WHAT'S COOKIN' GOOD LOOKIN'

This girl loves to cook. My husband will kill me for typing this but he says girls who cook are good in bed and girls who bake aren’t. Basically the way I cook is I don’t follow directions. I view a menu and a recipe as ingredients and a guideline. So getting creative and doing your own thing makes you better in bed, haha??

But basically I’m a rule breaker and it has been my saving grace in the kitchen. I love Pinterest. I’m so daggum busy. I have 3 little people and sometimes I have to cook during “quiet time/naptime” so I don’t get distracted by them. Not to mention a hot pot on the stove terrifies me around kids. So, my pinterest account has been great to just quickly look and jot down some items to pick up from the grocery store. I don’t even use or remember I have cookbooks.

So, I will just share some very random, INEXPENSIVE, quick things I’ve tried through the dependable Pinterest.

MY KID’S FAVORITE:

·         1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened

·         1/4 cup mayonnaise

·         1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

·         1/4 teaspoon dried basil

·         2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese

·         3-4 Tablespoons miniature pepperoni slices

·         1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

·         1 cup pizza sauce

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a small bowl, use a spatula to blend the cream cheese together with the mayonnaise, garlic powder and dried basil. Mix in 1/2 cup of the mozzarella. Spread the cream cheese mixture in the bottom of a small oven-proof dish or pie plate.

Place half of the mini pepperoni slices in an even layer over top of the cream cheese. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of the remaining mozzarella over top, then sprinkle with 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese. Pour pizza sauce over the cheese and evenly spread, then top with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan. Finish by placing the rest of the mini pepperoni slices evenly over the cheese.

Bake in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes, or until hot and bubbly. Once the surface of the dip is golden, loosely top with foil to avoid burning. Serve hot with toasted baguette slices (recommended) or breadsticks.

Pasta and Chicken are my Easy Go To and well Bacon makes it yummy and Broccoli makes it healthy!

·         1 tablespoon olive oil

·         1 lb chicken breast, boneless and skinless

·         salt and pepper

·         3 cloves garlic, minced

·         2/3 cups heavy cream

·         2/3 cups milk

·         1 cup shredded cheese (use Parmesan, or Mozzarella, or 4-cheese mix)

·         8 oz fettuccine (for gluten free version, use gluten free brown rice fettuccine)

·         2 cups cooked broccoli florets

·         7 strips cooked bacon

·         salt and pepper

Instructions

1.      Heat olive oil on medium-high heat in a large skillet. Season chicken breast with salt and pepper. Cook chicken breast on high heat for 2 to 4 minutes on each side, until browned, then remove the skillet from heat and keep the chicken covered to continue cooking it in its own steam until no longer pink. Remove chicken from the skillet. You can also use pre-cooked chicken. Cut chicken into thin slices.

2.      Add minced garlic to the skillet. Add heavy cream, milk, bring to boil. Add cheese and stir till it completely melts.

3.      Cook pasta according to instructions. Drain.

4.      Add cooked pasta, cooked bacon, cooked broccoli and mix everything in. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Top with sliced cooked chicken.

My Go To Party Grabs

Caramel Sauce

Ingredients: 
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 teaspoons vanilla (or 1 teaspoon vanilla and 2 teaspoons bourbon)
pinch of sea salt

Method:
Place sugar in a small heavy sauce pan. Pour water evenly over the top. Turn stove top to medium-high heat. Hold sauce pan by the handle and swirl occasionally until sugar has dissolved. Turn heat to high, and boil until syrup turns brown around the edges of the pan, about 6-8 minutes. Swirl the syrup occasionally until it turns a deep amber and just begins to smoke.
Remove pan from heat. Add butter and whisk, until all butter is mixed in. Stir in cream. Take care adding the butter and cream as the caramel will boil up and sputter quite a bit.
If sauce has any lumps, set pan over low heat and stir until smooth then turn off heat again.
Stir in vanilla and salt. 

And EASY but sure to be eaten are BACON DEVILED EGGS! You already know what to do!

Happy Eating.

Xoxo,

Dana