Theresa's Tuna Noodle Casserole

This is comfort food for me. Growing up, my mother made it often. Especially during Lent. Of course, I started making it for my family. Husband liked it well enough. One child liked it. One child didn't. I'm sure you know the drill.

I don't usually create my own recipes or alter ones I use. It's just not something I felt comfortable doing. Until one day I didn't have the cream of celery soup my mother's original Tuna Noodle Casserole asked for. I didn't feel like going to the store, so I started playing with the recipe. I had made homemade Mac and Cheese plenty of times and figured the base of the Tuna Noodle Casserole could be the same. My husband and both kids liked the new version better. (YAY) Each time I made it after that I altered it until I came up with what I now make and both kids and husband LOVE it and even ask for it. It's not just for Lent anymore!

Buon Appetito!

Theresa's Tuna Noodle Casserole

6 oz (3 1/2 cups) Medium egg noodles

2 Tbsp butter

3 Tbsp flour

1/3 cup chopped shallot

1 cup milk

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese and shredded swiss or gruyere

(about 1/3 swiss/gruyere & 2/3 cheddar)

3 – 7 oz can tuna

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 cup sliced celery

1/4 cup frozen peas

1 tsp salt

pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 425 degrees

Cook noodles in boiling salted water till tender.  

While water is boiling and noodles are cooking melt butter in a saucepan. Once butter is melted add chopped shallots. Let shallots cook until tender, then add flour and stir to make a thic
k roux. Slowly stir in milk. Once heated add shredded cheese. Stir until cheese melts and mixture has thickened. Set aside.

Drain noodles.  Combine noodles, drained tuna, mayonnaise, cheese sauce, vegetables, salt and pepper.

Turn into 1-1/2 quart casserole. Bake in 425 degree oven for about 20 min.

Makes 6 servings if served with a salad or as a side dish. Alone serves 4-5.

Thai Turkey Lettuce Wraps

This is an easy, fast, and fun recipe from Giada de Laurentiis. if you want something light and the kids will eat, Thai Turkey Lettuce Wraps (Turkey Larb) is your answer.

Because I have one child who does not do spicy I left out the chili. Instead I had hot chili sauce on the table for anyone who wanted it. That worked out great.

Fancy Oatmeal

I love oatmeal for breakfast. An oatmeal bar is great when you have company. Kids love creating their own fancy oatmeal.

You can have so many things in your oatmeal. Here are a few things I put in mine:

Cinnamon
Brown sugar
Raisins
Pecans
Blueberries
Bananas

Yum! Enjoy!

Lavender Shortbread

The smell of lavender makes me think of my mother and grandmother. My mother because she has it growing in her front yard. My grandmother because when I was a child she would have us make little sachets from the lavender she grew in her yard.

Someone gave me lavender shortbread last summer. The taste, the smell. It brought me back to when I was a little girl at my grandmother's house making those sachets. You know I just had to make some myself.

I need to put my own scented lavender plant in my yard. In the mean time, I'll purchase dried lavender at Whole Foods. Not cheap, but worth it.

All you need to do is add 1 tablespoon dried or 2 tablespoon fresh lavender flowers to your favorite shortbread recipe.

If you don't have a shortbread recipe I recommend the one from America's Test Kitchen.

Then enjoy with a cup of tea with a friend.

I like this....alot!

I really like this idea from The Inspired Room blog. Simple, easy, only five minutes each morning. I think taking five minutes each morning to do these four simple things will really help me get into a better routine for the day.

I need to do something to get back on track and get my house organized again. I'm way too busy with kids, school, volunteering, Girl Scouts, my photography business....YIKES taxes are coming up.......

What ideas do you have for helping a busy mom keep her life and house clean and organized? Leave a comment.

Granola Bars

If you read my last post you know my family and I have been enjoying homemade granola. A friend of mine, and fellow BMCC member, shared this Granola Bar recipe with me. I just had to try it.

I just made them tonight for tomorrows Girl Scout meeting snack. We just had to taste. They are really good! I did not add the raisins as a request from my daughter (and husband), but I think they would be good. Here is another recipe that would be fun to experiment with.

I have a feeling I'll be making these again very soon.

Playgroup Granola Bars

allrecipes.com

2 cups rolled oats
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup wheat germ
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup raisins (optional)
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup honey
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Generously grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.

In a large bowl, mix together the oats, brown sugar, wheat germ, cinnamon, flour, raisins and salt. Make a well in the center, and pour in the honey, egg, oil and vanilla. Mix well using your hands. Pat the mixture evenly into the prepared pan.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven, until the bars begin to turn golden at the edges. Cool for 5 minutes, then cut into bars while still warm. Do not allow the bars to cool completely before cutting or they will be too hard to cut.

ENJOY

Homemade Granola

This past Summer we took a wonderful road trip. We stayed with family and friends along our two week adventure. One of the many benefits to staying with family and friends is the delicious meals they make. I must say we are blessed to have family and friends who are great in the kitchen!

One of our new family favorites is from our road trip, Maple-Nut Granola! Every time I make it I think of our wonderful friends (family really) who made it for us, our visit, and our road trip. I love how food keeps memories close to our hearts.

Maple-Nut Granola is wonderful for breakfast or a light lunch with Greek Yogurt and fruit. I also just like it with milk. My husband and daughters can't get enough. Good thing it only takes about 35 minutes to make (from start to finish).

Also try adding 1/4 cup dried blueberries and 1/4 cup raisins. Fresh blueberries are good too. Mmmm

Korean Glass Noodles - Jap Chae

This was one of my husbands favorite dishes growing up. It's also one of my favorite dishes my mother-in-law makes.

You can imagine how excited I was when I found the recipe on the Steamy Kitchen blog.

Tonight was the big test. Nothing is as good as mom's, but I was hoping I would come close. My husbands reaction when he tried it? "It's perfect."

Thank you Steamy Kitchen! Thank you for helping me bring this wonderful Korean dish into our home. Not only for my husband, but for our two daughters.

NOTE: The only thing I didn't add was the spinach. I would like to try it with the spinach, but my mother-in-law didn't make it like that. I was going for "mom's" recipe.