This post is in response to my wife’s post called “Lucky to be in Love with My Best Friend“. I was a little caught off guard when I read her post today as it is not our anniversary or Valentine’s day or some other occasion when you might expect some type of romantic message from your spouse. It happens to be my 39th birthday today but that’s not really cause for such kind words from my Sweetie. So I’m not really sure what the catalyst was for her post but I do appreciate it and I hope that some day I will live up to the picture she painted. 
I confess that I felt honored but I also felt slightly embarrassed that she shared such intimate words with the world. Continue reading Blessed to be in Love with My Best Friend
Our Homestead in Suburbia
Many of you have left comments and suggestions regarding the planning of our homestead in the country. However, one of the points of Wholesteading is that you can be somewhat self -sufficient even in the suburbs. Currently we do not have the big white farmhouse or the acres and acres of land to work with. But what we do have works for us now and allows us some degree of Wholesteading, even in the suburbs. For those of you who are curious about what our homestead looks like in suburbia, here are a few shots that capture both the outside and inside of our little “farm” and “farmhouse”. Continue reading Our Homestead in Suburbia
Bulk Chicken Pot Pie with Mashed Potato Crust
This recipe is not difficult, but it does take a lot of time. I usually divide the prep into two separate days. I make the chicken and stock on the first day. On the second day I make the mashed potatoes and use the stock and chicken from the first day to create the creamy chicken vegetable mixture. Then I assemble the casseroles and freeze. It’s a major investment of time but it yields five 9×13 pans of delicious, quick dinners you can grab out of the freezer and throw in the oven for a yummy, hearty meal at the end of a long, hard day. Continue reading Bulk Chicken Pot Pie with Mashed Potato Crust
Farmhouse Inspiration
It really is daunting to design a home from scratch. There are so many possibilities, and beginning with a blank slate can be intimidating.
But beginning with a blank slate can also be PERFECT IN EVERY WAY! Because you can design a home exactly how YOU want it!
After searching far and wide for the perfect house plan, we discovered that there just wasn’t something out there that met all of our needs and our aesthetic desires. Many houses came close, but there was always something not quite right about the design (usually on the inside). So, we rolled up our sleeves and got to work combining elements of many homes we loved. Continue reading Farmhouse Inspiration
Pause Before You Honk
Are you the type of person who reacts before you know the whole story or before you see the whole picture? Do you pause before you honk?
Let’s face it. All of us have acted in haste without knowing all of the facts. We explode at our spouse, children, friends, and strangers before we ever try to see the situation from their point of view. The other day I had the opportunity to witness this phenomenon acted out before my eyes. Continue reading Pause Before You Honk
Cowboy Beans (Frijoles Charros)
The first time I had these Cowboy Beans I was blown away. They are the perfect combination of hearty, comforting, and tasty! Nutritionally, they are packed with a load of protein and fiber . They even have a hefty bit of veggies added. To keep things as healthy as possible, use organic, nitrate free bacon and chorizo sausage. Even better, use a chicken or turkey version of the bacon and sausage if you can find it (although the flavor will be somewhat different). These beans are absolutely lovely and the most satisfying when served with the suggested toppings. If you want to make this dish even better, pair the beans with Sweet Whole Grain Corn Muffins with Jalapenos. I dare you to try this. You’ll never look at beans the same way again! Continue reading Cowboy Beans (Frijoles Charros)
Sweet Whole Grain Corn Muffins with Jalapenos
These Sweet Whole Grain Corn Muffins are beautiful in every way. Not only do they incorporate whole cornmeal and whole wheat, they have an unexpected punch of flavor from the added fresh corn and jalapenos. Of course, you could omit the fresh corn and jalapenos, but I promise the result won’t be nearly as interesting! These muffins make the perfect accompaniment to Cowboy Beans and to most soups in general. Continue reading Sweet Whole Grain Corn Muffins with Jalapenos
Visit to Sub-Zero and Wolf Showroom
All I can say is WOW.
Last month my husband and I had the opportunity to attend a product demonstration at the Sub-Zero and Wolf Showroom in Atlanta. We were expecting to see the products. We were expecting to taste food samples. What we actually experienced FAR exceeded these expectations. We enjoyed a fun-filled evening of wine, fine dining, and a top-notch cooking demonstration with Wolf’s talented and personable chef, George. Continue reading Visit to Sub-Zero and Wolf Showroom
Organic Chicken Soup from Scratch
This is a delicious, wholesome variety of homemade organic chicken soup that contains nothing artificial. There are no boxed broths or msg-laden boullions involved (will be even better when I can use our own farm-raised chickens). It is truly lovely to indulge in bite after bite of everything that is good and nothing that is not. Although this recipe has many steps and is a two day endeavor, all of the steps are easy. If you try this even once, I am sure it will go to your list of favorites. Continue reading Organic Chicken Soup from Scratch
ColdLife Organics
ColdLife Organics is a weekly delivery service that delivers fresh organic produce to your home or office in the Atlanta area. They also offer a variety of dairy, grains, and pantry items. We recently had the opportunity to sample a complementary box of their fresh produce when we visited the Sub-Zero/Wolf Showroom last month. Take a look at what we received, and then drool over what we did with it! Continue reading ColdLife Organics