Mama Mia!

This week we had our cooking club and we made homemade pasta. Yum!

It was a bit labor intensive but fun to eat and know how to make it.

This was my favorite part of the day however!

These are stuffed Strawberries. They were so good and easy to make.

20 whole large strawberries, washed

8 oz. cream cheese

1/4 C. confectioners sugar

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

2/3 cup chopped pecans

Cut a thin slice from the bottom of each strawberry so the berries stand upright.

Place berries, cut side down, on a serving platter. Carefully cut the berries into 4 wedges, cutting almost to, but not through, the bottoms with a criss-cross cut. Fan wedges just slightly, taking care not to break them.

Set aside.

In a mixing bowl, beat together the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until combined but still stiff.

Using a teaspoon or pastry bag with decorative tip, fill the strawberries with the cream cheese mixture.

Sprinkle chopped pecans on top of the stuffed strawberries. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

You don't have to use the pastry bag, you can use a ziplock bag and just nip off the bottom corner however I tried this method and I think having the metal tip to push open the berries would have been helpful.

(Sorry for the side ways picture.I couldn't get it to straighten out in the blog.)

This week I got a few unexpected packages in the mail. My sister Sheila sent our family this amazing blue and white quilt. The pattern is called Blazing Stars. The backing is just as cool as the front as it's like a mariners star map. I love it. Sheila is a rock star! Not just for sending the quilt, even thought that alone would do it for me, she gives so much of herself to everyone. Always happy and ready with a laugh. She is such a wonderful example to me of a disciple of Christ. I'm so lucky to have her listening ear and shoulder to cry on. What would I do without my sister?

Then I got a book from my Mom. This is an awesome book I actually already had bought it myself but I must have loaned it out to someone because I couldn't find it. Now I have it again!

Sherry Dew is such a great speaker and I really like her.

Sometimes it is very hard being so far away from my family. But my Mom always finds just the right balance to let me know she's thinking about me and loves me. I can't imagine the kind of person I would be today without her influence in my life. I'm in awe of her as a Mom and wife. If you know her you probably are too.