Beef Minestrone Soup-One Pot Recipe

For my birthday my mother got me a bunch of mini cookbooks.  One of them was full of one-pot recipes, so of course I had to find one and completely jack with the ingredients.  Here is the result of that fun, it turned out quite delicious. :)

Ingredients:
1 lb Hamburger
Seasoning (Basil, Oregano, Alpine Touch, Crushed Red Pepper)
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
2 Cloves Garlic (Minced)
1 Carrot (Peeled & Sliced)
1 Zucchini (Peeled & Sliced)
2 Celery Ribs (Chopped)
10-12 Grape Tomatoes (Diced) *substitute a can of diced tomatoes if needed
3 Large Tomatoes (Crushed) *substitute can of crushed tomatoes if needed
5 Mushrooms (Chopped)
1/2 Can of Black Olives (Sliced)
2 1/2 Cup Beef Broth
2 Tbsp Tomato Paste
2 Cups Bowtie Pasta
Shredded Cheese to taste

Directions:
Add the hamburger to a pot and cook on medium.  Once browned add the oil, garlic, carrot, zucchini and celery.  Cook for about 4 minutes.  Add in remaining ingredients except for the cheese and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for about 10 minutes until pasta is al dente.  Stir occasionally and serve when done.  Stir in the cheese and top with basil and enjoy!

Brown the hamburger in the bottom of the pot

Add the oil, garlic, carrots, zucchini and celery

Add in the remaining ingredients and mix together

Mix in the shredded cheese and enjoy!

Goulash From The Garden

I have been craving some delish hearty goulash for a very long time, and had a ton of veggies to use up before they went bad, so I decided to mix it all together into some delicious goulash.  I tried perusing the internet for goulash recipes to get an idea of where I wanted to go, but everything that I found was very boring and looked the same.  In the end I deiced to just close the computer and the cookbooks and just create my own from scratch, so here it is:

Ingredients:
1 lb hamburger
Seasoning (Garlic Powder, Spicy Montreal Steak, Alpine Touch)
10 oz Ditalini dry pasta (or elbow)
24oz basil, tomato sauce
2 cloves garlic (minced)
1 carrot (peeled and chopped)
1 ear of corn (cook, and cut the corn off the cob)
6 grape tomatoes (sliced)
4 mushrooms (chopped)
1 zucchini (peeled and chopped)
1/2 eggplant (peeled and chopped)
1 red pepper (seeded and chopped)

Directions:
Add the hamburger to a heavy bottom skillet and cook on med-high, add the seasoning.
Boil the pasta until al dente.
Once hamburger is browned add the sauce and warm. 
Now add all remaining ingredients and cook on low until all ingredients are thoroughly cooked and warmed. 
Serve with the hamburger sauce over a plate of pasta and enjoy!

Brown the seasoned hamburger

Add the sauce to the hamburger while the pasta is cooking

Add all remaining ingredients

Serve the hamburger sauce over the pasta and enjoy!

Spaghetti with Homemade Meatballs

Somehow I have never made my own homemade meatballs....  until tonight.  This was a pretty yummy recipe!  It was also fairly easy to make, similar to making meatloaf.

Ingredients:
2 Large Eggs
1/3 Cup Fresh Breadcrumbs
4 Tbsp Grated Cheese (I used Gruyere)
1 1/2 Tbsp Olive Oil
3 Tbsp Mediterranean Basil
2 Large Garlic Cloves (Minced)
1 tsp Alpine Touch (Salt & Pepper)
1 lb ground beef

1 12-16 oz can of tomato based pasta sauce (I used Tomato & Basil)
Angel Hair Pasta

Directions:
Stir eggs, breadcrumbs, cheese olive oil, basil, garlic and alpine touch together in a bowl.  Add ground beef and mix thoroughly.  With moistened hands, form beef mixture into meatball shapes. 
Pour additional olive oil into a skillet over med-high heat.  Work in batches, adding meatballs to the pan.  Fry until brown and cooked all the way through, turning frequently for about 15 minutes per batch. 
Boil the noodles to al dente, strain and set aside.
Heat up the pasta sauce in a sauce pan and add the browned meat balls.
Serve with the sauce over the noodles and enjoy. 
*You can add additional shredded cheese and a dash of basil over top.  

Mix together the ingredients and then mix in the hamburger

Add olive oil to a skillet and form the meat mixture into meatballs, place in the pan to fry

Heat the pasta sauce in a pan and add the finished meat balls

Serve & Enjoy!

DIY: Toddler Crafts Part 5

As we are nearing the end of the month I thought it was time to throw out some new toddler DIY activities!  I hope you enjoy them I have spent a lot of time scouring the Internet for some great new ideas we haven't used before.  Please feel free to submit any of your ideas that you may have for future blogs.

Rainbow Bubble Snake

Housingaforest.com

It's fun, it's easy and it's bubbles, Liam will love it!










Ingredients:
Empty Water Bottle
Duct Tape or Rubber Band
Sock
Dish Soap
Food Coloring

Directions:
Start by cutting the bottom of the water bottle off.  Next slide the sock over the bottom of the bottle. You can  use duct tape or a rubber band to secure the sock. Pour some dish soap into a shallow container with a little bit of water and gently mix.  Dip the sock covered bubble blower into the solution and gently blow.  If you want to add some color you can drop the food coloring onto the sock. 
Please remind your kids to blow air out not suck air in!  If your child sucks in, they will be eating bubbles.  Please be careful when doing this with your kids.  My kids had a blast playing with these bubble snakes.  We did not have any trouble with the kids inhaling, but I have had a few readers mention that their younger kids needed continual reminders.  The fun will quickly end if the bubbles are inhaled!

Liquid Sidewalk Chalk

Domesticcharm.blogspot.com

Sidewalk Chalk is so fun and messy for outside play, this looks like a great one to try.







Ingredients:
1 Cup Water
1 Cup Cornstarch
Muffin Tin
Food Coloring


Directions:
Mix the water and cornstarch and then pour into a muffin tin or small cups.  Add food coloring to make the colors.  Now paint.

 Homemade Lava Lamp

slsmithphotograpy.com

I LOVE lava Lamps, so this is one I definitely want to try











 
Ingredients:
Empty Water Bottle
Food Coloring
Vegetable Oil
Water
Alka Seltzer


Directions:
Fill each bottle about 2/3 with the oil.  Fill the rest of the way with water leaving about an inch of air to the top.  Add 10 drops of food coloring.  Break the Alka Seltzer into 4 pieces.  Drop the pieces in one at a time.  *Wait until the bubbles stop before adding in another piece or it will start to get cloudy.  

Pasta & Beads Bracelets

Kiwicrate.com

Yay, we can finally use our Kool-Aid Dyed Pasta for fun :)










Ingredients:
Pipe Cleaners
Pasta
Pony Beads

Directions:
Start off with a loop fastened at the bottom of the pipe cleaner there is an end to catch the beads as you work.  Bead the pipe cleaners to make their bracelets! This activity also works on fine motor skills too: fitting the beads on the pipe cleaners.  Once you are about 3/4 of the way up the pipe cleaner, take the end of the pipe cleaner through the hole to latch them together and weave the excess pipe cleaner through the last bead.

If you would like to see the past DIY activities that we have completed together, check them out here:

Penguin Activity Game

Kool-Aid Dyed Pasta

Cardboard Owls

Alphabet Train

Make Your Own Rainstorm

Orange Sugar Scrub

Meditation Bottle

Spaghetti with Zucchini

I like to add things to my spaghetti to make it unique, tonight I decided to go with a banana zucchini. I definitely recommend the addition.  You can always make your own sauce, but I was short on time and just went with a jarred sauce.  Enjoy, and don't forget to turn on the correct burner ;)

Ingredients:
10 oz pasta (I used Rotini)
1 lb hamburger
Seasoning (Alpine Touch, Garlic Powder, Thyme, Basil & Oregano)
1 Banana Zucchini (peeled & chopped)
1 jar (24 oz) of tomato based sauce (I used roasted garlic)
*Optional Shredded Cheese to top

Directions:
Add the pasta to a pot and pour water over to cover and boil.  Add the zucchini, boil until pasta is al dente.  In the meantime add the hamburger and the seasoning to a skillet and cook on med-high until browned.  Strain the pasta and add the hamburger and pasta sauce.  Stir in and simmer until warmed all the way through.  Serve with optional shredded cheese on top and enjoy!

Boil the pasta and brown the hamburger

Add the zucchini to the pasta and continue to boil

Strain the pasta and pour in the spaghetti sauce and the browned hamburger

Serve with shredded cheese sprinkled on top and enjoy!

Chicken Pasta with Veggies

This is one of those easy to make dishes that you can do using mostly ingredients you probably have laying around the house plus chicken.  It is very quick and easy and delicious!  Enjoy!

Ingredients:

10-12 Oz Penne Pasta

1 bag frozen veggies (California Style Blend)

2 chicken breasts chopped

1 1/2 Tbsp Olive Oil

Seasoning (Alpine Touch, Crushed Rosemary, Mediterranean Basil, Garlic Powder)

1 Jar Four Cheese Alfredo

1/2 Jar Half & Half or Whole Milk

*Optional Shredded Cheese

Directions:

Boil the veggies and pasta together for about 10-15 minutes.  In the meantime pour the oil into the pan and add the chopped chicken.  Season the chicken and cook until browned all the way through (about 8-10 minutes).   Strain veggies & pasta and add the pasta sauce and half and half to help the sauce to cover.  Stir in the cooked chicken.  Mix on low heat to warm, add extra seasoning to the pasta to taste.  Serve when warmed all the way through and enjoy.

*Optional serve with some shredded cheese on top

Boil the pasta and veggies together

Season the chicken and cook until browned all the way through

Add the sauce and seasoning to the strained pasta and veggies

Add in the chicken

Mix it all up to be warmed all the way through

Serve & enjoy!

DIY: Kool-Aid Dyed Pasta

This is a great way for what many people call "Sensory Learning."  It is suggested that you get a sensory bin (any kind of plastic shallow tray or bin) and then you want to have various colored objects of all shapes and sizes and then you child can learn from these things and play with them.  Personally I think that a lot of these things can double as art supplies if you have some glue on hand, to include this project.  I actually find that I will most likely use this more for doing other artistic and crafty ideas instead.  Already I want to make a pasta necklace :)  *Kiwi-Strawberry does not turn out very pink, looks similar to the orange flavor. 

Supplies: (Per Color)
1 Cup Rice or 1 Cup Pasta
1 packet Kool-Aid
1-2 tsp Rubbing Alcohol
Gallon or large plastic Ziplock bags
Tin Foil
Cookie Sheet

Directions:
First add 1 cup of pasta to each bag.  We decided to use a different kind of pasta for each color.  After the pasta is separated into the bags pour 1 packet of  Kool-Aid on top of the pasta.   Add 1-2 teaspoons of rubbing alcohol to each bag on top of the previous two ingredients.
Seal the bag shut and shake it up.  Let it sit for at least 15 minutes to saturate.  Cover the cookie sheet with tin foil.
Next, pour the wet pasta onto the cookie sheet. and get it as flat as it will go so that you can dry it overnight (or for at least 6-8 hours).  When it is dry, the rice will be all clumped together; separate the rice grains with your hands.
Now you can use it for sensory learning or to make additional arts and crafts projects like I intend to do.  My son was already having fun counting and telling me the colors. 

Get out your supplies

Show your excitement :)

Pour the pasta into the baggies

Get ready to add the Kool-Aid

Pour the Kool-Aid over the pasta, add the rubbing alcohol and tightly seal the baggies

Vigorously shake up each bag

Get that dye to stick to the pasta

Happily wait for the dye to sink in

Lay it out to dry overnight and then play :)

If you would like to see the past DIY activities that we have completed together, check them out here:

Cardboard Owls

Alphabet Train

Make Your Own Rainstorm

Orange Sugar Scrub

Meditation Bottle

Lasagna Stuffed Manicotti Recipe

The winning main course, it was neck and neck with the lamb, but this turned out amazingly delicious.  I send my heartfelt thanks out to those of your that have supported me in this and all of you amazing people that voted!  This wouldn't be a success without you!

Ingredients:

Bechamel Sauce:
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 teaspoons all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups whole milk
1 tsp Mediterranean spiced sea salt
1/4 tsp basil
Pinch ground nutmeg
 

 Noodles & Filling:
1 (15-ounce) container whole milk cottage cheese (Or ricotta)

2 Tbsp Mascarpone
1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed, squeezed dry
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
1 lb ground Italian sausage

2 Tbsp unsalted butter

1-2 Zucchinis (peeled and chopped)
1 large egg, beaten to blend
3/4 teaspoon salt, plus more for salting water
1/2 tsp Basil

1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil
14 uncooked manicotti noodles
24 oz jar Tomato Basil Sauce
2 cups shredded mozzarella

Directions:

To make the sauce: Melt the butter in a heavy medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the flour and whisk for 3 minutes. Whisk in the milk. Increase the heat to medium-high. Whisk the sauce until it comes to a simmer and is thick and smooth, about 3 minutes. Whisk the seasoning into the bechamel sauce.
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

Brown the sausage until thoroughly cooked.  Saute' the zucchini in the butter until softened. 
Whisk the ricotta, spinach, 1 cup Parmesan, prosciutto, egg, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl to blend.
Add a tablespoon or 2 of oil to a large pot of boiling salted water.  Boil the noodles until just tender but still firm to bite. Drain. Arrange the noodles in a single layer on a baking sheet to prevent them from sticking.
Butter a 13-by-9-inch glass baking dish. Pour the bechamel sauce over the bottom of the prepared dish. 

Fill the manicotta noodles one at a time as full as you can without ripping them.  Layer them in the baking dish close together, you will not have any room for an extra stuffed manicotti noodle when you are done.  

Pour the sauce on top of the noodles and top with the remaining cheese.  Spray the side of the tin foil that will be facing the cheese with non-stick cooking spray to keep it from sticking to the cheese.  Cover tightly with foil. Bake until heated through and the sauce bubbles, about 20 minutes. Uncover and bake until the cheese on top becomes golden, about 15 minutes longer. Let stand for 10 minutes. Serve & Enjoy!

 

 

Brown the sausage and melt the butter

Add the ingredients for the bechamel sauce and get it cooking

Start up the manicotti noodles and finish cooking the bechamel sauce

Saute' the zucchini slices

Add the filling ingredients to a large mixing bowl to whisk together

Lay the manicotti noodles out flat on a baking sheet to dry so as not to stick to one another

Pour the bechamel sauce in the bottom of the baking dish

Fill the manicotti noodles and layer in the dish

Cover with the sauce and add extra basil if you would like

Top with the remaining cheese

Remove the foil and return to the oven to melt the cheese

Remove from the oven and let cool

Serve & Enjoy!

Shrimp & Scallop Seafood Pasta Recipe

A delicious standby, I changed things up a bit by adding in some eggplant, it turned out amazingly well.

Ingredients:

2 Cups Heavy Cream

8 green onion stalks (thinly sliced)

2 Tbsp Parsley

1 Tbsp Thyme

1 Tsp Dried Red Pepper

1 Tbsp Basil (chopped)

16 oz dried Rotini pasta

1 tsp Sea Salt (can also use a seasoned sea salt I went with Mediterranean)

1/2 Eggplant (Peeled & Chopped)

1/3 Cup Gruyere (cubed)

1/3 Cup Smoked Butterkase (cubed)

2 Tbsp Olive Oil

12 Oz Shrimp

8 oz Scallops

1/2 Cup Heavy Cream (optional if you want creamier sauce)

Dried Basil to top

Directions:

Heat the cream in a large saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly.  Bring to a boil and reduce the heat.  Add the green onions, parsley, thyme, basil & red pepper.  Simmer for 7-8 minutes, stirring until thickened and remove from heat.

Put the pasta in a pot and cover with water.  Add the salt and bring to a boil.  Cook until al dente.  Drain and return to the pot.  Pour the cream mixture over top and add the cheeses, eggplant and basil to the pasta.  Toss over low heat until the cheeses have melted.  Add the extra cream if you want creamier sauce.  

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Add the shrimp and scallops.  Stir fry for about 2-3 minutes.  The shrimp should be pink and the scallops should take on a white color that is more opaque than when they were raw.  

Pour the seafood over the pasta and toss well to mix.  Sprinkle with basil and serve.  Enjoy! 

Heat the cream in a saucepan

Add the green onions and seasoning

Boil the noodles and simmer the sauce

The delicious boar's head cheeses I chose to use

Strain the noodles and add the sauce mixture

Add the cheese, eggplant and basil

Add the seafood to the oil in the skillet and toss the cheeses into the pasta until melted

Add the seafood to the pasta

Sprinkle with dried basil and serve!