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Random Thoughts

Rachel, Hannah, and Me: Our “Great Anxiety and Frustration”

Leaving Home

A Very Few Thoughts on Suffering Beauty and Rest

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I’m not a mystic. I’m an ordinary woman, with I’m not a mystic. I’m an ordinary woman, with ordinary sins, virtues, and graces. But once, in my twenty-sixth year, God gave me something extraordinary.⁣ ⁣ It was a cold night, and I was in a coffeeshop on Capitol Hill—the old Xandos on Pennsylvania Ave. You could find me there most every night, always on the second floor, always reading. That night it was T.S. Eliot’s “The Four Quartets.” At some point, I looked up and glanced around. I saw a middle age couple sipping coffee, the Ethiopian waitress from the bagel shop by my office, a grad student who sat there every night too, and an older man, eating alone.⁣ ⁣ One second, they looked perfectly ordinary, utterly unremarkable. The next, they were shining like the sun. Each was more radiant than a polished diamond. Each was bathed in a light that looked like love. They were perfect. Precious. Sacred. The beloved masterpiece of the Father, made in His image.⁣ ⁣ I wanted to bow down before them. Or hold their hands, kiss their faces, and throw my arms around them. They were so beautiful, so loved. I wanted them to know I saw that. And I wanted them to see it, too.⁣ ⁣ Instead, I wept.⁣ ⁣ Then everything was ordinary again. But nothing was the same.⁣ ⁣ Since that night, I’ve never questioned why Jesus died for us. I’ve also never questioned why Satan hates us. He wanted that glory all for himself, but God shared it with man.⁣ ⁣ Satan’s revenge is to make us blind. He blinds us with fear, envy, wrath, greed, lust, and pride, preventing us from seeing the glory we possess. He also divides us, segregates us, isolates us, making us forget we are all one people, one family, sharing one nature, made in the image of one loving God.⁣ ⁣ I’ve contemplated this vision for 19 years. Always wondering at it. Always falling short of it. But I keep going back to it, learning a little more each year to live in the light of it. I don’t know why God let me see this. But I know I want you to see it, too. I want you to see how absolutely, unequivocally precious and beloved you are. I want you to see the same about every person who breathes. Everyone was made to shine like the sun. Everyone is bathed in the love of the Father. Everyone.
Over the past 2 years, Chris and I have spent our Over the past 2 years, Chris and I have spent our weekends criss-crossing Pittsburgh, picking up breast milk for our babies. Both boys began life with more than the usual number of challenges. Their sister will, too. So this food—that for other babies might not make much difference—has been for ours a great gift.⁣ ⁣ For this gift, we owe dozens of women of all creeds, colors, and political persuasions. Each has offered their milk freely, with no thought of our creed, color, or politics. Each has also offered it joyfully, woman to woman, grateful they can help us feed our babies and watch them grow.⁣ ⁣ This is women at our best—seeing a person, seeing their need, and giving what we have to meet that need, without reservation, hesitation, or judgment. It’s what mothers do. It’s part of the feminine genius. And it’s beautiful.⁣ ⁣ I try to use Instagram in a similar way. I’m not here to judge you or tell you how to use your account. I’m also not here to argue. God respects your freedom. So do I. I’m here to share what I have. And that is my story: how God has moved in my life, what He’s taught me, and where I find beauty, truth, and joy.⁣ ⁣ I share this because that’s the need I see. I don’t see you needing my opinions on politics. Instagram is exploding with opinions. Me adding mine contributes nothing. But I do see you needing hope. I see you needing to know that when God moves, He MOVES. I see you needing imperfect, struggling witnesses to how Christians can suffer, trust, love, and believe in the midst of this broken world. I also see you needing points of connection, signposts of our shared humanity, reminders that we are brothers and sisters who belong to each other, who want to love and be loved, who dance with our children and weep with exhaustion and rejoice over a good meal or a freshly made bed or fat baby cheeks.⁣ ⁣ We are more alike than we are different. And perhaps if we remember that, we could engage each other’s opinions more deeply, more charitably, more fruitfully.⁣ ⁣ So, that’s how I use this account–to share my story and listen to yours. If you want to know what I think about all the rest, you’ll have to come over to dinner. Bring wine.
If anyone wants to know how Mass went today... If anyone wants to know how Mass went today...
Looks like this little girl’s romper I accidenta Looks like this little girl’s romper I accidentally bought last fall might not be going to waste after all. 🎉🎉🎉🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻👧👧👧 #yesitsagirl #weneedmorepink #andmaybesomedolls #andmorepink #thoughteveryonecouldusesomehappynews #andicantkeepthisasecret
I was going to wait on this until next week...but I was going to wait on this until next week...but when I was updating the blog, I forgot that hitting “Publish” also means posting to social media. So....⁣ ⁣ Ever since Chris and I announced last month that we will be adopting Toby’s full biological sibling in April, so many of you have reached out and asked how you can help. The first and most important way is through prayers: for Toby’s birth parents, the baby, us, and everyone involved in this process. ⁣ ⁣ The second way you can help is to get yourself a cookbook. ⁣ ⁣ For those of you who weren’t around here at the time, last January I released an e-cookbook, “Around The Catholic Table: 77 Recipes for Easy Hospitality and Everyday Dinners” to help us fund Becket’s adoption. This January, I’m re-releasing it to help with Baby #3’s adoption. ⁣ ⁣ This 191 page e-cookbook is free to anyone who donates to our adoption fund. The suggested minimum donation is just $10. If you want to give more, you definitely can! If you can only give $5, that is great, too. Every gift counts!⁣ ⁣ For your donation, you’ll receive the e-cookbook, which includes 77 recipes that are:⁣ ⁣ …designed to feed a crowd;⁣ …simple to prepare before guests arrive and with children underfoot;⁣ …for every occasion, from brunches and casual suppers to cocktail parties and cookouts;⁣ …And which (frequently) accommodate common food allergies and restrictions. Most recipes are gluten free and every section but one features recipes that are dairy free, vegetarian, vegan, or nut free. (I can’t in good conscience recommend dairy free risotto.)⁣ ⁣ The e-cookbook also features 7 essays by me, on hospitality, food, hosting, and the art of cooking risotto, as well as 65+ full color photos. ⁣ ⁣ To learn more about the cookbook watch my Instagram stories later today (baby naps permitting).⁣ ⁣ And thank you! As you all know, this adoption was not planned or expected, but this baby is very much wanted and loved, and we trust that God has this covered! Thank you for being a part of our story!
Confession: I used to think St. Elizabeth Ann Seto Confession: I used to think St. Elizabeth Ann Seton was an old fashioned school marm with nothing to teach me, nothing to show me, nothing to give me. She didn’t bear the stigmata like Catherine of Siena or dress down popes and emperors like Hildegard of Bingen. She seemed...boring. So, I focused on those more “exciting” saints and ignored Elizabeth Ann Seton, taking America’s first native born saint for granted.⁣ ⁣ Then, I was asked to write about her. I studied her life. I read her words. And what I discovered was a woman who was anything but boring. I discovered the woman I want to be.⁣ ⁣ Born in a time of disease and political unrest, Elizabeth Ann Seton wanted nothing more than to love her husband, raise her children, and serve her Lord. And she fought for that. She fought to save her husband’s business and later fought to save his life. When she lost those fights, she fought to support her children. She then fought to follow Jesus into the Catholic Church. That fight cost her everything—her friends, her job, her position in society. But she won.⁣ ⁣ She then kept on fighting, overcoming the opposition of bishops and priests to found America’s first order of religious sisters. Her order would carry the light of Christ across a continent. Elizabeth never lived to see that day, though. After burying her husband and 2 children, she died at just 46 years old.⁣ ⁣ I don’t want to die that young. I don’t want to bury my husband or children. But I do want to fight like her. I want to be tenacious in my love for the Lord. I want her faith in God, her trust in His Will, and her loving acceptance of the crosses she bore.⁣ ⁣ Elizabeth Ann Seton was an ordinary woman whose extraordinary faith changed a country. She reminds us all that holiness isn’t about receiving the stigmata or apocalyptic visions. It’s about saying yes to Jesus and following Him.⁣ ⁣ Today, in honor of her feast, the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton is releasing a new movie about her life (linked in Stories). Do yourself a favor and watch it. Get to know her. Go to her. She may have died 200 years ago, but this country need her example and intercession more than ever. We all do.
2020 isn’t the year that failed me. It’s the y 2020 isn’t the year that failed me. It’s the year I failed. There were tremendous blessings, but also tremendous crosses, and I buckled under those crosses. I’m still buckling. I’m still failing.⁣ ⁣ I’m failing to be grateful.⁣ I’m failing to control my temper.⁣ I’m failing to be patient.⁣ I’m failing to be in the moment.⁣ I’m failing to pay off debt.⁣ I’m failing to stay in touch with friends.⁣ I’m failing to take care of myself.⁣ I’m failing to pray enough.⁣ I’m failing to meet deadlines.⁣ I’m failing to make magic for my kids.⁣ I’m failing to respond to messages.⁣ I’m failing to stay on top of bills, repair calls, doctor appointments, and paperwork.⁣ I’m failing at being a daughter, a sister, a friend, a wife, a mother, a neighbor.⁣ I’m just failing.⁣ ⁣ With some things, I’m failing by my own impossible standards. With others, I’m failing by everyone’s perfectly reasonable standards. And I don’t have a pretty bow to put on my failure for this last day of the year.⁣ ⁣ I pray that one day, I’ll look back on 2020 with gratitude. I pray that someday I’ll say this was the year that broke me of conflating my worth with my accomplishments and helped me believe—deep down in my soul believe—that God loves me whether I succeed or fail.⁣ ⁣ But I’m not there yet. If there’s been growth, I can’t see it. Right now, I’m just failing. And feeling guilty every moment of every day about it.⁣ ⁣ Why am I writing this? Not to hear, “You’re not failing.” I don’t need to hear that.⁣ ⁣ Rather, I’m writing this for those in the same boat—those of you who are drowning and overwhelmed and exhausted and just don’t have a lot of good things to say about this year. I want you to know that’s okay. Every year doesn’t have to be a great year. Some years break you, despite all the beauty and blessings they bring. And you don’t have to put a pretty bow on it. You don’t have to pretend it was something it wasn’t. You just have to keep moving forward. You have to keep handing all your failures and sorrow and guilt to God, trusting that despite your imperfections, He will use everything you give Him to lead you closer to Him.⁣ ⁣ Because that’s what God promised to do. And God doesn’t fail.
It took weeks of scrambling to wrap up post-placem It took weeks of scrambling to wrap up post-placement visits and paperwork, but we somehow pulled it off, and just got word that this little man is officially a Chapman!⁣ ⁣ Thank you all for your prayers and support for our crazy journey during this even crazier year. We are blessed beyond words to be this little man’s mama and daddy, and we absolutely never would have been able to receive this blessing without your help. As the New Year begins, we will be having a Mass said for every single one of you who has walked through this adoption with us and supported us along the way.⁣ ⁣ God’s ways are mysterious, and I don’t claim to understand how he works through the brokenness of the world to bring beauty out of it. But I know he does. My boys show me this everyday. And so do you, my wonderful social media community. Thank you. I am so glad and grateful to be a part of your lives in this little way, and so glad and grateful you are part of mine.⁣ 📸 @caitlinrennphotography ⁣ #notgoinganywhere #excepttogetfingerprintedforournexthomestudy #anotheryearanotherbackgroundcheck #pleasestickaround
Another day, another amazing Advent giveaway I get Another day, another amazing Advent giveaway I get to be a part of...but unfortunately not be eligible to win! 😭⁣ ⁣ HOW TO ENTER:⁣ 1.) Go to @catholicholidaygiveaway and follow all the accounts it follows!⁣ 2.) Tag at least 3 friends in the comments below this photo. Each extra tag is an extra entry! One tag per comment please.⁣ ⁣ Giveaway includes:⁣ 1.) @bestillbycaroline Marian earrings⁣ 2.) “ABC Get to Know the Saints with Me!’ book by @bestillbycaroline⁣ 3.) 8x10 Dogma print by @whenbeautymettrurh⁣ 4.) 8x10 John Paul II print by @whenbeautymettruth⁣ 5.) “Catholicism” book (from @lifeasleahknows)⁣ 6.) La Colombe coffee winter gift set (from @therealkatiewaldow 📸: @lacolombecoffee)⁣ 7.) “Theology of the Home” book (from @apostolateofholymotherhood)⁣ 8.) Prayer Journal by @fearlessali⁣ 9.) Christmas print by @fearlessali⁣ 10.) “Theology for Beginners” book (from @dianadivulges)⁣ 11.) “Good News About Sex and Marriage” book (from @dianadivulges)⁣ 12.) Rosary (from @dianadivulges)⁣ 13.) Emmanuel Christmas Devotional by @blessedisshe__ (from @emilystimpsonchapman)⁣ 14.) 10 postcards by Cassie Pease Designs (from @catholicwifecatholiclife)⁣ 15.) $25 e-gift card to Magnolia Market (from @findingphilothea).⁣ ⁣ Giveaway closes on Thursday, December 17th. We will DM the winner. *Shipping to continental United States only* This giveaway is not affiliated with Instagram.
Yes, this is an announcement. No, I’m not pregna Yes, this is an announcement. No, I’m not pregnant. Yes, we are adopting again. No, this was not planned. Yes, I am as surprised as you are. At least, I was, four months ago, when we got the call asking us to adopt Toby’s full biological sibling. That’s right. 4 months ago. The very week we arrived home with Becket. It took 30 minutes for my husband and our adoption attorney to convince me I wasn’t being punked. For so many reasons, we didn’t think this would be possible. But it is. And, God willing, come Easter, we will be a family of five. In case you’re wondering, we are over the moon excited. We also are overwhelmed and a bit terrified. Three under three with the youngest two only 8 months apart is...not what most people plan. But we loved this little baby from the first moment we learned of his or her existence. And there is no way we could ever look our son in the eye and tell him he had a chance to grow up with a biological sibling, but we said no because it wasn’t convenient for us. All that being said, we very much need your prayers for this baby and his or her parents. Toby’s birth parents’ story is not mine to tell. But please believe me when I say that they and the baby desperately need your prayers. It’s been hard keeping this secret for so long. We planned on keeping it a bit longer, but after today we realized we need as many prayers as we can muster for this baby and Toby’s birth parents. And for us. We have 16 weeks to go. This is a high risk pregnancy in countless ways. Like with Toby, I don’t think we’ll get there without your help. Thank you.
One year soon, I will be the mom, running to the g One year soon, I will be the mom, running to the grocery store at 11 pm on December 5, frantic and frazzled, praying to God that I will find a few small chocolate gold coins hiding somewhere on the shelves. But this year? This year I remembered.⁣ ⁣ I bought each boy a book a month in advance. Plus a small toy because how could I not give Becket the sweet little doll that matches his book, and if Becket gets a toy that goes with his book than surely Toby needs one too.⁣ ⁣ Toby arranged all the boots last night—his good ones for Church that he ruined last weekend and the old ones he used to wear and that his cousins before him wore and that Becket now wears. I could only find one of Becket’s at first and was too tired to care about finding the other, but Toby insisted and then proceeded to go dig it out from one of the 100 secret hiding places where he squirrels away his treasures.⁣ ⁣ After the boys went to bed, we stuffed the boots with chocolate...most of which we will eat. And I took a picture. I started to post it on Instagram, but then stopped. I thought of me three years ago and four years ago and every year for so many years before, seeing pictures of little boots lined up on St. Nicholas Eve and crying for the little boots that weren’t lined up in my house.⁣ ⁣ I decided not to post.⁣ ⁣ But then, this morning, as I held one of those babies at 4 am, I changed my mind. Because this was my prayer. For years. Decades, actually. And God answered it. Not late. But in his perfect time. And if you are struggling today and crying today and desperately wanting a little one whose boots you can stuff with chocolate on December 6, I want you to know that God does answer prayers. Sometimes, you do get to hold your prayers in your arms. And they are more wonderful and hard and surprising and exhausting than anything for which you knew to pray. ⁣ ⁣ So, I am posting my picture. And while I sit here in the dark holding my answered prayer, I’m asking God to please, please answer your prayers, too. In his perfect time.⁣ ⁣ #adoption #infertility #adoptivemom #Catholicmom #oldmom #stnicholas #catholiclife
CLOSED!🌲GIVEAWAY!🌲🌲🌲 To celebrate Sain CLOSED!🌲GIVEAWAY!🌲🌲🌲 To celebrate Saint Nicholas Day, we’re giving away TWELVE BOOKS: one for each of the twelve days of Christmas. Swipe to the right to see the book I chose for the giveaway, and head over to @twelvedaysofchristmasbooks to see all the books we're including! TO ENTER: Like this post. Follow ALL the accounts @twelvedaysofchristmasbooks follows. Tag at least 3 friends on this post! Extra friends=extra entries Giveaway closes on Sunday, December 6 at 12:00 EST. Must be 18+ to enter. We will DM the winner. *Shipping to continental United States only* This giveaway is not affiliated with Instagram.
I am at the stage of motherhood where as long as I I am at the stage of motherhood where as long as I start decorating the week before Thanksgiving, there is an outside chance I might actually get half of my pre-kids decorating done by the time December 25 rolls around. #buttheadventcandlesareup #iwouldlikearoundofapplauseforthat #ormaybeaparade #catholicmom #toddlermom #boymom #tirednom
This was my Thanksgiving table 2 years ago. It’s This was my Thanksgiving table 2 years ago. It’s not my Thanksgiving table today. I’m not showing today’s table. I’m not talking in this space about what I’m cooking or not cooking, doing or not doing. Part of me wants to share. A bigger part of me is not up for judgement or criticism from people who are choosing differently from me, people who don’t know me, don’t know the circumstances surrounding our decisions, and don’t know how much wrestling went into what we ultimately decided to do.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ I know a lot of people are grieving something that simply wasn’t possible for them this year. I know other people are angry at people who they think are “living in fear” or “killing Grandma.” Some of you are confident in your decision to gather or not gather. Lots of you, though, aren’t.You aren’t sure if you made the right call. You worry about those your decision might hurt or has hurt. You worry you will look back on this day with regret. And you definitely don’t want to justify yourself to strangers on the Internet today, only to hear “I told you so,” later on, if someone catches Covid at your house or if a loved one you kept away this year is gone by next.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ So, just in case no one else has told you this, I want you to know something: I trust you. I trust you to know your family. I trust you to decide what is best for your family. I trust that you have made no decision lightly or without thought. I trust that you understand how serious Covid can be for some. I trust you have weighed all the possible consequences of your decision. And I trust that you have made the very best decision you can, knowing what you know today.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ And that’s all any of us can do. We can’t know the future. We can’t know exactly what will come of decisions we make in this moment. We can just do our best to exercise prudence and fortitude, justice and temperance, hope and charity, given what we do know.⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ I believe you are doing that. Again, I trust you. I hope the best for you. I pray your Thanksgiving, however you celebrate it, is full of joy. And I promise, no matter what happens after this day, you will never hear, “I told you so,” from me. This year has been hard enough already.
Breaking all my own rules this year. And totally a Breaking all my own rules this year. And totally at peace about that. 🎄 #yesiknowitsnotadventyet #butitsortais #haveyoubeenkeepingupwiththemassreadings #annualapocalypse #ineedmerryandbrightrightnow #spikedeggnogwouldbenicetoo #reallygladweboughtthatfaketreelastyear #idontknowwhoiamabymore #covidwhathaveyoudonetome
I bought my first silver serving dish over 20 year I bought my first silver serving dish over 20 years ago, in an old junk store in Maryland. It cost me $10. Maybe $15. I don’t remember. Babies, deadlines, and too many nights of broken sleep have crowded out those details. But I do remember how it how it shined on my table that Thanksgiving⁣. ⁣ After that, foraging for old silver servingware became my thing. Silver is cheap and plentiful around here, and by now I have amassed a collection that would make Carson the Butler proud.⁣ ⁣ Normally, about now, I’d be getting ready to polish it. That’s my annual pre-Thanksgiving ritual. Taking out each piece. Remembering the happy conversations had over them. Seeing it all spread out on the dining room table, gleaming and glorious.⁣ ⁣ But I’m not polishing silver this year. I’m not hosting dozens of friends and cooking two turkeys to feed them. Even if there were no Covid, there are still two baby boys. This is not the season for spending a day at the sink, making old silver shine.⁣ ⁣ As @elizabethfoss and I talked about changing seasons earlier this week, I was tempted to lament the loss of my silver polishing. But now, writing about it, I’m just grateful. Grateful for all the use that silver has given me. Grateful for the years it graced my table. Grateful for the people it served.⁣ ⁣ I’m grateful for now too. For a quiet house at 4:30 a.m. For the people—safe, healthy, happy—sleeping in it. For Toby’s cries of “Look, Mama!” For Becket’s coos. For work. For fires burning merrily. For breaking all my rules and listening to Christmas music early. For Advent candles ready to light. For wool sweaters and soft cozy slippers. For coffee. For grey November skies. For every good gift of this season, right now.⁣ ⁣ Despite all that’s wrong with this moment, the good gifts are still here. For all of us. Maybe not the gifts we wanted. But still good. Even in our dark nights, God never leaves us without some sign of his love. So, that’s my task this week for #homereset2020 : focusing on the good gifts of this season, not lamenting the gifts of seasons past.⁣ ⁣ I hope you’ll join me and share below or elsewhere one of the good gifts this season has brought to you.
Your Sunday morning Becket (swipe for more). 👶 Your Sunday morning Becket (swipe for more). 👶🏾 #yesthestrapsaretight #yesthebuntingissafe #notheromperisnottoobulky #bonuspointsforallofyouwhohavebeenherelongenoughtorememberwhenTobyworethis
I’m Emily—a writer, a mother, a wife, a Cathol I’m Emily—a writer, a mother, a wife, a Catholic—and there’s a lot I don’t know. About Covid. About elections. About adoption. About suffering. About motherhood.⁣ ⁣ But I do know this.⁣ ⁣ I know God is real. I know he sees all and knows all. I know he loves us with a love we can’t fathom. And I know he works through all things to draw us to himself.⁣ ⁣ I know Satan is real. And I know he wants to destroy everything God loves, including you.⁣ ⁣ I know each of us is more broken than we realize, and we can’t know peace until we see that brokenness and seek healing.⁣ ⁣ I know Satan wants us to see only our brokenness, that he wants us to define ourselves by our wounds and dwell on our wounds, never looking away from ourselves and seeing the wounds others bear.⁣ ⁣ I know while people look, think, and live differently, we’re not that different. We all want to be seen. We all want to love and be loved. We all want to know joy, not pain. And that’s because we all share one common nature and long for the same God, even if we don’t know his name.⁣ ⁣ I know envy is the most foolish of sins, and if we could see the invisible crosses our neighbors carry, we would never trade our blessings for their sorrows.⁣ ⁣ I know the Church is full of weeds and wheat. So it always has been and so it always will be, until Jesus comes again.⁣ ⁣ I know that no war, poverty, persecution, or pandemic takes away my obligation to love, feed, clothe, serve, and welcome my neighbor.⁣ ⁣ I know we’ve committed great evils in this world. And we all have to atone for them.⁣ ⁣ I know if I want to change the world, the most important thing I can do is go to Mass this Sunday, kneel before Jesus, and receive his life into my body.⁣ ⁣ I know suffering is not an obstacle to joy, but the road to joy.⁣ ⁣ I know I am closest to Jesus when I am on the cross with Jesus.⁣ ⁣ I know the world needs my prayers more than my words.⁣ ⁣ I know beauty matters. ⁣ ⁣ I know ordinary life is holy.⁣ ⁣ I know forgiveness is possible.⁣ ⁣ I know grace is powerful.⁣ ⁣ I know this life is not the end.⁣ ⁣ I know someday there will be a new heaven and a new earth.⁣ ⁣ I know I want to see it.⁣ ⁣ And I know I want you to see it too.
🎁🎁🎁 Could there be a better way to celebr 🎁🎁🎁 Could there be a better way to celebrate the coming of the Word made flesh than with a bountiful basket of beautiful books?! 🎁🎁🎁. We can’t think of one around our house so once again I’m teaming up with a fabulous group of ladies to give ONE FAMILY the opportunity to win *OVER 26 BOOKS* for their very own Advent Book Basket!!📚📚📚 With a title for every day of the season this Advent Book Basket makes a perfect literary Advent Calendar without having to scour the thrift store for years like we did. TO ENTER: 1. Like and Save this post. ❤️ 2. Hop on over to @adventbookbasket go see all the book. 3. Follow _ALL_ the accounts @adventbookbasket follows. BONUS ENTRIES: * Tag up to 3 friends in separate comments or share this post in your stories & tag @adventbookbasket. Our winner will be drawn once the giveaway closes at 11:59pm on Nov. 11th, Martlemas, the Feast of St. Martin of Tours. 🐴🗡🧥 ••• This giveaway is in no way affiliated with IG. Must be 18+ to enter. Shipping only in the continental USA. ••• #adventbookbasket2020
Today has been a day. A day. A day. A day. And not Today has been a day. A day. A day. A day. And not even remotely because of the election. Talk about my need for #homereset2020. 😭 So, what do I cook when I’ve been going strong since 4:30 in the morning, drove to Steubenville and back for a TV taping, came home to a nap disaster, then juggled babies, phone calls, and work emails until dinner time? Fried gnocchi with an easy red sauce, of course. It’s super fast, super simple, and super comforting. It’s also super dark here now, so the pictures are...not super. 🤷‍♀️⁣ ⁣ Ground Sausage, 1 lb.⁣ Dried Basil, .5 tsp.⁣ Dried Oregano, .5 tsp⁣ Dried Parsley, 1.5 Tbsp.⁣ Crushed red pepper, .25 tsp.⁣ Bay leaf, 1⁣ Onion, 1 yellow, chopped⁣ Fresh Garlic, 2 cloves, crushed⁣ Sugar, 2 Tbsp. Crushed Tomatoes, 29 ounces⁣ Tomato Paste, 6 ounces⁣ Gnocchi, 1 pkg.⁣ Butter, 1 Tbsp. ⁣ Olive Oil, 3 Tbsp.⁣ Salt, 2 tsp.⁣ Parmesan, .25 cup, shredded⁣ ( or olives, chopped) .25 cup water⁣ ⁣ 1 In a large pot, heat 2 Tbsp. Olive oil; add onion and a pinch of salt; cook ⁣ until soft and translucent;⁣ 2. Add garlic and cook 1 ⁣ minute more; add sausage and brown;⁣ 3. To the meat add tomatoes, tomato paste, water, and seasonings;⁣ 4. Heat to boiling, then reduce heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes;⁣ 5. While sauce simmers, melt butter and heat oil in a large frying pan; add gnocchi in a single layer and fry until crisp and golden (10-15 minutes);⁣ 6. Top gnocchi with red sauce and parmesan; serve immediately. ⁣
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I like to keep things simple around here...and happy. So, don't say anything in the comment box that you wouldn't say at someone's table. Comments that are uncharitable, obnoxious, or rude will be sent straight to the trash. That includes comments lecturing me or anyone else about the ingredients used in recipes. My house. My rules.

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