Kaake Family Blog

It's a Wonderful Life The Bell's of St. Mary's A Charlie Brown Christmas Samantha's Christmas A Christmas Carol The Nativity Story Veggie Tales: The Star of Christmas Kingdom Under the Sea: The Gift Bible Hero Classics: A King is Born

(picture taken from Budget Wise Home ) I have seen some really neat ideas online on how people celebrate Advent in different ways.  The definition of advent is a coming into place, view or being; arrival.  As we move into December, we want to really keep our focus on Christ and what He did for us.  Here is a list of things we plan to do for Advent.  Do you celebrate Advent and if so, what are your traditions?  We don't have a fancy calendar.  We printed off pictures of the creche and wrote things on the backs of those pictures.  We then hang them up and depending on how the day goes, we pick one thing instead of going in order.  This helps ensure we actually get everything done regardless of what kind of day we have.  Here goes.  Our Advent List: 1. Learn about a famous piece of art like the Madonna and Child with Saints 2. Read a Christmas story 3. Get our Christmas Tree and decorate 4. Make ornaments for the ...

I will be honest, I've had a hard time finding dressing recipes that I really like.  Thankfully, I've gotten a few thanks to my friends Kim and Jen as well as combining some good online recipes.  Hope you like them as well as I do.  They are frugal, healthy and yummy! Ranch Dressing and Dip  I think this tastes very similar to the ranch dressing from Logan's Roadhouse.   Ingredients: 1 cup mayonnaise 1/2 cup sour cream 1/2 teaspoon dried chives or 1/2 tablespoon fresh, chopped 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder 1/4 teaspoon onion powder 1/8 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper milk or buttermilk  Directions: 1. In large bowl whisk together all ingredients with the exception to the milk or buttermilk.  This will make a dip. If you want dressing, just add a few drops of milk/buttermilk at a time till you reach your desired consistency.   2. Refrigerate at least 1/2 hour be...

Here is a stockpot that has the turkey carcass, onions, celery, carrots, thyme and parsley.  I also poured in the juices from the turkey then added in water to cover the bones well. Here's a bowl of soup we had made for tonight.  When the stock was done I poured everything through a sieve and just kept the broth.  I threw all the dark meat into the pot and some fresh chopped carrots.  In a separate pan I made some basmati rice.  I don't like making it in the soup pot because all the leftovers become mushy.  So what we did was put a spoon of rice in the bowl, a scoop of cooked sweet potato and some of the meat and carrots out of the soup pan.  I then drizzled the broth over the top.  We ended up seasoning only with salt afterwards.  This was lovely!  Just one of many leftover ideas.  I have more ideas posted below.  Have fun! Pot Pie Bone Broth Soup Turkey Avocado Wrap White Turkey Chili...

Mmmm, Pumpkin Cheesecake with no guilt! Baby loves it!  Jon trying to make sure to eat it all quickly before brother asks for some.  lol! I found a recipe online that was changed up from a regular pumpkin cheesecake recipe.  I did a little changing of my own as you'll soon see.  This recipe was fabulous!  I would definitely use less butter for the crust next time but that's the only thing I'd change up other than the changes I've already made that you see below.  I hope you enjoy this as much as we do.  It's fabulous! Pumpkin Cheesecake by Miss Lizzy Ingredients Crust: 1 3/4 cups ground almond and/or almond meal (I used almonds and pecans. I also added in some salt) 3 tablespoons honey (optional - I did not add this) 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 stick melted salted butter Filling: 3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature 1 (15-ounce) can pureed pumpkin 3 eggs plus 1 egg yolk 1/4 cup ...

How many times have you driven down the road only to see someone holding a sign that says something along the lines of, "Homeless, Can You Help?  God Bless".  We've seen many signs and at times have helped in either the form of cash or purchasing food to give them.  Recently on Pinterest, I saw a bag that was full of items for the homeless.  Immediately, I fell in love with this idea.  I could help someone and not even have to question giving them cash because of possible alcohol or cigarette purchase (yes this has happened to me before).  We can have these bags ready to go and in the car any time the occasion may arise.  My hope is that whoever is in the car with me can get out, pray with the person and give them something that might make their life the slightest bit easier for a short time.  In the past, I have kept from helping others because I didn't see that it'd make that much difference.  I couldn't help as much as I wanted to so I ...

My sweet friends from my Health Nuts forum have been posting so many yummy looking recipes.  Here's some I want to give a try or have already tried and love.  Do you have any to share that doesn't contain wheat or sugar? Caramel Apples by Heidi of 101 Cookbooks Grain Free Pumpkin Cookies by Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist Roasted Pumpkin Salad by Heidi at 101 Cookbooks Pumpkin Pudding by Diane at The Whole Gang   I've actually tried this and it's so good!  I use maple syrup in place of agave. Rice Pudding - by me :) Spiced Cider by me Cream Cheese Stuffed Dates by me Maple Mashed Sweet Potatoes - I don't remember who I got this recipe from.   I will say these are hands down amazing! Maple Syrup Nuts Coconut Milk Hot Chocolate by My Year Without Sugar This is all I can find for now.  If I find more, I'll will most certainly add them.  Happy Eating!

I'm getting out this old recipe to share with you all.  I've used it several times.  The only thing I don't add in is the celery salt.  I got this recipe off another site that I cannot seem to find at the moment.  Anyway, here it is.  It's not your average chicken soup recipe.  It's full of more flavor.  Below is the excerpt and health info the site I got this from. "Down through the ages, home-made chicken soup has been valued and appreciated for it’s soothing and healing qualities when it comes to colds and the flu. I decided to investigate what it is about chicken soup that makes the ailing patient feel better. Here’s what I came up with- ‘All research agrees that chicken soup helps break up congestion and eases the flow of nasal secretions. Many say it also inhibits white blood cells that trigger the inflammatory response (causing sore throats and the production of phlegm.) Chicken contains an amino acid called cysteine- released when you...

photo credit - http://blog.cyber-rain.com/?paged=2 What do you do on days when it's dreary and raining outside?  Being a stay-at-home, homeschooling mom...these days can seem to last forever if we don't figure out something fun to do.  Here's some ideas we like.  If you have any, please post them below. Take the kids to an indoor play area.  Whether it be a free area like the mall, or an indoor play area like Jungle Java; sometimes just getting out can make a huge difference. Get out the board games!  We have so many board games but don't play them as often as I'd like.  It would be fun to have a board day extravaganza!  Bring on the popcorn! Have a story hour.  If you have an older child who can read, how much more fun for them to read to their younger siblings!  Lyshie has been known to hold both her brothers in her lap while reading to them.  It's so precious! Build a fort!  Did you ever make those forts with c...

I feel like so much has happened since my last post and yet not.  Let's see.... I had another test a month and a half or so later (maybe two) to see if my tsh, free t4 and free t3 levels had changed and they had not.  Although I will say overall I've been feeling much better.  That is until my doctor said, "Let's do a RAIU" which is a Radioactive Iodine Uptake test.  The reason this test is used is to see exactly what is going on.  He knows I have a nodule on my thyroid and wonders about Toxic Goiter.  Up to this point I had been doing all he asked and to be honest, it was all simple blood tests and such.  Oh and the saliva test which put me down for awhile but still...I wasn't taking toxins into my body.   I was struggling with this RAIU because you take a little pill that is actually radioactive iodine.  The next day, they do a scan and that will show them what's going on. The cons: I have enough health issues, I don't need to add toxi...

I came up with a new granola recipe I like even more.  I hope you like it as much as I do.  I tasted it before it put it in the oven and was afraid it would never get to the oven . lol!  Enjoy! Granola Recipe: Ingredients: 4 cups oats 1 cup almonds 1 cup pecans 1 cup sunflower seeds 1/3 cup unsweetened coconut 1/3 cup coconut oil or a combination of coconut and olive oil 1/4 cup honey 1/4 cup maple syrup 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 tablespoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon salt Directions: 1. Combine all dry ingredients and stir well. 2. Add in all wet ingredients and stir well. 3. Pour into a greased pan and bake at 300 degrees for 10 minutes.   4. Take out of the oven, stir and put back in for 10 more minutes or till golden. I haven't tried these variations but they should work pretty well.  To make pb granola stir in 1/2 cup pb and cut oil down to 1/8 cup.  Add no spices. For Cherry almond use no s...

Ham and Bean Soup Ingredients: water 2 - 48 ounce jars of canned beans 3 slices bacon, chopped in small pieces 2 ham steaks, chopped and bones kept 2 celery stalks chopped fine 3 carrots chopped fine 1 large onion chopped fine 1/2 teaspoon chili powder Directions: 1.  Empty beans into a large pot.   2. Place diced bacon and veggies in a skillet and saute till onions are just starting to get translucent. 3. Dump the veggies in the pot of beans and add in chili powder.  Also add in chopped ham steaks and bones. 4. Add water in - the amount is dependent on how much broth you want in your soup. 5. Bring to a boil and simmer for about an hour.  Serve or transfer to a crockpot and keep on low/warm till ready to serve.  Salt and pepper as needed. This will serve at least 10 people - maybe more. Gluten Free Cornbread Ingredients: 1 cup rice flour 1 cup cornmeal 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 5...