Roast Beef Dipper Sandwiches

1 lb deli roast beef
1 can of beef broth
1/4 cup steak sauce
Kaiser rolls

• Combine first three ingredients in a large pot and warm over medium heat. Serve on Kaiser rolls.

Dipping Sauce
1/4 cup steak sauce
2 Tbsp dijon mustard

• Heat in a small sauce pan. Serve with sandwiches for dipping.

Seriously, it's that easy! Not only that, but they were tasty.

Happy Cooking!

Sausage Manicotti

1 lb Italian sausage
16 oz small curd cottage cheese
1 pkg (8 oz) uncooked manicotti shells
1 jar (26 oz) pasta sauce
1 cup mozzarella cheese

Cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink. In a large bowl, combine sausage and cottage cheese. Stuff manicotti shells. Place in a greased 13 x 9 baking dish. Top with pasta sauce. Cover and bake @ 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Uncover; sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Bake 8-10 minutes longer. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.


Now, I like this recipe, but didn't LOVE it. Next time I make it, I plan on using only 8 oz cottage cheese and then adding 8 oz of ricotta cheese. I'll probably add some fresh parsley into the mix too. However, Steven loved it. To each his own. Let me know what you think if you try this one. If you have a yummy manicotti recipe, please share!

TIP: Have trouble stuffing the shells? Try putting your mix into a ziploc bag then cutting the corner off. Presto! Easy filling for you!

Gone Fishin'

For the first part of Labor Day Weekend we went to my dad's house at the lake. We always have a relaxing time there and enjoy the outdoors. We got to eat some yummy food, and Mase went on his first fishing trip. He was so excited.

My Sweet Little Miss

She has on no clothes because we gave her a sippy cup to keep her occupied for the hour and a half trip. Good news, she had a blast with it. Bad news, she was SOAKED when we got there. Sippy cup for her equates to party time.

Mase Fishing...

Mase Sleeping...

Mason has never been one to sleep in the car like most kids, but put him on a boat and that's a totally different story. Knocks him out everytime.

Black Bean Corn Salsa

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can of whole kernel corn, rinsed and drained
3 cups chopped tomatoes, seeded
1 large onion chopped
3/4 cups cilantro
1/4 of a diced tomatillo
1/2 of a jalapeno diced
3 Tbsp red wine vinegar
2 tsp cumin
dash of salt and pepper

Mix all ingredients together and enjoy! This is more of a pico style salsa. If you enjoy a liquidy salsa, I suggest taking 2 cups tomatoes and running it through your food processor. Then dicing 1 cup tomato so it's not so runny.

Never, Ever, Ever Assume

Reflection of my day...

Never, ever, ever assume that just because you can hear laughter from both of your children that they are playing nice. Tonight I was cooking dinner, and just on the other side of the bar I could hear Mason laughing and Addison giggling. I totally assumed that they were having some great sibling bonding time. And come to think of it they were. I could hear Mason laughing, saying, "Addison a baby monster." Didn't think a thing of it. We often play chase and Addison comes to get us. All the while saying, "It's the baby monster!" Didn't even pick up on this clue, "Addison you a scary baby." Just thought he was venturing out with his vocabulary. What finally got me was noticing the green marker missing from his art box. Put it all together and figured it out.

Mason used his sister's face as his canvas!

I have to admit she did look a little scary. Thank the Lord for washable markers!

Parmesan Pork Chops with Herb Roasted Veggies

I know pork chops aren't for everyone, but I have learned to love them. After all my husband refers to the pork chop as the "Puerto Rican steak" He's quite the character I tell you!

Parmesan Pork Chops

1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 Tbsps all-purpose flour
2 tsps italian seasoning
1/4 tsp pepper
4 boneless pork loin chops
2 Tbsps olive oil

• In a small bowl, melt butter. In a large Ziplock, combine Parmesan cheese, flour, Italian seasoning, and pepper. Dip pork chops in butter and then place in bag to shake one at a time.
• In a large skillet, cook pork in oil on medium heat for 7-8 minutes per side or until juices run clear.

Herb Roasted Veggies
1 medium zucchini sliced
1 yellow summer squash sliced
1 medium tomato seeded and chopped
1/2 cup onion
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp dried rosemary
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 Tbsp olive oil

• In a large bowl, combine the first eight ingredients. Drizzle with oil and toss to coat.
• Put veggies in a 13 x 9 baking dish. Bake uncovered @ 450 degrees for about 10-15 minutes or until lightly browned and tender.

Another quick and easy recipe, but oh so delicious! Happy Cooking!

"I HAVE TO GO PEE PEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Since Mason has been in his big boy bed (almost a year now) he has not once gotten up in the middle of the night and wandered to our room. Once we put him to bed, he stays in his room. You're probably thinking, "Wow! How did they train him to do that?" or maybe even, "Man, they have magical parent powers." All kidding aside, I don't know why he doesn't wander in the night like most kids. However, there is a BIG downside to this. Instead of leaving his bed, he'll yell what he needs. For example, last night it was 12:30am. I was on my second dream and snoozing so peacefully when I was abruptly awakened by loud yelling, "I HAVE TO GO PEE PEE." This is not unusual. At least once a week, basically when he refuses to go to the bathroom before bed, Mason will wake up having to go pee. So he just yells until someone comes to get him and takes him to the bathroom. He does this with stormy nights too. Most of the time he sleeps right through storms, but on occassion you wake up to "THUNDER...THUNDER!", and Steven or I will go in there and lay by him. He will NOT sleep in bed with us. We have tried this, and he just cries that he wants to go back to his room. So on one hand I'll count my blessings that our bed is 'our bed', but on the other hand it is completely startling to wake up to someone yelling in the middle of the night. Now for his sister on the other hand...