Paying it Forward: Sharing Things I Love

The Belle Writers Studio - One of the things I feel lucky to have

After reading a colleague’s blog about how she is trying to give back this year by Paying it Forward, I decided to do it as well.

It’s been a tough year for a lot of people and I know sometimes the challenges have really gotten me down here at The Little House.

However, when I look at what all I have – our health (including the fact that one of our daughters made it through a brave and lengthy battle with a scary disease), our beautiful Fearsome Four, my friends, The Little House and The Belle Writer’s Studio, our land here, and the fact that we are working – I know the universe is smiling on us.

I blogged a few weeks ago about having two magazine that I love.

One of them, Mother Earth News, provides great information and tips on living a more natural life. The other, Country Living, provides great decorating tips, recipes and fun stuff on antiques, homes for sale, etc.

I love these magazines so much that I would like to Pay it Forward by sharing them with two Living Large readers.

All you have to do is post in the comments section between now and October 28 and I will draw two lucky winners.

One winner will receive a one-year subscription to Mother Earth News and the other will receive a one-year subscription to Country Living.

I apologize to my international readers, but you have to be a U.S. resident to win.

Your name will be entered into the drawing once a day for each post, meaning you can have up to five chances to win by commenting each day of a new post between now and October 30.

(Full disclaimer for my journalist friends: I have written for Mother Earth News. However, I am not being paid to promote the magazine, I just want to share it because I love it!)

I know some of you are thinking that magazines really don’t go with my overall theme of decluttering our lives, but all you have to do when you’re through reading is find someone (a friend or relative, a nursing home, a library, a doctor’s office) that appreciates taking your gently read magazines.

To end today’s post, I’ll leave you with a recipe that my mother got from Country Living so long ago. It was one of her favorites and now is ours.

Easy Cheesy Chicken

Take 1 package of chicken (I’ve been using the boneless, skinless thighs as we like dark meat) and wash thoroughly. Crush a half bag of Cheez-it crackers in a freezer bag. Mix a melted ½ stick of butter in the crushed crackers to moisten. Dip each piece of chicken in a mixture of beaten egg and milk and place the chicken, one by one, in the bag of crumbs. Shake to coat. Place chicken on a treated baking sheet (I use Pam).

Bake at 400 degrees for about 30-40 minutes or until chicken is done.

Good luck to the future winners!