Anyway - Everyday Pasta Casserole

As long as I can remember, I have loved to cook. In fact, most of my scars are from cooking (or battling the hot glue gun, but that is another story). I figured that I would share some original recipes on my blog.


This recipe is super fast, easy, and cheap! Perfect for those busy days that you just need to throw something in the oven! Also is reheats awesomely, because who doesn't love leftover pasta?

Anyway - Everyday Pasta Casserole

Yields 6 servings

Prep time 15 mins. 

Cook time 25 mins.

(Okay for lack of a better name I picked this, I know super cheesy. Plus, it totally taste better than it sounds)

You'll need:

 a 13 x 9 pan (I used a glass pan)

3/4 box of Rigatoni noodles

1/2 lb. of sausage, quartered (I used andouille)

1 small green bell pepper, diced (You could do chopped to sneak it past the kids, no matter how old. Promise they wont even taste it!)

3/4 of a small onion, sliced (Once again try chopped)

1 small jalapeno pepper (optional)

1 bag of bacon bits

2 1/2 cups of red pasta sauce (I used 1/2 from a can and half homemade. If you use a can, try to get one that has garlic in the mix, if not then add 2 cloves of garlic to the sauce before adding to the casserole)

5 oz of shredded Parmesan cheese (I used Sargento's brand because that is what we had in the fridge. I'm sure straight from a block would be delish!)

Step 1:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and cook noodles as directed

Step 2:

Drain noodles and pour directly into pan. Add sausage, peppers, onion, bacon on top of the noodles.

Step 3:

Pour sauce on to the ingredients. Sprinkle cheese on top of sauce

Step 4:

Cook for 25 minutes, or until the cheese is mostly melted (or as melted as Parmesan cheese can get)

Step 5:

Bon Appetite

There you have it! Dinner ready in under an hour and mostly healthy. The best part is that you can switch to whole grain noodles and organic veggies for a healthier version.Take out the meat for a vegetarian dish.

Add mushrooms, more cheese, less cheese, more veggies, make your own sauce or use Ragoui. It really doesn't matter. Make it yours and enjoy!

Remembering 9/11

Today, or should I say yesterday by now, was 9/11. When 9/11 hit 11 years ago I was 6 years old but I remember that day quite vividly. I remember waking up that Tuesday morning like any other day. I remember my mom getting a phone call from my grandmother asking us if we saw what happened. I remember my mom turning on the tv and watching smoke pour out of the first tower. I remember seeing people jump from the sides and people streaming out from the bottom. We drove to a bible study my mom was part of and by the time we got there, the second tower had been hit. I watched the horror of men and women risking their lives to save others. Of course at 6 years old, I didn't understand what this all meant.

I remember that my aunt was terrified that her husband and oldest sons would have to go to war. That my mom was worried that we could get attacked because of the Arsenal. Yet, that night I slept soundly because the terror was not close enough for me to register fear. Of that, I am thankful.

My family took a trip to New York in 2007 or 2008 and we went to see where the Twin Towers once were. The fences with the letters, the pictures, the stuffed animals, and flowers on and against it was quite possible the most terrifying and touching sight ever. By this time, I did understand.

Last year on the 10th anniversary, I watched all the shows and documentaries about 9/11. I must say that seeing the images, seeing the personal video cameras of people on the streets, hearing the testimonies of people in the buildings, was shocking. It put me in shock that people survived, it put me in shock of the unity of our country on that day, and it put me in shock of the hopeless state so many were in.

So many men and women have gave their lives that day for the good of others. So many men and women have given their lives since that day. I am so very thankful that I am able to live in a free country and not have to worry about my safety everyday. Sure, at times I might be a little inconvenienced, but I am safe. I'm blessed that my mom and dad don't have to go overseas for long periods of time like so many of my friends.

On days like this it reminds me to be thankful. On days like this it reminds me to be prayerful. I pray for the people that have lost loved ones on 9/11. I pray for military families who have given loved ones to the service of our country. I am thankful to live in such a strong and safe country. I am thankful to have my parents, and siblings, and friends. I am thankful that I have faith in such a powerful God.

While I hate country music, I will leave you with the words to an awesome country song.

                               "Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)"

Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day?
Were you in the yard with your wife and children
Or working on some stage in L.A.?
Did you stand there in shock at the sight of that black smoke
Risin' against that blue sky?
Did you shout out in anger, in fear for your neighbor
Or did you just sit down and cry?

Did you weep for the children who lost their dear loved ones
And pray for the ones who don't know?
Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble
And sob for the ones left below?
Did you burst out with pride for the red, white and blue
And the heroes who died just doin' what they do?
Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer
And look at yourself and what really matters?

[Chorus:]
I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell
You the difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith, hope and love are some good things He gave us
And the greatest is love

Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day?
Were you teaching a class full of innocent children
Or driving down some cold interstate?
Did you feel guilty 'cause you're a survivor
In a crowded room did you feel alone?
Did you call up your mother and tell her you loved her?
Did you dust off that Bible at home?

Did you open your eyes, hope it never happened
Close your eyes and not go to sleep?
Did you notice the sunset the first time in ages
Or speak to some stranger on the street?
Did you lay down at night and think of tomorrow
Or go out and buy you a gun?
Did you turn off that violent old movie you're watchin'
And turn on "I Love Lucy" reruns?

Did you go to a church and hold hands with some strangers
Did you stand in line and give your own blood?
Did you just stay home and cling tight to your family
Thank God you had somebody to love?

Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day?

College Prep

For as long as I can remember I have wanted to go to college. I guess the thought of getting away from Home and trying something new was exciting. As I am 8 months away from finishing my high school career, I more and more frightened by college. It might be that I'm more scared of not going to college, or that I won't get to go to the right college.

I have never seen myself going to an ivy league school. Too far away, too many people way smarter than me, and with a price tag I'll never be able to afford. Auburn University has been, and still is, my dream school. Auburn is my ivy league. My grandad graduated from there in the late 50's, my aunt and my dad went there in the 80's, and all of my cousins except two have attended. Auburn is my legacy.
I started my application last night and that is when I felt so inadequate. I don't have awesome grades, I haven't taken the ACT since sophomore year, and my extracurriculars are less than encouraging. Another huge hit to my self-esteem is that I'm not exactly prepared financially as well.

The plan for the last several months has been to do one semester at a community college, one semester at the Disney College Program in Florida and then finish my last 3 years at Auburn or Alabama or some other university. That has been the plan that not only pleased my mom but also gave me some sort of an answer. Practical, affordable, essentially smart. In reality, my heart only longs for one thing, Auburn.

Of course it is so silly of me to be hooked on a stupid school. Heck, I have never even been to the place. I look back now and I want to go back to freshman year and try harder, and do more, and be more involved, and learn more. I want to have a higher GPA and be smarter so that my ACT score would be better. I wish that I had saved and scraped and applied for scholarship opportunities. I wish I had done things better. Of course if I had $5 for every time I wished I could change the past, I wouldn't have to be wishing.

So here I am, September of my Senior year. I know what is in my reach and I also know what I want. What do I do? Do I reach for the untouchable? Do I settle for the practical? Do I try to convince my dad more and more to let me take out school loans? I know loans aren't practical, but I would rather achieve my dream and work the junk out later. What can I say, I'm a dreamer. Please pray for me and my parents in these next few months as I make decisions. Pray that they are wise and that they are the will of God.