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27 June 2010

Pasta Italia

This is a pasta that came from my brother in law Pasquale. He brought it home with him from Italy, and we love it! It is a really easy fun thing to make especially in the summer.

Ingredients:

1 lb spiral pasta (we use wheat but whatever floats your boat)
1 loaf fresh mozzarella (you can find 2 loafs at costco or you can usually find it near the deli in the grocery store)
4 medium roma tomatoes
2 cans black olives
olive oil
salt

Directions:

Boil pasta, while pasta is boiling dice the mozz and tomatoes and put in a large mixing bowl. Add olives (whole), then add pasta once cooked to desired softness and drained (if still hot run cold water over so it won't melt the mozz). Lightly coat with olive oil and then salt to taste (the salt brings out the taste in the mozz and the tomatoes so don't be stingy!)

All of the amounts of these ingredients can be varied, like less olives if you have olive dislikers in your fam or more mozz or whatever I just try to put an even amount of everything in.

I try to make lots so there are leftovers cuz its yummy that way too!

Enjoy!

26 June 2010

Feta Sun-Dried Tomato Turkey Burger Sliders

Recipe source: picky-palate.com

I always trust Picky Palate to come through.  She is always posting yummy recipes, and I love this one.  They were so cute, too.  I found mini hamburger buns at my grocery store, so hopefully they are anywhere.  We paired these little sliders with oven roasted corn on the cob.  Tis the season!

I learned a great tip for shaping burgers from savorysweetlife.com (one of my favorite sites!).  Find a jar lid that is slightly larger than your hamburger bun.  Lay a sheet of plastic wrap over it, then press the meat right into the lid.  Pop it out and you have a perfectly shaped burger.  Also, press down and make an indentation in the middle to keep it from getting really thick in the middle.  For these little sliders, the lid to my mayo jar was the perfect size.  A quarter cup of the burger mix was just the right amount. 

2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 lb ground turkey
1/2 Cup crumbled feta cheese
1/4 Cup sun-dried tomatoes, jarred in olive oil
1/2 Cup fresh baby spinach leaves, chopped
Pinch of Kosher salt, fresh cracked pepper and Lawry’s Garlic Salt with Parsley

Sun-Dried Tomato Mayonnaise
1 Cup mayonnaise
2 Tablespoons sun-dried tomatoes, packed in olive oil, drained
Baby hamburger buns or dinner rolls, split and warmed
2 Cups fresh baby spinach leaves

1. Heat oil into a large skillet over medium heat. Place turkey, feta, sun dried tomato, spinach and seasonings into a mixing bowl. Mix until just combined. Form 1/4 Cup little patties and place onto a cookie sheet. Once all are formed, place batches in hot skillet. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side or until golden brown and cooked through.


2. Place mayonnaise and tomatoes into a bowl; mix to combine. Spread over insides of warm rolls. Layer bottom roll with spinach and the burger. Close with top roll.

20 June 2010

Milky Way Cake

Recipe source: Sunday Baker @ comeandpeek.blogspot.com

I made this cake to go along with Russell's birthday dinner.  It was so, SO good.  Beware, though.  This cake is pretty sweet.  I had no problem though, as I could eat a bag of sugar and be fine.  Just kidding, but seriously, this cake was delicious.  We paired it with Heath bar flavored ice cream...  YUM!



Milky Way Cake

1 bag Milky Way mini candy bars (you'll need 2 bags total if you make the icing below)
2-1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1 stick butter (real)
1 c. finely chopped walnuts
1/2 t. baking soda
2 c. granulated sugar
4 large eggs
1 c. buttermilk
1-1/2 t. pure vanilla extract


Icing
20 Milky Way mini candy bars
1 stick butter
1 c. powdered sugar (may need more)
1-3 T. milk

For the cake:
On low heat, melt the stick of butter with the candy bars (the entire bag). Melt them slowly or the butter will boil and scorch the chocolate. Melt it until all of the nougat from the candy bar is melted and it's smooth and creamy (use a whisk). Set aside for a few minutes to cool a bit.

Mix together the flour, soda, and walnuts; set aside. In a mixer, beat eggs well. Beat in the sugar. Slowly add the flour mixture until well combined. Add the buttermilk and vanilla, mixing well. Fold in the candy bar mixture and pour into a greased/floured bundt pan or 2 round pans. Bake on middle rack at 325 degrees for about an hour, checking with a toothpick for doneness. Cool completely.

For the icing:
Melt the candy bars and butter over low heat. Pour into mixer bowl and slowly beat in the powdered sugar and milk, adding more powdered sugar if you want it thicker, more milk if you want it creamier. Pour the icing over the cooled cake and add any remaining cut-up candy bars over the top.

16 June 2010

White Chicken Enchiladas

These are definitely not a regular on our menu.  Once you glance through the line-up of ingredients, you'll understand why!  But occasionally we splurge. Like for birthdays!  Russell requested these for his birthday dinner.  We had coconut cilantro rice to go along with these babies (minus the cilantro for the kiddos). 

5 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded (I cooked my chicken in the crockpot on high for about 5 hours, then shredded it.  You don't even need to put anything in with the chicken, just season with salt and pepper.)
8 oz cream cheese (I used low-fat)
1 1/2 cups sour cream (Again, used low-fat)
20 ounces green enchilada sauce
Flour tortillas (I was able to get 16 out of this recipe.)
1 1/2 lbs monterey jack cheese, shredded
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed (optional)
Chopped cilantro (optional)

In a saucepan over medium heat, stir together cream cheese, sour cream, and enchilada sauce until cream cheese is melted and smooth.

Spray 2 9x13 pans lightly with cooking spray.  Fill tortillas with sauce, chicken, cheese, and beans.  Roll and place side by side in pan.  If you have any remaining chicken or beans, sprinkle over top of enchiladas.  Spread remaining sauce over enchiladas and sprinkle with remaining cheese. 

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, uncovered.  Sprinkle cilantro over top if desired.

14 June 2010

Just like Carrabbas Chicken Bryan

Recipe source: thepioneerwoman.com/tasty-kitchen

Okay, so I've never had Chicken Bryan at Carrabbas.  This was just the title of recipe given, but I can say that this was dang good.  Make this.  You won't be sorry!

FOR SAUCE

2 Tablespoons Butter
1 Tablespoon Finely Chopped Garlic
1 Tablespoon Finely Chopped Yellow Onion
½ cups Chicken Broth
¼ cups Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice (I did not use fresh.)
10 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter, Cut Into Small Pieces (if you use salted, be sure to leave the rest of the salt out, or else it will be TOO salty!)
1-½ cup Finely Sliced Sun-dried Tomatoes
¼ cups Chopped Fresh Basil
½ teaspoons Kosher Salt
½ teaspoons White Pepper
_____

FOR CHICKEN:
6 whole Chicken Breasts
1 Tablespoon To 2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
½ teaspoons Salt
½ teaspoons Black Pepper
8 ounces, weight Goat Cheese, Softened To Room Temperature (I found this over by the deli, where you can get specialty cheeses.)

For the Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce:


Place butter, garlic, and onion in large skillet over medium heat and saute until garlic and onion are tender and transparent.

Add chicken broth and lemon juice. Increase heat to medium-high and simmer to reduce by half.

Reduce heat to low. Add cold butter one piece at a time. Add sun-dried tomatoes, basil, salt, and pepper and stir to blend ingredients. Set aside.

For the chicken:


Heat some olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper, then place on skillet. Cook evenly on both sides until cooked through

Divide goat cheese evenly between chicken breasts, placing some on each breast for the last two minutes of cooking.

To serve, place cooked chicken on serving platter and spoon Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce over chicken.

12 June 2010

Peanut Butter and Maple Granola

Recipe source: cookingwithkrista.blogspot.com

I am not a big fan of oatmeal, but I do like things that have oats in them.  I've stumbled across granola, and I really love it.  I eat it my smoothie that I have every day, and now I love having it with yogurt and a banana for breakfast or a snack, too.  Russell and the kids like it with yogurt also, but they like eating it as cereal, as well.  I really like Special K's new granola they just put out.  However, typically granola can be pretty spendy.  I have been interested in making it so I wouldn't have to buy it, but the recipes I've seen either have a ton of ingredients or they have ingredients I don't want to use, like wheat germ or something.  This recipe came up in my google reader, and I immediately saved it to try.  I'm so glad I did. We all LOVE it. 

The recipe says to use regular ol' peanut butter, which would be GREAT, but my grocery store has cinnamon raisin peanut butter.  I thought it would be yummy, and it was!  The same brand also has a white chocolate peanut butter and a dark chocolate peanut butter that you can bet I will be trying soon in this recipe!  Also, the recipe makes quite a bit, so you don't have to make it very often.


6 cups rolled oats (not quick-cooking or instant)
2 cups chopped nuts (I used chopped pecans)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, or to taste
Dash salt
1 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup peanut butter


Preheat the oven to 300F. (I ended up having to raise the temp to 350 towards the end, because it was taking too long to cook.)  Put a 9x13 inch roasting pan (you will need one with high sides) over medium-low heat (put the pan over 2 burners if it's convenient). Add the oats and cook, stirring occasionally, until they begin to change color and become fragrant, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the nuts and continue to cook, stirring frequently, for 2 minutes. Add the cinnamon, salt and maple syrup, 1/2 cup peanut butter and put in the oven. Bake for 20 minutes, stirring once or twice so the peanut butter doesn't burn.


Cool on a rack, continuing to stir once in a while until the granola reaches room temperature. Transfer to a sealed container and store in the refrigerator; it will keep indefinitely.

10 June 2010

White Velvet Sugar Cookies

Recipe source: melskitchencafe.com

This is my very favorite sugar cookie recipe.  It is so delicious.  Delicious enough to eat without frosting, although so, so good with frosting, too. :-) 

One other thing:  My best friend when baking is parchment paper.  Lay some down on your cookie sheet, and you will always be able to get your cookies off easily!

2 cups butter, softened
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
2 cups sugar
2 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 1/2 - 4 ¾ cups flour

Cream butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy. Add sugar, egg yolks and vanilla; mix well. Gradually add flour. The dough will be VERY soft; don’t worry, it gets firmer after chilling. Cover and chill two hours or until firm. Roll out on floured surface to ¼ inch thickness. Cut into shapes; place on greased baking sheets (or use parchment paper). Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until set (but not browned). Cool 5 minutes. Place on wire racks to cool. Frost as desired.

07 June 2010

Pizza Rolls

Recipe source: sisterscafe.blogspot.com

Another kid-friendly recipe comin' at ya.  All of these recipes have been kid-friendly, but I've loved them, too!  This one is especially good, because it is so flexible.  You can change it up really easily according to your own tastes.

For the kiddos, I used pepperoni and cheese in the rolls.  For mine I did half with turkey pepperoni, ham, olives, and cheese, and half with low-fat cream cheese, shredded chicken (you could use any chicken), artichokes, and cheese.  They were SO good!  I think it would be yummy to do pineapple and ham or maybe barbecue chicken.  Maybe next time!  Also, the recipe says to use a homemade pizza dough (I used this one.), but you could use a thawed loaf of Rhodes dough, too. I love Rhodes!!

My favorite tip for rolling out dough like this is to lightly grease your countertop and rolling pin with crisco.  This makes the dough stick a little and makes it much easier to roll the dough out without it shrinking back on you.  I just stick my hand in a small ziploc and use that as a "glove" to grease with.  Works great!

You can go here to see pictures of the process and of the finished product.  With this recipe, I think it helps to have a visual. :-)  Someday, I would really love to have a good camera and a good lesson on photography.



pizza dough
mozzarella cheese, shredded or cubed
pepperoni, cut into fourths (I used the mini-pepperonis.)
Whatever toppings you'd like to stuff your rolls with!

Roll pizza dough out into a large rectangle. Using a pizza cutter, cut into 12 pieces. (One time I made this, I got 12 out of the dough.  Another time, I got 16.)  Layer the toppings in the center of each square of dough; about 2-3 Tb total of toppings on each. Now stretch and fold the dough around the toppings, pinching to seal edges. This is the tricky part - the more toppings you use, the harder it gets to tuck them all within the dough! (fyi: pepperoni and cheese or ham and pineapple are much easier, as you can imagine.) Now place seam side down in a lightly greased casserole dish or glass baking dish. Brush with melted butter (I used spray butter) and sprinkle with garlic salt. (I used Lawry's garlic salt with parsley.) Bake in a 400 degree oven for 25-30 minutes or until rolls are light brown. Serve with your favorite marinara sauce for dipping.

05 June 2010

Choc.Chip Pancake Bites

Recipe Source: bakerella on thepioneerwoman.com/tasty-kitchen

Here's another kid-friendly recipe that I tried in the absence of dad.  The first time I tried these didn't actually go very well.  I KNEW I had a bag of mini-chocolate chips, so I didn't add them to my grocery list.  Mysteriously, I could not find the bag anywhere when I began making these on the appointed night.  Frustrating!  What I did have was a bag of mini m&ms.  So I tried those....bad idea!!  Once I stirred them into the batter, the colors all bled together, and the batter turned a muddy swirl color.  Then while baking, the m&ms all sunk to the bottom and stayed in the bottom of the pan when I took the pancake bites out.  So, DON'T follow my bad example and be sure to use mini chocolate chips for this recipe!  The original recipe calls for regular milk chocolate chips, so those would work, too.

These were a big hit at our house. (More so the second time around.)  The recipe says to use maple syrup for dipping, but we loved ours dipped in strawberry yogurt.  The strawberry and chocolate go really well together!  The first time around we had these with strawberry yogurt fruit salad.  The second time we had them with peanut butter maple granola over vanilla yogurt and bananas.  (I'll share the granola recipe soon.  It is SO good!!)


1 cup Flour
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
½ teaspoons Baking Soda
¼ teaspoons Salt
2 Tablespoons Sugar
⅔ cups Buttermilk (You can make your own buttermilk by putting 2 tsp white vinegar or lemon juice in a measuring cup. Add enough skim milk to make 2/3 cup. Let sit for 5 minutes.)
1 whole Egg
2 Tablespoons Pure Maple Syrup (I bet you could substitute pancake syrup, but I haven't tried it.)
2 Tablespoons Melted Butter
½ cups Mini Chocolate Chips
More Maple Syrup or Strawberry yogurt For Dipping

 
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.


Generously grease a 24 cup mini muffin pan with nonstick spray.

Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar in a medium bowl. Sift together with a wire whisk. In another bowl, stir buttermilk, egg, maple syrup and melted butter until just combined. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir until combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Reserve a few chips to sprinkle on the top of muffins before placing in the oven.

Bake for 8-9 minutes.

Let cool slightly and remove from the pan. You may need to use a toothpick around the edges to separate the pancake muffins from the pan.

Serve immediately with more warmed butter if you like and/or a small bowl of maple syrup for dipping.