Yummy Penne Pie

A couple of weeks ago I had the Today Show on and I happened to see Katie Lee prepare the Penne Pie.  It looked delicious and the cast all seemed to love it.  It seemed pretty easy to prepare so I decided to cook it for dinner.

I didn't have a 9x3 cake pan so I improvised and used a Corning Ware dish with similar dimensions.  It worked out perfectly as it also provided me a cover once we were finished eating.  Snap!  :)

Here's the recipe....

Penne Pie

1 pound penne pasta

1 pound ground beef (I used ground turkey)

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

3 large eggs

2 cups marinara sauce (homemade or store bought) (I used store bought)

1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese

1/2 cup grated Parmesan, plus 2 tablespoons

2 tablespoons minced flat leaf parsley (I left this out because I didn't have any)

1 cup shredded mozzarella

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

Grease a 9x3 inch cake pan.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.  Add penne pasta and cook three to four minutes less than the package recommends so that it is very al dente.  Drain and reserve a small amount of pasta water. I totally forgot this step.

In a large skillet over medium high heat, brown the beef (or turkey).  Season with salt and pepper.  Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.  Wipe the skillet clean with a paper towel.  Heat olive oil in the skillet over medium heat and saute onions until translucent, about four or five minutes.  Remove from heat.

In a large bowl whisk eggs, marinara, ricotta, 1/2 cup Parmesan, parsley, salt, pepper and two tablespoons reserved pasta water.  Add cooked penne, beef and onions.  Toss to evenly coat.  Transfer to prepared cake pan.  Top with mozzarella and sprinkle with remaining Parmesan.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until cheese is bubbling and golden brown.  Let sit 5 minutes, then cut into wedges and serve.

It was delicious!  I will most definitely be adding this recipe to my collection.

I think it would make a nice and easy dinner to serve for family and/or friends.  And it came together rather quickly.

Take care and have a wonderful Wednesday!!!

xoxoxo

Debbie

Happy Monday

I hope you and your family had a nice Easter with lots of fun and good food.  Here's a pic I snapped with my iPhone on Saturday morning.  Mr. W is sporting the Baylor Bears sunglasses.  I think he looks adorable!  Go Baylor Bears!!!  Go Kam!!!

I have lots of photos I'll be sharing with you tomorrow.

Take care and have a blessed day!

xoxoxo

Debbie

He Is Risen

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son.  Whoever puts his trust in God's Son will not be lost but will have life that lasts forever."

John 3:16

Happy Easter!!!

xoxoxo

Debbie

May God Bless Us All This Good Friday

"For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."

John 3:16

Wishing you and your family a very Happy Easter!

xoxoxo

Debbie

Cardinals Appear When Angels Are Near

I just recently read this on Facebook.  Cardinals appear when angels are near.  Have you ever heard this before?

Every year we have a Cardinal that flies into our backyard.  It typically flies from the crepe myrtles to the fence and then is on its way.

Last week the beautiful Cardinal appeared.  I ran and grabbed my camera thinking I only had a second to snap a photo.  Boy was I wrong.

It slowly began to make its way around the pool...all while taking time to look into the water.

I couldn't help but think of my dad...maybe he was stopping by to say hello.  It will be four years this July he has been gone.  I miss him terribly.

Doesn't it look like it's looking directly at me?  I was in the family room looking out the backdoor.

Here it is looking into the water again.

It slowly made its way around the tanning deck.

In this one it looks like its about to go overboard.

Taking another look into the pool.

Yet another look.

Looks like its taunting me...are you getting my photo?

At this time it flew over to the chaise lounge chairs in front of the shed on the other end of the pool.

Can you see it checking out the area?

Here it is turned back to the pool...checking things out.

Looking at me again?

It was such a treat to have this beautiful Cardinal visit our backyard.

Now for the last stop of the day.

I am so glad I captured our little guest with my camera.  This was by far, the longest visit we have ever had a Cardinal stay.  I feel like it was my dad...looking things over as he always did...giving his approval.

Love you dad!

Hope you have a wonderful week!

xoxoxo

Debbie

Miracles From Heaven

Today I went to see Miracles from Heaven.  I LOVED it!!!  I knew from seeing the previews it was a true story about a little girl and a miracle.

I had the foresight to know that I had better not wear makeup to go see this movie.  I knew if I did I would look like a hot mess when I walked out!!!  I still looked like a hot mess as my face was all red and blotchy but it was so worth it.  I laughed and I cried throughout the movie.  So did everyone else in the movie theater.  Ten minutes into the movie I was already crying.  I found it to be very moving and real to life.

I think Jennifer Garner did an amazing job as did the rest of the cast.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend doing the things you love with the people you love.

xoxoxo

Debbie

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day my friends!!!  Will you be doing anything special to celebrate today?  Believe it or not this is a holiday I do not decorate for.  We usually do not do anything special other than wearing green so we don't get pinched all day.

One year, several years back, I had to be in New Orleans for work and I brought the hubs and Brooke along with me.  It just so happened to be St. Patrick's Day so we were able to celebrate the New Orleans way with a fun parade and lots of beads.  Brooke loved it.  It was so lively with lots of people partying and having a good time.

I don't know about you but I grew up hearing it was all about the luck of the Irish, good health, good luck and happiness.

I decided to do a little research on the big wide web and discovered the three leaf clover has a religious meaning.

Did you know this?  I truly don't recall ever being told this and I am very surprised as I was raised Catholic.

Here's a St. Patrick's Day song for children that tells the story.  I found it to be very interesting.

I'm really curious.  Did you know the meaning of the three leaf clover or were you in the dark like me?  I certainly didn't teach my girls this when they were little.  I'm curious to see if they know.

I hope you have a Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

xoxoxo

Debbie

Disney Floral & Gifts

I am feeling very nostalgic while working on our Disney photo book from our anniversary celebration in December of 2013.  I wish I was sharing with you that we are going to Disney World but that's not happening....unless someone is keeping a secret from me.  Ha!!!

I ordered a Mickey Mouse stocking, filled with lots of goodies for the hubs, from Disney Floral & Gifts.  I requested that it be delivered while we were out on our carriage ride through the grounds of Fort Wilderness.  (I'll share that with you soon!).

The card reads like this:

A Gift For You

Today you have been given two gifts.

One gift is the treasure

you hold in your hands.

The other is the gift of thoughtfulness.

Both were meant for you.

Someone remembered you today

and planned a special moment

with you in mind.

Enjoy!

I hand chose everything in the stocking.  I made sure I picked out his favorite treats (and a few of mine).

My favorite of all is the Disney Wishing Coin.

The card reads like this:

This Christmastime,

When the lights twinkle down Main Street, USA.

And the fireworks shower the castle,

May your hopes be rekindled,

And your dreams reimagined

As you wish on your coin in this magical place.

Needless to say the hubs loved his stocking.  He bought me the matching Minnie and had my name embroidered in the same font (after he searched relentlessly to find a shop to do the same font).  

So the next time you go to Disney World (or Disneyland) and you want to surprise your sweetie with a gift, go to Disney Floral & Gifts to find something special.

It is so worth the look on their faces when they see their surprise in the room....just for them.  No matter the age.

Hoping you have a great day today!

xoxoxo

Debbie

A Little Fun on the Playground

Hello and happy Tuesday!  I hope you had a good weekend.  Ours was spent working in the yard and cleaning house.  Fun things right?  Ha!  Although the tasks may not be fun the rewards are high.  I love the way it looks once it is done.

I have been busy working on a photo book from our anniversary trip to Disney World in 2013.  I know...I am behind.  I hope to have it finished by this weekend.  :)

Yesterday I kept Mr. W and Ms. A while their mom went with Sweet P to a Painting With a Twist class with friends.  I didn't want to waste an opportunity to be outside so we went to the playground in our subdivision.

Mr. W loved the playground.

It's nice to see he has gotten over his fear of slides.

Ms. A was a good sport and was checking out things to do.

He is so good about taking a minute to pose for pictures.

This little guy was moving fast...checking out things to do.

Ms. A decided to try out this thingy.  You stand on a turning disk and hold onto what looks like a tractor steering wheel...

you twist and turn...

in both directions...she loved it.

The weather was perfect.

Here he is playing in the sand someone had brought over from the sandbox.  I asked him to please not play in the sand so it wouldn't get in Maw Maw's car....

and this was his reaction.  :)  

He wasn't very happy with me.

We walked over to see the ducks in the lake.

All is forgiven by now...he is off having more fun.

 Mr. W loves his sisters.  He climbed up to sit by his sister without being asked.  He is such a sweet boy most of the time.  Just kidding...he is sweet all of the time.

Here's a pic of Sweet P and her painting.  I think she did a really good job.  She said it was a lot of fun.

I want to give a shout out to everyone in Texas and Louisiana that is dealing with the flooding from all of the rain.  I am sending you prayers that God keeps you safe and out of harms way.

Take care,

xoxoxo

Debbie