happy birthday lizzie!

one week till CB!!!

happy birthday percy!

lastest needlepoint creation!

kelly helped me whip this up one day last week! so glad to be knocking things out of my stash!

BBQ Meatloaf

bbq meatloaf

what you need...
1-1/2 pounds ground beef
1 cup fresh bread crumbs
1 onion, diced
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 cup ketchup
bbq sauce of choice (i used Robert Rothschild Farms Hot Pepper Raspberry Chipotle Sauce)

what to do...
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix together the beef, bread crumbs, onion, egg, salt, pepper, and 1 cup ketchup. Form this mixture into a loaf and place it in a shallow pan. Pour bbq sauce over the meatloaf. Bake for 1 hour, basting every 15 minutes with the pan juices.

pasta chicken broccoli bake

This is one of those "invite your neighbors" over meals as it is so filling and makes a huge pan! You can also make in 2 smaller portions and freeze the other half

pasta-chicken broccoli bake

what you need....

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup chopped sweet onion
• 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper (i left this part out)
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 1 1/2 cups half-and-half
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 1 cup (4 oz.) freshly shredded Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
• 1 (20-oz.) package refrigerated cheese-and-spinach tortellini (not cooked)
• 4 cups chopped fresh broccoli (not cooked)
• 4 cups chopped cooked chicken 
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 15 round buttery crackers, crushed (reduced fat ritz works well!)
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans (i skipped these too)
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted (i skipped this)

what to do...

Preheat oven to 350°. Melt 1/2 cup butter in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat; add onion and next 2 ingredients, and sauté 5 to 6 minutes or until tender.  Add flour, stirring until smooth. Cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute. Whisk in broth, half-and-half, and white wine. Reduce heat to medium, and cook, stirring constantly, 6 to 8 minutes or until thickened and bubbly.

Remove from heat; add 1 cup cheese and next 2 ingredients, stirring until cheese melts. Stir in tortellini and next 2 ingredients. Spoon into a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish. Stir together 1/2 cup grated cheese and next 3 ingredients. Sprinkle over casserole. Bake at 350° for 40 to 45 minutes or until bubbly.

happy birthday AP!