A Little Misleading...{but, worth it!}...

When I saw this recipe in my Kraft magazine, I have to admit that my preggo self was pretty excited! It looked so yummy to me! So, when we had friends coming over, I felt ambitious enough to make it. But, the recipe was a LITTLE misleading. It said that it was 30 minutes prep time...BUT...that included cooked chicken and cooked manicotti shells. (which added an extra 30 minutes, at least!) Even though the whole process took longer than expected, it was SO yum, and was even yummier the next day as lunch AND dinner!!! MMMMM MMMMMM!

Chicken & Spinach Manicotti

1-1/2 cups finely chopped cooked chicken breasts
1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach, thawed, well drained
1 container (16 oz.) Cottage Cheese
2 egg whites
1 cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided
10 manicotti shells, cooked, drained
1-1/2 cups spaghetti sauce
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil (I used dried)

HEAT oven to 350°F.
COMBINE chicken and garlic in large bowl. Add spinach, cottage cheese, egg whites and 1/4 cup mozzarella; spoon into manicotti shells.
PLACE in 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray. Cover with spaghetti sauce.
BAKE 25 to 30 min. or until heated through. Top with remaining mozzarella; bake 5 min. or until melted. Sprinkle with basil.

Bring on the COLD!...

...because I LOVE cold weather food. This potato soup, courtesy of my friend Shannon, is a fave to make this time of year. Hope you enjoy!

Potato Soup

2 stalks of celery, thinly sliced

3 Tbsp. butter

1- 14 oz. can chicken broth

3 Tbsp. flour

1/2 to full bag of diced potatoes with onion

1 1/2 cups milk

4 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled

shredded cheese, optional

extra milk and salt & pepper when needed

Cook chopped celery in hot butter over medium heat for about 5 minutes until tender. Stir in flour until combined. (forms a roux) Stir in broth, bring to boiling, stirring constantly. Add potatoes. Return to boil. Reduce heat, simmer uncovered 15 minutes. Mash potatoes, stir in milk and bacon- heat. Thin with milk if necessary. Add salt and pepper to taste. Top with cheese.

If you like pumpkin pie...

...then this will be right up your alley! It's a great "take to Thanksgiving" little treat! And, it is great with gingersnaps, graham crackers, or on your breakfast bagel! We love it around here! :) Pumpkin Fluff

1 can of pumpkin pie filling
1 small container of cool whip
Pumpkin Pie Spice

Mix filling and cool whip. Add spice to taste. Enjoy! Seriously easy!!!

Oh, Dishwasher...I miss you!!!

Almost 2 months ago, our dishwasher broke...and we just haven't made it a priority to get it fixed. But, after a failed attempt to make this cake for Alli's shower...and then doing it all over again for cupcakes, I was about ready to call the repair man! :) ...Needless to say, this recipe calls for LOTS of dirty dishes. But, it's worth it in the end. For whatever reason, my cake stuck horribly...but the cupcakes were perfect, yummy and a HUGE hit! ... Check out this blog for beautiful step by step pictures! .... Before baking, this is what it looked like...

And, after! SAD! Maybe i just needed to cook it longer!?!?....

Rainbow Cake (or cupcakes)

2 boxes white cake mix

24 oz of clear diet soda (I used ginger ale)

gel food colouring

16 oz whipped topping

2 oz instant fat-free sugar-free pudding mix (2 smallish boxes)

cream cheese

1/2 stick margarine

Powdered Sugar (if needed)

***

Mix the cake mix with the soda according to regular instructions on box. It will be lumpy afterward. (Use NOTHING else...just cake mix and soda) Measure the total volume then divide by 6 and measure into separate bowls. Stir color into each bowl with its own spoon. Layer the colors into your pan as you choose. (see pictures)

***
Bake the cake for however long the box tells you to bake it. Check it when the box says to, but usually it’ll need an extra 5 or 10 minutes or maybe more because of the density of the soda method. Just keep baking, checking back every 5 minutes or so until a toothpick to the center comes out clean. Let cool completely before moving to a wire rack.

***

Meanwhile, make your frosting. Just mix the pudding mix in with the whipped topping for a few minutes. (You can stop here, if you want the low fat option!...I added 1/2 stick of melted butter, softened cream cheese and some powdered sugar.) Dye if you’re into that.

***
Frost and Eat.

Tummy Ache Goodness

I got this one from Annalee! I tweaked it a bit...added Peanut Butter! And, it was GOOD! Very sticky and very sweet...but, GOOD!POPCORN MADNESS

1 bags of microwave popcorn
1/2 bag of marshmallows

Peanut Butter (as much as you'd like)
m&m's
2 T butter

Grease bundt pan. Pop the popcorn. (take out unpopped kernels) Melt the marshmallows and butter. Mix popcorn and marshmallows. Add m&m's.(and, for Halloween, I added candy corn as well!) Put in bundt pan, press it down and let it cool. Turn over & put on cake stand or serving plate.