Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Daily Recipe Round-up for January 30, 2012


If anyone makes one of these recipes, I’d love for you to let me know, give me your thoughts and even take a picture or two.  I’d LOVE to start posting updates from other cooks, such as myself.  Don’t worry if it isn’t perfect.  That’s the point of this blog.

Betty Crocker

Prep Time: 10 Min
Total Time: 8 Hr 10 Min
Servings: 6

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Daily Recipe Round-up for January 20, 2012

If anyone makes one of these recipes, I’d love for you to let me know, give me your thoughts and even take a picture or two.  I’d LOVE to start posting updates from other cooks, such as myself.  Don’t worry if it isn’t perfect.  That’s the point of this blog.

Every Day with Rachael Ray

30-Minute Meal
4 servings

Friday, January 20, 2012

Daily Recipe Round-up for January 19, 2012


If anyone makes one of these recipes, I’d love for you to let me know, give me your thoughts and even take a picture or two.  I’d LOVE to start posting updates from other cooks, such as myself.  Don’t worry if it isn’t perfect.  That’s the point of this blog.

Every Day with Rachael Ray

6 Servings
Prep 10 min (plus standing)
Cook 35 min

Spices Checklist


If you know someone who is getting ready to go out on their own, this is a helpful list of spices to help them start their pantry.  I got it off of Real Simple’s website and then I added some of my own.

Spices are expensive, so if you’re willing to share some of your own, it would give them a great start.  Remember, the best way to store spices is in a sealed container kept out of sunlight, so find small glass jars with tight lids that can be labeled.




Thursday, January 19, 2012

Daily Recipe Round-up for January 18, 2012

If anyone makes one of these recipes, I’d love for you to let me know, give me your thoughts and even take a picture or two.  I’d LOVE to start posting updates from other cooks, such as myself.  Don’t worry if it isn’t perfect.  That’s the point of this blog.

Every Day with Rachael Ray

4 Servings
Prep 10 min
Cook 20 min

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Daily Recipe Round-up for January 17, 2012

If anyone makes one of these recipes, I’d love for you to let me know, give me your thoughts and even take a picture or two.  I’d LOVE to start posting updates from other cooks, such as myself.  Don’t worry if it isn’t perfect.  That’s the point of this blog.

Every Day with Rachael Ray

30-Minute Meals
4 servings

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo and Roasted Asparagus


Recipe modified by You Want Me to Cook? – August 25, 2011
For a commentary-free and printer-friendly version of it, please click here.
For a commentary-free and printer-friendly version of the Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo recipe, please click here.
For a commentary-free and printer-friendly version of the Roasted Asparagus recipe, please click here.

Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo recipe originally published in Cooking Light – September 2011.
Roasted Asparagus recipe originally published in Cooking Light – September 2011.

I love alfredo.  I REALLY love it.  Unfortunately, it has got to be one of the least healthy pasta dishes you can make.  Weighed down by cream and butter, it is one of those meals that we can only have once in a blue moon.  So imagine my excitement when I was presented with a healthier version of one of my favorite dishes.

You Want Me to Cook?
Shrimp Alfredo and Roasted Asparagus
Now I know what you’re thinking… it doesn’t look as good without alfredo sauce oozing all over the plate.  Trust me though.  It didn’t need it.  I didn’t get as pretty of a plating (or picture for that matter) but it still looked pretty close to that from the magazine.  I certainly wouldn’t push this away from me at the table.

Monday, January 16, 2012

Daily Recipe Round-up for January 16, 2012


If anyone makes one of these recipes, I’d love for you to let me know, give me your thoughts and even take a picture or two.  I’d LOVE to start posting updates from other cooks, such as myself.  Don’t worry if it isn’t perfect.  That’s the point of this blog.

Every Day with Rachael Ray

30-minute Meal
4 servings

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Daily Recipe Round-up for January 10, 2012


If anyone makes one of these recipes, I’d love for you to let me know, give me your thoughts and even take a picture or two.  I’d LOVE to start posting updates from other cooks, such as myself.  Don’t worry if it isn’t perfect.  That’s the point of this blog.

Every Day with Rachael Ray

4 Servings
Prep: 15 min
Cook: 1 hr

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Daily Recipe Round-up for January 9, 2012


If anyone makes one of these recipes, I’d love for you to let me know, give me your thoughts and even take a picture or two.  I’d LOVE to start posting updates from other cooks, such as myself.  Don’t worry if it isn’t perfect.  That’s the point of this blog.

Every Day with Rachael Ray

Servings: 4
30-minute Meal

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Weekend Recipe Round-up for January 7-8, 2012


If anyone makes one of these recipes, I’d love for you to let me know, give me your thoughts and even take a picture or two.  I’d LOVE to start posting updates from other cooks, such as myself.  Don’t worry if it isn’t perfect.  That’s the point of this blog.

Betty Crocker

Prep Time: 25 Min
Total Time: 25 Min
Servings: 2

Curry-Tomato Sauce with Whole Wheat Spaghetti and Chickpeas


Recipe modified by You Want Me to Cook? – August 24, 2011
For a commentary-free and printer-friendly version of it, please click here.

Recipe originally published in Every Day with Rachael Ray – May 2011.

It had been a while since I had made (and eaten) a vegetarian meal and I had been staring at this recipe for a long time.  I’m not sure why I was hesitant to make it.  It had many of my favorite things (curry, pasta, tomatoes) and had some healthy elements (whole wheat pasta, chickpeas, vegetarian).  Still, I never seemed to have a taste for it.  In fact, I bought all the groceries and didn’t make it for almost three weeks.

Finally, I sucked it up one night and made it.  Ringing endorsement, right?

© You Want Me to Cook?
Curry-Tomato Sauce with Whole Wheat Spaghetti and Chickpeas
Sure, it looks like a pasta you’d want to eat, but it wasn’t as chunky as the one pictured with the recipe.  I also didn’t realize what a difference the parsley made in presentation… not that I wasn’t going to eat it.  Their dish looks prettier, that’s all.

Friday, January 6, 2012

Daily Recipe Round-up for January 6, 2012


If anyone makes one of these recipes, I’d love for you to let me know, give me your thoughts and even take a picture or two.  I’d LOVE to start posting updates from other cooks, such as myself.  Don’t worry if it isn’t perfect.  That’s the point of this blog.

Every Day with Rachael Ray

4 Servings
30-minute Meal
Prep 5 min

Daily Recipe Round-up for January 5, 2012


If anyone makes one of these recipes, I’d love for you to let me know, give me your thoughts and even take a picture or two.  I’d LOVE to start posting updates from other cooks, such as myself.  Don’t worry if it isn’t perfect.  That’s the point of this blog.

Every Day with Rachael Ray

6 Servings
Prep 15 min
Cook 25 min

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Cheesy Chicken Bagel Pizzas


Recipe modified by You Want Me to Cook? – August 23, 2011
For a commentary-free and printer-friendly version of it, please click here.

Recipe originally published in Cooking Light – September 2011.

I often look for recipes that I can use to spice up my leftovers.  Funny thing, though, I rarely have leftovers to spice up, especially when it comes to extra chicken.  Usually I buy just enough when I’m making a sauce or casserole.  If I’m not using an entire rotisserie chicken, I’ll cut up the rest as treats for my dogs.

My generosity to the dogs has not been without consequence.  The following has actually happened:
  • One pug has drooled all over the floor to the point of having to wipe up the puddle.  He eventually looked like a rabid dog with the spit bubbles forming all over his mouth.
  • While I was getting the rest of the groceries from the car, the sack that contained the chicken was drug from the kitchen to the living room by same pug.  The other pug was betting on another sack and was munching on the bread I had brought home.
  • Our Chihuahua drew blood when I was trying to give her a piece of the chicken because one of the pugs made a move.  She decided it was going to be hers come hell or high water.  She got the chicken… and a little extra flesh.
Now when a chicken enters the house, I sense they all know part of it is for them.  I honestly don’t want to find out what would happen if they didn’t get a taste.

Even with the craziness of the rotisserie chicken, I decided that I wanted to try these chicken bagel pizzas because I usually have a lot of this stuff on hand.  I ended doubling the recipe using only the white meat of the bird.  I chopped up the rest of the dark meat as treats for the dogs… for which they gave me much love.

© You Want Me to Cook?
Cheesy Chicken Bagel Pizzas
It isn’t too far from the published photo with the recipe and it definitely looks eatable.  I think I let the cheese brown a little too long because it is starting to look a little charred.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Daily Recipe Round-up for January 4, 2012


If anyone makes one of these recipes, I’d love for you to let me know, give me your thoughts and even take a picture or two.  I’d LOVE to start posting updates from other cooks, such as myself.  Don’t worry if it isn’t perfect.  That’s the point of this blog.

Every Day with Rachael Ray

4 Servings
Prep 10 min
Cook 25 min

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Daily Recipe Round-up for January 3, 2012


If anyone makes one of these recipes, I’d love for you to let me know, give me your thoughts and even take a picture or two.  I’d LOVE to start posting updates from other cooks, such as myself.  Don’t worry if it isn’t perfect.  That’s the point of this blog.

Every Day with Rachael Ray

4 Servings
Prep 15 min

Daily Recipe Round-up for January 2, 2012


If anyone makes one of these recipes, I’d love for you to let me know, give me your thoughts and even take a picture or two.  I’d LOVE to start posting updates from other cooks, such as myself.  Don’t worry if it isn’t perfect.  That’s the point of this blog.

Every Day with Rachael Ray

4 Servings
Prep 20 min