A day early for , but I don't want to forget. :)

#1. Melon. What�s your favorite kind?
I don't like any kind of melon, actually. I couldn't tell you why, I just don't.
#2. Orange citrus. What�s your favorite - oranges, nectarines, navel oranges, tangerines, etc.
Mmmmm...probably nectarines. I love all of them, though.
#3. Oreos. What kind is your favorite? (Don�t eat Oreos? What about olives?)
Oreos - Double Stuf all the way. :) Olives - any kind, but I'm currently obsessing over green olives.
#4. Pot pie. Share a recipe. (No pot pie recipe? What about a casserole or some other hot meal you bake?)
I love pot pie, but I don't think I have a recipe! Here's another casserole that I made on Sunday and my husband and our friend loved.

Primavera Ravioli Bake
from Betty Crocker's Quick-to-Fix Casseroles, February, 2005

1 bag (25 oz) frozen Italian sausage-filled ravioli
1 bag (14 oz) frozen broccoli florets
1/2 c chopped, drained, roasted red bell pepper
1 jar (1 lb) Alfredo past sauce
3/4 c milk
1/2 t Italian seasoning
1 c Parmesan croutons; crushed

Layer frozen ravioli on the bottom of a 9x13 casserole dish. Top with remaining ingredients (except croutons) and toss together. Bake for 50 minutes at 350�. Top with croutons and bake 10-15 minutes more.

Labels: 4foodsfriday

I think this promises to be a good round of :)

#1. Share a recipe for something Italian.
I don't think I've shared this one before...if I have, maybe someone new playing will see it for the first time.

Spaghetti Pie

This is a recipe I created from a traditional Spaghetti Pie recipe I found in my Better Homes & Gardens cookbook. The amounts are not exact, as you will see. Play with the amounts to suit your taste.

4oz spaghetti
1 T butter or margarine
1 egg, beaten
1/4 c parmesan
1/2 c mozzarella
8oz cottage cheese
8oz vodka sauce
1 pkg frozen creamed spinach, thawed
1 clove chopped garlic or to taste
1/4 c chopped onion or to taste
1 t oregano or to taste
red pepper flakes (optional) - to taste

1) Preheat oven to 350.

2) Cook the spaghetti according to package directions.

3) While spaghetti is cooking, saut� the garlic and onion. Add the vodka sauce, spinach, and oregano. Heat through.

4) To assemble: Drain spaghetti and return to warm pot. Add butter, parmesan, and egg. Press spaghetti mixture into bottom and up the sides of a greased pie plate. Add the cottage cheese as the first layer and then the sauce. Top with mozzarella. Bake 20-25 minutes or until bubbly. Serves 6.

#2. Jam, jelly, preserves, marmalade, fruit butter or butter. What�s on your toast or bread?
Orange marmalade and butter, or apple butter.

#3. What�s your favorite Kellogg�s product? (Since they�re multinational I�m hoping everyone can answer this one. If you don�t have Kellogg�s products, what�s your favorite cold breakfast cereal?)
My fave Kellog's cereal is definitely Rice Krispies. My favorite part about them...the sugar that lands on the bottom of the bowl and sort of forms a "sludge" with the milk.

#4. Do you like liver? What about liverwurst?
I've had chopped liver atManny Hattan's and it's ok, but it's not my favorite.

Labels: 4foodsfriday

It occurred to me that I hadn't made an update post over here for those of you that don't always follow my Foodbuzz-Featured blog, Sarafina's Kitchen. (Yes, that was a shameless plug).

So, enjoy. I've been posting a lot lately - lots of good recipes to try. :)

Baked Lasagna Casserole

Miss Shirley's Spinach Dip

"I'll Bide My" Thyme Noodles

My Beautiful Wickedness Broccoli "Thing"

Cream Cheese and Spinach Stuffed Chicken Rolls

In Search Of...

Campbell's� Green Bean Casserole

Labels: sarafinas kitchen

Anyone else feeling that way? I am absolutely exhausted. I so need another vacation.

I hope everyone had a good weekend! We had a blast this weekend, even though I am *exhausted* from it this morning. :)

Friday - We went to the Common Interest for some good times and kareoke. J and M joined us (what troopers!) and D sang some more of the Man in Black. Thanks to E and S for the good company (and tequila)!

Saturday - The Star Wars Marathon! We got started a little after 8:00am and we were done sometime after 9:00pm. (That's Eps. I-VI in chronological order of the story.) Everyone left around 10:30(?) after watching Family Guy's Blue Harvest. There was a LOT of good food (thanks to J for his mad chef skills on the tasty deer), good company, and a lot of laughs. A and T- I hope we weren't too intense for you. ;)

Sunday - Church was good and we had a bbq following the second service. One of the members of our church even gave us a demo of some of his radio-controlled airplanes...it was very cool. There was a new couple there that we met and it turns out I was in high school choir with his brother...it is a small world! (Ok, G'town to Leander isn't THAT big of a stretch, but it was still cool.) After that it was home to clean the house, do laundry, and try to relax (and watch the Cowboys whoop up on the Browns :-D).

Next weekend - Someone turns the big 3-0! He will be given no mercy about it either! :)

BTW - Am I the only one annoyed that most new TV shows don't start until the end of this month at the earliest? At least Fringe starts tomorrow. :P

Labels: star wars, television, updates

As a former math minor, I love this! :)
=======================================
Teacher Arrested!

A public school teacher was arrested today at John F. Kennedy International
Airport as he attempted to board a flight while in possession of a ruler, a protractor,a set square, a slide rule, and a calculator. At a morning press conference, theAttorney General said he believes the man is a member of the notorious Al-gebra movement. He did not identify the man, who has been charged by the FBI with carrying weapons of math instruction.

"Al-gebra is a problem for us," the Attorney General said. "They desire solutions by means and extremes, and sometimes go off on tangents in a search of absolute value. They use secret code names like 'x' and 'y' and refer to themselves as 'unknowns,' but we have determined they belong to a common denominator of the axis of medieval with coordinates in every country. As the Greek philanderer Isosceles used to say, 'There are 3 sides to every triangle.'"

Labels: general silliness

time again! :)

#1. Artichokes. Love em or leave em?
I love artichoke hearts. I've never tried whole artichokes, though.
#2. What�s your favorite kind of bean?
Err. I'm not a huge fan of beans - it's a texture thing. :-p
#3. Share a recipe for any kind of cake.
I'm not a baker, but this is a recipe I got from my friend, Karen, that I love.

Mandarin Orange Cake

from Vivian's Collection of Favorite Recipes, by Vivian Canty

1 box yellow cake mix
1 can mandarin oranges
3 eggs
3/4 c oil
1/2 tsp vanilla
Topping (recipe follows)

Combine cake mix, oranges, eggs and oil and beat with electric mixer for 4 minutes at medium speed. Pour into 3 (not 2) found cake pans greased and floured well.

Bake at 350� for 20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Let cool before frosting.

Topping:
1 large carton whipped topping
1 box instant vanilla pudding mix
1 large can crushed pineapple, drained

Whip all the topping ingredients together until light and fluffy. Spread on top of the cake layers and stack. Spread the remaining topping all over the outside of the cake.

Leftover cake should be refrigerated.

#4. What�s your favorite dairy product?
Cheese, of course! :)

Labels: 4foodsfriday