Web Wonderlust

Do you ever have a total Julie & Julia moment when you see a recipe and feel as if you made it life could be "simply divine"?

http://frocktalk.com/?p=1432

Homemade Coconut Marshallows gave me just that feeling

http://authenticsuburbangourmet.blogspot.com/2011/09/toasted-coconut-handmade-marshmallows.html

This may be my next recipe to try. Just the sight of these adds to the "joy of cooking"!

Autumn is here!

Today officially kicks off the Fall Festivities for us. The Coosa Valley Fair is in town and the girls can't wait until tonight.  I really love this time of year.  Here is a great treat I found to enjoy a daily dose of Autumn bliss and thought I would share.

Pumpkin Spice Latte

1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup dry milk
1 teaspoon (or more)  pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)

Mix and keep in covered container.

Easy Peasy!

I made the first batch with vanilla and the second without and I couldn't tell a huge difference.

Redneck Panko Chicken

Two things make this a redneck recipe.
1. Ranch dressing
2. I reside in Shannon Village

Panko is just a type of bread crumbs. Japanese breadcrumbs that deliver more crunch.

Chicken is just a staple around this house. Somebody seems to eat chicken at least once a day around here.

Now do you want to see the easiest recipe ever. In fact I am not sure it qualifies to use the word recipe!

1/2 cup of panko bread crumbs (I used regular the first time I made this and it is good too)

Mix a package of ranch dressing mix

Coat chicken on both sides

Place into an ungreased pan and bake approx 30 min at 350 degrees

So golden and yummy ...it's a keeper recipe for me!

Dinner is served!

A special dinner for a random night of the week

For the starter course we are serving spinach and strawberry salad with poppyseed dressing

on to the main course of spice rubbed grilled chicken

with roasted cauliflower

 and for dessert (aka the best part) nutella brownies for a house full of nutella addicts

also with strawberries

 
Another super easy meal with 2 new recipes.

Roasted Cauliflower:
1/4 oil or less
minced garlic (to taste)
salt
pepper
Cauliflower
Preheat oven to 325 degrees
combine all ingredients until well coated and bake on a cookie sheet for approx 30 mins
Weight Watchers 3pts per serving

Nutella Cupcakes:
1/2 cup Nutella (Kroger brand is what we use)
1 egg
5 TBSP of flour
preheat oven 350 degrees
mix nutella and egg until well combined and add flour
spoon into muffin pan and bake 11-12 min

Here is the link to the brownie recipe for some variations
http://savorysweetlife.com/2010/08/4-ingredients-nutella-brownies/

These are both super easy and delicious. Give it a try!

A nice "normal" day

Yesterday was a nice "normal" day for us. Greg got to work from 9 to 6 and that helped me feel like it was a day with time in its place. I know that sounds weird, but true. It allowed me to try out a new recipe and have dinner waiting when he arrived home. That is so not the norm around here.!  I have to say this one was super good and very easy to make.

Here was our Creamy Italian Chicken

This was my kind of recipe! Very few ingredients and fast. I made it all in a skillet, but it can go in the crockpot too.  I will let you in on our secret ingredient to many of our favorite meals

It gives great flavor to just about anything!  We can tell a big difference in our spaghetti sauce, casseroles, and steamed veggies.

Here is the link with everything you need to make this yummy one! It's a keeper.

http://www.theiheartblog.com/2010/07/creamy-italian-chicken/

Olive Garden a casa nostra

We have been stuck in a "dinner rut" lately.  So tired of the same old meals over and over.  It was time to try something new.

Here was our Olive Garden inspired meal at home the other night


Roasted Red Pepper with Cheese Ravioli

the roasted peppers really make this meal

This recipe was a really good one and easy too.  Maybe this could help you if you are in a dinner rut too.  Here's the link

http://holycannolirecipes.blogspot.com/2010/07/ravioli-with-roasted-red-pepper-cream.html

I added more cheese than it called for to satisfy this cheese loving household.  Next time we are going to add some red pepper for an added kick. Mangiare!