One Pot Creamy Garlic Noodles

I've seen a lot or one pot pasta recipes on Pinterest lately.  I even tried a few.  Then I cam up with one all on my own.  My daughter loves noodles.  I was trying to come up with a different way of making them since we were all a little tired of macaroni and cheese. This recipe is so fast!  Plus it can easily be jazzed up for grownups or left simple for the kiddos.  And it really does only take one pot!

Ingredients:
8 oz of thin spaghetti or angle hair noodles
2 cups of chicken broth
2 tbs of butter
1 clove of garlic
1/2 cup of whole milk
1/3 cup of grated parmesan cheese

Directions:
Place a large non-stick saute pan over medium heat. Melt butter and add garlic. (I love using those little frozen garlic cubes.)  Saute butter for a minute or two, then add the chicken broth.  As soon as it begins to simmer add the noodles.  I used angel hair this time but I actually like the thin spaghetti a little better.  I find that it doesn't "gum up" as much.  If you use angel hair cook for about 3 minutes.  If' you use the thin spaghetti it takes about 6 minutes.  Stir every minute or so.  If the pasta absorbs the liquid too quickly you can add a little more broth.  After 3 (or 6) minutes, reduce heat to low and stir in milk and parmesan, again if it starts to get clumpy or is too thick you can add a little more broth to thin it out. Remove from heat, and serve immediately.  I like to add cherry tomatoes and a little basil and sometimes a little rotisserie chicken, but you can get creative with your toppings.

It's nice to have a fast go to dinner or lunch for your little ones (and big ones) and I promise, you won't be disappointed!

A few spring touches in my dining room

Hello Friends...

I haven't had much time to post lately.  We've had a rough time with sick kids lately.  Lily Claire is still recovering from her unexplained fevers and is on antibiotics for a sinus infection and bronchitis. Miss Ella had a cough and complained her ears hurt so I took her to the doctor yesterday and it turned out to be pneumonia.

One thing I have been able to do is some pretty heavy spring cleaning.

We also got new windows!  It's really amazing what a huge difference they make.

A few fresh flowers, a little extra light from the new windows and some heavy dusting, and my dining room is feeling light and fresh.

I hope your week is off to a better start than mine.  Thanks for stopping by!

Crock Pot Pork Tacos

I stuck 3 boneless thick cut pork chops in a crock pot today with a jar of salsa verde. That's it! No salt, seasoning...

The result? The perfect taco meat! I fried my shells, but flour, corn, fried, unfriend... The meat was perfection.

Happy Friday!

Sour Cream Apple Pie

I love apple pie.  Who doesn't?  It's the all American desert.  Or breakfast.  Sometimes a snack. Okay, let's get back on track...  Have you ever tried Sour Cream Apple Pie?  My mom would make this recipe for special occasions when we were little.  It's a little different because it's missing the top pie crust, but trust me, it's heavenly and totally worth the effort.  If you are looking for a dessert to make for Easter or any other day, this pie is it!

Ingredients:
5-6 large tart apples
1 pastry lined 9" pie pan
1 tbs lemon juice
3/4 cup of sugar
1/3 cup of flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 cup of butter
1/2 cup of sour cream

Directions:
Peel and cut apples into thick slices.  Arrange slices in an overlapping pattern.  Sprinkle with lemon juice. Mix sugar, flour, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.  Cut in butter until crumbly.  Spoon mixture over apples.  Spread sour cream over the top.  Bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake for 25 minutes longer.

Enjoy!

Spring Photos

A few weeks ago I had my amazing friend and photographer, Laurie Theriault, take some new pictures of my family.  If you follow my page and have explored the blog, than you are probably familiar with her work.  She's done nearly all the photos from the "My Family" section of the blog.  I met her when Ella was just a few weeks old and she came to my house to take some newborn pictures.  I instantly fell in love with her work and absolutely love the way she works with children. If you live in the Sacramento area and are looking for someone to capture some priceless images of your family, email me and I'll pass along her info to you.  In the mean time, here are a few of my favorites from our most recent shoot.