I'm All About Cute Food {tortellini kabob recipe}

Tortellini Kabob Appetizer

I know I've been largely MIA.... as penance thought I'd try to throw out a couple festive EASY make ahead appetizers each week as the holidays stroll up and get us.  These are so good and truly best if they are made the day before but not required.

This recipe will make about 80 kabobs.... cut it down as you need, but they keep as a yummy snack for a few days in fridge so don't skimp too much :)


Tortellini Kabobs

WHAT YOU NEED:
1 package of tortellini [I used the mixed spinach and white so I'd have even more color]
1 quart cherry or grape tomatoes [halved]
3 yellow or orange peppers [cleaned & cut into small squares]
1/2 cup of your favorite Italian Dressing or Vinaigrette
80 6-inch bamboo sticks

Cook your tortellini as per package instructions to al dente, drain and set aside to cool while you cut your vegetables.

Once prepped start kabob-ing.... tomato "cap up" then green tortellini, then pepper, then white tortellini and finish with a tomato "cap down" line up in a Tupperware or glass 9x13 dish drizzling lightly the dressing on each layer before piling the next on top.  No need to separate these, I've had no sticking issues.  Cover tightly and refrigerate until ready to use.

They are bright, festive and no fuss appetizer or light luncheon item.  Enjoy!

WOW MEET EASY {6 Ingredient Springform Rigatoni Pie}



Springform Rigatoni Pie

I kept seeing pictures of this recipe and was dying for an event that would call for it..... then when planning dinners for the week my three little nieces were visiting... yup!   Kid friendly, adult impressing....

This is one of those recipes that has such a visual wow factor that one might be intimidated

and think they can't do or

they aren't a "good enough" cook. 

BAH! This is an awesome dish

with really no hard work SWEAR! 

{I guess you could keep that between us....} 

Taste wise:  it's a cross between lasagna and baked ziti and could be modified to accommodate just about any diet based on your choices {vegetarian, gluten free, low fat}.

Best news?  I founds dozens of recipes for this and while most had lists of ingredients as long as your arm.... NO NEED.  Don't go there.  SIX ingredients {5 if you are vegetarian LOL}. 

It's my new motto.... life does NOT need to be complicated.  Nor does your crazy mind blowing rigatoni pie....

Getting Crocked {Spicy Chicken & Chorizo Stew}

Spicy Chicken & Chorizo Stew

Cooks Illustrated Make-Ahead Recipes 2012 is definitely a magazine worth buying.... I saved no less than 10 recipes from it that sounded to die for.  This was the first one I made and it was fabulous... I made a few changes based on my unwillingness to touch a pan if I'm crocking [as well as my tastes and what I had on hand] but this is a recipe I will make again and again, it was so worth it.

Who doesn't love a good TV Dinner? {Salisbury Steak Recipe}

thanks www.brandland.com

I LOVE Salisbury Steak.  Of course I'm always visualizing the Salisbury steak of yesteryear that came with mashed potatoes and corn in my Swanson's TV Dinner.  Those things were special when I was growing up.  We only got to have them when my Mom & Dad were going out... and I do miss them.  Periodically I will attempt to recreate them.  They always turn out like Meatloaf or Burgers.   Discussing this conundrum with MaryAnn amongst our Daily Minutia she bragged that SHE had the technique for the "Best Ever Salisbury Steaks," I was VERY excited and next thing you know I had her signed up to write a guest blog.... 

Back ground:  MaryAnn is my BFF, we met at the lunch table in 8th grade [maybe 9th] and no matter how many miles have been between us over the years we've remained inseparable. Everyone should have a BFF like her.
I love MaryAnn.  I love MaryAnn ALMOST as much as I love Salisbury Steak. 

My BFF a/k/a maker of the
BEST EVER SALISBURY STEAK

And that's A LOT.  

So, as promised she wrote a blog and I was saving this for a day when I was way too weary to write my own blog.  Today is THAT day.
Enough introduction..... here's my BFFs Blog....

BEST EVER SALISBURY STEAK RECIPE 

I usually make a lot of this, because it freezes really well, and is great as leftovers… tonight I used 6 pounds of ground meat!  Here are the basic ingredients for 1 pound of meat.

1 pound ground beef

1/3 cup dry bread crumbs

Parsley

Salt

Pepper
1 egg

1 large thinly sliced onion (I use Videlia or any sweet onion)

1 can of sliced mushrooms

1 box College Inn Beef broth

My BFF's BSP {Shepherd's Pie Recipe}

Shepherd's Pie a la MaryAnn

There are days when you just need that comfort food, nothin' fancy, nothin' particularly healthy just plain old yummy.  Today is one of those days.  Not to digress but every article I read about blogging says YUMMY is a huge No-No and to lose it from your vocabulary IMMEDIATELY.  But I cannot stop.  So, I guess I'm destined to fail.... but I'll go down in a burst of yumminess,  that I can assure you.  


Back to business, My BFF shared her BSP {Best Shepherd's Pie} with me..... and it was so flippin' yummy, I'm sharing it with you.  I'm hoping if we suck up sufficiently that NEXT she'll share her Chocolate Cake recipe, but in the meanwhile....


BEST SHEPHERD'S PIE
HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED:
for the top
· 2 pounds potatoes, such as russet, peeled and cubed
· 2 tablespoons butter
· 1 large egg yolk
· 1/2 cup cream, for a lighter version or as I like to say.... to miss the                 whole point of comfort food.... substitute vegetable or chicken broth
· Salt and ground black pepper
for the bottom· 2 pounds ground beef or ground turkey
· 3-4 carrots, peeled and chopped {I cheated and used the pre-cut crinkle ones}

The "Best" says Mar

· 1 onion, chopped finely
· 4 tablespoons butter
· 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
· 2 cup beef stock 
· 2 TBSP Worcestershire
· 1/2 38. oz. can Hanover brand but green beans {MaryAnn says they are THE BEST and I most concede they are quite yum and better than that they were a buck less than DelMonte}
· 1 teaspoon each kosher salt & pepper
· 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves


HERE'S WHAT YOU DO:
for the top

• Boil potatoes in salted water until tender, about 12 minutes. 
• Drain potatoes and pour them into a bowl with the butter. 
• Combine egg yolk and cream. 
• Add the cream mixture into potatoes and mash until potatoes are almost smooth. {I do this all in my Kitchen Aid rather than mash}

for the bottom

• While potatoes boil, preheat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add beef or turkey. Season meat with salt and pepper. Brown and crumble meat for 3 or 4 minutes.  
• Add chopped carrot and onion to the meat. Cook veggies with meat 8-10 minutes, stirring frequently. 
• In a second small skillet over medium heat cook butter and flour together 2 minutes. Whisk in broth and Worcestershire sauce. Thicken gravy 1 minute. Add gravy to meat and vegetables. Stir in green beans.
• Preheat broiler to low. 
• Fill a rectangular casserole or 9 x 13 with meat and vegetable mixture 
• {I used a throwaway tin pan because I wanted to be done with dishes}; Spoon potatoes over meat evenly. 
• Broil 6 to 8 inches from the heat until potatoes are evenly browned {about 5-7 minutes}. 
• Top casserole dish with chopped parsley and serve. 

  

  one "complete", one half way there
  waiting on the potatoes

      THANKS MAR! XXOO