Parmesan Penne

Penne Pasta
Originally uploaded by MagnoliaH

1 lb. Ground Beef
1 Medium Onion, chopped
1 Can (28 ounces) tomato sauce
1 cup grated Parmesan Cheese, Divided
1/2 Teaspoon ground Allspice
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 Package (16 ounce) Penne Pasta
1/2 Cup Butter, cubed and divided
1/4 cup All-purpose Flour
2 cups milk
2 eggs, lightly beaten

In a large skillet, cook and stir beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the tomato sauce, 1/3 cup of cheese, all spice, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, simmer, uncovered for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions. In a large saucepan, melt 1/4 cup butter. Stir in flour until smooth. Gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in 1/3 cup Parmesan Cheese. Gradually whisk egg until blended.

Drain pasta. Add the remaining cheese and butter; toss to coat.

Spread a third of the meat mixture in a greased 13" x 9" baking dish. Layer with half of the pasta, a third of the meat mixture and half of the white sauce. Repeat layers.

Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until bubbly.

Not fat, Just smarter

"We all get heavier as we get older because there's a lot
more information in our heads." So I'm not fat, I'm just really intelligent and my head couldn't hold anymore so it started
filling up the rest of me!

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Ladies of days gone by

Ladies of days gone by:
If a lady accidentally over-salts a dish while it's still cooking, she drops in a peeled potato and it absorbs the excess salt for an instant "fix-me-up".

Women of today:
If you over-salt a dish while you are cooking, that's too damn bad. Please recite with me, The Real Women's motto: "I made it and you will eat it and I don't care how bad it tastes."

Ladies of days gone by:
Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away.

Women of today:
Take a lime, mix it with tequila, chill and drink. You might still have the headache, but who cares?

Ladies of days gone by:
Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to prevent ice cream drips.

Women of today:
Just suck the ice cream out of the bottom of the cone, for Pete's sake. You are probably lying on the couch, with your feet up, eating it anyway.

Ladies of days gone by:
To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes.

Women of today:
Buy boxed mashed potato mix and keep it in the pantry for up to a year.

Ladies of days gone by:
When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking pan, use a bit of the dry cake mix instead and there won't be any white mess on the outside of the cake.

Women of today:
Go to the bakery - they'll even decorate it for you.

Ladies of days gone by:
Brush some beaten egg white over pie crust before baking to yield a beautiful glossy finish.

Women of today:
Sara Lee frozen pie directions do not include brushing egg whites over the crust, so I just don't do it.

Ladies of days gone by:
If you have a problem opening jars, try using latex dishwashing gloves. They give a non slip grip that makes opening jars easy.

Women of today:
Go ask the very cute neighbor guy to do it.
And finally the most important tip....
Ladies of days gone by:
Don't throw out all that leftover wine. Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces.

Women of today:
Leftover wine??

A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!"

Dale Carnegie How to Stop Worrying and Start Living

Fundamental Principles for Overcoming Worry
1. Live in "day-tight compartments."
2. How to face trouble:
a. Ask yourself, "What is the worst that can possibly happen?"
b. Prepare to accept the worst.
c. Try to improve on the worst.
3. Remind yourself of the exorbitant price you can pay for worry in terms of your health.

Basic Techniques in Analyzing Worry
1. Get all the facts.
2. Weigh all the facts--then come to a decision.
3. Once a decision is reached, act!
4. Write out and answer the following questions:
a. What is the problem?
b. What are the causes of the problem?
c. What are the possible solutions?
d. What is the best possible solution?

Break the Worry Habit Before It Breaks You
1. Keep busy.
2. Don't fuss about trifles.
3. Use the law of averages to outlaw your worries.
4. Cooperate with the inevitable.
5. Decide just how much anxiety a thing may be worth and refuse to give it more.
6. Don't worry about the past.

Cultivate a Mental Attitude that will Bring Your Peace and Happiness
1. Fill your mind with thoughts of peace, courage, health and hope.
2. Never try to get even with your enemies.
3. Expect ingratitude.
4. Count your blessings-not your troubles.
5. Do not imitate others.
6. Try to profit from your losses.
7. Create happiness for others.

The Perfect Way to Conquer Worry
1. Pray

Don't Worry about Criticism
1. Remember that unjust criticism is often a disguised compliment.
2. Do the very best you can.
3. Analyze your own mistakes and criticize yourself.

Prevent Fatigue and Worry and Keep Your Energy and Spirits High
1. Rest before you get tired.
2. Learn to relax at your work.
3. Protect your health and appearance by relaxing at home.
4. Apply these four good working habits:
a. Clear your desk of all papers except those relating to the immediate problem at hand.
b. Do things in the order of their importance.
c. When you face a problem, solve it then and there if you have the facts necessary to make a decision.
d. Learn to organize, deputize and supervise.
5. Put enthusiasm into your work.
6. Don't worry about insomnia.

Dale Carnegie Principles

How to Win Friends and Influence People

Become a Friendlier Person
1. Don't criticize, condemn or complain.
2. Give honest, sincere appreciation.
3. Arouse in he other person an eager want.
4. Become genuinely interested in other people.
5. Smile
6. Remember that a person's name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.
7. Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves.
8. Talk in terms of the other person's interests.
9. Make the other person feel important -- and do it sincerely.

How to Win People to Your Way of Thinking
10 The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it.
11. Show respect for the other person's opinion. Never say, "you're wrong."
12. If you are wrong, admit it quickly, and emphatically.
13. Begin in a friendly way.
14. Get the other person saying, "yes, yes" immediately.
15. Let the other person do a great deal of the talking.
16. Let the other person feel that the idea is his or hers.
17. Try honestly to see things from the other person's point of view.
18. Be sympathetic wih the other person's ideas and desires.
19. Appeal to the nobler motives.
20. Dramatize your ideas.
21. Throw down a challange.

Be a Leader
22 Begin with praise and honest appreication.
23. Call attention to people's mistakes indirectly.
24. Talk about your own mistakes before criticizing the other person
25. Ask questions instead of giving direct orders.
26. Let the other person save face.
27. Praise the slightest improvement and praise every improvement. Be "hearty in your approvation and lavish in your priase."
28. Give the other person a fine reputation to live up to.
29. Use encouragement. Make a fault seem easy to correct.
30. Make the other person happy about doing the thing you suggest.

Ways to Cope with Stress

1. Get up 15 minute early.
2. Prepare for the morning the night before
3. Avoid tight fitting clothes
4. Set appointments ahead
5. Write it down...don't rely on your memory
6. Set priorities n your life.
7. Anticipate negative people
8. Simplify meal times
9. Always make copies of important papers
10.Repair anything that doesn't work properly
11.Practice preventative maintenance
12.Ask for help with jobs you dislike
13.Break large tasks into bite size portions
14.Look at problems as challenges
15.Look at challenges differently
16.Unclutter your life
17.Smile
18.Be prepared for rain
19.Tickle a baby
20.Pet a friendly dog/cat
21.Don't know all the answers
22.Teach a kid to fly a kite
23.Walk in the rain
24.Schedule play time into every day
25.Take a bubble bath
26.Be aware of the decision you make
27.Believe in you
28.Stop saying negative things to yourself
29.Visualize yourself winning
30.Develop your sense of humor
31.Stop thinking tomorrow will be a better day
32.Have goals for yourself
33.Dance a jig
34.Say hello to a stranger
35.Ask a friend for a hug
36.Look up at the stars
37.Practice breathing slowly
38.Learn a whistle or a tune
39.Read a poem
40.Listen to a symphony
41.Watch a ballet
42.Read a story curled up in bed
43.Do a brand new thing
44.Stop a bad habit
45.Buy yourself a flower
46.Quit trying to "fix" other people
47.Talk less and listen more
48.Take stock on your achievements
49.Find support from others
50.Ask someone to be your "vent partner"
51.Do it today
52.Work at being cheerful and optimistic
53.Put safety first
54.Do everything in moderation
55.Pay attention to your appearance
56.Strive for excellence; not perfection
57.Stretch your limits a little each day
58.Look at a work of art
59.Hum a jingle
60.Maintain your weight
61.Plant a tree
62.Feed the birds
63.Practice grace under pressure
64.Stand up and stretch
65.Always have a plan "B"
66.Learn a new doodle
67.Memorize a joke
68.Be responsible for your feelings
69.Learn to meet your own needs
70.Become a listener
71.Know your limitations & let others know them too
72.Tell someone to have a good day in pig latin
73.Throw a paper airplane
74.Exercise everyday
75.Learn the words to a new song
76.Get to work early
77.Clean out one closet
78.Play patty cake with a toddler
79.Go on a picnic
80.Take a different route to work
81.Leave work early with permission
82.Put air freshener in your car
83.Watch a movie and eat popcorn
84.Write a note to a far away friend
85.Go to a ball game and scream
86.Cook a meal and eat it by candlelight
87.Recognize the importance of unconditional love
88.Remember that stress is an attitude
89.Keep a journal
90.Practice a monster smile
91.Remember you always have options
92.Have a support network of people, place and things
93.Get enough sleep.
94.Freely praise other people
95.Relax - take one day at a time- you have the rest of your life to live!

The Story Behind the 12 Days of Christmas

There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me. What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge that won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas? From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.

The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus Christ.
Two turtledoves were the Old and new Testaments.
Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.
The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.
The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.
The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit-Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership and Mercy.
The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.
Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit- Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self Control.
The ten lords a-leeping were the ten commandments.
The eleven pipers piping stood for the elevent faithful disciples.
Thw twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief int he Apostles' Creed.

10 Reasons I don't like Most Christians - Tony Morgan

1. They consistently seem angry and bitter and worried. I thought Christians were supposed to reflect joy and kindness and peace.
2. They don't dream big dreams. That seems odd given the fact that we're supposedly worshipping a God who is "able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare ask or hope."
3. They seem to worship their theology more than Jesus. For whatever reasons, this appears to be especially true for folks that come from a reformed theology.
4. They don't like it when other people or ministries experience success. Think about it. There are Christians who would be overwhelmed with joy if a church experienced fewer salvation's, fewer baptism and attendance dropped.
5. They use prayer as an excuse of inaction. They're waiting for God to do his thing, but they aren't willing to step out in faith and obedience.
6. They're more concerned with the BMW next door than the lost person who drives it. Christians hate people with money. They're willing to sacrifice time and money for those without it, but they're satisfied to let "rich" people go to Hell.
7. They would rather people live life without Jesus than give up their personal preferences. What happens when your preferred teacher doesn't teach? What happens when your preferred worship leader doesn't lead? What happens when you don't like the music?
8. They are fake. They dress up a certain way on Sunday and they live as completely different people the rest of the week.
9. They think they're better than other people. That's why they create rules to follow. It helps differentiate why they are holy while others are not.
10. They're comfortable with mediocrity. Doesn't matter where. Think Christian movies and music. Think how we invest our time and money. You don't seriously think God deserves our best do you?

Ten Ways to Kill Vision in Your Church - By Perry Noble

1. Pray really small prayers...seriously, don't ask god for ANYTHING big. He DID put an interstate highway through a sea, demolish the wall of Jericho and brought the dead back to life..but I'm sure He doesn't do things like that anymore!)
2. Celebrate the past WAY more than you anticipate the future, thus becoming a museum and not a movement!
3. Allow those who have never actually done anything to Jesus dictate to you what they believe you can and can't do for HIM!
4. Listen and response to every critic.
5. Wait until everything makes perfect sense before you make a decision.
6. Spend more time on blogs than you do in your Bible.
7. Become more agenda drive the GOSPEL driven!
8. Actually believe the EVERYONE must be 100% happy with every detail.
9. Vote!
10. Become angry/jealous over what God is doing at other places and become hyper focused on all of their problems, thus overlooking your own!

Fifteen Signs that A Church Is In Trouble - From Perry Noble

1. When excuses are made about the way things are instead of embracing a willingness to roll up the sleeves and fix the problem.
2. When the church becomes content with merely receiving people that come rather than actually going out and finding them...in other words, they lose their passion for evangelism!
3. The focus of the church is to build a great church (complete with the pastors picture...and his wife's...on everything) and not the Kingdom of God.
4. The leadership begins to settle for the natural rather than rely on the supernatural.
5. The church begins to view success/failure in regards to how they are viewed in the church world rather than whether or not they are actually fulfilling the Great Commission!
6. The leaders within the church cease to be coachable.
7. There is a loss of a sense of urgency! (Hell is no longer hot, sing is no longer wrong and the cross is no longer important!)
8. Scripture isn't central in every decision that is made!
9. The church is reactive rather than proactive.
10. The people in the church lose sign of the next generation and refuse to fund ministry simply because they don't understand"those young people."
11. The goal of the church is to simply maintain the way things are...to NOT rock the boat and/or upset anyone...especially the big givers!
12. The church is no longer willing to take steps of faith because (there is just too much to lose.)
13. The church simply does not care about the obvious and immediate needs that exist in the community.
14. The people learn how to depend on one man to minister to everyone rather than everyone embracing their role in the body, thus allowing the body to care for itself.
15. When the leaders/staff refuse to go the extra mile to leading and serving because of how "inconvenient" doing so would be.

The following came from an anonymous mother in Austin TX

Things I've learned from my boys (honest and not kidding):
1. A king size water bed holds enough water to fill a 2,000 sq. foot house 4 inches deep.
2. If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with roller blades, they can ignite.
3. A 3-year old boy's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant.
4. If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42-pound boy wearing Batman underwear and a Superman cape. It is strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can, to spread paint on all four walls of a 20x20foot room.
5. You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on. When using a ceiling fan as a bat, you have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way.
6. The glass in windows (even double-pane) doesn't stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.
7. When you hear the toilet flush and the words, "uh oh", it's already too late.
8. Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.
9. A six-year old boy can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36-year old man says they can only do it in the movies.
10. Certain Lego's will pass through the digestive tract of a 4-year old boy.
11. Play dough and microwave should not be used in the same sentence.
12. Super glue is forever.
13. No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool you still can't walk on water.
14. Pool filters do not like Jell-O.
15. VCR's do not eject (PB&J) sandwiches even though TV commercials show that they do.
16. Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.
17. Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.
18. You probably DO NOT want to know what that odor is.
19. Always look in the oven before you turn it on; plastic toys do not like ovens.
20. The fire department in Austin TX has a 5-minutes response time.
21. The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms dizzy.
22. It will, however, make cats dizzy.
23. Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.
24. 80% of Men who red this will try mixing the Clorox and brake fluid.
25. Women will pass this on to almost all of their friends, with or without kids.
a. For those with no children-this is totally hysterical!
b. For those who already have children past this age, this is hilarious.
c. For those who have children this age, this is not funny.
d. For those who have children nearing this age, this is a warning.
e. For those who have not yet had children, this is birth control.

15 Reasons to Read the Bible Daily

1. To be rid of anxiety and have peace (Psalm 119:165)
2. To set things right when life feels out of control (Psalm 19:7-8)
3. To have direction and guidance (Psalm 119:105)
4. To experience healing and deliverance (Psalm 107:20_
5. To grow in the Lord (1 Peter 2:2)
6. To have strength, comfort, and hope (Psalm 119:28, 50, 114)
7. To shape yourself and your life correctly (Psalm 119:11)
8. To be able to see clearly (Psalm 119:130)
9. To know what's really in your heart (Hebrew 4:12)
10. To build faith (Romans 10:17)
11. To have joy (Psalm 19:8)
12. To understand God's power (John 1:1)
13. To have more life in this life. (Psalm 119:50)
14. To distinguish good from evil (Psalm 119:101-102)
15. To understand God's love for you (John 1:14)

Baby Shower Invitation

I'm sorry I couldn't be with you,
but I'm awfully busy you see.
Painting my eyes, my cheeks, my hair
So Mother will be proud of me.

I'm sending you this message
To convey to you this thought;
The stork will soon have left me
To use the gift you brought.

Be sure to come and see me
As soon as I get there;
Just give my Mother time to dress me.
So I won't be bare.

And so I thank you from my heart
For each lovely gift for me,
'Cause when I've left my Mother,
I'll not be dressed, you see.

Quotes

The Truth will Ouch -- Arnold H. Glasow

To be upset over what you don't have is to waste what you do have. -- Ken S. Keys, Jr.

A committee is a group that keeps minutes and loses hours." Milton Berle
the man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones." Chinese proverb

Be Thankful for problems. If they were less difficult, someone with less ability might have your job. bits & Pieces

The best preparation for tomorrow is to do today's work superbly well. Sir William Osler

The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain. Dolly Parton

Common sense is genius dressed in its working clothes. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going. Jim Ryun

If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door. Milton Berle

Obstacles are things a person sees when he takes his eyes off his goals. E. Joseph Cossman

Nothing lasts forever-not even your troubles. Arnold H. Glasow.

Rug Hookers Psalm

Rug hooking is my hobby--I shall want no other.
It maketh me to lay down my mop and broom-
Walk by my dirty dishes to my hooking room.
It restoreth my piece of mind and leadeth me
Into strange places, wools to find.
Yea, though I am alone with dye pots and wools,
I feel no loneliness.
The snip of shears and click of hook, they comfort me.
I prepare a rug on my frame, sit and hook while my dishpan runneth over.
Surely, I will have a dye in the cereal at breakfast and I will dwell in a state of confusion forever.
Author Unknown