Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Pasta E Falioli

Beans and Pasta? This was pretty much my husband's response when I told him the menu this week. I went ahead and made it since I had heard so much about it, well he loved it, and so did I. This will stay in our rotation for sure! (Yes we already changed out menu for the week, but I forgot I needed to go to the store to buy the ingredients for the crock pot meal this week, so I'll make it tomorrow while I'm busy on house stuff!)





PASTA E FAGLIOLI
Credit: Smells Like Home
by way of Full Bellies, Happy Kids


2 tablespoons EVOO
1 medium onion, diced (we didn't use as we don't like onion)
4 strips bacon (uncooked and cut into 1/2 inch pieces)
2 cloves garlic, minced (used 2 tsp. minced garlic)
3 cups jarred or homemade spaghetti sauce *I used 1 Jar of spaghetti sauce*

1 (15oz) can cannellini beans (rinsed and drained)

2 tablespoons grated pecorino-romano cheese, plus more for garnish *substituted Parmesan cheese for the pecorino-romano*

1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dried oregano
salt and pepper (pinches to taste)
1 lb ditalini pasta or other small tubular pasta (i.e., elbows) *I one box of penne*




In a deep stockpot or dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium-high heat then saute onions for 3 minutes. Add bacon and a pinch of salt and pepper, and cook for 5 minutes, occasionally stirring to keep the bacon from burning.

Add garlic and cook for 2 minutes. Turn heat to medium-low, add sauce, beans, 2 tbsp pecorino-romano cheese, garlic powder, oregano, and a pinch of salt and pepper.

Stir to combine well and cook for 15 min. While sauce mixture is cooking, cook pasta until tender and drain well. Add pasta to sauce mixture and combine well.

Turn heat to low and allow pasta and sauce flavors to “mingle” for 5 minutes. Serve with grated cheese and crusty bread, if desired.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Weekly Menu 7/27-8/2

Monday: chicken enchilada casserole
Tuesday: breakfast for dinner
Wednesday: Slow cooker swiss steak
Thursday: PASTA E FAGLIOLI
Friday: Pepperoni Loaf
Saturday: Hopefully my hubby's parents and siblings will be here and we'll eat as a family
Sunday: Grilled steaks with homefries

As you see there are a couple of recipes from the same new blog I found called Full Bellies, Happy Kids. She has some great things on there!

Stolen Quiz

Stolen from "Be a Hip Chick", a very cute little blog I came across today.

8 Things I’m Looking Forward To:

1. Our BBQ on the 8th.
2. My sister and grandpa coming in to town in the next week!
3. cooking dinners. I need to get back in to planning meals out!
4. Picking back up some crochet needles, as I'm wanting to learn how to crochet afghans!
5. Kevin's parents and hopefully siblings coming in to town this weekend.
6. My fast approaching 30th birthday.
7. Getting a trip planned to Texas this fall!
8. Having the rest of my disability go through.

8 Things I Did Yesterday:

1. played on the computer
2. watched t.v.
3. made dinner
4. cleaned up the scrapbook room
5. finished one book and started another
6. played with my puppy
7. watered my plants on the deck
8. having some quality time with my hubby

8 Things I Wish I Could Do:

1. be as energetic as i was before MS entered my life
2. craft something new everyday
3. shop everyday
4. make a perfect wedding cake
5. have everything that I put in my yard grow
6. worry less
7. love all vegetables
8. see a cure for MS in my lifetime

8 Shows I Watch:

1. Hell's Kitchen
2. Project Runway
3. Top Chef
4. Next Food Network Star
5. Real World
6. Big Brother
7. Survivor
8. Design Star

8 Favorite Fruits:

1. peaches
2. grapes
3. apples
4. blackberries
5. blueberries
6. plums
7. strawberries
8. raspberries

8 Places I’d Like To Travel To:

1. Greece
2. England
3. Jamaica
4. east coast
5. Italy
6. Texas
7. Alaska
8. Montana

8 Places I’ve Lived:

1. Belton, MO
2. Mesquite, TX
3. and Belton, MO...yep pretty much born here, live here
4
5
6
7
8

8 People I’m Tagging:
Nobody, just feel free to steal it from me!

For Today

As I grow and evolve I am learning more about myself and what I want my life to be. I am so much more than just a cook, I am a bargain hunter, a scraper, a crafter and a reader as well as a decorator, a lover of colors, the "hostest with the mostest", I am also a wife, a daughter, a sister, an aunt and a friend, and you can't forget a mommy to an 85 pound lab mix who is my best bud.

As I was going through some blogs to find new recipes today I stumbled across a wonderful site that is all about living the simple life, which is something I strive for. I am going to start participating in "The Simple Woman's Daybook" and will have new posts every Monday.

(and I promise to get back in cooking, I made an enchilada casserole last night that my hubby just loved!)




FOR TODAY July 28, 2009...
Outside my window...it is a rainy, rainy day.

I am thinking...how can it by July and be COLD in the house, temps in the 70's what is going on!

I am thankful for...a wonderful husband who makes me smile everyday! oh and makes my life a lot easier.

From the kitchen...I made some easy chocolate chip muffins this morning to have with my morning coffee, it was lovely. For dinner it's breakfast for dinner as I am not going to the store until tomorrow.

I am wearing...cotton shorts and a tee shirt as I had to finish some touch up painting and clean the wood floors.

I am creating...a beautiful home. Our front room is almost done, we have a few finishing touches and it will be ready for the big reveal.

I am going...to lunch with an old friend tomorrow that I have not seen in like 8 years and I'm really excited about it!

I am reading..."A Three Dog Life" by Abigail Thomas. So far it's great my BFF let me borrow it thinking it would be a book I would like!

I am hoping...everyone can make it to our BBQ as it has been such a hard long year and it will be nice to be surrounded by our loved ones.

I am hearing...my dogs paws on the hardwood floors, and her lapping up her water.

Around the house...I am feeling accomplished, I have used Murphys on our woodwork/floors, painted, cleaned the kitchen, and worked on the scrapbook room.

One of my favorite things...is shopping! I am so looking forward to my sister being home and getting to introduce her to the awesomeness that is Good JuJu in Kansas City!

A few plans for the rest of the week: Lunch, grocery shopping, finishing up the house, cooking/baking and getting ready for family being in town the next 2 weeks.

Here is picture that I am sharing...Picture of me and Kevin from our summer vacation to Branson!

This was found on "The Simple Womans Day Book" to see others day books click the link!
If you want to do your own click this link.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Thank You!

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone out there who follows my blog and has prayed or crossed their fingers for us, we have known for a couple of weeks and had the money actually come through last week, but my Social Security came through. This is so bittersweet for me as it means I am officially disabled, but man it's sure nice to be caught up on bills and be able to go shopping! We also got to start on our re-do of our living/dining room now that we have the money to do it! Here are pics of it!

This is also giving us the opportunity to go on a mini-vacation this weekend. It will just be to Branson for a couple of days but it will be a nice getaway. Once everything else works out we will plan a big trip to Texas to visit family in Waco, San Angelo and South Padre. A few days on the beach in Padre sounds like the perfect end to all of this mess, oh and seeing my papa!

So to everyone out there, thank you and much love!
xoxoxo

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Chocolate Monster Cookies


I was looking for a Monster Cookie recipe without peanut butter to make for a friend's 4th of July shin-dig. I came across this one on bakeorbreak's blog and OMG it is my new fave cookie, it's chocolatey, crisp, and oh so good. The only change I made was I used 1 cup of M&M Baking pieces and the mini Hershey Kisses baking pieces. You can pretty much change out these for anything you would like!

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 & 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 & 1/2 cups rolled oats
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup peanut butter chips
1 cup coarsely chopped cashews
Preheat oven to 350°.

Beat butter until smooth. Add sugars, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Beat until combined. Add eggs, one a time, mixing well after each addition. Add vanilla and beat until combined. Gradually add flour and cocoa powder until just combined. Stir in oats, chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, and cashews.

Drop dough by 1/4-cup portions onto lined baking sheets. Place cookies about 3 inches apart.

Bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until done. Let stand for 1-2 minutes on baking sheet. Then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Makes about 24 cookies.