Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Christmas Memories 2008
Please leave a comment!
Reflections of 2008
I'm not one to make resolutions. I tend to set goals for myself in the areas of spirituality, family, friends, marriage, self, and home. Danielle Bean at Faith and Family Live posted these questions today:
1. Did I grow closer to God in the past year? How will I grow closer to God this year?
2. What is one new thing I will pray for this year?
3. What would I consider my worst habit and what can I do to work on it in the coming year?
4. What is the one thing I will do in the coming year that will most benefit my family?
5. What is the most important decision I made last year or will make this year?
6. What new habit would I most like to adopt this year?
7. What is one new skill I would like to learn the coming year?
8. What was the most important book I read last year/want to read this year?
9. What are my talents and what will I do to better serve God and the Church with them in the coming year?
10. What is one thing that I regret in the past year and what can I do about it in the new year?
They are great questions for reflection about the past year and a stimulus for setting goals in the coming year. I hope you find them useful.
Blessings for a happy, healthy new year to you and yours,
Lisa
SS. Casimir and Emerich Church
We're sad to see our parish close, but look forward to starting a new parish in a neighboring church. Please keep all the members of the merging parishes in your prayers.
Blessings,
Lisa
Monday, December 29, 2008
Menu Plan Monday, December 29, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
Visit with Santa and the Festival of Lights
Blessings,
Menu Plan Monday, December 22, 2008~Christmas Edition
In a large skillet, heat the oil, and butter.
Pan fry the veal cutlets in the olive oil, carefully turning once, until well browned on both sides.
Cover and continue cooking over low heat until thoroughly cooked and tenderized, which can take 30-40 minutes.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Magical Reindeer Food
For each bag, we used 1/4 cup toasted quick oats, 1/8 cup of sugar and about 2 Tbsp sparkly red sugar. The kids dumped it in the bags and shook them up to blend.
We wish you a very, Merry Christmas!
Blessings,
Lisa
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Saltine Cracker Toffee Candy
Saltine Cracker Toffee Candy
1/4 pound saltine crackers (1 sleeve)
2 cups milk chocolate chocolate chips
1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup chopped pecans
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray. Line the cookie sheet with saltine crackers in a single layer.
3. In a saucepan, combine the sugar and the butter. Bring to a boil and boil for 3 minutes. Immediately pour over saltine cracker and spread the mixture to cover the crackers completely.
4. Bake for 5-6 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle chocolate chips over the top and let sit for 5 minutes. Spread melted chocolate over all the crackers and sprinkle with chopped pecans. Cool completely (overnight or about 1/2 day or more) and break into pieces.
I store my candy in a tupperware container in a cool place.
Enjoy!
Have a day full of blessings,
Lisa
Monday, December 15, 2008
Menu Plan Monday, December 15, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Holiday Tour of Homes
This is our most important display of all...the nativity.
Above is our kitchen table decorated for the holiday. We recently renovated the kitchen and the table is a new addition. We're really enjoying it.
This shelf is also in the kitchen. Can you tell I'm a Santa collector? These are from Home Interiors and I've had them for at leat 10 years.
This is the centerpiece on the dining room table. For some reason the candles look orange to me, but they are red.
This is my dining room chandelier. It's covered in toile ribbon, gold beads and greens.
This is our living room fireplace. The print above the fireplace was a gift to dh a few years ago. It is by wildlife artist Dan Christ. He does wonderful work.
Thank you for checking out my photos. I'm planning on adding room shots and hopefully some pictures of our outside decorations later this week.
Have a Christmas season full of blessings,
Lisa
Monday, December 8, 2008
Menu Plan Monday, December 8, 2008
I'm a bit late in the day to be posting this week's menu. My weekend was jam-packed with decorating, attending the ballet and hockey game, and all of the usual cleaning, cooking and laundry duties. This week will be busy with three evenings of hockey practice, which means easy and early meals. I'm also planning on baking a cookie a night this week for the holidays.
Here's the plan:
Sunday~ Create Your Own Pasta...Alfredo or Traditional Sauce, over Pasta with sauteed chicken, Salad and Italian Bread
Monday~Easy Slow Cooker Beef Stew, Hard Rolls
Tuesday~Bisquick Oven Baked Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, French Style Green Beans
Wednesday~Grilled Steaks, Twice Baked Potatoes, Salad
Thursday~Kielbassi and Kraut Sandwiches, Cheesy Tater Tots, Baked Beans
Friday~Pizza and Wing Night
Saturday~Sloppy Joes, Fries and Carrots
Check out the other menus at http://orgjunkie.com/
Have a week full of blessings!
Lisa
Monday, December 1, 2008
Christmas Books for Children
- Christmas retold by Lise Caldwell
- Santa Bear by Marcia Leonard
- What Star Is This? by Joseph Slate
- Santa's Busy Night by Michael Rex
- The Mitten by Jan Brett
- Who's That Knocking on Christmas Eve? by Jan Brett
- Christmas Mice by Bethany Roberts
- The Donkey's Christmas Song by Nancy Tafuri
- Christmas Stories and Poems illustrated by Lisa McCue
- The Christmas Story retold by Jane Werner
- Who is Coming to Our House? by Joseph Slate
- The Missing Mitten Mystery by Steven Kellogg
- A Child's Story of Christmas illustrated by Karin Williams
- This Is the Star by Joynce Dunbar and Gary Blythe
- Merry Christmas, Strega Nona by Tomie de Paola
- Come and See by Monica Mayper
- Who Will Guide My Sleigh Tonight by Jerry Pallotta
- Home for the Holidays by Sonia W. Black
- Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Beuhner
- The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore, illustrated by Mary Engelbreit
- An Angel Came to Nazereth by Anthony Knott
- A Child Was Born: A First Nativity Book by Grace Maccarone
- Stories of Santa: Up on the Housetop and Jolly Old Saint Nicholas by Hallmark
- Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman
- The Snow Must Go On! by Molly Wigand
- Christmas Magic by Michael Garland
- One Baby Jesus by Patricia A. Pingry
- Silent Night Illustrated by Darcy May
- Arthur's Perfect Christmas by Marc Brown
- Jolly Old Santa Claus Original Story by Sparkie with oil paintings by George Hinke
Blessings,
Lisa
Apricot Sheet Cookies
Menu Plan Monday, December 1, 2008
I can't believe that December is already here! Only 24 more days until Christmas. I love this time of year. I love the music, the hustle and bustle and the busy-ness of it all! This week's menu will be sparse due to travel. I have training out of town for 2 days. Over the weekend, dd and I will be going to see The Nutcracker with friends. A former student of mine has the lead as Clara. She's only 11 yo and is quite the ballerina and a fine young lady, too. On Saturday, we'll be decorating the house and putting up the tree.
Yesterday I made homemade meatballs for dinner. They are getting closer to tasting like my mom's each time I try to make them. As an Italian girl, it's hard to admit I'm not the best maker of meatballs. ;0) Today I'm going to bake some Apricot Bars from the December issue of Paula Deen's magazine. The kitchen is finally ready for some baking!
Here it is:
Sunday~ Spaghetti with Meatballs, Garlic Bread Sticks, Salad
Monday~Country Fried Steak, Mashed Potatoes and Country Gravy,
Green Bean Casserole (I use sour cream instead of milk when I prepare it.)
Tuesday~ DH and the kids are picking up dinner after hockey practice. I'll be on the road.
Wednesday~ Pizza and Salads for dh and kids
Thursday~Chicken Breast Sandwiches, Velveeta Macaroni and Cheese, Carrots and Dip
Friday~ Zippy Calzones from Simple and Delicious, Salad
Saturday~Scalloped Potatoes and Pork Chops, Fruit
Looking for menu inspiration? Visit http://orgjunkie.com/ for more ideas!
Have a week full of blessings!
Lisa
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving to you!
Just wanted to send out Thanksgiving greetings to all of my family and friends. We're heading out to a late lunch and dinner at our parents' homes this year. I made a Caramel Apple Cheesecake and Cheddar Cheese Cheeseballs to take along. I've been making that cheesecake for dessert for years. I was quite surprised to find the recipe on-line. I use the recipe from the Philadelphia Cream Cheese Cookbook.
Rachel Balducci, from Faith and Family Live, wrote this:
Some years, I find the gratitude is overwhelming—sometimes I am aware of so many incredible gifts from God in my life.
But some years I have to remind myself, ever so gently, to get in that mindset—to take my focus off of all I need to do, even for a moment, to thank God and praise him for all his goodness.
I have those feelings too, but find that I can't quite put it into such eloquent words. She also wrote a list of five things she is grateful for on her post. Here are my five:
1. My husband, who blesses me with his love
2. Our two children
3. friends and the kindness of strangers
4. flannel sheets on cold, winter mornings
5. the view of the mountains with the trees kissed with last night's snowfall.
It's beautiful!
Have a Thanksgiving Day full of God's Blessings!
Lisa
Monday, November 24, 2008
Menu Plan Monday, November 24, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Cinnamon Raisin Bread
Cinnamon Raisin Bread
4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups sugar, divided
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
2 cups buttermilk
1/2 cup raisins
3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, soda, and salt. In a mixing bowl, beat 1-1/2 cups sugar and oil. Beat in eggs and buttermilk until combined. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in raisins. Combine cinnamon and remaining sugar; set aside.
- Spoon half of the batter into two greased 8x4x2 inch loaf pans. Sprinkle with half of the reserved cinnamon-sugar; repeat layers. Cut through batter with a knife to swirl. Bake at 350 degrees for 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.
Yield: 2 loaves (12 slices each)
Enjoy! It's delicious and great for a holiday gathering or gift!
Blessings,
Lisa
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Simple and Delicious
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Menu Plan Monday, November 10, 2008
We followed last week's menu pretty closely in spite of the kitchen remodel. I don't think this week will be that easy. I am very excited about the remodel, but I miss my kitchen and I absolutely am struggling with having clutter everywhere. I'm hoping the project will be finished by next weekend.
DS will have hockey practice 3 nights this week, so dinner will have to be quick and easy most evenings. Here's the plan:
Sunday~ Freezer Meal--Lasagna and Tossed Salad
Monday~Slow Cooker Pork Chops with Potatoes and Green Beans
Tuesday~Soup and Sandwiches
Wednesday~Anniversary Chicken, Parsleyed Noodles, Corn
Thursday~Pizza and Wing Night
Friday~Grilled Ham Steaks, Pierogies and Salad
Saturday~Away Game--Dinner Out
For more great menus, visit http://orgjunkie.com
Have a week full of blessings,
Lisa
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Ice Cream Punch
2 quarts vanilla ice cream
1 1/2 cups water
1 12-ounce can of frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
2 liter bottle of lemon-lime soda, chilled
Spoon ice cream by tablespoonfuls into a large punch bowl. Add water and lemonade concentrate; stir just till combined. Slowly pour lemon-lime soda down the side of the bowl. Stir gently to mix. Makes 32 (about 4-ounce) servings. Enjoy!
I usually double the recipe for a crowd, making a second bowl 1/2 way through the event.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Menu Plan Monday, November 3, 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Menu Plan Monday, October 27, 2008
Welcome!
We had another busy weekend. On Saturday we traveled to ds's hockey game and had the chance to eat at Quaker Steak and Lube. They have the best wings and more flavors than you can imagine. If you are in PA, NY or OH, I highly recommend that you visit!
Here's the menu plan for this week:
Sunday~ Spaghetti, Veal Parmesan and Salad
Monday~Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff over Noodles, Green Beans
Tuesday~Chicken Soft Tacos, Mexican Rice, Corn
Wednesday~I'm going out to dinner with friends. The kids and dh will probably have hot dogs and macaroni and cheese.
Thursday~Subs and Chips
Friday~Happy Halloween! We'll have Jack-o-Lantern Pizza, Bat Wings and Goblin's Salad before heading out for trick-or-treat
Saturday~Kielbassi and Sauerkraut in the Slow Cooker with Mashed Potatoes
For more great menus and recipes visit http://orgjunkie.com/
Have a week full of blessings,
Lisa