Burbank Pasta

This is my version of a dish I have when we visit Hubbins parents. Its called 3p at an Italian restaurant that we also order pizza from. It's delicious. The original has Peas, Parmesan and Prosciutto hence 3p. It's really, very tasty.

I was craving it just the other day and had similar but not quite the same ingredients on hand. So I improvised...with really tasty results. That's what I love about pasta. Just toss and eat.

 

Again, this is not a low fat dish. You could probably make it low fat. If you are so inclined. I'm usually not. But that's just me. Don't be like me.

 

This is for one serving. Because sometimes the kids are at school and Hubbins is at the office. And I really need some pasta and cheese and peas.

Its a really simple recipe though and can easily be doubled or tripled etc... to feed however many hungries you have in your house.

 

You will need (per person)

 

1.5 cups cooked spaghetti

1/2 cup diced ham

1/2 cup frozen but now thawed peas

1 tbs butter

1/3 cup heavy cream

3/4 cup shredded Dubliner cheese. (if you haven't yet had this delicious gift from the gods, now is a good time.)

red pepper flakes

 

For the Sauce

Melt the butter in a medium saucepan, ideally the one you used to boil your pasta. Less dishes to do, ya know.

Once the butter is melted and sizzling in the bottom of your saucepan add in the diced ham. Let it cook for a few minutes and then add the cream. Next you stir in the cheese and let it get all melty and wonderful.

 

Then you just add the cooked spaghetti and the peas to the sauce. Toss it all together and add a healthy shake of some red pepper.

 

Doesn't get much easier than that.

 

Let me know what you think and if you try it, take pictures...I  can't seem to remember that part. :o)

 

Enjoy

 

k

 

White Chocolate Chip Coconut Brownies

These are super yummy, super easy and super fantastic.  

Preheat oven to 375°

Spray the bottom and sides of a 8x11 casserole dish and set aside
Into the stand mixer or big bowl if you are mixing by hand.

1 box German Chocolate cake mix
2 Eggs
5 tbs butter, melted
1/2 cup shredded sweetened coconut
1/2 cup white chocolate chips

Mix together until all the bits are well incorporated.

              

Then smash the gooey goodness into the bottom of your casserole dish like so...








  Once its all evenly smooshed, place it on the middle rack of your preheated oven and bake for

20 minutes.

It will puff up to the top of your dish when it comes out of the oven and then fall back to about half again as it cools. The result is chewey, chocolatey goodness.

I like them served up super cold with a glass of milk. Warm with ice cream on top. Cut into bite sized pieces and mixed into a frosty...use your imagination.

Anyway you serve it up, its tasty.

Enjoy,

k

Meatballs & Mashed Potatoes

Hubbins is particularly fond of meat and potatoes...

Preheat oven to 375°

Serves 5

Meatballs
2lbs ground beef
1 pkg Onion soup mix
2 eggs
3/4 cup oats
1 tbs dried parsley
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp fresh grated nutmeg
salt & pepper

Gravy
1 large box beef broth
2 tbs butter
2 tbs flour

8 cups Mashed Potatoes. 
Tonight I used Idahoan Instant Potatoes.  Usually I have potatoes on hand and Girl Child peels and slices 10-12 russets. Boils them for approximately 20 min. Until fork tender. A splash of cream, some butter, salt and white pepper all go into the stainless bowl of my kitchen aide where I set it on medium and let it whip those potatoes into fluffy perfection. 
Or if I'm pressed for time or simply out of potatoes...use instant. Its one of the items I try to always have on hand. Like Champane or Chocolate. Wine...you see where I'm going.
Follow the directions on the box. Easy.

For the Meatballs
I used my Kitchen Aide to mix together; the ground beef, eggs, soup mix, parsley, cayenne pepper, oats and nutmeg. (p.s...ignore the onion in the photo. And apologies for the lame pictures. I'm currently using my phone to take pictures. Someday, I will have a camera!)

Form the meat mixture into 1 inch size balls and place them on a cookie sheet.
Set them in a preheated oven on the middle rack.
Bake for 20 minutes.
Then turn the oven up to 415° and bake another 8-10 minutes. Or until a thermometer inserted into the center of the meatballs reaches 160° This gives the ...balls.... :o) ...a nice color.

For the Gravy
Pour the drippings and crunchy bits from the cookie sheet into a heavy pan. Add the butter and melt. Whisk together the flour and about a 1/2 to 3/4 cup beef broth in a cup and set aside. Add the entire box of beef broth to the melted butter and meatball drippings. Bring to a boil and then slowly whisk in the flour/broth mixture. Let simmer until thickened.

salt and pepper all you please

Mine was not low sodium, but that is probably something you should think about. If you think about such things.

Add the meatballs to the gravy and heat through until bubbly...if the gravy is too thick just add a little water until you get the consistency you desire.

Serve over hot mashed potatoes.  With a side of buttered corn, if you please. 

Let me know what you think! :)

p.s.s it has occurred to me as I finish up this post, that pictures of the process would be nice... but it's a little too late for that now isn't it. shoot!

Enjoy,

k

Best Banana Cake Ever

I'm a little obsessed with bananas lately. I love them as my smoothie staple, my oatmeal topper, my bread with butter. I love them plain and I love them swimming in caramel sauce over french toast. I love them in frosty shakes, especially when Hubbins buys them for me. I love them bright and cheerful waiting patiently on my countertop for my next tasty treat.

Anyway.

I've been dreaming up baked goods for the past few months and trying a new one out every other week or so... and with Bananas on The Brain,  this is what I came up with.

Originally, I had this really delicious Banana Wedding Cake in my mind from some childhood afternoon spent at a wedding reception. I thought it over for a bit and this was my first attempt.

Um..Its kind of delicious. Not a light and fluffy cake this one. No, its dense and almost custard-y.

I like it served up super cold. But room temperature has its merits too.

Wet Goods

1/2 cup sour cream

2 eggs

1/4 cup almond milk ( or plain old milk)

1 box banana flavored instant pudding

2 ripe bananas, smashed

Dry Goods

1 box golden butter cake mix ( I used Pillsbury's)

1/3 cup sweetened shredded coconut

1/2 cup chopped pecans

All the Wet Goods went in the stand mixer first. Just mix until its all incorporated. Add in the coconut and pecans and stir until just mixed, then the cake mix. Mix on low just until the dry mix is all incorporated. It will be thick.

Pour into a well greased bundt cake pan. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

Meanwhile....

Clean out the mixer bowl, attach the whisk and beat together;

1 8 oz. Pkg Cream Cheese ( room temperature ---- this is huge!)

1/2 cup Sour Cream

1 cup powdered sugar

whip together until light, fluffy and delicious.

Check cake for doneness with toothpick...should come out mostly clean.

Let cool in Bundt Pan and then turn out onto a plate. Refrigerate for at least an hour. Then frost the top of that baby with the Sour Cream Cheese Frosting.

So, so good. Tell me what you think.