Chicken Noodle Casserole

When we have crispy coated chicken, I always take two chicken legs/backs attached and roast them in a separate covered dish in the oven. Then I use the extra chicken to make this Chicken Noodle Casserole.

2 cups cooked chicken
2-1/4 cups dry spaghettini, broken into 2 inch pieces
1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup
1-1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese (I use medium or old)
1/4 cup finely diced green pepper (I keep chopped frozen green pepper in the freezer)
1/4 cup finely diced onion
1/4 cup finely diced celery (optional)
1-1/2 cups chicken broth (I make chicken broth from 'Better Than Bouillon')
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 cup additional cheddar cheese (for topping)

Cook spaghetti and drain (don't overcook).  Mix all other ingredients together (except cheese for topping). Add cooked spaghetti and mix well. Top with the last ingredient 1/2 cup cheese.
Bake 350 degrees for 40 minutes until bubbly. If top becomes too cooked, cover loosely with foil.

Interesting video on neurosurgery

Having had brain surgery some years ago, neurosurgery interests me. This is an interesting video for sure:

http://www.wimp.com/switchoff/

Dill Onion French Bread

I love baking bread and trying new recipes. My trusty Bosch Kitchen Machine comes in handy for large batches but today I was trying a new recipe the old fashioned way.  The bread turned out delicious and next time I'll triple it using the machine. The recipe below says it makes one loaf but I made two loaves because I like crustier bread.

Dill Onion French Bread

2 tsp fermipan instant yeast

1/4 cup very warm water

1 cup plain yogurt (room temp would work best)

2 T finely chopped onion

1/4 cup sugar

2 T butter, melted

1 egg

1 T dried dill weed 

1 teaspoon salt

3 - 3-1/2 cups all purpose flour

In large mixing bowl, mix everything except the flour and yeast. Stir 1 cup flour and yeast together and add to bowl and beat until smooth. Stir in enough of remaining flour to form a soft dough. Knead until smooth and elastic (about 6-8 minutes), adding flour as needed. Place in a greased bowl, and grease top of dough as well. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk. 

Punch dough down a bit and turn onto a lightly floured surface. Divide into thirds (I divided into six pieces for the two loaves). Shape each portion into a 20 in. rope. Braid into loaves and pinch ends to seal. Cover and let rise until doubled again. Bake 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Move to wire rack to cool.

Gratitude

Gratitude and contentment - two words with riches that can't be measured. Happiness doesn't lie in owning things but may bring anxiety instead, especially if using a credit card with a running balance.

We see ads telling us that that we 'need' possessions to make us happy. I get very annoyed with ads portraying new vehicles...owning one of these supposedly will give you a 'rich' life. For many, the opposite becomes true when yet another payment adds to the stress level. I love that simple bumper sticker that reads, "Don't laugh - it's paid for!"

The truly content people I am blessed to know may not have a lot of material possessions but do have something that is in short supply these days...gratitude!

I once read a story of a simple living Christian who was watching his neighbour move in with all the latest 'toys'. He went over to his new neighbour and said, "Neighbour, if ever thou dost need anything, come to see me, and I will tell thee how to get along without it." He echoed what Henry Thoreau (1800s) said, "A man is wealthy in proportion to the number of things he can afford to do without."

Be chronically grateful. Keep a list of what you are grateful for and that list may well surprise you. "Perhaps we are so glutted with luxuries that we have forgotten how to enjoy our necessities." (W. Wiersbe)

I Timothy 6

Influenza

Wow, the flu struck and knocked me flat for a week....slowly getting back to normal and trying to gain back the 10 pounds lost in the process.

While in the doc's office last week, he says, "People die from this flu" (uhh, well, thanks for letting me know that just now). He also told me to get a flu shot next year.....still not sure about that one....

So, anyone with strong opinions on the flu shot?

Acceptance

We live in a broken world and, even if life goes well for us today, there will come a time when we are faced with suffering in one form or another. The deepest lessons I have learned have come through those times in my life that I would not have chosen. Also, those who have gone through deep suffering have taught me so much. Everyone responds differently but acceptance is the key to peace.

Knowing that our lives are not at the mercy of chance but led by God gives us peace as we carry on.  Suffering is not for nothing for God has all our moments in His everlasting arms and in faith we trust. Faith is not a feeling but a willed obedience on the Rock which is Jesus Christ. He took upon Himself our sins, our griefs, our sufferings.

When we pray and ask God to remove our suffering and, if the answer is no, then we know that He has something better in store for us. This life is temporary and, as His children, we are moving toward a Heavenly Kingdom. And in the mean time, He gives us the next thing to do - dishes to wash, laundry to do, sick to visit...all for Him!

THE PLAN OF THE MASTER WEAVER

My life is but a weaving
Between the Lord and me;
I may not choose the colors–
He knows what they should be.
For He can view the pattern
Upon the upper side
While I can see it only
On this, the under side.

Sometimes He weaves in sorrow,
Which seems so strange to me;
But I will trust His judgment
And work on faithfully.
‘Tis He who fills the shuttle,
And He knows what is best;
So I shall weave in earnest,
And leave to Him the rest.

Not ’til the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly
Shall God unroll the canvas
And explain the reason why.
The dark threads are as needed
In the Weaver’s skillful hand
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned.

~ Benjamin Malachi Franklin

No Bake Chewy Granola Bars

These granola bars are made without sugar (unless you add some chocolate chips) and are high on our boy's must have list for snacks.

1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 - 1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup coconut oil
1 cup oats (I use large flake)
1 to 1-1/4 cups total of combination of add ins such as coconut flakes, sunflower seeds, raisins, cranberries, chocolate chips, rice krispies, crushed corn flakes, cocoa, flax etc....

Melt peanut butter, honey and coconut oil in sauce pan - low to medium heat. Turn off heat, add oats and let sit for a minute or two. Then add the 1 to 1-1/4 cup of add ins. (I used 1/4 cup each -give or take- of unsweetened coconut, raisins, chocolate chips, and rice krispies).

Stir well and spread in a well greased 8x8" pan, pressing mixture down.  Chill for two hours, then cut into bars. Store in fridge or freeze individually.

So there you have it - healthy granola bars with minimal effort!