girltalk Blog
2009 at 4:06 pm | by Nicole Whitacre
Filed under
Homemaking Holidays and Seasons Recipes
We’re preparing for Thanksgiving and we want to bring you in on the fun. Mom’s got the turkey covered (after the disastrous Thanksgiving of 2007 we girls intercede for her health all week).
I’m already thinking about leftovers.
You see, a few months ago, my mother-in-law, Nancy (who has a knack for finding delicious new recipes) made Jack Quesadillas with Cranberry Salsa. I’ve been waiting to share them with you ever since.
I have to admit I was skeptical when she told me the ingredients—I don’t tend to like sweet and spicy mixed together. But wow, this cranberry salsa is absolutely delicious! Five stars! Four forks! Five mitts! (Can you tell I’ve been browsing recipe sites all week?)
These quesadillas are a unique way to use up leftover turkey and cranberry sauce; or, as the recipe suggests, you can put the salsa on turkey sandwiches. I might just eat the salsa with a spoon; it’s that good.
Jack Quesadillas with Cranberry Salsa
Yield: 8 servings (serving size: 3 wedges, about 1/4 cup salsa, and 1 tablespoon sour cream)
Ingredients
* Salsa:
* 1 cup whole-berry cranberry sauce
* 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
* 2 tablespoons chopped green onions
* 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
* 1 Anjou pear, cored and finely diced
* 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced
*
Quesadillas:
* Cooking spray
* 1/4 cup (2-inch-thick) slices green onions
* 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack cheese with jalapeño peppers
* 8 (8-inch) flour tortillas
* 2 cups chopped cooked turkey
* 1/2 cup fat-free sour cream
Preparation
To prepare salsa, combine first 7 ingredients. Cover and chill.
To prepare quesadillas, heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add 1/4 cup sliced onions to pan; sauté 3 minutes or until tender. Remove onions from pan; reduce heat to medium. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons cheese over each of 4 tortillas. Top each cheese-covered tortilla with one-fourth of onions, 1/2 cup turkey, 2 tablespoons cheese, and 1 tortilla.
Recoat pan with cooking spray. Add 1 quesadilla to pan; cook 2 minutes on each side or until lightly browned and cheese melts. Repeat with remaining quesadillas. Cut each quesadilla into 6 wedges. Serve with cranberry salsa and sour cream.
2009 at 5:55 pm | by Carolyn Mahaney
Filed under
Homemaking Holidays and Seasons Recipes
Here’s the recipe I use for the turkey that will grace our table on Thanksgving Day:
The World’s Best Turkey Recipe
Original Recipe Yield 1 (12 pound) turkey
Ingredients
* 1 (12 pound) whole turkey, neck and giblets removed
* 1/2 cup butter, cubed
* 2 apples, cored and halved
* 1 tablespoon garlic powder
* salt and pepper to taste
* 2/3 bottle champagne [I use sparkling apple cider instead]
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Rinse turkey, and pat dry. Gently loosen turkey breast skin, and insert pieces of butter between the skin and breast. Place apples inside the turkey’s cavity. Sprinkle with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Place turkey in a roasting bag, and pour champagne over the inside and outside of the bird. Close bag, and place turkey in a roasting pan.
3. Bake turkey 3 to 3 1/2 hours in the preheated oven, or until the internal temperature is 180 degrees F (85 degrees C) when measured in the meatiest part of the thigh. Remove turkey from bag, and let stand for at least 20 minutes before carving.
I also cook two turkey breasts in crockpots so we have plenty of meat for sandwiches the next day:
Crockpot Turkey Breast
1 sm. to med. turkey breast
1 stick butter
Salt
Wash and pat dry turkey breast. Season lightly with salt. Place in crockpot with 1 stick of butter. Turn on low for 10-12 hours. Great to do overnight). Very moist!
Together with our favorite sides we enjoy this meal with much gratefulness to God our Savior!
2009 at 7:03 am | by Nicole Whitacre
Filed under
Homemaking Holidays and Seasons Series Resource Recommendations
If our kids could share their favorite Christmas gift ideas, the list would look something like this:
Jesus Storybook Bible Deluxe Edition
This favorite of all our children now includes a three cd narration by David Suchet.
Fool Moon Rising
You already know how much we like this new book.
To Be Like Jesus
Few things so sweet as hearing your kids sing at the top of their lungs: “I want to be like Jesus!”
The Prince’s Poison Cup
and 
The Prince’s Poison Cup - Animatic DVD
Watch the trailer for this new book and companion dvd.
The Lightlings
and The Lightlings - Animatic DVD
Another video
The Squire and the Scroll
With a knight and a dragon, the boys are sure to love this one
Sir Bernard The Good Knight!
Tori listens to “Wittle Dog” almost every day
Practise being Godly
The cd includes the Aussie author reading and singing songs
How God Used A Snowdrift (Building on the Rock Series)
Andrew really enjoys this series
The Pilgrim’s Progress: From This World to That Which Is to Come
This new edition has color illustrations and edited text for ease of reading
2009 at 3:12 pm | by Kristin Chesemore
Filed under
Biblical Womanhood Spiritual Disciplines Homemaking Holidays and Seasons
The other day, my three boys tramped downstairs to the kitchen. They were arguing.
“He took my quarters!” my seven-year-old pointed to his brother.
“No, Mom, I brought these quarters home from Mom-Mom’s house!” the accused brother defended himself.
As I tried to get the story from them, one…at…a…time, the words of blame kept flowing, with frequent interruptions and scowls.
My temptation in these moments? I want to bring swift resolution through my commands and directives: “Boy #1 is wrong. Boy #2 is right. Case closed.” I want peace for myself more than I want to teach my children God’s Word. This temptation is especially acute over the holidays.
But my words—although very important!—are not sufficient. My children need to hear God’s Words. They need Scripture, which is “profitable for teaching, correcting, and training in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16). They need God’s promises and commands sown like seed into their little hearts. They need the words from God’s mouth, which never return empty (Is. 55:11).
So we return to the most often quoted verse in the Chesemore home—Ephesians 4:29: “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
“Is corrupting talk coming out of your mouths?” I ask my boys. “What words would give grace to your brother?”
And surprise, surprise—Scripture serves me too. I need the life-giving words of Scripture as much as my sons. I too need the encouragement and correction of Ephesians 4:29.
This is one reason why I must sit and listen to Jesus’ teaching every day. So that I—and my boys—can profit from His Words.
2009 at 2:30 pm | by Carolyn Mahaney
Filed under
Biblical Womanhood Spiritual Disciplines Homemaking Holidays and Seasons
What is this teaching we are to sit and listen to?
It is God’s Word, the Bible.
God’s Word is like no other book we read: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16
How do we profit from Scripture? God’s Word…
Gives us peace (Ps. 119:165).
Fills us with hope (Col. 1:5)
Strengthens our faith (Rom. 10:17)
Revives our soul (Ps. 19:7)
Provides us with wisdom (Pr. 1:1-7, Matt. 7:24-27)
Guides us (Ps. 119:105)
Warns us (Deut 32:46)
Corrects us (2 Tim 3:16)
Comforts us (Ps. 119:50)
Enable us to fight sin (Ps. 119:11)
Most importantly, God’s Word leads us to Christ. (Heb 1:1-2)
So why do we neglect to read, study, memorize, and meditate on this precious, life-giving book?
As John Piper comments on Ps. 19:7:, “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul”:
“Even on days when every cinder in our soul feels cold, if we crawl to the Word of God and cry out for ears to hear, the cold ashes will be lifted and the tiny spark of life will be fanned. For ‘the law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.’”
O may God help us to sit and listen to the Lord’s teaching!
2009 at 11:25 am | by Carolyn Mahaney
Filed under
Biblical Womanhood Spiritual Disciplines Homemaking Holidays and Seasons
“But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary.’” Luke 10:41 (emphasis mine)
There are “many things” to do before next Thursday’s turkey dinner. (You may be scribbling a mental list in your head right now!) But the Savior’s wisdom can radically simplify our holiday. For, as he told Martha: “only one thing is necessary.”
What is this “one thing?” What are we to “sit and listen” to? Our Lord’s teaching.
There is nothing more important than hearing the Lord speak. It’s the one essential thing, the only thing that is necessary.
Mary understood. She longed to know Jesus, to learn all she could about Him. She wanted to hear everything He said. She didn’t want to miss one word that came out of His mouth. So she sat down right smack in front of the Lord so she could listen to His teaching.
Now Jesus wasn’t suggesting that Martha’s serving was wrong or even unimportant. I’m not suggesting we skip Thanksgiving dinner and encourage our family to “hit the pantry” instead.
Serving is important. Our Lord also taught us: “The greatest among you shall be your servant.”
But serving is not the most necessary thing.
There is only one thing that is truly necessary—listening to the Lord speak.
So as we head into the holidays, as we face the temptation to be distracted with much serving, or tempted about many things, let’s remind ourselves of Jesus’ words.
Should I be serving? There is one thing more necessary!
Should I be worrying? This is completely unnecessary!
There is only one thing that is necessary.
And what is that?
To sit and listen to the Lord’s teaching, that’s what!
2009 at 11:33 am | by Carolyn Mahaney
Filed under
Biblical Womanhood Spiritual Disciplines Homemaking Holidays and Seasons
“And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. but Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary.” Luke 10:39-42
My other Martha Moment? I sit, but I don’t listen.
Martha had trouble sitting because she was distracted with much serving. But she also had trouble listening.
“Martha, Martha,” our Lord lovingly addressed her, “you are anxious and troubled about many things.”
We can’t listen if we are anxious and troubled about many things.
I’ve squandered my fair share of devotional times worrying rather than listening. I sit on the living room couch with my Bible, journal, reading plan, books, and coffee, but I fail to listen.
I rehearse a difficult conversation from the night before: What could I have said? What should I have said? What will I say next time we talk?
Or I consider the day ahead: What time is Chad’s soccer game? Oh, I almost forgot I’m babysitting Kristin’s boys. And I need to get C.J.’s shirts from the cleaners before he goes out of town….
Or I notice an empty corner in the living room and begin to redecorate in my mind: If we move this chair to that corner and purchase a small table and lamp to go over here…
All the while, my Bible is open on my lap.
But I’m not listening.
I might even read my Bible, but because I am distracted, I have no idea what I just read.
I’m still not listening
Do you have your own “Martha Moments?” Do you find it hard to sit? Do you find it difficult to listen?
God knew Martha was anxious and troubled. He knows when we are anxious and troubled. He lovingly spoke to Martha; and through her story He lovingly speaks to us today: “only one thing is necessary.”
More on this “one thing” next week.
2009 at 3:16 pm | by Carolyn Mahaney
Filed under
Biblical Womanhood Spiritual Disciplines Homemaking Holidays and Seasons
“Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. but Martha was distracted with much serving.” Luke 10:38-40
Sitting is hard work. As women, we are doers by nature, not sitters. How can we sit when there is so “much serving” to do? Then the holidays hit. And we thought sitting was hard before.
After thirty five years of loving, reading, studying and meditating on God’s Word, I still have my Martha Moments: I am tempted to serve rather than sit.
Sadly, it doesn’t take much to distract me. It can be as simple as a breakfast bar wrapper.
I’ll be in the kitchen pouring a cup of coffee to have with my devotions when….
I notice the breakfast bar wrapper on the kitchen table that my son neglected to throw away the night before.
I throw it away and discover that the trashcan is full.
I take the trashcan to the garage to empty.
When I return the emptied trashcan to the kitchen, I discover that we are out of trash bags.
I go to the basement to get new trash bags only to remember the load of laundry in the dryer that I forgot to fold.
As I fold the laundry I realize I need to iron Chad’s school uniform for school that day.
Which reminds of the note I need to write to his teacher.
As I’m jotting a note, I hear CJ on the treadmill.
“I should hop in the shower now, because he’s going to need get in the shower as soon as he finishes exercising.”
By the time I get out of the shower it’s time to wake Chad for school and make his breakfast and pack his lunch…
Poof! Gone is that precious time to sit at the Lord’s feet.
But that’s not my only Martha Moment. I’ll share another one tomorrow.
2009 at 2:03 pm | by Nicole Whitacre
Filed under
Biblical Womanhood Spiritual Disciplines Homemaking Holidays and Seasons
While the kids napped on Saturday afternoon, Mom, Kristin, Janelle, and I had a conference call to plan the Thanksgiving holiday.
We reviewed the menu from last year. I suggested a few changes (as usual) and they vetoed them (as usual)—“Why mess with a good thing?” they ask. Good point. But I still might try to sneak in a new dish (don’t tell!).
We had a friendly argument (as only female members of the same family can) over whether we should play take-two or five hundred after the meal. It ended in a stalemate: two vs. two.
We hoped the weather wouldn’t be cold and rainy—after all, Dad insists we hold the Turkey Bowl, rain or shine, warm or cold, pregnant or not.
As soon as we finished the call, my mind was off and running with all that needed to be done: Get to Michaels before the Christmas decorations overtake the Thanksgiving stuff (I might already be too late)….find a Thanksgiving book for the kid’s story time…. print out Thanksgiving coloring pages….assemble the coupon books...pull out the recipes…make a grocery list….
But on that same phone call (because we never talk about just one thing) Mom reminded us of the story of Mary and Martha, and the importance of sitting at Jesus’ feet. We decided to make it our next series on the blog.
You know the story well:
“Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. but Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42)
The holidays might seem like an odd time to talk about sitting and listening. But maybe it’s the most important time. When are we more “distracted with much serving”? When do worldly lights most threaten to obscure our vision of the Greatest Light of all?
So, come with us to Bethany this holiday season. In the midst of all the distractions, let’s sit at Jesus’ feet. And listen.
2009 at 10:57 am | by Carolyn Mahaney
Filed under
Homemaking Holidays and Seasons
The winner of our Fall Decorating Contest is….Renee B.!
Instructions w/ pictures
Thank you, Renee, for your simple, lovely idea to add “surprise and beauty” to my home.
Yesterday, with the help of Janelle and four of my grandchildren, I purchased supplies from Michaels and picked six pumpkins from a local farm market. We followed Renee’s instructions, and now two beautiful pumpkin topiaries adorn my front entry.
I think Edith Schaeffer would be pleased. More importantly, my family is blessed.
Thanks to every one who participated—I can’t wait to try many of your ideas!
2009 at 3:36 pm | by Janelle Bradshaw
Filed under
Homemaking Holidays and Seasons
Well, once again, y’all have outdone yourselves with another girltalk contest!
On a personal note, we are really grateful for your help. This pumpkin is the extent of Nicole’s fall decorating at the moment.
Sad, I know. But not for long! Thanks to you gals, we have more ideas than we know what to do with. We have three runners up to feature today:
Talitha C.
Instructions w/ pictures
Carol S.
Instructions w/ pictures
Christina G.
Instructions w/ picture
Ladies, these were fabulous ideas. You will each receive a copy of Edith Schaeffer’s book, The Hidden Art of Homemaking
.
Check back tomorrow for our grand-prize winner!
2009 at 10:34 am | by Carolyn Mahaney
Filed under
Homemaking Holidays and Seasons
As a new bride, I was inspired by Edith Schaeffer’s The Hidden Art of Homemaking to create a centerpiece every night for dinner—“transforming [our] ordinary meal-table into a place of surprise and beauty.”
I tried to conjure up in my mind original centerpiece ideas, but nothing ever came. I tried collecting stuff from around the house to create a centerpiece, but my efforts left a lot to be desired. Wildflowers in a vase were as imaginative as I got.
Finally, I had to accept that I am inept when it comes to centerpieces. I abandoned my nightly goal and settled for a candle, which I occasionally remember to light.
Each new season, however, I still get inspired to freshly decorate my table, front door, and entire home with appropriate colors and ornaments. With the arrival of fall, I have the urge to fill my house with pumpkins, apples, dried leaves and gourds. But I’m as incompetent as ever when it comes to creating decorations.
I need help and so I’ve decided to run a contest. Please send us your fall decorating ideas—centerpieces, wreaths, or any kind of fall-themed home decoration. All craft ideas must be simple enough for someone like me to assemble, and if you can send a picture along with your instructions, that is preferred.
Contact us, or email us directly (with attachments) at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). The prize for our favorite idea is a $50 gift card to Michaels, or an online store of your choice (if you live outside the US/Canada or don’t have a Michaels in your area). Deadline is next Friday, October 9th.
Help me bring surprise and beauty to my home this fall!
2009 at 1:42 pm | by Nicole Whitacre
Filed under
Homemaking Holidays and Seasons
Did you ever hear about the guy who told his children that “Labor Day” was a day set aside for working extra hard? Apparently he kept them busy all day doing jobs around the house and it wasn’t until years later that they learned that while they were laboring on Labor Day, everyone else was resting! I don’t know if the story is truth or legend, but I’m thinking of trying it out on my kids when they get a little older; so nobody tell them about it, OK?
Actually, this dad (and me too!) could stand to benefit from a sermon by Jeff Purswell called: “A Biblical Understanding of Leisure.” Here Jeff answers the question: “Is it possible for a Christian to enjoy leisure and glorify God at the same time?” What a pertinent question for the Labor Day holiday. So, before you fire up the grill or settle in the lawn chair, let me encourage you to download, listen and apply.
This sermon pairs well with a tall glass of homemade lemonade.
2009 at 9:14 am | by Janelle Bradshaw
Filed under
Homemaking Holidays and Seasons Series Resource Recommendations
It’s almost here—Father’s Day, that is. My sisters, Chad, and I are faced with our yearly dilemma: What on earth do we get Dad? I mean you can only give so many Barnes and Noble gift cards before that gets really old.
But what else is there?
My dad is a man with a few, clear passions that don’t make gift buying easy. He loves the gospel, my mom, his family, the church, reading, sports, raspberries and lobster, in that order. (Although maybe lobster comes before raspberries…I’ll have to ask).
So what about raspberries or lobster? Done that. Lots of times. Remember, this is all we have to work with for his birthday and Christmas too. And you thought your dad was tough to buy for!
So, when Abby emailed us to request that we ask our dad for a few Father’s Day book ideas for your dad, we took pity on her, and all of you. We got a book list from Dad, and we’ve posted his ideas below. We figured that since we weren’t making any progress with our gift giving, we may as well try to help someone else.
Seriously, we hope one of these books will be the perfect gift for your dad. Wish him a Happy Father’s Day for us.
P.S. And if any creative gift ideas for our dad just happen to pop into your mind, please feel obligated to email us.
A. Lincoln: A Biography
Killing Hitler: The Plots, The Assassins, and the Dictator Who Cheated Death
Juicing the Game: Drugs, Power, and the Fight for the Soul of Major League Baseball
Breaking the Slump: How Great Players Survived Their Darkest Moments in Golf—and What You Can Learn from Them
Gilead: A Novel
Distracted: The Erosion of Attention and the Coming Dark Age
Sports Illustrated: The Basketball Book
Sports Illustrated: The College Football Book
Across the Line: Profiles in Basketball Courage: Tales of the First Black Players in the ACC and SEC
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