Mixed Nuts: Making Meals Monday

Quotes

"There is no better way to thank God for your sight than by giving a helping hand to someone in the dark." - Helen Keller
When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me." ~Erma Bombeck
You may never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only choice.- Unknown
Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow' ~Helen Keller
Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.
Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."- Dr. Seuss
"Life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you react to it."
"God doesn't give children with disabilities to strong people: He gives them to ordinary, everyday people, then He helps the parents to grow stronger through the journey. Raising a child with special needs doesn't TAKE a special family, it MAKES a special family."Author Unknown
I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go – Abraham Lincoln
Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. ~ Benjamin Franklin
There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as if everything is a miracle - Albert Einstein
The journey of a 1000 miles starts with a single step
Sometimes in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives you a fairy tale
Where there is great love, there are always miracles - Willa Cather
The Difficult we can do immediately, the impossible takes a little longer
Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness
There are two lasting bequests we can give our children. One is roots. The other is wings.
Be the change you want to see in the world
Don't tell God how big the storm is, tell the storm how big Your God is..........
Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it
Fall down seven times - get up eight - unknown
Despite our differences, we sink or swim together
Life may not be the party we expected, but while we are here, we might as well dance
"The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones." -Confucius

Monday, December 28, 2009

Making Meals Monday

Hi all! So this week, I am having company. I didn't get to make two of the recipes last week (due to us eating way too much junk and not being hungry for large meals), so I am going to use my garlic shrimp recipe and my ham ball recipe this week while my parents are here visiting.

So this week, I am making the above two dishes, and then a pasta dish with my grandmother Appolonia's homemade pasta sauce recipe. Here is the pasta sauce recipe if you are interested in ever trying it. It is easy and SO yummy.

Spaghetti Sauce

1 tablespoon margarine
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 28 ounce can of crushed tomatoes
1 28 ounce can of tomatoe puree
sprinkle garlic powder (although, I like my sauce garlicky, so I put a bit more in than a sprinkle)
salt to taste
pepper to taste
1 tablespoon sugar
1 chicken bouillon cube
1 12 ounce can tomato paste
3 paste cans of water

- you can also add a sprinkle of basil or oregano - I don't like either, but my grandma does.

1. Melt margaine and oil in large sauce pan (large - it makes a lot)
2. Add tomatoes, garlic powder, salkt, pepper, sugar and chicken bouillon cube
3. Cook above slowly for about 20 minutes (my grandma likes to bring it to a boil, then turn it down to low)
4. Add tomatoe paste and water
5. Cook about 1 1/2 hours continuing to add water as it thickens - but not too much because you want it somewhat thick. (I personally only use about 2 cans of water instead of three)

**like I said, it makes a lot - enough for at least 2-3 meals of a 5 person family like I have. If you aren't planning on using the sauce within 1 week, then it needs to be frozen. Once you make sauce, you need to put it in containers and refridgerate if you are not going to use immediately.

**you can also make meatballs right in the sauce - they taste VERY good once cooked in the sauce! My grandma uses 1 pound ground chuck that she browns well in a pan before dropping them into the sauce. Do not put in the sauce raw!!
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We also make homemade hot chocolate at this time of the year. Here is the recipe for that as well!

French Vanilla Cocoa Mix

1 (1 pound, 10 ounce) package nonfat dry milk powder (8 measuring cups)
4 cups sifted confectioners sugar
2 (8 ounce) jars french vanilla non-dairy powdered creamer (I don't recommend getting store brand - get the good stuff for this ingredient)
1 (1 pound) package chocolate mix (Nestle Quick)
1 (11 ounce) jar non-dairy powdered creamer (Creamora)

1. In a VERY LARGE (really big - really, really big) bowl, combine all ingredients slowly. Stir until well blended
2. Store in air tight containers
3. THIS RECIPE MAKES 19 MEASURING CUPS OF COCOA!!!

This is the best hot chocolate I have ever tasted, but it makes a ton!! But it is fun and easy.
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Next week, I will be back to work, so back on track for my weekly meals. So stay tuned!

I will probably not blog tomorrow because I don't have any pictures. we will be opening presents with my parents on Wednesday, so blog will be updated again this Wednesday! Take care!