Broccoli Salad

Definitely a keeper!!

Broccoli Salad

2 heads of fresh broccoli
1 cup chopped red onion
1/2 lb bacon, cooked and crumbled
3/4 cup of regular or golden raisins
3/4 cup of sliced almonds or sunflower seeds
1 cup mayo
1/4 cup of sugar
2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar

Cut the broccoli into bite size pieces. Mix broccoli, onion, bacon, raisins and nuts or seeds in a large bowl. In a small bowl, mix together mayo, sugar and vinegar. Stir mayo mixture in with broccoli mixture and combine well. Can be served immediately, but even better if chilled in fridge overnight.

**I used the almonds this time but have had it with the sunflower seeds as well. Both versions are great!

Happy 2.5 Birthday Simon!

Yeah I know I'm silly. But my son's birthday falls in two days after Christmas and having a birthday that falls two days before Christmas myself I know too well what its like for it to get kinda dismissed. I would never forget my son's birthday, but his half birthday also falls exactly one day before my mothers birthday. And after losing her to cancer in October of 2006 this gives me a way to honor her as well. So Happy Birthday Mom and Simon!!! I love you both!

Here is my turtle cake I made for Simon. Definitely not perfect, but I think it turned out pretty cute.

Caramel Apple Salad

So simple, yet so good. Nuff said.






Caramel Apple Salad

8oz cream cheese, softened
7 oz marshmallow fluff
5-6 granny smith apples
1 bag of mini snickers

Mix together cream cheese and marshmallow fluff well in a large bowl. Cut apples into bite size chunks. Unwrap snickers and cut into fourths. Toss cream cheese/fluff mixture with apples and snickers. Chill & Serve.

Chicken Noodle Soup is good for the soul(and the sick)

I was yucky sick this past week and where generally I'm not above eating some Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup with Stars, this time I wanted chicken noodle soup like momma used to make.




Rotisserie Chicken Noodle Soup.

-2 chicken breasts, pulled and shredded from a store bought rotisserie chicken, skin removed
-8 cups of water
-8 tsp of chicken bouillon granules
-2 carrots, finely chopped
-2 celery stalks, finely chopped
-1/2 an onion, finely chopped
-1 tsp of garlic
-1 tsp of dill
-1 tsp of parsley
-1/2 tsp of black pepper
-3 cups of egg noodles

Put water and bouillon in a large soup pot. Bring to a boil and stir until bouillon is dissolved. Reduce to a simmer and add everything except noodles. Simmer for 20 minutes. Return to a boil, add noodles, reduce to simmer and cook 15 minutes.

This soup made me smile.

Diva Pasta- Rattlesnake Pasta

Okay, I swear we really do eat more things than pasta. That just seems to be all the new things I have been trying lately or I forget to take pictures....

Anyway, I have had this recipe stored up for a long time to try. It is my version of Rattlesnake Pasta that I had at J. Alexander's, which I loved. Well, I loved mine as well. I did use shrimp instead of chicken like I had at J's.




Rattlesnake Pasta

8 T butter
1 c heavy cream
12 T parmesen cheese
2 T flour
1 pinch of ground cayenne pepper
s&p to taste
1/4 c finely chopped jalapeno peppers
3 T minced garlic
1 lb medium shrimp
4 cups penne pasta, cooked & tossed in 2 T olive oil

Combine butter, cream, parmesan, flour, salt, pepper & cayenne. Heat slowly until thickened. Add the jalapeno, garlic and shrimp. Simmer until shrimp are cooked through. Serve over pasta.

P.S.- I didn't make that bread. I bought it at The Fresh Market. And it was fab. Kalamata olives, garlic, sun dried tomatoes...

Diva Pasta

BLT Pasta

penne pasta, cooked
4oz cream cheese
1/4 cup of milk
1/2 bag of fresh spinach leaves
1 cup of cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup of cooked bacon, crumbled
1 tsp italian seasoning
a couple turns of fresh ground pepper

Cook cream cheese, milk, italian seasoning and pepper on low until creamy. Stir in spinach, tomatoes and bacon. Toss with pasta.

This was just okay...I think it was just missing something. Maybe some dry ranch seasoning thrown in would jazz it up.