Happy Birthday to The Hunter!

Seriously just ate way too much. Like I am sitting in my office chair with my blue jeans unbuttoned...yeah that's a bad picture! But it was totally worth it! All for an awesome birthday extravaganza for the Hunter!

We've been married for almost 5 years and have created our own little birthday traditions. There is always a certain meal he cooks me for my birthday and there is a certain meal I cook for his birthday. He always cooks me meatloaf...I know that sounds weird...but he seriously makes the most amazing meatloaf! Along with that he makes homemade mashed potatoes, creamed corn, and a yellow cake with chocolate icing.  Until recently, my Gramma always made the traditional birthday dinner of her famous Beef Curry and homemade chocolate cake for me, but it has gotten harder for her to do this for me because of her arthritis in her hands. I would love more than anything to make the famous Beef Curry for her and get the Gramma seal of approval! That would make me happy!

Now for Kyle's birthday, he always asks for homemade lasagna. I had never made homemade lasagna before until a few years ago and for some reason I only thought Stouffers could only cook it (ya know the frozen kind). It really and seriously is super easy. Just takes a little time and patience. Along with the homemade lasagna, we had garlic bread and ceasar salad. His birthday cake was a homemade strawberry cake with homemade strawberry icing! I think Martha Stewart would lose count as to how many times I just said homemade! Take that!

We had my mom and dad over tonight also, and I'm pretty sure they left with happy tummys! yay!

Super Yummy Lasagna

(I just made up that name)

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef (I used 2 lbs because the Hunter likes extra)



32 oz spaghetti sauce (I used Prego Itailan Sausage sauce)
1 1/2 cup water
15 oz container Ricotta cheese (or cottage cheese, whatever you like)
12 oz shredded mozzarela cheese
1/2 cup grated parmesan
2 eggs
dash of salt and pepper
8 oz package lasagna noodles

Directions:
1. Brown Beef, drain.
2. Add sauce and water. Simmer.
3. In other bowl, mix together cheeses, eggs, and s&p.
4. Spreed a little sauce in a 9x13 dish, cheese, then layer in noodles (use 3 per layer). Sauce, cheese, noodles. Sauce, cheese, noodles. Finish with sauce.
5. Cover with foil and bake at 350 for 1 hour.
6. Remove foil, sprinkly mozzarella cheese all over top, and cook another 10 minutes!

SUPER YUMMY!!!!!!!

So glad I typed this up, because this is what it was on before:

 I do that to all my recipes. I'm crazy. That's why I blog them!

Happy Birthday to The Hunter!

I am so glad I get him to myself. And I am so crazy about him. I can't wait to see what amazing things God has planned for him!

Ok, I'm done being all lovey dovey.

Night!

Love, Amanda

Baby It's Cold Outside

Well I guess the winter weather has officially hit! Of course, once softball season starts, we always get super cold weather and it always rains! Not to mention the occasional sleet/snow chances! I guess I won't complain because it has been a crazy warm January and first half of February!

It was such a beautiful first day of softball! I believe I was wearing shorts that day...! Nice scoreboard!

Anyways, got a lot going on around here lately! Hoping that I don't totally stress myself out. I have a tendency of doing that to myself all the time!

Tonight I cooked the most AWESOME meal ever! I got this recipe from one of my most favorite cooks...the Pioneer Woman...I just love her blog and most of all her new TV show that comes on food network on Saturday mornings. So of course this is where I got my idea! I believe the Hunter loved his meal, in fact he had seconds and told me that I should write this recipe down for later. Alrighty dear, I'll just blog it and maybe yall will like it too!

Corn and Cheese Chowder



• 4 Tablespoons 1/2 Stick Butter
• 1 whole Onion, Chopped
• 3 slices Bacon, Cut Into Pieces
• 3 whole Bell Peppers, Finely Diced (red, Yellow, Orange)
• 5 ears Corn, Kernels Sliced Off
• 1/4 cup All-purpose Flour
• 3 cups Chicken Stock Or Broth
• 2 cups Half-and-half
• 1 cup (heaping) Grated Monterey Jack
• 1 cup (heaping) Pepper Jack
• 1/3 cup Sliced Green Onions
• Bread Bowls

In a large pot, melt butter over medium-high heat. Cook onions for a couple of minutes. Add bacon and cook for another minute or so, then add diced bell peppers and cook for a couple of minutes. Finally, add corn and cook for a minute. Sprinkle flour evenly over the top and stir to combine. Pour in broth and stir well. Allow this to thicken for 3 or 4 minutes, then reduce heat to low. Stir in half-and-half, then cover and allow to simmer/thicken for 15 minutes or so. Stir in cheeses and green onions. When cheese is melted and the soup is hot, check seasonings. Add salt and pepper as needed.

I stuck exactly to this recipe! All I have to say is DELISH! I had also got out my bread machine and made a big loaf of white bread to serve with it. It was perfect for getting the very last drops of the chowder out of my bowl! HA!

I know i didn't take a picture of my beautiful masterpiece (not good blogging on my part), but trust me it was good! And here's a link to the Pioneer Woman's blog and you can check out her picture of the chowder fabulousness: Corn and Cheese Chowder .



So the Hunters birthday is Tuesday, yes Tuesday....Valentines Day! Poor guy has to get me something on his birthday. He has put in his birthday supper order and I have a wonderful meal planned for him. Just have to find a good time to cook it ...with our really busy schedules and all. What a great week it's going to be next week! Hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's with your loved ones! I'll send you off with a old picture of the Hunter and me!

Besides my mom and dad, he was always one of my biggest fans! He always came to watch me play back in college! What a great guy!

Happy Valentines!

Love, Amanda :)