Friday Felicities

So, I've got my Friday Felicities up on my new blog if you are so inclined to come by ... :)

Holiday Par-tay

I've got a recipe up for Karla's Holiday Par-tay over at my new blog. :)

What's Happening...

You can read all about what's been going on over at my NEW BLOG!

Please come visit me and let me know if you stop by. :)

Bloggy Book Tour - the 12 Days of Christmas, Day 1

God's Gift of Honesty
by Mark Littleton

As a new Christian, I wasn’t really prepared for the stark truth about my previous life. Rummaging in my closet, I came across several shirts I had shop-lifted a couple of years before. I immediately remembered several items from the same heist.

Standing there trembling, I was unsure about what to do. I prayed, “God, what should I do about this?” It seemed the inner voice spoke immediately: “You need to return them to the store.”

I didn’t need to reflect much on it. I knew that was the right thing to do.

I packed up the items, drove to the nearby Bamberger’s store at the Cherry Hill Mall and found security. I explained what I’d done and offered to pay for the items. The guard smiled. “Every now and then we get one of these,” he said. “I’ll find out the prices and you can pay.”

A few days later, I got the call. Over sixty-five dollars in charges. In 1972 dollars, that was a lot of money. I sucked it up, though, wrote out a check and dropped it by. The guard thanked me for my integrity, saying, “I wish there were more like you out there. But shop-lifting costs us big-time. Just the same, I respect what you did.”

I went away feeling like I’d pleased God. There were other things I would return in the coming days, and it was always difficult. And costly. But the peace of mind and heart I received were all worth it. To say nothing of the witness to unbelievers, one of whom invited me to come visit him his family in Switzerland after I sent him back the stamps I’d stolen while babysitting his children years before.

Mark Littleton is the author of The Ten-Second Prayer Principle: Powerful Prayer As You Go (Howard Books, 2007) and many other books. For more information visit life-ology.townhall.com or http://e2ma.net/go/847481298/734466/26307878/goto:http:/www.winsunliterary.com/.

Journal Your Christmas - 12.4.07

Journal Your Christmas - 12.4.07
Originally uploaded by stephaniedshepherd

Works for Me Wednesday - Last Minute Meals Edition

Today's themed WFMW is all about what to fix when you've run out of time and there are small children pulling on your pant legs, with tears running down their little cheeks, crying "eat! eat!"

Not that this has ever happened here, of course. : )

Here are some of my favorites and you can be sure I will be surfing for new recipes later on to add to my collection. Thanks, Shannon!

Mexican Tortilla Soup

1 lb. ground beef

2 jars (16 oz) salsa

2 cans (14 1/2 oz) beef broth (or the equivalent of water and a couple bouillion cubes)

1 can whole kernel corn, undrained

tortilla chips, crushed

mexican style shredded cheese

Brown meat in a large saucepan; drain. Add salsa, broth and corn; bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer 6 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Serve topped with crushed chips and cheese.

Ceasar Chicken Pasta Salad

from the Aldi Queen

1 lb. chicken (or 3 small breasts) (or a couple cans of chicken off the shelf) : )

1/2 lb. penne pasta (or whatever you have)

1 romaine heart, chopped

1/2 pint cherry or grape tomatoes

1/3 c. caesar dressing

Sprinkle of Parmesan cheese

Bake chicken (if necessary) on a cookie sheet. While the chicken is baking, chop the romaine heart and 1/2 the tomatoes. Cook pasta until al dente, as directed on package. Drain and rinse the pasta with cold water. Dice the cooked chicken (if necessary) and put into a bowl. Toss in the pasta, tomatoes, lettuce and the dressing. Mix until all the ingredients are incorporated. Serve with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.

Mexicali Chicken Burritos

from Busy People's Low Fat Cookbook

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, all visible fat removed

1 15 oz. can beef chili

1 3 oz. package fat-free cream cheese

1/4 cup chunky mild salsa

4 oz. shredded cheddar cheese

8 fat free flour tortillas

In a large non-stick skillet cook the chicken over medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes. Turn the chicken over, and cook an additional 3-4 minutes or until fully cooked. Remove the chicken and cut it into 1/4 inch wide strips. Then cut the strips into 1/2 inch lengths. Return chicken to the skillet. Add the chili, cream cheese, and salsa and place over medium-low heat. Stir constantly until the cream cheese is completely dissolved. Sprinkle with the cheddar cheese. Cover and cook on medium-low for 2-3 minutes. Warm the tortillas by microwaving for 30 seconds. Divide the chicken mixture among the tortillas and roll up.

And last but not least, a recipe that EVERY TIME I make it, my husband asks why I don't make it more often. Hearty, and soooo good.

Cowboy Chow

from Busy Cook's Lowfat Cookbook

1 package low-fat smoked sausage (like a pre-cooked keilbasa), cut into bite-size pieces

1 cup thick and chunky salsa

1 cup original western barbecue sauce

1 (10 oz) can whole kernel corn, drained

1 can dark red kidney beans, drained

1 can pork and beans, drained, all visible chunks of fat removed

1/2 cup chopped onion or frozen chopped onions

Spray a large saucepan with nonfat cooking spray. In the bowl combine the sausage, salsa, barbecue sauce, corn, kidney beans, pork and beans and onion until well mixed. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes.

For more last-minute meal ideas, head over to Shannon's for WFMW.

12'3

12'3
Originally uploaded by stephaniedshepherd

Actually wrote the wrong date on the layout so I need to go back and fix that. :)

Journal Your Christmas - 12'2

Journal Your Christmas - 12'2
Originally uploaded by stephaniedshepherd

Journal Your Christmas - 1 December 2007

12'1
Originally uploaded by stephaniedshepherd

I declare my intention to Journal my Christmas. Writing something down every day. Creating a little bit whenever possible. Getting my stories documented for myself and maybe for others to read too.

I hope by taking a little time each day to reflect, to write, to create, I will keep my Christmas alive and well, despite the commercial pressure that exists outside my door. Family, friends and hot beverages will help.

I may meet others taking this same journey. I may share my work from time to time. I may remember just why I loved Christmas in the first place, and that may be a very magical moment indeed.