Creamy pasta with tomatoes and chicken

Made up this recipe. Grilled up some onions and garlic, added some leftover cutup chicken (from a rotisserie chicken I bought last week), and then Italian style diced tomatoes that I had run through the food processor (for just a second...didn't pulverize it). Once that was done, I stirred in some laughing cow cheese to make it a bit creamier. Stirred in with some hot pasta, topped with shredded Parmesan cheese. Sprinkled with some freshly dried basil. Yum! (I wish I would have had some zucchini to throw in, but I didn't. Next time!)

From July 29, 2012

Pita Bread and Falafel

I'm debating whether or not I should actually post this one. But I dirtied enough dishes, I might as well get a post out of it. Anyway, I attempted something somewhat lofty tonight (after failing at in on Sunday, I might add). I made pita bread and falafel from scratch. The dough for the pita bread seemed to rise in the first stages (I even proofed the yeast before starting), but then never really puffed up in the oven like it was supposed to. So they were a bit flat and somewhat heavy, which makes it so most of them didn't have a pocket when you cut them in half...which kind of defeats the point of pita bread! The falalfel were baked, not fried, and had a great flavor, but they were really crumbly and kept falling apart. (I chose one of the best for the above picture, and it almost worked, but then started crumbling like crazy. Gah.) I served the falafel in one of the pitas with cucumbers and a yogurt/cucumber/dill sauce that DID turn out well and tasted great. I'm pretty sure I know what I need to do to improved the structural integrity of the falafel, if I ever decide to try again. As for the pita...I have some ideas too, but probably just need to try again.

From July 26, 2012

Chicken Enchiladas

Confession: I've never before tried to make my enchiladas pretty before. But for some reason, I decided they need some color before getting their picture taken. First I put on the sour cream and tomatoes, but then decided it needed green too. I would have put diced green onions if I had them. But I didn't. I did have parsley, so I put a little bit of that on it. Taste-wise, not a great idea; presentation-wise, I guess okay? Anyway, still the best enchiladas around.

From July 24, 2012

Grasshooper Caramel Sundae

For the purpose of this post, I just made up a name for this dessert that I make a lot, but doesn't actually have a real name. (What do you think? Better suggestions?) One of my favorite desserts. Except I like it best with Slow Churned mint cookie crunch ice cream (think: mint oreo), rather than mint chocolate chip, but I'm pretty sure my grocery store stopped carrying it. (Boo!) This is chocolate graham crackers on the bottom, mint chocolate chip ice cream, and caramel sauce. Can you believe most people haven't yet discovered how wonderful chocolate graham crackers are?

From July 20, 2012

Pesto stuffed chicken

Finished off the pesto by making up this recipe. Stuffed the pesto under the skin of a chicken thigh, along with some laughing cow cheese (cut up) and baked, uncovered most of the time. Had a great creamy, cheesy, pestoey flavor. Served with pasta (with garlic salt) and peas.

From July 20, 2012

Chicken and Pesto

I had a little bit of fresh basil leftover, so I made pesto. I love pesto. I didn't make very much, because I didn't have very much basil. I made my pasta slightly creamy with a wedge of laughing cow cheese (remarkably tasty in pasta) and a tiny bit of milk, then mixed the pesto in. So good. Also grilled up a chicken thigh and cut it up and mixed it in. Served with steamed asparagus on the side.

From July 19, 2012

P^4: Pork, Pineapple, Peppers, and Potatoes

Another pork tenderloin recipe, this one cooked in the crockpot. The original recipe didn't call for potatoes, but I threw them in. Next time, I think I'll leave them out. I also think I cooked it all too long; which is probably also why everything has sort of a dull color. But it had a nice flavor. Sort of reminiscent of a sweet and sour pork dish, though not exactly. (Hence why potatoes probably weren't a good idea.)

From July 18, 2012