A Chance at Forever #ourgoodlifebooklist

I was given this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion. I just read a quote that helped me understand a lot of what is going on in our country today, and I am speaking specifically about bullying.  The quote was, "Hurt people, hurt people."  This was specifically true of the main character, Aaron Firebrook, in the latest book by Melissa Jagears called A Chance at Forever.  Aaron's past full of the horrors that people can heap on a child turned him into a child bully.  In his later years, though, he had a complete change of heart, through the mercy of friends and the forgiveness of God, and returned home to the place where he bulled a number of people. Aaron's story of overcoming his past, plus the words spoken through his actions, helps one of his targets see that a person can have a change of heart.  Mercy McLain sits on the school board when Aaron applies for a teaching job.  She doesn't speak out against him, but does want to sit on the pool

Tex Mex Egg Casserole

For our family, we love having an egg casserole for our Easter brunch.  It's just comforting and yummy and all kinds of delicious.  We've made this casserole many times and each time we make it we love it more and more!  With the spicy goodness of sausage, salsa, and green chiles, one taste takes us back to our favorite vacation zone: Mexico! I love that you make this the night before, and pull it out to bake the next morning. That way you can focus on your sides, like maybe this yummy chiliquiles  and this perfect Bloody Mary! 12 oz bulk sausage (your favorite!) 5 c frozen tex mex hashbrowns 1 can of chopped green chiles 3 c shredded Mexican cheese (or a colby/Monterey Jack mix) 6 eggs 1 1/2 c whole milk 1/4 salt 1 c salsa (your favorite) 1 c sour cream cilantro for garnish Prepare a 9 by 13 pan with cooking spray. Next, cook sausage in a skillet until no longer pink and then drain.  Spread the potatoes in the baking dish.  Sprinkle wi

March Madness and the Boys

March Madness is here and gone.  Our brackets were completely shot early on in the tournament.  Our March has been wild with weather and our dogs are anxious about it. We are giving them all kinds of love and that includes adding this delightful Dog Food Topper.   It is a wonderful way to add taste and the real nutrition of raw food. It's been three months since Huxley joined our dog family.  There has been some adjustment for all our dogs to find themselves in the pecking order.  At meal times, we have to make sure that each dog has its own place to eat.  It is interesting how they respect those boundaries.  They love it when we add the topper to their meals. A lot of dancing goes on when the topper comes out! Look at all the benefits.    All-natural, minimally-processed, real raw nutrition makes an excellent topper to kibble. Made with protein-packed, all-natural beef and beef organs plus non-GMO fruits and vegetables. Raw, whole-food ingredients are freeze drie

Carrot Cake Bread Pudding

This month our  Fantastical Food Fight was to create something with the theme of Carrot Cake.  I talked this one over with my daughter, as she and her husband love carrot cake.  We discussed many options, but the one that won was bread pudding! We had to really work at this one to get it right.  The first attempts were too dry, then then one was too soggy.  This third attempt hit the mark and it was so good!!  It's a perfect Easter morning sweet treat. Carrot Cake Bread Pudding 1 Carrot Cake cake mix 3 eggs 1 c warm water 1 oz of white rum 1/4 c oil Preheat oven to 350. Make cake according to package directions.  Bake.  Let cool.  Cut cake into cubes and let dry overnight. 1 box of French vanilla instant pudding 3 c milk 1/4 c white rum 4 T butter Preheat oven to 350.  Spread cake cubes into a 9 by 11 pan.  Push down with hands.  Mix the pudding, milk, and rum together.  Pour over cake.  Bake for 45 minutes, or until custard is completely cooked through.

Natural Easter Egg Dyes ~Pinterest Challenge

Welcome to the March Pinterest Challenge Blog Hop, hosted by My Pinterventures . The purpose of this Pinterest Challenge is to motivate all the participants of this hop (and you too) to not just pin, but to make it happen! So this month, I chose to try natural Easter egg dyes.  I found my inspiration here:  Natural Easter Egg Dyes. You've probably seen that post floating over Facebook about making Easter egg dyes out of natural ingredients. For this Pinterest Challenge, I decided to give them a try. The ingredients start off simple enough:  1 quart of water, 1 T salt, 2 T vinegar and 2 T of a natural color dye.  Bring all that to a boil, reduce heat and let steep for 30 minutes.  Remove solids, and then ladle the colored water into a mug.  Add an egg and let set for 20 minutes, or longer for a deeper color. We tried parsley, spinach, beets, coffee, saffron, tumeric, blueberries, red cabbage, red wine and saffron.  Not all the colors turned out well, but some were quite pr

Traditional Irish Potato Soup

Are you looking for a wonderful way to end the winter AND celebrate the beginning of Spring with Saint Patrick's Day?  Try this Traditional Irish Potato Soup! My family purchased one of those DNA tests for me at Christmas last year, and it came back that I was 66% Irish.  What a shock for me!  I believe both sides of my family are Irish but we weren't aware of that until now. My mom has always made a version of this soup with dumplings, and that is my favorite way to serve it. However, I am watching my gluten intake, and those dumplings had to go.  I still love this soup, and even though I don't eat the toast and biscuits, to me it is still the most comforting way to eat it. Traditional Irish Potato Soup 4 T butter 1 onion, chopped 2 large russet potatoes, peeled and chopped 4 c milk salt and pepper Melt the butter in a large soup pot.  Add the onions, and cook until softened.  Add 4 c water, boil onion and potato until vegetables are fork tender.  Drain t

Potato Chip Sandwich #foodieextravaganza

This month's Foodie Extravaganza theme is Potato Chips. Did you know that March 14 is National Potato Chip Day? In anticipation, we have a collection of recipes to honor the day. Our host this month is Karen of  Karen's Kitchen Stories . When I was growing up in the 60s/70s, I often layered potato chips on my Wonder bread peanut butter and jelly sandwich. That sweet/salt flavor combination was so good, and the crunch of the chips was satisfyingly noisy.  Who knew it was an international "thing?" Today's Potato Chip Sandwiches come in all forms and sophistication levels.  I've grown away from my PBJC sandwich to enjoying a more grown up version.  I have to say, though, I still like the crunchy sound. To make your own, be creative!  Is your favorite sandwich a white bread, bologna and mayo sandwich with tomato and lettuce?  Add chips!  Or maybe you love egg salad sammies.  Go ahead and layer some chips under the bread.  Every deli type sandwich I h

Chocolate Covered Oreo Easter Eggs #TasteCreations

We are bringing you our Easter delights this month so you will have plenty of time to make these wonderful creations before your Easter celebrations.  My family loves the truffles I make each year from Oreos, so when I saw the Peeps Oreos I was inspired to make homemade Easter eggs truffles with them. Chocolate Covered Oreo Easter Eggs 1 package of Oreo cookies 4 oz softened cream cheese 1 bag of chocolate chips, melted 1 oz white chocolate, melted, for decorating Process the oreos in the food processor until in crumbles.  Add in the cream cheese and process until the ingredients are well incorporated.  Remove the dough from the food processor and refrigerate for 10 minutes. Using a tablespoon of chilled dough, form into a 1" egg shape.  Continue until all the dough is used.  Microwave the chocolate chips in 30 second spurts, stirring between cooking times.  When the chocolate is completely melted, use a fork to dip the egg into the chocolate.  Hold