Kenna's "I Can't Take Ragu Anymore" sauce

I have been meaning to post this for awhile. It is an EASY homemade sauce the makes eating the pasta your 2 year old will only eat and nothing else bearable. It also makes everything else taste so much better.


This recipe is so easy and makes so much I put the rest in 2 quart freezer plastic bags to use later. Fill the bags and lay flat for freezing. Once frozen (usually overnight) move to a more convenient spot. The bag can defrost in a bowl of hot water within 10 minutes which means you don't have to remember to put it out the night before or that morning while you are running around crazy trying to find shoes, keys, purse, etc.

I call it Kenna's Tomato Sauce because I adapted a recipe from a crockpot cookbook enough that it looks completely different. Although I will suggest "Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Cookbook" by Beth Hensperger and Julie Kaufmann. It was adapted from the Marinara Sauce recipe on page 242.

Ingredients:

Olive Oil for sweating onions and garlic in skillet
1 - cup finely chopped sweet or yellow onion (depends on your preference and what is in season)
2 - cloves garlic, minced
4 - 28 oz cans of crushed tomatoes (organic if possible, flavor seems better)
1 - 6 oz can of tomato paste
3 - Bell Peppers, diced
1 tbls sugar
Salt and pepper to taste (I don't use pepper because both my kids and husband don't like it so it isn't necessary)

1. Put garlic, onions, and olive oil (about 2 tbls in pan) on medium heat for about 5 minutes until translucent.

2. While that cooks chop the bell peppers (probably on the same cutting board you did the onions and garlic).

*Another tip, I buy a bag of onions and chop them in the food processor all at once. I then divide them up into 1/2 cup quantities and freeze them in plastic bags. It saves time and tears. I don't know how many recipes I have decided not to cook because I didn't want to mess with the onions or didn't have one, or forgot to get that one onion for that one recipe, or the one I had went bad. I then put the onions in a plastic container to contain the smell inside the freezer because.....well you know.

3. Now, put everything in the crockpot on low for 6 hours.

This will make about 5 - 2 quart servings which is just about right for 4 to 5 servings of pasta. So you will get 5 meals out this one batch for a family, or 15 lunch servings for you and the 2 year old or more. If you double the recipe you have to add an hour or so to the cooking time.

*I think you could add whatever you like to the recipe. It doesn't have to be bell peppers or you could add something else like mushrooms. I added fresh roma tomatoes from a friend's garden for a chunkier texture this last time around. Bell peppers are all my littlest one will let me get away with right now. He refuses to eat anything with unknown specks or chunks.

BTW - I will suggest the "Deceptively Delicious" by Jessica Seinfield techniques for sneaking veggies into toddler food. He loves the butternut squash pizza we make. They get very excited about the "goo" we add to everything, but that is another note.

ENJOY!

New blog name

Okay, in the interest of privacy and good taste my DH has asked that I change the name of the blog again.  I was trying to remove my first name but I suppose I can't do that since it is tied to the url of the actual blog.  I know most folks use their first name but mine is rather unique and I have only actually met one other person with my name.  It was called Kenna's adventure but the seemed rather, well lame.  Zappleliscious is starting to annoy me as well.  Thoughts, suggestions?

Kennazapple came about in an odd way.  Z is my initial for my last name and Kenna apple was what my grandmother always called me.  She still does when she can remember that I am there but it was a fond memory from childhood.  I was the only grandchild that had a nickname.  So I want to keep the "apple" part of the name because it makes me feel special and connected but what to do with the rest.

Hiding in the playroom

Well, I am actually hiding in the playroom.  The older 2 are on the main computer and we recently got the laptop that is most often used for viewing netflix which is why it is in the playroom.  The baby (2 yo) watches Clues Clues and Calliou because I cut off cable over 6 months ago.  This is the laptop that has crashed twice since we got it a year ago and I consequently do not use it for anything but internet for fear of losing information, again.  The others are backed up with carbonite now that we learned our lesson, twice.

I am hiding because peace and quiet is a rare thing.  I try not to scare it away by moving things around or asking the children to get off my computer.  I know there are single women or mom's with one quiet sweet child or no children yet that think I am silly or wonder why I "allow" my children on my computer at all.  I know you are out there.  I used to be like you.  I have seen you give me that look at the grocery store when I have one boy whining in the cart and one hanging out the front while the other asks ridiculous questions I am trying to ignore.  It is in these moments I remember the phrase "choose your battles".  There are so many things in each day that require attention when your children are at home with you all the time.  I would be "battling" my children ALL DAY if I corrected everything.  I would be worthless and angry if I did that making me an unkind and unloving mom. 

So if I have to hide in the playroom for a moment of quiet or ignore my traveling circus in the grocery store just so I can get something done I will.  Because it means I still I have the energy left at the end of the day to read them books and say prayers with them.  It means I smile at dinner and laugh at their silly jokes even though I heard them 15 times already today.  Besides the playroom is not that bad if you like trucks, and I like trucks.

The need to write

I know there are those that feel the need to write.  A need to get their thoughts down on paper and look over them, rewrite, enhance, and complete a product to share.  This need does not strike me often which is probably why I am not a writer by profession.  I still have no clue why I even have a desire to do this silly blog thing.  I cannot believe that there would be someone wanting to read about my intrinsically boring life.  I love my boring life for what its worth.  More specifically, I feel blessed in my boring life.  My life previously was tumultuous with no clear direction.  I welcome the routine of watching children grow and a husband get wrinkles.  I love stepping over the same lazy dog everyday and watching the my little dog grow old. 

My littlest dog is also my oldest.  She was with me through most of the ups and downs.  She has been a wonderful dog, except for the time she bit my brother's friend.  In her defense, he deserved it and practically stuck his hand in her mouth.  I still cannot tell if she bit him or if his hand got in the way of her teeth.  It was that silly of a situation.

Well, now that I updated this I will try to post pictures the next time around.  Perhaps it will be interesting to watch this grow with blog after blog.  Most likely I am guessing it will be boring to most and not worth reading.  We shall find out.

Forgotten Things

Have you ever had something you thought was going to be great and then you forgot about it once you started? Usually it is forgotten because it wasn't what we thought it would be, or the work is not worth the reward. Well blogging is that for me, specifically this blog. I completely forgot about as evidenced by the 5 year gap in posts. Amazingly, I remembered after following some other blogs on the blogger site.

Well, updates seem necessary but I don't have that much time. I now have 3 little boys, live in North Carolina, not Texas and have been converted to an Army wife. Many things to talk about between now and then but we will try to stay with the present.

We will be traveling back to Texas next week for my baby sister's wedding. That will be a whirlwind of a time as my family is a force nature unlike any I have ever encountered. I am packing some blocks I pieced together to show my great grandmother (an avid quilter) so she can be so proud, I hope. I am also visiting quite a few other elderly relatives that we have not seen in many months, some even years. I should also print out some pictures of my DS's to pass around lest they forget what we all look like.

More later, now that I know where to post......

Updates

I know I haven't posted in awhile but I noticed my beloved friend who has been enduring radiation and chemo treatments has out blogged me 2 to 1. I have no such excuse so I thought I should sit my lazy, distracted butt down and type out a blog just to say I did it.

It has taken a lot to even remember I can do this. But I do like the process and I am hoping it will ultimately help in the long run.

Nothing much is going on. I have been totally consumed with house duties and the never ending picking up after the children and my 3 dogs. My thoughts are running towards money making ideas that fit into my lifestyle of a SAHM.

The title of "Stay At Home Mom" certainly can mean many things. My mother was considered a SAHM by today's standard but rarely stayed at home. At home, a woman is left to her own devices to control, mold, and occupy her day. With no one standing over her (i.e. a boss) and the only demands are those of the little ones she can pretty much do as she pleases. RIGHT?!

Well, life is what you make........Carpe Diem........and some other cliche to make you feel better!!!!

JPB Tea Party

As most women know, there is the occasional time a "Tea Party" is needed.  There is nothing virtuous or redeeming about the tea party, but it is necessary to prevent unneeded arguments with the DH and other punishment type events for the loved ones around you.

This evening I was happily rewarded, after 19 months of "mommy prison", with the opportunity to pick up my sister at the airport with her friend and have dinner at a restaurant without the DH or DC (dear child).  This would be my first actual outing that didn't involve grocery shopping or some other mundane errand that took place only after the DC was put to bed for the evening.  Unfortunately, the rain delayed the flight and made traffic horrific.  I thought, after speaking to my sister, the flight would only be delayed an hour and so I continued on to the airport and opted to sit, read, and enjoy the freedom, expecting her to land shortly.  After another hour I checked with the DH to see (via internet) if the flight was coming soon.  He informed me it was redirected and wouldn 't be in for another 2 hours.  He then added that I should had listened to him before and come home the first time he said instead of continuing on with my quest for freedom.

I cannot decide at this point if I am angry/upset about the disappointing evening or my DH utter lack of understanding for my needs and desires.   Perhaps I underestimated my desire to get out of the house and need for mental stimulation that didn't require simultaneously wrangling 3 dogs, picking up toys, listening to ESPN, and working on whatever project I had chosen for the evening.   I know I will get over it in the morning but tonight my feelings are hurt.  The DH did pick up on that much and tried to make up for it by half way cleaning the kitchen.  Somehow it falls short but will have to do.  When people talked about compromise in marriage I never thought it would be like this.  I have to compromise on my feelings and how I express them.  I have to hold my tongue because what I have to say/express is not worth the consequence that follows.  I have to control emotions I never knew should be controlled.

Once again, back to childhood, I was not taught to do such things.  Now I experience the consequences of my parents lack of discipline and guidance, AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!  Wow, this excuse is getting worn out.