Monday's Are Not Blue Days!

Some people get the Monday blues, but I'm not one of them. I love Mondays. You know that yummy feeling you get when a new school year begins, or when you get to return for a fresh season of Bible study? Well, that's how every Monday is for me! My lazy weekends are like the leisurely summer months, and then, Monday, a whole, new fresh beginning!

Anyhoo, so this Monday, right at the very top of it, my husband calls from work, "Uh, do you feel like driving my phone to me?" No... but I will... and did. As I turned the corner towards my house, on the way back, I noticed on the road some fast food droppings. It was all in a row, first the napkin, then the cup, then the burger wrapper. It reminded me of a trail of bread left by Hanzel and Gretel (oh! haven't thought of them in eons!). And that's when I saw it - the rest of the roads were clean and litter free. Until the mess was seen, I hadn't noticed the beauty of our clean American streets. America the beautiful, the mountains, rivers, oceans, poppies, and now, the litterless roadways!

So, that wasn't my original post idea, but it did give me something to appreciate and be thankful for. :)

This is my original post idea... this Hillbilly Spaghetti recipe, that I was dying to try, once I discovered it on a darling blog. I got so caught up in the gal's pictures on her blog, that I wanted to become her and Martha Stewart in an instant! I even searched the internet for best prices on Lodge iron skillets, because that seemed to be very important in becoming a successful cook and all-around-neat-gal-in-the-kitchen. If you are thinking of buying one, our famous Floyd's Store says that Lodge brand is the best. They wanted a bundle of moola for one, and I figured it was probably worth it, but then good ol' Walmart had one for less than a bundle - $18.95!

Yes, I bought two! I saw that little one, and repeated Goldilocks, "Just right!"

So, pans in possession, I attempted to make that rich-looking spaghetti (the photo on her blog looked so scrumptious that I could have taken a forkful right out of her picture).

I got all my ingredients chopped and ready, as she encouraged...



As I was chopping, and being so proud of myself for being prepared, like an Eagle Scout, a verse came to mind - "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" 1 Peter 3:15. This is waaaay more important than slicing and dicing veggies for a yummy dinner.

To be prepared to give an answer, here is a recipe:

1. Have this hope yourself, first! Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, that He is God's only begotten Son, sent by God because of His great love and rich mercy, that Jesus died, was buried, rose again, all for the sole purpose of taking our sins upon Himself, so that His righteousness would be our own, and sin's debt paid forever. Amen and thank You, Lord!
2. Know the Word of God! Read your Bible, soak in its wisdom and truth, memorize and meditate on it.
3. Add in some boldness from the Holy Spirit, some leaning on Him for courage, and then open your mouth and speak forth the truth of the hope that is within you! :)
   
4. Spoon a heaping dollop of trust on top of this all!
5. Bake it at a fervent heat, for years - as many as the Lord gives you!
   

Anyhoo, I cooked my meats in a separate pan from my sauteed onions because I prefer to fill the trash with the melted fat - and not my veins.

After that, I added the spaghetti, covered it and let it simmer. Then, popped it in the oven - another good reason to have an iron skillet!

Now, I would show you a picture of my finished product, complete with my homemade French bread, but.... Aunt Ruthie's looked so much more tempting that I am just going to tell you to visit her darling & inspiring site: http://www.sugarpiefarmhouse.com/hillbilly-spaghetti-pie-recipe. Then you can see recipe, too.

Oh, and please don't get so lost in her wonderful sight that you forget to make your way back here! :)

Bon Appetit, ya'all (in keeping with the Hillbilly recipe)!