...figuratively speaking, that is.
It is that time of year again - and I am determined to actually keep up with this. Especially with recipes (more for my own sake as a future reference than anything else!). I am renewing my efforts to be healthy - I probably won't do too much better as far as sleep is concerned, but if I exercise (and I do have a gym membership now!) and eat properly (no more Chick-fil-A is a good starting point), then I will feel much better. It's going to be difficult to kick the sugar bug, but I desperately need to - on top of my lousy eating & sleeping habits, my sugar intake is high, and that messes up my thyroid.
And that doesn't have anything to do with anyone but me. And it's for my own motivation, which will hopefully last long enough for it to become habit.
I will be striving to post something better than a get-yourself-motived-Miss-Jessica in the very near future...until then, please pray for me, and I shall be praying for you!
In Christ and His Mother,
Jessica
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Abstinance on Fridays - Creativity in the Kitchen
Cooking on Fridays has always been a difficulty for me - finding meatless meals that all of the children will eat is almost impossible (that are also inexpensive for a large family!). So, we rotate the same 3-4 things - meatless pasta, a couple variations on tuna, and salmon or tilapia. This week I decided to be bold and try a recipe out of a new cookbook - 'Rigatoni with Tuna and Sun-Dried Tomatoes.' It sounded good, but I was still slightly skeptical of the combination - tuna and sun-dried tomatoes???
Our little cook, Katrina, made it last night, and everyone loved it! Other than the tomatoes, which can be almost $6 for a little jar, it was quite economic. Here is the version we made - doubled, with the exception of the tuna - I bought three pouches instead of two.
16 oz. uncooked rigatoni
4 oz. Parmesan cheese, divided
1 cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, drained (
1 cup chopped fresh parsley, divided
1 lemon
6 tbsp. olive oil
4 garlic cloves, pressed
1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes (I don't know if we added this - probably not)
2 pouches chunk light tuna
1. Bring salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain.
2. Meanwhile, grate cheese. Pat tomatoes dry using paper towels. Slice tomatoes and chop parsley. Cut lemon into wedges; set aside.
3. Heat oil, pressed garlic and pepper flakes over medium-high heat 1-2 minutes or until garlic turns golden (do not allow to burn). immediately stir in tuna and tomatoes; cook 2-3 minutes or until tomatoes are tender. Add pasta, half of the parsley and half of the cheese; toss gently.
4. Sprinkle remaining parsley and cheese over servings, and squeeze a little bit of lemon on top.
Suggested sides are : a fresh arugula salad tossed with red wine vinaigrette.
Enjoy!
Our little cook, Katrina, made it last night, and everyone loved it! Other than the tomatoes, which can be almost $6 for a little jar, it was quite economic. Here is the version we made - doubled, with the exception of the tuna - I bought three pouches instead of two.
16 oz. uncooked rigatoni
4 oz. Parmesan cheese, divided
1 cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, drained (
1 cup chopped fresh parsley, divided
1 lemon
6 tbsp. olive oil
4 garlic cloves, pressed
1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes (I don't know if we added this - probably not)
2 pouches chunk light tuna
1. Bring salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain.
2. Meanwhile, grate cheese. Pat tomatoes dry using paper towels. Slice tomatoes and chop parsley. Cut lemon into wedges; set aside.
3. Heat oil, pressed garlic and pepper flakes over medium-high heat 1-2 minutes or until garlic turns golden (do not allow to burn). immediately stir in tuna and tomatoes; cook 2-3 minutes or until tomatoes are tender. Add pasta, half of the parsley and half of the cheese; toss gently.
4. Sprinkle remaining parsley and cheese over servings, and squeeze a little bit of lemon on top.
Suggested sides are : a fresh arugula salad tossed with red wine vinaigrette.
Enjoy!
Sunday, February 24, 2008
FSSP Confirmation
I am hoping to write something of some sort of substance soon (working on time management right now!), but quickly I wanted to relate some very exciting news...
Dad received permission from Fr. F. today to have Katrina and Clair confirmed at the Fraternity of St. Peter's confirmation in May!
We're overjoyed. Katrina's confirmation is long over-due since we haven't been able to find a place to have her confirmed, and now both she and Clair will be confirmed - at a Traditional Mass, no less!
Fr. F. was more than happy to give his permission for it, which has reminded us that not all hope is lost! It's so easy to become discouraged with the state of things, but God is still in control, and there are good things happening, too! We just need to continue to pray for the Holy Father, the bishops, and our priests!
And on that note, I need to wrap up my projects for the night and get to bed - Mass early in the morning!
In Christ through Mary,
With love,
Jessica
Dad received permission from Fr. F. today to have Katrina and Clair confirmed at the Fraternity of St. Peter's confirmation in May!
We're overjoyed. Katrina's confirmation is long over-due since we haven't been able to find a place to have her confirmed, and now both she and Clair will be confirmed - at a Traditional Mass, no less!
Fr. F. was more than happy to give his permission for it, which has reminded us that not all hope is lost! It's so easy to become discouraged with the state of things, but God is still in control, and there are good things happening, too! We just need to continue to pray for the Holy Father, the bishops, and our priests!
And on that note, I need to wrap up my projects for the night and get to bed - Mass early in the morning!
In Christ through Mary,
With love,
Jessica
