Bowtie romano (recipe)

So, it is taking me a little longer than I thought to put together the post on the girls’ party. Until I get that done, I wanted to share with you this awesome recipe. :)

Once a month I get together with 4 of my friends and have a Mommy’s Night Out. Last month we all brought a dish for dinner. My friend Trish brought this. Bowtie romano. And let me tell you – I had been craving it from the time I left Mommy’s Night Out, until last night when I made it for my family! So good..

The recipe can be found on the back of the Ronzoni bowtie box..

I did make a few changes to suit my family’s tastes. Instead of prosciutto I used bacon. And I also added chicken to it.

And here is what it looks like..

FYI, it makes more than what is shown in the picture. I had already made Micheal and the girls’ plates before I remembered to take a picture. :)

And now I am wishing I had some leftovers to eat.. Ha!

Thank you Trish introducing me to this yummy dish!

Baked ziti

Today I am going to share with you one of my favorite things to make for dinner.. Baked ziti! Why is it one of my favorites? For one, it’s not hard to make (at all.. contrary to what you would think). Two, it’s just plain GOOD! So, so good.. And three, my girls will eat it and ask for more! Can’t argue with that!

I found this recipe from THIS blog a while back. I changed a lot of the recipe so I figured I would share with you today, how I make it! :)

Here is what you’ll need:

-1 pound ground beef
-1 lb. box ziti pasta
-1 large jar of spaghetti sauce (mine says 2 lb. on it.. Didn’t know liquids were measured by the pound, but I’m just telling you what my jar said so that you know what to get)
-1 large container of ricotta cheese
-1 bag mozzarella cheese
-1 onion (I only use half though, as my Husband isn’t an onion person)

Directions:
1. Bring large pot of water to a boil. Add ziti pasta and cook until tender (about 8 minutes), then drain.
2. In a large skillet, brown onion and ground beef over medium heat.
3. Add (all) spaghetti sauce to onion and ground beef. Simmer about 15 minutes.
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
5. Layer a 9x13 baking dish as follows: 1/2 of the ziti, mozzarella, ricotta cheese, 1/2 of the sauce, remaining ziti, mozzarella, remaining sauce then top with remaining mozzarella.
6. Bake in oven for 30 minutes or until all of the cheese is melted.
7. Enjoy!! :)

Here is what it looks like coming out of the oven:


..And on my plate:

Yum, yum, yum!

Make this for your family tonight. Promise they’ll love it. :)

Easy mini pizzas

Today I am going to share a “recipe” with you all. Although, I feel silly even calling it that, because it is so, SO simple to make!



Easy mini pizzas!

Here is what you’ll need to make them:


ONE can of Pillsbury buttermilk biscuits (I just happened to have the Value Pack on hand, one can of pizza sauce, a bag of cheddar cheese and a baking sheet.

First things first.. Pull the little tab on the can of biscuits until it pops:
(And gives you a mild heart attack)


Ha. :)

Next, flatten each biscuit out:

Then put them onto your baking sheet:

Add a spoon full of sauce to each biscuit..
(Note: More sauce than is pictured here. You want enough to cover)

Top with cheese.

This is the part where you would add any other pizza toppings that you want on your pizza..

We just stuck with plain ‘ol cheese this time. :)



Now, make sure your oven is set (to 350).

And throw those babies in there. :)

Leave the pizzas in the oven for 5-10 minutes. What you need to watch for is that the cheese is melted, as well as the dough being cooked all the way through. You don’t want overly gooey pizzas!

Now, start clapping and get excited that you made the pizza’s all by yourself!


So there you have it! Easy mini pizzas. They are SO yummy! And I love that it’s something that gets my girls in the kitchen with me. When they help make it, they are more likely to actually EAT it! ;)



Warning! You will probably end up with cheese all over your table..

And your helpers might taste test a little more than called for..

But the idea is to have fun and spend time with your kids..

Cheese face. :)

Thank you so much for visiting my blog today! Check back tomorrow for an AWESOME giveaway! :)

My fav meal..

Yes, I know.. I have been doing a lot of food related posts lately. I am working on a somewhat big crafty project, but I won’t be able to share until the beginning of Feb. So for today, you get a recipe. ;)

So.. I have two favorite meals, one Micheal makes (which I’ll have to see if he will share with you at a later date), and one I make.. Today I am sharing the one that I make, and that is Kielbasa with peppers, onions and tomatoes over rice. It is so, so, SO good!

Ready for a pic?

Droooool.. :)

Kielbasa and vegetables over rice

Here is what you’ll need to make it:
-1 package of Kielbasa (or smoked sausage)
-1 onion
-1 green bell pepper
-1 tomato
-1 bottle Sweet Baby Ray’s bbq sauce
-1 package boil in bag rice

Directions:
1- Chop up kielbasa and cook in a small amount of oil until brown.
2- Chop up vegetables and add in to pan with sausage.
(NOTE: I usually cut the green pepper, add it in. Then cut the onion, add it in. And then do the tomato last. If you put the tomato in first, it tends to pretty much disappear on you. :))
3- Add in bbq sauce, just enough to coat.
4- Cook your rice in seperate pot.
5- When the vegetables are cooked to your liking, the dish is done!
6- Put a “bed” of rice on plate(s) and top with sausage/vegetables. Enjoy!

I got the recipe for this from my Uncle Bob. Once while visiting my Uncle Bob and Aunt Carol in Indiana, my Uncle made this dish and I fell in love with it. I was probably in Middle school at the time so my Grandma would make this for me whenever I came to her house.. Then when I moved out on my own I started making it for myself, Micheal and the girls. It’s also a good dish to make if you’re having company over!

Okay well I am wrapping this post up. We just put the girls to bed so I am going to go into my craft area and make something that I’ve been itching to make for a while now. I will be back soon to share it with you! :)

Thanks so much for coming to my blog! Feel free to comment.. I love hearing from you!

THE best banana bread EVER! ..Not exaggerating

Let me start off by saying, I do not like anything.. ANYTHING banana! But this banana bread is one of my f-a-v things to bake (and eat!). It is so, so good. I usually make it for Thanksgiving and Christmas to give out to family and friends, but I ran out of time so I decided that January 11th at 10 PM was a good occasion! ;)

This recipe is not my own.. I got it from my friend.. You might know her..

Yep, Martha Stewart. :) Okay, so we aren’t really friends.. But if we were, I would hug her every day for sharing this recipe with the world. It is THAT good, people!

I was going to take pictures of the process while I was making my bread, but let’s face it.. It isn’t rocket science. Plus it was late at night and I just really wanted it to be done so I could eat some. ;)

Here is a picture I took to show you what it looks like when done:


Note: The recipe says that one batch will make just one loaf, but I split the batter between two of these “EZ foil loaf pans” (Found at Walmart or any grocery store). So, just keep that in mind.

Here is what you’ll need to make this amazing banana bread:

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature, plus more for pan
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups unbleached flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup mashed very ripe bananas
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pan; set aside. In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, and beat to incorporate.

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to the butter mixture, and mix until just combined. Add bananas, sour cream, and vanilla; mix to combine. Stir in nuts, and pour into prepared pan.

Bake until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 1 hour 10 minutes. Let rest in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One thing I want to add, before I go.. If anyone is in need of baking soda, call me!



LOL.. Apparently every time I bake, I buy a box of baking soda, thinking that I don’t have any at home! Does anyone else do that? Or am I the only one losing their mind at the age of 24..? :)

Alright, I am done talking. Now.. Go make some!

I’m in love..

That’s right, I’m in love! ..You’re probably thinking “You just got married, of course you’re in love!”, but I’m not talking about Micheal (although I am still very much in love with him)..

I’m talking about..

Yep, my Crock Pot! :) This thing is seriously amazing!!

It is SO easy to use! As you can see, there are only four buttons on it. One to set the temp (High, low or warm), one to increase the cooking time, one to decrease the cooking time, and the off button. That’s it! Nothing complicated about it at all! My fav feature is that once the desired cooking time is up, it automatically switches to the “Warm” setting!

Am I starting to sound like an infomercial?? LOL! Sorry.. :)

Tonight I made Crock Pot chicken fajitas..

The above picture was when I poured all of the ingredients in.. Looks good already! Unfortunately my camera died right after this picture so I don’t have a pic of the finished product, darnit!

So, you’ll have to deal with this one from the website where I originally found the recipe (not that it is a bad picture, it just isn’t mine so I can’t take credit for it..):
 

Yummo! Everyone in my family love this meal! You can find the recipe here. :)

Tomorrow.. Pot roast!

What is your favorite thing to make in your Crock Pot?

Is it really over?

All of the shopping, baking, wrapping, etc.. And in the blink of an eye, Christmas is over. A part of me is sad because Christmas is my favorite holiday. But I am glad the stressing about everything is over. ;)

We seriously had the best Christmas ever! How could we not when it revolves around these two?:

 

I am pretty sure that there is nothing as cute as those two. :)

Abby (4 year old) made these gifts for all of the Grandma’s:

I got the little pocket calendars at walmart, took the measurements and made an insert out of white cardstock. Abby drew pictures on both sides and then we slid the cardstock in the clear cover on the calendar. It was so inexpensive and easy and I think the Grandma’s loved them. :)

Here is a shot of the backs of them:

Ugh, don’t you just love 4 year old handwriting and drawings?? They make me smile. :)

And then I made these to give out to family:


Got the bags and ribbon at Hob Lob.. The treats inside are pretzel hugs. SO addicting!!

Here they are all lined up.. Nice and pretty. :)

I have one more Christmas project that I am dying to share with you, but that will have to wait. :)

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas! Talk to you soon!

And the award for worst blogger ever goes to..

So, last niight my friend Hillary hosted a cookie swap at her house.. It was awesome. Only problem? I didn’t bring my camera with me! :( Well, if you want to get technical.. I did bring my camera, but failed bring a memory card. So I have no documentation of the night. But seriously, it was so much fun!

I made these yummy Heath bar cookies for the swap:
 
Recipe found here.

Hillary made these mac n cheese for an appetizer.. OMG they were so good!

Recipe found here.

She also made these grape jelly cocktail meatballs. Before you judge, don’t. I usually will not eat or drink anything grape flavored but let me tell you, these things were soo good! You can’t even tell that they are made with grape jelly.. Hillary, why didn’t you force me to take some home with me? ;)

Recipe found here.

And here are a few other things she made for the swap..

This adorable cookie cutter wreath..

Idea found here.

She also made tissue paper pom pom’s. :)

The ones pictured are from Etsy, but Hillary made hers. You can easily find a tutorial on Pinterest! :)

Thank you again Hillary for hosting the cookie swap! It is always good for us Momma’s to have a night out, kid free. You were an amazing host and I can’t wait to do another cookie swap next year!

Quick, easy and delicious pasta salad

Hi! How was everyone’s Thanksgiving? Mine was great. :) Filled with a lot of family, food and fun. Just the way I like it! Normally at this time Micheal and I would be power napping and then heading out to Black Friday shop. This year, we decided to sleep through it. As much as I l-o-v-e Black Friday, I am excited to not be a total zombie tomorrow (usually we get home right as the girls are waking up for the day..Ah!). :)

Today I want to share with you my go to recipe. Everyone has one, I think. You know.. That recipe that you make for every get together you go to, because everyone loves it. This pasta salad is that, for me.

I got this recipe from my Aunt Karen. She brought it for Thanksgiving one year and I swear to you, it was pretty much the only thing I ate! Ha! It was soo good! I had.to.have. the recipe. She gave it to me and since I have been bringing it for Thanksgiving and every baby shower, Birthday party, etc. I attend. :)

Yesterday (Thanksgiving), I took Abby through the line of food to make her a plate. After asking her what she wanted on her plate, she says “Just the stuff we brought” HA! All she wanted was the pasta salad!

(The pasta salad at Thanksgiving dinner at my Grandma’s house, 2011)

Quick, easy and delicious pasta salad

Ingredients:
-1 box tri colored rotini noodles
-1 bottle Italian salad dressing (or zesty Italian)
-1 bunch green onion
-1 package cubed ham
-1 package cubed cheese
-1 small jar pimentos

Instructions:
1- Chop green onions and add to bowl with ham, cheese and pimentos.
2- Boil rotini noodles until done, drain and rinse with cold water.
3- After noodles are no longer hot, add to bowl with other ingredients.
4- Coat ingredients with Italian dressing, then refrigerate until you are ready to serve.

Seriuosly.. 4 steps and you’ve got yummy pasta salad in your fridge.. You’re welcome. ;)