I have twins. I have no time. I love this recipe. 'nuf said.
Easiest Baked Ziti Ever
16 oz. ziti pasta
15 oz. ricotta
1 cup parmesan
2 cups mozzarella
salt and pepper to taste
2 - 28 oz. cans of diced tomatoes (I'm partial to Muir Glen organic)
1 medium onion, chopped
4-6 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme (or 1 teaspoon fresh thyme)
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano (or 1 teaspoon fresh oregano)
1 tablespoon of olive oil
***(you may also use 2 bottles of prepared tomato sauces instead of making your own "quickie sauce" with onion, garlic, diced tomatoes and spices)
***(optional - 2 cups of browned ground turkey or beef)
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease (I use non-stick spray) 9 x 13 pan.
Boil pasta until "al dente", about 12 minutes. While pasta is boiling, sautee onion and garlic in olive oil until translucent. Add diced tomatoes and spices and simmer for about 10 minutes. Drain pasta and put in large bowl. Add ricotta, tomato sauce, 1 cup of mozz and mix well. (Add meat here if desired.) Pour into greased dish. Top with remaining mozz, then parm. Bake for 20-30 minutes or until brown and bubbly.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
Outta the Mouth of Mama
Things I've actually said recently to the kiddos :
"If you're not careful you'll slip and crack your head open and your brain will fall out."
(It's the best I could come up with at the time...)
"Get your hand OUT of your bottom. ALL THE WAY OUT."
(I'm not going into detail on this one in case of the kiddos gets their mitts on this in the future and I have to pay my way out of it...)
"If you don't start behaving I will put. you. in. a.... JAR."
(In all fairness, this was said around 4 a.m during a very sleepy moment.... and I didn't follow through... )
"Please don't use that toothbrush on your penis."
(We let them brush their teeth after the nightly shower or bath.. They enjoy it. Sometimes it get a little out of hand...)
"S, get over here and let me adjust that tutu."
(O.k., so he likes to wear the occasional tutu. SO what... My only concern is that he wears it correctly...)
"Please don't wear your bathing suit on your head."
(I lost this battle. Behold:)
"If you're not careful you'll slip and crack your head open and your brain will fall out."
(It's the best I could come up with at the time...)
"Get your hand OUT of your bottom. ALL THE WAY OUT."
(I'm not going into detail on this one in case of the kiddos gets their mitts on this in the future and I have to pay my way out of it...)
"If you don't start behaving I will put. you. in. a.... JAR."
(In all fairness, this was said around 4 a.m during a very sleepy moment.... and I didn't follow through... )
"Please don't use that toothbrush on your penis."
(We let them brush their teeth after the nightly shower or bath.. They enjoy it. Sometimes it get a little out of hand...)
"S, get over here and let me adjust that tutu."
(O.k., so he likes to wear the occasional tutu. SO what... My only concern is that he wears it correctly...)
"Please don't wear your bathing suit on your head."
(I lost this battle. Behold:)
The Bathing Beauty
Friday, January 9, 2009
More... Outta the Mouths of Munchkins
S: "Mama, don't panic."
This was after I found that they had filled the tub with toys that I had not given them permission to play with.
S: "Let's go chase the school bus!"
Said so emphatically from the backseat of the mini-van that I almost thought it might be a good idea.
This was after I found that they had filled the tub with toys that I had not given them permission to play with.
S: "Let's go chase the school bus!"
Said so emphatically from the backseat of the mini-van that I almost thought it might be a good idea.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Outta the Mouths of Munchkins
S: "I can't hold your hand because it has bugs on it."
Huh? What?!?
J: "Mama, I want to be a princess, like Cinderella. "
Me: "Cinderella is my favorite princess. (I played her once in a professional children theatre production, I have a soft spot for the gal.) She wears a pretty blue dress."
J: "I want to wear a RED dress. With cherries on it."
NICE.
Let's just be clear: I have never, at any time, introduced the Cinderella or princess thing. Does Disney reach our kids by some kind of weird retail osmosis??? We simply walk by their branded stuff in the store and it's burned into our kiddos subconscious...? Weird...
Huh? What?!?
J: "Mama, I want to be a princess, like Cinderella. "
Me: "Cinderella is my favorite princess. (I played her once in a professional children theatre production, I have a soft spot for the gal.) She wears a pretty blue dress."
J: "I want to wear a RED dress. With cherries on it."
NICE.
Let's just be clear: I have never, at any time, introduced the Cinderella or princess thing. Does Disney reach our kids by some kind of weird retail osmosis??? We simply walk by their branded stuff in the store and it's burned into our kiddos subconscious...? Weird...
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Whatcha' Cookin' Wednesday - "Fiery Beef Satay Skewers"
Let's start out the new year with BEEF. Easy, quick, yummy. A great appetizer OR dinner.
Fiery Beef Satay Skewers
1-1/2 pounds boneless beef sirloin steak -- cut 1/4" thick
5 green onions -- white part only-- cut into 1-inch pieces
***marinade***
1/2 cup Dijon-style mustard
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoon fresh lime juice
4 teaspoons bottle minced or fresh crushed garlic
1 tablespoon ground red pepper
In large shallow bowl, combine marinade ingredients; whisk until blended. Remove and reserve 1/2 cup for basting. Trim fat from beef steak; cut into 1-1/2-inch cubes. Add beef to remaining marinade in bowl; toss to coat. Cover and marinate in refrigerator 20 minutes. Remove beef from marinade; discard marinade. Alternately thread an equal amount of beef and green onion pieces onto each of four 12-inch metal skewers. Place skewers on grid over medium, ash-covered coals. Grill, uncovered, 10 to 12 minutes for medium rare to medium doneness, basting frequently with reserved 1/2 cup marinade and turning occasionally. Serve immediately.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Road Trip - Part 2 - the pics
We arrived in Miami in 14 hours and 13 minutes. With only 4 stops.
And we didn’t watch a single DVD.
(I may consider writing a book. It really wasn't that bad.)
Our holiday vacation was wonderful; I think the pictures say it all:
Christmas Eve - S & J are mesmerized by the lighted tree
Moxie Mama reads to S & J and cousin Mary
Scooter Girls. Yo.
G'ma helps the kiddos with the piano.
"I want to be a tiger, mama."
Yeah! Aveda hand lotion! Sweet!
J decorates her first ever Gingerbread Man cookie.
S at the nearby playground...
A quiet moment... A girl in her tutu enjoying a book...
The neighbor's Air Pogo. Must. Order. One. Now.
S with his cousins, who are also twins.
Frolicking on Miami Beach.
The obligatory family photo. (Which came out surprisingly well, I think.)
Cousin Josh reads to S & J. (We do a lot of that...)
And we didn’t watch a single DVD.
(I may consider writing a book. It really wasn't that bad.)
Our holiday vacation was wonderful; I think the pictures say it all:
Christmas Eve - S & J are mesmerized by the lighted tree
Moxie Mama reads to S & J and cousin Mary
Scooter Girls. Yo.
G'ma helps the kiddos with the piano.
"I want to be a tiger, mama."
Yeah! Aveda hand lotion! Sweet!
J decorates her first ever Gingerbread Man cookie.
S at the nearby playground...
A quiet moment... A girl in her tutu enjoying a book...
TRUCKS!!!!!
The neighbor's Air Pogo. Must. Order. One. Now.
S with his cousins, who are also twins.
Frolicking on Miami Beach.
The obligatory family photo. (Which came out surprisingly well, I think.)
Cousin Josh reads to S & J. (We do a lot of that...)
Great memories.. Can't wait 'til next year! (I really mean that.)
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Road Trip - Part 1
Happy New Year! We are back from the Road Trip. And finally ready to write about it.
The plan was to get up in the dead of night, put sleeping kiddos in the car and drive half-way to Miami before they woke up.
This was Danger Dad’s plan.
Danger Dad doesn’t understand that our children have never, EVER slept in the car.
Except for J.
After hand surgery.
So, here’s how it started:
1:45 a.m. – DD and I gently scoop sleeping kiddos out of their beds
1:45 and 10 seconds a.m. - S pops up head and says excitedly, “We’re going to Miami!”
1:47 a.m. – depart Atlanta
1:47 – 3:20 a.m. – S and J chatter about Miami! and Cousin Mary! and “This is really funny!” (meaning “driving in the dark”, which they have rarely experienced) and “Miami is THIS way” accompanied by lots of pointing and finally several rousing choruses of “Baa Baa Black Sheep”
3:21 a.m. - S announces, “All done.”
3:21 – 5 a.m. – S whines, chants and begs… “All done, all done, all done…”
(During this time I’m singing, reading, singing, soothing, playing music, talking, reading, soothing…. Lather, rinse, repeat…)
5 a.m. – S falls asleep
5:30 – S awake
(More reading, singing, reading, etc.)
7:30 a.m. – Breakfast stop at a Cracker Barrel. Those rocking chairs are from heaven... and the best jungle gym on the planet.
9 a.m. – back in car
(I think everyone looks pretty good...)
9 - 11:38 a.m. - "We Might be Giants" serenades us with "Robot Parade", "I'm Not Your Broom", "Middle. Middle, Middle" and on and on and on... We also sample a bit of "Philadelphia Chickens" (fave is a toss up between "Belly Button" and "Silly Lullaby", "Snacktime!" (no clear fave) and an assortment of ABC and 123 songs. (I LOVE THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS. Even after nearly 2 hours. LOVE.)
11:39 a.m. – J sleeps
11:49 a.m. – J wakes up
(that was a whole 10 minutes of sleep in case you're good at math...)
Noon – J and S see the ocean for the first time.
Magic.
Much frolicking on beach. Unbridled enthusiasm and boundless joy. Amazing to watch. No fear. Total happiness. I am spellbound and do my best to capture it:
…to be continued…
The plan was to get up in the dead of night, put sleeping kiddos in the car and drive half-way to Miami before they woke up.
This was Danger Dad’s plan.
Danger Dad doesn’t understand that our children have never, EVER slept in the car.
Except for J.
After hand surgery.
So, here’s how it started:
1:45 a.m. – DD and I gently scoop sleeping kiddos out of their beds
1:45 and 10 seconds a.m. - S pops up head and says excitedly, “We’re going to Miami!”
1:47 a.m. – depart Atlanta
1:47 – 3:20 a.m. – S and J chatter about Miami! and Cousin Mary! and “This is really funny!” (meaning “driving in the dark”, which they have rarely experienced) and “Miami is THIS way” accompanied by lots of pointing and finally several rousing choruses of “Baa Baa Black Sheep”
3:21 a.m. - S announces, “All done.”
3:21 – 5 a.m. – S whines, chants and begs… “All done, all done, all done…”
(During this time I’m singing, reading, singing, soothing, playing music, talking, reading, soothing…. Lather, rinse, repeat…)
5 a.m. – S falls asleep
5:30 – S awake
(More reading, singing, reading, etc.)
7:30 a.m. – Breakfast stop at a Cracker Barrel. Those rocking chairs are from heaven... and the best jungle gym on the planet.
9 a.m. – back in car
(I think everyone looks pretty good...)
9 - 11:38 a.m. - "We Might be Giants" serenades us with "Robot Parade", "I'm Not Your Broom", "Middle. Middle, Middle" and on and on and on... We also sample a bit of "Philadelphia Chickens" (fave is a toss up between "Belly Button" and "Silly Lullaby", "Snacktime!" (no clear fave) and an assortment of ABC and 123 songs. (I LOVE THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS. Even after nearly 2 hours. LOVE.)
11:39 a.m. – J sleeps
11:49 a.m. – J wakes up
(that was a whole 10 minutes of sleep in case you're good at math...)
Noon – J and S see the ocean for the first time.
Magic.
Much frolicking on beach. Unbridled enthusiasm and boundless joy. Amazing to watch. No fear. Total happiness. I am spellbound and do my best to capture it:
…to be continued…
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