Jun 4, 2012
Italian Casserole
2 cans (8oz ea) tomato sauce
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
2 cans (10.5 oz ea) cream of mushroom soup
2 c. shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese
1 (16 oz) package of pasta -- any kind
1 lb. ground turkey or ground beef
Preheat oven to 350F. Cook pasta according to package directions in pot of boiling water. At same time, add ground meat to large skillet. Break into chunks and brown over medium heat. Once the meat is cooked, drain fat from meat if there any. Once pasta is cooked, drain water and place in 9x13 baking pan. To meat, add tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and cream soup. You could add some shredded cheese to the mixture at this point. Mix together and cook over medium-low heat until it begins to simmer then pour over the pasta. Cover with shredded cheese. Bake for 20 minutes or until cheese on top is melted. After removing from oven, let sit 5-10 minutes before serving.
NOTES:
• I used ground turkey and made it into turkey sausage in the morning so the spices could work their way into the meat. (3 tbsp. grated onion, 3 cloves finely chopped garlic, 1 tbsp. poultry seasoning, 1 tsp. fennel seeds, 1 tsp. crushed red pepper)
• I didn't have 2 cans of cream of mushroom soup so I used 1 can cream of mushroom and 1 can cream of celery. I also added some basil and oregano to the meat mixture.
• I layered some meat sauce and cheese between two layers of pasta. The top layer should be smothered in meat sauce and cheese. I used about 3 c. of mozzarella cheese.
• I baked this on my grill. I have three burners -- I turned on one burner to the far side and it heated the grill to approximately 400 degrees. I placed the casserole on the opposite end of the grill and grilled it for about 30 minutes until the cheese started to turn brown and bubbly.
Yummo!
Labels:
recipes
May 28, 2012
Marvelous Monday Update 5/28/12
HEALTH
The massage therapist really worked me over last week. She was able to give my shoulder and back a deep tissue massage. I was a bit sore the next day, but I think the massages are helping. I only felt the pain/muscle spam once in the past week. I still have the tingling from time to time and my thumb is still partially numb. Other than that, things are back to normal. Sincerest thanks to all of you who have left comments for well-being and advice. I really appreciate it!
COOKING
I'm continually looking at new recipes. If you know me, you'd know that I have three prerequisites:
1) It has to be easy
2) It has to be quick
3) It has to be tasty!
Although, this dish was to be baked in the oven, I decided to try "baking" it on the grill since temps were in the upper 80's and humid. Who wants to heat up the house with weather like that? Not moi!
Nope. This was a Quick Fix Casserole, believe it or not. I've renamed it Italian Casserole. It was so good, the BF had two big servings and invited himself to take some home for tomorrow's lunch, lol.
Lastly, I also finished Forgive Quickly by Lizzie Kate.
Fabric: 32ct Linen
This is the first time I did this type of finish. I think it turned out pretty well, considering. I've figured out some things I'll do differently next time.
The massage therapist really worked me over last week. She was able to give my shoulder and back a deep tissue massage. I was a bit sore the next day, but I think the massages are helping. I only felt the pain/muscle spam once in the past week. I still have the tingling from time to time and my thumb is still partially numb. Other than that, things are back to normal. Sincerest thanks to all of you who have left comments for well-being and advice. I really appreciate it!
COOKING
I'm continually looking at new recipes. If you know me, you'd know that I have three prerequisites:
1) It has to be easy
2) It has to be quick
3) It has to be tasty!
Although, this dish was to be baked in the oven, I decided to try "baking" it on the grill since temps were in the upper 80's and humid. Who wants to heat up the house with weather like that? Not moi!
Looks like Lasagna, doesn't it?
Nope. This was a Quick Fix Casserole, believe it or not. I've renamed it Italian Casserole. It was so good, the BF had two big servings and invited himself to take some home for tomorrow's lunch, lol.
PROMOTION
Last week, my niece graduated 8th Grade. She is officially a high schooler! She's a smart girl who gets A's and B's for grades... mostly A's. I am so proud of her!
GIVEAWAY
Barbara over at To Stitch or Not to Stitch is hosting a giveaway to honor the sisterhood of stitchers. She does some beautiful stitching!
Victorian Motto Sampler is hosting another giveaway. Hop on over and see what it's all about.
STITCHY STUFF
Barbara over at To Stitch or Not to Stitch is hosting a giveaway to honor the sisterhood of stitchers. She does some beautiful stitching!
Victorian Motto Sampler is hosting another giveaway. Hop on over and see what it's all about.
STITCHY STUFF
Since my shoulder/arm have been feeling better, I did quite a bit of stitching toward the end of last week. I actually had three.... Yes, THREE finishes!
First up is a baby afghan that I did most of the stitching in 1994. I decided to personalize it and give it to my great nephew who was born pre-mature last fall and is doing very well now.
Just look at that adorable face!
I started -and- finished an All Tied Up kit by Pine Mountain Designs called Stockings Were Hung.
Lastly, I also finished Forgive Quickly by Lizzie Kate.
Fabric: 32ct Linen
Fibers: DMC, L'atelier Du Pic Vert
Embellishments: 1/2" lace
This is the first time I did this type of finish. I think it turned out pretty well, considering. I've figured out some things I'll do differently next time.
Labels:
cooking,
cross stitch,
family,
health
May 21, 2012
When Will It End?
I don't know, but it can't be soon enough! I had my annual exam at the chiro's last week. The thermo scan of my spine was actually better than it was last year at this time. What the heck?!? So, the conclusion is that the problems I'm having is mostly muscular, which means continued appointments with the massage therapist.
I have noticed that any activities that require me to reach out, up, and forward cause my arm to really hurt (i.e. computer use if the keyboard is higher than lap level, stitching at the lapstand, looking through clothing racks, and driving). Last night, I was watching TV and I felt and saw the muscle in my upper arm spasming. The BF said he could see it spasming all the way down to my elbow.
GARDENING
The BF and I planted my vegetable garden yesterday. It was his idea to put the fencing up to keep the critters from eating the seedlings like they did last year. (In the background you can see my compost bin). Hopefully, the garden will do better this year than it did last year.
I bought flowers for my planters, but this is as far as I got on putting them in the planters, lol.
I've really been trying to rest my arm, but it's been hard when I'm surrounded by stitchy goodness, lol. The only stitching I did all week was finish the Partridge ornament.
Partridge was a Stitch-N-Frame ornament kit from Needlemagic Inc. I used the threads from the kit and swapped out the fabric for a piece of hand-dyed 22ct aida leftover from a project I did last year. Here's what the original ornament was supposed to look like:
I have noticed that any activities that require me to reach out, up, and forward cause my arm to really hurt (i.e. computer use if the keyboard is higher than lap level, stitching at the lapstand, looking through clothing racks, and driving). Last night, I was watching TV and I felt and saw the muscle in my upper arm spasming. The BF said he could see it spasming all the way down to my elbow.
GARDENING
The BF and I planted my vegetable garden yesterday. It was his idea to put the fencing up to keep the critters from eating the seedlings like they did last year. (In the background you can see my compost bin). Hopefully, the garden will do better this year than it did last year.
I bought flowers for my planters, but this is as far as I got on putting them in the planters, lol.
(From car trunk to garage floor)
I cannot believe how many blossoms are on my double knockout rose bush this year!
(Just one of the blooms)
STITCHY STUFFI've really been trying to rest my arm, but it's been hard when I'm surrounded by stitchy goodness, lol. The only stitching I did all week was finish the Partridge ornament.
Partridge was a Stitch-N-Frame ornament kit from Needlemagic Inc. I used the threads from the kit and swapped out the fabric for a piece of hand-dyed 22ct aida leftover from a project I did last year. Here's what the original ornament was supposed to look like:
To this:
Partridge 3387 Stitch-N-Frame Ornament
Designer: Needlemagic Inc
Fabric: 22ct Hand-dyed Hardanger
Embellishments: Pearl beading, ribbon, buttons
Labels:
cross stitch,
gardening,
health
May 20, 2012
TUSAL 5/20/12
I'm late! I'm late... for a very important date! TUSAL date has come and gone. I'm late!
It should come as no surprise that I don't have very many orts for this month's TUSAL since I've been nursing my shoulder and arm. The few you see above are a result of:
• Sampler aux Bouquets
• Partridge
• Fleurs et Papillons
Labels:
TUSAL
May 15, 2012
How Do You Stand It?
Do you use a stand when you stitch? If so, tell us about it and share pictures if you’ve got them. If not, would you like to try using a stand? Do you have any tips or tricks around using a stand versus not using a stand?
I *do* use lapstands. I recently was gifted a K's Creations lapstand that is perfect for Japanese Garden. It only took me about a day to learn how to stitch two-handed, which makes the stitching go much faster than the stick-n-stab method I've always used. The K's stand folds flat for easy portability, too.
I also have a smaller lapstand that is perfect for smaller projects. The Elan by Artisan Design is not only pretty, but really functional considering how small it is. It will hold scroll rods, needlepoint frames, and qsnaps. It also can be stored flat. I like the wood knobs... they're much easier to adjust than the wing nuts on the K's stand.
Visit all the blogs in this round of the Stitching the Night Away Stitching Blogger Blog Hop:
Find the instructions on how to participate in this round by clicking here.
Labels:
cross stitch



















