So Grateful! - also Recipe Swap!

Two weeks from today

- we'll be out for Thanksgiving Holiday break!

WOW! Can that really be?

Trying to get into the THANKSGIVING spirit - made this sweet card project w/ ole' Tom! This is a digi stamp - but I can't remember where I got this turkey - he's a cutie! If you know where he came from, please comment, so I can give credit!

"Tom" is colored with copic markers - added on sand card stock with a vanilla punched scallop behind to highlight "Tom", some ribbon and a GKD stamp "We give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way" (one of my fave stamp sayings!) - makes a very simple; but festive card!

This is entered in the icopic challenge for this week - Challenge #55 - "Thankful". Check out all the "Thankful" entries here for this challenge at this link.

My Craft Spot's challenge this week is "Gooble til you Wooble" - Challenge #32 - To make a project using a Thanksgiving theme - check out the "gooble" entries here at this link!

Also at Catch a Bug - Bugaboo Challenge Blog - this week's challenge is use a digi stamp and "anything goes" - check out the cute projects here.

The challenge at Digital Tuesday - is "Anything Goes - Challenge #135" - something on the project needs to be "digital" - in my project - Tom the Turkey is a digi stamp! Check out the other entries here!

The next card project is - "So Grateful" - made from a bunch of 1" square scraps of designer paper in "Fall" colors - after the squares were put together - ran through the cuttlebug for added texture and also to cut out an oval for the focal point. Also made a brown oval frame to encase the opening. In the focal - features a fall leaf (GKD stamp) embossed in gold and colored w/copics - added hemp twine bow, "so grateful" stamped oval and gold dots!

This project is entered into the StampTV Challenge - "Mix It Up - Monday" with Jennie's pick for "Got Scraps" challenge - check out the entries here to see how others used their "scraps"!

Through the Craftroom Door Challenge Blog - they are hosting challenge #13 - "Fall in Love" - card project must have a leaf on it and brown/tan/kraft colors . Here are the entries here at this challenge.

Kadoodle Doodles Challenge Blog is hosting their weekly challenge #92 - Colors of Fall. In my project - used a variety of fall colored designer paper in 1" squares to complete the "frame" around the focal point! Check out all the other "Colors of Fall" projects here at this site.

Also at Lollipops Crafts - they're challenge this week is to create a #56- Thanksgiving/Fall theme. Check out the entries here at this link.

I've been promising you some recipes from the recent 4-H Food Show competition!

Alex came up with this recipe "Beef & Spinach Lasagna Roll Ups"! He combined two different recipes to make this one. Both boys have SPINACH in their recipes - being that each person is usually lacking in eating enough vegetables and fruits in their daily diet! KV HATES spinach - and LOVES this recipe for lasagna! LOL!

Beef & Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups

1 lb. lean Ground Beef

1 jar (24 oz.) Pasta Sauce; divided

1 tsp. Dried Basil

1/2 cup Onion; chopped

4 tsp. minced Garlic

1 tsp. Dried Oregano

1 pkg. (10 oz.) Spinach; frozen ( thawed and squeezed dry)

2 cups Ricotta Cheese

2 cups Mozzarella; shredded

12 Lasagna Noodles; cooked and drained

1 Tbsp. Parsley Flakes

In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in 12 oz. of Pasta Sauce, garlic, basil and oregano. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Combine the spinach, ricotta and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese until combined. In a 13x9 baking dish, spread out the remaining 12 oz. pasta sauce. Spread 2 heaping tablespoons of cheese mixture on half of a lasagna noodle; spread a portion of the meat mixture on remaining part of lasagna noodle; roll jelly-roll fashion ** starting w/CHEESE & ending with meat. Arrange lasagna rolls, seam-side down in sauce in baking dish. Top with remaining cup of mozzarella cheese; sprinkle with parsley flakes. Cover and bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes. Uncover and cook 5-10 minutes more or until cheese is melted on top. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving. Serves 12 - 1 roll-up per serving.

Next is Aric's recipe - Italian Wedding Soup! This recipe originally was picked out for Alex to make... until Aric tasted it and decided he wanted to make it! LOL! It also has spinach in it - as a traditional Italian Wedding Soup always has some GREEN in it! This is a great, hearty soup to serve!

Italian Wedding Soup

1 pkg Italian Meatballs (frozen)

3 carrots; sliced

3 celery ribs; sliced

1 onion; chopped

4 1/2 tsp. Olive Oil

3 garlic cloves; minced

2 cans Beef Broth

1/4 cup minced Fresh Basil

1 envelope Onion Soup Mix

1 can Kidney Beans

4 1/2 tsp. Ketchup

1/2 tsp. Dried Thyme

3 Bay Leaves

4 cans Chicken Broth

1 package (10 oz.) frozen spinach; thawed and squeezed dry

1 1/2 cups uncooked Penne Pasta

In a Dutch Oven, saute' the carrots, celery and onion in oil until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the broth, spinach, basil, soup mix, ketchup, thyme, kidney beans and bay leaves. Bring soup to a boil; add meatballs. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered for 30 minutes. Add pasta; cook 13-15 minutes longer or until pasta is tender, stirring occasionally. Discard bay leaves before serving - 10 servings.

Thanks for stopping by - tomorrow is HUMP DAY! Wishing you a "fabulous" day and rest of the week! Remember to hug the ones you love the most - until next time...