Chatting with Charity ~ 35

Good afternoon! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Speaking of Thanksgiving, do you still have turkey hanging around that you are ready to be rid of?
...

I have the perfect quick and easy dinner to help you use up that leftover turkey.

Creamy Turkey and Spinach Soup

1 large pack of frozen cheese tortellini
1 (14oz) can chicken broth
2 (10 3/4oz) cans of cream of chicken
1/2 bag of fresh spinach
2 cups chopped, cooked turkey
2 cups milk
1/2 t. Italian seasoning
1/4 t. pepper

Cook tortellini according to package, using 1 can of broth instead of water. Add all remaining ingredients and stir well. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat to low, cook 5 minutes. Serve and enjoy.

Charity

Chatting with Charity ~ 34

It is almost here, my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving!!!!  I have always loved Thanksgiving best because it is the holiday that lets you be thankful for all that other holidays represent.  I have much cooking and cleaning to do today as I prepare for a house full of family and friends but I wanted to share our favorite Thanksgiving drink.  We call it Fall Drink around here but I thought I would come up with a little better name for it, in case you decide to serve it this year and need to tell people what it is ;-)  So, are you ready for the easiest and tastiest drink ever?
Thanksgiving Punch
- equal parts cranberry juice and ginger
   ale
-  serve with lime wedges
See, I told you it was the easiest!!!  It compliments Thanksgiving dinner well!
What is your favorite thing serve at Thanksgiving dinner?
Happy Thanksgiving!  I hope you have a wonderful day and enjoy family, friends, and food!  If by chance you have no one to celebrate with send me a message and you are more than welcome at our table!
Psalm 107:1-2 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, For His loving kindness is everlasting. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the adversary

Charity

CHatting with Charity ~ 33

Good morning!!!! Can you believe that we are already in the middle of November?!? Christmas will be here before we know it.  Today, I wanted to share with you something we did with our girls a few years ago.  When my girls were little I would set out to find the perfect advent to do with them during the Christmas season, I never found anything that was just perfect for us.  It seemed that every study I would find would not fit their ages or require too much prep work for the already too busy season or was more about the girls getting some little gift everyday than about preparing our hearts for the celebration of Christ first coming and His second coming.  So...I came up with my own idea! 
Names of God Advent
It was very simple! I gathered a small table top Christmas tree, some cute ball ornaments, and a paint pen.  Each day we would study a name of God or an attribute of God.  After our study we would write the name/attribute on one of the ornaments and hang it on the tree.  How better to prepare our hearts for His coming than to spend time studying who He is.  Now those ornaments are displayed in a glass dish and I love bringing them out year after year and going over His names.  It has become a favorite tradition.
What is your favorite advent study or tradition?

Charity

CHatting with Charity ~ 32

Today, I have one last tip for preparing your freezer meals...label it well!  I always put what the meal is and cooking directions on the outside.  This will help you know what you have but also allows anyone to be able to make dinner on a busy day.  Plus, you could easily pass one it to a friend who needs a easy dinner. 
One last thing while we are talking about freezer meals, I thought I would share one of my families favorites!
Spinach And Chicken Stuffed Shells
24 jumbo pasta shells
1 15-oz. container ricotta
2 cups shredded mozzarella
1 10-oz. package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1 cup cooked chopped chicken
10 leaves fresh basil, chopped
1 large egg, lightly beaten
Salt and pepper
1 26-oz. jar spaghetti sauce

1. Preheat oven to 375ºF. Cook pasta shells according to package label directions; drain and set aside to cool. While pasta cooks, in a large bowl, stir together ricotta, spinach, chicken, basil, egg, salt, pepper.
2. Spread 3/4 cup spaghetti sauce over bottom of a 9×13 baking dish. Stuff shells with cheese mixture and place in dish. Spoon remaining sauce over shells and sprinkle with shredded mozzarella.
3. Cover baking dish with foil and bake for 35 minutes. Remove foil and bake about 10 minutes longer, until bubbly and cheese begins to brown.
I normally triple this recipe when I make it and it makes enough for 4 meals. One for that night's dinner and three to tuck in the freezer for later.

Charity