On Her Own

Things have been SO very busy the past two weeks. And while I like to try and leave something for dinner for the other members of the family, some days it just doesn't come together. Last week I had to bring in the junior chef. With nothing but the briefest of suggestions and the ingredients, she took off.
It never occurred to me to find her a cookbook - what Italian cookbook wouldn't have a basic Alfredo sauce in it? But she found it on her own and and made Three Cheese Tortellini Alfredo for dinner all on her own.
According to dad, it was perfect! I didn't need to eat it to know that!

Comfort

I may not be very good at comforting her in the middle of the night, but give me the kitchen, and meal time and I can get my girl feeling like herself again in no time. It's incredibly cheap and it works on her dad too!

Meatloaf . . .

and mashed potatoes!

Although in the car on the way to school this morning she informed me that she hates all of her clothes. I think this problem is going to cost me some big money! I think there are some leftovers in the refrigerator.

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day 2009

Just a few cards and some "token" gifts. I'd already bought myself some boots so Jon just got the "Bourne" trilogy on Blu-Ray. Yea - that's actually more for me too!

And homemade heart-shaped pizzas three ways:

Plain with just cheese for Kathryn,

Half sausage, half pepperoni and olive, (any guesses whose half is whose?)

and Holli's!

This year's dessert - Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes.

I'm still stuffed because the next night was my mom's birthday and besides the huge dinner we made for her - we had to have the same dessert again. Saturday was just a trial run.

Oatmeal

It's not just for breakfast! And thanks to Laurie, yesterday - I ate oatmeal at every meal, and all the little meals in between. It's very healthy for you.
Unbaked Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

2 cups sugar
6 tablespoons cocoa
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup milk
pinch of salt
3 cups raw rolled oats (quick cooking kind)
1/2 tsp extract (pick one!)

Mix first five ingredients and heat on high, stirring constantly. Let mixture boil three minutes. Remove from heat, add extract and rolled oats. Drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper.

I'm not sure how many cookies the recipe is supposed to make because quite a few never made it to the wax paper. I can tell you that there were MANY, MANY more on that plate yesterday before Kathryn got home from school. Yeah - she ate them all! Who am I kidding? I had 5 after breakfast this morning!That's to keep me out - it just happens to keep her out too as a bonus! You've been warned.

Friday Fish

In a nice sort of tuna salad way. I was headed out early Wednesday night and needed a quick, easy, dinner. Since I was alone and absolutely NO ONE in my house will eat tuna, it was the perfect time for me to make my favorite tuna salad.

OK - there is at least one other person who shares my appreciation for tuna. But he's not allowed on the counter during food preparation. Shoo - get down Tigger!! So, where were we?

Start with pretty bowl and 1 can of tuna. We prefer solid white solid albacore. If Chris is coming over, make sure that the contents are just tuna and water - no broth with soy! This is very important.

Add this must chopped celery ......

... and this much chopped onion ...

... and this much chopped cornichons.

Sea salt and cracked pepper to taste.

This much mayonnaise...

Some ripe tomatoes, fresh spring greens, and voila: dinner for one!

Wanna see what Jon had that night? Really, it was so good on Monday!! It was chicken with black beans rice and tomatoes. But mixed in bowl as leftovers, wouldn't you really rather have the tuna??

I'm driving to pick up Kathryn from camp tomorrow! My girlfriend visited them on Wednesday and reported that the girls are having a grand time. They had zero time to talk to her! That's the best news I could have heard. Have a great weekend