Sun-dried Tomato Alfredo Pasta (easy as 1,2,3)

1 box of bow tie pasta (or any of your favorite)
1 jar of Classico Sun-dried Tomato Alfredo Sauce

1. Cook pasta according to package directions.
2. Heat Alfredo sauce.
3. Pour over noodles.

To make this look special on the plates I sprinkle on the following:

parmesan cheese
basil
oregano
fresh cilantro leaves

Enjoy!

Easy Baked Salmon

Approximately 1 pound of salmon filets
1 teaspoon Emeril's Original Essense

Spray baking dish with canola oil. Add salmon filets sprinkled with Emeril's Original Essensce.
Bake 375 degrees, uncovered for 25 minutes.

Enjoy!

Light Vanilla/Caramel Iced Coffee

1 cup of brewed coffee
1 cup of skim milk
4 teaspoons of splenda
4 teaspoons of sugar-free caramel syrup
1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract

Mix all ingredients and pour over ice.

Enjoy!

Easy Roast or London Broil Marinade

1 cup of marsalla cooking wine (found in the salad dressing section)
1/4 cup worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon minced garlic (the kind in a jar that needs to be refrigerated after opening)
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon pepper

I use this as a marinade to cook london broil, roasts or steaks. I usually will cook a roast or london broil in a slow cooker on low for 10 to 12 hours, or grill steaks until done - on average 7 to 10 minutes each side, depending on size.

Enjoy!

My Best Banana Bread

1 cup sugar
1/3 cup canola oil
2 eggs
3 or 4 mashed ripe bananas
1/3 cup water
1 and 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup of chopped walnuts (optional)

Mix all ingredients. Pour into 4 mini loaf pans sprayed with oil.
Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutues. (One large loaf may take one hour.)

Enjoy!

Pillsbury Dough Pizza

1 Pillsbury Dough pizza crust
One 15 oz. can of diced tomatoes, drained
1 tablespoon olive oil
8 oz. mozzarella cheese shredded
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon basil
1 teaspoon oregano

Spray large cookie sheet with oil. Press one Pillsbury Pizza Dough into pan. Spread olive oil onto dough. Distribute remaining ingredients over the dough.

Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.

Enjoy!

Green Beans in your Apron

This is a poem I wrote in memory of my "Papa and Granny." Papa always worked in his garden and grew apple trees; and Granny always worked hard preparing some of the best meals I have ever eaten. She would wear an apron, and the green beans I mention in the poem are the ones that had just been collected from the garden. Mealtime was always a time to gather with family, and friends were always welcome too. The seed I mention in the poem is the Word of God and the Bible was worn out - not from misuse, but from constant use. Papa lived to be 94 years old.

Green beans in your apron on a summer day,
Bread dough in your wooden bowl - the biscuits for this day.
Apple pies are baking; the coffee's on to boil.
Papa's outside digging putting seeds into the soil.

Though these are not the only seeds that were planted there that day.
The seeds you planted in my heart are still growing here this day.
God told you to plant them, and He would make them grow.
You did the things He told you because you loved Him so!

What grace the Savior showed me to let me hear His voice
through a worn out, tattered Bible and Papa was His choice.
These memories are sweeter as each day passes by,
And now I finally realize I saw Jesus in your eyes.

You lived each day to serve Him, and you did this faithfully.
How thankful I did witness how one's life ought to be:
Giving, caring, sharing - leaving self behind,
So others could see Jesus and not be left behind.

Granny told us not to waste our time going to her grave,
or spend our money on flowers - that money we could save.
"I will not be there," she said, and I knew that was true.
She was going home to Jesus and I wanted to go there too!

These were two simple people - not rich in human eyes,
But imagine them in heaven - I know we'll be surprised!