Bolognese Sauce

This is a full proof meat sauce, and it's so easy! I originally saw a basic recipe on Rachael Ray, but I've altered it slightly.

What you will need:
- 1 small pkg of beef or sausage (or whatever kind of meat you like)
- 1 can of diced tomatoes with herbs
- 1 can of crushed tomatoes
- 2 tbsp of tomato paste
- 3 cloves of garlic- minced
- 1 large onion
- 1 celery stalk - cut into 2 pieces
- 1 large carrot- peeled and chopped into 3 pieces
- 2 tsp oregano
- 2 tsp of basil
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tsp of sugar
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp butter

In a large skillet or pot brown your meat, I usually use turkey sausage (take it out of the casing and break it up) but today I used ground beef- make sure you drain the fat. Once browned and drained add in everything else- except the butter, stir. Mix everything together, bring to a boil , cover and let simmer for 1 hour. Once finished take the carrot, onion, celery and bay leaves out of the pot add in 1 tbsp of butter (this is what make it looks delicious and sticks to the noodles) then, serve over whatever pasta you desire!

There are a lot of variations to this sauce, if you want a little spice try adding chilies, or cayenne pepper. Or if you are a vegetarian add in tofu instead of the meat. Give it a try, I'd love to hear your variations!

GumboLaya wih Jasmine Rice

 

So I came across this recipe on Pinterest (click HERE for the recipe), it is delicious! If you love Gumbo, you will LOVE this... it is spicy, so use less at your own discrepancy.I made a few changes because I do not like okra, and could not find creole seasoning and did not have bell pepper... but click above for the full recipe.

What you will need:

2 tablespoons olive oil
4 large turkey sausages
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• Salt
• Pepper
3 celery stalks, finely diced
1 large onion, finely diced
2 bay leaves
½ teaspoon Creole seasoning
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 tablespoon, heaping, tomato paste
1 (28 oz) can organic diced tomatoes with juice
2 cups chicken stock, hot
½ pound peeled and cleaned, medium size shrimp (raw)
1 tablespoon flat-leaf parsley, chopped
1 tablespoon cilantro, chopped

lace a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Put 1 tbsp of olive oil, when hot, add the sausage cook until browned- set aside. Cook the chicken in the same pot until cooked- set aside. Chop up the sausage and chicken into bit sized pieces. In the pot add in celery, onion and bay leaves- cook for about 3 mins, add the seasonings and garlic- cook for 1 minutes. Add in tomato paste- cook for 2 minutes. add in diced tomatoes, chicken broth, sausage, and chicken. cook for 20 mins (add salt and pepper to taste) Add shrimp, parsley, and cilantro- cook for 2 mins. 

How to make the Jasmine fragrant rice: 

What you will need:

1 tablespoon olive oil
2 large cloves garlic, pressed through garlic press
2 cups jasmine rice
1 teaspoon sea salt
¼ teaspoon cracked black pepper
3 cups water

Place a medium pot over medium-high heat, and add in the olive oil; once hot, add in the pressed garlic, and stir to combine; once the garlic becomes fragrant, add in the rice, the salt and the pepper and stir, and allow the rice to “toast” in the garlic oil for about 2 minutes; next, add in the water, stir, and simmer the rice, covered, for about 20 minutes, or until tender; turn off the heat, and after 5 minutes, fluff with fork and serve.

Pile the rice in a bowl, top off with the Gumbolaya.... enjoy! 

Monthly Feature: Sarah's Potato Donuts

What you will need:
3 cups of sugar
3 cups of mashed potatoes
6 eggs
1/2 cups of vegetable oil (or whatever oil u want, I used corn oil today and it was good)
1 1/2 cups of milk
8 cups of flour
5tbl spoons of baking powder

(This makes ALOT I cut the recipe in half and it still made about 30, plus I had left over dough that I froze)

Preparation:
Mix sugar and mashed potatoes until consistency of paste. Add eggs and beat. Add vegetable oil, milk, flour and baking powder. More flour may be added if necessary (I usually add a tonn of flour, anytime the dough is sticky load er up with flour :) )

Place dough on a lightly floured surface and roll to 1/2-inch thickness. Cut out with floured doughnut cutter. (I just use a cup) Roll the dough into a worm (there's probably a better way to describe it but w/e lol) and then attach the ends to make a circle. (make sure the ends are attached well so they don't fall apart when u fry them) 

Next I put a bunch of oil (I don't measure) into a frying pan (or you can use a deep fryer) heat the oil and drop the doughnuts, 2 or 3 at a time, into the hot fat. Fry, turning once, for 3 minutes, or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels, let them cool and eat!!

Raspberry Dark Chocolate Cupcakes

What you need:
- 1 box of white cake mix
- 1 can of whipped frosting (or homemade buttercream frosting)
- 2 cups of dark chocolate wafers
- 1 1/2 cups of raspberries (frozen or fresh)

mix up you cake batter according to the package (yes, I cheated here, but feel free to make yours from scratch). In a food processor/blender add 1 cup of raspberries- blend until smooth. Add the berries to the cake mixture and mix until all blended together- put in muffin tins and bake according to package. 

 The icing: blend the rest of the berries in the blender until smooth and add to the icing. 

Once the cupcakes are cooked, cool completely. In a double boiler start melting the dark chocolate- all of it. while it's melting cut out the middle of each cupcake- this might take some time keep an eye on the chocolate!

Once the chocolate is melted pour the chocolate to fill the hole in each cupcake. Then icing them wipe a piping bag to make them pretty of course! Then drizzle the rest of the dark chocolate over each one- this is what makes it look AHMAZING.

You will most definitely get compliments on these!

Toddler- Safe Finger Painting

Are you a crafty mama that can't wait to share your world of creativity with your little one? Well I am, and when you child is only 1 it's hard to sit down and do crafts- fear not mommies a finger paint that you won't mind getting in your child's mouth!

 What you need:
- Vanilla pudding
- Food coloring
- Construction Paper

So since it's the Easter season I thought we'd try this recipe on some construction paper cut out in the shape of an egg. I used bright Easter colors for the paint- green, blue, and purple. All you have to to is mix the food coloring in the pudding and let your toddle paint away! If your toddler is patient you can even make hand prints- Noah unfortunately was not and wanted to do all it himself. It turned out really cute, this is a good idea for children 3 and under... supervision of course!

 

Chocolate Chunk Banana Bread

 

The secret to making great banana bread is to never use a mixer! Mash and mix everything by hand... this will lead to moist delicious banana bread! 

What you will need: 

- 3 ripe bananas

- 1/3 cup melted butter

- 1 cup of sugar

- 1 egg beaten

- 1 tsp vanilla

- 1 tsp baking soda

- dash of salt

- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

- 1 - 11/2 cups of chocolate chips or chocolate chunks

Preheat oven to 350. Grease 4x8 loaf pan. In a large bowl add melted butter to the mashed bananas. Mix in sugar, egg, vanilla, baking soda and salt. Add flour. Add in you chocolate chunks. Pour mixture into pan and bake for 1 hour (or until toothpick comes clean) Let cool. Enjoy! 

So simply delish!