I am not ashamed

I love meatloaf. I openly admit it. And of course I think my recipe is the best. You be the judge, but I warn you; this is not a healthy recipe!

 Your cast of characters:

1.5lb hamburger meat

1 envelope Lipton Beefy Onion or Onion Mushroom Soup Mix

2 eggs

24 Captain Wafers or other similar sized cracker, crushed

1/4 -ish milk

2 tsp ketchup

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Combine all the ingredients except the ketchup. I use my hands, it is easiest. In a 13x9 baking pan, shape the mixture into a loaf. Bake uncovered for 50 minutes. Take out and spread the ketchup over the top. Bake for 10 minutes longer.

** I adapted this recipe from The Lipton Kitchen. I use less hamburger than the original recipe calls for because the meat will cook faster and make a nice crust. Also I use milk instead of water because it just tastes better.

The Universal Household Assistant (UHA) - Hiccoughs

Today marks the beginning of a new segment on this blog pertaining to a book I bought a few months back. It is called The Universal Household Assistant and promises to tell you "what every person should know." What is so interesting is that the book was published in 1884. Some of the information is good, some very outdated and some quite laughable by today's standards. Every Sunday I will bring you an interesting tidbit that I find in my book. Enjoy!

To Cure Hiccoughs (Hiccups)

Take a small piece of lump sugar into the mouth and let it dissolve very slowly, or drink any liquid very slowly, and the hiccoughs will cease.

Marsala Saute

It was once something we only ordered when we were out and about until I found this easy recipe. Now we can eat it at home. Chicken would work equally as well if you are not a fan of pork.
**Ignore the garlic in the picture, I am so used to using it that I automatically added it to the ingredients!**

about 1lb boneless porkchops, cut into thin strips

s&p

1/4 cup all purpose flour, plus 1tbsp

3 tbsp unsalted butter

8oz white mushrooms, cleaned and sliced

1 small onion, chopped (I always use vidalia)

1/2 cup Marsala wine

3/4 cup chicken broth (I use bouillon dissolved in water)

2 tsp lemon juice

Place the 1/4 cup flour in a plastic bag. Season the porkchop strips and place in the bag, seal. Shake until all the pieces are coated. Melt 2 tbsp butter in a large non-stick pan over med-high heat. Add the pork and cook until browned. Transfer to a plate.

Melt remaining butter in pan. Add mushrooms, onion, s&p until browned - 6-8 minutes. Stir in 1tbsp flour and cook until golden. Add in Marsala wine and chicken broth. Simmer until thickened. Stir in the lemon juice. Add the pork back to the pan. Simmer about a minute longer.

Serve over egg noodles. Yum!

Roasted Carrots with Honey

Three simple ingredients and you have the perfect side dish. It is beyond easy and your kids will eat it. What else could you ask for, hmm?

You will need:

1lb bag of carrots
(I use baby carrots because all the hard work is done and all you have to do is cut them in half. But you can use regular carrots. Peel them and cut them small.)

1tbsp olive oil

s&p

1 tbsp honey

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Toss carrots, oil and s&p in a bowl. Spread out on a rimmed baking sheet in a single layer. Roast, tossing once, until tender - 30 minutes or so. Remove from oven and toss with honey.

That's it, so simple. So delicious.

Custom Word Banners

You see them everywhere, I can even make you one if you need it. But if you decide one day that you would like to give it a try, you can make your own simple, personalized banner in a few easy steps.

First, find some paper that you like. Pick around 4 or 5 different patterns but not too many or your banner will look too disjointed. Then in Word, type out what you want the banner to say in a super-thick font like Arial Black in the size you want the letters to be. Print on a heavy weight paper and cut out. These will be your templates.

Next trace the letters *backwards* on the back of the patterned paper and cut out. You will then need to cut a piece of ribbon the length you want the banner to be. Cut holes with a hole punch or cut slits in the tops of the letters for the ribbon to pass through. Remember that you need at least two cuts, one for the ribbon to go through the front and another for it to pass through the back.

Thread your letters onto the ribbon and space to your taste. I like to turn my banners over and tape across the slits or holes because that will help keep the letters from moving. Enjoy!

An Easy Spring Pinwheel

I am knee deep in some serious birthday party planning for my soon-to-be 4yr old daughter. One of the crafts that I have planned is a small working pinwheel. At this age your child will still need adult assistance but it only takes a minute and the your child will be off to play with their new toy.

You will need glass bead pins, lollipop paper sticks and a piece of paper cut into a square. My paper is 4.5 inches square.

 OPTIONAL
I have a pinwheel template that I printed on my home printer and a tiny hole punch that I used to make it easier but you can skip these steps if you don't have these items or don't need them.

 Cut the paper from the edges toward the middle, but don't cut all the way. If using the punch, cut holes in the alternating corners and the middle of the paper.

 Fold down alternating corners to the middle. Here I lined up the holes that I punched. Then push the pin through the middle of the corners and paper.

 Next, push the pin through the center of the lollipop stick.
All you have left to do now is blow on the pinwheel to make it spin!

 You can use this template to print on your 4.5 inch square paper if you are making multiple pinwheels or if you need the guide.