Recipe Reblog: Baked Vegetable Penne

Back in the kitchen with a new recipe this week! I feel like I let dinner down when I don't try new recipes in a week. Anyone else?

Baked Vegetable Penne: Although we're trying to get away from eating as much pasta in an effort to lower carb intake, this bake pumps up the veggie quotient quite high. So, I'd like to think they even each other out. This was delicious! You roast off the red peppers, onions and zucchini first and then mix in marinara, pasta and cheese and finish in the oven. I asked John if he wanted to throw in ground turkey and luckily he said no. There wouldn't have been enough room in the pan! If you are missing your protein on this, cut back to just one of each vegetable and you should have enough room in a 9x13. I think this would be a crowd pleaser. It makes a lot!

Buffalo Chicken Dip

If you've never had Buffalo Chicken Dip before, you're really missing out. It's best enjoyed on tortilla chips or celery. You can also sub in fat free ingredients like I did without losing any of the yummy delicious goodness. Don't sub in fat free cheese though. That stuff is nas-tee. I also only used 1/3 c. hot sauce, as opposed to the 1/2 c. it calls for. When I make it too spicy I get wicked heartburn because I have no control over this dip and don't know when to call it quits. I made it for John and me to enjoy while watching the Rose Bowl. And enjoy it we did, right as the Bucks stomped all over Oregon. It also was made to celebrate losing my status as a college football widow. YEA! For now, I'm just a playoff widow.

And, check out my Little Dipper. I got it for Christmas from my mother-in-law. I love all things mini. I'm not sure where this obsession comes from but if something is cute regular size, it's way cuter mini-style.


I also wanted to share with you a new wine I tried last week. At our New Year's Eve dinner at Fleming's (where they offer more than 100 wines by the glass and bottle), I ordered this Cabernet Shiraz by Pretty Sally. I picked it for the price ($8.75/glass) and the name (so fun!). It's a 2005 from Australia. I am a fan of both Cabernet and Shiraz so I thought this varietal would be interesting, and I was right! The most interesting part were the caramel notes I tasted in the background (do I sound like I know what I'm talking about?) I'm hoping I can find this in stores because I'd like to have more. According to the Pretty Sally website, 2005 was a great year for Australian wines. Their tasting notes don't reference caramel but I don't care. It was in there. They're highlighting "plum, black currant, and baking spices, with shades of pepper and cumin." If you like medium-bodied reds, this one's for you.

It's Pretzel time!

Before football season started, I promised John that I would make snacks to eat while watching the games. I did it under the guise of being a good and thoughtful wife but really, this was an excuse for me to make and eat things that you wouldn't normally have other times, foods of the appetizer nature. I missed the first week of football, oops. And the second week we were out of the country. But the third! Ah, this week was delicious. I made the soft pretzel recipe from my Diet & Nutrition magazine. I'm sorry I don't feel like re-typing the recipe here but if you leave me a comment telling me you want it, I'll be happy to oblige. I cut the recipe in half which made 8 puffy, palm-size pretzels. (Alliteration Alert!) They were pretty easy to shape too. I made regular salty ones and also cinnamon sugar, John's fave. While eating them, I thought to myself, "Well, they don't taste like the ones at the mall, something's missing." Then I realized, oh yeah, they're not swimming in grease! Health score! I think they helped the Buckeyes win yesterday, but our beloved Browns, at press, are not doing so well. Maybe I should have sent some pretzels to Brady, no?

Guys, the knob broke off my crock pot. I'm making a roast today sans knob and I'm a little nervous. It was difficult to tell if I had set it on Low or High. I'm going to assume that because my roast, after 6 hours, is not a charred brick, that I set it correctly. Also, Meijer had cider on sale 2 for $4 today! WE LOVE CIDER, but it's often very expensive. It was $5/gallon at the farm market downtown yesterday. Pass. I have many recipes that call for cider which I have overlooked because of cider's price tag. No more! Cider meals are coming, as well as apple butter (which does not have cider but I am super excited to make. YUM!) Happy fall, y'all!