Pinterest Finds

I am LOVING pinterest daily finds of craft projects, decorating ideas and the recipes. Since I have been home more, I have had time not only to pin them but to also re-create them. (Patting myself on the back!) So, one of the best things about the Pinterest recipes is the variety of "tried and true" type recipes that I am finding. These recipes are made by REAL moms who do not keep things like goat milk and capers on hand! We like simple but flavor filled recipes. I don't want to spend 6 hours marinating something that a simple dash of Tony's could accomplish the same taste. We also like cheese. I am likely to double the cheese in any recipe because more cheese can make anything better. Here are some of my favorite finds and a few notes on how we changed the original recipe to make it more to the liking of the Moss household. I found a recipe for Beef Stroganoff from http://www.heathersbytes.com/beef-stroganoff/ I served over the egg noodles because I LOVE them! I did change the recipe as follows: BEEF STROGANOFF 2 1/2 lbs of cube steak. Sliced into small 1/2 inch pieces. Salt & Pepper to taste 2 cans Campbells cream of golden mushroom soup 1 c. diced onions 4 T. Worcestershire sauce 28 oz of beef broth 4 ounces of cream cheese 1/2 c. sour cream 1 pkg. Egg Noodles I placed the meat, salt, pepper, soup, onions, Worcestershire sauce and beef broth in the corckpot. Cook 7 hours on low heat. Stir in cream cheese and sour cream 30 minutes before serving. Serve over egg noodles that are prepared per package directions. Then since we were off to a hit, I tried to the cheddar baked chicken. This was packed full of flavor. Sometimes breaded chicken does not get a flavor into the chicken but this chicken was full of flavor and easy as can be to make. I found the recipe here

(Photo Credit to http://bakebakebake.livejournal.com) The recipe on the blog above was changed as listed but I added to make it 2 cups of cheddar cheese because that is how we roll! Ingredients: 1/4 cup butter, melted 1/2 cup AP flour 1 tsp salt 1 tsp pepper 1 tsp garlic powder 1 egg 1 tbsp milk 1 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese 1 pouch Shake n Bake Extra Crispy 1 cup Rice Krispies 2-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut in half Directions: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Pour your melted butter to coat the baking dish. Mix the flour, salt, pepper, and garlic powder in a bowl. In another bowl, whisk together the egg and milk. In a third bowl, combine the cheese, bread crumbs, and cereal. Keep your bowls in that order and work down the line. First, dredge your chicken in the flour mixture, dip in the eggs, then press it in the bread crumb mixture to coat. Really push the chicken down in the bread crumbs. Transfer to your baking dish. Bake for 35 minutes or until coating is golden brown and chicken is done. (35 minutes was just a tidge too long in my oven, so keep an eye on it) Then there was the easiest quick meal to date. I made TACO PIZZA. We will be having the stuff to make this recipe on hand each week for a quick meal. I doubled the recipe and made two and we only were able to eat one. That is saying a lot in the Moss household of teenage boys!

The original and unchanged recipe can be found here: Last but in no way least is the sweet and sour chicken. We love chinese takeout and my entire family said this was way better than even their favorite chinese restaurant. It was a little time consuming to make but so worth the try. I made homemade fried rice with it too but I was not a big fan of the recipe that I had. I will be working on that recipe to get it just right. The original recipe can be found here: There are so many more pinterest finds but these are by far my favorite so far! Moss Approved and Moss Devoured!

Playing Stay At Home Mom

With the demands of my life in the past few years, I have completely lost what it was like to be a Stay At Home Mom. What once was my ordinary daily activity was replaced with priorities of my job and my kid's ever busy activities.

I don't regret being a Stay At Home Mom nor do I regret being a Working Mom. They each have had their seasons in my life. I embraced both during the seasons that they were the role I played in my life. Now, I am in an in between season of my life. This part of my life is where I am on a leave of absence from my work and giving being a a stay at home mom my full attention for this moment in time. Something that in my mind there was no option as to IF this would be the way it was or not. This part of my life is filled with cleaning, cooking, baking, dog walking, my kid's activities, doctor's appointments, and etc. It is more work than any job! It is 24/7. For now, we don't what will come next. Even though I had my goals and plans all laid out for the next five years, God took a black sharpie and just put a big "TBD" (to be determined) over my whole life plan. I am a planner. What do I do now if I don't have the exact plan or the exact time frame in which to make a plan? I am trusting that God has the plan and this is comforting. Yet, the not knowing still leaves me anxious and scared.

The longest two minutes....

On Sunday, I had an infection that caused me to have to go the urgent care. The infection caused my face to swell up and was pretty painful. Luckily, it was some kind of reaction or whatever that is being treated with antibiotic and steroids.

Yet, did you know before you get a prescription for a steroid that they make you take a pregnancy test? The young (and very pregnant herself) doctor said "Well, I am going to get you on your way but we need to take a pregnancy test first to make sure that the prescription I am going to give you is safe in the chance that you are pregnant".

She showed me to the restroom and pointed toward the small cup and towelette that was on the shelving. With a few instructions, routine and not needed, she left the room to allow me to finish up this simple task. After completing said needed task, washing up and returning to my room I had the longest two minutes I can remember in a long time.

Within two minutes, my mind stretched from "WHAT IF" to "NO WAY" and included everything in between. In two minutes I considered the following:

- I have teenagers. Kagan is 16 so by the time this kid even goes to school Kagan will not even be at home any more.

- I saw the cutest nursery set up at Babies R Us that I would love to get.

- Will I break the tradition of "K" names with a fourth child?

- This is going to freak Kaleb out!

- My mom is going to freak out too!

- I bet all three of my kids would be so much help with a baby. They are all really good with kids and this would be so much easier with only one baby at a time.

- What age do women quit having babies? Aren't I getting too old?

- I am going to kill Marshall Kaleb Moss (yep, all three names here)!

- I think Kenadee would like a sister and hate having a brother at this point.

- Both Kaleb and I were younger when our parents had us. Imagine if their life did not include us?

- Wow, I can't believe Bubba was still having kids at my age? How many kids does he have again?

- Would I keep working?

- What would happen if I tried to work from home some and also go to the office. I don't want someone else raising my baby.

- Oh wait....the baby clothes are so cute. Plus I can't wait to look at all the new things that are out for babies.

- I am going to Kill Kaleb!

- God is so good to me and I just said I would deal with what ever He gives me in the new year. Is this a sign? What is He going to try to teach me?

- Disney for a baby is free.

- I just lost 40 lbs and now I am going to gain it all back.

- I can eat whatever I want if I am pregnant.

- I want to make a quilt for the baby or maybe Ledra will help me if I get the stuff.

Ya get the point. I will not continue with what all I thought in minute number two!

Needless to say, time almost stood still. There was something that could have been such a sweet blessing if God had decided that was needed. However, I honestly can say I was relieved and so glad that God had not chosen this path for me at this point in my life. While I think every child is a blessing and a gift from God and that I would have been thrilled if so - I can also say I feel just a blessed that it was a negative result when the doctor returned to the room.

My life is moving forward where I am out of the child bearing days of life. I am beyond this point because now I am having a crazy time raising teens! I am closer to being the age of grandchildren than having babies of my own. (OH MY GOODNESS - I AM GETTING OLD!) - This is another post all itself.

I was reminded that just one little moment in time can change the destiny of years to come. Yet, I was happy to be reminded that no matter what the surprises or life changes that be made with one phone call, one visit with a friend or even learned in two minutes at a doctor that there is plenty of life to be had. Until the day I die, I get to live with unknowns and possibilities. I get to embrace seconds....minutes...hours...days that will change my life forever.

The only thing certain is that God has control over the tiniest of details. That works for me.

Oh yea --- I am not freaking out so the results were negative if you did not catch that above. And yes...Kaleb is still alive!