Good Mood Food.:)

     I love food {especially, really good food!!} and really enjoy cooking! I am not the most amazing cook, but I like to do it....Baking is not so much my thing... I like it too, but stuff doesn't turn out as good as the stuff I cook. :) LOL. Anyway, I have been trying some new recipes around here and I thought I would share them just in case anyone else is itching to try something new.:) We have been very happy with them, and I am going to definitely be making them again. Some, like the bread sticks and biscuits, I have made a couple times already...

     These, Butter Dip Biscuits, are fast and good. If you need something quick and don't want to make a big mess, these are your answer.:) Also, these Garlic Breadsticks are amazing!! One other recipe I tried from this blog is Baked Penne and we really loved it.:)

     The last recipe I must type in because it is out of one of my books and I can't find the exact version of it online. It is amazing and, every once in a while, well worth the little extra effort it takes.:)

Fettuccine alla Carbonara

12oz uncooked fettuccine or spaghetti
4oz pancetta or bacon cut crosswise into 1/2in wide strips
3 cloves garlic, cut in halves
1/4 cup dry white wine ( I used apple juice)
1/3 cup whipping cream
1 egg
1 egg yolk
2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
Pepper and whatever other seasoning you like to add

Cook noodles , drain well, cover and keep warm.

Cook and stir pancetta or bacon and garlic in large skillet over medium-low heat 4 min or until lightly browned. Reserve 2 TBS dripping in skillet with pancetta. Discard garlic and remaining drippings.

Add wine to pancetta mixture; cook over medium heat 3 min or until wine has almost evaporated. Add cream; cook and stir 2 min. Remove from heat.

Whisk egg and egg yolk in top of double boiler. Place top of double boiler over simmering water, adjusting heat to maintain simmer. Whisk 1/3c cheese and seasonings into egg mixture; cook and stir until sauce has thickened slightly.

Pour pancetta mixture over fettuccine; toss to coat. Cook over medium-low heat until heated through. Add egg mixture; toss to coat. Sprinkle with remaining cheese; serve immediatly.

Makes 4 servings

Sewing

     Sewing is something I am not very good at and I don't really know that much about it.... However, I have had my machine out a little more lately and have actually  been enjoying it.:) I have been putting some sleeves in  scrub tops for my Mother-in-law, attempted to turn a regular skirt into a maternity skirt for Debbie, my sister-in-law {Thanks to an amazing tutorial ,Mandy, my other sister-in-law, found.:)}, and sewed a little curtain for the microwave cart in my kitchen! :)

We took the maternity panel from a pair of pants, cut out the zipper, sewed that shut, then cut off the waist band and sewed the panel on...

The happy after.:)

The wretched before.:(

~ A Fireplace ~

     Growing up we always had a wood stove, as did all of our friends, so you learned to love them! :) We have been wanting to get an electric fireplace for quite some time, just never found the right deal.... The other day my bro and sis in-law, Marcus and Mandy, were at this thrift store that sells all of Kmart's "leftovers", etc. They found this one for an amazingly good steal of a deal! It fits quite well in our living room and we are enjoying it... They say good things come to those who wait, however, I am just not very good at the waiting part.:(

PS. An electric fire can never replace a real one, but it goes a long way in helping!! :)

Our New Dog

     A week ago we adopted a 9 month old puppy who was going to go to the pound if he was not able to find a home. He is much bigger than we were told and needs some major good manners training, however, he is very sweet and generally a good dog.:) Dakota (He came with that name) is a Coon Hound ( Redbone from what we can tell) with probably some German Shepherd in him....

After his bath before he went to live outside.:)

Wore out from all the dog excitement!