Ashlee Wendell and her husband Jayson tied the knot in Jamaica in 2021 after meeting through mutual friends. They welcomed their son Bodie in 2022, and he just celebrated his 3rd birthday in June.
“Bodie is full of personality and brings joy to everyone he interacts with,” shared Ashlee. “My son brings me the most joy in this season. When I was pregnant, I was so scared of how life would change and how I would change…but it has only been for the better! After I had Bodie, nothing else mattered. Seeing the world through his eyes has shown me what life is all about.”
Ashlee and Jayson love the outdoors, which makes family time a lot of fun. You can usually catch the Wendell trio at the beach, camping, golfing, disc golfing, or grilling. Anything really just to stay in the fresh air and sunshine!
“With summer here, we will spend a lot of time grilling and chilling! We love to spend the whole day on Dauphin Island or at Escatwpa River. Then we will come home and grill,” Ashlee said.
As a family, cooking together is also something they enjoy. Ashlee and Jayson are usually both in the kitchen preparing meals together.
“Lately, we have had fun incorporating our little boy in meal preparation, and he seems to enjoy being hands-on,” said Ashlee. Bodie even has his own kitchen step stool, monogrammed apron, and kid-safe cutlery.
“I truly feel blessed to be able to stay home and be a mother and homemaker,” Ashlee continued. “I love making foods from scratch such as stocks, breads, dressings, old-fashioned recipes, and snacks for my child in place of packaged items. Cooking and food are my love languages. I put my heart into it and take pride in seeing others enjoy the results.”
Ashlee has one dinner recipe that never results in leftovers: a childhood favorite known as Beef Bake. She shared that her husband and son finish the entire 9×13 baking dish every single time. The meal is very simple, inexpensive, and delicious.
“I chose this recipe to share because I have loved it all my life, and now my husband and child tear it up every time I make it,” Ashlee shared. “My mom went through some hard times financially while raising my brother and me as a single mom. She always made sure we had a good meal, though simple and made with pantry ingredients, and this one was so comforting. Cooking this dish always brings back memories and reminds me how much I appreciate my mom at the same time.”
Beef Bake
Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 1 mixed bag of frozen vegetables
- 2.5 cups of milk, divided
- 2 cups Bisquick
- 2 10 oz Cans of Cream Soup, Chicken or Mushroom
- Optional: 1-2 cups of cheddar cheese, shredded
- Optional: Fresh Salad Mix for side
Directions:
- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
- While the oven is pre-heating, add the ground beef and onion to a pan on medium-high heat and brown. Drain grease.
- Add the mixture to a greased, 9×13 baking dish.
- Add cans of soup, one cup of milk and frozen vegetables. Mix well.
- In separate bowl mix 1.5 cups of milk and 2 cups of Bisquick.
- If your choosing to add cheddar cheese, fold 1-2 cups into liquid Bisquick.
- Pour liquid Bisquick on top of the ground beef and vegetable mix. Do not mix.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes.
- Remove baking pan from oven. Turn off the oven and then turn on the broiler.
- Return baking dish to oven and let broil for around 5 minutes to brown the top.
- Serve hot with a side salad, if desired.
Author: Gabriele Jones
Gabriele has been married to her husband Daniel for 16 years. Together they have three incredible children - two boys, ages 15 and eight, and a sweet girl who joined the family last summer. She is a full time Pink Cadillac Sales Director for Mary Kay Cosmetics. When she isn’t spending time with family or building her business, she supports her husband who is the Lead Pastor and Planter of Forward Church in Foley.
