Tasty Tuesday-Pinterest Recipes

I love Pinterest! I could spend hours just pinning away! One of the things I love to pin most is recipes. I have been making an effort to make at least one-to-two new recipes from my recipe board once a week. My family has been having fun trying and rating some new recipes. I have two new ones for you today. Keep on reading to see if they are a yay or nay.
Here is the original pin for recipe 1 http://jujugoodnews.com/taco-pasta-bake/ 

*I made the recipes a little bigger so we would have leftovers for lunch the next day.
Please see original pin for smaller portion size, this would make about 8 hearty portions* I used 1 1/4 lb lean ground beef,
1 1/2 pounds Rigatoni pasta (box and a half), 1 medium onion; diced small, 1 1/2 packages taco seasoning
(yes, I cheat sometimes), 1 -8 oz package of cream cheese, and  2 1/2-3 C of shredded  cheese, your favorite.
Pre-heat your oven to 350 and get your pasta cooking (according to package directions).

Heat large skillet over med-high heat and throw in a little oil, we used olive oil.
While skillet is getting hot, dice your onion.

Fry up your onion and beef together. When cooked through, add your taco seasoning and 1 1/2 C of water.
Turn heat down to medium and cook about 5 minutes to let the sauce reduce and thicken.
Add the cream cheese and stir often until cheese is melted.

Drain pasta and add beef mixture and 1 1/2 C of shredded cheese to your pasta pot and
mix well to combine.

I sprayed my 9X11 Pyrex with some non stick spray. Add pasta mixture and top with
remaining cheese. See that little un-cheesed corner? Jacob has decided he only likes cheese
on pizza-go figure!

                                         Bake 25-30 minutes or until cheese is bubbly. So what's the verdict?......



                                         five enthusiastic thumbs up! What will I do different next time? I would 
                                         make a little extra sauce. It is a little dry on day two so I heated the leftovers
                                         up in a pan with a little water, taco seasoning, and cream cheese.

I think we have all seen the next pin-The Polar Express Hot Chocolate (AKA The best hot chocolate you've ever tasted). Who in their right mind wouldn't want to make this;)? Even though we were getting ready to watch the Grinch and not Polar Express I figured it was still OK to make.  Here is the original link http://honeyandfitz.blogspot.com/2011/12/polar-express-hot-chocolate-recipe-aka.html#axzz2DU7d9DyI

                                         What you will need. 1 1/2 C heavy cream, 1 (14oz) can sweetened
                                          Condensed milk, 2 C (standard size bag) of bittersweet chocolate chips,
                                           6 C of milk, and 1 tsp of vanilla extract.

                                         Combine all ingredients in a large pot over low heat and stir regularly
                                                 for 30-40 minutes or until all the chocolate is melted and incorporated with the
                                                 other ingredients.

                                         I served ours with fun Christmas shaped marshmallows and left over
                                                  Cool-Whip. The verdict is......



                                                  Eh, from my two little ones, they like my regular homemade hot chocolate better.
                                                  Alison (17) thought is was really good. Hubby and I enjoyed it but it is so rich.
                                                  What would I do different? I would add another Cup of milk to the mixture just to
                                                  cut the sweetness a bit. We had quite a bit leftover and I put it in the refrigerator
                                                  and it held up well for 3 days. My hubba hubba hubby had some the next day cold
                                                  he added a little extra milk to his glass and said it was way better as
                                                  chocolate milk!

I would love to feature your recipes! Please email me at frabv2357@q.com with the recipe you would like to share

and I will be sure to feature it here!

 

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

Pin It