Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Italian Sausage and Pasta Bow Ties


I would say this recipe below could use a little tweaking. It seemed to me like it was missing something. I think maybe some additional salt/oregano/basil/pepper would do it. BD and PM liked it as is. DQ gave it a thumbs down, but she was tired last night.

Ingredients
3 1/2 cups farfalle (bow-tie pasta), uncooked
4 Italian sausage links (1 lb.), cut into 12-inch-thick slices (I had 5 sausage links for 1.24 lbs)
2 green, red or yellow peppers, cut into chunks (we used one green and one yellow)
2 cups spaghetti sauce
1 cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

Directions
  1. Cook pasta as directed on package
  2. Meanwhile, cook sausage and peppers in large skillet on medium-high heat 15 min., turning sausage for even browning. Add sauce; cover. Cook on medium heat 10 min. or until heated through.
  3. Drain pasta; mix with sausage and peppers in skillet. Sprinkle with cheese

Monday, March 23, 2009

We're riding!

PM learned how to ride his bike a few weeks ago. Since then, he hadn't been on it again, until yesterday. By the time we were done yesterday, he was not only riding, but had also mastered the two things that had previously alluded him; starting and stopping by himself. Here's a small video of that (taken by my cell phone, so it's tiny).

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Chocolate

So, I gave up chocolate for Lent. I know, pretty standard stuff, right? Well, I didn't realize just how many things I eat have chocolate in them. Also, how many recipes I look at online that have chocolate in them. Wow! Other than just not having any more Cadbury Mini Eggs until Easter (the total count that I ate in 1 week and 1 day was 34 oz, that was three 8 oz bags and one 10 oz bag, yes, pretty much all by myself), which is killing me by the way and I need to make sure I buy a bag for the Easter Bunny to put in my basket, there are lots of other things that I eat that have chocolate in them. The number one example, Hot Chocolate from Starbucks. UGH! I was buying that at least once a week, if not more. Also, my Fiber One Oats and Chocolate bars. Those are a great snack when I need a sweet fix, but want something semi-good for me.

Chocolate chip muffins, chocolate chip cookie dough, donuts, chocolate chip cookies someone brought in for work... The list goes on and on. I can honestly say that I have strictly adhered to my promise, with one small faux paux. When we had our snow days, and we had come in from spending over three hours in the snow, I made the family the best hot chocolate in the world. I had a small mug. I figured, we only get snow once every five years or snow like that, and I wanted to enjoy the day with my family.

The recipie for this wonderful hot chocolate is below:

Hot Chocolate
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 1/2 cups milk
2 TBSP sugar
pinch of salt
8 oz dark chocolate, shaved or finely chopped
1 tsp vanilla extract
marshmallows or whipped cream for serving

Heat cream, milk, sugar and salt until hot. I use my glass Hot Chocolate Pot from Williams Sonoma for this. I can put it right into the microwave for 5-7 minutes and it is perfect!

Once heated, add the chocolate and vanilla and froth (if you don't have a frother, invest in a cheap drink mixer, again, my pot came with one) until thoroughly mixed and smooth.

Pour into mugs and top with marshmallows or whipped cream. I prefer to use whipped cream and the kids marshmallows

Friday, March 13, 2009

Things that make you go hmmm....

  1. People that claim to know a lot, and may have certificates to prove it, but really are clueless about the world and maybe even that subject!
  2. Mom's that have kids and then leave them with the dad and go off to live their own lives.
  3. Kids that think they can sneak their Nintendo DS out of the house in their pants pocket to school.
  4. Eczema, why oh why...
  5. Mood swings
  6. People

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Out of the mouth of a child

Tonight, DQ was asking BD what kind of cat ours was. He asked what she meant and she said, "you know, like our dog Quincy was a bagel". Yes folks, I guess our dog was an edible pastry. Darn, if only I had known!

Really though, he was a Beagle. A super pain in the hiney Beagle, but a Beagle just the same. I am sure he is up in heaving getting into God's trashcan on an hourly basis!