Double-Take Pasta

Looking for a white-red pasta that is great for the kiddos AND the adults?? Here you go! In this picture, this pasta is super kid friendly. In fact, it almost resembles (in looks only) mac and cheese. I used a white rice, gluten free pasta that was simply delicious!

For starters, you'll need:

1 package (5 links) of mild Italian Sausage

1 lb of pasta (use an angel hair pasta for a lighter, more adult feel or long tubes for those picky little ones.:)

1 jar of marinara sauce (Classico, anyone?)

1 jar of Alfredo sauce

A few fresh basil leaves, chopped

Chopped green onions, for garnish

Yep. That's it. Cook the Italian Sausage (I did it in a pan with about 1 inch of water in it, covered, on probably medium heat.) I simply cut them open to check them, they'll be cut up anyways before it's time to eat.:) 

Once the sausages are done, get some water for your pasta on the stove (use a large pot, you'll be adding your sauce to it later.) While that is coming to a boil, cut your sausages into small rounds, place in a pot and add the Alfredo and marinara sauce. Stir until the sauce is the same pretty color all of the way through, and heat, covered, on medium heat.

Drop your pasta in and drain it once it's cooked. The next step is optional. If you're looking for a prettier, more adult looking pasta, I would simply add the basil leaves to the pot of warmed sauce and stir, place your beautiful angel hair on a plate and cover it lightly with sauce. Otherwise,  put the pasta back into your pot, add your now warmed sauce and basil leaves and mix until all of the pasta is well coated.:)

Serve with green onions on top, a gorgeous leafy green salad and some fresh garlic bread!

Enjoy! :)

I KNOW I have pasta in here...somewhere!!

This picture was taken AFTER I had already started clearing out my pantry. I forgot how truly bad it was! However, I am going to hold you in suspense for a few minutes..no scrolling down to see the finished product before you read! Cheater.:) I actually pulled everything out...and I mean everything. (At least, I think I do...I don' recall leaving anything in.) Then time for the wipe down...yes...cupboard shelves get messy with all of that food. Time to fill it back up. Rather than simply putting boxes back in in an organized fashion, I bought a few little baskets from the dollar store (this is an inexpensive project...unless you realize how much $$ in food you had to throw away because it was bad, etc.), as well as a few tupperware containers that I could put cereal in. I also reused jars that I had kept from things such as spaghetti sauce. Time to pull all of the granola bars, popcorn bags and instant oatmeal bags out of their boxes and put them in my cute, labeled baskets! Wa la! Next, pour the cereal into the tupperware...so much easier to keep track of how much is left! The cans were 'fun' (aka, a pain) to organize, but I finally decided to stack the ones I wouldn't really use towards the back and move forward. Yes, I really do need to invest in those nifty sliders for your cans! I also created a bulk pantry cupboard. This is for all of the things that I will use to refill my cereal tupperware, my pasta jars, my cute little baskets...without cluttering up my main cupboard and making it look like a disaster! Ready to see the finished result? (I figure, based on the picture, each family can decide how to best accomplish their needs in organizing a cupboard and do it the way that will fit them best.:)

Note: This picture was taken at least a month or so after I redid my cupboard. Yes, it still looks good.:) And yes, I do realize that I have a couple of boxes of cereal, as well as my tupperware ones...but look at the overall appearance...and by all means, outdo me!:)

Jalapeno Spinach dip!

Why buy it, when you can make it?? It's a crowd pleaser! For the record, when I make up recipes I don't use measurements, so you can always add or use less of any ingredient because my measurements on here are guestimations!:)

How do I do this?!

• 1/2 cup of cream cheese
• 1/3 cup of frozen spinach, thawed and moisture squeezed out
• 2 tablespoons diced, pickled jalapenos
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced (more or less to taste)
• 1 teaspoon fresh parsley, minced
• Fresh bread or crackers to serve it with!:)

Just mix all of your ingredients together and top off your favorite bread or cracker!:)

Enjoy!(:

Kristin:)

Owl throw you a party!:)

I made this for my VERY dear friends birthday! She has a fascination with owls, so when I saw an idea similar to this I just HAD to do it!:) Pre-warning, this was hard to explain how to make. I just followed a picture and went with it, and it's what I would recommend doing to anyone who was interested in making it!:) But here are the directions, in case you want them.:))

What you'll need:
14 cuppycakes (I cheated, I used boxed cake mix to make them...but it was Funfetti! Surely that counts for something!)
2 containers of icing (I had white icing, and just died some of it blue)
7 Oreo cookies, BUT I would allow for a few extras, they tend to break when you try to cut them!
6 pretzel rods
2 life savers
2 skittles
1 cashew
6 almonds

I know, I know. Some of those you need a tiny amount of! But that's how you make it! Feel free to substitute anything to make it your style...that's what this cake is all about...personalize it for the one you love!:)

First, line up your cupcakes. Four in the center, three on each side of those four, and two on each side of the three. Next, start icing! I iced the bottom two cupcakes and the eye cupcakes white, and the other ten cupcakes blue.:) I then piped white icing onto the blue cupcakes and formed the birds breast feathers.:) Next, pull apart five Oreos and wipe (preferably DON'T lick (x ) the cream off.:) Cut the cookies in half...this is where patience comes in. They don't have to be perfect, part of them will be sticking in the icing! Arrange your cookies staggered on the sides of the row of four and top row of three cupcakes (see picture.) Pull apart two more Oreos, leaving all of the cream in tact on one side of the cookie!:) Place these Oreos on your eye cupcakes, next put a little dot of icing and stick the lifesaver to it, then put a little dot of icing on your skittle and stick that to the top of the lifesaver!(: Cut one of the Oreo halves that didn't have the cream on it and put them on the eye cupcakes. (See picture.) I promise, I'll take more pictures from now on.:) I didn't plan on explaining this on my blog.(: Give your little owl it's cashew nose, right in the bottom middle of the eye cupcakes.:) Arrange your pretzel sticks so it looks like your owl is standing on a nest. Finally! Add your owls toes, three on each side.:) Congrats! You've accomplished a cute cake! Now, go show it off!(:

Until Next  Time!

Kristin:)

Bacon Wrapped Pork Loin...this should get an ooooooh!(:

 Unfortunately, I had to dash out of the house to go for a run before this was ready to be pulled out of the oven, so I got a picture of it after it was already cut and then one on the plate....hoping it would make up for it.:)

This is a crazy simple recipe, resulting in a melt-in-your-mouth experience.:) As people were trying it, I heard words such as Mediterranean coming out. That was a shock, I don't know how to cook Mediterranean style...or maybe I do!(: 

Here goes!:)

You'll need:

• 1 pork loin (You can cut it in half and save half for later, just half the rest of this recipe!)
• 1 cup of butter
• 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, pulled off of the stem (yes. fresh.:)
• 1 teaspoon fresh parsley, minced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced (more or less to taste)
• 1 pound of bacon 

 Preheat your oven to 350* F. Place your pork loin on a baking sheet and admire the before! (: Next, mix your butter, rosemary, parsley and garlic into a delightful spread.:) Rub this on top of your pork loin, if you have extra you could also rub it underneath, if you're short, rub it out thin!:) It WILL work!:) Next, take your bacon and wrap your buttered pork loin in bacony goodness, making sure you wrap it width wise, not length wise so that the bacon fits all the way around!:) MMM:) Bake your creation for around 90 minutes, or until 160*-165* F.:) Please make sure it's cooked all of the way! (: Wow your family, and enjoy your amazingly easy, stand-out dinner!

Toodles!:)

Sunshine(:

New Recipes!!

As I expand my recipe book...I will also be expanding the amount of posts on here!:) New recipes and ideas will be added frequently...Feel free to check back or leave a comment requesting a specific recipe and I'll see if I can help you out!:)

Thanks!
Sunshine:)

Fruit Tray (:

My goodness...do I ever love having the time to make a pretty fruit tray! :)

A Song in my Heart :)

Well...here's to a new day! (: A day started with devotions and prayer....playing a message while accomplishing some things around the house. What a way to start a morning! A fresh outlook...a peace that passes all understanding. :) It's a simply beautiful day...so cool and refreshing outside...and so peaceful inside with a  nice clean kitchen...that dreadfully needs to be and will be mopped when I'm done with breakfast. :o) Speaking of which...the bacon is crispy and the oatmeal's almost done...oh boy! :D Now that I'm working on filling my hollow leg...that's not really all that hollow ;)...there is a point to this blog...sorta...maybe? Well..at least everyone will know how peaceful I am and how excited I am about dinner tonight! It's time...drum roll please x)...to try another new recipe without a recipe! I sure hope it tastes good. :S Anyways...for our Valentine's day party I want to make a hash brown casserole so I'm going to try it tonight. I'll grate the potatoes and use a sauce made out of sour cream, milk and seasonings...add in a lotta cheese and some green onions...maaayybe some real onions and maaayybe some garlic...bake it at 350 for...20-25 mins?? I don't really know. Cross your fingers! Or not since you're not the one who's going to eat it...x) Anyways...I'm wishing you all a brilliant day filled with joy!

~Krit  (: 

 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Matthew 12:34-37 :)