Look at me, using my oven!!!

For those who don't know, I suffered a loss when my oven caught fire and burnt the house down...so when I moved to my new apartment, I wondered how I'd get over my fears of using the oven.

My new neighbors are so wonderful, and the neighbor I am closest to agreed to shadow me as I baked last week. With her supervision she helped me bake home made mac n cheese that turned out fantastic! And then tonight I decided I'd muster up the courage to bake on my own without adult supervision (tee hee). I made tuna potato chip casserole which I have been dreaming about since I first moved out on my own.

It was everything I could hope for--everything went smoothly, and for a half hour all I could smell was the strong mouthwatering aroma of the casserole, and it was so good I had two big heaping portions of it because it turned out so delicious.

YAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!

I am now much more confident in my abliities of using an oven, though it'll take a few trials to be more confident in not burning the house down. Even using the stove top is intimidating if it's not just top ramen.

But I'll tell you, and I tell everyone I meet, do the things you are scared of. I do just about everything I'm scared of, no matter the reason, and I do it because it makes me a stronger, more resilient person and helps me overcome any challenge or obstacle.

Ok now I just need to have a recipe of your tuna caserole.

Good job! Using your oven!!!!

Thank you!!!! It's a huge deal for me to use the oven.

The recipe is super super super easy!!! 2 and 2 and 2 and 1.

2 cans cream of mushroom
2 cans of tuna
2 bags of Ruffles potato chips (NOT the party size!)
1 can of water (from the cream of mushroom soup)
For extra pizzazz add 1-2 spoonfuls of garlic, light salt and pepper
And for the finishing touch, top with slices of cheddar cheese

Heat up the two cans of cream of mushroom soup, can of water, and garlic and salt and pepper in a small pot.

Add tuna to big mixing bowl.

Smash up the potato chips to small size, then add to mixing bowl.

Add the soup over the top of chips and tuna.

Carefully mix until everything is well coated.

Add to 9x13 pan, layer the top with slices of cheese (shredded cheese is "just okay", I prefer slices) and bake at 350 for 45 minutes

Once it's cooked you can poke holes in it and lightly pour lemon juice over the top.

Mmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!

I take it you have a gas oven? I've never had one, always electric. Using a gas oven would be a bit scary for me too.

Your recipe sounds yummy. And using your oven when you're scared (for understandable reason) is a Definite cause for celebration! Woot!!

The house that burnt down had a gas oven, and the gas line had been disconnected prior to the move and someone put a rubber tray inside that I was unaware of.

The fire marshall said I am lucky I didn't blow up or burn the whole neighborhood down.

The oven I have now is electric, which is really great, but I am past the point of messing around an oven or stove top without great care and supervision.