Day

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

Homemade, Delicious, Even If You Don't Like Alfredo You'll LIke This Alfredo Fettucine Alfredo

I had to include the information in the title because actually, if this hadn't been served to me at a lunch I would've never tried it.  I just tweaked this recipe a little.  It is rich, delicious and NOT Weight Watchers friendly.  Make it for a Sunday dinner, but whatever you do, just make it the way I say, EXACTLY!  Don't cheat yourself and attempt it low fat, you'll be ripping yourself off.  It's an occasional,  day you're not dieting treat.  (Great for a day you're having a pity party and need some comfort food...)

It's simple and only a few ingredients long...
This is what I use to make enough for my whole family and they eat plates of it (it's that rich):

16 oz. Philly Cream Cheese  (two boxes)  I've been around the block a few times in my life with cream cheese.  Trust me, Philly is the way you need to go for this.
1 1/2 C shredded parmesean cheese
1 C butter
1 C milk
2 cloves fresh garlic, minced

Start with butter and cream cheese in sauce pan on low heat, let it soften  Add milk and parm.  When all of the cheeses are melted, add the fresh garlic cloves.  Low and slow is the key to this recipe. 

Optional Chicken Tenders

Heat equal parts olive oil and butter in a skillet (I won't tell you how much, I'll leave that up to you, but remember that you're making decadent alfredo sauce, okay?  Now you can decide...)
Add chicken tenderloins
Lightly sprinke with garlic salt  (Lightly!)
Add 1/2 to 3/4 C Bottled Italian Dressing
Sprinkle with Italian Seasoning
I can't give you specific instructions on cooking chicken.  I have mixed results.  I do find that covering the chicken for part of the time helps it stay somewhat tender.  Also for this kind of recipe, cooking it on a lower hear helps because the chicken doesn't need to brown.

Serve with garlic bread and a green salad.    (Serve the green salad if only on principle, unless you count Italian Seasoning as your vegetable.... )

I guarantee you that even if you don't like alfredo sauce, you'll like this!

Love you all

Potty Humor

We actually had a sit down family dinner tonight.  It was very fun.  My kids are getting older and their personalities are shining through.  They are funny people.

Julianna said  "something was lost in the bathroom today." 
What? we all asked...
"Josh's dignity."

Evidently he took a big we won't say and forgot to wipe - Jules noticed the lack of tp.  Horrible, but Jules joke was funny!

French Dip

So I melded a few recipes together and came up with this recipe for French Dip.  It was awesome!!  I've been trying to blog all of my "experiments" in cooking here, so that I don't forget them.  It's been working out well for me.  I've been referencing my "blog"  cookbook.  Anyway, here is the recipe...

I used a giant roast, nearly a ten pound boneless top sirloin roast.  You could adjust the seasoning to taste for a smaller cut.
1 envelope dried italian dressing
1 envelope dried ranch dressing
1 can beef broth
3/4 C soy sauce
2 tbsp. liquid smoke
some garlic salt to taste

Place all of the ingredients in the crockpot and cook for a loooooong time.  I shred the meat and serve on french rolls with provolone cheese.  Serve the juice on the side to dip your sandwich in.  YUMMY!!!

Updates and Funnies (I started this post last week, just didn't get it finished.)

So my summer is nearly over.  Time goes by so fast!  The kids start school in one week and guess what?  Tyler starts seminary.  Can you believe it!?   That little (ish) baby boy that would stare up at me from the bassinet with a look of pure love is a grown up teenager.  What happened?  I still occasionally get the hugs and I love you's from him but the looks of pure love, not so much.  Some cute little girl will be getting them from him before to long I think.  I don't know if I am ready to share...

Matthew was pretty funny this week too.  We have some friends that spayed their puppy recently.  Matthew walked in their door and said, "your dog is wearing the CONE OF SHAME"  and he kept repeating himself.  "THE CONE OF SHAME."  We all got a kick out of it.  

Jules and I were talking about hair on your legs.  (Don't get me started.)  Matthew listened in on our conversation and asked; "How does hair grow on your legs?  Is it like, when you put water on them like a plant?"  Funny boy.  I will miss him when school starts.

First Day of School, 2010

What a happy and sad day the first day of school is!  I can't believe how old my kids are getting.  It's just so crazy.  They are so fun in so many different ways as they grow.  I will be posting pictures soon.  Poor Bells was just lost today.  She was a mess.  She followed me around all day fussing and crying...  I guess it will take some time for both of us to adjust.  (Sigh.....)

Circles

I found this lonely guy floating in my bathroom sink.  I'm not sure where he was off to.  I'm thinking he just kept going in circles wondering if he was ever going to get where he was going.

I can totally relate to him.

And, I had to take a picture because at some point I had a child that was telling this whole story in his head and had to make it as real as possible.  This was the very cute and creative result.  I wanted to hang on to the memory.  :)

Let's face it, my time for finding lego guys in my sink is ticking fast.  I am going to enjoy it!