When My Boy Asks

 My kids are so used to me planning diverse menus with many of their favorites every week, it isn't often they feel the need to request something, unless I ask them for input. But every once in a awhile, Alex will ask for me to make something he is craving, rather it be a beloved favorite or he wants me to try a new recipe. Such was the case when it comes to the new pasta bake I'm sharing today and boy am I glad he asked because it lead to something delicious and a recipe I am quite proud of! 

We are going on month 302 of this pandemic...or so it seems...and while I do think our family has adjusted to the things are the best we can, there are still moments I find us whining about things we miss. And that's okay. We all deserve to have a little whine now and again after what we have endured over the past year! Even my kids have truly stepped up to the challenge of "the new normal" better than I could have ever expected. 

My 4 year old will gladly wear his mask if I allow him to go into a store with me (which isn't often, and it helps the mask has either a panda or Baby Yoda on it!). My teenager goes to school every single day, in a mask, for 7-8 hours, without much complaint. He only gets to take it off when he eats lunch, which by the way is no longer with his friends, but in an assigned classroom where the food is brought to them and they eat at their desks. (I'm not complaining, our school has done an outstanding job at protocols this year and I'm so pleased we've been in-person with only a couple weeks of preventative remote since August!) But everyone is human, and sometimes a "oh I miss ___" will come out of one of our mouths. 

Alex's most recent lamenting was about buffets. Yes, we were a buffet loving family. We enjoyed a tasty Asian buffet, seafood buffet and the dinner buffet at our local Pizza Hut. In this case, it was the last one Alex was missing. No, not because of the all you can eat pizza, but instead the pasta they always served on it. He could eat plate after plate of their cavatini. I don't blame him, the other one they always had, a spaghetti with a white, cream cheese sauce makes me drool just thinking of it. (In case you're wondering, no it wasn't Alfredo. It was completely different, and it will be the next one I master!)

So when my oldest baby was sad because he had a hankering for this cavatini, and asked if I thought I might be able to come up with something similar, this mama had to try! Well, I don't want to pat myself on the back too much, but even I have to admit I hit it out of the park! 

This copycat is spot on! Both Alex and his dad couldn't get over just how close to the original it tasted. The boys was thrilled and I scored major mom points! 

This pasta casserole is sort of like a pizza, pasta combo so your kids will probably love it as much as mine! Maybe they have been asking you to try something new, and now you have your answer!

 Copycat Pizza Hut Cavatini

1 lb. rotini pasta, cooked to al dente

1 lb. mild Italian sausage

4 oz. pepperoni, chopped

1 medium white onion, finely chopped

1 red bell pepper, finely chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1 TBS olive oil

2 (24 oz.) jars tomato and basil spaghetti sauce

1 1/2 c. shredded pizza blend cheese

2 TBS grated Parmesan/Romano cheese

1/4 tsp. dried red pepper

1 tsp. Italian seasoning

Salt and Pepper

Dried Parsley

Preheat oven to 350. While pasta cooks, brown sausage in large skillet. Drain well. Set aside. Wipe out skillet and add olive oil over medium high heat. Saute onion, bell pepper and garlic in oil until tender, about 5 minutes. When pasta is cooked, drain well. In a large bowl combine sauce, sausage, onion mixture, pasta, dried red pepper, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Stir well. Transfer half pasta mixture to a greased 9x13 baking dish. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, half pizza blend cheese and half pepperoni. Add other half pasta mixture, rest of pepperoni and top with pizza blend cheese. Bake for 45 minutes until brown and bubbly. Sprinkle with dried parsley before serving. 

 

Shared at Weekend Potluck

Snow Day

 We got our first "big" snow of the season this weekend. In fact, it was the biggest snow storm we've had here in 6 years! Our city of Fort Wayne is sometimes referred to by weathermen as "the city where storms come to die!" Many times snow storms, thunderstorms, etc will be raging our way, and then about the time they reach the city limits they fizzle out. It's the strangest thing!.

So last week when we started hearing about this snow storm that would be coming our way, most of us waited to see. Well, wouldn't you know, this time it held together, and by the time we woke up Sunday morning, we had almost 8 inches on the ground, and it continued snowing for most of the day. 

Sure, I realize for many reading this, 8 inches is nothing, but like I said, it was our biggest snow in 6 years, which for us means it was Max's 1st really big snow! And this was the fluffy, fun snow! Perfect for snow balls fights, snow angels, and if your a 16 year old Bubbie and a 4 year old Max, wrestling until you cry from laughing. Seriously, their dad and I stood there and laughed so hard watching them. They were having a ball and absolutely adorable together. Warmed this mommy's heart, that's for sure! 

I wish I could be really cool and say "look at this amazing stew I made for when we came in from playing in the snow." But that would be a lie. I actually made this a few weeks back. (I did make slow cooker chicken and noodles yesterday though!) I just figured with much of the country already under a blanket of snow, or still expecting more over the next day or so, today would be a terrific time to share. 

This hearty stew is filled with roasted chicken, chunky veggies and a rich, creamy broth that will thaw you out in no time! It's a little thicker than a soup, not quite as thick as a chowder, so I went with stew. No matter what name you give it, every bite will be delicious and satisfying! 

Winter isn't done with us, and we might have another snow day or two in our future. No doubt coming inside to a bowl of something warm and tasty makes all that shoveling worth it! 

 

 Crock Pot Creamy Chicken Stew

2 lbs. boneless chicken tenders

2 TBS olive oi

2 tsp. garlic powder

1 medium white onion, chopped

3 celery stalks, diced

4 large carrots, diced

2 russet potatoes, peeled and cubed

4 c. chicken broth

2 c. water

2 chicken bouillon cubes

1 cup half and half

3 TBS corn starch

2 cans cream of celery soup

12 oz. bag frozen peas 

12 oz. bag frozen corn 

1 TBS dried parsley

Salt and Pepper

Preheat oven to 350. Lay chicken tenders on foil lined baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil. Season with garlic powder, salt and pepper. Bake for 30 minutes until juices run clear. Place in a large bowl and allow to cool slightly. Shred with forks. In the slow cooker, add chicken, carrots, celery, onion, potatoes corn, broth, water, bouillon, and cream of celery soup. Season with salt and pepper. Cook on LOW 5-6 hours. Mix corn starch with half and half. Add to slow cooker. Turn to HIGH and cook about 20 minutes until slightly thickened. Add frozen peas and parsley. Stir and cook 5-10 minutes just to warm peas through. 

 

Shared at Weekend Potluck

New Year, New Side

 Which part of your daily dinner do you struggle with the most when planning? Main dishes are usually pretty quick to think of for me, and then the sides are sometimes where I stumble. Certain meals will always have the same sides included (If we're having spaghetti, a salad and bread are sure bets) but other times I want to switch things up. Find new side dishes to keep the menu plan fresh and new. 

So when I find a way to take an old favorite veggie and serve it in a new, tasty, and in this case, super cheesy way, I score major wife/mom points! 

We are big cauliflower fans, but I will fully admit I'm not very creative with it. If it's fresh, it's usually on a veggie tray. And if it served alongside our dinner time meal, it's a bag of frozen that has been steamed, with a little butter on it. I know, boring. But this recipe changes all that! 

Perfect with pork, chicken, or steak, this dish is super versatile. You could even double the recipe and make it a meat free main dish! 

Let's talk about the cheese for a second. I am the queen of pre-shredded bagged cheeses. I use them in almost all of my cooking. But this time I took the extra few minutes to shred my own; and it makes a huge difference! When you shred your own block of cheese, it melts more evenly, and has richer flavor. In no way am I dissing the convenience of the other, and will certainly continue to use it, but for certain dishes, it is definitely worth the extra effort! 

Since the beginning of the new year, I have been in new recipe recipe mode, and this is most definitely one of the favorites I've made. All three boys raved about it and have already requested it again! If you decide to switch up your next menu plan, and include this ooey,gooey veggie, I hope yours love it just as much!

 Cheesy Baked Cauliflower

2 large heads cauliflower, cut into florets

8 oz. block extra sharp white cheddar cheese, shredded

1/2 c. heavy cream

1 c. grated Parmesan/Romano cheese

1 tsp. dried thyme

5 TBS butter, diced

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp. dried parsley

Salt and Pepper

Preheat oven to 400. In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook cauliflower for 8 minutes until just tender. Drain well. In a large greased casserole dish, place half of the cauliflower. Sprinkle with 1/2 tsp. thyme, salt and pepper. Pour half the cream over. Dot with half the butter. Add half the garlic. Add half the Parmesan and white cheddar cheeses. Repeat layers.  Sprinkle with dried parsley. Cook for 30 minutes or until brown and bubbly. Allow to sit 5-7 minutes before serving.

 

Shared at Weekend Potluck
 

Winter Blues

 I don't know about you, but this time of year is VERY hard on me. I love the holidays so much, and there is always so much anticipation and lead up to those special weeks. Once the decorations come down, and the cold, dark, dismal days of winter set in, I tend to get a little blue. I have a birthday to look forward to in February, but not until the next to last day, so those weeks between always seem like the longest ones of the year. 

If you live in the Midwest, but don't enjoy the cold or snow is there any upside to winter at all? Not much, but one of my salvations this time of year is definitely the fact that it is soup season! 

I never tire of finding new soup recipes. We have favorites that are go-tos of course, but any time I can try a brand new one (at least to us) I am always game. 

A friend and I were talking about how much take out we've done since the pandemic began. As I've said before, I feel like helping the restaurant industry is one small thing we can do to help keep people and businesses afloat, so we've really stepped it up in the last 10 months. Anyway, she was telling me there isn't a Panera close to them so she started making her version of their broccoli cheese soup. Well, you know I had to have that recipe. 

This bowl of deliciousness can be on your table in about 45 minutes, so it is perfect after a long day when you are starving but don't have the energy. Add some crusty bread and your favorite salad on the side and call it dinner! Or make it a soup and sandwich combo night! 

If you love copycat recipes as much as me, you will be so pleased with how close to the original this one tastes. Plus, it's yet another soup to help us get through this winter and give us a little happy in the bleak that is January!

Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup

3 medium broccoli crowns, chopped

1 small white onion, diced

1 cup matchstick carrots

2 c. half and half

4 c. chicken broth

5 TBS butter

1/4 c. flour

1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

8 oz. shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Salt and Pepper 

Shredded Marbled Cheddar, for serving

 In a large stockpot over medium heat saute onions in 1 TBS butter until soft. Remove. Melt remaining butter. Whisk flour into butter and cook about 5 minutes. Slowly add 2 cups broth and half and half. Stir well. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer about 15 minutes. Add onions, broccoli, carrots and remaining chicken stock. Stir. Simmer for 15-20 minutes, until veggies are tender crisp. Add nutmeg, salt, pepper and shredded sharp cheddar. Stir until cheese is melted and serve. Serve with marbled cheddar and crusty bread if desired. 

Inspired by Recipe Critic

Shared at Weekend Potluck

A Tatsy Twist on Pasta Night

 We love pasta. Like LOVE pasta. It's definitely one of our most eaten meals. All kinds. All flavors. We can't get enough. But we shouldn't eat it as much as we would like, so I am so excited to have such a tasty alternative when those pasta cravings hit. 

Since we were married, Mr. E raved about his aunt's lasagna. It was hands down the best he ever had and he begged me to get the recipe. So, I did...and I promptly told him there was no way I was making it. I swear that recipe had 184 steps LOL. Okay, that might be an exaggeration, but it was most definitely an all-day process, and as a newlywed, and then a year later, a new mom, it wasn't happening. 

Fast forward to many years later yes...that long, we were invited over to her house for supper. We were actually working on a project that took multiple sessions, and each time, she let each of us pick what we wanted her to make for supper. One guess as to what my husband chose. Yep. The lasagna. Only one problem...she is now gluten free! So, she made 2 pans. One of the traditional (and yes, it is a fantastic lasagna, and I knew why he had raved about it for so many years) and one with polenta rounds instead of noodles. That version was absolutely delicious as well! 

I had seen polenta on cooking shows a thousand times, and when I worked at Bob Evans, one of my favorite breakfasts was "fried mush" with butter and warm syrup. But I had never made it at home, and knew that had to change. I just had to figure out which pasta sauce I would serve with it. Easy. My slow cooker bolognese sauce that is filled with flavor. 

If you've never seen the precooked, formed polenta, it comes in a tube (think bulk sausage shape) and can usually be found on the dried pasta aisle or the dairy section. Some are shelf stable, some need refrigeration. It slices easily and then can be sauteed in oil, baked, broiled or used in casseroles, like lasagna! 

We felt very fancy the night I made this. Like we were having dinner in a old world Italian restaurant. The boys loved it, and I enjoyed the fact it was like we were eating pasta, but in a new way! 

If you are gluten free and missing some pasta, you will love this! Plus since the sauce cooks separately, you could cook the polenta, and some pasta too, using the sauce for both, and satisfy everyone at your table. 

We won't be giving up our pasta nights any time soon, but I am happy to know I can switch it up now and again with another delicious meal with familiar flavors.

 Polenta with Bolognese Sauce

2 lbs. ground beef

5 TBS olive olive, divided use

1 medium white onion, diced

3 celery ribs, diced

2 carrots, peeled and diced

1/4 c. chicken broth

2 (28 oz.) cans crushed tomatoes

3 dried bay leaves

1/2 c. half and half

2 TBS dried parsley, extra for garnish

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 (18 oz.) tube precooked polenta, sliced into 1/2 inch rounds 

Salt and Pepper

Parmesan cheese, for serving

 Heat 2 TBS olive oil in large skillet over medium high heat. Saute onions, celery, carrots and garlic for a few minutes, until softened. Add ground beef and cook until browned. Season with salt and pepper. Drain if needed. Transfer to slow cooker. Add tomatoes and chicken broth. Stir to combine. Lay bay leaves on top. Cook on LOW for 6 hours. When cooked, remove bay leaves and stir in half and half. Leave on warm until ready to serve. To prepare polenta, heat 3 TBS olive oil in large skillet. Carefully place polenta rounds in oil and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden brown. To serve, lay 3-4 rounds of polenta on each plate and top with bolognese sauce. Sprinkle with parsley and serve with Parmesan cheese.  *NOTES* The polenta will splatter when cooking. BE CAREFUL! A splatter screen helps a lot. Do not crowd the pan with polenta. Cook in batches if needed. The sauce can be cooked ahead of time, refrigerated and reheated at time of serving.

 

Shared at Weekend Potluck