Thursday, March 31, 2011

Tasty Thursday - Turkey Burgers

I have tried many recipes for turkey burgers because they are hard to get just right. Often they turn out bland, dry, or both. BUT this recipe I found tastes delicious! The burgers are flavorful and so moist. And I wanted to share it with you! :)

Ingredients:

(this is for one turkey burger, for more you will have to increase the recipe)

6 oz lean ground turkey breast
1 1/2 tbsp sourdough bread crumbs (or regular if you can't find sourdough)
3 tbsp low-fat buttermilk
2 1/4 tsp green onions, minced
2 1/4 tsp parsley, chopped
1/4 tsp dijon mustard
1 dash Worcestershire sauce
black pepper to taste

Directions:

Preheat grill or broiler.

Combine all ingredients to form patty.

Grill until cooked thoroughly. (about 7 to 10 minutes per side)

Serve on a whole wheat bun or just on a plate with some cheese on top. :)


I hope you love it! I think I'm going to make these for dinner!

Brittany

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Child-like Faith

I think one reason God gives the world children is because they teach us so much about being a Christ follower. Not a week goes by that Madi doesn't teach me something about loving my Savior. One thing that has been on my heart lately is trust.

Our family has been experiencing some times of financial difficulty lately (which I am sure a lot of you can relate to) and my faith is being put to the test. It is extremely hard for me to trust unwaveringly in God to provide. I feel like I have to do something to help Him along or just at least have some control over the situation. However, looking at the life of my precious little girl, I understand a little more about what God means when He talks about having child-like faith.

As parents we expect complete obedience from our children. Yes, they often mess up and it takes time for them to understand what that means, but we discipline and correct when necessary. We don't expect them to worry about food and clothing, they don't worry about where they will live, children never ask if they have enough money to pay for our bills, and so on. Just like our children, God promises to provide for our every need. He expects our complete dependance on Him. We aren't to worry about feeding our family, about paying our bills, about clothing, shelter, or even transportation. God promises that when we seek Him above all else, He will be faithful to provide for our needs.

This is so difficult for us! Well, at least for me. I often talk about how I wish I could go back to the days where my only worry was which toy I was going to play with or what outfit I would wear. And then I catch myself and realize, that is EXACTLY how I should be right now. I should not be worrying about ANYTHING. When I worry, I am saying to God that HE is not big enough to take care of my problems. How preposterous is that? The God of the Universe who created all things can't handle my burdens? Especially when they are so small compared to what other people in this world are facing.

As a mom, it drives me crazy when I have to tell Madi to obey over and over and over again. I want to tell her one time and then that be the end of it (such a nice dream isn't it?). Sometimes I wonder why God doesn't just "spank my butt" as Madi puts it. He tells me to trust Him over and over again, and I fight and struggle against Him trying to get my own way.

What I love about the Lord is that He cares so deeply for each one of us. There is no problem too small for Him to handle. And just because there are 7 billion people on the planet doesn't mean that He doesn't have time to take care of each and every one of us. And when I become discouraged and feel hopeless and uncertain, I look to my precious child. How carefree and happy she is. How completely and utterly trusting she is. How she doesn't worry about what's happening in the future but lives completely, knowing that everything in her world is just as it should be. Just like what God wants for us.

much love,
bc

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Things I Love About Hilton Head Island

Ahhh. This last week of vacation was heavenly. Relaxing on a beach in South Carolina with my family was exactly what I needed.

It was our first visit to Hilton Head Island and we enjoyed it so much, I couldn't wait to share with you. Its a great, family-friendly vacation spot.

1. The beaches are beautiful and HUGE! The beaches at HHI are some of the most unique I have ever seen. In the mornings, the tide is far out leaving almost 600 feet of beach and little "islands" surrounded by shallow water where you can find starfish and sand dollars aplenty. I read in some magazine that the tide comes in 6-8 feet every hour, so by the late afternoon the beach is smaller and has lost the hard packed sand leaving just the fluffy white.

2. EVERYONE rides bicycles. Its one of the coolest things I've seen! All along the beach, down the roads, between the resorts, and everywhere in between you will see tons of people riding bicycles. You see bicycle rental shops scattered everywhere. On Wednesday we rented bicycles for the day and rode down the beach for about a mile and back to our resort. It was awesome! (Note to self - make sure your return trip is not into the 10 mph wind, it makes for a strenuous workout)

3. Although highly developed, the city has maintained tall trees and controlled landscaping so you can't see it all. Surrounding all the resorts, hotels, and golf courses are tall trees and lush plant life that disguise the expansive buildings. The result is a beautiful island that looks almost isolated in appearance but peeking through the trees you see signs of city life. As far as we could tell, the city has a building code that requires the restaurants and shops to keep their paint colors muted and natural and if you don't know what you are looking for, you would pass right by your destination and not know its there!

4. The Panera Bread has a drive-thru! This is really exciting to me (I know, I'm weird), but I have always wished our Panera had a drive thru, and then here, at HHI, it did! It was great to send Josh for a quick breakfast and he didn't have to worry about getting out. I know, its the small things in life.

5. Our hotel was the Hilton Oceanside Resort, check out their website here. It is an awesome place to take a family, but at the same time, if you are kid-free, you won't be bothered by screaming children. :) They have two pools, one just for adults and one for families, and the hot tubs are restricted to adults 18 and up. There is a playground, a fire pit, a ping-pong table, an upscale restaurant, and tons of other things we didn't get a chance to visit. Oh, and did I mention the pools are heated? What an added bonus!

6. The weather was great! It was pretty chilly in the mornings, but by noon it was warm enough to be on the beach and then hit the pool.

7. The resorts are grouped into "plantations" or clusters and each section has a guard gate where you have to check in before proceeding to your designated area. This is terrific because the public beaches are FAR away from you and not just anyone can have access to the beaches around you. We were worried there would be a lot of beach traffic because it was the beginning of spring break, but because of the controlled access, there were no problems.

8. I am throwing this one in for my husband - there are golf courses every where. I saw one designed by Trent Jones and a couple other notable people. So, if you or your spouse are into golf, you've hit the jackpot.

9. There is an outlet mall nearby! (soon to be two) There is a Tangier Outlet just down the road from the beaches and they are opening a second branch right next door. So, when you are taking a break from the beach, you can shop your heart out.

10. Last but not least, there are tons of fun things to do. You can play putt putt, go the the family fun center, rent a movie, take a boat tour, go fishing, ride bikes, hike a nature trail, play on the beach, and tons of other things we couldn't even get to.

So, if you are looking for a vacation spot, check out this website to see if Hilton Head Island is for you. We will definitely be going back!

Headed back to the real world,
bc

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Tasty Thursday! Oatmeal Pancakes

I love breakfast and its a great meal to have any time of day. There is something special about Saturday morning pancakes with your family. Lucky for me, Quaker posted this recipe on their Facebook page this week. I knew you'd love it!

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup quick or old fashioned oats, uncooked
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)
1 1/4 cups fat-free milk
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Optional Mix-ins:
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries (do not thaw)
1 medium-size ripe banana, mashed, and 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3/4 cup finely chopped apple, 1/4 cup chopped nuts and 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips


What to do:

In large bowl, combine flour, oats, baking powder and salt; mix well. In medium bowl, combine milk, egg and oil; blend well. Add to dry ingredients all at once; stir just until dry ingredients are moistened. (Do not overmix) Add one of the stir-in options, if desired; mix gently.

Heat skillet over medium-high heat (or preheat electric skillet or griddle to 375°F). Lightly grease skillet. For each pancake, pour 1/4 cup batter into hot skillet. Turn when tops are covered with bubbles and edges look cooked. Turn only once.

Makes 12 (4inch) pancakes


Hope you enjoy!! :)
bc

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

{the baby} 7 Weeks!

Only 227 days to go!

I can't believe I am already to the seven week mark. For the most part I have been feeling great this pregnancy, until last week. Then the nausea set in. Constant 24/7 nausea. And this week, the losing my meals constantly set in. To keep it from being too gross, I just can't keep much food down. In fact, I am celebrating the fact that I've kept my lunch down today. The first food/drink in over 24 hours! Whoo hoo!!

On another note, I am still wearing regular clothes, the tiredness has been relieved a little bit, and I am still so excited. Everyone keeps asking, when can you find out if its a boy or girl? And that day is still 13 weeks away!!! But, as soon as I am feeling better, we are going to start rearranging the bedrooms to accommodate a nursery. :) I have been scouring tons of blogs looking for nursery ideas, do you have any input? Send me a link!! I can't wait to share the creation of a nursery on the blog.

Its been a busy couple of weeks, but this weekend is Josh and my 6 year anniversary. I am hoping that I feel well enough to go out on a date. I can't wait to spend some one on one, uninterrupted time with my hubby.

~bc

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Tasty Thursdays: Pizza Burgers!

This recipe is another favorite of mine from the Biggest Loser recipe collection. I love it so much. Its great when you really want a hamburger with all the fixings, but not the calories.

What you need:

1 lb 96% lean ground beef
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 to 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp salt
3 ounces low-fat mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced
1/3 cup low-sugar or low-fat marinara sauce
4 whole grain/wheat hamburger buns

What to do:

Preheat a grill to high.
In a large bowl mix beef, spices, and salt until well-combined. Divide mix into four equal portions and shape into balls. Press each into a patty that is about 1/2" larger than the diameter of the buns.
Grill burgers for about 2 minutes per side for medium rare, or until desired doneness. Do not smash with a spatula. About 1 minute before they are done, place cheese on top and let it melt.
Meanwhile, put sauce into a microwave safe bowl and warm on low for about 30-60 seconds until hot. Place bun halves (cut side down), on an upper grill rack or away from direct flame until toasted, about 20 seconds.
Place each bun bottom on a serving plate, toasted side up. Place burgers on top of the bottom bun. Spread 2 tablespoons of marinara sauce on each bun top, flip onto the patties and serve.

Makes 4 servings.


I hope you and your family enjoy this twist on a traditional burger.
Bon appétit!

bc