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!