Chicken and Gnocchi Soup

1/2 Cup Butter
1/2 Cup Baby Carrot, sliced
1 Onion, diced
3 Chicken Breasts, diced
1 Garlic Clove, chopped
4 Cups Chicken Stock
2 Cups Half and Half
16 Ounce Mini Potato Gnocchi
1 Cup Fresh Spinach, chopped
1 Teaspoon Thyme
Salt and Pepper

Melt butter in a large stock pot. Add the carrots and onion and cook until onion is translucent. Add the chicken and cook through until no longer pink in the center. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the chicken broth and half and half and bring just to a boil. Add the gnocchi and cook according to package directions. Add spinach, thyme and salt and pepper to taste. Cook until spinach is wilted. Serve with bread sticks! YUM!

Pirate Party

We had a Pirate party. It was great fun. E decorated the cake and it turned out Great! We found the sail here http://www.toppartyideas.com/pirate-sails/ The masts were large pretzel rods. I made place mates with this Coloring Page http://www.leehansen.com/coloring/Pirates/pages/pirate-map.htm We had Papa Murphys Pizza and Cake and Ice cream.

Mint Chocolate Chip Brownies
For the Brownie Layer
1 3/4 Cup Flour
2 Cup Sugar
6 Tbsp Cocoa
1 Tsp Salt
½ Cup Oil
½ Cup Milk
4 Eggs
1 Tsp Vanilla
Mix and Bake at 350' for 30 minutes.

For the Frosting Layer
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp peppermint extract
5 to 5.5 cups of powdered sugar
4 Tbsp milk
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate, grated or coarsely chopped in the food processor
green food coloring (optional)

For the Chocolate Layer
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 Tbsp canola or vegetable oil

COOL BROWNIE COMPLETELY. While brownie is cooling, make your frosting. Using an electric mixer, cream together butter, shortening, vanilla, and mint extract. Add in powdered sugar one cup at a time, and then add in milk, one tablespoon at a time until frosting is smooth and desired consistency has been reached. Stir in food coloring if desired, and then fold in chocolate shavings. Once brownie is completely cooled, spread frosting evenly over the brownie. Prepare your chocolate for the final layer. In a small bowl, combine 2 cups of chocolate chips with 1 tablespoon of oil. Melt in microwave 30 second intervals until melted stirring after each time. You don’t want it to over-heat. Once it is smooth, spread it over the frosting layer and allow to harden. Cut and Enjoy!

Crispy Chocolate Log

Crispy Chocolate Log
(Plan ahead…needs to chill)

1 Package (10 oz.) Large Marshmallows
¼ Cup Butter
¼ Cup Peanut Butter
5 ½ Cups Rice Krispies
1 1/3 Cups Chocolate Chips
¾ Cup Butterscotch Chips

Line a 15" x 10" x 1" pan with waxed paper, grease the paper and set aside. In a large microwave safe bowl, combine the marshmallows, butter and peanut butter. Cover and microwave on high for 2 minutes. Stir with greased spoon until well blended. Stir in cereal until well coated. Spread into prepared pan. In another bowl, combine chocolate and butterscotch chips. Microwave uncovered on high for 2 minutes. Spread over cereal mixture to within 1" of edge. Roll up jellyroll style, starting with the short side, peeling waxed paper away while rolling. Wrap roll in waxed paper and refrigerate on hour or more. Cut into 1" slices.

Bacon

It was B.L.T. Night and I was looking in the Southern Living Magazine the other day and found these 3 foolproof ways to prepare bacon. March 2011


The Classic way is to cook it in a skillet on the stove on medium low until crisp.

The Cleanest way if to preheat the oven to 400' and arrange the bacon in a single layer, with sides touching, I placed them on a rack in one of my cookie sheets with foil lining the pan. The article said it would take 10-15 minutes, but mine took about 30. That was the best bacon I have had, Hands Down! Cooked through and not floppy! I think this is the way I will cook bacon from now on.

The fastest way is to wrap six bacon slices loosely in a paper towels. Microwave at High 4 to 4 1/2 minutes. Let stand 1-2-minutes or until crisp.

Mexican Pizza

We love having this for dinner.
Stuff tostada shells with a creamy combination of ground beef, taco seasoning mix, refried beans and shredded cheese. The result will be tasty and satisfying.
Ingredients
8 ozs. ground beef
3/4 cups water
1 package (1.25-oz.)Taco Seasoning Mix
1 can (16-oz.) Refried Beans, divided
1 package (10-ct.) Ortega Tostada shells
2 cups nacho and taco blend shredded cheese, divided
Toppings: shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, sliced ripe olives, sliced avocado, chopped fresh cilantro, sliced green onions, sour cream, guacamole, whole kernel corn, black beans, ORTEGA Thick & Chunky Salsa
BROWN beef; drain. Stir in water and seasoning mix. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 6 minutes or until mixture is thickened.SPREAD 2 tablespoons beans over each tostada shell. Top with 1/2 cup meat mixture and 1/4 cup cheese. Broil for 1 to 2 minutes or until cheese is melted. Garnish with desired toppings. www.Ortega.com

Ginger!

I read a tip on a blog. Buy ginger, peal it, freeze it and use it straight from the freezer. I bought this ginger and my daughter said it looked like a demented person!