Sunday, February 27, 2011

My newest Craigslist Steal

I am THRILLED. This is just what I wanted and for a fantastic price, too! I wanted a dark colored desk for my den/catch all room. This guy originally bought it on CL a few years ago. Sanded down, painted it Espresso and put a counter top on top. He even drilled holes and stuff in there in order to put your computer wires through and everything. This was all stuff that I do NOT have time to do. The best part is......................... I paid $25 for it. The thing is HEAVY, so it won't be leaving here anytime soon! lol.

Don't mind the soda cup!


Love the counter top top!



Only thing is...my monitor looks REALLY small now. lol!

Friday, February 25, 2011

Mostaccioli

So I got this recipe from my Mom who made this when we were growing up. It's THE BEST Mostaccioli recipe, EVER. I am not kidding, you will not want to eat mostaccioli any other way after eating it this way.  I've had people comment that it tastes like pizza, even. Of course, I've tweaked it a bit for me and my family, but it's basically the same. My mom would put some cooking wine in it and I don't. Hubby doesn't like the wine.... (but instead of putting it IN the meal, why not drink it while you are cooking it? :)  ) I've made this for birthday parties, etc because it's so easy to double and it's a crowd pleaser. This with a salad and garlic bread?...YUUUUMMMM

Heat the oven to 375 degrees

1.5 lbs of lean ground beef
1 box of mostaccioli noodles
1 onion, chopped
2 jars of Ragu (or whatever kind you use)
1 lb of Velveeta cheese (YES! you can use light if you want)
2 TBL garlic (yes, I LOVE garlic)

Italian seasoning (oregano, basil)
1/2 cup of cooking wine -- optional.
Bay leaf or 2-optional.


I brown the beef in a pan, with the onions and garlic. I season the beef with Weber's Gourmet Seasoning. I LOVE this seasoning. (can be found at Walmart) We put it on burgers and any kind of browned beef/turkey. You can use whatever seasoning that you love to season meat with. Start boiling those noodles!! Have a glass of wine while they are boiling.


You will have to excuse the pictures because I am somehow out of Mostaccioli noodles, so for today, I'm going to use the Penne noodles. I will post a pic of the finished product after I cook it tonight. For now, I am putting it in the fridge.

I have a HUGE jar of Ragu because 1 smaller jar (you know, the glass ones) is never enough. We like our pasta somewhat wet. Plus, we let the noodles soak up some of the wonderful tomato sauce!

After the beef,onions, and garlic are done cooking, drain the grease. Get a 9x13 or whatever kind of pan you'd like to use. I use a glass one generally. Pour some of the Ragu/spag sauce in the bottom of the pan. I sprinkle the sauce with my Italian Seasoning as some sauces need more spice! I then mix the meat, garlic, onions and noodles together. I usually add a bit more of my Weber Gourmet Burger seasoning then. 


Pour the mixture on top of your sauced pan. Then I pour the rest of the sauce over the top of my mixture and add more Italian seasoning to it. I have to be honest, I think I put 4 TBL of garlic in this batch. I thought for sure hubby would make a comment about it, but he didn't. He LOVED it. Make sure to get ALL of the noodles wet. I don't like mine burnt and they tend to get charred/burnt if they aren't soaked in the sauce.




Now it's time for the BEST part. Slice your Velveeta up. Layer it over the top of the noodle/meat mixture. There's a lot of it. That full lb WILL fit over the top...but if you think it's too much, cut back on it. You may be disappointed though, if you do.


Put foil over the top of it and cook for 35 mins. After 35 mins, take the foil off and put back in the oven for another 10 mins or until the cheese is melted good and is a little bit brown.


Sometimes I have to cook it for a bit longer than 35 mins. It depends on the oven. This is such an Ooey gooey yummy comfort food. I have also put green peppers in this at times, too. The Velveeta makes this dish! I am not a big fan, normally, but this is GOOOOOD.


 Look at all of the cheese!

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Week of sickness

Just like the title says... Our oldest came down with a cold that has put him out of commission from last Friday until today. They were off of school Monday, so he missed 2 days of school this week. Our youngest son, Connor, is now completely sick. He has a cough, a fever, and has started CLICKING his teeth for the last 2 nights. It is LOUD. I mean, LOUD. He's never done that before so it's quite an experience. lol.

I am waaaaay behind on what I needed/wanted to do this week. I need to clean my crafty/den/computer/catch all room and haven't gotten to it. I have all of my new Partylite stock sitting in the room. Ok, I will be honest. My daughter has started stacking the candle boxes into 3 foot high towers...and then the towers fall....you get the idea.

The laundry is piling up on my dining room table, yes, that's right, doesn't your dining room table double as a laundry basket?

I am almost caught up in the kitchen, although I have yet to mop/steam/power wash the floor. It's been 2 weeks as of tomorrow...yikes. I missed the gym on Tuesday night and haven't gone at all during the day. Hey, I have sick kids that I'm not going to take to the daycare there so we can continue to spread the joy of germs around. :)

The bathrooms are at least cleaned. Well, the toilets anyway! :) 

It's another rainy day here in Missouri (or Misery) as some people call it. lol. BUT I am up. I'm waiting for my husband to get home and I think I may have to suck it up and go get a quick pickmeup. (STARBUCKS!) I need a lifeline! lol.

On another note, at least my kiddos aren't crabby even though they are sick. They continue to make me laugh and smile. In fact, my soon2be5 year old actually wanted to sit on my lap today. How can that NOT make you smile? My crafts can wait. The chores can wait. Everything else can wait but those few precious minutes of him sitting on my lap, with his head on my chest. <3

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

My Catch-All, computer, craft room...

So... we recently bought a house and moved in in September 2010. I am a complete freak about having things be "finished" looking or...well, ok, I don't always finish stuff I start working on. I get distracted, I do have 4 kids and a husband after all.

Anyway, our house was painted the same color EVERYWHERE. I can NOT deal with that. I immediately started painting. ::shuddering:: BUT. I HATE heights. I am scared to death and I literally can have panic attacks, so of course, the trim at the ceiling is always the last thing I do and I don't do it very good at all. lol.

It has 2 beautiful french doors. This is the only pic I could find of the before for some reason. lol



It REALLY turned out pretty. This is just the one wall. lol. I'm just trying to decide what to do with the other walls...I sell Partylite, so maybe some sconces and more pictures? This room gets a lot of light because it's in the front of the house and it has 2 big windows in it....thoughts?

I will update at a future date with some current pics.

Valentine's Day

My kids had a blast. I made homemade Cinnamon Rolls. (Thank you Pioneer Woman)
I also made some heart shaped candies,

 
with mini-Snickers inside, some chocolate suckers and oh, I forget what else.

So these were great. I LOVE WILTON. I bought some candy molds and melted chocolate and filled the heart molds half way. I took a mini Snickers and cut it in half and placed it in the chocolate. I then filled the rest of the heart with melted chocolate. Put them in the freezer and a few mins later, VIOLA. The kids LOVED these. I made some with melted pink marshmallows, too. You know, pink for Valentine's Day and all.... Besides, they were from Xmas (the marshmallows) that hadn't been opened. I thought I could use those and the kids would love it. Mind you, there are still green trees left in that bag, so I guess I will make some for St Patty's Day or Mardi Gras. :) I LOVE Wilton.

I was a baking fool Saturday! But it was worth it. I took some of the rolls over to my parents' house on Sunday (the 13th) and they LOVED them. My mom completely appreciates the whole made from scratch bit. She also knew who the Pioneer Woman was! I was shocked, my mom is NOT an internet person, plus, I had NO idea she read any blogs or knew what a blog was. lol. Love you, Mom.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Some Thanksgiving items

I made some decor around Thanksgiving time. I also did Xmas and am working on my Valentine ones right now. Next week I will be doing Easter!!! I LOVE colorful things!!!





I just took patterns and quotes that I liked and put them in a frame to display. Generally I have changed them for the Holidays. I'm actually probably going to move these pics into the hallway as I think I've decided what I want to do in my Dining Room (where these are now.)

Friday, February 4, 2011

Snowed In

After the last week of being "snowed in", the kids have gone back to school today. I am in the middle of cleaning up this house (again) and figuring out what we are going to do for Valentine's Day.

We made cards for Grandma's and Grandpa's and MeMaw's and MePaw's yesterday, as well as for Great Gma June. I am going to have the kids help make their teacher's gifts and presents for the grandparents next Saturday, I think. It depends. Maybe this Sunday. :) I am SOOO excited about that. The kids are going to love it (and so will the gparents).

I haven't finished my Kissing Ball or my Topiary yet, either. (Probably will do that Sunday) I'm about ready to ditch those and just start on Mardi Gras and St. Patrick's Day stuff. lol. I've also come to the conclusion that I think I need a Cricut. lol.

I'm going to get my hair done tomorrow with my BFF and we are going to look at wedding dresses for her as well. I CAN'T wait. Alright, well, it's time for me to get off of here and head into the disaster area, AKA the Kitchen!