Ryan + Hannah are on of the cutest couples I have ever met, I am so glad I had the honor of shooting her wedding this year. I love the emotion in these pictures, especially the way her dad looks at her. I wish them the very best in life and pray that God blesses their marriage.

All pictures and wording are from The Pioneer Woman…. This recipe is definetly a keeper Matter of fact gotta it going in the kitchen right now

I used Mostaciolli.

I’m truly sorry for this transgression. It’s just that Mostaciolli is all I had, and I did not want to call this dish “Baked Mostaciolli.” Just doesn’t have the same ring to it.

The next thing I need to say is this:

Oh my ever-loving goodness, is this good.

Baked Ziti is a classic baked pasta dish. It’s basically some kind of tomato or meat sauce baked in a dish with some kind of cheese and, of course, ziti noodles—unless you’re me, then you use mostaciolli noodles. Some people just use tomato/marinara sauce. That, of course, would never fly in this house. There must be meat. Meat there must be. As for the cheese, some people use only mozzarella, while others prefer use a gooey cheese mixture stirred throughout.

I’m in the latter camp. I like baked ziti to be almost like lasagna that forgot to use lasagna noodles. Messy. Gooey. Decadent.

Ridiculous. In every good sense of the word.
Start by mincing up some garlic.

And dice some onion.

Then throw the onion and garlic in a pot with some olive oil over medium heat. Stir them around and cook them for a few minutes, just long enough for the house to smell so good that everyone runs into the kitchen, embraces you, and says “What’s for dinner, darling mother and wife? We’re ready to eat.”

And then you yell “Psyche!” and then you cackle in a very evil manner.

Grab some of that there Italian sausage. (Pronounced “Eye-talian”)…

And mash it in the pot with the onions and garlic.

Throw in some hamburger, too.

Or just use sausage!

Or just use hamburger!

It’s a free country, Maynard!

Sorry I called you Maynard.

I’m also monumentally sorry about all the exclamation points.

Stir it around until the meat’s all brown.

Drain off the fat (but please leave a little bit to make sure the whole baked dish is nice and moist and oh-so-decadent) and pour in a big ol’ can of whole tomatoes…

And a regular ol’ can or two of tomato sauce.

You could also just throw in a couple of jars of prepared marinara sauce. But I love the chunks of ‘maters.

Stir it around and add some salt and pepper.

Throw in some Italian seasoning…or whatever mix of things like parsley, basil, oregano, etc., that you want.

And for a little spice…red pepper flakes!

Then just let the sauce simmer on low.

While the sauce is simmering, bawl up some mostaciolli.

Drain it just before it reaches the al dente stage. It’s going to bake in the oven later, so you want it to have a fighting chance to have some bite when it’s done.

The sauce looks good!

So spoon a good three or four cups of the sauce into a separate bowl to cool off a bit.

You’ll see why in approximately 1.0293874 minutes.

Meantime, make the cheese mixture. Use your very scary hand that resembles a naked chicken to grab a tub of ricotta.

Plop it into a bowl, then laugh when it plops into the bowl in one piece.

Hahahahahahaha!

Hahaha!

Haha.

Ha.

I fell better now.

Grate a bunch of mozzarella…

And throw it into the bowl.

Next, add a bunch of Parmesan/Romano/Asiago…anything in that family, or a combination of the three.

Crack in an egg and add some salt and pepper.

Then give it a few stirs. Not enough to totally mix it together—you want big clumps of ricotta still intact.

Throw in the (cooled, rinsed) pasta…

And toss it in the cheese mixture—again, don’t mix the heck out of it. Just toss. Toss peacefully.

Now just pour on the sauce that’s been cooling.

I love life.

Toss it as you go…

And add some more if you think it needs it. You want it to be really creamy, but really saucy too.

Not to be picky or anything!

Ha.

Now, pour half the coated pasta into a very big, very honkin’ casserole dish.

Spoon some extra sauce over the top…

Then grate some more mozzarella and sprinkle it over the sauce.

Add the rest of the pasta, packing it down a bit after you add it.

Then spoon on the rest of the sauce…

And add more mozzarella.

Actually, have your daughter add more mozzarella.

Then check her fingernails and say, “Ew! Grody, man.”

Then listen to her retort, “I learned it from you, mom.”

Then cry and imagine a different way of life. One that involves lovely fingernails and pantyhose.

Then put all of those thoughts out of your mind. It’s best not to go there.

Bake it in the oven until it’s nice and bubbly and awesome!

Then sprinkle on some chopped fresh parsley if you have it.

Or don’t, if you don’t have it. I’m easy.

Come and get it!

Yum.

You can also try slicing it into squares…but it needs to sit and set a bit first.

Have I mentioned this is delicious?

You’ll like it.

You’ll love it!

You’ll devour it.

Here’s the recipe:

Recipe

Baked Ziti

Prep Time:

 15 Minutes

 Cook Time: 45 Minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Servings:12

Print Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• 3 cloves Garlic, Minced
• 1 whole Large Onion, Diced
• 1 pound Italian Sausage
• 1 pound Ground Beef
• 1 can (28 Ounce Can) Whole Tomatoes, With Juice
• 2 cans (14.5 Ounce) Tomato Sauce Or Marinara Sauce
• 2 teaspoons Italian Seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
• Salt And Pepper, to taste
• 16 ounces, weight Ziti Or Mostaciolli, Cooked Until Not Quite Al Dente
• 1 tub (15 Ounce) Whole Milk Ricotta Cheese
• 1-1/2 pound Mozzarella Cheese, Grated
• 1/2 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
• 1 whole Egg
• Fresh Minced Parsley

Preparation Instructions

Heat olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and saute for several minutes, or until starting to soften. Add Italian sausage and ground beef and cook until browned. Drain off fat, leaving a bit behind for flavor and moisture.

Add tomatoes, tomato juice, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Stir and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes. After that time, remove 3 to 4 cups of the sauce to a different bowl to cool down.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a separate bowl, mix together the ricotta cheese, 2 cups of the grated mozzarella, Parmesan, egg, and salt and pepper. Stir together just a couple of times (do not mix completely).

Drain the pasta and rinse under cool water to stop the cooking and cool it down. Pour it into the bowl with the cheese mixture and toss to slightly combine (there should still be large lumps.) Add the cooled meat sauce and toss to combine.

Add half the coated pasta to a large casserole dish or lasagna dish. Spoon half of the remaining sauce over the top, then top with half the remaining mozzarella cheese. Repeat with another layer of the coated pasta, the sauce, and the mozzarella.

Bake for 20 minutes, or until bubbling. Remove from oven and let stand 5 minutes before serving.

(Sprinkle chopped parsley over the pasta before serving!)

 

Tim and Becky will be getting married at The Vines Botanical Gardens this year and I am so excited to be photographing their wedding.

It was so windy the day of their e-session we attempted to hang stars from the tree but they became shooting stars and tried to attack us,lol! So it was definitely a failure with the stars. As we walked down to the pond to get set up the donkey decided to follow us and yes I got scared, Jake had to entertain the donkey while I shot a few pictures.

We really didn’t need much other than Tim and Becky and the gorgeous lighting we had that evening…… Becky is a girly girl and well Tim is your sports man…… They brought along their magazines and well of course you can see which one won  

During the kid’s winter break we headed to Atlanta to photograph a newborn, yes I am very guilty of taking my family to work with me I am a full time photographer and mommy and wouldn’t trade it for the world, so in the future if you choose to book me don’t be surprised to meet my family on the shoot. They are great with helping me entertain small children and when doing a e-session the guy has my husband to talk to about guy stuff and not about lace and burlap lol! I want it to be a sign to my clients that you are not just another number but part of my family and I truly mean that, you have given me the opportunity to share a very special moment in your life and trusted me with it, and with that being said a part of you I will carry with me forever so WELCOME TO THE FAMILY!!! )

After the session we headed to Atlanta to The Varsity… YUMMM!!!

What’ll ya have?  What’ll ya have?

Here are some Fun Facts about The Varsity:

1. Originally named “The Yellow Jacket,’ The Varsity was established in 1928 at the corner of Luckie Street and Hemphill Avenue in Midtown Avenue

2.One of the best-known employees at the Varsity was Erby Walker, who worked there for fifty-five years until he died in 2008. He started at the Varsity at the age of fifteen sweeping floors, and was nearly fired on the first day, but soon graduated to the kitchen. Mr. Walker was noted for his ability to move the service line quickly, especially during the rush period right before a GT football game. His signature catchphrase was, “Have your money out and your food on your mind, and I’ll getcha to the game on time!” He retired in 2003, but came back three weeks later.

3.It’s the Worlds Largest Drive-In
Our Downtown Atlanta location is on more than two acres and can accommodate 600 cars and over 800 people inside. On days when the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets are playing a home game, over 30,000 people visit The Varsity.

4.Legendary Volume
Two miles of hot dogs, a ton of onions, 2500 pounds of potatoes, 5000 fried pies and 300 gallons of chili are made from scratch daily.

5.The original Varsity was opened in 1928 on a 70′ X 120′ lot with a white picket fence by a man named Frank Gordy

    These 4 children you see are my blessing’s in life. They are my hope, my strength, my joy and even sadness which leads me to my knees, which become even more of a blessing. I look at them and realize I had to find favor with God for him to bless me to be their mother. From practical jokes, silly faces, sibling fights to Sarah knowing EVERYTHING lol I wouldn’t trade any of it! I AM BLESSED!

This guy right here is not only my husband but my best friend. I am not saying our relationship is perfect by no means but he has encouraged me and loved me when I couldn’t even love myself. When I was ready to walk away from everything in life he held on to me and prayed with me.  He is a great dad and step-dad and I love the way he loves my children! He is constantly telling me he loves me and making me stop and realize their is more to life then this computer and a camera lol!

I love to hear him pray and see him worship, I love to hear him tell my girls they are pretty and how is their day. I love how he is so competitive and has no mercy while playing ball with the little ones lol! I love that probably the whole subdivision can gear him yelling while playing sports in the front yard as if he was at a professional game. I love his mix matched socks and how he always helps me around the house.

Everything is not perfect and we have been through alot but by the grace of God and alot of prayer God has blessed us and I believe our story isn’t finished but only begun! We have a testimony and I just pray that God takes the ashes and uses them to create something beautiful!

Yes that screen says water, lol! Just to wash her cup out, and more coke it is. She was working them cowboy boots or should I say cowgirl boots that day and in her princess dress.

These two are my buddies…. They are 14 1/2 mths. apart and would tag team me when they were little destroying EVERYTHING, lol!! I couldn’t pick up stuff fast enough before they would have another mess made! They make me laugh all the time and make me so proud, I know God is going to use them both in special ways and can’t wait to see where their life will go in him.

The official American Idol couch…. how cool! Caylin said I wonder if Scotty sat her, lol!  Joseph’s eyes just make me smile and Sarah she is just one of a kind, you can’t help but love her!

Let me just begin by saying thank you Devon for serving our country. I had a blast with Joanna and Devon photographing there session. I have known Joanna forever and am just absolutely honored to be photographing her wedding! Take a minute and enjoy a few pictures from their session and feel free to leave them a comment they would love to hear from you.

Josh and Brittany said I do at The Vines Mansion in Loganville, Ga in October 2012. This was such a beautiful wedding, Brittany looked stunning and had done such a fantastic job with the planning of this wedding.