Zuppa Di Italiano

Zuppa Di Italiano

Recently a friend shared three large squash with me...one zucchini and two yellow straight-neck. I had every intention of slicing them, rolling them in flour and frying them, but, I kept getting this picture in my mind, so, today, I turned the picture in my head into reality. I created this soup and dubbed it Zuppa Di Italiano. I thought I'd share the recipe with you. :)

Zuppa Di Italiano

1 pound turkey burger, cooked and drained
3 large summer squash (any variety), peeled, deseeded, and cut into bite-size pieces
2 quarts canned tomatoes
6 cloves garlic
1 large onion, diced
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons dried basil

Mix together in a large pot (I used my wok) and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cook on low to medium heat until the vegetables are tender and the soup is good and hot.

Have a blessed day!

~Rebecca
 

Plum Yummy

Plum Cobbler

It doesn't seem to matter how hard I try, I can never seem to post consistently on this blog, BUT...that won't stop me from trying! :)

The past couple of weeks have been extremely busy and it seems like I've been meeting myself coming and going on a daily basis.

My birthday was Tuesday and it was absolutely lovely! Yesterday we had unexpected company drop in and today has been go! Go! GO!

This morning a friend of mine and I went to Lamar to have our once-a-month lunch together, and to collect and deliver elderly baskets. While we were there at The Good Samaritan my friend grabbed a bag of beautiful, ripe plums for me. I wasn't sure what to do with them, but, when I got home, I decided to turn them into a plum cobbler.

Here's what I did...

PLUM COBBLER

8 ripe plums
1 stick light butter
1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup low-fat milk
2 teaspoons baking powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Peel, pit, and slice fruit. Put in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and let simmer while you do the following.

Place butter in an 8 x 8 baking dish and set in oven to melt. While the plums are simmering and the butter is melting whisk the flour, sugar, milk, and baking powder together in a medium bowl with a wire whip.

After the butter is melted, pour the hot fruit evenly over the butter, then, pour the batter evenly over all. Bake at 350 degrees until the top is done in the middle and is starting to brown.

It's just plum yummy! :)

Have a blessed day!

All My Love,
~Rebecca

This Week's Menu - 8/4/13 - 8/10/13

Sunday 8/4 - pasta, sauce, meatballs, homemade French bread
Monday 8/5 - broiled chicken leg quarters, oven-roasted carrots, buttered rice
Tuesday 8/6 - tuna and homemade noodles
Wednesday 8/7 - black bean and avocado tortillas
Thursday 8/8 - turkey and rice soup, grilled cheese sandwiches
Friday 8/9 - stovetop lasagna made with homemade noodles
Saturday 8/10 - supper with friends

 

HOMESCHOOLING: Project Learning Tree - 7/25/13

Yesterday was a totally AWESOME day! Our youngest daughter-in-law, Crissy, and I attended Project Learning Tree at Walter Woods Conservation Area near Joplin, MO. It was hosted by the Missouri Department of Conservation. Two of my favorite people in the world, Jeff Cantrell and Cyndi Cogbill, served as our instructors.

Now, while it's true that I, myself, just ended a nearly quarter-of-a-century homeschool-teaching-career, and that my newly acquired daughter-in-law has no children of her own, and hasn't spent a day of homeschooling in her life, we both felt it was imperative that I be there...and, since no one else was able to go with me, she decided to go along, keep me company, and have a little adventure of her own...and she did. And so did I! I'm so glad we did! Our day was spent with eight public school teachers, one private school teacher, two master naturalists, and six naturalists representing several Missouri state parks and wildlife areas and, together, WE. HAD. A. BALL! I was the only person there representing area homeschoolers.

Crissy and I spent a full day at Walter Woods (9:00 to 4:00), and participated in multiple activities that gave us experience with, and ideas on how to use, the materials that we received. We were also, very generously, blessed with a copy of the Cooking Wild In Missouri cookbook by our instructors before leaving. The materials that I received will be sown into our grandchildren (eight of whom are being homeschooled currently) and other homeschoolers within my sphere of influence through the Frontiers group, etc. I am thinking about taking classes and becoming a master naturalist myself, which would further enhance my learning and teaching abilities.

Anyway...here are few photos from our classes yesterday...I hope you enjoy!

Cyndi Cogbill - "I teach HOW to think, not WHAT to think." Right on!

Jeff Cantrell on the veranda at Walter Woods Conservation Area.

Project Learning Tree Materials

Jeff teaching out on the grounds at Walter Woods.

Learning along the trail at Walter Woods.

Dodder overtaking the Jewel Weed along the creek at Walter Woods...a parasitism.

Learning along the trail...on the bridge...along the trail...at Walter Woods.
(Doesn't that kind of sound like some children's poem?)

Tall Bell Flowers

Crissy and I ended our day with a wade in Shoal Creek below The Falls.

 

RECIPE: Guatemalan Red Beans And Rice

On Monday I cooked red beans in the crockpot for use later in the week. Later is here and today's menu includes Guatemalan red beans and rice. No doubt, it's a family favorite!

GUATEMALAN RED BEANS AND RICE

1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 TBS olive oil
1/3 cup minced fresh cilantro or parsley (I used 2 tablespoons dried
cilantro)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cumin (I added more)
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
3 cans(16 oz. each) red beans, rinsed and drained (I used pre-cooked dry beans)
3 cups hot rice

In a large nonstick skillet, sauté the onion, green pepper and garlic in oil until tender. Add cilantro, salt, cumin, black pepper, and beans. Cover and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Serve over hot rice. Yield: 6 servings

Thoughts On The Royal Baby

Photo Source

Isn't it amazing to think that God hand-selected this child, at this time, to be born now, and used for His eternal purposes?

It's the same with any of us,  of course, but to be born a prince of England in 2013! 3rd in line for the crown?

Some say, "What's the big deal? It's just a baby!"

But the Bible tells us clearly that we are to be "...subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God" (Romans 13:1).

Of course, this applies to every power that is in place in every government around the world, but I think what makes it so amazing in England, for me, anyway, is that, in the first place, for many Americans, England is our mother country. Had our forefathers not left the British Isles, it could very well be that this is the "higher power" that we, or our descendants, might have been "subject" to someday.

And, secondly, here in America, every child that is born has an equal chance of growing up to become a senator, a representative, a governor, or, maybe, even president in their lifetime, but there...in England...this child doesn't have that opportunity. He can't learn about different walks of life, dream about it, and figure out what he wants to be. This child was hand-selected by God Himself  before the foundations of the earth were created! He was hand-selected by the Creator of the universe for this role, at this time, and he has no choice in how he will live his life. He IS a prince of England and, very likely, will become a future a king and his whole life will be dedicated to that purpose whether he likes it or not.

It is a grave and powerful position! And it's a little sad in a way, too. Yet, to know and understand that God has ordained him before the creation of the world for this time and His purposes...there's something very powerful and sobering about that. It's pretty amazing if you really think about it.

May God richly bless this precious little one and his parents. May he grow up strong and healthy in the physical, and to know and serve the King of all kings in the spiritual, because in the end, when this life is over and eternity looms long before us, with God there will be no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34)...for this little prince or anyone else. At the name of Jesus EVERY knee will bow and every tongue will confess that HE is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11)!

Congratulations, William and Kate! May God give you both wisdom and direction as you seek to raise this little prince, and may He instill with you the importance of raising, not only a dutiful and compassionate king, but a godly one as well.

With All My Heart,
~Rebecca