Dinner tonight will be...

Today I had a painful filling done, so I wanted something easy and yummy, and soft to chew. So, tonight we are having spaghetti carbonara! I have a recipe that is not so creamy of a sauce, but my kids like creamy, so I am combining several recipes. I hope it turns out okay!

1 lb pasta
heavy cream (1/4 to 1/2 cup)
eggs (3-4)
bacon or pancetta (I am using bacon)
1 tsp evoo
1 tsp red pepper flakes
4 garlic cloves
2 tbsp chopped fresh basil
3/4 cup to 1 cup romano, parmesian, and asiago cheese
salt and pepper to taste

Cook spaghetti or pasta al dente.

Heat a saucepan with EVOO over medium heat. add the bacon and the garlic and saute until it is brown and crisp. Add the red pepper flakes and allow them to cook for a minute or so.
In a large bowl, combine the cream, cheese, eggs, and basil to blend.

Drain the pasata, toss with the egg and cream mixture, then add the bacon, garlic, pepper mixture.

Serve immediately, with additional grated cheese if you like.

I hope it turns out well!! I may have to edit after I make it!

One year...

Today I am reflecting back on the year. We have been in Florida now for one year and the kids are soon to start back to school. I delivered a casserole this morning for a back to school breakfast for the middle school teachers. I cannot believe my baby is going to be in sixth grade! I am THRILLED with the school she will be attending. I am thankful for the Lord giving me the wisdom to investigate this school boundary when house hunting... I know it is His guidance that gave us the wisdom to select this house! I was thinking back on all we have done to make this house a home.... We have put in wood flooring, granite countertops, painted the outside, landscaped, put in all new light fixtures and fans... it is quite incredible the difference in our home today from one year ago...

Out all day, and dinner is almost ready!

I am a fan of the crock pot, but some things just don't go as planned when I use it... this recipe turns out EVERY time!!

Crock pot soft tacos

4 chicken breasts
1 package of taco seasoning (tonight I made my own, we will see how it turns out!)
1 can corn
1 can black beans
1 can rotel

Rub chicken with taco seasoning and place in crock pot. Put corn, black beans, and rotel on top. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours and high for 4 hours.
When chicken is cooked, take out and cut into shreds. Serve with either taco shells or flour tortillas. I serve with salsa and sour cream, and cheese... MMMMM good!! I use leftover chicken on salads for the week :)

This dinner gets a "Thank you God" :)

So, last night was Ash Wednesday. In the tradition of my mother, I made open faced tuna sandwiches. Needless to say, Carly and Jack were not terribly fond, but ate anyway. So, it is no wonder when I told Carly what was for dinner tonight, she looked to the heavens and said out loud, "Thank you God!! You answered my prayers!"

Here is another favorite in our house...

Ham Casserole

1 package frozen shredded hash brown potatoes (the recipe calls for 24 oz, tonight I am using a 32 oz bag from Target)

1/3-1/2 cup butter

1 c. shredded monterey jack cheese
1 c. shredded hot pepper jack cheese
1 c. diced ham (I always use more!!)
1/2 c. half and half
2 eggs
1/4 tsp. salt
pepper to taste

Press thawed has browns into 9 x 13 casserole dish. Brush with melted butter. Bake a 425 for 25 minutes.
Remove from oven and sprinkle with cheeses and ham evenly.
Beat half and half with eggs, salt, and pepper. Pour over cheeses and ham. Bake uncovered at 350 for 30-40 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

Enjoy!!

Science Fair and Poppyseed chicken

Maddie is super excited about the science fair viewing tonight. I myself am scrambling to get dinner ready. Tonight's dinner is a favorite around here. Although not as healthy as some others I make, still yummy, and EVERYONE eats it. A friend of mine (Ashley) gave me this one! I have adapted the way I cook the chicken, but the rest is a Green original!!

Poppyseed chicken

2-4 chicken breast

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 8 0z sour cream

2 packages ritz crackers

1-2 sticks of butter

poppyseeds

Cook chicken. I pound it flat and season it with Emerils Original Essence. Then I cook it on the Forman. I use 2 Costco chicken breasts. Or you can cut it up and boil. When it is done cooking, cut it into chunks. Mix chicken, soups, and sour cream. In a saucepan, melt butter and crumble crackers. Spread chicken mixture into 13 x 9 inch pan, cover with cracker mixture, and sprinkle with poppyseeds.

Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes. Crust should be brown and center should bubble.

YUMMY!!!

Sunday morning breakfasts

Perhaps my favorite morning... Sunday. My morning starts with Jack crawling into bed to snuggle with Mommy, which always results in tickling and giggles. We roll out of bed together, and off Mommy goes for a walk with the dogs, a new ritual since the move, as we have no fence yet!
Then, it is BREAKFAST time! I make some sort of homemade breakfast every Sunday. This morning, it is.... DONUTS!!

1 can pillsbury buttermilk biscuits
canola oil

Pour enough oil to cover about 2 inches in the bottom of a heavy pan. Heat the oil to 375. DO NOT LEAVE UNATTENDED!

While oil is heating, open and lay all the biscuits on a flat surface (I used a cutting board. Flatten the biscuits slightly. Use a small circle cutter to cut a whole in the middle of the biscuit. Keep the holes because you can fry them too! Let the dough rest for 10 minutes before frying.

Carefully place the donut holes in the oil. cook for about 1 minute, or until golden brown. Using a slotted spoon, carefully take donuts out of the oil and put onto paper towels to drain and cool. Then you can toss the donut holes in either powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar. Do the same with the donuts. You can also coat them in YUMMY chocolate :)

Chocolate icing: (From the Bos' kitchen!)

Melt 1 stick butter and 2/3 c. of Cocoa and a pinch of salt until mixed together. Add about 3 cups powdered sugar. Gradually add a little hot water and stir. Add a little more water each time until you get the consistency that you like!

Now, for my favorite part. Sunday morning FAMILY breakfast. This is a time I wouldn't trade for anything in the WHOLE world!!!

Usually we follow breakfast with church. Because my sister is coming in today, and we are going to Wonderworks in Downtown, we went last night. Looking forward to a fun family day!!!

Sister is coming!!

Wow, it has been months since I posted! Well, this weekend, we are looking forward to our second set of guests, or guest this time, my sister! The kids are SOOO excited!!

Today I sent a recipe email around... since I know noone will actually send me recipes, I thought, well, maybe I should start a post on the blog... what's for dinner!

Tonight, I am making spaghetti...
But last night I made fish and quinoa... we LOVE quinoa around here!

I do have some favorite recipes though, too! Here is what I sent for MY recipe...

White Enchilda casserole

1 Bag tortilla chips
2 cans cream of chicken (sometimes I use one chicken/one mushroom)
1 pint sour cream
4 oz chopped green chilies
2-3 cups chopped cooked chicken (I love to cook on the forman first!)
1/2 large onion chopped
1 package longhorn cheese *colby jack :)

Preheat oven to 350.

Mix together soups, chicken, sour cream, onion, and chicken. In 3 quart dish layer soups, chicken, and cheese, in that order, making two layers. Bake 350 for 30 minutes. Makes 8 servings.

Yummo :)