Thank heaven for the Internet and recipe reviews!  They can pretty much ensure that the recipe that “sounds good” or “looks pretty” will actually be worth eating!  I shared with you here, the fiasco I had as a new wife when the recipe for Lasagna broccoli Roll-ups was a complete failure!  If I had had the luxury back then of a review of my recipe, I might not have had the disaster all those years ago! 

When I told my husband Saturday night that we were having Sausage Lasagna Roll-ups, I’m sure his stomach heart grew a bit weak!  However, he didn’t know that the review on-line was a 5 star one!  Yes, technology changes lots of things – even cooking!  I was pleasantly surprised at how delicious this recipe really was!  It’s a nice change from regular lasagna, and when cooking for just a small number, it’s nice not having a whole pan of pasta leftover.  This recipe can be completely made ahead of time – it would even freeze well before baking.  I just put it in the oven before church and used the Time Bake feature.  It was perfect when we got home.

Ingredients

•3 lasagna noodles – *I used 4

•3/4 cup ricotta cheese – *1 Cup cottage cheese

•1/2 teaspoon minced chives

•1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

•1/2 teaspoon dried basil

•24 slices pepperoni – *1/2 lb. Sweet Italian turkey sausage, cooked and crumbled

•3 slices Swiss cheese, cut into thirds – *Mozzarella Cheese

•1 cup meatless spaghetti sauce

•1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Directions

•Cook noodles according to package directions; drain. Combine the ricotta cheese, chives, oregano and basil; spread 1/4 cup over each noodle to within 1/2 in. of edges. Top with pepperoni and Swiss cheese; carefully roll up.

• Place seam side down in a greased shallow 1-qt. baking dish; top with spaghetti sauce. Cover and bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until bubbly.

• Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving. Yield: 3 servings.

Citrus Tossed Salad – (Taste of Home) This was really good!

Torn greens
Mandarin Orange
apple, chopped
pecans, toasted

Dressing:
1/2 C unsweetened apple juice
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 T sugar
1 T olive oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon – The cinnamon won’t incorporate very well into the dressing, but don’t worry, it will splash onto the apples and make them yummy!

Combine the greens, fruits and pecans on salad plates.  Drizzle with dressing just before serving.

I must confess that the dessert was made by a friend at church who is a terrific cook!  I looked on-line and found this recipe. . .it has to be the same thing!  Oh, my goodness!  Pumpkin pie will take a back seat with this dessert around!

Pumpkin Crunch Cake
14 ounce(s) can evaporated milk

1 cup(s) chopped walnuts

3 eggs

1 cup(s) melted margarine

4 teaspoon(s) pumpkin pie spice

1 1/2 teaspoon(s) salt

15 ounce(s) solid pumpkin

1 1/2 cup(s) sugar

1 box(es) yellow cake mix

Preparation

Mix first 6 ingredients by hand.

Pour into greased 9 x 13 inch pan.

Sprinkle dry cake mix (entire box) over mixture, sprinkle nuts on top. Pour melted butter over dry cake mix.


Bake at 350 for 45-55 minutes (until it looks solid and nuts are browning).

Did you have any successes – or even failures at good attempts in your kitchen this week?


From my parsonage kitchen,

She had been single for seventy years when the Lord brought into her life a man she’d known many decades before.  He had been widowed and was now alone.  She had been serving the Lord on the mission field all her adult life, and that is where he found her again.  They dated and then were married within a year.  They have now been married and serving the Lord together for the last four years!

This was the sweet testimony that I heard yesterday from the lips of the “newlywed bride.”  What a sweet story, huh?  It was also a sober reminder of how important it is that we keep a right attitude about our current situation in life.  What if this dear lady had gotten bitter towards God for allowing her to be single all those years?  Her future husband, who needed a woman to stand alongside him in his ministry, would not have chosen her to be his wife!  But that, of course, was not the case.  She had been faithful and trusting in the perfect will of her Father…for about 50 years!

What longing do you have that seems like it will never be fulfilled? 

• Marriage?
• Children?
• Ministry opportunity?
• Health?
• Salvation of a  family member?

Our God is not limited by time.  He is eternal.  Keep a contented heart.  Keep a sweet spirit.  Keep serving Him – whether or not He does what you think He should do and in the time you think He should do it.  You and I don’t know what wonderful things He has planned for us in His time.

With love,

On a day when we think about love, my heart wanders to The initiator of love – the Lord Jesus Christ.  Proverbs 10:28 says, The hope of the righteous shall be gladness…  Why can we have gladness?

I’d have to say that Valentine’s Day has always been a favorite holiday of mine.  From the time I was a little girl cutting out those folded pieces of paper that magically turned into symmetrical hearts, I’ve been head over heels in love with the day itself!  What’s not to love about chocolate, conversation hearts, flowers, lacey paper doileys, and heart-shaped food from cookies to pancakes? 

Okay, I hear a single gal lamenting that this day is a little over the top, and she feels excluded. I hear the wife that’s sighing and recounting that her husband hasn’t remember this day in forever. I’m truly sorry.    Perhaps we need to Refresh our hearts about this Love-filled holiday.

Whether we’re married, dating or single, Valentine’s Day is about expressing our love for someone else.  This will require each of us to lower our expectations of the day and do unto others.  If we approach February the 14th about with what we’re going to get out of it, we are setting ourselves up for disaster, disappointment and, if you’re married,  potential divorce!  Seriously, if we expect roses, chocolates and sweet sentiment written in red accompanied by boxes of our favorite chocolates  in heart-shaped boxes, we are sure to be disappointed.  Let’s each give our Valentine’s expectation a little overhaul and start thinking ahead of the person(s) to whom we could show love, rather than dwelling on the one from whom we better receive it. 

Start with your family, then think outside the box. 

• Love on your husband.  List why you love him – on paper, the bathroom mirror, or a special card .  Get his favorite candy, or make him his favorite dessert.  Buy him a new CD.  Print off a picture that encapsulates a special memory for you both.  Plan a special date – at home (dinner and/ordessert in your bedroom after the kids are in bed) or away.  Hide Valentine notes for him in special places – the car, his computer, his wallet, the shower…
• Love on your kids.  Heart-shaped foods – pancakes, sandwiches, cookies, brownies, etc. are always fun!  One year I made paper hearts that made a trail that led from the girls’ bedrooms to a special treat. 
• Remember a senior citizen whose mate has passed away.  This can be a lonely time for them.  Buy flowers or send a card telling them why you and your family cares for them.
• Send a note to a single young adult woman.  Young adult women are often hurting because they’re waiting for the Lord to bring in “Mr. Right.”  Waiting for can be very frustrating. Single women who have experienced divorce are also hurting people that need care from others.   Send a card, reminding them that they are valuable to you.  Don’t preach to them about their situation; just express your love.  A small gift would also be a thoughtful gesture.

If you pray about showing love to others, and then get caught up in what you could do, it will lessen your own pain, if you should feel neglected.  Remember yesterday’s quote?  It fits. Even on Valentine’s Day.  Very much.

Be refreshed,

With tear-filled eyes,