I Cooked!!!

  Those close to me know that I don't love to cook.  Eat, yes.  Cook, no.  I don't mind baking, although I'm having to work on my skills since moving to a high altitude location. I have quite an extensive collection of cookbooks and I tell people they are for staging so people won't think to badly of me. Actually, my cookbooks are more like fictional novels to me.   I think if I was living alone I'd subsist on egg sandwiches, peanut butter and granola bars.

I get too busy doing other things like cleaning and quilting and playing with the dogs.  All of a sudden the family wonders where dinner is.  What's up with that?  Our son (and his two pugs) is staying with us while his house is being built so I have to please two men and actually.......cook!  Oh, the horrors!!!

One of my favorite fictional reality shows is The Pioneer Woman on Food Network.  Who doesn't love Ree Drummond?  One of the things on my bucket list is to either meet her or win something from her.  She makes everything seem so effortless and fun!  Yesterday I watched her show and decided I had most everything to make this fabulous casserole.  I quickly ran down to the store and got the other things I needed and - voila - dinner!  Easy peasy!!!  She advised that you can make this and serve it right away, put it in the fridge and bake for the next day or freeze it for later.

Cheesy Sausage Rigatone

by The Pioneer Woman

Our son really loved it and I got a hug and a "well done, Mom!"  He even took some to work for his lunch.  I hope he doesn't think I'm going to start doing this "cooking thing" everyday!  Seriously, it would be a good idea to at least try one new recipe a week.  The recipe was easy and delicious.  It would be great for a pot luck or after church Sunday supper.  Here's the recipe.  If you don't care for Italian Sausage (I used the mild) you could use ground beef.  If you are a vegetarian, you could skip the meat all together.  Serve it with garlic bread and a salad and call it a day!

In a few days I'll share my famous peanut butter cookie recipe.  Easy peasy and addictive!

Have a fabulous week ahead!!