What's Cookin'?

Don't fret- this blog hasn't disappeared. If you read my other blog, then you'll know that things have been hectic this past few months, and my brain has been scattered to the four winds! But, that doesn't mean I haven't been cooking! I've got a lot of old favorites and some new must haves for you, coming soon! So, keep taking a peek through the kitchen door- the coffee is brewing, and it's time to sit a spell.

Comfort Foods- Tuna Noodle Casserole

I love comfort food. Meatloaf and mashed potatoes smothered in gravy. Macaroni and cheese (from that blue box.. awful I know!), something comforting and familiar after a really bad day. Or just something to give you that cozy feeling on a cold or rainy afternoon. One of my all time favorites has always been tuna noodle casserole. Since I like to make everything my own, I've tinkered with a basic, bare bones recipe and made it into something we really look forward to.

Tuna Noodle Casserole:

Preheat oven to 325 F

I bag of wide egg noodles
1 large cream of chicken soup**
2 cream of celery soup**
2 small or one large can chunk tuna in water, drained and flaked
Peas, and / or carrots (This is optional. I make it with and without veggies, sometimes with just carrots, or peas- but fresh or frozen work best if you add veggies)


Spice It Up:
salt
pepper
Lawry's
onion salt
butter

Boil egg noodles in butter, salt and Lawry's. Drain, toss back in the pot. Add 1-2 tsp butter, tuna, soups, and seasonings (just a dash of each will do you.) Mix together until noodles are coated, pour into a casserole dish- I usually grab a 9x13. Cover with foil and cook in a 350 F oven for 35-45 mins.

Voila! It's warm, it's delicious and it's not hard to make. Kids generally love it, and if yours aren't too picky, replace one can of the cream of celery with a can of cheddar cheese soup. **

This is a favorite in our house- maybe it will become a favorite in yours!

Kitchen Confession:
** I only use Campbell's soups. They have a much richer texture and flavor. No skimping on the soups- it makes all the difference in the world!

Breakfast Bread

I love baking. I really do. I like the smell of it, the excitement the kids get from grabbing beaters and bowl to "clean up" after....I just really, really love to bake. And I especially love any recipe where I can cut some sugar and sneak in a little healthy sweetness. This bread lets me do that, and it tastes so, so good! This would also be great with a little less cinnamon and some blueberries.

Breakfast Bread:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, grease your loaf pan! **I used one pan, but you could easily use two**

1 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 egg
1 cup sugar
2 tbs softened butter
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1-2 tsp cinnamon sugar, to taste (which means a taste of this yummy batter!)

Combine first five ingredients well, then add flour,baking soda, cinnamon and cinnamon sugar. Pour into greased loaf p[an and bake 40-50 mins. Do not over bake or this will become a very dry bread- watch closely after 40 mins. I learned this the hard way, first time around! LOL

Great warmed with butter or just plain.

Welcome to My Kitchen

I am still under construction, but I wanted to take a second and welcome all of you to my kitchen! I can't promise you any five course, five star gourmet dishes, but I CAN promise you lots of fun, friends and food! And probably some messes, too! Some things to remember, here in the kitchen:

I cook without measuring. When I bake, I follow directions to the letter. But in cooking, anything goes. I do everything to taste, spice wise. I like to experiment, and really enjoy finding out what works for this picky bunch- what I can tweak from other recipes, and what I can sneak in when they aren't looking!

So, bear with me as I'm getting this blog off the ground. It's a journey, and I'm thrilled to have you all joining me at my table. Hope you're hungry!