One Pot Garlic Parmesan Pasta with Broccoli

I hope everyone had a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Classes have started back up for me. I am busier than I ever was, After November began, time flew. It was a very difficult end of 2015 for my family and I, but we made it through. That was one of the main reasons I have posted anything on my blog for such a long time. It went to the back burner after the beginning of November. 

The New Year has flown by, I can't believe it is already the beginning of February. Because I am so busy, sometimes I want something that's loaded with CARBS and quick to make. This One Pot Garlic Parmesan Pasta kicks butt. It is so yummy, and easy to make. Throw everything in pan, put a lid on it and stir it every so often? Sign me up! Because it's pasta, I don't have it often, but sometimes I just need a cheat on my healthy diet, and this usually does this trick. Plus, I add brocolli-- so that means the whole dish is healthy...?

Side notes: This pasta is cooked in the same pot from start to finish. This recipe can be doubles very nicely. The addition of the broccoli is optional. I add the broccoli about 10 minutes before the pasta is done cooking.

One Pot Garlic Parmesan Pasta with Brocolli

adapted from Damn Delicious

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 cups chicken broth

1 cup milk, or more, as needed

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

8 ounces uncooked fettuccine

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1 pkg. frozen broccoli (12-14 oz.) (optional) (fresh broccoli can be used)

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves

Directions:

1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.
2. Stir in chicken broth, milk, butter and fettuccine; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
3. Bring to a boil; add broccoli. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until pasta is cooked through, about 18-20 minutes. Stir in Parmesan. If the mixture is too thick, add more milk as needed until desired consistency is reached.
4. Serve immediately, garnished with parsley, if desired.

Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy your pasta!I know, I will! 

Peace, love, bake on.

                                             Andrea 

37 Pumpkin Recipes

Why is it that it is only acceptable to have pumpkin everything during the fall? I believe it should be socially acceptable to enjoy pumpkin in all it's many forms all year round. Let's raise up and say "We want pumpkin everyday all year round!" Let me hear you. 

I was looking for some Pumpkin recipes and found a whole bunch. I thought I would share the love. :) Here are 37 delicious, drool-worthy pumpkin recipes from soups to pasta to desserts from some of my favorite blogs and such. I started with desserts because I believe in having dessert first. 

Desserts:

1. No-Bake Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes 

                                                   

2. The Best Pumpkin Cream Cheese- Filled Brownies

3. Pumpkin Pecan Cobbler (Do I have to share?)

4. Clean Eating Pumpkin Ice Cream

5. Pumpkin-Oat Chocolate Chip Cookies

6. Slower Cooker Sticky Caramel Pumpkin Cake

7. Pumpkin Creme Brulee (I love creme brulee!!)

8. Oatmeal Pumpkin Creme Pies

9. Pumpkin Cheesecake with Salted Caramel Sauce

10. White Chocolate Pumpkin Spice Fudge

11. Pumpkin Cheesecake Truffle (Low Carb!!)

12. Pumpkin Better Than... Cake (a poke cake!)

13. Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting (Good anytime of the year!)

14.Pumpkin Roll (No list would be complete with out a Pumpkin Roll recipe.)

Breakfast:

15. Pumpkin French Toast (yes, please.)

16. Pumpkin Donut Holes

17. The Best Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls (I'm drooling right now.)

18. Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Pancakes

19. Starbucks Pumpkin Scone 

Pasta:

20. Skinny Pumpkin Pasta Bake

21. Creamy Pumpkin Prosciutto Rigatoni

22. Creamy Pumpkin Pasta Bake

Soups:

23. Pumpkin Chili

24. Low Carb Pumpkin Sausage Soup

25. Creamy Panera Autumn Squash Soup

26. Creamy Parmesan Pumpkin Soup

Breads:

27. Moist Pumpkin Bread

28. Pumpkin Cornbread

Beverages:

29. Crock Pot Pumpkin Spiced Latte (take a sip of that after a long day!!)

30. Pumpkin Pie Frappe (Drink your pie!!)

31.  Best Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte  (save you a bit of money :) )

32. Iced Pumpkin Spice Coffee

33. Skinny Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino 

Extras:

34. Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice

35. Homemade Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamer (Just another reason to drink coffee)

36. Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

37. Pumpkin Spice Rice Krispies (Kids will love these.)

I hope you get your fair share of pumpkin this Fall and everyday of the year. And don't forget to share the love of Pumpkin with those that you love. I hope you have a very happy Fall (and lots of Pumpkin). :)

Peace, Love, Bake on.

                                                   Andrea

Healthy Homemade Iced Coffee

Every time I have ever purchased an ice coffee from a restaurant, I have never really liked it. Probably because both times, I went to McDonald's and tried their iced coffee. Both times I did so, it had a horrible  after taste and I'd only go back for another sip just to get rid of the taste that was left after each time I went in for another drink. As you can see, it ended up being this continuous cycle. Everyone I worked with and went to school with kept raving about iced coffee. What was I missing that they were enjoying so much? How did they enjoy this iced coffee that I hated so much? I mean really. Finally, I found a basic recipe somewhere-- I am not really sure where as I can't remember where I found it. This recipe is a skeleton. You can dress it up as much as you would like. I like my iced coffee simple. So, I stick to the basics not doing much to it. If it's not broken, it doesn't need a flavored syrup. :) 

I like to make my own iced coffee because I can control what goes into it. I know all the ingredients that I am going to be drinking and putting into my body. I can control how much sweetener or sugar is used or how much milk is put into it. Not only, I find that making my own iced coffee ends up making my calorie intake lower. This recipe is quick and easy, which only makes me love it more. 

Here is how I make my iced coffee:

  

1 cup coffee

3/4 - 1 cup almond milk

1 dash of Vanilla

2 Tbs. - 1/4 cup Splenda 

I then stir all the ingredients together. I place in a cute mason jar and put it in the fridge or freezer to cool. How much sugar or milk I use depends on how strong the coffee is brewed. Generally, I like my iced coffee to be bit sweeter.  

This is how I make my iced coffee. Use this recipe as the block and build what you would like with it. Make it fit the flavors you desire. If you don't like almond milk, use the milk of your choice. Don't like Splenda? Use Sugar or Stevia. It's all up to you. Don't what it to have a strong coffee flavor, dial back the coffee and add extra milk. It's all in your hands now.

Once I found this very basic recipe, I found a starting point that I needed to guide me in the right direction. Sometimes, I add a little caramel sauce or chocolate sauce for added flavor. Let this be your guide. The sky's the limit. Now I'm going to go pour myself a glass of ice coffee and enjoy a good book. Have a great day. 

Peace, love, bake on.

                                   Andrea

17 Mouthwatering & Crowd-Pleasing Burgers

It's been far to long since I last posted something new. The last time I wrote I was in the middle of a hectic semester trying to keep my head above the water in Calc II. I kept afloat and will now be sailing on to Calc III. Yay! I say "yay" only  because I passed Calc II not because I love math and am excited for the riveting material waiting for me Calc III. I would like to thank my family, most especially my grandmother who offered many prayers for me to help me pass the final. Since the end of the summer, I have been on the go. I have also been struggling with what to write. I would this idea in the middle of the day or during an event, but then I would sit down to write it  and my mind would go blank or I couldn't get my thoughts together. It's been really frustrating. What has helped to get this post together is that I am house sitting for a week, so I have plenty of time alone to gather my thoughts. I have few things in the works that I will hopefully get together soon. 

Summer means it's time for cook outs and get togethers. I always want to prepare delicious recipes that will please a crowd. Burgers are always a classic during the summer. They are easy to make and dress up. 
I scoured the internet and found 17 crowd-pleasing and mouthwatering burger recipes that are sure to please a crowd and make mouths waters. 
Please give it up for the 17 stars of this post. 

1. Jalapeño Burger

2. Chipotle Mac and Cheeseburger

3. Teriyaki Burgers with Grilled Pineapple 

4. Grilled Meatloaf Burger

5. Double Double Animal Style Burger

6. Bacon Blue Cheese Burger

7. Chipotle Veggie Burger

8. Asian Style Burger

9. Patty Melts

10. Blueberry Burger

11. Italian Sausage Burgers

12. French Fry Bourbon Burger

13. Smoked Bacon Cheddar Burger

14. Cheeseburger Meatball Grilled Cheese

15. Ultimate Bacon 'n Egg Burger

16. Guacamole Bacon Burger

Last but not least...

17. Italian Meatball Burger

I hope you try out a few of these recipes this summer because I know I will. At the very least, let these recipes inspire you to make a delicious burger that suits you and your family. Or make these for a crowd to make them drool. Which ever works for you.

Have a very fun summer! I hope it's a splash!

Peace, love, bake on.

                                      Andrea