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Roasted Cabbage

Posted by Delightfully Doable on 11 July, 2014 No comment

This is the best, healthiest side dish you could make for any summer meal! It is super tasty and carb free! :) I’ve been making this for awhile and cabbage is only $0.66 at our local market. You can’t beat that for a side dish for an entire family and then some.

My husband and I can get sick of the usual stir fried veggies and opt for a different take on a vegetable side. This is great for those nights you can’t think of anything and want something quick!

Ingredients:

1 head of Cabbage, halved
EVOO
Garlic Salt
Sea Salt
Fresh Cracked Pepper

Cut cabbage in half.

Slice into large chunks.

Lay cabbage on foil lined baking sheet

Drizzle with EVOO, salt, pepper and garlic salt

Sprinkle to taste

Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes or until lightly roasted.

Yummy

Serve with Chicken Avocado Spring Rolls.

Tractor Cake

Posted by Delightfully Doable on 10 July, 2014 No comment

My sick little baby trying to have a good birthday! :(

My son had his birthday a couple weeks ago and as you all know, we headed to the beach to have our trip be quickly interrupted with an ER visit. Although, the first couple days were great, the last two were horrible. I state that very matter-of-fact as they were legitimately horrible.

For my sons first birthday, I didn’t get the pleasure of making his cake as we had moved 1 week prior and we were hosting dinner at our house. I also had planned a friend birthday party the following day at the zoo with lunch and cake. I had very little time to do much more than that. So, this year I was adamant that I would make my son a cake he would love; tractors!!!

I used two bread pans and baked the cake and manipulated the cake in more ways than one to turn it into a tractor. It was pretty challenging to say the least, but it worked out. I will also state that this is the first time I’ve ever made a cake into something other than a circular pretty cake. Practice makes perfection– so I hope!

I used Kit-Kats for the wheels and smoke stack.

Moment of Truth: Manipulating a cake isn’t the easiest thing, especially for the first time. You make a mistake and you must keep going. Though there are many imperfections, I was thrilled to have it resemble a tractor that my son would be utterly happy about. :) The older he gets, the better I will become! :)

Anxiety and Fear

Posted by Delightfully Doable on 9 July, 2014 No comment

As I have promised multiple times that this site is all about honesty and delighting in life no matter the circumstances, I am choosing to bring you on this journey yet again with me, as I face trials in my everyday life; good and bad. You will see my weaknesses and hopefully my accomplishments when I continue to handover my daily problems to Christ. Some may think I am too honest, but the reality is everyone has struggle, pain and hardship that they have to encounter throughout life; so why sugarcoat it? If you want life sugarcoated, than by all means, this isn’t the place for you. BUT….if you want an honesty coupled with hope….than please stick around and travel the path of living an extraordinary life with me as God has promised for those who seek Him.

This morning, I woke up with immense anxiety and fear. Starting my day off with such consumption is a horrible feeling and can be very debilitating. Within the first 30 minutes my husband and I got into a debate and unfortunately, it took place in front of my son. Second, I paid for it all morning long as my son was extremely clingy and emotional. As I headed to church I knew I couldn’t put my son in childcare as he has been extremely sick lately and until we really know what is going on, I can’t take that step. So, off to church with little man by my side, not understanding the full concept of what it means to whisper. The challenge it brought to take a toddler to church service was anything but easy and definitely a distraction. But….I knew I still needed to be in fellowship with those around me.

Lets just call it what it is….I am a basket case lately. I beat myself up for engaging in an argument, let alone in front of my son. I beat myself up for how I handle myself in the midst of trials and tribulations. I beat myself up for being emotional. I beat myself up for being exhausted and worrying all the time. If I am completely honest, I feel I have had my anxiety level under control for quite sometime until this past week. The devil knows my weakness and is out to bring the worst in me to light. He does a good job and unfortunately I allow it. Today, I realized worrying is only making me struggle to breathe, concentrate and focus on my son.

Thanks to prodigalthought.net

I came home from church and began to read my Bible to gain the Lord’s insight rather than my own. Mine always lets me down, leads me down rabbit holes I don’t want to be in and simply holds me back from the joy I’ve been given. I was reading in Proverbs and then continued to read in “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young. Boy was today’s message for me:

June 29th

As you get out of bed in the morning, be aware of My Presence with you. You many not be thinking clearly yet, but I am. Your early morning thoughts tend to be anxious ones until you get connected with Me. Invite Me into your thoughts by whispering My Name. Suddenly your day brightens and feels more user-friendly. You cannot dread a day that is vibrant with My Presence.

You gain confidence through knowing that I am with you–that you face nothing alone. Anxiety stems from asking the wrong question: “If such and such happens, can I handle it?” The true question is not whether you can cope with whatever happens, but whether you and I can handle anything that occurs. It is this you-and-I-together factor that gives you confidence to face the day cheerfully.

Was that not the Lord speaking to me? It most definitely was. From what took place the very moment I woke up until mid afternoon was exactly my own thoughts consuming me; “how can I handle what comes my way today?” The reality is this: I will have to get through this day one way or another. Do I choose to do so with anxious thoughts and doubt, or do I simply confide in the Lord multiples times throughout the remainder of my day? I will choose the latter.

I kept asking myself whether I am alive in Christ or consumed by emotion? There was a harsh reality to my answer. I was not only consumed by emotion, but consumed by angry selfish thoughts. I heard today that we often look to God to change our circumstances when we forget that Christ came and lived the same life we are today; full of sin. He walked the road of manipulation, anger, doubt, confusion, pain, agony, sorrow and temptation. He walked it because that is also the road we are walking. He doesn’t promise life will be easy, just as it wasn’t for Him either. Our focus isn’t to be on the hardship, but the glory we will one day receive. The only way we can keep that focus is to allow Christ to transform our minds just as I had to do today and will continue to do.

The feeling of anxiety plaguing my soul is a horrific feeling. The many thoughts that bounce back and forth without me giving approval, instantly encapsulates my soul. If you have ever had anxiety and the physical struggle it pours upon your body, you understand what I am saying. It is that moment I never want to experience again, and although I’ve given it to the Lord many times, it continues to creep up now and again. This is my “Achilles heel;” anxiety. Do you know what yours is? Be on guard and watch for it to creep up in the most unexpected ways.

Moment of Truth: When my anxiety takes over my body in a physical manifestation, I will choose to release it back to the Lord, begging and pleading to fill me with peace no matter the circumstance. I will not let my anxiety rule my life and waste another day. Lord, let my thoughts glorify you.

Creamy Chicken Rolls

Posted by Delightfully Doable on 8 July, 2014 No comment

Tuesdays Comfort food recipe goes to Creamy chicken rolls. I haven’t forgot it is summer and especially haven’t forgot to enjoy it to the fullest and trust me I have! But sometimes you want something not so healthy, not so “right” and not so crunchy from the mass amounts of vegetables you pile on your salad in hopes to fill you up longer than 30 minutes.

This recipe came to our table on an overcast evening when I was craving something not-so-healthy. My mom was in town watching my niece last month while my sister worked and her daddy was out of town. They came over for dinner and were able to enjoy this comfort food while my mom enjoyed her grand-kids.

Creamy chicken rolls are the best on a cozy day when you want some delicious comfort food and do not want to prepare all day long; delightfully doable. My sister also brought over garlic cheesy bread from Papa Murphey’s as she received a bunch of coupons for them for free. It was delicious and full of calories that fit right in with this dinner.

Ingredients:

1 lb ground turkey
½ onion, diced
1 tbsp parsley
1 tbsp minced garlic
4 ounces cream cheese
1 can olives, chopped (optional)
3/4 tsp paprika or chili powder (I prefer spice, add less if you so desire)
1/4 tsp red pepper chili flakes (optional)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 tsp garlic salt
2 packages crescent rolls
1 cup shredded cheese

Cook turkey with onion, parsley and minced garlic until no longer pink.

Add in 4 ounces of cream cheese.

Stir in slowly.

Once melted, add chopped olives and paprika.

In a separate bowl combine cream of chicken, sour cream and garlic salt. Use 1/3 of the mixture and spread on the bottom of a greased 9×13 baking dish; reserve the remainder.

Spread about 1/4 cup mixture onto each crescent roll.

Roll up and place in pan.

Squeeze them in where ever they will fit. :)

Layer the top with remainder of cream of chicken mixture and sprinkle with cheese.

Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes or until crescent roll is fully cooked.

I served this with baked corn and jasmine rice.

DIY Wooden Banners

Posted by Delightfully Doable on 7 July, 2014 No comment

My sisters came up with a great craft day last summer around the 4th of July when we came up to visit. They had already been working on them and wanted to invite me into the fun craft zone. While scrounging around in my dads wood pile one afternoon, my sister decided these random boards needed decorating and a place to call home. After finding many different shapes, sizes and types of wood, we brushed paint lightly on top of them and created our own touch to each piece for our home.

How to DIY:

You can use any scrap wood you find or go to home depot or a local lumber store and ask for some scraps they have laying around.

Once you have the boards you like, lightly brush craft paint across the board to create a weathered look to the wood.

Once dried, place stencils along the board aligning them how you prefer and tape slightly to hold the stencils in place.

Set aside and let dry!

Use a “twisty screw” as I prefer to call them, but better known as an eye-hook to hang with ribbon or to hold a nail.

Straight from my Mama’s house

Here are a few of our creations….

“Splash’in” in the hot tub room.

For the bedroom

Our guest room is green and purple

My sisters Laundry room

Our Office

Our laundry room is currently being remolded so I took the liberty to enjoy the sign outside today!

These are cheap and easy to make and can be used all throughout your house. You could purchase these at the store for $25-40 OR Do-It-Yourself for less than $5.

Sausage Cabbage Wraps

Posted by Delightfully Doable on 6 July, 2014 No comment

As usual my brain can’t always come up with creative ideas that aren’t boring and original. I wanted something and pasta kept coming to my brain as we haven’t had pasta in awhile. I wasn’t in the mood for pasta either but couldn’t think of anything else. Than I took a version of pasta cream sauce and flipped it around to make some yummy sausage cabbage wraps.

It turned out very good and had just enough spice without being overbearing.

Try it for yourself and see… let me know your thoughts.

Ingredients:

1 lb Italian Sausage
1 cup kale
4 tbsp cream cheese
1 cup milk
¾ cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 cup Celery, chopped
1 cup red, green, yellow or orange peppers, diced

Sauce:

You will make 2 batches of this sauce. One for the vegetables and a second for the wraps as a dipping sauce. (See note below)

2 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tbsp ketchup
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
½ tbsp Sriracha sauce
2 tbsp soy sauce
1-2 tsp Brown Sugar*

In a medium sauce pan, add celery peppers and sauce excluding brown sugar. Heat over medium heat until tender. Set aside.

In a separate large skillet, add meat and cook through.

Add in cream cheese

Stir in Kale and turn off burner.

Kale should wilt slightly.

And lastly, turn heat off and stir in cheese

And milk. Let it rest on the burner to help heat through. The cream cheese and milk help offset the spice.

To serve, take a large leaf of cabbage and layer with veggies, meat and Chinese noodles. Drizzle additional sauce on top.

*For the sauce on top of the wrap I use the same sauce as above, doubling the recipe and add 1-2 tsp of brown sugar to make for a great dipping sauce.

Or for appetizers simply use a smaller piece of cabbage and roll up and close with toothpicks.

4th Of July

Posted by Delightfully Doable on 4 July, 2014 No comment

Happy fourth of July everyone. My husband, son and I will be headed down to Bend, OR for the weekend. We will hit up Crater Lake and on our way home, head through Sisters for some delicious burgers. I will keep you all posted since we will probably have beautiful pictures as the area itself is absolutely gorgeous.

I have always enjoyed the 4th of July but as of the past two years I enjoy it a little bit more as my son was supposed to be a 4th of July baby. :) Our pregnancy was full of holidays and had I not got sick, I think we could have made it happen! Happy birthday baby, the fireworks are for you! :)

I hope you are all thankful for the country we live in, despite the common disputes every country deals with. Focus on the bigger picture and the freedom we have! I’m proud to live in America and I hope you all have a safe 4th with great memories to be had.

The city of bridges- we live in such a beautiful city

Moment of Truth: Apart from it being a holiday weekend, I pray that my son stays healthy and we are able to enjoy every aspect of our weekend as a family. Praying for safe travels, good health and a happy little munchkin is all I could ask for right now!

Is Life Delightfully Doable?

Posted by Delightfully Doable on 4 July, 2014 Comments Off

I was thinking about the name of my website today and how my caption below says “finding doable ways to delight in life’s circumstances.” I was also realizing how I’m the author and creator of my blog, which means I can share with you whatever I choose and also withhold from you just the same. I want everyone to know life has been anything but easy for me and that, in and of itself, is exactly why I started this website. My goal and desire is for those reading to gain hope while understanding life is not easy, but God did promise us a future hope and peace along the way. We can choose to delight in life, no matter the circumstance. Friends I am living proof of this and it is only by the grace of God, that I can do so.

I’ve spoke on forgiveness a few different times and have explained that the essence of forgiveness is not a feeling but a choice. If we can gain that acceptance, we will be better off. Same goes with life. The more you focus on the bad and the negative, the more your heart will become resentful and pessimistic. Choose to delight in life’s ups and downs and learn along the way. We will never be in a trial longer than it takes to learn the deep rooted issues God is asking us to obtain on a heart level; not a mind level. Knowing and doing are two entirely different concepts and have two entirely different outcomes.

My life as of the past two years has been extremely challenging. Well, let me go back a little further in history. My life has been challenging for years, but since I came to Christ, I’ve struggled more on a Spiritual level fighting against my flesh. My relationship with my husband has been very exhausting as we hadn’t really known one another when we got pregnant. We got married and two months later we had our precious little blessing. With that comes immense hardship. I see God working all things together for good, for those who love Him. But on the same hand, I see the consequences of my sin, living in sin and having a baby out of wedlock still has deep rooted effects on our marriage. Sometimes I get so angry, but than I realize God is taking my sin and turning it for good. It was my choice to live the lifestyle I had previously known and it’s also my responsibility to accept the consequences.

Thanks to harmonythoughts.com

Moment of Truth: Within those tough trials and those tough seasons of life, I am continually reminding myself to delight in life’s circumstances as it will mold me and make me into a happier, thankful person.

Pot Roast

Posted by Delightfully Doable on 3 July, 2014 No comment

“Meat loaf, beat loaf, double meat loaf. I HATE meat loaf.” Have any of you ever seen a Christmas Story with Ralphie? His little brother chanted this saying over dinner will forever remind me of my deep hate for meat loaf as a child. Or shall I say meat in general–I hated.

Chanting this song over dinner reminds me of the days I hated eating meat. My mom was the best cook in the world so I would fill up on all her incredible side dishes and opt out of anything that came from an animal…unless… it was a hot dog. :)

My new found love for meat is sticking around forever and that is why tonight you should make my delicious pot roast. Your crock pot will do all the work for you except make the gravy. :)

I grew up in small town no-mans-land where you grow your own meat and live off the ground. I had a hard time with this as I hated meat for 26 years of my life. I literally hated meat. I was not a vegetarian as I had a deep love for hot dog. But on the other hand, hamburgers, steak, pork, roast, anything and everything that required a slab of meat to be your dinner, was definitely not appealing to me. Truth be told, I did not like the taste of the meat. It had nothing to do with raising a “friend” and sending them off to the butchers. I never grew attached to our livestock as they were quickly turned into dinner and were stinky ol’ animals.

Years of homegrown beef and pork was something I missed out on. Becoming pregnant brought out the essence of who I am that I never knew existed. A girl who loves crispy bacon. juicy hamburgers and a good medium rib eye. Okay. This may not be the essence of who I am, but pretty darn close. I have a new found obsession with steak, hamburgers and bacon that cannot be explained. I could eat steak 5 nights a week.

Anyway, now that my new found love as arrived and seems to be staying forever, I opted to make pot roast for dinner. I was preparing dinner for my family while preparing an entirely different meal for a dear friend who just had her 4th baby. Cooper and I went to visit them in the hospital this past weekend and got to enjoy the presence of baby Matthew while only being a mere 36 hours old. He was tiny and adorable; definitely made me miss the days of a tiny little infant. :(

While I was focusing on their dinner, I wanted to make something as incredible as pot roast but without all the hassle; crock pot it was. I knew making two separate meals would be time consuming so I opted for something so delicious and yet allowing my crock pot to cook for me while I made their dinner.

Pot roast is always delicious especially with potatoes and gravy and while leftovers are wonderful, a pot roast sandwich is always on my list of must haves. Our roast came from Costco, they have really great meat and though they can be a bit spendy, you get a lot of meat. I bought two roasts awhile back and froze them both, you could not even tell they had been frozen by how tender they were.

Ingredients:

1 medium pot roast
Garlic salt
2 tbsp garlic, minced
Italian Seasoning
Thyme
Parsley
Salt & Pepper
3 cups potatoes, diced
2 cups mushrooms, chopped
1 cup celery, chopped
1 medium onion, diced

Place roast in crock pot with 1 cup water and turn heat to low. Season with garlic, minced garlic, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, parsley and thyme. Chop potatoes and mushrooms. Place on top of roast.

Add onions and celery.
Season with additional seasoning if you wish, and drizzle with EVOO.
Cook on low heat for 6 hours. When ready to eat, spoon out all vegetables and roast and use the drippings to make gravy (click here for recipe).
If you have leftovers, use the roast and gravy to make the best sandwiches EVER! YUMMY!

Meat loaf, beat loaf, I LOVE meat loaf now as well as anything that has come from an animal. :)

Crunchy Asian Chicken Salad

Posted by Delightfully Doable on 2 July, 2014 No comment

Asian Chicken Salad usually consists of Roman Noodles for the crunch and although I have had that from time to time and do enjoy it, I decided to opt out this time and go for a “bang” with no Roman but still Crunchy Asian chicken salad.

The homemade dressing with the delicious crunch was exactly what I had been waiting for all day long. I made it in bulk to eat throughout the week and my husband and I absolutely love it!

Ingredients:

4 cups Green Cabbage, chopped
1 1/2 cup Bok Choy, Chopper
1 cup cucumbers, diced
3/4 cup celery, chopped
1 cup romaine lettuce, chopped
1/2 cup carrots, shredded
1/2 cup radish, chopped
1/3 cup cilantro, chopped
Chicken, chopped (rotisserie chicken works great)
Chinese noodles, for topping

Asian Dressing:

2 tbsp Soy Vay Teriyaki*
4 tbsp rice vinegar
2 tsp srracha sauce (½ tsp if you prefer a little less kick)
2 tsp brown sugar
4 tsp sesame oil

Chop celery along with the leafy greens. Place in a large glass bowl.

Chop romaine.

Add in bok choy.

Chop cabbage and mix together.

Add in cucumbers, carrots and radishes.

Mix well.

After ingredients are mixed, add in cilantro.

This salad will keep in large glass bowl for 4-5 days allowing for small meals throughout the week. Only add the dressing to your individual portion to keep the salad fresh.

In your serving bowl that you are preparing to eat, add salad mix and chopped chicken (optional).

To make the dressing combine all ingredients in a small bowl to save throughout the week as well. Spoon one to two spoonfuls on top of your salad and mix well.

Toss your salad with Chinese noodles and slivered almonds.

This is a great side dish or main dish salad. It’s very refreshing and definitely filling. We have been addicted to this for the past week and a half and still have not got sick of it. :)

*If you do not have a teriyaki marinade, than use 4-5 tbsp regular teriyaki as it’s less rich than the marinade.