Southwestern Pasta Salad

Southwestern Pasta Salad

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 (16 ounce) package rotini pasta

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup fresh lime juice

2 tablespoons chili powder, or to taste

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cloves garlic, crushed

1 1/2 cups whole kernel corn

1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed

1/2 cup diced green bell pepper

1/2 cup diced red bell pepper 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves

1 cup chopped roma (plum) tomatoes

DIRECTIONS:

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.

2. In a large bowl combine oil, lime juice, chili powder, cumin, salt and garlic. Stir in pasta and set aside to cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally.

3. Stir in corn, beans, green pepper, red pepper and 1/2 of the cilantro leaves. Spoon onto a platter and garnish with tomatoes and remaining cilantro. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

I just know you will LOVE this meal. Give it a try! Also check out my blog post on why I decided to try this recipe. It's called Meal Share.

Have a great day!

Jamie Willow

Christmas Cookies

This year I tried 2 new Christmas cookie recipes. I highly recommend both of them! I thought they were pretty cute and they tasted good too!

Candy Cane Blossoms

Oreo Truffles

Pesto Pasta with Chicken

I made this a few weeks back for my dad and husband and we all loved it. I love pesto, and sometimes like a little something extra added into the sauce. The best pesto I had was in Italy, of course, but this is delicious and easy for at home.
(Next time I make it, I'll come back and add a picture.)

Ingredients
1 (16 ounce) package rotini or penne pasta
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp olive oil
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts - cut into thin strips
2 cloves garlic, minced
salt and pepper to taste
1 1/4 cups heavy cream
1/4 cup pesto
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese


Directions
1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
2. Heat butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute chicken and garlic until chicken is almost cooked.
3. Reduce heat and stir in salt, pepper, cream, pesto and Parmesan cheese. Cook until chicken is no longer pink inside.
4. Stir in cooked pasta and serve.

I serve it with a green salad and garlic bread.

Enjoy!

Super Simple Pasta Salad

Summer is coming!  That means BBQs and yummy foodstuffs.  So, I thought I'd throw up my super simple, yet incredibly delicious pasta salad.  

Please note though, this recipe needs to mariante overnight, so don't try to make it the day of, it just won't taste right.

Ingredients

12oz box of Tri Colored Rotini Pasta

1 bottle of Wish Bone Robusto Italian Dressing

1 container of Grape Tomatoes

Directions

Make pasta according to directions

Drain

Put in large bowl, whatever you plan to serve it in.  

Halve the grape tomatoes, as many as desired

Add the bottle of dressing, stir well to mix it all together.  Yes it will seem like a lot, but the dressing is intended to soak into the pasta and that's what makes it all taste amazing.

Refrigerate overnight.  Stir it in the morning if you remember to mix the dressing, since it will settle at the bottom.  Then, when ready to serve, make sure you stir it really well again.

Enjoy!

Spring Treat: Bird's Nests

This is a perfect kitchen project for moms and kids...

or ladies who just like to act (and eat) like kids. 

: )

They are so yummy.

 Chocolate bird's nests.

We make them every spring - just before Easter.

I suggest you install the same tradition.

Here's the recipe:

Full post HERE.
Pictures taken by Ashley Miller.
Recipe by Mrs. B.

: )

Happy Spring!

Ciabatta Bread

 I came across a super easy bread recipe and decided to give it a try. My niece said "Amy's yummy bread is THE best ever"!  You'll just have to try it for yourself!

Ciabatta Bread

4 cups flour
2 tsp kosher salt (1 tsp if using table salt)
1/4 tsp yeast + 2 cups warm water (put in microwave for 30 seconds)

Mix all ingredients together just until moist.
Cover with plastic wrap and leave for 8-12 hours on counter.
Put on greased cookie sheet (or silpat on cookie sheet) and gently form.
Bake at 400 degrees 35-40 mins.

I added sunflower seeds to the top. You could also try cranberries. Let me know if you have other great ideas!

Cake Mix Cookies

These are the EASIEST cookie to make! There are only 3 ingredients and they are fantastic!

Cake Mix Cookies

1 Cake Mix (your choice!)

2 Eggs

1/2 cup Oil

Roll into a ball. Place on a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 7-10 min. (I usually bake mine 7-8 min because I like mine chewy)

I love to experiment with this recipe and see what I come up with. Here are some ideas:

• Roll the top of the cookies in sprinkles. I especially like the Wilton Mint Crunch (see here).
• Make homemade Oreos with vanilla frosting.

Enjoy!