Truth

Our country is suffering from a painful absence of truth, I would even go so far as to say an aversion to the truth. Aristotle defines truth in this way, “To say of what is that it is not, or of what is not that it is, is false, while to say of what is that it is, and of what is not that it is not, is true” Think about that for a minute. Now, compare it to the morning news. It feels as if the media is telling us constantly to say of what is that it is not and to say of what is not that it is; the very definition of false.

Have you ever seen a young child with a shape sorter? How many times does he have to try to force a shape into the wrong shaped hole before he realizes that it doesn’t fit? Does it help to berate him, constantly screaming that he’s wrong? What about if you too as an adult try to replicate his behavior, trying the way that is clearly wrong yourself? This is what our culture is telling us we must do. I would argue instead that the best way to teach truth is to model it.

As a Christian and as a parent, I love 3 John Verse 4, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” The entirety of 2 John and 3 John focus on this topic. Neither book can separate truth from love. If we are walking in truth, then we are also walking in love. 2 John Verse 6 says, “And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.”

Whether our culture believes the truth or not, we don’t need to get down in the mire and futility of untruth and argue with them. We simply need to live in the truth. By confidently living in truth, we can be a stark contrast to a culture that is losing its collective mind on all fronts.

How many times will people try to fit their square peg into a round hole before they look up and see that those who walk in truth are not suffering their desperate frustration? We don’t walk in truth alone so as to be unloving to those who are in darkness but instead in truth AND love so that we may point others to the light of Christ. Truth doesn’t need to be argued. It is just true, a natural law, whether we believe it or not.

Coming Home

During times of crisis when we can’t control the chaos of the world around us, I am always reminded of an article I read nearly two decades ago written by a woman who was a child during a period of unrest in Iran in the 1980’s. The family was in fear of the father leaving for work each day and the children leaving for school, but they had to leave each day anyway. The writer’s memories of that time, however, centered around how her mother made their home a place of peace. She couldn’t control the outside world, but she could do something about the place they returned to each night.

We are only now slowly emerging from a once-in-a-lifetime quarantine that began nearly three months ago in response to the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). As we cautiously begin to return, the country has broken out in protests and riots as a result of the death of George Floyd who died mercilessly at the knee of his arresting police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The news is bleak and heart-wrenching day after day. The world seems to be in chaos. As a law enforcement and prior military wife and mother of four, world events always affect my family. I can’t control the world but our home can be a refuge.

This period of quarantine has been a blessing in so many ways. It began just days after the adoption of our two youngest children after another monumental four year period of life in foster care. Through it, we have been able to enjoy more family time than we had in several years.

They have enjoyed playing outside, adventures in the woods, swimming, learning to ride bikes without training wheels, crafting, Legos, hands-on school, afternoon read-alouds together with Mom, and gardening with us in the evenings.

As sad as it has been that Emma has missed her graduation and prom activities of her Senior year, we have also had more of her around before she leaves and joins her big sister at college in the fall.

I want more than returning to normal after all of this time of respite from the outside world. While educators do the unenviable task of figuring out how to safely teach children in the fall and universities decide if communal living has a place in this new situation, we are coming home once again.

I’m excited to bring two little healing hearts home to learn using their interests and learning styles to fuel their education. Most of all, I am grateful for the time to draw close to God and lead them along His path as they continue to discover the world around them and thankful for a husband who gets me and supports my need to follow a good rabbit path every now and then instead of staying on the most traveled ones.

20th Anniversary Trip to Maine

What a thrill to share the trip we just returned from up the coast from Boston, Massachusetts, to Bar Harbor, Maine! To celebrate our 20^th wedding anniversary, the hubby and I wanted to go someplace we hadn’t been before and make new memories together. We were so excited our friends shared their itinerary from their trip to Coastal Maine last summer. There are just so many possibilities that I have a hard time making decisions. We were able to take their recommendations and adjust them to meet our time frame, a glorious six nights away from the responsibilities of home.

We flew from Nashville to Boston and picked up our rental car at Boston Logan Airport. The airline tickets and rental car were the only reservations we had made ahead of time. I had looked at hotels and tickets before we left, and availability didn’t seem to be limited for the last week of August. We wanted to be able to travel at our own pace without having to rush from one place to the next.

We drove from the airport up to Newburyport, Massachusetts for a late lunch/early dinner at The Black Cow Taproom & Grill. We enjoyed calamari and fish and chips on the beautiful covered deck on the water, then took our time walking along the pier and exploring the downtown.

After dinner, we drove up through the Hamptons and into York, Maine. This church in the Hamptons caught my eye at sunset. It’s no wonder the rich and famous vacation in this beautiful area!

Our friends suggested the York Anchorage Inn but it seemed to have drawn more of a party crowd on the night we arrived so we looked for something a bit quieter. We settled on The Lighthouse Inn and Carriage House. It a cute, old school place but very clean and comfortable. We walked down to York Beach and around the peninsula that night.

Home

We grabbed bulkies for breakfast at the Long Sands General Store on the way out of York the next morning. This classic New England deli was a really cool local place and the sandwiches were delicious.

The plan was to go on a Sailing Cruise on the highly recommended Schooner Eleanor in Kennebunk. We got word of an opening for their 11:00 a.m. cruise so we had to skip the rest of the sights in York to head on up. The boat itself is beautiful but the sailor dog took the show!

We loved the relaxing sailing tour of the coast including Walker’s Point, the 10-acre compound where President George H.W. Bush’s family has vacationed for generations. His great grandparents had a vacation home built on the property for a wedding gift for his maternal grandparents. It remains a place where they spend their summers from Memorial Day through Columbus Day. A large American flag is visible from the waters’ edge, and the presidential flag flies below it when they are in residence.

We continued our drive north on Highway 1/1A after the cruise and stopped for our first lobster rolls at The Lobster Claw in Saco for a late lunch. I had assumed they would be hot buttered lobster meat on a roll. Instead, the lobster is cold with mayonnaise on a bed of lettuce more like a seafood salad. Still delicious!

Next stop was the LL Bean flagship store in Freeport. It was fun to look through the huge stores for each department. I especially found the large department full of backpacks and lunchboxes fun to see as I have ordered them for years for the kids. They even had a monogram room to get them monogrammed onsite. On the other hand, who wouldn’t be entertained by a giant squishy beanbag chair?

We chose to stay at the Harraseeket Inn there in Freeport that night. It was a beautiful inn with a friendly staff. We had dinner at the inn’s pub that night as the weather was a bit chilly. Our stay included a wonderful breakfast buffet with French toast, two choices of frittata (a cheese and a veggie with asparagus), nice baked goods, fruit, breakfast potatoes, bacon and sausage, smoked salmon, and a curious dish of baked beans with pork. We had never seen those served at breakfast before.

We had planned to stop in Boothbay when we left Freeport, but opted to head on to Bar Harbor instead. It was a bit longer drive but we stayed on Highway 1/1A instead of using the state’s only Interstate Highway.

From there, we stopped in Portland for shopping. We looked at Sea Bags in one of the shops that are made from recycled sails when they are replaced. There are many beautiful colors and designs to choose from but they were a bit pricey.

Our next stop after Portland was Camden, Maine, where we enjoyed the local shops on Main Street and had lunch at the Camden Deli. We shared a sandwich, clam chowder, and cannoli but the novel experience of a traditional deli that is less common in the south was the real draw.

We toured some of the beautiful old B&B’s once we arrived in Bar Harbor but ultimately booked a room at the Bar Harbor Grand Hotel for two nights. After we got settled, we drove through Acadia National Park, stretched our legs on the Great Head Trail above Sand Beach, and picked up a map to decide which trail we wanted to hike the next day.

We were very pleased with the hotel desk attendant’s recommendations for dinner. We had lobster and fish and chips at Geddy’s Pub on Main Street after walking through the downtown area and checking out the sights.

We wasted no time the next morning going to Acadia National Park to hike the North Trail up Cadillac Mountain. It was a 2.2 mile hike up over large rocks so I was a slow-goer. As always, the view from the top was worth the effort.

We shared lobster and crab cakes and scallops for lunch at the Jordan Pond House after completing our hike and enjoyed the views of the water there. Then, we went back into Bar Harbor to enjoy the shops and the charming downtown. The cool temperatures had me imagining how cute the town would be decorated for fall.

We loved the Side Street Cafe that night. The best part? They actually served fresh-brewed Southern Sweet Tea! The burger and lobster rolls were quite delicious as well.

We had a hard time deciding where to spend the last two nights of our trip, considering going over to the White Mountains of New Hampshire while we were so close. Ultimately, though, we chose to go back down the coast to Ogunquit because we had to rush past it on the way up to make our cruise in Kennebunk.

We stayed at the Juniper Hill Inn there right on the edge of the walking downtown. There is more traffic there as it is a popular beach town with only Highway 1 as their main thoroughfare. If you’re looking at staying in this area, we would recommend staying anywhere between our hotel and Perkins Cove.

The Marginal Way, is the main attraction in this town! It is such a beautiful paved pathway overlooking the Atlantic Ocean there. We walked down to Perkins Cove and enjoyed dinner on the water at Jackie’s Too. The food was good but the service was lacking. They actually charge for refills on soda which I found disappointing considering what you are paying for food.

Perkins Cove is a beautiful area on the water with a footbridge to the other side of the cove that raises to allow boats access to the Cove. People from surrounding beach communities boat over for dinner on the water including our former President George H.W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush.

Our favorite place we ate there was Barnacle Billy’s Etc. the next day. We spent it doing much of the same, walking through town exploring wonderful shops and galleries. Ogunquit was a wonderful choice for spending our last two relaxing days away from it all.

Our last breakfast was at the adorable Cove Cafe. It was fun to soak up every last minute together. The atmosphere was perfect but we found the food a bit pricey and overrated.

We were able to drive back through York, Maine, on the way back to Boston to see the Nubble Lighthouse. What a view!

We are so thankful for our families who stepped in to supervise things at home so we could be away. When in Maine, eat the lobster!

Dream Porch

Our dream back porch has become a reality this year! For the past sixteen years since building our home, we have dreamed of adding a unique and functional outdoor living area to our home.

The original porch was only eight feet deep and received afternoon sun making it virtually unusable in the summer months. It only covered the area outside of our living room and not the back door entry that we use as the primary entry from our detached garage. Initially, it was also about three feet off the ground making it a safety hazard for little ones getting too close to the edge.

We began addressing the issues in 2007 by building a retaining wall and ramp (replacing steps) to hold backfill to build the ground up making better use of the yard. We used the retaining wall to also build in a grill to address another problem we face, constant wind. (Our previous grills had been recovered in pieces from down the road.)

For years, we cut magazine clippings and toured the local Parade of Homes collecting ideas for our Dream Porch. With the advent of Pinterest, my board went into overdrive.

https://www.pinterest.com/jhightower97/dream-porch/

We knew we wanted the new porch to come across to cover the back door area and extend out to the end of our retaining wall. It was built with a massive footer to one day support a roof. We also began to assemble a wish list of building materials, white bead board, stone, stained wood, etc.

After consulting with several builders, we chose Chad Howe and his company Legacy Homes & Remodeling to take on the job of removing the old porch and tying this new structure into our existing home and elevation.

Chad could really see our vision though we had a hard time explaining how it would look at the end. Many of the decisions had to be made one at a time as we worked through the project. He was diligent in seeking advice from vendors and experienced subcontractors when deciding the best way to go about each facet of a project that was so different from the normal room add-on or new construction.

The new porch is all we ever dreamed of, plus some! It addresses all of our needs and wish list items as well. We chose a 10/12 pitch to be consistent with our detached garage that faces the same direction. With the ground level already being built up to meet our main level, the porch has a massive presence.

It was built using 4 x 6 and 4 x 4 posts for support to allow for screen panels to surround the space. We chose LP siding for the exterior and a metal standing seam roof for the exterior. The treated posts will be painted to match the siding once they have had a chance to cure.

I love how the porch uses our existing brick and ties in with all of the materials we had chosen on our Pinterest board. The painted pine tongue-in-groove bead board covers the interior gable ends and knee walls.

The ceiling is covered with the flip side of the same tongue-in-groove pine. We stained it using Porter Paints Canyon Brown Deck Sealer which colors and seals all in one coat before it was installed. The material for the box beams was stained a darker color for a little contrast.

The existing retaining wall made a nice setup for the grilling area. It was also a great place to bring in some of the stone material we wanted to include in the project.

We used a commercial-type range hood vented out through the wall for ventilation over the grill. It works well to keep the enclosed area from getting smoky. It also gives nice task lighting when grilling at night.

My handy husband made the concrete countertops using a product called Z-Forms to create the bullnose edge and stained it using a small paint sprayer with a stain product.

We tied in the stone again on the fireplace and repurposed a beam from an old barn the Lawrence family had torn down for the mantle piece.

The nice fall breeze was working against me here with burlap banner. I’m loving decorating the porch for the seasons!

We used Eze-Breeze Windows on the porch. They are a vinyl porch window that comes on a screw-in frame with the screens installed. The window panes can all be raised, lowered or removed to suit the weather.

They can protect against a driving rain in a summer thunderstorm or be kept out of the way to allow the breezes through. Although they do not give an R-Value for insulation, we find that they keep things warmer in the winter just by providing a windblock and some radiant heat from the sun.

We used Yosemite Sand through-colored stamped concrete with a Charcoal release for the floor. It is sealed with a penetrating sealer instead of a top-sealer to make it less of a slippery surface when wet. We had it sawed on a 4′ diagonal and the overall surface resembles large tile.

While we were getting bids on the porch and making our final plans, my husband gave me the go ahead to look into installing a pool. We met with pool contractors as well during this busy time and I paid the deposit before he could change his mind! We could not be more pleased with our decision. It has given us countless hours of fun for our teenagers and all of the children in our lives.

Working with Jeff Bishop and Pleasure Pools truly was a pleasure. I couldn’t recommend them highly enough.

http://pleasurepoolstn.com/

Everyone’s favorite feature we added was a glass garage door from Overhead Door for the end. It opens the porch up to the pool area when we need it and can be closed on summer evenings to help keep out unwanted mosquitos. It gives nice radiant heat from the sun in the winter months.

I must admit I was reluctant to use it because of the required track. We did not use an opener, opting instead to hand raise and lower the door. The industrial look of the track doesn’t bother me in the least now that it is installed.

A huge thanks to Chad Howe for turning our dreams into reality! We have thoroughly enjoyed our first summer and fall on the porch. We look forward to spending many hours in the years to come visiting with family and friends on our Dream Porch.

Sharing on Metamorphosis Monday at http://betweennapsontheporch.net!

New Life for Our Kitchen

Several months ago, we finally got to a project we had wanted to do for years. Changing out our laminate kitchen countertops for new natural stone. We chose Diano Reale honed marble. It is more of a natural creamy color and complements the honey-toned maple cabinetry well. Don’t judge my photography. I can’t seem to get the lighting right.

First of all we cut down the raised bar that divided the room. Notice my husband over there? In addition to the sage green laminate, you can see our white cast-iron enameled Kohler drop-in sink. I loved it so much I wanted to keep it but was advised to use an undermount with the natural stone. You will also notice my old pendant lights here with the more foo-foo chain assemblies.

I love how this simple change opened up the room! You can see the veining in the marble and also the new Kohler Smart-Divide undermount sink. It’s beauty is equal to the old sink and I love the low divide to accomodate large platters and baking sheets. The only thing I didn’t consider was how low the bottom of it is because it is a couple of inches lower than the old sink. It does make your back tired if you have a lot of dishes to hand wash. I’m not sure I’d recommend it for a really tall person.

Sugar Grove Marble installed our countertops. Chris and Megan were great to work with. Megan helped me work through the look we were going for and decide on the Diano Reale. It is traditionally used in a polished finish in bathrooms. I loved the natural colored granites but wanted something with a little less pattern. I loved the Carrera but the white and gray works better with white cabinets.

Marble will show rings and etching from acidic foods so we chose a honed finish which is duller to distract from that. Over time, it will develop a natural sheen and patina. I’m excited about a product that gets better with age.

You will also notice from the Before photo that we changed out our over-the-range microwave for a wall-vented range hood. The vent fan on the microwave was so loud it nearly drove me crazy! I love the sleeker look of the new hood as well as it’s functionality.

Here is a close-up of the white subway-tile backsplash that my husband installed. He even figured out the herringbone inset behind the stove with the picture-frame trim pieces. I’m so grateful to have such a handy dandy around.

Wonder what happened to the microwave? We added an electrical outlet in our pantry and put a small microwave there as well as the toaster oven that used to clutter the countertops.

I’m so glad our daughter talked me into changing light fixtures at the same time! After much searching for a lower-priced option, I finally splurged on this Orb Chandelier from Ballard Designs and haven’t regretted it for a second. My photo isn’t clear so this is one I lifted from Houzz.

For the pendants over the peninsula, we chose these seeded glass ones with a sleeker mount from Amazon.

This is the finished product. We have so enjoyed the fresh new look as well as the improvements in function this project has gained for us. If you are planning some updates, I hope this helps!

Source List:

Diano Reale Honed Marble – Sugar Grove Marble

Kohler Under-Mount Sink – Smart-Divide Enamel Sink

Lighting –
Ballard Designs Orb Chandelier

Feiss Pendant Lights

This post will be shared in Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch.

Grilled Shrimp and Summer Vegetables

Summer is here! The weather is a tad unseasonably cool in Kentucky on these first few days of June, but school is out. I couldn’t wait for the local produce to grill up this delicious meal Sunday night.

Grilled Shrimp and Summer Vegetables

1 lb. shrimp, unpeeled
2 yellow squash, sliced lengthwise in thick slices
2 zucchini, sliced lengthwise in thick slices
1/2 bunch fresh asparagus
5 baby bella mushrooms, halved
cajun seasoning
1/4 c. olive oil
2 cloves minced garlic
salt and pepper

Place vegetables in gallon Ziploc bag and marinate with garlic, fresh ground salt and pepper, and olive oil. Place zucchini and squash on hot grill and grill for 5 – 7 minutes per side. Remove to a platter.

Sprinkle shrimp liberally with cajun seasoning and place on grill using a grilling basket. Add asparagus and mushrooms to the basket. Grill these tender items with the lid open turning constantly with grilling tongs and removing each shrimp as it becomes opaque to avoid overcooking and remaining vegetables as they achieve desired tenderness.

Serve over a bed of buttered angel hair pasta with parmesan cheese. Enjoy!

White Chicken Chili

1 lb. cooked chicken
4-6 c. chicken broth
1 medium onion, chopped
3 ribs celery, chopped
3 carrots, chopped
2 T. butter or olive oil
2 cans white beans
1 c. frozen whole kernel corn or 1 can shoepeg corn
2 t. ground cumin
1 t. oregano
¼ – ½ t. cayenne pepper
1 t. salt
1 c. sour cream

Saute chopped onions, carrots, and celery in butter or oil until tender. Add cooked chicken (I used leftover frozen turkey) and broth and simmer for about 15 minutes. Add beans, corn, and spices and simmer for about 15 more minutes. Stir in sour cream when ready to serve. Serve with crackers or cornbread.

Happy New Year

I love New Year’s Day. From the parties, noisemakers, confetti, champagne, and the iconic ball-drop in Times Square, New Year’s Eve seems to get all the attention. While all of that is fun and games, I adore a quiet New Year’s Day spent at home with our little family watching the Rose Parade in front of a nice fire, listening to Bowl Games droning on in the background while I prepare a traditional meal, and looking forward to the main event. The HGTV Dream Home Special, that is!

I like to use dried blackeyed peas as fillers in my candle hurricanes in this mantlescape as a nod to New Year’s tradition. Speaking of food traditions, let’s get to the New Year’s meal. Beans or peas are on many families’ menu as they resemble coins. Blackeyed peas are the legume of choice in the south in a dish called Hoppin’ John served with cornbread. This hearty fare also incorporates pork which is also eaten as a symbol of progress by way of the animal continuing to “root” along and wealth because of its rich fat content. Cooked greens, ranging from collard greens to cabbage are eaten to represent money. My take on the green portion of the meal is coleslaw. Why, I don’t know, but thinly sliced home fried potatoes round out our meal.

Hoppin’ John

1 onion
2 carrots
2 ribs, celery
2 T. butter or olive oil
1 lb. breakfast sausage or smoked sausage, browned and drained
1 package, frozen blackeyed peas
1 package, long grain and wild rice
4 cups, chicken broth

Start by chopping vegetables into a fine chop.

I used the food processor to shred the ones in this photo. Then, add them to the soup pot with butter or olive oil to saute until tender.

Add in your browned sausage.

And your blackeyed peas.

And your rice, with the seasoning packet.

Finish with your chicken broth. You can use a carton, but I make mine when I roast a whole chicken and freeze it to use when I need it. More about that here.

Finished product. Yum! I can smell it already.

I always look forward to this simple meal after the rich dips and desserts of Christmas have come and gone. It is a carb-laden feast, but the healthy fare starts on January 2nd at our house. The interior Christmas decorations have all been packed away and it is time for a clean slate.That is what we all love about a new year, isn’t it? The old has been wiped clean. The year before us full of possibilities for us to experience, achieve or change. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” Make the most of yours in 2015.

One Chuck Roast, Three Meals

Does the recollection that Thanksgiving is a mere two weeks away or that Christmas is only six weeks away make your head spin? Me, too. With all of the myriad of items on our collective To Do Lists, let’s make our cooking do triple duty.

We’re going to purchase one large chuck roast (or two if one will not yield leftovers for your family) and use it to make three meals, one of which can be frozen for a quick dinner during the holiday season or for a nutritious lunch in the thermos on a cold day.

Meal 1
Pioneer Woman’s Perfect Pot Roast, served with Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, and Green Peas.

Retain any fat that you trim from the roast and pan drippings in your roasting pan. Return any leftover onions and carrots after the meal is served back to the pan as well. Add about 16 cups of water to the pan and cook right on the stove-top over medium heat until it reduces to a nice rich color. Let cool. Pour broth through a strainer and into quart jars, leaving an inch or so of head space. Freeze.

Meal 2

Beef Stirfry

Leftover roast beef, sliced (Save half of your beef for Meal 3)
1 t. minced garlic
¼ t. ground ginger
½ c. soy sauce
2 T. olive oil
1 onion, sliced
2 carrots, cut into thin sticks
1 broccoli crown, cut into spears (or snow peas, zucchini, or whatever veggie you have in the fridge)
4 mushrooms, sliced

Mix soy sauce with garlic and ground ginger and pour over leftover roast beef to marinade.

Cut all of your vegetables. Saute vegetables in olive oil over medium-high heat, beginning with the onions for about 5 minutes first.

Then, add in the carrots and stirfry until almost tender.

Add remaining veggies last as they will take less time to get tender, adding beef with marinade as the broccoli and mushrooms cook. Serve over brown rice for a quick weeknight meal.

Meal 3

Vegetable Beef Soup

Remaining leftover roast beef, shredded
2 T. olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
3 ribs celery, chopped
2 large potatoes
1 bag, frozen mixed vegetables
1 small can tomato paste
2 quarts beef broth
1 t. salt
1 t. sugar (to reduce the acidity of tomato paste)
½ t. pepper
½ t. parsley flakes

Saute onion, carrots and celery in olive oil until tender.

Add potatoes and one quart of beef broth and simmer for 15-20 minutes before adding remaining ingredients. Simmer over low heat until all vegetables are cooked through and flavors blend.

Serve for a meal. Transfer leftovers to pint or quart jars, leaving an inch or so of headspace and freeze.

Frozen Meal Helpers

Beef Broth and Vegetable Beef Soup

Enjoy!

Hawaiian Chicken

Last night, I braved the wind to face the grill again before it gets too cold. This is one of our family’s signature dinners, always a favorite.

Hawaiian Chicken

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/3 c. packed brown sugar
½ c. soy sauce
¼ c. ketchup
1 t. yellow mustard
4 pineapple slices, fresh or canned
4 slices, provolone cheese

Mix together a marinade of the brown sugar, soy sauce, ketchup, and mustard and pour over the chicken breasts in a mixing bowl. You can grill it immediately or put it in the fridge for a few hours to soak up the flavor, whatever your timeline.

Grill the chicken until done, flipping once during the cooking process.

Add pineapple slices to the grill for a minute or two.

Top the grilled chicken breasts with pineapple slice and a slice of provolone cheese. Cover the grill again for a couple of minutes to melt the cheese.

Serve over Uncle Ben’s Long Grain & Wild Rice. We always have mandarin orange salad with it, but will substitute fresh pineapple for the mandarin oranges since we just cut one up for this dish anyway.

Homefront Joy

by Jana Chandler Hightower

Truth

Coming Home

20th Anniversary Trip to Maine

Dream Porch

New Life for Our Kitchen

Grilled Shrimp and Summer Vegetables

White Chicken Chili

Happy New Year

One Chuck Roast, Three Meals

Hawaiian Chicken

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