Monthly Archives: March 2012

Book Reviews

Posted on March 31, 2012 by bigsmileu1

Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia

by Elizabeth M. Gilbert

I purchased this book based on the positive reviews I read and a few recommendations from friends. On the surface, it was an interesting read about a woman’s spiritual journey to find her way to a new life. She travels as a writer to Italy, India, and Indonesia enjoying and writing about her experiences. The writing is good and the story is easy to follow. Included in the story are bouts of humor and tragedy. All are, of course, examples of good storytelling. Nevertheless, by the middle of the book, I began to question the heroine’s thought process. It seems that instead of finding herself, she is merely running away from real life.

I thought the protagonist in the book Eat, Pray, Love was a self-centered woman who cared for nothing but finding her ideal life. Her disregard for her responsibilities in favor of her wants left me doubting her character. She could not stay married, she would not have children, she, she, she! Her perspective focused on only how she felt and seldom on others. Did she really need to travel the world to find her life’s purpose? As Dorothy says in the movie, The Wizard of Oz “… if I ever go looking for my heart’s desire again, I won’t look any further than my own backyard; because if it isn’t there, I never really lost it to begin with.” This book is a great lesson for the “me” generation wannabes.

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30 Days of Gratitude

Posted on March 30, 2012 by bigsmileu1

Day Eighteen: Time Passes: What is different today than it was a year ago? Why are you thankful for the change?

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RECEIVE AND PASS IT ON

Posted on March 29, 2012 by bigsmileu1

Should you find it hard to get to sleep tonight, just remember the homeless family who has no bed to lie in. Should you find yourself stuck in traffic, don’t be angry. There are people in this world for whom driving is an unheard-of privilege. Should you have a bad day at work, think of the man who has been out of work for the last year. Should you despair over a relationship gone wrong, think of the person who has never known what it’s like to love and be loved. Should you grieve the passing of another vacation, think of the woman in dire straits, working twelve hours a day, seven days a week, to feed her family. Should you run out of gas, think of the paraplegic who would love the opportunity to take that walk to the service station. Should you notice a gray hair in the mirror, think of the cancer patient in chemotherapy who wishes she had hair to examine. Should you find yourself at a loss and pondering, “What is my purpose in life?” be thankful. There are those who didn’t live long enough to get that opportunity. Should you find yourself the victim of other people’s bitterness, ignorance, smallness, or insecurities, remember, this also happened to Jesus.

Today there may be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. Let this presence settle into your bones and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, and bask in the sun. May you use those gifts that you have received and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you accept that you are a child of God.

Found in a Church bulletin Author Unknown

30 Days of Gratitude

Posted on March 29, 2012 by bigsmileu1

Day Seventeen: Sports: Did you play a sport when you were growing up or do you play one now? What skill did you learn that you are grateful for knowing? How has this enriched your life?

30 Days of Gratitude

Posted on March 28, 2012 by bigsmileu1

Day Sixteen: Memories. Who was your best friend from childhood? What are you grateful you learned from this person?

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Grandmother’s Lasagna

Posted on March 27, 2012 by bigsmileu1

Grandmother’s Lasagna is the perfect food! Layers of yummy cheesy goodness to warm your healthiest appetites. Great for crowds, holidays, and potlucks. Easy to make and easy to eat.

Servings: 8

Categories: Main Dishes & Meats

INGREDIENTS:

1 pound lean ground beef

5 links Turkey Italian Sausage, hot or mild, casings removed

2 jars Your favorite traditional spaghetti sauce

1 16 oz. small curd cottage cheese

1 large egg

1 package Lasagna noodle

32 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese dry

1 tablespoon oregano

DIRECTIONS:

1. Brown ground beef and sausage together in a large pan until cooked. Add the two jars of spaghetti sauce and simmer for 20 minutes.

2. In a pot of boiling water, cook the lasagna noodles according to package directions.

3. In a medium bowl, mix the container of cottage cheese and egg together. Set aside.

4. In another medium bowl, mix the oregano and the mozzarella cheese together and set aside.

5. In a 9×13-inch baking pan, ladle enough of the meat sauce to lightly cover the bottom of the pan. Place 3 or 4 noodles side by side in the pan. You may need on more to fit the bottom of the pan.

6. Layer meat sauce over noodles, then a few tablespoons of cottage cheese mixture, add a few handfuls of mozzarella cheese over the cottage cheese, finally sprinkle the Parmesan cheese generously.

7. Continue on repeating the layers, ending with mozzarella cheese. Usually, you will have 3-4 layers.

8. Place non-stick tinfoil over the pan and bake in a 350 preheated oven for 1 hour. Take the tinfoil off and cook until cheese is brown. Take out of the oven and let it sit for 20 minutes before serving. Cut into squares.

Notes: Let lasagna sit for 20 minutes after it is removed from the oven before cutting and serving.

Freezes well.

Serving Ideas: Serve with a green salad and garlic bread.

Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jamie Nowinski – Grandmother Wisdom/Grandmother Musings with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.