Pesto Cream Sauce

Say it with me...NOTHING TO IT!!  This is THE easiest sauce ever, but soooo tasty!  I am not sure how many of you have tried pesto.  It is a combo of basil, olive oil, garlic, and usually some kind of nut (mine had cashews).  While it is fairly easy to make your own pesto...I bought mine (that's even easier!!).  This pasta dish is very versatile, it could be a side dish for almost any kind of meat...a main dish if you added shrimp or chicken, or even just by itself. 

Alright...get out your pen and paper cause this is what you need:

   
YEP!!  That's it! 
1 container of Pesto
1 c of heavy cream


Ok Ok...I know there is butter in the pan and I didn't list it...it is completely UNNECESSARY!!  I just have an addiction...it's my own affliction and I try desperately not to corrupt others!!  (But everything is better with butter...just sayin!!!)

Add the pesto

Add the cream...
I like to let this simmer and thicken while my pasta cooks.

Shown here with Chicken Cordon Bleu.



Chicken Cordon Bleu

I LOVE shoving "stuff" inside chicken breasts!! Chicken makes the best vehicle for tasty little tid-bits. Ian actually requested "Chicken Cordon Bleu" for dinner one night. Let me just explain how this usually goes...me - "Hey babe, what do you want for dinner?" him - "I don't care, just something." Soooo, when he  asked for "something" in particular I took notice. I had never attempted Chicken Cordon Bleu before so I looked around and read several recipes, then adapted my own from the compilation of them all. It's classic, yet simply done.

Chicken "Schnitzel"

Has anyone else gotten caught up in this "extreme couponing" whirlwind?? I had heard of it in passing, and since I cook enough for 8 every night I am constantly seeking some way to save money ESPECIALLY on my grocery bill. Well, Ian and I caught our first episode of "extreme couponing" the other night. While I was fascinated by all of the things they got for free like 1000 tubes of toothpaste, and 114 bottles of excedrine pm...the one that stood out most to me was the 97 packages of croutons this lady got. Seriously? Who needs 97 packages of crountons for God's sake?! And because my mind works the way it does, I was up at several different intervals that night trying to imagine what all you could do with croutons. Then it hit me...BREADCRUMBS!! Butter and garlic croutons would make pretty darn good breadcrumbs. DUH!
Now, what can I do with breadcrumbs?? SCHNITZEL!!!! My family loves schnitzel...which is a chicken breast pounded out flat, breaded, and pan fried. I typically would use italian breadcrumbs but today...today I used croutons!! This dish is SUPER easy and weeknight friendly!!
I will apologize in advance for the lack of step by step pics but I was 1/2 way done with dinner when I remembered "I should blog!"

BACON pralines!!

FINALLY...something sweet on the 3a.m. site!!  But of course...it had to have BACON!!  BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON!! 
Sorry...I just had to get that out!  I'm better now!  BACON!  Just kidding! 
Now I am not a big fan of pralines, however, if you add bacon to the mix...I'm game!  These are incredible!  Creamy, crunchy, sweet, bacon-ee!  So so so good!
This is a "candy" and it does call for a candy thermometer.  This is a VERY simple recipe so please please please do not be intimidated!  I'll tell you a secret...I couldn't find my candy thermometer so I used the bbq thermometer I had and it didn't go high enough to be "accurate"...but I love a good challenge!  

Easy Cheesy Lasagna

This, my friends, is "chicken feet and brussel sprouts!"  Well...that is what we call it at our house.  My kids are professional at asking..."WHAT'S FOR DINNER???"...I mean, who wouldn't be when you ask 40,000x a day??  So one time I just blurted out the most unappetizing thing that I could come up with on such short notice..."chicken feet and brussel sprouts!"  IT STUCK!! 
It is, in reality, delicious, easy, cheesy lasagna!! 
This is the lasagna that my mom has made my whole life...and I have NEVER met anyone that didn't give it rave reviews!

"Taquitos"

You will not find this in ANY cookbook ANYWHERE! This recipe is home-grown and a major family favorite! My mom says that my grandma (my dad's mom) taught her how to make this...my grandma says she has no idea what my mom is talking about! Frankly, considering the mental status of both of these ladies...it's a toss-up! Who really knows?? 
These are not "taquitos" like you are used to.
This is "mexican" style hamburger meat wrapped in an rice paper (like an eggroll) and fried! Strange and delicious and FRIED!!!
I am not sure that this is technically "mexican food"...no self respecting latino/a would make this for their grandma.
It's certainly not "chinese food"...though without the rice paper this dish would not be the same!
I think I'll deem it "mexinese" or "chinexican"...either way your gonna love it!
These are very often the requested meal at my mom's house...and when she makes them she makes at least 40!  We have a big family but more than that we have big appetites...shameful really!

Note* You must know that at MY house...I cannot cook this for dinner without making ranch dressing.  Out of the packet...not out of the bottle.  It is mandatory!

Note2* I have also adapted the original recipe (whom-ever's recipe it was) to accommodate my American need for processed cheese.  Stop crinkling your nose!  YOU don't have to add cheese...but...it's go-od!

Dinner Quiche

This recipe is very dear to my heart! My best friends mom...Patty Hammett...passed away November of last year and how she is missed. But I don't want this to be sad, I want this to be a celebration of Patty.
Patty taught me 3 things in life:
1. The true meaning of "never look a gift horse in the mouth!" If someone wants to give you something or do something for you...let them and be blessed by their gift!
2. We all have challenges in life, but how you choose to live with those hurdles is what defines you. Patty was legally blind, however, if you were not told you would not know. She did not view it as a crutch and I loved that about her!
3. Her recipe for QUICHE!

This no ordinary quiche...well...maybe it is an "ordinary" quiche and maybe that's why it is so great! Quiche is thought of as a "girly" dish, but let me tell you that my husband LOVES it. He will even ask for it..."Can we have that girly pie thing?" There is something about my big burly husband eating a perfect slice of quiche that makes me giggle inside. It's just so unexpected. Frankly, there is nothing girly about this meal...it has all the man components...MEAT, CHEESE, EGGS, CRUST...crust?? is that girly? NAH!