Friday, August 22, 2008

A wonderful discovery!

I found this blog about a month ago and I find myself looking for any extra time I can find to get new recipes from this lady.  She is amazing!  So I've been making a list of all the things I am going to make and I have FINALLY made some!  This one looked really easy so I thought I'd try it first.  It was easy and so yummy!  (I did add some mozzarella cheese to it).  My kids even loved this dinner which is really rare for both of them! I think they loved the shape of the pasta the most.  It is amazing that the shape of pasta can make or break a dinner at our house!  Anyway the second recipe I was making for a party our friends were having.  I made it right before so it would be nice and hot and gooey.   Not a good idea.  I was so disappointed!  Nobody really ate them.  So I took them home and put them in the fridge and tried them the next day..... AMAZING!  So if you are going to make them, I suggest make them the day before!  Her blog is pickypalate.blogspot.com  you all must check it out and let me know if you try out any of her recipes and how they turned out!!! 

Ditalini Pasta In Beef and Fennel Ragu

8 oz Ditalini Barilla Pasta

2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 bulb of fennel, thinly sliced

Pinch of salt

1 lb lean ground beef
Pinch of salt, pepper, garlic seasoning

26 oz favorite homemade or store bought pasta sauce

8 fresh basil leaves, chopped into chiffonade, thin ribbons

1. Prepare pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.Heat the oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat.  Saute onion, fennel and salt for 3-5 minutes or until softened. Stir in beef , salt, pepper and garlic seasoning; cook until browned. Stir in pasta sauce, basil leaves and cooked pasta. Season to taste. Simmer on low until ready to serve.

Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake Bars

1 box devils food cake mix
1 egg
1 stick softened butter

8 oz softened cream cheese
1 egg
1/3 Cup sugar
10 regular size Reeses Peanut Butter Cups, cut into little pieces

1 Cup semi sweet chocolate chips
4 Tablespoons heavy cream

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9x13 inch baking dish with tin foil. Spray with non stick cooking spray. Mix cake mix, egg and butter together then press into baking dish.

2. Mix cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Stir in egg until well combined then stir in peanut butter cups. Pour over cake layer and bake for 30-40 minutes or until cheesecake is cooked through (it only took 30 minutes in my oven). Remove and let cool completely.

3. Carefully lift bars out of dish using ends of foil. Melt chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl in 30 second intervals until melted through.Stir in heavy cream and stir until glossy smooth. Spread chocolate over cheesecake layer, cut into squares and serve.

9 comments:

colin and brooke thompson said...

Funny, Nixon was looking at it with me and he said the first one looked gross, but the second one looked good!
Cecile is from our home town. we know her older siblings better though. I didn't know Justin was from st. George. seriously small world!

buchanancasa said...

Cool, I am always looking for tried and true recipes from people. Maddy looks so grown up on her first day of school, it's really hard to believe it has come so soon. It was great to see you guys last month!

White Family said...

My kids wont eat anything unless it is covered in Ranch, or resembles a bag of chips. Thanks for the idea's.

Abes and Stace said...

Ok so my kids are not very picky. In fact, one of Doms favorite foods is steamed broccoli - however - I scrolled through her blog and will definately be making some of her stuff! Thanks for sharing. :)

Dana said...

Those look great! I will have to check out her website. I need to start making new things. Aaron always makes fun of me how I always make some kind of chicken, mashed potatoes, and corn. Its true, I do. That or a caserole. I take after my mom in that way I guess.

Amy O'Neill said...

Those recipes both sounds soooo yummy and easy! I think I am going to try them both. I will have to check out that blog too and get some ideas, I am always looking for quick and easy dinner ideas, we are getting sick of the same old stuff.

cheryl said...

Thanks for this website. I am always looking for new recipes. And the peanut butter cup cheesecake brownies look so yummy, can't wait.

Summer said...

It looks amazing! Yum. I will have to try it! Good find!

Kari said...

You've got my mouth watering!! I'm going to have to give both of them a try and if I like them, I'm giving you all the credit!! So fun to see how big your kids are getting. Maddy looks so cute and ready for her first day of school. And those boys of yours just keep getting cuter. Love your dark hair!