...Oh thanks Aaron, Appreciate it!

So as I mentioned I started work on thursday...I've had four 8 and a half hour shifts since then...Yeah it's been great to get out of the house, but since we are a one car family that means I make the twenty minute walk to and from work adding close to an hour onto my day.  Aarons work is closer to a 45 minute walk and putting me on a bike is seriously just asking for a broken ankle/knee/or whatever else.  I love working, honestly I do.  It gets me out of the house, gives us some extra cash, and in general helps keep me from being a bum.  All that considered, my husband is kind of a slob.  He isn't terrible of anything, I swear! 

I am just the one who has always taken care of laundry, cooking, cleaning.  Everything around the house has always been done by me, because I haven't had a job in two and a half years.  I have arthritis in my knees and hips, and have a bad back which means that I am in pain at the end of my shift.  After my walk home I am ready to fall into bed and pass out.  The house has fallen by the wayside and my husband keeps telling me just to write down what needs to be done each day and we will split is up...are you joking?  You don't even put your dishes in the sink, trash in the can and I can't remember the last time you took care of the cats liter without me begging you for 10 minutes.

Now, that's not saying my husband is gross or anything, and our bathrooms stay clean.  No junk on the counters, no hair in the sink, he really is pretty good.  I just don't understand someone who needs to be told how to "straighten up"  It's not rocket science.  If you use something put it back when your done.  If you put a tea packet in your water...walk the 5 steps to the trash can instead of leaving it on the counter.  Sometimes I wonder about that boy.  Today I only have a 6 hour shift so I guess when I get home I will put the rock on as loud as I can and do a top to bottom clean before starting my cooking for tomorrow.

Another fantastic recipe!

Ok, I am not going to lie this stuff looks seriously gross while you are making it, and it looks pretty gross once it's finished (Aaron looked at me like I was nuts the first time I made it)  However,  it is seriously deliscious.  No Joke this is yummy and quick and super easy.  We call it Beef nacho Casserole and it is a very different recipe than when I first started making it.

1 pound lean beef (or Turkey if you'd like)

1 packet taco seasoning

Half a cup of water

1 can drained corn

Half a can of salsa (whichever kind you like)  I use Mild Pace

About half a cup of sour cream (although it is usually more)

Some tortilla chips

Shredded Extra sharp cheddar

Brown Beef in a skillet, add taco seasoning and water, mix in corn, salsa, and sour cream until well blended.  Pour half of mixture in a baking dish (see picture below) layer on crushed chips and cheese, pour remaining mixture, layer crushed chips and cheese.  Bake at 350' for 30 minutes.

I love this stuff because it is a little spicy and a little sweet because of the corn.  It is great for when you are tired and just want something quick.

Homemade Vegtable Beef Soup

My Mom has some awesom recipes, but this is one of my favorites.  I love how hearty, homey, and deliscious this soup is.  Everytime I make it I remeber some event that we had it at.  On the first snow day of the year, or any other number of times we had this.  It's perfect if your family is all over the place, we called it a "grazing" food.  My mom would put it on at lunch time and whenever we had time for dinner 6:00 before practice or 8:00 after practice, this is a great way to eat home cooked, without having to compromise on time. If you are weary of leaving the stove on low while you aren't there or right in the kitchen, you can use a crock pot once the beef is browned.  I browned the beef in this pot and added the ingredients from there.

I have made a few tweeks because I can't seem to help myself...

1 1/2 pounds 93/7 ground beef. (You can use turkey if you want something healthier)

1 14oz. can petite diced tomatoes (undrained)

1 package Liptons Beefy onion soup mix (this can be found in the soup aisle, in a blue box)

2 cups water

3 cans swansons beef broth

1 Medium onion

3 large Potatoes (I used baking potatoes and skinned them)

2 carrots (or a handful of little ones)

1/2 cup frozen corn

1/2 cup frozen peas

1/2 cup frozen green beans

1/2 cup frozen lima beans

Brown Hamburger.  Drain excess grease off.

Mix Hamburger, Tomatoes, Water, Beefy Onion Soup Mix, Beef Broth together.

Dice Onion, Potatoes and Carrots.  Add to mix

Bring to a boil over medium heat

Turn heat to medium low,for four hours

Add frozen vegtables, cook for another 2 hours

Add salt and pepper as desired.

More good recipes...please don't drool on your key board.

This is why I love fall

When the air starts to get cold and crisp, and the days get shorter I become a champion at making comfort food.  You know, the extra fattening, super delicious junk to add on extra puonds before it gets really cold.  Trust me when I say that a few extra pounds will make you warmer in the coming winter, and even if not.  This stuff is just too good to pass up.  We always called it People Puppy Chow, and made it with crispex, but chex calls it Muddie Buddies and it tastes the same.The recipe is as follows.

Ingredients:

5 cups Corn Chex®, Rice Chex®, Wheat Chex® or Chocolate Chex® cereal (or combination)

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Into large bowl, measure cereal; set aside.


In 1-quart microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter uncovered on High 1 minute; stir. Microwave about 30 seconds longer or until mixture can be stirred smooth. Stir in vanilla. Pour mixture over cereal, stirring until evenly coated. Pour into 2-gallon resealable food-storage plastic bag.

Add powdered sugar. Seal bag; shake until well coated. Put it into a gallon sized bag and store on counter.
(I do all of this in a pot over the stove top, stirring extra gently to not break the cereal.)

Apple Crunch Cobbler

Apple Crunch Cobbler

4 to 6 medium cooking apples, peeled, cored and chopped

1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon butter, cut in small pieces


Topping
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 tablespoons butter
1 egg

Preparation:

Mix apples, 1 cup of sugar and cinnamon; place in a greased 8-inch baking dish. Dot with the 1 tablespoon of butter.

Combine topping ingredients; stir until blended then pour (Spread as well as you can, it is really thick) over apples. Bake at 350° for 30 to 35 minutes.

Before Adding the topping

After it was done baking

My Mom's Chicken Pot Pie Recipe

Chicken Pot Pie

This recipe makes two 9 inch deep dish pies.  If you do not need 2 pies cut this recipe in half.

4 Cups chopped cooked chicken (I boil Boneless skinless chicken breast)

1 Cup Chopped Onion

1 Cup Chopped Celery (I don't include celery, because I don't like it)

6 Tb. Butter

6 Tb. Flour

2 Tb. Parsley Flakes

3 ts. Instant Chicken Bouillon Granules

1 ts. Poultry Season

1/2 ts. Garlic Salt

1/2 ts. Pepper

1 ts. Salt

1 and 1/2 Cup Milk

1 Cup Swanson's Chicken Broth (more if needed)

1 Cup Thinly Sliced Carrot

2 Cups Diced Peeled Potato

1 Cup Frozen Peas

1 Cup Frozen Corn

2    9 Inch Deep Dish Pie Crusts

2    Pillsbury Topper Crusts

In pot on medium high saute onion and celery in butter until tender.  Stir in Flour (do not stop stirring while slowly adding flour, you are making a roue) Stir in Parsley, Chicken Granules, Poultry Season, Garlic Salt, Pepper and Salt.  Blend in milk and chicken broth Stirring constantly until thickened. Add chicken, carrot, potatoes, peas and corn.  Pour into pie shells. Place pie crust over top (roll it out a little) Seal edges (I use a fork) Cut slits into top.

You can throw one of these into the freezer if you want to, Just put it in before cooking.  Thaw before cooking

Bake at 375 for 1 hour.

This is your roue you want it to be thick before adding the vegtables

Just before I put the tops on

After it was half eaten, It is always eaten before I get a picture.

Pizza!

Mmmm who doesn't love Pizza? I sure do. I'm not talking about that greasy gross stuff you buy from the pizza place. I'm talking about homeade pizza. This pizza was made using a store bought refrigerated crust from pillsbury. We sometimes make homemade crust but this stuff is great, and is super quick. Make some pizza sauce using tomato sauce and your choice of spices. I often use an italian grinder, some garlic salt, and some other odds and ends. Use as much sauce as you want, and top with whatever you have around, we used pepperoni, red pepper, and mushrooms (only on my side), and of course mozerella cheese.