Monday, December 2, 2013

RECIPE: Italian Sausage with Bow Ties

Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone (rather quickly!), and most of the turkey has been disguised in soup or casserole, it's time for some warm winter dinners.  Soup is delicious, yes, but after a while it's nice to eat something more solid.

If you like sausage, pasta, and a creamy tomato sauce, Italian Sausage with Bow Ties is perfect for these cold nights.  The crushed red pepper flakes in this dish give it some heat--you choose how much to add.

Besides flavor, this recipe is wonderful because it's super duper quick.  Like 25 minutes quick.  And the great thing is that nobody would suspect it's so easy.  It's just scrumptious!


 
                                For a flavor burst, add some fresh basil.


 Italian Sausage with Bow Ties
 Time: 25 minutes. Serves: 5

Ingredients:
1 package (16 oz.) bow tie pasta
1 lb. bulk Italian sausage
1/2 c. chopped onion
1/2 t. crushed red pepper flakes (more or less to taste.  Just remember a little goes a long way :D)
2 cans (14.5 oz each) Italian stewed tomatoes, drained and chopped (I put mine in the food processor
            since some people in my family don't love chunks of tomatoes.)
1 1/2 t. garlic (minced)
1 1/2 c. heavy whipping cream
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. dried basil
Shredded Parmesan or Romano cheese (optional)

Directions:
Cook pasta according to package directions.  Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven, cook the sausage, onion, and pepper flakes over medium heat for 4-5 minutes or until meat is no longer pink.  Add garlic, cook 1 minute longer.  Drain.

Stir in the tomatoes, cream, salt, and basil.  Bring to a boil over medium heat.  Reduce heat; simmer uncovered for 6-8 minutes or until thickened, stirring occasionally.  Drain pasta; toss with sausage mixture.  Garnish with cheese.

ENJOY!!!

~Recipe originally published in Simple & Delicious September/October 2007. Also on Taste of Home website.

Monday, November 25, 2013

Autumn

I decided that before the holiday posts come up, I better capture the past two months in a nutshell.

My schedule is a bit unique since I have no two days in a week that are the same.  I teach Foods 1 two days a week at Cornerstone, 3 different classes of art one day at my home, do an hour or two of office cleaning/ invoicing for a local company, work at a bakery/deli two days a week, and try to fit in piano practice and lessons.  Plus other random things that fill the schedule. Really I can't complain because compared to other kids my age who have college and part time jobs I have a lot of spare time.  Anyway, while these past few months haven't been perfect, I wouldn't trade them for anything. I've learned ALOT!

 The Foods 1 girls doing a cookie lab.

They really don't like washing dishes as much as this picture shows.

Now for random highlights....

There was an exciting project in September. I repainted my bedroom and helped Dad put in a new laminate wood floor!!! That green carpet was stained and not the most desirous of colors :)

BEFORE


DURING


AFTER
I should probably get a better picture with my bed made :)

The color didn't quite turn out like I expected but it will work. I have very little furniture/wall décor but for now it will work too.  It's already much better than before!


I've been taking a lot of pictures of the sky this year. The sunrises and sunsets have been BEAUTIFUL! God is amazing.


We eventually closed the pool. But first Danny and his friend ?enjoyed? a swim.
Yes the water was that green. My dad seriously does a great job taking care of the pool, but for some reason this summer we didn't swim much toward the end and so it turned this bright color. Never have seen it like that before!!!


A definite highlight of fall is the amazing horse riding weather! Kim and I took our cousin on a 18th birthday surprise trip. She loves camping and riding horses so we took her to a nearby state park. That could be a post in itself...I always have fun with Leah.

 In October we enjoyed the Buddy Walk. My amazing uncle/aunt/cousins put a lot of energy into raising over $20,000 for Down Syndrome Indiana. The goal was 16K for Isaac's 16th birthday and the 16th annual Buddy Walk.  That also could be a post in itself.

Edie, Kim, Leah, Mary Lydia, and I took a trip to Michigan to visit Maria. We visited an orchard, talked, ate, carved pumpkins, and had a lot of fun.

I don't have any pictures of the Feast of the Hunter's moon but I dressed up for my last time this year.
 
Then in the end of October, Dad had an 'improper dismount' from a bucking horse and broke his ankle. Or shattered it. A friend helped me make this sign and we had it ready for when he got home from the hospital.  Also my sister sent him a sign that says "When you're young and fall of a horse, you may break something. When you're my age, you splatter." He is still on crutches but I can't say it's slowed him down too much.  There have been more game nights since which is good.

In October I got my 18th birthday present. A camera! It is an entry-level DSLR so it's not professional but a significant step up from my other camera. I still have a lot to learn; however, I have been having fun taking a lot of pictures!  It helped me appreciate autumn.  Early in the fall I was almost angry at the leaves for turning.  For me, the farewell to summer is almost worst than winter! But since I got a camera I wanted to practice and found leaves to be a fun subject.  And then I found myself appreciating autumn more.




I love taking pictures of Edie when she gives me the chance which isn't very often
:)


The dog, however, will pose. 



And now it's on to the busy holiday season! It can sometimes be a challenge to not get caught up in the festivities of the season and forget the meaning.  While it's great to have an abundant Thanksgiving dinner or a pile of gifts in the living room, there are many hungry families and empty trees.  This year I hope to do a better job of remembering those people in prayer as I am showered with blessings.

So until next time, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Rockville

As a last hoorah for summer!

A while back we were invited by the Rockville church for a weekend full of fellowship over Labor Day, 2013. After I went to Rockville in August of 2012, I knew that it would take a bit for me  to miss an opportunity to return! So, I asked my amazing cousin, Leah, to drive 14 hours with me to the east coast!

At first we thought that we'd get there Saturday morning and have to leave Monday morning. But thankfully we both got off work and were able to head out Friday morning around 4 to make it in time for an evening singing. We were very tired Friday night and honestly I was tired most of the weekend. But not tired enough to feel like a slob or forget what happened!

There were SO many people there! From all over the US. Fellow Hoosiers, Illinoians, Iowites, and of course people from Connecticut. I would say there was close to 200 people there! Groups got arrived/left at different times throughout the weekend, but most of the time it was huge!

My grandma was from Rockville, so I have a lot of second cousins there. And when my mom was younger they would visit some and apparently I remind people of her. At least a dozen came up to me and asked if I was MaryBeth's daughter. And back when I went in August an older lady actually called me MaryBeth! Anyway, it was great to see all those people.

All three nights I stayed with one of my mom's friend's daughter. She was a lot of fun and what made it especially memorable was that we stayed at her grandparent's lake-house. It was on the lake where my mom learned to ski! So two nights we took the boat out for a cruise around the lake in the dark. So relaxing.

It was really neat to be with such a huge group of Christians. We sang a lot, went on a hike up a beautiful mountain to a tower Saturday morning, worshipped together at church, and of course ate :) Joanna, my hostess, took us to her grandpa's car collection and Kloter Farms, the family business with AMAZING ice cream (that I somehow managed to drip down my shirt. *sigh* I can't escape my clumsiness on the east coast I guess).

Needless to say this weekend was one I will never forget! I'm so thankful for a cousin who's game to go go go! and a body of believers to fellowship with.

 
Now for the pictures!
Each night there was a different group of girls staying with Joanna. This is the group from the first night.
 
This is the grandparent's home...

And the guest house where we stayed (which would be 180 degree turn from the pic above)

Here's a group pic of the hike on Saturday

After the hike we had some free time before the evening meal/singing so we went a few different places like the car place...
 
 
And to Kloter farms for that delicious ice cream!


Here's another group shot after church on Sunday. If you're wondering, I'm in the black and white dress with lime green shrug in front (they must think we're short). Leah is in the coral shirt beside me.
 
Driving home. It was such a beautiful drive which helped it go a little quicker.
 
And that concludes my summer adventures!
However, autumn has brought a few more:)


Sunday, November 3, 2013

Grand Ol Cal-i-for-ni-YAAAAAAAYYYY!

Completely different than my other two vacations was a trip to SoCal in late July/August. For our senior trips we get to pick where to go (within reason :D) Kim picked Yosemite about six years ago and when we were there I decided that sometime I was going to hike Half Dome, the tallest dome in the park.

So, guess where I picked to go for my senior trip? To Yosemite to hike Half Dome and then down to the LA area to visit family.

The trip to CA was definitely an adventure! To start off it was Mom, Kim, Dan, Edie, and I driving the big white van. We were to meet Dad in Colorado on Saturday and go to church in Denver on Sunday. Well, we blew a spark plug just about 30 miles out of Colorado Springs, our destination, and instead of visiting Whit's End spent the afternoon putt-putting (interrupted by rain), getting a bite at a diner, and sitting in our van at the repair place watching a movie while it charged or something like that. I'm no mechanic.

Colorado Springs isn't what I'd call breathtaking beautiful. But hey, it could have been worse! Like setting up a tent in the rain...moving on...we really kept pretty positive and enjoyed ourselves.




From there on our trip was pretty uneventful. We had a wonderful day of fellowship on Sunday and by Sunday evening we had reached our last big grocery store before Yosemite!

Kim found a GRANDE sized bag of carrots. The horses probably wished they were along :D

We rolled in Monday and of course first things first! Straight to the trail! We hiked to Cathedral Lake which was a good break-in for the week. Danny and Edie were amazing!!! Those little legs were so strong.

At the cabin, pool was a favorite past time. The layout of the cabin is so perfect for our family. It was actually the cabin we had stayed at the first time we came to Yosemite. However, my grandparents, cousin, parents, and all five siblings were there. This time there was only six of us. Sometimes it was sad to be making memories without all the family there.


On Monday morning I found out that Dad and I had won the lottery for a permit to hike Half Dome. With some misunderstanding the dates to apply for a permit, Dad had to enter a lottery and it sounded like we had a bit of a slim chance. I was a bit giddy when I found out...after all that's the reason I came back!!!

So very early on Tuesday morning, I got up with an unusual amount of energy (aka adrenaline) and got ready to go on my big hike! This pic is blurry, but as we approached Half Dome I was trying to get one in the morning light.

We were hoping to be on the trail by 5:30 because on average the hike takes 10-12 hours. It is a 14-16 mile trail and gains almost 5000 feet in elevation. I had been working out with DVDs during the winter but once summer rolled around I was not in the same shape. So, we wanted to have plenty of time.
Well, we got lost finding the trail head but we were on the trail by 6:00 so it wasn't a huge setback. In fact, it was probably good for us to stretch our legs on some flat campground terrain before that grueling first mile. At the time I wasn't going to admit it, but I was wondering if we would make it. We got passed by some people and that's all right unless you're a worry wart like me.
Probably what made this hike so difficult for me was keeping up with a long-legged dad. He felt it too that first mile but that didn't stop him from pushing on. In fact, we were passing most people that passed us at the beginning and passing others that had begun before us.
Getting close to the top of a waterfall! Not sure if it's Vernal or Nevada but either way I was glad to stop for a picture!

After those first few miles though, mainly after we got past Nevada Falls, it was more level. Not necessarily easy, but I knew I would make it! Dad and I had some good talks and it was just a neat time of day watching the sun rise and see the variation in vegetation as we gained elevation.

My dad is developing a phobia of heights within these recent years, so what I didn't realize is that while we were hiking he was praying that he would be able to get to the top. There are cables which I will show pictures of that are pretty intense, and Dad just wasn't sure how he would handle that. I think it's when we hit the 2 mile sign that Dad was getting more and more queasy and finally he told me that if he couldn't make it I should go on without him. Of course, this wouldn't be as special, but nothing was going to stop me once I got that far!

We finally stopped for a break to really sit down and rest (for 15 minutes) and eat some power bars that neither Dad nor I could finish. They were like chunks of cardboard and stale pretzel being held together by peanut butter. Bleh! The most refreshing snacks were the almonds, APPLES, and water we carried in our back packs. By the way, if you do hiking and don't yet have back packs with water pouches and straws, those are an amazing investment. They are fairly light and it's handy to be able to grab the straw at any time on the trail and sip while you're walking.

As we got closer to the dome, the further away I felt.

But eventually we made it to the permit station. Now this was by far the hardest part! I had to stop and take breaks about every five steps because we were climbing stone stairs that were very steep for short legs. It was such a good feeling to come up over the top of that Sub Dome and see the CABLES!!!!

To if you look on the right side of the middle of those trees you can see a faint line and a pole. It might require a magnifying glass, but those are the cables.

Or here's a better picture...

This doesn't quite show how steep these cables were. At some points they were almost straight up! And that rock is very smooth! We had met an older man as we were approaching the Sub Dome that also hated heights but had climbed this 14 times!!! And he was in dress pants. Wow. He told dad to just look down at the rock and not out at the horizon. So when it got down to doing it, God sent some amazing people our way. A boy and his sister were getting ready to go on the cables, and the girl was putting on a harness with a hook that attached to the cables. The boy wasn't going to use his and offered it to Dad. It was perfect! With that harness, Dad was game to go!! This made me so happy.

Going up was definitely a challenge, but I managed to get a short video and really enjoyed looking out. Heights thrill me so this was definitely fun.

After climbing the cables we made it to the TOP! The sky was a little hazy so it wasn't quite the view I had expected, but it was definitely worth every moment. (Easy to say now...)

Woohoo! So proud of Dad. One thing he told me that is really special: "You came for the view. I came for you." Wouldn't have rather shared that hike with anybody else!




I didn't get many pictures up there since it was hard to capture such height and vastness. But here's the lip of the Dome that stand out in many pictures. In the above picture I am on a rock just above the triangle one pointing off the top of this photo...like HERE.


We spent a decent amount of time at the top, but after a while you've seen it and it's time to go down. So we started the long hike down. After all, we weren't even half-way done distance wise.

Descending the Sub Dome. Much easier this way :D

On the way down we got to the top of the two waterfalls where the trail gets steep again. To save our toes we decided to go a longer, less steep route hoping it would also be less crowded. It was beautiful.


But it got to a point about a mile and a half from the trail head that I was wondering if we'd ever be done. Of course, we eventually made it. By the end of our hike we had gone approximately 19.5 miles in 9.25 hours. No wonder after the 30 minute drive to the cabin we soaked in the hot tub and zonked out on the big leather sofas! Dad had some black toe nails that still aren't completely grown in and I lost a toe nail from this hike about two months afterward :D It was soooo worth it.

That's the novel of Half Dome. I hope to do it again, and maybe again and again!

The rest of the week was amazing. The previous time we went to Half Dome the waterfalls were gorgeous and gushing full and bright. This time, we hiked back to a rocky area with some trickles. So the huge rocks that were being pounded by water the first time we came were now perfect rocks for bouldering and sliding on.

Danny and Edie were amazing. Everybody including the parents enjoyed jumping from one rock to another, discovering a little waterfall or pool here or there and just being free.

By Bridalveil Falls






By Lower Yosemite Falls


Yep, I fell in. Surprise anybody? It was a stupid move on my part. I knew I couldn't make the jump but why not try anyway and soak my hiking shoes?

We rented bikes one day and enjoyed the different view of Yosemite Valley. Yes, that's Half Dome in the background. I have way too many pictures of that rock.

Edie and her new black bear name Yosemite.

Half Dome kept fading in the picks, but Dad and I were posing in front of it with our matching shirts.

Mom and Dad at Glacier Point. Love my parents!



This pic shows a lot of our trail to Half Dome. On the right you can see two waterfalls which are Vernal and Nevada. The Sub Dome is the little 'shadow' to the left of Half Dome.


While God created the huge and magnificent, He also took time to make those tiny details like flowers...


Needless to say the week FLEW by! Pretty soon it was Friday morning, time to head to Altadena!


When you have alot of leftovers and need to clean out the fridge that last morning before leaving, you get interesting breakfast quesadillas. Dad really knows how to make stir fry, hard boiled eggs, and other random supper foods into a pretty flavorful breakfast!
 


 Our last game of P-ball. We had thrown the numbers away so we each picked two in our head. Five out of six people picked the five ball. What a way to end a fun week.

Oh, but it's not over yet! On our way to Altadena we stopped at Mariposa Grove to see the Giant Sequoias. So massive and amazing!


California was a blessing of a bunch of family time! My mom was born and lived there pretty much until she got married to my dad. So it's always fun to go back and visit the family. Since we are such a large family it can be a lot for people to keep us, but they always do a great job of helping us have a good time. What pretty much sums up our time there is: family, beach, good food, and lots of laughs.

Edie enjoying the waves!

A fun day with the Mills Girls.

Little Jordyn Rose. It was my first time to meet her and she is such a sweetie.

Edie and Anikah in a boogie-board fort.

A beautiful evening at the beach.


Jacob seems pretty pleased with himself :D

Fun times!


Breakfast with Grammy! Such special memories.

In all, this vacation was AMAZING! Getting in that big white van and driving home always brings mixed emotions. The dread of being on the road isn't what makes it hard to go. It's the tearful goodbyes to family we don't see too often, no more beach, warm (not humid) weather, that kind of stuff. But then there's that piece of me that's ready for home sweet home. And without blowing a spark plug, that's where we went.