Pasta Ponza (Fun to say, good to eat!)

This is a recipe I got from Giada De Laurentiis. Wynne and I watched her make it on Monday's show and it looked easy...so, because Wynne oohed and aahed...I decided to get the ingredients and try it. (I never bought capers before...) In the end, the whole family loved it...it's very flavorful and interesting, for a pasta dish! This one will be added to the file! (always a good thing to find a new dish for the family to enjoy!)

Butter for greasing
2 cups (12 ounces) red cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
2 cups (12 ounces) yellow cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
1/4 cup capers, rinsed and drained
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus extra for seasoning
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus extra for seasoning
1/2 cup Italian-style seasoned breadcrumbs
1 pound ziti or other short tube-shaped pasta
1 1/4 cups (2 1/2 ounces) Pecorino Romano cheese, grated
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Directions
Place an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Butter an 8 by 8-inch glass baking dish. Set aside.

Place the tomatoes, capers, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in the prepared baking dish. Toss to coat. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs over the tomato mixture. Drizzle the top with olive oil and bake for 30 to 35 minutes until the top is golden. Cool for 5 minutes.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water.

Place the pasta in a large serving bowl. Spoon the tomato mixture onto the pasta. Add the cheese and toss well. Thin out the sauce with a little pasta water, if needed. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Sprinkle with the chopped parsley and serve immediately.

I wonder why?

~It's 8o degrees on April 26th? (Hello, Sue! We live in New England! It could snow tomorrow and I wouldn't be surprised!)

~I dreamed about a kid from junior high school? (He was the size of Stuart Little and fit in my purse...actually, this kid was always a bit on the small size, but this is dream was ridiculous!)

~I am achy every morning? (okay, I don't really wonder this...I already know... We need a new mattress....maybe I should wonder where the money will come from to buy one!!)

Silly post. Silly girl. No wonder there!

Happy (hot) Sunday afternoon!

Olivia's Joy

Some people know from very early in life what they want to do...for Olivia, it's anything to do with horses. And she is really good at it. Here are some pictures I took at her last lesson. She is riding Gilly.


p.s. Hi Mom!

How I celebrate "Earth Day"...

First, I'll leave the water running when I brush my teeth. I'll use WAY too much toilet paper. I'll spray tons of aerosol hairspray on my silver locks and put all my clothes I wore yesterday in the wash, whether they're dirty or not. I'll drive my fossil fuel powered vehicle to the store, buy all plastic containers and then don't recycle them. At the checkout, I'll ask for paper AND plastic bags, because I'll NEVER buy those cloth bags.

Okay...enough silliness! This earth day, I celebrate my Creator. THE Creator of this beautiful planet He gave to us to enjoy. As the days grow warmer and the earth blossoms again, I see, feel and enjoy the evidence of Him. His presence can't be ignored.
Thanks, God!

"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” (Romans 10:9-10)

Could God's way to salvation and eternity spent with Him be any more plainly written? He must love us a lot, to make getting to heaven so easy. His Son, Jesus, did all the work and paid the ultimate price for us when He died on the cross! And then He conquered death when he rose from the dead three days later! Just speak it, and believe it! Jesus IS Lord!!! I believe!

Shall I tell you my latest dream? It's pretty silly, actually. Okay, if you insist...

I had been on a mission to explore outer space and we were buttoning up the mission and heading home. As we reentered the atmosphere, we had to travel through a massive group of meteorites which were heading straight for Earth! We barely missed them with our ship, only because of my expert navigation! (I'm an excellent driver)
First near calamity overcome, we landed our capsule in the Wal*Mart supercenter parking lot. (seriously, I can't escape going to Wal*Mart, even in my dreams!) Exiting the ship, we were greeted by a crowd of well-wishers who were cheering for us! Wow!!
After a few minutes of greeting people, I turned to look up to the sky behind me...my heart dropped as I saw the very same group of meteorites heading straight for us! No way to escape this time!
The first few that hit were huge. Utter mayhem ensued...people running for cover, screaming in terror!! Here is the weird part of this dream...(What do you mean when you say: the entire dream is weird?!?!) Well, the meteorites started to bounce as they hit...like big bouncy balls...every one that hit the parking lot bounced off of whatever it hit! Weird, huh?

That's it...I woke up as puzzled as you are. (maybe I should lay off that nightly bowl of peanut butter Cap'n Crunch?)

Randomness strikes:

I just realized tonight that asparagus is not my favorite. I could pretty much live without it for the rest of my life. The only thing that makes it at all yummy is the potential hollandaise sauce that might be offered along with it....and that's all that makes me want asparagus.
If I had the choice of vegetables...hmmm...let's see, how about whole green beans sauteed in olive oil and garlic? Or, a fresh garden salad! Chock full of baby greens, grape tomatoes, green onions, greek olives...you get the idea!

Tomorrow morning...early, I will be going to get my six month blood draw. So, right now, I am fasting overnight into tomorrow morning, until after they take my blood. The fact that I can't have another thing to eat tonight...well, it's no fun at all! My tummy is grumbling it's protest! Where is that familiar, habitual bowl of peanut butter Cap'n Crunch? Not tonight! I have to wait another 11 hours to break my fast. I might make it...we'll see!

We walked again tonight. Toby is practically oozing with joy as he trots alongside me and TacCom. He is seriously grinning from ear to ear! He expects to go with us every night, and as I am tying my sneakers, he is dancing all around me, nudging my legs...(Toby, not TacCom...just in case you lost track of who I was writing about...ha ha)
One of the reasons Toby is so excited to go is that he gets to greet his "girlfriend" as we walk past her house. She is a Redbone Coonhound. She has a very musical bark/howl...it's very cute..but Toby forgets his good walking habits and stretches the leash taut to its full length trying to get closer to her. It's a bit trying.
Finally we pass her domain and other than a few looks back, Toby is back to his well-behaved heel. We continue to hear her bark/howl for a few more minutes, until we are out of sight.

From asparagus to fasting to Toby's girlfriend...hmmm...interesting.

Hope you enjoyed my random thoughts. Happy Mid-April Eve!

Each life has a possibility of receiving salvation through Christ,

Each year is 12 months of growth in Him,

Each day is 24 hours of deciding to follow His leading,

Each moment is a twinkling instant of choice of whether to listen to His voice or not.

~Susan Elizabeth

Say goodbye to summer fun and baby teeth...

Well, last December's ice storm left it's mark in our yard...most obvious is the loss of our pool. A tree fell on one side and split the wall. We are going to miss it...but we did have 8 good years of use. I guess we'll be making more trips to Wingaersheek beach






And another loss: One of Wynne's top front baby teeth...the other soon to follow. I don't know...it just seems like when my kids lose their top teeth, their whole "look" changes...they are no longer babies. (*sigh of sadness)





p.s. Happy Birthday Sarah Hope! Hope it's a good one!

He is risen! He is not here!!

Above all powers
Above all kings
Above all nature
And all created things
Above all wisdom
And all the ways of man
You were here
Before the world began


Above all kingdoms
Above all thrones
Above all wonders
The world has ever known
Above all wealth
And treasures of the earth
There's no way to measure
What You're worth


Crucified
Laid behind a stone
You lived to die
Rejected and alone
Like a rose
Trampled on the ground
You took the fall
And thought of me
Above all

~Michael W. Smith

What a difference 24 hours makes!

Twenty-four hours later...we have walked again. It was 10 degrees warmer...which makes all the difference in the world!
It's neat to see the changes in nature that take place on a daily basis. The bare twigs of a week ago are now sporting tiny yellow buds that will be a blaze of color in less than a few days...forsythia...the flowering bush that signals the beginning of all that means spring. In a months time I will be enjoying the heady scent of my birthday flower; the lilac. There is nothing like it!

Brrrr....

Yes, we walked tonight...in 40 degree temps....I am finally thawing out enough to type this post....but I am chilled to the core! I cannot wait to feel the warm sunset on my back!

Happiness is:

Having coffee and a chat with a good friend...(sigh of contentment....aaahhhh)

When I hear the praises start...

My son, My son, why are you striving
You can't add one thing to what's been done for you
I did it all while I was dying
Rest in your faith, my peace will come to you

For when I hear the praises start
I want to rain upon you
Blessings that will fill your heart
I see no stain upon you
Because you are my child and you know me
To Me you're only holy
Nothing that you've done remains
Only what you do for Me

My child, My child, why are you weeping
You will not have to wait forever
That day and that hour is in My keeping
The day I'll bring you into Heaven

For when I hear the praises start
My child, I want to rain upon you
Blessing that will fill your heart
I see no stain upon you
Because you are My child and you know me
To me you're only holy
Nothing that you've done remains
Only what you do in Me

My precious bride, the day is nearing
When I'll take you in My arms and hold you
I know there are so many things that you've been hearing
But you just hold on to what I have told you

For when I hear the praises start
My bride, I want to rain upon you
Blessings that will fill your heart
I see no stain upon you
Because you are My child, and you know Me
To me you're only holy
Nothing that you've done will remain
Only what you do for me

~Keith Green

Early Sunday Morning

Palm Sunday. I am up early to go to church with the kids. Taccom is working. Amazingly, we are all up and ready to go. No rushing around, no tempers lost....just peace. Thank you Jesus for a beautiful start to this day!

Light and Life

Jesus is my light and life...and in Him is life and that life is the light in me!

Here's my proof:

The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1-3

For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.
Psalm 56:12-13

After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied ; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
Isaiah 53:10-12

In him was life, and that life was the light of men.
John 1:3-5

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
John 8:11-13