Chicken Soup Heals The...well whatever, I made some

So, after quite a Monday that is, meaning I had a severe case of the Mondays yes, even housewives and the utterly fabulous get them ;) . It all started when my car died at the gas pump. So, there I was looking all cute because I was going up to New Bern to change my name and my new name would carry only a fabulous looking woman with it. So, there I am in the humid Carolina heat pumping my own gas and cursing my poor exhausted husband for not doing it for me when he took my car on Friday (but if he had I'd have been upset because we were already late for our vacation so I really didn't mind all that much). Sometimes I like to pump my own gas...why in the heck would you want to do that you're probably asking yourself. It's the one thing I know how to do with my car (yes, I am one of those girls that doesn't know how to change a tire blah blah blah). Patrick once asked me "what will you do if you get a flat tire and you don't know how to change it?" I answered as all women that have grown up in big cities (at least for part of my life) I very matter of factly and smart you know what-ly answered "call AAA". That was the end of that discussion but he did look at me pretty shocked. Okay back to the story. So, I hung up the phone with my mother put on my best damsel in distress face and fished my jumper cables out of the car kit that my husband got for Christmas from my parents but insisted I keep in my car (yay) and walked up to the most southern looking man I could find. It was successful and I got the car started and made my way ever so carefully to the auto parts store where my husband swears I was robbed blind of almost 100 dollars (he's still talking about it) but that's the price you pay for living by the beach with no other place in 30 miles. So I ever so gently told the man in the auto parts store after he gave me the "ma'am we don't usually put these batteries in" and I basically told him "listen cowboy, my husband is at the base he's not coming home to put my battery in so you're going to have to do this for me" he did and then I was on my way to the social security office which was honestly one of the most painless parts of my day surprisingly. I also got to have lunch with a good friend and snuggle a brand new puppy (who doesn't love puppy breath) my baby Wayland has lost puppy breath in exchange for a teenage tude. Chicken noodle soup comes in here I swear. So, my husband calls me at lunch, he's sick, refusing to go to the doctor (what else is new) and I go home to make up a sick bed on the couch and prepare pampering. My problem in this moment was I didn't know if he was going to eat but I whipped this up just in case. Patrick's I'm sick and refusing medical care chicken noodle with a side of stubborn soup 2 stalks of celery diced 7 baby carrots or 2 carrots diced 3 garlic cloves diced 1/4 cup diced onion Splash of white wine Fresh oregano Herbs de provence (if you have them if not you can go without) Lawry's seasoned salt (one dash) 2 cartons chicken broth Egg noodles (I used no yolk noodles because I love them) Salt and pepper 2 tbsp olive oil 1. cook celery, carrots, garlic, and onion in olive oil over med high heat in a stockpot or Dutch oven until onions and celery are sweating and getting soft then add in fresh torn up oregano and a splash of white wine 2. Add in chicken broth, salt, pepper, herbs de Provence, and Lawry's seasoned salt 3. Stir and bring to a boil then lower heat to simmer put top on and let sit for 15 minutes 4. Go check on sweet husband while he watches shows you hate on the couch ;) 5. After the soup has simmered bring to a boil and add in egg noodles and cook according to package time 6. Serve with crackers and enjoy Patrick loved this soup. I told him I'd make it for him when he's sick and he said he wants it more often than that. He even asked for a cup of the broth later. So, this is a wonderful and easy go to recipe. Eat well and be well -Blogging then heading to a volunteer gig Ashton, working Patrick, laying in the sun outside Sookie, and a barking getting on Mommy's last nerve Wayland.

While The cat is away, the mice will be...fed?

On Thursday I'm leaving for Dallas ("leaving on a jet plane...") okay, back to my original thought. I'm going on the annual girls only vacation with the momma and sissy. So, I don't want my husband starving. Let me break this down for you.

To the voice of the Direct Tv commercial man:
"when your wife is gone you become hungry
When you become hungry you pull random things out of the pantry
When you pull random things out of the pantry you need dishes
When you need dishes you dirty her kitchen
When you dirty her kitchen she comes home and gets angry
Don't let your husband go hungry"

So, in an effort to save my sanity, budget (bc men eat out when faced with making food that isn't easy), and my kitchen that would otherwise become filthy while I'm gone...I'm making freezer casseroles.

So, here's what I've decided to make:
Chicken with dried beef casserole
Enchiladas
Tuna noodle casserole
Freezer biscuit sandwiches
King ranch casserole

I've already put the King Ranch recipe up here so it's the same just...frozen. I also like to buy throw away pans because they freeze well and they're easy cleanup. It sounds like this endeavor is costly but it's really not. To buy the ingredients for all of these things (and a little extras) was under 100$ (thank you commissary!!) here are the recipes!

Chicken with dried beef
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts flattened (I like to hit mine with an empty wine bottle while they're in a ziploc bag. It's A. An excuse to empty a wine bottle, B. good stress relief and C. It makes your husband laugh at you)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 8 oz container of sour cream (low fat and nonfat may be substituted)
1 jar of dried beef slices
Mozzarella cheese
Paprika
Rice

1. Spray a casserole dish
2. Roll 1-2 slices of dried beef up in each chicken breast and place in casserole dish
3. Mix together cream of mushroom soup and sour cream
4. Pour over dish full of chicken
5. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the dish
6. Sprinkle with paprika
7. Cover and freeze OR bake at 375 for 30-40 minutes or until chicken is done
8. Serve over rice

Enchiladas
Ground beef (I use 97 lean)
Taco seasoning
Enchilada sauce either 2 large cans or 4 small cans
Tortillas
Shredded Mexican or cheddar cheese


1. Spray casserole dish
2. Cook ground beef with taco seasoning
3. Strain once beef is fully cooked
4. Add beef back to the skillet and add 3/4 of one large can or 1 1/2 of two small cans of enchilada sauce and 1/2 cup of shredded cheese (depending on how cheesy you like your enchiladas)
5. Spoon mixture into enchiladas and roll (they may look like burritos...go with it) and put fold down in the casserole dish
6. Cover with remaining sauce and cheese
7. Freeze OR bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes

I used to make these at my game nights I hosted in college at my apartment at the greatest University known to mankind...Texas Tech! Guns Up! They were a huge, huge hit. (so, they are also great drunk food if you're hosting a party and soooo easy) I loved them while I was beating everyone at Scene It!

Tuna Noodle Casserole
1 large can or 2 small cans of tuna
Cream of mushroom soup
Cream of celery soup
Canned peas
Diced onion
Diced carrot
Diced celery
Egg noodles
Shredded cheese

1. Cook egg noodles according to package
2. Open and drain tuna
3. Cook diced onion, carrots, and celery in oil or butter until softened
4. Mix onion, carrots, and celery in with all ingredients
5. Freeze OR bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until heated through

Side note: you can also substitute cream of chicken for cream of celery if you don't like it or want to try something new

Biscuit Sandwiches
Turkey or regular sausage patties (I like the precooked kind)
Refrigerator biscuits
Slices of cheese
Scrambled eggs

1. Cook biscuits according to package directions
2. Scramble eggs
3. Assemble biscuits with sausage, eggs, and cheese.
4. Freeze

To reheat these I thaw them overnight and then the hubby puts them in the microwave for 1 min 30 seconds and voila...easy on the go breakfast (and you look like the best wife ever)


For all of the casseroles thaw them overnight in the fridge and then cook them when you get home. Enjoy!


Eat well and be well


-Busier than a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs Ashton, Playing with guns Patrick, Resting on top of Wayland's crate (how does she get up there?!) Sookie, and sleeping under the coffee table (thank God he won't fit soon) by Daddy's Sperrys Wayland

Roast Beast is the best kind of beast

So, in my house we take Dr. Seuss (and all things Theodor Geisel related) things seriously. I am an education major in the end. Plus, if you don't know this Theodor Geisel character (and chances are...you DO) consult the oracle and google it. I'd like to also add as a side note that my lab puppy decided to take this time/opportunity to pee on my carpet. Apparently, his feelings about Dr. Seuss are very loud and clear. Although, perhaps not as loud as his mother's pathetic "No...!". Moving back to the roast beast. In our house growing up a pot roast or roast beef is in fact referred to as "roast beast" from the Grinch. If you knew anything about our family you'd know that often things were not called by their actual names. This resulted in a special family language/Ashton looking like the dumb kid at school many times. Nevertheless I have a very special, world renowned (when I say world I mean mine...I'm not THAT cocky) pot roast/roast beast recipe. I seriously once witnessed a fellow human being (a man because I assume the women I know wouldn't do this) drink this pot roast gravy. Apparently it's that "epic". So here's the thing...I don't share this recipe lightly. So, I'm gonna need a little support. If you like the blog on blogger or comment you get the recipe. I'll reply...I'm clutch like that. If not losers, weepers, keepers? Oh wait, that's not right. Well, let's face it, I'm no Theodor Geisel.

Eat Well and Be Well

Ps. Did I mention I was crock pot-ing the roast beast tomorrow (and that I'm crazy?) that's one for you Yurtin!

-shamelessly heating leftovers up Ashton (because yes, I'm that good that my food is yummy the next day too), Sweaty, gross Patrick (in from a run and I get NO warning before a sweaty kiss), not in trouble Wayland (because he's a puppy and too cute), and a full off dental chew hedgehog (she's a hedgehog, hog) Sookie

I am King of the...King Ranch Casserole :)

So, yesterday I decided to try a new treat. There's a popular casserole among Texans and I thought I'd try my hand at it. The hubby was all for it (being so very Texan and into sampling all of my culinary "delights") so I set out to make this King Ranch casserole my...well, you get the point. So, here's the ingredients kids.

Shredded cooked chicken
Chopped green bell pepper
Chopped onion (medium sized)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can rotel
1 can cream of mushroom soup
Shredded cheddar cheese
Corn tortillas
Cinnamon (1 dash)
Garlic salt (1 dash)
Lawry's seasoned salt (1 dash)
Cumin (1 dash)
Cayenne pepper (2 dashes)
Chili powder (3 dashes)
Paprika (2 dashes)
Salt and pepper (2 dashes of both)

1. Preheat your oven to 350
2. Slightly grease a 13X9 casserole dish
3. Cut corn tortillas into strips and put down one layer
4. Sauté onions and bell pepper in a large skillet until softened
5. Add in all ingredients except for the cheese and corn tortillas
6. Stir together chicken mixture
7. Layer 1/3 of chicken mixture on top of tortillas
8. Layer with 1/3 cheese
9. Repeat layers
10. Top casserole with remaining tortilla strips (they will get crispy and it's amazing
11. Bake for 30 minutes and serve with sour cream

Enjoy!

The hubby loved this recipe as did I and I sent him with leftovers for lunch so that was a money saving bonus for sure! Also, if you like to have cocktail hour with appetizers (as we do in our home because it causes us to sit and talk to each other after a long day) try this one:

Prosciutto wrapped asparagus

1. Get a fresh bundle of asparagus and wash and trim the ends
2. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper
3. Preheat oven to 425 degrees
4. Wrap asparagus stalks with half a slice of prosciutto and place on the cookie sheet
5. Drizzle with olive oil and top with shredded Parmesan
6. Place in oven for 15 minutes and serve
7. Talk to your guests and enjoy yourself!

I hope y'all enjoy these recipes. Things are ever so good in my hood. North Carolina is an exciting adventure, the house looks great, and I'm slowly getting used to the sounds of bombs and jets.

Eat well and be well

-A blogging Ashton, a working Patrick, a chewing Sookie, and a crying outside to come in Wayland.

Pantry Staple Cooking

I'm a bit bored today. I know, I know...it's hard to imagine me, the stay at home dog mom/Marine wife/domestic goddess could ever be bored. Today, I'm stuck at home babysitting the newest addition to our family baby Wayland dog (black lab at your service). Also, they're painting my house. So, what's a woman to do that is stuck without the option of a grocery trip in her day? You got it rock stars...it's cook out of my pantry day. This is always a challenging/glorious day at our home where I make Patrick my happy famished guinea pig. So what am I going to feed him before I send him back to his cedar lined cage to stare at his water bottle you ask...well today I think I will tackle TUNA CASSEROLE. After all, it is very popular with lunch ladies everywhere. Here's what I have to work with:

Canned tuna
Onion
Celery
Carrots
Some type of beans (not sure if I'll use them but we shall see bc I'm a crazy woman)
Non fat sour cream
Cream of mushroom soup
No yolk noodles
Cheddar cheese
Garlic salt and assorted spices


I guess we will find out tonight if this is a great recipe or if Patrick would have rather eaten the cedar (get it? From the guinea pig reference? I crack myself up)

I think I will also be making some kind of muffin today with assorted mixes because well, I'm bored.


Toodles
Eat well and be well

-bored Ashton, playing Marine Patrick, Ornery Sookie, and sleeping and tooting (ugh puppy toots are the worst) baby Wayland dog

I LOVE freezing!

Nope...not cold temperatures...haha gotcha. Who are you kidding?! I live in FLORIDA people! It's like 80 degrees today and yes my biggest regret is not being at the beach. Why am I not?, you ask...well it's simple because I'm an idiot. Moving on, I love, love, love freezing things. Normally, I just freeze meats but today I've started with berries too. Publix (my fave) had a big sale on blueberries and strawberries today so I bought some, rushed home, washed and cut up the strawberries and put them in my best friend Mr. Ziploc freezing bag. Yes ladies (and gents, if you read this) I am having a love affair with a Ziploc freezer bag and no, my new husband is not jealous. He gets good food out of it and I get happiness. It's a win, win for us. The blueberries are a bit trickier because you have to wash them, then place them on a cookie sheet in the freezer overnight to freeze and then take them to your (soon to be) new best friend Ziploc freezer bag and then freeze them again. So, my biggest advice of the day...when you see those bogo or cheap meat prices BUY, BUY, BUY. Then freeze them :) we keep staples around the house at all times (like tomato sauce, cream of chicken soup, etc) so that when I decide that for a week we will eat out of our freezer it's pretty easy. Example, I made a pot roast the other night which I will be making into shredded beef tacos today AND...since it was on sale I bought another chuck roast and froze it...so next week I can make a lovely pot roast for company. Now the question is...who will be the lucky ones to come over? ;) I'll write more later but for now...Gossip Girl and my vacuum cleaner are calling...toodles.

Be Good and Do Good

-Ashton

Thursday is a cooking day

I miss the Thursdays when Friends would come on. How do I even remember that? I remember my entire night was centered around making sure I could watch that newest episode. I feel like they don't make shows like they used to. I used to live for Dawson's Creek, Ally Mcbeal, Friends, etc those great shows I couldn't live without. Grey's Anatomy used to be like that but these days how much crap can really go down in a hospital? It's gotten pretty ridiculous. So, today which is Thursday and a Friends-less one might I add, I'm going to cook. I know, I know...I always cook but today I'm going to create recipes which is one of my very favorite things. Plus, I can empty some space in my pantry and who doesn't love that. So, this morning I got up from my bed (at 9 am because Patrick kept bugging me about breakfast) for some reason he makes me get up so he can cook it. It may be because he's afraid without me being conscious he may burn down the kitchen...who knows. Anyway, I got up, got some coffee from my delicious Keurig (thanks to stepdad Toddie yay wedding presents) and then proceeded to give myself my shot in my tummy. Ouch, that hurt, not gonna lie. Now I have a tiny little circle around it which is always attractive and it burned like fire. The pain has been replaced with a tiny soreness and some exhaustion (probably from the stress of having to give myself a shot in the stomach) but alas it is done. Then, I did one of my favorite things which is sit on the couch, knit, and watch Samantha Brown on the Travel Channel and make a mental list of all the places I want to go/things I want to do. Sometimes this list overwhelms me because I wonder where the room for an actual life is with all of this stuff ie. kids, husband, etc. I'll find time for all of it, I promise myself and then I get on to my favorite thoughts/subject...food. Patrick and my mother are always making fun of me because I spend so much time wondering about my next meal. I can wonder about my next meal while eating my current meal. It's a miracle that I don't weigh 500 lbs (although Patrick says we will later in life...he wants to be fat and happy, yeah we will see about that). So, today I will be making crockpot vegetable soup and homemade bread...I may throw in a cherry pie just to be adventurous. Why? You ask well...for simple reasons really, I'm stressed out about the wedding/Patrick's job/my father's surgery today and cooking makes me feel better. That's my answer and I'm sticking to it. I'll post the recipes later.

-Nervous Ashton, working Patrick, and eating paper somewhere Sookie