And Finally.....My Meatloaf Recipe

 Wow-it's been a while! I've been pretty neglectful when it comes to my blog-it's been a bit crazy around here!!
Today I'm presenting my meatloaf recipe. I have to be honest - I am not a meatloaf fan (nor is my daughter). But the hubby-he ADORES it! Not only on the night I cook it - his very favorite thing is making meatloaf sandwiches for the next couple days. And even though I'm not a fan, I don't mind this recipe - I actually really like the "sauce" that's spread over the top. I should also mention that we don't use ground beef, we only use ground turkey in our house.
Ingredients:
1 lb ground turkey (or beef)
1 1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
1 egg, lightly beaten
8 oz can diced tomatoes , Italian flavored, with juice
1/2 cup quick cooking oats
For topping:
1/3 cup ketchup
1 Tbsp mustard
2 Tbsp brown sugar

Prheat oven to 375. Mix all ingredients well.

Place in a 9x13 baking dish and arrange into a loaf shape.

Mix topping ingredients together in a small bowl.

Spread topping over entire top of loaf.

Bake for one hour.

Serve with some yummy sides- usually garlic and Parmesan mashed potatoes and green beans in our house!
Give it a try and let me know what you think!!
And I'm really gonna try to keep up with the blog better-thanks to my dear friend Marianne who requested some new recipes!!! (You never know if anyone's really interested in your blog till you get some feedback or requests!! Thanks, Mar!!)
Happy Cooking!
-Cakegirl

Garlic Chicken Pasta

Last night I made a delicious garlic chicken pasta! It was really almost by accident. I always plan my weekly menu and Sunday, and this week I was not feeling really motivated. I had every day figured out but one, and I figured I would just "wing it" at the grocery store and pick something up.
I stood in the aisle looking at dinner kits, indecisive. Then to the right of the dinner kits were the flavored rice and noodles. I grabbed a box og the Pasta Roni Garlic Butter noodles thinking it would make a quick yummy side dish. But the more I looked at it, I thought "how bout throwing in some chicken and making it a main dish?"
So when I went to prepare it last night, I was a bit chagrined to discover that there was a recipe for garlic chicken pasta right on the back of the box! Guess my idea wasn't so original after all! Haha.
But it did turn out to be quick and delicious, and a salad and good bread were the perfect finishers!
Here's the recipe!
1 box Pasta Roni
3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 3/4 cup water
2 Tbso butter
1/3 cup milk

Start by cutting up the chicken breast into bite size pieces. Melt the butter in a large skillet, then add the chicken. Brown on both sides, till cooked through.

Slowly add the water and milk, then bring to a boil.
Add the pasta and seasoing packet and stir.

Cook, stirring frequently for about 6 minutes. Sauce will be thin; remove from heat and let thicken about 4 minutes.
Serve with your favorite salad and some yummy bread!!

Enjoy!!
Coming later this week (finally!)-my meat loaf recipe! Be sure to swing back by!
-Cakegirl

Cajun Chicken Pasta and Potato Pancakes

Now that we're finally getting settled in here at the new house, I am hoping to keep up a bit better with the blogging!
Today I wanted to share 2 recipes with you - Cajun Chicken Pasta and Potato Pancakes! I didn't make these 2 items together, but I wasn't happy with the chicken dish that I originally made with the potato pancakes.
I've recently had some requests for crock pot meals, so stay tuned for those soon!!

Here's the chicken pasta:
4 oz linguini pasta (I think next time I'll use penne)
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
3 tsp cajun seasoing
2 Tbsp butter
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
1 green onion, minced
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1/4 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp lemon pepper
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp ground black pepper
2 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add linguini and cook for 8-10 minutes, or until al dente; drain.
Meanwhile, place chicken and and Cajun seasoning in a bowl and toss to coat.
In a large skillet over medium heat, saute chicken in butter until no longer pink and juices run clear, about 5-7 minutes. Add peppers and green onions; cook for 2-3 minutes.

Reduce heat and stir in heavy cream. Season the sauce with basil, lemon pepper, salt, garlic powder, and ground black pepper, and heat through.

In a large bowl, toss linguini with sauce. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese.

Potato Pancakes
One of my very favorite things- so many great memories of my mom making these for us when we were kids.

Leftover mashed potatoes (whatever you've got - you can add the next ingredients accordingly)
1 egg
1/4 cup flour
salt and pepper to taste

Mix your mashed potatoes with egg and flour (if you have a large amount, you may need more of each.), until you have a nice thick dough. Add salt and pepper.

Meanwhile, heat some oil in a saute pan.
Drop heaping big spoonfuls of the potatoes into the hot oil. Cook for about 3 minutes or so (check bottom before you flip-they should be golden brown). Flip cakes over and cook till golden brown on bottom.
Serve with your favorite toppings-some people like sour cream or ketchup. I just like them slathered with butter!!

Enjoy!
-Cakegirl

Cheesy Chicken Tortellini

Tonight I tried a variation on an old recipe that I had. Normally when I make it, I use cheese tortellini. But as I was going to grab it at the grocery store, I noticed that right next to it was Chicken Tortellini. I thought that might be a nice change. It's quick, easy, and yummy!!
So, here it is!
Ingredients:
Olive oil
2 cup Marinara sauce
1/3 c mascarpone cheese
1/4 c chopped fresh parsley
2 tsp chopped thyme
1 lb cheese or chicken tortellini
2 oz shredded mozzerella
1/4 c grated parmesan

Preheat oven to 350. Lightly oil an 8x8x2 dish.
Whisk sauce, mascarpone, parsley and thyme in a large bowl to blend.

Cook tortellini in a large pot until just tender (about 2 min)

Drain. Add tortellini to sauce and toss to coat.

Transfer to baking dish. Top with mozzerella and parmesan.

Cover and bake till sauce bubbles and cheese melts, about 30 minutes.

Serve and enjoy!!
Come back later this week for a meatloaf recipe, and one of my very favorites-potato pancakes!!!!
-Cakegirl

Check out my Guest Blog!

Good morning! Head on over to Frosting for the Cause and check out my guest post! I was thrilled to be able to help with this great project. There are a ton of great recipes there, as well as wonderful stories and lovely pictures.
-Cakegirl

A Quick and Yummy Side Dish...and A Guest Post!

Hi Everyone!
Just checking in with  a quick and yummy dish I discovered! Unfortunately, I have no pics (camera was still packed the night I tried it out!), but the hubby and I could not stop eating it!! I wish I could say that Baby Cake ate them as well, but my child (for some inexplicable reason) doesn't like potatoes. Now, I could eat potatoes for every meal, and I would swear she wasn't mine if I didn't so clearly remember giving birth to her. (and I could never claim she was switched - she looks just like me!! lol) Anyhow, I did include a pic of my little "ham and cheese" at the end of the post - she is a natural born entertainer!!
Here's the recipe! (we had had it with chicken, but I think it would be yummy as a breakfast casserole too!)

Baked Rosti Potatoes
2 tbsp oil
2 packages (20 oz each) of seasoned refrigerated shredded hash browns
1 1/2 cups Kraft shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup flour
1 small onion, minced
1 egg, beaten

Heat oven to 400. Brush oil onto bottom and up sides of a 9x13 baking dish. Combine all ingredients except egg. Add egg; mix lightly. Press onto bottom of baking dish. Bake 55 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting to serve.

See? Super easy - and I gurantee you will enjoy it!
Be sure to check back in on Saturday - there will be a link to my guest post over at Frosting for the Cause. Head on over and check out the cute Valentine Cookies I made!

Hamming it up with her baby cousin!!
Be back soon!!
-Cakegirl

Returning Soon!!

Hi everyone!! Just wanted to let you know that I will be returning to blogging soon!! It's been a crazy few weeks as we've been working on moving into our new home! But I am excited to be trying some new recipes this week, and even more excited to share them with you soon!! So, please hang in there!
See you soon!
Cakegirl

So......

So...my plan had been to make some yummy homemade mac and cheese, but my dear daughter decided that she would just like a sandwich, and the hubby is working till 10:00 tonight. It's been a very crazy few weeks as we are getting ready to move to the new house. I haven't gotten to do nearly as many posts as I would like, but I am looking forward to trying some new recipes over the next week, and sharing the results with you!
 So, here is the recipe for the super simple mac and cheese. I'm sorry there are no pics, but I promise you it's yummy, quick, and really easy!!
Ingredients:
1 box of rotini noodles
2 cans of cheddar cheese soup
milk
salt and pepper
bread crumbs
butter

Preheat your oven to 350. Cook the rotini noodles according to directions on box. Drain noodles and add in 2 cans of the soup, then 1 can full of milk. Add some salt and pepper and mix it well. Melt about 3 tbsp butter in the microwave, and mix that with about 4-5 tbsp bread crumbs. Spread the noodle mixture in a 9x13 pan, and then pour the bread crumb mixture over the top. Bake for about 20 minutes and enjoy!
-Cakegirl

Baby Shower Fun!

Hello all!
This weekend I had the joy of making goodies for the baby shower of one of my oldest friends! We met in the 5th grade, and living on the same block, we spent a LOT of time at each other's houses. I was so excited when I found out that she and her hubby were expecting their first baby! And I was thrilled when she asked me if I would make goodies for her!
They decided on a farm animal theme, and she asked me to make farm animal cookie favors and a mix of cake pops - some just plain pink, blue, and yellow, and some that were farm animals. (Did I mention that they are crazy enough to NOT found out what they're having??? I am too much of a planner, so we, of course, had to found out what we were having when we were pregnant! But, to each their own, right? :) )
Anyhow, we decided to turn the cake pops into centerpieces, which were then given away as prizes.
Here are some pics!

The pig cookie.

I tried two designs of chicks. One without sanding sugar....

And one with!

And a horse! (my favorite).
Here are the cake pops:

The chicken (my favorite!) The cake pop designs all came from the super talented Bakerella, in her awesome book, Cake Pops!!! You should check it out - it's awesome!!

The pig, ducky and chicken, hangin' together!

And here they are as a centerpiece!
All in all, it was a great, fun-filled day with old friends!! I am so happy for Tracy and Ryan and can't wait to find out whether we'll be welcoming a beautiful baby girl or a handsome baby boy!

Stay tuned tomorrow night for a SUPER easy and quick homemade mac and cheese recipe!
-Cakegirl