Susan, Author at The Sparrow's Home

This science curriculum with a Biblical worldview teaches critical thinking better than anything you’ll find

February 12, 2018 by Susan Leave a Comment

I was given a copy of By Design Science to review, and am being compensated for my time in writing it. All opinions are always mine.

We talk about science a lot around my house. Because my husband speaks on the topic of creation vs. evolution, he is always sharing the latest news on the topic with us. He’s also particularly interested in what a science curriculum is teaching, and it’s something we discuss frequently. So when I learned about By Design Science for grades 1-8, I needed to know more!

Easy Dulce de Leche Cookie Scoops

February 5, 2018 by Susan Leave a Comment

Have you ever had an ‘a-ha’ moment in the kitchen? I was talking to my dulce de leche loving niece recently about recipes using the sweet elixir of the gods when lightening struck.

One of the easiest cookie recipes I’ve made uses a can of sweetened condensed milk. Dulce de leche is sweetened condensed milk that has been caramelized. TA-DA!

Guess what I made the next day?

Tinctures: One of the Most Effective Ways to Take Herbal Medicine

January 29, 2018 by Susan 3 Comments

What are your thoughts on herbal teas?

I like them okay. And if I’m in just the right mood, they can be a soothing and wonderful way to reap the benefits of herbal remedies. More often than not, though, I am not in just the right mood. Or I simply don’t want to take the time to brew and sip a cup.

Enter tinctures.

Tinctures are so easy to make and take that I kind of take for granted that not everyone is familiar with them. Tincture is a weird sounding word, isn’t it? Usually, when I talk about them with people I simply call them ‘herbal medicine’.

One Hour Bread: Fast & Easy Italian Bread Recipe

January 25, 2018 by Susan 152 Comments

This fast and easy Italian bread recipe is ready in less than an hour. It’s not about perfection. Simple and rustic and made with only four ingredients!

Do you bake homemade bread?

I go through phases where I do more often, and then times when I just don’t. I think I forget how quick it can be, because if I remembered, I think I’d make it a lot more often.

This fast bread recipe is just 4 ingredients and is ready to eat in under an hour…start to finish!

Above all, love– Or: How not to get people to join your gym.

January 22, 2018 by Susan 14 Comments

Don’t give up because someone else is rude, mean, or discouraging. And keep in mind, to every person you meet–you are every church, every Christian..you are Jesus to them. Don’t you be the reason someone else wants to give up.

When your wife gets home and you ask how it went and her reply is, “Terrible, I cried the whole way home.” … the right thing to do is hug her. Thank you, God, that I have a husband who knows this.

Have you ever stepped out to do something that was out of your comfort zone, hoping that you’d be rewarded for your courage only to be shot down? Yeah. That. I’m not talking about outright personal rejection, just something going in a generally sucky way.

We all have areas we are self-conscious of, and for me it’s always been my weight. After being motivated by my sister’s commitment to working out, I decided to jump in and join a gym that had just opened up about 3 minutes from our house.

Retro Curry Shrimp Spread

January 18, 2018 by Susan Leave a Comment

This curry shrimp spread has just the right amount of spice. It’s an easy and impressive appetizer that only takes minutes to assemble. Served with crackers, it’s kind of addictive!

I call this retro because I’m pretty sure it’s a recipe that my mom got in the 1960s. That, and something about it just screams cocktail party. It was at every event my mom hosted…from bridge groups to neighborhood parties. And while I wouldn’t have dreamed of eating cold shrimp in any other setting, something about this creamy, flavorful dip hit all the right notes. Plus, it had a funny name: Shrimp Pu Pu.

We prefer to call it dip. Or spread. Or just yum!

It’s super simple.