Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Clayton's week of giving

This summer my nephew Clayton, has dedicated a whole week of giving back! Clayton is member of "The Catholic Youth Renovation Project" of St Paul's Catholic Church in Mission. Their goal is to help the poorest of the poor live a better quality life, by improving their everyday living conditions. Some of their tasks include room additions, roofing repairs, sheetrock installation, insulating walls, leveling, installing siding and painting. Not only, are they learning carpentry skills, they are learning real life lessons of compassion, caring, and humility. Here is the shed he helped build for the water heater.. Most of these families suffer in harsh living conditions sometimes without basic water and sewer services. Many of these homes, are small one room shacks that have broken windows or sometimes no windows at all.. Kids run around shoeless in unpaved roads covered in caliche. In this picture, an addition is being build to cover their small mobile home. Here is the humble family that will live in this home.. Its awesome seeing clay having a great time working, and enjoying helping this family! I feel all teens need to understand what it means to be without. Too many teens feel entitled to material things and demand it, If every teen had the opportunity to have a glimpse inside the lives of these humble people they would appreciate their blessings more.
Great job Clay so proud of you!

Isaiah 58:10-11 if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Pizza Pot Pie

Want an easy recipe that takes no time in the kitchen?..Here is one that you will LOVE! The best part of this recipe is that you can make it in different ways.. Here's what you will need... Pizza dough, Olive oil, Mozzarella cheese, a jar of Ragu sauce (I used the H.E.B brand since I already had it) Broccoli florets,(already had ) Parmesan cheese, shredded chicken (I used store bought rotisserie chicken leg quarters) Who wants to wait for a chicken to boil when you have a starving husband? and ramekins. (I used 4) Dump everything, but the olive oil and Parmesan cheese.. (You can add more or less of sauce and florets depending on your like)... and mix Fill in each ramekin. Do you see where I am going with this? Roll out the pizza dough, and cut circles with a pairing knife that are about 1-inch wider than the ramekins. Place the circles of dough over the ramekins and press down to seal, make sure to pull the dough over the edge of the ramekin. Brush the top of the pizza dough with olive oil and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Cut a small slit in the top of the pizza dough with a pairing knife. Bake until the pizza crust is golden, about 25 minutes... I paired it off with this Broccoli slaw drizzled in Italian dressing. There you go easy as pie!...So,what's cooking in your kitchen?

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

At last...

It's what everyone is talking about, here in the Valley! Why?... Well, our last recorded rain was back in mid September... We have been waiting and waiting...... Here in the valley they interupt whatever is on tv... even if its the trial of the century... And then it pours.... Oh my, I think we need gutters!... That project was one of our first things on our list but, because of the drought, it kind of took the back seat. I think if my yard could talk it would say... "Ahhh Thank you for that refreshing drink...at last"

Saturday, June 18, 2011

June Showers!

My cousin Mike and his wife Dina are having their first baby this August. So is my dear friend Shannon in Austin!! The first shower was held for Dina June 13Th Although Dina couldn't attend her shower,(due to maternity complications) she was with us via Skype! All her cousins pitched in and catered. These delicious meatballs were made by my cousin Yvette Garza. Guess who made these?.... Yes, you guessed it ME!!! I made 76 of these, and when I got home my husband requested more! I ended up making 140 by the time the week-end was through! My mom made her famous southwest Bean Salad! ohh so good!!! My sister Melinda made her prize winning Spaghetti salad... My mom, also made this Bow tie pasta... My aunts good friend Mona made the chicken salad! My aunt Sylvia made her fruit salad!... and I wish I would of taken a picture of the cake... It was beautiful! Bailey won the "Don't cross your leg" game! She is good at keeping an eye on everyone watch out! I had such a good time catching up with cousins and relatives. We must do it again soon...


Shannon's Shower...

Here she is at 7 months and still so tiny!! Aren't these the cutest table arrangements? ...I think I will copy this idea... These cupcakes were so good! Shannon with her mom Janice and Oscars mom Socorro. How cute is this?... At first I thought it was Shannon....but, someone mentioned it was Oscar's baby picture.. Shannon and her beautiful cousins! Here we are Bey, Shannon,and me... Dont you just love Shower food?... Everything was so good!... Challenging games... Mom won this game... she guessed how many M&Ms were in this bottle. I hope she doesn't eat them all by herself... Shannon,Bailey and Robyn.... Shannon and Miss Meagan... Shannon and Oscar's baby pics....

Thank you both for having us share in your celebration of the new life you have created! May your babies always be blessed!