Bucatini alla Palina – Pasta With Cauliflower

I pick up a lot of books at the Dollar Tree. This recipe was inspired by one of them: My Mother’s Kitchen. Being a fan of Bucatini, this was on the top of the list of “recipes to try” from the book. The recipe is similar to the one I found online here, but not exact. I encourage you to check the book out from the library, or pick it up on Amazon. I enjoyed it and will definitely make it again.

Differences between book/linked recipe and what I did:

  • I used dates instead of currants
  • Instead of onion I used shallot (like the book calls for)
  • I did not rinse my anchovies
  • I cut and boiled the cauliflower first, reused the water for the pasta
  • I definitely used BUCATINI

I do feel like the book simplifies this one quite a bit. Once I tweak it more to my liking (I like the idea of some red pepper flakes added) I may come back to repost. But I’d like to leave a breadcrumb of my thoughts because it was yummy. Give it a try!

Banana Peanut Butter Cookies

RECIPE

1 1/2 c. flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 small ripe banana (mashed)
1/3 c. packed brown sugar
1/4 c. butter (softened)
1/4 c. peanut butter
1 large egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 c. chocolate chips (optional, can use nuts, etc.)

Preheat oven to 375. Combine flour and baking soda in small bowl. In larger bowl, beat bananas, sugar, butter, peanut butter; add egg and vanilla and beat to combine. Add flour and stir to combine. Add optional chips or nuts. Drop by 1-inch rounds on baking sheet, and bake about 11 minutes.

Enjoy!

Easy Delicious Crockpot Roast (Comfort Food)

Super Easy Crockpot Roast – Youtube

This recipe was super easy and delicious. Instead of the pepperoncini used, I swapped for mushrooms (and loved it). Great recipe for electric camping (or rv), or college dorm when you’re craving a home-cooked meal. Perfect for fall comfort food. Only 5 ingredients!

RECIPE
2 lb. beef roast
1 packet ranch seasoning mix
1 packet au jus gravy mix
2 T. butter

Crockpot on HIGH 3 hours, or LOW 6.

Crockpot roast with vegetables and bread.

Stockpile/Clean Your Pantry Ham Soup

I made a delicious batch of soup from leftover ham during my January “eat your pantry down” semi-experiment. It was a happy experiment; perfect for leftovers from the holiday or a cheap supermarket deal on a ham.

Clean Your Pantry Ham Bean Soup
Let this be a forgiving recipe.
The goal is to use up ham and make cheap, tasty food.

Sauté In Pot (about 5 min.):
2 carrots, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1/2 onion, chopped
2 T. oil or butter

Add 1 T. (or more) of chopped garlic and sauté for about a minute.

Add:
32 oz. chicken stock
2 cans chopped tomatoes (undrained)
2 cans of chick peas (drained)
3 cans other beans (black, kidney, white… drained)
1/3 cup salsa verde (or other salsa, chopped jalapeños, etc. or omit)
1 can corn (I used frozen)
1 T. cumin

Simmer about an hour.