feasting | by kristen on 05.Nov.07 | 5 comments
This recipe makes a ton, great for keeping some for your family while assembling a pan for a family who needs a meal. Just make sure you’ve got several pans out (13×9 and 8×8).
ziti or penne (1.25-1.5 lbs dry)
1 lb mild italian sausage, casings removed and crumbled
6 oz mushrooms, sliced
1 sweet onion, chopped
1 or 2 cloves of garlic, minced
2 jars of spaghetti sauce
1 pound of italian cheese (a combo of sliced provolone and grated mozz. or “italian blend” grated)
3/4 c. sour cream
3/4 c. ricotta
parmesan cheese
Preheat the oven to 350 and start making the pasta.
Saute onions until translucent, add sausage and mushrooms and cook until everything is done. Drain sausage grease off. Throw in the garlic and cook another minute. Add spaghetti sauce and simmer 15 minutes or so. Mix sour cream and ricotta. Mix the cooked pasta and the sausage-sauce mixture.
Assemble as follows: layer of pasta/sauce, 1/2 cheese (either a layer of sliced provolone or just 1/2 the grated), 1/2 sour cream-ricotta, repeat, then end with a last layer pasta and parm on top. If you have extra pasta, freeze it as “penne with meat sauce” as a quick lunch or dinner sometime when you need it.
The baked ziti needs to bake until everything is melted and warmed through (~30 minutes, more if its straight from the freezer). I bake it mostly covered and then uncovered at the end.
feasting | by kristen on 24.Aug.07 | 1 comment
In case you need a last side salad as the summer grill season starts to end…
Mom’s Broccoli Salad
COMBINE:
1 large bundle of broccoli, broken into florets
1/3 c. craisins or raisins
1/3 c. finely minced sweet onion
4 slices of crisp bacon
MIX TOGETHER:
1 1/2 c. mayonaise
1/2 c. sugar
2T. vinegar
Pour the sauce over the other ingredients. Mix well. Enjoy!
feasting, theology | by kristen on 19.Aug.07 | 5 comments
Our church renovated space in this old building, which had a few previous lives but was originally one of the city’s first movie theaters. The building also houses a salon and a martini bar. We’ve been worshipping in the space for a month or so, but we took time to dedicate the building today. (more…)
feasting | by kristen on 31.Jul.07 | 12 comments
So, I’ve shared one quick recipe, and I’d like to solicit yours. Our church has moved into a new building, and the two services have merged into one that meets at 5p. We usually eat at 6 or 6:30, so it’s really trying us. WE LOVE OUR CHURCH, this is not complaining, I’m just problem solving. I need ideas for things I can pre-make and have on the table in 5 minutes or less.
feasting | by kristen on 31.Jul.07 | 0 comments
This is a “summer dinner” perfect for gardeners with lots of tomatoes and basil and everyone who needs to make a quick meal without turning on the oven!
1 pound of pasta: penne, bowties…
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons lemon juice
4 oz. feta, crumbled
1 pound or so of fresh tomatoes, diced
3 cups or so of chopped rotisserie chicken, chopped (skin removed)
1 cup torn fresh basil leaves
salt and pepper to taste
Cook the pasta. While you are cooking it, prepare the chicken and tomatoes. Toss all the ingredients together. Enjoy! Serves 4+
feasting, family life | by kristen on 18.Jul.07 | 3 comments
The header shows a picture of a summer salad with tomatoes, cucumbers and basil from the garden. YUM! Our green and red bell peppers are getting closer to ready and we have a ton of spearmint if anyone local wants to make mojitos… I am really glad we took the gardening plunge this year.
feasting, photo love | by kristen on 08.Apr.07 | 14 comments
Alleluia, Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia!
feasting | by kristen on 05.Apr.07 | 4 comments
Ham, scalloped potatoes, raisin sauce, green bean casserole, ginger carrots and rolls for dinner. Lemon bars and brownies for dessert. Thanks for the input! Hopefully it will all come together.
feasting, photo love | by kristen on 25.Dec.06 | 5 comments
(a cropped version of our Christmas card, 2/3 of the photos by the lovely and talented Brooke Jared.)
feasting, family life | by kristen on 22.Dec.06 | 8 comments
WATCH over thy child Alexine, O Lord, as her days increase; bless and guide her wherever she may be, keeping her unspotted from the world. Strengthen her when she stands; comfort her when discouraged or sorrowful; raise her up if she fall; and in her heart may thy peace which passeth understanding abide all the days of her life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
feasting, family life | by kristen on 28.Nov.06 | 21 comments
We really enjoy having people over for meals and also cooking meals for those who need them but after an unprecedented few weeks of serving others and hospitality before we left for North Carolina, I’ve noticed its taken quite a toll on the grocery budget. When we have people over I love cooking things I wouldn’t normally make and serving dessert, etc. Food is a love language in my family and cooking special things is a way I am used to saying that someone is special.
So I’m looking for ideas for being hospitable on a budget and other methods of coping with the practical expense of loving others, without losing the character of hospitality. Anyone?
feasting, family life | by kristen on 22.Nov.06 | 11 comments
I was given the letter T by the lovely Rachael to list at least 10 things I am thankful for beginning with T.
- Toddlers - I love the curiousity and personality of toddlers, especially mine.
- Teachers - especially my dear husband
- Time - that I am able to stay at home and care for my children
- Tar Heels - a special group of people united by a special university
- Technology - I am working on photo Christmas cards from my parents’ couch. I like that.
- Teenagers and Twentysomethings - like my siblings
- Tunes - Music of all kinds
- Trail Mix - especially Archer Farms Harvest Mix, which I have been pigging out on tonight
- Thanksgiving - time to spend with family, over food, in fellowship
Do you want a letter? Leave a comment
