Things I Love Thursday

I love reading "The Diaper Diaries", so I thought I'd try to do one of these posts...

Something I absolutely L-O-V-E is Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. DPIL is a program that puts books in the homes of young children, birth through 5 years, every month. Seriously--one free book per month, per child!!!

You are asked for a yearly donation of $27.00, but it is not required in order to enroll your child(ren) in the program. Here is a link to my local intermediate school district's DPIL information and enrollment form. I can't seem to find any DPIL information on the Kent ISD website, but feel free to look for yourself or ask about it. I'm guessing someone under the early childhood programs should be able to give you information or lead you to the right contact.

The books our family has received over the last year or so are always engaging and age-appropriate. As a future educator, I am very pleased to see my children so excited to get books. I really enjoy reading to my little ones (especially when they're laying down for a nap or bedtime), and this program gives me something new to read to them every month. Unfortunately, that doesn't always stop them from asking for the same book (or two or three or...) but it definitely helps!

So...what do you love?

Traditional Tuesday

Mama's Meatloaf

• 1 pound sausage
• 1 pound ground beef OR turkey
• 1 cup oatmeal -- we prefer the old-fashioned oats
• 1 egg
• salt/pepper to taste

Step 1: Mix all ingredients thoroughly.

Step 2: Shape into loaf and place in bread pan.

Step 3: Bake at 350`F for 60-90 minutes (maybe a bit longer).

Step 4: Eat!

(Mostly) Meatless Monday

Baked Potatoes

• 4 large baking potatoes
• shortening/olive oil
  
• salt
• pepper
• garlic powder
• seasoning salt
• toppings -- we used cheese and salsa last night

Step 1: Scrub and dry potatoes.

Step 2: Use a knife or fork to pierce potatoes all over.

Step 3: Spread a small amount of shortening or
oil on all sides of each potato.

Step 4: Use spices to season potatoes.

Step 5: Wrap each potato in aluminum foil.

Step 6: Bake potatoes in 400`F oven for 60-90 minutes.

Step 7: Add toppings and enjoy.

Soup-erb Sunday

This comes from one of my older sisters. According to my mom it freezes well. I think I'd leave the tortellini out of any that I freeze; I tend to feel that pasta gets a bit 'gummy' if it is frozen after being cooked.

Tortellini Soup:

-1 pound sausage
-2 tablespoons olive oil
-2 large onions
-4 large garlic cloves
-red pepper flakes (to taste)
-1 fennel bulb, thinly sliced
-1 quart tomatoes
-2 quarts chicken stock
-1 large package tortellini
-1 cup fresh basil, chopped
-handful fresh parsley, chopped


Step 1: Cook sausage with olive oil, onion, garlic, red pepper flakes and fennel.

Step 2: Add tomatoes and cook 1 minute.

Step 3: Add chicken stock and cook 10 minutes more.

Step 4: Add tortellini; cook to desired tenderness.

Step 5: Stir in basil and parsley just before serving.


Yummy Variation--make an extra heavy-duty pasta sauce by omitting the chicken broth.

Here We Go

Welcome!

I am a working mom, though I would prefer staying at home with my two youngsters (3-year-old girl and 1-year-old boy).

I have created this blog as a way to share some of my favorite recipes, as cooking and baking are something I enjoy doing in my "spare" time.

I hope you come back often and that you find my recipes and tips helpful and informative.