Sunday, May 15, 2016

John Marzetti Casserole





Have you heard of John Marzetti Casserole before? 

It's a  yummy dish that we ate for school lunches back when I was in school. 
Fond du Lac,Wisconsin.

 It was my favorite lunch day !



 So why is it called John Marzetti


Where did the name come from? 

John Marzetti is a casserole created in the 1920s by the owner of the Marzetti Restaurant in Columbus, Ohio.  John Marzetti was the brother of the owner of the Marzetti Restaurant.


Here is how I make it...
1 1/2 lbs. ground beef browned with 1 medium onion chopped. 

Drain then add a large can of tomato sauce.

Drain then add a large can of corn.

Stir in 1 lb. cooked macaroni. 

Spread in a 9 x 13 dish. 

Cube 1 lb. of cheese of choice, pressing half down in the casserole

Bake at 350 for 15 minutes. Serve  topped with sour cream ,garlic bread and salad.

Sunday, May 8, 2016

Succulent Growing 101

I have always had an obsession with  rock gardens, bonsai, and succulents. They just intrigue me .And best of all they can go for long periods with no care because this girl has crafting A.D.D....And while I have good intentions on faithful watering, it always goes out the window...you feel me, right? ha ha


I use to put pretty flowering plants in my widow boxes, but let me tell you...unless you water them twice a day, they die. I have tried every potting mix, and even those little water holding beads,but nothing worked. 

Now I have added succulents, I never water them anymore, and the best thing is they come back every year in Wisconsin!!WOOHOO...




Do you know how much money I have saved every year on those dang blasted boxes??? Lots....

My motto since I have grandbabies here all week is make it Simple yet Significant...



The variety of shapes, textures, and colors is endless. And they’re beautiful as one in a pot, just as much as they are when multiples are together in a container. 

If succulents don’t get enough sunlight they begin to stretch out.

Succulent leaves don’t live forever. As the plant grows it creates new leaves and the older ones die.

If the leaves are starting to look yellow and  transparent, and feel soggy or mushy to the touch, it’s likely you’ve over watered.

A sign of over watering is the leaves fall off with just a slight bump. 

Soft black spots on the leaves or stem means over watering is getting severe and it will be hard to save your succulent.

Fertilize  with  Cactus/succulent food ... you only need one drop for every gallon of water.

Plant and transplant using Cactus soil


Now I have learned a new trick to get a ton of plants from one...Starting Succulents from Leaves- i love doing this and watching them grow ....you can get so many plants from just one succulent!




You just pull leaves off making sure you get the whole leaf, and lay them on top of a pot filled with soil

When you see  cute little roots, you’re ready to plant!  { takes about one month}

Plant your leaf as shallowly as you can without it falling over.

Mist with water every other day, and watch it grow!!



A neat little trick is to add 1 tsp. of liquid food coloring to 1 cup of water. Drizzle the colored water onto the soil surrounding the base of a plant. Wait 24 hours for the water to absorb. Apply another  dose if the color  was not bright enough.