The Domesticated Diva

somebody call 911, there's a sausage fire burning on the dance floor, oh whoa oh oh!

oh my!! this recipe is AMAZING!! if you like spicy, yummy pasta, this is it! i found this blog off of a blog, off of a blog, off of a blog, literally 3 times removed from the first blog! it was easy, SUPER yummy and wallet friendly. i served mine with a crusty french baguette and a green garden salad. like usual, i added a few things. the original recipe calls for peas, but i used kale, a totally underrated and under used vegetable/green. i also added butter and more garlic. hope you enjoy it. i will definetly be making this one again. it is worthy of a place in my recipe box =)

Sausage and Penne in Garlic Olive Oil

5 sweet Italian sausage links  ( i used Johnsonville hot italian sausage )

Olive oil
1 box (1 lb) of penne pasta
4 minced cloves of garlic
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1 tbsp dried basil

about 3-4 kale leaves washed and torn into little pieces
butter ( about 2 tbsp )

Place Italian sausage in a skillet with 1/2 cup of water. Cook over medium-high heat, turning links occasionally. Water will cook down, when it does add another 1/2 cup of water and let that cook down too, allowing the links to brown on both sides. Add another 1/2 cup water and cover pan, let cook until links are cooked through and no longer pink.

Slice cooked links into bite sized pieces.

Cook penne pasta until al dente. Drain pasta and set aside.  In the pot you boiled the pasta in add 2 tbsp of olive oil and 1 tbsp of butter, sauté minced garlic and the torn kale leaves. Add red pepper flakes and the dried basil and sauté a few more minutes. Add sausage and toss to coat.  Cook for a few minutes to mingle flavors. Turn off heat.
Add pasta to sausage mixture and toss to coat. (at this point i added about another 2 tbsp of olive oil and another tbsp of butter ) toss to coat.

 

this recipe was courtesy of www.amandascookin.com

 

if you want to destroy my sweater.... pull this thread as i walk away....

it is weezer week in the "ramsey" house =) this domesticated diva needs a vacation!! summer is coming to an end... that means bored and whiney kids! what to do.. what to do! in a few weeks i will be in a deep, DEEP depression once everyone, including my baby are back to school. just think of all the time i will have to try new recipes!! maybe some Bakerella recipes will be in my future... or maybe not! we will see how bored i am =)

tonight i made garlic toasted spaghetti brushetta. try saying that 10 times while patting your head and rubbing your belly! i served it with a nice green salad.

this was easy and yummy! you could make it alot easier by buying those yummy pre packaged garlic bread loaves and topping those with your favorite spaghetti. i am gonna do that next time! this recipe is from picky palate.

Garlic Toasted Spaghetti Bruschetta

Softened butter
French bread or Ciabatta Bread, cut in half lengthwise ( i used ciabatta rolls i bought at The Fresh Market, my new favorite store! )
Lawry’s Garlic Salt with Parsley
l lb of your favorite prepared spaghetti
Shredded mozzarella cheese

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spread butter over cut sides of bread. Sprinkle lightly with garlic salt. Top with prepared spaghetti that’s been cut into small pieces with kitchen scissors then sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese. Bake for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and hot. Let cool for 5 minutes then cut into strips. Serve warm.

i eat my candy with pork and beans yooooooo!

not really, i just love that song! anyhoo...we have been so busy getting the kids ready for school and getting me emotionally ready to send my baby ellie boo to kindergarten =( i am exhausted!

tonight i made cheesy chicken cordon bleu casserole.. it was ok. i would make it again but with my own sauce recipe i got from my sister.  my favorite part of chicken cordon bleu is the crispy, crunchy outside and the ooey, gooey cheese. i added bread crumbs ( for crunch ) and i used cheddar and mozz but next time i will use swiss cheese. and it goes alittle something like this.....

Cheesy Chicken Cordon Bleu Rice Casserole

 

2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 medium onion, finely chopped

1 clove fresh garlic, minced

½ lb diced ham

2 Cups cooked shredded chicken breast

4 Tablespoons butter

¼ Cup flour

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon fresh cracked pepper

14 oz can chicken broth

3 Cups cooked rice of choice (I used white long grain)

1 Cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 Cup shredded mozzarella or swiss cheese

seasoned breadcrumbs ( a few handfuls to top )

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Heat oil into a large 5 qt rimmed skillet over medium heat. Saute onion until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic, ham and chicken. Cook for an additional 5 minutes. Melt butter then stir in flour, salt and pepper until combined. Slowly stir in chicken broth until well combined. Stir in cooked rice then transfer to a 9×13 inch baking dish. Top with cheddar , breadcrumbs and mozzarella cheeses. Bake for 20-25

 

here is the sauce recipe i will use next time. this recipe can be used for so many things! we use it for enciladas, chicken and rice, etc... use your imagination! the possibilities are endless. thank you nikkie for this recipe =)

6 tablespoons butter

1/3 flour

1/2 milk

3 cups chicken broth

1/2 c half and half

melt your butter in a sauce pan. add flour and cook until it makes a paste. add milk and chicken broth, stir and let simmer until it thickens. when thick add half and half, whisk in and bring to a boil.

 

 

 

 

feelin' HOT HOT HOT!!

so, tonight was my third night cooking. i must admit i will be glad when this week is over so shawn can help cook again =) i asked for help tonight and his response was " you are the one blogging about it, not me!" grrrrrr, how rude!

tonights recipe was chorizo and italian sausage stuffed shells. i was alittle hesitant to make this, i am not a big fan of ricotta cheese. but i decided to be a good wifey and make it because i know shawn loves stuffed shells. i was pleasantly surprised! like usual i tweeked the recipe. the original calls for chorizo ( sorry but i don't like this spicy, smoked sausage! ) and spinach ( i myself love spinach but the rest of the family doesn't so i didn't add it. ) again, being a nice wifey =)

 Italian Sausage Stuffed Shells

2 boxes jumbo shells

1 lb Sweet Italian Sausage
1 clove garlic
Pinch of red pepper flakes
2 26 oz cans crushed tomatoes
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

2 15 oz containers of Ricotta Cheese
1 Cup grated parmesan cheese
1 Cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 egg
Pinch of salt and fresh ground pepper

2 Cups shredded mozzarella cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cook pasta shells according to package directions. Drain and set aside.

2. Place sausage into a large skillet over medium heat. Cook until browned and crumbled. Drain and return back to skillet. Stir in garlic over medium heat for 1 minute then add in red pepper flakes, tomatoes, salt and pepper. Reduce heat to low and simmer.

3. In a large mixing bowl stir Ricotta, Parmesan, Mozzarella, egg, salt and pepper; mix well.

4. Spoon about 1/2 Cup pasta sauce into bottom of 2 9×13 inch baking dishes. Spoon ricotta filling (about 2 Tablespoons) into each cooked shell then place shells seam side down into baking dishes. Top shells evenly with sauce then shredded cheese. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until bubbly and hot. *The shells make great freezer meals*

"This chicken is BANGIN!!"

that was a direct quote from the hubby =) tonights recipe was bbq ranch chicken and cheddar pizza roll em' ups but for me minus the ranch! this recipe was fast and yummy. for the original, go to the picky palate website. here is how i did it!

BBQ Ranch Chicken and Cheddar Pizza Roll em’ Ups minus the ranch!

2 Roll Pillsbury Pizza dough in can (or use other pizza dough of choice)
4 shredded chicken breasts ( i again used rotiserrie chickens )

your favorite bbq sauce ( i used kc masterpiece original )
1/4 Cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
white cheddar cheese and regular cheddar

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Shred your chicken into a bowl, pour desired amount of bbq sauce over it, enough to coat all of it. Stir to combine. Add cilantro.  Open can of dough and press into rectangle.  top evenly with chicken and cheddar cheeses. Starting at long end roll dough into a log shape. Using a sharp knife, cut 1 inch pieces and place onto a greased baking sheet. Bake for 20-22 minutes or until golden brown.

in my opinion it was not as good as CPK bbq chicken, but it is a great alterative! i will for sure make this again!

melinda and i decided to do this recipe challenge together! thanks, you are such a great friend!

Mmmmmmm mmmmmm slap yo' momma good!

so, have you noticed my poor neglected blog? in an effort to get me excited about blogging again i came up with an idea. i would find 5 new recipes, try them out, then blog about them.

tonight was night #1. i made chicken pot pie bowls with puff pastry croutons and boy was it GOOD!! if you are trying to be slick about sneaking the veggies into your dinner.. this is a great way. ellie ate 2 1/2 bowls!!

i got all my recipes from pickypalate.com, but i changed a few things to my liking. the link is on my sidebar. you can go there if you want the original recipe. but here is the way i did it =) hope you enjoy!

Chicken Pot Pie Bowls with Puffy Croutons

3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 large carrots, peeled and sliced
2 stalks of celery, chopped
1 medium white onion finely diced
2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts, cooked and chopped ( i cheated and used a rotisserie chicken from sam's club , i only used the breasts)
1 stick butter ( make Paula Deen proud ladies! )
½ Cup flour
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
3 Cups of chicken broth

1/2 Cup of water
1 Cup half and half
½ Cup low fat sour cream
1 Cup petite peas, frozen is fine
a few shakes of Lawry's garlic salt

 

1 sheet thawed puff pastry ( this takes about 40 mins, so be sure to plan ahead! )

1. Heat oil into a large dutch oven or heavy pot. Saute carrots, onion, celery and onion until softened, about 5-8 minutes. Reduce heat to low stir in chicken and simmer.

2. In a separate medium pot, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour, salt and pepper until smooth. Slowly whisk in chicken broth, half and half and water until smooth. Increase heat to high while continually whisking until mixture thickens and almost starts to boil. Reduce heat to low and stir in sour cream and peas. Season to taste with salt, pepper and a  few shakes of the garlic seasoning. Simmer on low while croutons are cooking.

3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Gently roll out puff pastry with a rolling pin to even thickness. With pizza cutter, cut into ½ inch squares. Place squares onto a large baking sheet lightly sprayed with cooking spray and bake until puffed and golden brown, about 20-25 minutes. Remove and let cool.

4. Serve the pot pie base in bowls and top with puffy croutons, Enjoy!

 

 

The wisdom of Billy Madison....

ellie and i were in the car driving back from our lunch date at baja fresh and my cellphone rings.

me- "hello?"

caller- " hi mrs. h, this is janet the school nurse, chloe needs a change of clothes"

me- "ooook? what happened?"

janet the school nurse- "chloe couldn't get her bathing down in time and had alittle accident..."

FLASHBACK TO EARLIER THAT MORNING....

chloe- "mom look, i have my new swimsuit on under my school clothes!!"

me- "chloe, how are you gonna go to the bathroom? you will have to get all undressed..."

chloe- "ughhh mom, i don't go to the bathroom at school!"

me- " ok........."

so i go to the school to pick chloe up and she is crying from embarressment. we go out to the car, i am buckling ellie in...

me- " see chloe, i told you so!"

chloe- "ugh i told the nurse you were gonna say that"

ellie- "chloe don't cry, i peed my pants today too!" ( she really did but that is a whole other issue! )

me- " didn't you guys know that only the cool kids pee their pants?"

ellie and chloe- PRICELESS LAUGHS AND SMILES!

i think it is awesome i actually got to use that line in real life...HAHA!

chloe gave me permission to write this! i am not that mean =)

My first scrapbooking challenge..... COMPLETE!

this is one of my favorite pictures of ellie. she had strep throat and wanted to eat ice cream all day long. she wanted an ice cream cone before bed, i gave in. she fell asleep in shawn's arms while she was eatting the ice cream. TOO CUTE!

the challenge was to use circles on your layout. here's mine =)

 

   

 

Preschool love song!

ellery made this song up for her "boyfriend" Donovan, they go to preschool together. she sang and i wrote her words down, word for word, no changes made. this is pretty impressive and FUNNY! look out american idol, Ellery is coming to get ya!

"Donovan"          by Ellery

you're my best friend

i know you're here until the end

you were playing the guitar

i love you

i hope you love me too

i"ll never let you off the hook

i'll never leave you behind

i love you

i hope you love me too

you're my best friend

i know it's true

i'll never let you go

i hope you hear

i'll never leave you behind

i never know where you are

forever in my heart....... in my heart...... in my heart

from the mouths of babes!

we have been having a problem with bad language in our home recently, thanks to public school! i am sad to say my chloe has a mouth like a.... sailor!!!!
we have grounded her, taken her priviledges away, put soap in her mouth, i just don't know what to do. this behavior is so unlady like. i am open to ANY suggestion!

we were in the car last week driving to the speech therapist and this was the conversation my kids were having in the backseat...

caleb : you girls need so many things. you need sneakers, dress shoes, boots, tight and regular socks, dresses, bras......( this was when my ear perked and i really started to pay attention to what was being said )
chloe : no we don't! you KNOW you wanna bra!
caleb : eww no i don't!
ellery : he wants an eye bra!
chloe : they are called eye masks ellery!

LOL!! i was cracking up when ellery said eye bra! eye masks do kinda looks like a bra. it was hilarious! they always make me laugh =)