Hello Blog Friends!
Another week has flown by with some decent progress made on various levels.
Early in the week I was able to schedule, for next week, an online meeting with a priest at a potential host church for Day Camps 2025. I also began choreographing the 2025 Liturgical dance and, Tuesday afternoon, had a productive meeting with one of the DC committee to work on more of the details for the Advent Program; still hunting for 2 (possibly 3!) more Alums to lead the weekly reflections but, at least, Advent starts a bit later this year! That evening one of the CTM Board members messaged me to set up a video call next week about an idea he has to involve some of his youth group, next summer in helping with a Day Camp as a service project. I have some thoughts on how this might pan out and hopefully, together, we can come up with a rough plan.
Wednesday, my attention turned to the “Registration Time” activities and I managed to hammer out a first draft of all 5 days, woot, woot! Meanwhile I am still anxiously waiting to hear if my “assistant badger”, Mikaela, has managed to connect with a potential third Chef for the Cook-Along. The young person we are trying to procure led an episode, before and was excellent. Since they have also been studying at a school for pastry chefs, it would be awesome to have a real professional (not that I am knocking our wonderful volunteers!!!!). Three families have given me the thumbs up for participating in the Cook-Along and one of them has even registered. I think it is about time for another round of badgering in that direction too. AGH!!!
Sadly, despite sending out over 100 emails for the funding campaign, NO ONE has responded. I’m not sure if this means that people are thinking about donating and will do so at yearend or whether they just aren’t interested. I really dislike having to beg for support of this ministry but, until we can balance our budget with more host communities, there really aren’t many other options.
Early each morning there is now an hour of raking to put in, as the leaves are really beginning to fall with a vengeance and evenings, are spent beavering away on the watch caps for my Godsons.The first one has been completed and I’m now well ahead on the second.
Today, Mae Anne is coming for lunch and so all the Day Camps topics will be part of our conversation. I’m hoping she can, especially, help with some more possible “presenters” for Carols and Cocoa as that is also proving a hard sell. Things are under control for our lunch as I decided, with it being a rather cold and windy day, to make yummy overnight Pumpkin Spice French Toast and will be serving it with some fresh fruit and hot apple cider. As she will be arriving within the hour, I first need to take Mr. T for a chilly walk before she gets here so we had better close off with the weekly recipe.
One evening this week I enjoyed a pasta dish, which included the last of the butternut squash I had roasted when making my Thanksgiving gnocchi. As we are now truly feeling autumnal cooking vibes, this dish fits the bill!
Sausage and Squash with Penne
- 8oz. penne, cooked
- ½ cup reserved pasta water
- 2 raw Italian sausages, thickly sliced
- 1 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1 small onion, slivered
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 oz. roasted butternut squash cubes
- 1 tsp. oregano
- 1 6oz. tin tomato paste
- freshly grated Parmesan
Heat a large skillet, add the olive oil, sausage slices and onion. Sauté until beginning to brown, then add the garlic and oregano and cook until fragrant. Stir in the tomato paste and reserved pasta water, scraping up any brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Reduce heat and simmer for 15mins. or until the sausage is cooked through. Mix in the penne and gently simmer until the pasta is heated. Served topped with freshly grated Parmesan. Serves 2-3.