Toys in action

This afternoon we gathered up some

children to take photos for the store.

We will use them for advertising

and print some to hang on the walls.

 

 

 

Blessings,

Hope

Beef Burritos

Every evening after work, we work on getting 

things ready for the store.

Wes and I take turns fixing dinner for our help.

Quick, one dish meals are on my creating list right now.

Flour tortillas filled with ground beef, rice and refried beans.

Topped with cheese, marinated tomatoes and onions,

lettuce and sour cream.

Meat mixture.

Rice and refried beans.

Marinated tomatoes and onions.

Spoon toppings in one corner and...

fold up the bottom and fold in both sides.

Beef Burritos

8 flour tortillas

Meat Mixture
1 lb. of ground beef, browned
1/2 onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1- 28 oz. can of diced tomatoes
1 Tbsp. brown sugar
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1/4 tsp. curry powder
1/8 tsp. red pepper
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. black pepper
3 shakes of red pepper flakes

Rice Mixture
1 cup of rice, cooked
1- 16 oz. can of refried beans
1/2 tsp. fresh parsley, minced
1/4 tsp. salt

Marinated Tomatoes and Onions
1 cup of tomatoes, diced
1/4 cup onion, diced
1/2 cup vinegar
1 Tbsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. fresh parsley, minced

Toppings
cheddar cheese, grated
sour cream
lettuce

Brown ground beef. Drain, add onions and garlic. Cook until 
translucent. Add the rest of ingredients. Simmer for 10-15 minutes.

Cook 1 cup of rice as directed on box or bag. Add refried beans, 
parsley and salt. Heat until warm.

Dice tomatoes and onions. Mix together vinegar, sugar, 
salt and parsley. Pour over tomatoes and onions. 
Refrigerate until chilled.

Heat tortillas in microwave for 45 seconds.

I just set all the fillings and toppings on the table
and let folks make their own.

Enjoy!
Hope

Grand Opening

My brain feels like it's on overload,

I try not to dwell on too many things at once.

Not everything in life has to be

perfect to survive. Piles of dirty laundry

and a dirty house are not critical to health,

even if it's hard on the nerves.

We are getting down to the final days of opening

the toy store and boy we're busy.

*We have been building shelves in

our basement every chance we get.

Josh has master minded a counter

that is bound to keep our customers coming back.

It's oak with cubby holes across the front

to display smaller toys to sell.

I have learned some simple trades of

wood working- like sanding, staining, sanding,

and brushing on polyurethane.

If you do come in our store be sure

to check out the shelves too.

Although, they are not for sale.

*We being, Josh, Wes and I with any family members we can con into helping.

My sister bought this chair at a thrift shop
for the sitting area in the toy store.

She painted it black and reupholstered the seat.

What a beauty!
  

Wes routering shelves.

Me sanding, getting ready for the next coat of polyurethane.

Josh cutting glass for the cubby holes on the counter.
You score it with a little knife type thing and...

you have a nice clean break.

Josh adding glass to his master piece.

We plan to open our doors July 1 and have a Grand Opening July 23.

Come on by and see what we are all about!

Hope

Apple Bars

Now it's back to the grindstone after

a week of vacation. We had a wonderful trip-

just relaxing and enjoying the beach.

My family came over this evening so

I threw together some apple bars.

I once had some delicious apples bars

with cream cheese and have never forgotten them.

I tried to create a recipe from what I remembered.

They tasted pretty much like I imagined.

That doesn't always happen.

 A shortbread crust* with layer of cream cheese 

filling topped with sugared apples.

*The crust recipe is from my Aunt Bonnie-

you can use it for all kinds of desserts.

 Only five left...

Apple Bars

Crust

1 1/2 cup flour 

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/4 cup sugar

1/8 tsp. baking powder

1/8 tsp. baking soda

a handful of crushed pecans

Filling

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. vanilla

2 Gala apples

3 Tbsp. sugar

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

Combine crust ingredients and lightly press in a 9 x 13 pan.

Mix together filling and spread over crust. Start with

small spoonfuls over the crust because the crust will pull 

up easily when spreading the filling. Peel apples and slice. 
Layer on top of the cream cheese filling. Combine sugar 
and cinnamon. Sprinkle over apples. Bake at 350 for 
35-40 minutes or until apples are slightly soft.

Enjoy,

Hope

The Good Ole South

We are having a grand ole time here

at the beach. Great weather, good food

and God's wonderful creation to enjoy.

Just to let you folks know they have sweet

corn down here. Ahh... it sure was sweet.

We picked some up at a roadside stand

along with some crab legs.

For the sweet potato fry recipe go here.

Boil water and sprinkle in some salt. Throw in the crab legs

and boil for seven minutes.

Blessings,

Hope

One Year Anniversary

It's been a whole year since

Josh and I said "I do."

This year has truly been the most wonderful

year of my life. I will not bore

you with a big spill on how delightful

our first year of marriage has been.

Something that makes you feel yours

is nothing compared to ours.

"While my husband may help in the kitchen

your hubby may wash all your windows, once a week."

Each couple has their own gifts.

In some ways it seems like we have been married forever-

and then some days we stop and say to each other,

"we are actually married!"

We praise the Lord for all he has blessed

us with in our first year of marriage.

A cozy home, jobs, family and so much more.

Here are some photos of our special day.

It's nice to look back at the photos when

the day seemed like a blurr.

Blessings,
Hope

Vacation

This Friday we are heading to Corolla, NC
for a week. I have not had

to time create new recipes due

to packing and such.

I hope to blog a little on vacation.

This is where we will be spending next week!

Yay!

Hope