Not-so-Genuine Gingerbread

Merry Christmas Eve!

Most of my cooking will take place tomorrow, but I thought I'd throw in another dessert for after dinner tomorrow.

I just used a boxed mix for the gingerbread, but to make it blog-worthy I made my own icing.

What you'll need:

1 cup Powdered Sugar

2/3 Cup Unsalted Butter

1 tsp. Vanilla

Add all ingredients in a mixing bowl.

Mix on high until you reach your desired consistency :)

I took my mixture, and spread it on the cake!

I can't wait to eat this!! More posts to come after tomorrow. 

Happy Holidays!

PUMPKIN SEEDS!!!!

I may be addicted. Good post day!

Happy Halloween :)

So, with Jack-O-Lanterns... comes PUMPKIN SEEDS!

After you clean out the pumpkin guts, rinse them in a colander and spread them out on a cookie sheet.

Sprinkle with salt and put in a 350 degree oven for 15-20 minutes.

Let cool and enjoy. I'm eating them right now. Yep, they're almost gone.

Spectacular Split Pea and Ham

Happy Fall!
It's a completely wonderful stormy day today!
Blowing and raining, and a PERFECT day to curl up with tea, a blanket, and a bowl of soup.
If only I had a great recipe for soup!
OH WAIT!

Split Pea and Ham in the Slow Cooker

What you'll need:
1 Package Green Split Peas
2 Ham Hocks
3 chopped Carrots
3 chopped sticks of Celery
1 chopped Onion
Salt
Pepper
Herbs of your choice (for seasoning... I feel this is really up to the cook. I like Thyme).
5 Cups of Water

Rinse the peas and place in slow cooker. Place ham hocks on top of peas, and add seasoning, carrots, celery, and onions. Cover with water. Cover and cook on high for 5 hours.

When done, peel meat off ham hocks and cut up the larger pieces. 

Soup may dry out, so it's ok to add water to thin it out, just remember to season accordingly.

This soup is really yummy! I love soup days :)

Bangin' Baked Meatballs

Today is my day off, and while I most definitely have things to do with my spare time, I would much rather be in my cozy bed, blogging to my hearts content. As I was going through my food pictures, I found pics from a meal I never blogged! It was so good too, ad very quick!

So, without further ado, here it is!

Baked Meatballs and Mozzarella

What you'll need:
1 lb Ground Beef
1 Egg
Bread Crumbs (about 1/4 cup)
1 Jar Marinara
Shredded Mixed Italian Cheese
Garlic
Italian Seasoning
1 Can Olives
Olive Oil

In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, egg, seasoning, and breadcrumbs.

 Using your clean hands, mix together well.

Roll into 2 in (roughly) balls. Heat up a large frying pan, and coat in a thin layer of olive oil.

When pan is hot, place meat balls in pan, and sear well on all sides.

Make sure meatballs are mostly cooked through (dark brown on the outside, and a solid ball).

In a casserole dish, place meatballs and cover with marinara and sliced olives.

Cover entire dish with cheese mix, and place in a 350 degree oven for 20-30 minutes. 

And there you have it!

Serve alone, or with pasta of your choice. These are AMAZING... I think I need to eat lunch :)

Magnificent Mac and Cheese

This is another Weight Watcher's recipe. I really loved this one. So you should most def try it :)

What you'll need:
12 oz uncooked macaroni, (I used Penne)
1/2 cup(s) fat-free sour cream
12 oz fat-free evaporated milk
8 oz low-fat cheddar or colby cheese, shredded
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1/4 tsp table salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 Tbsp dried bread crumbs
2 Tbsp grated low fat cheese

Cook pasta without added fat or salt; drain and transfer to a large bowl. While pasta is still hot, stir in sour cream; set aside.

Heat milk in a small saucepan over medium heat until tiny bubbles appear just around the edges.

Reduce heat to low, add cheese and simmer until cheese melts, stirring constantly with a wire whisk, about 2 minutes; remove from heat and stir in mustard, salt, and pepper. Add cheese mixture to pasta; mix well. Transfer to a 3-quart casserole dish.

Combine bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese; sprinkle over pasta.

Bake at 350 until top is golden, about 30 minutes.

Penultimate Pumpkin and Pecan Bars

WELCOME FALL!!

I love the fall, and today just happens to be my mom's birthday, so I made this treat. We are also trying to stay healthy and fit, so I got this recipe from weight watchers.

What you'll need:
1 spray(s) cooking spray
15 oz canned pumpkin
12 oz fat-free evaporated milk
1/4 cup(s) fat-free egg substitute (I used one beaten egg)
1/2 cup(s) sugar
4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
18 1/4 oz unprepared white cake mix
1/2 cup(s) (chopped) pecan halves, chopped

Stir pumpkin, milk, egg substitute, sugar and pumpkin pie spice together in a medium bowl until smooth; pour into pan.

Sprinkle dry cake mix over pumpkin mixture and gently press it into pumpkin mixture to moisten.

Sprinkle cake with pecans,

and bake at 350 for 50 minutes.

These are so so SO good!

Rad Ravioli

It's been about a year since I've started this blog! I'm so happy. I am so ADD that I consider it an accomplishment that I've been able to stick with this. Not only that, but also expand!

In celebration of my first year anniversary, I am posting one of my favorite recipes.

Ususally I'd make this with tortellini, but I had a request for ravioli, so here we are!

What you'll need:

1 package 3 cheese ravioli or tortellini
1 package italian cheese mix
1 1/2 cup dry white wine (I used a $5 Pino Grigio)
1 red, yellow, and orange pepper
1 large onion
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
olive oil
3 cloves fresh garlic

Mince the garlic and give your onion a rough chop.
Saute in olive oil over medium high heat.
Chop chicken into 1 inch cubes, and add to the garlic and onions.
Slice the peppers into strips, excluding the seeds and add to chicken mix.
Saute til chicken is cooked through.

Cook ravioli in boiling water until they float to the top.

Add wine, ravioli, and cheese, and stir til equally melted.

Serve and enjoy!

Blissful Burgers!

Hello there! Sorry it's been so long since an update, but my computer crashed, so I had to wait til I could afford a new one.... so here we are!
In honor of this, and spring, I am blogging burgers!

Did I mention my new camera? Nikon D3100.... LOVE it!

What you'll need:

1.5 lb Ground Beef
1 Large Yellow Onion
1 Tomato
1 Package Onion Rolls
Sliced Dill Pickles
Stone Ground Mustard
Mayonnaise
Ketchup

Heat pan to medium and drizzle a coating of olive oil.
Shape ground beef in round shapes and place on grill when heated.

While beef is cooking, slice vegetables to liked thickness.

Flip burgers and cook on the other side.

Place cheese (if desired), and take off heat when the burger has reached your desired "doneness"

Top with condiments and veggies of your choice. (I like everything on my burger!)

There you goooo! NOM!

Perfect Penne

I was shopping with my brother the other day (can you tell I'm living at home again?) and I asked him what he wanted for dinner.
His response: Italian.

.....

k.

So, I really didn't have time to make anything elaborate before rehearsal, so I made my own take on baked Ziti.

It was pretty good :)

What you'll need:
1 box Penne pasta
1 jar Sockaroonie sauce
1 small bag of italian cheese blend
1 tbsp Olive Oil
Salt to taste

Bring water to boil with olive oil and pinch of salt

Add Penne and boil til pasta is tender.

Drain and place pasta back in pan. On medium low heat, add Sockaroonie sauce to the pasta. When stirred well, add half the bag of cheese and stir til melted.

In a 9x13 pan, spread pasta and sauce mixture out evenly, and cover the top with the remaining cheese. 

Place in a 350 degree oven for 20-30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

And you're done!

I loved this, and it made a ton! We're still finishing off the leftovers :) So, it's perfect for potlucks or holidays. Oh! It'd be great for christmas eve!