A Recipe A Week

Dessert First This Week

My first one is for a Dream Pineapple Upside Down cake, this cake was the moistest cake I have ever eaten so yummy, especially if you love pineapple, or even if you don't cause Bruce hates them and he just picked them off and ate the cake. Here's what you need.

3 cans (8oz each) pineapple slices

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/3 cup butter or margarine melted

6 maraschino cherries, halved

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1 pkg yellow cake mix

1 envelope Dream Whip Whipped Topping Mix

4 eggs

1 cup cold water

Preheat oven to 350* F. Drain pineapple, reserving 2 TBSP of the juice; set aside. Mix brown sugar and butter in 13x9 inch baking pan. Arrange pineapple slices in pan, cutting slices if necessary to evenly fit onto bottom of pan. Place cherry half, cut side up, in center of each slice. Sprinkle with the reserved pineapple juice and pecans.

Beat dry cake mix, dry whipped topping mix, eggs, and water in large bowl with mixer on low speed 2 mins. Beat on medium speed for 4 mins. Carefully spoon into prepared pan.

Bake 50-55 minutes or until top springs back when lightly pressed. Let stand 10 minutes; invert onto serving plate. Let stand 1 minute; remove pan. Serve warm or cooled.

Creamy Chicken and Pasta Bake

1 1/2 cups multi-grain rotini pasta, uncooked

1 small bunch of broccoli, cut into florets

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite size pieces

1/2 cup fat free chicken broth

2 oz cream cheese

1 cup mozzarella cheese

2 tbsp parmesan cheese

Heat oven to 375*. Cook pasta in large sauce pan as directed adding broccoli for last 3 mins. Heat large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat. Add chicken, cook 3 mins or until no longer pink, stirring frequently. Stir in broth, simmer for 3 mins or until chicken is done.  Add cream cheese, cook on low heat until melted. Stir in a half cup of mozzerella.

Drain pasta and broccoli and mix with chicken mixture. Spoon into an 8 inch square baking dish, and cover.

Bake 15 mins or until heated through. Sprinkle with remaining cheeses, bake uncovered until cheese is melted. Let stand 5 mins and serve.

I am so TIRED!

I am so exhausted! I have subbed the last two days, and they wanted me to sub tomorrow and were pissed when I said no. I don't have a job for a reason people this was only supposed to be a part time deal! Not an EVERY FREAKING day thing! Anyway, if they are rude to me again about it, I am going to the principal and asking her to remove my name, and tell her why! 

We are getting ready for our big Day out with Thomas weekend! We are leaving Friday around noon. As a surprise for the girls, I made reservations for the three of us to go to the American Girl Bistro Friday night. I think I am even more excited than they are, LOL! Bummer of the weekend though it supposed to cool! I am praying the weather changes between now and then! One can hope, LOL!

I have to get my house in order before we go. I hate coming home to a dirty house! I have my work cut out for me though, cause my house is a wreck! I may do a daily list on things to get done, but when I do those I always feel like a failure if I don't get it done, nothing like failure glaring at you from a computer screen! 

Here's hoping to a productive couple of days, and a nice weather weekend! 

A Recipe a Week

Okay these are two that I made tonight. Both were very yummy.

Cheese Olive Loaf

1 loaf french bread

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

2 tbs of mayo

1/2 cup pimento stuffed sliced green olives

Don't let the mayo scare you off you can't even taste it.

Mix cheese, mayo, and olives together. Spread onto the french bread. Wrap the bread in foil and bake in 350 degree oven for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Spaghetti with Zesty Bolognese

1 small onion, chopped

1/4 cup Zesty Italian dressin

1 lb lean ground beef

1 15 oz can tomato sauce

1 14 oz can diced tomatoes, undrained

2 Tbsp cream cheese

12 oz spaghetti, uncooked

1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

Cook onions and dressing in large skillet on medium heat. Increase heat to medium high, add meat and cook stirring frequently until browned. Stir in tomato sauce and tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in cream cheese.

While sauce is simmering cook pasta as directed on package.

Pour sauce on spaghetti and top with parmesan. 

Last one a quick and simple dessert.

Chocolate Plunge

2/3 cup light corn syrup

1/2 cup whipping cream

1 package 8 squares semi-sweet baking chocolate

Microwave corn syrup and whipping cream until mixture comes to a boil. Add chocolate stir until melted. 

I serve with strawberries, marshmallows, pound cake, graham crackers, or other things that are chocolate dippable! My kids LOVE this!

Spring Break

Spring Break is almost over and we haven't done squat. I always have these grand plans and we end up hanging at the house and not doing anything. I did go shopping with my friend Kyla one day but other than that we have just hung out here at the house. I wanted to take the kids to do something outside since the weather has been so nice, but of course it started raining today and is supposed to continue. BLAH! The kids are going tonight to spend the night at Bruce's parents. I think we will go out to dinner and hope for nice weather tomorrow so we can actually go and do something. I knew this break would be low key since we are going next weekend to Day Out With Thomas in Dallas, but still I would like to do something before they have to go back to school!

I Read Another Book

I am on a reading roll! LOL I read James Patterson's 4th of July this week. It was good had a really surprise ending, that I didn't see coming and I am hard to fool. I really like James Patterson, I don't know why I waited so long to read him! A little graphic and gory at times, but what murder mysteries aren't?

I needed a good recipe for church pot luck a few weeks ago, and I got this one off the Food Network site, and they were yummy!

Blondies

1 1/2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar

1 cup unsalted butter

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon fine salt

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

about 1 1/2 cups butterscotch, semisweet chocolate, peanut butter or white chocolate chips. (I used white chocolate)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter and flour a 9 by 13 inch glass baking dish. 

Put sugar in a large bowl. Melt the butter in a small skillet or in the microwave in a glass measuring cup. Stir the butter in the sugar until smooth, cool to room temperature.

Meanwhile, in another medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt together.

Beat the egg and vanilla into the sugar mixture. Add the flour mixture a bit at a time until a smooth thick batter forms.(It is really thick!) Fold in chips, as desired.

Spoon the batter into the prepared dish and spread to evenly fill dish. Bake until the blondies are light brown around the edges and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 20 to 25 minutes. 

Remove from the oven and let cool slightly. Invert onto a rack and cool completely. Cut into squared and serve.

Okay this one is for when I have absolutely no time and need a super fast dinner, it is not all that healthy but my kids love them and I try not to do it too often.

Dressed up Taquitos

1 box chicken taquitos

1 can red enchilada sauce

Mexican blend cheese

1 can sliced black olives

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put taquitos into baking dish and heat in oven for 8 minutes. Remove pour on enchilada sauce, cover with cheese, and then top with black olives. Heat for an additional 30 minutes or until cheese is melted. I serve them with sour cream and we usually have chips and dip with it as well. 

Shopaholic and Baby- Book Review

Whenever I read a book that takes me a really long time I like to follow it with one I know I can read quickly! Enter Shopaholic and Baby by Sophie Kinsella. This book is part of the Shopaholic series and also the series the recent movie is based off of. I always enjoy these books because they are so funny! This was vintage Becky Brandon nee' Bloomwood. Funny, clever, and even a bit touching believe it or not! I really it enjoyed it, it was a quick read, it is not Pultizer Prize winning stuff but it was entertaining which is just what I needed. 

Book Review~ A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

I finally finished this book, don't know why it took so long. Either I have been busier than normal or this was just one of those books that took longer to finish. This was the first book I have read by John Irving although he has written several. This book is the book the movie Simon Birch was based on, I loved the movie BTW, but if you like your book and movie to follow closely then you will be disappointed with this one. It really is almost like two different stories with the exact same characters.

Now on to my review, while I was reading this book I wasn't liking it not sure if was writing style or what. Mr. Irving is BIG on description which for the most part I don't disagree with, but this at times was a little too much for my taste. That being said after finishing the book, I loved it, even all the description because in the end you get the reason it all had to be in there. Irving is a gifted storyteller with excellent characters. He is funny and witty to point I laughed out loud in several instances, but he is touching and intelligent in all the right places.  This book touches on faith, predestination, childhood, lasting and touching friendships, what makes a real family, and every thing in between. I am so glad I stuck it out, it ended up being a joy! 

That Shaved about 10 Years Off My Life!

I was subbing today in first grade and the kids were out for afternoon recess and I was sitting in the room minding my own business, trying to read my A Prayer for Owen Meany book ( only been on this one for about a month, it is time to be finished!). When all of the sudden there was this loud pop, it seriously sounded like a gun shot. I had just gotten on to a couple of the boys and instantly thought OMG they are shooting at me, LOL! Turns out that one of the kids (not any from my class) threw a rock at the room I was in and shattered the window! It is a huge window and it didn't bust the glass out so it is just sitting there making this cracking noise like it is going to fall out at any minute! EEEEK! I so cannot have this particular group of kids in there with that window like that. There are some groups that could be in there all day and leave it alone but this group would be all over it! So we had to have class in the media center the rest of the afternoon. That was my excitement for the day and it scared the crap out of me and quite possibly took 10 years off my life, I am thinking of suing for mental anguish. I am pretty sure I may have a case!

What I Should be Doing Instead of Blogging!

1. Tackling the insane amount of laundry I have right now! Last week was a busy week and I am WAY, WAY, WAY behind!

2. Doing the dishes, BLAH, YUCK, and BLAH!

3. Feeding my son lunch! He had a late breakfast and I am just not ready to move from chair yet!

4. Finally finishing a book A Prayer for Owen Meany so I can move on to something else. I have been on this book for about a month now, and I am ready to move on, but not before I finish it. In my defense it is a really long book, but still!

5. Cleaning my house that because of my busy week last week is a total DISASTER this week!

6. Figuring out tomorrow's Team Kid's lesson for church!

7. Taking a nap, oh wait I did that this morning while the boy slept in!


I also could have been substituting today, but alas I did not pick up my phone, it was a long week last week, and I already have one day this week, and well I just didn't want to go today! Ideally I need to pick up one more day, but I may not! Who knows!

Cooper Just Might FREAK!

I told him if he would learn to potty like a big boy that I would buy him tickets for Day out with Thomas, he is Thomas obsessed right now. He loved the idea he just didn't want to learn to use the potty. He is one stubborn boy, but I am proud to say he has one stubborn mommy as well, and he is completely potty trained! He wears a pull up at night, just in case, and he still doesn't like to poop and will hold it, until he has to go, see how stubborn he is?!?

So, the other night I ordered his tickets. He freaks when we just visit the site so I can't imagine how it is going to be when he actually gets to go and see Thomas!! We are going March 28th and we are having to drive to Grapevine to see it, but it will be so worth it! I am so excited for him, I am about to freak, LOL!

I am a huge fan of chinese food, just not a huge fan of having to pay for it, this recipe is a great at home version, that is almost as good as the real thing!

Beef Noodle Bowl

1/2 pound linguine, uncooked
3 cups broccoli florets
3 carrots peeled, sliced ( I usually just use a bag of frozen baby carrots)
2 tsp oil
1 lb beef sirloin steak cut into strips
1/4 cup Kraft Toasted Asian Sesame Seed Dressing
1 TBSP Teriyaki Sause

Cook pasta according to package directions, adding veggies for the last 2 mins of cooking.
While pasta is cooking heat oil in nonstick skillet. Add meat, cook until browned on all sides stirring occasionally. Stir in dressing and teriyaki sauce, cook 2 mins, or until sauce is thickened, sitrring occasionally.

Drain pasta, and toss with meat mixture to coat.

Optional- Sprinkle with peanuts before serving. ( I never do this, but if you want a little crunch, it might be good)

A Note to Jason Mesnick

Jason,

For future reference your name and integrity should never be used in the same sentence, you sold your integrity for 15 minutes of fame. If you think you can even be remotely proud of your actions, you are delusional. I think the only reason you changed your mind is the fact that you came on a show to find a wife completely unprepared to make that commitment. The real reason you dumped Melissa is she was ready to become a wife and mother and you were not and neither is Molly. Crisis averted Mr. Mesnick, and what did it cost you?!? Just your integrity!

A Jilted Viewer

AKA One Mad Momma

I Do NOT <3 Jason Mesnick

Are you kidding me?!? I have not been this mad since that jerk from Deanna's season didn't pick anyone, and quite frankly I think I may be madder now than I was then.  I can not believe the outcome of this season! I think he is a jerk, how could he do that to Melissa on television? I think that is why I am so ticked! I mean could you not have called her on the phone, went to see her, anything. I mean I am sure that they had talked about things, but to wait until you are there face to face taping, please! JERK! Oh and BS that he and Molly had not talked since the taping, BS! Although she did do a pretty convincing job of being surprised. I wish she would have told him to take a hike, instead of falling all over his ignorant self. GEESH! I think she should have told him to go seek out Deanna, cause those two are cut from the same cloth! 

Never Again Will We Hear "The Rest of the Story"

I was so saddened to hear of the passing of Paul Harvey over the weekend. I was always so excited when I would be in the car or near a radio when his segment came on. I loved to hear his distinctive voice, his pauses and inflections, and the way he told a story just can not be matched. I would wait anxiously as he would end the segment and reveal whomever or whatever he had been talking about and then that distinctive and now you know the rest of the story. I will miss that.

I was watching the evening news tonight, they did a short segment on Paul, I was unaware that his wife was his business manager, they had a cute quote from him in which he said I never intended on ever being on television but when your wife is your business partner you just do what you are told. Her name was Angel, and she sadly passed away a year ago. As they said on the news Paul Harvey will be missed but he is with the angels now and one Angel in particular. Godspeed Paul Harvey!

A Recipe a Week

Shasta at Crackers and Chaos came up with this idea to post a recipe a week and I think it is a fantastic idea, so I am participating as well. If you want to participate head on over to her blog and sign her Mr. Linky and join in the fun! My first recipe will be the fated Weeknight Cheese Quiche I blogged about earlier in the week! It turned out FANTASTIC BTW!

Weeknight Cheese Quiche

1 cup sliced mushrooms

1 cup chopped onion (I did this in my food processor so it would be really fine, as onions aren't my fave)

1 Pkg 10oz frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained

1/3 cup Miracle Whip

1/3 cup milk

4 eggs

1 cup shredded mozzarella

1 frozen 9 inch pie crust

1/4 cup bacon bits

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray nonstick skillet with cooking spray. Add mushrooms and onions and cook 5 mins or until tender.  Stir in spinach and mix well.

Mix dressing, milk, eggs, until well blended. Add spinach mixture and cheese.

Pour into pie shell and sprinkle with bacon bits. Bake 50 mins until set and golden.

I served this with a nice green salad and hot rolls. I topped the quiche with a bit of sour cream as well. YUM!

This recipe is courtesy of www.kraftfoods.com