Teak Dog Tuesday!

Teak and his friend Brandy had fun together last weekend. 

Penne Pasta with Bacon and Cream

What's not to love about this?  This is a Southern Living recipe that I changed a little bit, and it was delicious.  It's hearty enough to be an entree, but you could serve it on the side of other dishes as well. 

The original recipe called for whipping cream instead of half and half and pasta water, but I wanted to lighten it up and use the leftover half and half I had in the fridge.  I also added sun dried tomatoes because I can't get enough of them.  It made 4-6 servings, but if there are just two of you eating, I'd still make the whole thing.  It's even better reheated for lunch the next day; leftovers are the best.

This recipe came together really quickly; boiling the pasta was the longest step.  Thankfully, it also didn't require many dishes.  I boiled the pasta in one pot, then put the pasta in a colander and sauteed the mushrooms in the same pasta pot.  Give it a try!

Penne Pasta with Bacon and Cream

7 bacon slices, cooked
4 oz sliced fresh mushrooms
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 (8.5 oz) jar julienned sun dried tomatoes packed in oil
10-12 oz penne pasta
1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan
1/2 cup half and half
1/2 cup pasta water
1/4 tsp pepper

Cook pasta in boiling water according to package directions.  Coarsely crumble cooked bacon and set aside.

In oil from sun dried tomatoes, saute sliced mushrooms and garlic for about 3 minutes or until tender.  Stir in cooked pasta, Parmesan cheese, sun dried tomatoes, half and half, pasta water, and pepper.  Simmer over medium-low heat, stirring often, until sauce thickens (about 5 minutes).  Stir in bacon, and serve hot. 

Bubble Up Pizza

This is such an easy pizza recipe that any kid or adult would love.  It's nothing fancy, but it's really good.  As with any pizza recipe, you can use your favorite toppings; we used pepperoni, jalapenos, and mushrooms.  Thanks to Plain Chicken for sharing yet another of her recipes!

Bubble Up Pizza

2 (12oz) cans refrigerated biscuit dough
1 (15oz) jar pizza sauce
2 cups mozzarella cheese

Your favorite pizza toppings

Preheat oven to 375.  Cut biscuits into quarters and place in a large bowl.  Toss biscuits with pizza sauce.  Add pizza toppings and half of the cheese.  Toss until well blended.  Spray a 9"x13" pan with cooking spray.  Pour biscuit mixture into pan and top with remaining cheese.  Bake at 375 for 25-30 minutes, or until biscuits are done.

Cheez It Chicken

I love Cheez Its.  I'm pretty sure almost half of my diet in college Cheez Its and Diet Coke--still my favorite snack (that turns into a meal).  When I saw this recipe that uses Cheez Its as a coating for baked chicken, I knew I had to try it. 

It was so quick and so easy to make; it would be a very easy weeknight meal, and it'll be a favorite for kids (or adults).  If you're a Cheez It lover too, you should definitely give this a shot.

Cheez It Chicken

2 Tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 cups (3 oz) Cheez Its
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 1/4 lb chicken tenders
1/3 cup dijon mustard

Preheat oven to 400.  Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray.  Pulse crackers in a food processor, or seal them in a zip top bag, and crush them into small pieces.  Transfer cracker crumbs into a bowl, and stir in pepper.  Toss chicken tenders in mustard, and then dredge in the Cheez it crumbs.  Arrange them on the cookie sheet.  Bake for 18-20 minutes. 

Teak Dog Tuesday!

This dog certainly knows how to relax. 

Also notice the coffee cup in the back corner, which was only one of the items Buck threw out of the boat as he was working on it that afternoon.

Holiday Knots

Oh man, these are dangerous.  Cinnamony and sugar and bite-sized.  They were gone within 24 hours.  It's Plain Chicken's recipe for King Cake Knots, but you can really use this for any holiday or celebration, and just have the appropriate colored sugar.   There's no bad time of year for cinnamon.

I didn't make my icing very thick, but you can add more powdered sugar and make it the consistency you like.  They're so delicious!

Holiday Knots

1 loaf refrigerated bread dough

3 Tbsp butter, softened

1/4 cup sugar

1 Tbsp cinnamon

1/2 cup powdered sugar

4 tsp milk

1/2 tsp vanilla

Colored sugar

Preheat oven to 350.  Unroll French bread dough into a large rectangle.  Brush the dough lightly with softened butter.  Mix together the cinnamon and sugar, and sprinkle it over the butter.  Cut the dough in half lengthwise, and then cut crosswise into strips about 1.25" wide.  Twist two strips together, and tie each twist into a loose knot.  Place on a baking sheet about 2" apart.  Bake for 25-28 minutes, and cool. 

Mix together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla.  Dip each knot into icing, and top with colored sugar.

Teak Dog Tuesday!

So photogenic!