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recipe friday


Portobello Mushroom Lasagna
This is by far my all time favorite meal


Ingredients

Kosher salt
Good olive oil
3/4 lb dried lasagna noodles
4 cups whole milk
12 tablespoons 
- unsalted butter, divided
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 1/2 lb Portobello mushrooms
1 cup freshly ground Parmesan


Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.    Bring a large pot of water to a boil with 1 tablespoon salt and a splash of oil. Add the lasagna noodles and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Drain and set aside.

For the white sauce, bring the milk to a simmer in a saucepan. Set aside.
Melt 8 tablespoons (1 stick) of the butter in a large saucepan. Add the flour and cook for 1 minute over low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. Pour the hot milk into the butter-flour mixture all at once. Add 1 tablespoon salt, the pepper, and nutmeg, and cook over medium-low heat, stirring first with the wooden spoon and then with a whisk, for 3 to 5 minutes, until thick. Set aside off the heat.

Separate the mushroom stems from the caps and discard the stems. Slice the caps 1/4-inch thick. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil and 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large (12-inch) saute pan. When the butter melts, add half the mushrooms, sprinkle with salt, and cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes, until the mushrooms are tender and they release some of their juices. If they become too dry, add a little more oil. Toss occasionally to make sure the mushrooms cook evenly. Repeat with the remaining mushrooms and set all the mushrooms aside.


To assemble the lasagna, spread some of the sauce in the bottom of an 8 by 12 by 2-inch baking dish. Arrange a layer of noodles on top, then more sauce, then 1/3 of the mushrooms, and 1/4 cup grated Parmesan. Repeat 2 more times, layering noodles, sauce, mushrooms, and Parmesan. Top with a final layer of noodles and sauce, and sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan. Bake the lasagna for 45 minutes, or until the top is browned the sauce is bubbly and hot. Allow to sit at room temperature for 15 minutes and serve hot. 

recipe friday


LASAGNA FLORENTINE



Ingredients

1 pkg lasagna noodles, cooked
32 oz favorite spaghetti sauce
1 small container cottage cheese
2 eggs
8 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
1 pkg frozen chopped spinach


Directions

Mix cottage cheese and eggs

Heat spaghetti sauce and spinach on stove over low heat

Start with a layer of sauce in the bottom of a 9 x 12” pan

Layer noodles, sauce, cottage mixture, and mozzarella cheese (finish with cheese on top)

Bake for 35 to 45 minutes at 375 degrees



recipe friday


GRILLED CHICKEN 
easy peasy


Ingredients

½ lb butter
¼ C vinegar
2 T water

Directions

Heat ingredients on stove

Basting every 20 minutes on chicken while grilling for 1 hour


quick tip: vacuum cleaner freshener




Your vacuum bag can develop odors from all of the hair, dander, and dirt that it picks up. Using vacuum bag fresheners can help keep odors from happening.


When putting a new vacuum cleaner bag in your machine, place a cotton ball soaked in clove or a favorite scented oil inside the bag (or in the plastic container on the bag-less models). It fills your home with a nice aroma and doesn't get into the carpet, or harm pets, or children.

church on sunday



Whether a church is
simple or ornate, large or small,
old or new, wooden or stone...

it is most likely always a beautiful site to behold.


Today, I share this beautiful image of a church with you
in hopes that it brings
a little peace, a little joy
and a lot of love.



Lord, as I walk through this World,
Let Your Grace Light my Path,
Your Mercy Shelter my Soul
and Your Love Heal my Heart.


recipe friday


GLAZED CARROTS


Ingredients


8 medium carrots, sliced,
(or  approximately 1¼ lb whole baby carrots)
¾ C water
2 T butter
1 T sugar
½ tsp instant beef bouillon
Dash of pepper
Snipped parsley


Directions

Cut carrots into 2” pieces (or use whole baby carrots)

Heat carrots and remaining ingredients except parsley to boiling, reduce heat

Cover and simmer until carrots are tender, about 25 minutes

Remove carrots and boil rapidly to reduce liquid to glaze consistency

Add carrots; turn to coat evenly with glaze

Sprinkle with parsley


quick tip: food container lids




Stack plastic food containers with the lids on. No more digging to find a matched pair of container and lid.  Plus, lids won't come up missing as often!

church on sunday



Whether a church is
simple or ornate, large or small,
old or new, wooden or stone...
it is most likely always a beautiful site to behold.


Today, I share this beautiful image of a church with you
in hopes that it brings
a little peace, a little joy
and a lot of love.



Lord, as I walk through this World,
Let Your Grace Light my Path,
Your Mercy Shelter my Soul
and Your Love Heal my Heart.


recipe friday


FRIED GREEN TOMATOES


Ingredients


4 large green tomatoes
2 C plain white corn meal
1 ½ T salt
Pinch of black pepper
½ C oil


Directions

Wash tomatoes and pat dry
Cut into ¼“slices and sprinkle with salt and pepper
Dip each slice in corn meal and lay aside on waxed paper
Heat oil in skillet and fry each slice until golden brown
Drain on paper towels
Serve hot

Great served with crumbled bacon


quick tip: measuring sticky ingredients





Spray your measuring cups with cooking spray before measuring any of the sticky ingredients (honey, peanut butter, or molasses) that called for in your recipe. Brushing a coat of oil around the inside of your measuring cups will create a slippery surface, too. Sticky ingredients will literally just slide on out! 

If your recipe calls for a sticky ingredient and oil, measure the oil first and then measure the sticky ingredients (same results) 


church on sunday



Whether a church is
simple or ornate, large or small,
old or new, wooden or stone...
it is most likely always a beautiful site to behold.



Today, I share this beautiful image of a church with you
in hopes that it brings
a little peace, a little joy
and a lot of love.



Lord, as I walk through this World,
Let Your Grace Light my Path,
Your Mercy Shelter my Soul
and Your Love Heal my Heart.


recipe friday


FETTUCCINE with CHEESE & CREAM
Fettuccine alla Panna


Ingredients


8 oz uncooked wide egg noodles
½ C butter
½ C whipping cream
½ C grated Parmesan cheese
½ tsp salt
dash of pepper
2 tsp snipped parsley


Directions

Cook noodles as directed on package, drain

Heat butter and whipping cream over low heat until butter is melted
Stir in cheese, salt and pepper

Pour sauce over hot noodles, stirring until noodles are well coated

Sprinkle with parsley


quick tip: clean your garbage disposal




Dispose some citrus fruits like orange and lemon to keep your disposal odor free. For stubborn odors pour baking soda into the drain and let it set for several hours before running the water into it.

Grind up a tray of ice cubes once in awhile to keep blades sharp. If the blades of the disposal are worn out then consider replacing them with new ones.

church on sunday



Whether a church is
simple or ornate, large or small,
old or new, wooden or stone...
it is most likely always a beautiful site to behold.


Today, I share this beautiful image of a church with you
in hopes that it brings
a little peace, a little joy
and a lot of love.



Lord, as I walk through this World,
Let Your Grace Light my Path,
Your Mercy Shelter my Soul
and Your Love Heal my Heart.


recipe friday


SOUTHERN BAKED MAC & CHEESE
This is so easy and oh so good!


Ingredients

16 oz macaroni
1 C evaporated milk
1½ C milk
1 tsp ea salt and pepper
¼ C butter
1 egg beaten
3 C shredded cheddar cheese


Directions

Mix in 9x12 baking dish and bake covered at 350 degree for 45 minutes

quick tip: clean your microwave





Here's an easy way to clean your microwave without chemicals or scrubbing.

What you’ll need:
1 lemon
1¼ cups of water in a microwave-safe bowl

Cut the lemon in half and squeeze the juice from both halves into the water. Microwave the water and lemon mixture on high for 5-10 minutes, and let the steam do its thing. Remove the bowl of water (careful...it's hot!) and wipe down the inside of the microwave with a soft cloth.




church on sunday



Whether a church is
simple or ornate, large or small,
old or new, wooden or stone...
it is most likely always a beautiful site to behold.



Today, I share this beautiful image of a church with you
in hopes that it brings
a little peace, a little joy
and a lot of love.



Lord, as I walk through this World,
Let Your Grace Light my Path,
Your Mercy Shelter my Soul
and Your Love Heal my Heart.


recipe friday


DIRTY RICE

Ingredients

1 can French Onion Soup
1 Can beef consommé
1 small can sliced mushrooms
(or any type of fresh mushrooms)
1 stick butter
1½ C uncooked white rice


Directions

Mix all ingredients well together in a casserole dish and bake covered for 45 minutes in a 375 degree oven.

Stir (carefully) and bake another 15 minutes uncovered.


quick tip: lemon in a microwave




Want to get as much juice out of your lemon as possible? Before cutting it open, cook it in your microwave for just 10 seconds and WOW... let the juices flow. 

church on sunday



Whether a church is
simple or ornate, large or small,
old or new, wooden or stone...
it is most likely always a beautiful site to behold.


Today, I share this beautiful image of a church with you
in hopes that it brings
a little peace, a little joy
and a lot of love.



Lord, as I walk through this World,
Let Your Grace Light my Path,
Your Mercy Shelter my Soul
and Your Love Heal my Heart.


recipe friday


CRISPY FRIED ONION RINGS


Ingredients

2 or 3 large mild sweet onions
Milk

2/3 C yellow cornmeal
2/3 C sifted flour
¼ tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
2 T melted shortening
1 egg, beaten
1 1/3 C milk
Flour


Directions

Peel onions and slice into desired thickness, separate into rings
Soak rings in milk for 15 minutes
Mix cornmeal, flour, salt, pepper, shortening, egg and milk to make batter
Drain onion rings; dip in batter then in flour
Use fork to kip
Fry in hot deep fat (360 to 370 degrees) for 2 to 3 minutes until golden brown
Drain


quick tip: vent brush




When rearranging furniture, do you notice the carpet indentations just won't bounce back? Take an old vent brush and brush the pile back and forth to 'fluff' up mashed down carpet areas.

church on sunday



Whether a church is
simple or ornate, large or small,
old or new, wooden or stone...
it is most likely always a beautiful site to behold.



Today, I share this beautiful image of a church with you
in hopes that it brings
a little peace, a little joy
and a lot of love.



Lord, as I walk through this World,
Let Your Grace Light my Path,
Your Mercy Shelter my Soul
and Your Love Heal my Heart.


9/11




recipe friday


Cranberry Fruit Conserve

Ingredients

1 (12-ounce) bag of fresh cranberries, cleaned

1 ¾ C sugar
1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored, and chopped
1 orange, zest grated and juiced
1 lemon, zest grated and juiced
¾ C raisins
¾ C chopped walnuts or pecans


Directions

Cook the cranberries, sugar, and 1 cup of water in a saucepan over low heat for about 5 minutes, or until the skins pop open.

Add the apple, zests, and juices and cook for 15 more minutes.

Remove from the heat and add the raisins and nuts.

Let cool, and serve chilled.



quick tip: flower pot saucer





Use one of these trays in the bathroom for storing the toilet plunger. It's an easy way to collect drips.

september 7



Labor Day in the United States is a holiday celebrated on the first Monday in September. It is a celebration of the American labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of their country.

Labor Day was promoted by the Central Labor Union and the Knights of Labor, who organized the first parade in New York City. After the Haymarket Massacre, which occurred in Chicago on May 4, 1886, U.S. President Grover Cleveland feared that commemorating Labor Day on May 1 could become an opportunity to commemorate the affair. Thus, in 1887, it was established as an official holiday in September to support the Labor Day that the Knights favored.


church on sunday



Whether a church is
simple or ornate, large or small,
old or new, wooden or stone...
it is most likely always a beautiful site to behold.


Today, I share this beautiful image of a church with you
in hopes that it brings
a little peace, a little joy
and a lot of love.


Lord, as I walk through this World,
Let Your Grace Light my Path,
Your Mercy Shelter my Soul
and Your Love Heal my Heart.


recipe friday


CORN BEEF AND CABBAGE


Cover with water and bring to a boil in a Dutch oven:
3 lb beef brisket

Add:
1 chopped onion
2 cloves minced garlic
6 potatoes, quartered
½ tsp salt
6 peppercorns
8 T butter
Pinch of baking soda
1 small head cabbage, quartered

Simmer ½ hour per pound of meat.

Let sit 45 minutes and carve