasures as well!
• Clothes For Your Little One. The hospital will automatically put simple white shirts on your baby, but these tend to be worn out and old looking. If you picture your baby wearing special newborn outfits during his/her stay, you will need to bring them.
• A Baby Blanket. You will be given receiving blankets, but you may want to bring something snuggly for your little one as well!
• A Boppy Pillow. This one item will make nursing much easier (especially if you are a first time mommy)!
• Thank You Notes. Might as well use the time for something you will have NO time for when you get home!

Do you have anything to add to these lists? Share your “Must Have” or “Luxury” item in the comments for others to see!

Jessalyn

I hope this post was helpful to you, make sure to subscribe by clicking here for more helpful posts in the future!

What to Pack for the Hospital; Pt.1

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 17:38:23 -0500

Living at the hospital for a couple of days after your baby is born can be uncomfortable to say the least. Not only are you hooked up to machines half the time, but you are being checked on, talked to, and prodded every couple hours. People are going in and out of your room constantly and your husband is probably trying to sleep on a very uncomfortable “bed.” When packing for this glorious stay at the hospital you may be wondering what to bring. What are the necessities and what are the luxuries that you will want to have with you? How should you prepare for the first couple days of your little one’s life?

There are definitely certain items that you MUST have, but then there are the items that no baby book will tell you would be WONDERFUL to have. For this reason I asked a few of my friends who have also recently had babies in the hospital to share their wisdom and advice with us on what to bring to the hospital. Thank you Joelle, Sky, and Monica for your helpful input. I am sure that many other ladies will benefit from your practical advice! Today we will begin with the items you will really want to have with you.

The Must Haves:
• “Fat Pants”. Big, comfortable sweat pants you can wear after you are allowed to switch from your hospital gown.
• A Guest Book. You will have lots of guests visiting your new baby (and you of course), it is nice to have a record of who came and if they brought any gifts (for those thank you cards!).
• A Camera. Make sure you have everything you need like extra batteries and film (if you still use film.... anyone?); you don’t want to miss a single adorable moment!
• Slippers. Those tile floors can be chilly!
• Chapstick. No water means your lips will be dry!
• Nursing Night Gowns. When you are allowed to change out of that hospital gown you will want to wear something that is easy to nurse in and will still give the doctors easy access for check ups.
• Cell Phone and Charger. You will want to send out that mass text message when baby arrives and you may also need it for an alarm clock!
• Video Camera. If you have one, bring it! You will be able to capture some sweet moments with your little one.
• A Few Options of Clothing for the Ride Home. You never know what will fit well and what will be uncomfortable until the day you are ready to leave the hospital so give yourself a couple options. *see note on “Fat Pants.”
• Snacks. Let’s face it, hospital food is TERRIBLE. Aside from family and friends bringing you glorious food from your favorite restaurant you will want some good snacks to munch on.
• Personal Care Items. Make sure to pack shampoo, conditioner, facial soap, your blow dryer, straightener, etc... It is nice to feel “put together” while you are receiving guests and having pictures taken of you constantly.
• Makeup. See above note on personal care items.
• Your Own Pillow.
• Your Own Blanket. Bring something think to put over the paper thin blanket the hospital provides. I brought two fleece throw blankets, one for me and one for my husband and I was so glad I did.
• Your Laptop... if you want to put photos online while you are still in the hospital.
• A Husband Bag. Don’t forget about your dear husband... he needs clothes and pajamas as well!
• A Nursing Cover. A baby blanket will do, but make sure you bring something you can hide behind when the unexpected visitor arrives.
• BIG COMFY UNDERWEAR. They need to be able to fit a HUGE pad in them! (Helpful tip: in the case of a unexpected C-section, you may want to include a pair of high rise underwear so that the elastic doesn’t rub against your incision.)
• A “Going Home Outfit” for Baby. Pack something small and cute for your little one!

Jessalyn

Thanks for visiting Desiring Virtue again, make sure to subscribe by clicking here!

On Motherhood and Tiny Men

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 12:35:35 -0500

Who am I that the Lord would give me the responsibility of raising these precious tiny men? Surely he knows my weakness, my selfishness, my laziness. Surely he has not forgotten the many times I have brought shame upon his name or the times I have worshiped other gods. No, of course he has not forgotten. Yet, he has chosen this foolish woman to care for and nurture the souls of these precious little ones. This quest will test every inch of me and bring me to the cross time and time again.

Oh Lord, may I never attempt to raise these men without your Spirit. May my heart cling to the power you have lavished upon me through your Son as I strive to impart wisdom and discipline. May they grow up to be men who glorify your name and fight for your Kingdom, your honor. Let these tiny feet go to nations in need of the light of the gospel; let these little hands care for the poor and needy; let these wide eyes gaze upon the beauty of the Savior and be moved by it. May their voices be filled with the words of the Most High God and their actions driven by them.

It is a weighty task to raise tiny men into mighty Christ-followers, weighty and honorable. My strength is nothing and my talents are worthless... it is Christ who must take up this task through me and I who must fade into the background of my life. He is the one who will nourish their souls, who will give wisdom and insight to their minds. He will love them as they could never be loved by another and will show them the path of godliness. I am simply a vessel for the Lord to use as he wills in the lives of my tiny men.

Jessalyn

Thanks for visiting Desiring Virtue again, make sure to subscribe by clicking here!

Hudson is Here!

Sun, 6 Jun 2010 13:29:45 -0500

I just wanted to pop in and share the wonderful news. Hudson was born on Friday and is beautiful and healthy. I have posted ALL the pictures on our Family Pictures web page. Just click the link and it will take you there! Thank you for all of your prayers. The Lord was so gracious to us and we are so thankful for this little miracle.

...now I am going to get back to enjoying him! I’ll be back when I can pry myself away.

Jessalyn

The Benefits to Drinking More Water and the Most Perfect Water Bottle Around

Tue, 25 May 2010 14:57:11 -0500

We all know we are supposed to drink lots of water to keep our bodies healthy, but why and more importantly how? I don’t know about you, but it is way easier for me to grab a can of soda from the fridge (and sometimes way tastier) than getting a glass out of the cabinet and filling it with water just to refill it after about 20 minutes when it has gotten warm from just sitting there without being touched. But I know that water is good for me, and I honestly feel better when I do drink lots of water, so why don’t I?

There are so many benefits to drinking this free beverage... here are just a few I have found:

1. Weight Loss ~ Water not only replaces high calorie drinks, but it helps suppress your appetite. Apparently, many of the times we think we are hungry, we are actually thirsty.
2. Healthy Heart ~ Studies show that people who drink lots of water are less likely to die from a heart attack!
3. Energy ~ Dehydration leads to low energy levels. If you are thirsty it is your body telling you that it is already dehydrated! Give it what it needs-water!
4. Headaches ~ Many headaches are from dehydration, so before you pop a pill (I’m talking about Tylenol here people) drink some water... better yet, drink a ton of water and take a Tylenol! Just kidding on that last one.
5. Beautiful Skin ~ Supposedly drinking lots of water helps you have clear and glowing skin.... this, I would love!
6. Digestive System ~ Our bodies were made to work best on a healthy intake of water. Drinking more water can help with stomach pains, acid problems, and constipation (along with some good old fiber of corse!).
7. Cleansing ~ Your body needs water to get rid of all the nasty toxins and waste products it collects.

Obviously, we need to drink lots of water, but as someone who has struggled with this, I know it can be difficult. What is my practical tip to help you reach your water drinking goals? A very special water thermos I found at Target.

“A thermos?” ...I know that is what you are thinking, but yes, a thermos. Not just any thermos-THE THERMOS. I have been wanting to tell you about this find for a while now because I am just that in love with it. Here is a picture to give you a visual:

Ok, so this isn’t the art on my particular bottle (Target didn’t have this option), but it would be if I had ordered it on Amazon because it is way cute. Here are the pros to this particular water bottle:

1. It is thin enough to fit in cup holders. I know this is kind of random, but stay with me. I have used those big plastic water bottles that hold a lot of water, but they are hard to take with you places because they don’t fit in the car/stroller cup holders. Not so with this one!
2. It keeps your water cold for SUCH A LONG TIME. The official insert says up to 12 hours and I believe it one hundred percent. I never worry about sipping a warm, or even luke warm sip of water when it is coming from this bottle. Picture this... you wake up in the middle of the night and desperately want a cold sip of water. Lucky for you, your water is in a Thermos Intak Steel Water Bottle. Not only is it cold, but it still tastes fresh! Go on, enjoy!
3. It doesn’t sweat. Really, it doesn’t-even when you have ice in it.
4. This particular model has a permanent straw in it (which can be replaced when it becomes worn). This has to be my favorite feature about this water bottle. For some odd reason, I drink more water when it comes through a straw, plus I feel more refined. :)
5. The lid flips open. No unscrewing action going on here. There is also no awkward lid hanging from your bottle as you try to gracefully drink from an oversized rim.
6. It comes in cute designs.

So, what are the drawbacks of this particular bottle. Well, first of all it is expensive. $20 is a lot of money to spend on a water bottle, but for something that will hopefully last a while, I think it is a worthy investment. Also, it is only available in a couple designs if you buy it at Target. Ordering online will give you more options, but then of course you have to pay for shipping. The last critique I have of this water bottle is that it isn’t completely leak proof when the lid is opened and it is upside down. I think this has to do with its straw feature. Honestly this hasn’t been a problem for me... the first time I noticed it was when I let Elliot drink from it in the car and he started waving it wildly upside down. So, don’t follow in Elliot’s footsteps if you end up purchasing this product. When the lid is closed, it is completely leak proof.

There you have it, my insanely easy tip to drinking more water... hey, it has worked for me! Here is a link to this product on Amazon:

Jessalyn

Southwest Roll Ups

Fri, 21 May 2010 13:19:00 -0500

I love this easy recipe I found at MoneySavingMom.com. It is simple to put together and great for a quick lunch you can just pull out of the freezer. Instead of reheating them in the oven, I just stick them in the microwave for 2:30-3 minutes each.

Southwest Roll Ups

Ingredients:

• 2 cans refried beans (you can make your own Refried Beans with this recipe)
• 1/2 cup salsa
• 2-4 cups cooked chicken, chopped
• 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
• 16 tortillas (you can make your own Homemade Tortillas with this recipe)

Directions:

1. Mix together beans, salsa, and chicken. Spread 1/8 of mixture onto one tortilla. Sprinkle with cheese. Roll up and turn ends under. Stick in a freezer bag or in a 9×13 baking pan and freeze.
2. When ready to bake, thaw and bake in a pre-heated 350 degrees oven for 20-30 minutes until heated through. Sprinkle with more shredded Cheddar cheese, if desired. Serve with salsa.

Enjoy!!!!!!!

Jessalyn
Did you like this recipe? Make sure to subscribe so that you don’t miss out on any other tasty treats!

How to Properly Load a Dishwasher

Wed, 19 May 2010 12:19:10 -0500

I don’t know about you, but I hate it when I open the dishwasher to find that my glasses and bowls are still dirty! Usually I just blame the dishwasher or the detergent, but sometimes it is my fault. I must have missed the memo about a “correct” way of loading the dishwasher, but apparently there is. I did some research and compiled a list of tips to help make your (and my) dishwasher more efficient. Some of these tips you may already know, but some you may not, so take a look and share your own tips if I missed anything!

1. Quickly rinse dishes before putting them in to get the chunks of food off.
2. Put glasses, coffee mugs, plastic containers, and large utensils in the top rack of the dishwasher to keep them from breaking or melting.
3. Place bowls down the center of top rack.
4. Make sure to put glassware (as well as sippy cups!) on prongs so that they are held in place better.
5. If you are washing fragile items leave space between each of them to ensure they don’t vibrate against each other during the wash.
6. Dishes, large bowls and other items that need greater water pressure go on the bottom rack.
7. Put cookie sheets and platters along the sides of the bottom rack so they don’t prevent water flow.
8. Face items like plates in the same direction, facing toward the middle for best water flow.
9. Put pots and dishes with baked-on food in the bottom rack facing down so that they get as much water pressure as possible.
10. Load silverware with handles down (except for knives....point them down) in the basket provided.
11. When loading utensils into their compartment mix them up so that all the spoons don’t “spoon” each other and trap food and grease.
12. Make sure that large or tall items do not hinder the washing arm from rotating freely when the tray is pushed in.
13. Don’t place large/tall items near the front or they may keep the detergent cup from opening during the cycle.
14. Don’t put extremely large bowls and pots in the dishwasher and expect your dishes to come out looking clean. Why? All the water is being trapped in those few items and not reaching the others. As sad as it sounds, wash them by hand.
15. A full dishwasher runs best, so fill it up before running.
16. Fill both cups with a good dishwasher detergent.
17. If necessary use a rinse agent.

Some of these tips were shockers to me. For instance, I love separating all of the utensils into their own compartment (mostly because it makes putting them away easier), but this truly does limit their ability to get clean. I will admit that I have put HUGE pots into the dishwasher hoping that they (and the rest of my dishes will get clean), but they never do... I always end up hand washing them anyways. So, here’s to more productive dishwashers--and happier operators!

Jessalyn
Here are more posts related to the home!

Do you love to learn new tips and tricks to homemaking? I am always looking for ways to hone my skills, so join me by subscribing to Desiring Virtue.