A snow storm calls for Pasta Fagioli

It's snowing today so hubby said lets make Pasta Fagioli for lunch. There's the hint "lets" not me, not you...but "lets" so into the kitchen we went together. Always a learning experience to give up control in my kitchen.

Pasta Fagioli

Ingredients

1tsp of dried thyme or 4 sprigs of fresh

1tsp of dried rosemary or 1 large sprig

1 tbsp olive oil

1 tbs butter

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup of carrots diced

2 cups of canned diced tomatoes (I pureed them per hubby request)

2 garlic cloves

4 cups of beef broth

1 can of kidney beans (rinsed and drained)

1 can of cannellini beans (drained and rinsed)

1 pound of ground meat

1 cup of small pasta

salt and pepper to taste

2tsp of garlic salt

Directions

In pot place saute onions, garlic in olive oil and butter, cook 1-2 minutes, then add carrots and spices. Now add meat and chop up with spatula. When meat starts to brown about 5 minutes then add tomato, beans and cook for another 5 minutes. Now add broth salt, pepper, garlic salt and cover bring to boil then lower heat to simmer for 1 hour. Now add pasta and cook for suggested time on box, ladle into bowls top with Parmesan cheese.

Link up http://4littlefergusons.wordpress.com/2012/01/20/foodie-friday-gets-a-facelift/

Encouragement to chew on:

Affection is responsible for nine-tenths of whatever solid and durable happiness there is in our lives.  CS Lewis
                                                                                             Recipe adapted from Giada but made better by me ;0)

Happy Pink Saturday....here's my pink that I am proud to show off

I have been meaning to post this and yet kept forgetting, well since it's Pink Saturday I thought well what a great way to show you. A few years ago my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in which she was treated and is now a survivor (praise God), but watching her go through it, taking her to every appointment, watching her skin become burned from the radiation hurt my heart. I thought what more can I do show my love, support and prayers for all victims who have gone through this stupid, nasty disease. When I saw the commercial for the Avon Breast Cancer Walk my heart leaped and I knew I wanted to be part of this. So I signed up in March of 2010 with the leap of faith that I would raise the $1800.00 dollars needed to participate and in 2 1/2 months I was well over my mark (again praise God). So here is my pink from the walk, one of the pink's that I am most proud of, between walking 39.3 miles in 2 days and the grossest blisters I have ever seen in my life, and some injuries that I am still dealing with I am so thankful for the experience of the Cancer Walk.

The Beginning of my walk Day 1..26.2 miles

When I arrived for the start, met up with some new friends

The last mile before the end of the 1st day

Tending to some crazy blisters and feet injuries

Day 2...funny guard to make us laugh and not think of the 12.2 ahead of us.

The finish line of the 39.3 miles in two days...I swear I think God carried me through that line.

So happy I made it. Thank you to all that supported my walk.


I hope you all enjoyed a little glimpse into my adventure.








Be sure to check out other great Pink Saturday's here.


http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/

A burst of freshness and yumminess

So with this pregnancy I crave fruit over all things, so I don't mind giving into my cravings so bad

Mango Berry Salad

Ingredients

1/2 cup strawberries halved

1/2 cup bluberries, blackberries, and or raspberries

1 cup of peeled diced mango

1/4 cup of walnuts, chopped

1/4 cup dried unsweetened cranberries

1tbsp fresh oj juice squeezed

1tbsp fresh lemon juice squeezed

In a large bowl, toss all ingredients together and mix well. Enjoy..so yummy.

Encouragement to chew on:

Character is higher than intellect. A great soul will be strong to live, as well as strong to think.

What to do when your bored with what you have? $1.00 to decorate...sold!

Then you spruce it up of course. This hutch was a hand me down from my parents, I love the hutch I just am not a fan of it's color, it's nice and all but I just don't like it dark green color in my kitchen.

Well since I;m on a kick to redecorate my kitchen to black, white and yellow I had an idea. While at Michaels (love that store) I saw they had this paper for sale for a $1.00 and it's yellow. so I bought it and fooled around with it on my hutch.

Tada a little makeover for a $1.00...I can handle that.

What have you done to redecorate and easy on the budget? Would love to hear suggestions.

You know it's good when my picky hubby will eat it.

Last night hubby asked for me to make Fried Wontons (Hong Kong to be exact...which I'm not a huge fan of, so I decided to make a soup to that I may enjoy. I made a Turkey, Spinach, and Brown Rice Soup. Love this soup so light yet filling, not greasy, very simple and good for you along with good for your soul on a cold night.

Turkey, Spinach and Brown Rice Soup

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 Large onion chopped or 5 to 6 large shallots, chopped
• 3 medium carrots, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 large red bell pepper, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 8 ounces ground white turkey meat, broken into small chunks
• 1 Tbs of Thyme, 1 Tbs garlic powder and and salt or 1 tbs herbes de Provence
• 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth, plus more as needed
• One 15-ounce can diced tomatoes in juice, drained
• 1 cup cooked brown rice
• About 4 packed cups of chopped spinach
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan, optional for topping

Directions

Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onions, carrots and bell pepper and saute, stirring frequently, until the vegetables begin to brown and soften slightly, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the ground turkey and stir until the meat turns white and begins to color very slightly around the edges, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the herbs  and stir, 1 minute. Add 4 cups broth, tomatoes and rice. Bring to a boil. Stir in the spinach and season with 3/4 teaspoon salt and the freshly ground black pepper. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer until the vegetables are tender, about 30-45 minutes. Season with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt.Ladle the soup into bowls. Sprinkle each serving with Parmesan, if using, and serve

Encouragement to chew on:

Insist on yourself. Never imitate.

Oats and Greens ???

Peach Oats Brulee

Here's a wonderful way to make oatmeal a cenetrpiece at your breakfast or brunch table. Besides the great presentation, there's almost no standing and stirring over the stove involved. The butter and brown sugar topping, melted and crisped under the broiler, is just a flourish, touch, well worth the 5 extra minutes and the calories.

Peach Oats Brulee

Ingredients

4 cups of peach juice or necter

1/2 cup of diced fresh peached or could use canned

2 cups of rolled oats

1/2 tsp salt

1-2 tbs butter

1/3 cup of brown sugar

Directions

Preheat oven 350. Pour juice into sauce pan, cover and bring to boil on high heat. Stir in oats, fruit and salt and return to boil, stirring constantly for 1 minute.

Transfer the oat mixture to a lightly oiled oven proof 2 quart casserole dish that's about 9x6 inches. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes, until liquid is absorbed and oats are tender and golden. Remove from the oven, dot the top with butter, and evenly sprinkle on the brown sugar. Place under the broiler about 3-6 inches from the broiler for 2-3 minutes until sugar is melted and bubbly. Serve hot.

I get a kick out of seeing people have a green juice for the first time, because they are blown away over how good it is and how great it is for their body. We have been drinking many different versions of "Green Smoothie" for years, and almost religiously everyday. My kids hear the juicer start and they come running in for what they call a "healthy drink" and I never have problems to get them to drink it all up. So this morning I am sharing one of our green smoothie recipes with you since it has been a couple of months


Get up and go green smoothie

5 to 6 ounces baby spinach leaves, rinsed

2 apples, halved and cored

2 medium carrots, scrubbed

2 oranges

1/2 large lemon

One 2-inch piece ginger, peeled

Ice

Directions

Pass the spinach, apples, carrots, oranges, lemon juice and ginger through a juice maker, according to the manufacturer's directions. Pour the juice into 2 ice-filled glasses and serve.

                                                Encouragement to chew on:

Happiness depends more on the inward disposition of mind than on outward circumstances.