Ready for my o{PIN}ions?

Alrighty, welcome to another installment of my o"PIN"ions.
(you can find and follow me on Pinterest here)

First on the list ~ a book.

Seriously, what's better than relaxing with a good book in the summer ~ I pinned this one awhile ago, hoping it would be good.

Miss Peregrine's home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs 

(via)

Here's what I thought:  This book isn't my typical read. There were "ghosts", "monsters" , action, adventure, and suspense. Lets not forget the love story plot line. This book grabbed my interest right away in the beginning and held it for the entire book. It's about a boy (Jacob) whose grandfather dies at the hands (paws perhaps, or maybe claws) of a wild animal. Well, that's what the authorities say anyway. But when Jacob finds his Grandfather lying down, dying on the forest floor, his Grandfather whispers his last words to him. What these words mean is a puzzle, one the Jacob is determined to figure out. And he does figure it out. Along with many twists, turns and a world you couldn't imagine.

I would definitely recommend it.

Ok, now onto the "good stuff"  I'm talking food and drinks!

First up, a beverage ~ Kalimotxo

If you're like me you're saying "Huh, Kalimo..... what?"  Basically it's a combo of red wine and coke (as in soda)  (24oz red wine and 16oz Coke) You can find the original recipe/post here.  

My opinion ~ gross!  I like wine and I like coke, but not together.  Not at all.  Hubby though, he drank it.  He said it wasn't "that bad".  I disagree.  It was "that bad".   Definitely deleting this one from my Pinterest board.

Do you like spinach artichoke dip?  I definitely do, so when I saw this recipe, I knew it was one I would be making ~ Spinach Artichoke Pasta, via A Life of Flavor

I liked this.  Hubby liked it, but as with all recipes I make that don't contain meat, he replied, "It's good, but it would be really good if it had some chicken in it."  Personally, I didn't miss the meat, but it would be really good with a little chicken or crab in it.  This is a "remaker."

Another pasta recipe ~ Ultimate Macaroni Salad via Hungry Couple

I found this to be a pretty tasty, creamy macaroni salad.  Sassy agreed.  No one else raved or crabbed about it, so I'll take that as they thought it was good, not great, but good.  I will probably make this again.  Just know it makes a huge batch, I will definitely halve it the next time I make it for just my family.

Finally a dessert.  A dessert posted by the Pioneer Woman.  Seriously, how could I go wrong?  I made her version of a Deep Dish Fruit Pizza.

I made this to share with a group over the 4th.  It was delicious and a definite hit!  I will absolutely make it again.  Mmm Mmm good!

That's it for now! What have you been pinning?

Spaghetti Pizza

I got this recipe from my brother in law a few years ago.  It's really easy (but needs about 1 hour for cooking time) and is yummy.  Even my kids like it, and they are my toughest critics :)

Spaghetti Pizza

Ingredients:

8oz cooked spaghetti noodles
2 eggs
1 bag shredded mozzarella cheese
1 tsp garlic powder
1 jar of spaghetti sauce
1 bag of shredded cheddar or pizza cheese
Any pizza toppings you want (this time I used: browned ground beef, green pepper, onion, mushrooms and black olives)


Directions:


Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a large bowl, mix together the cooked noodles, eggs, bag of mozzarella cheese and garlic powder.

Gently press into a 9x13 baking dish coated with nonstick spray.

Bake for 25 mins.

When it is done baking,  pour the entire jar of spaghetti sauce over the baked noodle mixture and spread it out evenly.

Add any pizza toppings you desire.

Spread the cheddar cheese evenly over your toppings.

Bake at 375 for an additional 30 minutes.

Enjoy!

Pass or Fail?

By now I assume all of you know what Pinterest is, so I'm not going to go into all of that.

I pinned this recipe (pinned here and original here) awhile ago, we tried it, and here's what we thought.

Tuscan Pasta with Tomato ~ Basil Cream

Ingredients:

1 20oz package refrigerated four cheese ravioli
1 16oz jar sun dried tomato Alfredo sauce
2 Tbsp white wine
2 med. sized fresh tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped
1/3 c grated Parmesan cheese
Optional ~ garnish with strips of fresh basil


Directions:


1 Prepare pasta according to package directions.

2. Pour Alfredo sauce into a medium saucepan.  Pour wine into sauce jar; cover tightly and shake well (gets all the yummy left over Alfredo sauce out of the jar), then pour into the saucepan.  Str in tomatoes and basil.  Cook over med-low heat until heated through.

3.  Toss sauce with pasta and top evenly with grated parmesan cheese.

Sounds easy right?

It is, but how does it taste?

Delicious!

Tons of flavor.  I will admit the 2 littlest of the house were not big fans ~ although they did eat it.  But Hubby, Sassy and I all enjoyed it and in the end, it really is about me :) Ha!

I will definitely be remaking this one!

In the words of my friend ~ this Pin is a Pass!

Oh, and yes, my family loves it when I whip out the camera as we sit down to eat :)

Penne with Prosciutto

I got this recipe from a friend; who got it from her sister or was it sister in law.... anyway.... 1 word: YUMMY!

Penne with Prosciutto

Ingredients:

1 lb Penne Pasta
2-3 T butter
1 large sweet onion, diced
1/2 - 3/4 lb prosciutto, finely chopped
4 oz frozen baby peas
6-8 oz heavy cream
Parmigiano Reggiano ~ to taste






Directions:

1.  Cook Penne pasta ~ al dente, then set aside
2.  Saute diced onion until transparent
3.  Add prosciutto to the onion and brown until slightly crispy (around 10 mins)
4.  Add frozen peas, pasta, and heavy cream (start on the low end 6 oz ~ you can always add more).  Heat through.
5.  Add Parmigiano Reggiano to taste and more cream if necessary.

Dig in and ENJOY!

and if you try it, let me know what you think ☺

Chicken and Pasta Salad

Here you go, a must try recipe for a chicken a pasta salad. I have had many requests for the recipe ~ which I received from a family friend a while ago ~ hope you like it as well!

Chicken and Pasta Salad

1lb rotini pasta, cooked
1.5 -2 cups cooked chicken (I used whole rotissere chicken)
1 cup dried craisens
1 medium, yellow onion, diced
4 celery stalks, diced
1 cup almonds, whole and unsalted

*combine above ingredients in large bowl and set aside*

Dressing:

1/4 cup powdered sugar
2 Tbs vinegar
2 Tbs water
2 Tbs poppy seeds
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 cups mayo (not salad dressing ~ ie. miracle whip)

*pour dressing over pasta mixture and stir*

*use all of the dressing*

*this makes a huge batch*

Enjoy!