Italian Curly Noodle Dish
1 lb ground beef(seasoned w/salt,pepper & onion flakes)
1 26oz jar spaghetti sauce
1 8oz can tomato sauce
1 lb cottage cheese
1 8oz cream cheese
1 cup sour cream
1 green bell pepper(optional)
1 pkg curly noodles
Brown meat with onion flakes & chopped bell pepper. Season with salt & pepper. Add spaghetti sauce and tomato sauce. Have noodles cooking at the same time as the meat. Set both the browned meat mixture & cooked noodles aside. Let cool completely if you are putting this dish together in the morning for dinner at night. Combine cottage cheese, cream cheese & sour cream. Mix until creamy. In a large baking dish, layer noodles on the bottom, spread cheese mixture over noodles, then pour meat sauce over the cheese mixture.
If you are refrigerating for the day be sure to pull dish out a half hour prior to putting it in the oven. Otherwise, Bake covered at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
Enjoy with steamed vegetables or a green salad, rolls or french bread.
Anyone who knows me, knows that I am very well taken care of. My husband, of more than 15 years, is the cook in the family. He also does the grocery shopping. I am so blessed. The only time I really enjoy being in the kitchen is when I am baking or working on summer side dishes.
Each year, for the past nine, my husband's job as bakery manager has required him to be at work for 12 to 16 hours a day for the week prior to Thanksgiving and Christmas. About three days before that week begins my two growing boys, 13 & 9, look at each other and then ask, "What are we gonna have for dinners this week?" For the record, we have never had to go
hungry. But, they know I struggle these weeks. What to have, how to have it and what to have with it?
The Italian Curly Noodle recipe above saves the day. I enjoy making it because it doesn't require a lot of time or effort and is always satisfying. I hope your family will enjoy it as much as mine does.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
Remember the Blessings
With the close of the autumn season comes Thanksgiving. A time of giving and pondering what we have been given. Before it is here and gone, I wanted to suggest a couple of ways that you and your family can begin reflecting on the many blessings you have received over the last year.
The first idea is to keep a tablet of paper and a pen or pencil handy in the kitchen. A magnetic pad of paper would be great on the refrigerator. You'll be less likely to misplace it. Anytime a family member gets into the fridge or even just goes into the kitchen, have them write down something they are thankful for. It may seem hard at first to think of something. Likely, though, that whatever they were after in the kitchen, they are thankful for it. Have them write it down. Even if you send them in to do the dishes. Hooray for the dishwasher! Mom, perhaps they are your dishwasher. You can write that down. You can also encourage thankful thoughts by writing what you are thankful for prior to putting the tablet on the fridge. List each of your family members by name. Are you thankful for your job? Are you blessed to be at home? Are you thankful for pets, a teacher, friends or your freedoms?
Once the list begins to grow, I hope you will be surprised at how much we really do have to be thankful for. Add to the list over these next few days. Before serving up the Thanksgiving meal take time together as a family and read the list out loud. Remember the Blessings!
Another suggestion for pondering what your family has to be thankful for requires kernals of corn. If you have an ear of Indian corn you've been using to decorate with then plan to pass it and a small bowl or basket around the table during your Thanksgiving meal. When the corn is passed, each person takes off a kernal to put into the basket and share what they are thankful for. As the kernals begin to cover the bottom of the basket, families are reminded there is so much to be thankful for. This idea can be a great conversation starter. If you do not have an ear of corn then you can substitute popcorn kernals. Place 3 or 4 at each place setting prior to dinner. As the basket comes around...Remember the Blessings!
The first idea is to keep a tablet of paper and a pen or pencil handy in the kitchen. A magnetic pad of paper would be great on the refrigerator. You'll be less likely to misplace it. Anytime a family member gets into the fridge or even just goes into the kitchen, have them write down something they are thankful for. It may seem hard at first to think of something. Likely, though, that whatever they were after in the kitchen, they are thankful for it. Have them write it down. Even if you send them in to do the dishes. Hooray for the dishwasher! Mom, perhaps they are your dishwasher. You can write that down. You can also encourage thankful thoughts by writing what you are thankful for prior to putting the tablet on the fridge. List each of your family members by name. Are you thankful for your job? Are you blessed to be at home? Are you thankful for pets, a teacher, friends or your freedoms?
Once the list begins to grow, I hope you will be surprised at how much we really do have to be thankful for. Add to the list over these next few days. Before serving up the Thanksgiving meal take time together as a family and read the list out loud. Remember the Blessings!
Another suggestion for pondering what your family has to be thankful for requires kernals of corn. If you have an ear of Indian corn you've been using to decorate with then plan to pass it and a small bowl or basket around the table during your Thanksgiving meal. When the corn is passed, each person takes off a kernal to put into the basket and share what they are thankful for. As the kernals begin to cover the bottom of the basket, families are reminded there is so much to be thankful for. This idea can be a great conversation starter. If you do not have an ear of corn then you can substitute popcorn kernals. Place 3 or 4 at each place setting prior to dinner. As the basket comes around...Remember the Blessings!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Autumn Treasures
It's getting dark outside earlier and autumn will soon be winding down. With one of the most gorgeous seasons nearly over is there a way to make it last a little longer? The vibrant colors of fall can be brought indoors...
We use to take walks with our young family on sunny autumn afternoons down a street called Snowy Butte and on through the neighborhood. The special thing about Snowy Butte was all of the Birch trees that lined it. With the sun shining and the breeze blowing it was beautiful to see the golden leaves falling down like snow as we walked. Our kids each liked to bring along a bucket to carry their many different kinds of favorite leaves home. We would spread them out on the center of the table to enjoy but it wasn't long before they were curling and crumbling.
One way for kids to enjoy leaves indoors, before they are too dry, is to lay a piece of paper over the leaves of their choice. Then, using the side of a crayon, rub over the paper in the area of the leaves. Soon you will see the appearance of their Autumn treasures on the paper. If you have large enough sheets of paper place mats could be designed for the family meal at Thanksgiving.
While the kids are at work on the place mats you could decide which leaves you would most enjoy in the center of the table. Pull out your ironing board and turn on the iron. With the leaves between two sheets of wax paper, press them with your hot iron (using NO steam).
A number of years ago my grandma waxed leaves for me. She picked a few small branches from her trees up at the ranch. I was able to decorate with those branches for many years. Laying them out with the Thanksgiving Dinner buffet. Using them as a centerpiece on the table. Special, of course, because they always brought Grandma to mind.
So even though the nights and days are getting colder and the leaves are falling faster, you can make it last a little longer. Take advantage of the next sunny day. Walk with the family, take in the fresh air and bring your autumn treasures inside.
We use to take walks with our young family on sunny autumn afternoons down a street called Snowy Butte and on through the neighborhood. The special thing about Snowy Butte was all of the Birch trees that lined it. With the sun shining and the breeze blowing it was beautiful to see the golden leaves falling down like snow as we walked. Our kids each liked to bring along a bucket to carry their many different kinds of favorite leaves home. We would spread them out on the center of the table to enjoy but it wasn't long before they were curling and crumbling.
One way for kids to enjoy leaves indoors, before they are too dry, is to lay a piece of paper over the leaves of their choice. Then, using the side of a crayon, rub over the paper in the area of the leaves. Soon you will see the appearance of their Autumn treasures on the paper. If you have large enough sheets of paper place mats could be designed for the family meal at Thanksgiving.
While the kids are at work on the place mats you could decide which leaves you would most enjoy in the center of the table. Pull out your ironing board and turn on the iron. With the leaves between two sheets of wax paper, press them with your hot iron (using NO steam).
A number of years ago my grandma waxed leaves for me. She picked a few small branches from her trees up at the ranch. I was able to decorate with those branches for many years. Laying them out with the Thanksgiving Dinner buffet. Using them as a centerpiece on the table. Special, of course, because they always brought Grandma to mind.
So even though the nights and days are getting colder and the leaves are falling faster, you can make it last a little longer. Take advantage of the next sunny day. Walk with the family, take in the fresh air and bring your autumn treasures inside.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
How Would You Have Spent Friday Night?
An invitation to a 14 year old's birthday was exciting to my son. A Friday evening with friends, pizza, cake and ice cream. The highlight of the night was a scavenger hunt. My friend was short on drivers and asked if I would be willing to help her out. I had not planned to spend Friday night with a car load of teens. Not my cup o' coffee (or so I thought).
My son, being a teenager, was looking forward to a night of independence. I was looking forward to a quiet night at home. However, for my friend's sake, I was happy to go along and as it turned out, my son even wanted to ride in my car. I had never taken part in a scavenger hunt before.
Everyone (about 25 of us) had a blast!
There are a variety of ways to organize and or budget for a scavenger hunt. You could provide a certain amount of money to each team and see which group comes back with the most items. You could spend only the cost of fuel to send out teams each with a digital camera and list of items to photograph. Another idea would be to turn teams loose in a neighborhood with a list of items to collect and bring back to the base.
Our scavenger hunt was 3 teams each in their own cars with 70 minutes to go and take 15 pictures of items listed for us. We brought back an egg, flag, feather, blue rubberband, a dog treat and a mouse.
The cool thing was that when we got the teams back together, these teenagers, got to share what was found and accomplished. There was no Grand Prize and none of them seemed to notice. They had such a fantastic time of competition and working together that they truly seemed to feel the reward on the inside.
For that reason, I would gladly spend another Friday evening with a carload of teens!
My son, being a teenager, was looking forward to a night of independence. I was looking forward to a quiet night at home. However, for my friend's sake, I was happy to go along and as it turned out, my son even wanted to ride in my car. I had never taken part in a scavenger hunt before.
Everyone (about 25 of us) had a blast!
There are a variety of ways to organize and or budget for a scavenger hunt. You could provide a certain amount of money to each team and see which group comes back with the most items. You could spend only the cost of fuel to send out teams each with a digital camera and list of items to photograph. Another idea would be to turn teams loose in a neighborhood with a list of items to collect and bring back to the base.
Our scavenger hunt was 3 teams each in their own cars with 70 minutes to go and take 15 pictures of items listed for us. We brought back an egg, flag, feather, blue rubberband, a dog treat and a mouse.
The cool thing was that when we got the teams back together, these teenagers, got to share what was found and accomplished. There was no Grand Prize and none of them seemed to notice. They had such a fantastic time of competition and working together that they truly seemed to feel the reward on the inside.
For that reason, I would gladly spend another Friday evening with a carload of teens!
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