Sunday, October 18, 2015

Italian Drunken Noodles

I was inspired by this -
Italian “Drunken” Noodles ~ The next time you’re in a need of easy homemade pasta recipe try this one. Super flavoured pasta that will make your mouth water earlier you have finished cooking it!:
to make the following recipe.

Here's what you need to make my version of
Italian Drunken Noodles:
First, brown your hot Jimmy Dean sausage in a pan 
and while that is happening,
peel some garlic and chop an onion.
Then mince the garlic -
and chop a yellow pepper,
and a red pepper.
After the meat is browned, add in the garlic and onion with a little olive oil and cook until tender.
Then dump in your chopped peppers, white wine, and diced tomatoes with juice.
Then add salt, pepper, and seasonings to taste.
Before tossing in your cooked noodles, add in a little more olive oil to create a silky sauce.
Serve your Italian Drunken Noodles in bowl with sauce.
Top with any remaining parsley & basil and throw on some Parmesan cheese.
It's easy and tasty. 
Let me know if you give it a try!



Italian Drunken Noodles

Olive oil
1 lb hot Jimmy Dean sausage
1 onion
1 red bell pepper
1 yellow bell pepper
3-4 cloves garlic
1 package of egg noodles, prepared according to box
1/2 c. white wine
1 28 oz. can diced tomatoes with juice
1 tsp Italian Seasoning
Salt & Black pepper to taste
Parsley & Basil - use fresh leaves or dried flakes to your hearts content
Parmesan cheese 

Prepare egg noodles according to package instructions. Chop peppers and onion. Mince garlic. Brown hot Jimmy Dean sausage in a large pan. Once the meat is cooked, add chopped onion, minced garlic, and a little olive oil. Allow to tenderize and turn golden before adding in white wine, salt, pepper, diced tomatoes with juice, and seasonings to taste. Allow flavors to simmer together for a few minutes before adding in another tablespoon of olive oil to create a silky flavor and toss in cooked noodles. Remove from heat. Top with any remaining chopped parsley and basil. Serve drunken noodles in a bowl and top with Parmesan cheese.

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Emily's One!

Can you believe my last little baby is now a 1 year old?
Me neither.
She's a doll. 
An absolute joy to have in the family. 
She is an easy baby and full of smiles, 
so I was extra sad to see her like this on her birthday -
 She was sad, clingy, and couldn't stop crying. 
She was also pulling on her ear and had a rash.
We ran to the walk-in and spent an hour and 40 minutes 
waiting to be seen.
It was awful, but she was a trooper.
The verdict was an ear infection.
The first one we've ever dealt with in our family.
We got some meds and headed back home for her party.

For this little gal's big day, I baked two cakes
and got ready to frost.
For inspiration,
I turned to her best buddy, Lola.
 Lola is the next door neighbor's dachshund 
and Emily loves her!
Puppy is the only word she consistently says 
whenever she sees one.
She doesn't even say Moma or Dada frequently,
but she says "puppy" every time Lola comes out.
Nothing makes her happier.
So it was only logical to put a puppy on Emily's first birthday cake.
She still wasn't feeling the best at her party,
but she had a great time anyway!
The puppy party was a success and the kids liked coloring their own dachshunds.
We opened presents -
and she got a few puppies,
including an adorable puppy purse :)
 She was about ready for a nap, but we still had to do cake.
She wasn't too sure about it at first,
 but she gave it a try.
And once she got a taste of it, she dug right in.
I'm happy to report she's fully recovered and happy as ever.
We're so grateful for this little lady.
Happy 1st Birthday, Emily!

Sunday, September 13, 2015

Snicker Doodle Bars

We needed a snack, 
so I checked on my pins and found this doozy -
Snickerdoodle Blondie Bars...Chewy cinnamon blondie brownie bars with a cinnamon-sugar topping.:
Snicker Doodle Bars!
I wanted something easy and 
made with ingredients I had on hand.

So I summoned my little baking helpers and got to work.
Ruby handled the butter, brown sugar,
sugar,
and vanilla.
We added eggs,
and then Walt took over with some cinnamon,
salt, flour,
and baking powder.
Once mixed, the dough looked like this -
and here it is spread out in a 9 x 13 inch pan.
Before baking, prepare a cinnamon and sugar mixture -
and sprinkle it on top of the dough.
Bake the bars for about 25 minutes until golden brown.
They are delicious fresh out of the oven.
Crusty on the outside, but warm and chewy inside.
Give them a try!

Snicker Doodle Bars
1 c. butter, softened
1 c. sugar
1 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 1/2 c. all purpose flour
Topping:
1/4 c. sugar
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl or stand mixer, cream together butter and sugars. Mix in eggs and vanilla, followed by dry ingredients. Mix until smooth. Spread dough into a greased 9 x 13 inch baking pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar topping mixture. Bake for 25-30 minutes.

Sunday, September 6, 2015

Baseball

Where did this summer go?
I can't believe it is already September!

Walter participated in his first team sport this summer.
Moorhead Parks & Rec Baseball!
His team was called the Cardinals and 
he had a great time playing ball.
Here he is manning first base -
At bat -
   High-fiving after the game -
And running for home!
Two of Walt's biggest fans!
Here's another turn at bat -
and run around the bases.
I loved getting my first team photo and a button of Walt to wear!
Batter Up!
Look at that swing!
 He did awesome!
A great first season of baseball is in the books 
and we couldn't be more proud.
Now it's time for hockey!