WFMW - Children's Music

Today is Backwards Day over at Rocks in my Dryer. Instead of offering a tip, we get to ask for one!

Lately, we've been listening to a LOT of children's music. Specifically, a lot of Psalty's Kid's Praise from Maranatha. If I didn't already have most of it memorized from my own childhood, I certainly do now! Now, I love Psalty. And Colby. And I'm even somewhat fond of G.T. and the Halo Express. But those are all leftovers from my own childhood, and I'm sure (at least, I'm hopeful!) that there is more fantastic music that has been created since then. I'm looking for music that is first good (i.e. quality music) second character building, (specifically Christian, if possible) and third fun.

So...tell me the best kids' music you've heard (and if you want extra points, tell me where to get it!) As incentive, I'm offering a prize.

A PRIZE!!!!

I'll send a $10 itunes gift card to the person who gives me the best suggestion. Caveat: it has to be a good enough recommendation that I actually buy it. Sound fair?

Ok...go! :)

WFMW - factual mortage information

Searchlight Crusade is one of the most helpful sites that I've ever stumbled across. Dan Melson is a mortgage broker and realtor, and the point of his site is to expose all the not-quite-fraudulent and definitely-not-ethical things that go on in the mortgage business. He would like you to be educated, and if you read his site for awhile, oh my word you WILL be educated.

Everything you ever wanted to know about mortgages is there. As is everything you never dreamed of but also need to know.

AND he takes questions.

I don't know what sparked this kind of altruism - his chosen field is scandalously known for being full of very bad people out to make a buck - but I for one am really grateful for his expertise!

If you're ever in need of mortgage information, check it out. Excellent education in a difficult field surely works for me!

Do visit Shannon for more excellent tips!

WFMW - healthy eating

Every week I think, "I should participate in Works for Me Wednesday - it is such a good idea!" Only I can't ever think of anything interesting that works for me. ;) But healthy eating...this I can do! So here is one of my newest favorites:

“Cream” of Broccoli Soup
Original recipe from allrecipes.com – I tweaked it a bit to make it better.


4 cups water
4 cups broccoli florets
2 T butter
1 onion, chopped
1 large stalk celery, chopped
1/3 c. flour
2 T. chicken broth base
2 ½ c. milk (I used 1% and it was great – I bet skim would work as well.)
¼ t. nutmeg
¼ t. pepper
1 c. shredded cheddar

In a medium-sized cooking pot, add water and broccoli florets and bring to boil; reduce heat and cook for about 3 minutes. Drain, reserving the water.

In a blender, blend half the cooked broccoli until fairly smooth (you may want to add some of your reserved water to help it blend well.) Chop remaining broccoli and set aside.

In a large cooking pot, melt butter, add onion and celery and cook for about 3-4 minutes until soft. Stir in flour; cook, stirring constantly for about 1-2 minutes. Add reserved water and chicken broth base and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to medium; simmer, stirring constantly until thickened.

Unless you like little chunks in your cream soup (in which case, skip this step) transfer the soup to the blender and blend until smooth.

Return soup and blended broccoli to pot. Stir in milk, nutmeg, pepper, and chopped broccoli, and heat through. Just before serving, stir in grated cheddar.

Garnish with a little more cheddar, if desired.

The soup isn’t particularly thick the first day – it thickens overnight in the fridge, though. If you like your cream soup thicker, you can either make it in advance and serve reheated the next day (very good – we loved the leftovers) or you could try adding more flour or cornstarch to thicken the base.

The lovely thing about this soup is that it tastes really, really, really good, and just about as "creamy" as the not-so-good-for-you versions. It was a hit with both Gabe and Jonathan - hurray for yummy ways to feed the menfolk broccoli! :)