Monday

Decide on a whim to cook a big dinner to go with the simple salad originally planned for dinner...even though it means standing for about 3 and a half hours in the kitchen....on a Monday, after work.

Get started by putting on your new teacup apron and then covering your sweet daughter with a warm blanket so she can take a nap before doing more homework...


pull out this cookbook for your favorite focaccia recipe....



heat the olive oil mixture needed for the dough in the microwave a little since it is supposed to infuse overnight...but only for 30 seconds....


while the dough is rising, make some red sauce using your dad's recipe and set it to simmer:

(Saute half an onion that has been minced, add 4 crushed cloves of garlic, 1 can tomato paste, 1 small can tomato sauce, 1 large can crushed tomatoes, 2 large cans water. Juice of 1 lemon, salt and pepper, 1/2 tsp oregano, 1/2 tsp sugar and a scant tsp of chili powder for kick.)

then make some stuffing for jumbo shells...
(saute the other half of the minced onion with more crushed garlic along with a pound and a half of ground beef. Then add Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Drain. Add several handfuls of freshly chopped spinach and mix well. Then add a small container of ricotta cheese, 1 egg and a couple palmfuls of grated Parmesan. TASTE it to correct seasonings)


as for the grated Parmesan and Romano cheeses...grate your own, it is SO much better...and easy to do with the right equipment.


realize you are thirsty and bypass the H20 for this...


then stuff the shells, pour a bunch of that sauce of them, then cover the whole thing with mozzarella you bought for sandwiches.... you can always go get more cheese later in the week.
Bake the shells at 350 until the cheese is golden brown and bubbly so it looks like this....


remember to bake the focaccia bread....when it is done, it looks like this:

forget to take a photo of the salad that started the whole thing because everyone knocks you out of the way to get to the food.

Go to the table and be happy knowing that all that time in the kitchen was TOTALLY worth it!