A meal, A Plan

I have to admit this.

I am not a throw-a-recipe-together kind of cook...

generally speaking, unless I am in a pinch...

I do better with directions...then, from that, I play around

with the ingredients ( more of something...or less of another)...

I also have to admit that I am a poor meal planner...

I have my go-to recipes...and I do like to try many new ones...

but I usually decide that...well, the day of haha..

My abuela ( my grandmother) sent me the Dec. issue of Rachel Ray Magazine...

(love her!)

...and inside was this little booklet of daily weeknight meals

...a planning guide for a weeks worth of dinners!

Strike me down...it was like gold to gold miner!

Inside the booklet included all the recipes, plus a shopping list for the entire week!

What did I have to do?

Drive to the grocery store and get said food.

Um, yes please.

Also, it cut my grocery bill in meh, half!!!

Yes, half.

I cried too, it's ok.

So here's the deal, go here to get your weekly Rachel Ray  meal guide ...

This lovely recipe pictured above? Well, that is the last recipe for this week... ( since I apparently shop in the middle of the week?) and it was magnificent...I would probably not use bell pepper when I make it next time...and maybe add mushrooms instead...but all around it was amazing...and I ate it for lunch too!

So go ahead... try it out ! Lemme know what you think!

Rachel Ray's

Fettuccine/ Toasted Almond Cream

Ingredients:

 2 cloves garlic ( grated)

12 oz. spinach fettuccine ( broken in half)

8 oz. frozen peas (thawed)

1 small red bell pepper ( I used green)

1/2 cup (2oz) slivered almonds

2 eggs

1/2 cup grated Parmesan

Salt & Pepper

1 1/4 cups shredded mozzarella

1/2 lb. thick-sliced smoked turkey ( finely chopped)

Directions:

1. In a large pot of boiling, salted water, add the garlic. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, about 11 minutes. Add the peas and bell pepper in the last 2 minutes of cooking.

2. Meanwhile, using a food processor ( I actually used a coffee grinder...don't judge...and it worked perfectly) grind the almonds to a fine powder. Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup water and process until smooth and creamy.

3. In a medium bowl, lightly beat eggs. Stir in the almond cream, Parmesan, 1 tsp. salt and a generous pinch pepper.

4. Drain the pasta and vegetables, reserving about 1 cup of the cooking water; return to the pot. Add the egg-parm mixture and stir to coat (the hot pasta will cook the eggs). Stir in the mozzarella, smoked turkey and enough of the reserved cooking water to loosen up the sauce.

Viola! Serve and Enjoy!

This recipe was taken straight out of the booklet from the mag...

pretty simple stuff...

Hope you all are having a great Wednesday!

What recipes have you tried lately? Lemme know if you do attempt this one!



Sick-Day Staples... and recipes!

Anyone out there have a routine or "bag o tricks" for when you &/or your kiddos are sick?

I never really did, I admit, until I had my kiddos, but find it essential to have a few things

close by to make me feel better...even if I don't feel good....ya know, the indulgent, comforting

kinds of things....like, oh I dunno, I really easy and yummy recipe...or two!

Yep, that sounds perfect.

So, since we are all currently still sick, I thought I would share our (shhhh) secret weapons!

Warm Cooked Cinnamon Apples

( this recipe is my newest addition to the arsenal...and you'll know why soon...sooooo super easy

and sweet, and soothing for those sore throats!)

Instead of slaving over actually cooking the apples...

( who wants all that work when they are sick?!?)

grab a can of apple pie filling (in the aisle usually with all the canned fruits)

empty into a small/medium saucepan sprinkle your desired amount

of cinnamon and brown sugar ( hey, I get it you sweet tooth, you)

and heat until slightly bubbling.

Viola! Simple as that...and we totally indulged on this treat this week.

Crock Pot Chicken & Rice

Don't be fooled by the words crock pot...it is super simple!
Let the crock pot do the cooking for you!

All you need to do is place a back of chicken ( I like the bone-in chicken best for

better flavor, tenderness and I get more broth from them than the boneless)

into the crock pot on high heat...add chicken broth, salt pepper (and anything else you like to season with) cook until no pink shows...then de-bone ( or skip that if there are no bones haha) add 2 cans of cream of chicken and a tad more broth.

Let cook for a few a couple hours ( the longer the better...its a great dinner recipe) and add rice 30 minutes before serving!

You have a complete meal with so very little work!

Vick's Vapor Gel for kids

This is kind of like the Vick's our moms used to rub on us when we were sick....but way better!

There is hardly any mess...because its gel...and you can squeeze it right out of the tube...the sponge tip applicator makes it possible to just dab it on to the skin without dipping your fingers in all that goo...that is soooo hard to get off!

Funny Movies

I think this goes without saying...but around here, when we feel crummy ....we find the silliest, funniest, nonsensical movies we can find...and laugh the hours away...ya never know, there may be something to the adage "laughter is the best medicine"....it sure beats the alternative right?

Warm Jello

Right. I must be crazy....but I'm not....when I was little my mom used to make this drink for me

to soothe my sore throat and ease coughing. It works people!!!!!

Just empty a package (or less depending on how strong/weak you want it to taste...I like mine strong)

of Jello powder into a cup of water and microwave until you've reached your desired temperature...add a little sugar or even better...honey!

Piece of Cake right?!?!?! Don't believe me? Go try it...I know you will love it!

(even if you're not sick....I won't tell )

Hope some of these are helpful for you on your next sick day!
We are on the mend ....a little better today...hopefully a lot better tomorrow.

What are some of your sick day staples?



From Scratch: Muffin Recipe of the Century...

'Member that conversation we had yesterday about recipes? Well, here I am, as promised, with that wonderful deliciousness! The other day I was flipping through my recipe folder and happened on one that kinda caught my eye. This was a baking recipe and you all know how much I love baking, so I was pretty sold from the beginning on this one. The recipe is Fig's Cheese Muffins from the pioneer woman ( love her!!!)

Let me just forewarn you all... this is just as fattening as it looks (sounds)... so if you are worried about that kinda thing...step away from the computer.No really. Step away.

This was the most cheesiest (love my English), filling, tastiest, melt-in-your-mouth-and-curl-up-and-die-from-the-calories treat I have had in a long time. Come on you guys, I'm from North Carolina... give me a little "country" break here.... it does come out every now and again. Briefly. Like a one-light town, blink and its gone...Blink. See?

Ok... moving right along.

Here's what my nugget of Heaven looked like (I actually made 12 nuggets of heaven with this recipe...you can too!):

....yeah...I knowwwwww...right!

For those of you who don't want to just follow the link to the original recipe....here ya go!

Fig's Cheese Muffins

via Pioneer Woman

1 1/2 cups flour

1 1/2 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 cups shredded Colby-Jack cheese (I just used cheddar)

1 cup milk

1 egg

3/4 cup (1/2 stick) melted butter

In a medium sized mixing bowl whisk together all of the dry ingredients.

Next stir in all three cups of cheese.

In a separate bowl, whisk egg, milk and butter together. When mixed thoroughly, pour the milk mixture into the dry ingredients and stir with a spoon to combine.

Baked in a greased muffin tin in a 375 degree oven for 20-25 minutes.

Makes 12 muffins.

Now, gooooo try it!

Hope you're all having a lovely week so far... I am excited to be having a cooking party with my friend Celeste tomorrow!!! She has been out of the country for a while and is finally back in town!!! Oh, and I have to get ready for traveling this weekend! Yay! Have I mentioned how much I loathe packing.... or should I say packing for the kids. I love packing for myself but I have to pack the entire kitchen sink for the kiddos it seems lol... I know, I know... I'm complaining... but it will be nice to see family and friends in NC and then off to Virginia we go for a week!!! Mom, if you're reading this... the pictures are prepared and ready...just remind me to actually put them on your computer when I get there lol... I totally don't put it past me to forget!

What have you been cooking up lately? Any yummy recipes I should know about? Dish it. Pun intended ;) I'm a comic. Didn't you know?