Donate to Autism Speaks!

My sorority has a philanthropy coming up in October. What? Are you in shock? You didn't know that sorority girls do more than date and party? Yes, yes they do. They do a LOT more. Part of being in a sorority means playing a role in raising funds for a philanthropy. Alpha Xi Delta at Auburn University has the pleasure of putting on a philanthropy event for Autism Speaks.

Hello All,

No, this is not a pregnancy announcement. Instead, I am asking for your help!

As many of you know, I was very passionate about my sorority Alpha Xi Delta at Auburn University. AZD has a philanthropy event called Step It Up. This is an event where the sisters raise funds for Autism Speaks, the nation’s largest autism advocacy and research organization. Last year, the chapter was able to raise over $40,000 for Autism Speaks. Autism Speaks is dedicated to funding global biomedical research into the causes, prevention, treatments, and cure for autism; to raising public awareness about autism and its effects on individuals, families, and society; and to bringing hope to all who deal with the hardships of this disorder. They are committed to raising the funds necessary to support these goals.

Now that J and I are much closer to Auburn, I am planning on running in the Step It Up: Autism Speaks 5K on October 16th. This is a run/walk event that is being held the day after the Auburn v. Florida game at Auburn. Yikes!

I would greatly appreciate your support in my effort to help this organization. Please do not feel pressured by this email. You can donate as little or as much to Autism Speaks as needed. Even if you solely donate because you think it would be hilarious to make me run, that is perfectly fine. $10, $20, $100 – each amount adds up and most importantly, it goes to a great cause!

Team Auburn – Zeta Xi High Rollers (yes that is our alumni team name) has a goal to raise $10,000 and many of the members will be participating in the event. Please click on the link to check out our page and donate through our team name. From this link you can also join our team, receive more information about Autism Speaks, and Alpha Xi Delta.

http://events.autismspeaks.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=480840&lis=1&kntae480840=8ACA1D10A6CF4635979DDC8197D871D0&supId=339335648

Again, I am incredibly thankful for any support you can give – big or small. I am aware many of you have new babies to feed, weddings coming up, and you live in an uncertain economy. As I have stated, ANY support is appreciated! If you know someone who is very passionate about this cause, please send this email to them. Feel free to send prayers my way as you can imagine how excited I will be to run with an unhealthy knee the day after a big SEC game! Lol.

War Eagle!

You may read this blog for fun, but know someone with autism. You may not know anyone who is autistic, but $10 to a philanthropy would not break you. Regardless, if you are able to give please do!

Chicken Potato Casserole - Frozen Meal

Chicken Potato Casserole
Cream of Chicken Soup
1 C Sour Cream
1/4 C milk
Chicken Breasts - cooked and cubed
2.5 C cheddar cheese - shredded
3.5 C frozen hash brown potatoes - thawed
1 large onion - diced
1-2 bell peppers - diced
1.5 C potato chips - crushed


Combine soup, sour cream, milk, chicken and half the cheese. Spread three-fourths of the mixture in a greased baking dish. Place hash browns, peppers, and onions over the mixture and top with remaining soup mixture. Cover with the chips and the rest of the cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes. Serves 8.

*If you plan on making the casserole and putting it straight into the freezer, do not thaw potatoes or veggies. Also, do not sprinkle with chips. When ready let the dish thaw overnight in the fridge. Uncover and bake at 350 for 60-70 minutes and then top with chips and bake for a remaining 5-10 minutes.

4/5

This is one of the few recipes I have made where I did not taste it. Because it took a while to bake I made it the night before. Leftovers were sent to work with J and he said it was good so I'll stick with that. 

Overnight Meatball Casserole - Frozen Meals

As our schedule started to pick up hence, the lack of blogging lately, I started to research meals that freeze well. It's so nice to be able to come home from work and not have to slave away in the kitchen. Since I pack J lunch everyday, it is also nice to be able to freeze lunch sized portions to send with him to work.


Overnight Meatball Casserole
16 oz spaghetti sauce
10 oz cheddar cheese soup
3 C pasta - uncooked
1-2 bell peppers - diced
1 large onion - diced
16 oz frozen, precooked meatballs
2 C mozarella cheese - shredded
1/4 C parmesan cheese
1.5 C water

In a baking dish, mix sauce, soup and water until blended. Add uncooked noodles, veggies, meatballs and stir to coat. You can substitute a frozen package of onion and peppers instead of using fresh veggies. Once the noodles are completely covered with the sauce mixture, cover tightly with foil and refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight. Back casserole at 350 degrees, covered, for 45 minutes. Uncover, sprinkle with cheese and bake for 5-10 minutes longer. Serves 6-8.

4/5


This is a great meal that can be prepped on the weekend, and cooked a day later. I would absolutely consider this a "man meal" and J liked it very much. Using meatballs was a great change from continuously using chicken in casseroles.

"Get Out of My Head"

Even though I began posting some recipe related blogs entries this week, I still felt the need to give a few updates regarding my lack of blogging. There is no reason I have been a slacker except for the fact that life just gets busy.

Now where have I been for the last few months?

I think my last update was about J having surgery.

Around that time I went to the Britney concert in ATL. I have yet to post pictures - an obvious sign that I have been busy!

I joined a Beth Moore Bible Study - and have slacked off the past two weeks with the "homework." That changed this week.

J is playing softball again, which takes up 2 nights during the week.
We have decided to build a house. Yup. I believe it was this time last year I was probably complaining about the housing process. Apparently we really want to test how strong our marriage is and try this "semi custom" home building process. We haven't even written a contract yet, but will hopefully start that in the next few weeks.

My knee remains jacked up - weak muscles cause the knee cap to pull away from the knee (at least I think that is how it was explained to me). I am still working out though. It's a battle to get in a workout 5 days a week during football season, but so far it has been okay. I went to physical therapy and have hired a PT to aid in strengthening my muscles, which in return will heal my knee.

Football season has started. J and I are football season ticket holders for the best school in the world, Auburn University. I swear, there is almost nothing that gives me such a feeling of excitement and pride as driving around Auburn, Alabama. I am obsessed. Win or lose, football season or not, I always get butterflies in my stomach when I am there. Even though it is about an hour from where we live, it stresses me out to be gone over the weekends for the games. Traveling will wear you out regardless of how short a trip it is - that and the heart attack the games give me - Utah State anyone? Whew.

On that note, I am not sure why people are expecting a championship team to play. We lost so many players to graduation and the NFL draft. Even though it will be doubtful that we play for the SEC championship title, don't ever count Auburn out. This may be a rebuilding year, but we will be back. And I am still a fan regardless.

I went to my first NASCAR race and it was cancelled due to rain.

I am trying to find a book club to join. I love reading. There is one available for 30-40 year olds, but I am almost nervous that I may not have the same interest since I am still in my twenties and kid-less. I would hate to join and not love it. With this being said I have toyed with the idea to start my own book club. I'm not even sure what you do at a book club. Mine would be something like a monthly meeting at a restaurant with wine and light discussion. It would be okay if you couldn't finish the book - we wouldn't kick you out. Thoughts?

So I hope you enjoyed the last few minutes of being inside my head.

Italian Cheese & Herb Pasta

Italian Cheese & Herb Pasta:
1 lb Italian sausage
Philadelphia Italian Cheese & Herb Cooking Creme
1 bell pepper
1 onion
1 box of pasta
Pepper
Italian seasoning


Boil pasta according to box directions. Meanwhile, cook sausage on medium heat. Chop onion and pepper to cook with sausage. Cook for 5 minutes or until veggies are tender. Season with pepper and Italian seasoning (or whatever you desire). Add cooking creme and heat for 3 minutes. Mix in pasta and serve hot.

5/5

I decided to try out the cooking creme and I was pleasantly surprised. This recipe is so easy and is great for a quick meal on those nights you don't feel like cooking. There is another recipe on the back which uses chicken, but I decided on the sausage since it had been sitting in my freezer. Of course pasta dishes tend to yield many servings so I froze the leftovers. This dish is also great re heated from the freezer. I will definitely be trying the other cooking cremes in the future.