Work of the Heart

Well, it’s that time again. It’s about to be back to school. This year looks different, but regardless of what your school is doing this fall there are things you are going to need this fall. If your house is like mine, school supplies and craft supplies are running low.  Between finishing school at home and quarantine... we are making due. Here in GA, we are starting back to school as normally as can be anticipated. Masks included, if possible. My elementary age kiddo is pretty good on clothes, but definitely needs somethings to start the year. These are a few things that I have bought or will be buying in addition to the required school supplies. First, as a third grader... she needed a bigger backpack. Lands End is my very favorite place to order back packs and lunch bags! They are wonderfully made and hold up so well. My kids love the prints. The website allows you to filter the size of the backpack based on height. For me, this makes shopping for a backpack SO much easier.

Making chicken stock at home. I have been making chicken stock at home for years.  I used to use the crock pot or stove top....but it was an all day adventure.  Now with the instant pot it is SOOOO much easier.  We smoke whole chickens.  So we always have the chicken bones left.  If you cook whole chickens or even get rotisserie chickens from your local store, you can make chicken stock too.  Recently I have seen much on the health front  about the benefits of drinking bone broth. From gut health to joint mobility.  Rich and nutritious broth is all the rage. One of the reasons I like to make my own stock is I have control of what I put in it.  I can control the salt content.  If you have dietary restrictions this is huge.  I have friends who have family members who can not eat onions. Making your own stock is a perfect way to ensure that you have the rich flavor and nutritional content that your family can tolerate. We are big soup eaters in the fall and winter.  I make sur

Gnocchi is a great choice for a quick meal. I bought this package at the grocery store. It’s normally located in the dried pasta aisle. Gnocchi is great because it can be cooked in about 2-3 minutes. Topping it with cheese and salt and pepper is a great side dish to a piece of grilled chicken. For this meal, I wanted a one bowl meal. I had browned some ground turkey earlier in the week. I used that, probably about 3/4 of a pound. I used a bag of frozen broccoli. The hardest part of this recipe was the wine reduction... and really it’s quite easy. 2 pkgs gnocchi - - cook to pkg instructions, drain and set aside 1 bag of frozen broccoli - - cook to pkg instructions 1 pound of ground meat Wine sauce 2 tablespoons of butter 1/4 cup olive oil 2-3 cloves of garlic (paste) Cook garlic til is fragrant Add 1 1/2 cups of white wine. Turn heat to a simmer.  Add 1 cup water. Sprinkle in herbs & spices. I used salt, pepper, parsley and red pepper flakes. (To taste) While it’

Cheeseball This classic potluck staple has been forgotten in recent years. Most people experience with cheeseballs are during the holidays, and more often than not it isn’t pleasant.  This is not your grandmamas cheeseball. Cheeseball is a blank canvas for flavor. Let your imagination roll with possibilities. This particular cheeseball is chocked full of familiar and delicious flavors. Bacon Ranch cheeseball 1 pkg of softened cream cheese I/2 pack of dry ranch dressing mix 1 strip of crispy bacon chopped finely 1/4 cup of shredded cheese Cheeseball crust 3 slices of crispy bacon 1/4 cup of shredded cheese 1 tablespoon of dried parsley Chop in food processor until a small meal forms- - sand like texture. Set aside on a plate. Whip cream cheese first and then incorporate remaining ingredients. With non-stick spray on your hands, shape cream cheese into a ball. Roll in topping crust ingredients. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour. Enjoy with crack

Spring shopping is a little different this year. No window shopping, no stopping in to try on and no long walks through target with a Starbucks in hand. We are all spending lots of time at home. Unless you are a glutton for punishment, jeans are not happening. I found myself typing in things like ‘women’s loungewear’ and ‘athleisure clothes’ into my favorite online retailers search bar..  I have put together my favorites. Things that are comfy for all day teaching homeschool... but if you walk to the mailbox or take out the trash your neighbor won’t be suspicious whether you are in your jammies still. Athletic clothes are a must have... we are taking lots of walks and bike rides. Side note, we live in the South where it is already experiencing days of sunshine and hot weather. So most of my choices are warm weather friendly. Old Navy & Target are a couple of my favorite retailers for reasonably priced athletic gear. These blush 4’’ inseam athletic shorts are so cute (Old Na

I am seeing tie dye everywhere. So we decided to hop on that train. If you are like me you are looking for ways to mix up the fun being at home all day. I ordered a basic tie dye kit from Target . I ordered shirts from amazon and searched our own closet. This is an outdoor activity. I put out a tarp on our back porch as our work space. The kit really comes with everything, you just add water. I recommend having paper towel, baby wipes, grocery plastic bags and baking cooling racks. Don't be afraid to get creative.  The last shirt that my oldest daughter did (pink purple ombre) we mixed colors and really had a great time!  My other tip, spend the money on the nicer shirts.  I bought a pack of plain cotton tees...They turned out so cute that I wish I had bought softer more comfy shirts for the kids! All of use really enjoyed it and are super pleased with how this turned out. We will definitely do this again!