What We've Been Eating

This is going to be a week of trying new recipes. When I sat down to make my menu for the week I ended up picking five recipes we've never had before. I guess I'm bored with my regular repertoire?

Anyway, here's what we've had thus far:

Easy 4 Cheese Pasta Bake

It was really simple and Aaron and I both really liked it. Plus it made a lot. Like..A LOT. I probably have two more dinners worth in my freezer, which makes meal planning for the next couple weeks that much easier (and cheaper). If you make it, make sure you do three packed cups of spinach. I didn't, and ours had very little green. It could have supported a heck of a lot more. I served it with a green salad and homemade raspberry applesauce and it was perfect.


Broccoli Pasta Sauce

Wes was the one who ended up really liking this. Which isn't surprising since he loves broccoli with all his little two year old heart. Aaron and I both thought it was fine, something kind of fun and different for a change. I'd add more garlic if I made it again and lots more salt and pepper. It was just kind of bland. Also, I ended up adding some chicken stock and then some of the pasta water to thin it out to more of a sauce consistency and it was still fairly thick. I served it with these rolls (except I made them with half wheat flour) and steamed asparagus. The rolls were excellent, I'll definitely make them again.

Because I know you care....

I love making rolls, and they were soooo tastey : )

And isn't the pie pretty? Here's the story, I was in charge of bringing the whipped cream for everyone, and I didn't bring enough so my mean, mean, mean sister only let me spread it on half of my perfect pie : ) But that half looked really pretty ; )

Key Lime Pie and Chocolate Pie

And my meager holliday offerings?

Two pies from the Pioneer Woman, and rolls. of course.

They were delicious, especially the chocolate curls on top of the pie. But seriously if you have to make one choose that chocolate cheesecake.

Key Lime Pie

and

Chocolate Pie

I even made the chocolate curls, the chocolate curls! It was so pretty.

Okay and word to the wise, you may want to not eat the key lime pie with the chocolate pie, it does weird things to your tastebuds. Just seperate them by like ten minutes or something, or eat the lime one first.

I am always surprised how easy pies are to make, give these ones a shot, they were yum!

Chocolate Cheesecake Pie-- ATTN RALPHIE

You will LOVE this pie. I didn't even make it. I made two other yummy pies, but someone made this one and it was to. die. for.

Chocolate Cheesecake Pie

1 1/2 C Vanilla Wafer crumbs (about 36 wafers)
1/3 C confectioners sugar
1/3 C Hershey's cocoa
1/3 C margarine or butter, melted
1 8oz pkg cream cheese, softened
1 (14oz) can Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 C (6oz) semi sweet chocolate chips, melted
2 eggs
1 1/2 t vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 dgs. Combine crumbs, sugar, cocoa, and margarine; press firmly on bottom and up side to rim of 9" pie plate. In mixer bowl, beat cheese until fluffy. Gradually beat in sweetened condensed milk then melted chocolate chips. Add eggs and vanilla, mix well. Pour into prepared crust and bake 30-35 minutes until center is set. Cool. Chill thoroughly. Garnish as desired.

Yum-o.

Pumpkin pie trick

This is a great way to get a nice consistency - and a way to save a bit of money - with your pumpkin pie this year. Follow the directions for Libby's pumpkin pie - but use powdered milk instead of canned evaporated milk. I use a 2 cup pyrex measurer. Fill the measuring cup to 1 1/2 cup line with powdered milk, then add water until the liquid reaches the same 1 1/2 mark. Mix well - then gradually add to your pie mixture. It seems to combine the pie a little better and keep it at a creamy custardy consistency without any curdling. It works really well for us. Happy Thanksgiving!

Broccoli Cheese Soup- yum

Blaine, who is not a fan of soup, just called over from the kitchen "oh man, this is so good, I am licking the bowl like it's cake batter". That's right! Delicious Broccoli cheese soup with no velveeta!

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Another great one from mykitchencafe.blogspot.com

1 can chicken broth (or I just used chicken base and 2 C water)

1 small onion, diced

1/3 C flour

1/4 C butter

pepper to taste

2C milk (I used 1%)

1 1/2 C shredded chedder cheese (the sharper the better, I had some extra sharp...hot dang it was good)

1/2 C shredded swiss cheese

steamed chopped broccoli (I totall forgot to chop it, whoops)

Simmer chicken broth and onion for 15 minutes in a covered small saucepan, until onions are soft. Heat milk in microwave for 1-2 minutes. In a separate medium sized stockpot, melt butter then add flour and pepper. Cook together for a couple of minutes, then whisk in warmed milk. Stir and heat together on medium-high heat until soup starts to thicken. Next add chicken broth and continue to stir until well blended. Add cheeses and steamed broccoli. Serve.

I had no gumption to make bread bowls tonight but it would have been awesome with them. Enjoy!

Chicken Artichoke Calzones

I got this recipe from a posting made on Kayla's other cool recipe blog (www.recipemamas.blogspot.com. They were definitely a crowd pleaser.

We had these for dinner tonight and they were SO GOOD and so easy. Easier still if you had some leftover chicken, which we never ever have.

Pizza dough (I doubled this recipe and made 4 honkin big calzones)
shredded mozzarella cheese
cooked chicken (I just boiled some)
pesto
chopped artichoke hearts (I bought a giant jar at Costco, anyone have any other atrichoke heart recipes for me to try??)
olive oil (for brushing)

Preheat oven to 500. Put cookie sheet (or pizza stone, if you're fancy) in while it preheats. Divide pizza dough in half and roll into 7 or 8 inch circle. Spread each with pesto, stopping about 1/2 inch from the edge. Add mozzarella, chicken and chopped artichoke hearts to one half. Fold other half over and fold edges over to seal. Transfer to hot cookie sheet, brush with oil, and bake for 13-15 minutes