Attention Casting Crowns Fans

I'm still taking a blogging break, but I just had do to a quick post on Casting Crown's new CD, Until The Whole World Hears, which will be available for purchase on November 17. Right now, you can hear a preview of the entire CD online at http://new.music.yahoo.com/programs/earlyedition/#. I'm listening to it right now, and it's awesome!*

Enjoy!

*I am not affiliated with the group Casting Crowns.
I am simply a fan who enjoys great Christian music.

The Praise God Challenge

Thank you so much for all your kind words and prayers regarding my parents. As I write this, on top of everything else that has been going on, I am lying in bed with a bad case of the H1N1 virus. I had been washing my hands frequently and using hand sanitizer at both the hospital and the rehab center. I hope and pray my parents do not get this, as I had been visiting them daily right up until yesterday, when I started developing symptoms of the virus. Please pray that they do not get sick, as they have multiple health problems that suppress their immune systems.

It seems like there has been so much happening in our lives lately, as well as in those of the lives of family and friends. This makes me think of James 1:2-3, ^"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." As difficult as our trials may seem, I still want to be able to praise God through them. For the last week or so, amidst the trials, I have been able to find a praise God moment every day. For this reason, I have started a group on Facebook called The Praise God Challenge. If you are a Facebook member and would like to join, please click here.

I'm linking up with Charlotte and Ginger's Spiritual Sundays this week. Please visit their blog for some great spiritual food!

Thanks for stopping by!

Family First

If you're a regular reader of my blog, you may know that my parents have been hospitalized with multiple health problems. Currently, my mother is still in the hospital, and my father is in a rehab facility. I want thank you for all your prayers and ask that you continue to pray for them.

I love my parents dearly, and I know they really need me right now, so I'm going to be taking a break from blogging, as well as from providing web services to other bloggers.

Thank you for your patience and understanding during this time. Your prayers are most appreciated.

Homemade Turkey Soup

Today I am participating in Jane's pantry party over at The Thrifty Countrywoman. Today's recipe theme is one using leftovers from Thanksgiving, along with items already in your pantry.

I use the bones from our Thanksgiving turkey to make a big pot of turkey soup. The rest of the ingredients are items I usually have on hand in the pantry and refrigerator.

Like chicken soup, it’s good to have on hand if someone gets sick, so I freeze it in individual containers.

Ingredients:

• turkey bones
• 5 carrots
• 5 stalks celery
• 2 medium onions, cut in quarters
• 3 tbsp. chicken bouillon flakes
• 8-oz. can diced tomatoes, drained
• 1 cup chopped fresh spinach
• 8 cups water
• 1 1/2 tsp. round sage
• 2 crushed garlic cloves
• 1 box Barilla Plus rotini

Directions:

1. In a large pot, add the turkey bones, water, bouillon flakes and seasonings.
2. Peel and slice carrots; chop celery and onion. Add all vegetables to pot; cover and cook on high for 1 hour or so, until the turkey falls off of bones.
3. Remove all bones from pot.
4. Add rotini and cook for another 10 minutes.

Enjoy!

Stuffed Shells Alfredo

Before posting the recipe, I just want to thank everyone for all the kind comments that have been left on my blog lately. Please forgive me for not responding to them or visiting back. This is because both of my parents have been hospitalized for multiple health problems, and I've been out straight running back and forth to the hospital, which is not close to our home. Prayers for their health would be very much appreciated.

Ingredients

• 1 8-oz. pkg. jumbo pasta shells
  

Filling:

• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 cup fresh spinach, chopped
  
• 8-oz. container of low fat ricotta cheese
• 8-oz. container of low fat cottage cheese
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 2 fresh basil leaves, chopped

Sauce:

• 3 tbsp. Promise Light margarine
• 2 tbsp. dried parsley flakes
• 3 tbsp. flour
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. pepper
• 1 1/2 cups 1% milk
• 1/3 cup shredded Light Monterey Jack cheese
• 1 small jar roasted red peppers, drained and cut into small chunks

Directions:

1. Prepare pasta shells per package. Rinse and set aside.
2. In a medium bowl combine all filling ingredients. Set aside.
3. To prepare sauce, melt margarine in a medium saucepan. Stir in parsley, flour, salt and pepper. Blend in milk. Heat on medium high, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and just comes to a boil. Add cheese. Stir until melted. Stir in roasted red peppers.
4. Pour 1/2 of sauce into bottom of 12 x 8 inch baking dish. Carefully fill cooked pasta shells with filling mixture.
5. Arrange stuffed shells on top of sauce. Pour remaining sauce over shells. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Enjoy!

Thanks to Michael Lee, of Designs by Gollum, for hosting Foodie Friday. Be sure to visit Michael's blog for more tasty recipes.