Pasta Salad

Pin It

My friend Mrs S used to make this and I got the recipe from her.  I ♥ the simplicity and tastiness of this recipe.  It is great to take to a barbecue and is simply delicious.

Pasta Salad

Ingredients:

• 250 grams Pasta (OR gluten free pasta)
• 1/2 cup oil
• 1 Cup ready made garlic pasta sauce (I use Stomboli Pasta Sauce)
• 1 Tablespoon vinegar 
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 1/2 teaspoons of oregano

Optional

• 2 spring onions
• 2 tablespoons parsley
• 1 stalk celery
• 1/4 - 1/2 cup cubed cucumber
• 310 gram can of whole corn drained
• 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes

Method

• Cook the pasta
• In a bowl mix the remaining ingredients.
• Add in your choice of optional ingredients.
• Drain the pasta and add warm pasta to the sauce.
• Chill and serve.

This salad tastes better if made the day before and allowed to mature.   I have made the sauce the night before and left it in the fridge to mature as a different option.

Blessings

Mary Did you Know ?

Mary Did You Know 

 Written by Mark Lowry

Music by Buddy Greene

Sung by Hayley Westenra

 Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Did you know
That your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
That your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that youve delivered
Will soon deliver you

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Did you know
That your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know
That your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little boy
You’ve kissed the face of god

Mary, did you know?

The blind will see
The deaf will hear
And the dead will live again
The lame will leap
The dumb will speak
The praises of the lamb

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy is lord of all creation?
Did you know
That your baby boy will one day rules the nations?
Did you know
That your baby boy is heavens perfect lamb?
This sleeping child you’re holding
Is the great I am

May you be blessed this Christmas

Homeschool Mothers Journal {6}

The Home school Mother’s Journal began as a single post on a Friday morning over at The Homeschool Chick, and turned into a link-up for homeschool mothers across the blog-O-sphere to share a piece of their journey with one another each week. The link party is open from Friday to Monday so join me in The Homeschool Journal and lets encourage one another on our homeschool journey.

In my life this week…

 
In our homeschool this week…

• We are on holiday :)

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

• Take the time to sit back and enjoy the moment.  

I am inspired by…

• A blogpost over at Warrior Princess Lessons: I choose to enjoy my children. Feels so good to read encouragement from a fellow homeschooler in the trenches of everyday life and being encouraged to make positive life choices.
• I had a visit by a friend recently who was sharing her heart with me and I in turn turned the conversation into my experience.  After reading I SEE YOU! I needed to apologize to my friend.  I am so glad I read this.  It has encouraged me to hear my friends and let THEM know I hear them and what they are sharing is important and that their feelings are valid and I care.
• This week Paul and I watched Temple Grandin-Thinking in pictures my life with Autism..  Watch a trailer on Youtube.  What an inspirational movie.   Temple is listed in the 2010 Time 100 list of the 100 most influential people in the world in the category "Heroes".

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

• Taking Sir N to see the Christmas lights and homes that are decorated for Christmas.
• On Tuesday cousins Miss A and Miss Z came to play. We also baked gingerbread stars to make tree cakes. 
• On Wednesday we went to Granny's place to ice / put together Star biscuit tree. So much fun.
• Thursday was our Summer Solstice and we went to Mrs KW house for a solstice lunch get together.  It was great having some encouraging fellowship!
• Friday we visited my parents and Paul helped my Dad erect a shed in the back yard before it became too hot.
• Friday night Linda from over at Pillars of Pine and her family joined us for dinner. We were so blessed with their family.

My favorite thing this week was…

• Sir N loosing two of his teeth and him informing me that the top teeth are for the Tooth Fairy and the bottom teeth are for the Tooth Mouse.
• Receiving my anniversary ring back from the jewellers.  It needed to go in for repairs. 

What’s working/not working for us…

• Going to the library once a month.  I have decided to make a once a week library day and see if that will work better.  I think it will be better to bring five books home on a weekly rotation rather than twenty books on  a four week rotation.

Questions/thoughts I have…

• How do you find your true self when you have spent so many years adding to the mold of yourself what others are doing ? 
• How do you discover your destiny and His vision for you ?

Things I’m working on…

• Last minute wrapping of Christmas gifts and posting cards !
• Thinking about doing something for The Twelve Days of Christmas.

I’m reading…

•  The Ministry of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson. I originally started this book a few months ago but shelved it as there was so much going on in my world.  I have decided to slowly read this and see what the Father wants to say to me. Isaiah 54:13  All your children will be taught by the LORD,   and great will be their peace. I am holding onto this scripture at the moment for I am weary.
• Replevin This post has inspired me to make a list of the areas in my life that the enemy has stolen from me and to place it before my Heavenly Father and ask Him to restore the land the locust has eaten.
• Working towards a Happy Home. I enjoyed this post.  It reminded me of the younger years with my two teens.  I had forgotten some of this information and it has inspired me to think of ways to encourage Sir N in the new year. I am also keen to read some of these books.  Might need to ask Jo if I can borrow them.  :)
• Who are you listening to ? Wise or Fools ? by Sally Clarkson over at her blog I Take Joy.  This post has affirmed what I feel the Father is trying to teach me at the moment To Be True to Myself. and to be aware of who I am allowing to speak / guide me in life.  I am so treading water at the moment and I think it's due to burn out from not looking after myself properly this past year. ......

I’m cooking…

• Gingerbread stars to make trees!
• East African Chicken for dinner.

I’m grateful for…

• A gracious and loving Heavenly Father who has been so patient and generous to me.  He heard my hearts cry for a blessing / gift this week.  I was over whelmed to receive from Him.

I’m praying for…

• Yesterday I purchased Stormie O Martian's book: Praying for your Adult Children and am looking forward to starting to pray through the word for my older children and seeing His hand in their lives.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself (Anna Quindlen).

Blessings and Merry Christmas to you all.