Chicken & Asparagus Pasta Salad

Cook whatever kind of pasta you have or like according to the package.

Cut up asparagus and cook it for a few minutes.

In a bowl mix together your pasta, asparagus, tomato, fresh mint and some cooked chicken.

In a small bowl combine honey, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper and basil.

Toss the pasta salad with the dressing.

It was good warm or cooled. I would rate this about a 4.

Molten Lava Chocolate Cake

Melt 8 oz chocolate and 2 sticks of butter together and let it sit and cool.

Combine 4 eggs and 1/2 cup of sugar and whisk it until puffy. It might be about 10 minutes.

Stir in the cooled chocolate and 4 tablespoons of flour, 1 teaspoon nutmeg, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (or 1 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract if you want a mint flavor).

Pour the chocolate mixture into buttered and floured ramekins (or mugs) half-way. Place chocolate chips in the center and then pour the remaining mixture to cover the chocolate chips.

Bake at 350 for about 14-17 minutes.

This recipe needed less nutmeg and more lava. Maybe I cooked it too long. It was really good and my family rated it a 4.2.

Bread Pudding with Apples and Raisins

I have never had bread pudding before because I didn't know what I would think about "soggy bread" pudding style. Not my kind of thing, but I thought I would give it a shot when I had extra hamburger buns.

I tore up four hamburger buns and placed them into a greased pan. I cut up one apple and tossed it with the bread with a handful of raisins.

In a seperate bowl I combined 5 eggs, 2 cans of canned milk, some extra milk, cinnamon, vanilla and nutmeg. I poured the mixture over the bread and let it sit for about 1/2 hour.

I baked it at 350 for about 30-45 minutes, until set and the fork comes out clean.

It was not bad for my first time, but I think it needs some more flavor. I would rate it about a 2.5.

If anyone has a recipe for a really good bread pudding I would love to try it.

Orange Pull-Aparts

This is a combination of our family's favorite cinnamon pull-aparts (also known as monkey bread to some of you) and orange rolls.

Cut up 3 packages of pop up biscuits (each biscuit into quarters).
In a ziploc bag combine sugar and one zested orange.
Shake the biscuits in the sugar. (You might have to do some at a time.)

Pour some melted butter on the butter of a bundt pan and pour some of the sugar on top of it. Place about a third of the sugar covered biscuits in the pan, pour some butter on the biscuits and sprinkle with a little sugar. Repeat these steps until the biscuits are all done.

Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes.

I love cinnamon pull-aparts. This was the first time i've tried the orange ones. To make the cinnamon was you do the cinnamon and sugar instead of the orange zest and sugar.

I would rate this about a 5 because I love love love them.

Thai Red Curry with Green Beans and Eggplant

Job loves curry, especially curry with eggplant. I've made pineapple curry, which was good and probably the easiest curry to make. I thought I would try a different kind. I found this recipe on-line. It doesn't have meat, but you can put meat in it if you want to. Job also likes his saucier so he can "sop" his rice in it. I added extra coconut milk.

In a saucepan combine 1 lb eggplant and 2 tablespoons oil. Cook for 3 minutes.

Meanwhile, combine 3-4 tablespoons of coconut milk with 1 tablespoons ginger, 1 teaspoon ginger and 1 tablespoon red curry paste.

To the saucepan, add 1 lb green beans (i cut mine into smaller pieces), 1 red onion, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar and 1 13.5 oz can coconut milk (more if you want it saucier).

Stir in your curry paste mixture and simmer for about 8 minutes.
Stir in 1/2 cup thai or sweet basil leaves and 2 teaspoons lime juice.
Serve with rice.

This was actually really easy and better than I thought I could make. It makes me want to try more currys, especially since my husband is a fan of them.

I would rate it about an 8 because I think there might be a better red curry recipe and my eggplant was soft to begin with.

Recipe Overload

Sorry it has been a while since I have posted anything. It's not that I haven't made anything yummy ... I have. Here are lots of yummy meals from over the last couple of weeks. Enjoy. Tonight .... Thai food. Coming soon ... Tangelo Creme Brulee. Wish me luck because I have not made Creme Brulee before.

Chickpea Pot Pie

This is an alternative to a classic Chicken Pot Pie. Instead of chicken ... chickpeas. It was actually really good. It made a ton of stuffing, enough for 2 pie pans and 2 small individual servings. I froze 1 pie pan and passed along the individual ones for Job's brother and sister-in-law to freeze them.

In a large saucepan cook 1 onion and 2 tablespoons. Add 2 garlic cloves, 3 celery ribs, 2 carrots and 5 cups of broth (i used chicken, the recipe called for vegetable).

Add 2 cups frozen corn, 15 oz garbanzo beans, 2 tablespoons parsley, 1 tablespoon sage, 1 tablespoon marjoram and 2 bay leaves to the broth. Simmer for 30 minutes and then remove the bay leaves.

Stir in one 16 oz package of pot pie or egg noodles and cook for 5 minutes.

Mix together 1 more cup of broth with 2 tablespoons of flour and 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and then add to the pot. Stir in 4 oz cream cheese (i added 8 oz) and 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese.

Remove from heat and mix in 2 cups of peas and 2 cups of green beans.

Pour into a greased pie pan and top with a sheet of frozen pastry puff. (i made my own pie crust).

Bake at 375 for 30-40 minutes.

This was really good and i would rate it a 9.

Macaroni & Cheese with Garlic-Herb Braid Bread

I found this recipe off of another blog and it looked so good.

4 to 4 1/2 cups all purpose flour
3 Tbsp sugar
2 pkg (1/4 oz each) quick-rise yeast
2 tsp dried basil
1 3/4 tsp dill weed
1 1/2 tsp salt
3/4 tsp garlic powder
3/4 tsp dried rosemary, crushed
3/4 cup 2% milk
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup butter, cubed
1 egg
(1 Tbsp melted butter)

-in a large bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups flour, sugar, yeast, and seasonings.
In a small saucepan, heat the milk, water, and butter over medium heat until butter is melted.
add to dry ingredients; beat just until moistened.
add egg, beat until smooth
stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough

-turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 4-6 minutes.
(that was a fun part)
cover and let rest for 10 minutes

-divide dough into thirds. shape each into a 15 inch rope.
places ropes on a greased baking sheet and braid; pinch ends to seal and tuck under.
cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 25 minutes.

-bake at 375' form 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Brush with melted butter. Remove from pan to a wire rack to cool.

I think it probably had a little too much herb to it, but overall it was not bad. I would rate it a 5 for all the herbs. Tone down the herbs and it would be a 7.



Melt 1 tablespoon of margarine in a saucepan. Add 2 tablespoons of flour, 1 tablespoon onion powder (i didn't have onion powder so i added dried minced onions instead) and 2 teaspoons garlic powder. Slowly add 2 cups milk. Simmer the milk for 5 minutes, whisking occasionally.

Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese, 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese and 2 cups cooked macaroni. ( I added more cheese because i wanted it extra cheesy and i cooked my macaroni al dente (just under perfect softness because it will cook more in the oven).)

Transfer to a greased baking dish and sprinkle with bread crumbs. Spray your bread crumbs with cooking spray and bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

This was my first homemade mac & cheese. I think it needed something else, maybe a little heat. i would rate this about a 6.

Baquette with Roasted Red Pepper Spread and Potato Chips

I had a potato chipper, which made it easy to cut the potatoes into thin strips. I soaked them in water for 15 minutes and then deep fried them for several minutes until golden brown. I placed them on paper towels and sprinkled with garlic salt.
Not bad. I want to figure out how to put different taste to them, but I would rate them a 4 because I like more flavor to my chips then just salt.



Combine 8 oz cream cheese, 17 oz roasted red pepper (i roasted my own red peppers and it worked just fine), 3 tablespoons minced onion and 1 minced garlic clove in a food processor.

Cut a baquette lengthwise and tear out some of the middle to make room for your mixture. Spread your mixture and top with lettuce and radicchio (i used red cabbage).

I think it had too much garlic, i would use a smaller clove.
It was fantastic, so i would rate it a 7.

Glazed Graham Crackers

Place your broken up graham crackers on a greased cookie sheet. Sprinkle with slivered almonds (I broke up whole almonds). Meanwhile, boil 1/2 cup margarine and 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup butter for 2 minutes without stirring. Pour over crackers and bake for 11 minutes at 350. Remove from the pan at once.

These were excellent. I think they are better the day after you make them. I would give them a 9.

Mexi Shells

Cook a box of 18 jumbo pasta shells according to package.
In a medium bowl combine: 4 cans (8 oz each) tomato sauce
2 Tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon chili powder
2 teaspoons cumin
set aside

In a saucepan cook 3/4 lb ground beef (or turkey, i used turkey), and 1/4 cup chopped onion. Drain the oil and add 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 tablespoon cilantro, 1 4.5 oz can green chilies and 1 15 or 16 oz can chili beans.

Spread about 1 cup of the sauce mixture on the bottom of your pan.

Drain pasta and stuff with the beef and bean mixture and place in your pan. Repeat until all shells are stuffed. Pour the remaining sauce over the shells. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and cover with foil. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Uncover and let sit for 10 minutes.

This is a great freezer meal. Since there were just the two of us, I did half in one pan for dinner and half in a pan for the freezer. Just be sure to write what is in it and directions.

This was actually really good. It has a little spicy kick to it but it was not too bad. I would rate this an 8.

Pesto Italian Turkey Burger with Fries

Homemade french fries are the best. Personally, I think they are way better than fast food fries. Hint: cut your fries, soak them in water for about 15 minutes to get the starch out of them and then bake them OR freeze them for later. Lay your fries on a greased baking sheet, spray them with cooking spray and sprinkle them with desired seasonings. The ones I made were Garlic Salt with Parsley. Bake them at 425 for about 15-20 minutes (depending on desired crispiness), flipping half way through. I prefer crispy fries. I give crispy homemade fries with 10.



Put your ground turkey in a big mixing bowl. Add about 2 Tablespoons of basil pesto, about 1/2-3/4 cups of italian bread crumbs and about the same of parmesan cheese. Mix together with your hands and separate into four sections. Shape your burgers leaving it thinner in the middle and cook. They may have taken about 5-7 minutes on each side. I put dijon mustard as my sauce with tomatoes and lettuce and cheese.

Overall, it needs a better sauce to compliment the burger. I would give it about a 5.