Pima-Latas (Sunday Dinner Part 2)

Once a month, my sisters and I, along with our families, gather at our parents' house for supper. The menu is always the same, "Pima Latas". This is a meal that my mother learned to prepare while she lived in Arizona as a teenager. It is a favorite with us all, and quick and easy to prepare. Since it is so quickly prepared, I thought I'd share it today, as a great Sunday dinner meal. It's similar to tacos, but easier to fix plates when you have lots of kids in line, and also not as messy.

Caleb and Madelyn love JayJay's old air hockey table

These are my sisters, Keri and Jada

Here is the table, all set and ready

This is the finished product!

PIMA LATAS

Fritoes (regular does better than "scoop style" for these)

ground beef, browned and drained

(I usually prepare 2 lbs for my family)

shredded lettuce

diced tomatoes

diced onion (I prefer green onions)

shredded cheese (I prefer Monterey Jack)

jalapenoes (optional)

Layer in order, then top with Pima Lata sauce and sour cream.

SAUCE:

1 quart tomato juice

chili powder to taste

1 c. water

3-4 Tbsp. flour

Place tomato juice in large pot and bring to boil. Add chili powder to taste (approximately 1-2 Tbsp. , depending on how hot you prefer). In seperate cup, mix cold water with flour. Whisk into boiling juice, a little at a time, until desired thickness.

iBaby

Rosebud jamming out to Davey Crockett on the MP3 player.

(She's inherited Mama's love for technology and Bubbie's love for music!)

Fellowship and Dirt Cake

We had a great time fellowshipping after church last night. Rosebud is never lacking for someone to hold and play with her.

Jason only cooks outside or away from home! (?)

Here's Bub with his best friend "Brudder Damie"

These are the Bible Baptist Church cooks. They are actually very good cooks; UNfortunately, however, they sing while they cook!

And here's the recipe for Dirt Cake everyone was asking about. Love you guys!

DIRT CAKE

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

1/2 stick butter, softened

1 c. powdered sugar

Mix together with mixer.

1 small instant vanilla pudding

1 small instant chocolate pudding

4 c. milk

Prepare as directed.

12 oz. Cool Whip

In LARGE mixing bowl, thoroughly mix cream cheese mixture, pudding mixture, and Cool Whip.

1 large package Oreos, crushed

(I use a plastic bag and rolling pin)

Layer pudding and cookie mixtures as follows: 1/3 cookie mixture, 1/2 pudding mixture, repeat, and top with remaining cookie mixture.

For fun, add gummy worms, and serve in a pail with a shovel. (great for boy baby showers)

Refrigerate for 6 hours.

12-year-old speaks out on the issue of abortion

My Little Bubbas

I've blogged about "the boys" before, and for most of you who know them, you've no doubt noticed how much they've grown up and even changed personalities this past year. For 3 years, Bubbie hardly said a word, and Seth did all the talking for them both. Since Bubbie has become a talker (and believe me, he talks!), they have almost completely reversed personalities. Bubbie has become the outgoing, friendly performer, and Seth has become the shy, quiet, thoughtful boy. They have completely surprised their mama! I'm so thankful that they are close, but it certainly isn't because they are anything alike......

Seth is the student and scientist.....

Bubbie hasn't quite caught onto that yet!

Seth loves animals and babies....

Bubbie loves guns and bows!

Seth is a hobbit....

Bubbie is a cowboy.

Seth loves to charm the ladies....

Bub likes to fight!

As different as they are, everyday is such a blast with my little fellas. I pray that the Lord will take each one, and make a mighty man of God of him.

(can't you just see the mischief in those smiles???)

Sunday Dinner, Part 1

It has been requested by several of my kind readers that I post some meal recipes that can either be prepared ahead of time, such as in a crockpot, or can be prepared quickly; thereby making a great Sunday lunch menu. I am glad to do this, since Sunday dinners are a tradition at our house. I always try to prepare something special, and it seems like everyone is always starving, and we're all in good spirits after the morning service, and everyone is talking at once...it's a lot of fun and hopefully some good memories for the children. And, I have peace of mind knowing I did not contribute to another fellow human being having to miss church and break the 4th Commandment to prepare my family a meal. I have already posted one ideal recipe, Creamy Italian Chicken , and my goal is to publish at least 1 suitable recipe each Wednesday for the month of March. Also, you can always click on the "recipes" tab at the right of this blog for a complete list of previously posted recipes.

Today, I'll share my simple baked fish recipe, and my own original Tartar sauce recipe that you can make ahead of time. This recipe will season about 6-10 fillets, so you can adjust it to your family size. I usually buy frozen tilapia fillets, but you can buy whatever fish you prefer. We also love catfish fillets prepared this way.

Fish Cajun Butter Seasoning

1/2 c. butter, melted

2 tsp. cajun creole seasoning

3 garlic cloves, crushed

1/2 tsp. cumin

1/2 tsp. basil

(Thaw fillets) Whisk together seasoning ingredients. Spray baking dish. Brush with seasoning and bake uncovered at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes, or until fish flakes easily with fork.

Tartar Sauce

1 c. mayonnaise

1 Tbsp. dried minced onion

1/2 c. prepared horseradish sauce*

(*I use Beano's brand from the deli, or Kraft brand near the salad dressing or mayonnaise aisle)

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1/4 c. dill pickle relish

1/4 tsp. black pepper

1 Tbsp. lemon juice

Mix thoroughly and refrigerate for several hours. Keeps for about 2 weeks. Yield: 2 cups (This is way more than enough for one meal with my family)

Throw in a salad and baked potato, and you've got a quick delicious Sunday dinner!

Fishing With Friends

(use your imagination!)

What is so cute, is that I did not tell them to pose or for Seth to put his arm around Jenna...they were just out there playing like this. He held her hand and guided her around the yard finding rock treasures (told her they were dinosaur teeth). What a sweet time they had!

Don't you just love Jenna's boots?

More Showing Out

Okay, so I admit it is possible that you all are tired of looking at pictures of my baby, but please indulge me since this is MY blog, and since I'VE NEVER HAD A BABY THAT POSED FOR THE CAMERA! I am amazed and so delighted! We are totally smitten with this little butterball babygirl, and I just want to share some of our joy with you!

Rosebud's New Trick

Summer Rose is now 8 months old, and of course everyday is a new experience and so much fun, but her latest trick has got the whole family in the palm of her hand! I'm not kidding you, she smiles on command! And it's the cutest grin you've ever seen. All you have to do is point a camera at her, and she flashes that huge, squinty-eyed, toothless grin...then everyone just melts into "Awww! She's so cute!"

I know stages come and go so quickly at this age, but this is truly something I'll treasure forever.

Books of th Old Testament

My Seth sings the books of the Old Testament (with a lisp!)

I love my big brother!

Happy Boondoggle Day!

Saturday was Valentine's Day, Monday was President's Day, and today is Boondoggle Day!

Boondoggle Day is usually only celebrated every 4 years; however, it is occasionally skipped. It began during the administration of the late, great, President Franklin "Government is the Answer to All Your Problems" Roosevelt. This year, it will be observed by the peculiar act of robbing a nation of cash-strapped people of $787 billion, in order to make them un-cash-strapped! .....a Washington miracle! We ignorant masses love free money, Uncle Sam! Thank you! In 2012, won't you just give each of us our own money printing press?

So, Happy Boondoggle Day! I think I'll celebrate this year by reading the Constitution to my children as we Homeschool, eating all 3 meals off styrofoam plates, and I may even load up the kids in Jason's gas-guzzling Bronco and go for a spin! How will you celebrate?

More Darwin

Doug Phillips of Vision Forum has a wonderful article about Charles Darwin. Please take time to read it!

"What I Teach My Children About Charles Darwin"

And, as a side note on the subject of evolution vs. Creation, I again wholeheartedly recommend "The New Defender's Study Bible" KJV with notes by Dr. Henry Morris. It is now updated and available in genuine leather.

Call me crazy,.........

but I just love dirty, smelly, freckle-faced boys.

Darwin's Day

Today is the 200th birthday of Charles Darwin. Here is today's devotion from "Days Of Praise", put out by the Institute for Creation Research.


Darwin's Day
February 12, 2009
"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction." (2 Peter 2:1)
Thousands of clergy have signed "An Open Letter Concerning Religion and Science." On the Sunday closest to Charles Darwin's birthday, these "pastors" eulogize him and endorse evolutionary science as compatible with the Bible. Here are five reasons why this idea is grossly wrong.
• The Bible has absolutely no hint of ages of evolutionary development. Forcing the "days" of Genesis 1 to mean "ages" can be done, but there is no support for that idea in the rest of Scripture (Psalm 33:6-9, 148:5-6; John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:3; Revelation 4:11; etc.).
• Evolution is not observed at all today. Empirical science is based on observation and verification. Nothing (from bacteria to people) is "evolving" into a "higher order." Period.
• Fossil data does not show any transitional forms. If evolution occurred prior to recorded history, it can only be documented by the fossils embedded in the water-deposited rocks of earth. Those "missing links" are still missing.
• God's character absolutely forbids evolutionary methods. God's holiness demands truth, and His omniscience demands perfection. He cannot know what is best and then "create" something inferior. He wrote that He took six days to create the universe (Exodus 20:11). And He cannot lie!
• God's stated purpose for creating excludes evolution. The creation reveals the Creator (Romans 1:20, Psalm 19:1-4), gives authority to the message of Jesus Christ (John 1:1-14, Colossians 1:16-18), and is the foundation for the gospel and for worship (Revelation 14:6-7). Creating is what God does at the moment of the new birth (Ephesians 2:8-10).

Henry Madison Morris III

Simply Delicious Chocolate Cake

Cake decorating is a hobby of mine. I don't do it for money, just for enjoyment. With 5 kids, I get plenty of practice throughout the year with birthday cakes alone! I always try for my cakes to taste as good as they look; however, sometimes, for the sake of art, you have to sacrifice. An example of this is chocolate. Chocolate decorator frosting tastes horrible! (I usually just use brown vanilla frosting.) So, occasionally, I just like to throw "art" aside, and make a simply delicious cake from scratch. Today, I'll share my recipe for yellow cake with creamy chocolate frosting. You probably have all the ingredients on hand! Enjoy!

Yellow cake:

2 1/2 c. all-purpose flour

2 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

2/3 c. butter, softened

1 3/4 c. sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 1/4 c. milk

Greast and flour 2 9-in. round cake pans (I use Wilton Cake Release).

Preheat oven to 350.

Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in small bowl. Set aside.

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.

Add vanilla.

Add flour to creamed mixture, alternately with milk, beating well after each.

Bake 25-30 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Allow to cool for 10 minutes in pan. Then dump and cool completely, covered with a cloth, on a wire rack.

Chocolate Frosting:

1 c. butter, softened

1/2 c. cocoa

4 c. powdered sugar

6 Tbsp. half and half

1 tsp. vanilla

Cream butter and cocoa. Slowly work in sugar and half and half. Add vanilla. Store in refrigerator.

I can dish it out, and I can take it.

I caused quite a commotion in our little town a few weeks ago (click on the previous link and read the article from The Cedartown Standard, then read the comments that followed). It all started when a reporter who attended the Sanctity of Life Memorial picked one line from my speech that I gave and quoted me in the paper. It just so happened that the one line included the words, "bloodthirsty president". If you had been there, you would have heard me say, in a positive tone, that even though we have a bloodthirsty president, we can still help reduce abortions by sharing the gospel. The gist of the talk was that it's the gospel that saves women who are in sin (which leads them ultimately to have abortions), not the government; that we as pro-life Americans can't give up just because we have a President who campaigned on expanding abortion rights to be on the same level as the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The entire morning had been spent "qualifying", or proving quite conclusively, that Barack Obama is truly the most bloodthirsty President in American history. A man who actually voted against the Born Alive Infants Protection Act in his home state of Illinois (a bill which even NARAL Pro-Choice America was silent on).

I didn't respond to the comments -and believe me, I had plenty to say!- but the Bible says to "Answer not a fool according to his own folly, lest thou also be like unto him".

So, all I will finally say is this, I can dish it out, and I can take it. I'll take the heat and bear it patiently and deliberately, if it means speaking up for the unborn.....and, as you'll read in the link below, even the already born...at times.

Please take time to read the article linked below. It truly illustrates the insanity of abortion. How, a botched abortion that resulted in a live delivery (they then threw the live baby out in the biohazard trash in a plastic bag), is somehow considered criminal...when the original plan was to deliver the baby breech, all but the head, then make an incision in the back of his/her neck, then suck his/her brain out while she was alive and kicking. Where is the logic...and where is the compassion? Lord, help us!
Florida Abortion Clinic Throws Out Live Baby

Spaghetti!