Chelsea's Herbed Meatloaf w/ Red Sauce

Meatloaf:

2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 c. bread crumbs
1 tbl chopped parsley
1/4 chopped onion
1 tbl dried basil
1/4 c chopped green pepper
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 lb ground beef
1 lb ground pork

Sauce:
2 14 oz. cans tomato sauce
1c. brown sugar
1/4 c bell pepper
1/4 c onion
1/2 c. ketchup
1/2 c bbq sauce
1 tsp garlic
1/2 tsp basil
1/2 tsp italian seasoning
dab of mustard
dab of worstershire


Combine all indredients, except meat and mix together well.  Then proceed to add meat and blend well with hands, being careful not to mix more than necessary. 
Shape into a round mold and place in a glass 8x13 baking dish.
Cook uncovered for 35 minutes on 400 degrees. 

White mealoaf is in oven, be preparing your sauce.  Add all ingredients together on stove top and cook on medium heat until peppers and onions are tender.

Pull out your meatloaf @ 35minutes and cover with red sauce.  Cook another 15 minutes on 400 degrees.  Make sure meat is cooked through the middle.

Enjoy!

Christmas 2012 Recap..

This post could quite possibly be a heavy picture post, but I couldn't pick or choose which were my favorite.  Christmas this year was such a blast with Colston.  He knew what Santa was all about.  We visited him and took a picture too, and he was sure to tell the big guy that he wanted a really big tractor, and a train too!  I was so proud of him!



Christmas @ my Inlaws



Colston opening his Bull Dozer @ my Inlaws



Gift from Mommy & Daddy



Pretty Eyes



I'm cute and I know it



 

Family Picture



His Tractor!



Santa's Loot



He loves anything Thomas!

Stack of DVD's, he's smiling because he got the Polar Express!



I highly recommend that toy. 



Cranky the Crane.  Another one I highly recommend!

His box of trackmaster Thomas trains.. this was a favorite. 

Train in one hand, and a tractor in the other.. Just heaven I tell ya!

Some of his loot!



Workin hard...



"Look Mommy I workin hard!"



He worked himself right to sleep!

Overall, Christmas once again came wayy too fast and was gone before we knew it.  We were sad to see it go, but throughly look foward to the coming years with our big guy!  

Broccoli Salad

This has to be the best broccoli salad I have ever had.  I definitely recommend this!  This is the single recipe, which should serve about 6 people.  I usually double the recipe for when we have dinner with friends, etc.

1 c. chopped pecans
1/2 c. craisins
1/2 c. chopped sweet onion
1 complete head of broccoli
1/2 lb. bacon - chopped, and crumbled

Dressing:
1 c. mayonaise
1/3 c. sugar
2 tsp. vinegar

Cutt broccoli off the stalks at the bottom where it begins to split.  Toss all together, add dressing, and let sit over night.  Mix your dressing separate, and pour over the top of corse.  Also, I prepare the dressing and let sit in the fridge, for a couple of hours.  It almost caramelizes the longer it sits.  The shorter you cut he broccoli the better - it gives you more broccoli, individually. (If that makes any sense)  The longer it sits, the more tender it becomes, which i've found taste better.
Enjoy!

Quiche



Layering the pie crust.



Mushroom & Onion

1 pk. of mushrooms

1 onion chopped

4 lg. eggs

1 1/4 c. half & half

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. pepper

1 c. Colby jack cheese

1 deep dish pie crust

Pre-heat over 375 degrees.

Prick pie crust with a fork and bake for 10 minutes.  Let cool.

Whisk eggs, cream, salt & pepper. Layer onions and mushrooms into pie crust.  Pour in egg mixture.  Sprinkle with colby jack cheese.  Back @ 375 degrees until set.  Give or take, bake for 30 minutes.

Cool 10 minutes before serving.



Mushroom & Onion with Egg Mixture



Spinach & Bacon

1 10 Ounce package frozen spinach, defrosted & well drained

6-10 slices of bacon, chopped and cooked crisp

4 lg. eggs

1 1/4 c. half & half

1/2 tsp salt

1/8 tsp onion powder

1/8 tsp nutmeg

1/8 tsp white pepper

1 deep dish pie crust

Pre heat oven 375 degrees

Prick pie crust with a fork and bake for 10 minutes.  Let cool.

Whisk eggs, cream and all seasonings.  Layer drained spinach and bacon into cooled pie crust.  Pour egg mixture on top and sprinkle with cheese.  Bake for 30 minutes, give or take. 

Cool 10 minutes before serving.



L: Mushroom & Onion R: Spinach & Bacon



Note:  There might be extra egg mixture left over, depending on the size of your pie crust.  Just dis-guard the extra.  Also, the spinach has an excess amount of water in it.  I press firm on top of spinach with paper towels to drain exess water.  Make sure to do this.

Cabbage Rolls...

Ingredients for Filling:

12 Cabbage leaves

1lb Ground Beef

1ld Ground Pork

1 onion, chopped

1 bell pepper, chopped

1 tsp. minced garlic

1 c. green onion, chopped

1 egg

1/2 c. milk

1 c. ketchup

3 teaspoons of salt

2 teaspoons of pepper

1 teaspoon of Tony's

1 c. dry rice, (undercooked)



Sauce:

1 14 oz. can of Tomato Sauce

1 8oz can of Tomato Sauce

1 14 oz can of diced Tomatoes

1 can of rotel (diced chili's)

3 Tbls of Sugar

2 Tbls of vinegar

1 C. of water

2 tbls cornstarch mixed with 1/4 c. of water

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. pepper

Preparation:

Drop cabbage leaves into boiling salted water; cover and cook for 2 minutes.  Drain well.  For filling cook ground beef, pork, onion, bell pepper, garlic, and green onion in skillet until meat is cooked, and vegetables are tender.  Season as desired.  Cook cup of rice in separate pot, until (almost) cook.  Leave it slightly uncooked.  Add meat mixture, rice, seasonings, egg, milk, ketchup, together.  In separate pot combine all in 10 ingredients into large pot, have on low-medium heat.  Spoon mixture onto the tender cabbage leaf, roll, and place into the sauce mixture.  Heat for an hour or so on low-medium heat.  Keep checking to make sure cabbage rolls do not stick to bottom of pot. 

New Years Resolutions...

A New years resolution usually has no meaning to me.  I'm not one to make a resolution, and often wondered why so many people made them.  This year though, this year is different.  I'm determined to make a resolution, well actually 3.  Three resolutions to get my year started, and three resolutions that I hope I actually stick to throughout the year. 

1.  The first important one is to set up some what of a budget for our family, and eliminate some "frivolous" spending that is happening that isn't completely necessary.  I sat down the other day, added our bills, and added our income, and the "excess" money that we're spending was almost nauseating... the worse part is I'm not even sure where/what is being spent on.. which is just..... ridiculous.  I'm really hoping to set a budget, and that our family learns to live with this budget, year long.

2.  Second, I want to really get into blogging.  Not really for anything other than a place for me to go when I want to document Colston's life, our family life, or anything on my heart for that matter.  I've ran out of room in Colston's baby book, and I'd really love to have a virtual baby book for him.  I also love reading blogs.  After the loss of my baby, I turned to blm blogs for comfort, and understanding- because I couldnt' relate to anyone else personally and just didn't know how to cope with my loss.  Thank God for them, and the blogs that were there for me to read.  I really look forward to blogging more frequently, and look forward to be able to go back on this blog in the future and read about me and my family's happenings. 

3.  Third, is certainly important, but the less of the three.  Since Christmas Day, I have managed to gain 5 pounds from all the delicious food.  I love good food, and I love cooking new things too.. which means I have to test taste it too.  I'm not necessarily going on a diet, but I'm certainly going to be watching my caloric intake, and going to "try" to start exercising again.  I refuse to gain weight, and think 5 pounds are much easier to loose than 20.  So today I begin, watching what I eat.  It's no fun to get older, and the good ole metabolism slow down.. booo.

My Goal for blogging will be twice a week, and more If I feel inclined to write about something!

Good day!