Super Easy Tomato, Basil and Parmesan Pasta

There is actually a good backstory on why I made this: Epi and I cooked too much pasta for their (super duper good) Clam Pasta. Yeah, that's a really good story, isn't it? LOL

Anyway, aside from the pasta, we also have leftover basil leaves that I did not really want to go to waste because basil smells so fresh and it mixes well with almost everything! Before anything else though, if you'd like to skip the pictures, the complete recipe is at the bottom of this post.

This is probably the easiest recipe I will share on my blog. It only requires a few ingredients that almost every household has. Let's start with the "sauce," below are the three of the four ingredients you need to prepare. The fourth one is the pasta, if you don't have cooked pasta yet, cook 8 ounces of pasta according to the package instructions. If you have cooked pasta, measure 20 ounces or four cups for this recipe. For your future reference, 2oz uncooked pasta is 5oz cooked pasta. Also, every 2 oz uncooked pasta is a cup of cooked pasta. I know that from my own research. ;)

Next step is to heat a table tablespoon of EVOO and mix in the basil leaves, minced garlic and the tomatoes. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Once well incorporated, toss in the pasta. You can use any pasta by the way. :)

If you're serving the whole thing at the table, you can garnish it with 3/4-1 cup (or as much as you want) grated parmesan cheese. But if you're eating it one plate at a time because your husband does not enjoy pasta dishes as much as you (Hahaha), garnish your plate with as much parmesan cheese as your heart desires.

Ingredients:

• 20 oz cooked pasta or 8oz uncooked pasta (but please make sure to start cooking this before you start preparing the ingredients)
• 3 tomatoes, chopped
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1/3 cup fresh basil leaves, sliced
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• paremsan cheese
• salt
• pepper 

Directions:

1. Prepare pasta if needed.
2. Heat the EVOO, mix in the tomatoes, garlic and basil leaves.
3. Toss in the pasta and make sure the herbs are evenly distributed.
4. Garnish with parmesan cheese and enjoy!

Another picture just for the heck of sharing it. :p

Recipe: Chocolate Chip Muffins Recipe

It's THE day to actually prepare for the camping trip so I'll leave you guys with the last new recipe I baked. I made one of the things in my to-bake list last week after I realized that we're running out of things to eat for breakfast. The same day, I made doggy ice cream - but that's another story to tell in another blog post. :)

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What to Bake Next?

Whether you're baking for pleasure or to make your mornings easier so you don't have to think of what you're eating for breakfast, there's a ton load of things you can make to help you get through your baking itch or need. Tomorrow's my baking day and I'm trying to decide which I'll be making for our week's breakfast.

I've been searching for recipes on Google, no kids, not Pinterest because I've learned that things I find on Pinterest don't workout as well as I want them to. So I've learned my lesson to use Food.com, AllRecipes.com or other sites that give you actual ratings for recipes. This is also the reason why I put my recipe source in the recipes I post...so you know can find out how good they are according to everyone who already tried it.

So here's my to-bake list...

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Recipe: Easy Banana Muffin Recipe

I have really been in a muffin baking kind of mood lately. They're one of my favorite things to eat for breakfast and thinking that I got some fruit in my diet somewhere makes me feel better about my bad eating habits. LOL Whenever people say that if you'd like to learn how to bake, start with cookies, I cringe a little. I'm no expert but I really think people should start with muffins. So if you're a newb, here's a five-star almost fool-proof recipe that I found through Google that I'd like to share with you. It also has a crumbly top that will make the muffins look professionally baked! ;)

You'll need your measuring cups and spoons and two mixing bowls. You don't really need a KitchenAid mixer, it is just very convenient. If you don't have a mixer, using a spatula or a wooden spoon should be fine. 

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Recipe: Easy Strawberry Muffins

So what happens when you see that strawberries are on sale for $.88 per package? THIS.
I bought three packages of strawberries and after this recipe, I'm still not done with all the strawberries. So next time, It's either I'll make morem muffins or use more strawberries in the recipe.
And yes, my post today is aligned in the center. :D

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Super Easy Baked Tacos

Still don't know what to make for dinner tonight? Well, here's my suggestion. But first, I have a few confessions about the time I made this...which was last Thursday:

• It was my first time buying refried beans
• I made it because I have a new Pyrex casserole
• I got this recipe from a Facebook post
• It's the first time for me to make homemade tacos

Ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef
4 oz can of tomato sauce
16 oz refried beans
1 packet taco seasoning
shredded mexican 4-cheese

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I Find Comfort in Baking

I was bored the other night so I decided to make cookies. Just kidding, I needed to take myself away from all the negative energy I attracted the whole day. I was going to make banana cookies but when I touched my over-riped bananas, they were over-over-riped hence, useless. Anyway, here's the recipe I chose to make.

1 c. butter
3/4 c. white sugar
3/4 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tbsp. hot water
1 1/2 c. sifted flour
1 tsp. soda
1 tsp. salt
2 c. oatmeal
12 oz. chocolate chips
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 - 1 c. chopped nuts (optional)

Cream butter, add sugar, cream together. Add eggs, hot water, mix together. Add flour, soda, salt. Add oatmeal, chocolate chips, vanilla and nuts slowly. Mix well. Drop by spoonful on greased cookie sheet. Bake 350 degrees, 10-12 minutes. Transfer immediately to cooling rack after baking.
Source: Cooks.com 

Enjoy! :)