Camille McClelland: April 2012

Lungfish. Did you know a lungfish can survive up to 4 years without eating? That's what I want for children. I'll trade them for humans when they grow up, because lungfish are really ugly.

Since going back to work full time, I have lost any joy I once took in cooking... which was always minuscule. Since then, there has been a lot of take out, dine out, premade, frozen and box meals in my house. Why, because I have kids, and they like to eat.

Every night it's the same old..

"Mom, can you start dinner now?"

"Mom... I thought you were going to start dinner?"

"Mom, what's for dinner?"

"Mom, I'm starving."
"Mom, can you start dinner NOW??"

(Ahem. My son just walked up behind me and read this... his comments:
"That is so true.")

I'm pretty sure my cooking skills have regressed... or deteriorated... or something. I use to be pretty good in the kitchen. I made my all my own bread, canned food excessively, cooked from scratch...I even wrote recipes and everything. See:

My Peach Tofu Smoothie Recipe: http://shesonehotmama.blogspot.com/2009/03/my-famous-peach-tofu-smoothie-recipe.html

My Herb Chicken in Creamy Tofu Sauce Over Spinach: (This is SERIOUSLY Good!) http://shesonehotmama.blogspot.com/2009/03/herb-chicken-in-creamy-tofu-sauce-over.html

The (not mine) Heart Attack Monte Cristo Sandwich: http://shesonehotmama.blogspot.com/2009/02/heart-attack-monte-cristo-sandwich.html

And Now... well lets just say there's a reason I'm not assigned cooking duties at Brave Girls Camp. I'm going to try and get back to cooking more (no I'm not. Really. Not. I just can't figure out how to transition to the next part, and that sounds like the best thing to say).

And so tonight, I'm going to cook up some deliciousness. You can too, but simply following my instructions below. (see what I mean about the flow?)

Spaghetti and Meatballs

Ingredients:
1 bag of frozen meatballs, to taste
1 can of spaghetti sauce
1 bag of spaghetti noodles. Cook it all, or cook half, depending on how much usually sticks to the bottom of the pot.
1 bag of frozen steamable veggies (optional)
1 loaf of garlic bread. (Optional) (Most grocery stored sell it this way... which is cool.)

Step one: Empty a bag of frozen meatballs into a pan. I think it's called a saucepan. Try a double boiler, I think it will burn less that way.

Step two: Pour in a can of spaghetti sauce.

Step Three: Put the saucepan thing on the stove on low heat.

Step four: Fill a large pot with water and add about a tablespoon of salt.

Step five: Heat water to boiling.

Step six: add spaghetti noodles to boiling water, reduce heat to medium high.

Step seven: Now you have some free time while your stove is working it's magic. I would recommend filling it with facebook, or blogging, or that report you haven't finished at work. It's okay to just lose yourself in distractions.

Step eight: After about 7-10 minutes, or anytime you smell burning, check the noodles and stir the sauce and meatballs.

Step nine: When the noodles are done.... how do you know when they're done? Try throwing a noodle against the wall. If it sticks supposedly that means it's done... drain the water, and add a bit or olive oil to stop the noodles from sticking together. If the noodles have cooked into one massive clump, never fear... you can cut portions with a steak knife.

Step ten: When the sauce is hot enough that it's bubbly pour over the cooked noodles.

Step eleven: microwave the veggies about 5 minutes and empty into a bowl.

Step twelve: slice the garlic bread. Sometimes you have to put the garlic bread in the oven to melt the butter. If that's the cast, you're sort of on your own.

Wah-lah, and you're welcome. Now, If you're trying to woo that special someone, start sucking up those noodles and pushing meatballs around with your nose. IT TOTALLY WORKS, AND SEND PICTURES.