Summa' Time Casserole

Summer is almost over, but that doesn't mean you can't squeeze in some yummy summer food!  Or if you procrastinate like me- you can just make this recipe more fall/winter appropriate when the time comes...I'm positive that I will be making a heartier version when I need some warmin' up from the inside out. It's so easy, you'll want to make it all the time. Seriously.

Slice and steam up some lovely veggies:

Open a can of Cream of Chicken condensed soup.  

Excuse my brand choice, but it's all we had on hand for my impromptu casserole...

(Not that I'm against store brands, but will choose a healthier version in the future.  Have time? Make your own base with Heavy cream and/or eggs)

Once the veggies start lookin' like this:

Drain them and transfer to a mixing bowl.  I decided to add some canned corn apparently.

As you can see: 

Not pictured: Pour Cream of Chicken on and add seasoning, stir in gently, but thoroughly and spoon into a buttered casserole dish.

I also added more seasoning on top for good measure:

Grab this amazing bag from your pantry...wait...you don't have these wondrous breadcrumbs?  Then you better run, not walk, to whatever store you have near you that carries them! A lot of main stream markets have them, but if not try Whole Foods or a Natural food store.  Believe me- they are worth the effort.

Sprinkle the breadcrumbs liberally on top...You need the nice crunchy topping to offset the soft veggies.  It's a GREAT contrast.  Especially if you or your significant other are like my husband.  He requires all meals to have crunch.  Toss it in the oven on 350 for 30 minutes or so and YUMMERS. 

Feel free to turn on the broiler at the end to brown the top:

I paired it with some peas, which ended up being mixed in, which was awesome, so feel free to add them in to the casserole itself.  That's the great thing about casseroles-  the more nonsense you put in, the better it turns out!

 

You know you like my divided plate...Not only is it snazzy, but I can control my serving sizes and green appeases your appetite, so that you don't gorge yourself. #winwin

At a Glance:

2 med. Zucchini 

2 med. Yellow Squash
1 med. Onion
1 tbsp. Butter

1 can Corn, Peas and any other Veggies you so choose.
1 can Cream of Chicken Condensed Soup
1 c. Panko Whole Wheat Breadcrumbs

1 tbs. Basil

1 tbs. Thyme

Salt and pepper to taste

Slice zucchini, yellow squash, and onion. Steam until tender. Combine all ingredients in mixing bowl- adding corn or other veggies of choice and spoon into greased casserole dish. Top with Breadcrumbs. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Broil to brown, if necessary.

* Don't forget- The more you add to it, the bigger casserole dish. Common sense, but alas-  I get over zealous and forget...I admit...

 

Reality Check

At Least Bad Things Only Come in 3's... well, I hope...

#1- My 4Runner decided to stop working on Tuesday.  It's not exactly brand new, but it was new to me as of last November:

Ok, ok, so I knew that it wouldn't last forever, but I loved it, and at least wanted it to last till we moved and I could sell it to some other schmuck individual.  Let's just hope that when the hubby gets home from training he can fix it. #crossingmyfingers

#2-  Apparently, the Army "overpaid" us for our last move and they want our their money back. I was kinda surprised with how much we got, but if you had to move all of your earthly belongings over and over again, you'd need some $motivation$ too.  Oh well, I guess I'll look at it as a loan with no APR.

#3- I got in a fender bender.  In my husbands-friends-car...since mine was broken.  You know how much it sucks to get in an accident?  Well, multiply that feeling times a hundred to know how bad it feels to wreck someone else's car.  It was a fluke accident caused by a handicapped pedestrian followed by a service truck that had no business running a red light considering he had NOWHERE to go, which he admitted to us while he waited until the cops came.  

In case that isn't enough of a reality check in itself, I'll tell you the juicy parts.  Will was afraid that I would be angry/upset about my car, but it was his last night before training, so I kept calm and enjoyed our last night together.  Two days later when I found out about the money- not so much.  I took it way too hard and what's worse is that I took it out on Will :(  I barely talked to him for two days and was a rotten brat when the poor guy had nothing to do with it.  In fact-he tried to fix and handle it and simply didn't want to tell me the night my car died to save me from a double whammy.  Man was I a bad wife.  I can't even lie.  But guess what?  When I called him and told him that I rear ended someone, he told his NCO's that he had to go and drove an hour to come to my rescue.  For a fender bender.  Because he's just that awesome.  

Oh boy did I cry and cry like a big baby AND told him I was sorry AND that I don't know what I would have done without him.  I felt like such a hypocrite getting mad at him for something that wasn't even his fault and then I go and cost us the money for the accident.  I must say, I'm pretty sure a higher power was rubbing the error of my ways in my face.  I am too hard on myself about things and that spills over onto Will as well.  I am very happy that I can now see that.  I'm sure that he will be even more happy that I realized that.  Life happens and all you can do is be prepared and take it as it comes.  Trying to avoid it or over control it is only hurting yourself and the ones around you.

Moral of the story:  Even when it seems like your world is falling apart, maybe, just maybe, it's for your own good....

Truth Blog: Keepin' it Real

I joined 20SB (20 Something Bloggers) recently, and although I haven't truly uncovered its possibilities, I have been inspired by the site.  Specifically, I now feel compelled to bare my soul in a "Truth Blog" so that y'all can see a different side of me.  As I was contemplating the idea, I thought about the fact that we all want to be as positive as possible and inspire people vs. bringing them down....I don't wanna make you cry- cuz then you might not come back :(  But then I realized that we all hate those perfect-too-happy-fake people and   I REALLY don't want to be one of THOSE.

So now...what shall I divulge?  

My past?  Nope that might be incriminating to me and those involved (mostly kidding. mostly)

My marriage?  Maybe- I mean we all have issues, buuuut I'm not sure the hubby is ready for this one...

Work? Heck NO- I don't even want to open that can of worms.  Let's just say that there is a lot of drama and I don't want to add more drama in case a few of my co-workers visit my blog.

My family?  One side is amazing, the other is a hot mess...I'll have to take some time on that one...

My insecurities?  Wait, wait, wait...did I just put in words that I have insecurities...why yes I did. Bingo.

I like to pretend that I don't have any insecurities.  Fake it till ya make it, right?  But I'm pretty sure it's human nature that we all have them.  You don't?...awkward...

Anywhoo, wanna know what they are?  You don't? ...even more awkward...Oh well, I'll just tell you anyways. ;)

1) That I may never find a single career that fulfills me completely.  There are lots of things that I am interested in, but each avenue has speed bumps and blind turns that hinder me from committing.  On top of that, with Will being in the Army and no end in sight to the Military moves, how am I supposed to find a job that will transfer me across the world?  It's very frustrating and makes me feel like I have no control over my life or our future.
I think I need this:

 2)I don't like when people don't like me, but I don't believe that it's in the narcissistic kinda way.  More like I don't want to feel awkward/be in awkward situations with said people.  I know-you know that feeling and it's totally unnecessary. Then on top of that I'm going to rack my brain for reasons why you don't like me, which will most likely add to my insecurities, and thus a vicious cycle begins.

3)  I'm not positive this counts as an insecurity, but I basically have an anxiety attack when people call me.  I.hate.talking.on.the.phone.  I will let the dang thing ring, stall and then text explaining that I'm in the middle of something.  *In case I have done this to any of you- I am sorry, but if you just text me then it won't ever be a problem *  No clue where this problem came from, and it was never an issue when I was younger and didn't have text messaging, but now it makes me feel like a hobbit.

4) Possibly the hardest for me to divulge: Maintaining my looks to keep up with my husband.  He's gorgeous, works out every day, can eat anything he wants and not gain a pound and will age gracefully.  I don't work out, I have to be very careful what I eat,  I can't stand the thought of drinking my calories away, Colorado altitudes are giving me wrinkles and if I got pregnant- I'd blow up like a balloon..I just know it.  That's a lot of pressure for this girl.
 It doesn't help that our society thinks that this is ok:

And just so that we end on a positive note, I just re-watched the movie Nine Months, and have a new appreciation of the meaning behind it.

Just like Hugh Grant, I believe that I am afraid of change and that I'm afraid to lose my youth and dedicate my life to a child.  So I guess my last insecurity is being afraid to grow up...I'm pretty sure that's asinine since I've graduated college, gotten married and am closer to 30 now than 20 (weird to admit that) , and yet- having a child befuddles me.  What's even more strange is that I found out recently that Will is totally ok with the idea.  Aren't guys supposed to be the ones afraid to have kids?  I guess I'll just let life take it's course.  That is- in due time.  A few more years of the simple life will be much appreciated!

I sincerely hope that you have found this helpful/entertaining.  If not- blame 20SB and not me ;)

By the way-
If you tell anyone that I admitted any of this- I will claim that my blog was hijacked.  

Wordish Wednesday: Weekend Recap!

I could not have asked for a better weekend of quality time with my husband.  I wanted to spend as much time with him as possible because he is now in the field for nine days, and that's exactly what I got <3

Saturday we made it to Elitch Gardens in Denver, despite the chilly start to the day.

 After which, we were ravished- so we went to the Taste of Colorado festival.  It was AWESOME and we got to see parts of Denver that we hadn't seen.

Our friend Buck kept asking us to go to this restaurant called The Buckhorn Exchange, so we obliged-not realizing that we were NOT dressed for the occasion.  I, at least, had changed into jeans, but the boys were still in bathing suits.  They ate $50 steaks in swim trunks...I'm not making this up...

See? Swim trunks!:

We had big plans for Sunday, but then decided that a lovely day of relaxation and cuddling on the couch seemed much more appropriate after our crazy day Saturday.  Plus- that allowed us to be fully prepared for Zip-lining on Monday!

 Yup, that's a pic of a pic because I wasn't paying $25 for it... #ripoff.

I don't know what to do with myself whenever he is gone...I guess I'll spend QT with the pup, try to get some things done around the house, get all my errands out of the way and work extra shifts....

OR NOT.  

Puppy time=yes, everything else- notsomuch.

In case y'all want to check out The Buckhorn Exchange, visit their website and don't be afraid of the pop up that says that they are out of Rattlesnake for the time being...A) The pop up won't actually bite you and B) they have plenty of awesome food to make up for not having Rattlesnake right now.