EASY RED CHILE ENCHILADA CASSEROLE

NOTE:

This post does have affiliate links attached. If you purchase an item through the links in this post I could receive a small commission from the purchase. Your purchase helps support my work and is much appreciated.

This recipe is definitely a family favorite! More often than not it is requested when we are all together. The best part is it is so easy and typically inexpensive and easy to adjust for larger or smaller portions.

Ingredients:

1 lb of ground beef, venison, or turkey

1/2 onion

28 oz. Red Chile sauce

24 oz. Jar of chunky salsa

Shredded cheese

Corn tortillas

Black beans(optional, and can be used solely for meat substitute)

Instructions:

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Chop onion, saute in skillet. Brown the beef.

2.Heat salsa, red Chile sauce and black beans in medium-large sauce pan. After beef is brown and ground, mix in with the sauce. It will be like a stew or soup consistency.

3. Place 6-8 tortillas in bottom of a 13 x 9 pan(I use pyrex glass pans which you can order here), something like this:

4. Using a ladle, scoop sauce mixture over tortillas about 3-4 times distributing the mixture evenly. Sprinkle cheese over the mixture. layer another layer of tortillas and repeat until you reach the top of the pan. I usually get about 3 layers. The last layer I top with cheese and cover completely. 

5. Place pan on cookie sheet and bake for 20-30 minutes or until cheese and sauce bubble. ENJOY!

NOTE:

This is a great make ahead recipe. Can be frozen or refrigerated well.

Look out for my Chicken and green Chile enchilada casserole! Follow me on Pinterest and Facebook!

BAD NEWS BEARS

That moment you get shocking news. Everything seems to fall apart in one single moment. Something you can't un-hear or un-know. You wish you had a time machine and everything can be fixed, or decisions can be made differently. The moment you hear it everything unravels and unfolds. Everything starts to make sense. Your stomach turns, you get light headed, your heart starts pounding.

This weekends church service was about Jonah. The story goes like this: God told Jonah to go to Nineveh, Jonah did not want to go(Jonah 1:1-3). Deliberate disobedience from Jonah toward God. Well he got swallowed up by a large fish(Jonah 1:17).

The lesson learned from the weekend service was God intervenes in our lives not only in good ways but in bad ways too. To get our attention. To direct us back to him. To have us obey him.

What do we typically do when bad stuff happens? I'd say as human beings most people have that moment of shock. Some go through stages depending on the severity of the situation.

My grandfather passed away this last weekend. It was coming for a while now. He had heart surgery last fall, with a slow recovery. Has had beginnings of dementia for a few years now. This man was funny, engaging, spunky, loving, encouraging. "Made his worst enemies into his best friend".(quoted from my cousin) He was just that kind of man.

He went on hospice back a couple of months ago, and lasted 2 months almost to the day. My sister spent time with him the day before he passed and said he was still his normal laughing, joking self. It's amazing when hearing the news of his passing the shock, the sadness and grief I immediately felt. I went on a rampage to find old photos of him. Any Photos I could find. This moment in my life is something very real for me. The reality of losing a close, very loved, family member can be a shock regardless of the steps that took place before their passing.

Going back to the beginning, I have been distant from God lately in my relationship with him. For a number of reasons. One mainly being the distance between my family and I. How I cannot be there for them when situations like my grandfathers passing arise, among other situations. I had a moment this past weekend that most definitely brought me back to him in a way I cannot explain.

God places situation in our life to guide us back to him. We have to stand on our own feet, bring our attention to him and follow his lead. My life has been blessed, in that nothing traumatic has happened directly to myself or spouse. We all go through trials and personal things. Just knowing that there is a divine, loving God that cares so much for you that he sent his son to die for you. He placed situations and people in your life to continually bring you back to him. Run back to him.

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10 Favorite Children Books

NOTE:

This post does have affiliate links attached. If you purchase an item through the links in this post I could receive a small commission from the purchase. Your purchase helps support my work and is much appreciated.

From day 1 we knew we wanted to start a book collection for the baby that was growing inside me. Thankfully my mother in law kept a lot of my husbands books growing up. That was definitely a good starter! Time went on and we started to collect books from people as gifts. We had a note for the baby shower to include a book instead of a card:

Not this exactly, but something like it!

It has been roughly 3 years since we have had her and have read to her almost every night since. She loves to read stories! I wish we could read all day sometimes. It is definitely not time wasted.

I have put together a list of the 10 favorite books we have cherished over the last few years, and will continue to as we grow!

1. Because a little bug went ka-choo! Dr. Seuss. this one is an ultimate favorite! Our child's nickname from Dad is 'Bug'. She loves the interaction we've created with the book as well.

2. Any Amelia Bedilia books

3. Curious George books. Our favorite gift was the 5 Minute stories: Curious George Book Which you can get here. it gives you multiple stories in 1 book. Curious George is, has been, and always will be a Favorite.

4. Berenstain Bears. There are multiple books from this collection, but our LO loves "Too much pressure" and "Messy Room".

5. Ferdinand the Bull. This is a classic as well as a favorite for us.

6. God's little girl (Or Boy)

7. Little Critters by Mercer Mayer

8. Snuggle Puppy

9. Just in case you ever wonder

10. If I could keep you little

I really hope you enjoy these books as much as we have! They made wonderful gifts as well! Please connect with me and follow on Pinterest and Facebook

Gluten Free Cake to DIE for!!

NOTE:

This post does have affiliate links attached. If you purchase an item through the links in this post the blogger could receive a small commission from the purchase directed from the specific link. Your purchase helps support my work.

Back last November we moved out of our house into temporary living in my In Laws basement until we closed on the new house. When moving in to their house we delegated some nights to share the cooking responsibility for the month we were there. Boy am I glad we did that! I found this cake recipe on Pinterest.

My mother in laws Celiac disease took over her body about 10 years ago. I decided to make the recipe gluten free so every could try it. Well that cake did not last long at all. Her and I may have had a second piece. The cake has been requested several times this year already.

Check out the recipe and let me know what you think.

Cake:

1-box of Pillsbury Gluten free Yellow cake mix.

vegetable/Canola oil which ever you prefer(follow the instructions on the box for measurements)

Replace water measurements with Milk or half&half

4 eggs

1 container Duncan Hines Coconut pecan Frosting

1/2 cup-Chopped Pecans

I add 1/2 of coconut(optional)

Glaze:

1/2 stick of butter(I use unsalted)

1 can of condensed Milk

1 cup of Chopped Pecans

1/2 cup of coconut

Instructions:

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees.

Mix Cake mix, eggs, oil, and milk in a bowl. Once the cake ingredients are mixed well add the jar of frosting and OPTIONAL pecans and coconut. Pour mixture into a 13 x 9 pan. I use a glass Pyrex pan which you can order here. If using a different pan temp and time may differ. Bake cake mix 30-50 minutes. Check the cake with a toothpick. Once the cake is done baking remove from oven and let cool.

Glaze:

While cake sits and is still warm melt the butter in a medium sauce pan. Once the butter is melted add the condensed milk and stir to combine. Once the butter and condensed milk are combined add pecans and coconut. Do not let boil. When everything is combined well immediately remove from heat and pour over cake. Voila! Best Gluten free cake ever!!

Notes:

When I made this the first time I used a different oven than the one I have now. It took closer to an hour to bake. The new oven we have in the new house bakes a bit more promptly. I typically check the cake every 20 min, and possibly rotate after checking it the first time so it bakes more evenly.

This pretty much goes with out saying, however I am going to say it. THIS RECIPE CONTAINS NUTS! Definitely not nut allergy friendly.

Let me know what you think!

Encouragement is Healthy for the soul

You know, when you become a mother you dream about how things will be. How things will be different. How life will change. Is it a boy or girl? What will they look like? Are they going to be loud and obnoxious like their mother(I got that one)? Or quiet and to themselves like their father? Can we afford it? How are we going to take vacations? When the baby delivers, will everything go right(that was a big one for me)? I worried so much about something happening the entire time I was pregnant. I remember feeling so uptight the majority of the time I had to cut back on work.

Most girls have their mother not too far in distnace. I on the other hand am one that doesn't. Let me tell you, Things would have been much easier for me had we been closer in distance. Talking on the phone is just not quite the same.

This is a goofy photo of my mother, daughter and I. We had spent some time together back a couple of years ago because she had traveled not too far from where we live. I always find encouragement, confidence, and affirmation when being around my mother. Not insecurities, doubt, or low self esteem. Don't young mother, or first time mothers, have enough to worry about? Having someone in your life that makes you feel like you aren't doing something quite right just because you aren't doing things the way they think you should, or the way they would is enough to make you throw the towel in. I think some people forget how it feels to be a first time parent.

I myself had to navigate through the emotional, hormonal, life altering, energy sucking, wonderful change that came into our lives. I don't even remember what life was like without this kid! But there were some serious mountains I had to climb to get where I am now.

There was the bout of postpartum depression that just about every woman after birthing a child goes through. It was December 2014. I had it in my head we were visiting my family for Christmas that year 1300 miles away, a couple of months after having a baby. When that didn't happen, and I had to continue to go to work(although I was able to bring my daughter with me to work at the time) It was a very dark time in my life. It seemed to me "how am I going to get through this?" I thought every scenario possible to get my little family to New Mexico. It was such a let down for me. I eventually opted for Easter in the spring.

Along the way as I went through that dark time my mother prayed for me, my cousin prayed for me. They both encouraging me to look up, try and see the good in the situation. The above photo is quite a treasure for me, being it was a couple of months after my emotional break down.
That was just one of the many hurdles I've had placed in my life since becoming a mother.

A few weeks ago I was in line at the store (after spending 18 hours on the road and us needing groceries). A gentleman came up behind me in line. I noticed he only had a few items. I suggested he go ahead of me. He politely declined. We chatted a little while waiting in line. He was the kindest man. I'm sure I looked awfully weary, however, the pregnant check out girl seemed a bit more weary. I said my normal 'please and thank you's' and made sure to be kind and smile at her. Often we feel general politeness is enough to make someone's day. As I stood there waiting to gather my change from the girl the gentleman leaned into her and told her "you have a very nice smile. To be smiling at this hour while you are working really says something about a person". She was not smiling. She was tired. But after the man complimented her, she couldn't help but smile. If I had had a stranger compliment or encourage me in my up hill climb to motherhood my days would have been different I am sure. I most certainly learned a lesson that night in the check out.

Unless you have good emotional support, or you are super woman, the only option we have is surrounding ourselves with supportive, uplifting, and encouraging people when it comes to big life changes like having a child. Who are we kidding! We cannot do it alone. We may try, but there is a reason why we fail. We are not meant to be alone. Physical interaction, eye to eye contact is something we need. It is important.

I strongly encourage you to get out and find those emotionally supportive and encouraging people. You may already have those people. Utilize them. Encourage in return! Kind words and compliments can go a lot further than general politeness!

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