Families With Grace

Helping Christian moms create homes filled with grace, love & faith

Author: Stacey A. Shannon

Stacey A. Shannon is a freelance journalist and blogger who has been published internationally. She's also a Christian, a wife and a mom of two school-aged children. She started Families with Grace in 2019 to encourage Christian moms as they create homes filled with grace, love and faith. Be sure to get the FREE family devotion book, "Finding Grace at Home: 7 Days of 5 Minute Devotions for Families." It's a great way to help your family draw closer to each other and to God. Motherhood can be lonely. You weren't meant to go on your motherhood journey alone. Connect with Stacey and other Christian moms like you in the private Facebook group, Moms with Grace! And check out the books from Stacey A. Shannon as well!

How to start a new business as a new mom

Posted on by Stacey A. Shannon

Ideas for mompreneurs to get started while welcoming a baby

I’m excited to share this blog post about how to start a new business as a new parent. Charlotte Walker of HomeSafetyHub.com has some great insights for mompreneurs to get started in a business or side hustle. Charlotte herself has been passionate about safety her whole life and enjoys writing about topics related to homes and home life.

When you make the decision to start or grow your family, you have so many exciting milestones to look forward to. At the same time, though, it can be a period of overwhelming responsibilities. To meet your evolving financial goals, you might come to the decision to start a new business. While doing so can make this period of your life even more turbulent, it is a challenge worth undertaking for the sake of your family’s well-being. By keeping a few helpful tips in mind along the way, you can lay a strong foundation of support that will help keep your new child happy and healthy for years to come.

How to start a new business as a new mom Pinterest image 1

Start with a great business plan

You can reduce the stress you place on yourself during this hectic time by having an actionable business plan that removes some of the uncertainty from the situation. A well-written plan outlines the goal of your business, as well as the processes you will follow to attain that goal and the funding options available to you.

Your business plan should also describe the structure you will choose for your enterprise. For example, you might decide to establish a limited liability company or LLC to protect yourself from potential litigation issues and excessive tax obligations.

Develop Marketing Strategies

In outlining a successful marketing plan as you start a new business, consider both long and short term goals, analyze current market trends, set a budget and define a target audience. You’ll want to identify what platforms you will use to reach potential customers and develop an argument that creates conversions by emphasizing the value of your product or service.

Content marketing entails creating and sharing meaningful content that resonates with the target audience of that business. With a well-thought-out strategy, an effective content marketing program can generate more leads and establish trust with potential customers while helping a new business develop its brand image. Content creation is essential when you start a new business.

Prioritize Work-Life Balance

Mental health experts claim that as many as one in four Americans feel the stresses of a poor work-life balance. The ability to strike this balance should be a given, not a luxury. As a parent welcoming a new baby, finding that work-life balance is a necessity for ensuring your family gets the attention they need.

The best way to find a healthy balance is by building out a schedule or routine that accounts for all of your responsibilities while also being sustainable for your own wellness. As another idea, consider setting up a space for your new baby close to your home office so you can respond quickly when parental action is required.

Invest in Comfortable Clothing

New moms need comfortable clothing that can easily transition from a busy day of running their new business, to feeding a baby and then to some much-needed rest and relaxation. Finding clothing that is both stylish and supportive isn’t always easy, but with the right combination of items it is definitely possible! Look for relaxed fits like ultra-soft T-shirts, tunic tops, easy pants, and drapey yoga sets that provide plenty of air ventilation and don’t cling in any areas.

Save Time With Efficient Business Practices

Using the best tools and methods available will help you cut down on your daily workload, giving you more time to spend with your family. Premium accounting software and other examples of cutting-edge tech may seem like unnecessary investments at first, but the amount of time and money you can save in the long run can make these solutions absolutely necessary.

Another way to save yourself some precious time is by implementing a thorough document management system. This is especially important if you need to share files with clients, employees or collaborators. Keep in mind that PDFs are often the preferred file format. A PDF converter will allow you to streamline your filing and recordkeeping by converting files that are in different formats.

Find Help When You Need It

If you find yourself in a situation where you simply cannot give your young children the attention they deserve, it may be time to seek outside help. Hiring a reputable babysitter or childcare service can give you peace of mind in knowing your child is safe and cared for at all times.

There are few things as fulfilling as starting a business or becoming a parent. Experiencing both at the same time can be uniquely challenging but also unparalleled in creating a sense of accomplishment. Write a business and marketing plan, purchase some comfortable clothing, prioritize work-life balance, learn about efficient business practices and find childcare help to become a successful mompreneur.

Looking for more resources to start a new business as a mom? Join me this year at the Monetizing Mompreneurs Summit!

Monetizing Mompreneurs Summit information for 2023

Advice to my younger self

Posted on by Stacey A. Shannon

Words of wisdom for tweens and teens

When I think about whether I’d go back and tell my younger self anything if I could, sometimes I think I would. Other times, I think I wouldn’t.

After all, the life I’ve lived has formed me into who I am today. However, as my daughter is officially in the teen years, I have been thinking more of advice to my younger self.

Advice to my younger self Pinterest image 3

These nuggets of wisdom garnered over four decades of life have been hard-earned and oftentimes hard-learned. I want to pass along words of wisdom as much as I can to my children.

I know they won’t always listen. Some lessons they’ll have to learn the hard way. And they’ll learn lessons that weren’t even relevant to me as a teen, especially as it relates to social media. As a xennial, social media wasn’t on the scene for me in middle or high school.

I also realize that neither of my children are replicas of me. I see parts of myself in both of them, but they are fully and uniquely their own people.

So in thinking of advice to my younger self, I stayed away from specifics. Instead, I came up with 10 main points I wish all tweens and teens could embrace and take in.

Affiliate links are used in this post, if you make a qualifying purchase via my link, I receive a small percentage of the sale at no additional cost to you. It helps support my blog, so thank you for your support! Read my full disclosure here.

1. Don’t take everything so personally.

Honestly, at the root of not taking everything so personally is more this message: Not everything is about you.

Here’s what I mean. If you have a friend who isn’t as talkative one day, chances are he or she probably isn’t mad at your. Most likely your friend is tired or having an otherwise off day.

If your mom snaps at your for something small, she is most likely just juggling multiple things or having a rough day. It doesn’t mean you’re awful.

I’ve always been incredibly good at taking things personally. I see the same attribute in one of my children, especially.

But really and truly I’ve learned at least 90% of the time, the action or words I take so personally don’t really have anything to do with me specifically.

I wish I would have learned that sooner. I could have saved myself a lot of grief and anxiety.

2. Learn to speak up for yourself.

It took me into adulthood to find my voice. And even now, I still struggle to speak up for myself. Advocating for yourself is important.

If someone is treating you poorly, speak up for yourself and let them know it’s not OK before it’s too late.

In fact, I had a friend I was close with through middle school and most of high school. She would often say hurtful things that I let slide. And then one day, I’d had enough. I decided we were done.

Our friendship ended (for this and other reasons) when it might not have had I spoken up for myself and worked out the issues sooner.

Being a people pleaser never leads anywhere good. You can’t make everyone happy all the time.

Don’t be afraid to respectfully speak up for yourself and your needs.

And remember nobody can read your mind. If you have an issue with someone, talk to them plainly instead of passive aggressively.

3. Know you’ll find your people.

Some people make lifelong friends early on in life. My husband, for example, has a great friend who he met in fifth grade, and they have been friends ever since.

But not all of us are those kind of people. When it comes to friend “luck,” in fact, I’ve struck out more often than not. If I were to give advice to my younger self, I’d tell her to hang in there.

During the tween and teens years, you’re mostly just with the kids you know from school. Maybe you’ve found your people during these years — and that’s awesome.

But maybe you haven’t. Or maybe they are sort of your people but not quite. Know you will eventually find your people who “get” you and accept you for who you are.

As you get older and into college and work, you’ll meet more people. Some will be part of your life for a season; others will remain for a lifetime.

Don’t worry if you’ve not found your lifetime friends, yet. You still have plenty of time.

4. Stick with friends who stand by you.

Friendships are constantly shifting and changing when we’re in middle and high school. I have a plethora of stories just from my own middle and high school days! But, if you find a friend who sticks with you during hard times, keep them.

I will never forget the day in my senior year of high school when a group of “friends” spent the entire lunchtime talking negatively about me. One of my friends got up and left the table. She didn’t engage in the conversation and came to find me instead. She gave me support and encouragement.

To this day, she is still one of the only people from high school I see on a regular basis. When you identify your true friends, hang on tight.

5. Ignore other people’s opinions of you.

During middle and high school, I was very aware of other people’s opinions of me. I think that’s pretty normal. But sometimes we need to just ignore what other people think and live our lives.

Don’t be so busy worrying about what other people think of you that you let it shape the decisions you make. I know that can be easier said than done. I wish I would have learned sooner to not care about other’s opinions too much, though.

A great piece of advice I see floating around online is to not take criticism from people who you wouldn’t go to for advice.

6. Remember everyone has a story and a struggle.

To some degree, I think we all are aware everyone has more going on than we know about. Yet, we can easily forget that in the midst of dealing with our own challenges.

In giving advice to my younger self, I’d remind her she doesn’t know everyone’s story. Some people need more grace than anyone gives them. Some people need to be loved. Others need someone to call them on their actions.

Remember if you’re going through a difficult time, it doesn’t mean your friends aren’t. We can be very good at acting like everything is fine when it isn’t.

Sometimes the people who seem the happiest and most bubbly at school are the ones who cry themselves to sleep each night. Give grace, compassion and love to the people around you. Do they always deserve it? Nope. But, that’s what grace is – giving someone something they don’t deserve.

Give grace, compassion and love to the people around you. Do they always deserve it? Nope. But, that's what grace is – giving someone something they don't deserve.

7. Don’t be so stressed about academics.

Growing up, I put so much pressure on myself to do well in school. I have theories about why I did this, but they don’t matter.

What I’ve learned is nobody in my life as an adult cares what my high school GPA was. Did having a great GPA help me land a full scholarship to college? Absolutely. But, did I need to stress as much as I did over it? Definitely not.

My advice to my younger self would be to just let it go sometimes. To do well, do her best and get good grades, but don’t make that such an important part of life.

I completely missed my 16th birthday because I had a band concert that night. My band director threatened to dock my grade to a “C” if I didn’t go to the concert.

So instead of celebrating with my family as planned (and as I wanted to), I went to the concert. I didn’t want to risk my GPA. Looking back, I should have just stayed home and celebrated. And that leads to…

8. Relax and enjoy life.

I know life seems stressful and busy when you’re a tween and teen. I do remember that, but I can also promise you are in a phase when you can choose to just enjoy life.

You have some responsibilities, sure. However, you aren’t in charge of everything in your life. While that is sometimes frustrating, it’s also freeing.

Middle and high school are the perfect times to enjoy life. Try new things. Take up a new hobby and see what you think. Spend a Saturday reading through an entire novel.

Don’t get so caught up in the stress of life that you forget to also enjoy it!

9. Life will never go according to plan.

Poor younger me. She was a planner. In fact, I still am a planner. I love to have a plan and to-do lists. They make my heart sing.

But my best advice to my younger self is to know that life won’t go according to plan, and that’s OK. Your tween and teen years are a great time to learn to embrace the unpredictability of life. Get upset about the change in what you had planned if you need to.

However, don’t get stuck there. Move forward into a plan B, C, D or however many letters it takes!

One day, you’ll look back and understand why your original plan not working out was for the best. Or at the very least, you’ll see lessons you learned as a result.

And more times than you would guess, you’ll be thankful your original plan fell through because the alternative was so much better. Make plans, but know they won’t always turn out exactly as you envisioned, and it really is OK.

10. Give yourself grace.

Yep. I do harp on this a lot, but it’s something I wish my younger self knew sooner. I’ve spent a lifetime excelling at being hard on myself. I’m nice to people around me. In fact, I love encouraging other people and always have, even as a tween and teen.

But, whew! I am mean to myself. My inner voice says awful things and has no patience for mistakes.

I’m continually learning to quiet this voice and remind myself I’m doing the best I can. I truly wish I had learned this lesson from a younger age. It would have saved me from so many negative feelings and given me self-confidence.

See the video of this post here and on the Families with Grace YouTube channel:

Edible chocolate chip cookie dough you can make in minutes!

Posted on by Stacey A. Shannon

A delicious cookie dough dessert without any raw eggs

I love chocolate. A lot. A super lot. My favorite cookies are chocolate chip cookies. And I definitely enjoy some chocolate chip cookie dough when I’m baking them.

But, I don’t eat it otherwise, because the risk of salmonella. My son loves chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream. So when I discovered an easy recipe for edible chocolate chip cookie dough, I knew I had to try it.

Edible chocolate chip cookie dough Pinterest image

I first made it in 2020 when we were spending lots of time at home thanks to COVID-19. Since then, I’ve made this edible chocolate chip cookie dough multiple times and learned a few things along the way.

The first being that I need to double the recipe. Making just the amount for the original recipe isn’t nearly enough for my family!

I’ve made a couple of other tweaks to the recipe and it’s the absolute best. I just made a couple of batches for my son’s 10th birthday and knew I had to share the recipe for this edible chocolate chip cookie dough. I can’t keep the deliciousness to myself!

Prepare the flour

My concern in eating raw chocolate chip cookie dough used to be just the salmonella in the eggs. However, I’ve more recently learned raw flour also poses a risk.

Processing grains into flour doesn’t kill the bacteria in the flour. So this recipe starts with cooking the flour to get rid of the bacteria.

The good news is that you can do this easily in your microwave. Pour two cups of all-purpose flour into a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30-second increments, stirring after each 30 seconds, until the flour reaches 165-degrees (F). My microwave usually does this in two run-throughs.

A bowl of flour to heat-treat for the edible chocolate chip cookie dough recipe

I grab my kitchen thermometer and really do measure the temperature for this process to be sure. If you don’t have a kitchen thermometer, then just heat the flour for at least 1 minute in 30-second increments.

Mixing the cookie dough

Once your flour is all prepped and ready to go, you just need to mix together all the ingredients. I use my beloved stand mixer, Dorothy, for making this edible chocolate chip cookie dough, but you can also use a hand mixer or spoon.

Put your prepared flour to the side and beat the 2 sticks of room temperature butter with 2 cups of packed brown sugar.

The butter and brown sugar in a mixing bowl ready to cream together for this edible chocolate chip cookie dough recipe

You’ll know it’s creamed when it is thoroughly combined and fluffy.

The creamed butter and brown sugar in the mixing bowl

Next, add in 1/4 cup milk, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract and 1 teaspoon of salt. Mix the ingredients together. (Be sure to slow down your mixer before adding in the wet ingredients to avoid getting splashed by them. Yes, I speak from experience!)

The mixture should be thick, but still wet and clumpy.

The mixture with the milk, vanilla and salt added into it

Now you’re ready to put treated flour to work. Mix it into the mixture in stages. I usually put it in with a heaping tablespoon at a time.

The mixing bowl with a tablespoon of flour ready to pour into the mixer and begin combining it for this edible chocolate chip cookie dough recipe

Once the flour is all mixed in, you should have the consistency of chocolate chip cookie dough that is thick and soft.

The thick, but soft "dough" that forms for this edible chocolate chip cookie dough recipe

Finally, it’s time to stir in the chocolate chips. You could use full-sized semi-sweet chocolate chips for this recipe, but the mini ones work better and are easier to eat.

I use my stand mixer’s “stir” setting to stir in the chocolate chips, but you could also do it by hand. You want to avoid a higher setting that will break up the chips.

The finished edible chocolate chip cookie dough in the stand mixer

Transfer the edible chocolate chip cookie dough into an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. I can’t tell you how many days it lasts in the fridge beyond two or three, because my family doesn’t keep it around for long!

The edible chocolate chip cookie dough in an airtight container ready to go into the fridge

Serve it by itself, alongside fudgy brownies, with ice cream or however you think sounds best!

A "scoop" of edible chocolate chip cookie dough in a bowl with a spoon ready to be devoured!
Edible chocolate chip cookie dough Pinterest image

Edible Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

This edible chocolate chip cookie dough recipe is delicious and easy. Eat it by the spoonful, with ice cream or with any other dessert!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American

Ingredients
  

  • 2 sticks salted butter room temperature
  • 2 cups brown sugar packed
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups flour heat treated (see instructions below)
  • 1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions
 

  • Heat treat the flour to kill any bacteria contained in it by placing it in a microwave-safe bowl and "cooking" it in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time, stirring between each 30 seconds, until the temperature throughout reaches 165-degrees (F). Set the flour aside.
  • In a stand mixer or using a handheld mixer, add the butter and brown sugar. Beat together until well combined and fluffy.
  • Turn the speed down and add in the milk, vanilla and salt. Mix until combined.
  • Slowly add in the heat-treated flour at low to medium speed until it is well mixed into a soft, thick "dough."
  • Stir in the chocolate chips.
  • Put the edible chocolate chip cookie dough into an airtight container and store in the refrigerator. Enjoy!
Keyword chocolate chip cookie dough, easy dessert, edible chocolate chip cookie dough, no bake dessert

The best tunic tops for moms under $30

Posted on by Stacey A. Shannon

20 Tunic tops for leggings that moms will love!

Leggings are incredibly comfortable and these 20 tunic tops for moms under $30 will have your rocking your leggings and looking good! #TunicTops #Leggings #MomFashion #FamiliesWithGrace #Style #MomStyle #womenstunictops #affordablefashion

I was slow to the legging trend. It took a couple of years after leggings became popular for me to really get into the groove of wearing them. Now they’re pretty much all I wear and work for casual and dressy times. But, as a mom who is also fluffy, I’m all about having the right top to go with it. Sometimes finding the best tunic tops for moms can be difficult, but lately I’m coming across all kinds of them.

While I’ve found tunic topics in a variety of places, my favorite place to find them is on Amazon. Most stores offer free returns that I can drop off unpackaged at my local UPS store if something doesn’t work. I love tunic tops that are comfortable to wear and comfortably long.

I also refuse to spend more than $30 on a tunic top to wear with leggings, because I’d rather spend the money on my kids or something else. So, I’ve pulled together some of the best tunic tops for moms that are under $30. I have most of these tunic tops myself and love the way they fit, feel and cover. Even better, none of them need special washing or get super wrinkly.

(And if you don’t like the color or designed shown, rest assured that all of them come in various designs and/or colors! Many of the styles come in both long and short sleeves as well.)

Affiliate links are used in this post, if you make a qualifying purchase via my link, I receive a small percentage of the sale at no additional cost to you. It helps support my blog, so thank you for your support! Read my full disclosure here.

Long-sleeved tunic tops for moms

A tunic top with a black and white plaid top that has a cowl neck and a solid black bottom
A ruby tunic top for moms with a heathered look and lace trim on the bottom front of it
Tunic top for moms that has three solid horizontal stripes or color blocks. Shown in black, green and gray.
A tunic top for mom that is longer and more of a dress style. It is knit with pockets and large buttons down one side. It is shown in orange.
This tunic top for moms is a sweater style top with a solid body and striped sleeves. It's shown in a dark teal body with orange, gray, green and purple striped sleeves.
A sweatshirt style tunic top for moms that is dark gray with a blank animal print.
A cozy tunic top for moms that is a muted color with the cuffs, hem and color being darker. Shown in red.
A solid color tunic top for moms that has a scoop neck. It is shown in a deep purple.
A v-neck tunic top for moms that has a different color of cuff, neck and hem from the body of the top. Shown in light pink with gray trim.
A solid gray tunic top for moms that has a ruffle hem line
This tunic top for moms is a solid color (show in blue) with a hem line in the front that looks like it has a different shirt of a similar color underneath.

Short-sleeved tunic tops for moms

This tunic top for moms has a rounded neck and is a solid color. It is shown in green.
This is one my all-time favorite tunic tops! I have it in multiple colors.
A dress style tunic top for moms that has pockets. It is shown in black with white lines that are spaced apart and have a tie-dye look.
A solid color tunic top for moms with a round neck and an uneven hem. The trim of the sleeves and the hemline are in an accent color. Shown is a purple tunic top with black trim.
With a rounded neck and pleated bottom, this tunic top for moms is flowing and has a variety of patterns. It is shown in black with white dots and accents.
A tunic top for moms shown in a solid olive green with stitching (of the same color) around the sleeve trim, hem and collar.
A solid tunic top for moms with a round neckline and swing style. Shown in steel blue.
This tunic top for moms has crochet trim details on the sleeves. It is shown in a sage green with black and white polka dots.
This tunic top for moms is a henley style with three buttons on the collar. It is shown in black with a blue floral pattern around the bottom third.
This tunic top for moms has a more open neck and is henley style with three buttons on the collar. It is loose fitting and is shown in black, red and white floral pattern.

Looking for leggings to wear with your tunic tops? Check out these leggings my daughter and I love. They fit well, feel great and wash up well!

A set of leggings that are great for women and teens. They come three to a set in different colors. All black is shown.

“Grilled” hot dogs from the oven

Posted on by Stacey A. Shannon

Baked hot dogs have a fresh-from-the-grill flavor any time of year!

Affiliate links are used in this post, if you make a qualifying purchase via my link, I receive a small percentage of the sale at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products and services I use and love. It helps support my blog, so thank you for your support! Read my full disclosure here.

The first year my husband and I were married, he told me he liked hot dogs. Since he’s a relatively picky eater and I was a relatively awful cook, I made hot dogs. A lot. As a result, the guy won’t eat boiled or microwaved hot dogs any more.

Nothing beats a good grilled hot dog, unless it's freezing outside! This baked hot dog recipe is super simple and just as tasty as grilled!

As a Midwestern resident, I decided to look for a winter-friendly way to get a grilled hot dog taste that didn’t involve anyone standing out in the cold at the grill. I decided to try baked hot dogs and was pleasantly surprised. Even my husband agreed that baked hot dogs were nearly as good as grilled.

Picking the hot dogs

When it comes to hot dogs, my husband prefers what I call “old school” dogs. We skip the specialty or all-beef hot dogs. Bun length dogs don’t even have a place in our home. And forget the extra thick guys. So, we get regular length, skinny dogs. That’s all I’ve tried baking in the oven. If you are baking thicker or longer hot dogs, you may have to have a longer baking time. Just beware of that.

Let’s get baking!

This is an incredibly simple and straightforward recipe. Start by preheating the oven to 400-degrees (F). Line a baking dish with aluminum foil. I spritz mine very lightly with non-stick cooking spray, but I’m not sure that’s necessary.

For my family of four, I use my 8×8-inch glass baking dish. It easily fits eight hot dogs.

9x9 glass baking dish lined with aluminum foil that's been spritzed with non-stick cooking spray

Next, just put the hot dogs into the pan in one layer. (How simple is that?!)

Uncooked hot dogs in a foil-lined pan ready to go into the oven

Pop the hot dogs into your preheated oven. They baked for 15 minutes total. (Maybe more if they are thicker.) I usually set my time for 7 minutes and shake the baked hot dogs around halfway through. If you really want crispy or blackened hot dogs, you can broil them for the final couple minutes of baking time to the correct doneness. We like ours to be cooked with a bit of crisp on the outside but not color.

Baked hot dogs fresh from the oven that are a nice golden brown

And that’s it. I told you this was a simple recipe! Serve the hot dogs in buns with your favorite toppings. The baked hot dogs pair well with this super easy fire-roasted corn and red peppers. If you’re looking for a crunchy side, try this skillet queso with tortilla chips. And whip up some mint chocolate chip mousse for a simple and refreshing dessert!

Baked hot dogs

Nothing beats a good grilled hot dog, unless it's freezing outside! This baked hot dog recipe is super simple and just as tasty as grilled!
Print Recipe
Prep Time 3 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 18 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American

Ingredients
  

  • 1 package hot dogs

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 400-degree (F).
  • Line a baking dish with aluminum foil. (The size of the dish depends on how many hot dogs you're making. You need enough space for them to be in a single layer.) Spritz lightly with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Arrange the hot dogs in a single layer on top of the foil.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until cooked through and golden. To add extra crispness or darkness, broil on low for the final 2 to 3 minutes of cooking time.
  • Serve with your favorite hot dog toppings!
Keyword baked hot dog, easy dinner, family dinner, grilled hot dog, Hot dog, Hot dogs, kid friendly, weeknight dinner

6 Skills you need to become a mompreneur

Posted on by Stacey A. Shannon

What mompreneurs should know

Thanks to Sarah Bull from EconomyMom.com for sharing this guest post about becoming a mompreneur with Families with Grace! Sarah is a single mom of two, an entrepreneur and a penny pincher. She created her blog to share what she’s learned about growing a home-based business and making money online all while raising two awesome kids. Through her site, she hopes to inspire readers, especially fellow moms, to take their earning destinies into their own hands using her career and money-making advice. Be prepared to be inspired!

As a stay-at-home mom, you might not work a nine-to-five, but you certainly spend the day working. Household chores and childcare are enough to fill your time, but perhaps you have an entrepreneurial itch and you want to start your own business. If you aspire to join the ranks of successful mompreneurs, these six essential skills can help you succeed.

1. Business initiative

The most important skill of all is a sense of initiative. Even if you have a stellar business idea and a fully fleshed-out plan, you’re the only person who can make that plan a reality. Mompreneurs need to have the confidence and determination to start your business — and keep it going when challenges inevitably arise.

6 Skills you need to be a mompreneur Pinterest image 1

2. Ability to plan ahead

Planning ahead is another vital skill that entrepreneurs — and parents — must have, and you can plan ahead for your business by starting a limited liability company. An LLC can minimize the amount of taxes that you owe and protect your personal assets, and it may also reduce the volume of paperwork you have to complete.

Another great way to plan for your business’s future is by going back to school for a degree in Information Technology. And if you’re open to online learning platforms, you should consider this option which allows you to learn at your own pace as well as gain skills like networking and data management that are vital to modern businesses.

3. Knowledge of digital records

Successful mompreneurs need to know how to run a business efficiently — and maintaining digital records is a huge part of that. Digitizing paper files will save space, and it also allows you to save documents on your tablet or phone in a PDF format.

Keep important documents readily available when you’re on the go. PDFs are great because they can be accessed on a mobile device even if you can’t connect to WiFi. They’re also great for sharing documents without worrying about editing permissions.

4. Social media marketing savvy

Social media is a vital tool for connecting with your target customers and marketing to them directly. In order to take advantage of this potential, you need to learn how social media algorithms work. You also need an eye for aesthetics if you plan on creating marketing graphics to use on social media.

According to statistics, members of Facebook spend an average of 19.6 hours on the site each month. Using a Facebook ad maker can simplify the process of marketing to these users. It’s easy to edit a template with your own photos, fonts and other details. Download it immediately once your design is done.

5. Marketing smarts

Social media isn’t the only marketing tool you need to master. You should also familiarize yourself with local print advertising opportunities and other marketing channels that may be effective.

6. Balance between work and kids

Achieving work-life balance is a skill some people spend their whole life chasing. If you plan to be a stay-at-home mom and a small business owner, though, you need to master it sooner rather than later. You can start by clearly designating your time and splitting it between your business and your kids.

Moms make great business owners

Moms are some of the hardest-working people on the planet. If you’re ready to start making a profit from your work, starting a business could be the right path. Your business will benefit from forming an LLC, going back to school and devising a solid social media marketing scheme. Being a mompreneur can be your path to the successful work-life balance you want.

Families With Grace invites you to join in the journey to create a home filled with grace, love and faith. Questions? We’d love to hear from you!

Fire-roasted corn and red peppers

Posted on by Stacey A. Shannon

A super simple side dish for family dinner

Fire-roasted corn and red peppers Pinterest image

When it comes to making dinner, I love easy recipes. And super simple sides that work in veggies are the best! I found a recipe for fire-roasted corn and red pepper salad that I decided to try without looking too closely. When I realized it was intended to be served cold, I decided to change it up and make it my own way. That’s how this fire-roasted corn and red peppers side dish was born.

It’s nearly as easy as oven roasted vegetables and certainly as tasty. It comes together in about 10 minutes and doesn’t take much babysitting, which leaves you free to make other things while the fire-roasted corn and red peppers are cooking. The last time I made this recipe, I paired it with grilled barbeque chicken for a delicious dinner.

Prepping

The prep work for this fire-roasted corn and red peppers dish is minimal. Start by opening a can of whole kernel fire-roasted corn and draining it. This is what I used:

Del Monte whole kernel fire-roasted corn blend

Then clean and dice one red bell pepper.

Diced red bell pepper for the fire-roasted corn and red pepper recipe

Cut 2 tablespoons of butter and separate them. Put a medium skillet on the stove over medium-high heat.

Cooking

Put the drained fire-roasted corn and 1 tablespoon of butter into the skillet.

Fire-roasted corn and 1 tablespoon of butter in a medium skillet over medium-high heat

Cook for 3 to 5 minutes until the butter is melted and the corn is heated. Add in the diced red bell pepper, 1 additional tablespoon of butter and salt and pepper to taste.

Fire-roasted corn and red peppers in a medium skillet cooking with an additional 1 tablespoon of butter

Continue cooking for 5 to 7 minutes until the red pepper pieces have begun to soften. Serve the fire-roasted corn and red peppers side warm.

Fire-roasted corn and red peppers finished in the skillet
Fire-roasted corn and red peppers on a plate
Fire-roasted corn and red peppers Pinterest image

Fire-roasted corn and red peppers

This fire-roasted corn and red peppers recipe is a super simple side that pairs well with so many main dishes. It's a perfect family dinner side!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 3 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 13 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 people

Ingredients
  

  • 1 14.75 oz. can fire-roasted corn
  • 1 red bell pepper diced
  • 2 tablespoons butter separated
  • salt to taste
  • pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Open and drain the can of fire-roasted corn.
  • Clean and dice the red bell pepper.
  • In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, add the corn and 1 tablespoon of butter. Cook for about 3 minutes until heated through and the butter is melted.
  • Add the diced pepper and 1 more tablespoon of butter to the skillet. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Cook for 5 to 7 minutes until the pepper begins to soften. Serve warm, and refrigerate any leftovers.
Keyword canned corn, corn, easy side, family friendly, fire-roasted corn, kid friendly, red bell pepper, red pepper, simple side, vegetables

Funny Christmas gift ideas for coworkers: 25 clean gag gifts

Posted on by Stacey A. Shannon
Funny Christmas gift ideas for coworkers Pinterest image 3

25 White elephant gift exchange ideas no one will be embarrassed by

The holiday season is prime time for funny gag gift exchanges. But finding the perfect gag gift for coworkers or others that aren’t inappropriate or embarrassing can be difficult. 

Whether you’re shopping for a funny coworker gift or your teen’s secret Santa gift exchange or a family member, I’ve got  the best gag gifts for you!

Many times, funny Christmas gifts tend to be more on the adult side of things. But, some of the best prank gifts are also incredibly funny holiday gifts! 

There’s a fine line between appropriate and inappropriate. We’ve found a slew of options for the ultimate gag gift that won’t embarrass anyone.

All of these best gifts are on Amazon, so that makes them even easier. Just place your order and a hilarious gift will show up on your doorstep!

Affiliate links are used in this post, if you make a qualifying purchase via my link, I receive a small percentage of the sale at no additional cost to you. It helps support my blog, so thank you for your support! Read my full disclosure here.

Animal themed hilarious gifts

Animals are always popular. Whether you’re a dog lover or cat lover, this wide array of silly gifts is animal themed and will give you a good reason to giggle!

This snail soap dispenser makes me smile. It is a bit on the gross side to think of using snail snot as a soap dispenser, but a good gag gift is allowed to make you gag, right?!

Gag gift ideas: snail soap dispenser

Animal lovers are sure to love this four-pack of animal socks to make your feet look like a dog’s, cat’s or tigers. Funny socks are a terrific and cheap coworker gift.

Gag gift ideas: Animal feet socks

I’m pretty sure almost all of us have seen the screaming goat videos. Bring the screaming goat to a tabletop near you with this funny screaming goat figure as a humorous way to make hard work at the office a bit easier. 

It comes with a small paperback book to give you ideas of when you just might need to hear the goat scream. It’s a unique gift that will keep on giving to your team members long after the tinsel is put away!

Gag gift ideas: Screaming goat figurine and book

This gift sounds gross, but it’s an ideal gift for juvenile humor and tasty, too. This Santa barf is actually colorful, chewy strings of licorice. I’d give it a try!

Gag gift idea: Santa Barf

As one of the most inexpensive gifts on the list, this squirrel hand puppet is a perfect way to make everyone laugh. It’s a small gift that packs a big smile!

Gag gift ideas: Squirrel hand puppet

More for decoration than use, this hanging cat washcloth is certainly the perfect gift for cat lovers. It comes in a variety of different cats.

Gag gift ideas: Hanging cat washcloth

These cat paw oven mitts are so adorable whoever you give them to will want to start baking right away! They’re a great gift for your best friend or co-worker who either loves to bake or loves cats or both!

Gag gift ideas: cat paw oven mitts

Food themed coworker gifts


Along with animals, everyone loves food. This Christmas season, a variety of funny gifts make the best stocking stuffers or secret Santa gifts you can find. Let the good times roll!

Even if your recipient doesn’t like pickles, they’re sure to love this fun yodeling pickle! You really can’t play it without having a good laugh.

Gag gift ideas: Yodeling pickle

Everyone knows someone who loves pickles. But would they love pickle cotton candy as a Christmas present? It’s worth a try — and at least you’ll get credit for having the best sense of humor!

Gag gift ideas: Pickle flavored cotton candy

I mean, bacon is delicious. Embrace your inner bacon lover self — and big sense of humor — with this bacon flavored toothpaste.

Gag gift ideas: Bacon flavored toothpaste

If you love bacon, but toothpaste isn’t quite your thing, check out these bacon bandages! Bandages are usually a practical gift, but these are great choice for a gag gift exchange.

Gag gift ideas: Bacon bandages

Who can resist cheesy jokes? I am a huge fan of cheesy, dad-type jokes. This stack of cheesy joke cards look like cheese slices and are a great addition to your favorite comedians repertoire.

Gag gift ideas: Cheesy joke cards

Of all the gag gift ideas I came across in working on Christmas gift guides, this one intrigues me the most. I can’t help but to be curious how these Lester’s Fixins outrageous flavor sodas taste.

They come in a pack of six bottles that include soda flavors like ranch dressing, pumpkin pie and bacon.

Gag gift ideas: Outrageous flavor sodas

I love chocolate. These “If you can read this, bring me chocolate” socks are one of those cheap gifts I relate to so much!

Gag gift ideas: "If you can read this, bring me chocolate" socks

Toy and other novelty funny office gifts

The good news is that you’re never too old for toys! These toys and other novelty gifts can be great stress relievers and are sure to be a hit at your Christmas party.

Gag gift ideas that are annoying and funny work well. And this voice changer offers a great way to fit into both categories.

Gag gift ideas: Multi voice changer

If you’re looking for a gag gift that might take a second before you get it (unless you are faster than I am), check out this can of dehydrated water. I love playful pranks that aren’t incredibly obvious about it. All you need to do to have water is add water! 

Gag gift ideas: Dehydrated water

There’s not a more classic gag gift idea than the good ol’ snake in a can. What looks like a can of chips is really a snake ready to spring out when you pop the top. Classics are classics for a reason!

Gag gift ideas: Snake in a can

This desktop boxing set, complete with a rule book, is a perfect present for an office party. Help your co-worker take out frustration at their desk in a creative way!

Gag gift ideas: Desktop boxing set with a rule book

The best thing about this talking Bob Ross bobblehead, which comes with a small book of some of his paintings, is it’s a gag gift that gives back. Next time you need a pep talk or soothing voice to calm you down, just press the button!

Gag gift ideas: talking Bob Ross bobblehead with book of paintings

I’m not sure what to say about these, except that as a child of the 1980s, these mullet socks crack me up! What better way to show some retro spirit?

Bonus points for gifting this to someone over age 40 who’d really get a kick out of them!

Gag gift ideas: American mullet socks

I LOVE Mad Libs, oftentimes even more than playing a board game. And I actually have these very Mad Libs. You can’t go wrong combining The Golden Girls with Mad Libs! 

Gag gift ideas: The Golden Girls Mad Libs

While these record coasters are effective and nostalgic, they’re also hilarious with song titles offering a variety of options like “Don’t spill the tea,” “Protect the surface” and “Rest on me.”

Gag gift ideas: Record coasters

Who said that funny Christmas gift ideas for coworkers can’t be educational? Check out “The Book of Unusual Knowledge.” It’s full of random, interesting and fun facts that can make for great conversation starters!

Gag gift ideas: The Book of Unusual Knowledge

This Christmas hat will keep your head warm and light up. Easily get into the holiday spirit with this festive headpiece!

A light-up beenie hat is a great Christmas gag gift idea!

Wrap it up

To wrap it all up, these funny gift bags are a great idea to wrap your gag gift. They have funny sayings like, “Remember it’s the thought that counts,” “Just act like you love it” and “Definitely not regifted as far as you know.” 

Gag gift ideas: Funny gift bags

Looking for more ideas? Don’t miss these lists full of gift ideas!

30 White Elephant Gifts Under $20

Quirky, fun and unique Christmas gift ideas under $25

15 Christmas gift ideas under $25 for everyone on your list

Christmas gifts for men under $35

Christmas gift ideas for people who are hard to shop for

How Christian moms can teach their children about God

Posted on by Stacey A. Shannon

7 Simple ways Christian moms can help grow their children’s faith

For us Christian moms, finding ways to teach our children about God is important. More than anything, I want to help my children learn about and know God in a personal way. I love them so completely and fully. Yet, I also know I can’t be there for them every moment. It’s neither possible nor feasible. But, God can. And He knows what the future holds for them. He loves them even more than I do.

While we want to be intentional as Christian moms to teach our children about God, we also need to find the best ways to do so. Long theological lectures aren’t going to convince a 6-year-old that she needs to ask God into her heart. Trite, vague answers aren’t going to convince a 16-year-old that he needs to follow God.

7 Simple ways Christian moms can teach their children about God

It’s certainly a precarious balance and one that my husband and I continue to work on as we are raising our kiddos. Just as I want to teach my children how to take care of themselves physically, I also want to teach them how to take care of themselves spiritually.

I’m still learning and growing on my journey as a Christian mom, but over the past 13 years of motherhood, I have found a few things that work for us.

Affiliate links are used in this post, if you make a qualifying purchase via my link, I receive a small percentage of the sale at no additional cost to you. It helps support my blog, so thank you for your support! Read my full disclosure here.

Pray.

Praying for our children is important. Praying for ourselves as Christian moms is equally important. I pray daily that I’ll be the kind of my mom my children need to raise them according to God’s will and plan for their lives. I also pray in the moment. When my kiddos are asking me questions about God, the Bible or anything faith-related, I silently pray things like, “God, give me the right words.”

Faith questions are difficult and even with kids who are only 9 and 13, we’ve already been asked some deep questions. Turning to God to help us answer is my first stop. I’ve been surprised by answers that have come to me as a result and discussions I’ve been able to have with my children. And I know that wouldn’t have happened without God’s help.

Praying with our children is also incredibly important. Each evening before bedtime, our family has prayer time together. This has a been a great time to teach our kids what praying to God can be like. We talk about prayer requests and remind them they can talk to God just like they do anyone else. They don’t need to recite memorized prayers but can really talk to Him.

Be honest.

In order to keep lines of communication wide open, I think honesty with our kids is important. My husband and I have a policy with our children that if they ask us a question, we will answer them honestly. We have adhered to that policy while also keeping their ages in mind. This is true with faith. If our kids ask us something we don’t know, we’re honest about that. We’ve told them that if we don’t know the answer, we will help them find it. We’ll turn to the Bible and our pastor to get a good answer for them.

We are also honest that some topics are debated in Christian circles. So we share our own experiences and interpretations as well as some differing views. But, we also always get back to the fact that no matter what disagreements there are, the most important thing is knowing Jesus died for our sins and wants a relationship with us.

Talk about your faith.

This might seem like a no-brainer to us Christian moms, but I think it can be easier to talk to our kids in more abstract ways about God and less about how He is working in and through our own lives. I have shared stories with my kids that happened recently and in the past of how God has helped me through situations or ways I’ve seen Him work.

You don’t have to get a 20-minute testimony to your children, but taking a minute to point out how God answered your prayer is powerful. It helps our kids realize God is still working and impacting lives today. And it shows them what a daily walk with God looks like. My hope is that it also helps them be able to see Him at work more easily in their own lives.

Listen to Christian music.

Christian music is another subtle way Christian moms can help teach their kiddos about God. I love music and have it on in the car, while I’m working and often in the kitchen as well. My kids notice it in the car the most. Without necessarily realizing it, Christian music lets them soak up the message and promise God’s love and faithfulness.

Christian radio is a great source, but I also love having my own playlist with a wide variety of Christian music. You can find the Families with Grace Playlist on Spotify with nearly 11 hours of contemporary Christian music. I keep adding to it, because it’s the playlist I listen to most often myself!

Get into God’s Word together.

Spending time together in God’s Word is important. I know my own faith walk is strongest when I’m in God’s Word. You can do this in a variety of ways. Of course, you can read the Bible together. Here are some of our favorites:

“The Jesus Storybook Bible” by Sally Lloyd-Jones is our favorite from when our kids were younger. It’s perfect for preschoolers through early elementary, but it also speaks to my heart just as much as it does to the kiddos!

The Jesus Storybook Bible is great for Christian moms to use for their preschool through early elementary children.

“The Action Bible: God’s Redemptive Story” is a comic book style Bible. It is perfect for more visual kiddos or those who love graphic novels. This Bible works really well for my 9-year-old who is dyslexic and prefers the shorter lines of text in graphic novels.

A comic book style illustrated Bible can be a great option for children who enjoy graphic novels.

“Hands-On Bible” is a great option for third grade to fifth graders. It’s the New Living Translation, but it also has lots of additional content designed to engage kiddos as they are reading.

The Hands-On Bible is a great option for upper elementary kiddos.

“NIV True Images: The Bible for Teen Girls” is the Bible my daughter is currently using and enjoying. She’s now 13, but she got this Bible when she was 12. It’s an NIV Bible with various pull-outs of text targeted to teen girls to help them go deeper.

The True Images Bible for Teen Girls is a

Because my son is only 9, I don’t have a favorite for teen boys or a gender neutral version. However, this “NIV Bible for Teen Guys” looks really similar to what my daughter has, just geared more for males. There is also the gender neutral “NIV Teen Study Bible.”

Along with reading the Bible together, take time to talk about what you’ve read. Mention relevant Bible lessons when your kiddos are struggling with something. For example, if one of my kids is afraid and stressed out at bedtime, I often remind them of my favorite Bible verse from Isaiah 41:10 (NIV), “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” I have shared with both of my kiddos stories of how this verse has gotten me through various situations in life.

Try a devotion book.

This goes right along with being in God’s word together. There are a couple of ways this can work. You can read through a devotion book together as a family or read through a book separately and discuss it. Even if this isn’t something you do every day, give it a try.

We always go through a family devotion book together at Christmastime. We use “A Family Christmas,” which is a series of two five-minute Christmas devotion books for busy families I wrote because I couldn’t find one I liked very much for our family. “A Family Christmas Volume One” is ideal for families with preschool through early elementary children. “A Family Christmas Volume Two” works well for families with upper elementary through teens.

"A Family Christmas" devotion book volume 1 is ideal for families with children in preschool through early elementary.
A Family Christmas devotion book, volume 2, is ideal for families with upper elementary through teenage kiddos.

Try a journal and devotion book combo that get you into and talking about God’s Word through writing. My daughter and I published a faith-based mother and daughter shared journal last year called “Connecting with Grace.” It’s great for moms and daughters to get to know each other even better and share about everything from boys to school to faith and more.

Connecting with grace is a faith-based mother and daughter shared journal.

Another great option for moms and daughters is a devotion book from Stacey Pardoe and her tween daughter Bekah. “Girl to Girl” has 60 mother and daughter devotions designed to help moms and daughters deepen their faith and grow their relationships.

Girl to Girl is a devotion book for Christian moms and daughters to use together.

Go to church.

I know there can be many feelings around going to church. Unfortunately, some Christians don’t show the love of God as they are supposed to. But, being at church is important. The Bible tells us to meet together with fellow believers. Find a Bible-believing and preaching church for your entire family to get involved and grow in your spiritual walks together.

My husband and I pour so much into our children; however, having other Christians who pour into them as well is important. They hear other perspectives besides our own. And sometimes kiddos listen better to people other than their parents.

Creamy tomato soup and ciabatta grilled cheese

Posted on by Stacey A. Shannon

An easy homemade, creamy tomato soup recipe to warm you up

I’m sort of late to the tomato soup and grilled cheese party. I know it’s been a staple kind of meal for generations, but I never got on board. The closest I got was Spaghetti-Os and grilled cheese. Canned tomato soup just never did that much for me. Then I tried making a creamy tomato soup recipe and not only loved the flavor but also loved how easy it is to make!

Creamy tomato soup with ciabatta grilled cheese

The same recipe I started with and have modified also recommended making grilled cheese on ciabatta rolls instead of with bread. I figured it couldn’t hurt to try. And I’m glad I did. Seriously. Pair this creamy tomato soup with ciabatta grilled cheese and you have a dinner hit on your hands. Even my particular eaters get down with this meal!

Making the creamy tomato soup

What sets apart this tomato soup from others is the garlic base. We love garlic in my family, so I use 4 cloves of fresh garlic. If you’re not as big on garlic, use 2 cloves. After you peel the garlic, use a grater to grate it finely. The first time I made this recipe, I didn’t have a grater and just chopped my garlic as finely as possible, so you can do that, too.

4 cloves of grated garlic for the creamy tomato soup

In a medium sized pot over medium-high heat, add 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil and 2 tablespoons of butter. Once the butter has melted, add in the garlic. Cook the garlic for about 30 seconds until it’s fragrant.

Garlic, butter and vegetable oil in the pot for the creamy tomato soup recipe

Then add 4 tablespoons of flour and whisk constantly for another 30 seconds until a paste forms.

Garlic paste in the pot for the creamy tomato soup recipe

Next, add a 29-ounce can of tomato sauce, 3 cups of water and 3 teaspoons of sugar to the pot. Add a good dash of salt and pepper as well. Bring the soup to a boil over high , then reduce the heat back down to medium-low and simmer until the soup thickens a bit, about 5 minutes.

The creamy tomato soup cooking on the stovetop

Soften the cream cheese and stir it into the soup. Once the cream cheese is melted, turn the heat off the creamy tomato soup, but leave it on the stovetop or cover it to keep it warm.

Cream cheese being added to the creamy tomato soup

Making the ciabatta grilled cheese

While the creamy tomato soup simmers, prepare your ciabatta rolls. Slice them completely apart and top the bottom of each roll with about 1/4-cup of shredded cheddar-jack cheese.

Ciabatta grilled cheese sandwiches ready to cook to go along with the creamy tomato soup

Add the tops onto the sandwiches.

A ciabatta grilled cheese sandwich ready to cook to go along with the creamy tomato soup

In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, melt 1/2 tablespoon of vegetable oil and 1 tablespoon of butter. Place two of the ciabatta sandwiches into the skillet.

Two ciabatta grilled cheese sandwiches in a skillet with melted butter and oil

Use a second skillet to press down onto the tops of the bread and cook for three minutes; flip the sandwiches and cook three more minutes until the outside is golden and crispy and the cheese is melted. I don’t hold the skillet down the entire time the sandwiches were cooking, but I press down every minute or so.

Cooking the ciabatta grilled cheese by pressing down with a second skillet over the top

The sandwich will get a nice crisp on the outside but still have a gooey cheese center. So yummy!

Ciabatta grilled cheese with a crispy outside and gooey, cheesy center pairs nicely with the creamy tomato soup!

Serve the creamy tomato soup in bowls along with the ciabatta grilled cheese. You don’t have to dip the grilled cheese into the soup, but that’s our favorite way to eat it!

A bowl of creamy tomato soup with half a ciabatta grilled cheese sandwich garnishing it
I didn’t soften my cream cheese before I made the soup this time around and it resulted in a few cream cheese “chunks” floating around in the soup. Those are the white specks you see in this photo.

Creamy tomato soup and ciabatta grilled cheese

A creamy tomato soup and ciabatta grilled cheese recipe that is hearty enough for a family dinner. Even your picky eaters will like this one!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Main Course, Soup
Cuisine American
Servings 6 people

Ingredients
  

  • 2-4 cloves garlic grated
  • 1 29-ounce can of tomato sauce
  • 4 ounces cream cheese softened
  • 4 tablespoons vegetable oil divided
  • 4 tablespoons butter divided
  • 4 tablespoons flour
  • 3 cups water
  • 3 teaspoons sugar
  • 1-1/2 cups shredded cheddar jack cheese divided
  • 6 ciabatta rolls
  • salt
  • pepper

Instructions
 

  • Finely grate 2 to 4 cloves of garlic, depending on how much your family likes garlic. (We use 4.)
  • Heat 2 tablespoons of oil and 2 tablespoons of butter in a medium pot over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and stir occasionally for about 30 seconds until the garlic is fragrant.
  • Add 4 tablespoons of flour to the garlic and cook, whisking constantly, for 30 seconds until a paste consistency is formed.
  • Add into the pot the can of tomato sauce, 3 cups of water, 3 teaspoons of sugar, a dash of salt and a dash of pepper. Stir together and cook over medium-high heat until it boils.
  • Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the soup thickens slightly.
  • While the soup is boiling and simmering, cut apart the ciabatta rolls. Divide the 1-1/2 cups of shredded cheese among the bottoms of each roll (about 1/4 cup of cheese for each). Place the top bun on the sandwiches.
  • In a large skillet over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon of oil and 1 tablespoon of butter per two sandwiches. (My skillet fits two sandwiches at a time.)
  • Add the sandwiches to the skillet. Place a small skillet on top and press down on the sandwiches to flatten them. Cook for three minutes; flip the sandwiches and cook for three more minutes.
  • While the ciabatta grilled cheese is cooking, add the softened cream cheese to the soup. Stir and let it combine.
  • Serve the hot creamy tomato soup along with the ciabatta grilled cheese immediately.
Keyword autumn dinner recipe, ciabatta grilled cheese, creamy tomato soup, fall dinner recipe, family dinner, grilled cheese, hearty soup, tomato soup, winter dinner recipe

Looking for more soup recipes? Don’t miss these!

Taco soup

Slow cooker potato soup

Taco ranch meatball soup

Slow cooker potato chili

Families With Grace
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