"Healthier" Fettuccine Alfredo Sauce

Recipe from: flouronmyface.com

If you saw our "A" date post from last week, you'll know we made Fettuccine Alfredo for dinner! This is the recipe we used, which seemed to have a little less fattening stuff than a lot of recipes :p We'll use a little bit less salt next time, but otherwise it was wonderful! 

Ingredients: 

- 1 (1 lb) box of Fettuccine noodles, cooked

- 4 Tablespoons butter

- 3 Tablespoons flour

- 1 teaspoon salt (I think we'll use 1/2 teaspoon next time)

- 1/2 teaspoon pepper

- 2 cups milk

- 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese

Directions: 

1. In a medium sized pot, heat butter, salt, and pepper over a medium heat.

2. Once butter has melted, add the flour and whisk until smooth.

3. Slowly pour in the milk in and whisk.

4. Turn heat up a little bit, to medium-high.

5. Add 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese. (Add more cheese if the taste isn't strong enough for you)

6. Continue whisking about 5-7 minutes until sauce has thickened. 

    Sauce will continue to thicken a bit as it cools 

We dished out the pasta, and then added our own sauce, but you could also mix the pasta and sauce together and then dish it out like that. We also served with these easy dinner rolls!

Whole Wheat Penne Pasta w/ Meat Sauce

Recipe from: Fantastical Sharing of Recipes 

(be sure to check her blog out, she has great recipes!!)

Ingredients: 

- 1 (13.25 oz) box whole wheat penne pasta

 (pictured is whole grain, but we've done both!)

- 1 large onion, chopped

- 2 cloves garlic, chopped

- olive oil

- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

- red pepper flakes

- dried thme

- 1 lb. ground beef

- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil

- 28 oz. chunky tomato sauce 

the first time we made this, we used Muir Glen, and I definitely recommend that! ;)

- 1 teaspoon Sugar

- Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions: 
1. Remove cloves from garlic.

2. Chop onions and cloves of garlic.

3. Bring a pot of water to a boil. (For the pasta)

4. While waiting for water to boil, heat olive oil in a large skillet on medium heat. 

5. Add chopped onion and Italian seasoning. (You can add the chopped onion and then the seasoning, we just did them at one time because it was easier)

6. Add a dash of red pepper flakes. 

7. Cook the onions for about 5 minutes, until onions are soft. 

8. Add the garlic, dash of thyme, and salt and pepper to taste.

9. Cook for about 1 minute.

10. Remove onions and place in a bowl. 

11. In the same skillet, cook the ground beef, crumbling as it browns. (Drain if needed)

12. Once beef is no longer pink, add cooked onions.

13. Add tomato sauce, sugar, and basil.

14. Simmer on low heat uncovered for about 15 minutes.

15. By this time, your pot of water should be boiling, add 1 Tablespoon of salt, and bring back to a boil.

16. Add pasta into pot, and cook. (Follow instructions on your box, ours took about 9 minutes) 

17. Drain the pasta.

18. Add pasta to tomato sauce mixture, and mix it all together. (Or you can serve the pasta and scoop sauce onto it, whatever you prefer!)

19. And you're done.. Yay! :) 

Oh, and those rolls in the back? I LOVE them! :p Here's the kind I use:

Dad's Clam Chowder

Since today is officially the "first day of Winter" I thought I'd share one of my FAVORITE things to eat! It's my first "food" recipe, all of my others have been desserts. Let's just say, I like baking better than cooking.. My dad says it's the OCD coming out in me :p

If you've been reading my blog for awhile, you'll know I don't eat seafood. At all. This is the one exception to that! I love clam chowder. But are you ready for the "I'm so picky" part? My dad's clam chowder is the only one I like.. I've tried it at restaurants, but none of them even come close to Dad's! Maybe it's because of his secret ingredient.. and today, he's given me permission to share it! The secret? Sugar! Yep :) 

Ingredients: 

- 1 cup onion, chopped

- 1 cup celery, chopped

- 2 cup potatos, chopped

- 2 (6 oz) minced clams

- 3/4 cup flour

- 3/4 cup butter

- 1 quart Half and Half

- 1 Tablespoon Sugar

- Salt and Pepper to taste

For the onion, celery, and potatoes, you can cut them up however small you'd like.. 

It's all just about how you'd like to eat them ;) 

Directions: 

(pictures below!)

Veggie Mix

1. Peel the potatoes

2. Chop the potatoes, onion, and celery

3. Pour veggies into a large saucepan

4. Open cans of clams and pour the juices over the vegetables

5. Fill saucepan with enough water to just cover the veggies

6. Place on high and let it come to a boil.

7. Turn down to medium-high and leave it there for about 15-20 minutes, without a lid

Chowder "Paste"

1. In a separate pot, melt butter on high (We used a dutch oven, but a pot would work too!)

2. Pour flour into melted butter and combine 

3. Quickly pour in the half and half, and combine

      It will thicken as you stir it.. continue to stir it slowly until it's about the thickness of pancake batter.

      Be careful not stop stirring for very long, or it will start to stick to the bottom

      If it seems too thick, that's how it should be, it will get thinner once you add the veggies with the water! 

4. Once it's reached the right thickness, remove from heat

To Finish the Chowder: 

1. Pour veggie mix into the chowder paste

2. Add clams, and mix them in

3. Add sugar and mix well

4. Add salt and pepper to taste

It is soooo good, I love it :) And yes, I will be eating leftovers of this tonight! :)

I hope everyone has a very very Merry Christmas!

(text only)

Items needed:

- 1 cup onion, chopped

- 1 cup celery, chopped

- 2 cup potatos, chopped

- 3/4 cup flour

- 3/4 cup butter

- 1 quart Half and Half

- 1 Tablespoon Sugar

- Salt and Pepper to taste

Veggie Mix:

1. Peel the potatoes 2. Chop the potatoes, onion, and celery 3. Pour veggies into a large saucepan 4. Open cans of clams and pour the juices over the vegetables 5. Fill saucepan with enough water to just cover the veggies 6. Place on high and let it come to a boil. 7. Turn down to medium-high and leave it there for about 15-20 minutes, without a lid

Chowder "Paste":

1. In a separate pot, melt butter on high (We used a dutch oven, but a pot would work too!) 2. Pour flour into melted butter and combine  3. Quickly pour in the half and half, and combine  4. Once it's reached the right thickness, remove from heat

Complete: 

1. Pour veggie mix into the chowder paste 2. Add clams, and mix them in 3. Add sugar and mix well 4. Add salt and pepper to taste