Work – too many people associate it as evil. But to be able to work is really a blessing!
To have
something you own that needs to be cleaned
the health to get up and work
are two simple reasons to tell God thank you!
Work was created in the Garden of Eden before sin entered the picture. God works. We should work. Our purpose is that it is ordained of God and we should do it for His glory.
Now that September is here, we’re all thinking about fall’s upcoming blessings. For me, that refers not as much to Pumpkin Spice, but to the events and activities that this season will bring – and there are lots of them!
A few weeks ago when I looked at the calendar’s “red marks,” indicating service opportunities and personal responsibilities, I could feel the panic button in my heart getting slapped on! That’s not a good thing.
Lasagna is usually a guilty pleasure. With pasta, cheese and ground beef, what’s not to love?! However, while visiting my parents recently, my mom had clipped a recipe for a Zucchini version that replaces the pasta for this tasty veggie. Wow! It was so good! It was also really easy to put together because it eliminates the one step of boiling pasta!
To get the zucchini ready and to keep it from adding moisture to the luscious tomato sauce, you lay it on paper towels, sprinkle it with salt and let the water drain from it. Then when you layer the casserole together it doesn’t get as watery. It’s a simple process!
Here is the process in pictures. 1. Drain the zucchini with salt. Layer meat, cottage cheese, tomatoes and cheese. Repeat.A round pan might be a little odd, but I halved the recipe and this was a great size for 2 with a little leftover.
If you think you’re going to suffer when eating this you’re wrong! It’s a delicious alternative. I tweaked the recipe my mom had when I made it at my house. I used ground turkey instead of beef, making it even a little more healthy. I also switched out the Ricotta cheese for Low-fat Cottage cheese. We love this dish!
Zucchini Lasagna
Ingredients
3smallsmall zucchini
1/3onion(chopped)
14.5oztomato(diced)
8oztomato sauce
1/2tspgarlic salt
1/2tspgarlic powder
2TBSfresh basil
2TBSfresh oregano
1TBSfresh tyme
1/2cupparmesan
10ozcottage cheese
1egg
8ozmozzarella cheese, shredded
Instructions:
Lay zucchini out on paper towels and sprinkle with salt. Cover with additional paper towels.
Put olive oil and chopped onion in a saute pan over medium heat. Saute for about 5 minutes until onions are soft.
Add diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, garlic salt and garlic powder.
Stir everything together and simmer for 15 minutes.
Add herbs when you are done simmering and remove from heat.\
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a small bowl combine, egg, Cottage cheese and Parmesan.
Spray a 9×9 (or 8×8) baking pan with cooking spray.
Spread about 1/4 cup sauce on the bottom of your pan.
Layer 1 layer of zucchini across the sauce.
Top zucchini with about 1/3 cottage cheese mixture.
Top ricotta with 1/4 of mozzarella.
Top cheese with more sauce and repeat steps
End with zucchini, sauce then mozzarella.
Cover pan with foil and bake for 35 minutes.
Remove foil and bake uncovered for another 15-20 minutes until cheese is golden.
Remove from oven and let rest for about 5 minutes before eating. Cover pan with foil and bake for 35 minutes.
I hope you’ll try this healthy but scrumptious version of a family favorite!
In the next couple weeks a significant birthday is coming my way. My daughters came to me earlier this year, telling me that they were planning a Girl’s Weekend Away so we might celebrate my day together.
Wow.
I was so touched by their thoughtfulness. To think that ~
They remembered it was going to be a significant birthday.
They wanted to do something for me to celebrate it.
They planned it all and simply invited me to join them.
They wanted to spend a whole weekend together.
It was just a blessing that truly touched my heart. I was surprised, excited and so grateful.
Last week I shared a video in which I recited a chapter from the Book of James. It’s only by God’s grace that I have it tucked away in my heart. I only shared that to encourage others that if I can memorize the Bible, so can you. At nearly 60, and with a poor memory, it truly doesn’t come natural. But it is important to me, so I work at it – not even as faithfully as I should, but I am striving to learn more verses each year. Please don’t be amazed – it’s not me. It’s the Lord Who has helped me.
Today, I’m sharing with you the method I use to memorize Bible verses. I pray it will help you and encourage you to begin working on at least one verse. That’s where it starts! You can find that video here, and the previous video here. You can also watch it below.
Don’t be defeated in this discipline, friends. Start with one verse and then add to that. You can do all things through Christ who will strengthen you! Philippians 4:13
RefreshHer 