Post 100

Can you believe it? This is post number 1-0-0 for me. I guess my little recipe project made the last few posts add up quickly, but I am still impressed with myself.

I remember when I very first stumbled onto the idea of blogging a little more than two years ago. I had just started my own blog, when I read on a friend's blog that she was at 100 posts. I was astonished! I was sure I would never get to that point. Could I stick with it? Would I find anything interesting to write about? Would anyone read this humble little part of me floating out in cyberland somewhere?

But I made it. I have a few readers. I have found things to write about-mostly simple pieces of our family life. But I still have a kind of a proud feeling that I actually MADE something. And someone cares. Even if it is just my mom checking for pictures of the grandkids.

The picture above was taken yesterday. Lets not talk about the game-we may or may not have watched the game on Sunday. Don't judge :). I will just say that it is fun to cheer (and cry) as a family. Its fun to have something unite us. Even if it is a football team.

Little reminder- If you are a cook-blog-share-er post or email me tomorrow (Tuesday) Thanks!

Evening Entertainment

Its 8:00 (or so). The kids are in bed. Sean and I drop onto the couch and sigh a breath of exhaustion after a long day. Then we turn to each other and in unison say, "Watcha wanna do?" The question stumps me every time, I tell ya. It really is a hard one.

This is the golden time where we are together, just us. The time where we want to grow in our togetherness and build our relationship in deep and profound ways. Yet, we are tired, and tempted to just turn in early to get and extra hour of sleep. Levels of energy are running low and activities that require minimal effort are the most appealing (i.e. TV).

I have been thinking about it and wondering. What do other people do when they get a moment together. I'm sure everyone has creative and clever relationship-building pastimes that somehow I have just forgotten about. Please remind me.

Here is what we usually end up doing when Sean is home at night-

1. Sean studies (I bet you thought the studying thing was finished when he finished school. Ohhh no. Big no) and I do something to entertain myself. This usually means cleaning, catching up on household business, reading a book, or blogging.

2. We watch the TV. Or a movie. Or an old rerun on TVland online. And eat something unhealthy like ice cream

3. We stare into each others eyes and take turns telling one another our favorite qualities about the other person. No really, I'm serious about this one...

4. Once a year we play a board game.

5. If we are feeling really rowdy, we hook up the Wii and enjoy some quality time together racing on mario cart.

6. And thats all I can think of right now

So do tell. What is the favorite thing you and hubby do at night after the kids go to bed? Keep it clean people. :) hehehehe.

Week #1- Eat Your Heart Out

*Here are the links to the other blogs with recipes this week. The blog/post title isn't always the name of the recipe so be sure to read the whole post and there should be a recipe somewhere in there. Also be sure to click on 'older posts' at the end of this post for more recipes or check out the February archive. Updated Feb 22 2010.

Mexican Lasagna from Amy
Green Curry from Elise
Baked Coconut Shrimp from Melanie
Taco Soup from Marie


Original Post

Get ready to say YUM! There are some really tasty-looking recipes this week. I can't wait to try them out. I am posting a super simple pasta recipe. I love it because it tastes good but is SO fast to make. To bulk it up a little, you can add some chicken to the recipe. Also, be sure to scroll down and check out the other posts below with recipes from friends. On the sidebar follow the links to the other bloggers posting recipes. Plus, dearest Kaitlin sent me some delicious cookie recipes just for the heck of it. Thanks to everyone who contributed. Enjoy!

Creamy Herbed Pasta

10 ounces dried rigatoni, or penne pasta

1/4 cup snipped basil, or 4 tsp dried basil, crushed

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 Tbs olive oil

4 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese

1/2 cup low-fat cottage cheese

1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese

1/2 cup milk

1/4 cup snipped parsley

1. Cook and drain pasta

2. For sauce, cook basil and garlic in hot oil for 30 seconds. Reduce heat. Add cream cheese, cottage cheese, and parmesan cheese. Heat and stir until nearly smooth. Stir in milk and parsley. Cook until slightly thickened.

3. Mix sauce and pasta

Two Extra Recipes- Cookies!

(From Kaitlin)

Oreo Truffles

18 oz. package of OREO Chocolate Sandwich Cookies*
8 oz. package of Cream Cheese, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
16 oz. Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate or Milk Chocolate Chips,
melted

Directions:
1. Crush the cookies into fine crumbs in a food processor or zip top bag
2. Add softened cream; mix until well blended.
3. Roll cookie mixture into balls, about 1-inch in diameter for full size truffles or 1/2 inch diameter for mini truffles.
4. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
5. Melt the chocolate over a double boiler or in the microwave. Stir until smooth
6. Roll the balls in chocolate to coat completely; use two toothpicks or forks to remove the balls from chocolate, allowing the extra chocolate to drip off.
7. Place on wax paper-lined baking sheet.
8. Refrigerate another 30 minutes until the chocolate forms a hard shell.
9. Store leftover truffles (if any) in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

* You can substitute the OREO Cookies with a cookie dough of your choice! ENJOY!!!!

Graham Cracker Cookies

1 box graham crackers
2 sticks of butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cup pecans of almonds

Directions:
1. Put graham crackers on baking sheet to cover pan and cut them along grooves with a knife. Set aside.
2. Combine butter and brown sugar in pan. Bring to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes.
3. Spread mixture over graham crackers.
4. Sprinkle nuts over the top.
5. Back at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

Penne Rustica

(From Erin)

1 pound penne pasta
Cooked chicken, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 cup jarred artichoke hearts, quartered
Cooked zucchini, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 cup chopped roasted red peppers
1/2 cup chopped oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes
3 roasted Roma (plum) tomatoes, diced
1/2 cup sliced pimento-stuffed green olives
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
½ cup small mozzarella balls
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Cook penne according to package directions. Drain and transfer to a large bowl. Stir in chicken and remaining ingredients.

Pan Burritos

(From Cherie)

Browned hamburger

Refried beans
Cheese

Sour cream
1 can Hormel chili without beans
1 can tomato sauce
Flour tortillas

Slightly fry flour tortillas. Place meat, beans, cheese and sour cream inside. Roll into burritos and place in a greased 9x13 pan. (I spread a little tomato sauce on the bottom before putting in the burritos.) Mix the can of chili and the can of tomato sauce together. Spread over the burritos. Cover with grated cheese. Bake about 20-30 minutes at 350.

Tomato Basil Pizza- A vegetarian dish so good, you won't know its vegetarian

(From Holly)



YOU WILL NEED:
6 tomatoes
some basil [fresh: chop and cook in oil shortly] or [from your spice rack]
garlic [fresh: chop a few cloves and cook in oil for a bit] or [use garlic salt]
2 cans of plain crescent rolls
12 slices of provolone cheese
shredded parmesan cheese (not grated!)




HOW TO:
1. set oven to 350
2. take crescent rolls from cans and spread out on a pan making it into a crust
3. make sure you blend all the seams and take up the entire pan
4. place in oven for 10 min or until golden brown then remove from oven
5. place provolone cheese slices on the dough
6. slice up your 6 tomatoes into thin slices and place slices over cheese
7. sprinkle your basil over your tomatoes
8. sprinkle your garlic over your basil
9. cover with grated parmesan cheese
10.place in oven for 15 min or until you think the pizza looks fabulous and ready to enjoy

Mexican Ravioli

(From Camille)

Ingredients:
Frozen or fresh ravioli
Enchilada sauce
Black beans
Corn
Olives
Cheese

Cook ravioli according to package directions. Mix in a bowl with black beans, corn and chopped olives (however much you want of each). Spread a little enchilada sauce into a baking dish, add ravioli mixture and top with more sauce and cheese. Bake at 450 for 10-15 minutes.

Olive Garden's Pasta E Fagioli Soup

(From Erin)

1 lb. ground beef
1 small onion, diced
1 large carrot, julienned
3 stalks celery, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 14.5 ounce cans diced tomatoes
1 15 ounce can red kidney beans (with liquid)
1 15 ounce can great northern beans (with liquid)
1 15 ounce can tomato sauce
1 12 ounce can V-8 juice
1 T. vinegar1 ½ t. salt
1 t. oregano
1 t. basil
½ t. pepper
½ t. thyme
½ pound (1/2 package) ditali pasta (or any other small pasta you have laying around)


Instructions: brown ground beef in a large saucepan or pot over medium heat. Drain off most of the fat. Add onion, carrot, celery and garlic and sauté for 10 minutes. Add remaining ingredients, except pasta, and simmer for 1 hour. About 50 minutes into the simmering, cook the pasta in 2 quarts of boiling water. Cook for 10 minutes or just until pasta is al dente. Add pasta to the large pot of soup. Sometimes if there doesn't look like there is enough liquid in the soup at this point, I add some of the pasta water to the soup, if not, then drain and just add the pasta. Simmer for 5-10 minutes more. Serves about 8 adults. Freezes great. I serve it with garlic bread and Parmesan cheese for the top. Mmmm.

START TOMORROW! Cook-Blog-Share

February is the big month! Just a reminder, if you are going to be sharing recipes, please post one on your blog tomorrow (Tuesday), or email me your recipe so I can post it on my blog. Then check back here on Wednesday to see some new recipes. Thanks! (elainesmithson@live.com)