Fettucine Alfredo w/ Chicken

I got this recipe out of a book that is supposed to be restaurant copy-cats. This is supposed to be a copy-cat of Olive Garden's fettuccine alfredo. Since I've never had their fettuccine alfredo, I can't tell you that it tastes the same, what I can tell you is that it tastes really good!

Ingredients:

8 oz. cream cheese, cubed

3/4 cup gated Parmesan cheese (1/2 cup is plenty)

1/2 cup butter or margarine

1/2 cup milk

16 oz. fettuccine noodles, cooked & drained

chicken (optional)

Directions:

*if you have chosen to add chicken, which I did, cook completely prior to starting sauce. I brushed six chicken tenders with olive oil and seasoned with Johnny's garlic seasoning (from Costco). Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

1. In a medium saucepan combine cream cheese, Parmesan, butter, and milk. Stir constantly over medium heat until smooth. Toss over pasta.

Happy Valentine's Day

Hugs & Kisses

Happy Valentine's Day! I thought I'd just share the banner I made. I purchased these letters at JoAnn's, (I'm sure you've all seen these there), they were actually in the Clearance isle, my favorite, and they were X's and Q's that I converted into O's! After all who wants X's and Q's right? I do! Just something simple and fun. I just threaded them on some pink ribbon I already had.

Embellished Apron....by request

I received a request a few weeks ago that I embellish a store bought apron. I bought this apron at Walmart for $2.99, it also comes in a canvas color as well.

*Always wash the apron before adding any embellishments.

So I decided to start of with a monogram. I freehanded a letter M onto a piece of Steam-A-Seam (can be purchased at any craft store). You can also trace onto the Steam-A-Seam as well. I then cut it out and followed the directions on the package. I did the same for the little birdies as well. I thought the apron still needed something...so I decided a pocket! I am going to use this apron as my craft apron so a pocket would be handy to keep scissors and pens in. I just zig-zag stitched the pocket on.

I think all in all, I made this for under $4.00! I already had the red dotted fabric and the Steam-A-Seam, so $3.00 for the apron and .75 cents for the fat quarter of floral fabric. Not Bad!

Thanks for the request Monica! I really enjoyed making this. If anyone ever has any requests, let me know, I'd be glad to help!

Before & After....Mirror

BEFORE AFTER

Sorry, these pictures didn't turn out to great. I got this mirror second hand for $15 and gave it a little make-over. I sanded and primed it then gave it a few coats of Sugar Egg Pink by Martha Stewart. I am doing a shabby princess theme for my little girl's room so the worn and refinished look is what I'm going for. This just happens to be the first piece I've actually finished. I still have the bed, dresser, hutch, and night stand to go....although, they won't be pink. Pictures of those to come.

Lasagna

Ingredients:
1 pound spicy Italian sausage
3/4 pound lean ground beef
1/2 cup minced onion
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
2 (6.5 ounce) cans canned tomato sauce
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil leaves
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 tablespoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
12 lasagna noodles
16 ounces ricotta cheese
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 pound mozzarella cheese, sliced
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:
1. In a Dutch oven or skillet, cook sausage, ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat until well browned. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and water. Season with sugar, basil, Italian seasoning, 1 tablespoon salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons parsley. Simmer, covered, for about 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook lasagna noodles in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes. Drain noodles, and rinse with cold water. In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese with egg, remaining parsley, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
4. To assemble, spread 1 1/2 cups of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Arrange 6 noodles lengthwise over meat sauce. Spread with one half of the ricotta cheese mixture. Top with a third of mozzarella cheese slices. Spoon 1 1/2 cups meat sauce over mozzarella, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Repeat layers, and top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil: to prevent sticking, either spray foil with cooking spray, or make sure the foil does not touch the cheese.
5. Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil, and bake an additional 25 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes before serving.

Baby Back Ribs

This is the highly anticipated recipe many of you having been waiting for. I decided I'd better post it after getting complaints for not putting it in the ward cookbook. It is another one of my MIL's recipes.

Ingredients:
1 rack of PORK baby back ribs (not spare ribs)
1 tablespoon Montreal Seasoning (McCormick’s)
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 bottle bbq sauce (we like Joe's BBQ & KC Masterpiece Original)

Directions:
Whisk together Montreal Seasoning, olive oil, and soy sauce. Brush rack of ribs with marinade. Heat barbeque to medium/high heat, brown each side of the ribs (top up) and remove from grill. Place ribs on large piece of HEAVY DUTY foil on a cookie sheet and generously cover in bbq sauce. Seal foil around ribs and wrap one more time with heavy duty foil to avoid leaks. Bake for 3 ½ -4 hours at 275 degrees.

Spinach & Artichoke Dip

Ingredients:
1 14oz. can artichoke hearts, drained
1/3 cup Romano cheese, grated
3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 10oz. package frozen chopped spinach, thawed & drained
1/3 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup Mozzarella cheese, shredded
Directions:
1. In a food processor/blender, place artichoke hearts, Romano cheese, Parmesan cheese, and garlic. Chop it but don't grind it. Set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, mix spinach, heavy cream, sour cream, and Mozzarella.
3. Stir in artichoke mixture.
4. Place in an 8x8 baking dish and bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees.

Serve hot!

Banana Crumb Muffins

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 bananas, mashed

3/4 cup white sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten

1/3 cup butter, melted

Topping Ingredients:

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

2 Tablespoons flour

1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 Tablespoon butter

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, mix flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

2. In a small bowl, beat together bananas, sugar, egg, and melted butter.

3. Stir the banana mixture into the flour mixture until nice and moist.

4. Spoon batter into lined or greased muffin tin.

5. In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, flour, and ground cinnamon. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Generously sprinkle over muffins.

6. Bake muffins at 375 degrees for 18-20 minutes, or until inserted toothpick comes of clean.

Cheesy Potatoes

I think alot of people have their own variation of this recipe, but this happens to be my Mom's.

Ingredients:
2 lbs. frozen hash browns, thawed
1/2 cup melted butter
1 can cream of chicken
1 pint sour cream
1/2 - 1 cup diced onion
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:
1. Mix all the above ingredients and pour into a 9x13 baking dish.
2. Bake 1 hour at 350 degrees.


Topping:
3 Tablespoons melted butter
1 1/2 cups crushed corn flakes



Mix butter and corn flakes, sprinkle over hot potatoes and bake another 15 minutes.

Knot Rolls

I have officially found my roll recipe. I have been trying many different dinner roll recipes lately and this is the one. This is going to be our family roll. Let me warn you though, yummy doesn't always mean healthy!

Ingredients:

3 cups milk- boil milk for 6 minutes in the microwave on high, then pour in mixing bowl.

Add to the warm milk:

3/4 cups sugar

1 Tablespoon salt

3/4 cups shortening

1 cup potato pearls/flakes

Stir and let sit until cooled, about 4 minutes and the shortening will melt into the mixture

Add:

4 eggs

1/4 cup warm water

1/2 teaspoon sugar

1 1/2 Tablespoon yeast (I LOVE saf instant yeast)

7 cups flour +/- (the dough should pull away from the sides of the mixing bowl)

Let the dough rise for 1 hour, maybe a little longer if you use whole wheat.

Directions:

1. Once dough has risen, take 1/3 of the dough, roll it out into a rectangle, lightly butter it, then fold in half forming a square. Using a pastry cutter or pizza cutter, cut the dough into 12 strips.

2. Take a strip of dough, roll it lightly in flour, then tie it in a knot and tuck the sides under. Place on a lightly greased cookie sheet.

3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 with all your dough.

4. Let them rise for 1-2 hours, until doubled.

5. Bake at 375 degrees for 12-14 minutes.

This makes about 20 enormous rolls. If you would like to yield more rolls, divide your dough into fourths before rolling out and make smaller strips. Adjust cooking time as well, roughly 8-10 minutes.