Lent in Full force...

Here we are embarking upon the lenten season... I have actually been looking forward to this time of really 'trimming down' on life's excesses, and looking for a more ordered and disciplined life. The first thing I wanted to do was to follow Fr. Fasano's direction of giving up something for each of our senses; taste, touch, sight, hearing, smell. I also wanted to 'add' things to my daily routine which would enhance my spiritual life. (These, of course, are things I should've already been doing, but just hadn't committed the time to... )

Well, one of the books I wanted to read (a chapter or so each day, time permitting) was Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales. This book is aiming to teach us 'regular people' (who aren't in a religious order and are living 'in the world') how to live a devout spiritual life in the midst of regular life. This is something I am really looking forward to learning about, as I find it so hard to focus on silence and meditation with 7 children's needs to attend to...

So this afternoon I found myself in a quiet house... boys playing happily out in the springy weather, baby sleeping and older kids at school.. and it was only 1 o'clock! Normally this would have provided me with literally HOURS to read............... BUT, today was an early release from the school... so not long into my silent reading time I was interrupted to make the bus stop run. Big sigh... Such is the story of my life, I thought to myself..

My first reaction is, 'Come on Lord.. Don't you want me to have silent prayer time? Don't you want me to do my spiritual reading and learn from your saints? Don't you want me to study the scriptures?' And on and on go my thoughts.. So as I sit at the bus stop, a bit disgruntled at this twist in my plans, I realize that the merit in lenten sacrifices isn't necessarily in how many things we give up or how many hours we spend studying the saints... it is rather in how well we can accept life's interruptions with peace and joy and acceptance. Obedience is harder than sacrifice, and I think that was my lesson for this day. God has a will for me. I have to accept whatever it is even when, and especially when, it doesn't coincide with my own. So today instead of making a 'sacrifice' of my time to read holy books, I made a sacrifice in giving up that time.

It's going to be an interesting six weeks. I look forward to the lessons to be learned.. and pray to St. Francis de Sales for guidance.

Italian Fare

I have requests for a couple recipes, so I thought I'd just post them here for all to see... I really like serving this Cacciatore to guests. It can be made ahead of time, and then just popped in the oven before serving. Served with a nice bottle of wine, a salad and some yummy bread, this makes a really nice meal. Mmmm good.

CHICKEN CACCIATORE
4 chicken breasts
1/2 cup flour
1 tsp salt
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup olive oil
2 medium onions, sliced
1 green pepper, sliced
1 pound mushrooms, sliced (I omit these because my kids and I don't like them)
1 head garlic, chopped
2 cans petite diced tomatoes
2 chicken bouillion cubes
2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp marjoram
1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup sliced ripe olives
Parmesan Cheese

Dredge chicken pieces in salt and flour. Brown chicken in mixture of oil and butter. Remove to a casserole dish. Saute onion, garlic, green pepper and mushrooms. Stir in tomatoes, bouillion cubes, parsley, seasonings and white wine. Cook a few minutes to blend. Add to chicken in casserole. Cover and bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Uncover, add olives and bake 15 - 20 minutes longer. Serve over pasta (spaghetti or linguine work well) and top with parmesan.

SPAGHETTI SAUCE
1 onion, chopped
6 cloves garlic, chopped
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 (15oz) can tomato sauce
2 (6oz) cans tomato paste
3 cups H2O
2 tsp beef bouillion
1 bay leaf
1 Tbsp sugar (or enough to take away the acidity of the tomatoes)
1 tsp oregano
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp marjoram

Saute onion and garlic. Sometimes I add chopped green pepper too. Add rest of ingredients and simmer an hour or until sauce thickens. (in really lazy moments, I even skip the sauteing, and just add some garlic powder)

Final results are in...

Ok, so I am not pregnant this time around....... That realization brought feelings of both relief and sadness. Strange. I had envisioned this little curly haired girl bebopping around with Chelsea.... If there were only some way to avoid the whole 9 months of pregnancy, and skip right to the sweet cuddly baby....... :)

Tough love........

Well, it's Day 32 of my cycle..... (TMI, I am sure) I find myself sitting here all week pondering the concept of another baby, another pregnancy, another 40 lbs, back aches, no more running, one more mouth to feed, new cuddles, another sweet baby face, no more sleep, one more person to hug, being 'attached' to someone physically for the next 24 months........ the good, the bad, the easy and the hard.... hmmm...

I guess I feel guilty that I am not sitting here in completely awestruck anticipation that I could be embarking on yet another opportunity to share in God's creative miracle. My feelings are more geared toward anxiety..... I love babies, and would welcome one whole-heartedly, BUT (yes there is a 'but') I feel so unprepared right now...... physically and emotionally. I hate even writing this down......

Sometimes it is hard to be Catholic....... the teachings are tough, but I guess that is what makes the whole of it so awesome. God said we would have to pick up our crosses.. I wouldn't refer to my child as a 'cross'.. he or she is a wonderful, very much loved person.. I refer more to the 'hardships' of pregnancy.. swollen feet, sore backs, lots of extra pounds, slow movement, hormones, morning sickness, and let's not forget labor. And then just the amazing responsibility of raising a child. Another soul in my care when I am afraid I am doing an inadequate job with the first seven............

So... I will pray for God's grace, which always comes when it is needed. I am sure that whatever His plan, it is for the best for me and my family. I was unsure whether or not I should share something like this publicly, but I feel like these are real feelings. I am sure others have shared them at some point, and it is nice to know we aren't alone. Also, most importantly, ready or not, if God chooses to give us another baby, we would always choose life.....

Lenten (no meat) recipes #1

Okay, I have a bunch of yummy 'no meat' recipes to share..... I don't know how much of a 'sacrifice' they will be though, as they are yummy!! This first one is a pasta dish recipe given to me by my friend Kristen, and given to her by our friend, Laurie. I just LOVE it. I have used it as a side dish for salmon nights, and it would be good as a side to grilled foods too, or just all alone with a salad and some bread. Delish!!! (oh yeah, and it is simple AND fast!!)

Pasta with spinach and feta
8 oz penne pasta, cooked according to pkg directions
2 tbsp olive oil
1 can petite diced tomatoes
1 (10 oz) pkg fresh spinach
1/2 cup green onions (I have omitted these when I didn't have them and it was still good)
fresh garlic
1 tsp each of basil and oregano

Put olive oil in skillet. Add 4 - 6 cloves of chopped, fresh garlic (for recipes like this, I have started to chop or slice the garlic rather than 'press' it. It seems to hold its flavor so much better that way, even though it is more inconvenient. ) and green onions. Saute. Add tomatoes and herbs. Cook several minutes until flavors blend. Add spinach and cook for about 2 minutes until it wilts. Toss with hot, cooked pasta. Top with a sprinkle of feta cheese and serve. SO GOOD!!!!!

Boys' Day out with Mom..

For the past several years atleast, I have taken my girls on regular 'Girls days out'...... We really look forward to them, and just love the time together. They usually involve shopping, eating out at fun restaurants, lots of talking, music, laughing, etc. Well, I was thinking recently that my boys never got 'alone time' out with Mom..... (ie, no girls - except me, of course) So, this past Saturday, we planned a day out... just my boys and I. We went bowling first, which was REALLY fun, even though I am NOT very good. They got to bowl, play video games, and get a treat from the vending machine... then we were off to Cracker Barrell for dinner. We had a fun time there too, and were actually stopped on our way out... a woman wanted me to know how good my boys were and how much she appreciated that........ (this is music to a mom's ears...........) We finished it off with a 'treat' from the gift shop. What a great day. I think we will make it a monthly tradition!!

Tried and True #6

Okay, with Lent quickly approaching, I am going to give you my fabulous Cheese Danish recipe!! (I know, this is not a 'Lent thing'.... but rather a FAT TUESDAY thing!!) Cheese Danish is the only thing I have ever craved during pregnancy, and actually made Dan go out and get.... and I wonder why I always gain so much during pregnancy........... hahahaha. All of my 'health nut' qualities are thrown to the wind... Anyway, these are great for a quiet Sunday morning, Christmas brunch, Easter morning, whenever!! And oh so yummy........

Cheese Danish
16 oz pkg hot rolls mix (I actually use my 'from scratch' recipe from the Betty Crocker cookbook.. mainly because I usually am making these 'spur of the moment', and don't have the roll mix)
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1 t vanilla
1 egg yolk
1/8 t salt
1 egg yolk, lightly beaten
1 C sifted powdered sugar
1 T milk
1 t vanilla

Prepare dough according to directions. Divide in half; roll each portion of dough to a 12"x8" rectangle.
Mix cream cheese and next 4 ingredients with mixer. Spread 1/2 of cream cheese mixture down the center of each rectangle.
Working with one dough rectangle at a time, cut 9 (3 in deep) slits into each long side of dough. Fold strips over cream cheese filling, alternating sides and making a braid. Pinch ends to seal and tuck under. Carefully place braids on baking sheet (I prefer the Pampered Chef stones).
Cover and let rise for 30 min. Brush tops with egg yolk. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 min or until golden.
Combine powdered sugar, milk, and one tsp vanilla, stirring well. Drizzle over warm loaves. Makes 2 (12 in) loaves. YUMMY......................... :)