For Monday, January 4th, 2021

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

FOR MONDAY, JANUARY 4TH, 2021

The moments of our lives may be bright with possibility, dark with fear or sadness, or even plain everyday gray, but God's glory never fades.  May God's glory shine into the exciting lights, upsetting darks, and boring grays of your every day.

77 DAYS UNTIL SPRING ! 

Sunrise: 7:54 am

 Sunset: 5:12 pm

Life is a special occasion!

Hallmark

Today is National Spaghetti Day which honors the 1.3 million pounds spaghetti sold in American grocery stores.  If all those packages were lined up they would circle the Earth 9 times.

The first historical reference to boiled noodles was found in the Jerusalem Talmud and suggests that the Arabs invented the dish thousands of years ago What’s remarkable about this record is that actually refers to dried noodles purchased from a vendor, which means that pasta has been sold in stores since the 5th century.

Today we associate pasta with Italians, who have revolutionized the dish and invented a wide variety of pasta shapes.  These include farfeille, conchiglie, rotini, penne, tortalini, and of course spaghetti.  Spaghetti is the most common round rod type of pasta and in Italian, spaghetti means little lines.  Spaghetti is traditionally served with tomato sauce and parmesan cheese, but you can add meat, garlic, oil and pepper for extra flavor.

To celebrate today, make spaghetti and meatballs for diner or order your favorite from an Italian restaurant.  Enjoy !

If you can’t see the bright side, polish the dull side 

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Life is a combination of magic and pasta.

Fedserico Felini

I do love spaghetti and fix it often but it wasn’t on my menu for today, instead I’m planning on 

Cabbage Roll Skillet

makes 6 servings

1 can, 28 oz., diced tomatoes, undrained

1 lb extra lean ground beef

1 onion, chopped

1 can, 6oz., tomato soace

1 tbsp. brown sugar

2 tbsp. cider vinegar

1 tsp. thyme

1 tsp. oregano

1/2 tsp. pepper

1 small head cabbage , thinly sliced, about 6 cups

1 green pepper, cut into strips

4 cups hot cooked brown rice

In a large nonstick skillet, cook beef and onion over medium high heat until beef is no longer pink, breaking up beef into crumbles.  Stir in tomato sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, seasonings, undrained tomatoes

Add cabbage and pepper , cook 6 minutes covered stirring occasionally.  Cook uncovered 6 minutes or until cabbage is tender.  Serve with cooked brown rice.

Strange as it may seem I making this with a head of red cabbage and a red bell pepper instead of a green one, that I have on hand.  Usually I’d be using green cabbage and green pepper following the recipe, but this is what I have on hand.  Waste not, want not;  They say there is not much difference in the taste, just the color.

It’s the start of a new week, a fresh start and clean slate.  Lets do our best to make it a good one! Even though its looks like another dark and cloudy week ahead.  We can always make our own sunshine ! The other pictures today are some of my snow men which are my favorite decoration for January.

I hope you all have a GREAT start to this new week.  Happy Monday !

COUNTING MY GIFTS

All food starting with p is comfort food:  pasta, potato chips, pretzels, peanut butter, pastrami , pizza, pastry.

Sara Paretsky

Counting at least 3 things every day that I'm thankful for.  There is truly is always something to be thankful for.

8789. for spaghetti, one of my favorite dishes 

8790. for a new recipe to try 

8791 for making do with what I have as long as it tastes good

Enter into His courts with thanksgiving — and in His presence is fullness of Joy!

PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS

  

Please pray for God's protection of

our troops and HIS wisdom for their

commanders.

 

Almighty and eternal God,

Protect our military

as they discharge their duties

with the shield of your strength,

may the power of your love

enable them to return home in safety

that with all who love them

they may ever praise you for your loving care.

AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters

and Paramedics and EMT’s

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

ADVICE FOR TODAY

Pasta doesn’t make you fat.  How much pasta you eat makes you fat.

Glada De Laurentis 

A little smile, a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

 

Love,

ma