Recipe: Baked Ham & Noodles (Casserole)

I have fond memories of eating this casserole as a kid.  It wasn't necessarily in the regular rotation of meal choices, but I enjoyed it each and everytime it DID come up in the rotation!  This is about as basic, basic, basic as it gets, folks.  It's nothing wild and crazy, or hot and zesty.  It's just simple and down-home, because you know... I grew up on a farm and all that... ummm.... NOT.  But you get the idea.  Comfort food at it's finest (and a great way to use up leftover ham!)  Maybe you'll have some of that after Easter Sunday?  Just sayin'.

LOL - don't talk to me about the irony of this happy pig-face for a pork recipe!

I know, I know... but I couldn't resist!  *wink

Baked Ham & Noodles (Casserole)

12 oz. pkg. wide egg noodles (or your favorite kind of noodle)
2 cups ground or finely chopped ham
1 small onion (I use dehydrated)
1/4 cup milk
salt & pepper
butter
breadcrumbs

Cook noodles according to package.  Place layer of noodles in buttered casserole, then a layer of ham, and sprinkle some onion, salt, and pepper.  Repeat, layer by layer until all ingredients are used, ending with a layer of noodles on top.  Pour in milk, but (depending on casserole size/depth) make sure the milk doesn't cover the top layer of noodles.

Melt a tablespoon or so of butter in a small pan, and add a handful of breadcrumbs.  Stir over low-medium heat (watching carefully) until butter is absorbed and breadcrumbs are toasty.  Sprinkle over casserole.

Bake for one hour at 350F.

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Blessings to you and your family this Easter weekend as we celebrate our RISEN SAVIOR!  How will you celebrate?  My own family will be together for worship on Sunday morning (there is no better worship than on Easter Sunday!), and my extended family will gather for lunch at Jill's.  Guess what she asked me to bring?  (THIS!)  Whatever your plans, enjoy the blessings of the day!

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Linking with:

Jennifer Rizzo for Fabulously Creative Friday

Craftberry Bush for The Inspiration Gallery

Balm for the Soul

I often find myself thankful that I taught our kids to say important words like:

"I'm sorry."

"Will you forgive me?"

And in response to someone who says those words to them, to say:

"I forgive you!"

These are important words to say and hear, and I believe it's imperative to teach your kids to be able to say them sincerely, and in a timely way, and to receive them with openness and grace.  This exchange is balm for the soul!

Oral Allergy Syndrome

It is not typical for me to self-diagnose -- or to diagnose on behalf of my family.  This situation unfolded a little differently, though.

It all started years ago with carrots -- raw carrots, that is.  Our young daughter would tell us she didn't want to eat them because they made her throat feel scratchy.  And then, I happened upon this little blurb in a magazine:

Though our daughter had been diagnosed as a hay-fever sufferer (suspect: ragweed), there were enough of her food-triggors listed [in the above chart] under BIRCH POLLEN to make me realize something was going on there!

Have you heard of this?  Our family doctor hadn't.  It's known as Oral Allergy Syndrome, and you will find a lot of information about it HERE and HERE.  Because we were unsure how this syndrome might ultimately affect our daughter, our doctor did subscribe an EpiPen for her to have on standby -- particularly when she is away from home (like on a missions trip), and might be eating unfamiliar foods.  {I pack her lunch every day for school, and she is very good at NOT EATING the problem foods that she knows of.}  However, after further reading, it seems that episodes of anaphylaxis or severe throat swelling are rare in people who experience OAS.  That is a comfort!

I share this in hopes that it might help someone else out there.  I don't claim to have any answers, and can only share what our daughter has experienced.  Ultimately, if you or someone you love are experiencing symptoms like these, you should check with your doctor.

**TIP**  Go to POLLEN.COM and sign up for allergy-alert emails that will notify you about levels of specific pollens in your area.  This has been very helpful to us in preparing for bad allergy days!

*** My thanks to the magazine that published this information for me to stumble upon!  At the time I cut it out, I didn't realize how truly valuable the information would be to our family.  Unfortunately, there is no indication of what magazine I might have cut it from...       In appreciation!  ~Sally

graze update 4.04.14

Here we go with our second package, received on 3/31/14 -- exactly two weeks from the first box.  You can read my first two posts HERE and HERE.  If you have seen the ads, or are considering subscribing to graze, I hope these reviews will be helpful.

The four snacks included in this box were:

• fruity mango chutney (with black pepper dippers) - I dove into this one because I love almost anything mango.  Almost.  Turns out mango is kind of weird with a kick - IMHO.  The dippers were "okay."
• apple crumble (apple, raisins, and cinnamon honey almonds) - my hubby ate & enjoyed.
• smoky bbq corn (smoked cashews & jumbo corn) - my hubby who loves cashews said this one is a keeper.  He liked it because it was really crunchy.  A good crunch always makes a snack worthwhile!
• chocolate orange (Belgian dark chocolate, orange raisins and hazelnuts) - the hazelnuts weren't really my thing, although they tasted of the orange-infused raisins, which were yummy.  And the Belgian chocolate?  Delicious!)

My plan is to get 2-3 more boxes, and then evaluate whether we will continue our subscription.  My first box was free, and I've had three friends use my friend code [thank you!], earning me $1 off a box (x 3).  The only problem I have is that my daughter has [some] nut allergies, and doesn't get to eat many of the snacks. Since she hasn't actually been tested for her allergies, she is a little hesitant about trying anything new with nuts.  When I signed up for graze, there was a spot to click a "no nut" option.  When I did that, it said something like sorry, we don't provide that option right now -- so I'll take that into account in my evaluation, as well.

Just a reminder: if you use my MY FRIEND CODE to order, you get your first and fifth boxes FREE, and I get $1 off my next order.  When you sign up and encourage friends to use your friend code, you'll also get that dollar discount (per friend).

Still grazing...

** I received no compensation for this post.  Just thought I share our experience with a new product.

Opinions are mine -- and my family's.

Bubbles!!! (Subtitled: Squirrel!!!)

If you saw the movie "Up" you will totally get this post.  Maybe.  A little.

You see, it's spring-time and, up until a few days ago... it hasn't been very spring-like.  A better description of the yard might be "swamp-like," --  and not very welcoming.  I could put on my wellies and tromp around out there, but really?  I don't want to leave deep footprints in the muck, so... I stay on solid ground for now.  From a distance, I can see a little green here and there, but no photo-proof just yet.

I'm going a little stir-crazy when it comes to picture-taking.  And really, have we had enough of the hyphenated words?  What is with me today?  [Squirrel.]

Anywho... recently I was washing out an empty soap bottle to recycle, and here's what came next.  This is what happens when Spring doesn't come quickly enough.  Distracted, I am forced to take pictures of the ridiculous - even if it is kind of pretty.  Am I a blogger desperately looking for some fun pics, or what?

Is it Spring yet in your neck of the woods?  Have you spotted lots of green shoots around the yard  -- maybe even buds opening, or are you still dealing with melting snow?  As for me, I just...

[Squirrel!]