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Thursday, January 31, 2013

Ravioli with Pesto Cream Sauce

I love pesto and could add it to almost every dish and be completely happy. I have added it to the filling in my stuffed shells, sandwiches, and in any cream sauce. I don't make my own pesto. I would love to make my own but it just seems so expensive to make it. It cost over $8 dollars just to buy a small package of pine nuts and I bought a huge container of pesto at Costco for $8.99 the other day.

I added pesto to my cream sauce and poured it over mushroom ravioli. It was so delish and very easy. Your kids will love it. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

Ingredients
2 heaping tablespoons of pesto sauce
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
salt and pepper
Parmesan cheese for the topping (optional)
12 mushroom ravioli or any pasta of your choice.

Directions

In a stock pot boil water and add ravioli. Cook according to package.

In a large saute pan add pesto sauce. heat up just a little and then add heavy cream and salt and pepper. Cook and allow to thicken up about 5 minutes.  Pour over ravioli with a little parmesan cheese on top.


Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Easy Homemade Chicken Soup

I have bought chicken soup at Whole foods for years and paid a pretty penny every time. I went there a few days ago and they didn't have there soup out just yet. I decided I could make my own and save my self a ton of money. I was worried it would be too bland and it would have to cook all day. Well I was wrong it only took 30 minutes an it was very tasty. Next I'm going to attempt to make my own stock. As a kid I loved Lipton's chicken noddle soup so I added cut up pieces of thin vermicelli. Try this and let me know what you think. 

Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
20 baby carrots cut up into bite size slices
1 large cooked chicken breast cut up 
1 onion diced
2 cloves garlic minced
5 sprigs of thyme
2 1/2 quarts chicken stock
1 1/2 cups cut up vermicelli
salt and pepper

Directions
In a large stock pot add 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add onion and cook for 2 minutes. Add garlic and carrots and cook 6 minutes.

Add Chicken and Stock and thyme and simmer. In another pot boil water and cook any noodle you desire. I add thin vermicelli because I don't like my noodles to thick. Just under cook the noodles because they will cook more in the soup. Simmer until carrots are just tender and then serve. taste and then add salt and pepper if needed. 

I didn't add celery for two reasons. One because my kids don't like it and then I have to fish there's out but also I didn't have any. You can add any thing you like to this soup. 


Tuesday, January 1, 2013

2012 Favorite recipes

It is New Years Day and I thought it would be fun to post the top 5 recipes that viewers seem to enjoy checking out and cooking. It has been a lot of fun writing the blog and getting feed back from others who have made the recipes I have posted. I am excited for 2013 and adding even more great recipes for appetizers, dinners, and even cocktails. Check out these recipes and let me know what you think and if any of them are your favorite.


The one recipe that reached a 1,000 views and seems to be the most popular is Olive Garden Dressing.
It is one of my favorites also. I like it because it is like a creamy Italian dressing that works on many different salads.
#1 Olive Garden Dressing



The other favorite is my chili recipe. It is very close to a 1,000 views and is quite simple to make. I have made this for my annual soup swap and some of the members ask me to make it the following year because they love it so much.

#2 Chili


My Ultimate Chocolate Chip recipe seems to also be a big hit on my blog. I am not surprised because it took me years to figure this recipe out and now I make them over and over to the point that I have memorized it. 
#3 Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie


This Ravioli with Garlic Cream Sauce is a favorite of mine and my family so I am not surprised it is also on the top 5 list. It is super easy to make and your friends and family will think you are a chef because of how fancy it looks and taste.
#4 Ravioli with Garlic Cream Sauce


My Popcorn with Nutritional Yeast Flakes recipe has become quite a hit on pinterest and google. I think it is because of the Nutritional flakes. I can't tell you how addicting this popcorn is and how good it is for you. Try it and let me know what you think.
#5 Popcorn with Nutritional Yeast Flakes