4-18-14

9:00am

Yesterday I was racking my brain trying

to figure out what kind of food I could make

to take to our friend's memorial since there

is a pot luck after it.

Isn't it funny that when we go to bed at night

and lay there with our thoughts running

through our heads is when the ideas come to us.

Earlier yesterday my friend had called and asked

if I wanted a bunch of peppers and onions.

She brought them down for me and I got

all the bell peppers washed and cut up

and was going to put them in the freezer.

I just left them out overnight to dry.

Well I got the idea to make a large 

stuffed pepper casserole with them.

The answer to my question had been sitting

right under my nose the whole time lol.

Make use of what you've got and have on hand.

6:35pm

I feel like I have been going non stop today since I got up.

Got up and wasn't up very long when I had to take mom

to Honda to pick up my step-dad who dropped his car off.

Got back home and we went to

Chestnut Ridge Park which is in Carrol, Ohio

and hiked up a hill which was very strenuous on our legs

and bodies.  Much steeper hills than what is out

at Hoover!  On our return trip we had to stop by Kroger

to get some things for my potluck casserole.

Once back home I got the casserole started

when mom called.  I had to take them back

to Westerville to pick their truck up.

While I was doing that hubby had a guy come

over and buy the torque converter we listed on Craigslist.  

He just took some pics of a honda racing hood

and will be posting that soon on there as well.

Returned back home and are now still working

on making that darn casserole or maybe I should

say casseroles because I am making a lot.

A couple for the potluck (or one really large one for a crowd)

and one for us.

Here is my recipe I threw together.

Stuffed Pepper Casserole

3 green bell peppers cut up (free)

2 red bell peppers cut up (free)

1 large onion cut up (free)

28 ounce can crushed tomatoes (free)

a couple cloves garlic grated (.20 cents)

2 pounds bob evans maple sausage ($5.00)

4 boxes spanish rice-a-roni ($4.00)

1 carton beef broth ($1.67)

seasonings:  oregano, garlic powder, basil, salt, pepper (free)

1 can spaghetti sauce ($1.00)

1/2 block of queso cheese (free)

2 packages of shredded cheese ($3.98)

little bit of worcestershire sauce, steak sauce & hot sauce.

Taco seasoning to taste (free)

put peppers, onions, tomatoes, sausage,

seasonings, sauces in

crock and cook til done.

Stir in queso cheese til melted.

In a skillet make up rice-a-roni

(I did each box one at a time rather than 

trying to make them all at once.)

Each box called for 2 cups of water.

I replaced one cup of water with beef broth.

Do not add tomatoes that the box calls for

because you already have some in the crock.

Once everything is done mix sausage & peppers

and rice together.  Spoon into a greased casserole dish.

Top with shredded cheese and bake 350 degrees til warmed through

and cheese is bubbly or golden brown on top.

Then in between making the casseroles I had

to make a quick supper of bbq rib sandwiches with chips.

Other than the ride in the truck today I haven't been

able to sit down and chill til just now!

I still want to run to the thrift store

to look for a nice dress.  I didn't find one the other day.

Then tomorrow morning we're getting up

early and heading to the thrift store and Walmart.

Then come back home, get the casseroles

baked and off to the memorial in the afternoon.

Calgone take me away!!!

10:00pm

Went to the thrift store earlier tonight.

I did not find a dress I liked.

I'm just gonna have to go through what I have

and find something else nice to wear tomorrow.

No dress though, just pants and a sweater

and some high heeled shoes.

Now often do I wear high heeled shoes,

uh like never.

My legs are killing me from our hike today

so I can only imagine what they and my feet

will feel like tomorrow.

At the moment I am waiting for my pepper casseroles

to cool down some before putting in the fridge.

I sauted up some more onions and green bell peppers

to put on the top before I sprinkle the shredded cheese on it.  

I didn't feel as though it had enough peppers.

While making some foods you have to keep tasting

it to make sure it has enough seasonings or whatever.

That's what I've been doing and that's not good

right before bed, especially pepper casserole.

I now have heartburn!   Ahhhh!