A Rich Pasta Dish

You may like!

Tortellini With Italian Sausage, Fennel, and Mushrooms

I made this pasta dish, while Dion and Daniel built the Fine Lego Restaurant, I'm sure this dish is on the menu. Hope you enjoy!

1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 large fennel bulb, trimmed, halved, thinly sliced lengthwise. (About 3 cups)
   fronds chopped.
1 pound spicy Italian sausage, coarsely crumbled
1 8-oz package of sliced fresh crimini (baby bella) mushrooms
4 large garlic cloves, pressed. (I finely chopped them)
1 Tablespoon fennel seeds, coarsely crushed
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 cup (or more) low-salt chicken broth
1 16-oz package dried tortellini with pesto filling or fresh tortellini with 3-cheese filling
1 5-oz package fresh baby spinach leaves.
1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese, plus additional for serving.

Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add sliced fennel bulb, sausage, and mushrooms; saute until sausage is brown and cooked through and fennel is almost tender, 2 to 15 minutes. Add garlic and fennel seeds; stir 1 minute. Stir in cream, then 1 cup broth; boil until liquid  is reduced and very slightly thickened, 2 to 3 minutes.

Meanwhile, cook tortellini in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain tortellini; return to same pot.

Add sausage mixture to tortellini in pot. Toss over medium heat until blended. Add spinach; toss gently until spinach wilts. Stir in 1/2 cup cheese; add more broth by 1/4 cupfuls to moisten if dry. Season with salt and pepper, sprinkle with chopped fennel fronds, and serve, passing additional cheese.

We love this dish! It is very rich, should be served with a simple green salad.

Saturday in January

 Breakfast!

 A time to tear down.

 Out go the railroad ties.

 Out comes the grass.

 Time to level the  ground

 Preparing for concrete

Stay tuned.......

For BREAKFAST...

 Oven Baked Pancake with raspberry and strawberries!

This one happens to be gluten-free!

 It was so good...it got ate before I got the camera out!

Very custardy..full of eggs

with a gentle sweetness of fruit and syrup. 

(I used agave syrup, however pure maple syrup is great too)



Oven Baked Pancake

4 large eggs

About 5 1/2 Tablespoons honey, divided. (Agave or Maple syrup may be substituted)

1 teaspoon lemon zest

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup flour (or Pamela's gluten-free pancake mix)

2 1/2 cup milk (or coconut milk)

2 cups raspberries, divided

1/4 cup butter, cut into chunks. (or coconut oil)

1 lb strawberries, hulled and sliced

   (or you may use another favorite fruit. Sauted apple slices with cinnamon is good too)

Set an oven proof 12-inch frying pan. (I use my cast iron pan) or a 9 by 13-inch metal pan in oven, then preheat oven to 425 degrees. Whisk eggs, 1/4 cup honey (Agave syrup), and the zest in a medium bowl to blend. Add salt, flour, and 1/4 cup milk. Whisk until smooth, then whisk in remaining milk.

Puree 1 cup raspberries in a food processor until smooth strain; (discard seeds or not.)
Remove pan from the oven ; add butter and swirl until melted and golden. Pour in batter. Pour raspberry puree over batter in wide ribbons. Reduce heat to 400 degrees and bake pancake until deep golden. 30 minutes. Let stand 10 to 15 minutes to firm up. (Pancake will fall)

Combine strawberries and remaining 1 cup raspberries and 1 1/2 Tablespoon honey, (Agave Syrup)
in a bowl; let stand at least 10 minutes. Add honey (Agave syrup) to taste. Spoon half the fruit over pancake and serve the rest on the side. Cut pancake into wedges.  ENJOY!

How Should Jesus Be Remembered?

The angel Gabriel, when speaking to Mary explained the purpose of Jesus birth with the words:
"This one will be great and will be called Son of the Most High; and Jehovah God will give him the throne of David his father and he will rule as King over the house of Jacob forever, and there will be no end to his kingdom." -Luke 1:32, 33

So, we remember Jesus, born of a virgin, with no sin, grew up under the Mosaic Law in a family of modest means. Jesus presented himself to do God's will and was baptized in the river Jordan, from that time forward he preached the Good News of God's Kingdom and taught his disciples to do the same.  As the time came for Jesus to lay down his perfect human life as the ransom to redeem mankind from sin and death, he continued loving them to the very end, teaching them to remember his death and instituting the new covenant for a kingdom with them.
(Luke 1: 31,34, 35; Luke 2:22-24; Matthew 3:13-17; Luke 9:2; John 13:1; Luke 22:7,8,19,20, 29)

 Remember how sad the disciples were at his death.Then Jehovah, resurrected his Son on the third day! Jesus continued with his disciples for some time explaining why he had died by reminding them of prophecies that were fulfilled and encouraging them for the days ahead. They wanted to know if Jesus was restoring the Kingdom to Israel at this time. Then before the disciples saw him ascend to heaven Jesus gave them a most important assignment, an assignment that would help others and be a constant reminder of their happy hope.
(John 19:25, 38-40; John 20:1, 11-20, 26, 30: John 21:1; Luke 24:13, 14, 26, 27, 45-48; Acts 1:3, 4, 6, 7; Matthew 28:18-20)

Today we are living in the last days of this world's system of things. The nations corrupt reign over the earth has legally ended. How do we know? We have seen the sign of the last days with our own eyes. Confidently, with full faith we know that in fulfillment of prophesy Jesus has received the kingdom he was promised. Yes, we should remember that Jesus is now reigning as the rightful King over all the earth, and we should bend our will to be obedient to Jesus directions. Soon Christ Jesus as King will bring to ruin all those who continue to ruin the earth. What blessings are in store for all who obey Jesus as king! They will be guided to safety and have the privilege of living as subjects of God's Kingdom, with freedom from corrupt men, falsehoods, greed, deceit! Instead they have the opportunity to live under a government based on love, love of God and love of neighbor.
 (Matthew 24:3-14; Revelation 1:10; Rev. 6:1-8; Rev. 11:15-18; Rev. 12:10-12; Rev. 16:14, 16;
Rev 18:2-4, 9-11,15, 20, 21; Rev 21:1-5; Rev.22:1-3, 17; 
Isaiah 25:6, 8, 9; Isa. 33:24; Isa. 35:5, 6; Isa. 55:1, 6-11; Isa. 65:17, 21-25; 
Psalms 37:10, 11, 27-29, 34; Proverbs 2:21, 22; Matthew 22:36-40)

 What will you remember about Jesus? Will you also, recognize him as our rightful King?


"For a child has been born to us, 
A son has been given to us;
And the rulership will rest on his shoulder.
His name will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 

To the increase of his rulership
And to peace, there will be no end, 
On the throne of David 
And on his kingdom
In order to establish it 
Firmly and to sustain it
Through justice and righteousness
From now on and forever. 
The zeal of Jehovah of armies will do this"
-Isaiah 9:6, 7

View .....

..from the porch.

On The Porch......

What's going on?

Some workers!

Caulking and Painting

 Working away!

 With happy faces

I put my camera down and picked up a paint brush

so I missed getting the pictures of 

Dalton, Kyria and Koen 

who were at the other end of the house, paint brushes in hand.

And plans in mind for a make over???
We will see....stay tuned.

Best "Selfie" ever!