Your Next Meal: Real Popcorn Chicken

So, most of my readers probably get the Parents Magazine, but for those of you who don't, I just had to share this recipe with you! It is SO good! Hubby even ranked it above my Doritos Chip Chicken - which if you've been following for a while, you know that is a huge deal! Ha!

It took no time at all and was super delicious! So, let me share your next weeknight meal with you complete with sides! :)

Real Popcorn Chicken:
What you Need:
3 cups popped popcorn {1 bag}
1 tbsp. fresh thyme
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1 egg
1 tbsp. water
3 tbsp. all purpose flour
1 lb. skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (I just bought 6 chicken cutlets)
1 tbsp. butter
1tbsp. canola oil
1 lemon, cut into wedges (I just used lemon juice)

How to Make:
1. Remove any unpopped popcorn kernels. Put popcorn in a food processor; cove3r and pulse until coarsely ground. Place the popcorn in a shallow dish and add thyme, salt, and pepper. (I put in a large square tupperware dish with a lid to help with coating later)
2. Place the egg in another shallow dish; add the water and beat lightly with a fork.  Place the flour in another shallow dish.
3. Dredge the chicken in the flour to coat, shaking off excess.  Dip the chicken in the egg mixture, then in the popcorn mixture.  *I did all cutlets at once, shaking the popcorn mixture over all and it coated it perfectly.
4. Put the butter and oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Add chicken and cook 10-12 minutes or until chicken is cooked through, turning occasionally to brown evenly.  Reduce to medium heat if necessary.
5. Squeeze lemon juice over chicken.
*I also added Cajun seasoning on the chicken and a bit of Frank's Hot Sauce just because we like a little extra kick. :)  Serve with Honey Mustard!



{side dish} Parmesan-Roasted Cauliflower (and Cucumbers) - MIL's Recipe!
What you Need:
1 large head cauliflower
1 cucumber
3 tbsp. olive oil
salt and pepper
1 C freshly grated Parmesan cheese {let's be honest, I shook as much as I wanted out of the Kroger brand Parmesan cheese canister}
1 C freshly grated Gruyere cheese {again, I never have this cheese laying around, so I used shredded mozzarella cheese and it was even better!}

How to Make:
1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Remove the outer green leaves from caul. and cut the head into florets, discarding long stems.
3. Place florets in a large ziplock baggie.  Cut cucumber into halves and place in baggie.
4. Drizzle olive oil and sprinkle generously salt and pepper. Shake well.
5. Lay out on a baking dish. Bake for 30 minutes, turning once.
6. Sprinkle with cheeses and back for 2-3 minutes longer - just until cheese melts.
Serve hot or warm


{side dish} Fresh Cut Up Fruit
strawberries, blueberries, green grapes, pineapple, kiwi

{summer drink} Skinny Girl White Cranberry Cosmo


Try it! You will thank me! :)

Cheesy Chicken Peppers {recipe}

Friends, I created a recipe! {I think!}

I'm trying to begin fixing healthier dinners...and we eat lots of chicken...but how many wraps can one woman eat?!
So...out came Cheesy Chicken Peppers!

What you need:
large red or green peppers- how many people you will be serving, each person gets one
chicken breast (I got the pre-cooked roasted chicken and then pulled it apart)
shredded cheddar cheese
salsa
tortilla chips
How to Make:
Cut off the top of the peppers and scrape out the insides. Wash again if needed to get the seeds out.
Cook and dice the chicken into very small pieces.
Pour 1/4 of salsa into the peppers.
Scoop in chicken, mixing in cheese throughout.
Top cheese on top of chicken.
Place on cookie sheet (or bread pan to help hold up the peppers) and put in oven - 350 degree for about 15 minutes or until cheese is melted.
Pour salsa on top of peppers. Place tortilla chips around the peppers and pour salsa over chips as well.
Enjoy!

*if you Pin this, please give credit to my blog!

Sloppy Joe's in a Cup {recipe}

Ya'll, I'm a cooking fool again!

No, I kid.

But, I have been able to make pretty decent meals for the last several weeks! I'm back on planning weekly meals and making sure I get it all at the grocery {since it's not so easy to run in and out of the store with a babe!}.  Now, they aren't my meals that take a while...but still being able to give hubby a good {semi}home-cooked meal each night and saving us money does put a smile on my face!

I got this recipe from Plain Chicken. I love this site! I first found it through Pinterest, but then I started following her blog because she has so many easy recipes!  I'm not really into eating Sloppy Joe's, but it didn't taste like that. It basically tasted like a cheeseburger in a cup ~ even better! And, it took no time to make!

Sloppy Joe's Biscuit Cups

What you Need:
1 lb. ground round

1/2 cup ketchup*
4 tsp sugar
4 tsp mustard
4 tsp vinegar
4 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbsp dried minced onion flakes {I didn't add this}
1 can (10-count) regular refrigerated biscuits (not Grand's)
1/2 cup cheddar cheese, grated
How to Make:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Cook meat slowly in skillet. Drain and put back in skillet. Add ketchup, sugar, mustard, vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce. Cook slowly over low heat for 10 minutes, to allow meat absorb the sauce.
Separate dough into 10 biscuits; place each biscuit in ungreased regular-size muffin cups. Firmly press dough in bottom and up side of each cup.
Divide meat mixture between biscuit cups. Top each biscuit with grated cheese.
Bake 17 to 20 minutes or until biscuits are golden brown and cheese is melted.
*I don't like the taste of ketchup, so I think next time I will make it with BBQ sauce!

I served it with sweet potato fries and cheesy broccoli noodles.

The little loved watching us eat this {haha} in her highchair! :)

*Find some of my recipes on the recipe tab {hoping to update that soon} or on the "What Do I Blog About" archive under RECIPES!

Mexican Shells {a recipe}

Woo Hoo gang! I'm back into my cooking groove! If you've been reading for a while, you know I love trying out new recipes and cooking! Well, I've made it a goal to cook at least 2 good meals a week and still fix dinner a 3rd or 4th time.  Anyways, I looked around in my pantry and made this super tasty meal! I'm already planning it to fix next week! There may be a recipe like this somewhere, but to me, I think I made it up! HAHA

What you need:
Pasta Shells (Barilla Jumbo Shells)
hamburger meat (Laura's Lean Beef - 1 lb)
chili-o packet
nacho cheese soup
banana peppers
jalapenos
shredded cheddar cheese
Franks Red Hot sauce

How to make:
Prepare shells, place to the side.
Brown hamburger meat and drain.  Then add chili-o packet over simmer once the meat is back in the skillet. Next, add 1/4 of the can of nacho cheese soup.  Mix well.
Add as many jalapenos and banana peppers as you want, as well as about 1/4 cup of shredded cheese.  I added enough to make it look colorful! :) 
On the baking pan, line with 1/2 of nacho cheese soup and Franks Red Hot (along with Pam, first).
Next, shake some red hot sauce over the meat mixture. 
Using a small spoon, scoop the meat mixture into each shell separately.  Place with opening of shell up or on side.  Place each shell closely together without on top of one another.
Pour the rest of the nacho cheese soup over the shells. Add the shredded cheese and more hot sauce to your liking and banana peppers/jalapenos. 
Cover with foil and bake on 350 degrees for about 15 minutes.

YUM YUM YUM! If you try it, let me know! :)

Steps as they look: {that always helps me!}

Buffalo Chicken Wing Soup {crock pot recipe}

What? I'm actually posting a recipe again?!? Yes, finally. Unfortunately this does not mean that I'm back to cooking very much {it's so hard with a newborn, right?!} but I have made a few crock pot recipes that have been yummy and easy!

Buffalo Chicken Wing Soup
*makes about 8 servings
What you Need:
6 C milk
3 10 3/4oz cans condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
3 C cooked chicken, shredded
1 C sour cream (I used fat free)
1-8 tbsp. hot pepper sauce (I gave a hearty couple of shakes, and then let us put the rest in our bowls as needed - hubby likes it hot!)
How to Make:
1. Combine milk and soups in slow cooker until smooth
2. Stir in cooked chicken
3. Cover and cook on Low for 3-4 hours
4. Fifteen minutes BEFORE serving, stir in sour cream and hot sauce
5. Cover and continue cooking until just bubbly

*make sure to use a Slow Cooker Liner to make this even easier to clean up! I love those things! I served sweet potato fries with this because we were just getting that craving! But I think this soup would be fine to eat just by itself!

Enjoy! :)

The Windy Corner Market

Hubby and I tried out this new-to-us spot the other night and it was SO good! If you live in the central KY area, it's a must!

The Windy Corner Market

The decor and feel of the restaurant  looked very similar to Wallace Station ~ they are owned by the same people!  The food was so, so good and there were so many different things we wanted to try, so we will be going back! Everything is made by KY Proud foods and they serve local meals that aren't done anywhere else!

jockey silks and racing memorabilia filled the walls

We did have to wait in line for about 10 minutes and then wait on our food, but the weather was great and there was plenty of seating inside and outside that it wasn't a big deal.  The drive out to the restaurant was great too; passing by horse farms and beautifully large homes along stone fences. 

I got the Kentucky Boy which was SO STINKING GOOD with potato salad...

Pulled pork in Black Jack Barbecue Sauce, crispy fried pickles, Bourbon Barrel beer cheese, shredded lettuce and special sauce

And Brian got the Fried Catfish Platter. He said it was the best catfish he'd ever had without being at the beach!

that yellow 'special sauce' was unbelievable!

We also shared the MOST delicious blueberry cheesecake! They had tons of different kinds that aren't on the menu.  It was seriously better than any I had ever tasted, even from the Cheesecake Factory.

This place is definitely worth the drive and we will be going back soon! It was such a perfect date night and one that we'd been hoping to get for a while now! :)

{katharine, we talked about how we will have to take you and Andy there when you visit next! :) }

Pizza Casserole

So you all know we love pizza... So I'm always trying to find new pizza recipes!

I found this Pizza Casserole at Oxford Impressions ~ it was so easy and good!

Go to her blog for step-by-step directions and pictures, or you can read my variation recipe below!
BTW: this was the FIRST meal since I got pregnant I got through cooking that had me prepare meat ~ hamburger meat even! Hubby was very excited and proud! :) YAY! I think that was the last big staple I couldn't get through! {I ate Mexican with Allison & Nola this week, too!}

Pizza Casserole
What you need:1/2 lb. Laura's lean meat hamburger meat
shredded mozzarella cheese
shredded cheddar cheese
lasagna noodles
garlic salt
Prego
salt & pepper
pepperoni slices
How to make:1. Boil lasagna noodles and drain.  2. Place in a greased dish, covering the bottom and over-lapping. 3.  Add cheddar cheese and mozzarella cheese lightly over the noodles.  3. Brown and drain hamburger meat. 4. Mix in Prego sauce with the meat with salt and pepper and garlic salt. (I did enough so it covered the meat without it looking soupy) 5.  Add a little Prego sauce over noodles and cheese, covering lightly.  6. Add cheddar cheese, covering surface.  7. Spread meat and sauce. 8. Add mozzarella cheese, covering surface. 9. Add pepperoni slices over top, sprinkle both cheeses on top, lightly.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Let me know if you try it!

I'm BAACK!

OK, not as in posting...I know, I post a lot. :) haha

I'm back to COOKING! YAYAYAYAYAY! It makes me feel so good and it also makes Brian feel so good!  {praise the Lord} I'm feeling good, so I decided to cook almost every night this week ~ and add a new recipe with each meal!

I went to my fav. cookbook for some ideas - Southern Living Ultimate Quick and Easy Cookbook, a gift from my mom a long time ago!

So, here's my menu for the week, and I hoping to share a few recipes from these meals with you, too!
Day 1: Home-made Potato Soup, Tiny Cream Cheese Biscuits, and Pimento Cheese toasted sandwiches
Day 2: grilled corn on the cob with jalepeno butter, cottage-cheese mac'n'cheese, salad
Day 3: Tortellini Carbonara, honey-fruit

Recipe: Tiny Cream Cheese BiscuitsPrep: 8 minutes, Cook: 16 minutes
1 8oz package of cream cheese, softened {we used fat free}
1/2 C butter, softened
1 C self-rising flour

Beat cream cheese and butter at medium speed with an electric mixer 2 minutes or until creamy.  Gradually add flour, beating at low speed just until blended.  Spoon dough into ungreased miniature muffin pans, filling full.  Bake at 400 degrees for 15-17 minutes or until golden brown.  Serve hot.

*We thought it would take even better with red pepper-jelly on top!  We also lightly sprayed butter on top, too!
The recipe says it would pair perfectly with soup...which is why I made it with the homemade soup...but I think it'd taste good with just about anything! :)

Deli Monte Cristos & Easy Cheesy Soup

*thanks for visiting from Kelly's Korner! This is a post from last winter...great and easy meal, perfect for football season! click on the home button to read more about us! :)

This was the menu for Life Group on Sunday ~ Look at me making another Crock-Pot meal! :)

Deli Monte Cristos

What you need:
{depending on how many people you are serving...}
deli ham
deli turkey
thousand island dressing
cole slaw
rye bread
swiss cheese

3 eggs {whisk in a shallow bowl}

How to make:
On one piece of bread layer 1 slice of ham, 1 slice of turkey, cover with coleslaw, pour dressing over, 1 slice of cheese, and another slice of turkey and ham.
Next dip both sides of the sandwich in the whisked eggs {SO hard to keep it all together!}
Then place on skillet {I used my griddle for the first time!} for 2-3 minutes on each side.
*from Taste of Home Cookbook

Easy Cheesy Soup {A Crock-Pot Recipe}*made to serve 4, so may need to double
What you need:
2 10 3/4-oz. cans cream of chicken soup
1 bag (lb.) of shredded cheddar cheese
1 tsp of Worshestire sauce
1/4 tsp of  paprika
1 cup beer
croutons
How to make:
Combine all ingredients except croutons in slow cooker. Cover and cook on Low 4-6 hours. Stir thoroughly 1 hour before serving, to make sure cheese is well distributed and melted. Serve topped with croutons or in bread bowls.
*from Fix It and Forget It Big Book
Enjoy! :)

Vegetable Cheese Soup

*thanks for visiting from Kelly's Korner! This is a meal I made back in the winter...it's super easy and yummy! If you are new, please click the 'home' button and then follow if you'd like! :)

So about 2 weeks ago I made a super simple, and my first, crock-pot meal.

I got the crock-pot as a shower gift and received a few cookbooks, but I hadn't tried it for a meal yet. I was basically too nervous about leaving it on all day!

But, I did it, and it was SO good! Even our friends Jordan and Nick {the Newlywed's!} got to come over and eat with us! Good thing they dropped off their presents on a night I made lots!

Vegetable Cheese Soup
Makes 5 servings, Prep-Time 15 minutes, Cook Time below
What you need:
2 cups cream-style corn
1 cup peeled and chopped potatoes
1 cup peeled and chopped carrots
2 14 1/2 oz. cans vegetable or chicken broth {I used the organic vegetable soup b/c it was on sale}
16 oz. processed cheese {Velveeta}

How to make:
Combine all ingredients except cheese in the slow cooker.
Cover and cook on Low 8-10 hours or on High 4-5 hours
Thirty-60 minutes before serving, stir in the cheese. Then cook on High for 30-60 minutes to melt and blend the cheese.

It was so good and so easy! I also served with deli-style pimento cheese on cut-outs of leaf whole-wheat bread. YUM! And yes, I definitely cookie-cutted {I know that's not a word;)} the bread so it would look like I worked harder than I did on dinner for my husband. HA!

*So for the sweet little email I received about not posting recipes as of late, I hope this one is good for you! :)

Taco Ring

I made this yummy and easy dinner for my mother-in-law and stepfather-in-law on Thursday while they were up for a visit!

Although it's a simple meal, you could really dress it up with salsa {which I had ready but it went bad :(}, colorful veggies, etc. It was an easy weeknight dinner after work, but it would make for a super fun appetizer to bring to a tailgate or night of watching basketball games! :)

Thanks Mom for giving me this recipe!

What you need:
2 tubes of crescent rolls {I used reduced fat Pillsbury}
2 bell peppers
jalapenos
sour cream
1 lb. hamburger meat
1 bag shredded cheese
Frank's red-hot sauce
taco seasoning
chopped lettuce
2 tbsp water

How to make:
{I used the Pampered Chef pizza pan, but any circular pan will do!}
Preheat over to 375 degrees
Cook meat according to package and taco seasoning mix
Combine meat, cheese, hot sauce, and water in a bowl and mix well
Arrange crescent triangles in a circle on baking stone, overlapping center and points to the outside
Using a medium scoop, spoon meat mixture at center (meat will not be totally covered)
Bake 20-25 minutes until golden brown

Cut the center of one bell pepper and place in middle of stone with salsa or sour cream inside.
Mound lettuce, peppers, and anything else you choose around the pepper in the middle of stone

Serve by using a pizza cutter to cut and a spatula to serve.

Easy and Yummy!
Enjoy!

What you should make for dinner tonight:

This Open-Faced BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich!


This is so easy and it was a fun and yummy twist to the regular.
It all started because I had some thin-sliced bread that I knew I wouldn't use up before it got old, and I don't really like eating a lot of bread, so I created this! I started pulling more things from the refrigerator and pantry to add for taste!

Here's how to fix it:
1. Warm your pulled pork on the stove. Add a couple of teaspoons of Frank's Red Hot Sauce and a bunch of BBQ sauce. Also had a little bit of pepper.
2. Put a semi-thick layer of spicy honey dijon on the bottom of your bread slice.
3. Next layer on a thick coating of the pulled pork. Drip some more Hot Sauce on top.
4. Crumble some Lay's Tangy Carolina Barbecue Chips on top.
5. Add Banana Peppers on top.
Total Time: 15 minutes. Perfect for fixing after a long Moanday (as B likes to call it!)

It was SO good! Definitely on the rotation, ha! I added some home-grown green beans from my dad's farm my mom had canned.

Let me know if you make this!

MMmmm!

We went to Smashburger tonight...and ate for FREE!!!
I LOVE Smashburger! It's a fairly new place that opened up this summer in Lexington. I guess they've done so well they opened a second location close to our house (the other one is downtown)! YUM! Dad got us allllll tickets to the VIP opening where the waiters practice on us! YUM YUM YUM!
My favorite burger is the Bluegrass Burger~
The inside looks pretty cool, too. The fries are served in these cone-like things so I feel like you get more than if they just put them on your plate.
I am a highly-skilled conisuierer of honey-mustard...and theirs is not the best, but everything else definitely makes up for it!




Hope you try it out soon!! We'll go with you!

PS-the diet is going ok. i had to break down and eat a peanut granola bar during my planning time because i was starving! not sure how much longer i can keep this up! total weight loss- 1lb!!!!!!!!!!!!!! haven't tried the khaki's yet...i'll let you know :)

Bourbon Theme~Kinda

So Friday night I planned our date night. Knowing my love for themed events, I tried to make our date night themed out. Too bad I was a bit confused on the places I chose! ha! But it worked out better than planned.

B was supposed to have a procedure done on Friday afternoon. It ended up not happening due to his horrendous insurance plan-it was going to cost us a whole lot out of pocket. So he cancelled and is in hopes he can switch to mine in October and re-schedule. Anyways~I decided I'd plan a date night for us.

It started out with notes in the garage telling him where to go in the house and what to do. Of course Mr. Burton who is not observant at all totally missed the first note and was confused! I had to yell from upstairs down at him and tell him to go back into the garage to read the note!! We'd been meaning to fill our decanter that so nicely sits on our China hutch but have never gotten around to it. So I went and bought one of his favorite Bourbon's and filled it.
**************** on to the date night part :)
So my theme was bourbon, so I thought I'd take him to Bourbon N Toulouse. Did you know they don't serve bourbon? It's named because it's a creole place like New Orleans. WHOOPS! hahaha Nevertheless, it was fun because neither of us had ever eaten there. They have super yummy food, a patio, and no meal was over $6.50. How fun is that?! It's also located in the ever-so-fun Chevy Chase area so it led to good people watching and conversations while on the patio.
My next idea was to take him to Bluegrass Tavern downtown, but since he'd already left the bourbon drinking behind, we decided against my plan and try out the new Beer Trappe that was just a few steps away from Bourbon N Toulouse.
This place was super fun! I tried to catch a few snaps with my Blackberry, so sorry for the dark and blurry. They had tons of different ales and even made their own. I tried some Pumpkin Spice ale. It was only good for about 3 sips. I couldn't hardly drink the entire glass. They offered beer flights (which are so fun) and tastings of their different ales offered. Again, the crowd was a bit eclectic since it was in the Chevy Chase area, but it was fun! I'd definitely recommend it!
{out on the patio after stalking one...haha}
{B with his drink. Cool place inside.}
{B checking out the wall of ales from around the world.}

Now on to football for the entire day... :)

Dinner & Papers {Cheese Tortellini with Pep}

I made this super yummy meal while begging Brian to help me grade papers. Too bad we ate entirely too much and were too worn out to grade the papers! AHH!
I am truly happy I love my class this year because everything else with work seems to be getting more and more stressful with every email! ha! But enough about that ~ at least I have a job...I know, I know. :)

This meal isn't that awesome, but I know some of you like trying to recipes we try, so here goes. :)

Cheese Tortellini with Pepperoni (Cheat-Sheet)
(Now, you are supposed to actually hand make the cheese tortellini, but who has time for that when you have a J-O-B?! So this recipe is my cheat-sheet kind. Maybe I'll make the real kind during Fall Break!)
What you need:
1 box of cheese tortellini (in the refrigerated section)
1 bag of pepperonis
1/2 Prego Sauce
Parmesan Cheese
How to make:
Cook the tortellini by the package. Cut pepperoni into fourths. Mix in half noodles and half pepperoni, then repeat. Pour sauce over and sprinkle with Parmesan.
Serve with a salad and cheesy bread!
And of course, serve into one of your cute baking dishes ~ I love using all my Spode polka dot dishes!
Also, I've been keeping my kitchen table like this. I love having the chargers on there all the time. I put the lemons back into the bowl (I got rid of the golf theme from this post). I need to make a fall theme in there soon!

Breakfast

Our Breakfast...

Yummy! Scrambled eggs with cheese melted on an english muffin with mustard (for me!) and bacon. YUM!

Then the cleaning started! I told B last night I really needed him to help me with cleaning when I'm working. I don't mind to do everything during the summer when I'm not working full-time, but I just don't have time to do it all alone now!
AND don't say, "Well she gets off at 3, come on!". Because you are crazy if you think that. I work more hours than my husband, and don't get home until almost when he does, so yes, I think I deserve help! B said he totally understood and helped me this morning. We cleaned top to bottom; however, I think he's learned the art of being slow so he won't have to do as much - hahahaha! :)

I don't mind! I think this will help me feel less stressed during the week now that I've gotten some things off my chest about how I want the house to look daily and how he wants it to look daily. Guess another thing we've learned about living together! ;)

Hope your Labor Day weekend has gotten off to a good start (and hopefully more eventful than mine, ha!)!

Not-Your-Average Coleslaw Wrap

I think I just made the easiest plus yummiest meal ever.
Of course, I know the meal is approved if my husband states, "put this on the rotation, baby".

He did.

So here you go.

Not-Your-Average Coleslaw Wrap
{I would have a pic, but forgot. SORRY! I know pics are always better than the recipe!}
What you need:
1 package of Tortilla wraps
about a cup of shredded cheddar cheese
small Tyson bag of pre-cooked Southwestern style chicken strips (you know, the kind you only need to cook for 3 minutes)
Mayo
Salt & Pepper
Hot Sauce
Broccoli and Raisin Salad (from the deli~it's already pre-packaged)
How to make:
Cook the chicken strips in a skillet on Med-Hi for about 5 minutes. Add Salt & Pepper and hot sauce over the chicken.
Meanwhile, heat 4 wraps (for 2 people) in the microwave for 40 seconds.
Take one knife spread of Mayo in the middle of the wrap
Place chicken strips over Mayo
Layer with Broccoli & Raisin coleslaw and top with cheese
Then wrap and secure with a toothpick

Yes, it's that easy.
And oh-so-delish! I don't really like raisins but I swear I couldn't taste it. The sweet and cold paired with hot and spicy was so yummy!

I paired it with 90 second garden rice from Uncle Ben's Rice and fried some green tomatoes courtesy of my Dad's farm. MMMMMmmmm.

Disclaimer~I'm sure this has been made before, but I didn't find this in a recipe book so I couldn't give credit where credit was due. I just had wraps and chicken in the fridge and was craving coleslaw but found this new kind. Who craves coleslaw? Apparently this girl does.

Let me know if you try it! :)

Girls Night and Bacon Pasta!

On Saturday night, the girls I'm in a life group with, got together for a little girls night and to help Alison with last minute wedding details. She's getting married next Saturday!
Although Alison didn't bring too much for us to work on over {she's on top of things!} we had a fun night cooking together and hanging out. It happened that all our husbands/fiance's were busy as well so it was perfect!
I had the girls over and made Bacon Pasta {recipe to follow}. It was SO GOOD! My MIL made this while we were in HHI, so I decided to try it out! Amanda brought over bread and wine and we made a little oil dipping sauce to go with the bread {just pour olive oil and rosemary into a bowl}. Alison brought over wine and brownies, and Jordan brought over a yummy Caesar salad and more wine! You'd think we were wine-o's but only 1 bottle was drank between the 4 of us! ha!

Here are a few pictures from the night~
{My oh my how far the 4 of us have come in our boy life! R-L: Amanda, Jordan, Alison, Me}
{Amanda and her yummy bread!}
{I got to use a new kitchen item!}
{the woman of the night, Alison, & her brownies!}
{We helped Alison wrap up all her lingerie for her Honeymoon}

And here's the oh-so-yummy recipe!
Penne Bacon Pasta
Prep Time: 20 min., Bake time: 25 min.
16 oz. pkg. Penne or Ziti Pasta
24 oz. Low Fat Cottage Cheese
½ C. Butter
½ C. All-Purpose Flour
1 tsp. Salt
½ tsp. White Pepper***
¼ tsp. Garlic Salt
3 C. Half and Half Cream (Low-Fat)
1 C. Milk (1% or 2%)
16 oz. Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1 C. Crumbled Bacon*
1/3 C. Bread Crumbs
Cook pasta according to package.

Meanwhile, place cottage cheese in food processor or blender and process until smooth.

In a large saucepan, melt ½ c. butter. Stir in the flour, salt, pepper and garlic salt until smooth. Gradually add cream and milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2minutes or until thickened.

Drain pasta and transfer to a large bowl. Add the cheddar cheese, cottage cheese, white sauce and ¾ c. bacon. Toss to coat.

Transfer to a greased 13 x 9 baking dish.

Melt 1 tbsp. Butter and toss with bread crumbs.** Sprinkle over casserole.

Bake, uncovered at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining bacon. Bake 5 minutes longer or until bubbly.

My little changes-
*I bought the pre-packaged ready-to-eat bacon bits that were Great Value brand and they worked great and didn't involve prep time
**I accidentally used ALL the butter in the first step {whoops!} and just tore off small piece of bread and put over the pasta
***I am horrible at finding spices. If they are not in my spice rack or spice bucket, I seem to not be able to find them in the store. So I didn't add this, I just added a little bit of regular pepper and it still tasted the same!
Either way I think it turned out great!

Hope you make it and enjoy this recipe, too! I am excited for B to get home from his golf trip and try out the left-overs tonight!

{I wanted to share my new lamp we got at the Keeneland Marketplace sale. It was 80% off and although still a bit pricey, we couldn't pass up how cute it fits in our decor!}