GRANDMOTHER'S LIBRARY: "Smokin' Seventeen" by Janet Evanovich

Stephanie Plum is at it again: she thinks the mob is after her, she gets into hilarious antics with Mooner and ends up with an enhanced photo of herself on Mooner's bus. Of course she ruins another car.
PLUS we get to have our fix of Morelli and Ranger. It seems as though Stephanie CAN have her cake and eat it, too!
I really have enjoyed this series of books! I may need to look into reading Evanovich's "Alexandra Barnaby" novels.  Not sure if Alexandra could beat the amusing antics of Stephanie!

GRANDMOTHER'S LIBRARY: "Life in Spite of Me" by Kristen Anderson

     I heard this gal give a talk (on the radio) and was compelled to read her whole story.  Kristen was a semi rebellious teen from a good family who decided to kill herself by laying down on the tracks in front of a train: the only thing she succeeded in doing was losing both her legs.

     This book is her story of her miraculous survival and her soul searching which led her to develop a personal relationship with Jesus. She came from a good home and was a Christian, but she apparently didn't realize that she was a daughter of Heavenly Father.

     Keep a box of tissues on hand as you read this touching story!  She tells of the loneliness she felt as a teen, the reasons she decided to take her life, and her long road to recovery.  She talked about the doubts she felt and the anger.  Kristen then talks about people who introduced her to Christ as she never knew Him before.  She decided that she had been spared for a reason, and founded "Reaching You Ministries" which tries to tell people that they have a Heavenly Father who loves them.  She said that had she known that she was loved, she may not have tried to take her life.  She even received an email from one young man who told her that he had had a gun in his hand and was about to take his life when he happened to hear her telling her story on Oprah.  He told Kristen that hearing her story saved his life.  That was one of the testimonies that let her to begin her "Reaching You Ministries."

     Kristen apparently suffered from depression.  This book gives the signs of depression and the warning signs of suicide so that we may recognize them if we see them in friends or loved ones.It is a wonderful, uplifting story.  Kristen has made a wonderful life for herself  'In Spite of Her'.

GRANNY'S KITCHEN: Pizzarino Green Beans

When trying to think of something to take to the Ward Thanksgiving Dinner, I wanted to use from my food storage.  I had several beans and decided to try to find something other than the green bean casserole made with cream of mushroom: I figured there would be plenty of those.

While browsing the web, I found this wonderful website called 20 ways to cook Green Beans. I found a quick and easy recipe that called for 2 cans of green beans, some sliced olives, oregano, garlic salt, wine vinegar and oil. That's IT!  OK, I chose it for the simplicity, but I make it because it was a HIT!  I took home NO left overs from the party. I then made them again for dinner with the missionaries.  This is becoming my new favorite way to fix green beans. I think next time I will try to fix this with balsamic vinegar rather than the red wine vinegar for a different taste.  I may also have to try this with my favorite vineger, malt vinegar. That might be a good twist.

Here are the quick and easy directions:

~I opened and drained 2 cans of French style green beans (the others would work, but I like the way these look in a bowl!) I poured these into a microwave safe casserole.
~I stirred in some sliced olives.  The first time, I sliced my own.  The next batch, I added a can of pre-sliced olives.  So much easier and just as yummy!
~Next I added in 2 tsp Oregano.  It's time for me to buy more of this!  If I forget to buy more soon, I will use Italian seasoning in my next batch.  It might be fun to try this with basil, too.
~The fourth ingredient is garlic salt.  Stir in 1/2 tsp garlic salt.
~Last, I added 2 Tablespoons EACH of red wine vinegar and olive oil.  The recipe did not call for olive oil, but I thought that would go nicely with the oregano and garlic salt.

I nuked this for 3 minutes, but this could also be heated on the stove.  It's always a good thing to find something tasty AND easy.  Simple is best.