Porky Pasta

I remember opening my refrigerator and seeing just a few items, ketchup being the most edible one at the moment. I was probably 9 or 10 years old and hungry. It was almost dinnertime, so I ran along and left my mother to the kitchen. I learned that day that she has a gift; she went in that kitchen, did a little bit of this, a little bit of that, and turned the ketchup into a delicious meal for our family. Tonight I looked into our fridge, saw 2 hotdogs, an onion piece, garlic, cream, half a can of tomato sauce, a bit of leftover pineapple sauce, and thought, "my mom can work magic with ketchup, and by golly, I've got her same genes." So I whipped up a little of what I am going to call "Porky Pasta". Here is the recipe that my husband insists on being preserved (Note: I did not measure anything. All listed measurements are estimates...)

Name: Porky Pasta

Ingredients:

• 1/2 lb. Vermicelli pasta 
• Olive oil
• Salt

• 1 Tbsp. Oil (any type should work just fine)
• A little red onion
• 1 garlic clove
• 2 hotdogs
• Pineapple sauce (salsa de piña)
• 8 ounces tomato sauce
• 1/4 c. heavy whipping cream
• Salt
• Pepper
• Fresh basil

Directions:

1. Add pasta to boiling water, and let boil until it is slinky (al dente, or preferred hardness), stirring occasionally.
2. While the pasta is boiling, chop up the onion, garlic, and hotdogs. 
3. Heat the oil in a pan on medium heat. When it's hot and shiny, add the onion. 
4. Once the onion is kind of clear and cooked through, add the garlic and hotdog pieces. 
5. Once the garlic and hotdogs are cooked (a few minutes), mix in the pineapple sauce.
6. After about 2 minutes, and the pineapple sauce is boiling and kind of sticking to the pan, add the tomato sauce and mix it all up. 
7. Mix in the cream.
8. Sprinkle on some salt and pepper (maybe 1/4-1/2 tsp. each...?).
9. Lower the heat to low.
10. Chop some fresh basil and mix it in. I had about 5 small leaves on my plant, so it wasn't much, but it added a yummy flavor. 
11. While the sauce is on low, drain the pasta and then with knives crisscross-cutting, cut the noodles so they are smaller (this is not necessary, but I have a baby, so it makes it easier for him to eat. And it's easier for me too!)
12. Mix a tablespoon or two of olive oil and some salt in the pasta. 
13. Mix the pasta in with the sauce and serve. 
14. Enjoy.

No leftovers! Sorry I didn't get the picture sooner.

Thank You Headache

Yesterday I had the beginnings of a headache since the afternoon. Usually I can sleep them off if they're small. So when night came, I went to bed hoping it would just go away. It didn't. I woke up around 1 am with a strong pulsing ache in one of my temples. I took some medicine, received a priesthood blessing and a massage, and by 2:00 it had subsided (and I was able to take care of my little baby for another hour who had gone to bed at 5:30 yesterday evening...the joys of motherhood). The headache seemed unbearable at the time, and made me think about how fragile our health can be. One minute I can conquer the world, and the next all I can do is hold my head in my hands, rock back and forth, and breathe deeply.
I'm thankful for that headache last night because now I have so much more motivation to take care of my body better. Stand and sit up straight. Take the stairs. More walks. Walking faster makes me sweat more. Crunchy Nuggets instead of Peanut Butter Cap'n Crunch. Eat a banana with those Crunchy Nuggets. Little round grapes can replace little round m&m's. Gummy vitamins taste like candy. Use cream cheese dip to get all the goodness of that apple off the table and into my mouth. Throw in spinach to the lasagna. Eat a little more dinner instead of dessert. Grainiac is delicious and healthier than the last bread I bought...

Anyway, I will be trying to make small changes that will hopefully help me to have a long, healthy, and happy life. I'm thankful for the reminder that my headache gave me to take good care of our bodies, which are gifts from our Creator. What trial are you thankful for?

Click here for some wise words about how to take good care of your body.

I Will Go and Do

"If ye have desires to serve God, ye are called to the work" (D&C 4:3). I desire to serve others, but I'm also one of the people who shy away from the invitation to find service opportunities. When there is an organized and planned service project, I'm usually there, or if someone specifically asks me to help someone else, I'll do it. If I'm supposed to take the initiative and find ways to serve others, it seems a lot harder though. But lately I've been trying to do the hard and find ways to serve, and actually going and doing the things I think of. And what has happened? Opportunities to serve have come to my mind. I believe that Heavenly Father hears my prayers and knows my desires and puts into my mind ways that I can serve. As I've done the things that have come to my mind, they keep coming. It's not all the time, but consistently for about a month or so. Even if I have to go a little out of my comfort zone, it is worth it. I feel a sweet peace and happiness for following God's commandment to serve others and I hope the person I'm trying to serve feels loved and cared for. Here are some questions to ask each day:
"Have I done any good in the world today? Have I helped anyone in need? Have I cheered up the sad, or made someone feel glad?" (lyrics to "Have I done any good")

I'm thankful for service opportunities. What are you thankful for?

Legendary

This email was in my inbox today,

"Good Morning,
The Sahuarita Unified School District has declared September 25, 2014, as Legendary Teacher Day. Today, we encourage you to contact that Legendary Teacher, and thank them for the impact they have made in your life!"

I don't know how to contact her personally, so this post is dedicated to Miss Lachelt. I had been home-schooled until 3rd grade. I excelled in reading, but was a little behind in math when I enrolled in Lincoln Elementary Public School. Miss Lachelt was so patient and went the extra mile in getting me caught up. Now math is not my favorite subject, but I was able to successfully complete many math classes throughout my formal education. I am so thankful for Miss Lachelt. Who are you thankful for?

Boys will be boys...unless

...unless they "transition". I just read an article about two people who were "transitioning from male to female" and who filed complaints because of discrimination at work. Now I don't think people should discriminate against others. But setting that aside, "transitioning"? Really? My baby is a boy. There's no question about that. And I'm a girl. There are a few cases of androgyny, which might cause a little confusion, but in general, we are born a certain way and that's the way it's supposed to be. God has created us in the gender we are supposed to be forever. It's not like changing your clothes. I'm thankful I'm a female. What are you thankful for?

What's Cookin'?

I'm so thankful for the people who post recipes online, and for the people who review them. Below you'll find links to some of the recipes I've found and made (or am planning to make) more than once.

Easy Pizza Crust I added lots of spices, rolled it really thin, mixed all the toppings together in a bowl, and made calzones!

Moist Chicken Chicken is not my forte, but this worked great.

Pea Soup So this recipe I make with whatever ingredients I already have, which means I omit the leeks, mint, creme fraiche (whatever that is), and the garlic croutons. The chives are a hit or miss, usually miss. Also, my butter's salted, my stock's not homemade, and my pepper's not kosher.

Banana Muffins Yummy!!! I made these one morning and between me and my husband the 12 muffins disappeared before nightfall. A few tweaks: substitute 1/2 cup of the white flour for wheat flour, substitute most of the oil for apple sauce (I estimated the oil and apple sauce amounts), and add ghirardelli milk chocolate chips (those are decidedly the best chocolate chips).

I shall now contribute to the plethora of online recipes. Here's one that I threw together the other day and it turned out pretty good.

GREEN CHILE, BLACK BEAN ENCHILADA

Mix all these ingredients together in a bowl:
Can of Herdez green chile enchilada sauce 
Half a small tub of cottage cheese
1 can black beans
3/4 cup or so of corn 

Spread a layer of the mixture on the bottom of a 9x13 pan
Add a layer of shredded cheese, then a layer of 6 corn tortillas. Repeat the process a couple more times. Mixture, Cheese, Tortillas. Mixture, Cheese, Tortillas. Finish it off with Mixture and cheese. I had a little extra green chile sauce (I bought a big can and used half of it), and so I poured a little on top of the last cheese.
Stick it in the oven 350 for about a half hour.


What are you thankful for?

Parent-in-laws

"You're getting married in the temple, right???" (in a you-better-be tone) was the first question that my husband's parents, who are not mormons, asked when he told them we were engaged. They had helped him serve a mission and are now making sacrifices to help his brother go out and serve. I'm so thankful that even though they are not members themselves, they recognize the good that comes from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, rather than building walls of prejudice or anything else. There is goodness and truth is so many different places and it would be wise to embrace it wherever it comes from. Ultimately, "every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God." (Moroni 7:16). I'm thankful for the example of my parent-in-laws who recognize the good in this world. What are you thankful for?