Christmas Surprise

My cousin and her husband who got married last June were present in our annual family reunion for the holidays. Little did we know that they are going to surprise us with an announcement during the party. They just found out two days ago that my cousin is pregnant. It’s too early to tell if it’s a girl or a boy but they made some baby girl announcements because they wanted their first baby to be a girl. They are hoping for a baby girl because it’s in the baby gender Chinese calendar. LOL! It was another very good reason to celebrate the holidays. We are all happy for them. May they stay healthy and happy.

Merry Christmas!

A Very Veggie Christmas to all!

Working Harder

I have to say how much I admire my cousin. He comes a wealthy family but he chooses to earn his own money. While having a regular job as a customer service agent- the ones you call when you have problems with the products you bought and at the same time he has two jobs in healthcare, one is as a nurse assistant in a hospital and as private nursing aid for an old neighbor. I wonder how he can still do other things than work. But I know he earns a lot and he earns his money on his own.

Linguini with Fresh Veggies

Makes: 4 servings

Views Nutrition Facts
Ingredients

* 16 thin stalks fresh asparagus
* 1 tablespoon olive oil
* 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced or minced
* 6 medium plum (Roma) tomatoes, seeded and chopped (21/4 cups)
* 1/4 cup dry white wine
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1 tablespoon butter*
* 1 9-ounce package refrigerated linguini pasta, or substitute angel hair pasta
* 1/4 cup shredded fresh basil

Directions

Trim asparagus. Remove tips; set aside. Bias-slice asparagus stalks into 1-to 1 1/2-inch pieces; set aside.

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add tomatoes and cook about 2 minutes, stirring often.

Add asparagus stalks, wine, and salt. Cook, uncovered, for 3 minutes. Add asparagus tips; cook uncovered, for 1 minutes. Add butter; stir till melted.

Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions. Drain pasta. Return to pan and toss with asparagus mixture and basil.

Note: The butter is used in this recipe to bind the sauce. Margarine might not be an effective substitute.

from hearthealthyonline.com

Green Bean Casserole

Makes: 5 side-dish servings
Prep: 15 minutes
Bake: 25 minutes

Ingredients

* 2 9-ounce packages frozen French-style green beans
* 1/3 cup chopped onion
* 2 teaspoons margarine
* 3 tablespoons fine dry bread crumbs
* 1 10-3/4-ounce can lower-sodium condensed cream of mushroom soup
* 1/4 cup plain fat-free yogurt
* 2 tablespoons diced pimento
* 1/8 teaspoon pepper

Directions

1. Cook the green beans according to the package directions, except omit salt. Drain well.

2. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan cook the onion in margarine until onion is tender. Stir in the bread crumbs; set aside.

3. In a large mixing bowl stir together the soup, yogurt, pimiento, and pepper. Stir in the beans. Transfer mixture to a 1-quart casserole. Sprinkle bread crumb mixture atop beans in casserole.

4. Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until the mixture is heated through and the crumbs are golden. If desired, garnish with additional pimiento pieces. Makes 5 side-dish servings.

photo & recipe from bhg.com