TAILGATING TIME

 

Welcome to the 4th annual Tailgating Time!
Yep, it’s that time again – time for football food, coolers

full of cold ones, and the big game-day buffet. Bring over your chips

and

dips,  chili and chowders, all your wings and party things! Since the

Super Bowl is exactly 4 weeks from today I thought I’d

get the linky up so we can all start adding our favorites. We all want

to have lots of great party foods to chose from for the big day!

The Tailgating Time blog hop will be open from noon today until February

10th, one week after Super Bowl 2013 to give you plenty of time to link

up all your favorites. Your links do not have to be new ones – think

appetizers and party foods you’ve posted throughout the year. Link any

goodies from  holidays, celebrations, tailgating treats through football

season, or anything that would go great for a Super Bowl party. There

is no limit to the amount of links you add, the more the merrier! This

year I’m also enabling voting for your favorite recipes. The voting will

be open February 10th at noon and ending on February 17th at noon.

If you’d like to host Tailgating Time – Super Bowl 2013 on your own blog just click the following – get the InLinkz code. Don’t just join the party, host the hop too! This is going to be fun 🙂
It’s time to get this party started!

FRIDAY FILL-INS

ffi

And…here we go!

1. Wake up little Suzie.
2. Remember all the fun we had!
3. Every picture tells a story.
4. It’s a little too quiet.
5. Stay with the program.
6. Confusing in a thousand ways.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to staying warm and watching some TV with hubby, tomorrow my plans include Football Playoffs and Sunday, I want to sort some more VA crap!

BREAKFAST CASSEROLE

This one is for my brother-in-law, Terry, the family short order cook.  He knew I cooked all healthy and was prepared to hate this recipe.  But instead everyone loved it and it disappeared fast!

BREAKFAST CASSEROLE
3 pounds sausage *
6+ slices Wonder bread**
7 eggs
2 cups milk
1 can cream of mushroom soup ***
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Layer the meat in the bottom of the pan evenly.
  3. Lay bread evenly over the meat.
  4. Whisk together the milk, eggs and soup until well blended.
  5. Pour over bread.
  6. Top with cheese.
  7. Bake for 1 hour.
  8. Let set 5 minutes before cutting.
  • *I like a ham (ham steak) and sausage mix – if using only ham spray pan with PAM first
  • **I have also used sourdough and gluten free though gluten free just doesn’t taste right to me
  • *** I use cream soup substitute

NUTTER BUTTER TREATS

NUTTER BUTTER TREATS
6 cups rice krispie cereal
1 cup peanut butter
12 ounce package butterscotch morsels
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon maple extract

  • In a large saucepan combine the peanut butter and butterscotch chips.
  • Stir together over a low heat until smooth.
  • Add vanilla and maple extracts, stirring until well blended.
  • Add cereal, stirring until well coated.
  • Press evenly into a buttered 13×9 pan.
  • Chill until firm.
  • Cut into 2 inch squares.

Unfortunately these never made it to the pan to chill because they are good even warm and gooey!

TODAY’S QUOTE

 

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer.  Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” ~Harriet Tubman

MEAT LASAGNA

1 pound sweet Italian sausage
3/4 pound lean ground beef
1/2 cup minced sweet onion
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 cans diced tomatoes with garlic, oregano and basil
1 (6.5 ounce) cans canned tomato sauce
2 tablespoons white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil leaves
1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 tablespoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
12 lasagna noodles(I like the Barilla no cook)
16 ounces ricotta cheese
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 pound mozzarella cheese, sliced
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

  • In a Dutch oven, cook sausage, ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat until well browned. 
  • Stir in crushed tomatoes (juice included) and tomato sauce. 
  • Season with sugar, basil, fennel seeds, Italian seasoning, 1 tablespoon salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons parsley. 
  • Simmer, covered, for about 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook lasagna noodles in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes. Drain noodles, and rinse with cold water OR use no bake noodles.
  • In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese with egg, remaining parsley, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  •  To assemble, spread 1 1/2 cups of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  • Arrange 6 noodles lengthwise over meat sauce.
  • Spread with one half of the ricotta cheese mixture. 
  • Top with a third of mozzarella cheese slices. 
  • Spoon 1 1/2 cups meat sauce over mozzarella, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. 
  • Repeat layers, and top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. 
  • Cover with foil: to prevent sticking, either spray foil with cooking spray, or make sure the foil does not touch the cheese.
  • Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. 
  • Remove foil, and bake an additional 25 minutes. 
  • Cool for 15 minutes before serving.

My mom got me this new lasgana pan from Chicago Metallic for Christmas and I have to say it is awesome.  Lasagna no longer is a mess to cut and each edge of cheese is crispy and just perfect!  Assembly is also a breeze with no overlapping. You can even make 3 different flavors at once.  I can’t wait to try it on some banana bread and meatloafs.

SIMPLE WOMAN’S DAYBOOK

FOR TODAY

Outside my window… it’s drizzly and gray with an overtone of more gray.

I am thinking… it’s a good day to stay in and read.

I am thankful… for my health and the good news that there is not a genetic mutation.

In the kitchen… we have a few new recipes still brewing for the January’s menu.  I’ll post them soon on my food blog ALWAYS EAT ON THE GOOD CHINA.

I am wearing… my daily uniform LOL – 515 Levi’s, cozy wool socks, black t-shirt and my favorite Alaska sweatshirt.

I am still creating… some Christmas gifts for next year – quit laughing, these things take time.  I’m also creating some new recipes for:

  • Salad w/ Poppy Seed Tarragon Creme Fraiche dressing
  • Broccoli Salad w/ Buttermilk Dressing and Bacon
  • Baked Potatoes w/ Shallot Corn Butter
  • Tangy Ranch Dressing
  • Fruit and Nut Breakfast Ring
  • Kentucky Hot Browns
  • Parmesan Corn Muffins
  • Beef & Barley Stew
  • Celery Soup w/ Gorgonzola Cream
  • Cream of Tomato Soup w/ Rice
  • Cream of Vegetable Soup
  • Lemon Tuna Noodle Casserole
  • Country Bistro Dinner
  • Chicken Francoise
  • Paprika Pot Roast
  • Apricot & Tarragon Pork Chops
  • Pork Chops w/ Roasted Apple & Onions

I am going… to the coast this weekend with hubby to see our niece and a few other reasons.

I am wondering… why we call it “spring cleaning” – seems to me we need to clean out at least 4 times a year, so why isn’t it seasonal cleaning.

I am reading… Cook’s Illustrated The Science of Good Cooking and The 4 Hour Chef & 1105 Yakima by Debbie Macomber

I am hoping… to solve some paperwork issues this week – several letters to write and send certified regarding VA issues…

I am looking forward to… a few sunny days, but know they are a ways off

I am learning… how to be patient, but also how to squeak the wheel for oil!

Around the house… baseboards are getting painted and fine dusting is being done.

I am pondering… to live in the day and not worry about the future as much.

A favorite quote for today…

One of my favorite things… hot chocolate with lots a mini marshmallows

A few plans for the rest of the week: sorting some MORE storage boxes and converting the things I’m saving to rubber totes, repacking the Christmas decorations into newer boxes and/or rubber totes to get them back into the attic that I didn’t get done last week, creating a few new recipes and getting into a new exercise routine.

A peek into my day… laundry, blog catch up, vacuuming & reading on my new kindle.

Favorite picture of the week… is a toss up between two

 

EPIPHANIES CAN LEAD TO RESOLUTIONS

I like the idea of having even one epiphany, especially as the New Year begins. Epiphanies can lead to resolutions and one of my resolutions is the follow through what it takes to bring those Epiphanies to life.  While I don’t make a specific resolution list as I believe that can be a key to failure, I do make lists of the things I need to accomplish as a whole!

This year I’m not making a list per se, but committing to complete all the projects on my desk and in my pending file.  I WILL BECOME THE SQUEAKIEST WHEEL EVER!

So… I scared myself a little (okay ~ a lot) with this commitment, but remember, the age-old question truly is:
“How do you eat an elephant?” And the answer will always be ~ “One bite at a time!” Some bites will be smaller than others, but that’s okay too!
Happy New Year, one and all, and may you too see the light to your epiphany!

TAILGATING TIME

Welcome to the 4th annual Tailgating Time!

Yep, it’s that time again – time for football food, coolers full of cold ones, and the big game-day buffet. Bring over your chips and dips, chili and chowders, all your wings and party things! Since the Super Bowl is exactly 4 weeks from today I thought I’d get the linky up so we can all start adding our favorites. We all want to have lots of great party foods to chose from for the big day!

The Tailgating Time blog hop will be open from noon today until February 10th, one week after Super Bowl 2013 to give you plenty of time to link up all your favorites. Your links do not have to be new ones – think appetizers and party foods you’ve posted throughout the year. Link any goodies from  holidays, celebrations, tailgating treats through football season, or anything that would go great for a Super Bowl party. There is no limit to the amount of links you add, the more the merrier! This year I’m also enabling voting for your favorite recipes. The voting will be open February 10th at noon and ending on February 17th at noon.

If you’d like to host Tailgating Time – Super Bowl 2013 on your own blog just click the following – get the InLinkz code. Don’t just join the party, host the hop too! This is going to be fun 🙂

It’s time to get this party started!

Tailgating Time – Super Bowl 2013

Welcome to the 4th annual Tailgating Time!

Yep, it’s that time again – time for football food, coolers full of cold ones, and the big game-day buffet. Bring over your chips and dips, chili and chowders, all your wings and party things! Since the Super Bowl is exactly 4 weeks from today I thought I’d get the linky up so we can all start adding our favorites. We all want to have lots of great party foods to chose from for the big day!

The Tailgating Time blog hop will be open from noon today until February 10th, one week after Super Bowl 2013 to give you plenty of time to link up all your favorites. Your links do not have to be new ones – think appetizers and party foods you’ve posted throughout the year. Link any goodies from  holidays, celebrations, tailgating treats through football season, or anything that would go great for a Super Bowl party. There is no limit to the amount of links you add, the more the merrier! This year I’m also enabling voting for your favorite recipes. The voting will be open February 10th at noon and ending on February 17th at noon.

If you’d like to host Tailgating Time – Super Bowl 2013 on your own blog just click the following – get the InLinkz code. Don’t just join the party, host the hop too! This is going to be fun 🙂

It’s time to get this party started!