My first cooking blog for 2011!

Well, here it is- my first cooking blog for 2011!!

Today was V's 2nd snow day- how different for us!  It snowed 4-1/4 inches on Sunday night and she had monday and tuesday off of school.  Wow!  In MN we had to have had a huge blizzard going on for a snow day.  Well, V loves it and I had a blast having her home.  Tomorrow she goes back and she is not too happy!

For dinner I made another recipe from my favorite book- The Pioneer Woman!!!  For those of you who have the book- it's on page 188.  H and I totally loved it, V's opinion was that she only wanted the shrimp and not the sauce or pasta and Chad said it wasn't his favorite!  Oh well, can't please everyone! 

Penne Alla Betsy


As you can see, I had a little helper while making dinner!!



















Doesn't it look so good? I encourage you to try it and let me know what you think!

 

Penne Alla Betsy

1 lb. penne pasta

1 lb. large shrimp

2 T. butter

2 T. olive oil

1 small onion, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

1/2 c. dry white wine (optional)

One 14.5 oz. can tomato sauce

1 c. heavy cream

1/4 c. chopped flat leaf parsley

6 basil leaves, chopped

salt, freshly ground pepper

Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil.  Cook the penne until al dente.  Drain and set aside.

Begin by peeling and deveining the shrimp and rinsing them under cold water.  In a small skillet, over med-high heat, add 1 T. butter and 1 T. olive oil.

When the pan is hot, add the shrimp.  Stir and cook on both sides until it is just starting to turn opaque, about 2 minutes.  Remove to a plate and allow to cool slightly. 

Next, finely chop the onion.  In a large skillet over medium heat, add the remaining 1 T. butter and 1 T. olive oil,  the garlic and onion.  Stir to combine and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent, about 3 minutes.

Pour the wine into the pan.  Stir and allow it to evaporate, about 45 seconds.  Pour in the tomato sauce and stir to combine.  Reduce the heat to low.  Pour in the cream and stir well to combine  Reduce the heat to simmer.  Now remove the tails from the shrimp and chop it into medium size pieces.  Add to the sauce and gently stir.  Next, dump in the herbs and stir, then add the cooked, drained pasta.  Stir gently to coat.  If the sauce is too thick, splash in a little milk to get it to the right consistency.  Add salt and freshly ground pepper.  Be sure to taste the seasonings at the end, adjusting if necessary.  Serve directly out of the skillet or pour the contents of the skillet into a pretty serving bowl.  Enjoy!!!

For dessert, V and I made Glazed Mint Brownies.  She picked this out and I told her she was  bad bad daughter.  She was a little puzzled until told her it was because she picked something mint and I had horrible self control with mint desserts!!  She was relieved when that was all it was.  :)  I LOVE mint and chocolate.  I LOVE these brownies.  Not good.  Not good.  Whose house can I send these to??  Any takers?  :)

Glazed Mint Brownies

(First, don't pick a dessert you can't say no to!)

In a heavy saucepan or microwave, melt the
unsweetened chocolate and butter. Cool slightly.

In a mixing bowl beat the eggs, sugar and flour.

Stir in the chocolate mixture.
Pour into a greased 8 in. square pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick
 inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.
 

 
 












In a mixing bowl, combine the filling ingredients
 and beat until creamy.
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Spread over brownie.
For glaze, melt chocolate chips and butter; stir until
filling is smooth. Spread over filling.  Refrigerate until
filling and glaze are set.
(Umm, but only if you can wait that long!) 

Glazed Mint Brownies

2 squares (1 oz each) unsweetened chocolate

1/2 c. butter

2 eggs

1 c. sugar

1/2 c. flour

FILLING:

3 T. butter, softened

1-1/2 c. powdered sugar

2 T. milk

3/4 t. peppermint extract

3-4 drops food coloring, optional

GLAZE:

1/2 c. semisweet chocolate chips

2 T. butter

In a heavy saucepan or microwave, melt the unsweetened choc. and butter.  Cool slightly.

In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs, sugar and flour.  Stir in the chocolate mixture.  Pour into a greased 8 inch pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.  Cool on a wire rack.

In a mixing bowl, combine the filling ingredients; beat until creamy.  Spread over brownies.  For glaze, melt the chocolate chips and butter; stir until smooth.  Spread over filling.  Refrigerate until filling and glaze are set.

Enjoy!!!



Just a few pics of V out in the snow and enjoying 2 days off school!!
Someone might look at these and think we moved back to MN!!!