Watcha Been Doing?

In the past few weeks :

• 
  
  I went to my first Pilates class.
  And stretched muscles I didn’t even know existed.
  
  
  
  
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  I fell in love with Norah Jones all over again.
  
  
  
  
• 
  
  I renewed my delight in drinking green tea in the morning.
  
  
  
  
• 
  
  I realized what a nightmare it can be shopping for bridesmaids dresses that look good on three people of varying sizes and shapes.
  
  
  
  
• 
  
  I discovered that if you puree squash you can mix it in just about anything for extra nutrients and no taste.
  
  
  
  
• 
  
  I learned that people think we’re strange for installing a clothes line. ...and I think our neighbors are groaning because they think we're hillbillies in the city.
  
  And last, but certainly not least, in the last few weeks:
  
  
  
  My husband took me on my first rollercoaster ride.
  ….and I screamed the whole time.
  So much so, that everybody else on the ride,
  and those waiting in line on the ground, were laughing.
  Loudly.   At me.    Never again.
  
  
  
• What have y'all been up to lately?
  

Recipe Requests

Since some of y'all have been putting in recipe requests (okay, maybe it was just Meg, but that works for me!), I thought I'd post them today. The problem with me sharing my recipes, is that I never follow what's in the cookbook...and sometimes I don't use an actual recipe at all. That being said, below is my best attempt to copy how I made these dishes. Use your imaginations, spice up the dishes with your favorite seasonings, or toss in some leftovers from the refrigerator! That's the way some of the best dishes are created! :)

Pizza Casserole

1. 1 lb. ground beef (I used Ground Turkey)
2. 1/2 onion, chopped (I used some minced onion)
3. 1 28-oz jar spaghetti sauce (Bertolli's Tomato & Basil is our favorite)
4. 8-oz spiral pasta, cooked
5. 1 8-oz package of shredded mozzarella (I used mexican blend to add a bit of extra pizazz)
6. 4-oz pkg of sliced pepperoni
7. Seasonings (We like Italian Seasoning, Cumin, Sage, Chili powder, and whatever else suits your fancy!)

Preheat over to 350. In large skillet, brown beef, onion & seasonings over medium heat; drain. Stir in spaghetti sauce, pasta, pepperoni, 1/2 the cheese. Mix well and transfer to a 9x13 greased baking pan. Top with remaining cheese, and I like to add a bit of grated Parmesan for extra flavor. Bake, uncovered, for 25-30 minutes.

Cheerio Breakfast Bars

1. 1 stick butter
2. 3 c. miniature marshmallows
3. 1/2 c. peanut butter
4. 1/2 c. nonfat dry milk
5. 1/4 c. orange instant drink (like Tang)
6. 1 c. raisins or craisins
7. 4 c. Cheerios

In large pan, melt butter and marshmallows over low heat, stirring frequently. Stir in peanut butter until melted, then add powdered milk and orange powder; remove from heat. Fold in cereal and craisins, and press into a greased 9x9 pan. Cool completely before cutting. **I started using a tablespoon or two less than a stick to cut down on a few calories and it still turns out fine. With the drink mix sometimes I also mix in some protein powder to boost the protein count. Coconut, nuts, chocolate chips, and just about anything else can be mixed in and is simply delicious!

Tortilla Soup

1. 1 can Chicken Broth
2. 1 can diced Tomatoes w/ garlic & basil
3. 1 can black beans, drained
4. 1 can corn, drained (frozen is fine too)
5. 1 can chicken (or cooked of if have some to use up)
6. Olive oil
7. Seasonings

In a large pan, heat a bit of olive oil and toss in the can of chicken with some garlic and other seasonings. Saute it up a bit and add the corn and beans. Heat and season them and then add the rest of the ingredients. Let it simmer, taste and season as needed. Top with cheese, crushed Fritos, and a dollop of sour cream. **Anything can be added to this soup -- bacon bits, pasta, veggies, etc. Let me know if y'all have any questions!

Bon appetit!

Menu Plan Monday!

My hubby and I feel so much better eating home cooking rather than eating out. It’s really amazing. The more we eat healthy stuff, the less other stuff sounds good (with the exception of brownies, of course, which always sound good!). This past week I experimented with adding vegetables to my normal dishes, hoping to gain the vitamins and disguise the flavor – it worked! I snuck pureed squash into Oatmeal muffins, Macaroni & Cheese, Quesadillas, and Corn Chowder. You couldn’t even tell a difference, except that I think the food was actually more filling, but it didn’t alter the taste at all. My excitement to cook continued to be fueled when I stepped on the scale and had lost 1.5 lbs this week! Ok, so it’s not a lot, but every ounce helps! Does anybody else have any good way to disguise veggies in their food?

• Sunday: Potato Corn Chowder, **pumpkin bread
• Monday: Leftovers
• Tuesday: Creamed Crockpot Chicken, brown rice, sautéed green beans
• Wednesday: Tortilla soup
• Thursday: Veggie Lasagna, homemade applesauce
• Friday: Taco salad
• Saturday: Bacon Cheddar waffles

** The Pumpkin bread recipe was compliments of Heather at Mrs. Southern Bride This week also included a batch of Cheerio breakfast bars to cut up and take with us to work this week, an assortment of smoothies for hubby’s hour drive to work at 5:00 AM, and who knows what else will strike my fancy between now and Saturday! Happy cooking y’all!