~a LOT a bit stronger~

Today, I was driving Rylee to daycare in Odessa. This is an everyday occurance, and as she is sitting in the backseat watching "Horton Hears A Who" I am listening to the local country station and a new song comes on that I haven't heard. I listen to every genre of music, but country has been my go to lately. I turned up the volume to hear the words, and I'm listening and I almost start crying because this song is my life. This song had to have been written by me in my sleep and some country writer snuck in and wrote down the lyrics as I was talking in my sleep. This song is my life in music form! I know not everyone can relate to this song, but I also know a lot of people can. I never thought that this song would be the story of my heartache and my journey to finding myself. I am SO happy to say that I am not only a little bit stronger, but a LOT a bit stonger!! I still have weak days, but they are fewer and farther between!

Some of you know, some of you don't, and some of you may not care or agree...but I filed for divorce from Chance yesterday. This is a HUGEEEEE step in me getting stronger. I can't hold onto him, and his hurt forever. I know I am not the initiator of this divorce, but we have been seperated for 20 months now. Neither of us want to get back together, and just letting things float along is not good for either of us. I am happy to say that it was almost a relief. It is sad, it will always be sad to me. Rylee's parents are never going to be together. I am sad for her, but I know it is much better than her being exposed to parents that hate each other. I am hopeful that Chance and I can remain friends for Rylee. Rylee Emily Watson is my strength to get through the days. She is the most precious, wonderful, amazing, beautiful creation...and even though all the destruction and turmoil that Chance and I went through...a beautiful creature was a result of it. She makes it easy to get stronger!!

So...getting stronger has not been the easiest thing...it has taken time...MONTHS and MONTHS..but let me tell you...I am BETTER off now! I am a strong woman and nobody is going to hold me back! Getting stronger everyday!!

Here are the lyrics to "A Little Bit Stronger" by Sara Evans

Woke up late today and I still feel the sting of the pain
But I brushed my teeth anyway
I got dressed through the mess and put a smile on my face
I got a little bit stronger

Riding in the car to work and I'm trying to ignore the hurt
So I turned on the radio, stupid song made me think of you
I listened to it for minute but I changed it
I'm getting a little bit stronger, just a little bit stronger

And I'm done hoping that we could work it out
I'm done with how it feels, spinning my wheels
Letting you drag my heart around
And, oh, I'm done thinking that you could ever change

I know my heart will never be the same
But I'm telling myself I'll be okay
Even on my weakest days
I get a little bit stronger

Doesn't happen overnight but you turn around
And a month's gone by and you realize you haven't cried
I'm not giving you a hour or a second or another minute longer
I'm busy getting stronger
(From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/s/sara-evans-lyrics/a-little-bit-stronger-lyrics.html)

And I'm done hoping that we can work it out
I'm done with how it feels, spinning my wheels
Letting you drag my heart around
And, oh, I'm done thinking, that you could ever change

I know my heart will never be the same
But I'm telling myself I'll be okay
Even on my weakest days, I get a little bit stronger
I get a little bit stronger

Getting along without you, baby
I'm better off without you, baby
How does it feel without me, baby?
I'm getting stronger without you, baby

And I'm done hoping we could work it out
I'm done with how it feels, spinning my wheels
Letting you drag my heart around
And, oh, I'm done thinking that you could ever change

I know my heart will never be the same
But I'm telling myself I'll be okay
Even on my weakest days
I get a little bit stronger

I get a little bit stronger
Just a little bit stronger
A little bit, a little bit, a little bit stronger

I get a little bit stronger

Chili Corn Bread Salad

This looks delicious!!! Can't wait to eat it tonight!! :)

1 pagkage corn bread mix
1 can (4oz) green chilis, undrained
1/8 tsp cumin
1/8 tsp oregano
pinch of sage (i left this out bc i don't like sage)
1 cup mayo
1 cup sour cream
1 envelope ranch dressing mix
2 cans pinto beans, drained and rinsed
2 cans corn, drained
3 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 cup chopped bell pepper
1 cup chopped green onions
10 bacon strips (chopped) i used turkey bacon
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Prepare corn bread batter as directed on package. Add green chilis, cumin, oregano and sage. Bake at 400 for 20-25 mins. Cool after cooking.
In a small bowl, combine the mayo, sour cream and ranch mix. Crumble half of the corn bread into a 13x9 panlayer with half of the beans, mayo mixture, corn, tomatoes, green pepper, onions, bacon and cheese. Repeat layers...dish will be VERY full) Cover and refridgerate for 2 hours!!

YUMMMM!!

Creamy Spinach Sausage Pasta

3 cups rigatoni
1 lb Italian sausage (we are trying to cut down on our red meat intake so I used ground turkey and seasoned with fennel seed, oregano, salt, garlic powder, rosemary, thyme, and pepper)
1 cup finely chopped onion
1 can Italian diced tomatoes
1 package (10oz) frozen creamed spinach, thawed
1 package cream cheese, softened and cubed
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

Cook pasta according to directions. In a dutch oven, cooke sausage and onion until no longer pink, drain. Stir in spinach, tomatoes, cream cheese and 1cup mozzarella. Stir until cheeses are melted. Mix with cooked pasta. Transfer to a greased 13x9 baking dish. Cover and bake at 350 for 35 mins. Uncover and sprinkle remaining cheese. Cook for an additional 5-10 mins, or until cheese is melted.

I served this with fresh garlic bread out of the bakery at HEB and a tossed salad with fresh veggies!

I hope you enjoy this! :)

Beefy Tot Casserole

Soooo, my mom and I came to an agreement a couple of months ago. I am now the chef at the Curry house :) I make dinner most nights a week for the 6-7 people at our house. I have been posting my menu on facebook and been getting a lot of responses about my friends wanting recipes. I have been using Taste of Home a lot...their recipes are so realistic and easy, and very yummy! I'm going to *hopefully* keep up and get the recipes posted for you guys!! On Tuesday I made Beefy Tot Casserole...it was delicious and we devoured the entire thing that night (this basically never happens) :)


4 cups frozen tater tots
1 pound ground beef
1 package (16oz) frozen chopped broccoli, thawed
1 can cream of broccoli soup, undiluted
1 medium tomato, chopped
1 can french-fried onions, divided (i used about 2 cups instead of the whole can)
1 cup shredded colby-jack cheese, divided (i used more cheese because we like it cheesy!!)
1/3 cup milk
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp pepper

Place tater tots in an ungreased 13x9 dish and bake uncovered at 400 for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet cook beef until no longer pink, drain. Stir in the broccoli, soup, 3/4 cup french-fried onions, 1/2 cup cheese, milk and seasonings..heat through. Pour over tater tots.
Cover and bake for 20 mins. Uncover, sprinkle with remaining cheese and onions and bake for another 5-10 mins, or until cheese is melted.

I served with my cheesey garlic biscuits:

2cups bisquick
3/4 cup of milk
1/2 cup of cheddar cheese
1/2 stick of butter
1/4 tsp garlic powder

Mix the first three ingredients...mixture should be thick. Spoon onto greased baking dish and bake for 10 minutes on 350. Melt butter and stir in garlic powder. After you pull the biscuits out (i wait until they are a little brown on top) and baste with butter!

These are similar to the red lobster biscuits and man, they are so good and so easy!!

I also served this with a green salad with fresh chopped veggies on top!

Hope you guys like this!!