Tomato Pesto Pasta

A delicious Italian pasta dish found on All Recipes.

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil


• 2 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped


• 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained


• 14 ounces fusili (spiral) pasta


• salt and pepper to taste


• 3 tablespoons pesto


• 3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese


• 3 tablespoons fresh basil leaves for garnish

Directions

1. Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Saute garlic for 2 minutes, then add tomatoes and simmer for 10 minutes.


2. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain and return to pot.


3. Season tomato sauce with salt and pepper; stir in pesto. Pour sauce over hot cooked pasta and mix well. Sprinkle with cheese, garnish with basil leaves and serve immediately.

Lemon Broccoli Chicken

Pictured with wild rice and steamed carrots. This recipe is based on a recipe from All Recipes.

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp lemon juice


• 1 tbsp vegetable oil


• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts


• 1 can (10 3/4 oz.) Condensed Cream of Broccoli Soup


• ½ cup milk


• ground black pepper to taste

Directions

1. Heat oil in skillet. Add chicken and cook until browned.


2. Mix soup, milk, and lemon juice and add to chicken. Top chicken with pepper. Heat to a boil. Cover and cook over low heat 5 minutes or until done.

Big Announcement!

By now most of you have already heard our wonderful news! But if you haven't, let me be the first to tell you...we're pregnant! We're very excited and have tried to let those closest to us know. Thank you by the way for all the congratulations, and well-wishes, and wonderful advice! It means so much to us to have a caring and supportive group of friends and family to share this with. Being far away from most of you, we're so glad we're able to keep in touch! As you may have guessed, this does change our plans slightly. We had planned to move to Colorado after this school year was over. As we started thinking about our situation and talking finances and feasibility, we decided it would be best to stay put for another year. Then, once the baby is born and I finish next school year, we'll be better able to make a move. In addition, I will have completed my district's three-year teacher induction program and converted my provisional certificate into a standard one, making it easier to get licensed in another state.

We went to the doctor last week for my first visit...it was a long four week wait from the time we found out! We got our first picture and were told the heartbeat was 162 beats per minute. It was exciting to see the little flutter on the screen! We could not hear it yet. We'll go back in 3 weeks to meet for the first time with our doctor, and of course we'll keep you updated!

Check back often for more updates and pictures! Remember, to leave a comment, click on the word "comments" at the end of the post. Type your name, a working email address, and your message and click "submit comment". The first time you comment, your email address will need to be approved (to prevent spam). Your comment will show up as soon as Dave or I approve it. After that, use the same email address, and your comment should appear immediately.

3 Down, 4 to Go

In the weeks since we last posted a lot has happened. Jaime had conferences, which, for the most part went well from what I understand. The dogs received a good bill of health from the vet. Eli Manning ruined professional football. We climbed North Mountain, another of the "Seven Summits" of Phoenix. Business has been slow at Sears. Its that time of year though. People have to pay for all the xmas gifts they gave, then they will be able to get their cars fixed again. Things should start picking up when the refund checks start showing up.

Since the launch of the site much has been added. Many new pictures are viewable in the gallery. Most notable of which are the pictures from our trip to the Grand Canyon. We have also added a cookbook section. This area contains all (not all all but all that we've had time to put up) of our favorite recipes. We plan to keep adding pictures and recipes so come back often.

Down Home Macaroni and Cheese

Once heralded as "Dave's Famous Macaroni" this recipe is not an original, it came from All Recipes.

Ingredients

• ¼ cup butter or margarine, divided


• ¼ cup flour


• 1 tsp salt


• 2 cups milk


• ¼ pound Velveeta, cut up


• 2 cups shredded Cheddar, divided


• 2 cups elbow macaroni, cooked, drained


• 2 tablespoons seasoned dry bread crumbs

Directions

1. Melt 3 tablespoons of the butter in large saucepan on low heat. Blend in flour and salt; cook and stir 1 minute. Gradually add milk; cook, stirring constantly, until thickened. Add prepared cheese product and 1-1/2 cups of the shredded cheese; stir until melted. Stir in macaroni.


2. Pour into lightly greased 1-1/2-quart casserole. Melt remaining 1 Tablespoon butter; toss with bread crumbs. Sprinkle casserole with remaining 1/2 cup cheese and bread crumb mixture.


3. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

Curry Chicken Sandwich

A southern style chicken sandwich Dave came up with. This recipe makes 2 sandwiches.

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp vegetable oil


• 1/4 cup diced onion


• 1 boneless skinless chicken breast, sliced


• curry


• chili powder


• 4 slices bread


• Colby Jack cheese, sliced


• ranch dressing


• lettuce


• tomato, sliced

Directions

1. In frying pan sauté onion in oil until translucent.


2. Add chicken and brown one side. Flip and season with curry and chili powder.


3. Toast bread and assemble sandwich. (We assemble it bread, chicken, cheese, tomato, lettuce, bread with the ranch spread on the top piece of bread.)

Holiday Sugar Cookies

This recipe came from Dave's Grandma Larson and is a Larson family Christmas tradition.

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup shortening


• 1/4 cup butter


• 1 cup powdered sugar


• 2 tsp vanilla


• 1 1/4 cup flour


• 1/2 tsp salt


• 1 cup rolled oats


• colored sugar

Directions

1. Mix together shortening, butter, powdered sugar and vanilla.


2. Add flour, salt and rolled oats.


3. Shape into two rolls. Roll rolls in colored sugar. Chill for 2 hours.


4. Slice 1/4 inch think and bake at 350 for 15 minutes or until they are done.