The One About My Kids When I'm Sick

As I sit here in a Nyquil induced haze, I can't help but think about how wonderful my kids are when I'm not feeling well.  They each do their best to stay quiet...even though there are often peals of laughter because of a joke, a fart or a video game.  When it gets loud for reasons like this, I can't help but smile, no matter how poorly I feel.

Between them rotating to make meals for each other and for me, and not only cleaning up after themselves, but doing everything they could to make things easier for me this week by cleaning the kitchen entirely, vacuuming and dusting, I can't help but feel an enormous amount of gratitude for having such wonderful children.

I'm their mom, and am supposed to always make them feel loved and cherished...it's not their job to do that for me...

How blessed I am to have them!!!

Psta with Sausage and Greens

My dear friend, ComidaMama, posted this really quick recipe that I'm going to prepare tonight.  It looks so good that I thought I'd share it right away!

 

Pasta with Sausage and Greens

This is one of my favorite recipes. Its got lots of flavor, greens and a kick to it. You can use any green leafy veggies for this.

1 package pasta (preferably faro, quinoa, or any other whole grain pasta)
2-3 spicy sausages (turkey or pork)
2 big garlic cloves
1 bunch swiss chard
1 bunch broccoli
Red Pepper Flakes
Pecorino Romano (grated) – ½ cup or more

Boil a big pot of water and cook the pasta.

While water is boiling and pasta is cooking, start the rest…
Remove casings from the sausage and put it in a pan to cook – feel free to add some olive oil if its sticking to the pan.
Throw in the chopped garlic, as the sausage is cooking
Wash and chop your swiss chard
Wash and cut your broccoli
Once the sausage has been cooking for about 8-10 minutes (its no longer pink), throw in the swiss chard and cover the pot. Cook until chard starts to wilt a bit. About 5 minutes. (feel free to add the water from the freshly washed chard – it will help it steam the veggies)
Toss broccoli along with ½ cup of water into the sausage/chard mixture and cover. Cook until broccoli is bright green – about 3 minutes.
Remove cover and let all water cook off (about 3 minutes)
Add red pepper flakes.

Toss the pasta together with sausage/veggie mixture. Add pecorino romano and mix it all together!

So good.

Day 4: My Views On Religion

Having been raised Catholic, I’m quite used to, and find comfort in, the rituals that happen within the mass. Unfortunately, I don’t agree with the Catholic Church about EVERYTHING! I do not agree that the Vatican nor any of the Dioceses (don’t even think that’s really a word) should have moved priests around as accusations of sexual abuse had come to light. I do not agree that a woman cannot choose what to do with her body. I do not agree that women aren’t permitted to be priests.  I also don't agree that one necessarily has to go to church to pray to whichever higher power he/she believes in.

Notwithstanding my objections to the Church, I find comfort in that the rituals help me achieve a more spiritual connection to God (my version of a higher power).