On My Hearth: Penne Pasta with Spinach & Bacon

I'll be serving the bacon on the side to make this dish vegetarian-friendly. I changed the serving size from the original recipe, my revision allows for a 3/4 cup of pasta, just the right amount for me when supplemented with a big green salad!


* Exported from MasterCook *

Penne Pasta with Spinach and Bacon

Recipe By :
Serving Size : 8 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories :

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
12 ounces penne pasta
2 tablespoons olive oil -- divided
6 slices bacon -- chopped
2 tablespoons minced garlic
14 1/2 ounces diced tomatoes
1 bunch fresh spinach -- rinsed and torn into bite-size pieces



Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the penne pasta, and cook until tender, 8 to 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Place bacon in the skillet, and cook until browned and crisp. Add garlic, and cook for about 1 minute. Stir in the tomatoes, and cook until heated through.

Place the spinach into a colander, and drain the hot pasta over it so it is wilted. Transfer to a large serving bowl, and toss with the remaining olive oil, and the bacon and tomato mixture.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 230 Calories; 7g Fat (25.8% calories from fat); 8g Protein; 35g Carbohydrate; 2g Dietary Fiber; 4mg Cholesterol; 87mg Sodium. Exchanges: 2 Grain(Starch); 0 Lean Meat; 1/2 Vegetable; 1 Fat.

As American as "Cherry" Pie

Needing to distract myself and keep my mind busy, and inspired by Election Day and the whole Americana thing, I spent quite a bit of time in the kitchen this afternoon. (After I voted, of course!)

We rarely eat pork at the Castle but I got some boneless chops as part of an introductory package at Omaha Steaks and didn't want them to go to waste. Since potatoes were BOGO at the grocery store, I made a slowcooker version of this recipe, adding a bit of shredded cheddar to the mix. While that was simmering I whipped up a loaf of bread and a homemade cherry pie.

Mmm...everything smells heavenly! I'm looking forward to sitting down with a glass of wine after dinner and watching the results come in.

Update on Mom

Mom went to the doctor today to receive results from her recent PET Scan. Though the tumors in her lungs have decreased, the news wasn't all good: there appears to be "activity" in a bone in her back which would explain her recent back pain. The next step is an MRI and radiation, then another round of chemo using different drugs.

Not a very good day here at the Castle, your continued thoughts and prayers are most appreciated.

Halloween Fun

We had such a good time last night, just have to share the pics!


Lily headed to work, isn't she the cutest kitty?

We started out at Kali's house so that she could do Beren's make-up, looks like she'd been pretty busy turning herself into a "hula zombie!" *shudder*




Do wolves eat pizza?


Why, Mr. Wolfie, what big...hands...you have!

We then headed out to meet our friends who were married, in full costume, at the courthouse yesterday! What a hoot! They had a small dinner at a local restaurant and then we moved on to the bar where we continued to celebrate into the wee hours!


The Newlyweds, Fester and Wednesday


Guarding the Beer


A Two-Fisted Drinkin' Wolf

A wonderful evening but this little witch is ever-so-tired today! And tonight we have other fun plans but more about that later. First, a teeny little nap....

Death to the Old Me

My friend Jersey and I often talk about how Autumn is a fresh start, always feels more like New Year to us than Jan 1 ever has. Of course, being a Pagan this makes perfect sense to me as it truly is the Witches New Year.

A year of beauty. A year of plenty.
A year of planting. A year of harvest.
A year of forests. A year of healing.
A year of vision. A year of passion.
A year of rebirth.

This year may we renew the earth.
This year may we renew the earth.

Let it begin with each step we take.
And let it begin with each change we make.
And let it begin with each chain we break.
And let it begin every time we awake.

--Chant from the
Reclaiming Samhain Celebration

This year that feeling is even more true as I am seriously ready to make some changes in my life, in myself, allow to die the old me that no longer works anymore and reveal the new person who's under there ready to be born!

2007 brought many changes to, 2008 even more. Some good, some not so much, but I must say that I've handled it all much better than I ever thought I could. I have learned my own strength and I'm proud of myself! Unfortunately the way I dealt with stress was to eat more than healthy and the result is a 20+ pound weight gain, but that's ok because I'm on the right track now and determined to get rid of it once and for all.

I said it on my birthday and I mean it even more so now at the season of Samhain - This is my Year. In addition to focusing on my Mom and her health, my family and partner, I've got to take care of ME as well. And that doesn't mean by self-soothing with junk food and beer; it's by exercise, good food and a healthy attitude. I can do anything I put my mind to, have proven that already.

A Samhain Feast

Last night I gathered round my family for an early Samhain dinner and ritual, thought this year more than ever we needed to connect to the spirit world and to each other.
While I had planned a more formal ritual, my girls thought it a bit intense so I'll save it to do by myself this evening.

I was so fortunate that all of my daughters were available for dinner, also joining us was Bambi's beau who had never taken part in our Sabbat celebrations before. Poor dear, he ended up sitting right next to the table setting reserved for the spirits who were invited to visit..grin...he was a bit unnerved but handled it quite well! At the end he thanked me graciously for including him so that he could learn about a new culture. You are quite welcome, dear boy, I trust that you'll be back for the next one.

Because I planned this little event at the last minute, the menu was not quite as extensive as I would've liked, but everything came together quite nicely and everyone enjoyed the simple feast. (I believe Kevin had three servings of soup!)



After we stuffed ourselves on Four Cheese Potato Soup (I promise there were no spiders in there!) served in a Bread Bowl, wine, ale, we headed out to the patio for the spiritual part of the evening.

Because this is the Witches New Year, we consider it a time of deep reflection, an occasion to put aside the "ghosts" from the past year. With this in mind, I had everyone write down on paper those things that were haunting them from the past year, problems and issues, whatever they wanted to be free of for the coming year. I was pleased at how seriously everyone took this task, how much thought they put into what they scribbled on their bits of paper. When we were all done, we headed out to the chiminea where Beren had a roaring fire going already. In turn each of us stood before the flames, read each script and shared aloud what was written, if we chose to. Keeping it private was of course an option, the important part was the intent. Once read, we tossed those "ghosts" into the fire, never to be seen again. I closed the ritual with a "So mote it be" and we continued on with dessert! Frozen Pumpkin Pie was especially tasty eaten poolside, a tiny nip in the air, candles flickering all around.

A lovely early Samhain celebration, I am so ready for the New Year!

Blessed Be,

I Know You're Strong

Pablo Picasso: Crazy Woman With Cats, originally uploaded by unbearable lightness.

About 5 years ago I was going through some very rough times; my 16 year marriage was ending, my eldest daughter was heading off to college, the big 4-0 was right around the corner..my life was in turmoil and I didn't know what my future held. The picket fence was falling down all around me, I was totally overwhelmed. So, when the kids went off to school each morning I would crawl back into bed and take comfort in the darkness. I'd lie there, alternating between sleeping and crying, for hours. Friends would call and invite me to lunch, I'd beg off. All I wanted to do was lie there in the cool white sheets and escape. I felt completely alone, shut everyone out..well, almost everyone. There were two souls who would not be ignored, refused to abandon me no matter how much I wanted that solitude. These two black four-footed friends climbed into bed with me every morning and stayed there. They cuddled and purred, watched over me and kept me company during some of the darkest moments of my life. I am eternally grateful to those little angels for the part they had in saving me, for cheering me up when everything seemed hopeless, for bringing the pieces of ribbon and little mouse toys into bed, making me laugh when all I wanted to do was cry.

Of course, you know that I got through that terrible time, and am a stronger, wiser woman as a result. My life is so much better now, full of passion and love. I've never forgotten the friends who helped me through those days, though, both two-legged and four. So when Kali introduced me to this song a couple years ago, I embraced it as my very own theme song for that time of my life.



I'm not sure if there really is a cat named Virtue or if the a member of the Weakerthans had an experience such as mine, but the lyrics ring so true, I just have to share them here.

So, thank you again, Salem and Jezebel..thank you for believing that I was strong, and for being there with me until I figured it out myself.

Rest in Peace, Salem

April 1, 1998 - October 28, 2008
Goodbye, my feline familiar. You were a wonderful companion, one of the best friends I ever had. You were there for me through good times and bad, I'm not sure what I'm going to do without you purring there beside me each night.









I love you, Salem, Rest in Peace.

Happiness Is....a Wonderful Weekend

*a festive Pirate Pumpkin ala Beren


*Beren's company picnic spent at a lovely outdoor venue; even though I hate seeing animals in captivity I must say that this place was very well-maintained.

*soothing the PMS beast with a small indulgence; these were truly the best oatmeal cookies I've ever made!

*the scent of French bread wafting through the kitchen (I cheated and let my borrowed (thanks, Mom!) bread machine do the work this time.


*Friday afternoon kitchen witchery - lavender-rosemary soap and bath salts with fresh herbs from my garden (these will be Yule gifts so I'm not sharing pics of the finished product..shh...!)


*fresh flowers on my nightstand (thank you, Beren!)


*reconnecting with high school girlfriends I haven't seen in 26 years! (you know what? We're still hotties!)


*a beautiful 18 year old daughter who announced on Saturday that she's still moving out..but not quite so far away. (to hell with Orlando, she says! Yippee!)

The Pull of the Moon

"I am fifty years old. The time of losses is upon me. Maybe that's it. I don't know. I saw Kotex in the drugstore the other day and began to weep. Then I saw a mother with a very little girl, helping her pick out crayons, and this, too, undid me. I had to leave without buying what I came for. I drove home and I thought about Ruthie standing next to me as I lay on the couch one day. She was two and a half, holding Legos in the basket of her hands. I had a mild case of the flu; I was mostly just exhausted. And Ruthie dropped the Legos on me and used my chest to build a small city and I was perfectly happy. I think I even knew it. It was that Chines thing, that when your mind is in your heart, you are happy.

You know, Martin, when Ruthie was a freshman in high school, I was driving home from the grocery store one day and listening to the radio and I all of a sudden realized that in flour years she would be gone. And I felt like screaming. Not because I have nothing else in my life. Just because she would be gone. I pulled over and I wept so hard the car was shaking, and then I repaired my makeup in the rearview mirror, and then I cam home and made dinner and I never said a thing about it, although maybe I should have. Maybe I should have started telling you then. I was afraid,, I thinnk, that you would say, "Well, she'll visit," and the feeling would have been all of my eggs being walked on by boots."
~ Elizabeth Berg, Pull of the Moon

Yesterday I was driving home from work and I passed by a house on the corner which was completely decorated for Halloween. Bats and witches hanging from the rafters, pumpkins on the front porch, spider webs on the windows, the whole deal. It was lovely, and I smiled to myself thinking that young children must live there, that this is what I did when my girls were small. I thought about how they'd come home from school on an autumn afternoon when the temperature was finally dropping, we'd open the windows and let the breeze blow through the skeleton garland I'd hung from the curtains. Eat homemade cookies, discuss our Halloween costumes, plan when we'd go buy our pumpkins. Would they still pass out little cups of free cider at the farmer's market? How many squashes and how big? It was our favorite time of year, my girls and I, and we relished every moment of it. Suddenly, remembering all of this, an incredible feeling of melancholy overtook me and I found myself doing just what Elizabeth describes above - weeping, sobbing, overtaken with emotion, mourning the loss of those sweet days, those precious moments shared with my babies. They are grown now, I am losing them one by one..and please, please don't say the thing that Martin would, I know that they will visit, of course they will. But it is not the same, we all know that. They will no longer live under my roof, safe & sound where I can see them every day, wake up with them each morning. No more impromptu shopping trips, midnight chats or afternoon movies. It changes, once they move out, it just does. And, no, I do not cry because I don't have anything else in my life because I do. I have a partner and job and friends and hobbies...but they are not what define me, what completes me. What has always given me the most satisfaction, the most joy, has always been my role as a Mother. I need to feel needed, to nurture and caretake. Without that, I ask the cliche middle-of-life question: Who am I?

I feel so lost, without direction, bereft and confused and disappointed and scared. It is normal & natural, of course, this progression. Children do what they must: they grow up, they leave the nest, and life goes on! But why all of them at once? Lily is leaving for college in December, Brynna will follow in the summer. Kali and Kevin have taken up residence further away, though not a long drive it's one which requires a bit of forethought, they are no longer a stone's throw away. One by one they go, off to live their lives and though I celebrate them, am so proud of the strong independent young women they have become..I still weep..and I still want to hold onto those apron strings so tightly, and I still beseech the Universe, "But what about me? What do I do now?"

Ah, I am sure that part of this emotional upheaval is due to my approaching moontime, but I do not dismiss it as such. I know that much wisdom is revealed at this time of the month, and that if I listen very closely the goddess will answer my pleas for help, for direction. I'll be ok, I know I will, but at the moment the aching is so great, the longing for them so deep..I want to put up the silly skeletons, throw open the windows and perhaps if I close my eyes and wish really hard along with the autumn breeze will be the sound of little girl giggles filling my house once again...just for a day, can't I have those moments back? Please?