Make Ahead Unstuffed Shells

I apologize for my inactivity but I just felt that I had nothing exciting to report.  School has been going swimmingly, new curriculum and all. I know that it will get more challenging as I get into the units that I didn't plan for but such is life. I am enjoying my coworkers and most of my students.  I am also still doing a good job on getting up early enough to get ready for work make up and all.  My too sweet cousin Carley also comment that she was surprised that I wore a certain outfit to work because I "don't usually dress cute for work."

Grad school is also wrapping up which is very exciting!!!  But as one time consuming life errand comes to a close another starts up with my gifted endorsement classes starting on Monday.  I know I will be able to get through all of that work in addition to my real job but just repeating, "I think I can. I think I can. I think I can."  I guess I will just have to block out time on Sunday to do school work.  A plan that has already been true in these first couple weeks.

Trey is out of town for a bachelor party in New Orleans so I came home to spend the weekend with my parents.  I always enjoy relaxing with them, going to look at homes, and eating dinner at home or out at restaurants. Right now I am sitting out on their deck enjoying the absolutely beautiful weather which Georgia hasn't seen in a long time. We're going to celebrate my mom's birthday tonight as well.  Fun Fun Fun!

Now for the main event....my unstuffed shells!  This is Trey's FAVORITE dish I make.  And when I say FAVORITE I mean F-A-V-O-R-I-T-E.  He asks for this constantly.  Every time I make it for him and for friends the whole pan is usually gone that night.  Everyone loves this meal and it is ridiculously easy to make.  You can make it 24 hours in advance and then just pop it in the oven for 45 minutes when you're ready to serve it. I have made this when we go to the lake and have made it multiple times to bring over to Trey's to feed him and his roommate.  Most recently I made this when Caroline, Trey and I caught up on some Whodunnit.  I am still very bitter about the outcome of that show so I don't want to talk about it any more...

I forgot to take pictures until about half way through the process so you'll just have to bare with me.

Make sure you have:

4 Cups uncooked medium shells
1 Jar of Heart Smart Lite Spaghetti Sauce
1 lb of lean ground beef
1/4 cup Parmesan
1 tub of Philly Italian Herb Cooking Cream (usually I get lite here too but I couldn't find it recently)
1 cup of Mozzarella grated cheese
1/2 cup of ricotta cheese (Trey's addition to this meal)
1/3 cup of fresh chopped basil (I didn't use this this time and I really missed it.  However, if its a week night and you don't have it on hand it was still pretty delicious sans it.)

Boil the shells

Brown the meat, drain and add the sauce.  Allow to simmer.

When the shells are cooked, drain and then add the cooking cream and parm. You would also add the basil in here.

Then grease a 9x11 pan.  In the pan put a layer of 1/2 the pasta sauce, then all of the shells, then I dollop the ricotta, followed by the rest of the sauce, and finally top with the moz cheese.

Bake at 450 for 30 minutes covered and then take the cover off and bake for 15 more minutes.  It'll be super bubbly, browned, cheesy and delicious!  Serve with cold crisp salad.  Yummy American Italian that can't be beat!

Ohhh yeah...

...this is what total exhaustion feels like.  It had been awhile and now its back.  This post was supposed to be on my super delicious make ahead stuffed unstuffed shells but now I just cant find the will (come back soon!).  I thought I would update my blog though since my only avid reader (my mother) is probably bursting at the seams  somewhere.

Trey is salivating somewhere-his favorite dish!

School started on Thursday and went very well.  I have what appears to be a ton of great students and only two unmanageable class sizes.  I then proceeded to basically sleep all day on Saturday to reset for the week ahead.  So far so good on staying on top of Analytic Geometry (words cannot express how happy I am that I planned the first month over the summer) and getting to work at a decent hour--however, don't get too excited people tomorrow is only day four.

Analytic Geometry Word Wall

Agenda Board

Flowers my parents sent me for the second day of school

I spent a lot of time with girlfriends this past weekend which was well needed.  I have also spent the past week helping Trey decorate his new room in his house.  I have done a fabulous job if I do say so myself. Just like my goal at work is to let things go and not trying to focus on being perfect I have decided to take the same stance at home.  I am going to let my bed go unmade and dishes sit in the sink a few days a week so I can come home and relax.  Someone should probably make me sign on the dotted line about that.

Fun Saturday Night!

Ice cream with Mel after dinner tonight

All my favorite summer shows are coming to a close which makes me very sad but excited about all the good stuff to come.  On that note I am exhausted....have I mentioned that?!....and I have some shows to catch up on.  To all the people who have stumbled across this blog looking for a pressure cooker meatball recipe, Happy Monday!

This woman IS the killer on Whodunnit!  I have called it since episode 1, five minutes in!

Cleaning, Organizing and More Cleaning and Organizing

On Monday night I went over to Trey's house to help him hang pictures in his room.  Since I wasn't there when they moved in (good planning on my part), I also decided I would help out by unpacking their kitchen.  What is it about organizing someone elses' mess that sounds fun?!  When it's my mess, however, I don't feel the same.  Here are the before and after.

It didn't feel like it took a long time since most of their kitchen belongings are cups but by the looks of outside it must have taken awhile.

I also took Luna over there so she could explore their back yard.  She got to meet Georgia (Trey's roommate's girlfriend's dog) and get slightly abused by her.  Here is me with the happy couple.

On Tuesday, I went into school for a New Educator Orientation Mentor Luncheon to meet my mentee (sp??) and after I decided to work on my room.  Now, I must admit that I left a lot of stuff up over the summer this past year.  I just knew that I would have my hands full with other things like the new curriculum, etc.  Here is what it looked like when I walked in:

After school, I went to Trey's softball game and ended up playing since they were short a girl.  I hit the ball both times I went to bat.  I didn't make it on base either time, but I'll blame that on the fact that I was wearing flip flops.  Trey said he for sure thought that I was going to strike out--heh heh heh.

Yesterday I was my first day of school.  It was more difficult than I thought it would be since I promised myself I would have a positive outlook and balanced life but then the same problems and worries returned.  It requires an attitude adjustment on my part that will take some time but at least I am aware of it and I think that that is the first step.  Today was already better than yesterday.  Here is what my room looks like as of now.

I am almost done.  All I need to do is put up my Analytic Geometry word wall and agenda board.

What else......On Wednesday night we went to dinner with my parents at Houston's.  The food was delicious but then I spent the rest of the night sick from whatever I ate.  Trey and I also went to a Braves game yesterday evening.  I really didn't  want to go but I was very glad once we got there.  We ate in the Chop House and then sat in our usual club level seats.

I have also been taking many walks with the Luna and taking in the sites of my mini central park in my back yard.

Lastly, here is my food for today's blog...Enjoy!

Summer Pasta for Lunch

My trip to Libba's was absolutely fabulous....until two hours into the ride home when I got my first speeding ticket.  Grrrr--nothing like a $288 honest mistake (I really didn't know the speed limit had dropped!).  I had to listen to The Fish once I got in the listening area to redirect my mindset. However, it was great to see Lib, her new pup Indy and relax on the beach.

I am now watching Luna for my friend Ashley while she is out of town the country on a cruise.  I would be jealous if I didn't have a week long adopted dog to cheer me up!  What is especially nice about having the dog is it has made me exercise.  Today I walked her she walked me around the park and the night before around the neighborhood.

Today I went to lunch with my dad at the local airport and then came home and finished up some last minute school stuff- Unit 1 Word Wall and notes sheets to accompany the videos I'm giving for homework some nights (I am attempting a semi-flipped classroom this year).  I have the first four weeks planned out with 99.2% of all the tasks, notes, homework, etc. finished.  I hope my team likes what I have done so far because it has taken a lot of work but I just wouldn't feel comfortable walking in on the first day of pre-planning with nothing done for a brand new curriculum.  I wanted as many handouts made as possible so I can send them to the county copy center during pre-planning.  Can I get an Amen for not having to stand at the copier while it does ten different sets of 115 double sided stapled copies (THE WORST)?!

This summer when I was home at my apartment I always had the Food Network on in the background.  It was very relaxing and inspiring.  One thing they always do on shows like Giada at Home and Pioneer Woman is they make lunch.  Usually my lunch consists of a lean cuisine, soup, or left overs.  The most effort I think I have ever put into a lunch is a sandwich.  So during my last whole week of summer (last week-I go back to work Thursday this week) I decided I would give the idea of really truly  making a lunch a try.

I chose a summer pasta which I found in a Cooking Light magazine last summer.  It is very light for lunch because it doesn't have a true sauce or any meat.  Don't let that scare you away because it is still so flavorful!  It has tons of garlic, fresh basil, and burst roasted tomatoes.  Additionally, I just LOVE pasta. When I make this for Trey and myself I usually add chicken by getting the thinly sliced chicken breasts, and adding them to the cooking sheet with the tomatoes, olive oil, and garlic.  Don't forget to salt and pepper them and they finish cooking in the 12 minutes the tomatoes take to explode! Yummmmmy!

You'll need:

8-ish oz whole grain angel hair

1/4 cup olive oil (divided- 2 Tbsp and 2 Tbsp)

2 pints of multicolored cherry tomatoes (I couldn't find them this time but I do prefer the multicolored..gives it a little more somethin' somethin')

4 cloves of garlic

1/2 tsp kosher salt

1/4 tsp fresh ground peper

Basil and Parm for a tasty garnish

Start by slicing the garlic, preheating the oven to 450 degrees, and boiling the water for the pasta.

Then on a lined jelly roll pan, combine the tomatoes, 2 Tbsp of olive oil and sliced garlic.  These are going to roast in the oven for approximately 11 minutes or until they have burst and are lightly browned.

Then add your pasta to the water.  It should take about 6 minutes to cook.  When it's done cooking, keep a bowl under the colander when straining to save some of the starchy water. You'll need 6 tablespoons for the "sauce."

Then slice up some pretty basil to put on top of your finished pasta.  Take the leaves off the plant and roll them up. Slice the roll perpendicular to your knife (I am such a math teacher) and Ta-Da!

Take the 6 tablespoons of kept water and add it to the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil.  Bring to a boil and boil 4 minutes.  CAUTION: Do this is a sauce pan and NOT a saute pan like I did.  My kitchen was a mess!  As you can kind of see...

Lastly, take the tomatoes out of the oven, add the "sauce" to the pasta and then the tomatoes.

Garnish to make a beautiful and semi-easy made lunch. :)