When It Rains...

Edited: Nevermind guys. This was good when it was fresh out of the oven but it sat for about 20 minutes until we got ready to eat and by the time we ate it, HORRIBLE. I don't know what happened but the breadcrumbs made it taste like there was NO seasoning. The soup mix will be good just as a cheese sauce but this all mixed together, GROSS.

I am not a casserole fan. As a matter of fact if we aren't having Spaghetti or Tacos and there is chicken, beef, or pork on our plates, you can bet that the side item is NOT a casserole. However, I am a little burnt out on the same old mashed potatoes, corn, and bread. I decided a few weeks ago to start adding vegetables to my plate. More broccoli, carrots, and green beans have since made it to the table but there are only so many ways you can take steamed veggies. I created this recipe today and I was shocked to discover that it is REALLY good. Yay Me!!! It is a variation of a recipe I got from recipezaar.com.

Pre-heat oven to 350

2 bag (12oz) frozen broccoli florets
2 bag (12oz) frozen corn
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 small brick Velveeta cheese
salt
pepper
creole seasoning
1 cup plain breadcrumbs

Combine soup, cheese, and spices in a sauce pan and cook on LOW until cheese has melted, stirring often. Heat broccoli and corn in microwave until almost done. Combine veggies, soup mixture, and half of the breadcrumbs in a large bowl. Pour into a casserole dish and cover with remaining breadcrumbs. Bake at 350 until golden on top.

Ok all. I got this recipe from a friend of mine. I have decided to tweak it and make it my own and share it with you.



This makes a BIG batch of tomato sauce BUT if you are like me and Italian food is a staple in your home (we have something Italian at least once a week) then this will be perfect for you.



It takes a little while and you may think it tedious BUT it is SO much cheaper than buying pre-made sauce and its tastier too!



The standard pre-made sauce bottle has 3 cups of sauce in it. This will make 4.5 recipes like that. I suggest freezing them in ziploc containers or if you have a Food Saver you can pack it away in those too. Just pull it out when you need it, it thaws in no time.





3 large cans plain Tomato Sauce (3 large cans or 6 small cans)

1 can Tomato Puree

4 small cans Tomato Paste (4 small cans) half if you like a thinner sauce

1 cup water

1/4 cup olive oil

1 large onion, chopped (or 2 tsp onion powder)

7-8 cloves garlic, pressed or minced (or 3 tsp garlic powder)

1 1/2 tbsp Italian Seasoning

1 tbsp sugar

1 tsp salt

Pepper to taste

3 beef bullion cubes



Saute Onion in 2 tbsp oil and 1 tbsp butter until translucent.

Add Garlic and saute for 2 minutes.

Add all other ingredients, bring to boil, stirring constantly.

Reduce to Low-Medium for a low simmer and allow to simmer for 2 hours. Stir frequently. Allow to cool, divide into freezer container in 3 cup batches.


When you get ready to make Lasagna, Spaghetti, whatever, get it out and add 1 lb ground beef to the mix for a meat sauce or just heat through for a great marinara.

Its amazing to me the amount of time that I really do have on my hands. Then I think, hey, I need to go out and get my ring (at Jared's getting re-plated) and then I think... I can get her ready, get myself ready, pack her bag, get my purse, get her in the seat and in the car then I can get over there and get back... Ugh, no I can't because she will need to eat just about the time that I will be getting to Jared's so then she will fuss all the way home cause she's hungry. I could wait until after the bottle but then I will be interrupting her sleep which she really needs because we were out almost all weekend... Oh screw it, I'll have Jay go get it tomorrow and I'll just sleep.

There have been so many of those "screw it" moments. Especially when I think "hey, I should go do that load of laundry."

I made Chili last night. OMG it is so GOOD. Its super easy too. 2 lbs hamburger, chopped red bell pepper, chopped green bell pepper, 2 chopped onions, minced garlic, 3 cans diced tomatoes, 3 cans beans(2 cans drained), chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. All things in a pot and cook on medium for an hour then low for 3 hours. YUM!!!

Speaking of Tomatoes. Driving down the road yesterday and we passed a sign that advertised the sale of tomatoes (obviously home grown) the sign read: TOMATOE for sale. Um, I think that's wrong! HA!

This is Dr. Heather Rupe. She delivered Lorelai. This picture was taken at my two week check up. With everything that went on during the delivery day, we didn't get a picture of them together. This woman is AMAZING! Thank GOD that he gave her the knowledge and skill to be able to know what she does and to do what she can do. She is awesome and I love her!!!!

She loves her bouncy seat.

And not because I am a mom now. My Mom is fantastic. She has been here all week. I love it. She keeps doing things around my house, and that in itself is wonderful. I have an infection so I have not been able to move as well as I had hoped I would be able to at three weeks post op, but hey, that's what mom is for I guess.

She has been fabulous and I don't know what I would have done this week without her. Jay is back to work and I would have been here by myself had she not started coming over every morning. LOVE IT.

Babies on the other hand, mine especially, are wonderful too! I love this little munchkin so much. I never knew I had this much love in me.