Spaghetti Sauce

Ingredients

• 5 cups of water
• 4 (3) oz cans of tomato paste
• 1/2 cup of sugar (or to your taste)
• 2 Tbsp of Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp of salt

Directions

To prepare the sauce, add the 5 cups of water, tomato paste, sugar, Italian seasoning, and salt to a 2-quart pot. Cook for 10 minutes on medium heat. Stir the sauce as needed. It will thicken as it cooks. 

When the sauce is done, remove the pan from the heat and let it cool. Use the sauce with your favorite spaghetti dish or store in a tightly closed jar and refrigerate until ready to use.

I use my sauce in my favorite spaghetti dish: http://www.rolisweets.com/2014/01/cheesy-spaghettii-bake.html

Enjoy!

Yields a 6 cup serving.


©Rolisweets

Strawberry Banana Milkshake

It may be cold outside, but it's warm inside, so I'm enjoying a light milkshake, made with almond milk and my favorite fruit... yep you guessed it, strawberries. :)

Ingredients

• 2 cups of almond milk 
• 2 medium size bananas
• 2 cups of frozen strawberries
• 1 tsp of vanilla flavoring 

Directions
Combine all ingredients in a blender and mix until well blended. Enjoy as a dessert or as an afternoon snack. 

Makes 4 - 6 servings.

©Rolisweets

Easy Fruit Parfait

My snack of choice today is light and delicious! It's just as filling as eating a piece of cake, but without the guilt. Mmmmm....

Ingredients

• 1 (16) oz pack of fresh strawberries, sliced
• 1 (6-8) oz pack of fresh blackberries
• 2 bananas, sliced
• 1 (15) oz can of mandarin oranges, unsweetened   
• 1 (8) oz container of light whipped topping
• 4 (8) oz glasses

Directions

Prepare the parfait by first adding 6 slices of mandarin oranges to the glasses and then add two tablespoons of whipped topping, six banana slices, two tablespoons of whipped topping, four blackberries, two tablespoons of whipped topping, and four pieces of sliced strawberries.  

Enjoy immediately, or chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Makes 4 servings.

Note: To keep the bananas slices from turning brown,  brush them with a small amount of lemon juice.

©Rolisweets

Amazing Chocolate Chip Cookies

Everyone in my house loves chocolate chip cookies...they won't be around for long. 

Ingredients

• 2 cups of all-purpose flour 
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 2 sticks of butter, softened
• 1/2 cup of packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup of granulated sugar
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 (4) oz box of instant vanilla pudding and pie filling
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups of semi-sweet chocolate baking chips

Directions

Preheat oven to 350° degrees.

Lightly grease a cookie sheet and set aside.

In a small bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl, using a hand blender, mix together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until smooth and creamy. Add the beaten eggs and vanilla extract and blend until smooth. Stir in the vanilla pudding and pie filling, and mix just until blended. 

Add the flour mixture and, using a spoon or fork, stir the mixture just until all ingredients are well blended. Stir in the semi-sweet chocolate baking chips.

Drop by rounded tablespoon fulls onto the prepared cookie sheet and place them two inches apart. (I usually measure out two tablespoons per cookie.)

Cook the cookies for 10 - 12 minutes or until the edges are slightly brown.

Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool for about 5 minutes and transfer them to a cooling rack to finish cooling.

Enjoy with a nice glass of milk or your favorite beverage!

Makes 36 cookies

©Rolisweets

Orange Banana Parfait

One of my favorite parfaits and it's full of creamy orange goodness in a glass. What a delicious way to enjoy a light snack anytime of the day. Want some? :)

Ingredients

• 3 bananas, sliced
• 2 (15) oz cans of mandarin oranges, unsweetened
• 1 cup of crushed almonds    
• 1 (8) oz container of whipped topping
• 4 (8) oz glasses

Directions

Begin preparing the parfait by first adding two tablespoons of the crushed almonds to the glasses and then adding four mandarin oranges, 2 Tbsp of whipped topping, and four banana slices. Repeat layering in this order, twice more, or until the glass is full. Enjoy immediately, or chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Makes 4 servings.

Note: To keep the bananas slices from turning brown,  brush them with a small amount of lemon juice.

©Rolisweets

Minding Molly Review

Minding Molly is a very good read from start to finish. I'm an avid reader of Amish Christian Fiction and really love the homey stories of love, family, and friendship. This book is no exception as Leslie Gould keeps the reader engaged from beginning to finish. 

Minding Molly is truly a story of love, growth, forgiveness, loss, and healing. It's an amazing story of Molly's growth and acceptance of who she is and the steps she takes to trust the Lord to lead and guide her in chosing the right mate, as well as, all of her choices in life. Thank you Bethany House Publishers for the opportunity to review this awesome book!