Creative Family FunCheck out some fun and practical ideas that will help make family life fun! If you have any helpful tips or funny family stories that you would like to share, please send it to kristi@entrustedministries.com. You may see it on our website!

Creative Family Fun

FriFridayJanJanuary13th2012

Aunt Martha's Chili

Posted Friday, January 13 2012 @ 9 AM byAnnette Menconi Tagged Recipes 0 comments Add comment

My Aunt Martha shared this recipe with me when I was first married, and it’s the only chili recipe I have ever used. If you make it the day before, the flavors get even better. And I usually double the recipe to serve for another meal later in the week or freeze for another dinner on those days I don't have time to cook.

1 lb. ground beef or ground chuck
2 16 oz. cans dark red kidney beans, drained
1 green or red pepper, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 16 oz. can crushed tomatoes
1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
1 T. chili powder
1 1/2 tsp. salt

Brown ground beef, onion and green pepper in large pot until meat is browned and onion and pepper are softened. Add remaining ingredients, stir and cover pot. Simmer for 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.

Note: This recipe works well in a crock pot. I sometimes add a little more tomato sauce to the recipe if it looks too dry. It's also fun to make a chili bar by filling bowls with shredded Mexican cheese, sour cream, chopped scallions, Rufina's Homemade Salsa, and guacamole, along with a basket filled with tortilla chips. Your family, or dinner guests, will enjoy building their own bowl of chili.

WedWednesdayOctOctober19th2011

Lunch Box Love

Posted Wednesday, October 19 2011 @ 9 AM byErika Morris Tagged Handmade 0 comments Add comment

Here is a great way to use up all those odd sizes of scrapbook paper you have left over from other projects. Not into scrapbooking? That's okay, you can also use wrapping paper or construction paper to wrap these special gifts. Then use various stamps or simply hand-write a message to glue on top before slipping it in their lunch boxes. These cute treats will get a smile on their face at lunch time!

Materials needed: Bite-sized candy bars, paper cut to fit the bar, tape and your creativity!

FriFridayOctOctober7th2011 Top Tech Tips for Families?

Posted Friday, October 07 2011 @ 11 AM byEntrusted Staff Tagged No tags 0 comments Add comment

This past spring, while speaking at a family conference, Dave and Betsy Corning met a dynamic couple named Robbie and Denise Grimes. They were so excited to hear that the Grimeses share the same passion for Scripture Memorization! In fact, their ministry, Higher Ground Family offers many biblical resources for families, such as a Family Devotional with Scripture Memory Songs, (coming out soon) and fun children’s DVDs that contain a biblical message.

Robbie also speaks at schools on the topic of modern technology. Since we frequently receive questions on this topic from parents, we asked Robbie to share his insights with us. We will pass on to our Entrusted blog readers five today and five next week.

It is such a challenge to keep on top of the latest technology advances and this is a source of real concern for many parents. For that reason, we are extremely grateful for Robbie’s expertise and for his willingness to share it with us.

Get in the game — your kids already are!

Robbie's Top Tech Tips for Families

At a minimum, set the safe search settings in your browser or computer to “Block Inappropriate Content.” There are also accountability and filtering tools, like www.covenanteyes.com and www.netnanny.com. These filters and controls are helpful, but don’t rely fully on them. The Internet cannot be “childproofed.” That job is up to us as parents.
Check social networking rules for the minimum age requirement, but also use your parental judgment to determine whether your child is educated and mature enough to handle this type of social interaction. Just because 13 is the minimum age for having a Facebook page, does not mean your child is ready to be a member of the Facebook community.
Become a member and get to know the culture of the cyber-environments your children are interested in using before they join. Be sure they understand there will be an “open-door policy” with all technology they are using. They must understand you will be their “Friend” on Facebook and MySpace, will be following them on Twitter, and will be checking in on their other friends and the communication that is happening. Your children need to know you are there to help keep them safe.
Utilize the parental controls that are available on your child’s cell phone. Most providers have options to limit the amount and times of usage and to block specific incoming and outgoing texts or calls. Certain plans also allow you to set up a list of approved callers who can call or send text messages to your child.
Show your children positive ways to use technology. Model the use of an online Bible tool such as www.biblegateway.com or www.blueletterbible.org. Introduce them to a new educational game available on-line like www.funbrain.com, www.coolmath.com, www.exploratorium.com, or let the creative part of their brain grow by using a site like www.glogster.com.
Stress the importance of security with the technology they are using. Children should NEVER submit any personal information online unless they’ve checked with you first. Some websites require an email address and first or last names. Explain the dangers of sharing usernames and passwords with others. Additionally, ensure that your computer software is up-to-date. This includes the updates for the operating system as well as a firewall and virus and spam protection. Some popular virus/spam programs are www.symantec.com, www.norton.com, and www.mcafee.com. A free virus/spamware program can be found at http://free.avg.com.

TueTuesdayJulJuly19th2011

Playdoh Lollipops

Posted Tuesday, July 19 2011 @ 8 AM byKristi Jezek Tagged Recipes 0 comments Add comment

I recently came across this "playdoh" recipe that is not only okay but delicious for kids to eat! My children enjoyed the process...

of mixing the dough,
customizing the colors,
rolling it out,
and shaping it into lollipops...

almost as much as they enjoyed eating the finished cookies.

As you can see in the picture, they made all different sizes for various people in our family including some extra small ones for their favorite stuffed animals and dolls.

It was a fun and tasty summertime activity!

Ingredients

3/4 cup butter, softened
3 ounces cream cheese
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
assorted colors of paste food coloring
24 lollipop sticks (we used wooden skewers since it's what we had on hand)

Directions

In a bowl cream butter, cream cheese and sugar until fluffy. Add egg and vanilla; beat until smooth.
In a medium bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add dry ingredients to the creamed mixture. Stir till soft dough forms. Divide dough into fourths. Tint each with a different food color. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 2 hours.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Working with half of each color, shape dough into 3/4 inch balls and for each cookie place 1 pink, 1 green, 1 blue and 1 orange ball together to make 1 large ball. Shape into a 12 inch long roll (like a snake), starting at one end, coil roll to make a 2 3/4 inch round cookie. Place cookies 3 inches apart on lightly greased baking sheet. Carefully insert lollipop sticks into bottoms of cookies.
Bake cookies for 8 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool and store in an airtight container.

(recipe is courtesy of www.allrecipes.com)

MonMondayMayMay30th2011

Summer Fun

Posted Monday, May 30 2011 @ 8 AM byBecky Armstrong Tagged Activities 0 comments Add comment

Summer is quickly approaching at my house…The countdown is on until my daughter completes Kindergarten, which means our family is on the brink of our first summer break now that we have entered the “school years” phase.

I am approaching this season with mixed feelings—some days I am excited at the thought of having more time with my daughter at home, but admittedly there are days when my thoughts are more concerning. I moan, “what will I ever do to keep my kids entertained at home for eleven weeks ALL day?”

Of course my thinking is erred because it should not be my goal as a parent to provide 24/7 stimulation and fun for my children. However, I do want to avoid prolonged hours of watching television, and hearing the dreaded, “I’m bored!” My desire is to make the most of our days together, knowing that the time I have to pour into my children slips away far too quickly.

I’m gearing up to enter this summer season prepared with plans and ideas to enjoy the time together. Here are a few of the ideas I have brainstormed:

Daily Activities

Quiet Time together. We started out the school year with a family devotional at breakfast but that habit has waned. Summer is a great time to restart that commitment, especially when the school bus is not calling! I plan to have my quiet time in the morning and during that time let my kids read Bible storybooks on their own, and then read a devotional and pray together.
Scripture Memory. I am grateful to my own Mom who always made Scripture memory a fun part of our summer breaks. I can still remember the prizes I earned for learning Psalm 23 one summer and Psalm 139 another. I plan to review AWANA verses with my kids this summer and give them a special prize upon completion. Of course the greatest reward is God’s Word hidden in their hearts!
Limit TV time. My goal for this summer is to try to not turn on the TV til after 4pm as a wind-down activity before supper.

Weekly Activities

Let my kids choose a recipe and make that together (alternate dessert recipes with healthier snacks and entrees).
Write and draw pictures in a summer journal weekly or make a summer scrapbook together.

Special activities.
Of course we will make trips to the pool, the zoo and other fun places, but I don’t want to feel like we have to leave the house for it to be a fun day. I’ve compiled a lengthy list of crafty ideas and other unusual games and activities that are low-cost and easy.

Here are a few to get you started:

Puzzle Mania. Find every puzzle in your house and complete them all. Set a timer and see how long it takes.
Counting Game. Make a list of household items and have your kids count how many they can find in your house (doorknobs, windows, spoons, etc).
Create your own city using toilet paper rolls and shoeboxes.
How many different playgrounds can you visit? Print a map of your town/surrounding area and see how many you can walk to, bike to, or drive to. Rate each for number of swings, slides, best overall, and more.
Use all of your outdoor toys (such as hula hoops, balls, and jump ropes) to create an obstacle course for your kids.

So that last day of school is almost here. Are you ready? I’m excited to have extended time with the precious little ones the Lord has entrusted to me. Galatians 6:9-10 says “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

Becky Armstrong lives in Palatine, IL and has two children ages 4 and 6. She has served as first a small group leader and then later as a facilitator for her church's Entrusted with a Child's Heart group. Some of her own favorite summertime activities include spending time with family and friends, scrapbooking, baking, running, and dark chocolate.

Have more ideas for summer fun with kids? Please share them below!

TueTuesdayMayMay3rd2011

Chicken Imperial and Rice Pilaf

Posted Tuesday, May 03 2011 @ 10 AM byAnnette Menconi Tagged Recipes 0 comments Add comment

My sister shared this recipe with me years ago and it’s been a family favorite ever since. This is a wonderful, make-ahead main course that makes the house smell so good while baking in the oven. I always serve it with Rice Pilaf, recipe below.

Chicken Imperial

1/2 cup plain bread crumbs or Panko
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/8 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. salt
1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley
Mix together in shallow bowl and set aside.

12 T. melted butter (1 1/2 sticks)
3 cloves minced garlic
Mix together in shallow bowl and set aside.

6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, flattened
16 oz. fresh spinach, steamed and drained well

Dip each flattened chicken breast in the butter/garlic mixture, then in the breadcrumb mixture. Tuck a small amount of spinach under chicken breast before putting in un-greased baking dish. Pour any remaining butter over all the chicken in the baking dish. Squeeze juice of one lemon over the chicken and sprinkle with Paprika. Cover with foil and bake in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 15 minutes.

Note: I have made this recipe using seasoned breadcrumbs, but prefer the taste of the plain breadcrumbs. Also if your family doesn't like spinach you may omit it.

Rice Pilaf

This recipe was a staple in the Armenian home where I grew up. We never had chicken without having Rice Pilaf. This side dish always brings back fond memories for me - it’s one of my “comfort foods”.

1 cup long-grain rice (my favorite is Uncle Ben’s)
1 14 1/2 oz. can chicken broth
1/2 cup thin egg noodles
3 T. butter
1/2 tsp. salt

In a medium saucepan, melt butter and add egg noodles. Brown noodles over a low heat – watch that they don’t burn. Add rice and salt. Add enough water to the chicken broth to make two cups. Add to the rice and noodles and stir until well incorporated. Cook until broth comes to a low boil, cover saucepan and lower heat to simmer. Cook for about 15-20 minutes, turning off the heat before all the broth is absorbed. The rice will continue to cook and absorb the remaining broth. Makes about four servings.

TueTuesdayAprApril12th2011

Rufina's Homemade Salsa

Posted Tuesday, April 12 2011 @ 12 PM byAnnette Menconi Tagged Recipes 0 comments Add comment

When our daughter was in college she brought a girlfriend home with her for a visit. Rufina's family owned a Mexican restaurant and she taught us how to make the salsa they served to their patrons. It's become our favorite salsa and makes enough for a whole week of snacking.

3 28 oz. cans Italian plum tomatoes (I drain most of the juice from each can and save it in the freezer for marinara sauce)
1 clove garlic, minced
1 bunch cilantro, chopped
1 medium sweet onion, cut in quarters
1 jalapeno seeded and cut into quarters (use more if you like a hot, spicy, salsa)
2 tsp. kosher salt (or more to taste)
Juice of one lime

In a food processor, chop the tomatoes -- one can at a time so you have more control over the size of the chopped tomatoes. Pour into a large bowl.

Put onion and jalapeno in small saucepan and cover with water. Simmer until fork tender. Drain and chop fine, or add to tomatoes in food processor to chop.

Add remaining ingredients to chopped tomatoes in bowl and mix. Adjust seasonings to taste.

Refrigerate until ready to use.

Note: I chop the cilantro by hand rather than putting it in the food processor because it keeps the intense flavor of the herb.

This salsa is wonderful served with tortilla chips. I also like to have some on hand when I make a breakfast casserole or scrambled eggs for breakfast. Enjoy!

Applying Biblical Truth to Everyday Life