Tortellini with Fresh Vegetables

1 pkg (9 oz) refrigerated cheese filled tortellini
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 bell pepper, cut into one inch pieces
2 cups chopped roma tomatoes (about 6-8)
1 zucchini, cut in half lengthwise, the cut crosswise into slices
1/2 tsp italian seasoning
1/2 tsp garlic salt

Cook and drain tortellini as directed on package. Meanwhile, heat oil in pan. Cook bell pepper in oil 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently, until crisp tender. Stir in tomatoes, zucchini, italian seasoning, and garlic salt. Cover and cook 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until zucchini is tender. Stir in tortellini. Cook 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until hot.

Serves 4

Pizza Roll Ups with Dipping Sauce

2 Tbsp butter, melted
1/4 tsp italian seasoning
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 can refrigerated pizza crust
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
2 Tbsp chopped onions
1 pkg (9 oz) shaved oven roasted turkey breast
1 1/2 cups marinara sauce

Preheat oven to 400. Mix butter, italian seasoning, and garlic powder until well blended; set aside. Unroll dough onto ungreased baking sheet. Press into 15x10 inch rectangle; brush with half of the butter mixture. Sprinkle with cheese and onions; top evenly with turkey. Starting at one of the short ends, roll up dough to form log. Pinch seams and ends together to seal. Position log lengthwise, seam side down, in center of baking sheet. Brush with remaining butter mixture. Bake 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Let stand 5 minutes. Cut crosswise into 12 slices. Serve with marinara sauce.

Sweet Balls of Fire

3 large eggs
3/4 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/4 cup chopped flat leaf parsley
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
2 pounds lean ground beef
1/2 cup chili sauce
1/2 cup orange marmalade or peach preserves
1 Tbsp hot pepper sauce

Preheat the oven to 350. Spray 15x1 pan with nonstick spray. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, chicken broth, bread crumbs, parmesan, parsley, salt and pepper. Mix in the ground beef and form into 1 inch meatballs. Place meatballs on pan and cook in oven until meatballs are cooked through, about 25-35 minutes. In a food processor, puree the chili sauce, orange marmalade, and hot sauce. Put in microwave safe bowl and warm in microwave. Serve warm with meatballs as a dipping sauce.

Serves 12

Lemony Fish over Vegetables and Rice

1 package (6.2 oz) fried rice (rice and vermicelli mix with almonds and oriental seasonings)
2 Tbsp butter
2 cups water
1/2 tsp grated lemon peel
1 pound bag frozen corn, broccoli and red pepper mix
1 pound tilapia fillets
1/2 tsp lemon pepper seasoning
1 Tbsp lemon juice
2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley

In skillet, cook rice and butter for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally until rice is golden brown. Stir in water, seasoning packet from rice mix and lemon peel. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer 10 minutes. Stir in vegetables. Heat to boiling, stirring occasionally. Arrange fish on rice mixture. Sprinkle fish with lemon pepper seasoning; drizzle with lemon juice. Reduce heat. Cover and simmer 8-10 minutes or until fish flakes easily with fork and vegetables are tender. Sprinkle with parsley.

Serves 4

Selfishness

Definition of Selfish: devoted to or caring only for oneself; concerned primarily with one's own interests, benefits, welfare, etc., regardless of others.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4

A bad habit of selfishness needs to be broken in our home. We are all guilty of it, including myself. It is a lot harder to see when you are the one that is being this way. Unfortunately, it is far after the fact (if at all) when I realize I was being that way. Seeing others act that way....hurts my heart and makes me angry. Especially when those acting that way are close to me.

"Be kind and considerate to others", "How do you think that would make so&so feel", "use respectful tones", "The world doesn't revolve around you"....I've said all these things and more till I'm blue in the face. It is met with deep sighing, rolling eyes, whining "but they did X first" or "so&so is always this way to me", hurt feelings. On a rare occasion, it is met with an "ok" and even a change of attitude for a day or two. There does not seem to be any lasting positive effects.

I've prayed and prayed for heart changes in all of us, for us to see others as Jesus sees them first rather than seeing what we want to see, for us to recognize when we are behaving this way and stop it. At this point, it seems nothing is changing. I have faith that God is working even if I can't see any fruits right now. But it's so frustrating when there continues to be selfishness, inconsideration, rudeness, and disrespect.

I thought typing this out would be like a vomiting of the soul and I would feel better once I got it out. But I don't. I feel worse. I need a little quiet time with God.

Baked Potato Soup

3 pounds potatoes, rinsed and pierced with fork
6 slices uncooked turkey bacon
4 cups chicken broth
1 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
6 Tbsp reduced fat sour cream
6 Tbsp shredded cheddar cheese
6 Tbsp scallions, sliced

Preheat oven to 400. Place potatoes on cookie sheet and cook in oven until tender, about 45 minutes to one hour. Cook bacon until browned. Drain fat and then chop bacon. Peel potatoes and put in saucepan. Mash with a potato masher until smooth. Gradually stir in bacon broth, thyme, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Heat and cook until hot, stirring occasionally. Spoon into 6 soup bowls. Top each with one Tbsp of sour cream, cheese and scallions.

Serves 6

Easy Italian Meatloaf

2 pounds lean ground beef
1 pkg (6 oz) stuffing mix for chicken
1 can italian style diced tomatoes, undrained
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup spaghetti sauce, divided
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 375. Mix all ingredients except 1/4 cup of spaghetti sauce and 1/4 cup of cheese. Shape into loaf in 13x9 dish sprayed with nonstick spray. Bake 50 minutes. Top with remaining spaghetti sauce then cheese. Bake an additional 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Serves 8

Italian Style Marinated Steak

1/2 cup italian dressing
1 pound boneless beef sirloin steaks
1/2 cup A1 steak sauce

Pour dressing over steaks in resealable plastic bag; seal bag. Turn bag over several times to evenly coat steaks with dressing. Refrigerate 30 minutes. Preheat grill. Remove steaks from marinade; discard bag and marinade. Grill steaks to desired doneness. Brush steaks with steak sauce; let stand 10 minutes. Cut into thin slices to serve.

Serves 4

Grilled Tomatoes

4 tomatoes, halved crosswise
1/4 cup balsamic vinaigrette dressing
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

Preheat grill. Place tomatoes, cut sides up, in disposable foil pan. Drizzle with dressing; sprinkle with cheese. Place pan on grill; close lid. Grill about 15 minutes or until tomatoes are soft and cheese begins to turn golden.

Serves 4

Argentinian Steak Salad

Spicy Garlic Salsa
1/4 cup olive oil
2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
3 Tbsp red wine vinegar
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
Salad
2 medium green onions, thinly sliced
2 large plum tomatoes, chopped
1 pound boneless beef sirloin steak, 1-1 1/2 inches thick
1 large red or yellow bell pepper
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
6 cups bite size pieces salad greens
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms

In tightly covered container, shake all salsa ingredients until well blended. Reserve 1/4 cup salsa. Stir onions and tomatoes into remaining salsa; set aside. Heat coals on grill. Place steak and bell pepper on grill rack. Cover and grill 15-20 minutes (or until steak is at desired doneness) and turning bell pepper frequently. Sprinkle beef with salt and pepper. Cut beef into 1/4 inch slices. In bowl, mix beef and reserved 1/4 cup salsa. Cut bell pepper into strips. In large serving bowl, place salad greens, bell pepper, mushrooms and beef. Add remaining salsa with onions and tomatoes; toss to mix.

Serves 6