Baked Ziti

So the other day I made this Easy "Meaty" Vegetarian ziti and it was so delish I thought id share. you can easily add spinach or other veggies in there for a fresher ziti as well.

• 3/4 of a box of ziti noodle or so
• 1 and 1/2  cups of ricotta cheese
• 1 lbs of shredded mozzarella
• 1/2 a package of gimme lean soy sausage 
• 1 cup give or take boca crumbles
• 1/2 an onion 
• 2 tsps of minced garlic
• 2 teaspoons of dried thyme
•  2 teaspoons of dried basil
• 1 jar of your favorite store bought or homemade spagetti sauce. I always buy newsman own out of taste and convenience

1.  Cook pasta until Al dente. While pasta is cooking,  put oil and onions and garlic in a pan to saute  for 3 to 4 minutes add soy sausage and crumbles to this. Cook till soy sausage is "browned" .
2. In baking dish mix sauce, basil, thyme, ricotta cheese,1/2 your mozzarella, and onion and "meat" mix .
3. stir in pasta and top with the remaining mozzarella cheese and parm if you wish. 
4. Bake in oven  at 350 until cheese is bubbling about 30 minutes.

Weekend treats...

So this weekend I endulged in some late night baking pleasure.
It is always easier to bake when the kiddo is asleep :) I made a double batch of chocolate chip cookie to sell at a yard sale and some yummy banana bread for the next mornings breakfast. Well I made the bread and quickly got it in the oven due and then I started to make the cookies and my hand mixer gave out on me. Oh what a sad day. Maybe its time to upgrade to a stand up mixer

Anyways here is the recipes

Brown Sugar Banana Bread

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons of butter softened 
• 1/4 cup of applesauce
• 2 eggs 
• 2 tbl milk
• 3/4 cup of packed light brown sugar
• 1 cup mashed banana usually just do 2 good sized bananas 3 if they are smaller
• 1 and 3/4 cup all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup coarsely chopped walnuts or pecan

1.  Beat butter, applesauce, eggs, milk, and brown sugar in large mixing bowl until smooth. Add Banana and blend on low speed; beat at high speed 1 to 2 minutes.
2. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt mix into batter mix in nuts. Pour into greased loa pan 8 x 4x2  inches
3.  bake at 350 until bread is golden and toothpick comes out clean 55 to 60 minutes cool in pan for 10 mins. then remove and cool to room temperature.

and Martha Stewart's Chewy chocolate chip cookies

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature---Very important part! This is what makes them chewy!
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups (about 12 ounces) semisweet and/or milk chocolate chips personally i use a mix of bittersweet and semi sweet

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
   Combine the butter with both sugars; beat on medium speed until light and fluffy. Reduce speed to low; add the salt, vanilla, and eggs. Beat until well mixed, about 1 minute. Add flour mixture; mix until just combined. Hand stir in the chocolate chips.
   
2. Drop heaping tablespoon-size balls of dough about 2 inches apart on baking sheets
   
3. Bake until cookies are golden around the edges, but still soft in the center, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from oven, and let cool on baking sheet 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool completely. Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week.
   

So I offically have entered blogging territory

Hello blog world!

Im just throwing a blog up here to see how we are looking so far. When i get some food inspirations I will be blogging some more but for now the weather is gloomy the refrigerator is kinda empty and im fresh out idea for today. 

my Heart:

 Spring in Georgia:

31 weeks preggo!

  Oh how i miss Colorado already!

Maybe a few  inspiring picture will help complete my somewhat random pregnancy thoughts :)