Pinterest Finds

So I've made no secret of being in love with Pinterest. I think cooking, party planning, decorating is my new way to realize my creative side since I'm no longer teaching. The one thing I don't like about Pinterest is that you can see what people pin, but you can't really get feedback on if they tried things and how they turned out. So, since a few people have asked, I'm making a list of the best dinners/side dishes and desserts that I've tried and LOVED. There are only a handful of things that I've tried and been disappointed with, but these are my favorites! Sorry there are no pictures. And I'm hoping it's legal to post these links - since they are public blogs and I'm obviously not taking any credit for the recipes. I just copy other people! Here goes...

Main Dishes/Side Dishes

Cinnamon Roll pancakes (I made these without the icing.)
http://www.recipegirl.com/2011/03/01/cinnamon-roll-pancakes/

Baked sweet and sour chicken (Valentine's dinner!)
http://life-as-a-lofthouse.blogspot.com/2010/09/baked-sweet-and-sour-chicken-with-fried.html

Crock Pot Chicken Noodle Soup (B LOVED and J said it was better than my old recipe)
http://www.creativelydomestic.com/2010/10/guest-post-crockpot-chicken-and-noodle.html

Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta (I used 1/2 of the Swiss and 1/2 Italian cheese plus some additional spices)
http://amysnewkitchen.blogspot.com/2010/03/chicken-cordon-bleu-pasta.html

Cheesy Zucchini and Squash Bake
http://www.kalynskitchen.com/2011/07/recipe-for-easy-cheesy-zucchini-bake.html

Pokey Sticks
http://dinnersdishesanddesserts.blogspot.com/2011/05/pokey-sticks.html

Baked Penne with Sun-dried Tomatoes (one of my favorite finds)
http://www.marthastewart.com/313371/baked-penne-with-chicken-and-sun-dried-t?czone=food/dinner-tonight-center/dinner-tonight-main-courses

Crock Pot Ranch/Parmesan Pork Chops and Potatoes
http://realmomkitchen.com/287/ranch-house-crock-pot-pork-chops-with-parmesan-mashed-potatoes/

Chipotle Lime Tacos
http://www.laaloosh.com/2011/05/26/chipotle-lime-chicken-tacos-recipe/

Meatloaf Burgers
http://www.canyoustayfordinner.com/2010/08/24/meatloaf-burgers-with-extra-sharp-cheddar/

Roasted Red Pepper and Basil Pasta
http://annies-eats.net/2008/11/26/roasted-red-pepper-and-basil-pesto-penne/

Parmesan Knots
http://realmomkitchen.com/609/easy-parmesan-knots/

Queso Dip
http://annies-eats.net/2011/01/17/queso-blanco-dip/

Crock Pot Cheesy Chicken and Rice
http://www.southernplate.com/2010/09/slow-cooker-cheesy-chicken-and-rice-the-downside-of-being-a-swan-princess.html

Parmesan Zucchini
http://www.cinnamonspiceandeverythingnice.com/2010/09/project-food-blog-challenge-1-ready-set.html

Desserts

Chocolate Chip Salted Caramel Bars (good gracious, yum!)

http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/chocolate-chip-salted-caramel-cookie-bars/

Andes Mint Cookies (easssssy!)

http://sixsistersstuff.blogspot.com/2011/04/andes-mint-cookies.html?showComment=1323739192245#c8874412180426553846

Butterfinger Pie (any candy would work)

http://www.food.com/recipe/butterfinger-pie-29478?nl=RZ-083011-eaters-digest__item-link-url-5&sni_mid=16629&sni_rid=16629.311.675292

Pineapple Dream Cake

http://tamiskitchentabletalk.blogspot.com/2008/10/pineapple-dream-cake.html

Oreo/PB No Bake Dessert (heaven in a dish, I tell ya)

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Peanut-Butter-Chocolate-Dessert

PB Cup Brownies (again, easy)

http://www.bakedperfection.com/2009/07/peanut-butter-cup-brownies.html

Fresh Apple Cake

http://lickthebowlgood.blogspot.com/2010/09/caramelly-appley-delicious.html

Chocolate Chip Oreo Cookies

http://www.lovintheoven.com/2010/04/chocolate-chip-oreo-cookies-mailing.html

Grilled Stuffed Bananas

http://lickmyspoon.com/recipes/banana-boats/

Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies

http://sweetpeaskitchen.com/2011/02/01/red-velvet-cheesecake-brownies/

Andes cupcakes

http://www.yourcupofcake.com/2011/05/andes-mint-cupcakes.html

And that's it for now! Let me know if you try any of them!

Queen Anne's Cake - YUMMM-O!!

Here's another recipe that is one of my favorites. It's a delicious cake that Jonathan's Maw-Maw makes and gave me the recipe for. It's really easy and really delicious! You should definitely try it!

I realize this isn't such a great picture, and I didn't ice it too well, but it was GOOD!

Ingredients
Cake:
1 box German chocolate cake mix

1 small box vanilla pudding

1 c. veg. oil

3 eggs

Icing:
8 oz. cream cheese

1 c. powdered sugar

1 c. granulated sugar

12 oz. cool whip

1. Blend cake ingredients on low.
2. Mix on medium speed for 2-3 minutes.

3. Bake in 2 round cake pans @ 325 for 25-30 minutes.

4. Cool completely.

5. Beat cream cheese (let it sit for awhile first) and all sugar together untl smooth.

6. Add cool whip in and fold until smooth.

7. Spread icing on cake and in between layers.

8. Grate Hershey bar into curls on top with a vegetable peeler.

*Side not - Do not try to make this for your father-in-law on his visit to your home after your wedding when you have no clue how to make a cake. And if you do, make sure you don't blend the cool whip in with the icing. It will get runny. And the top layer WILL slide off into the floor on the way to the refrigerator. And you will cry and look like a blubbering mess.*

Spinach Chicken Pasta Bake

Here is the recipe for one of our favorite homemade pasta dishes. It's super yummy! Enjoy! :)

1. Chop up 1 cup of onion, put it in an 11x7 dish with olive oil, and back at 375 for 15 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, cook 8 ounces of rigatoni and drain.
3. Meanwhile again, cook 3 cups (about 1 pound) of chicken, cubed.
4. Mix onion, rigatoni noodles, chicken, 1 can of diced Italian style tomatoes, 1 container of chive&onion cream cheese, 10 oz. of drained, chopped spinach (I buy frozen and thaw it), and a little salt and pepper in a large bowl. Put into the same 11x7 dish you used for to cook the onion. Cover with as much mozzerella cheese as you want.
5. Back for 25 minutes at 375 with aluminum foil. Take off foil and cook for another 10-15 minutes.
6. Let it set up for awhile so it's not runny when you eat it.

Basil Chicken and a Sore Booty

Have I mentioned how much I love holidays? I do! Yesterday my hubby and I packed up and headed out (in the rain, mind you) to hike Dragon's Tooth trail. We drove and drove, but found it! It was a 2.5 mile hike up, and then 2.5 back. The first mile and a half wasn't bad - but the last mile up was quite tough. It was pretty much sheer rocks, which isn't great for an unathletic dog (and her semi-athletic mom). We ended up tying Maggie up as we climbed the last little bit - and she whined like a baby. However, the view from the top was awesome, and I was quite proud of us. We made it down without event, with plans to get back in to hiking like we used to do in our dating days! :) My behind is not so sure about these plans.

Jonathan enjoying his snack!

Maggie enjoying her first rest break.

We made it!!

Quite a view!!

Where's Waldo?

Now, for a recipe. April stole this one from Rachel Ray, and I stole it from her. It's pretty simple and quite tasty. Just don't read the label on the fish sauce!

Basil, Chili, and Garlic Chicken
Ingredients
1/2 cup water
2 tbsp soy sauce (we use low sodium)
2 tbsp fish sauce (seriously, ignore the label)
4 tsp sugar (we use splenda)
2 tsp crushed red pepper (we use a mix of black and red peppers)
1 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup sliced onion (we leave this out)
3 tbsp chopped garlic (about 8 cloves)
1/2 lb. rice noodles
1 1/2 lb. chicken, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 cup torn basil leaves

Mix water, soy sauce, fish sauce, sugar, and pepper until dissolved. Set aside
Cook rice noodles in salted water (they stick quite a bit, be careful!)
Put oil in wok or skillet and cook all onion and garlic until soft but not brown. Set aside.
Put oil in a wok or skillet and cook chicken on one side - then turn and cook other side until no longer pink.
Add water/sauce mixture and garlic/onion mixture to chicken and cook until fully done. Remove from heat and add basil leaves (torn) until they start to wilt. Serve chicken/sauce mixture over rice noodles.

I hope yours is as pretty as April's. Either way, it'll taste good! :)