Keeping Warm with a Yummy Recipe

I thought by now we'd be feasting on some of my favorite spring like meals but instead we have a fire blazing, I'm still wearing every article of clothing I own in hopes of staying warm and yes ....

IT'S SNOWING OUT!!!

AGAIN

I guess it's safe to say that my disposition is in need of a little adjustment. Nothing a little sunshine, warm days and something besides wool and layers to chose from my closet each morning. Seriously, I am so tired of wearing winter clothing. My spring clothes in their bright colors are begging to come out and be seen!

You know it's getting bad when the weatherman starts giving you pep talks about looking on the bright side ... spring is already here, but the proof isn't far off. I'm getting therapy lessons from the man who can't even get the forecast right. Yes, it's getting that bad here in Chillyville Connecticut. 

 

On a cheery note {see, I'm trying :) } this is a fabulous soup that my friend shared with me last week. I am adding it to my recipe binder for future fall and winter menus. 

Lasagna Soup

Soup ~
1tsp. olive oil
1.5 lbs spicy Italian sausage
2 cups chopped onions
6 cloves garlic
2 tsp oregano
3/4 tsp red pepper flakes
2 tbs tomato paste
1 14 oz. fire roasted diced tomatoes {with juice}
1 28 oz. diced tomatoes {with juice}
3 bay leaves
6 c. chicken broth
8 oz medium size pasta

Cheese center ~

8oz light ricotta
1/2 c. parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp salt
dash of pepper

Shredded mozzarella for top


Heat olive oil over medium heat. Add sausage and cook for 5 minutes. Add onions, garlic, oregano and red pepper flakes and cook until softened. Stir in the tomato paste. Incorporate the diced tomatoes and begin to simmer. Add the bay leaves. Bring to a boil for a few minutes and then turn down to simmer for 30 minutes. Raise the heat to medium and add the pasta. Watch to make sure it doesn't over cook.

While waiting for the pasta, blend the cheese mixture.

In the bottom of each bowl place a healthy dollop of the cheese mixture. Spoon the soup on top of the mixture and sprinkle the mozzarella on top. Let it sit for just a few minutes to allow the cheese in the bottom to become oozy. Oh yum!

Leave A Comment

Someone didn't get the memo

I've done my very best to be a good sport

For many months in a row

Really, I have

We've had inches, feet, and mountains of snow this year

Finally, it melted

I was thrilled

Dare I tempt luck for some warm temperatures?

As in anything above 40 degrees

Word cannot describe how I was looking ahead to green grass and bright sunshine

INSTEAD WE AWOKE TO  . . .

Spring showers

As in more snow!

UGH!

I checked, double checked

Ummm, Mother Nature, it's spring

Can we please start acting like it now?

Leave A Comment

Good News!

Our prayers have been answered!
I so appreciate your kind hearts and giving spirits.

 Thank you for all your prayers, sweet comments and emails. I am beyond thrilled to share with you that our school family is safe and in a few days will be making their way home to the United States. I wish I could share more details with you regarding the condition and state of families in Japan, but at this time, we aren't aware of any. I hope to hear firsthand once they return and any possible suggestions of how we can additionally help. My thoughts and prayers continue to go out to all those in Japan.

Leave A Comment

Prayer Request and a Thank You

Prayer request ~


There is a wonderful family in my school that is currently visiting their family in Japan. I wish I could share a photo of this sweet 4 year old ~ he is always bubbling over with happiness and has a smile that just melts your heart! He and his family have been in Japan a couple of weeks and we are not certain where they are staying.  Numerous attempts to contact this family have been made and each one has returned silent. We are all hoping and praying this is simply due to lack of ability to communicate in the current state of chaos. If you have a few minutes, would you please lift them up in prayer for their safety and well-being, as well as all the others, during this time of turmoil and devastation. Thank you, I know the family would appreciate your prayers.




Thank you ~

Thank you SO much for your kind words and prayers. Nicholas is doing much better each day and most importantly, he is owning his success through the process. While I haven't shared all the details, they are too personal, of his bumps on the road of life; I have shared how important it is for him to work through this using his tools that we've taught him for so many years. We, as his parents, have offered him support, guidance and an abundance of love along the way. I am SO proud to say that while the struggle is very difficult, he is rising to the occasion and proving to himself a strength he didn't realize he possessed. We knew he had it all along but he had to go down this road to find it for himself. He is becoming aware of who he is as a young man and ultimately building his self-esteem to a level that can only be achieved by hard work. This my sweet son is called LIFE! As we all know, he will be faced with additional challenges as he ages. Thankfully, he will be able to draw upon this experience and apply his confidence to the next set of hurdles that is in store.

Leave A Comment

Getting there ...

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
This beholder is hoping that her kitchen will be back in working order very soon and be just as beautiful as the vision she has in her dreams.




It's not exactly Starbucks but believe me, this scene would be a lot uglier if I didn't have my morning coffee. I came downstairs to find this "set up" one morning and had to laugh at the normalness of morning coffee amongst all the chaos.

I think I can see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. Well, I'll be able to once we have electricity in the kitchen :)

Leave A Comment

Parenting

This week I've been greeted with the reality that parenting doesn't end ... ever. Well, it's not a new revelation exactly. Parenting changes as your child grows but the rules don't. The love intensifies, as do the worries, while each stage of growth ticks by. They require fewer boundaries for safety yet greater guidance.


Each morning I gaze out at the welcoming lines at school and I silently say to the parents of the young, enjoy the days when a kiss or hug will solve a major crisis, a battle over mixed matched clothing isn't worth having, and the reassurance of an afternoon pick up calms their child's world.


Those were the days!


It's a little more difficult {read lots} when they become older. As in young adults older. When they live many states away yet still need their mommy and daddy {sometimes} but don't want to admit it or don't know how to ask at the moment. They feel lost and want to be scooped up into our laps where we tell them everything will be just fine. However, there is such a level of, self imposed, pride, that they don't tainted. Yet what they don't understand, at this age, is that asking for help is a sign of maturity.


They also don't realize the toll it takes on us {parents} because we can no longer jump in with our Super Hero Cape on and save the day! No, instead we must allow them to fight their own battles so that the sweet victory is all theirs and the reward is self-confidence! Something that cannot be given and must be earned. It's a required lesson in becoming independent. I've had to trade in my magical cape for prayer. Lots and lots and lots of it I might add. God and I are bestie these days. He is on my speed dial and hears from me quite often.


With a few more years of life experience on my side, I know he'll be fine. We {parents} recognize these trials as mere speed bumps on the rough road of life. Oh, they were painful when we passed over them so many years ago so we understand and commiserate the pain. We too thought our world was ending or least drastically scarred and would never be the same. If only I had a video tape to replay and prove that yes, you will survive.

What my sweet son doesn't realize is that we, as his parents, are hurting with him and share in the pain because it hurts us to see him hurting. It's hard to stand silently on the sidelines of this game called life.

Leave A Comment