When you can't go grocery shopping.

I don't have a car at the moment. Mine was totaled in a rear end collision. Everyones fine but the 3 cars involved not so much. And since there was more than one other car involved the insurance game has been fun. We are now waiting for the insurance payout to get a new car. So no car for me to use. Man do you not realize how much you drive when you can't! 

Since I have no car to make my regular grocery runs, or even go anywhere really with out great effort, I have had to get creative with dinners here! It has become a game every night. Open fridge or freezer and pick out what protein to use, then pick out a veggie to go with it, lastly open pantry see what we have to go with whats picked out. I am thankful for a full pantry and a full fridge to choose from. I haven't made a serious grocery run in about 2 weeks so our fridge and pantry are getting pretty close to what we would consider bare here. Last night I looked at what I had and came up with a few ideas of meals for the week. I came up with tuna noodle casserole, bacon wrapped pork loin and mashed potatoes, grilled fish with rice, breakfast for dinner, and some sort of chicken thigh dish.


The first thing I made was tuna noodle casserole. It was simple quick and filling. Not to mention tasty! Even the kids liked it.  I remember eating this as a kid and this was my first time making it. 

The recipe was super simple and super easy. 

 I started with cooking the pasta. Then I mixed all of the other ingredients in a big bowl. I then added the pasta and stirred until it was covered in the mixture. I poured it all into a deep square pan and covered with cheese and panko. Baked it and dinner was done! I served it with the last of our salad lettuce. 

The Recipe:

1 box of pasta cooked according to package instructions (any shape will do except spaghetti) I used whole wheat pasta.

1 can of cream of mushroom soup

2 cans of tuna fully drained and fluffed with a fork

1 bag of frozen veggies of your choice

1/2 cup of milk 

1 16 oz bag of shredded bag of cheese 

Panko, bread crumbs, or crushed regular potato chips. 

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cook pasta according to package instructions, drain and set aside. 

In a large mixing bowl combine the next four ingredients along with a little more than half your cheese. Then add the pasta and stir till all is combined and the pasta is fully coated. 

Pour mixture into a prepared pan. A deep 9x9 works well or a 9x11. 

Cover with remaining cheese. Then on top of cheese add your crunchy topping of choice. 

Bake for about 45 minuets or until top is browned and bubbly. 

Let cool for about 5 minuets before serving. 

Come back later this week for more of the recipes that I plan on doing and also to check in and see how its going!