Thank heavens for dads!!

So, since it is our anniversary coming up this weekend,
(19 Wonderful Years)
I thought I would do a post about my “Weekend Chef Hubby”!

Tracy is SO much fun to be married to and always likes to “experiment” cook on the weekends and that is fun because I get a break and the kids really enjoy the things he makes. (Oh and, Tracy also likes us to make up brownies every once in awhile on the weekends…if it weren’t for Tracy I would never make up brownies because it goes against my “frugal side”…2 cubes of butter, 2 cups of sugar and 4 eggs…instead I opt to make up my
Double Chocolate cookies (click here)
that only call for 1 cube of butter, 1 cup of sugar and 1 egg).

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Dads sure bring FUN to the weekend home life!
From making pancake breakfasts to making yummy lunches and dinners!
My kids enjoy weekends very much and
it is because they have such an awesome dad!

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I am a LUCKY woman to have a husband
who eases my burdens and brings so much
joy and fun to my life!
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I am going to post 2 of Tracy’s recipes and our favorite brownie recipe. For anyone who has picky eaters I think either of these recipes would be enjoyable for them!
(click here for another one of Tracy's weekend favorites)
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This first dish (Creamy Noodle Parmesan) we found on the back of a Ramen package and gave it a try and our kids loved it, however, To me Ramen is pretty nutritionally bankrupt, but it does make a great treat to enjoy at the top of a mountain to warm up after a long day of hiking!

So, Tracy made some modifications to it and has also made this with 2 different kinds of pasta (Angel Hair and Rigatoni) and they both went over well with the kids and these recipes use just basic staple ingredients….nothing fancy that we don’t have in the house. We seem to be having this almost every weekend....that is what the kids beg for when Tracy asks what he should make for dinner.
Great way for your kids to eat veggies
with something they all love PASTA!

What happens when you take
all of the above ingredients and mix them all together?
VOILA!!
A yummy meal to enjoy with your kids!

Creamy Noodle Parmesan
4 cups pasta (either Rigatoni, pasta spirals, OR 4 oz of angel hair pasta) (cooked drained and set aside)
1 cup chopped cooked turkey or chicken (OR 1 can cannery chicken)
4 chopped carrots
4 chopped celery stalks
1 large chopped onion
1-2 cloves minced garlic
sprinkling of chopped chives
Handful of sliced freeze dried mushrooms (I use TONES brand)
2 tsp chicken bouillon
2 tsp chicken gravy mix
2 tsp Italian seasoning
Olive oil, scant milk, crushed red pepper, grated Parmesan cheese

Saute onions and garlic in small amount of olive oil until translucent.
Add a minimum amount of water, chicken, chives, mushrooms carrots, celery and a "pinch" of crushed red pepper, chicken bouillon and chicken gravy mix.
Cook until carrots are desired tenderness.
Add water if needed but keep water to a minimum.
Add in Italian seasoning and a small amount of milk.
Mix in pasta
Serve garnished with grated cheese and more crushed red pepper if desired.

TIP...start cooking pasta so it is finished around the same time as the sauce so it doesn't sit and get starchy.

(OPTION...subsitiute noodles and chicken seasonings with 2 packages of Creamy Chicken Ramen, including the seasoning packets)

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This next recipe is a minestrone recipe that Tracy discovered on the back of a package of pasta and he made adjustments to it to be more conducive to ingredients we always have on hand and this is another hit as well.
And this recipe actually tastes better the next day!

Minestrone (Tracy’s creation)
2 cups of pasta spirals
1 pound ground beef
1 large chopped onion
1 (15oz) can tomato sauce (PLUS 1-1/2 cans water)
2 cups chopped carrots and celery
6 cups water
2 beef bouillon cubes (OR 2 tsp. Tones Beef Base paste)
1 tsp basil leaves
1 tsp marjoram leaves
½ tsp garlic powder

In soup pot, brown meat and onions—drain.
Stir in the next 8 ingredients and bring to a boil—
reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes—
Add pasta spirals and cook another 10 minutes.
Serve with FRESH grated Parmesan or Swiss cheese.

(Great meal served with bread sticks or French bread)

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And last but not least….BROWNIES!!

Brownies
2 cubes butter
6 Tbsp. Cocoa
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 cups flour
½ tsp. Salt
2 tsp vanilla
(1/2 cup chopped nuts—optional)
Melt butter with cocoa in microwave.
Add other ingredients and mix well. Bake at 350* for 30 minutes in a greased 9x13 pan.
Do not over bake.
The brownies will appear doughy but are really done.