Prayer~ Solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God or an object of worship. Or an earnest hope or wish. I think we have all said a prayer or two in our lives, religious or not. It is that conversation that we have with something or someone greater than ourselves, speaking out loud or to ourselves, in the hope that someone is listening!! There is something beautiful in the belief that there is a higher power, that faith that someone has your back, the universe maybe?!?!
The power of prayer, especially in numbers, can be exceptionally powerful. Yours alone can have a great effect on the universe, your energy, your heart and your soul. Conversations in prayer can be so healing and moving, just putting the words out there, expressing your feelings your desires, can help. Prayer comes most often in times of need, I times of hurt or in times of anger, it is easy to turn outward and focus on what we don't have, or what we want most. Always remember you are always aloud to ask. Ask for guidance, ask for help, ask how, ask why, we are never alone.
In order to really connect in prayer we need to turn inward, speaking from our hearts, that is where the truer words come from. Never let go of that faith and knowing that prayer is always there for you, as I said before, you are always aloud to ask. Pray as often as you would like, whenever the mood strikes, wherever you are, there is nothing better than conversation in prayer. My favorite time is on my early morning walks with my dog, the trails are quiet, I am in nature, and the conversations just come, so many conversations and so much mind clearing. So good for the soul!!!
Prayer can tell us so much about ourselves, where we are and what we believe to be our truth. Reach out and speak your truth from the depth of your soul, know what you desire, know where you want your energies to go, connect to what is important to you and pray! Prayer should be a part of your healthy lifestyle, a necessity to savor your soul, a connection to your soul and that which is greater than you. Believe and have faith that the universe has your back!
Italian Chicken and Noodles
Ingredients:
8 ounces pappardelle noodles, uncooked
Olive oil
4 spicy Italian sausage links, casings removed
1 large onion, quartered and sliced thinly
1 ½ teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon cracked black pepper
1 red bell pepper, cored and thinly sliced
1 yellow bell pepper, cored and thinly sliced
1 orange bell pepper, cored and thinly sliced
4 cloves garlic, pressed through garlic press
½ cup white white (I used Chardonnay)
1 28 oz can diced tomatoes, with juices
1/4 cup fresh basil, Julienned
Directions:
Prepare the pappardelle noodles according to instructions, drain and rinse
Place a large skillet over medium-high heat, and add about 2 tablespoons of olive oil; once the oil is hot, crumble the spicy Italian sausage into the pan in small chunks (you want to keep the sausage fairly chunky), allowing it to brown in the oil for a few moments on each side; once the crumbled sausage is browned, remove it from the pan with a slotted spoon and place into a small bowl handset aside
Next, add the sliced onion into the pan with the sausage drippings, and allow it to caramelize and become golden for roughly 5 minutes or so, add the salt, Italian seasoning and cracked black pepper, and stir to combine.
Add in the sliced bell peppers, and allow those to saute with the onion for about 2 minutes until slightly tender; next, add in the garlic, and once it becomes aromatic, add in the white wine and allow it to reduce for a few moments, until almost completely reduced.
Next, add in the diced tomatoes with their juice, and return the browned spicy Italian sausage back into the pan, and gently fold the mixture to combine; allow it to gently simmer for about 3 to 4 minutes to blend the flavors, then turn the heat off.
To finish the sauce, drizzle in about 2-3 good tablespoons of the olive oil to create a silky, rich flavor, and stir in the julienned basil.
Add the cooked pappardelle noodles directly into the sauce, and using tongs, gently toss and combine the noodles with the sauce and all of the ingredients in it; check the seasoning to see if you need to add any additional salt or pepper.
