Pasta Salad???

aright lets get this going... that is before my Christmas baking list grows...lol So last night I was supposed to go shopping yet the weather outside kept saying "no, you need to stay inside and NOT worry about going grocery shopping tonight, just make something extremely fast and snuggle up in a blanket with the hubbs". Of course Mike LOVED the idea, and so PASTA SALAD was born!!!! Lol not really, but yes that is what we had. I know a lot of people either LOVE pasta salad, or really HATE it. We are a family of "Lovers" ;) so naturally we enjoy it! So yet again going through the fridge praying, and hoping that maybe in the depth of this huge monster called the fridge lays some resemblance of veggies, and sandwich meat. YES!!!! We have a winner!!!! I found more food than I actually thought we had! So I got to really, really clean out the fridge. Where now I have room for hundreds of fresh, yummy fruits and veggies. Don’t you just love when what happens?, and so the journey of the Pasta Salad had begun...

Recipe:
-1lb tri-Spiral pasta (we prefer to get the all organic, no bleached flour kind, but honestly you can use whichever one you have on hand)
-1-2lb any lunch meat (sliced in to little strips)
-2 broccoli crowns (separated in to small bite size pieces)
-1 bell pepper(sliced in to little strips)
-1 can of olives (sliced)
-5-7 ounces Parmesan cheese(or as much as you really want :))
-1/2 bag baby carrots (shredded)
-2/3 bottle of Italian Salad Dressing

Directions:
1.Cook the pasta as instructed by the bag
2.Rinse the pasta so it quickly cools, strain
3.Mix everything in a large bowl
4.You could eat it right away, or make it ahead for a party, picnic, work, school. It travels very well :)
5. ENJOY!!!!

Pizza? But pizza takes too long to make from scratch...

Okay.. so yesterday Mike and I got home from work and we were ready for some real quick yummy PIZZA!!!! But as much as fresh, homemade pizza is, I realistically just didn’t have the patients and time to do so. So the next best thing came to mind.. PIZZA BAGELS!!!! what is that you say?? PIZZA BAGELS!!! They are super quick, healthy, cheap and most of all delish!!!!!

So what you will need is:
-12 Bagels (I usually use 100% whole wheat, but any savory ones will work that you have around your house)
-1 12 oz. jar of pizza sauce (if I have homemade I use that, but if not any good marinara sauce works)
-1-2lbs of mozzarella cheese (shredded)
-1-2 lb of turkey pepperoni (or what ever kind you like best)
-1/2 yellow onion (sliced)
-1 whole bell pepper (sliced)
-1/2 can of sliced olives

Directions:

1.Preheat the oven to 300 degrees
2.Take out the bagels out, slice them in half, and line a large cookie sheet with them (cut side up)
3.Take the pizza sauce and spread about 1-2 tbsp on each half
4.Next you will need to take the cheese and sprinkle some on each half
5.Arrange the pepperoni on each bagel half so that it doesn’t slide off
6.Arrange the rest of the ingredients all over the bagel half’s
7.Put the cookie sheet in to the oven and let them bake for 10-18 min (if you want to freeze some for later wrap them individually and freeze, they will keep in the freezer for 6 months)
8.Pull the tray out and enjoy

P.S. you could also microwave them
And toaster oven them

Here is a pic of the ones I made last night.. we made the Pepperoni Pizza bagels

This New Adventure....

Alrighty.... so i have finally set this blog up.. i still have a couple things to perfect... but for now... this is going to be as good as its going to get. :)

So last night i was wondering what to make for lunch for the next day.. and since we just got home after a exhuasting day, and there wasnt anything in the fridge that looked appetizing i decided.. or better yet the fridge decided that what i could make is chilli suprise... the suprise part was for Mike my dear ol husband that doesnt like veggies as much as meat.. so it was the perfect oppurtunity to
a.) clean out the fridge of all veggies, salsa, beans, and meat
and b.) Hide as many veggies as possible in the chilli without Mike realizing it... hehehehe
So all these thing made thier way to my crockpot alin with some homemade tomato sauce,turned on low over night and Suprise!!! Lunch is ready for us in the morning..

So the Recipe for this Chilli "Suprise"

-1-2 lbs of chicken and beef chuck (you could use raw or already cooked whatever you have on hand)
-1 and a half large onion (chopped)
-3 grated carrots or about 1/3 of a bag of mini carrots (grated)
-2 mushrooms (sliced)
-1/4 of a head of broccali (chopped)
-1 lb (16 oz.) of dry beans
-3 cloves of garlic (minced)
-1/2 a cup of dry brown rice
-3 Cups tomato sauce
-1 can tomato paste
-3 Cups hot water
-2 tbsp chilli powder
-Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions:
1.Toss everything in to the crock pot (the veggies on the bottom)
2.Turn on low for 6-7 hours
3.Top with sour cream.

Enjoy with some french bread!


Here is the chilli