The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

It is the most wonderful time of the year! This is the time to celebrate our Savior, Jesus Christ's, birth! I am a Christian and Christmas is VERY special to us. Most Americans easily are raptured up into the shopping frenzy, trying to purchase their holiday gifts and can easily loose site of the TRUE meaning of this special holiday. I must admit, I have fallen into this trap before. This year, I am making every effort for our family to focus on Christmas's significance. My favorite story to read our children is the real story of Christmas, that of Jesus's birth. I have often pondered, as a mother myself, what it must have been like to be Mary. A virgin. To have an angel come to tell her that she would give birth to the son of God! Can you imagine?! How timid and afraid she must have felt at first, especially since she was to marry Joseph. But what faith and perserverence she had! Wow! If you are a mother reading this, can you imagine walking in Mary's shoes? What if this was you, how would you respond? What an honor to be chosen to be the one woman in all the world to carry the child who would one day save the entire nation! I wonder at what went though her mind. She had to be a strong woman, we know that. She had to have a pure heart that was full of so much love, but most of all, she had to have trust in our Lord that all would work out according to His will. In other words, she was in a sense going on blind faith. Isn't that what we do today as Christians; trust in Him no matter where it takes us? We have the reassurance that He has a greater plan, one we cannot possibly see, but know that all be for the greater good.
This Christmas, as you prepare for your holiday traditions, stop and take a moment of reflection, thanking the Lord for sending His son into our world and saving us from it's stony grip.

I couldn't possibly leave you all without a recipe, now could I?! If you have been like me, in a whirlwind of frenzy, then you too have had a challenge making sure your family has a great meal every night. It has been so cold here in the South lately that I have been making a plethora of soups and sandwiches, chili and casseroles! Good comfort food! But, it doesn't have to be murder to your waistline! Here is a recipe that I adapted from the Abs Diet. Of course I had to make it my own by giving it a few tweaks! This sandwich has become a favorite of my hubby! It really doesn't take too long and your tastebuds will reap the rewards!



Meatball Sandwich
For the Meatballs:
1 lb. lean ground beef
1/2 sweet onion, chopped finely
1 bell pepper, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 sleeve whole wheat crackers, crushed really well
1 tbs. protein powder
salt and pepper
1/2 cup olive oil

* Mix together beef and next seven ingredients. (The salt and pepper are for your taste, seasoning with the amount you like). Roll beef mixture into balls. In a saucepan over med heat, heat the olive oil, careful not to burn it. You may need more oil as you continue to cook the meatballs. This depends on your saucepan. Place the meatballs into the pan and cook, rolling onto all sides, til brown and done. You may have to open the meatball to check for doness, but most of the time you can tell. Drain onto a plate covered by some paper towels.

In the meantime.....

For the Sauce:

2 cans basil, garlic and oregano tomato sauce (I use Hunt's)
1 can tomato paste
1 tbsp. Italian seasoning ( I use McCormick's-in the grinder)
1 tbsp. Worchestershire sauce
1 tsp. sugar

* Heat all the above ingredients in a sauce pan over med-high heat. Place the meatballs in the sauce and cook for about 10 minutes, or until heated thouroughly.

For the Sandwich:

4 whole wheat hoagies
mozarella cheese, shredded
Meatballs in sauce

* To assemble, warm the hoagie (microwave works wonders here), spoon the meatballs and some of the sauce onto the hoagie and sprinkle with the mozarella cheese. Serve with a salad. Yum!