Pasta Cabonara

I love pasta!!!! It is my weakness!! I really love it when not only I can make a pasta dish but make it inexpensive and easy! I have explored making pasta cabonara a number of times but I finally came up with a recipe that was so yummy and quick! There are ways of making it more healthy like for instance using fat free half and half, using whole wheat pasta using turkey bacon (I wouldn't advise it for this recipe) and adding more veggies if you are looking for a healthy alternative. Also you could add more meats. I usually add grilled chicken breast but you could add some leftover cubed ham, some shrimp, Italian sausage...the possibilities are endless with this recipe!

Easy Pasta Cabonara

5 cups uncooked mostaccioli or penne (2 lb box)
1 lb. thick sliced bacon diced
8 oz fresh mushrooms sliced
1 1/2 cups half and half
2/3 cups butter
5 cloves of garlic smashed and minced
14-16 drops of hot sauce
1 1/2 cups grated parmesan
1/2 cup sliced green onion
sea salt as desired

Cook pasta as directed on package
In a large skillet on medium heat cook bacon until crisp. Remove to paper towel to drain. Keeping the bacon drippings in the pan, brown the mushrooms and garlic for about a minute until the garlic is aromatic. Place mushrooms and garlic on the paper towel with the bacon and drain the bacon grease.
Add the half and half and butter to the pan until butter is melted. Once melted add the bacon, mushrooms, garlic, hot sauce pasta and cheese until heated through stirring frequently until sauce is thickened. Turn off heat and add onions.

Enjoy!!!!
XOXO!!

Herb Roasted Fingerling Potatoes

I admit it I love potatoes, however most of the time they soak up other flavors or smothered in butter and the flavor of the actual potato is lost. So I decided to play around with them and have been for a while until now. This is now my favorite potato recipe and it is really easy!

Herb Roasted Fingerling Potatoes

2 lb. bag of "sunset" fingerling potatoes sliced lengthwise (sunset is a mixture of red, purple and white)
2 tbs Olive oil
2 tsp rosemary
2 tsp italian seasoning
2 tbs creole seasoning
2 tbs sea salt
6 cloves of garlic smashed and minced

Preheat the oven to 450. Place potatoes in a large bowl. Add oil, seasonings and garlic. Toss with your hands until the potatoes are coated. Place in a roasting pan and bake 450 for 25-30 minutes until the potatoes are tender. Serve

Enjoy Y'all!!

XOXO

Tender Marinated Chops

I always enjoy finding a new recipe for pork chops that is easy, tasty and is not dry! I searched and searched and came across a recipe that sounded great but could use a little tweaking and it was amazing!! Not to mention you can make a little change here and there and give it an Asian flavor!

Tender Marinated Chops

1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup water
juice from 1/2-1 lemon
6 cloves garlic smashed and minced
1 tsp pepper
1 tbs olive oil
4 (about 1 lb) boneless pork sirloin chops

Place the chops into a resealable bag ( I used a gallon size) add all the ingredients. Seal the bag and gently toss the liquid around making sure that all of the meat is surrounded by the liquid. Place in the fridge for 5-24 hrs (obviously the longer the meat marinades the more flavorful it is). Preheat oven to 375. Place chops in a roasting pan without the marinade (dispose of the bag and liquid). Bake at 375 for about 20 minutes depending on the thickness of the chops. Take out of the oven and let the meat rest for 5 minutes and enjoy!!!

Like I said adding a few ingredients such as 1 tsp of hoisen sauce, 1 tsp of minced ginger and 1 tbs of brown sugar would give it an Asian flavor or you could add 1 tbs of brown sugar and replace the water with 1/4 pineapple juice to give it a Hawaiian flavor....the possibilities are endless with this recipe. For a smokier flavor add liquid smoke or rather than bake them grill them!

Enjoy Y'all!!
XOXO 

One pot noodles and meat sauce

I am always looking for easy recipes especially on long days when I just do not feel like spending hours in front of a stove. As always I went searching and I came across a recipe that seemed perfect for my needs kept it cheep and the kids would love but it needed a little tweaking for my taste buds. Here is what I came up with. Like I said it is quick, easy, inexpensive and YUMMY!!! Keep in mind I have a big family so you can half this recipe with no problems. Also you can make it a little healthier by using ground turkey in place of the ground beef (if using ground turkey I would suggest sprucing it up while browning it by using a little olive oil, granulated garlic and italian seasonings)

One pot noodles and meat sauce

2 lb lean ground beef

1 red bell pepper

8 oz pkg baby bella mushrooms cut up

4 cloves garlic minced

1 small onion finely chopped

6 cups wide egg noodles (about 10 oz)

2 1/2 cups of water

2 jars spaghetti sauce 24 oz (I used 2 different flavored prego brand)

2 tsp italian seasoning

2 tsp granulated garlic 

sea salt and pepper to taste

In a large pot or dutch oven brown the meat, bell pepper and onion over medium heat until meat most of the pink is out of the meat. Add the minced garlic and mushrooms. Cook until meat is browned. Drain. 

Stir in Water, Sauce and seasonings over high heat and bring to a boil. 

Lower temp to low, cover and let simmer for 30 minutes allowing the sauce to get into the meat and the seasonings to "open up". Stir occasionally.

Uncover, stir and bring to a boil. Lower heat and stir in noodles. Simmer uncovered for 8-10 minutes until noodles are tender.

Serve and enjoy! 

Thanks Y'all!!

XOXO