Spam Musubi with a Side of Laughter

Wow...it's been a minute since I've updated the blog.  I've had blogs in my mind but I just haven't had the energy or desire to sit down and write them.  It's been an interesting few weeks.  We've been challenged as a family.  But we made it through and we're just so much stronger. 

Today the kids were off from school for Martin Luther King Day and after Neil got home from wrestling practice, we just kind of kept it low key.  We went to a friend's house and made Spam Musubi and then spent the rest of the day cleaning the house at our leisure and being bums.  It's been nice.  We stay on the go with wrestling, Scouts, school and life so it was nice to have a relaxing day.

One thing I love about being a Military family is all the diversity in the people we meet.  My kids have gotten hooked on Spam Musubi since meeting three families who have become close friends to us here.  Daniel kept telling me I needed to learn how to make them for him.  I told him he needed to learn how to make them for himself.  I finally just texted my friend Kristi and asked her if she would please give us an hour of her time and let us come and learn how to make them.  We always have so much fun and lots of laugh when we spend time with her sweet family.  Today was no exception. 

 

Why do my kids not smile in pics anymore?  What happened to the days where they were hams for the camera?

Michael needs to start shaving.  He has weird sideburns and a mustache that needs to be trimmed or shaved.  I told him he looks like a guy who lives in his mother's basement.  He wasn't amused.

Neil needing a snack after exerting energy making the musubi!

I love these two pictures.  My friend Kristi took one and I took the other.  Neil never wants to smile for my camera.  I told him to "Smile for your daddy or I'll smack the crap out of you."  Hey, it works...even if he knows it's not true.

Daniel shared some of his musubi with his buddy Tanner.  That kid can eat!  He ate one of Daniel's and one of Michael's!

Talan was so cute.  He walked in, saw the musubi on the cutting board.  Walked over and said..."Oooh!"  and grabbed one.  It made Neil laugh and smile!

 We had a wonderful day with a wonderful family.  Lots of laughter and good food! 

Michael's Pepperoni Pizzadillies

4 large flour tortillas
8 oz Italian blend cheese
1 tsp oregano
30 slices pepperoni
1 tomato chopped
mixed veggies (green peppers, onion, olives, mushrooms, etc) we used olives and mushrooms
1/2 cup warm marinara sauce

In small bowl, mix cheese with oregano. Place on tortilla on a flat surface. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of cheese mixture on tortilla. Top with half the pepperoni, sprinkle some of the mixed veggies. Sprinkle another 1/2 cup of cheese mixture and place another tortilla on top. Heat a griddle or large frying pan, spray with non-stick cooking spray. When pan is heated, place tortillas on the pan, heat until cheese is starting to melt and outside of tortilla starts to brown. Flip over and heat until all cheese is melted and both sides are toasted. Serve with warm marinara sauce. Ingredients make two Pepperoni Pizzadillies!

Doesn't he look like a true chef, hahaPreparing to serve.
Both brothers give the thumbs up!

Daniel's Lickety Split Lasagna

1 lb ground beef
1 can spaghetti sauce
lasagna noodles
1 1/2 cups cottage cheese
1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese
2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese (optional)...(unless you live in our house)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees!
1. Brown your ground beef, drain and put back in your skillet.
2. Put one cup of your spaghetti sauce in bottom of your pan
3. Add remaining spaghetti sauce to your meat and stir until hot.
4. Place 3 lasagna noodles on top of spaghetti sauce that is on bottom of pan.
5. Scoop 1/3 of meat mixture onto noodles
6. Spread 3/4 cup of cottage cheese on top of meat mixture
7. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese on cottage cheese.

8. REPEAT steps 4, 5, 6, 7

9. REPEAT steps 4 & 5, finishing this top layer with the rest of your mozzarella cheese.
10. Cover your baking dish with foil.
11. Bake in oven for 1 hour.
12. Clean up utensils used while waiting for lasagna to bake.
Take lasagna out of the oven and let sit for 15 minutes with foil still on. Throw in garlic bread while lasagna rests.Dinner is served!

Neil's Saucepan Spaghetti

We have been working with the boys in the kitchen. We want to prepare them for the world as best we can. We don't want our boys to be like some of the men we hear about who can't even boil water. Someday our future daughter-in-laws will appreciate that their men can cook.

Neil's Saucepan Spaghetti

1 lb ground beef or ground turkey
2 1/2 cups water
1 15 oz can of tomato sauce
1 tablespoon dried minced onion
1 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed
1/2 teaspoon dried basic, crushed
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon pepper
6 oz Spaghetti

Grated Parmesan Cheese

1. Brown meat, drain when finished.
2. In 3 quart saucepan add meat, water, tomato sauce, onion, oregano, basil, salt, garlic powder and pepper. Turn burner on high and let mixture bubble. When bubbly break the spaghetti in half, add to saucepan. Turn the burner to low and let simmer about 30 minutes. Stir the spaghetti often.
3. When spaghetti is done, serve with Parmesan cheese and garlic bread.