Back to Normal

Have you missed me?    I hope you have.  I am finally starting to feel normal.  The elephant that was sitting on my chest is gone.  I can finally get back to cooking and crafting.

I did get to make some bunny bags for Easter while I was sick.

And I did get to cook a couple of times.  I cooked a Pot-a-Feu because it was just simmering meat and veggies.  Something simple to to make but so good.

I also made Easter dinner which was a ham, brussels sprouts, and garlic mashed potatoes.

Since I have been gone for so long, I thought I would share my spaghetti recipe.  It is a favorite in this house.  I hope you enjoy it.

INGREDIENTS:

1.5 lbs Ground beef

1.5 lbs Italian sausage, casings removed (mild or hot)

1 small onion, chopped
3 -4 garlic cloves, minced

1 green pepper, chopped

1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes
2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
2 (15 ounce) cans tomato sauce
1 cup water 

1 cinnamon stick
3 teaspoons fresh basil
2 teaspoons fresh parsley flakes
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon fresh coarse ground black pepper
1/2 cup Red wine

1 lb spaghetti
grated parmesan cheese

fresh basil

DIRECTIONS:

1. Heat a little a bit of oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat.  Add beef and Italian sausage.  

    Brown beef and Italian sausage, breaking up as you stir.

2. Add onions, green pepper and garlic and cook until onion are translucent and pepper is soft.

3.  Add the red wine, stirring to deglaze the pan.  

5.  Add tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce and water.

6. Add oregano, cinnamon stick, bay leaf, basil, parsley, sugar,  crushed red pepper, salt and black 

    pepper.

7. Bring to a simmer and reduce heat to the lowest possible setting.

8. Simmer, stirring frequently for 2 hours.  Watch it so it won't burn.  

9. Cook spaghetti according to package directions.

10. Taste for seasoning and add more salt if necessary. 

11. Spoon sauce over drained spaghetti noodles and sprinkle with parmesan cheese and fresh basil.

Before I go I would like to tell you about Addison's April Fool's joke he played on me yesterday.  He asked me if he could cut an apple.  He went into the kitchen cut an apple and then all of sudden yelled MOM.  He ran up to me and showed me his hand.

Yes, he totally freaked me out.  He was in the kitchen planning this the whole time.  Putting food coloring on his finger and then cutting the apple.  He is a little stinker but we did get a good laugh out of it after I realized wasn't real.

Well, it's great to be back.  Talk to you soon.