Pasta Carbonara

I have found myself watching Diners Drive Ins and Dives on the food network. I watch it a lot but never watch the hosts actual cooking show. It just never really appeals to me. I did catch it the other day and saw him make this pasta recipe. So we tried it out. It was a nice easy recipe and lighter then the pasta carbonara at restaurants.

Ingredients

* 1 1/2 cups 1/4-inch diced pancetta
* 5 organic large eggs
* 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
* 1/2 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
* 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
* 1 pound bucatini
* 1 cup frozen peas
* 1 tablespoon kosher salt
* 1 tablespoon chopped Italian parsley, for garnish

Directions

In a medium saute pan over medium heat, cook the pancetta until tender-crisp. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate and set aside. Reserve the pan with the drippings.

Separate 4 of the eggs and set the yolks aside. Discard the 4 whites. Crack the fifth egg and add it to the yolks.

In a large bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, 2/3 of the pancetta, the Parmigiano-Reggiano, black pepper and cayenne.

Cook the pasta until al dente. Add the peas when the pasta is just about finished and strain both into the reserved pancetta drippings. Reserve about 3/4 cup pasta water to fortify the sauce.

Add the egg mixture into the pasta and toss well with tongs for about 1 minute. Add the reserved pasta water to the bowl in 1/4 cup increments, combining and adding until desired sauce consistency is reached. Add the parsley and gently combine and place into a serving dish.

Garnish with the reserved pancetta.

Salad Dressing

We got this quick dressing recipe from Mike's family friend the Darbous family. She got it from one of her daughters (not sure which one to give credit to).

3 tbsp lemon juice
3 cloves garlic crushed
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
3/4 veg oil.

It is better if it is mixed the night before. We put it on simple salads. It is Mike's favorite dressing right now.

Pancakes

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups buttermilk
2 large eggs
1/4 cup canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Mix all dry ingredients in bowl
Mix all "wet" ingredients in seperate bowl
Combine.

Heat griddle med/low
Cook on the first side until bubbles begin to form, about 2-3 minutes. Carefully flip pancake over cook 2-3 more min until done

Peanut Butter Sheetcake

If you like peanut butter at all you need to make this. I actually don't each much peanut butter...but if it is in a dessert I love it. This is so yummy. It is just like chocolate sheet cake but peanut butter. Next time I may mix it up and do chocolate cake with the peanut butter icing. Or peanut butter cake with chocolate icing. But it is great just all peanut butter too. Here is the recipe:

* 2 cups sugar
* 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
* 2 cups Flour
* 1 teaspoon Salt
* 2 sticks Butter
* 1 cup Water
* 1 cup Peanut Butter
* ½ cups Milk
* 1 teaspoon Vanilla
* 2 whole Eggs
* 1 stick Butter
* ½ cups Peanut Butter
* 6 teaspoons Milk
* 1 pound Powdered Sugar

Preparation Instructions

In a large bowl, mix together sugar, baking soda, flour and salt. Set aside.

Combine butter, water and peanut butter in saucepan and bring to boil. Pour over flour mixture.

Add milk, vanilla and eggs. Mix.

Pour in large cookie sheet or jelly roll pan. Bake at 400F degrees for 20 minutes.

Frosting:

Bring butter, peanut butter and milk to boil in saucepan. Add one pound of powdered sugar. Pour warmed frosting over cooled cake.



http://thepioneerwoman.com/tasty-kitchen/recipes/desserts/peanut-butter-sheet-cake/

Pizza Sauce

No more jars of sauce for us. This is what we use now...
ngredients

* 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
* 6 fluid ounces warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
* 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
* 1 teaspoon minced garlic
* 2 tablespoons honey
* 1 teaspoon anchovy paste (optional)
* 3/4 teaspoon onion powder
* 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
* 1/4 teaspoon dried marjoram
* 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
* 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
* 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
* 1/8 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes
* salt to taste

Directions

1. In a small bowl, combine tomato paste, water, Parmesan cheese, garlic, honey, anchovy paste, onion powder, oregano, marjoram, basil, ground black pepper, cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes and salt; mix together, breaking up any clumps of cheese.
2. Sauce should sit for 30 minutes to blend flavors; spread over pizza dough and prepare pizza as desired.

Recipe from : http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Exquisite-Pizza-Sauce/Detail.aspx

Lemon Cream Chicken Pasta

Got this from all recipes. It was very good. I might add a bit more lemon to to the sauce, but I wasn't using fresh lemon juice so that may be why it needed it. I added freshly grated parm cheese.

Ingredients

* 3 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
* 1 lemon, quartered
* 2 teaspoons garlic powder, divided
* 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, divided
* 2 (14.5 ounce) cans chicken broth
* 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
* 1 (8 ounce) package rotelle pasta
* 1 cup heavy cream
* 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place chicken in a lightly greased baking dish. Squeeze lemon over both sides of the chicken breasts and season both sides using 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder and 3/4 teaspoon pepper. Bake for 40 minutes, or until juices run clear and chicken is no longer pink inside.
2. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, season the chicken broth with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Bring to a boil and add lemon juice and pasta. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until all liquid is absorbed, about 25 minutes.
3. Cut cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces and stir into cooked pasta, along with the cream and lemon zest. Cook, stirring, over low heat for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand 5 minutes. Stir thoroughly before serving.



http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Lemon-Cream-Pasta-with-Chicken/Detail.aspx?prop31=8

grilled lemon chicken

I made a quick and yummy grilled lemon chicken the other day. It is from Ina Garten on the food network. It is supposed to have a peanut dipping sauce but I burned that when I was tending to the baby. So instead we had it on a spinach salad mix and I made a quick asian vinagerette to top it. It was delicious. I am posting the chicken and dipping sauce recipe but can't review the sauce. I am also posting the dressing at the bottom.

Grilled Lemon chicken
Ingredients

* 3/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (4 lemons)
* 3/4 cup good olive oil
* 2 teaspoons kosher salt
* 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
* 1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme leaves, or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
* 2 pounds boneless chicken breasts, halved and skin removed
* Satay Dip, recipe follows

Directions

Whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, salt, pepper, and thyme. Pour over the chicken breasts in a nonreactive bowl. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for 6 hours or overnight.

Heat a charcoal grill. Grill the chicken breasts for 10 minutes on each side, until just cooked through. Cool slightly and cut diagonally in 1/2-inch-thick slices. Skewer with wooden sticks and serve with Satay Dip.

Satay Dip:

1 tablespoon good olive oil

1 tablespoon dark sesame oil

2/3 cup small-diced red onion (1 small onion)

1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic (2 cloves)

1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger root

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

2 tablespoons good red wine vinegar

1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1/2 cup smooth peanut butter

1/4 cup ketchup

2 tablespoons dry sherry

1 1/2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lime juice

Cook the olive oil, sesame oil, red onion, garlic, ginger root, and red pepper flakes in a small, heavy-bottomed pot on medium heat until the onion is transparent, 10 to 15 minutes. Whisk in the vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce, peanut butter, ketchup, sherry, and lime juice; cook for 1 more minute. Cool and use as a dip for Grilled Lemon Chicken skewers.

Asian Vinaigrette

2 Tablespoons peanut or olive oil
2 Tablespoons rice vinegar
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1/4 teaspoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon sugar (or to taste)

Whisk all ingredients together.