Baked Mostaccioli

Okay. First of all, I know this isn't really mostaccioli - I used penne noodles. In my defense, I wanted whole wheat noodles and I couldn't find them in the mostaccioli shape. (Would you believe that each time I have typed "mostaccioli", I have spelled it a different way?) At any rate, no matter what shape of pasta you use, this recipe is delicious. I served it with some spinach and we were full & happy. As usual, I adapted the recipe from the original, which can be found here.

Baked Mostaccioli

8 ounces uncooked mostaccioli (or penne!)
1/2 pound lean ground beef
1 small onion, chopped
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
1/3 cup water
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 cups (16 ounces) fat-free cottage cheese
1 teaspoon italian seasoning
1-1/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350°. Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato paste, water, oregano and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes. In a small bowl, combine cottage cheese and italian seasoning. Drain pasta. Spread 1 cup meat sauce into an 9x13 baking dish coated with cooking spray. Layer with half of the pasta, meat sauce and mozzarella cheese. Top with cottage cheese mixture. Layer with remaining pasta, meat sauce and mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake, uncovered,for 30-40 minutes or until bubbly and heated through. Makes 6 servings

Menu Plan Monday

Whew. It's been awhile since I planned a weekly menu. I have missed the structure and the time savings that preplanning provides. This week is fairly low key: no school on Monday, a couple double shifts at work for my husband, and babysitting two infants (plus caring for my own 13 month old) for me. I'm trying to focus on healthier, more nutritionally complete meals. That said, I still have to please a picky tween, the baby and my husband, who has food allergies. It can make meal planning a challenge, since they rarely agree on what to eat. Here's what we'll be trying out this week:

Oven Baked Vegetable Beef Stew, biscuits, apple crisp (recipe to be posted)

Steak, mashed potatoes, mashed rutabagas (for my husband), corn on the cob, fruit

Shredded chicken tacos, spanish rice, fruit

White Chicken Chili, cheesy jalapeno corn muffins (recipe to be posted), fruit

Baked Mostaccioli (recipe to be posted), spinach, fruit

Broccoli Cheese Soup, biscuits, fruit

Breaded Fish Fillets (recipe to be posted), sauteed squash and zucchini, fruit

For more great menus, click here!

Oven Baked Vegetable Beef Stew

We are trying a new recipe for beef stew today. My general method involves the crockpot, a seasoning packet, and what later turns out to be too many potatoes, carrots & onions. This recipe intrigued me, due to its use of the rutabaga. I also like the idea of baking it in the oven, just to change things up a bit. Everyone enjoyed this stew - even the baby. I've adapted a bit to suit my family's taste, but the original recipe can be found here.

Oven Baked Vegetable Beef Stew

1-1/2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
3 cups cubed peeled potatoes
3 celery ribs, chopped
1-1/2 cups cubed peeled sweet potatoes
3 large carrots, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
1 cup cubed peeled rutabaga
1 envelope onion soup mix
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup water

Preheat oven to 325°. In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the beef, vegetables, soup mix and seasonings. Seal bag and shake to coat evenly. Put meat & veggie mix into a 13x9 baking dish coated with cooking spray. Pour water over beef & veggie mixture. Cover and bake at 325° for 1-1/2 hours. If you like more broth, add another 1/2 cup water. Uncover and bake for 30-40 minutes, or until beef and vegetables are tender. Serves 4-6, depending on hunger levels.

This recipe was shared at The Grocery Cart Challenge and Mommy's Kitchen.

Spazz Attack Is Here!

Cassady, tween sensation, has ventured into the blogging world. I've featured some of her writing in the past, here on my blog. Her school essays were just the beginning though. She is now taking on more of a challenge, with daily topics, pictures and even polls to answer!

Go listen to some fun music while checking out her creative project...enjoy!!
(That was my way of warning you about the autoplay :)

Spazz Attack

Get ready for the Anime...

Menu Plan...Wednesday?

I am a little off this week. We've been crazy busy and I have just not been motivated to menu plan. We have another trip to the pumpkin patch, visiting relatives, Halloween parties, Trick or Treating and lots of fun planned for this week. So, halfway through the week...here is what we'll be eating (and what we have already eaten, too!)

Monday: Beef Stew, fruit

Tuesday: Beef/Bean tacos, fruit

Wednesday: Smothered Pierogies (recipe to be posted), fruit

Thursday: Runza Skillet, fruit

Friday: Crockpot Chili, toast, fruit

Saturday:
Breakfast: eggs & turkey bacon
Lunch: Broccoli Cheese Soup
Dinner: Leftover Chili

Sunday:
Breakfast: french toast
Lunch: leftover Broccoli Cheese Soup or Chili
Dinner: Mummy Dogs, oven fries, fruit

Want more menu ideas? Click here!

Menu Plan Monday

I had a really hard time planning my menu this week. I feel like we are eating the same things every week. I looked back on some old plans for some new ideas and was at least able to come up with a plan for this week. I think I will be finding some new recipes to try next week. I hate feeling like we are in a rut! At the very least, last week's menu was successful and I was able to follow it fairly well. Hooray! We have a pretty busy week ahead, so I tried to keep our meals fairly simple, yet healthy. Here's what I came up with:

Monday: beef/bean tacos, spanish rice, fruit

Tuesday: tater tot casserole (recipe to be posted), green salad, fruit

Wednesday: Runza Skillet, green salad, fruit

Thursday: No School
Breakfast: eggs & turkey bacon
Lunch: leftovers for me, frozen pizza for Cassady
Dinner: Chicken Pot Pie (recipe to be posted), green salad, fruit

Friday: No School
Breakfast: burrito with eggs/turkey bacon/cheese
Lunch: homemade fishsticks (carryover again), broccoli/cheese, fruit
Dinner: Potato soup, green salad, fruit

Saturday:
Breakfast:cereal with yogurt or milk & fruit
Lunch: leftover soup, salad, fruit
Dinner: homemade taquitos (recipe to be posted), spanish rice, fruit

Sunday:
Breakfast: egg/bacon, toast
Lunch: oven baked "fried" chicken, oven fries, spinach, fruit
Dinner: crockpot chili, crescent rolls, fruit

For more meal ideas, click here!

Flashback Friday

She was born to rock. Also to be so spoiled that she never got in trouble for messing with Uncle Timothy's drum set. At the grand old age of 2, Miss Cassady Paige had both her uncle and her grandpa wrapped around her little finger. She has yet to relinquish this hold on either of them :)

Pumpkin Banana Muffins

We love pumpkin - muffins especially. Even the baby has had a few of these yummy fall treats. I found this recipe in its original form here, and have modified it for our family. My husband can not have wheat, so I used a gluten free baking mix instead of the flour called for in the original recipe. I plan to experiment with adding more pumpkin next time I make these muffins. The next time I make them...as in...today!

Pumpkin Banana Muffins

1 1/2 c gluten free baking mix (or 3/4 c all purpose flour & 1/2 c whole wheat flour)
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
3 ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 c pureed pumpkin (canned is fine)
2 Tbsp butter, softened
1/2 c light brown sugar
1 large egg white
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 325°. Line or grease a 12 muffin cup pan. Combine flour, baking soda, pumpkin spice, cinnamon and salt. Set aside. In a separate bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add egg & egg whites, bananas, pumpkin and vanilla, mix until thick. Add dry ingredients until combined - do not over mix. Pour batter into muffin cups and bake for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Makes 12 delicious muffins.

This recipe was shared at The Grocery Cart Challenge and Mommy's Kitchen!

The Happiness Project: Autumn

This week's blissful moment? Taking my 10 month old to the park and letting him crunch around in the piles of leaves. Barefoot.

Share your happy moment, too!

Menu Plan Monday

Well how about that - I am posting a menu on an actual Monday! We stayed pretty busy all weekend, taking lots of long walks and soaking up the autumn air. It was wonderful! Something that was not quite so wonderful? Some of the new meals we tried last week. Either my cooking was way off for the week, or the recipes were just blah. I'm leaning towards the former - some weeks are just like that! This week, we are sticking with some tried & true favorites. No duds on the menu this week!

Monday: Nacho Pie, green salad, tortilla chips, fruit

Tuesday: Split Pea Soup, biscuits, fruit

Wednesday: Spaghetti & meatballs, spinach, green beans, fruit

Thursday: English Muffin mini pizzas (with leftover marinara sauce & meatballs), spinach, fruit

Friday: Homemade fish sticks (carryover meal), broccoli w/ cheese, fruit

Saturday:

Breakfast: Breakfast Burritos (egg, turkey bacon & cheese)

Lunch: Broccoli Cheese Soup, toast, fruit

Dinner: Cheeseburgers, oven fries, baked beans, fruit

Sunday:

Breakfast: french toast

Lunch: Broccoli Cheese soup, toast, fruit

Dinner: Beef & Bean tostadas, spanish rice, corn, fruit

For more great menu plans, click here!

Flashback Friday

Cassady has always loved animals - particularly cats. Unfortunately for her, I am super allergic to them, so she has to love on them away from home. Grandpa & Grandma had two kitties that she loved chasing (read: terrorizing) when she was 18 months. Today's picture is from November 2001. It was Thanksgiving - note her little camo dress paired with Nike's. We know how to do fashion!

The Happiness Project: Pumpkins

This is my nearly 10 month old baby boy, Jack. We spent Monday at the local pumpkin patch to celebrate our 2 year wedding anniversary. We picked the patch for our celebration because that is where we had our wedding reception. I have always loved the pumpkin patch. It is my favorite place to go. The smells, the sounds, the yummy snacks (I must confess here that Jack had his first taste of funnel cake - which he loved) the hayrack ride, the spook shack..oh my goodness I could go on all day! Getting to share it with my little "Jack-o-Lantern" made it even better. It was almost happiness overload :)

Speaking of happiness overload...

Check it out!

Menu Plan Monday

We have finally made it to October! I love fall. Love it. The smells, the colors, the pumpkin treats...it's just fabulous all around. This week I am especially excited for autumn's arrival because Bill and I are celebrating our 2 year anniversary by taking the baby to the pumpkin patch! I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve today, because we are going tomorrow and I can not wait! Not only do I get to go to my favorite place, but I also get a break from cooking dinner tomorrow night. We are ordering Indian food for dinner for the two of us. Cassady is not a fan of Indian cuisine, so she will be having one of her favorites - pizza rolls! I think it works out well for everyone. And now, without further ado, here's what else we'll be eating this week!

Monday:
adults: Indian food from our favorite restaurant
Cassady: pizza rolls

Tuesday: Mexican Lasagna (recipe to be posted), spanish rice, corn & fruit

Wednesday: Potato Soup (recipe to be posted), green salad, fruit

Thursday: Runza Skillet, fruit

Friday: leftover buffet

Saturday:
Breakfast: Bacon & egg breakfast burritos, fruit
Lunch: leftover buffet
Dinner: Homemade fish sticks(carryover from last week), broccoli w/cheese & fruit

Sunday:
Breakfast: Broccoli & Cheese Omelet Cups (recipe to be posted), fruit
Lunch: leftover buffet
Dinner: Chicken Quesadillas, spanish rice, fruit

For more fabulous menu ideas, click here!

Progress Report - Cassady's Room

I waited a week to post these "after" shots to make sure that Cassady's room stayed clean. Of course, since she is a tween, you know that clean is a relative term. She has done fairly well, though. There is only a small pile of laundry behind her bedroom door right now, and just a little picking up is needed. Overall I would say our cleanup project in her room was successful, since I wanted to make sure that she is able to maintain keeping it picked up herself. I have the rest of the apartment to clean up! So, without further ado, here's her room.

Her craft and game closet. She can actually get to her stuff now! It's a miracle!

Her bed, bookshelf, TV and big chair. So pretty now!

We plan to do a redecoration project soon. She wants a new comforter and color scheme, but since she changes her mind every other day I am holding off. I also want to make sure the room stays clean. No point in redecorating if we can't see it!

Flashback Friday

Cassady was (and still is) a little princess. As my first child, and my parents' first grandchild, everything she did was documented & celebrated. We may have even possibly gone a little over the top on occasion. We had a little party for her "Half Birthday" when she turned 6 months old. She was just barely eating solids at that point, but everyone needs cake for a celebration, right? Typically, she had way more fun playing with all the frosting in the cake than eating it. She was covered in it. After destroying the confection (there is a reason they call those "smash cakes!!), she had her first bath in the tub. It was a big day!

And, if you are wondering where she got the snazzy headwear...I made it. Construction paper, glue, a pink pom pom and lots of sparkly sequins. I still have that hat in her keepsake box :)

Broccoli Cheese Soup

This is the easiest and yummiest way to get Cassady to eat broccoli. Seriously. Last week when we were knee deep in the muck of her bedroom, she was demanding pizza rolls for lunch so that it would be quick. Well. Mama had this recipe in her arsenal. It was just as quick as those pizza rolls, but so much better! Even Cassady agreed after her first bite - and that is how you know this is a good soup. But you don't have to take my word for it!*

Broccoli Cheese Soup

14 oz chicken broth

3 c chopped broccoli (frozen works just fine)

1 carrot, shredded or finely chopped

1 can Cream of chicken soup (I used 98% fat free)

1/4 - 1/2 c cheese, shredded or finely chopped

Bring chicken broth to a boil, then simmer. Add broccoli, carrot & can of soup. Bring back to a simmer. Add cheese and stir until melted. Serves 4. Told you it was easy!!

I had some chopped chicken breast in the fridge last time I made this & threw a half cup in the soup. It was delicious. As was the time I added some boiled potatoes. You can not go wrong with a cheesy soup. It just isn't possible!

*Channeling my inner "Reading Rainbow". I have the theme somg in my head now. Great.

I shared this recpe at The Grocery Cart Challenge

The Happiness Project: RAK*

Why is this happiness, you ask? Well, I was having one of those days. Nothing was working right, babies were crying, tween was sassing...you get the picture. My husband was heading off to work and the last thing I wanted was to see him leave. I needed a pick me up in a major way. He left for work & my doorbell rang. (Great. Another thing to handle) I opened the door and found these red and white beacons of hope. Seeing this picture reminds me of how sweet and thoughtful my husband is. And that is why this picture, to me, is happiness.

Want to see more happy? Check this out!

*RAK: Random Acts of Kindness

My Apologies to Delaware...

It's time for another essay by Cassady. This time, she has prepared a scintillating report on the great state of Delaware. I have copied her work exactly as written. I even found the same pictures she used. Enjoy.

Delaware

Delaware was the first state in the U.S.. Isn't it gorgeous?!?! I love the peach flowers. Can you believe that the tiny state is the home to the Perkins Observatory, Columbus Zoo, the Little Brown Jug, and the Delaware County Fair?? I can't. But, believe it or not, it is. It has multiple antique shops. People there must have nice stuff! Delaware is a nice state. I would like to live there. There or Tokyo, Japan. The End.

This second picture that she used may have been what earned her the B-. This is actually Pennsylvania. Or maybe it was the lack of actual information in her report. Or the fact that she totally dissed Delaware at the end of her "report". It's hard to say...

Menu Plan Monday

We had a pretty low key week, which was very nice. I managed to stick to our menu plan for the most part. The weekends always seem to throw me off. I think it's because during the week, Cassady eats breakfast & lunch at school. I am only responsible for cooking for her once a day. Then weekends or days off hit us...and suddenly I am in the kitchen all day! I decided to stick with fairly easy weekend meals this week to see if that helps me stay on track. I am also trying to focus on healthier meals. Here's what we will be eating...

Monday - No School:
Breakfast: Eggs & bacon pita
Lunch: Leftover Soup (chicken noodle or broccoli cheese)
Dinner: Hamburgers on whole wheat bun, potato wedges & fruit

Tuesday: Spaghetti & meatballs, green beans, fruit

Wednesday: English Muffin mini pizzas, peas, fruit

Thursday: steak, baked potatoes, creamed spinach, fruit*

Friday: Chicken & stuffing bake, fruit

Saturday:
Breakfast: egg & turkey bacon breakfast burrito
Lunch: leftover Buffet
Dinner: oven baked Fish Sticks (tilapia), broccoli & cheese, fruit

Sunday:
Breakfast: french toast
Lunch: Potato Soup (recipe to be posted), green salad, fruit
Dinner: Cheesy Skillet Chicken and Rice with Green Beans, fruit

For More Delicious Menu Ideas, Go Here!

*Thursdays are the only day that Bill is home to eat dinner with us, so I let him pick what he wants (within reason). He will be having creamed spinach with coconut milk and Indian spices. Cassady & I will be having a more traditional recipe, which I will post later this week.

Weekend Project: Cassady's Room

Today we began to tackle the disaster that is Cassady's room. She is a typical tween with way too much stuff. We have gotten rid of most of her toys from her younger days, but her room is still very crowded. She's got lots of craft supplies, a huge chair, a TV, a bookshelf and a queen size bed. All that has to be squeezed into a pretty small space. Here's what we were looking at before we started working this morning. Warning: it is very scary!!

This is the (dismal) view from the door. Her bookshelf is empy because I will be moving it to a new location.

The bed. We'll be ditching the headboard as it seems to be a gathering place for too much junk.

Her craft closet. She never uses any of this stuff because she can't even get to it!

Her clothes closet. And a lot of dirty laundry, much to my chagrin.

After spending most of the day rearranging and decluttering, we have it looking a lot better. I think I threw away about 5 (grocery) bags full of trash, and we have some items ready to donate to the Goodwill as well. I need to find some containers for her Build-A-Bear and American Girl clothes. We also need to go through her clothes - she has too many to fit into her closet right now. She doesn't have school tomorrow, so we will have a "fashion show" session to try on all the clothes to ensure that everything still fits appropriately. We will also be vacuuming and doing a few other small organization projects.

I will have the finished room pictures up soon. Then it will be time to move on to the next project: the bathroom. (Cue scary music)