Avocado, Lime & Pasta? Count me IN!!!

Here’s another great and light go-to salad for parties! It was good for days and days! And, it will be made again and again!

Creamed Avocado and Lime Chilled Pasta

1 1/2cup dry shell pasta or short pasta of your choice
1 ripe avocado
handful of cilantro, roughly chopped
1 1/2Tbsp lime juice
3 Tbsp mayonnaise
1 tsp garlic paste
salt & pepper
chopped cilantro and/or jalapeno for garnish

1. Cook pasta according to the package instructions. Drain well, set aside to cool.
2. Peel avocado and remove the pit. Put it in a food processor together with chopped cilantro, lime juice, mayonnaise and garlic paste. Blend it until it’s creamy. Add salt and pepper to taste. (Cover it with plastic wrap and keep it in a refrigerator if you have time.)
3. Transfer the avocado sauce to a medium sized bowl. Add cooked pasta and toss them well. Sprinkle chopped cilantro and/or jalapeno on top.

my #1 pregnancy craving.

Don’t worry…I’m not pregnant! But, when I was, baked potatoes were my #1 craving! I felt that it was healthy…but, the stuff I put on top totally negated any “health” aspect. Oh well…it’s good!

And, when I was pregnant, I got one of these “potato bags” from a sweet little old couple at Canton. Unfortunately they don’t have a website, but I did buy my mom one from this Etsy store for Christmas. And, it works just the same! (easy, microwavable and no hard spots!)

So, getcha a Potato Pouch and make yourself this easy treat for lunch or dinner!

Totally Unhealthy Baked Potatoes

Potato Pouch
Baked Potatoes
Butter
Shredded Cheese
Ranch Dressing
Salt & Pepper

Cook baked potato in the microwave until cooked to desired softness. Cut, smoosh and add toppings of your choice!

A Bachelor Basic

When Matt was a bachelor, this was one of his staple meals! And, when we started dating/got engaged/were newlyweds, we dined on it frequently as well! It was quick and easy...and, I even came to crave it! ...Honeslty, it had been years since I'd thought about this tasty treat, and when we made it a few weeks ago, it took me back! I must admit that I still LOVE it!...who cares how "bachelor" it is!?

Bachelor Matt's Chicken & Rice

1 package of Knorr Chicken rice side
1 can of white chicken

Make the rice according to packet directions. Add chicken half way through cooking time and continue to boil. Serve with good 'ol Saltine crackers.

Christmas Dinner Favorite

  Our Christmas Day menu was nothing fancy this year…definitely not gourmet. But, it was traditional and GOOD! It contained many of our favorites and made for great leftovers the day after.

Christmas Day Menu
Ham
Lemon Pepper Roasted Chicken
Broccoli & Cheese Rice
Mashed Potatoes 
Fruit Salad
Creamed Corn
Crescent Rolls
 
By far my favorite part for as long as I can remember has been the Broccoli & Cheese Rice. I could eat it and nothing else! SO YUM! So, I thought I’d share….it’s a great addition to that traditional meal…

Broccoli & Cheese Rice

2 lbs. Frozen Broccoli (cooked)
1 cup of white rice (cooked)
1 cup of milk
Cream of Mushroom
Cream of Broccoli
Velveeta
Salt & Pepper

Cook broccoli and drain. Cook rice. Combine broccoli and rice in large pot and add soup, milk and Velveeta. Cover and simmer on low for 15-20 minutes. Check often to make sure it isn’t sticking. Add salt & pepper as desired.

You Can't Go Wrong...

...with homemade mashed potatoes! Seriously, who could pass them up. Here's the way that I have always made them...and I think they're delish! ...


Gold Mashed Potatoes

1 bag of Yucatan Gold potatoes (usually 8-10 medium potatoes)
sour cream
Shredded cheese
milk
salt
pepper

Scrub potatoes with potato brush. Cut into small pieces. Boil until done. Drain and put in large mixing bowl. Mash slightly with potato masher. Add sour cream, milk, cheese, salt and pepper(as much as you would like to reach your desired consistency). Mash with potato masher until they are to your liking! ...I like mine a little lumpy! :)

Coleslaw with a Kick

I love coleslaw. I can remember my friends making fun of me because I would get the coleslaw at Chick-fil-a. I still love it. When I saw this recipe, I was so excited to try it...and it did not disappoint! YUMMMY! And, not anything like the Chick-fil-a kind! :)

Crunchy Asian Broccoli Coleslaw
3/4 cup KRAFT Zesty Italian Dressing
2 pkg. (3 oz. each) ramen noodle soup mix
2 pkg. (12 oz. each) broccoli slaw
1/2 cup Dry Roasted Sunflower Kernels
1/2 cup Sliced Almonds

Mix dressing with Seasoning Packet from one of the soup mix packages. Discard remaining seasoning packet or reserve for another use. Break apart Noodles; place in large bowl. Add slaw, sunflower kernels and almonds; mix lightly. Add dressing mixture; toss to coat. Serve immediately.

I still prefer the canned kind!

I decided that it was time for me to try fresh asparagus, since Matt likes the canned kind so much! And, this was good...but I still prefer canned! ...

Sesame Asparagus

6 fresh asparagus spears, trimmed
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon sesame seeds


Place asparagus in skillit and sprinkle with salt. Add 1/4 cup water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cover. Simmer for 4 minutes. Melt butter and add lemon juice and sesame seeds in separtate bowl. Drain asparagus and drizzle with butter mixture.

Warning: Fattening Goodness Ahead!

A few months ago, when visiting Babe's Chicken House for the first time, I fell IN LOVE with creamed corn. I think I'd only had the canned kind before that and was always super grossed out by it. So, when Alli gave us this recipe, I couldn't wait to try it...and crossed my fingers that it would taste similar to the yummy goodness from Babe's. ...To my delight {and to my figure's dismay} it tasted just like it! I seriously could eat JUST this for dinner! It is SOOO good! So, enjoy...and let me know if you ever want to go to Babe's!

Creamed Corn

1 lb. frozen kernel corn

12 oz. whipping cream

1 1/2 T melted butter

1 1/2 T four

1/2 t. salt

2 T sugar

pinch white pepper

3 T parmesan cheese

Combine corn, cream, salt, sugar and white pepper in a pot and bring to a boil. Simmer for 5 minutes. In separate pot, make a roux from butter and flour. Add to corn. Mix well and remove from heat.

Transfer corn mixture to baking dish. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and brown under broiler. Serves 6.

Jessica's Yummy Squash Dish

When we had first become friends with Matt and Jessica, they had us over for dinner and Jessica made this scrumptious squash dish. I think it was what sealed the deal on our friendship! :) It's super easy and super yum! ... And, since I forget how to make it EVERY time (I don't know why, it's not hard), I figured I'd add it here so that I can stop calling Jessica when I'm at the store! Enjoy!


Sweet Squash Side Dish
yellow squash
red onion
sugar
salt
pepper
Vegetable Oil


Cut squash and chop onion. Cover the bottom of a small skillet with Vegetable Oil. Heat and add squash and onion. Stir in a few tablespoons of sugar and salt and pepper to taste. Cook on medium heat until squash is done.

My Alternative to Chips

I love making sandwiches at home for lunch but get sick of chips with them every time. So, one day, I decided that I wanted to have some yummy pasta. (Kind of like the side pasta at Hickory Street Cafe in Abilene...yum!) So, I concocted this and it's now a household fave...Q and Matt both really like it and it's super easy!

My "Great-With-Sandwiches" Pasta
Curly Colorful Pasta
Green Olives (&/or black if desired)
Kraft Sun Dried Tomato Vinaigrette
Kraft Ceaser Vinaigrette with Parmesan
Salt
Pepper

Cook the pasta according to package. Drain and spray with cold water in colander until no longer hot. Put in bowl and stir in dressings, olives, salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate for a few hours before eating. ...And, it's great the next days for a snack!