Cheeseburger Pasta Casserole

Cheeseburgers and pasta combined into one casserole. It's like a heart attack waiting to happen. But it's a delicious heart attack waiting to happen!

I am addicted to Pinterest. Seriously. You can probably find me avoiding my responsibilities (like doing homework, doing chores, or keeping up with my blog) by browsing Pinterest for hours. I especially love the recipes that I find; it's actually where I found the inspiration for this recipe.

You can view the original recipe here.

Start off your "heart attack waiting to happen" recipe by browning a pound of hamburger, one chopped onion, and garlic (either one clove or 1 tsp of Tastefully Simple's Garlic Garlic) in a skillet. When the burger is brown and the onions are transparent, drain the grease (if needed).

Boil 8 oz of rotini noodles by following the directions on the box (approximately 10 minutes). Once al dente, set aside.

Add 1 tsp of seasoned salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper, 2 tbsp of ketchup, and 2 tbsp Dijon mustard to the skillet. Stir until combined, and then add 15 oz of tomato sauce. Bring to a boil and then simmer on warm for about 5 minutes.

Stir the noodles into the burger mixture, then transfer to a greased baking dish. Top with 1 - 1.5 cup shredded cheddar cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

Cheeseburger Pasta Casserole

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic (or 1 tsp Garlic Garlic)
8 oz rotini noodles
1 tsp seasoned salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 tbsp Dijon mustard
2 tbsp ketchup
15 oz tomato sauce
1 - 1.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Cook noodles according to the package (usually about 10 minutes). Set aside.

Brown beef, garlic, and onion in a large skillet. When the beef is brown and the onions are transparent, drain the grease (if necessary) and add 1 tsp seasoned salt, 1/4 tsp of pepper, 2 tbsp of Dijon mustard, and 2 tbsp of ketchup. Stir.

Add 15 oz tomato sauce to the mixture. Bring mixture to a boil and boil over low heat for about 5 minutes.

Stir in the cooked noodles to the burger mixture. Transfer to a greased baking dish. Top with shredded cheddar cheese.

Bake for about 15 minutes.

Serve and enjoy!

Molly

Lemon Bars - AKA a Taste of Heaven

This recipe has been in my family for as long as I can remember; maybe even longer. They are like crack to every single one of us; I do not kid. I remember one time my grandma sent half a pan home with my dad, but only about four made it home and Dad didn't tell us that he'd already had some so he got another one in addition to the ones he'd already eaten throughout the day.

A shortbread-like crust, a lemon filling, a powdered sugar top... What's not to love?

Grandma made some the other day and sent 6 home with us. They were gone by the end of that day, and Kyle made Mom make more that night. Those ones were gone within two or three days.

Like I said: crack.

First, make the crust. Whisk together 2 cups of flour, 1 cup of powdered sugar, and a pinch of salt. Cut in a cup of butter until you have something resembling a coarse meal (use some knives, some forks, a special tool, or your bare hands.

Press this mixture into a greased 9x13 baking dish and bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

While the crust is baking, mix 4 eggs, 2 cups of white sugar, and 1/3 cup of all-purpose flour in a bowl.

Add in 1/3 cup of lemon juice to the batter.

When the crust is done, pour the batter on top and bake for another 20 minutes.

After your lemon bars are finished baking, remove from the oven and dust with powdered sugar.

Let the lemon bars cool a bit before serving. These can be enjoyed while warm or after a few hours in the fridge; both ways are delicious.

Lemon Bars

Ingredients

Crust

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup powdered sugar

Salt

1 cup (two sticks) butter

Filling

4 eggs

2 cups white sugar

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/3 cup lemon juice

Topping

Powdered sugar

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13 baking dish and set aside.

Make the crust by whisking together 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 cup of powdered sugar, and a pinch of salt. Cut in 1 cup of butter until you have something resembling a coarse meal. Press into the baking dish and bake for 20 minutes.

Prepare the filling by combining 4 eggs, 2 cups of white sugar, and 1/3 cup of all-purpose flour in a bowl. Stir in 1/3 cup lemon juice.

When the crust is done, pour the batter on top of it and bake for another 20 minutes.

After the lemon bars are done baking, dust with powdered sugar. Allow to cool and then serve immediately or refrigerate and serve cool; warm or cold, these are delicious both ways!

What are some recipes that last only a day or two in your homes?

Molly

Book of the Month - February 2015

Love is in the air!

Image courtesy of Google Images.

OK so I'm not THAT opposed to love. I just think it's over done. Especially when 12 year olds are like, "Baby I love you so much!" Guys. You're 12. But good job using the term "baby" correctly.

Alright, enough of my cynicism. Let's get on to something that I DO love: books!

This month I've got two book recommendations for you, just because I know February is the time of year when two different kinds of people emerge with opposing views of love.

For those of you who are hopeless romantics, your book of the month is Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen.

Image courtesy of Goodreads.

I honestly have not read this book since my senior year of high school (I graduated in '13), but I remember reading the book and falling in love with the characters, the setting, and Dessen herself (not to sound creepy or anything). This book is adorable and not full of [too many] romantic cliches. See the description below:

It’s been so long since Auden slept at night. Ever since her parents’ divorce—or since the fighting started. Now she has the chance to spend a carefree summer with her dad and his new family in the charming beach town where they live.

A job in a clothes boutique introduces Auden to the world of girls: their talk, their friendship, their crushes. She missed out on all that, too busy being the perfect daughter to her demanding mother. Then she meets Eli, an intriguing loner and a fellow insomniac who becomes her guide to the nocturnal world of the town. Together they embark on parallel quests: for Auden, to experience the carefree teenage life she’s been denied; for Eli, to come to terms with the guilt he feels for the death of a friend.

In her signature pitch-perfect style, Sarah Dessen explores the hearts of two lonely people learning to connect.

It's an adorable book and I highly recommend it.

For those of you who are romantic cynics, I'm going to recommend Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong.

Image courtesy of Goodreads.

This is the book that I read last month; you can read my review here. Even though it wasn't the greatest thing I've ever read, I believe its horrific content can help combat all of the lovey-dovey stuff that's floating around this month. DISCLAIMER: There is a bit of romance in it, but not enough to make you sick.

Of course, whether you're a hopeless romantic or not, you can read whichever book you choose. Let me know which one you're going to read (or if you're going to read both) and then, when you're finished, let me know what you think!

Happy reading!

Molly

GIVEAWAY: Tastefully Simple Date Night Assortment (Open to US only, 18 and older; ends 2/14/15)

Tastefully Simple is sponsoring a Date Night Dish Assortment Giveaway ($49.94) for our readers.  Please read Pam's full review here then enter giveaway below! Whether you have a table for two or a full house this Valentine's Day, this menu will help you prepare a heart melting meal for all of your sweethearts!

I am a HUGE Tastefully Simple fan! I was even a consultant for about a year. If you've looked over a few of my recipes, you've probably noticed that I'm constantly using Garlic Garlic, Onion Onion, and Seasoned Salt. Tastefully Simple makes it easy to have a delicious meal without all the prep.

What you will get in the Date Night Dish Assortment prize:

•  Garlic Garlic™  
• Key Lime Cheese Ball Mix
• ™Absolutely Almond Pound Cake Mix™
• Vidalia® Onion Dressing
• Bayou Bourbon™ Glaze
• Samba Sangría Slush™ Drink Mix

Tastefully Simple has delicious desserts; the Key Lime Cheese Ball and Almond Pound Cake are two of the best sellers. The Vidalia Onion Dressing and Bayou Bourbon Glaze are TO DIE FOR. Seriously, I could drink that stuff straight from their bottles. And speaking of drinking, the Slush Drink Mixes are also delicious (and they can usually be done as alcoholic or virgin).

So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and enter the giveaway using the tool below and, if you win, enjoy a delicious date night with loved ones (or by yourself!). And be sure to let me know which of the products you love the best :)

Giveaway:

Sponsored by: Tastefully Simple
Hosted by: Kelly's Thoughts On Things 

One winner will receive a Date Night Dish Assortment valued at $49.94. This Giveaway is open to US residents only, ages 18 and older. The Giveaway will run from February 4, 2015 until 5:00 am EST on February 14, 2015. One entry/winner per household. This blog is not responsible for prize fulfillment. Enter using the Giveaway Tools Form Below. Good Luck!

Entry-Form

God the Father

Image courtesy of Sabrina Bailey from The Red Room Photography.

Spring semester has only just begun and I already feel beaten and worn down. It’s not that the workload is heavy; in fact, it’s relatively light compared to previous semesters. The problem is that I’m not ready to be responsible. I’m not ready to make myself do the little homework that I have; I would rather watch TV and surf the Internet (in particular, waste hours browsing Pinterest).

Since I’m feeling stressed out about my responsibilities, I’m stressing out about everything else that’s going on because, well, why not? I’m already stressing out, so why not stress out more? Why focus on just school pressure when I could also focus on the troubles I’m facing with finances, relationships, and my health? It’s an all-out stress fest over here.

If you are human (and I’m assuming you are), then you can probably relate to my situation. You might not have the exact same troubles that I’m having, but you probably have troubles of your own that just seem to pile up. It can be exhausting right? It would be so much better if we could just crawl under a rock and hide for the rest of our lives.

Hiding under a rock is no way to live. Also, it's a bit creepy. Image courtesy of Google Images.

 Unfortunately, hiding under a rock is not an option and it’s no way to live a life. The good news is that it’s okay to wallow (just not for very long). We have legitimate reasons to be stressing out.

If you’ve accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior then you’ve already got someone there to listen to you rant and vent. Some people might say that it’s bad to complain to God, but you know what? He created us. He knows us. He knows when we’re really upset; pretending not to be upset isn’t fooling him.

Jeremiah, one of God’s prophets, complained about how God “deceived” him (Jeremiah 20:7-18). He complained and whined… he had good reason to be upset. As a prophet, he wasn’t exactly well liked. (Would you like someone who talked of destruction?) God knew how tough Jeremiah’s situation was; he wasn’t even angry at Jeremiah for complaining.

God “examine[s] the righteous and probe[s] the heart and mind” (Jeremiah 20:12); God isn’t shocked by our anger. It’s okay to come to him and complain, just as Jeremiah did. And I don’t know about you guys, but I feel so much lighter once I’ve explained to someone how I really feel, especially if I’m angry.

Here are two things about accepting God as our Lord and Savior:

One, we are children of the Most High King. We are sons and daughters of the King and Creator of the universe. We are nobility. Pick your head up, look yourself in the mirror, and remind yourself that you are a son or daughter of the Lord God Almighty, who gives strength to his people.

Two, we are the adoptive children of God. We have the right to run up to him, crying “Abba,” “father.” He is a loving father who does not want to see his children suffer. He waits for us with open arms and will comfort us in times of trouble. “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” he promises (Hebrews 13:5; Deuteronomy 31:6). Also, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes” (Revelation 21:4).

Life is stressful. Cry if you must. Wallow (but not for long). Realize and accept that you are only human and can only do so much on your own. Then turn to God and take your problems to the cross. He is the loving father who is waiting to comfort us in every trial, no matter how trivial something might seem.

Cheers!

Molly