The Hard Hearted Chef: Lightening Sauce

 So this happened.

 My lovely tool-toting youngest is now a high school graduate with Honors.

In tandem, she has earned her AA and will be headed for a university in August

as an 18 year old Junior on a full honor's scholarship.

As in, I still won't be paying for college for anyone.

 Darn right I sprang for some bling.

College Academy Class of 2013:

 100% graduated with Honors
100% received the Bright Futures Scholarship for Outstanding Community Service
The class of 176 split nearly $12,000,000 in scholarships
100% of this high school class now have their Associate Degrees
 

 Take a bow, Savannah Helene Pritchard-Torres.

It was a hectic day, which I was ready for, but even though we'd celebrated the 

night before, I still needed something satisfying that would be servable from 4:00

in the afternoon to 10:00 at night.

Not to mention, Samwow was flying out in the middle of the day, 

so between graduation, airport runs, Dad being in a coding workshop,

and getting debit cards for my busy brood,

my culinary time was limited.

And my cholesterol still had to be considered.

What can I make in 15 minutes from scratch that's vegetarian??? 

Sunny's Lightening Sauce

 1 large onion
8 oz. fresh mushrooms
2 tsp minced garlic 
olive oil
1 tbsp Roasted Garlic Chicken Seasoning
8 leaves of fresh basil
1 can small pitted black olives
3 cans diced tomatoes 
1 cup cabernet
1 pound of your favorite pasta, prepared according to the package
Shredded cheese is desired.

Heat a large a large, heavy bottom saute pan on medium.

Coat the bottom lightly with a little olive oil.

Add the onion and saute until slightly translucent, about 5 minutes.

Add the mushrooms...

...the garlic...

...and the basil...

...and keep stirring.

Looking good!

Add this...

...these guys...

...and all of these...

...plus the splash of wine.

Stir until everything is hot.

15 minutes flat

Cover, turn to simmer, and allow everyone to serve themselves in between running like crazy.

Yeah, THOSE nights!

Feel free to to serve a little salad or garlic bread on the side,

or even add some zucchini in the mix,

but this will keep even the usual carnivores pretty busy.

And this is healthy, low cholesterol, and guilt free!

The guilt part, however, comes next.

Savannah's favorite flavor is strawberry,

so as long as we're cheating today, as

 a little bonus, let's whip up a special cake in no time flat.

You'll need a box of strawberry cake mix, plus the oil, water and eggs on the package,

2 eight serving boxes of strawberry gelatine dessert mix, 

two pints of fresh strawberries

and a can of strawberry frosting.

Phone it in, people, and

fire up that oven to 350.

Prepare 1 box of strawberry cake as directed...

... as soon as you get back from

dropping your oldest son off at the airport on his way to visit his serious

girlfriend for two weeks while your daughter is dressing for graduation rehearsal...

...yeah. THOSE days.

Slice up 2 pints of fresh strawberries.

Slather up two cake pans with cooking spray.

Arrange the strawberries on the bottoms of both pans.

Sprinkle a box of strawberry gelatine over each pan.

Pour the cake batter evenly over the strawberry stuff.

Bake.

When a toothpick comes out clean, put the pans on a wire rack

and cool for 15 minutes.

Carefully turn both out onto the rack, strawberry side up

and cool completely.

How's that for the easiest glaze you ever made?

Assemble by sandwiching the strawberry glazed sides together

Frost and stand back.

Make sure everyone gets some of the pasta and sauce first.

 

I always try to make balanced, from-scratch meals and get everyone to sit down together,

but there are some nights just making sure they eat is a challenge,

We all need a little fast trick or two in our repertoire to maintain

our Super Mom status and not just throw fast food out buffet style.

Now if only I could slow down long enough to get a decent shot of a cake...