Olive Garden Pasta Alfredo

Made this last night and it was very good. However if you are wanting a low fat meal don't eat this!

This recipe was adapted from Budged Saavy Diva.

Ingredients:

Spaghetti or fettuccine noodles

butter, 1 stick

garlic, 2 cloves minced

heavy whipping cream, 1 pint

Parmesan cheese, 1 cup

cream cheese, 3-4 ounces

salt and pepper to taste

cooked broccoli florets, optional

Directions:

Cook pasta according to box instructions. 

In a sauce pan, melt butter. Once the butter is melted add the garlic. 

After a few minutes you can add the whipping cream and cream cheese. Cook until cream cheese is melted. Make sure you do not boil or it will burn. 

Add the Parmesan cheese. Stir until cheese is melted. Add salt and pepper to taste. 

Add the the broccoli.

Pour sauce over cooked noodles. Also you could sprinkle more Parmesan on top. Enjoy!!!!

Crispy Mexican Chicken Wraps

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup cooked rice (I used instant)
1 cup cooked, shredded chicken or 1 can of chicken, shredded
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup red onion, chopped
1/2 red or green pepper, diced
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
juice of 1 lime
1/2 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
2 cups colby jack cheese, shredded

6 whole wheat burritos

DIRECTIONS:

Cook rice according to package directions.

Add chili powder, cumin and garlic salt to the rice.  Add remaining ingredients except for cheese. Sprinkle about ¼ cup of cheese over tortillas, then add chicken and rice mixture down the center of the tortilla. Roll stuffed tortillas, leaving edges open. Spray a pan or skillet with cooking spray. I added olive oil too.

 Arrange 2 wraps, seam-side down, in pan and cook until golden brown and crisp, about 2-3 minutes per side.  Repeat. 

You could add sour cream to the tortillas. We served this with salsa on the side. 

Roasted Green Beans

We loved this, even the kids!


Ingredients:
String green beans, 1lb
3 garlic cloves, minced
salt and pepper
Olive oil


Directions:
Preheat oven to 425.  Place green beans on a 9x13 pan. Drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with garlic. Add salt and pepper to taste.


Bake for 15 minutes. Toss and bake for another 5-10 minutes. 

Menu Plan 4/10/12 - 4/23/12

It's been awhile since I have posted a menu plan. It's been crazy over here and now trying to get back in the swing of things. Enjoy!


4/10 - Crispy Southwest Chicken Wraps/Mexican pasta/veg
4/11 - Pesto Chicken http://lovetocookagain.blogspot.com/2012/03/baked-pesto-chicken-kaylns-kitchen.html/rice pilaf/Kale
4/12 - Parmesan Tilapia/cous cous/veg
4/13 - Strawberry and Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast/bacon/fruit (this is a very healthy meal, lol)
4/14 - Southwest Stuffed Peppers http://lovetocookagain.blogspot.com/2011/09/southwest-stuffed-bell-peppers-our-best.html
4/15 - Grilled Pizza
4/16 - Basil and Tomato Panini's http://lovetocookagain.blogspot.com/2011/08/tomato-mozzarella-pesto-paninis.html/fruit/veg (Lunch); leftovers (dinner)
4/17 - Sherry's Aussie Chicken http://lovetocookagain.blogspot.com/2012/02/sherrys-aussie-chicken-finer-thins-in.html/veg/rice
4/18 - Cilantro Lime Shrimp http://lovetocookagain.blogspot.com/2012/01/cilantro-lime-shrimp-never-enough-thyme.html/Mexcian rice
4/19 - Copy Cat Olive Garden Alfredo pasta w/broccoli/salad/bread
4/20 - leftovers
4/21 - Grilled hot dogs
4/22 - Cheese Quesadillas/veg
4/23 - Spaghetti/bread/salad

Homemade Croutons

Ingredients:
Sourdough bread, cut into cubes
4 TBS butter, melted
1-2 tsp garlic salt
1-2 tsp oregano


Directions:
Preheat oven to 350
Cut sourdough bread into cubes and place in a large bowl. Melt butter. Add garlic salt and oregano to the butter. Pour over the bread cubes. Stir.
Place bread onto a cookie sheet. 
Bake for 15 minutes. Flip over bread and bake for another 15 minutes. 
These are so yummy!!!

Easter Cupcakes

Ingredients:


Box of any cupcake mix. (I chose confetti cupcake mix)
White icing
Coconut
Green food coloring
Bag of peanut M&M's


Directions:

Cook cupcakes according to box. Cool. 


While cooling place 1 cup of coconut in a Rubbermaid container. Add 5 drops of green food coloring, close and shake. 


Add green food coloring to white icing and mix. Place green icing on cupcakes. Add the green coconut. Place 3 M&M's. 


Enjoy!

Resurrection Rolls

My family loved making these. It is a great way to explain the resurrection to your children. My kids couldn't wait to see if Jesus resurrected from the roll. ;)


Ingredients:
Large marshmallows
Butter, melted
Cinnamon/sugar mixture
1 can of crescent rolls. 


Directions:


Separate the crescent rolls into triangles. The rolls represent the linen they used to wrap Jesus when he was dead. 


Dip the marshmallows in melted butter and then roll in the cinnamon/sugar mixture. The butter represents the oils they used to anoint Jesus' dead body.  The cinnamon/sugar mixture represents the spices they used in burials. 


Place the marshmallow in the center of the crescent roll. Fold and pinch the sides of the crescent roll. Place on a greased baking sheet. 


Bake rolls according to package directions. 


When cooked the marshmallow will melt and puff up the crescent roll. This demonstrates how Christ arose from the tomb and all that remained was the tomb and linen wrappings. My kids couldn't wait for me to cut into the roll. They scream with excitement "He arose!" when they saw the marshmallow was gone. So awesome.  I hope you enjoy this as much as we did.