Manicotti

I got this recipe from http://www.food.com/recipe/kittencals-spinach-four-cheese-manicotti-vegetarian-72308


-3 tablespoons oil
-1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
-2 teaspoons fresh garlic (no more than that or the garlic will overpower the other
ingredients!)
-1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese
-1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
-4 ounces cream cheese, softened
-1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese (can use more)
-1 teaspoon italian seasoning
salt - to taste
-1/2-1 teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)
-1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach (cooked according to package directions, then hand-squeezed dry to remove excess moisture) -- I only used 1 cup
-10 manicotti, cooked and drained
-4 -6 cups marinara sauce (I did a semi-home-made....recipe coming soon)
-Parmesan cheese & mozzarella cheese, for topping (any amount desired)

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- In a skillet, saute onion & garlic in oil for about 4 minutes or until softened
- In a mixing bowl combine the ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, cream cheese, 6 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning; beat with a spoon until smooth.
-Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Stir in onion mixture and spinach; mix well to combine.
- Spoon into cooked and cooled manicotti shells.
- Pour half of the pasta sauce into the prepared baking dish (greased 13x9)
- Arrange shells over sauce (at this point you may cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours, or continue with the recipe as follows).
- Top with the remaining sauce, use a spoon to spread the sauce over the shells (the sauce does not have to cover the shells completely).
- Sprinkle Parmesan cheese and mozzarella cheese over the sauce.
- Bake for 25 minutes. @ 350 degrees

My Thoughts:
Simplicity: 3 out of 5
Ingredients: 3 out of 5
Taste: 4.5 out of 5 -- this is the best homemade manicotti I've had so far.

Train Cake

Here's my little guy's first birthday cake. I got the idea from looking at a bunch of pictures of train cakes on Google images. Anyway, here's how I did it:

Train Tracks:
I made chocolate cake cookies (recipe in previous post) and instead of making individual cookies, I made one giant cookie and then cut it into strips with a pizza cutter. I outlines the tracks with chocolate frosting (I just added baking chocolate to the buttercream frosting to turn it brown), and made the "dirt" from what was left of the cake cookie and bread crumbs. The light on the front of the engine is half of an oreo.

Cake:
I will admit that I'm totally a cheater and used 2 Betty Crocker cake mixes. I baked them in mini loaf pans, and then froze them so that they would be easier to cut and decorate. The engine was made of 2 mini loafs and a barrel. For the barrel, I baked some of the cake batter in a chili can (greased really well). The animal cage just has pretzels for the bars, and an iced graham cracker for the roof.

Buttercream Frosting:
(from http://itsdinnertime2.blogspot.com/search/label/Cakes)

1 C unsalted butter
2 T vanilla extract
2 T milk
4 C powdered sugar

Easiest Cookies Ever!

Ok, so have you ever wanted or needed to make cookies, yet didn't really have time? If so, here's the recipe for you!! I make these all the time. In fact, I rarely make any other type of cookie.

1 box Cake Mix -- Family Favorites: Party Rainbow Chip (Betty Crocker is better than Pilsbury), White, and Chocolate.
1/2 cup Oil
2 Eggs
1/2 bag Chips -- optional (Chocolate, Mint, Cinnamon, Butterscotch...you get the idea)

Mix together and spoon onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake @ 350 degrees for 9 minutes (these cookies harden quite a bit when they cool, so don't cook too long).


My Thoughts:
Simplicity: 5 out of 5 -- so easy, and so fast!!
Ingredients: 5 out of 5
Taste: 5 out of 5

Tilapia

Frozen Tilapia -- However many you want -- don't thaw
Butter
Steak Seasoning (We like McCormick Grill Mates - especially Mesquite)

Place frozen tilapia in a glass dish. Brush with butter, and sprinkle desired amount of seasoning on top. Cover with plastic. Microwave for approx. 6 min. or until fish is white all the way through.

My Thoughts:
Simplicity: 5 out of 5 -- Probably the easiest recipe I know!!
Ingredients: 5 out of 5 -- I always have butter and steak seasoning, so all I have to buy is the fish...which I usually have as well.
Taste: 4.5 out of 5

Cafe' Rio Chicken & Rice

I got these recipes from Karen @ 365 Days of Slow Cooking...

Cafe' Rio Chicken
5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thawed
1 sm bottle Kraft Zesty Italian dressing
1 Tbsp chili powder
1 Tbsp cumin
3 cloves minced garlic

Mix all ingredients except the chicken in a bowl. Place chicken on bottom of a greased crockpot.
Pour mixture in bowl over the top of chicken. Cook on high 5-7 hours. Shred chicken with a fork and reserve juice to pour over chicken when serving.

Café Rio Lime Rice

2 Tbsp butter
1 yellow onion, chopped
4 cloves minced garlic
6 2/3 cup water
8 tsp chicken bullion (7 cubes)-I used 1 1/2 cubes
½ bunch cilantro, chopped
2 tsp cumin
1 Tbsp lime juice
½ tsp salt
3 cups long grain rice

Sauté butter, onion, and garlic.
Boil everything else except rice in a large pot.
Add onion and garlic—then add rice. Cover and simmer.

Tomatillo Creamy Café Rio Dressing

1 package Hidden Valley Buttermilk Ranch mix
1 cup buttermilk -- I used 1 cup milk + 1 tbs. lemon juice
1 cup mayo -- I used an entire small jar
2 tomatillos (peel outer skin layer)
1 clove minced garlic (1 tsp of pre-packaged stuff)
1/3 bunch cilantro, chopped
½ tsp lime juice
1 sm jalapeno (seeds removed)

Put all ingredients into a blender. Add extra mayo if dressing is too thin. Refrigerate.


My Thoughts:
-Simplicity: 3.5 out of 5 -- not the easiest, but not too difficult-- I have enough rice and dressing to last for 3 more meals (after feeding 4 adults) which will make those meals super easy.
-Ingredients: 3 out of 5
-Taste: 5 out of 5 -- loved it!!