Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Garlic Toast Meatball Subs & Chili-Cheese Burritos

This isn't the actual picture of the recipe....I borrowed this one

I was going to post Lindsay's graduation pictures today, but something is wrong with the flash drive they are on and I can't get to the pictures.  I cried for about 5 minutes...yes, I'm extremely emotional right now.  Ed said he may have them backed up on one of his computers.  Please pray that we find them!

Since I can't post her pictures, I decided to post a couple of recipes I've recently tried.  Unfortunately, I don't have pictures of the recipes, so you will have to use your imagination.  (Hopefully I will win the Nikon camera the Pioneer Woman is giving away tonight!)

Garlic Toast Meatball Subs

8 slices garlic toast (I buy the kind pre-cut with garlic butter on both sides from the Wal-Mart bakery)
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
16 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
48 meatballs (I used Italian-style, but I prefer the Homestyle)
24 ounce jar spaghetti sauce

Turn oven on to Broil setting and let preheat for about 5 minutes.  I placed the 8 pieces of garlic toast in an aluminum disposable pan (to save cleaning an extra pan).  Toast both sides of the bread under the broiler until golden brown.  Pull the bread the bread out and set aside.  Reduce the oven heat to 350 degrees.  Combine the cream cheese, mayonnaise, Italian seasoning, and garlic salt; mix well.  After the bread cools enough to handle it, spread the cream cheese mixture on each piece of toast, dividing it equally among all the pieces.  Place each piece of garlic toast back in the pan cream cheese side up.  Sprinkle 8 ounces of the mozzarella cheese evenly over the toast.  Place approximately 6 meatballs on each piece of toast (it's a tight squeeze, but they will all fit).  Pour the jar of spaghetti sauce evenly over the top of the meatballs until they are all covered using the entire jar of sauce.  Top with the remaining 8 ounces of mozzarella cheese.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes on the middle rack so the cheese doesn't burn.

Print Garlic Toast Meatball Subs Recipe

A former classmate of mine posted on facebook that she had tried the recipe from Pinterest and her family loved it, so I gave it a try, but made some changes to mine.  If you want to search Pinterest for the original recipe, I have it posted on my Main Dishes Board or you can search Meatball Sub Casserole.


Chili-Cheese Burritos

8 frozen bean and cheese burritos (or your favorite kind)
15 ounce can Wolf Brand chili (no beans)
15 ounce can Ranch Style beans, undrained
8 ounces shredded Cheddar

Prepare burritos in the oven according to package directions.  Combine the chili and beans; mix well.  With 10 minutes cooking time remaining on the burritos, remove from the oven and pour the chili over the burritos.  Return to the oven.  At the end of the cooking time for the burritos, remove the chili-covered burritos and top them with the shredded Cheddar cheese.  Return to the middle rack of the oven for 10 to 15 minutes.

Print Chili-Cheese Burritos Recipe

This was a creation of my own.  I served it with a salad...I realize that's an odd combination, but we needed some kind of vegetables to work all that junk through our systems!  These are both super easy and quick recipes!!

Enjoy!

Collette :)

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Milestone #13....My Father-in-Law Got Hitched!



I accidentally got the family milestones out of order...oops!  On Saturday, May 12, 2012 my father-in-law married Lee Faling.  We are so excited to have her, and her daughter Melanie, in our family!  They are both such a blessing to us!  We love you Lee and Melanie!

Melanie and Lee getting ready for the wedding

Beautiful Bride

Lee and Melanie

Aren't they sweet?

First Dance

Bouquet Toss...I can't tell who caught it

Garter removal (Watch it, Bill!)

We have quite a few youngin's waiting on that garter!

And the youngest of the youngin's caught it!

I did not get any pictures of the ceremony, but it was beautiful!  Congratulations Bill and Lee...we are so happy for you!

Collette :)

Monday, August 27, 2012

Milestone #12...Graduation Party!!



Lindsay's graduation party was in May, so I'm a little behind on posting some milestones!  Lindsay and 9 other GCA seniors had a combined graduation party at the Corral Barn in Plano on Thursday, May 24, 2012.  The party participants were (in alphabetical order by last name....because I knew you were wondering how I decided what order to put them in) Zev Bailey, Hayden Burnett, Melissa Coons, Evan Davis, Lindsay Dodson, Hannah Masten, Parker Pollard, Ashton Powell, Maci Smith, and Jeramee Smith.

We had a DJ (Ed, of course), photo booth, photo station complete with a star full of balloons for the background, photographer, and TONS of food and drinks.


Lindsay with her grandparents
 
Amy, Lindsay, Kristen
 
Ashton & Lindsay
 
The DJ (Ed...Lindsay's dad and for those of you stealing pictures to use in litigation...actually her step-father)
 
Dancing?
 
Party-goers (gossip, anyone?)  Just kidding!
 
Okay, now we're dancing
 
At one of our pep rallies this year, the seniors did a little number to "Don't Stop Believing" and they were re-creating it at their graduation party!  If I can find the video of the original at the pep rally, I'll post it at the end
 




Prepped for the photo booth!
 
Me with my parents (hopefully this will be a "before" picture one day!)
 
Liz, Hannah, Lindsay, Chelsea
 
Yes, graduates...Congratulations!
 
Some of the food
 
More of the food
 
Stephanie, Stephanie's fiancee (his name escapes me right now), Kathy, Collette, Kim
 
Saying goodbye to 4th grade
 
Upcoming GCA grads...some members of the Class of 2020!!
 
Zev Bailey's Table
 
Hayden Burnett's Table
 
Melissa Coons' Table
 
Lindsay Dodson's Table
 
Evan Davis' Table (oops!  got them out of alpha order!)
 
Hannah Masten's Table
 
Parker Pollard's Table
 
Ashton Powell's Table
 
Jeramee Smith's Table
 
Maci Smith's Table
 
These photos do not do these tables justice!  They were all so good!  And the party was a night we will never forget!

Have a wonderful day!

Collette :)

P.S.  I couldn't find the video so if you're reading this and you have a copy or know where to find one, please send it to me or tag me in facebook.  Thanks!