Foodie Friday: Baked Spaghetti

This recipe is just awesome goodness, and it is just a bonus that my kids love it.  I can't take any credit for the recipe, as it is from Tammy's Kitchen, but I've tried to edit it to reflect precisely how I do it.  I didn't change much from her original.

Three Cheese Baked Spaghetti

Ingredients: 

Pasta Ingredients:

8 ounces angel hair or capellini (about half a package)
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons dried parsley
1 cup cottage cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
6 ounces (1 1/2 cups) shredded mozzarella cheese

Sauce Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 onion, chopped
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
3 cups spaghetti sauce--I love the Simply Enjoy Marinara sauce; a 25 oz jar is perfect
1/2 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
2 ounces (1/2 cup) shredded mozzarella cheese

Make pasta according to package directions, drain and set aside.  In a mixing bowl, mix butter, salt, parsley, cottage cheese, Parmesan and mozzarella.  Add noodles and mix thoroughly.

Brown ground beef, garlic and onion in a frying pan until beef is no longer pink.  Break up meat as it browns.  Add pepper, sugar, Italian seasoning and spaghetti sauce.  

In a 2 quart casserole or 9x13 pan, grease pan with additional butter or oil spray and layer all noodles along the bottom.  Spoon meat sauce on top and sprinkle remaining 2 oz cheese on top.  

Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until cheese is brown and bubbly.  Also freezes well (freeze before baking).  

Makes 6-8 servings, or enough to feed our family of five real food eaters two times.  

5 Favorites: Vol. 3

 

1.  16 mm Medela nipple shield.  (TMI, sorry).  I always have issues breastfeeding.  Every single child has presented with a set of never-ending issues--some mine, some theirs, all frustrating.  The unifying thread for all of them has been the need for a nipple shield the.entire.time.  I actually don't mind it at this point--I wouldn't know what to do without one anymore anyway.  Having said that, a standard 20 mm size has been just fine for all the other babies, but they were all born closer to term than our little Ponchik, so she needed a 16 mm size.  Before that, nursing was an angry, frustrating latch-on-latch-off crying for 30 minutes affair.  Now, bliss.  (Or at least as close to bliss as someone with oversupply, painful letdown, and general unhappiness with breastfeeding can get).

2.  Related to #1, Amazon Prime.  The hospital didn't have anything but 20 mm size, and by the time we figured out Ponchik needed the smaller size, it was the weekend, and no local stores were open that had them.  Enter Amazon Prime Shipping.  We've had it for several years and I use it all the time and love it--worth every penny.  We ordered late on Saturday night, it arrived by Monday midday.  No need to take my c-section recovering self all over creation with a preemie looking for a smaller shield!  I love that!  

3.  Our little Ponchik.  'Nuff said.

4.  Even though I'm not nursing 18 hours a day with this baby (at least not yet!), I still find I need a fair amount of sitting down time to recuperate from the c-section (exciting birth story to come, hopefully early next week).  My mom is here to help, and she told me about Sarah's House, an HGTV series available to stream online (since we don't have a tv, if it isn't online, I won't be seeing it).  I'm most of the way through the Farmhouse season, and it is just perfect for right now.  Doesn't require mental energy, is completely light and airy, and the episodes are 20 minutes or so, so perfect for lots of interruptions. 

5.  My appetite has been pretty whacked out this pregnancy, and hasn't really returned postpartum.  I keep forgetting to eat, and get to the end of the day and realize I'm short a lot of calories.  (Believe me this is a weird state of affairs for me, as I'm usually crazy hungry post partum, and tend to even put on a bit of weight after--insult to injury, if you ask me).  Right now, I'm just not that hungry, but I know I need to eat enough to keep up my milk supply (and I was a bit malnourished/anemic at the end of my pregnancy), so I've been drinking more of the Naked Protein Zone Berry Blast smoothies.  I was keeping one or two around before, because I find the texture of the protein smoothies to be a little bit grainy, but I'm liking them more post-partum as I feel they give more bang for my caloric buck than the Bolthouse Berry Boost smoothies I usually drink.  I'm still drinking the Bolthouse, but I feel that I can count the Naked smoothies as a meal replacement, whereas the Bolthouse ones are more liquid refreshment and gastroparesis-friendly fruit content for the day  Just wish the Naked ones didn't cost so much! 

 

Right, so that's me for today; go see Hallie for more Faves!

Talking Tuesday: C.S. Lewis and a new baby

We have a new baby in the house!  Our daughter was born by emergency c-section on Wednesday, May 15, at 10:41 p.m.; all is well despite the preterm birth and surgery.  She is tiny but healthy and we are home and adjusting.  In light of the recent excitement, I thought it was appropriate to revisit Lewis. 

"It was in God’s hands. One must be content to leave it there. One must have Faith."

~ C.S. Lewis, Perelandra

5 Favorites vol. 2

Not enough progress on the sweater to justify a Yarn Along post this week (I only knitted 3-4 more rows), so joining Hallie at Moxie Wife for Five Favorites again.  I'm about 60 pages from the end of Present Shock and I'm planning to write something about it when I'm finished and have had some time to digest it a bit.

1. A few months ago I bought a cookie scoop--seems like an unnecessary kitchen tool when one has two perfectly good teaspoons, but actually, I love it.  Perfectly round cookies every time, all the same size.

2. I don't know if I've mentioned ThredUP before, but I discovered them this spring, and it has been fabulous!  They are an online consignment store for kids, and just opened a women's section.  They send you prepaid bags to consign your own stuff, and the items they carry are in very good condition.  I've had extremely good luck finding things for E as I'm getting to the end of the clothing sizes that were handed down from a neighbor.  I also bought a few post-partum items for myself using my consignment credits!  My only complaint is that you have to be very familiar with how a particular brand fits, as they have no description of the item beyond brand and size.  I know, for example, that Gap stuff runs small, Old Navy and Dress Barn run a little big, Ralph Lauren runs small (unless it is Chaps brand for Kohl's, then it is closer to size), and size accordingly.  (In kids, Gerber runs very small and Carter's tends to run on-size; Osh Kosh runs a little big).  I also don't buy brands I'm not super familiar with.  They did just institute a return policy, but the hassle of returning something so cheap almost isn't worth it, so I try to make my orders count on the front end.  

3.  I am always on the hunt for good belts, as I tend to accessorize my vintage look with them.  As I'm getting to the end of this pregnancy, I've found skinny belts to be very helpful and can turn a sloppy-ish outfit into something that looks halfway nice.  I went to H&M earlier this week to get a yellow cardigan (not in yet, sadness), but ended up with two braided skinny belts, so yay for that!  I needed a second brown belt and a black one, and I've been wearing the brown one almost non-stop.  It has the advantage of being non-binding and just a wee bit stretchy, which is perfect for this 9 months-pregnant mama.

4. As I tend to do before every baby is born, I've been collecting books to read in the hospital and during those long hours of nursing.  This week I ordered Mary Roach's Bonk (after loving Packing for Mars).  She is primarily a science writer, but her writing is so entertaining and downright funny, you almost forget she's not a comedian.  Plus she makes what should be boring science facts terrifically fascinating.  I packed the book in my hospital bag as soon as it arrived so I don't read it before I go into labor!  

5.  I also wanted some light music to listen to in case I end up with a noisy or snoring roommate on the post partum ward.  (Please pray I have a room to myself!  I'm so nervous about the prospect, which is pretty likely given the hospital where I give birth.  I've been lucky so far, but you never know what you're gonna get and I've heard some truly nightmarish stories from friends who had rotten roommates for three days.  I don't want to come home more stressed out than I went in).  With E, I had just bought Bon Iver's first album, which is lovely, but I wanted something a little different this time and bought Joshua Redman's latest, Walking Shadows.  It is jazzy and quiet, and I like it.  I'm avoiding listening to it so I don't burn out on it before the birth, but I've got it loaded and ready to go!

Alrighty, now back to Hallie!

Talking Tuesday: Broken Love

Broken Love

My Spectre around me night and day 

Like a wild beast guards my way; 

My Emanation far within 

Weeps incessantly for my sin. 

‘A fathomless and boundless deep, 

There we wander, there we weep; 

On the hungry craving wind 

My Spectre follows thee behind. 

‘He scents thy footsteps in the snow 

Wheresoever thou dost go, 

Thro’ the wintry hail and rain. 

When wilt thou return again? 

’Dost thou not in pride and scorn 

Fill with tempests all my morn, 

And with jealousies and fears 

Fill my pleasant nights with tears? 

‘Seven of my sweet loves thy knife 

Has bereavèd of their life. 

Their marble tombs I built with tears, 

And with cold and shuddering fears. 

‘Seven more loves weep night and day 

Round the tombs where my loves lay, 

And seven more loves attend each night 

Around my couch with torches bright. 

‘And seven more loves in my bed 

Crown with wine my mournful head, 

Pitying and forgiving all 

Thy transgressions great and small. 

‘When wilt thou return and view 

My loves, and them to life renew? 

When wilt thou return and live? 

When wilt thou pity as I forgive?’ 

‘O’er my sins thou sit and moan: 

Hast thou no sins of thy own? 

O’er my sins thou sit and weep, 

And lull thy own sins fast asleep. 

‘What transgressions I commit 

Are for thy transgressions fit. 

They thy harlots, thou their slave; 

And my bed becomes their grave. 

‘Never, never, I return: 

Still for victory I burn. 

Living, thee alone I’ll have; 

And when dead I’ll be thy grave. 

‘Thro’ the Heaven and Earth and Hell 

Thou shalt never, quell: 

I will fly and thou pursue: 

Night and morn the flight renew.’ 

‘Poor, pale, pitiable form 

That I follow in a storm; 

Iron tears and groans of lead 

Bind around my aching head. 

‘Till I turn from Female love 

And root up the Infernal Grove, 

I shall never worthy be 

To step into Eternity. 

‘And, to end thy cruel mocks, 

Annihilate thee on the rocks, 

And another form create 

To be subservient to my fate. 

‘Let us agree to give up love, 

And root up the Infernal Grove; 

Then shall we return and see 

The worlds of happy Eternity. 

‘And throughout all Eternity 

I forgive you, you forgive me. 

As our dear Redeemer said: 

“This the Wine, and this the Bread.”’ 

~William Blake

Foodie Friday: Cheeseburger Pie

Christ is Risen!  Happy Bright Friday!  I can finally post a non-Lenten recipe in good conscience.  I made this on Monday night, and neglected to take a picture while it was still in the pan, but I think the leftover wedge gives you the idea.  I can't find the original source of this recipe, but I didn't come up with it, so I'll just leave it at that.  It is super easy and fast, and I find that I often have the ingredients on hand.

Cheeseburger Pie

• 1 pie crust (you can make your own, use an oil crust, or a premade from the store; I usually use a premade)
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 chopped onion
• 1 T Worcestershire sauce
• 2 T. white flour
• 1 cup cottage cheese or ricotta cheese
• 2 eggs
• ketchup
• 8 oz shredded cheddar (I use reduced fat)

Preheat oven to 395.  Brown beef and onions, then add flour and Worcestershire sauce.  Roll pie crust into a 9" pie plate and spoon beef into the bottom.  In a mixing bowl, mix cottage cheese and eggs together with a spoon.  Spoon over the beef mixture and spread evenly.  Squirt a ring of ketchup over the top (probably a tablespoon or two) and spread evenly with a spoon.  Top with cheese and bake 40 minutes or until crust is browned and cheese bubbly.  Let sit for five minutes before cutting.  Cut into wedges and serve.

5 Things

Don't have any progress on my knitting this week (Holy Week threw me off, but I've got lots to talk about book-wise next week!), so no Yarn Along today, but I thought I'd try my hand at a Five Things post.  Hallie at Moxie Wife normally hosts, but she is busy with babette #6 and Grace at Camp Patton is hosting this week.  So the deal about the Five Things is that you pick any five things to talk about that are on your mind for the day.  Many people tend to highlight other blog posts they've read, products they like, etc.  So, without further ado, my first 5 Things!



1. This pregnancy has thrown me for a loop in so many ways. I gained weight very slowly in the beginning, which is weird for me, and didn't really start to gain until I was nearing the end of the second trimester, but boy, then the weight started piling on.  I'm carrying all to the front for the most part, and I'm fitting into my clothes just fine, but this belly is out of control.  With the boys, I tended to gain side-to-side, and with E, I was all out to the front, which is how this one is going, but we'll see.  The reason I mention it is that I'm starting to think about post-partum shapewear because I seriously do not want to wait another year to get my midsection back.  I've been considering various post-partum cinchers/shapers/whathaveyou, and I think I'm leaning toward this one, since it doesn't have boning (too hard to sit and nurse a baby for 18 hours in a boned girdle), no latex (allergies), isn't attached to a long-line panty (because no one has time for that when you are excreting 9 months of excess fluid and nursing a baby for 18 hours a day), and seems like it wouldn't smother me in the summer heat.  Anyone have other recommendations? (And oh yeah, I love how the models for these things are 90 pounds dripping wet and have never been near a birthing suite, much less carried a baby for 9 months).

Anyone tried a Belly Bandit with success?  I'm tempted, but they just look weird.  And cost an arm and leg.

2.  I'm so over my maternity clothing now.  I'm seriously considering have a bonfire this summer and having a crazy Beltane-type dance around it to celebrate their demise.  But that would be wasteful, especially since ThredUp's women's store is now open, and I've already earned some money consigning clothing from myself and my kids!  In any case, I'm craving regular clothes again, and have been trolling the ModCloth site kind of compulsively.  Generally speaking, I find their stuff to be too short for my tastes, and not period-appropriate to my look, but I've gotten lucky a few times this spring with a dress and skirt, so I'm hopeful for future purchases.  I love this skirt--I'm such a sucker for novelty prints!--but I can't bring myself to spend so much on a simple skirt.

 

3.  I've detailed our urban grocery shopping drama on this blog before, but since we moved to a regular Peapod delivery, that has been somewhat alleviated.  I really love the service, but you have to plan ahead a few days, especially in recent months as more locals have discovered it and it is harder to get a delivery window within 24-48 hours of placing an order.  Normally this isn't a big deal as I plan my main grocery delivery early in the week with a late-week delivery, and then fill in the gaps at the Whole Foods that is 4 blocks away.  What with Holy Week, and being away from Thursday-Sunday last week, and now a bunch of rain, some illness on my part, and an almost-9 months pregnant bod, those four blocks just seem so long.  Especially when I have to drag the two littles with me.  So imagine my delight when I discovered that our local Whole Foods has free delivery in our neighborhood!  And, if you get the order in by 10:00 a.m., the delivery is same-day!!  I was low on milk and a few other things this rainy morning and feeling glum about it, but I called the delivery line, placed my order, and everything arrived before 11:00 a.m.!  Yay for that!  There is a minimum order, but I had a bit of a list to get anyway, so it worked out.

 

4.  Did you find a Mother's Day present yet?  I'm loving these chocolate crossaints from Williams-Sonoma. Not that I actually got any myself; I bought them for my mom and MIL on the recommendation of Shana at Ain't No Mom Jeans.  Hopefully they find them delicious.  Personally, I'm lucky if I get a card on Mother's Day. 

 

5.  I forget where I originally saw these, but I love the idea of a black and white silhouette of the babe in the bell.  Bare belly photography doesn't do anything for me (plus no one needs to see that, after five babies in six years, it just ain't pretty), and belly casts seem sort of strange to me (where do you put it afterward?)  But this little keepsake seems just right.  I'm considering getting one made for this babette since I feel like he or she has gotten the short end of the stick from the get-go (I forgot to photograph the positive pregnancy test, I didn't get an ultrasound picture because the tech was an idiot, etc).  I've been taking faithful (clothed) belly shots every week since about 24 weeks, but I really love the look of this little picture.