Mavis's Famous Meatloaf

Tasty Tuesday came and went last week. oops! Check out Lindsay's other tasty tuesday recipes. This week i was thinking of comfort food and food for cold weather. burrrr...... It's coming for those of us up north :) This recipe is one that i learned in Jr. High when my mom went back to work and i had to make suppers. She, of course, doesn't seem to remember this the same way but .... i know it's a winner. I bake it for church dinners too. I do take liberties and add more or less of the amounts to specific tastes. Enjoy.

mavis's famous meatloaf

1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
1 egg
1 envelope lipton onion soup mix
3/4 c - 1 c oatmeal (quick or regular)
1/2 c - 3/4 c milk (don't make it soupy)
1/2 c ketchup

mix together with your hands (fun, fun). Put in loaf pan or double recipe and put in 9 x 13 pan. bake 350-375 for 1 hour or until no longer pink. Last 10 minutes top w/ favorite BBQ sauce or catsup. Serve w/mashed or baked potatoes and cheesy corn (corn w/velveeta melted in).

a little humor in our "dance" toward the presidency

This last week of campaigning & voting stuff gets pretty long and not all that fun. I thought i'd throw a couple of fun items your way, something to cheer us up before the BIG day. Hopefully no matter how you vote you'll find these to be a chuckle or two. ENJOY and Remember to Vote, Nov. 4 :) After you've checked out the picture go to http://www.palinaspresident.com/ and move the mouse over the picture and click. There are little surprises all over. This is courtesy of stephen's blog.

tasty tuesday creeps up on me :)

Here is another episode of me trying to be a cook. Check out Lindsay's blog for more menu ideas
SPAGHETTI PIE

1 LB SPAGHETTI, OR ADD AS MUCH AS YOUR FAMILY LIKES TO EAT, COOK AS DIRECTED,drain

ADD: 1/4 C BUTTER, MELTED

1 EGG, BEATEN

1/2 C GRATED PARMESAN

PRESS INTO PIE PAN, 8" OR 9" to form crust

ADD: 1 CUP COTTAGE CHEESE, SPREAD ON NOODLES

TOP WITH: 1 JAR SPAGHETTI SAUCE

1 LB HAMBURGER, BROWNED & DRAINED

BAKE 350 DEGREES FOR 25-30 MIN.

TOP W/ 1 cup MOZZARELLA CHEESE FOR THE LAST 5 MIN., UNTIL MELTED

SERVES 4-6

I'VE ALSO DONE THIS IN A 9 X 13 AND INCREASED THE "CRUST" QUANTITIES.

TASTY TUESDAY

This is a family favorite or then again, maybe it's just mine :)

Sue's Quick & Easy Chop Suey

1- lb. ground beef

1/2 c. chopped onion, optional

brown beef w/onion in large fry pan. drain grease

add:

1 can chicken noodle soup

1 can cr of chicken soup

1 can water

Bring to a boil.

add: 1 - 1 1/2 cans minute rice

add soy sauce to taste.

cover and cook for approx. 10 min.

add approx. 1/2 c chinese chow mein noodles

1 can green beans

cover and cook 5 min.

Should be thick enough to serve as "hot dish". I add more chowmein noodles to serve and soy sauce. ummm. Serves approx. 4-5

Random Things

Hmmm. I've been tagged by cassie . It's been a few years since tag has been part of my life but this one I think I can handle.

7 Random or Weird facts about myself

1. i love sitting on my butt.

2. i make by bed every morning

3. i find it almost impossible to leave the house w/out makeup on. i know, i'm vain.

4. fruits and vegetables are not my favorite things to eat. i can't understand why it's so difficult to lose weight???

5.i am a homebody. i find it difficult to be away from home longer than 1 week. sometimes less than that.

6. i would love to make a living in interior decorating or design. not possible in our small town.

7. i enjoy driving in my car.

now who will i tag? i don't know alot of bloggers yet. Cassie tagged the ones i know.

TASTY TUESDAY RECIPE SHARING

Ok, i've never been known as this great cook but Lindsay's blog has me interested. i do have a recipe that is a winner w/everyone who tries it: forgive my sometimes inexact measurements (i'm not a measurer :)

Chickey Stacky Uppy

1-Lg Can Cream of Chicken Soup
1-Lg Can Cream of Mushroom Soup
1/2 envelope lipton onion soup
1 small can mushroom pieces
1-10 3/4 oz. chicken broth
4-5 chicken breasts, cooked and cubed (i boil these and cube after)
Mix all of the above and heat through. can be done in crock pot, approx. 4 hours on low.
Add 8 oz. sour cream before serving.

This is fun for the family because it can be customized to each person's taste

Each person makes their own w/ chowmein noodles, topped by scoop of white rice, add above gravy, top w/ dry roasted peanuts, chopped tomatoes, chopped green onions, chopped green peppers, jalapenos, pineapple chunks and coconut. Anything goes! This is so..... good! Seems like an unusual combo but oh, the flavors are so awesome together. Serves 6-8 people.

REFLECTIONS ON EMPTY NESTING

You know you are an empty nester when:
-You look for some clean underwear and realize you haven't done laundry in 1 week
-Supper is cereal or whatever is leftover in the fridge
-the dust bunnies are very infrequent because of lack of activity in the home
-or the dust bunnies that are there can't be blamed on my daughter any more
-you can reclaim the extra bathroom in the house as yours
-your college age son visits and asks " so, is this how you spend everynight?"
-you read blogs from young moms and think "it really wasn't that long ago, was it?"

I'm sure there are many more but at the moment these are top of mind. It really is a nice place to be at but rather surreal at times. I have to remember to enjoy the journey :)

It's gone but actually just beginning

You know, the day has come and gone. I can't believe you spend all that time for that 1 special day and phuff... it's gone. I guess, from experience, i do know that but it was my daughter's wedding, my one and only daughter's wedding, and it's gone. It was a wonderful day. Beautiful weather, great friends and family. The stresses of the week tend to rear their silly heads. But in the end, beauty. Wow!!!

the newlyweds are very happy. It is a joy to see them in new love. We have to be reminded of that from time to time. It brings a smile to my face. Just knowing the growth that will happen between them. The ups and the downs all equal a very complete, and satisfying love. Where would we be without all the "stuff"? Learning to work together to make a family, a God fearing, loving family. Thank you, Jesus.

Tending to the relationships. It requires perserverance. It is work but, in the end, very gratifying and special. To choose to spend the rest of your life w/someone who is willing to sacrifice for you and you for them, cool! Growth!

Almost Here!

I can't believe that the countdown for the wedding is now at 12 days. Time really does fly by. The planning has been going well. I have a tendency to dwell on stuff a bit longer then I need to. Should the centerpieces be in galvanized pails or mason jars? What color roses should we have? plates 9" or 10 3/4"? I do have a life!!!

the yard is almost finished, my plants are planted and fertilized. Now we pray for good weather. At least, no rain :)

Cassie is getting her new home already to move to. She has worked so hard at turning it into a modern, cute home. Her colors are very bright and contempory/modern. It's fun to see her creative eye at work. I have to remember to let her do her thing. So easy for me to think I know what she wants.

Just a few more things to check off my list and I'm sure I'll be ready for the day. I don't know how the emotional side of it will be but it's been a process that I've usually enjoyed. :)

where do i begin?

i've been encouraged to join the blogging world by some very dear friends and my daughter. i'm what you would call a blog stalker. i never thought i really had much to say and maybe don't but i'm going to try my hand at it.

today, i'd love to hear from any moms going through wedding planning for their daughters. My daughter is getting married on Aug. 9, 2008 to a wonderful man. The engagement just happened in April and they decided the wedding would be sooner than later. Fine by me. The venue will be our yard/lawn. we live on a 10 acre hobby farm and it was in much need of brush and tree clearing. so guess what i've been doing lately? that's right! wood ticks are my friend, along w/scratched up arms, bruised legs and a sore back. What do you expect from an old (50) lady?

it's all been quite bonding. My daughter's fiancee owns an excavating company w/his brother so this weekend he will be over w/heavy equipment. Can't wait! We have alot of piles of brush being burned, holes being dug to bury all the stuff that we have indiscriminately thrown away. I'll try to be more "green" in the future.

The actual wedding stuff is going ok. Trying to remember it's not my wedding and let her enjoy the process. Waiting on quotes for tents and food etc. The waiting game makes it seem somewhat surreal. I guess, not being a natural planner, i have to work a bit harder to check off the lists so we are ready in time. Until next time......