Pasta Fagioli

I really enjoy "Cheat Day Cafe" food blog. I don't post from that blog enough. But I really think this sounds tasty. I need to try it.

Pasta Fagioli (adapted from Cooking Light) Serves 6

1 tablespoon olive oil
6 ounces hot turkey Italian sausage
1 1/2 tbsp bottled minced garlic
1 cup water
1 (16-ounce) can fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1 (8-ounce) can no-salt-added tomato sauce
4 oz. uncooked pipette pasta
1/2 cup grated Romano cheese, divided
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp white pepper
1 15 oz. can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 15 oz. can navy beans, drained and rinsed
Dried parsley
Crushed red pepper

1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.
2. Add sausage and garlic; saute 2 minutes or until browned, stir-ring to crumble.
3. Add water, broth, and tomato sauce; bring to a boil.
   
4. Stir in pasta, 1/4 cup cheese, oregano, basil, salt, pepper, and beans; bring to a boil.
   
5. Reduce heat, and simmer for 8 minutes or until pasta is done. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup cheese. Garnish each serving with parsley and red pepper.

Ellee's Bacon Cheese Potato Soup

I have no idea who Ellee is. But this is my friend, Jenn Weber's recipe and I'm so excited to have it!!! This is one of the best soup recipes I've ever eaten. Yum!

Ingredients:
6 large or 8 medium potatoes (I know that when she wants this recipe to be extra special she used red potatoes).
1 pint half & half
2 cubes REAL butter
2 cans cream of chicken soup
3 cans cheddar cheese soup
2 jars Hormel real bacon bits
2 Tbsp. dried chives
1 Tbsp. salt-free all purpose seasoning

Directions:
1. Cut potatoes into 1/2-inch cubes. Boil until done but firm. Drain the water but have 2 cups of the potato water in a separate bowl.
2. In a huge pot put in half & half and butter. Cook on low for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Add cream of chicken soup, cheddar cheese soup, bacon bits, chives, and all-purpose seasoning. Stir until mixed.
4. Add potatoes and potato water. Cook for 2 hours on low, stirring occasionally.
5. To thin: Add milk.

Orange Jello Salad

I really hate Jello. Truly, honestly hate jello. So it is rare that I will recommend a salad. But I love this salad. It is so tasty. And everyone who has tried it has loved it. I tried it at a pot luck party some friends were giving. I asked everyone who had brought this and then made her give me the recipe right there.

1 small pkg. cook and serve lemon pudding
1 small pkg. orange jello
1 small pkg. instant lemon pudding
1 cup milk
1 small carton cool whip
1 can mandarin oranges

Make cook and serve lemon pudding according to package directions. Make orange Jello according to package directions and mix with the cook and serve lemon pudding. Pour in 9x13 inch pan and chill for 4 hours. After it's set up, pour instant lemon pudding mix into bowl and mix with 1 cup milk and cool whip. Put on top of lemon/orange mixture. Top with mandarin oranges.

Banana Punch

So I've been reading a cookbook and it has a ton of party/fun beverages in it. So here is now most of them.

4 pkg. orange Kool-aid
4 pkg. cherry Kool-aid
1 can pineapple juice
9 pineapple cans of water
8 c. sugar
6 mashed bananas
2 (2-l.) 7-up
2 large cans frozen orange juice

Mix together and serve.

This makes a lot.

Easter Cookies

This is another Easter lesson. I've never heard of this one before, but it is much more in depth than the Resurrection Rolls. And I really like that about it.

(Make these the Night before Easter)

1 c. whole pecans
3 egg whites (room temperature)
1 c. sugar
1 tsp. vinegar
pinch salt
zipper baggie
tape
Wooden Spoon
Bible

Preheat oven to 300 degrees (this is important DON'T wait until you're halfway done with the recipe). Place pecans in zipper baggie and let the children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain after Jesus was arrested, he was beaten by the Roman soldiers. READ JOHN 19: 1-3

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain when Jesus was thirsty on the cross He was given vinegar to drink. READ JOHN 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain Jesus gave His life to give us life. READ JOHN 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers and the bitterness of our own sin. Read LUKE 23:27

So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup of sugar. Explain the sweetest part of the story is Jesus died because he loves us and died for our sins. He wants us to know and belong to him. READ PSALMS 34:8 and JOHN 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. READ ISAIAH 1: 18 and JOHN 3: 1-3.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper-covered cookie sheet. Explain each mount represent the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. READ MATTHEW 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain Jesus' tomb was sealed. READ MATTHEW 27:65-66.

GO TO BED! Explain they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. READ JOHN 16:20 and 22. One Easter morning, oven the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow. On the first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. READ MATTHEW 28:1-9

Resurrection Rolls

I wanted to try these for Easter, but I'm not able too. But I wanted to save the lesson so I can hopefully do it next year. It's really interesting.

(each item represents how Jesus' body was prepared for burial)

Large Marshmallows
Melted Butter
Sugar/Cinnamon mixture
Can of Crescent Rolls

1. Open can of crescent rolls and separate into triangles. The rolls represent the linen wrapping used in covering the dead.

2. Dip and roll one marshmallow (representing Jesus' body) into melted butter The butter represents the oils used in anointing the dead body.

3. Roll the marshmallow in the sugar/cinnamon mixture. The mixture represents the spices used in burials.

4. Place the marshmallow in the center of the crescent triangle. Fold and pinch the edges tight. Put each crescent-wrapped marshmallow on a slightly greased cookie sheet.

5. Bake the rolls as directed on he package. The oven represents the tomb.

When cooked, the marshmallow melts leaving only the puffed crescent roll.

This demonstrates how Jesus rose from the dead. All that remained in the tomb were the linen wrappings.

These are surprisingly tasty. ENJOY!!! Jesus loves you!