Pasta Fagioli with Sausage Soup

Kate got this recipe from Mary who is one of the best cooks I know! I learn almost everything from her since I get to cook with her twice a month! Kate made this soup and we had it for lunch today... DELICIOUS!!!! I can not wait to make it!

Ingredients:
1 can beans (the recipes calls for great northern beans but I think I used some small white beans)
1 lb mild Italian sausage (I use turkey sausage for everything (Sus)
1 TB olive oil
1 medium onion – chopped
2 cloves garlic – crushed
1 or 2 carrots – chopped
1 can (28 oz) diced tomatoes
2 cans chicken broth (about 3 ½ cups)
2 cups water
Salt & pepper to taste
6 oz small pasta
5 oz spinach, washed dried and cut into strips
Parmesan cheese

Directions:
Heat oil in large pot. Add sausage, cook until browned. Add onions & garlic. Cook until tender. Add carrots, tomatoes with juice, beans, chicken broth, water, salt & pepper. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes.

Meanwhile cook pasta according to package directions.

Just before serving add spinach and cooked pasta. Serve with parmesan cheese.

Chicken and Black Bean Green Enchilada Rice Bake

Another super easy and yummy dish that Kate shared with me. It fed 6 people and that was with some leftovers and the boys had seconds. I served it with cornbread.

Ingredients

2 cups cooked white long grain rice
2 1/2 cups cooked, shredded chicken breast (I used a rotisserie chicken)
One 15-ounce can mild green enchilada sauce
One 4-ounce can sliced black olives
One 15-ounce can diced tomatoes
1/2 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon McCormick Gourmet Roasted Ground Cumin
One 15-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.

2. Place chicken, enchilada sauce, olives, tomatoes, sour cream, salt, pepper and cumin into a large bowl, mixing to combine. Pour cooked rice into prepared baking dish and layer beans on top of rice. Pour chicken mixture over rice and top evenly with cheddar cheese. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until cheese is melted and rice is hot.

Makes 6 to 8 servings

Here is the website it came from with pictures.
http://picky-palate.com/2011/04/25/chicken-and-black-bean-green-enchilada-rice-bake/

Chicken and Brown Rice Soup

I have been excited to start cooking again and love my friends sharing recipes with me! Kate found this one and it was very delicious and so easy to make!

Serves 8

To make a vegetarian version, use low-sodium vegetable broth and substitute quartered button mushrooms or cubed firm tofu for the chicken.
Ingredients

8 cups low-sodium chicken broth, divided
1 medium onion, chopped
3 medium carrots, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 cups water
1 cup long-grain brown rice
1 small chicken breast (about 6 ounces), cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 bay leaf
1 bunch kale, thick stems removed and leaves thinly sliced


Direction:
In a large pot over medium-high heat, bring 1/2 cup broth to a simmer. Add onion, carrots and celery and cook about 8 minutes or until onion is translucent, stirring occasionally. Add remaining 7 1/2 cups broth, water, rice, chicken and bay leaf. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook about 35 minutes or until rice is tender and chicken is cooked through. Remove bay leaf and stir in kale. Continue cooking just until kale is wilted and tender, 3 to 5 minutes.

Here is the website it came from and a picture! Yummy!

Our amazing miracle

Through our sin Gods glory is seen

Sometime in January of last year (2010) Brian wrote me a long letter with his testimony. At that point he truly did not think any Godly woman would ever marry him again. I had been through so much as well and knew if God could forgive and change me of my past He could forgive anyone. I also know God is in control of our salvation and hearts.

The one thing he shared was that about five years ago he had a vasectomy. He knew he wanted to get it reversed so that if he got remarried he could hopefully have more kids. I have wanted kids my entire life since I was old enough to know what that was. I knew that if I would marry Brian someday Gods will would be done. Brian started saving up money from January until October to fly to Oklahoma to a Christian doctor who would perform the reversal. He had his surgery October 5th and from that point had to wait four months to turn in a sample to find out if the surgery was successful. With all the research we found most cases of reversal patients did not get their wives pregnant until 6 months or after. I had some doubts throughout but I knew God had been so faithful throughout our entire relationship and marriage why couldn't He work this miracle.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

Philippians 4:6

February 5th marked four months. I happened to be ovulating at that time but Brian had to sustain for 72 hours in order to turn in his sample. On Tuesday February 15thth we got an email from our doctor in Oklahoma and the letter said, “Your analysis results are attached. The good news is that there are live sperm, but the total motile count is less than 20 million. Since the total motile count is less than normal, I recommend repeating the analysis in a few months since results are variable as I explained in the office.” His count was 1 million which was super low. At first I was a bit discouraged but at the same time thankful we had live swimmers:). Then Brian did some research and found out that there were vitamins and other things that could really bring that up.

By that Thursday my period was a day late. I am on antibiotics for a nasty sinus infection I have had for over a month. In the past I had thought antibiotics have caused me to be late but normally I am regular to the day. Then Friday rolled around and our friends came over to drop off some snowboarding gear for our trip on my birthday. We all got to joking around and Brian said, “if you are pregnant no snowboarding.” I did not plan on getting pregnant for a few months after what the test results showed and I just felt at peace about things. I have been planning this snowboarding trip for a long time. We have our reservations and everything booked. That night (February 18th) Brian told me to take a pregnancy test since I was two days late. I did not think anything of it until about 3 minutes later!

WE ARE PREGNANT!!!!! I am five weeks tomorrow (February 22nd). Amazing news to come a week before I turn 30! We are glowing and ecstatic. We praise God and believe His glory is seen so much through our testimony. We know this will bless so many people in the future. With Christ there is hope for anything and everything. He can do all things! I live this entire passage in Philippians that Paul wrote,

“I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

Philippians 4:10-13

We absolutely know this is all because God is with us. We have prayed so much and we trust in His faithfulness.

“To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” Jude 1:24-25

We know that we are still early on in the pregnancy but we are just so thankful that I was able to get pregnant. Now we trust God has everything else in His hands. Thank you all so much who have prayed for us and have prayed for our future. Brian, Collin, and I are so incredibly over-joyed. We are jumping for joy. I may not get to go snowboarding and sit in the spa with my gorgeous hubby next week but we will get to prance around in the snow and enjoy each other and the new life that is growing inside of me! That is way better:)

“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” Zephaniah 3:17

Hannah's Banana Bread

I had a different recipe on here before but Hannah shared this one and it is way better!



1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature, plus more for pan
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups unbleached flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3-4 very ripe bananas
1/2 cup yogurt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans or chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. I use my largest glass baking dish instead of a bread pan and butter it or spray it down; set aside.
In an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, and beat to incorporate.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to the butter mixture, and mix until just combined. Add bananas, yogurt, and vanilla; mix to combine. Stir in nuts or whatever you want to use, and pour into prepared pan. Cover with foil for the first 45 minutes.
3. Bake until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 1 hour. Let rest in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool.

Pizza

Well I was at home alone while the boys were out playing ball so I decided to mix up some pizza dough again. My first attempt was not the best but still edible. I got to make pizza dough with Mary and this is the best way to make it.
Pizza Dough

For the crust
1 1/3 cup water
2 TBSP Olive oil
3 Cups of flour
1 tsp Salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1 Package Active Dry Yeast


First dissolve the yeast in the water for 5-10 minutes.
Combine dry mixture and liquid ingredients in mixing bowl with paddle or beaters for 4 minutes on medium speed. Gradually add remaining flour and knead with dough hook 5 to 7 minutes until smooth and elastic.

Let dough rest 15 minutes (I put mine in a greased bowl and grease both sides, cover it, and let it sit in a warm place for an hour). Divide into 2 parts (I have a large pizza pan so I do not divide the dough). Press each half into a generously greased 12-inch round pizza pan sprinkled with cornmeal. Pre-bake for 10-12 minutes in pre-heated 400°F oven until edges of crust begin to turn light golden brown. Add desired toppings and bake an additional 15 minutes.

Pizza Sauce

1 can tomato sauce
1/2 tablespoon of each: oregano, basil, garlic powder,red pepper, Italian seasoning, and parmesan cheese

Pizza Toppings
You can put anything you want on the pizza. We love spicy food so I used 1lb of spicy chicken sausage (I took it out of the casing and cooked it in a frying pan), black olives, mushrooms, jalapenos, and red bell pepper.

And of course top it all off with Mozzarella Cheese!
ENJOY!

Stuffed Green Peppers

DELICIOUS!!!!!! And so easy to make!!!

* 6 green bell peppers
* salt to taste
* teaspoon oregano
* teaspoon Italian seasoning
* teaspoon red pepper flakes
* garlic salt or garlic pressed
* 1 pound ground turkey
* 1 small chopped onion
* salt and pepper to taste
* 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chilies
* 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
* 1/2 cup uncooked rice
* 1/2 cup water
* 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
* 1 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed tomato soup
* water as needed

Directions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cut the tops off the peppers, and remove the seeds. Cook peppers in boiling water for 5 minutes; drain. set aside in a baking dish
2. In a large skillet, saute ground turkey and onions for 5-10 minutes, or until turkey is browned. Drain off excess fat, and season with salt and pepper. Stir in the tomatoes, rice, 1/2 cup water and Worcestershire sauce and all other seasonings. Cover, and simmer for 15 minutes, or until rice is tender. Remove from heat.
3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. (175 degrees C). Stuff each pepper with the turkey and rice mixture, and place peppers open side up in a baking dish. Sprinkle each pepper with cheese. In a medium saucepan, heat tomato soup with just enough water to make the soup a gravy consistency. Pour over the peppers.
4. Bake covered for 25 to 30 minutes, until heated through and cheese is melted and bubbly.