Bland.

Another day spent at work doing barely anything. It makes me very frustrated to have nothing to do and I've kind of tried to create things, but I'm running out of ideas. I guess it's a good thing when a police department is slow because maybe it means crime is happening less often... or maybe people just aren't calling stuff in. The former is way better.

I didn't have many cleaning items on my list today, so I focused my efforts on making something new in the kitchen. Before I discuss the food part, if you don't have one of the following pictured items, get one. I think my Mom put it in my stocking many years ago and I never really used it for regular reading, but it's awesome to use with a cookbook that doesn't want to stay open.

The new food item of the evening is called Broccoli Cheese Casserole... or maybe Cheesy Broccoli Casserole... either way, I'm not sure if I'm going to make it again. It was kind of bland and I didn't let it cook long enough. First part=recipe's "fault." Second part=my "fault." Regardless, here are the ingredients and photo steps... maybe you'll have better luck if you try it out.

Be warned, the photos of it’s preparation make it look kind of gross. Especially because cream of chicken soup is pretty gross looking.

First step: Finally take slow cooker out of box to keep in cupboard out of the box because you use it and aren't afraid of it anymore. Put box by door to be taken to recycling. Place cat in box. Or, if your cat is like mine, as soon as the box hits the floor she'll be in it.

Cheesy Broccoli Casserole Ingredients:
10 oz bag frozen chopped broccoli, thawed (used 16oz)

1/4 cup chopped celery

1 cup cooked rice

4 oz cheese sauce (I think I used extra of this too, but cheese is good)

10 3/4 ounce can cream of chicken soup

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder (or a 1/4)

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper (again, a 1/4)

1/4 teaspoon salt

Mix it all together in the slow cooker and cook for 1.5 hours on low (or until cooked through).

I cooked up some hot dogs to go with this because once I started I realized it certainly wasn't going to be a meal in itself. This confused me a bit because I thought casseroles were main dishes, not side dishes. Maybe it's just this one. Anyways, Hubby didn't hate the casserole concoction... except for the celery. He doesn't like celery. I might make it again if I can figure out a way to make it more flavorful (suggestions??) and when I can be patient and let it cook a little longer.

We ate dinner at the table again. Lovely! I had these other placemats than the ones I've been using and thought they'd look awesome with black plates. They would have looked better if they'd been a bit bigger... and if I'd had napkins to go with. I thought I had two that went with them, but I could only find one. Plus, my other glass like the one shown must have gotten broken at some point without my knowledge because I couldn't find that either. Aw well, we ate at the table and that's what matters.

Top Chef starts tonight and I am sadly excited. Sadly because I should not be happy about a TV show starting. It's kind of pathetic. But I am anyways and the DVR is set... I can't be watching a show that goes from 10-11pm, I wouldn't function the next day.

Yes, I am only 24. So what? I'm not the only one my age who goes to bed at granny-hours.