A Little Touch of Spring

Just in case anyone was wondering, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth...yet.  I just haven't been feeling myself lately and haven't wanted to bake or create anything.  Thank you to all of you who check in to read this regularly or even just occasionally.  I appreciate it.  I will get back to baking and blogging again soon.  I hope you won't mind me sharing a few pictures I took tonight. 

 I walked into the kitchen after work tonight to put my things down on the table and happened to look up and out into our three-seasons room and I couldn't help but stop and stare.  There outside the window was this amazing bright pink cloud of flowers. 

 I ran up and grabbed my camera to try to capture this beautiful sight.   I know the pictures don't quite do it justice...but I tried.

I walked around underneath these trees taking pictures, smelling their strong scent and listening to sound of busy little bees buzzing around enjoying the flowers too.

One tree is full of blooms and one is full of buds just waiting to burst open.  I love nature and the way God pays such close attention to all  of the little details.  Painting each little leaf and petal with specks or stripes, coloring each tiny insect and bug with it's own unique pattern.  It reminded me that He's paying even closer attention to the details of our lives.  I am so thankful.

Garlic Parsley Spaghetti

I am addicted to food magazines.  Kids are tempted by all the candy, gum and toys in the check-out lanes at the store.  Me?  It's those magazines. The ones with the delicious looking desserts in particular.   My husband just rolls his eyes and asks "Didn't you just buy one of those?  Do you really need another?!"  I simply respond "Yes - I NEEDED it"

To make him realize I really do use the recipes I find, I made this pasta dish the other night.  It was very simple to make and it tasted very good.  

I am not much of a sauce lover so this was perfect. 

I added chicken because I thought it would be a nice touch.  Honestly, I think next time I'd leave it out and add a few tomatoes.  I think they would add nice texture and color!

Garlic Parsley Spaghetti

(Taste of Home, Evelyn Sparish)

1 pkg (16 oz) thin spaghetti

4 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 c. olive oil

1/2 c. minced fresh parsley

Cook spaghetti according to package directions.  Meanwhile, in skillet, lightly brown garlic in oil over medium heat.  Drain spaghetti; add to skillet.  Sprinkle with parsley.  Toss to coat.

*I wanted to add these photos of my LKH.  He had some leftover mac and cheese with dinner and decided to make his own creation.  Yes, those are grapes and pineapple mixed in - with some fresh bread crumbled on top of his spaghetti and macaroni.  "Ben's Famous Cheesey Crust" is what he called it.  I don't mind that he mixes up his food every once in a while, but I do insist that he eats it.  He seemed to enjoy it! 

Stuffed Sandwiches

Whew, it's been a busy week!  We have had a few beautiful days here and I am getting so excited for it to stay around for a while!  Ben has been finding all sorts of "signs of spring" around the yard and I heard the birds singing this morning.   I love this time of year.

So yesterday was Friday and I don't know about you but most Fridays I don't fix a big meal.  We usually throw in a pizza or make grilled cheese.  But last night I was wanting to make something I could blog about.  I used to sell Pampered Chef products a long time ago.  I started doing it after I moved out on my own to fill my kitchen with great gadgets.  I'm not really one to get up in front of people and talk, but I really enjoyed doing that - I think because I got to talk about food as I was making it.  I get excited about food :) and it's easy to talk about something that excites you.

So this recipe is from their Stoneware cookbook.  It is very simple to put together and you can substitute the meat/cheese/fillings to suit your own tastes.

I used ham in the whole sandwich, American cheese on 2/3 of it - along with sauteed peppers, onion and garlic for my husband and just plain provolone for my side.  I also chose to half this recipe for just the three of us.

I rolled it all up and put it in the oven to bake.

My picture may not do it justice, but it turned out such a nice toasty brown color. 

Here's Grant's side oozing with cheese.  The more, the better according to him.

And here is my side.  It tasted so good.  Ben got the middle piece - close enough to get a little of both cheeses and far enough away from the onions and peppers.

Stuffed Sandwich

(adapted from The Pampered Chef Stoneware Cookbook

Philly Beef-Stuffed Sandwich)

1 cup green bell pepper, chopped

3/4 cup onion, chopped

1 T. vegetable oil

2 garlic cloves, pressed

1 tsp. dried oregano leaves, divided

2 pkgs (10 oz each) refridgerated pizza dough

8 oz thinly sliced deli meat (your choice)

8 oz thinly sliced cheese (your choice)

1 egg white, lightly beaten

1 T. water

Preheat oven to 400.  Put oil into sauce pan.  Add pepper, onion, garlic and 1/2 oregano.  Cook until tender.  Remove from heat.  Unroll pizza dough.  Roll out on lightly floured surface to form two - 12x9 inch rectangles.  Layer meat, cheese and veggies on top of dough.  Roll up jelly-roll fashion, sealing the ends.  Form dough into circle on cookie sheet or stone.  Brush dough with egg white/water mixture.  Sprinkle with remaining oregano.  Bake 20-25 minutes.  (I went with 20 and the very center of the dough was a little too doughy yet for my liking.  I will let it bake a little longer when I make it again)

A little treat for St. Paddy's Day

Happy St. Paddy's Day!  I'm not Irish, but just to be festive I wanted to whip up a little green treat for today.  I had a bag of mint M&M's left from Christmas and I gave my little kitchen helper the choice of cookies or brownies.  He wanted cookies.  So I hopped over to Picky Palate and made Jenny's recipe for Intimint Chocolate Chip Cookies.  Dark chocolate, white chocolate and mint...yummy. 

Italian Loose Meat Sandwich

Well, I only have one picture of this meal.  I have to be honest and tell you I don't get as excited about taking pictures of my meals as I do my desserts.  But I promise to do better with the next meal I post. 

This is another crockpot recipe.  It is very tasty but a little messy to eat.  My sister shared this recipe with me after she made it for a family gathering.  She found the recipe on http://www.allrecipes.com/.  It makes a bunch, so when I make it for just the three of us I usually half it.  My son still isn't very keen on eating it but my husband loves it.

I'm not sure what the actual name is for this recipe so I'm going to call it:

Loose Meat Italian Sandwich

(adapted from http://www.allrecipes.com/)

2 lbs ground beef, cooked and drained

2 lbs Italian sausage, cooked and drained

1 of each red, yellow and orange pepper, sliced

1 red onion, sliced

1-2 T. red pepper flakes

1 jar spaghetti or pizza sauce

shredded mozarella cheese

hoagie buns or rolls

In a large crockpot layer 1/3 ground beef, 1/3 sausage, 1/2 peppers and onion.  Layer once more ending with the sausage on the top.  Sprinkle with red pepper flakes.  Cover and cook 5-6 hours on high.  When it is finished cooking, stir all together. 

This is how we like to put our sandwiches together - warm the spaghetti sauce, spread it on a bun, fill the bun with the loose meat and top with cheese. 

Like I said, messy - but worth it!