Food
Friday, February 29, 2008, by Sherra
I made baked ziti last week for dinner and the kids are still talking about it. Well, except for The Grunter, who doesn’t eat noodles. No, I didn’t traumatize him with a pasta dish.
Scary Baby said “it was the best dinner ever.” I was going to freeze 1/2 of it but the kids who are not crazy about leftovers…ate it all!
As I assembled it in the kitchen, Wizzy watched intently because she loves to know how to make dinner “the way mom does” which is rare these days. She noted that “it would have been cool if we had taken pictures and then put them on the blog.” What a great idea. That we didn’t do…
This is a quick, easy meal you can make ahead of time. During the season of life with 3 toddlers, I would often make an extra pan and freeze it. It is my go-to meal when I need to deliver a meal to a family in need. Throw in a loaf of fresh bread (or frozen garlic bread) and “salad in a bag” (yeah, I send something green and vegetable-like to other families) and you have a delicious, hearty meal. I’m all about convenience and ease so if I’m making it to take to another family, I make it in a disposable foil pan so no one has to worry about returning dishes.
Don’t forget dessert - if the family has little ones I always send knox blox (stop laughing) and some cookies or cake. They’ll love you for it, I’m telling you!
Our way: I use one jar of Prego spaghetti sauce & one can of Hunt’s tomato sauce. I season the sauce with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, minced onion, pepper & brown sugar. I wish I could tell you how much, but I don’t know. My educated guess would be about 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of each and about 1-2 tablespoons of brown sugar. Basil? Hmm, I might sprinkle in some dry basil leaves. You don’t seriously think we would have a fresh, green herb in our house, do you? Oh, and I use shredded mozzarella and there’s no such thing as too much cheese at our house so I use about 2 cups and save a little for the top. I spread the sour cream on top of the cheese slices and then add sauce. I use an 11 x 13 pan.
Baked Ziti
- 1 16 oz package rigatoni pasta (or any shape you like!)
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 (28 oz) jars spaghetti sauce
- 6 ounces sliced provolone cheese
- 6 ounces sliced mozzarella cheese
- 1-1/2 cups sour cream
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al denté; drain. In a large skillet, brown beef over medium heat and add onions. Drain off fat and add spaghetti sauce; simmer for about 15 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350º and lightly grease a 2 quart baking dish. Place about half of the pasta; top with a layer of provolone and mozzarella cheese slices. Spread on a layer of half sour cream and half spaghetti sauce. Repeat with pasta, cheese, sour cream and sauce; sprinkle with parmesan cheese and fresh basil. Bake for about 30 minutes or until cheese and sauce are bubbly.
I’d love to hear if you make this and what you think!
This recipe is from one of my favorite recipe sites: allrecipes.com
Print This Recipe
Popularity: 25%
Categories: Food
Subscribe
Monday, February 18, 2008, by Sherra
This is a message of hope for moms with toddlers, tweens or teens who have some version of the strong-willed child. I know the pain of wondering if you are damaging their self-esteem, leaving permanent scars and ruining their childhood.
First a little more background on The Grunter…
He was born with a mild disposition and he slept through the night. He was an unexpected, unplanned joy in our life.
He was our pumpkin.
He became a big brother far sooner than we would have ever planned.
(If we had been planning.)
At 21 months, we brought home, not just one, but TWO baby sisters who invaded his world.
The days flew by and he spent his days letting his sisters touch all of his toys and protecting them from “choking people.” (You know those little Fisher Price® figures that went with the farm and various other toys.) He announced they had “choking people” at least seven times a day to which I would reply, “Thank you, Officer Humphreys.”
He endured being paraded around and photographed with those darn twin sisters. Here is just one of many, many photos he endured while dressed to match his little sisters.
Side parenting tip: It is much easier to count and corral your children in public if you have them dressed alike. I’m sure it also squelches their individuality but that’s a post for another day.
He even endured life when we had the nerve to bring home another sister the year of his 10th birthday. Weren’t two enough?
But he kind of liked this one who appeared to be his very own “twin.”
The above picture is Scary Baby at 6 months, framed picture of The Grunter at six months and The Grunter himself.
It has to be hard, still to this day, living with all these GIRLS! In spite of how he acts on the outside, we have witnessed his kindness and affection for them. On most days, he’s a pretty good big brother. I like to believe that he knows, deep down, that he would have been a lonely boy without his sisters to play with…
I shared all that with you first so you wouldn’t think I’m a bad mom for taking pictures of one of our many struggles. (Remember we’re all here to share not judge.)
I will be the first to admit that I think there is an extra challenge for mothers who are stubborn and strong-willed who are blessed with children who possess those same characteristics. Well, that and God has a sense of humor…
I am guilty of dreaming of having passive, quiet children who obey and never rock the boat. I have friends who have these strange nice children. Such a boring life these people have…sigh.
Instead, I have a boy who continues to challenge us in so many ways.
It seems like it was just yesterday but in fact, it was more than 10 years ago when our little pumpkin wouldn’t eat much of anything. (No comments from you vegetable-lovers please.)
I present you now with one of our favorite family memories. You know those fantastic one-liners your kids utter and you know right then and there that you’ll never forget them from that very moment.
On this day in September of 1997, that line was…
“WHEN WILL THIS NIGHTMARE BE OVER?”
The back story of this sad photo:
We were in a phase at our house where he was having a very hard time eating good meals. Yes, I am one of “those” mothers who often says, “You are NOT sick, you are FINE.” But when this eating problem persisted, I had a change of heart. I really did get worried.
Worried to the point of going to the doctor to make sure he was healthy. After many tests including urine, stool sample, blood work, x-rays and an upper G.I. - a clean bill of health was announced.
Dad made a special trip to the grocery and bought him this specific cereal because it “sounded good.” Unfortunately, the soggy texture of the milk and cereal combination (who knew?) coupled with our insistence that he eat the TINY bowl of cereal created a full-fledged meltdown ending with the now famous line, “When will this nightmare be over?”
For those readers who are concerned about the boy, his cereal and his life now…
Here is our delightful much-loved firstborn on his 18th birthday who never eats cereal and drumroll please…he is FINE!
Life Lesson (LL): Cereal and milk become soggy when not eaten quickly and the trauma of eating the said soggy cereal may cause you to seek out therapy later.
Share a Life Lesson (SALL): What awful things did you make your kids sit at the table and eat? Or better yet, what did your horrible, mean parents make you finish and you are still sharing those memories in therapy with a chosen few? Come on now, don’t be shy - this is a safe place to share!
Popularity: 57%
Categories: Finding the Funny, Food, Life Lessons, Moments, Teens, Toddlers (& babies), Tweens
Subscribe
Thursday, February 14, 2008, by Sherra
WHAT??!! You didn’t make the cake????
You woke up this morning and realized it was Valentine’s Day and forgot to make something yummy for your friends and family?!
Quick, stop at the store and buy THREE things:
Bag of Hershey’s Kisses
Bag of M & Ms
Bag of Snyder’s Pretzel Snaps
Preheat oven to 275º and unwrap all the Hershey’s kisses. (Good job for the kids unless you want to surprise them.) Line up pretzels on baking sheet. Put one kiss on each pretzel. Bake in oven 2-3 MINUTES. The kisses will be shiny. Remove from oven and immediately press one M & M on each kiss. Let cool and harden. (Some people put them in the freezer.)
Ta-da! There you have the simplest, quickest recipe I’ve ever made in my life. The perfect blend of sweet and salty and they’re darn cute too.
I promise yours will look better than these last three pitiful ones that I had to fight Roger Leroy and Wizzy for so I could use them for this professional blog photo shoot.
I hear the green M & Ms are the new red. Speaking only for myself, I’ll eat any color.
We did pick out the brown ones and eat them immediately since we all agreed they wouldn’t look as *pretty* on top on the kiss.
Thanks Wendy for introducing us to this fun, bite-sized treat. 
Popularity: 15%
Categories: Food
Subscribe
Friday, February 8, 2008, by Sherra
First, I need to start by saying that I won’t necessarily be posting a recipe every Friday. This is merely a coincidence in the timing of the Superbowl and upcoming Valentine’s Day. And since I have had a wee bit of trouble “finding the funny” in anything this week, chocolate and whipping cream go a long way in my personal healing.
Secondly, every recipe I have in my extensive recipe collection does not call for whipping cream or half and half. It is just another coincidence.
Seriously, I just wanted to give you some lead time to go to the grocery and buy these complicated ingredients for this elaborate and FAN-CEE cake so you can impress your family by making this fabulous cake for your Valentine’s Day dessert!
That’s next Thursday, February 14th, for those of you who are not planners. Just like Christmas, it comes once a year, same month and date so don’t let it surprise you this year.
You have to refrigerate this cake overnight so that means you need to make it on Wednesday, February 13th. See, I’m here to help you plan. Be ready. Make this cake!
Unless your family is allergic to chocolate and/or dairy…then I don’t have any suggestions. That must be hard. I’m sorry.
The picture to entice and inspire you…
I’d like to tell you that this cake is one I actually made and the lovely pink roses and baby’s breath scattered in the background are from PhilBillPaul. That would be a big lie.
But the picture did make me laugh. Because it made me think about my friend Leigh Anne, who would make it in heart-shaped pans and scatter raspberries around the plate (that she and her children picked) and cut fresh flowers from her garden…I love to have friends who are so different than me…it’s what makes the world go ’round
Our way: We don’t change a darn thing in this recipe. Sometimes I skip the grated chocolate on the top just because I’m lazy like that. I’m all about eating and not so much about presentation.
Photo & recipe from Taste of Home magazine
Enjoy and please do tell if you and your family love it as much as we do!!
Print This Recipe
Popularity: 30%
Categories: Food, Friends
Subscribe
Monday, February 4, 2008, by Sherra
Even non-football fans had to hear about what an amazing game it was!!!!
I have a tendency to root for the underdog unless a favorite team is playing. This year it was unanimous at our house - we all cheered for the New York Giants. That fourth quarter play when Eli Manning broke free and completed the pass to David Tyree made them winners in my book right then. Ahh, but then they scored the winning touchdown moments later and it was one of the best, if not the best Superbowl ending that I can remember.
Banner by Wizzy and Scary Baby.
Back-to-back Manning brothers Superbowl victories has to be so sweet for their whole family. What an amazing story for the history books.
Side note: Do you think the assistant principal ever called their mom? Just curious…
Our local grocery store was out of Carvel football cakes. Did all you local people go buy one after my post on Friday?
Scary Baby was disappointed but she managed to eat enough Ritz® crackers, squirt cheese and cheetos to compensate for the missing cake.
The raspberry double decker Knox Blox were scrumptious.
Funny how a silly little thing done while you’re single with a few goofy friends becomes an unbreakable family tradition.
The silly things can become the important things. Sometimes our simple traditions are exactly what we need when things get stressful…
Popularity: 13%
Categories: Finding the Funny, Food, Moments, Raves
Subscribe
Friday, February 1, 2008, by Sherra
What the heck are Knox Blox? I think that’s plural. It’s not Knox Bloxes, is it?
Okay, I’ll share what they are and how important they are to our family and our Superbowl tradition.
It’s a spin off of an informal party I used to have with friends in Tampa before children. Just a gathering around the TV with good food and good friends.
We have a party with the kids. It started as a silly little thing I thought they might like even though we watch way more basketball than we watch football. For about 10 years now, the kids pick a team to cheer for and they make banners and hang them in the family room.
I believe banner skills have dramatically improved over the years or maybe we were just out of markers that year? I won’t bore you with banner photos from every year but…The Grunter must have had some extra free time in 2004 as he seemed to really put his mad artistic skillz into play on this banner.
I had to display last year’s banners because it was a Midwestern girl’s football dream with the Indianapolis Colts and the Chicago Bears matched up! (And we had obviously replenished our marker supply.)
After the banners are made, we get really serious because we are ready to do what we do best…EAT! Everyone gets to pick a favorite snack or appetizer and the big thrill for the kids - they get to eat in the family room. Every once in awhile, you gotta break your own rules. Truth be told, they break this rule a lot more now but that’s another post for another day.
Scary Baby is NOT eating a chicken wing, is she? Calm down, of course she’s not. She’s only two in this picture. We wouldn’t let a toddler eat a chicken wing. That’s a tortilla chip and I’m pretty sure she had enough teeth then to chew it up and not choke. I think.
I try to avoid cooking on this day. I’m not opposed to turning on the oven, so frozen appetizers might make the menu. I’m always looking for easy and simple so we like to order wings and our favorite Mexican cheese dip and chips. Sometimes PhilBillPaul will drive to two or three restaurants to pick up everyone’s favorites. Because he’s like that. (He really does have a servant heart.)
Roger Leroy always requests “squirt cheese.” Yes, I’m talking about that gourmet cheese in a can with a squirt nozzle just like the “whupped” cream that Scary Baby loves. Oh yeah, we are FAN-CEE like that!
If “squirt cheese” is making you kind of queasy and you are feeling adventurous and want to try some new recipes, check out The Pioneer Woman Cooks because she has compiled her extravaganza and just seeing the pictures will make you hungry!
For the kids, it’s not about the football. It is really all about the food, family and the most important thing…
It’s really all about…
The Knox Blox.
Notice the tiny team pennants adorning the Knox Blox.
They’re optional.
Are you positive they are sisters twins?
As you can see we put a lot of time and energy into which flavor and color matches which team.
I make the final decision on which color gets to be the DOUBLE DECKER Knox Blox (my personal fav because whipping cream in anything is never a bad thing)!!!
Now I know you’re dying to get the recipe for Knox Blox because you can plainly see these are not your ordinary gelatin treats. I have posted the recipe as a separate post so you can print it and add some color and fun to your Superbowl party!
I need to confess that I made these Knox Blox with the pennants before I had kids. So now you know I was super fun even before I had kids.
Did I mention that the Knox Blox do not count as our mandatory dessert? Scary Baby’s favorite? The football ice cream cake by Carvel…
No Carvel where you live? Oh, I hate that for you. Don’t despair, you can go to your local grocery or bakery and get some classy dessert like this:
Life Lesson (LL): The most important thing is just to have a party even if you’re not a football fan. Because the fun is in the food, family and friends!
Share a Life Lesson(SALL): Do you have a Superbowl tradition? Any fabulous recipe you can share? We’re always looking for new ideas to add to our upscale party so come on, let us in on what you do at your house!
Popularity: 42%
Categories: Finding the Funny, Food, Friends, Moments, Raves
Subscribe
Friday, February 1, 2008, by Sherra
I’ve been making these lovely little colorful treats since I was babysitter way back when. I’ve yet to meet a kid who doesn’t love these. Adults don’t want to admit it, but they love them too.
These are vintage recipes as you can see from the condition of my original recipe cards.
Our way: We do the opposite of what the recipe says. We pour the mixed dry gelatin into the boiling water that is in a large glass liquid measuring cup and stir with a small drink whisk until everything is dissolved. There are less lumps this way. In our area, Kroger has a store brand unflavored gelatin with 24 envelopes in a box. We always have the ingredients on hand to make these.
Knox Blox
Double Decker Knox Blox
Print This Recipe
Popularity: 21%
Categories: Food
Subscribe
Monday, January 7, 2008, by Sherra
This is the time of year when I love to have soup for dinner at least once a week.
If you love clam chowder, then you’re in the right place. Here is a recipe I’ve had for more than 20 years. I got it from and old friend’s mom. She got it from a restaurant in the St. Louis area.
Being the professional google researcher that I am, I checked to see if the restaurant is still in existence and tried to confirm if the recipe is authentic or a copy-cat recipe. My best guess is that it is a copy-cat recipe.
Some of you may recognize the restaurant so here’s a bit of history and nostalgia for you about Noah’s Ark in St. Charles, Missouri.
This soup is excellent and so easy to make. Pretty much anything that takes a quart of half and half is going to be tasty (just my opinion). Let me know if you make it and if you like it!
Our way: I used minced onions or onion salt. I do not buy onions. I do not chop onions. Onions are a vegetable, aren’t they? I cook on a stovetop and have never baked soup in my life.
Clam Chowder
- 1/2 stick butter (also known as 4 Tbsp)
- 1 medium onion (chopped)
- 1 can clams (drained)
- 2 cans Campbell’s® New England Clam Chowder
- 3 cans Campbell’s® Potato Soup
- 1 quart half & half
- salt & pepper to taste
Melt butter and sauté clams for 15 minutes. Mix all ingredients together. Cook for 4 hours on stovetop or bake 1 hour at 350°
Print This Recipe
Popularity: 13%
Categories: Food
Subscribe
Thursday, December 27, 2007, by Sherra
This was my life in the kitchen from approximately 1992 to 2003.
Except without vegetables.
Because my kids are picky eaters.
My husband is on the chart too.
I surrendered a few years ago.
Now they have to fend for themselves.
Sidenote:
Close To Home© cartoons make me laugh. John McPherson has been hiding in our house and spying on us. It’s actually kind of creepy.
But when I emailed him just before Christmas to ask if I could post his cartoons here, he didn’t seem creepy at all. He was very nice. Here’s what he said:
December 17, 2007
Hi, Sherra!
Thanks for your kind words about my cartoons. You are welcome to use them at your site. If you can leave a link to my site at www.closetohome.com that would be great.
I hope you’ll keep tuning in to Close To Home and keep your eyes peeled for my new book “Everything I Need to Know on I learned on Jerry Springer” and my 2008 calendars.
Best regards,
John McPherson
NOTE: He didn’t say he wasn’t hiding in our house.
Look forward to more of his cartoons here or check out his website. I actually have my Yahoo page set so I read one every day!
Popularity: 13%
Categories: Finding the Funny, Food
Subscribe
Wednesday, December 5, 2007, by Sherra
Sharing recipes along with life lessons…because we all have to eat!
I will always post the full recipe for you purists (and the source if I know it) but I will also first tell you the things we change to make it edible for our family of picky eaters.
You feel free to make it your way and I’ll make it my way.
Our way: Canned chicken from Costco also works just fine when you don’t want to boil chicken. I eliminate green onions & broccoli (remember we especially don’t eat green vegetables). Pimento? Never bought it in my life. Sherry or wine…I don’t drink it and I don’t cook with it. I just add a little more half and half. I do get wild and buy a bag of julienne carrots and throw them in for color. Of course, this makes the kids squeal and pick them out.
This is one of my all-time favorite soup recipes. Easy to make and very hearty and filling. With a loaf of fresh bread, it makes a whole meal!
Wild & Creamy Chicken Rice Soup
- 4 boneless split chicken breasts
- 8 slices bacon
- 3 cans (14.5 oz) chicken broth
- 1 pkg (6 oz.) long grain & wild rice with seasoning packet
- 1/2 C carrots cut in julienne strips
- 1/2 C thinly sliced green onions
- 3/4 C broccoli flowerets
- 1/2 C butter or margarine
- 1/2 C all purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 2 C milk or half and half cream
- 1 Tbsp chopped pimento
- 1/4 C dry sherry, dry white wine, or white cooking wine
- 1 Tbsp chopped fresh chives
Simmer chicken in a covered saucepan in 1/2 C water until done. Drain, cut into chunks (about 2 cups); set aside. Cook bacon until crisp, crumble; set aside.
Combine chicken broth, rice, seasoning packet, carrots and onions in a large kettle or a stockpot. Bring to a boil, reduce head, cover and simmer 30 minutes. Add broccoli and simmer 10 minutes more.
Melt butter in a medium saucepan. Gradually stir in flour and pepper, cook one minute or until smooth, stirring constantly. Gradually add milk or cream and cook, stirring continually until thickened. Add milk mixture in broth mixture, stirring. Add chicken, crumbled bacon, pimento and wine. Heat gently, stirring often. Do not boil. If thicker than desired, thin with small amount of broth or cream. Garnish each serving with fresh chives. Serve with crusty bread or muffins. 4-6 main dish servings.
Recipe from Young ‘n Tender Brand Chicken Winning Taste Recipe Contest Carol Hodges, First Place Winner
Print This Recipe
Popularity: 11%
Categories: Food
Subscribe
RSS Subscription
E-Mail Subscription
