Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Pasta Florentine with Meatballs

Dinner Tuesday night was homemade sauce with the last of our IKEA meatballs.

I used the extra diced tomatoes from the Tortilla Meatloaf plus another can. I added some frozen chopped spinach, Italian seasoning blend, one clove minced garlic, dash of dried onions, sea salt, pepper, and fresh rosemary. I added the frozen meatballs and let everything simmer for about 25-30 minutes. Then I heated some heavy cream and thickened it a bit then added them together and served it over penne pasta.



It was very good!

Tortilla Meatloaf

This was dinner on Monday night. Jason made it!

Recipe is below, SOOOO EASY!!!

Tortilla Meat Loaf (in crock pot)
Serves 4

1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef (or turkey)
1 cup crushed tortilla chips
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1 cup chunky-style salsa
1/2 tsp chili powder
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/4 cup tomato sauce

1. Unless your slow cooker is oval in shape, tear off a 2-foot piece of aluminum foil, cut in half lengthwise, and fold each piece in half lengthwise, forming strips.
2. Crisscross the strips and place them in the bottom of the slow cooker and up the sides, to be used as handles.
3. In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients except the tomato sauce.
4. Form the mixture into a ball, and place it on top of the foil strips, pressing the mixture down to fit the bottom of the slow cooker.
5. Spread the tomato sauce on top.
6. Cook on LOW for 8 to 10 hours, or on HIGH for 4 to 5 hours. Remove the loaf using the foil "handles."

Tip: Omit the foil basket if you have an oval-shaped slow cooker, and simply form the meat into a loaf and place it in the slow cooker.

This is approx. how Jason made it:
1 lb ground turkey and divided ingredients above. Instead of tomato sauce he used some diced tomatoes. (I think salsa up on top would be better.) We have oval cooker, so it looked just like a loaf when we took it out. Could use some sour cream and cheese or something to be served with it.

Day 5 in Arlington - AKA Valentine's Day

Here's a few photos I was able to get Valentine's morning before I had to leave for the airport.


Aery was my bed bug while I was there. She woke up a little dazed, but then remembered it was Valentine's Day! She smiled so big and was wide awake once she remembered that little fact.


I woke Lizzy up and asked her if she was ready to get up. She said, "No...because you have to leave today!" So sweet!

Aery got a Ladybug animal, Lizzy got a caterpillar that's about 4 feet long!


Aaron and Cheyanne seeing just how much bigger Cam's new frog is than him!


Ahh, my froggie friend!



Cheyanne and I then left for the airport. I got checked in and realized that somehow I lucked upon the one direct flight from Dallas to Harlingen! No stopping in San Antonio, Austin, or Houston! An hour and half on the plane and home!

Jason picked me up and we went to lunch at Applebee's then went home. Where my Valentine's card and gift awaited me! The card was wonderfully poignant and the gift is awesome!

He planted two rosemary plants for me by the front door.


Monday, February 16, 2009

Day 4 in Arlington

Here's photos and videos from Friday the 13th in Arlington.


I like to sit in Momma's computer chair!




I like to smile!


This is what Tia did on her trip! A lot! And loved every minute!


After Lizzy got out of school on Friday we all went to a park nearby and the girls played while Cam napped the whole time.

Lizzy played on the monkey bars.



Aery enjoyed the slides.

She took time out of playing to pose with Cameron.

We found a little "pond" area down past the playground and saw ducks and turtles!
And the girls got to throw some pebbles and sticks into the water to make ripples.



Tia's last time to pick out his outfit for bed. Little baseball guy!!