The Non-Food Related Post

Sometimes I do projects. And sometimes I finish them. Just ask my husband about that. Actually, don't, because that'll just remind him that he married a lazy poop. But I swear to you, if I could put IKEA furniture together all damn day, and paint random stuff I garbage pick, I would be the world's hap-hap-happiest person ever. Because who doesn't like doing that stuff? Commies, that's who.

Anyway, about a week ago, I was driving down the road in my husband's car, and I saw a sad little white bookshelf on the side of the road in someone's trash. And I remembered that I had seen this on Pinterest.

Which I want SO MUCH because our current dress-up situation looks like this.

Wah wahhhhh.

And you guys, the hamster wheels in my head started turning, and I saw that little white bookshelf turning into something like the Pinterest picture. But I was in my husband's car, and I wasn't sure if the LWB would fit in a sedan. So I drove past and almost turned around five times. I was in anguish the whole ride home, thinking that some other lucky person would drive by and pick up my LWB and make their own crafty project with it.

So I got home, grabbed my husband and the kid, and we took off in my little SUV (Charlie). And I made my long-suffering husband trash-pick that sucker and carry it to my car. And then he had to carry it inside. But you guys, he's awesome like that, and I promise he doesn't mind. Much.

When we got it home, I noticed that it was rickety, and the cardboard back was janky, so off I trundled to Home Depot to find something better. I found the most precious paintable beadboard paneling for around $1o. Which I then asked my beloved to cut it to size, when all he wanted to do was sit on the couch and play online poker.

And I painted ONLY the beadboard and nailed it onto the LWB.

Then I installed a clothes rod - also painted, of course.

And voila! Perfection!!

I'll be replacing the hangers with white hangers, but I wanted to see how it looked. The best part is, the whole thing cost less than $15. SCORE!

Not From A Box Hamburger Helper

Hamburger Helper is nasty. Yeah, I said it. But it's something that's easy, so people keep making it. You shouldn't. There is almost nothing redeeming about HH except the ease with which it cooks.

Buuuuuuut! I found a kickass recipe for a Hamburger Helper substitute that doesn't taste gross! And it's nearly as easy to make!! It totally looks gross, but them's the breaks when you put a bunch of crap in a pot. I promise it tastes a million times better than it looks.

Ingredients:

1 lb lean hamburger meat - I used ground turkey because I like it more

1 pkg taco seasoning - I used fajita seasoning because I didn't have taco

1 can Rotel tomatoes and green chilies (or petite diced tomatoes)

2 cups beef broth - I used vegetable broth

1 cup shell pasta

Cheese Sauce:

2 Tablespoons butter

2 tbsp flour

3/4 cup milk

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

Brown and drain the meat.

MMmmmmmm...meat!

Stir in the taco seasoning, Rotel, broth, and pasta.

Heat everything to boiling, and then reduce the heat and cover your pan. Simmer 12-14 minutes until the pasta is tender. While the meat concoction is simmering, start making your cheese sauce.

Melt the butter in a saucepan. Stir in the flour and cook for five minutes until you can smell the butter and it turns a nice light brown.

That's real buttah, baby!

Stir in the milk and bring to a boil. Stir until it's smooth and thickened.

Remove it from the burner and stir in the shredded cheese until it's all melty and gooey.

OMG, holy shit...look at that freaking cheese!

Add the salt and pepper to the cheese sauce. I didn't add extra salt/pepper because there's enough in the taco seasoning packet, but you do what you want, you salty little thang.

Pour the cheese sauce over the hamburger mixture and fold it all together.

It looks freaking gorgeous, right??

The kid didn't want to eat it because it was "SPICY mom!" so next time, I will substitute plain diced tomatoes and a spaghetti seasoning packet for the Rotel and taco seasoning because I think she would like that better.

And yes, that is my head shadow in like EVERY picture. I suck at pictures.