I LOVE Breakfast!!! It is one of my most favorite meals and I could eat it for every meal..I love it even more when it is easy to make and helps take some of that Christmas morning craziness off my plate. This recipe takes about 15 min or less to put together and is an easy one to involve the kids in making.

In the pictures below I made on smaller batch but the instructions will be for a 9x13 size casserole. Tip: Use a foil pan to help cut down on the clean up.












Recipe:

Step 1) Cut loaf of French Bread into 1 to 2 inch pieces and place into a greased 9 x 13 pan.

Step 2) Beat eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon together.

Step 3) Pour egg mixture over bread pieces. Press with a fork or back of a spoon to make sure the bread begins to soak up the egg mixture.

Step 4) Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.

Step 5) Topping Prep: In a small bowl mix together brown sugar, flour and cinnamon. Cut butter into small pieces and mix into the brown sugar mixture with a fork until it is crumbly in texture. Place in refrigerator.

Step 6) Morning of: Preheat the oven 350°

Step 7) Remove casserole from the refrigerator and sprinkle the brown sugar mixture over it.

Step 8) Cover with foil and bake for 20 min then remove foil and bake another 20-25 minutes until cooked through and golden brown.

Step 9) Serve with warm maple syrup.

Tip: To check if it is done give it a little shake and if it wiggles too much let it cook for another couple of minutes.

Tip: You can also add some small diced apples for an added layer of deliciousness.

Tip; You can also pre-cook some bacon in the oven and heat it up in the microwave the morning of.

Printable Version Here

Today we are sharing some of our favorite children's books with you. Over the years I have spent time accumulating reviews and recommendations from friends and want to share with you part of our book collection.

Hey, Friends, I am so excited to share with you an exciting favorite thing that Breeleigh and I have been involved in creating in 2018. Be sure to check out the video and the information below.
Below you will see the Table of Contents and an introduction to the authors of this study. These women and their daughters are some of the wisest, most humble, prayerful, fierce, and authentic lovers of Jesus I know. Together we are learning what it means to follow Jesus and invite our children along in our journey, and our heart is that you will join us in this journey as well.

Link to order the study is   HERE

Today I am sharing some musings about the never ending laundry, taking a break to wrap Christmas presents and sharing a favorite gift idea for Christmas. Next week I will be sharing some of our favorite books for kids that would make great Christmas presents.

I'm curious if anyone else struggles with spelling Broccoli? I always want to spell it with one "c" and two "l's". Seriously y'all I wrote this entire post and spelled it wrong in the whole thing and then had to edit it. Do you ever have a specific word that you question your spelling of? I have a whole list.

Anyway, I am super excited to be sharing with you my Broccoli Cheese Soup Recipe. I grew up going to Black-eyed Pea Restaurants as a kid and would always order Cheese Broccoli Soup with a side of fried okra. (Seriously though I really love me some good fried okra.) So several years ago, when the local Black-eyed Peas closed and Todd and I were newly married and broke and eating out was limited, I set out to find recipes for some of our favorite dishes from local restaurants. One being a good Broccoli Cheese Soup recipe. I tried a couple of different recipes and finally found one that was nearly perfect to what I grew up loving. The original recipe can be found at  https://www.melskitchencafe.com/broccoli-cheese-soup/. The recipe below is a slight variation of their amazing original.

So let's make some soup!


When I make this recipe the first thing that I do is dice up some yellow onion. The recipe calls for one small onion, but I like to chop a large onion and freeze half of it to use in another recipe later. Again, we want to find ways to simplify life and if I can avoid cutting into an onion I am going to take it. I have tried various hacks to not bawl my eyes out when cutting an onion but nothing helps. So here I put it in my handy Goodwill find of a mini processor and let it do the hard work. While I have my cutting board out I will also go ahead and cut up my broccoli crowns.

 
Next, I simmer the onion in Chicken Broth ( I use water and chicken bouillon. I find it more convenient, cost-effective, and takes up less pantry space than cans of broth).


In a separate pot, I melt the butter, then add flour salt and pepper.


Once that has started to thicken I add the warmed milk and stir until it starts to thicken again. Once that happens I add the onion and broth mixture to the flour and milk mixture and stir.

Once that has mixed well I add my cheddar and slices of swiss and stir until cheese has melted into the soup. (I like sharp cheddar the best for this recipe but I'll use whatever I have.)


Once the cheese is melted I will add the steamed broccoli. Be sure to salt and pepper to taste.


Hope y'all enjoy making this recipe.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of Chicken Broth
• 1 small yellow onion
• ⅓ cup of flour
• 4 TB of Butter
• ½ tsp of salt (plus more to taste)
• ½ tsp of pepper (plus more to taste)
• 2 cups of milk
• 1½ to 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese, preferably sharp.
• ½ cup of shredded swiss cheese. (I usually have sliced swiss in the house and use 3-4 slices of swiss)
• 2½ to 3 cups of chopped steamed broccoli ( I use broccoli crowns)

Printable Version Here

So today I am in bed trying to get over a nasty cough and post nasal drip. UGH!!! I hate not being 100%. However, I still wanted to share with you a few of my favorite essential oil products especially since I am using a lot of them right now.


1) Doterra Onguard Throat Drops with a blend of Wild Orange Oil, Clove Bud Oil, Cinnamon Leaf Oil, Cinnamon Bark Oil, Eucalyptus Oil, Rosemary Oil, Cassia Oil, and Myrhh Oil,  are tremendous in helping soothe a sore throat and aids in boosting your bodies defense systems. My entire family uses these. It was one of the first essential oil products I was able to convince my husband to try. These were also a huge help after I had surgery a few years ago and had to be intubated. My throat was so raw and soar and these helped me tremendously in my recovery.

2) Doterra Breathe Respiratory Drops with a blend of Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Lemon, Melissa, and Thyme are fantastic for helping soothe nasal airways, support overall respiratory health, and even aid in focus and mental clarity. To be honest my kids are not huge fans of these but Todd and I use these when we have sinus headaches, nasal congestion, and to help open up our airways. It is a go-to when our nose is stopped up before we run to nasal sprays that are so addictive.

3) Doterra TriEase Softgels are a blend of Peppermint Oil, Lemon Oil, and Lavender Oil. This particular blend is a natural histamine fighter. I have liked this particular blend for some time, however about 2 weeks I truly fell in love with this product. Our youngest, as I said in my last post has been suffering from various sickness for a long time. Most of her illness is histamine related, most notable is her asthma and eczema. For her eczema, I have tried a slew of different creams, ointments, lotions, and medications both prescription and over the counter and nothing has helped eliminate it, only slightly relieved it. However, about 2 weeks ago I began giving her these capsules, one twice a day, and her eczema is completely gone. I cannot believe it. I am so astounded and thankful.

4) Doterra OnGuard Beadlets with a blend of Wild Orange Oil, Clove Bud Oil, Cinnamon Leaf Oil, Cinnamon Bark Oil, Eucalyptus Oil, and Rosemary Oil are an easy and conventient way to boost your immune system and freshen your breath. These are about the size of a pin head and so easy to take. You simply allow them to dissolve in your mouth to help freshen breath or you can swallow to aid in boosting your immune system. My kids find these super easy to take and I love how convenient they are.

Now, these are just a few of the essential oil products we use. I have a whole slew of oils that we utilize and cannot say enough of all the benefits we have experienced over the last several years. I also want to say that Doterra is simply one brand of oils and that there are others, including Young Living that have amazing benefits as well. If you do not know someone who is with either Doterra or Young Living let me know and I can hook you up with some friends of mine that are amazing and a wealth of knowledge.


Disclaimer:
5 Minute Moments does not provide medical advice and nothing contained herein shall be construed as medical advice. The contents of 5minutemoments.blogspot.com, such as text, comments, graphics, images, videos and other content contained on this site are for informational purposes only. Statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always consult your personal physician before starting any fitness or exercise program or changing dietary habits. The content of this site is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It is not a substitute for a medical exam, nor does it replace the need for services or counsel provided by medical professionals.

Cold and Flu season is upon us, and there is nothing worse than being sick smack dab in the middle of the holidays. One, we are working our tails off trying to get everything ready, meals cooked, gifts wrapped, cards mailed and two, we want to spend quality time with our loved ones. No one has time to be sick, especially this time of year.

So years ago when my now 6 yr old was about 2 years old she began suffering from constant illness. She had bronchiolitis approximately every 6 weeks, which took a solid 2 weeks to recover from. She also would have reactions to various types of foods with no real warning.  It was a battle trying to keep my baby healthy. Antibiotics would wreak havoc on her tummy. The nebulizer medicine would make her crazy hyper and irritable. So I began to seek alternative remedies that could help us in our struggle to be healthy. At about this time we began using Doterra Essential Oils, among many other things over the last 4 years. We've had some that work wonders for us and some that haven't. However, through this process, I have learned that I really enjoy discovering new health and wellness products and I want to share a few of them with you. (I will at some point share others that I love but these few are going to get us started.)

Enjoy the video and below are links to these products on Amazon. However, they can mostly be purchased at your local grocery or health food store.
1) Colloidal Silver: A natural alternative to antibiotics.
We use for cuts and scrapes. We put it in our nebulizer with 1-2 drops of essential oil to provide asthma relief. We use in a nasal spray bottle for sinus issues. We use in a dropper for ear infections. We gargle with it to relieve sore throats.

Here are three different brands that I have used over the years and would recommend.

Natural Path Silver Wings: Colloidal Silver

Sovereign Silver: Colloidal Silver

Silver Biotics: Colloidal Silver


2) Emergen-C 
We take this often. I especially take it two to three times a day when I am sick or feel like I am run down. It is tasty and helps boost my immune system.

Emergen-C Immune Support

3) Yogi Detox Tea
This is super helpful when we just cannot seem to shake the phlegm that seems to hang around for weeks on end. I will make a cup of this tea and give my 6 year old about a fourth to third of it twice a day to help her be able to clear her airways and breathe better. It has been a huge help to us. We usually purchase this at Kroger, HEB, or Walmart.

Yogi Detox Tea

4) Oscillococcinum
This is the stuff magic is made of. It really has worked to lessen the time and severity of my flu symptoms. It is worth having in your medicine cabinet.

Oscillococcinum


Thank you all so much for stopping by. I'd love to hear about your favorite health and wellness products. Feel free to leave a comment below or on the facebook or instagram page. 


Disclaimer:
5 Minute Moments does not provide medical advice and nothing contained herein shall be construed as medical advice. The contents of 5minutemoments.blogspot.com, such as text, comments, graphics, images, videos and other content contained on this site are for informational purposes only. Statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always consult your personal physician before starting any fitness or exercise program or changing dietary habits. The content of this site is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It is not a substitute for a medical exam, nor does it replace the need for services or counsel provided by medical professionals.

So I really wanted to title this blog post "Momentous Meatloaf Muffins", you know in order to play on the moments thing and because I love alliteration, but I didn't...so I digress.

Anyway, meatloaf muffins are another one of my family's favorites. My kids eat every last bit of what they are served. I usually serve these with green beans and mashed potatoes. Also, just so you know, I do use Instant Mashed Potatoes. They are cheap and so very very convenient. So no judging, please.

Now, this recipe is one of my personal favorites for many reasons, it is easy to double or triple, it is frozen in individual cooked portions (so it is great for anyone from singles to large families), it defrosts really well, and it only costs apprx. $0.60 per serving. For our family, it comes in especially handy when I need a quick meal to feed the kids on the go that isn't frozen nuggets or pizza again! Trust me...we eat those plenty.

So enough with my chatter. Here is the recipe for Meatloaf Muffins.

Ingredients:

• 1lb of ground meat
• 1 medium yellow onion chopped (I only use one onion even when I am doubling the recipe.)
• 1 cup Italian breadcrumbs
• 1 egg
• ¼ tsp of garlic salt
• ¼ tsp of Italian seasoning
• ¼ tsp of black pepper
• jar of spaghetti sauce

Step 4: Mix together ground meat, onion, breadcrumbs, egg, and seasonings. ( I like using my KitchenAid mixer but you can do this any way you would like.)


Step 5: Make meatballs a little larger than a golf ball, place one in each of the muffin tin holes, and press flat. (Gloves are optional. I keep a box of gloves under my kitchen sink. Link here.)






Step 6: Spoon spaghetti sauce over each of the meatballs. (Be careful not to let the spoon touch the raw meat as you will contaminate the rest of the jar of sauce.)



Step 7: Bake for 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees. 

Step 8: Serve or Freeze

Hope you love this recipe as much as we do!


Printable Version

Are you tired of dinner time stress? Do you blindly add random ingredients to your grocery list in hopes that a meal can be made? Are you over budget? Do you need quick affordable meals at your fingertips? Does the idea of meal planning stress you out or seem overwhelming?

Well, today I am excited to be sharing with you how I meal plan every month. Meal planning has saved me time, helped manage dinner time stress, and has helped me keep a firmer grasp on my grocery budget as well as our out to eat budget. As an added bonus, I've also included free printables for you that will hopefully help you as you work toward a regular meal planning routine.

Meal Planning in Moments
Meal Planning in Moments from Cherish Hamilton on Vimeo.


Step 1: Make a meals master list. I do this in the back of my planner. You can do this on your phone, in a Word document, or a Spreadsheet. I am just a paper and pen kinda girl so my planner works best for me.

Step 2: Choose which meals you want to make during that month. Maybe it's December and things are hectic so you need more go to easy meals, including freezer meals.

Step 3: Fill in your Meal Planning in Moments Printable or Calendar with events, holidays, and days you think you might eat out, then fill it out with your meals.

As a side note, this is just a guideline that I use throughout the month, not something I have to stick hard and fast too. Feel free to switch it up as you go. Writing in pencil may come in handy.

Here is mine all filled out. Please excuse my awful handwriting.

Now for a couple of tips for being budget conscience before you start filling in your Plan.

1) Inventory your freezer and refrigerator to see what freezer meals and ingredients you already have.

2) Inventory your pantry as well to see what ingredients are on hand.

3) Try making meals based on what is in your house before purchasing additional ingredients.

I hate having to toss food that has gone bad or has expired. So use it before you lose it!

I'm sure there are other things I haven't remembered but that is all for now. If I think of anything else I'll be sure to share on Instagram and Facebook, so be sure to follow 5 Minute Moments over there so you don't miss a thing.

Here are two printables I made for you. The first is for meal planning two weeks at a time and the other is for planning the entire month at once. It is all about preference and finding what works for you.

Two weeks of Meal Planning in Moments Printable

Month of Meal Planning in Moments Printable

He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few…” 

Deliciously Simple Homemade Spaghetti Sauce Recipe:

Welcome to a new chapter. Over the course of a little more than a year, I have stepped back from a lot of things that I was doing. I was weary and running hard and had very little margin in my life. In that time we moved, our schooling situation changed, and I stepped down from serving in different ways at my church. I've been incredibly blessed to have gotten to know my new neighbors and make some amazing friendships. I have had more time for my girls and to be more present with them in our day to day lives. I have continued to miss blogging and sharing my heart with those who listen and I have been spent a lot of time asking God "what's next?". He and I have wrestled a lot over the last several months. I have doubted his plan, his goodness, and my ability to hear him. I have also spent time resting. My mental and emotional health was failing. My anxiety has been at an all-time high and the bouts of depression have been suffocating. I have been seeking healing spiritually, holistically, and medicinally and God has shown himself faithful every step of the way.