One Pot Pasta

I think I'm a little late in the game on this one, the one pot pasta trend.  I was skeptical, like most.  This may have been the absolute easiest meal I've ever made, aside from unwrapping a frozen pizza & waiting for the oven to preheat and cutting it up when it's done.

As it turns out, there are nearly a million one pot pasta meals online to chose from.  The idea is to throw everything in the pot and let it all cook.  At once.  Together.  This recipe is fairly basic, extremely simple, and received rave reviews from each member of my family.  Bon Appétit!


12 oz. pasta, linguine or spaghetti
1-15 oz. can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 large sweet onion, cut julienne
4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced (or in my case, from the jar in the fridge)
½ tsp. red pepper flakes
2 tsp. dried oregano leaves
2 large sprigs fresh basil
4½ cups vegetable or chicken broth, not low sodium
2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
salt & pepper to taste

Optional: Parmesan cheese

1. In a dutch oven or braiser, pour olive oil in the bottom of the pan.

2. Add all ingredients to the pot.  Stir as necessary.

3. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and cook for 10 minutes or until pasta is cooked through & liquid has reduced.

Taco Hotdish with Doritos

If you're from Minnesota you know there's nothing like a good hotdish!  And when you combine tacos with a bonanza of dairy products & top it with Doritos you have a recipe for simplistic success.  Thank you Two Maids a Milking for the idea!

1 lb. ground beef
1 pkg. taco seasoning--I didn't have taco seasoning on hand, so I winged it with chili powder, paprika, salt, pepper, garlic powder & red pepper flakes.
1 onion, diced
1-8 oz. can tomato sauce
1-14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can seamless crescent rolls
8 oz. sour cream
1-2 cups shredded cheese
¾ bag Doritos

1. Brown ground beef & season with taco seasoning or seasoning substitutes.  Add onions, tomato sauce & diced tomatoes to browned meat & allow to cook slightly; add a small amount of water if needed.

2. Spread crescent rolls onto the bottom of a glass 9x13" baking dish or cake pan.

3. Layer: meat, sour cream, shredded cheese & crushed Doritos.

4. Bake for 30 minutes @ 350º.

We topped ours with taco sauce when serving.

Would also be good with shredded lettuce, and other misc. taco toppings.... olives, tomatoes, etc.

Marshmallow Mashed Up Dessert

Lauren has really been into cooking and creating her own recipes this summer.  A half-used up jar of Marshmallow Fluff proved to be just the inspiration she needed for this dandy little dessert.

You will need:

Mrss Mllos
ice.cram
torolit
flss

Translated, that Means:

Marshmallow Fluff
Regular Ice Cream
Chocolate Syrup
1 Fish, put a little piece inside
If you want, Cashews

Directions:
1. Put Marshmallow Fluff in a bowl.
2. The ice cream can go in the bowl, too.
3. And then you put chocolate syrup on the ice cream.
4. And then you add the fishes.
And then 5. Stir it up. Then if you want cashews in it you can.
6. And then at the end you put it in the freezer. Five minutes.
7. And then you take it out, and then you stir it up some more.
8. And then you put it again five minutes in the freezer again.
9. And then that's all.  Then you can have it!

Stuffed Pepper Soup

I honestly didn't know how well this soup would go over, but it was a hit.  Of course, anything with tomatoes is a sure winner with my girls.  I actually halved this recipe tonight, which was more than enough for the girls and I, with a couple of helpings worth left over.  This recipe is souper healthy & souper easy!

8 oz. lean ground beef
28 oz. can of tomato sauce
15 oz. can diced, petite tomatoes
½ cup cooked rice
2 medium green peppers, diced
2 beef bouillon cubes
2 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 tsp. garlic
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
water to thin to desired consistency

1. Brown beef & drain.

2. Add remaining ingredients to soup pot with the beef.  Bring to a boil.

3. Reduce heat & simmer 30 minutes or until green peppers are tender.

Serves 10

Variations

This can easily be cooked in the crockpot, adding the rice shortly before serving.

Next time I may include onion & a red pepper to give a bolder flavor. 

Pilgram Hat Cookies

I can't take credit for this clever cookie, but I can tell you that it turned into a fantastic way to teach counting & division.  The girls had a blast putting together these simple festive creations.

Keebler Fudge Stripes Original Cookies
Small Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
White Vanilla Frosting
Yellow Food Coloring
M&Ms

1. Place desired amount of frosting in a bowl, add about 3-5 drops of yellow food coloring & stir until thoroughly mixed.

2. Lay out Keebler cookies on a work surface stripe side down.

3. Generously paint the large surface of the peanut butter cup with frosting and nestle onto the chocolate surface of the cookie.

4. Add a dollop of frosting to the base of the peanut butter cup & rest one M&M with the 'm' side facing the frosting.

Happy Thanksgiving, Pilgrims!

Rhubarb Muffins

One of my dad's favorite things about having us home in the spring is when I raid Grandma's rhubarb stash on the farm.  This recipe for Rhubarb Muffins is courtesy of my Aunt Bonnie.  These were a hit with everyone this morning, especially with Dad.  

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

 

¾ cup brown sugar

⅓ cup Canola oil

1 egg

½ cup sour milk (add ¼ tsp. vinegar to milk to sour)

1 tsp. vanilla

½ tsp. baking soda

1½ cup flour

1 cup rhubarb (or other fruit)

½ cup nuts or sunflower seeds (optional)

Mix first seven ingredients well.  Fold in fruit & nuts.

*Topping:

¼ cup brown sugar

½ tsp. cinnamon

¼ cup nuts or sunflower seeds (optional)

Mix these three ingredients together, and top on muffins before baking.

Bake @ 325° for 25-30 minutes.

Makes 1 dozen muffins.

*Depending on how heavily you coat the muffins with the topping mixture, there should be enough to make two dozen muffins.

Making a Sandwich

Today I decided it was time the girls made their own sandwiches, or at least learn how.  The following is their interpretation of their first adventure in sandwich making....

Lauren's Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich

You will need:

• Peanut Butter
• Jelly
• Bread
• Knife
• Cutting Board

1. You get a sandwich.
2. Peanut butter.... you put it on your bread.
3. Jelly.... you put it on your bread.
4. Then I cut.
5. Then I ate it.

"It taste wonderful."--Lauren

Abby's Peanut Butter Honey Sandwich

You will need:

• Bread
• Peanut Butter
• Honey
• a Knife
• a Cutting Board

1. Get a piece of bread out of the bag.
2. Use a knife with peanut butter.
3. Squirt honey on sandwich.
4. Fold it.
5. Cut.

"It tasted like honey."--Abby