White Bean and Tomato Enchiladas

Meatless Monday comes again! This recipe is a nice blend of beans, cheese, and tomatoes! I made my own enchilada sauce and the husband and son loved it.

Ingredients

Enchiladas:

10 Whole Wheat Tortilla Shells

4 oz dry White (Navy) Beans (or 1 can drained)*

4 oz dry Chickpeas (or 1 can drained)*

1 cup Cherry Tomatoes (or Roma)

1/4 cup chopped Onion

2 cloves Garlic, minced

1/4 tsp Cumin

1/2 tsp Chili Powder

1/4 tsp Salt

1/4 ground Black Pepper

*If using dry beans, soak overnight before using

Sauce:

1 cup Milk (2% or whole)

1 cup shredded Cheddar Cheese

1/2 cup Salsa of your choice

Optional Toppings:

Sour Cream

Avocado

Lettuce

Instructions

1. Saute onion and garlic in olive oil for 2-3 minutes, or until caramelized

2. Add beans, tomatoes and spices - cook over medium heat for 10 minutes

3. Spoon bean mixture into tortilla shells

4. Roll and place in glass baking dish

5. Top with enchilada sauce and shredded cheese

6. Bake at 350 F for 30 minutes

7. Enjoy!

Earache Home Remedies

Here at my house we've all been struggling to get over a nasty cold. Yesterday, my son was especially miserable. He seemed to be getting an ear infection (he kept crying and rubbing his ears all day). I made some garlic oil and put a few drops in his ears a few times yesterday and this morning he is like a whole new person! Hopefully, his ears stay healthy. I will continue putting garlic and mullien oil drops in them for a few more days to make sure all the bacteria is killed.

Here's a good article for some more tips: Native Remedies - Ear infections. 

One good thing about his discomfort was that I got to spend almost the entire day holding him. He even napped in my arms! He hasn't done that since he was a tiny baby. It was a nice change to the
"up, down, up, down" of our normal days.

Have a wonderful day!

I love "free" stuff!

Today I used my Zulily referral credit and bought THREE items for 92 cents. Did you read that correctly? $0.92 as in less than ONE dollar.

I bought a 24 mini-muffin pan (I've been wanting one forever:), a new shower curtain, and a fun book for my 19 mo old.

I don't know if you've ever seen or heard about Zulily before, but sometimes you can get some great deals (I've ordered from them several times and have always been pleased with their products and customer service - one time they shipped the wrong size item and sent me the correct one and refunded my shipping AND let me keep the incorrect item too!). Check it out!

Beans, Beans, they're good for your heart...

You know the rest:)

So, I mentioned in an earlier post that we are going meatless more often to save on our grocery budget. It's actually been pretty fun! I've come to love BEANS! And although most people think of them as a "gassious" food, they are chock full of healthiness and heartiness! 

Read here for more information on the benefits of beans!

Needless to say, what started as "Meatless Mondays" has now become "Meatless Most Days!" Surprisingly, my hubby doesn't mind a bit! 

Here's a recent recipe I threw together...literally. It turned out quite delicious!

Jacki's Taco Soup

I know it doesn't look that great, but it's so healthy it's ridiculous:)

8 oz Dry Lentils*

8 oz Dry Kidney Beans* (or black beans - can used canned as well)

2 Carrots diced

2 Celery Stalks diced

2 Garlic Cloves minced

15 oz can Diced Tomatoes

3 cups Vegetable Stock

3 cups Water

4 Tbsp Homemade Taco Seasoning

(or two packets of the store bought kind)

*Make sure you rinse, inspect, and clean your dry beans before putting them in the crockpot.

For kicks, when serving add:

Tortilla Chips

Cheddar Cheese

Plain Yogurt (or sour cream)

1. In crockpot, add all ingredients and stir. Cook on low for 4-6 hrs.

2. Dish into bowls and top with cheddar cheese, a dollop of plain yogurt, and tortilla chips. 

3. EAT and enjoy! You'll have enough leftovers for tomorrow - woohoo!

Great deal for kids clothes!

TODAY ONLY

ThredUP is doing $15 off your FIRST order of $15 or more!!! Use code HOLIDAY15...wish I hadn't ordered stuff yet! ha. i love it! Shipping is only 6.95 no matter how much you order! nice!

 

He must increase, I must decrease

John 3:30 says 

³⁰ He must increase, but I must decrease. (ESV)

Today is my 4th anniversary. I know that's not very long in the grand scheme of things, but so much has happened in these 4 short years. We got married (in Pennsylvania) and moved 11 hours away (to Kentucky) 2 weeks later. We moved into a 500 sq ft apartment for a year and David got a job working 3rd shift at UPS. Then we moved into another 500 sq ft apartment for another 2 1/2 years. We got pregnant and had a son. We named him Tyndale (after William Tyndale). The husband graduated seminary and got a new job as a pastor. When he was just over a year old we moved 8 hours away from our Kentucky home back up north to Maryland into a house. We've been here for 5 months. Four months ago we got pregnant again. Two months ago our baby was called home to heaven before we got a chance to meet him. We've laughed. We've cried. We've had some hard times and we've had some wonderful times. 

All in all, I am so thankful that God has blessed me with the most wonderful husband and a beautiful son.

I started this post off with John 3:30 because this must be my mindset everyday. I am not simply a wife or simply a mom. I am a representative of Jesus Christ. My desire is that when people look at me they see Christ alone.

Cold and Cough Home Remedies...

Yesterday I started coughing. It's that time of year!  I ate an entire clove of garlic (covered in honey to make it easier to go down:) and sipped on some lemon water all day. Today I made a tea with nettles, yarrow, and slippery elm. I had Tyndale drink some of this tea too - he likes it! I'm already feeling a little better.

Later today I will be making a "garlic lemonade" to help fight off whatever virus I'm coming down with in my chest/throat.

Garlic is a natural antibiotic that is best eaten raw (for the purpose of fighting illness). Garlic can also be used as a great prevention for colds (I should have done this before I got this cold:)!

Garlic Lemonade

2 garlic cloves, minced

4 cups boiling water

1 lemon (to squeeze)

honey, to taste

1. Mince garlic cloves until very fine

2. Pour 4 cups of boiling water over the cloves (I use a tea pot to steep them) and let stand for 30 min

3. Strain garlic

4. Squeeze the juice of 1 lemon into garlic liquid

5. Add honey to taste (honey is good for coughs too!)

Enjoy! You can also add a peppermint leaf to steep with the garlic if you'd like!

Do you have any home remedies for cold/cough season that you can share? Please do!