In the Kitchen: Autumn Cooking and Baking

Autumn cooking and baking is the best! Sharing a few from my kitchen from the past few weeks/months. 

A new recipe for me in recent weeks ... Chicken Parmesan. I had made a different Chicken Parmesan recipe in the past, but this one from a favorite food blogger caught my attention, and it did not disappoint! It was delicious, and I think it looks especially beautiful during the autumn months.

Soup season is here! I usually try to serve a soup menu once each week during the fall and winter. My very first one for this season was Best-Ever Potato Soup! I often even double the recipe for just the two of us, as we like to freeze it in meal-sized portions to use on days when I don't have the time to cook a meal from scratch. 

I haven't prepared this delicious Hot Spiced Cider yet this season, but just had to share it here. Whenever I serve it, it fills the kitchen with the warm aroma of autumn ... and tastes like autumn, as well.

The Apple Coffee Cake with Cream Cheese Filling shown above is made in my kitchen most every year at this time. We enjoy it as a dessert, often served with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream on top, or sometimes a dollup of Cool Whip.

Pumpkin Squares are a dessert that I make every autumn season, as well. It tastes just as delicious as pumpkin pie, and is even easier to make than the pie. I make a 9x13 pan of it to serve for guests, and then freeze the remainder in meal-sized portions for the two of us. 

A Feast for the Eyes, the Table, and the Heart

Each day can be a feast for our souls, and these beautiful Autumn days give us such a grand feast. Our yard and deck continue to be filled with the beauty of summer blooms, in addition to the vibrant colors of our fall mums. My husband and I can hardly take in all the beauty around us ...

Our small veggie garden continues to produce tomatoes and green peppers, and we recently brought in the rest of the butternut squash. We love baking these squash (after cutting them in half lengthwise), and brushing on a bit of olive oil, also a generous amount of melted butter and honey, some of which overflows into the pan. Then sprinkled with salt & pepper, and some herbs, as well.  So delicious to serve alongside a main dish.

It was time this past week to make some more granola. We have come to really love this recipe for Chunky Sourdough Granola, and don't like to be without it for very long. I double the recipe, and make it just as the recipe says except for substituting roasted sunflower seeds for the pumpkin seeds in the recipe.

I took a bit of time this past week to simplify my vast recipe collection from over the years, choosing some of my favorites from each recipe category and keeping them in a notebook for easy access. This will make for more ease in decisions of what to make each week. Two main dish recipes that I used this week are definitely two of my favorites that will be repeated again and again.

Smothered Chicken Breasts

Beef and Bean Burritos

The best and most long-lasting feasts come when we are feeding on the Word, and a truth from a familiar verse can all of a sudden bring new insight into clear view. This is what happened when I read the words above from Ephesians 6:18 recently. Sometimes I slip into thinking that I need to set aside lengthier periods of time to focus on prayer for my family, for our friends, and also for our country and world. And though it is good to do so, it doesn't happen often for me. I am so easily interrupted by other thoughts or other needs to be cared for. 

I was greatly encouraged with this glimpse into the heart of prayer ... and need to be reminded again and again. We can have a spirit of prayer at all times, in the midst of our daily life, whenever a need comes to our mind. We can focus our heart on staying alert all through our days, whatever we are doing. And can pause our minds and hearts to bring these concerns to Jesus. Joining in with the ongoing prayers that are always going on from His Spirit within, interceding for us and through us. For me, it often includes picking up my daily planner, and jotting down the prayer need on my daily page, or also sometimes in the special prayer section I keep in the planner, as well. In the midst of daily living, praying at all times. Such a treasure and a privilege ... one of our highest callings as followers of Jesus.

A November Collection: Our Sacrifice of Thanksgiving, A Good Book, and a Blessed Thanksgiving Day

Closing out the month of November with a little collection of memories from this beautiful time of year ...

This is the weekend where the fall decor will change to winter/Christmas decor. But some things do not need to change. I love these words (from Ann Voskamp) that I read this Thanksgiving week:

“Our Thanksgiving could be more than a holiday, but a lifestyle for all our days - our thanksgiving could become thanksliving - all our honest sacrifices of thanks to God moving our hearts closer to God, who is our very greatest good.

You get to just keep coming with your sacrifice of thanksgiving which gives you more of God.”

“We can be at rest right where we are because our ability to ‘be still and know that He is God’ (Psalm 46:10) is not dependent on whether our circumstances feel restful or light. It’s wholly dependent on where we turn for true rest. God made us to need Him, to turn to Him for the rest we seek … We are made by God, for God, and to be satisfied in God.” (Ruth Chou Simons)

These words have been so very good for me to read this month; it has been a month filled with many things. And I am learning and relearning to turn my heart and eyes to the source of true rest. It is so easy to look for rest in other places. But there is only one place to find real rest. And I am grateful.

We were blessed to have nine precious family members around our table for Thanksgiving Day! Whether it's our whole family home, or those who live close nearby, it is always such a treat, and a gift. We are so very thankful ...

An October Collection: Our New Deck, and a Few Autumn Recipes

Wow, time goes by so fast! Here we are almost at the end of October! The past two months were very quiet months here on my blog, but ... it was quite an eventful two months here at our home! Our days were filled up with several very amazing things. The first is that a dream of ours came to reality ... a brand new deck right out our patio doors by our kitchen and dining room!! It literally feels like a gift from God, made possible by a generous gift from our family during our 75/80 birthday year, and then followed by the most thoughtful and generous offer of dear friends in our CityGroup (small group from Citylight Midtown) to build a beautiful, amazing deck for us. We just love it, and are so very, very thankful!

The deck was completed the end of September, just in time to plant some beautiful autumn mums in the built-in planter boxes. The weather has been unusually warm through the middle of October, perfect to enjoy the fall beauty, and also to host some very special days with my siblings visiting from Oregon and New York. Treasured memories together on our new deck! We also hosted a "thank you meal" out on our deck for our friends who built the deck for us. The weather that day was absolutely gorgeous, complete with the beautiful fall leaves falling as we ate together, thanking God for His goodness to us.

And as is true for so many of us, it has also been a joy to do some autumn baking! Pictured above is one of my favorite desserts for this time of year. In fact, I baked up this apple cream cheese cake for my siblings when they were here, and then again for our celebration meal for deck-building friends! You can find this recipe by clicking on this link: Apple Coffee Cake with Cream Cheese Filling.

I have also loved taking time for some sourdough baking again. My favorite thing to bake recently (besides my favorite artisan bread that I make each month of the year), was a Sourdough Apple Pie Focaccia! This was great to use for breakfasts when my siblings were here, but also could be used as a snack, or a dessert. Click for the recipe: Sourdough Apple Pie Focaccia. I don't have a photo of it at this time, but will add one here when I do have one. 

Another recipe that I have loved recently is a delicious pulled pork recipe from one of my favorite online food bloggers. Click for the link: Pulled Pork. I don't have a close-up photo of the dish, but here is one from a recent meal that I served it at ... on our new deck on a beautiful autumn day!

There is so much to be thankful for this beautiful autumn season!

Every Season: New, and the Same

Every season ... new and fresh,

but yet, remaining the same.

For with Him, we keep on asking,

keep on seeking, and keep on knocking.

(From Matthew 7:7 NLT)

And we keep on receiving.

For He never stops giving the best of gifts.

Pausing, listening, and watching

for His gifts of love. 

A Collection: Seasons, Welcoming Autumn, Banana Zucchini Bread, Zucchini Muffins, Autumn Inspiration

 

I'm so grateful for the seasons. Our summer was beautiful and restful ... times with family and friends, enjoying our veggie, herb, and flower gardens. And our summer also was filled with difficulty, with many phone calls with my siblings from afar as we helped our youngest brother with his increasing health concerns with the debilitating affects of Parkinson's. The last portion of summer actually went by in a blur, as the concerns and the accompanying phone calls increased. 

In the midst of a beautiful and a broken world, our loving Father continues to comfort with His Words, His Presence, and also, His gifts of the changing seasons. And this coming season is one of my favorites ...

For the first time ever, I started slowly pulling out my fall home decor the last part of August already. Partly because I love it so much, but also because we'll be traveling for part of this coming season to be with my siblings as we are present with our younger brother. 

Summer was a time of planting and growth, and Autumn is a time to remember, to draw close to each other, to be grateful. I love the reminders for both the growth and the thanks in these words from Colossians 2:7 (NLT) ...

Let your roots grow down into Him,

and let your lives be built on Him.

Then your faith will grow strong 

in the truth you were taught,

and you will overflow with thankfulness.

A part of my seasonal decorating, pillows have become a fun way of filling our home with touches of the seasons. It's an easy way to add the colors of fall (or the other seasons), with a cozy, warm touch. And changing them out, adding a bit of change through the year is always fun and refreshing ...

Of course, the aromas of fall, are a big part of the season. It started the end of August for me when I baked delicious Banana Zucchini Bread (above), using up zucchini from our veggie garden. Click here for a previous post that gives a link to this recipe.

Muffins is another favorite way to use zucchini. Click here for the Zucchini Muffin recipe, shown above. Zucchini, chopped raisins, and chopped walnuts make this a delicious recipe. 

I also recently made another amazing recipe, also using zucchini ... click the following link to read a previous post: BBQ Ranch Grilled Chicken and Veggie Bowls. This is probably my favorite rice bowl recipe.

Yes, I love the seasons. Each has its own beauty, and are gifts from God for us to savor and enjoy in the midst of our beautiful, and challenging days. I've been loving the insight and ideas for each season in Melissa Michael's new book, A Lovely Life: Savoring Simple Joys in Every Season. Part of my Mother's Day gift from my dear husband, this book is packed full of big and small ways to enjoy and celebrate each season. And also, it's filled with such good quotes ...

Autumn is the season to reconnect your heart and soul

to the familiar pleasures of home and hospitality.

(Melissa Michaels, in A Lovely Life)

A Collection: A Few Coffee Table Books, Beauty in our Yard, Embroidery Flowers, and the Joy of Grandkids

 A fun little post of favorites, just a mix of inspirational, fun, or seasonal things that give me joy. It has been a number of months since my last one. Hope you enjoy!

I love these two coffee table style books ...

Gracelaced by Ruth Chou Simons - I read through this beautiful book again during 2021 (reading it season-by-season as it is divided up that way), and just finished up the last section a month or so ago. The artwork and the words are both so inspirational. 

Here's one quote that I had written in my journal from the "Fall - Intercession" reading:

"We groan as we try to pray through life's hardest challenges, while the Spirit groans on our behalf with perfect expression of our every need in the presence of our heavenly Father. ... The Spirit is indeed our Helper, both in our hearts and in connecting ours to His own. He makes prayer not just possible but plentiful as He provides for all the longings we express, and those we cannot."

And I am loving this brand new book by Holley Gerth: What Your Soul Needs for Stressful Times. It is so very timely to read, as no one can deny that we are going through a very stressful time here in our own country, and also around the world. Here's one of many quotes that I have written down in my journal from this book that I am currently reading ...

(Holley had referred to Exodus 3:14 where Moses had inquired of God's name, and the answer was: "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.")    

"Why does this matter in stressful moments? Because I AM is present tense. ... This means the only place we can fully experience the presence of God is the present ... When we get to tomorrow, He will be there. But today He is exactly where we need Him to be - with us." 

 

We enjoyed our outdoor patio flowers, as well as these in the front of our house throughout October, and clear through to the end of the month! A longer season than usual ... their beauty added to the colors of fall, making a beautiful mix of summer and fall! Click here to see more of the beauty in our yard the last half of October.

And I have been enjoying these flowers indoors! I started this embroidery project about six months ago, and I just put on the finishing stitches the last day of October! It's something I picked up to do here and there, in the midst of a full life ... a little refreshing break. It was a free pattern (click here) that I chose to do this year of our 50th Anniversary. The colors are the ones we used at our wedding, and the words "Be Still" are meaningful words from Psalm 46:10 which God used to lead us into retirement a year ago. Lots of memories held in this embroidery art that I plan to purchase a frame for in the future.

It's such a joy to be grandparents to ten sweet grandkids, and we had a fun four-day visit in mid-October to spend time with two of them, and also our daughter and son-in-law. It is hard to believe how fast they grow up ... Eva is our youngest grandchild, and at 9 years old, she is definitely not little anymore! And Cruz (one of three grandsons who are 12 years old) is in 7th grade already! 

Thanks for looking through my little collection of joy! 

Have a wonderful month of November!

Fall Beauty Everywhere

There is so much beauty everywhere, even in our own yards. I recently walked around our yard, and took photos of whatever called for my attention. Here are just a few of the photos that I took. At the very end of October now, there is still a mixture of summer and fall ... the flowers in our patio pots are still blooming, while the hydrangeas and the cone flowers have already passed their prime. I'm so thankful for the seasons that display the glorious creation of our loving Father.

Earlier this month we were also so very blessed to go on an 11-day trip with dear, kindred-heart friends of ours to see the vibrant, glorious colors of fall in the northeast. We also made it all the way to the coast in Maine! So much beauty everywhere!

Here are just a few of the many, many photos that we have to treasure the memories of our trip ...

Click here for a few more photos and more details about our trip.

Simple Home Beauty: Bringing Autumn Indoors

Are you a "homebody"? I sure am! Maybe that word has a negative connotation to some people, but not to me. I just love the simple joys of home. So much of life happens in our homes. It's where we gather together with those we love, where we prepare our meals and gather around the table, where we come to be refreshed and energized for this wonderful, busy, full, and often crazy life.

Homebody: One who enjoys

the simple pleasures and activities

that center around the home.

Don't you just love this definition of "homebody"? It's taken from a sweet little book I'm slowly reading through by Melissa Michaels ...

dwelling: Simple Ways to Nourish Your Home, Body, & Soul. 

And do you love the various seasons of the year, as I do? The varying seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter each give us a sense of new beginnings, and also provide new and refreshing ways to bring warmth and joy into our homes, which in turn bring rest and refreshment to our souls. 

For each season of the year gives us opportunities to bring the beauty of outdoors even into our homes. Autumn is a prime time to showcase the brilliant and soul-feeding colors of outdoors! I thought it would be fun to share a few of my favorite indoor glimpses of the beauty of the season.   

I absolutely love this table centerpiece, purchased a year ago from Kirklands. The tablecloth and plaid placemat were purchased this year(the tablecloth on "clearance"), and I think the plaid placemat was either from Kohl's, or from Target. 

This little fall display on the dining room buffet is mostly from purchases from a few years ago, but the little cozy white house (with light inside) came from the "dollar" bins at Target this year!

And moving to another favorite room in our home - the kitchen!

This fall display (above) is on one of my kitchen countertops. First of all, you need to notice the beautiful tile backdrop that one of our sons-in-law put up for us ten years ago when he remodeled our kitchen and dining room for us (thanks, Tyler)! The muted olive green tray was a Christmas gift last year from one of our daughters (thanks, Cristy!), the gorgeous vase with fall flowers was a purchase from Kirklands this year, and the framed "Home Sweet Home" art was a purchase from Michael's this year as well.

On another counter in the kitchen, you'll see the fun little "Happy Pumpkin Spice Season" decor, a purchase from another year. Also the artificial green plant beauty was a gift from another daughter (thanks, Carrie!), and the Gold Canyon scented candle and stand were purchased from the same daughter who has been selling for Gold Canyon!

Some people are putting up their Christmas decorations already, but so far at least, I've always chosen to wait until after Thanksgiving Day. I just want to hang onto the beauty of autumn till then!

Our awesome God is the CREATOR

of all the autumn beauty, 

and it really does feed our souls! 

Such joy in bringing little glimpses

of His beautiful art into our homes - 

refreshing us, energizing us ... 

each day of this amazing season. 

A Collection: Simple Joys of Autumn

There are so many joys this beautiful season that sometimes can get swallowed up in Christmas preparations. I just love autumn! The colors, the scents, the comforting soups, and so much more.

Here are some brief little glimpses into a few of the things that have given me joy this season ...

The joy of essential oils! I am continuing to learn more of the many uses of essential oils, and am loving the process! My little collection has been growing since I received a Young Living starter kit last year for Christmas. 

My recent purchases have been from REVIVE, and besides the health benefits that essential oils provide, I love the scents that fill our home as I've been diffusing some new autumn blends.

My five favorite blends for my diffuser this autumn:

4 drops orange + 2 drops clove + 2 drops immunity boost

4 drops immunity boost + 3 drops orange

3 drops bergamot + 2 drops orange + 2 drops cedarwood

6 drops immunity boost + 4 drops lemon + 2 drops stress easy

3 drops immunity boost + 3 drops orange + 3 stress easy

The joys of coffee! And more importantly, the joy of having coffee with someone we love!

The photo above represents a miracle! One of our daughters had a day off work in October, and invited us to meet her for coffee at a cute little coffee shop! We had experienced a long season of difficult years in our relationship as parents and daughter many years ago, and I will never get over the miracles that God has done! Such a very sweet coffee date with a precious daughter! 

The joy of fun little gifts! We brought home a few little souvenir gifts with us after a sweet little getaway to Lied Lodge in Nebraska City last month (see the photo below) and after a visit to the Arbor Day Farm while there.

The joy of a special autumn getaway together as a couple! Our six (grown) kids gave us a gift card last year for Christmas for a stay at Lied Lodge in Nebraska City. And autumn was the perfect time of year to schedule our trip! 

The fall colors were perfect, and our three-night stay was just wonderful ... extended devo times, walks in the crisp autumn air, time away together, away from the busyness of life.

- - - - - - -

It's so good to pause, to express thanks for God's many gifts to us ... this month of November, and all through the year.

Gratefulness isn't hard.

Forgetting to be grateful

is what makes life hard.

(Ann Voskamp)

Digital Scrapbooking: Our New England Fall Trip

What would we do without photos? I took so many photos on our recent 20-day road trip to NYC and New England! It will take me awhile to digital scrapbook all of our trip, but here are the three pages that I have completed so far. It was an amazing trip ... one that we prayed for, saved up vacation days and the funds for. And now, we love having the photos to remember our trip with!  

The highlight of our trip was spending time with our son, Lance, in NYC! Each of our five days there was just amazing ... here is a page with photos from our first day there. We met up in Chinatown!

Another highlight was our time in New Hampshire. We tried to time our trip around the fall colors, and it turned out perfect. The leaves were simply gorgeous while we were there!

Note: Most of the page templates and digital products that I use are purchased from Digital Project Life. About seven years ago I switched from paper scrapbooking, and took some online lessons from Digital Scrapper to learn how to digital scrapbook using Photoshop Elements. You can also click here for some great tutorials on the Digital Project Life website - this is a quicker way to learn than the site that I used seven years ago. I recommend using these tutorials. Also, besides being able to share my completed pages online, I also print them out at home in 8x8 inch size to fit in the albums that I purchase from Michael's.

On My Heart: Rest Amidst the Busy

Does the same thing happen to you when fall approaches?

Though I absolutely love fall, the change of season from summer to fall sometimes pushes an I need to get busier button in my heart. Not that I haven't had things to do in the summer, but maybe because the back-to-school season also brings a new set of responsibilities and deadlines with it. It's a busy season with Cru for us, and also maybe the glimpses of the end of the year approaching (and the holidays) can put me into a mode of hurry, wanting to get projects taken care.

But this beautiful season of fall is not made for hurry ...

And we do not operate well in hurry-mode. I don't. It brings stress and unrest. God intends for us to rest, and to refresh. Not just once during the year, but as a continual habit and routine. We are made for rest. 

Be still and know that I am God.

(Psalm 46:10a)

But how can we be still amidst the hurry? 

Sometimes it takes a concentrated effort ... to rest. 

Intentional effort, to rest.

We need to allow ourselves to stop from our never-ending responsibilities.

To take an hour, a few hours, even a day to just pause from our work. Not just once. But often. Making it a continual habit. Taking time, making time ... to do something that gives us joy and rest. A neglected hobby, a good book, time with a family member, a friend. 

To pause with His Word, with journal ... listening, letting truth soak down deep. Not hurrying, but purposefully slowing. Quieting our hearts, asking Him to teach us. Reading His Words ... listening closely to His Words. 

Let your roots grown down into Him,

and let your lives be built on Him.

Then your faith will grow strong

in the truth you were taught,

and you will overflow with thankfulness.

(Colossians 2:7)

Let's not let busy and hurry characterize this next season.

Let's "make rest realistic from now through the Advent season." (Shelly Miller)

"Women are heroes when it comes to loving and caring for others. But why is it so hard to give ourselves permission to rest and refresh, when we're stressed and need it most? Deep inside us, God created an inner spirit that needs nurturing." (Bonnie Gray)

Let's let the core of who we are, our deepest hearts, pause this season, letting our roots grow down deeper into His peace, His love, and who He created us to be ... His beloved.

For your encouragement, and mine,

a few blog posts by some authors on this very topic ...

How to Really Rest Once Summer is Over (an Invitation) by Shelly Miller

You are Worth Taking Care Of by Bonnie Gray

__________

(Note: I wrote these words for myself, as I have recently come off of a few weeks of feeling a bit more stress than usual ... reminding myself to pause and to rest, and, just maybe these words will be an encouragement to you, as well.)