Motherly love vs. quilting . . .

Decisions! Decisions!

My husband treated me to a trip to the fabric warehouse yesterday. For anyone who lives in Southern California, M&L Fabrics on Ball in Orange County is the place to go for designer fabrics at Wal-Mart prices. The trip was a 25th Wedding Anniversary present so I got to indulge quite drastically. When I got home yesterday, I had an enjoyable time refolding my fabric stash and putting away my new fabric. A lot of ideas were running through my head about what I could make with the fabric. I also have six almost completed quilts waiting for final stitches. My conscience said to finish those before starting yet another project. My new fabric seemed to tell my conscience to 'shut up' and go with the creative flow lest it be lost. My son just reminded me I promised him a trip to Barnes & Noble and lunch out. Guess I'll discuss quilting priorities with my fabric when I get back from the bookstore. Sigh . . .

A favorite, fast, meatless meal . . .

1 pound spaghetti
10 peeled cloves of garlic
1/2 stick butter
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1/2 to 1 cup chicken broth
Freshly ground pepper
Fresh basil (optional), shredded in strips
Salt to taste
1 cup freshly grated Romano or Parmesan Cheese

Smash the garlic with the flat of a knife blade and finely chop. Smashing the garlic helps release the flavor. Very gently saute the garlic in the butter until the garlic is soft but not browned.

Meanwhile, boil the spaghetti until it is just barely done. It will cook a bit more in the final preparation and you don't want mushy pasta. Drain, and put spaghetti back in the pot. Add the garlic,/butter and mix thoroughly. With the stove set on a low flame, add the eggs and quickly stir them in so they cook and spread out evenly. Add the cheese, pepper, and basil and mix. Add salt and serve immediately.

This is a nice meal for a meatless Friday and goes well with a big salad and some sour dough bread, lightly toasted.

Interesting thing about Fridays and no meat. Everyone (I hope!) strictly observes them during Lent but seem to think that it does't apply the rest of the year. Unfortunately, many pastors have not been clear on this. Meatless Fridays have not exactly been changed but we are offered the option of choosing another form of penance for Friday. Too many Catholics I have talked to seem to view meatless Fridays as a thing of the past. The 'rule' is that unless you come up with a definite alternative, you should still refrain from meat. We have found it more of a penance and less of a strain on our brains to observe all Fridays as a meatless day.

Another year, another Lent . . .

I just realized that the Lenten Season is nearly upon us . . . again! There always seems to be that slight feeling of dread about what we can't have in order to be sacrificial during Lent. Yes, we should 'give up' things in order to strengthen our spiritual resolve, but we can add things to our life, during Lent, to bring about change in our outlook, too.

Our family always does meatless on Wednesdays as well as the mandatory Fridays of Lent. We also try to stick to the 'old-fashioned' notion of fasting. We have our three meals a  day and avoid snacking. It is always interesting to note, during the first few days of Lent, how many times we actually find ourselves absentmindedly putting food in our mouths.

That is our 'give ups' of Lent. This year, however, I'm thinking I'd like to put some more positive spins on the six weeks. I'm going to be a better steward of our grocery budget taking more time and creativity in meal preparation. I usually fix a decent meal for my family but am thinking about watching the health aspect more and incorporate more healthy foods in a way that will add to their nutrition as well as their happiness. I guess I want to cut down on the unnecessary edible extras (like fats and sweets) yet present an acceptable meal that is enjoyed. It is sort of like the 'good' way of fasting where you wash your face and put on a smile so people don't know you are being penitential thus making your sacrifice more meaningful as you aren't looking for admiration.

Anyway, I'm going to spend time researching meatless recipes and healthy recipes recipes this week in preparation for the next six weeks. I'm hoping that some of the habits we put into play will last us beyond Lent, too. Seems like the incorporation of extra prayers and healthy habits that remain kind of give you a good report card for Lent!

I'll share any meatless recipes I discover and enjoy. Anyone with like-minded ways, is welcome to also give us the benefit of their experience.

"It is better not to fast and be thereby humbled, than to fast and to be self-satisfied therewith." Pascal Pensees 17th century