LENTIL SOUP RECIPE AND DINNERWARE STORAGE IDEA...

Happy Friday, everyone.. Another weekend is here... Thank you, Lord...

I think that almost everyone loves the weekends unless they have to work..

I still love to strive to accomplish a few chores on the weekends even though we no longer HAVE to do it then.  We can putter along all week unless Terry is actually working...lol.. He does once in a while..

So, with that in mind I thought I would give you one of MY favorite SOUP recipes.

I know that I make soup often... (Most days, to be honest)  Terry has learned to appreciate most of them...lol..

I just can't imagine opening a can when you can make such a big pot so EASILY.

Then you can freeze it or use it for lunches.

I don't make as big of batches as I used to but we still eat it ALL...

This is a recipe that I made up as I love Middle Eastern food.  I took 2 recipes and kind of combined them.. I could eat this for breakfast... I think it is my favorite..

LENTIL SOUP

LENTIL SOUP

1 - 16 OZ. can of lentils

1/4 cup of olive oil

1 onion, chopped

2 - 3 cloves fresh garlic, sliced

1/2 cup raw rice

1 cup water

2 cups chicken stock

1/4 cup lemon juice

1/2 cup freshly chopped parsley

1 tsp. cumin

salt pepper to taste..

In a soup pot put lentils, water and chicken stock.  Add the rice and simmer for 20-25 minutes.

In a separate frying pan saute the onion in the olive oil until transparent.. Add the garlic at the end just for a moment.. (until you can smell it) Set aside..

When the rice is cooked add the onion mixture, lemon juice, cumin, and parsley..

Season with salt and pepper..

I guess I must confess that Terry does not like this soup.. I can't quite get him into some of my concotions..lol..

With your fry pan just add a pita and toast on both sides.. It goes lovely with your soup and is a nice change. I try not to eat a lot of bread so this is a nice solution.

Also, my friend Christine who lives in Florida posted these wonderful BISCUITS that you can freeze.. They would be lovely to make on a Saturday morning and then have them for the week..

Thank you, Christine for letting me link to your site.. That is her photo of her biscuits.. 

Also, I wanted to share a couple of organizing tips for your dinnerware and cutlery..

Sometimes it is not only convenient to store it on the counter but pretty, too..

I found this pic on the web and have tried to find where but cannot.. If you know could you let me know where I found it.. It was a very good site...

This is just a canner rack and wide mouthed mason jars for your cutlery.. Neat, eh?

They would be handy and easy to put away..Also, add a decor touch...

Then I used this at the farm.. It is a plate rack that I picked up at a thrift store.

I do not have much cupboard space there and this works lovely..

Well, my dears this is all for today..

Thank you so much for stopping by and remember that I delight in your comments...  

God Bless...

Faye..

Frugal Decorating with Black Paint....

Good Morning Girls...

Just so thankful this morning for the goodness of God and for health and strength... Hope you are all well and keeping warm this Winter's day...

I thought I would try and  show you a little frugal decorating tip..

Come into my kitchen for a moment....

Here it is..

The tip for today.,..

BLACK PAINT...

I love black paint and find that it is such a saving option in decorating and updating your home...

If you notice on blogs and magazines black painted items are really IN right now..

I love the primative decorating style but even in other decorating ways you see black a lot..

With that being said I wanted to show you a thrift item I picked up..

I think this was a magazine rack perhaps... When I saw it I thought I could put some wood bowls in it..

I sanded it some and just used black acrylic paint and put a couple of coats on it..

Let it dry good and then sanded the edges...

I like putting a coat of stain on the top of the paint..

Some just put on a water based sealer or add it over the stain.

I didn't seal this piece but sometimes I do...

Voila...

 Here it is up on the wall...

 These were the only bowls I have here at home but you can also pick wood bowls up at the thrift stores and give them a couple coats of paint and one of stain...

 It is a frugal way of collecting wood bowls if you like the prim style...

We are in the process of redoing our kitchen a bit. 

The Lord is teaching me patience with this as it is taking us soooo long... LOL... 

Terry painted this cupboard for me and I love it.  The yellow bowls I also picked up at thrift stores or auctions..

It is not quite done.  I want to put some old wood spindles  between the top and bottom to make it look like a separate piece..

I will show you when it gets finished... ok?

In the above pic I also painted my kitchen table and chairs and hutch... Black, of course...

I posted about doing that on my other blog

last winter..(there is a lovely cake recipe on that posting also.. just click on)...

The rest of the cupboards are not done yet but hopefully soon... lol...

Well, my dears that is all for today... I will get back to this when we get more accomplished.. I have found that I need to be satisfied with WHAT we get finished WHEN we get it finished and NOT to complain...

But to be content...

Philippians 4:10...Paul says....

Not that I am speaking of being in need: for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content....

Now, I am not pretending to be in any situation near what Paul was in... but you know a woman and her kitchen..LOL..

ALSO...

We are having our next Keepers of the Home meeting this Saturday..

I will post it on the sidebar for anyone in this area....

So... take care girls and have a wonderful week...

May God bless and keep you...

Love and Prayers

Faye...

A simple candle project.....

Good Morning....

Just a wee post to share a simple candle project with you today.

Our youngest son had bought me these lovely iron candleholders for Christmas... There is one on each side of the livingroom fireplace..

I keep forgetting to buy enough candles for both so yesterday I came across 2 boxes of  candles that you use for emergencies... I class this as one..lol.. The holders were empty and needed some candles in them...

I have some prim ones at the shop but that is a long way away..

So... I dug around and found these napkins...

No, they are not very prim but will do until I can get some prim ones made....

Anyway, all you need is a brush or sponge, candles, napkins and some modgepodge....

Just make sure to separate the napkin into two layers and just use the colored one... ok?

Measure the napkin to fit your candle.. Leave some room at the top in case you want to light them ONCE ...

These are for decor alone... I will not be lighting them but one time.

Then brush the napkin with modge on the edge and fit it good then modge the rest and roll up.  I had a few candle holders on the table to sit them in until they dried...

Then just put them in your holders...

These candles only cost 2 dollars for 10 .  I know there are nicer napkins but that is all I had here.. Or...

You can use tissue paper.. Some with crows or stars would be nice..

All according to your own tastes... 

I lit them so you could see...lol...

My livingroom is not very prim.. Lots of antiques but I have carpet.. Perhaps someday we will get a wood floor...

Sammi had been keeping me company as I am puttering..

There is my sun-sewing room over there at the end of the dining room table through those french doors..

I am AGAIN trying to organize it...

My sweet dear husband says he has never seen a woman with sooooo much stuff!!!  Craft stuff that is...

What am I supposed to do?  Of course, I have a lot of craft STUFF as I worked at it for over 20 years.. RIGHT???

I have packed up and lugged boxes to the Salvation Army but I still make crafts although I do need to get rid of more.....I agree to that...

I just wanted to mention that I posted about these pillows that I made on my other blog

Another easy winter project for you to do...

Anyway, my dears may you have a very BLESSED week ...

Reach out and help someone today and know that HE cares about how your week is going...

Praying that God will bless your Homes and bring you PEACE... 

HAPPY MONDAY MORNING TO YOU....

Happy Monday Morning to you all...

I was thinking to myself this morning,.(that's scary)  Why do I love Mondays so much??

 I decided it is because you wake up renewed after having a day of Worship and being in the Presence of the Lord...

Then there is the whole week ahead of you....

God willing.. 

Anyway, I have been wanting to give you this little hint that I have tried and found true for sore throats and colds..

A little natural remedy..

This time of year our little ones and ourselves are catching some of the old germs out there....

Sore throats, cold and flu....

Of course, if your little ones are really sick they may need a doctor but I find if I get a scratchy sore throat and take this it really works and does not develop in anything scary..

You just boil some water as if you were making some tea and cut a lemon in half and squeeze in a couple tablespoons, a good squirt of honey and a bit of fresh ginger...

It will need cooled for the kids but just sip away on that and hopefully it will relieve your soreness.....lol....

Also ..

I thought I would post a couple of pics of what old empty nesters do on a BUSY  Saturday...

When you are retired folks think that you must have a lot of spare time, eh? 

Well, this is a few pics to show you our past Saturday...

My sweet husband trying to get some of the snow off of the roof.. Our house is shaped in a U and it blows and piles up on there...

A job well done, Terry..

After feeding the birds he of course deserves a little recreation..

God had given us such a beautiful day....

Sammi (our inherited dog) was wondering...

WHICH WAY DID HE GO????  LOL...

Meanwhile, I am inside watering my sprouts..

I told you I was an old hippie  (the good kind)

This is only the third day for them... I just put them on the windowsill to show you...

I love sprouts in wraps.. They are sooooo good for you..

And so easy...

Just pick up some seeds at your health store ( alalfa, clover, onion, or mung beans, mustard or cress)   and soak them overnite ...

Use a large bottle and some cheesecloth or buy a sprout bottle like mine that has a wire seive for a cover.

Then  gently rinse twice a day and keep in a warm dark spot...

I actually  put mine on the counter...

Lay your bottle on the side and  in a few days you have lovely living sprouts that are full of nutrients...

Use them in your salads, sandwiches or wraps....

Oh, then I did some cleaning and worked on crafts..

A busy day.... a lovely day...a blessed day...

Thank you, Lord...

Well, girls that is probably enough for now..

I wanted to thank you all for stopping by.. There are twice as many visitors lately and that is WONDERFUL..

Also, just wanted to say how DELIGHTED  I am when you take the time to leave a wee comment.. 

Makes my day..

Have a lovely BLESSED week and I will be back soon..

Hugs.... 

Making homemade bread on a snowy afternoon....

Another snowy winter's afternoon here.   I thought it was a good day to make some homemade bread ..

I made some delicious tomato soup that was featured in the new magazine Where Women Cook.

. It turned out even better that I thought it would..

Lots of fresh basil and cheese in it..

Terry loved it as did I..  Just right for a snowy day..

I decided that some nice no knead bread would fit the bill.

No Knead Dilly Bread...

1 package of yeast dissolved in 1/4 water

2 1/2 cups flour

1 cup lukewarm cottage cheese

2 T sugar

1 T dried minced onion

1 T butter

2 tsp dill seed

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp baking soda

1 unbeaten egg

Combine all ingredients except yeast, water and flour..

Add yeast mixture and mix well..

Add flour and stir ..

Let rise and push down.

Place in loaf pan or 2 quart casserole.

Let rise again.

Bake 350  for 40 minutes.

Remove from pan, brush with butter and sprinkle with coarse salt... (if desired)

This is a no knead bread  so very easy and fast to make..

It tastes like dill and is a nice change..

Well, thank you everyone for stopping by.  Wish you had been here in time for lunch.. lol...

Take care of yourselves and your families..

Sunday is another Lord's Day.. Take your kids to church and worship the Lord.. He deserves our praise for all He has done for us.. He is such a faithful God and He can make a wonderful change in our homes when He is at the centre..

Keep safe and warm..

Hugs..

Faye .

ps... stop by my other blog if you are bored this weekend... thanks....

A FEW JANUARY PASTTIMES ...

It is almost halfway through Winter, I think... Although, I am not wanting time to go any faster I am looking forward to some mild windy weather that is forcast for Wednesday..

I thought I would show you a couple of things I have been doing the last little while..

I had bought some of this fabric over in Calais and I can think of a lot of ideas for it... Anyway, I saw them over at

at this site  and thought I would make a few...

They are trivets for teapots or any hot dishes ...

You cut out 2 x 11 inch pieces of fabric.   Then you sew them up with right sides together... Leave a 3 inch opening and turn out right.. Press with an iron ...

Over at Chickens in the Road she used a lovely teapot fabric..

These are more prim...My style...

Then you stuff them with this spice mixture...

2 oz. whole cloves

2 oz. cinnamon sticks, broken up

1 cup of bay leaves

Sew up the opening and tie with yarn or string in 5 or 6 places...

When you place your hot pot on the trivet you can smell the lovely spices..

Anyway, I made a couple of them for now..

I have also been making some homemade apple cider vinegar... I love experimenting with some of these things that I see on the web and if they turn out it is even better...

I tried to get the web site but I couldn't find it..

But you just fill a large jar with apple peelings and cores and then  cover them with good water.   Cover it with a doilie or cheese cloth...

And put it away for a while until it smells and tastes like vinegar to your liking..

I covered mine with a doilie and placed it on the pantry shelf.. They said a warm darker spot.. Inside a cupboard or such...

Then when it is ready you strain it and then strain again through cheese cloth if you want it clearer...

If you google this I am sure you could find better instructions.

I have had this for about 3 weeks and it is smelling very vinegar like...

I am hoping that it is really good and I will continue to make it instead of buying it in the Fall for pickles..

Well, girls I hope you are keeping warm and enjoying the Winter.. It will soon be over..

Thank you for dropping by and let me know what you are doing for your January pasttimes..

God bless .....

Clementines and Garlic.....

Hello my dears... My, we are having a huge snow storm tonight.. I am glad we are home safe and sound....Bible Study was cancelled as the snow is really coming down... Well, I guess that is what we expect in our part of the world....

Today, I made some marmalade... We were into Costco and they had them on for two dollars a box so we picked up a few. 

I looked a recipe up on the internet and thought I would give it a try..

I followed the recipe except for a couple of changes...

I added an extra lemon by mistake and an extra 1/2 cup of sugar. 

I will do the same if I make another batch..

It turned out really well and made a big batch...

I made corn chowder and cornmeal muffins for supper and Terry put some of the marmalde on his muffins... He must have liked it as he told me he would buy it all so I didn't need to sell it...lol..

I also thought I would show you a little experiment I am working on..

an inside garlic plant...

When I was cleaning out the fridge I found a garlic that was sprouting.... So... I divided it into separate cloves and planted them..   They are growing pretty fast...

Have any of you ever done this.....

I expect I can cut the tops and use like garlic chives and wait and see if the cloves grow ....

I will let you know later, eh....

 I am taking up crocheting again..

I have not done that for years but before Christmas I made some 

apple cosies.... They protect your apple from getting bruised in your purse or whatever... 

I saw them on someone`s blog but I forget whose it was... Anyway, I am just guessing how to make them.. They are not as good as the ones that I saw but they are ok...

I would not dare show you as they are not very expert....lol...

What are you all busy doing in your spare time ... if you have any spare time...lol..

Well, girls have a lovely week ...

Please leave a comment as I LOVE to hear from you...

GOD BLESS...

Thank you, Jesus....

Good Morning...

Just a very short post today as I wanted to tell you all about an anniversary that I am having today!!

Thirteen years ago today I was awakened by a crying nurse in the Moncton hospital... She was saying...

"Wake up, Mrs. Henry.... you DON'T have Cancer!!

I will never forget those words!!!

Nor will I ever forget the FAITHFULNESS  of my God...

He is STILL our HEALER!!!

Every January 8  for the last 13 years I have counted Blessing...

I just wanted to share this with you today...

Jesus is a prayer answering God....

And I am THANKFUL.....

Have a great weekend and May God bless and keep you...

Love to you all...

Faye....