Creamy Garlic Pasta

A very yummy... very filling... very garlicky pasta!!!!  Found on Pinterest.   I made two versions.... one for me and one for the non-fish-eating-hubby.   Both were yummy!!

Ingredients:
2 tsp olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp butter
¼  tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
3 cups chicken stock
½ lb spaghetti or angel hair pasta
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
¾ cup heavy cream
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
Optional: 8-12 Large Shrimp


Directions:

In a pot, bring the olive oil to medium-low heat. Add the garlic and stir, allowing it to cook for 1-2 minutes. Mix in the butter until melted. Add the salt, pepper and chicken stock. Raise the heat to high and let it come to a boil. 

Once it is at a rolling boil, add the pasta and cook for as long as the box’s directions indicate. Reduce the stove to medium heat and mix in the parmesan until completely melted. Turn off the heat and stir in the cream and parsley. Serve immediately.

If doing the Shrimp version, Saute shrimp in 1 Tbsp butter, 1 Tbsp Olive Oil, & 3 cloves garlic for 4-5 minutes.   Serve on top of pasta. 

Chicken and Rice

This was one of the first recipes I found and liked after being diagnosed with IC, but when I was pregnant I could not stomach it so I completely forgot about it until last week! Thankfully my palate loves it again!!!  Also, when I was working (outside the home),  I used to make double and triple batches of this and bring it to work for lunch.  Found through the wonderful IC Network here.

Ingredients:
2 small boneless chicken breasts, cooked & shredded (I bake with salt & pepper)
1 box chicken Rice a Roni

 Directions:
Cook rice according to box directions except only use 1/2 of the flavor packet to reduce the sodium (I find, I don't even notice a difference).  Add the cooked chicken at the end.   Serve!

Cheesey Broccoli

Ok, this recipe is barely even a recipe.  But I use my blog to create my grocery list and I don't want to forget how delicious this healthy side was!!!

Ingredients:
Fresh Broccoli
Sliced white American cheese
Salt & Pepper to taste

Directions:
Remove stems from broccoli.   Steam broccoli for about 5 minutes.  Add sliced cheese until just melted.   Remove from heat and sprinkle with salt & pepper.

Peanut Butter Cookies

I almost thought about calling these 100 Peanut butter cookies because this is my 100th recipe!  A goal I had for 2012 and I'm meeting it in June.  Exciting.  Ok... on with the cookies.   So I don't know what other PB Cookie recipes are like.... this is the only one I have tried, but hello... can we say easy??!!!   They only have 3 ingredients.   Ok... 3 and a half.   But still... what a cinch!! It's a Paula Dean recipe. 

Ingredients:
2 Cups Peanut Butter (crunchy or creamy)
2 Cups Sugar
2 Eggs
2 tsp Vanilla

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a large baking sheet. In a mixing bowl, combine the peanut butter, the egg, and vanilla, and stir well with a spoon.  Roll the  dough into balls the size balls about the size of a tablespoon (too big and they don't look as pretty).  Place the balls on the prepared baking sheet.  With a fork,  dipped in sugar to prevent sticking, press a crisscross design on each cookie.  Bake for 9-10 minutes (recipe said 12 min, but mine cooked quicker and the ones I cooked a little longer were too crunchy for my taste)  Cool slightly before removing from pan.

Yields a little over 4 dozen cookies

Sweet Garlic Chicken

Excited, excited, excited!!!  I am very excited about this recipe!!  It is delicious...  It is easy...  It involves very few ingredients that I usually have on hand... and it is different than anything I've had before, in a good way!!   Can we say new staple??  Love new staples!!!! Now this doesn't have to be made with white rice... but I would highly suggest doing so and pouring the pan drippings over the rice... OMG Good!!  Found on pinterest via Food.com

Ingredients:
2 boneless chicken breasts
6 cloves minced garlic
6 Tbsp brown sugar
3 tsp olive oil
1 cup white rice

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350.  In a saute pan, saute garlic in olive oil until soft.  Remove from heat, stir in brown sugar.  Place chicken in baking dish and cover with garlic/sugar mixture.   Bake 30 minutes.   Meanwhile, make rice per instructions on package.   When chicken is done, there will be about 1/2 cup of juice in pan.  Reserve juice and pour over chicken & rice.   You won't be disappointed!!

Serves 2

Easy Cubed Potatoes

I wanted potatoes with my dinner, but I just didn't have the energy for my scalloped potatoes or anything that would take longer than 5 minutes to prepare.  So I took some red potatoes, didn't even peel them, and mixed them with olive oil and spices.  And they were good! Who says you have to slave in the kitchen to have a fab meal?  This recipe proves otherwise!!!

Ingredients:
3 large red potatoes
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp kosher salt (kosher salt isn't as strong, if using table salt, I'd use half the amount)
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 Cup olive oil

Directions:
Cut Potatoes into small cubes.   Toss in all ingredients.  Spread on foil lined cookie sheet (for easier cleanup).   Cook at 425 for about 30 minutes....tossing about halfway through.

Serves 2

Pork Loin

I tackled my first loin!!!  I think this was a pork loin, but because it was only 1 pound... the online world seems to think it's a tenderloin.  So I don't know, it's a loin of some sort and it's pork and it was delicious!!!!  I made a gravy to go with this, but I liked it better without.  They key (I read) is to make sure and cook it to the right temperature (145 degrees)...which really stressed me out!   I got a little meat thermometer and that helped a ton.   It was perfect and juicy.  Oh and I also brined the meat (first time for that too!)  Which just means soaking the meat in salt/sugar water for like 8 hours prior to cooking.   Phew... lots of new stuff...and I conquered all!!!

Ingredients:
For brining:
4 Cups Water
1/4 Cup Salt
1/3 Cup Sugar

 For Pork:
1 pound Pork Loin (my package read "Pork Center Cut Loin Filet)
minced garlic
dried marjoram
kosher salt
rubbed sage

Directions:
To brine, combine all brining ingredients and let sit (in the refrigerator) 8 hours or overnight.  When done brining remove from water mixture and pat dry with paper towel.   Generously rub pork with all spices.  Place on rack in roasting pan and bake approximately 40-50 minutes at 375 until meat gets to 145 degrees.  (again, I'd use a thermometer).  Let sit 5-10 minutes before slicing. 

Serves 4

Potato Soup

I have Stu's Grandmother's recipe for potato soup that I adore and every time I try a friendly potato soup, I find myself wishing I could still have this one.  So I got the recipe out the other day and realized the only non-friendly ingredients were 2 can's of soup... then thought, "wait a minute, I have a "soup substitute"!!!.  So I set out on a mission to make my altered version of Mamaw's soup.  Now it's been a while since I've had the original, but from what I can remember, it is just as good!! Delicious!!! I love my soups hearty and this fit the bill.  I am so excited to add potato soup back into dinner rotation!!!

Ingredients:
1 32 oz bag southern style frozen hash browns
3 Cups chicken broth
1/3 chopped medium onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped Carrots
1/4 tsp pepper
2 tsp salt
1 to 2  cream soup substitutes  (2 for soupier)
Any friendly cheese for garnish (if desired)


Directions:
In a large pot combine all ingredients.  Bring to a simmer and then cook about 30-45 minutes, until vegetables are tender.    Garnish with friendly cheese if desired.  I also eat mine with crackers, yummy!