P.F. Changs Lettuce Wraps

Anyone else love P.F. Changs Lettuce Wraps? I sure do! Believe it or not...I didn't go searching for this one!

http://iowagirleats.com/2011/04/26/p-f-changs-lettuce-wraps-remade/

Ingredients:
1lb ground chicken breast
1/2 medium onion, minced
salt & pepper, a dash of each
2 large cloves garlic, minced
1 inch nob fresh ginger, peeled & minced
1 Tablespoon sesame oil
2 1/2 Tablespoons soy sauce
1/2 Tablespoon water
1 Tablespoon natural peanut butter
1/2 Tablespoon honey
1 Tablespoons + 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
2 teaspoons chili garlic sauce (or more if you like it hotter)
dash of fresh pepper
3 green onions, chopped
1/2-8oz can sliced water chestnuts, drained & chopped
1/4 cup peanuts, chopped
10-12 large outer lettuce leaves, rinsed and patted dry

Directions:

1. Heat a large, non-stick skillet on high. Add chicken, onion, salt & pepper, and cook until chicken is nearly done, stirring often to break up the meat. Add in minced garlic and ginger, and continue cooking until chicken is no longer pink.
2. Meanwhile, in a microwave safe bowl, combine sesame oil, soy sauce, water, peanut butter, honey, rice vinegar, chili garlic sauce and pepper. Microwave for 20 seconds, then stir until smooth. Add into the skillet and stir to combine.
3 Add green onion and water chestnuts into the skillet then cook for 1-2 minutes until the onions are soft and the water chestnuts are heated through.
4. Sprinkle with chopped peanuts, and serve with cold lettuce leaves

OH MY HECK! I loved it! I have to confess.....i used vegetable oil instead of sesame :) but other then that i followed....wait i don't like water chestnuts...and i didn't add peanuts on top. So...other then those few things i followed it :) They were yummy! But be warned..they were pretty spicy! I would recommend not doing so much chili garlic sauce if you don't like spicy :) The only bad thing about this...was the cost of the ground chicken...hubbie said it was about $4 ish for a little less then a pound, but if you ask me...that is much less then the gas and cost to get it from P.F. Changs

Crepes

I love crepes!! I never had a good recipe though...so I go where I always go when I need a recipe...Pinterest!

http://foodloversodyssey.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/04/crepes-paris-street-food.html

Makes about 20 eight-inch round crepes (6-8 servings)

2 large eggs

1 1/2 cups whole milk

1 cup all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons butter, melted

2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

Pinch of salt

How simple is this? Spread some butter then sprinkle some sugar....Easy peasy :) and super yummy! This is a quick and delicious breakfast! You can get fancy and put strawberries and bananas and whipped cream and what not on...or use those awesome crepe makers like my mom does :)

Chicken Carbonara

Alright...so i love food :) I also found a new favorite...at Buca di Beppo. Chicken Carbonara mmmmm so....you know me, i looked on pinterest!

http://bucadibeppoathome.blogspot.com/2011/08/chicken-carbonara.html

INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup of olive oil
8 ounces prosciutto, thinly sliced
1/4 cup garlic, chopped
1 1/2 cups cooked chicken strips
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 1/2 cups Alfredo sauce (see recipe)
2/3 cup of peas
black pepper to taste
2 pounds cooked spaghetti
Alfredo Sauce

1 quart heavy cream
4 tablespoons softened butter
2 cups Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS
In a sauté pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat until very hot.
Add the prosciutto slices, and sauté until the prosciutto starts to brown and has bubbly white caps.
Add the chopped garlic and sauté just long enough for the garlic to begin to caramelize.
Add the chicken, cream and Alfredo sauce, and slowly bring the sauce to a simmer.
Add the peas and season with black pepper.
Cook until the sauce thickens slightly and the chicken is hot.
Toss the cooked pasta with the sauce and incorporate well
To make the alfredo sauce, heat the cream over medium heat until reduced by a third.
Add the softened butter, stirring constantly, then incorporate the cheese, and salt and pepper to taste.

As you can see....I am cheap :) I used bacon instead of prosciutto. Just a pound. I drained the grease after i cooked it. I made this at my parents....and they didn't have any olive oil...right? who does that? (love ya mom) And we all LOVED it! it was pretty dang creamy and VERY filling! I will make this one again for sure!!

Lewis Brownie's

Alright so this one...isn't from pinterest, BUT it is the BEST brownie i have ever had! So I thought I would be nice and share :)

Ingredients
3 sticks butter, softened
4 cups sugar
8 eggs
3/4 cup cocoa
4 TBS vanilla
3 cups flour
Mix and bake at 350 for 30-35 mins makes 2 pans

Keep in mind, this makes 2 pans! This is my favorite to make when i have someones pan and need to return it...because you never return a pan empty!

Loaded Potato Soup {Slow Cooker}

So I had to make some soup for a mutual activity....As I looked around my house I saw....NOTHING. So then I went to pinterest :) Realized I had some potatoes so i would make this soup!

http://www.thecountrycook.net/2011/09/loaded-potato-soup-slow-cooker.html

Ingredients:
4 lbs. potatoes (red skin, russet or yukon gold),peeled and cubed
1/2 c. onion, chopped
2 14 oz. cans chicken broth
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 cups half and half
Garnish: shredded cheddar cheese, cooked and crumbled bacon, sliced green onions
The recipe did not call for garlic, but I added in 2 cloves of minced garlic for added flavor and because I had it on hand already.

Directions:
Layer sliced (or cubed) potatoes in a lightly greased (I sprayed mine with nonstick spray) 5-quart slow cooker
Top with chopped onion (and garlic, if using).
Add chicken broth, salt and pepper. Broth will not completely cover potatoes.
Cover and cook on low setting for 8 hours or until potatoes are tender.
Mash mixture with a potato masher. (I didn't mash it completely because I still wanted some visible potato chunks in there).
Stir in half and half. Cover and cook on high setting 20 more minutes, or until mixture is thoroughly heated. Ladle into bowls and garnish with favorite toppings. Serves 8.

I am coming to realize...I don't always follow the recipe :) I did follow her on putting the garlic in....if you know me...you'll know i LOVE garlic! When it was almost ready to take i thought it needed some color so i added the peas. It was good, but VERY bland. I really wanted to add some tony's to it, but seeing how it was for a seniors dinner...i didn't. Next time i make it though...there will be plenty of tony's :)

Sloppy Joe's!

Now, I love sloppy joe's...but as far as i knew growing up....you just used the seasoning packet....WRONG!! I have had some yummy sloppy joe's since then so i thought i would give this one a try.

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/Sloppy-Joes-II/Detail.aspx?prop31=2

1 pound lean ground beef
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon prepared yellow mustard
3/4 cup ketchup
3 teaspoons brown sugar
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste

Directions

In a medium skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef, onion, and green pepper; drain off liquids.
Stir in the garlic powder, mustard, ketchup, and brown sugar; mix thoroughly. Reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

I don't like green peppers...so i didn't add any. Other than that i followed the recipe :) They were yummy! I couldn't help but sing the sloppy joe song. I like to have some cheese on mine, because i love cheese :) We will be making this again for sure!