Baked Spaghetti

Tonight we had baked spaghetti. It's a good make-ahead type dish but good for the last minute too.

Baked Spaghetti

2 cups chopped onion
2 lbs. ground beef
1 can (28 oz) diced tomatoes
4 teaspoons dried oregano
32 oz. cooked spaghetti (2 pkgs)
4 cups shredded cheddar cheese (at least)
2 cans (10 3/4 oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1/2 cup water
1 cup Parmesan cheese


In a large skillet fry the ground beef and onion. When done add tomatoes and oregano. Simmer for about ten minutes. Place half of the cooked spaghetti noodles in a big pan. Top with the hamburger mixture and sprinkle 2 cups of cheese on top. Repeat layers. Mix the soup and water until smooth; pour over casserole. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake uncovered at 350* for 35 minutes or until heated through. Yield: 24 servings

Sunday Supper Soup

This is a tasty beef broth based soup. I make four batches at a time. So good I even have it for breakfast. If making multiple batches only add as much tomtatoes as your family likes. Mine likes three cans of tomatoes for a four batch pot. I also added fresh parsley vs. dried parsley in the soup base. We had salad and garlic bread to go with it. Y.U.M!

Meatballs:
1-1/2 lb.. ground beef
1 egg, beaten
3 T. water
1/2 C. dry bread crumbs
1/4 t. salt
1 t. chopped parsley
2 T. butter

Soup:
2 C. water
1 can (10-1/2 oz.) condensed beef broth, undiluted
1 can (1 lb. 12 oz.) tomatoes, undrained, chopped
1 envelope dry onion soup mix
1 C. sliced carrots
1/4 C. chopped celery tops
1/4 C. chopped parsley
1/4 t. fresh ground black pepper
1/4 t. oregano leaves
1/4 t. basil leaves
1 bay leaf

To make the meatballs, combine all ingredients but butter. In dutch oven, heat butter and brown meatballs, a single layer at a time, on all sides. Drain off fat; remove meatballs and set aside. To make soup, combine ingredients in same dutch oven. Bring to boiling. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 20 minutes. Add meatballs; simmer 20 minutes longer.

Makes about 2 quarts or 6-8 servings.

Friends in World Magazine!

http://www.worldmag.com/articles/article.cfm?eid=60B7D4A2-D317-313C-CC10DB78222DB98F

In August 2007 I met the Bloemsma family in Addis Ababa when I went to pick up Adah Derartu and Anna Mihret. We stayed at the Hilton together and quietly calmed the other just by our presence in another country with children we really didn't know. Laura encouraged me in 2008 to consider older children when we looked into adopting again from Ethiopia. We now have Addis & Mulu because of her encouragement. By the way, all ten of their children are adopted, three girls from Ethiopia.

I saw my girls!

http://www.cwa.org/waiting_children.htm
I was browsing the Christian World Adoption website and look who I found? Can you guess which ones are Mulu and Addis?

Snow Fun!!

Founders Monument

Founders monument in Hartford, CT. My great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather's name is listed. Samuel Greenhill. His widow's second husband is also listed and his name is Jeremy Adams.

Miles Morgan statue

I've been doing more ancestry research and came across this picture of my great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather Miles Morgan who possibly helped found the Springfield, MA, area and was also a political leader.

Rainy days

The sun decided to take a little break and give us some cold and cloudy weather. We've even had spots of rain here and there. Our creek has had some flowing water giving the kids some motivation to go outside and play.


Adah and Anna with umbrellas bigger than they are.
Isn't she beautiful?
She's adorable.

John is hiding the fact that he doesn't have a shirt on.
Joelie boy
Miss Mulu
Addis

Adah & Dori

We met Dori back in 2007 after we had brought Anna & Adah home. Her family and ours attend the Yahoo Southern California Ethiopian Adoption get-togethers. Dori is also from Ethiopia. These pics were taken by her mom at some of the gatherings.

Fun with Nathan & Sarah

We went to Sarah & Nathan's the day after Christmas.
Mulu & Addis

Adah & Anna-partners in crime

See the mischievous look on Adah's face?

Most of us felt like this..........

James & John
Miss Anna
Sarah
Joel & Addis waiting for their turn.
Nathan and Adah
Yours truly

Mulu the cow

Mulu (what we're calling her now) was in a Christmas play at church. She was one of the animals at the nativity. Good job, Mulu!!!

Best friends

blI was going to title this "Peas in a Pod" or "Adah and Her Man" because I do see Adah and her friend as an old married couple. They're hilarious together. Sometimes she allows Anna to sneak in but not for too long!