A Gift of Love.....Home Cooked Italian Meal

Baked Ziti and Garlic Bread

We have a group of 26 amazing volunteer youth staff members and Mike and I were wracking our brain to figure what we could do for them as a gift to show our appreciation for all they do for our youth. The youth budget was of course on empty and so I decided what better way then to show it with food!

We had a nice meal with everyone, linen table cloths and all!

Baked Ziti

1 pound ziti or any other short pasta

1/4 cup whipping cream

1 15 oz. ricotta cheese

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

 1 small onion,chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp. dried basil

1 tsp. dried oregano

1 tsp. ground pepper

1 1/2 tsp. salt

3 italian sausage links 

2 26 oz. jars pasta sauce

I like to mix 1 classic marinara and 1 three cheese sauce together(Fresh & Easy has the best)

(yes I know jarred sauce doesn't sound very authentic but there are some really good ones out there and it's a huge time saver)

In a saute pan drizzle with olive oil, cook onion, garlic for about 5 minutes, remove casings from sausage and crumble up, cook through. While that cooks boil water and cook pasta until it is cooked but still firm, al dente.

Add your spices, ricotta, and heavy cream into the sausage/onion/garlic mixture toss together. Mix your 2 different sauces together in a bowl, pour half of that into meat/cheese mixture. Cover 13x9 baking dish with sauce, cover with half the noodles and spoon half the meat/cheese mixture, then sprinkle with half the mozzarella cheese, then repeat layers sauce, noodles, meat/cheese mixture and sprinkle your remaining mozzarella on top. Bake at 350 for about 45 minutes until bubbly.

*This can easily be a vegetarian dish as well instead of sausage add carrots, celery, mushrooms, spinach

Cheesy Garlic Bread

6 Tbsp. melted butter

3/4 cup mayo

3/4 shredded asiago cheese

3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 Tbsp. dried parsley

1 loaf Italian/French Bread cut in half length wise

mix all ingredients together in a bowl, spread on bread, bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes until melted and bubbly

Change is a good thing...

It's been a crazy busy summer and I'm kind of glad it is over. We are entering a new season in our family and it's scary but good all at the same time. I have joined the out of the home work force again after 5 years of doing in home childcare, before that I was only out working for about 9 months and had been home since the spring of 2003. I have loved being home with my babies but they are growing up and heading into school longer now. Abi just started 4th grade today and Gavin is now going all day as well as a 1st grader!. Rylie will be starting Pre-K 3 days a week and so I will be working at the family business during that time. My baking business has really taken off especially since I started supplying my treats to Queen Bean Caffe. Keeping very busy but I like it, it allows me to be creative in one of my favorite ways with baking. I am trying my best to balance it all and am looking forward to being back on a schedule, it helps keep me sane. Looking forward to what God has in store next for us as a family and in our ministries...

Best Ranch Ever! (really it is)

So I have been trying to use less processed stuff especially if it is something that can be easily home made and taste much better, I have tried and tweaked a few recipes and this is now our family favorite.

Best Ranch Ever

1 cup mayo

1/2 cup buttermilk (or make your own mix 1 Tbsp. lemon juice and 1/2 cup milk let it set for 5 minutes to thicken)

1 Tbsp. dried parsley

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/2 salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1/8 tsp dried dill

combine in a mason jar and shake it up, set in fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving to thicken up, keeps for about 2 weeks, I can usually get 3-4 salads from this

Crockpot Fiesta Chicken Soup

Fiesta Chicken Soup

6 cups chicken broth

1 small can tomato paste

2 tsp cumin

1/4-1/2 tsp cayenne

salt & pepper to taste

1 small chopped onion

3 garlic cloves chopped

2 large chicken breasts

1 can white beans

 1 can black beans

1 can corn

Garnish

crushed tortilla chips(I like the Fresh & easy chipotle flavored or lime flavored)

shredded cheese

chopped avocado

cilantro

lime juice

in a crockpot place all ingredients cook on high 4 hours or low 6-8, once chicken is cooked through take out and shred, add back into crock.

spoon into 4 bowls, top with chips, cheese, cilantro, avocado, squirt some lime juice on top

It's Been awhile...

I had a feeling I wasn't going to do too good at this whole blogging thing... Same as not journaling anymore... Something I used to really enjoy but just don't take the time to do anymore. Summer is in full swing, my kids are doing great so far, good attitudes and I am managing to keep them busy enough so they don't act up out of pure boredom while having to work around watching the other 2.

Speaking of a change is coming in the Frisch house over much prayer and for the well being of my sanity I have decided to no longer watch my 2 daycare boys effective mid August... I have had the oldest for nearly 5 years and watching them has served my family and this season of my life greatly. Rylie will be in preschool 3 days a week this school year do I will now be working for the family business while she is in school. Kind of sad at first I will no longer be a stay at home working mom ad I have always been.. I've never had the privilege to just stay home And be mom I have always worked and contributed bug now I will officially be a part time working mom. I'm excited though I think being out of the house a few times a week will do me and my family some good and I will still get to be home with Rylie on her off days and home after school with Abi and Gavin so it will work out perfectly.

I am also still juggling my baking business which is going well I have built up s bit of a consistent client base and am hoping to build it up more..

Ministry is going great with the youth and I am looking forward to getting back to women's ministry in the fall. Some changes could be on the rise and that is always exciting!

Until next time....

Crockpot Chipotle Chicken Sandwiches

3 chicken breasts
1 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground mustard
1 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
1 can chipotle chili in adobo sauce
Sandwich rolls (I use kaiser rolls)
Sliced smoky cheese (I used muenster)

Mix all dry spices together, creating a dry rub. Rub all over chicken. Spray inside of crockpot place chicken breasts along the crock. Cook on low for about 6 hours. Remove chicken and shred. Add tomato sauce, 1 Tbsp adobo sauce to crockpot mix well. You can add a couple of chopped chipotles if you like a lot of spice (I left the peppers out so the kids could eat eat) add shredded chicken back in, mix altogether and allow it to heat back up. Slice your rolls in half and toast in the oven. I put mayo on my rolls then load up with chicken mixture. Top with a slice of cheese. Toast in the oven for a couple minutes until cheese starts to melt. You can add some sliced avocado on top (helps with the heat) . Should make about 6-8 sandwiches.

Life Updates

Wow! How is it already nearing the end of February??!! Busy as always. Really trying to take time to focus on the kids and not losing them in the shuffle of life. We have been trying out many new recipes thanks to pinterest! I love finding new recipes, trying them and then tweaking them if necessary to make them more me. Really trying to cut back on canned and processed foods. I'm not getting as extreme as some folks but just trying to do what is healthiest and cheapest for my family. Getting ready to plant our garden and really hoping it turns out this year. I have been getting a lot of tips from a friend who has an amazing garden every year. My goal is for us to be able to eat off of it and to also be able to can some things. Canning is something else I have always wanted to try I have really great childhood memories of helping my grandmother make and can jams. I would like that to be something I can pass on with my family. Lent has begun. Not something we always practice but Mike and I have decided to participate this year, not by stopping something but by starting something :) Our goal is to spend 10 individual minutes with each of the kids. This may seem like a simple thing but with 3 kids on 3 different schedules along with 2 additional kids 3 days a week plus bible study and youth group and everything else we have to do it seems that special one on one time gets lost and that breaks my heart. I have also been doing this 30 day mom challenge and I really like it. Simple things that you don't always think to do. Our ministry is going great, I have really enjoyed having all these crazy ball players in my Life Group lately. I love pouring into their lives it brings me so much joy to see them break down their walls and to start making decisions to lay their problem/struggles at the Lord's feet. I am truly blessed to serve these youth. Women's bible study is also going well a great study on David and I am learning so much. I feel like our small group has made some great connections with each other and I enjoy being able to study the word with these ladies God has placed in my life. With all of this there are ups and down in the church but through it all Mike and I are clinging to each other, our kids and the Lord and while it is a struggle now I know God has something great in store for our future ministries and I am trusting in him and can't wait (sometimes impatiently) to see what it is :)
Off to bake something yummy hopefully trying this recipe today http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2011/08/cookies-and-cream-cookies.html

New Year Italian Sausage Soup

Well..we are a week into the New Year, 2012! Crazy as you get older how fast time goes by. Mike is back to work, the kids are back to school and I am back to working from home again. While I miss the lazy days of everyone being together I do sorta need my schedules and my controlled chaos I call life. I've been doing pretty good with exercising and cutting calories, nothing crazy but just being aware of what I am eating and thinking twice before popping it into my mouth. Gym twice a week and home wii zumba 1-2 times per week and feeling good. Always looking for new dinner recipes ( I made up a really good soup one) and on the hunt for good baking projects. My cookie dough business/project whatever I am calling it is good, up and down but fun doing something and getting good reviews form the customers I have had. Really missing women's bible studies and excited for it to start up again soon. I now start to crave the studies, I miss being in the word with a set goal other than just daily reading (which I am not very good at) I love leading my small group and look forward to being with them again in the next couple of weeks. Youth group is going good, we have Winter Camp next weekend and I am looking forward to it. It's always fun and exhausting. I have most of my Life Group coming this time and I am really excited about that. Many of them are first time campers and I can't wait to see what God will reveal to each of them this weekend. We are bring the kids with us this year, it has been 2 years since the last time we brought them along. Hoping it goes well..They are older now and I think they will be able to handle it..I hope I can handle it..It's sometimes really hard dividing my time between the youth and connecting with them and trying to guide them and being my #1 role as mommy. Just need to find the balance and relax, have fun, let go of our normal daily schedules and let the kids have fun as well. We really want them to love the youth and to never feel jealous towards them or the church, never want them to feel like the youth come before them. We want them to desire the Lord and experience him from a young age so they grow up having their own relationship with God and having a heart to Love and Serve Him and His People...

Italian Sausage, Potato and Minnestrone Soup


3 link italian sausage,skins removed, crumbled and cooked
1 chopped onion
1 stalk celery
1 handful chopped baby carrots
2 cloves chopped garlic
2 red potatoes diced
5 cups beef broth
1 small can tomato sauce
1 can cannelini beans, rinsed/drained
1 can kidney beans, rinsed/drained
1 tsp marjoram
1 tsp basil
1 tsp parsley
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 cup small pasta
add olive oil to pan saute sausage, saute vegetables, add spices, broth, beans and tomato sauce, cook for about an hour or more, about a half hour before add pasta. Yummy