Check out Sylvia Britton (The 21st Century Homekeeper) and her FREEEEE E-book Giveaway!

Sylvia Britton - Free E-Book Giveaway

These books are fantastic! I have learned and continue to learn a great deal from Sylvia. Her information is presented in a way that can work for any body, in any situation, (even me).

Sylvia’s teaching style is easy to understand and encouraging. She breaks the information down and presents it in a way that is not overwhelming and yet she challenges us.

There are SIX different E-book titles she is giving away, get your entry in today.

Don’t forget, Sylvia will be a guest on my radio show tonight, Get Real – Get Prepared at 8PM EST, please tune in and you will be blessed!

Preparedness Radio Network

–
~~In Messiah Yeshua,
Vickilynn Haycraft
Micah 6:8
http://www.realfoodliving.com
http://www.blog.realfoodliving.com
http://www.examiner.com/housewares-in-national/vickilynn-haycraft
http://www.examiner.com/family-preparedness-in-national/vickilynn-haycraft

This is easily halved and you can use less fruit if desired. (We like a LOT of fruit!) You can cut back on the liquid and make it more like a snack “cake.” This recipe is very versatile!

Apple-Berry Baked Oatmeal

Apple-Berry Baked Oatmeal (9 x 13)
Vickilynn Haycraft

5 cups organic rolled oats
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup dehydrated apple slices (or 2 cups fresh)
1 cup dried mixed berries (or 2 cups fresh sliced)
2 1/2 cups milk (2 if using fresh fruit)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 large eggs, beaten
1/2 cup honey

Preheat oven to 350.
Mix dry ingredients.
Mix wet ingredients.
Mix ingredients together and stir well to incorporate.
Pour into an ungreased 9 x 13 pan and bake uncovered for 40-50 minutes or until middle tests done.

Cut into squares and serve with milk, kefir or juice.

I posted a picture of our fab Green Pizza Swirls and promised more info, which I promptly forgot about until today. I was looking up the Pizza Swirls for a friend’s request and saw that I left this undone! Accccckkk!

So, here is the follow-up:

OK, the Pizza Swirls. My family (and friends) have been going crazy over these and the possibilities of stuffings are endless.

Basically, think of a jelly roll, or rolled cinnamon buns made savory.

So, you choose your bread. I really love using  Green Pizza Crust if I’m making pizza swirls. And many, many stuffings work well with her crust. I also use my plain WW bread dough, OR my WW Challah dough.

Next week, I’ll be making some Rueben swirls using rye bread dough!
YUMMMMMMM!!!

OK, so you take about a loaf worth of dough. Anywhere between 1.5 and
1.8 pounds by weight. Roll it out into a rectangle of 16 inches long, by 10 inches wide.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

On 1/3 of the rectangle long-wise, (the wide end away from you) leaving a 1-inch lip, spread your filling generously and evenly. I’ll post some fillings below. Starting at the wide end, roll up tightly, jelly roll style, pulling the dough gently to cover the filling and roll to the end. Pinch the ends and the seam. Let rest for 5 minutes.

Place unbleached parchment paper on a large baking sheet. With a sharp serrated knife, (or clean dental floss or thread) gently cut slices from the long roll. Each slice should be about 1 1/2 inches. Carefully move them to the covered baking sheet. If some filling escapes, no worries, just pile it on top of the swirl.

This usually makes about 14 swirls.

When all the swirls are finished, pop the baking sheet into the preheated oven and bake for 10 – 12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown, the swirls are puffy and the cheese (if using) is melted. Let cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes (the swirls will deflate slightly).

Serve with dipping sauces if desired.

Filling suggestions:

Pizza with sauce
Layer mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, drizzle organic marinara and any other fav pizza toppings chopped finely. Only drizzle the sauce (a few tablespoons) or the swirls become soggy.

Garlic and cheese
Layer mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, minced garlic

Smoked Chicken and Green Pepper
Layer cubed smoked organic chicken, sauteed green peppers
Cheese if using

Asian Chicken and Veggies
Layer sauteed chicken, roasted Asian veggies and drizzle toasted sesame oil

Veggie Omelet
Layer scrambled eggs, veggies, cheese, if using

Smoked Salmon Spread
BBQ Chicken
Curried Veggies

You see? Endless possibilities!
Our favs though are the Pizza ones and the Garlic Cheese ones. My family wants these every day! The ones I’ve done for my class and for home groups were these as well, and WOW, were they a hit!

Each year we learn a bit more about how to garden organically and what’s best for our area and family.

This year we have 4 small raised beds (4 x 4) so that I can reach them without too much pain In them we have zucchini, eggplant, broccoli, cabbage, seedless cukes and spinach and lettuce. Some are doing well, but we are just budding as I got them in late.

Yesterday I had to hand-pollinate the first squash blossoms as our bee population is low here. The bad thing is, there was only ONE male blossom (with the pollen) to several female blossoms. I need more pollen-carrying male blossoms to be able to have a harvest.

We also have Earthboxes and they do pretty well. We have lots of strawberries growing and some herbs (basil, garlic chives, sage, mint). We also have some roma tomato plants which are flowering.

We have some fruit trees, but they are young and this year we see our first peach! The pear tree has no blossomed yet. We have some apple trees, blueberry bushes, blackberry and raspberry brambles.

We want to plant more fruit trees each year.

Oh, this year I am growing more stevia. I tried it one year and it did not do well, but I have a nice plant and we’ll see how it does.

Our mint patch is awesome!! I dried some chocolate mint and will harvest again soon. We have Chocolate Mint, Peppermint and Spearmint.

Please share what’s going on in your gardens!

One thing I want to do more consistently is update my blog with personal entries. A dear friend of mine, Sylvia Britton of the Christian Homekeeper Network sent me this idea today and I love it! That structure helps me from rambling on too much (oh dear, am I already rambling? ), but it gives me places to insert where I am.

Please feel free to share your updates with me! The first one is more generic and the second is more intimate (in my opinion). I think next time I’ll use a combination of the two! Copy the categories and insert your own answers and share with your friends! If using Facebook, make this a note and tag all your FB friends.

#1

Sitting… in my computer chair in my home “office”

Drinking…
nothing at the moment, going for water soon

Thinking…
that I’d better get the laundry started! LOL!

Loving…
my precious family (hubby and kids)

Anticipating…
new changes in my walk with Yeshua as I strive to draw in closer to Him

Dreading…
this week’s activities and a medical procedure on Friday. YUK!

Starting…
more structure

Reading…
the Word and 2 books for review

Liking…
the snow

Ordering…
from the natural food co-op, lots of great things!

Nervous…
about the upcoming snow storms and more possible power outages

Planning…
articles, reviews and speaking engagement

Pouring…
out my heart to Yeshua to make me more like Him, a better wife to my hubby and a better mom to my children

#2

This is the HomeKeeper’s Journal from Sylvia Britton and the Christian HomeKeeper’s Network.

What’s happening in my home?….
Today we’re having school, even though the schools are out for a snow day.

Today is also a “cleaning” day for me on my new schedule (some days are cooking or baking or errands and some are cleaning.)

I am excited to be getting my belated birthday present from a friend. He is giving me his 55 gallon freshwater aquarium and I am buying his fish (that come with it!). I am bursting with excitement since I love, love, love my aquarium fish!

In my kitchen
Warm oatmeal with raisins and cinnamon for breakfast
Homemade whole grain pizza for lunch
Creamy Slowcooker Macaroni and Cheese and roasted broccoli for supper

With our marriage…
As we approach 28 years of marriage, we have both “mellowed” quite a bit. I’m still excitable and vocal and he’s still laid-back, but we “mesh” better. As I care for him during his post-op needs (major back surgery 8 weeks ago), we grow closer.

With the children…
It was fabulous having all the children (except Benjamin of course) home for the holidays. They are so grown up, mature and responsible! Our eldest daughter is so lovely. She left to go to Israel, where she is right now. She’ll be home and then back off to college for her final year. The 2nd son is growing in height, in his walk with Yeshua and in his musical proficiency. Our baby girl continues to bring us joy, love and sweet kisses. We are back at homeschool today.

Around the homestead…
The raised beds and containers are covered with snow and there is some damage done by the recent snow storms, high winds and downed trees. I look at the ground and wish I could get these projects done, but this is G-d’s time for the ground and the homestead to rest outdoors. I must be patient.

In my “Inner Man”…
I am excited for the fresh start the new year brings. I am looking forward to more consistency in my time alone with Yeshua and our family devotions. I desire intimacy with my King, Master and Savior and I know the only thing that hinders that, is me.

Today I read on a friend’s Facebook page something that blessed me…
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to G-d. And the peace of G-d, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Messiah Yeshua.” Philippians:6-7

Now, it’s YOUR turn!

My new assignment is as the “Housewares Examiner” for the Charlotte area and I will be writing articles on my Product Reviews. My column addresses Tools of the Trade for homemakers worldwide. For example, my first 2 articles are on the KitchenAid stand mixer and what specific uses I have reviewed it for.

Please subscribe to my column to  receive the new articles when they are published and add me to your “Favorite Examiner” list.

Housewares Examiner

Thank you for reading!

Shalom,

As the new book, Naturally Healthy Cuisine: Real Food for Real Families hits the mailboxes and stores, the feedback is coming in to my mailbox and on the RFD email loop. Here are 2 that we received today:

“Hi Everyone,

Woo hoo!! I got my book today and I AM SO EXCITED!! It is so beautiful and I can’t wait to read it. I’m going to put clear contact paper on it right away because I know this book will be very well read and used a lot! It was so fun to see everyone’s names in it. I can’t even begin to explain how good this feels to get this book. This book has been “in the works” for so long and I know how much Vickilynn and Shonda have wanted it to get published. I am feeling the same excitement today about this book as if I just found out Vickilynn gave birth to a baby and I was the Aunt!

I’m going to tell all the ladies on my food co-op group and even my homeschool group that they need to get this book. This is a book everyone needs to read. I just skimmed through it but it has SO much great information in there. It’s more than a cookbook. It’s like sitting down and having Vickilynn and Shonda tell you everything they know over a cup of tea. I can’t wait to read it!!!!

Lisa B. in NY”

Have your ordered your copy yet?

“YIPPPEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!! I had a surprise in yesterday’s mail. My new book by Vickilynn and Shonda has arrived in Tucson, AZ

I think I ordered the first day the announcement was made… so that may help with guessing when your own might arrive.

A TON of information, have only begun to get a hint of the treasures in this well produced book.

Kathy in AZ”

I love making bread. It feels delicious! Does that make sense? I think all you bread bakers out there will understand the pleasurable sensory experience of working bread dough in your hands.

I particularly enjoy working with my homemade 100% whole wheat and honey Challah dough and braiding it. What fun to see the intricate weave created just by moving ropes of dough in and out. I imagine this is what an artist experiences when they see their project come alive and take form.

Here are some shots I took today. Below this post, you can see the finished [baked] loaves. To me, they are beauty, simplicity and blessing. An added benefit is that these creations taste fabulous.

This is art you can eat!

I believe this is the most beautiful rendition of Amazing Grace I have ever heard!!!

I pray this blesses you today!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtrnB4FZ-yc

~~In Messiah Yeshua,

Vickilynn

Micah 6:8

Thanksgiving is SUCH a precious time in the life of a Christian!
Please share your family’s Thanksgiving Traditions with us!
Foods, decorations, family activities- anything!

Here’s one of mine:

A simple Thanksgiving tradition we do is we ask each of the family members to write out on 10 small strips of paper, things they are thankful for – one per strip of paper. They do not sign their name. (We help the smaller ones by writing what they dictate).

All the paper strips go into a basket which is passed from person to person during the Thanksgiving meal. The person who draws the strip of paper reads what it says and everyone at the table tries to guess who wrote it. We all yell out the answer to see who guesses correctly first. Once the thanksgiving is received and the author identified,  the basket goes to the next person and the tradition is repeated until all the strips of paper are gone.

Then, Father prays, mentioning some of the things we are thankful for that our family wrote. It is a blessed fun time and keeps the focus on our Thankfulness to G-d for His blessings!!

~~In Messiah Yeshua,
Vickilynn
Micah 6:8