Homemade Hospitality

I was asked to put together a booklet on hospitality and this is what I came up with.
See the Girl Talk blog for more info on hospitality.

Good Morning Girls

For the past few months I have been blessed to be part of a quiet time accountability group called the Good Morning Girls. I got the idea off one of my favourite blogs http://womenlivingwell-courtney.blogspot.com/2009/08/good-morning-girls-fall-kick-off.html

Our aim is to e-mail each other when we have completed our quiet times Monday - Friday.
It has been such a great tool in keeping me accountable in studying God's word daily.
There are added benefits of sharing in what my sister's in Christ are studying.
We are also able to share in any trials and prayer requests.

I would really encourage everyone who has access to e-mail to start/join a GMG group.
You will be blessed beyond your dreams.

Psalm 23 Bracelet

A friend of mine in my Mum's Bible Study showed me her bracelet that a South African friend of hers had made.
I was so excited that I had to make one and share it with others.
It is a bracelet that corresponds to Psalm 23

Each bead represents a different part of the Psalm.
Here is the one I made for myself...

and here is the smaller one I made for Emily to wear.

This is such a great gift as it is a constant reminder of God's shepherding care for our lives.

My Mum's Bible Study group is going to be making them for our closing.

To view the instructions more clearly click on the picture below.

Spaghetti Sausages

I was sent this recipe from my good friend in Perth :-)
My kids just loved it!!

Break spaghetti into short strips.
Get your kids to thread it through sausage (vienna) slices.


Boil until pasta is cooked.


Serve and watch your kids enjoy!

Prayer Cards

I found this idea on one of my favourite blogs http://www.womenlivingwell-courtney.blogspot.com/

So for my Mum's Bible Study we made prayer cards to help us in praying for our children.

You can find the information on how to make your own cards here http://womenlivingwell-courtney.blogspot.com/2009/04/praying-for-your-children-all-day-long.html

Tricks of the trade for fussy eaters.

The other day my 3 year old son was not in the 'mood' for eating his lunch.

He had way more exciting things on his agenda than sitting still and consuming a healthy meal.

So I came up with a plan for making his lunch 'exciting'...I got out the little cocktail umbrella and sword stick from the grocery cupboard and allowed him to use these as his eating utensils.

Normally he just needs to 'obey Mama' when it comes to sitting down and eating, but I thought that once in a while Mama can make a meal fun :-)

Dairy Free Choc Coconut Sponge Dessert

Choc Coconut Sponge Dessert

100g dark chocolate

1 tin coconut cream

1/2 cup dessicated coconut

1 packet sponge finger biscuits

about 200ml black coffee

Dry fry the coconut until browned (making sure it does not burn)

Melt the chocolate

Whisk the coconut cream into the melted chocolate

Pour a thin layer of chocolate mixture in your serving dish

Quickly dip the sponge biscuit in the coffee (one at a time)

and layer it in your dish

Sprinkle a layer of coconut

Continue layering chocolate, biscuit and coconut

Finishing with chocolate and coconut sprinkled on top

Set in the refrigerator

The Fruit of the Spirit is Love

My daughter and I finally finished our second book.

It is the first in a series on the Fruit of the Spirit.

Hope you enjoyed it :-)

Boys treat girls gentle...

I have quite a boisterous little boy who, in all of his exuberance, tends to bash into anyone or anything who lies within his intended path. Unfortunately, my daughter is usually the one who is in his intended path.

I am so thankful for a family we knew years ago who trained their boys with this simple phrase:
"Boys treat girls gentle,

because God made girls special!"

I have taught these words to my 'almost three year old', and I tend to have to remind him quite often.
I usually start off saying 'Boys treat girls...' and then he fills in 'special', I continue with 'because God made girls...', 'special' comes his reply.

He usually goes on to tell me that his sister is special and that I am special too - so sweet. So I know that he at least grasps the concept of 'girls'.

I have found that this positive training method to be a whole lot more effective than simply;
"Don't hit/push your sister!" (said with a stern voice).
This type of rebuke just focuses on the hitting/pushing and does not give an alternative to the rough action.
Teaching him to be gentle is far more beneficial than just telling him to stop being rough.

The aim is also to give him a high regard for girls (and women), by reminding him that God made them special.
They are to be treasured as the beautiful creations that they are.

Please note that my son is very far from having mastered this principle. His toddler temperament gives little control over his testosterone filled actions. But hopefully in time, and with much prayer and training, he will be 'a man after God's own heart'. A man who, like Christ, displays strength under control.

Dairy Free Scones

Dairy Free Scone Recipe

Ingredients:

300ml coconut cream

1 egg

3 cups sef-raising flour

2 tbs castor sugar

Method:

Preheat oven to 200 deg C.

Whisk the eggs and coconut cream together.

Combine flour and sugar.

Mix the egg mixture into the flour.

Once sticky, kneed into a soft dough.

Roll out onto floured surface untill about 2cm thick.

Cut out scones from dough and place on a greased and floured baking tray.

Brush the tops with a little left over coconut cream and thn sprinkle with castor sugar.

Bake for 12-15 minutes until golden.

Enjoy hot with jam, cream and cheese.

Stick to non-dairy margerine and honey for the dairy free option.

Spiced Apple Scrunchie

I made this for the Mum's Bible Study today, it was a total experiment but it worked - YAY!

It is not entirely 'dairy free', but I have added a 'how to free it from dairy' insert at the end of the recipe.

Spiced Apple Scrunchie

Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees C.

Ingredients:

Phyllo pastry

2 Tins pie apples

Half a handful of raisins

Handful slivered almonds

Handful oats

A good dollop of butter (about 50g)

2 teaspoons grated ginger

1 teaspoon cinnamon

A pinch of all spice

1 Teaspoon sugar

Method:

Dry fry the almonds and oats until slightly browned, leave to cool.

Melt the butter.

Prepare the Phyllo Scrunchies by brushing a little melted butter on one side and then scrunch.

Add ginger, sugar and cinnamon to the remaining butter and stir in until mixed through.

Mix the ingredients together in an oven dish (except for the phyllo scrunchines).

Place the phyllo on top of the apple mixture.

Bake in the oven for 30-40 minutes until crisp.

Sprinkle icing sugar over and serve hot with cream.

Dairy substitutes:

The butter can be replaced with dairy free margerine.

The phyllo can be sprayed with oil or the brushed with margerine.

Serve with Soy Ice Cream.