Projects

You can view this post at chroniclesofakeeper.com

http://chroniclesofakeeper.com/2012/02/10/projects/

Cheesy Cilantro Pasta...So Easy, So Good

Picture it...you wake up, get dressed, get the kids dressed, grab the lunches, your purse, oh yeah...need to grab extra wipes and diapers to keep at the sitters, get everyone in and buckled, ugh forgot to gas yesterday, speed off, drop off kids, speed off to work, park the car...half way through your HECTIC work day you remember...I forgot to set out meat for dinner!!!! 

 If this is not you, please keep that to yourself...I envy you. Now, this may not be an accurate depiction of my everyday life...but, most of the events occur (in that order) everyday. For the days that this does happen...here is a recipe that can be your saving grace. 

I discovered it one day as I was preparing an ever-so-delightful meal of spaghetti. I could not bring myself to make plain old spaghetti...my family really deserved better than that...especially since the day before was probably fast food (don't judge me).

I decided to "fancy up" my pasta dish...or maybe I just "hodge-podged" it.

Cheesy Cilantro Pasta:

1 box of mini farfalle pasta

2 bell peppers (green, yellow, red...doesn't matter) - chopped

1/3 of an onion - chopped

1/2 bunch of cilantro - chopped

1 1/4 cup velveeta cheese

1 8 oz. can of tomato sauce

1 jar of favorite spaghetti sauce

1/3 cup of ranch (the actual dressing, not packet)

Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil and pour whole box (1 lb.) of pasta into the pot. 

Boil for 7 - 8 minutes

While pasta is cooking; in a pan sauté (with a drop or two of olive oil) - peppers, onions, and cilantro

When pasta is done, drain and put pasta back into pot

Reduce heat; stir in veggies, velveeta, tomato sauce, spaghetti sauce, ranch 

Stir continuously for about 5 minutes

YOU ARE DONE

Serve with garlic bread, salad, and enjoy!

There are so many different things you can do with this dish...adding meat, making it spicy with a jalapeño sautéed in the mix, and so on. Please share your renditions of this recipe...for all the moms who are just having one of those days. 

An Apple A Day...

Honey Crisp Apple

My FAVORITE apple, Honey Crisp, is one of my favorite breakfasts, mid-afternoon  snacks and now was part of a favorite dessert. For my Super Bowl dish, I decided to make an Apple Upside-Down Spice Cake...and of course, I used Honey Crisp apples. 


Upside-Down Apple Spice Cake:

* 2 large apples
* 1/2 cup butter
* 2/3 cup brown sugar
* Spice Cake mix (water, egg, oil according to your cake mix box)
* 1 banana

Directions:
* Heat oven to 350°F
* Melt butter and mix in brown sugar

* Pour butter and brown sugar into bottom of bundt cake pan
* Chop up apples and sprinkle on top of butter/brown sugar.
* Mix cake as directed
* Mash up one banana and mix in with cake batter
* Pour batter into bundt pan
* Bake for 40 minutes
* Loosen sides with a knife and turn upside down on a platter
* Enjoy

This is such a MOIST and DELICIOUS cake. Served with a chilled glass of milk or nice cup of hot coffee would equal perfection.