Monday, August 29, 2011

Bread Pudding

I'm going to try and make a bread pudding with leftover zucchini bread.  If it is worth keeping (or sharing) I will post it here later.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Zucchini Carrot Bread




I tried something new today.  I wanted to change up my basic zucchini bread.  I added equal parts carrots and squash and homemade apple sauce to my recipe.  It was quite dense, colorful and supper yummy filled with walnuts.

Monday, August 1, 2011

Chicken Lasagna

Pictured is not my recipe, but looks pretty close



This is something I threw together today using the basic ingredients for traditional lasagna.  Chicken breast has been on sale at Big M all last week.  I like to take season and brown the meat and put it in a slow cooker.  I make a variety of main dishes from this technique.

I browned four small garlic cloves and 1 medium onion.  Added 1 medium zucchini halved and chopped. One can of Italian style diced tomatoes, salt, pepper, Italian spices, dried sweet basil and one 2lb 13 oz jar Old World Style Ragu pasta sauce flavored with meat. Once done, I shredded and chopped 4 large chicken breast and added it to the sauce.
Mixed 2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese with equal parts cottage cheese and a little Italian season for taste and color. Put it together in layers as anyone would a lasagna. Using oven ready noodles,I baked it for 1/2 hour covered with foil and 15 minutes uncovered at 350 degrees. Served with Garlic Bread, it came out pretty good.  I went back for seconds.  I made two smaller pans to take one to my friend Kara, she has been sick this weekend and needed a rest.  To me that is what cooking is for, to share with people I care about. I could cook all day....just wish I had a cleaner behind me and a nanny to entertain Jesse.

**The more I learn new techniques the more I am moving away from store bought sauces....

Blessings



It has been non stop since I arrived home. Someone from church having babies, one by emergency c-section, Illness, two surgeries and two hospitalizations. I have cooked and delivered meals to four families the last weeks of July.  After my lumpectomy and Jesse's birth we were blessed with food offerings.  It really does help having one less thing to think about when recovering. Taking a meal says I care, you're important and loved.That is a lot of feelings in one little dinner. What a blessing, to have the ability to make someone feel special. My friend Wendy's daughter has requested a peach cobbler and I read on Facebook that my friend Kara is sick and I thought I might take her a meal to help her out.  Just not sure what to offer with her limitations.  She had gastric bypass several months ago, plus my limitations with the empty pantry. I think my creativity may be tested.