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Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Talerine Beef Casserole

Last night for dinner I made Talerine Beef Casserole from Simply Recipes.  Not really to sure what to say about this meal. It wasn't bad, but wasn't wonderful either. I was surprised that with all of the ingredients, it was still a bit bland.  It was SUPER hot out last night so I refused to turn on the oven and skipped that part -- wonder if that would have made a difference? I also used ground turkey instead of beef. 



Talerine Beef Casserole Recipe


Ingredients
12 ounce bag egg noodles
1 medium white onion, peeled and chopped
1 bell pepper, seeded, ribs removed, chopped fine
3 minced clove of garlic
Grapeseed oil or olive oil for sautéing
1 1/2 pounds ground round beef

Salt
4 ounces mushrooms, sliced
1 28-ounce can tomatoes
1 1/2 cups frozen corn (can use canned corn or creamed corn)
1 15-ounce can of black olives, strained and chopped
1 pound cheddar cheese, grated


Method

1 Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees and bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for the egg noodles.

2 Heat 2 Tbsp of oil on medium high heat in a large, heavy bottomed pot. Add the onions and bell pepper and sauté until softened. Add garlic and cook for a minute more. Add the tomatoes, breaking them up with your fingers or a knife, if you are using whole canned tomatoes. Bring to a simmer and let cook for 10 minutes. Lower the heat to warm.


3 In a separate skillet, heat to medium-high. Add a couple of tablespoons of oil to the pan and brown the meat, working in batches. Break up about half of the ground beef into the pan. Do not stir, but let sit and cook for a minute or two until brown. Sprinkle a little salt over the meat while cooking. Once brown on one side, stir the meat a little to get the other sides browned. Once the meat is thoroughly browned, use a slotted spoon to remove the meat from the pan and put it in with the tomatoes, onions, and peppers. Brown the second batch of ground beef the same way.

4 Using the same pan that you had used for browning the beef, sauté the mushrooms in the remaining oil and beef drippings. Once browned, add the mushrooms to the beef and tomato mixture.


5 While the mushrooms are cooking, add the egg noodle pasta to the boiling water. Cook as directed, about 4-5 minutes. Strain when cooked, but still a little firm (al dente).


6 Add egg noodles, corn, chopped olives, and about two thirds of the cheese to the large pot of beef and tomato mixture. Gently mix in.


7 Transfer mixture to a large casserole dish, or to two casserole dishes if you don't have one that is large enough. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top of casserole(s). Place in the oven. Cook for 30 minutes (can go as long as an hour).

Monday, July 18, 2011

Back to Cooking

Good Morning!  I am trying to get my butt back on the ban wagon and start cooking dinner more.  We have got into a horrible rut of going out for dinner.  I took the bull by the horns and made a weekly meal plan for this coming week -- including all NEW recipes!  Very excited to try them and share them with all of you.


First up ~ dinner from Sunday ~ Portobello Pork Chops (found on The Recipe Review blog via the Pork Board).  This was VERY easy to make.  A very small handful of ingredients.  It made the house smell wonderful while being cooked and I was hoping it would live up to the smell.  One bite later, my wonderful finace decleared this recipe was a keeper! 


Portobello Pork Chops
4 bone-in pork rib or loin chops, 3/4 inch
1-1/2 cups mild chunky salsa
1 cup chopped Portobello mushrooms
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

 
Heat oven to 375 degrees.  Trim fat from chops.  Spoon salsa into a retangular baking dish.  Arrange chops on top of salsa.  Combine Portobello mushrooms, cheddar cheese and maple syrup om a medium bowl.  Spoon over chops.  Bake, uncovered, for 20 to 25 minutes.  Sprinkle with parsley.  Serve chops with salsa mixture.

Friday, July 15, 2011

Cookbook Giveaway!

Mandy's Recipe Box is giving away a free copy of: 

Quick-Fix Southern: Homemade Hospitality in 30 Minutes or Less
by Rebecca Lang


Check out her blog and her facebook page!

Happy Friday!

Friday, April 29, 2011

Random Cuteness

Just some random cuteness I came across today!







Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Drive By

It has been a while so here is a random drive by posting ~

What are we celebrating today?
 Today is ~

Church of Latter Day Saints Day
Army Day
National Day of Hope

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month ~ April 6 (National Day of Hope) asks all Americans to keep victims of abuse and neglect in their thoughts and prayers, to seek to break the cycle of child abuse and neglect and to give victimized children hope for the future.
New Beers Eve
Breweries and beer lovers around the country are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the return of beer on April 7, 1933, as the Prohibition era was drawing to a close.
Drowsy Driver Awareness Day
National Student Athlete Day
Paraprofessional Appreciation Day
Tartan Day
A day to celebrate Americans of Scottish descent have played a vibrant and influential role in the development of the United States.
Teflon Day
On this day in 1938, chemist Roy J Plunkett discovered Teflon.


So push aside this gloomy not so spring weather and celebrate!

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Dr. Seuss

A week late and a dollar short ... but nonetheless, Happy Belated Birthday to Dr. Seuss!

I thought to celebrate, I would share some wonderful quotes from the wonderful world of Dr. Seuss ~

“You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.”

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.”

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”

“Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.”

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. It's not." 

"From there to here, from here to there, funny things are everywhere!" 

"We are all a little weird and life's a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love."    

 

Friday, March 4, 2011

.·:*¨¨*:·.Lessons.·:*¨¨*:·.

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come...

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.
 
Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old,
of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

The most ADORABLE thing!


Over the weekend I have discovered the most adorable thing -- teacup pigs.  Never heard of them?  
Lets start with a picture:

 
Adorable right?





I fell in total love with these little guys,
but then again, who wouldn't? 
They have a life span of 12-20 years, they are extremely affectionate, they love attention, you can litter box train them, they don't shed, and they make a perfect pet for your lap!
 



For information on the adoption of these pigs, check out this website ~ http://www.teacuppigsforsale.com/

 and the cutest little guy on the internet......

 Isn't he just ADORABLE!?!?! 
 



Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Hi Ho Hi Ho .. its off to go workout I go

I have gotten fat ... too fat for my liking ... I have gained 32 pounds since I have meet my fiance -- YUCK

So today, I am getting back on the bandwagon and going to the gym.  I have signed up for anytime fitness and I am going to get myself  back into shape.  I AM GOING TO DO IT. 

What I need from you is advice:  What works for you?  How much cardio?  How much weight?  Any supplements that you suggest?

Monday, January 3, 2011

A Year Later

Hard to believe I started this blog a year ago!  It all started with a little quote ...An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves. -- Bill Vaughan

I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe New Years and everyone is enjoying their first Monday back to the normal grind after all the holidays.

It is not just any ol' Monday though!  no sir ... today is Drinking Straw Day, Earth at Perihelion, J.R.R. Tolkien Day, Memento Mori "Remember You Die" day, National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day, and "Thank God It's Monday" day.

Anyone doing anything to celebrate today?