Tasty Tuesday: Onion Beef Macaroni Casserole

We tried this meal one night last week. We enjoyed it. Only one of my sons said he didn't like it (after cleaning his plate). This is a good solid meal for our family. It is along the lines of a homemade hamburger helper (but not cream based). We wouldn't serve it to guests, most likely, but we will have it again for just us.

Onion Beef Macaroni Casserole
1 cup macaroni
1 ½ lb ground beef
1 envelope lipton onion soup mix
1 8oz can tomato sauce
1 Tbsp flour
2 cup water
grated cheese (we used cheddar)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cook raw macaroni until tender. While macaroni is cooking, brown the ground beef. Drain off excess fat. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Simmer, covered 5 minutes. Stir in cooked and drained macaroni. Turn into 1 ½ quart casserole. Sprinkle with grated cheese. Bake 15 minutes in 400 degree oven.
Makes 6 servings.

"Not Me!" Monday

If you ask, I will deny every bit of the following.

I did not allow my hubby to feed my daughter a little piece of a cookie and then eat the rest of the cookie just to see her sweet, adorable face melt in tears. I did not take a picture of her sad little face on my phone and upload it to facebook. would not participate in that just because it was so stinkin' funny and cute. I wouldn't... not me!

I am not the least home-sick for friends in the last state that I lived. I have not gotten sad at all this week about missing the annual gals craft night. I am not having trouble getting on facebook because it reminds me how far away some people are. That's just sad. I am not sad. Period. Not me. Nope. Not me. I am just going to keep saying that and maybe it will become true.

I did not walk into Wal-mart with my yummy latte, shop, proudly use the self-check out lane and then walk out without my latte. I did not walk all the way to my car wondering on which aisle I left my favorite cup of joe. I did not remember the moment I was pulling out of the parking lot that I sat it on the little shelf by the self-check out station. I did not wish the whole way home that I had found a parking spot and gone back to get my latte! That would be crazy. I am not crazy about my latte- not me!

I did not shrug my shoulders when my husband asked if my late night Sunday post might be missed by the blog world since this post was scheduled to be posted at the crack of dawn on Monday. I am not a tiny bit afraid someone will make a judgement about me based on that post. Ok, I am... but I am not letting myself back down- not me!

Ok, that last "not me" was added last but I had to save this one for the end because I am still thinking about it.

I did not try to get out playing a game at a New Year's Eve party by trying to back out of the room. I did not say to the gals next to me, "Oh, I think it's time to check on my baby." I did not then back right into a shelf, knock it off the wall with a loud crash (which broke the wings off an angel), and get the attention of the whole room. I was not absolutely mortified. It was not me... but I will never try to get out playing fun party games (again)!

A desire of my heart

One of my heart's new desires is financial freedom.
I am working on it.
I have been convicted about how I use my resources, both my money and what I own. I want to use, spend and share what I have wisely. I have decided I am going to post a bit about my journy in upcoming posts. I am passionate about this.
Early on in my marriage, my husband and I made some choices that are limiting us now. We used our credit cards. We charged a plane ticket or two here and there. We charged a few Christmas gifts this year and that. It built up and now we are in debt. It didn't just happen, of course. We are just now at a place where we realize how much we are missing because we are in bondage to debt. This past year we realized how much it is limiting us. Our situation changed when my husband got out of the military. The changes have been great. The change required change. We were slow to realize it.
Around the holidays we had many opportunities to help or bless others. Our hearts wanted to do more but we couldn't. It frustrated us. Between our personal struggle with our budget and our desire to give to others, we were hit hard with a conviction to be different.
We have been making some difficult choices lately. We canceled a trip to visit friends around the holidays because it would have taxed our funds too much. We declined a fun night with friends because we didn't budget for babysitting. We've sold a few things to earn a little money. I have been thinking about what I am missing a lot. I am focusing on the fact that I am making a choice. Instead of feeling held back, I am feeling impowered. I am choosing to use my money wisely. I am choosing not to waste what I already have. By choosing this path, I am becoming stronger.

Writing about my goals, challenges, lessons-learned and progress will keep this heart's desire strong. I am sure of that. I welcome all of your comments and suggestions.

$25 GC to Bath and Body Works

One of my ambitions for 2009 is to be intentional about my finances. I want to make the most of what I have and make the most of my opportunities (including giveaways). I am going to blog more about some of my frugal goals soon. For now, I want to tell you about April Shower’s Giveaway.

April Showers is having a New Year's Giveaway for a $25 gift card to Bath and Body Works. I would love to win! I am all out of bubble bath right now. The contest ends Saturday night at 8pm. To enter you need to blog about the contest. The winner will be announced Sunday morning!