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.

8 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.

Kindergarten Time!!

I was so worried that after the first day of kindergarten Maddy would say that she didn't want to go back.  She has been telling me that she really liked her pre-school teacher and she just wanted to do pre-school again.  She was a little nervous to start her first day but she had so much fun and she is so excited to go again tomorrow!  HOORAY!!
These are her two friends Sydney and Ewa, and they are all in the same class together!  So much fun!!
This was after school.  She was soooo thirsty.  She said the kid behind her in the drinking fountain line counted to 5 way to fast so she didn't get very much water.