You Can't Always Get What You Want….

I am a few days late in posting this.  I had good intentions Monday night.  I had the dinner dishes cleaned up, the kids in bed, The Husband was off doing something outside and the house was silent.  I love this time.  This is now what is referred to in our house as “my office hours”.  Like many of you, working, kids, and just plain old life stuff takes up all of my time and I am just not finding time through out the day to get it all done.  I know, old problem, right?

So I have now set aside dedicated time in the day for ‘computer stuff’ as my kids call it.  They are asleep, my husband usually goes to the gym so I don’t feel like I am neglecting things.  A win-win for everyone!  I don’t do this every day, but it has become a necessity.  I just have to have a few minutes to organize our life, write, work on the column, etc.

So, back to the story:)  I am typing away and I hear these little clicks coming from my son’s room.  I assume he has left something on since he has been in bed for over an hour and should be fast asleep.  I quietly sneak in there and, without even trying to hide it, he has all of his flashlights out looking at his new world map.  It is a fold-up showing the continents in relief and on the back has information about the countries, etc.

He looks up and says “Mommy, come here and look at where I want to go”….his little voice just broke my heart.  How could I not go look?  So there we sat for over an hour looking at all of the places he wants to go, we have gone, his dad has traveled for work and finally where he wants to visit: Cuzco.  I don’t know why.  It was interesting to hear what he had to say about this and that and finally after about an hour he looked up and said he was ‘very tired’ and wanted to go to sleep.  It was pretty late.  We packed up all of his little lights, folded up the map and he was asleep in seconds.  He has always been good at this.  I sat and watched his, marveling at the fact that he is 8, already!  I kissed his forehead and quietly snuck out.  I didn’t even remember what I had been doing before that.  It didn’t matter…so I just went to bed.

So, finally, I have this post done.  This is just a simple pizza casserole but making it satisfied the with of my oldest son.  He scarfed it down and I am so glad this made 2 pans.  I made one for he and his brother using just pepperoni and another smaller one for myself that was topped with fresh veggies, less cheese and black olives ????  Endless possibilities with this dish.  Great for pitch-ins, etc!

Pepperoni Pizza Baked Casserole

1 16 oz. package of egg noodles (I used whole wheat)
2 lbs. ground turkey
1/3 C chopped onion (or as much as you want)
1 jar of spaghetti sauce (I used Tuttorose Tomato and Basil Pasta Sauce)
1 small can of tomato paste I used my favorite Red Gold
a little water to rinse jar
Mozzarella and cheddar cheese (use as much as you want, to cover)
Turkey pepperoni
red pepper flakes
1 clove of garlic (to rub in the pans…I like this, of course it is optional)

Cook the noodles according to directions…but I say al dente is the way to go here.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

cook ground turkey until browned, add onion and saute until soft.  Add the sauce and paste.  I also added 1 tsp of red pepper flakes…well..because we like it hot!
I also rubbed my pans with a garlic clove.  I like the subtle flavor this gives the dish.  Again, optional.

Add the noodles to the sauce/meat and combine.  Add all of this to the prepared pans.  Sprinkle with the desired amount of cheese and top with pepperoni.  Mine had veggies ????

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until the top is all melty and brown.  Sort of like pizza (duh)  !

Can you say kid pleaser??

I have to admit something here.  I really like this dish.  Not with the pepperoni, as I am not a fan of that stuff, but loaded with veggies it is like having your cake (pizza) and eating it too!!