Inspirational Thought

The be-all and end-all of life should not be to get rich, but to enrich the world.

Peace to ALL

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MACARONI SALAD

Time Saver Salad

Ingredients

3-4 stalks celery

2-3 green onions

1 ½ - 2 lbs. macaroni

Approx 2 cups mayo

½ cup sweet relish (or to taste)

1 green pepper

Mustard (to taste)

Seasoning to taste

Directions

Chop up celery, green onions, and green pepper in a food processor if you have one. Cook macaroni. Mix all the ingredients together. Vary proportions, sizes, etc. to size or group and taste. Season with pepper, dry onion soup, or whatever you like.

Chill and enjoy.

Inspirational Thought

Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should dance.

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Religion

CASHEW CHICKEN SALAD

Time Saver Salad

Ingredients

White chicken breasts (baked with a little butter, salt and pepper until lightly browned.)

Shred chicken or cut into small cubes.

chopped celery

chopped yellow or red onion

light sour cream

cashew pieces

club crackers or croissants

Directions

Place chopped chicken pieces in a bowl along with all other ingredients. Just before serving drizzle the light sour cream over the salad. Mix well.

Eat with club crackers or croissants.

Serving Suggestion

Place chopped pieces of mango or avocado over salad.

Enjoy!

Inspirational Reflection-Weights On Your Mind?

Starvation woman

In today's media we are assaulted daily with what we are supposed to 'look like' and that is stick thin, starvation like figures. Is that the typical womanly figure?

I recently read in a magazine that in today's world Marilyn Monroe would be considered over weight, right alongside Sophia Loren, yes she rated a mention too.

Who are these weight Gestapo police? They are the publishers of magazines which try and dictate how a woman should look. The pity of it is, many women are buying into this dictatorial approach to women's issues.

One of the biggest and over growing industries are the weight loss programs, books, DVD's, diet clubs etc. When all that women need to do is practice moderation, which basically means you can have your slice of cake and eat it too, you just can't eat the entire cake!

Normal sized women

One of the greatest pleasures in life is eating delicious food, there is nothing wrong in eating good and tasty food so long as it is done in moderation and appropriate portion sizes.

Normal sized woman

So ladies are you sick and tired of being told what you should look like? Rather than accept that dictatorial approach, learn to live with your shapely bumps. Don't fall into the 'thin at all costs' neurosis but instead celebrate your curves!

Copyright © 2006 Marie Smith. All rights reserved.

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Summer Pudding

Time Saver Dessert

Ingredients

2 pounds mixed fresh berries (esp. raspberries and redcurrants)

1.691 water

6 oz caster sugar(to taste)

8 or so stale slices good white bread, thinly sliced

Directions

Combine three-quarters of the berries with the sugar and water in a small saucepan and gently heat until sugar has dissolved. Remove and add more sugar if too tart. Add almost all of the remaining berries and strain the fruit, keeping all the juices.

Remove the crusts from the bread, and cut a piece to fit the base of a one-litre pudding basin or bowl. Cut the remaining slices into triangles or rectangles to cover the sides of the bowl. Now that you've assembled the shell, take each cut slice, dip it lightly into the reserved juices, and return it to its position in the bowl.

Add the berries, and some of their juices, and top with a final layer of bread, cutting to fit. Press lightly until the juices rise to the top, covering the bread. Place a saucer on top, weight it with a can, and refrigerate overnight. Refrigerate the remaining juices as well.

To unmould, ease a knife between pudding and bowl, place a serving plate on top and invert. Spoon the reserved juices on top and arrange the reserved berries on top.

Serve with a dollop of thickened cream, yogurt or creme fraiche.

*Ingredients Suggestion*

Replace white bread with raison bread or brioche

Enjoy!

Inspirational Thought

Happy Mother's Day!

The sweetest sounds to mortals givenAre heard in Mother, Home, and Heaven.

Applesauce Waffles

Ingredients

2 eggs plus 1 egg white, beaten

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted

1/4 cup applesauce, unsweetened

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour with 1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup plus

2 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

Maple syrup

Mangos, strawberries, or blueberries(fruit of choice)

Dob of thickened cream

Directions

Mix all the ingredients except syrup and fruit in a large bowl. Spray a waffle iron with cooking spray. Spoon the batter onto the heated waffle iron. Cook the waffle until lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Serve with maple syrup and sliced mangos, strawberries, or blueberries.

Time Saver Easier Recipe

Buy a packet of frozen waffles. Place them in the toaster until warmed. Pour over maple syrup add fruit with a dob of thickened cream.

Enjoy!

Inspirational Humour

I try to take one day at a time, but sometimes several days attack me at once.

Easy Lamington Cake

Time Saver Dessert

Ingredients

Buy a 1 slab sponge cake (one day old)

4 cups icing sugar

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

2 tablespoons butter

1/2 cup milk

2 - 3 cups desiccated coconut

To make the icing

Cool the cake for at least half an hour in the Fridge or Freezer, then cut into squares or fingers

Combine the Sugar and Cocoa in a large bowl

Heat the milk and butter in a saucepan until the butter is melted.

Add to the sugar/cocoa mixture and mix to a fluid yet not runny consistency

Directions

Line up in a row the following. Sponge Fingers, Chocolate Icing mixture in a bowl, coconut in a shallow container or plate, and a cooling rack with paper underneath.

Using a fork dip the sponge fingers into the icing, roll it in the coconut covering it well, and then place on to the rack to dry.

Once they have dried, place in an airtight container and leave to "mature" for at least a few hours, preferably overnight, before eating.

Enjoy!

Inspirational Thought

Leisure is a form of silence, not noiselessness.

It is the silence of contemplation such as occurs

when we let our minds rest on a rosebud,

a child at play, a Divine mystery, or a waterfall.

Bishop Fulton Sheen

Peace of Christ to ALL

Beef and Pasta Casserole

Nutritious Meal

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef

gravy mix

2 cups elbow pasta

1 onion

1 medium tin chopped tomatoes

1/2 teaspoon crushed garlic (optional)

Italian seasoning (to taste)

shredded cheese

Directions

Brown beef and onion in pan. Drain off fat. Add chopped tomatoes, Italian seasoning, garlic. Mix well.

Make instant gravy and pour into beef mixture.

Cook the pasta until tender drain off water. Add pasta to beef mixture.

Place meat mixture with added ingredients in a casserole dish.

Simmer for 20 minutes.

Add shredded cheese a few minutes before serving.

Enjoy!

Peace of Christ to ALL

Inspirational Thought

Love is shown in your deeds not in your words.

Father Jerome Cummings

Peace of Christ to ALL

Catholic Mom's
Inspirational

Easy Shepherds Pie

Nutritious Meal

Ingredients

1 1/2 pound ground beef or lamb

4 tablespoons tomato ketchup

2 cans green beans or peas(drained)

1 small onion, diced

4 cups mashed potatoes

Worcestershire sauce (to taste)

Onion gravy

Boiled Potatoes (quantity as needed)

Directions

Brown ground beef/lamb and onion together. Drain off fat. Sprinkle Worcestershire sauce into browned meat add the tomato ketchup, beans/peas(optional). Stir together.

Boil the potatoes till soft. Drain off water. Add salt, pepper and nob of butter (cream optional). Mash until smooth texture.

Place meat mixture into a baking pan or casserole dish. Pour over onion gravy. Cover with mash potatoes. Sprinkle shredded cheese over the top (optional).

Bake in oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Serves six.

Enjoy!

Peace of Christ to ALL

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