Lasagna Soup and Life Back To Normal (Someday)

It has been quite a week since I was in New Mexico for our first long distance volleyball tournament.  The good news was that our team took first place in their division and in the spirit of the Olympics, they "brought home the Silver Medal".  The bad news was my daughter in the final 5 minutes of the last game for first place took a dive for the ball and got kicked in the head.

I watched and waited....not wanting to overreact, but also a flash of concern comes over me to see how bad it is.  Wait for it....then hear it comes, heavy tears streaming down her face, holding her head and she cannot get up off the court. Her coach helps her walk off and her team cheers for her.  All I can think of is concussion.  The team carried on as she and I sat on the sidelines and they brought sweet victory in the end.  Of course the rest of the night and during our 8 hour drive home, I kept waking her up to make sure she was okay (she wasn't really happy with me about interrupting her naps).

When we returned home, my other sick daughter was making a full recovery, which was a blessed sight to see.  Then the real fun started.....

Tuesday:  Took our dog Angus in for a tooth removal, which turned into 4 teeth and an eye skin tag removal $urgery. He came home barely able to walk from being heavily sedated.  Too many puppy martinis it looked like.

Tuesday and Wednesday:  Kitchen torn up for plumbing repairs and then drywall and paint patching.  I tried to pay off the contractor an extra $100 to keep my kitchen torn apart for the week so I wouldn't have to cook or do dishes...he didn't take the bait though, bummer.

Wednesday was my birthday.  Everyone asks me what I want for my birthday.  Every year I want a Personal Assistant just to be able to get through weeks like this.  I didn't get one, maybe next year.  I did however get showered with beautiful flowers, cards and well wishes from family and friends...can't ask for anything more than that.

Friday worked the last high school basketball game concession stand duties with both my girls.  I have never hustled so much popcorn, nachos and soft pretzels in my life (even more than working the state fair in my youth).  People do amaze me though and I just have to vent about this. Some other mothers that were gracious to show up and volunteer too (one in a fur vest and the other in a designer leather jacket, really???) Do they not understand that nacho cheese sauce is flying around this place and every batch of popcorn made, you end up with a canola oil facial!!!  They looked beautiful when they showed up for duties, I only hope their clothes didn't get ruined.

As we are preparing for Uncle Rick's (my husband's brother) arrival this week, Saturday and Sunday were equally schedule packed:  pest control service, carpets got professional shampoo cleaning, dusting, scrubbing, planning weekly dinner menu and shopping, car wash, laundry, paint touch up and the list goes on and on.  I know I am not the only household that does extensive house cleaning and "honey-do-list" when company comes.  It's amazing how much things get accomplished for house guests.

By Sunday night, I was beyond exhausted and needed an easy dinner....this one is awesome and doesn't get much easier.  A one pot wonder that also makes great lunch leftovers.

Lasagna Soup
Courtesy of Cuisine at Home Magazine

BROWN:
1	lb. bulk Italian sausage1 lb.
2	cups chopped onion2 cups
1	cup diced carrot1 cup
2	cups sliced button mushrooms2 cups
2	Tbsp. minced garlic2 Tbsp.
ADD:
4	cups low-sodium chicken broth4 cups
1	can Italian-style stewed tomatoes, chopped (14.5 oz.)1 can
1	can tomato sauce1 can
1	cup dry mafalda pasta1 cup
2	cups chopped fresh spinach2 cups
PLACE:
1	cup diced provolone or fresh mozzarella1 cup
1⁄4	cup shredded Parmesan1⁄4 cup
4	tsp. thinly sliced fresh basil

Brown sausage in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and carrot; sauté 3 minutes. Stir in mushrooms and garlic, and sauté 3 minutes more.
Add broth, stewed tomatoes, and tomato sauce, and bring to a boil. Stir in pasta and cook according to package directions, about 10 minutes. Stir in spinach and cook until wilted.
Place ¼ cup diced cheese in each of four serving bowls; ladle soup on top. Garnish each serving with Parmesan and basil.

Pasta, Parent Conferences and Pantry Purging

"The Great American Pantry Purge" phrase was coined by my friend Toni in Alaska.  I am so envious of her, because the pantry in her house is larger than my bathroom.  One weekend we were over at their house for dinner, she told me what she had planned for our menu that night and further explained that it is was because they were in the middle of their Great American Pantry Purge Week...meaning that she was using and cooking with what was already in the house - she made it sound so much fun with her catchy phrase.

Fast forward, I have been diligently trying to keep with my coupon cutting, weekly calendar dinner menu planning (so I only need to hit the grocery store once during an entire week) and really trying to pay attention to what I can use up in the kitchen.  Nothing makes me more crazy than over buying something that I already have an abundance of in the pantry...how many cans of tomato soup and tuna does one house need, really??

Angus watching mom purge, organize and collecting his socks around the house.

A few weeks ago were parent-teacher conferences at our girls' school.  They have a wonderful program where the leadership academy students and parents make dinner for all the staff that are there late at night for conferences and don't have time to run out for a quick meal.  This time the theme was Italian - perfect!!

The best news of all was that the meal I wanted to make, I was able to purge everything I already had on hand in our kitchen.  I just love it when a plan falls into place.

As I have previously mentioned, my husband's family published their own family cookbook.  Some of the recipes go back three generations and have stood the test of time and taken on their own spin as the various family members try them out.

The famous family cookbook.

One of our go-to favorites is "Grannie's Lasagna".  Awesome quick fix, weeknight casserole that is perfect for families or pot lucks, and even makes great leftovers too. So, purge your pantry away while you enjoy this one and for all those great teachers out there who give so much of their time.  After dealing with teenagers all day, it's the least I could do for them.  I even purged our remaining King's Hawaiian Sweet Rolls into these delicious garlic, mozzarella and Parmesan cheese bread creations - yummy!!!

Grannie's Lasagna
Courtesy of Jan and Will

(1) 12-ounce package noodles (egg, bow tie, etc.)
(1) 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
(1) pint sour cream
1/2 pound Parmesan cheese
1 to 2 pounds ground beef
1 onion chopped
1 to 2 cans tomato sauce (or 1 jar of marinara or spaghetti sauce)
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon sugar

Preheat oven 350 degrees.

Saute meat, onion and garlic.  Drain meat.  Add tomato sauce and sugar, set aside.  Boil noodles as directed.  Mix drained noodles with cream cheese and sour cream.  Spray Pam in large casserole dish and spread noodles in bottom of dish.  Add meat mixture on top and finish off with fresh Parmesan cheese.  Bake uncovered approximately 45 minutes, until bubbly.

Also needed to purge Mark West Pinot Noir