Storms, Casseroles and Gratitude

 If your Summer 2022 is anything like mine, it is flying by, the days are busier than ever and when it is time for bed you wonder where all the minutes and hours went. 

The last two weeks in our house have been especially busy, and might I say, stressful. On the night of June 13th, a massive thunderstorm went through our area wreaking havoc in it's path. We now know it was actually a "derecho" with sustained winds of 98mph, the same as a Cat 2 hurricane. 

We were some of the unlucky ones who sustained damage in the storm. Our huge maple tree in the front yard, the one that was there long before we moved in almost 20 years ago, couldn't withstand the strong winds. It crashed down onto our house, right above where the 5 year old was sleeping. I wish I had the words to describe the level of fear, and then instant gratitude we felt because it could have been so much worse.

The next morning the tree was removed and we could assess the damage. Let's just say we have some major repairs that have to be done to both the exterior and interior of our house. It has been a stressful two weeks and we continue to pray we have success with the insurance and repair process.

As you can imagine, this situation only added to an already busy summer schedule. Between days of fun, and now days of planning and scheduling, you know I need some easy suppers to satisfy these hungry boys of mine. 

What could be more perfect than a hearty casserole filled with meat, cheese and noodles? A retro one our grandmas and moms probably made because it is pretty budget friendly too! 

Hamburger Casserole is one of those meals you might just have everything on hand for and will feed a crowd. It is also a great "take to" meal for those new babies, loss of a loved one, or your neighbors who have storm damage! 

Summer time doesn't mean the calendar opens up at all. More things to do and a shorter amount of time to do them in. Fun in the sun is the goal as much as possible, with some stress-free suppers to end the day with!

 

Retro Hamburger Casserole

1 lb. ground beef

2 cans tomato soup

1 lb. rotini pasta

1 small yellow onion, diced

1/2 cup beef broth

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1 tsp. garlic powder

Salt and Pepper

Dried Parsley

Preheat oven to 375. Grease a 9x13 baking dish. Boil pasta according to package directions. In a large skillet over medium high heat, brown beef with onion until no longer pink. Drain if needed. Season with garlic powder, salt and pepper. Drain pasta well. Add pasta, beef broth, soup and half of both cheeses to skillet. Stir well to combine. Transfer to baking dish. Top with remaining cheeses. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle with a little dried parsley. Bake for 10 additional minutes until bubbly and brown.