Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo

I keep saying I will eat lighter. If you saw me you would know why. I look like I am due tomorrow, but I am actually due in 4 months. I don't feel that sorry for myself. Getting fat is part of pregnancy and quite fun for a food lover like me. This recipe has been adapted to fit my craving. It was slightly healthier, but I increased the milk and the butter for just a bit more flavor. It is still healthier than most Alfredo recipes and really really tasty. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
1 lb uncooked fettuccine (whole wheat if you can find it)
2 1/2 cups whole milk
2 Tbsp Gold Medal all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
Dash freshly ground black pepper
Dash ground red pepper (cayenne)
3 Tbsp butter
2 tsp finely chopped garlic
3 oz 1/3/less fat cream cheese
2/3 cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
3 chicken breasts

Directions:
Cook fettuccine as directed on package, omitting
salt. Drain; return to saucepan. Cover to keep
warm; set aside.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, stir milk, flour, salt,
black pepper and red pepper with wire whisk until
smooth. In a 2 quart saucepan, melt butter over
medium-low heat. Add garlic, cook 1 minute,
stirring constantly (do not burn). With wire whisk,
stir milk mixture into butter mixture in saucepan.
Cook over medium heat 6-8 minutes or until mixture
thickens and boils.

Stir in cream cheese until melted. Stir in Parmesan
cheese until melted. Pour over fettuccine; toss to
coat. Sprinkle with parsley.

Pound chicken until pretty flat. Drizzle with olive oil and rub into chicken. Sprinkle with garlic salt and grill until cooked.

Slice chicken into thin strips and top each serving of fettuccine with chicken.

Christmas Wreath 2010

Maybe it should be my tradition to make a new wreath every year. I find it to be a super fun craft and very rewarding thus far. Here's how:



I found a Styrofoam wreath at Michael's craft store and covered it in ribbon just to hide the ugly white.



This is my favorite. I gathered pecans from a local pecan tree grove that I take my daily walks to. It was great to get some exercise, find some free treasures, and save money on expensive pecans. I then painted them using acrylic paint and then coated them with glossy Mod Podge to give them a shine. Finally I glued them on with a hot--glue gun ,which seemed like an eternity, and then....




Add a ribbon and then hang. This old house has a little sass this year and I love it.
Grand total: $ 10 dollars (using 40% off coupon at craft store)

Happy Crafting!

Tickled Pink!

Perhaps you will recall my new favorite thing to make is cupcake bouquets. The supplies are expensive, the construction is time consuming, but the result is fantastic.

This was my favorite bouquet. I made this for my sister's baby shower. She is having a girl. A baby girl who has been wanted for quite sometime. The theme of the shower was appropriately called "Tickled Pink" because we truly are. I am so excited to share the joys of motherhood with my sister.

The cupcakes were Pink Lemonade Flavored

Ingredients:
1 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
Pinch salt
1/2 c. granulated sugar
1/4 c. vegetable oil
2 egg whites
1/3 c. thawed frozen Pink Lemonade Concentrate
1/4 c. buttermilk
2 or more drops red food coloring
Preheat oven to 350 F. Line muffin pan with liners.
In a small bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, oil, egg whites and lemonade concentrate. Alternately whisk in flour mixture and buttermilk, making three additions of flour mixture and two of buttermilk, beating until just smooth. Add just enough food coloring to turn the batter a light shade of pink.
Scoop batter into liners (fill about three-fourths full). Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until tops of cupcakes spring back when lightly touched. Let cool in pan on rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pan and let cool completely on rack. Top cooled cupcakes with frosting.

Lemonade Buttercream:
3 c. + 3 Tbsp. confectioner’s sugar
1 stick unsalted butter at room temperature
2 Tbsp. pink lemonade concentrate
Red food coloring
Add the butter, confectioner’s sugar, lemon juice, and a few drops of food coloring and mix until combined. Turn the speed to med-high until the buttercream is fluffy and uniformly pink. Pipe or spread onto cooled cupcakes.

I used extra large Smarties candy for the center of my flowers. I have no tips for frosting as that is a work in progress.

Can I tell you my favorite news of all?



I AM TICKLED PINK TOO! I cannot wait to have a little assistant in the kitchen come March. Stay tuned my lovely friends!

WInner of Apple Slicer!

Here are your random numbers:

6

Timestamp: 2010-11-14 00:50:56 UTC

Thanks to all for participating. Please come back for more tastiness and more prizes. If I could buy your friendship I truly would!

Congratulations to MaryBeth! I'm excited for you to enjoy more apple dishes this season with the help of this handy gadget.

Review and Giveaway

Am I the last person to own an apple slicer? I hope not, because I want you to have one too! As I mentioned before CSN stores as everything your shopping heart desires. I can't wait to own some of these dining chairs.

I love their little gadgets that are so nicely priced. I am craving apples these days and this apple slicer is perfect. The name, Easy Grip Apple Divider, says it all. It is durable, easy to hold and use. I love mine! It is made by Calphalon and I liked this product so much I purchased the vegetable peeler also made by Calphalon.

The best part is how easy it is to purchase from CSN stores online. It couldn't of been easier.

If apples are my favorite this season, please tell me what you are craving this season by leaving a comment.

Leaving a comment enters you in my giveaway for this lovely apple slicer of your own. Ready, set, go!

Apple Season Earns You A Giveaway

I don't know about you, but the Fall season makes me crave apples. The best condiment for apples is caramel. Here is an easy way to make the most delicious and creamy caramel. Along with my caramel recipe comes a lovely giveaway. It was difficult to choose from all the amazing options CSN stores has to offer. CSN stores offers everything from kitchen gadgets, furniture, toys, and so much more!I am currently perusing their selection of dining chairs. They have every kind of chair you could think of. They would look great at my table as I enjoy this dip.

Take one can of condensed milk. and turn it into the most amazing caramel!

Creamy Caramel Sauce

Ingredients:

-One can of condensed milk
-Favorite apples for dipping

Directions:

First, remove label on can. Place it on a mason jar ring lid in a large deep pot. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer for 3 hours. Keep adding water to ensure can is always covered in water. Explosions (which are messy) can occur. Don't worry, I was scared too, but it worked out just fine adding about a cup of water an hour. When 3 hours are up, it is done! Simply open can and pour out to serve. You can also let it cool and just pour it directly into your mouth. That's what I would like to do!

Warning: I don't know what happens for sure, but I hear that it is a sticky mess if the can isn't continuously covered in water.

Here is the best part:
Thanks to www.csnstores.com I will be giving an apple slicer away.


Isn't it pretty?

Stay tuned for my review and giveaway of this fantastic apple slicer. In the meantime, Happy Halloween!

Lasagna

La-zag-na has been around for quite sometime, but proves to be a tasty treat whenever it is consumed. I am sure it is delicious everywhere, but I confess that I have never ordered it at a restaurant because I compare all lasagna to this recipe. It is cheesy, gooey, and just darn yummy! You too might have a family recipe floating around that raises the bar for all others. Here is mine!

Ingredients:
lasagna noodles ( I used whole wheat, about 16 noodles cooked as directed)
2 cloves of garlic minced
1 can evaporated milk
1/4 cup whole milk
5 oz. can Parmesan cheese
4 Tbs. butter
3 Tbs. flour
1 1/2 lbs ground beef
1 can tomato paste
1 large can diced tomatoes
4 bay leaf
1 pkg Lowery's spaghetti sauce (I know I cheated, you could always use your favorite spaghetti sauce)

Directions for Meat sauce:
Cook onions and garlic with ground beef. Add Italian seasonings to taste once hamburger is browned. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, Lowery's seasoning, bay leaf, and salt and pepper.

Cheese Sauce:
Melt butter, add flour and stir. Add evaporated milk and whole milk while stirring constantly. Sauce should thicken as it boils. This is to create a basic white sauce. Add Parmesan cheese. I use a lot for a really cheesy flavor.

Layer noodles first, then meat sauce, followed by cheese sauce. Continue for about 3 layers. Top with remaining meat sauce, and then cheese sauce. Bake at 350 degrees until heated through. I like my sauce to be boiling. Serve and enjoy!