Comfort Food, Taking it Slow & Bella's Blueberry Muffins

I'm glad it's the weekend.

It was a challenge to get everyone back into a routine after all those late nights over the Holiday break.

With busy sports schedules my kids come home starving and it's hard to keep enough food cooked to satisfy them after a long day.

Earlier today, I made a big casserole of comfort food-a Baked Beef and Potato Dish to have ready to heat up over the weekend.

I have new Texas Size Muffin Tins I wanted to break in so I baked Bella's favorite Blueberry Muffins for weekend snacking too.

While working in my kitchen I listened to a song I love by John Legend called "Ordinary People". He sings, We're Just Ordinary People and we Don't Know Which Way to Go. Maybe We Should Take It Slow.

I hope you have a fabulous weekend. Here on the Cape it's going to be cold and we're expecting snow so I plan to 'take it slow'. And, if you feel like cooking here's a recipe you might want to try:

Baked Beef & Potato Casserole

1/4 cup tomato paste
1/2 cup water
14 oz canned chopped tomatoes
1 tbsp thyme
2 lb+ potatoes, peeled and chopped
1 lb ground beef
1 garlic clove, halved
1 egg, slightly beaten
3 Tbsp. butter, extra for greasing
2 onions, sliced
1 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Choose a sturdy round or oval casserole dish, grease well.

Mix the paste with the water in a bowl, then add to a pan with the thyme and tomatoes. Season to taste with salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stir occasionally, for 30 minutes, until thickened. Remove from pan then cook the potatoes for approximately 20 minutes in boiling water.

Combine the beef and egg in a bowl and season to taste Shape into six patties. Cook on the skillet until lightly browned. Remove. Saute the onions in the skillet for about 5 minutes until soft.

Put half the potato slices in the bottom of the dish. Cover with the patties, then add the onions and sprinkle with half the cheese, dot with the butter and tomato sauce, repeat layers and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Serve warm.