What's Cookin' Monday!!!!!

     Good morning, dear blog friends!!! I am in an exceptionally good mood (especially for a Monday ;-) I think that the older I get, the more I have come to appreciate the sense of motivation that we feel on Mondays. It is that inner longing to get things back on track after spending time relaxing or enjoying favorite activities on the week-ends. I have also had week-ends in my life where I worked outside of my home, and then it was even more important to think of Monday as a chance for new beginnings and a springboard to re-organizing my world.
     This past week-end our family had a wonderful mini-trip to Ohio to visit my husband's beautiful family. His sweet momma will be having a birthday on the 30th of this month and my Sis-in-Law (the supreme planner of our family-Sis, you are AWESOME!) got together with their Ohio relatives to plan a wonderful surprise party for her! My Mom-in-Law was so very surprised and HAPPY!!!! We all enjoyed seeing everyone and having some time to visit and catch up with each other. You just can't beat time spent with family!!!
     So here I am on this first Monday of the fall season, rested, energized and ready to start a brand new week of work here at my dear Cozy Home. My little grandson, W, will be coming to spend the morning with us, Caleb and I will be having our homeschool lessons, I will be doing my usual cleaning and business activities and then our son and his family are coming over for dinner this evening. No wonder I am so "twittery"!!!
     I have a wonderful and tasty chicken recipe to share with you today. Easy to fix and yummy to eat!!! I use my good old Bean Pot when I fix this, you can use your Bean Pot, or, if you don't yet have one, you can use a large covered casserole, thought your outcome could be a bit different. I really do cook with my Bean Pots and highly recommend them. I would never recommend anything that I don't LOVE and use to my friends. Here is the recipe for today:

CHICKEN DIVINE

6 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
1 can Cream of Chicken soup
1can Cream of Mushroom soup
1/2 envelope Lipton's Onion Soup mix

Place the chicken breasts in the Bean Pot.
Add the cream of chicken soup, then the cream of mushroom soup
Sprinkle the Lipton's Onion Soup over the top.
Put the lid on your Bean Pot and bake the chicken at 250 degrees
for 6-8 hours. Serve with buttered egg noodles and your favorite
vegetables or tossed salad. DELISH!!!

Happy Monday and Keep Cozy!!!
Charlotte

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY


Outside my window...
Sights and smells of a beautiful day on its way. You can now see the leaves clearly changing and, on more than one morning this month, smell the faint smoke from a neighbor's fireplace.

I am thinking...
that I love my simple little life in my small town.

I am thankful for...
the blessings of family and home! Thankful, too that both of my parents are home from their recent days in the hospital and that they are recieving some home health care assistance.  Thankful to neighbors and cousins who are helping out in getting them to and from Doctor appointments. I am also very thankful that they have wonderful neighbors that are always looking out for them, bringing them good things to eat and lending a hand with errands now and then. God bless them for their help!

From the learning rooms...website
Caleb started French language lessons on Live Mocha's website yesterday! Ooo-la-la :-)

From the kitchen...
We will be having Cream of Wheat cereal for breakfast this morning. I am going to make a crock pot full of  Broccoli and cheese soup served with hot rolls for our supper this evening.

I am wearing...
My favorite leaf print shirt for fall and blue jeans.

I am creating...
A new fall wreath for our front door.

I am going...
nowhere today, just enjoying being at home!

I am reading...
An old favorite: Taylor Caldwell's Ceremony of the Innocent, my poetry books, lots of magazines, several decorating books.

I am hoping...
that the next few months are filled with blissful, quiet days.

I am hearing...
the sound of my family stirring upstairs and the radio playing sweet music for the morning.

Around the house...
time to take down some curtains for a bath and time to clean those windows-yep.

One of my favorite things...
Cream of Wheat with brown sugar and cinnamon for breakfast on cool autumn mornings!

A few plans for the rest of the week:
Getting ready to start a little Fall Housecleaning around the old Cozy Home Cottage.
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...


Rooster on top of my china cabinet

Hope that everyone is having a beautiful week. A great BIG thank you to sweet Peggy for hosting this Daybook!

What's Cookin' Monday

Happy Monday, friends!!! I hope that you all had a wonderful week-end and are getting back into the swing of things in this brand-new week! Today's recipe is a real Spears' family favorite, especially during the fall and winter months. As you have surely guessed by now, I like recipes that are convenient and easy to fix. This one is really good served with a fresh green salad and some home-baked garlic bread or Texas toast. A real stick-to-your-ribs supper!!!

Mama Char’s Italian Casserole

1 pound ground beef (the leaner, the better)
1 small onion chopped
1 jar prepared spaghetti sauce (your family favorite, or home-canned)
1 can mushrooms (you can use fresh, sliced white mushrooms, if you prefer)
1 can tomatoes with basil and garlic
1 Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp Ex-virg Olive Oil
8 oz package rotini pasta (cooked according to directions)
3 cups Colby-jack cheese shredded
½ cup shredded parmesan cheese

Brown the ground beef and the onions in a large dutch oven or skillet. Add the mushrooms, tomatoes, spaghetti sauce, sugar and olive oil and cook covered over low heat. Stir often and cook until the liquid reduces and it becomes thickened. In the mean time cook the pasta in a pan according to the directions on the package. When the pasta is done, drain it in a colander and set aside.

Assembling the casserole: Pour a thin layer of the finished sauce in the bottom of a 9 x 13 oven safe baking dish. (Of course, I would most highly recommend one of our Celebrating Home Casserole bakers ;-) Pour ½ of the pasta into the pan and top with ½ of the remaining sauce and ½ of the two cheeses. Repeat the layering, finishing with the parmesan cheese on top. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 35 minutes until the cheese is golden brown and bubbly. Serve with toasted garlic bread and a fresh salad.

Tuscan Home Casserole

Hope you enjoy today's recipe. Let me know what you think.

Hugs to all and Stay Cozy!
Charlotte

The Simple Woman's Daybook~September 8, 2010

FOR TODAY


Outside my window...
The sky is dotted with silver soft clouds that predict the possibility of a wet day to come.

I am thinking...
that life is a complicated experience. There are so many hills and valleys for each of us to travel and that I am so very glad that I have trusted Jesus, the good shepherd to lead me along the way. I watching my dear parents go through the valley of their golden years and many of the health problems that come with that time of life. They are steadfast Christians and have faith to see them through and good doctors, also, but it is never easy to watch people you love experience a decline in health.

I am thankful for...
each day that I have and the strength that God gives me to keep on going.

From the learning rooms...
we are getting ready to start back with our local Co-op this Friday and I have been working on the art lessons that I will be teaching to the children there.

From the kitchen...
fresh coffee is on and for this evening I am planning to fix pulled pork BB-Q, seasoned oven potatoes and green beans.

I am wearing...
a floral tee shirt, jeans and socks.

I am creating...
color wheel project kits for co-op on Friday.

I am going...
to the hospital in a little while to take my mom home. She and dad were both in the hospital all of last week and she is ready to be released, dad will have to stay a bit longer. Please pray for them and for us.

I am reading...
only time for magazine articles right now, but I love my magazines.

I am hoping...
that the next few weeks will become less stressful.

I am hearing...
sweet Christian music from a local station.

Around the house...
the vaccuum needs to be done and laundry, always laundry ;-D

One of my favorite things...
time spent visiting with a good friend over a cup of tea.

A few plans for the rest of the week:
that all depends on what comes up with my parents.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

My Sweet Mom and Dad

Sincere thanks to Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook for being such a dear hostess!