~~It's Monday!~~

 


Outside my window...  The end of the weeks promises to be wonderful.   They are suggesting that temperatures will reach 60 degrees on Friday.  I don't have any in my yard yet, but I spied a whole bunch of blooming Crocus south of here about 50 miles.

I am thinking...  I am thinking about being "pinned" on Pintrest.  I don't subscribe to that fad yet.  I recently saw an article about the 3 MEN who founded Pintrest several years ago.  It is now one of the top 3 social networking sites with almost 12 million hits at the end of January.  Can you say. . . $$$  "happy men"?  $$$

Anyway. . . I was checking my footprints over the last few days.  This is being "Pin"ned. . .


Go figure . . . it's not even a good picture!







HERE is a link to the page with the recipe for Chocolate Tiramisu Cake.  Happy "Pinning"

I am thankful... I am thankful for answers to prayer.  I am thankful for God's grace and mercy toward me. 
I am thankful I am loved by so many.

In the kitchen...  From the kitchen . . . a menu on Monday!

Monday- Parmesean Baked Cod, onion roasted potato and parsnips, Garlic Broccoli, Pear Salad

Tuesday- Easy Taco's

Wednesday-  Grilled Chicken Tenders, velveeta orzo pasta, garlic green beans, fruit ambrosia salad

Thursday- Salmon Patties, Mashed Potato, stir fry snow peas, chocolate brownies

Friday- Chicken Enchilada Casserole, refried beans

Saturday-  Shrimp and Chicken Gumbo with white Rice, Cornbread

Sunday-  Meatloaf,  Macaroni and Cheese, Brown Sugar Carrots, "MOCK" Pecan Pie

I am wearing... I am not wearing anything exciting today.  I have on jeans and a long sleeve orange tee shirt.  I did dress up on Friday and had Sharon and Anastasia over for lunch.

Pouffy hair IS NOT DEAD!!

I am creating... The on going, ever present list.  Things to do and get done.

I am going... I am hopefully going to sell the van this week.  We had a call last Wednesday that a buyer was excited to purchase it.  He wanted until the weekend to come up with the funds.  We showed him the van Saturday (a 100 mile round trip!) and he said he needed until today, Monday. . .and a holiday. . . to come up with all the funds.


Please PRAY for it to sell.  Everything else is gone. . .the little truck several weeks ago . . . and the camp trailer left on Saturday morning.

I am reading/watching...  I am reading Clive Cussler. 

We'll be watching The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones this week.  We have a  few more episodes left to finish that series.


I am praying...  I am praying fervently for an early transfer for my husband.  His bosses are refusing to make any kind of decision on his replacement.  It's frustrating for my husband.  I'd LOVE to leave April 1st, but my husband tells me that to change orders, it has to have Headquarters approval etc. . .  I know GOD will make it happen when it should. . . May 1st is my second date for departure.  

Praying for far away family.  Praying for my husband.  Praying for me.

James 5:16   "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. "

From the learning rooms...It's back to a regular school schedule this week.  My student is very disappointed.  I'll do some focusing on spelling again with extra work in that area the next few weeks.  We are sooo behind schedule.  May I admit. . . week 11?  Not sure that I can do anything to remedy that. . .

Around the house...  Clean.  I'm going to go burn a candle and put on soothing music soon.

One of my favorite things...

A few plans for the rest of the week:  I have a lunch date Wednesday with the wife of one of my husbands co workers.  Her daughter takes piano lessons at the same studio as we do.  She is an extremely nice woman . . . I have a lot in common with her.  She is Catholic/ Episcopalian and as far as I know, unsaved.  I pray I am a good witness!  I'll try to take pictures.

Bachelor David will come over for food on the weekend. 

Something to Share. . .Recipes!

Mock Pecan Pie

Ingredients

Filling
• 4 Eggs
• 1-1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup plus 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 3/4 cup light corn syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• Deep Dish Pie Shell, unbaked
• 
  
Topping
• 1-1/2 cups crushed pretzels
• 3 T butter, melted
• 2 T sugar
• 
  

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. For Filling:Place first five ingredients in large mixing bowl and mix with wire whisk until well combined.
3. Pour into pie shell.
4. Combine all topping ingredients in medium bowl and stir well with a spoon to coat pretzels.
5. Sprinkle topping evenly over pie.
6. Bake in 350 oven for 1 hour, covering with foil after 30 minutes to prevent over browning.
7. Allow to cool completely before serving. Can be made a day or two ahead of time and stored in refrigerator.

Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti

5-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts or 1 whole chicken fryer
1 - 12 oz package spaghetti noodles
1 - 16 oz (1 lb) package Velveeta cheese, cubed
1 - 10.5 oz can cream of chicken soup
1 - 14 oz can chicken broth or 2 cups reserved broth
1 - stick margarine (1/2 Cup)
1 - 8oz package shredded mild or sharp cheddar cheese
1 - small onion, chopped
3-4 celery ribs, chopped
1/4 cup green bell pepper, chopped

Fill a big stock pot with water. Clean and rinse whole fryer or chicken pieces. Add chicken, I like to add a little seasoning salt, pepper and poultry seasoning while the chicken cooks. Wash hands after handling chicken. Let chicken come to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer chicken until done. Cook whole fryers about 2 hours and chicken breasts or pieces 45-50 minutes. Remove chicken from pot and place on a plate to cool. Drain the broth through a strainer and reserve. Cook the spaghetti per package directions. Instead of cooking the spaghetti in water, we are going to use the reserved chicken broth.

Add spaghetti and bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer noodles until al dente. While spaghetti noodles are cooking start de boning the chicken (make sure it is cool enough to handle) or break chicken breasts to smaller pieces. Chop up all the vegetables and set aside. Melt margarine in a small skillet and add the vegetables. Sauté’ vegetables until they are tender and translucent in color. When noodles are done drain and set aside.

If you are not using canned chicken broth, reserve 2 cups of the cooked broth. In a large bowl combine Velveeta cheese, chicken broth and cream of chicken soup. Place in microwave and cook on low for 5-7 minutes or until mixture is smooth and cheese is melted. (You can also use the defrost setting).

To the cheese mixture add cooked vegetables with butter, spaghetti noodles and chicken pieces. Stir to combine. Spray a 9x 13 inch baking dish with cooking spray and add combined mixture. Top finished casserole with 8oz of shredded cheddar cheese. Place casserole in a preheated 350 degree oven and bake for about 45 minutes or until cheese is golden brown and casserole is bubbly. Remove from oven let cool and serve.



Spaghetti O' s Casserole

3 cans regular spaghetti o's (or 1 large can + 1 small)
1 - lb ground beef
1/4 cup onion, chopped
Paula Deens house seasoning, Emeril's essence or just salt/pepper (to your taste)
2 ups mozzarella cheese
1/4 up Parmesan or Romano cheese

Cook ground beef with onion until browned. drain off grease and add seasoning. Add the ground beef to the bottom a 9x13 size casserole dish. Add Parmesan cheese on top of the meat. Then add all three cans of spaghetti o's and top with mozzarella cheese. Bake uncovered at 350 for about 30 minutes until casserole is nice and bubbly. Serve with french bread, Texas garlic toast and a salad.

I'm going to try these recipes.  How about you?

Have a great week friends!