I love getting my Taste of Home cooking magazine in the mail. It is always chock full of great recipes that are really yummy! The latest issue has not disappointed!
I tried the Ragu Bolognese and it is absolutely fabulous! I know it's great when my husband tells me to throw out any recipes I have for spaghetti sauce or lasagna sauce and use this one!
DO NOT let the amount of ingredients scare you. It's VERY easy to make. So here's the recipe:
Ragu Bolognese
1 lb. ground beef
1/2 lb. ground pork
1/4 lb. bacon strips, diced
2 medium onions, chopped
2 celery ribs, chopped
2 small carrots, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup beef broth
1 can (28 oz.) crushed tomatoes (I used stewed and they worked fine)
1 can (15 oz.) tomato sauce
2 Tbsp. tomato paste
2 bay leaves
2 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. dried thyme
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. each ground cumin, nutmeg and pepper
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
2 Tbsp. butter
2 Tbsp. minced fresh parsley
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (fresh is ALWAYS better!)
Hot cooked pasta and additional Parmesan cheese
In a Dutch oven, cook the beef, pork, bacon, onions, celery and carrots over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add garlic; cook 2 minutes longer. Add broth; cook for 4-5 minutes or until liquid is reduced by half.
Stir in the tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, bay leaves, sugar and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 1-1/2 to 2 hours or until thickened, stirring occasionally. Discard bay leaves. Add the cream, butter and parsley; cook 2 minutes longer. Stir in cheese. Serve with pasta and additional cheese. Enjoy!
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Randomness
Well.....where do I begin?
I took a bit of a break from the blogging world because life got so crazy.
Lyndsey came home for the Christmas break the 15th of December and since that day, I think I've only been home without going anywhere 3 days total since then!
She ended up getting an interview and then a job selling Cutco cutlery. The schedule for training was crazy, to say the least. But after training was over, the actual job was even crazier - almost like organized chaos! We would leave the house between 8 and 9 am and most days didn't get home til around 9 pm or later. This went on for about 10 days. We were exhausted - we were snapping at each other from the stress of going seemingly all.the.time. There was no such thing as family time and it got old real fast!
It turns out that the company Lyndsey was working for wasn't exactly forthcoming with how the business works (which I had my doubts about from the beginning - just call it mother's intuition). She got to where she absolutely despised it. But she was able to make some money and finish paying off last semester's tuition.
The knives are incredible, though. We got to keep the sample set of knives and I am in "knife heaven" so to speak. If you are in the market for new knives, get Cutco - their guarantee is really great.
Momma had to drive her around to all her training (120+ miles roundtrip for 5 days) plus her appointments. It was really hard to be gone all day every day. The boys didn't exactly like it, either. I was happy to drive her around but even she got tired of the constant traveling.
We didn't let Lyndsey get her driver's license because she wasn't going to need it in college and we couldn't afford to pay the insurance for her. We are rethinking that one now! If she comes home for the summer, she WILL get her license and pay for her own insurance.
I took a bit of a break from the blogging world because life got so crazy.
Lyndsey came home for the Christmas break the 15th of December and since that day, I think I've only been home without going anywhere 3 days total since then!
She ended up getting an interview and then a job selling Cutco cutlery. The schedule for training was crazy, to say the least. But after training was over, the actual job was even crazier - almost like organized chaos! We would leave the house between 8 and 9 am and most days didn't get home til around 9 pm or later. This went on for about 10 days. We were exhausted - we were snapping at each other from the stress of going seemingly all.the.time. There was no such thing as family time and it got old real fast!
It turns out that the company Lyndsey was working for wasn't exactly forthcoming with how the business works (which I had my doubts about from the beginning - just call it mother's intuition). She got to where she absolutely despised it. But she was able to make some money and finish paying off last semester's tuition.
The knives are incredible, though. We got to keep the sample set of knives and I am in "knife heaven" so to speak. If you are in the market for new knives, get Cutco - their guarantee is really great.
Momma had to drive her around to all her training (120+ miles roundtrip for 5 days) plus her appointments. It was really hard to be gone all day every day. The boys didn't exactly like it, either. I was happy to drive her around but even she got tired of the constant traveling.
We didn't let Lyndsey get her driver's license because she wasn't going to need it in college and we couldn't afford to pay the insurance for her. We are rethinking that one now! If she comes home for the summer, she WILL get her license and pay for her own insurance.
~~~~~~~~~
Walter was offered a second job back in November (I was trained in the job as well so that we can be on call 24/7). He jumped at the chance because we have been praying for a way to help get Lyndsey through college.
We flew up to northern California a couple of weeks ago - just Walter and I - to meet the owner in person and to be trained.
Wow! That's what came out of my mouth when we got to the cottage we stayed in. I wish I had had my camera while we were there. It was the most beautifully decorated home I've ever been in! It had top of the line furniture in it that was incredibly comfortable (leather armchairs that were oober comfy with throw blankets over them, the bed - incredible, a massage chair that Walter fell in love with, bose home theatre system, etc.). The decorations were just enough - not overstated at all. Beautiful antique lamps and end tables finished it. We were given access to the internet at our leisure. There was a hot tub (we didn't use it because of lack of time plus it was soooooooooo cold while we were there). The bathroom towels were plush and soft. The bed sheets were "out of this world" comfortable.
Tom (the boss) had emailed us a few days before we went there and asked what kind of food and snacks and drinks we liked. He told us to be specific and not bashful. We're the kind of people who are happy with pretty much anything but we did give a couple of specifics. When we got there and looked in the kitchen everything we had told him and more was loaded in it! The refrigerator was full - the freezer was just about full! Tom's wife had even left us a gigantic Hershey's chocolate bar on the end table next to the bed.
We were treated like royalty while there!
Tom and his wife are very strong Christians and he was looking for someone of like faith to help him take care of some business that we live close to.
The cottage we stayed in is what Tom's church uses for all of their guest speakers and missionaries. Walter asked who had stayed there before us and we felt like we were walking where royalty had been. We felt like we were part of the family while there.
We have since started the work down here and so far, we like it.
Walter was offered a second job back in November (I was trained in the job as well so that we can be on call 24/7). He jumped at the chance because we have been praying for a way to help get Lyndsey through college.
We flew up to northern California a couple of weeks ago - just Walter and I - to meet the owner in person and to be trained.
Wow! That's what came out of my mouth when we got to the cottage we stayed in. I wish I had had my camera while we were there. It was the most beautifully decorated home I've ever been in! It had top of the line furniture in it that was incredibly comfortable (leather armchairs that were oober comfy with throw blankets over them, the bed - incredible, a massage chair that Walter fell in love with, bose home theatre system, etc.). The decorations were just enough - not overstated at all. Beautiful antique lamps and end tables finished it. We were given access to the internet at our leisure. There was a hot tub (we didn't use it because of lack of time plus it was soooooooooo cold while we were there). The bathroom towels were plush and soft. The bed sheets were "out of this world" comfortable.
Tom (the boss) had emailed us a few days before we went there and asked what kind of food and snacks and drinks we liked. He told us to be specific and not bashful. We're the kind of people who are happy with pretty much anything but we did give a couple of specifics. When we got there and looked in the kitchen everything we had told him and more was loaded in it! The refrigerator was full - the freezer was just about full! Tom's wife had even left us a gigantic Hershey's chocolate bar on the end table next to the bed.
We were treated like royalty while there!
Tom and his wife are very strong Christians and he was looking for someone of like faith to help him take care of some business that we live close to.
The cottage we stayed in is what Tom's church uses for all of their guest speakers and missionaries. Walter asked who had stayed there before us and we felt like we were walking where royalty had been. We felt like we were part of the family while there.
We have since started the work down here and so far, we like it.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Riddle
How many men does it take to change 4 lightbulbs in my 2001 Buick LeSabre??????
3!!!!!!!
We were pulled over by the police a couple of weeks ago because our tail and license plate lights were out (didn't know about the license lights). The officer let us go and I went the next day to get the replacement lights.
Walter had tried 3 times to replace the lights but finally gave up because he ended up not having the right tools. Jiffy Lube had offered to replace them a couple weeks back and Walter turned them down thinking he could replace them. We ended up taking the car back to them on Sunday and asked if they would change them for us.
They did. But.....it took 3 of them to do it!! No joke and no exaggeration!!!!! It took one to hold the trunk lid and one to unscrew. After that, it took one to hold the tail light/license plate contraption (one big piece), one to hold the trunk lid, and one to replace the bulbs!
In their defense, they had no other work going on at that time and they were really very nice guys. It just made me laugh thinking about the old joke that says, "How many guys does it take to change a light bulb?"
3!!!!!!!
We were pulled over by the police a couple of weeks ago because our tail and license plate lights were out (didn't know about the license lights). The officer let us go and I went the next day to get the replacement lights.
Walter had tried 3 times to replace the lights but finally gave up because he ended up not having the right tools. Jiffy Lube had offered to replace them a couple weeks back and Walter turned them down thinking he could replace them. We ended up taking the car back to them on Sunday and asked if they would change them for us.
They did. But.....it took 3 of them to do it!! No joke and no exaggeration!!!!! It took one to hold the trunk lid and one to unscrew. After that, it took one to hold the tail light/license plate contraption (one big piece), one to hold the trunk lid, and one to replace the bulbs!
In their defense, they had no other work going on at that time and they were really very nice guys. It just made me laugh thinking about the old joke that says, "How many guys does it take to change a light bulb?"
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Merry Christmas to All!
Just wanted to say Merry Christmas to everyone!
Life is very busy these days (we aren't home much) - so much for a vacation! We are very happy to announce that Lyndsey has gotten a job!
She starts training on Monday. We are thrilled for her.
We hope everyone enjoys this Christmas season.
Life is very busy these days (we aren't home much) - so much for a vacation! We are very happy to announce that Lyndsey has gotten a job!
She starts training on Monday. We are thrilled for her.
We hope everyone enjoys this Christmas season.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Prayer Needed
I would ask for everyone to pray for a very dear couple in our lives.
I don't have permission to print their names here so I will just give their initials.
I was talking to L this morning. She told me that her husband, D, was diagnosed with liver cancer last Thursday. Not only does he have cancer, but he also has hepatitis C and cerosis (sp?) of the liver. D is not an alcoholic at all. He apparently inherited the hep C and cerosis from his mother at birth.
D has been put on a liver transplant list. Even if he survives the cancer, he will die if he doesn't get the transplant because his liver is 80% dead (that is according to the doctor).
He's been give a year or less to live.
Both D and L and their family are very strong Christians. They are asking for a miracle in all of this but they want God to be glorified as well.
Please pray for their emotions as well. They have been through the fire when it comes to life's experiences. So many things have happened to them in the last several years; things that most of us cannot handle. Yet, they still serve the Lord with all they have.
They are a testimony to Walter and I of God's grace in their lives. How they have endured everything and still love and serve the Lord is a tremendous work of grace. They still have a smile on their face and still see God's goodness in their lives.
We love them dearly and just ask for everyone to pray for them.
I don't have permission to print their names here so I will just give their initials.
I was talking to L this morning. She told me that her husband, D, was diagnosed with liver cancer last Thursday. Not only does he have cancer, but he also has hepatitis C and cerosis (sp?) of the liver. D is not an alcoholic at all. He apparently inherited the hep C and cerosis from his mother at birth.
D has been put on a liver transplant list. Even if he survives the cancer, he will die if he doesn't get the transplant because his liver is 80% dead (that is according to the doctor).
He's been give a year or less to live.
Both D and L and their family are very strong Christians. They are asking for a miracle in all of this but they want God to be glorified as well.
Please pray for their emotions as well. They have been through the fire when it comes to life's experiences. So many things have happened to them in the last several years; things that most of us cannot handle. Yet, they still serve the Lord with all they have.
They are a testimony to Walter and I of God's grace in their lives. How they have endured everything and still love and serve the Lord is a tremendous work of grace. They still have a smile on their face and still see God's goodness in their lives.
We love them dearly and just ask for everyone to pray for them.
Something I Learned
As I was reading my Bible this morning, I came across some verses that perplexed me. I decided to look up a few definitions in the Webster's 1828 dictionary and also look up them up in the Greek dictionary as well.
I didn't know that these words were tied together until I looked them up.
2 Timothy 2:16 says, "But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness."
2 Timothy 3:6 says, "For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts," (To understand the whole passage you need to read starting at 2 Timothy 3:1 and reading down thru verse 7.)
I randomly looked up 'babbling' after I read chapter 2 and then after I read the word 'silly' in chapter 3 I looked that one up.
They both mean the same thing. Silly = babbling. I will even copy the definitions here so you can see it for yourself.
phluaros (this is the Greek word for babbling and silly)
Thayer Definition:
1) of persons uttering or doing silly things, garrulous, babbling
Webster's 1828 Dictionary
SIL'LY, a. [Heb. This may be radically the same word, with a prefix. Class Sl. No. 26]
1. Weak in intellect; foolish; witless; destitute of ordinary strength of mind; simple; as a silly man; a silly child.
BAB'BLE, v.i.
1. To utter words imperfectly or indistinctly, as children.
2. To talk idly or irrationally; to talk thoughtlessly.
3. To talk much; to prate; hence to tell secrets.
How many times I have been guilty of babbling and being silly! I don't want to be like that anymore. The Lord, in His mercy, will help me to overcome this. I am so thankful that the Word of God is alive, powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword. Lord, help me to apply your wisdom to my life!
I didn't know that these words were tied together until I looked them up.
2 Timothy 2:16 says, "But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness."
2 Timothy 3:6 says, "For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts," (To understand the whole passage you need to read starting at 2 Timothy 3:1 and reading down thru verse 7.)
I randomly looked up 'babbling' after I read chapter 2 and then after I read the word 'silly' in chapter 3 I looked that one up.
They both mean the same thing. Silly = babbling. I will even copy the definitions here so you can see it for yourself.
phluaros (this is the Greek word for babbling and silly)
Thayer Definition:
1) of persons uttering or doing silly things, garrulous, babbling
Webster's 1828 Dictionary
SIL'LY, a. [Heb. This may be radically the same word, with a prefix. Class Sl. No. 26]
1. Weak in intellect; foolish; witless; destitute of ordinary strength of mind; simple; as a silly man; a silly child.
BAB'BLE, v.i.
1. To utter words imperfectly or indistinctly, as children.
2. To talk idly or irrationally; to talk thoughtlessly.
3. To talk much; to prate; hence to tell secrets.
How many times I have been guilty of babbling and being silly! I don't want to be like that anymore. The Lord, in His mercy, will help me to overcome this. I am so thankful that the Word of God is alive, powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword. Lord, help me to apply your wisdom to my life!
Sunday, December 6, 2009
All I Can Do Is Laugh
Our church set up a time with a local nursing home/assisted living center to come in and do some Christmas caroling. We went yesterday morning.
I wasn't prepared for how many of the residents showed up. I figured that maybe 10 or so would be there, but there were almost 30. I'm not quite sure why I wasn't prepared, though.
As soon as we opened the door and started walking in they all began to clap for us. That was a weird feeling.
The reading of the Christmas story and caroling began. Oh, how the folks enjoyed it! There were so many smiles on faces. They especially enjoyed the children.
We had wrapped some gifts for them and were handing them out to each of the residents. There were only 3 or 4 men in the room and we had a lot of mens' gifts so each of the them got 2.
There was a man and a woman sitting on a couch. Tyler went up to the man and handed him his second gift. The woman sees that the man has two gifts and she only has one. She looks at Tyler and says, "Do I get two gifts, too?" Tyler, not really knowing how to react, says, "I'm not sure. I will have to ask." The woman is not too thrilled with his response (I can see the scowl on the woman's face and can imagine that she thinks it's not fair). He does get another gift for her and brings it back to her and she says, "Is that for me?!!!!"
____________________________________________________
There is a woman in our church named Lucy.
Lucy is one of a kind. Lucy is VERY outspoken (for the most part, her outspokenness (sp?) is ok). But, she is sweet and will do anything for you to the best of her abilities. She's also very ill. To add to her illnesses, she's going blind.
Tonight, she had something to give to me.
From across 3 aisles of chairs, she says loudly, "Rhonda, I have something for you. You are Rhonda, right?" I said, "Yes, Lucy, it's me." Lucy turns and says to someone sitting close to her, "I can't see faces, but I know it's Rhonda by her hair!"
All I could do was laugh with the rest of the whole church!
I wasn't prepared for how many of the residents showed up. I figured that maybe 10 or so would be there, but there were almost 30. I'm not quite sure why I wasn't prepared, though.
As soon as we opened the door and started walking in they all began to clap for us. That was a weird feeling.
The reading of the Christmas story and caroling began. Oh, how the folks enjoyed it! There were so many smiles on faces. They especially enjoyed the children.
We had wrapped some gifts for them and were handing them out to each of the residents. There were only 3 or 4 men in the room and we had a lot of mens' gifts so each of the them got 2.
There was a man and a woman sitting on a couch. Tyler went up to the man and handed him his second gift. The woman sees that the man has two gifts and she only has one. She looks at Tyler and says, "Do I get two gifts, too?" Tyler, not really knowing how to react, says, "I'm not sure. I will have to ask." The woman is not too thrilled with his response (I can see the scowl on the woman's face and can imagine that she thinks it's not fair). He does get another gift for her and brings it back to her and she says, "Is that for me?!!!!"
____________________________________________________
There is a woman in our church named Lucy.
Lucy is one of a kind. Lucy is VERY outspoken (for the most part, her outspokenness (sp?) is ok). But, she is sweet and will do anything for you to the best of her abilities. She's also very ill. To add to her illnesses, she's going blind.
Tonight, she had something to give to me.
From across 3 aisles of chairs, she says loudly, "Rhonda, I have something for you. You are Rhonda, right?" I said, "Yes, Lucy, it's me." Lucy turns and says to someone sitting close to her, "I can't see faces, but I know it's Rhonda by her hair!"
All I could do was laugh with the rest of the whole church!
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