'Player Kara' sends me to the kitchen
- Alisha (Kara’s Sis)
- Oct 27
- 5 min read
It’s been a while since I’ve written. I’ve had a bit of writer’s block (or maybe just a lack of energy to even begin.) Not because there isn’t material. Trust me, there is. I get frustrated with myself when I don’t carve out time to update you all.
When my Uncle Don asked recently if writing these updates feels therapeutic for me, I told him the truth: lately it feels like pressure. That question made me realize something, I’ve been letting my own insecurity get in the way. It will never not surprise me when people compliment my writing and lately with all the kind words, I’ve felt reluctant to post again... worried it wouldn’t live up to expectations.
So, I’m working on getting over that. Please tell me I’m a terrible writer the next time you see me. I can’t let perfect be the enemy of good.
Since Kara got her phone last November, every morning has started with a FaceTime call. Sometimes she rings before 6 a.m. and no matter how tired I am, seeing her cheerful face first thing makes it hard to feel total morning dread.
Kara has always been the bossy type, so much so that she earned the nickname Marge in Charge years ago. When she calls, she usually has a list of what she wants to see get done. I’m grateful that she keeps me on task but sometimes I feel like a Sims character being controlled by “Player Kara.” To be honest, she might be better at managing my time than I am.
On a random Sunday months ago, one of her “to-dos” was a chicken casserole. And now... there’s no escaping it.
At the end of each week, we talk about what recipe sounds good. She helps me build the grocery list and when Sunday rolls around she stays on FaceTime from store pickup to grocery unloading to meal prep. Sometimes I pretend I’m hosting a cooking show while I’m on the line with her but I don't need to try that hard to keep her entertained because she won’t hang up until the casserole is prepped... as if she can't risk leaving me unsupervised in the event I won't complete the task. Everything gets done in the morning and I take the dish to her house to bake so she can taste the fruits of our labor (errr, my labor led by her demands) by lunchtime.
I posted a photo of a chicken lasagna last week and got a lot of messages asking for the recipe. Haley reminded me today that I have yet to post it. Truthfully, I had made it three out of the last four weeks (the only break being when Uncle Don and Aunt Carol visited and I smoked a pork butt for pulled pork). So I’ve experimented a bit with variations and this version has become the favorite:
Kara’s Chicken & Stuffing Lasagna
A cozy, creamy mash-up of chicken lasagna and holiday casserole — rich flavor, easy prep.
Ingredients
1 cooked, deboned chicken, cut into small pieces (rotisserie is perfect)
1 stick (½ cup) butter, melted
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
½ block (4 oz) cream cheese, softened
½–1 cup milk or cream (measure with your heart)
1 box instant stuffing mix (chicken flavor)
8 oz fresh mushrooms, washed, sliced and sautéed (baby bellas are my fave)
3 cups fresh spinach, lightly wilted
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
6–9 lasagna noodles, cooked al dente
½ tsp Italian seasoning
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Cook noodles – Boil until al dente, drain, and set aside.
Sauté veggies – In 1 Tbsp butter or olive oil, cook mushrooms until golden. Add spinach and cook just until wilted. Season with salt, pepper and Italian seasoning. Remove from pan.
Make the creamy sauce – In the same pan, whisk together soups, cream cheese, milk, and melted butter until smooth. Stir in chicken.
Prepare stuffing – Make according to package directions; fluff with a fork.
Assemble – Grease a 9x13” pan (I just use a bit of sauce). Layer noodles, half the chicken mixture, half the veggie mix, cheese and a thin layer of stuffing. Repeat once more, finishing with noodles, sauce, cheese and a sprinkle of stuffing crumbs.
Bake – Cover with foil and bake at 350°F for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 15 minutes until bubbly and golden.
Rest & serve – Let sit 10–15 minutes before cutting.
If you’re feeling ambitious and want to make your own sauce, here’s the elevated version. It’s a little more time-consuming and leaves more room for error but the flavor is great!
Homemade Cream Sauce
4 Tbsp butter
1 small onion, finely diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
⅓ cup flour
3 cups milk (anything but skim)
1 cup chicken broth
½ cup heavy cream
½ tsp celery seed
½ tsp thyme (or Italian seasoning)
¼ tsp poultry seasoning
Salt and pepper to taste
4 oz cream cheese
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion; cook until soft. Add garlic; cook 1 minute. Stir in flour and whisk about 1 minute (it’ll look like a thick paste). Slowly whisk in milk, then broth, until smooth and thickened (about 5–7 minutes). Reduce heat to low, add cream, celery seed, thyme and poultry seasoning. Stir in cream cheese and Parmesan until melted and smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
Cooking something comforting on Sundays has become a grounding ritual and even better knowing Kara loves the results.
This week we have a full schedule: a brain MRI on Tuesday, bloodwork and another treatment round on Wednesday and a trip back to Iowa City on Friday for a palliative care consult.
And soon, you’ll see our beautiful star in print! We were honored to have journalist Gretchen Teske visit our home to meet Kara and share her story. I’ll post a link once it’s live.
Cooking together has become our quiet way of holding on to normal, a small ritual that reminds us we can still create something comforting even when life feels unpredictable. Kara keeps me moving, I've been keeping the oven warm and together we're making it through one Sunday (and one casserole) at a time.
If You're New Here
Hi, I’m Alisha, Kara’s sister and biggest advocate. Kara was diagnosed with Stage 4 Triple-Negative Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (TNBC) in December 2024. Her cancer has spread to her bones, liver and other areas, making this an incredibly difficult and uncertain journey.
Despite it all, Kara’s light still shines so brightly. She’s full of love, giggles and endless positivity. This blog is where I share updates on her fight, the highs and lows and the incredible community rallying around her.
Thank you for being here, for your love, support and prayers. We need them more than ever. 💛 And of course, Go Hawks!
Team Kara Support Fund
Your gift helps cover travel, caregiving and comfort-related expenses for Kara’s support team. While Kara cannot receive funds directly, your generosity provides the relief and resources we need to keep showing up with love.
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