Homemade Ravioli

I love making fresh pasta! It is extremely easy and even my 4 grandchildren all know how to make pasta. It is a fun activity for the whole family.

The recipe for the pasta dough is on the website several times at divinedesignhouston.org.

Here is the recipe for the filling for the ravioli....

Butternut Squash Ravioli Filling

5 cups diced butternut squash, about 1 medium butternut squash
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced or minced
2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup ricotta
1/4 cup grated Parmesan

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Spread the butternut squash onto a baking sheet and toss with the olive oil, garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper until evenly coated. Roast for 25-30 minutes or until the squash is fork tender. Remove from the oven and let cool.
Bring a ...

DD Favorite Dishes - Part 2

Lauren's Lentil Salad for Summer
Lentils are a legume. They are one of the oldest domesticated crops and there is evidence that they were eaten by the Egyptians, Romans, and Hebrews. Remember Esau selling his birthright for lentil stew in Genesis! They come in different varieties: green, brown, red, and black.

They are perfect for making a "meatless meal" or you can serve them along with fish or chicken. Lentils are high in protein and fiber while being low in fat. Eating 1 cup cooked lentils yields about 18 grams of protein and 50% of your daily fiber intake. They also are high in antioxidants which support lower inflammation and cellular health.

Italian Lentil Salad
Adapted from Giada de Laurentiis' recipe on Food Network

Ingredients:
1 lb green lentils
3 scallions, chopped
1 package cherry tomatoes, halved
Cucumber, diced
Yellow Bell Pepper, diced
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice (from 2-3...

DD Favorite Dishes

This is Miranda's favorite dish:

Poor Man’s Philly Cheesesteak

1 pound ground beef

1 tablespoon olive oil or butter

1 bell pepper, thinly sliced

1 cup mushrooms thinly sliced

1 small onion, thinly sliced

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

4 hoagie rolls or sub rolls

6–8 slices cheese

Instructions

1.  Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.  Add the onion, bell pepper, and mushrooms and cook for about 4–5 minutes until soft.

2.  Add the ground beef to the skillet.  Break it up with a spatula and cook until fully browned (about 5–6 minutes).  Drain excess grease if needed.

3.  Stir in garlic powder, salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce.

4.  Lower the heat and lay the cheese slices over the beef mix...

Homemade Lip Balm

Do you like spreading petroleum and chemicals on your lips? Or would you rather use something made from natural ingredients that actually heal and moisturize your lips? If natural is your choice, you will love today's lesson.

Besides the obvious lack of toxic chemicals plaguing your skin and leeching into your body, the ingredients used to make homemade herbal lip balm offer many benefits to your lips and health.

Coconut oil - makes a great lip product by itself, so combined with other ingredients in herbal lip balms really takes it to the next level. Coconut oil provides both a protective barrier and moisturizes. The high fat content in the coconut oil, along with the beeswax, helps this lip balm recipe harden nicely after it’s cooled off. The beneficial fatty acids within coconut oil help provide antimicrobial, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits when applied topically.

Shea butter - leaves everything feeling silky smooth. Shea butter i...