an easy and light summer pasta dish

Easy and light pasta dish ? Yes, folks there is such a thing. Being a mommy there are a lot of times when I just really don't want to cook , I know you feel the same way and dont feel guilty. On top of all the things we do around the house your just down right tired. However, I do plan my meals out but I forgot to thaw out the pork chops. Im sure you have all been there and just ended up ordering out . So , how I came up with this dish was my fiance went out to our garden and picked a zucchini  earlier that day. I then started to crave pasta and wanted veggies in the dish .I said to myself ,"there are tons of pasta dishes with veggies in them ,  I just want something simple . ''  I then  began to look in my fridge and noticed mushrooms, half a can of diced tomatoes, pesto and two chicken breasts in the freezer. then my brain started to work. Here is my recipe . Hope you enjoy .

 

Ingredients:

saute pan ( you want one that has high edges )

2 chicken breasts ( cut into dice size pieces)
1 small can of diced tomatoes ( drained)
3 heping spoon fulls of pesto
3-4 garlic cloves (minced)
salt
pepper
olive oil ( to coat your saute pan)
1 medium- large zucchini
sliced mushrooms ( I used about a half a bag)
large handful of spaghetti noodles

Directions:

1: get a large pot of water and bring to boil. once it comes to a boil add your spaghetti noodles
2: now coat your saute pan with olive oil, heat up your olive oil on medium heat.
3:cut your chicken breasts to dice size pieces, add your chicken to the olive oil , saute until cooked through.
4: meanwhile mince your 3-4 garlic cloves , cut your zuchinni into small  half inch size pieces.
5: add garlic, mushrooms, zuchini and season with salt and pepper. stir around ( everything should  now be in the saute pan) saute until veggies are slightly soft.
6: get a small pan and add your 3 heping spoons of pesto with your drained diced tomatoes heat until it starts to bubble.
7: drain your noodles and then put back into large pot.
8: add pesto, and veggies into the large pot with the noodles stir everything together. serve with some garlic bread.

the after effects of mothers days...

I hope all you mommys out there had a blast yesterday! BUT .....I am extremely worn out and I think I ate too much chocolate but when you go to family get togethers and there is food out you kind of over indulge. I had A LOT of fun . I will never forget my first mothers day and being surrounded by a bunch of family  is the greatest feeling ever! To feel loved and apart of my friances family is great. However I did eat too much but it was all so yummy ! thanks Aunite. so your probably wondering . what did you bring to the occasion! well hold on let me explain where i got the recipe. I have a subscription to Better Homes and Gardens  I know it seems alittle to old for my age of 20 but I am an old sole who lives in a modern world. Well anyways, they have a bunch of ideas for your garden, outdoor living spaces, organizational tips for your home etc.. but most importantly why I was so drawn to the magazine is because ONE  I have a garden and TWO I love to cook !! Sharing my food with the people I love and seeing them genuinely enjoying the things I make is the greatest feeling  ever. It makes me feel like I have accomplished something.. BUT there is a down fall I AM my BIGGEST critic. I always ask is it good . I want someone to give me their honest oppionion so i can either NEVER make it again or give me ideas on what I should add to the recipe. well don't let me fool you . i think i am a pretty great cook. but my thing in life is to please people with FOOD yes i said it WITH FOOD.hear me out because i believe that the GREATEST MEMORIES THAT ARE MADE ARE WITH YOUR FAMILY AROUND A DINNER TABLE. see i am old fashion !ok so getting to what i  made .. i made raspberry custard short bread bars and a spinach salad ,roasted walnuts, feta cheese, cranberries and red onions. DELISH! SO here is the recipe for my raspberry bars !! that you can bring to your next family event , baby shower, Christmas, thanksgiving etc.. YUMMOO trust me you have got to try them !

((( important)))) USE FRESH BECAUSE FROZEN MAKES IT TOO WATERY.. YOU CAN USE ANY KIND OF BERRIES STRAWBERRIES, BLUEBERRIES ETC.. BUT MAKE SURE THEY ARE FRESH!! IT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE

FRESH RASPBERRY BARS!

Ingredients

• 1  cup  unsalted butter (2 sticks) cut into 1-inch chunks
• 1/4  cup  packed light brown sugar
• 1/2  tsp.  kosher salt
• 2  cups  unbleached all-purpose flour
•     Softened butter (for brushing sides of foil)
• 3/4  cup  seedless raspberry jam or preserves
• 1  pint  (2 cups) fresh raspberries
• 1/2  of an 8-oz. pkg.  cream cheese, softened
• 4  oz.  goat cheese (chévre) or 4 oz. cream cheese
• 1/2  cup  granulated sugar
• 1  Tbsp.  unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1  large  egg
• 1  large  egg yolk
• 2  Tbsp.  finely shredded lemon peel (zest)
• 2  Tbsp.  freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/2  tsp.  pure vanilla
•     Powdered sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 13x9x2-inch baking pan with a 24-inch-long sheet of aluminum foil, leaving extra foil extending over ends (use these later to lift bars from pan); set aside. In a large bowl beat the butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed until it just begins to blend and soften slightly, about 30 seconds.

2. Add brown sugar and salt, beat on low speed until incorporated, 30 seconds to 1 minute. You're not trying to cream it, you're just mixing it in, Scott says. With mixer off, add the 2 cups flour. Beat on low speed until flour is incorporated. Increase speed to medium, mix until ingredients form an even, cohesive dough. "People tend to undermix shortbread, which makes it too crumbly," "It's tough to overmix because of the amount of butter we use."

3. Break dough into small chunks and distribute in prepared pan; with your fingers press dough into an even layer . Bake 20 minutes or until dough has begun to puff and is just set. Cool on wire rack 5 minutes.

4. Lightly brush exposed sides of foil with softened butter to keep filling from sticking . Spread jam evenly over crust .

5. Sprinkle evenly with raspberries.

6. With a lemon zester, remove peel from lemon, making sure to avoid bitter white pith . "For the most flavor, you want to do this right before baking," Scott says.

7. In a large bowl beat cream cheese and goat cheese with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Mix in granulated sugar and 1 tablespoon flour until blended. With mixer running, add egg, egg yolk, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla. Beat until smooth.

8. Pour custard batter evenly over berries . Tilt pan back and forth to distribute evenly . Bake at 350 degrees F for 25 to 30 minutes or until barely set. Transfer to a wire rack until completely cool, about 1 hour; cover and transfer to refrigerator. Chill 2 hours. Top will crack slightly as it cools.

9. Use foil to lift the bars from pan. With a knife or metal spatula, support the sides of the bars while you gently peel the foil downward and away from sides of the bars.

10. Cut into long bars , peel foil from bottom, and transfer to cutting boars using side of a long knife or spatula . "Cutting first on the foil results in cleaner edges," Cut into 24 squares and
Sprinkle very lightly with powdered sugar . "It's much more interesting with just the rumor of sugar on top

My very first mothers day !

The birth of our daughter Riley ! was the best day of our lives.
After 9 months of waiting we finally got to meet her !



Today was a special day for me ! I finally am officially in the mommy club! i got to celebrate my first mothers day on 05/08/2011.Its a special time of year that you celebrate and honor mothers. Today it made me think of my mother, grandmother and all the mothers out there on this day and wishing they have a great mothers day ! most importantly it made me think of my daughter Riley and meeting her for the first time ! No one can explain to you in words when you first meet your child for the first time after a long 9 months of waiting, waiting and waiting. Labor is the last long stretch of the marathon  and meeting your child is the FINISH LINE !! it is an overwhelming wave of emotions and love that you feel deep down inside that you will NEVER forget. She is only 2 months old and still brand new but time is going by
fast and she is growing. she seems to get bigger and bigger every day well she is but
it is going by way to fast. Today when i was around the many generations of women old and new like me it made me realize how fast it really can go by. The women today were sharing their memories of their children their labor and things over the years.. i kept hearing how it really goes by so fast. in a way it makes me sad how fast life can pass you by but the experience is something i really Cherish and being blessed with such an amazing daughter in march ! i cant wait to be able to talk to the other mothers on mothers day about my experiences and memories i shared with my daughter. i just hope that she is comfortable with me enough to come to me with anything no matter what it is and know that i am there for her and that i will always love her no matter what.