Saturday Snapshots - Look Who is Sitting

Thankful Thursday

I think this verse says it best:

 ¹⁸Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

 (Isaiah 1:18, King James Version)

Happy Thankful Thursday!



Thank you to Laurie at Women Taking a Stand for hosting Thankful Thursday this month.

Easy Manicotti Recipe

I just love easy make-ahead recipes.

This one is adapted from (I'm one who can never leave a recipe alone)  Becky Smith's Easy Peasy Manicotti Bake. 

First, cook Manicotti according to the package instructions; usually boil for 7 minutes. While bringing water to a boil, brown 2 lbs of Italian sausage - I prefer Johnsonville.

Drain the sausage and add 1 can of
1 Can Dei Fratelli Italian Sauce. You can substitue this with a jar of spaghetti sauce, but it probably won't be as good :-)

Just sayin'.

(In all seriousness though, Muir Glen Organic Tomato sauce is a close second if you can't find Dei Fratelli. It will take 2 cans of Muir Glen, since they are smaller.)

Drain the noodles and stuff with string cheese.

Cover with sauce mixture and sprinkle with Chef Paul Prudhomme's Pizza and Pasta Magic.

 Once again, substitute at your own risk.

Cover with shredded mozzarella cheese.

Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Uncover and cook an additional 15 minutes. See below for make-ahead directions.

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Easy Manicotti Bake

Preheat oven to 350. Spray baking/casserole dish with Pam.


1 pkg manicotti noodles (14 per pack)


1 Pack of string cheese (note: Make sure you buy enough string cheese. Often there are only 12 sticks in a package of string cheese.)


2 lbs Italian Sausage


1 Can Dei Fratelli Italian Sauce

Chef Paul Prudhomme's pizza and pasta magic


1 two-cup package of shredded mozzarella cheese

*Note: Since there are only two of us I make half of this, or put it in two smaller pans and freeze one pan for later.

Printer Friendly PDF - includes make-ahead directions.




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1. Prepare noodles according to package directions – usually boil for 7 minutes and drain.


2. Brown Italian Sausage


3. Drain meat; add Italian sauce and mix


4. Drain noodles; stuff with string cheese. Place in pan.


5. Cover noodles with sauce mixture.


6. Sprinkle with Chef Paul Prudhomme's pizza and pasta magic


7. Cover with shredded cheese.


8. Bake at 350 degrees covered with foil for 45 minutes and then uncovered for 15 minutes.


-or-


Cover with plastic wrap and then foil and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Remove plastic wrap and cover with foil, bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes, uncover and cook 15-20 minutes longer.


-or-


Cover with plastic wrap and then foil and freeze up to one month. Remove plastic wrap and cover with foil, bake at 350 degrees for two hours, uncovering for the last 15-20 minutes.

Confessions...

I must confess, it's absolutely true...

I'm head-over-heels in love with this boy.

I love the way he always wakes up happy...

And sits in his chair so patiently while I start our morning routine.

I love his chubby little baby toes...

And fat little man-hands.

His laughter is the most precious sound I've ever heard.

Yes, I am totally in love.



Saturday Snapshots 2.19.11

And last but not least....

Green grass! Here in the Frozen Tundra the first glimpse of green grass is sure to bring on spring fever.

Always True Giveaway Winner!!

And the winner is....

Joshlin who blogs at Saving Moms Sanity

Congratulations! I've emailed you and will have the book on it's way soon.

****chosen using random.org

Thankful Thursday - Titus 2 Women

Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored. Titus 2:3-5

Titus 2 women are such a blessing. It's so important to have older women in the church who are willing to reach out to young women, giving biblical counsel and encouraging us as we raise our children, love our husbands, and walk in obedience to God's Word.

I'm thankful for all of the Titus 2 women in my life. I'm so blessed to have such wonderful group of women in my church. They have been such an encouragement to me over the last few years.

I am also thankful for the Titus 2 women in the blogosphere. One who has been a real blessing to me is Wendy over at Faith's Firm Foundation. She is a stay-at-home homeschool mother of two grown children. Her posts inspire and encourage. She offers biblical advice on child rearing, caring for our husbands and our homes, hospitality, prayer, and much more. Please take a minute to stop by her blog.

Thank you to Laurie at Women Taking a Stand for hosting Thankful Thursday this month.

Saturday Snapshots 2.12.11

Look who really, really is about to crawl. Any day now...

Visit http://www.anordinarymom.com/2011/02/saturday-snapshots-2-12-11/ to share you Saturday snapshots.

Always True By James MacDonald Review and Giveaway

Subtitle: God's 5 promises when life is hard.

In this encouraging book, Pastor James MacDonald opens the Bible and explores five of the great promises God has made to His people. These are promises that are true in every generation, and God is by nature a promise-keeper.


This book was written following some of the darkest times of the author’s life. This is not a preachy “here’s how you should feel” type book. This is an honest, heartfelt look at the hope that God has given us and the promises that He has made to help carry us through the trials of life.

This book is laid out in such a way that it is very easy to study and apply these promises to your life. Each promise is preceded by a section called “The Theology of a Promise,” where Pastor James opens God’s Word to help us better understand God and His nature. He then explores a promise of God. The promise chapters each end with a section called “Take to Heart” which summarizes the definition of the promise and offers practical ways to apply it in our life. There is also a memory verse to go along with each promise, allowing the reader to hide God’s Word in their heart and be able to bring it to mind when troubles come. This layout makes it an outstanding resource for preparing believers to face difficulties.

I was very moved by this book. I’ve been going through a very difficult time in my life, and this book was exactly what I needed to read. This book was written after Pastor James went through the darkest period of his life, and his personal perspective makes it very relatable and comforting to read.

These promises are real. It is so humbling and awe-inspiring to contemplate these promises. God, the Author and Creator of the universe, has made promises to us and we can know that He will always keep them.

A complimentary review copy of this book, along with a giveaway copy, was provided to me by C. Grant & Company, but that in no way influenced my opinion of it.

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And now for the giveaway.
To enter, simply leave a comment along with an email address so I can contact you.
Additional entries:
-follow this blog using Google Friend Connect (2 additional entries)
-follow my Book Review Blog using Google Friend Connect (2 additional entries)
-follow me on Twitter - @Ephesians2_89
-Tweet about this giveaway (one tweet per day)
-Blog about this giveaway (5 additional entries)

Please be sure to leave a comment with an email address for each entry.
Giveaway closes 2/17/11 at 10PM.



Thankful Thursday- Precious Moments...

...in the middle of the night, settled into the rocking chair with a sleepy baby. His soft cheek laying on my shoulder. Nearer My God to Thee playing softly in the background. Chubby fingers rubbing his eyes as he drifts off to sleep. Remembering to savor this moment because all too soon he will be grown up and these moments will only be precious memories.

Thank you to Laurie at Women Taking a Stand for hosting Thankful Thursday this month.

*****

Enter to win Always True by James MacDonald HERE.

Saturday Snapshots 2.5.11

Jojo and Grammy Diane Monday night.

Boy Meets Dog.

Boy Kisses Dog.

First drink from a big-boy cup.


Share your Saturday Snapshots at www.anordinarymom.com