Chicken, Bacon, Mushroom & Snap Pea Skillet for the Homemaking Party

Welcome to the Homemaking Party! I've been experimenting with some gluten free recipes this week and this one is definitely a favorite. Let me know if you try it out!

Chicken, Bacon, Mushroom & Snap Pea Skillet (serves about 8)

5 chicken breasts, cubed
5 TB. cornstarch 
1 lb. bacon, cut into small pieces
2 TB. olive oil
1 1/2 c. chicken stock
2 TB. soy sauce 
3 c. snap peas
3 c. fresh, sliced mushrooms
salt, if desired

Mix cubed chicken and 2 TB. cornstarch together in a bowl and set aside. In another bowl, combine chicken stock, soy sauce, and remaining cornstarch, then set aside. Heat 1 TB. oil in a skillet on high heat. Cook bacon pieces for a couple of minutes and then stir in chicken. Cook until chicken is heated through. Remove to a clean bowl and set aside. Add remaining TB. oil to the skillet and stir fry the peas and mushrooms for a few minutes. Add in chicken and bacon, as well as the liquid mixture, stirring well first to recombine the cornstarch and stock. Boil and cook for a few minutes until the sauce has thickened.

Now for the linkup.  Please remember to return the favor by adding my button or a text link to your post.  Have a great weekend!




<a href="http://www.bloggingwhilewaiting.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnl3MBC08OHdVfVNA2p4AbXHr0RahzOHBRCnosiG00ylKdhunwQJxc6PdOC0n5x99dzbkOheOOhZHAiKstxXgMRdgmbBh-NrDdCn2QxdvHbGldwZ7vlnZcu5_lwiBita04s5UmA5IexKfn/s240/bluebirdbutton1.png " border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a> Hope In Every Season is on Facebook!  If you like what you've read here, please follow me and keep up with the latest posts.

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Millionaire Shortbread Bars

When I was in England last month, these shortbread treats were everywhere! Read on to see how easy it is to whip them up!

Welcome to this week's Make Bake Create Party! 5 hosts...5 blogs---SWEET! Meet your hosts:

If you haven't already we would love for you to follow us on Pinterest: 
Rachel @ Bubbly Nature Creations 
Sarah @ Hope In Every Season 
Kristy Still (Mommy Hates Cooking) 
Brandi @ The Creative Princess 
Vanessa {Nessa Makes}

Imagine how many places in the US you can pick up a Snickers or Reese's PB Cups so easily---that's how prevalent these were in England. These and carrot cake--but that's another post.

I came home and immediately began searching for them online. What were these delightful goodies called? I asked a couple English friends on Facebook and it sounds like they're most well-known as Millionaire Bars. The toffee chips on top are my own little addition. Enjoy!

Millionaire Shortbread Bars

Bottom Layer

1 ½ cup flour

¼ c. powdered sugar

¼ tsp. salt

3/4 c. butter, softened

Carmel Layer

½ c. butter

½ c. sugar

½ c. corn syrup

7 oz. sweetened condensed milk

½ tsp. vanilla extract

Top Layer

12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips

crushed toffee bits (optional)

Butter a 13x9 pan and set aside. Mix bottom layer ingredients until they form a ball. You may need to add a drop of water to get it to form---but I do mean a drop! Press mixture evenly into bottom of the pan. Bake at 325° for 30-40 minutes or until lightly browned. Let cool.

While shortbread is cooling, melt butter in a pot on the stove. Then stir in sugar and corn syrup. Once it's combined, boil for 4 minutes without stirring. Then, remove from heat, add sweetened condensed milk, and return to heat. Boil, stirring constantly, until it reaches 234° on a candy thermometer (about 5 minutes on medium heat). Remove from heat, carefully stir in vanilla (it will steam at you!), and pour on top of shortbread. Cool completely.

When carmel layer is completely cool and set (about 3 hours), melt chocolate and pour on top. Immediately sprinkle on the toffee bits, chopped nuts, or whatever suits you. Let cool and enjoy!

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There were lots of great ideas and yummy food featured last week.  Here are a couple of my favorites.  If you're featured, make sure to grab a "featured button" for your blog!

<a href="http://www.bloggingwhilewaiting.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src=" https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDRn09kU2RemU6LsKqKpqOxSc8lLCH9RDGzDVK164-4hJaY289rNS0LDGtgG6gOHfZ3qztHJIBAyR85U5zoDA-wpv7s0wvCPwTpE9Enlgg7f-zlcNbDGukTGMhU6Vz15YkqBkjpsBcl5Vl/s240/MBCFEATURED.png " border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a>

One of my favorite homemaking blogs is Penny's Vintage Home. She has so many neat ideas! I love her breadbox turned coffee bar. Super cute!

I think this Treasure Map from The Grant Life is just the most awesome thing ever. If someone gifted me with a roller blind, this is exactly what I would do with it! Thanks for sharing, Kelley!

Follow our Make Bake Create Party Pin Board where we will be pinning the projects linked up here!  

* Be sure to include The Make Bake Create button or text link to in your linked post; this is recommended in order to be featured!




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Now Ready... set... Link Up!!!

Hope In Every Season is on Facebook!  If you like what you've read here, please follow me and keep up with the latest posts.

Linking with:
Lou Lou Girls Party
Inspiration Monday @ Your Homebased Mom
Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch
Motivate Me Monday 
Modest Monday @ The Modest Mom 
Living Proverbs 31
Inspire Me Monday @ Create With Joy 
Masterpiece Monday @ BoogieBoard Cottage 
A Round Tuit @ Creating My Way to Success 
Monday Funday @ C.R.A.F.T. 
Making Your Home Sing Monday
Tabletop Tuesday @ A Stroll Through Life
A Return to Loveliness @ A Delightsome Life 
Teach Me Tuesday @ Growing Home
Tutorial Tuesdays with Hope Studios 
(Titus 2)s Days @ Time Warp Wife
The Scoop @Stone Gable

Am I Doing Enough? The Mixed-Up Priorities of the Average Homemaker

So I'm saved...so what?

Think I'm being flippant? No, just honest. How many of us have asked this question once or twice?

For me, it started out as an honest inquiry: since I'd given my life to Jesus, I wanted to know the next step in the Christian walk. A couple years later, I was wondering what real ministry God had locked away for me in his Super Secret True Calling vault.

Nowadays, I'm well past the honeymoon phase where I'm constantly surfing the waves of baby Christian emotion. I've also worked through my "true purpose" issues since discovering my husband and nine kids were given to me for a reason.

I think I'm now in the stage they call the day-to-day grind. I'm in the trenches...apparently.

Yet, after 15 years of walking with Jesus on a daily basis, I sometimes still find myself asking the question: is there something more?

Now don't get me wrong, this is not a wistful wishing sort of wondering question. I'm not saying, there MUST be more. I'm so thrilled and blessed with the life I have, I can't imagine anything more important and fulfilling for myself than what I'm doing right now.

It's more of an, "am I doing enough?" sort of question. Because, believe it or not, even grounded and mature Christians, even happy and loved wives, even mothers with NINE children, can buy into the lie that says, you're not doing enough.

In fact, just the other night I was telling God how I really don't feel compelled to do anything more than I'm doing already. The responsibilities of home and family are pretty much all I think I can handle right now.

Of course, there was the usual blabbering on about him showing me his will and blah-de-blah. Then, all of a sudden, WHAM! An answer.

"He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" ~Micah 6:8

Do Justly: Treat one another with fairness, be honest, walk in integrity, don't gossip, give one another the benefit of the doubt

Love Mercy: have compassion for one another, put yourself in another's place, think before you speak/act/condemn

Walk Humbly: don't put on airs, listen more than you speak, be who you really are, give all you can

We spend way too much time trying to figure out if we're in the right ministry, if we should take on that one. more. thing. We completely miss the essential character traits that are a million times more important to God than any good works could be.

Anyone with ears, let her hear: just because it's good to do, doesn't mean it's good for you to do.

More on this: Stop the Glorification of Busy