Call for recipes...

Never done this before but thought I would give it a try...I'm on the lookout for an easy to make, delicious crab cake recipe.  Anybody know of one?  Quick and easy + super tasty...does that exist?  I've never made them before so perhaps they are all easy to make and all that really matters is finding the yummiest of them all.  Either way, I'd love to hear from you!  Send me a link or shoot me a comment with the recipe search.  Thanks!!

Chicken Enchiladas

Last week it was quesadillas, this week we move on to enchiladas.  Be prepared to have your socks knocked off by the delicious cheesiness that comes along with these bad boys.  Special thanks to my sister, Carrie, for sharing the recipe!

Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas

(makes 12 enchiladas)

4 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
1 bunch green onion, chopped
1/2 stick margarine or butter (1/4 cup)
1 garlic clove, minced
1--16oz can tomato sauce (I actually used 2...it's a little dry with just one)
1--4oz. can chopped green chiles
1 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. basil
1/2 tsp. oregano
2 c. shredded montery jack
2 c. shredded cheddar
1 pint (16 oz.) sour cream
12 tortillas

Saute onions, butter and garlic.  Add tomato sauce, chiles, sugar, cumin, salt, basil, and oregano...simmer 15 minutes.  Mix two cheeses in a bowl.  Mix chicken with just enough sour cream to moisten (save the rest).  Dip each tortilla into hot tomato sauce, add chicken mixture, add cheese, roll up.  Mix leftover sauce with leftover sour cream and pour over top of casserole.  Sprinkle leftover cheese on top.  Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes.  Enjoy!

First Signs of Summer

...and no, I'm not talking about the ridiculously loud storms that rolled through last night around 4 am and kept me up until my alarm went off at 6.  *sigh*  I'm talking about the June 2010 issue of Cooking Light that showed up in my mailbox today! (insert giddy school-girl giggle here) 

I was instantly entranced by the cover photo and caption "Easy, Light Summer Eating:  Our Brightest, Freshest Summer Cookbook."  The grilled halibut with peach and pepper salsa looks aboslutely divine.  I haven't ever even had halibut before but I can't wait to try it.  At the same time, I am sure the peach and pepper salsa would be amazing atop a nice salmon filet as well.  Mmmm...salmon.

Here's the link to the recipe.  If you have a copy of the magazine, simply flip to page 156!

Grilled Halibut with Peach and Pepper Salsa

Do you have any summer favorites?  I have a handful that I can't wait to share with you!

Cuppie-cakes!

Oh boy do I love me some cuppie-cakes (read:  cupcakes...duh).  They are fast and easy to make and filling and frosting them is a piece of cake (hehehe) when you have the right tools so it's extra easy to make them extra special.  Check out this spread I made for Mother's Day!

Don't they look lovely?  Look closely and you'll notice one is missing from the bottom layer.  I allowed my hubby to sample one ahead of time...you know, for quality control.

Here's one up close.  Mmmm...who knew there was strawberry preserves on the inside?  Me!  That's who!  And isn't that stand a bute?  My mom got it for me for Christmas from Crate and Barrel.  Love it!

My niece and nephew certainly seemed to enjoy them, don't you think?  This is becoming a trend. 

Aunt Lauren = cake.  I think I'm ok with that.  :)

Hope you're enjoying the blogathon!  Are you following any other blogs that are participating?

Strawberry Season!

One of my students went strawberry picking last week and I have been thinking about it ever since.  I have never been and after last year's peach picking I'm ready to try something new!  Who's with me?

Check out this great website I found that I will be perusing over the next week or so to find the perfect place to pick!

Pick Your Own

Have you ever been strawberry picking?  I'd love to hear from you!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day wishes to all the mothers out there, especially those in my family!  Love you!

I chose something I could prepare ahead of time for the Mother's Day extravaganza at my house this year so I can enjoy the quality time with my favorite mothers. :)  Here's what we'll be eating tonight!

Baked Ziti from the Food Network Kitchens

A couple of tips/changes made...

I used 28 oz. cans of diced tomatoes in tomato juice (instead of having to chop whole tomatoes in puree) and added a 6 oz. can of tomato paste to help thicken the sauce up.  I also made two trays of the ziti (one with regular pasta and one with whole wheat pasta) which meant I doubled the sauce recipe.  Let me tell you...3 1/2 cups of sauce would not have been enough.  I used the full 5 cups that the recipe makes in each tray of ziti and after looking at it, I probably could have made some more.  I'll have to remember that next time. 

I cannot wait to eat this...my house smelled like it all day yesterday and I'm gearing up for smelling it again in a few hours when I pop them in the oven.  Can't wait! 

Top Five Pastas

This is to honor all the delicious pasta I plan to devour this evening at the Old Spaghetti Factory!

Top Five Pastas

5.  Penne with Spicy Vodka Cream Sauce
4.  Pasta con Broccoli (the kind with just white sauce...like at Pasta House)
3.  Lasagna from Amighetti's (mmm...provel)
2.  Fetuccini al Carbonara (ala Rich and Charlie's but many other places have it this yummy)

And my number one favorite pasta...

1.  Seafood Pasta Suzanne at Charlie Gitto's (I have tried and tried to duplicate this...sigh...can't be done)

As I'm looking at this list I feel like I am missing some more of my favorites (you have to understand how much I love pasta).  I need to get my mom's stuffed shells and manicotti recipes...those are to die for too!  Maybe I can even get her to teach me how to make pasta from scratch...that's something I have yet to do.

Welp, until tomorrow...