Garden Bounty: Cooking Green Beans

One of the best things about being a preacher's wife is that people bring us fresh fruits and veggies during the summer. Later, they often bring us homemade salsa and jelly! 
Last night, I was handed a bagful of green beans. Like most recipes, I had to call my mom to see how to fix it. She told me to...


Wash them well
Snap each end and sometimes you can snap them in half
Put them in a crockpot and add enough water to cover them. 
(This could also be done on the stove top in a big pot, just be sure to watch the water level throughout the day).
Add bacon juice (it's really grease, but I think juice sounds nicer). Whenever I make bacon, I pour the juice in a plastic container and keep it in the frig. So whenever a "Southern-style" recipe calls for it, I'll have it on hand. 
I added about 2 Tablespoons. 

Some people I know add a little sugar to theirs. Other's will put in ham pieces. 
Stir well, Put on the lid, Set at High and let it go for 4-6 hours. 

Outdoor Scavenger Hunt

I remember doing something like this in Girl Scouts when I was a kid. It's simple drawings on a paper. Kids can do a scavenger hunt while they are in the park, out on a hike, hanging out at a boring family reunion....I want to laminate mine so we can use it over and over. 
This could easily translate to a city scavenger hunt too. You could draw a hydrant, a blue post box, a parking meter, a bird's nest. The list goes on and on. 
Happy Hunting!