Month: April 2015


Apr
2015

Free May Day Printables

categories: Printables

May Day Gift Tags 4May 1st is only three days away!  And if you have kids, you probably will wake up and realize it is May Day then look around the house for paper cups and pipe cleaners in a frantic attempt to make May baskets.  I know this feeling since that’s what I usually do.  But this year I have this handy-dandy printable so I am set and so are you.  All you need to have is paper, plastic baggies, and tape.  With each page you print out you will get a printable cone to hold popcorn, candy, or flowers and two gift tags that you can put on the cone, a basket, or the traditional paper cups.  Take a look at the cone image below.

may basket 2 Below is a picture of the gift tag on a little basket.may basket tag 1You have many options with this printable.  The kids will have so much fun printing them out and filling their baskets.  To make the cone, all you have to do is print out a page on regular paper or card-stock.  Then cut the cone out with sissors, overlap the tab in back and tape the cone together.  I think clear tape works better than glue because you would have to wait for the glue to dry and it may not hold as well.  Then fill up a ziploc or cellophane bag with popcorn and candy as you can see at my house we love the store-bought fluorescent cheese colored popcorn, but feel free to use anything you want to fill the cones. Just make sure not to overfill them.  Fill them in a slim cone shape.

cone and candy bagThen punch two holes in each side of the cone for a handle; I used twine but you could use a pipe cleaner, curling ribbon, or any string.  Then put the bag inside of the cone and tape it to the cone. This makes them easier to transport to your family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers.

taping candy bag inSo here is the printable.  If you are looking for more May Day ideas, I have some in my last year’s May Day post where I made Mini-Apple Pie Baskets and Plant Baskets. Happy May Day!may-day-tag                                       Click here to print May Day gift tag and cone.


Apr
2015

Ricotta Stuffed Shells

categories: Main Dishes, Recipes

Ricotta Stuffed ShellsAre you tired of making the same pasta recipe every week?  Well if you are this is the pasta dish for you.  This Ricotta Stuffed Shell recipe is an escape from the ordinary.  With jumbo pasta shells, mozzarella cheese, ground beef and delicious ricotta cheese, you’re going to love this dish. The pasta shells add a unique and fun flair to the meal while the ricotta cheese simply rewards your senses with its rich taste.  The whole family will find the shells to be a fun change of pace.  So take a vacation from the normal lasagna or spaghetti meal and enjoy this fun and easy shell dish.

ricotta stuffed shells4Start by cooking the shells according to the package directions.  You will need 30 shells to fill a 9″x13″ lasagna pan.  Around 45 shells come in a (12 oz) package of shells.  While the shells are cooking, chop up half of an onion and brown it in a pan with the 1lb. of ground beef.  Season the meat with 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper.

meat and onionWhile the hamburger is browning, you can start mixing up the filling in a bowl.  Mix 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese with 1 (15 oz.) package of ricotta cheese.

ricotta and mozzarellaNow pour 1 (45 oz.) jar of Prego pasta sauce into a bowl and divide the browned hamburger equally between the two bowls.

adding beef Spread a thin layer of sauce on the bottom of the 9″x13″ pan.

adding sauce to bottom of panNow it’s time to stuff the shells.  Fill each shell with a spoonful of the filling.

stuffing shells Repeat with all 30 shells until your pan is full.

stuffed shells in panTop the shells with the remaining sauce.

sauce on shellsThen add 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese on the top of the sauce.

cheese on shellsCover the pan with foil and bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.  And then uncover the shells and bake them for an additional 15 minutes. 

covered shellsNow you are ready to serve.  Enjoy!

full pan stuffed shells

 

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Ricotta Stuffed Shells

Ingredients

  • 1 (12 oz.) package of jumbo shell pasta ( you will need 30 shells out of a 45 shell package)
  • 1 lb. of ground beef
  • 1/2 of an onion chopped
  • 1 (45 oz.) jar of Prego pasta sauce (that is the large jar)
  • 1 (15 oz.) container of ricotta cheese
  • 4 cups of mozzarella cheese
  • 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon of salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon of pepper

Instructions

  1. Start by cooking the shells according to the package directions. You will need 30 shells to fill a 9"x13" lasagna pan. Around 45 shells come in a (12 oz) package of shells. While the shells are cooking, chop up half of an onion and brown it in a pan with the 1lb. of ground beef. Season the meat with 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper.
  2. While the hamburger is browning, you can start mixing up the filling in a bowl. Mix 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese with 1 (15 oz.) package of ricotta cheese.
  3. Now pour 1 (45 oz.) jar of Prego pasta sauce into a bowl and divide the browned hamburger equally between the two bowls.
  4. Spread a thin layer of sauce on the bottom of the 9"x13" pan.
  5. Now it's time to stuff the shells. Fill each shell with a spoonful of the filling.
  6. Repeat with all 30 shells until your pan is full.
  7. Top the shells with the remaining sauce.
  8. Then add 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese on the top of the sauce.
  9. Cover the pan with foil and bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. And then uncover the shells and bake them for an additional 15 minutes.
https://www.cookingupcottage.com/2015/04/24/ricotta-stuffed-shells/

ricotta stuffed shells long pin

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Apr
2015

Easy Marinara Sauce with Basil

categories: Main Dishes, Recipes

Marinara Sauce with Basil 1Have you started planning your garden yet?  I have and my plans definitely include a container herb garden.  I had a garden by my back door last summer.  I planted thyme, basil, oregano, chives, rosemary, mint, parsley and cilantro. I mixed three to four plants in each planter. Then I enjoyed watching them grow. They were easy to cut for recipes and it is was very convenient having them close to my back door.  I was enjoying my garden so much last year that I included it in a post for Caprese Salad and my cat Mr. Big was even getting into the photo shoot .

herbs 2

herbsThis year I will be adding basil to my garden again.  It is such a wonderful herb and it adds so much flavor to this Easy Marinara with Basil recipe.  

easy marinara with basil 2And the other ingredients that this recipe includes are so healthy that you will have the energy to keep planning your garden.  So stop dreaming about your herb garden for a second and get out the ingredients to make this great pasta dish.

First start by cooking the linguine pasta according to the package directions.  Making sure to salt the water as directed by the package.

pastaThen take two cloves of garlic, remove the skins and dice them.

garlic chopped grlicNow heat the garlic in a pan for a few minutes with 1/4 cup of olive oil.

garlic in olive oilAdd one (28 ounce) can of whole peeled tomatoes and their juice to the pan crushing them with your hand as you add them.

tomatoes crushing tomatoesAdd 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 3-4 sprigs of fresh basil chopped and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper.  Now simmer the sauce over medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes so that it can thicken.  When the sauce has thickened, serve over linguine and garnish it with extra basil and ricotta or mozzarella cheese.  Now you can enjoy your dish of pasta while you plan your garden.  Enjoy!

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Easy Marinara Sauce with Basil

Ingredients

  • 1/2 lb. of linguine pasta
  • 1/4 cup of olive oil
  • 2 cloves of garlic diced
  • 1 (28 ounce) can of whole peeled tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoons of brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon of salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon of pepper
  • 3-4 sprigs of basil chopped
  • 1/2 cup of ricotta cheese or mozzarella cheese for garnish
  • basil for garnish

Instructions

  1. First start by cooking the linguine pasta according to the package directions. Making sure to salt the water as directed by the package.
  2. Then take two cloves of garlic, remove the skins and dice them.
  3. Now heat the garlic in a pan for a few minutes with 1/4 cup of olive oil.
  4. Add one (28 ounce) can of whole peeled tomatoes and their juice to the pan crushing them with your hand as you add them.
  5. Add 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 3-4 sprigs of fresh basil chopped and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper. Now simmer the sauce over medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes so that it can thicken. When the sauce has thickened, serve over linguine and garnish it with extra basil and ricotta or mozzarella cheese.
https://www.cookingupcottage.com/2015/04/16/easy-marinara-sauce-with-basil/

 Easy Marinara with Basil long pin

 

 


Apr
2015

Cheesy Chicken Avocado Melt

categories: Main Dishes, Recipes


Cheesy Chicken Avocado meltsWho can ever say no to anything involving avocado?  I can’t and when I found this recipe in my cookbook (The Treasury of Creative Cooking) I knew I was onboard.  This chicken breast recipe features a crispy, cornmeal breading.  And when you add the cheese, sour cream, tomatoes, onions, and most importantly the avocado, the flavors go through the roof.  I have never used cornmeal before to bread my chicken.  Boy, was I surprised!  The cornmeal gives the exterior of the chicken a great crunchy texture and keeps the interior of the chicken moist.  A nice change from what I usually use… Rice Krispies in my Easy Rice Krispies Chicken. 

chicken avocado melt 1So if you are an avocado lover like me, you need to try this recipe.  

So let’s get started by rinsing and patting dry the boneless skinless chicken breasts.

chicken

Pound the chicken breasts between two pieces of plastic wrap to a 1/4-inch thickness.

pounded chicken

 

pounded chicken breastsCombine 2 tablespoons cornstarch, 1 teaspoon cumin and 1 teaspoon garlic salt in a bowl.

spices

 Dip chicken in spices covering each piece.

chicken coated with breading

 Combine the egg and water in a bowl and dip the chicken in the mixture.

chicken dipped in egg

Now cover the chicken with the remaining 1/3 cup of yellow cornmeal.

chicken in second dipping in the batterHeat the chicken in a pan with 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil over medium heat.  Cooking around 2 minutes per side.

chicken fryingRemove chicken and arrange it in a shallow baking pan. Sprinkle the chicken with 1 1/2 cups of shredded Mexican blend or Monterey Jack cheese.

chicken with cheese on itBake for 15 minutes or until the chicken reaches a temperature of 165 degrees on a meat thermometer.  Transfer the chicken to a serving platter and top with sour cream, sliced avocado, green onions, and tomatoes.

 

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Cheesy Chicken Avocado Melt

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch (for the spice mixture)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon garlic salt
  • 1 beaten egg
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1/3 cup of yellow cornmeal
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 ripe avocado peeled and sliced
  • 1 1/2 cups of shredded Monterey Jack cheese or Mexican blend cheese
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/4 cup green onions diced
  • 1 tomato diced

Instructions

  1. Start by rinsing and patting dry the boneless skinless chicken breasts. Pound the chicken breasts between two pieces of plastic wrap to a 1/4-inch thickness. Combine 2 tablespoons cornstarch, 1 teaspoon cumin and 1 teaspoon garlic salt in a bowl. Dip chicken in spices covering each piece. Combine the egg and water in a bowl and dip the chicken in the mixture. Now cover the chicken with the remaining 1/3 cup of yellow cornmeal. Heat the chicken in a pan with 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil over medium heat. Cooking around 2 minutes per side. Remove chicken and arrange it in a shallow baking pan. Sprinkle the chicken with 1 1/2 cups of shredded Mexican blend or Monterey Jack cheese. Bake for 15 minutes or until the chicken reaches a temperature of 165 degrees on a meat thermometer. Transfer the chicken to a serving platter and top with sour cream, sliced avocado, green onions, and tomatoes.
https://www.cookingupcottage.com/2015/04/09/cheesy-chicken-avocado-melt/

Chicken Avocado melts long pin