Tuscan Vegetable Baked Ziti

A friend of mine asked if I could put some more recipes on my blog so here's a good one that Leif and I just tried. It was on the back of the Kraft cheese package we got:

What you will need:

• Package of Kraft Shredded Italian Three Cheese Blend
• 3 Cups of ziti pasta, cooked, drained (We used some pasta that we had, so you don't have to stick to just ziti)
• 2 Large red peppers, cut into thin strips
• 2 Zucchini, halved, thinly sliced
• 1/2 lb. mushrooms, thinly sliced (We don't like mushrooms so we didn't include them)
  
• 1 Jar (24 oz.) chunky spaghetti sauce
• 1 tsp. dried oregano leaves

Making it:
Oven should be set to 375

• Reserve 3/4 cup cheese; combine all ingredients in bowl. Mix.
• Spoon into 13x9-inch baking dish; sprinkle with reserved cheese.
• Bake 20-25 minutes or until heated through.
• 
  

This was fast and easy to make, delicious and actually filling. I'm not used to vegetable dishes filling me up. If you ever need a vegetarian option, this is great for that.

For Grandma J!

We know you had to work today, on a holiday so we thought this might make your day a bit brighter! Thanks so much for the pretty dress Grandma:) We love you!

Gratitude Thursday

I am grateful for warm weather and swimming pools.
I am grateful for a dishwasher.
I am grateful for Ben Gibbard and his clever lyrics.
I am grateful for my husbands job that makes it possible for him to eat lunch with me
and spend every weekend with me.
I am grateful for the ocean and its breeze.
I am grateful for the new friends I've made here in Monterey.
I am grateful for the photo opportunities I've been given.
I am grateful for hashbrowns and orange juice.

The Housewife

I'm in the process of learning how to be a good housewife. Its not that my mother didn't teach me how to keep a home. She did. She taught me how to clean, how to cook, how to take care of laundry and such. But I'm just learning now how much goes into keeping up a home. Its not doing the dishes once a week, or the laundry every once in awhile. Its a constant on going process. No matter how much I get done there is always something else that needs cleaning.

I'm also learning how to fit in this job of housewife in with my other two jobs as wife and mother. I have learned that naptime makes for a wonderful time to clean. I can't believe how much I can get done within two hours. I am learning that maybe my laundry needs to be done more often and the dishes can also be done sooner than later. Its taken a little time for me to catch on, and sometimes I'm discouraged when I talk to other women. I feel like they're super woman and I'm just failing at this, haha:) Today is definitely one of those days when I feel like no matter how hard I try my house will never stay clean.

I do think that some women have an easier time adjusting to the role as housewife. I am not one of them. I do not enjoy all of the tasks that come along with being a housewife. Some women enjoy it. It takes a lot of discipline on my part to do laundry, and sweep. Thankfully I have a very understanding husband who helps me out when he cans. He never complains when things are undone, instead offers to help me out. I'm so blessed.

Although there is always some type of house work to be done, I am trying to remember to just stop and take time to be with my Father, my husband and my baby. Housework will always be here, but these moments won't. And I may not be the perfect housewife but I'm trying here!

What are you favorite chores/lease favorite to do around the house?