Crunchy Tuna Salad

So much for blogging more regularly, huh? Oh, well...life has a way of interrupting our plans!

Anyway, here's a quick lunch recipe that I make for myself quite often:

1 can tuna in water, drained (5 or 6 oz.)
2-3 T mayo
1 T mustard
1 T dill pickle relish
1 crisp apple, chopped into bite-size pieces

Mix all ingredients together thoroughly. Enjoy!

Newsflash

Sorry I haven't blogged in a while...

Food + first trimester = BAD combination for me, especially meat--so no food postings, especially since my hubby is absolutely wonderful and stepped up to the plate to cook dinner more often than he probably would have liked!

Anyway, my food sensitivities have passed (FINALLY) and I'm hoping to be blogging more regularly now. Since my pregnancy was a main factor in choosing to resign from my job, I'll have a lot more time to try devoting to this. *dances a happy dance*

No recipe today, but I have been half-heartedly researching cake pops today, and I do believe I will attempt to make some with my three-year-old daughter in the next week or two. She loves helping Mommy in the kitchen, and I wouldn't have it any other way!

Until next time,
Rocky

Breakfast Sammies...

We attempt to do a brunch or breakfast for our evening meal at least once a week. This one is one of my hubby's absolute favorites!

Breakfast Sammies with Fried Taters & Onions

1. Bake biscuits. We use the flaky-layer biscuits in a can.
2. Fry 1 egg per biscuit, to your liking. We like them runny!
3. In the meantime, cut up some leftover potatoes, slice some onions and put them in a frying pan with a litle bit of olive oil. Cook until the onions are translucent and the potatoes are nice and crispy brown.
4. Layer ham (or bacon or whatever you prefer), egg, and a slice of cheddar on the bottom half of the biscuits.
5. Replace biscuit tops and put in the oven again until cheese in melted and bubbly.
6. Serve breakfast sammies with a side of fried taters and onions.

Delicious!

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.