How to Reheat Pasta

Have you ever tried to reheat your pasta and cream sauce only to get a greasy separated mess? 

Who hasn't?! I hate it. It's gross and it's almost not worth eating.

Since I just posted the Olive Garden Fettuccine Alfredo recipe yesterday, and this recipe makes a lot (at least for a family of two), it behooveth me to share with you how I store and reheat cream-based pasta dishes. I love me some pasta (that's an understatement) and have a very simple tried and true method that never fails to reproduce delicious pasta meals the day after you prepare them. There are many ways to reheat them, but I like simple so this is probably the simplest way of doing it (plus it's good and it works).

So here are some rules to reheating cream-based pasta dishes

{these do not necessarily apply to marinara sauces}

Rule #1: 

DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT mix your pasta and your cream sauce together when you store them! 

This is for multiple reasons: pasta absorbs sauce as it sits so you have less coating and dryer, softer pasta, also, using my method to reheat sauce, it can't be mixed. So store your pasta apart from your sauce in airtight containers.

Rule #2:

Reheating the Pasta: Place your desired amount of pasta in a bowl and put a very small amount of water on it (you don't need much at all). Using your fingers, toss the pasta around so it all gets coated with the water and loosens up. This allows the pasta to be somewhat steamed and stay moist while cooking. Cover it loosely with a lid or another plate (whatever looks convenient). Cook in the microwave for 20-30 seconds at a time and toss in between until it is heated thoroughly. Brava.

Rule #3:

Reheating the Sauce: Place your sauce in a microwaveable bowl and cover loosely. Microwave for 15-20 seconds at a time stirring thoroughly in between each heating, When you heat it and take it out of the microwave you will notice it has separated. "Crap!" you say to yourself. Fret not my hungry flustered friends. Just stir it until it comes back together completely.... trust me, it will. Sometimes it takes longer than others but it should not take more than a couple minutes. Our quest is to allow all the ingredients to melt and recreate an emulsion by stirring the water and oil components together. This happens at different rates depending on the ingredient so be patient.

{There is another method that involves adding egg, which acts as an emulsifier, and this method may be better for reheating large amounts or if you are serving super picky eaters}

Once sauce comes together, heat it more and repeat steps until the sauce is as hot as you will want it. Magnifique.

Rule #4:

Assemble your dish. Place your pasta in your bowl and cover it with an unnecessary amount of sauce.

Rule #5:

Don't you dare think about sticking it back in the microwave because you decided at the last minute that you want it hotter. Nuh uh! You made your choice, buddy, and now you have to live with it.

What do you think will happen to your sauce if you heat it again?

{Go ahead. Try it and let the tears flow. Don't say I didn't warn you.}

Rule #6:

Sing praises to Sara and enjoy.

Olive Garden's Fettuccine Alfredo Recipe

One of Ben's favorite dishes is the Fettuccine Alfredo from Olive Garden. Their Alfredo sauce is just like no other. We have yet to find a better one.

His appetite has constantly decreased, especially over the last week, so I decided to resurrect some of his favorite recipes in hopes to ruse him into thinking he likes food again. The one that sounded tolerable today was Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo.

We had attempted a recipe quite a while ago and it was pretty good- well, it was the best one we had made at home- but it wasn't quite there. The other day I found a recipe that I decided to give a go. It tastes exactly the same as what I remember from the restaurant! I am happy I found the keeper.

 I would be proud to serve it to guests. :)

Here she be.

Olive Garden's Fettuccine Alfredo 

Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

1/2 cup unsalted butter

2 tablespoons cream cheese

1 pint heavy cream

1 teaspoon garlic powder (not salt)

salt to taste (~ 2 pinches)

black pepper to taste (~1 pinch)

2/3 cup fresh Parmesan cheese grated very fine

1 lb fettuccine pasta, prepared as directed

Chicken- boneless, skinless breast (optional)

Directions

If adding chicken, heat oven to 350 degrees. Start water to boil for pasta and cook as directed. Place chicken breasts on a baking pan with slotted grooves or a rack on a baking sheet. Salt as preferred on both sides and bake for 16 minutes turning have way through. Meanwhile. over medium heat, melt butter in a medium saucepan. When butter is melted, add cream cheese. When cream cheese has softened a bit, add heavy cream, garlic, salt and pepper. Simmer over low-medium heat for 15-20 (20 if you have time). Stir regularly. Remove from heat and add the Parmesan cheese. Stir, allowing cheese to melt in the mixture. Serve immediately over hot fettuccine noodles. Slice chicken and serve on top. Voila.

Now that's delectable! These are the times when your eyes are always bigger than your stomach!

What I love about this recipe is that it takes less than half an hour from start to finish! I'll say!

Also, this is my favorite way of cooking chicken if you want it tender and juicy. It's a miracle method and you can cook a lot at one time. Try it.

Here is where I found the original recipe. I just added some information to this great recipe.

Enjoy!

{Click HERE for information on how to store and reheat cream-based pastas}

Christmas

Today is Christmas.

I won't be posting a new recipe.
I won't be posting about the gifts I've received or what was on the menu today.

I'm not even going to post about how much I love my Ben.
 I am going to post about Christ.

Because He is what we celebrate this day.

Do we really understand the significance of this day?

Today is the day that our Savior, our brother, was born unto us in this mortal life. 

Today is the day that the Plan of Salvation sets the course to change the outcome of every person in existence, to save them from eternal sorrow and bring to them the opportunity of eternal happiness and life in the presence of our Father in Heaven.

Today is the day, over 2000 years ago. that a miracle happened.

Do we see it? Do we recognize it? Do we feel it?

What does Christ mean to you personally?
Christ is truly light and life. The answer to all sorrow and heartache. One that has sunk below all to know how you feel and to save you from living in your sins forever. He has conquered death for you. And what did he expect to gain? Nothing but the chance to live with you again.
Christ is ultimate selflessness. Do we know him?

Imagine your brother.

Today is his birthday.

The thing is, he is not physically there with you because he sacrificed himself for you that you might not die. Not only did he sacrifice himself but he suffered greatly right before and during his death. He did it so you wouldn't have to.

Would you honor him on his birthday?

Maybe just a little more than you do now?

What gift would you give him on his birthday to honor him?

What is the one thing he wants for his birthday?
 He asks of us only one simple thing. Follow him.
He will lead you back home.

Old Fashioned Christmas

I love nights like tonight. Ben and I are watching old reel films of my dad's family growing up, cozying up in our favorite chairs while the Christmas tree is glowing in the corner. :)

Doesn't get better than this.

This is what home feels like.

Folksy Floral Loretta Apron {Product Review}

So, remember that Apron that I really, really, really, really loved?....."Oh, Loretta?"
Yeah, that's the one.

 Well, my awesome friend, Susan, wrote the company (ASD Living) to see where she could get one and they ended up sending one to me for free in the Folksy Floral Fabric that I loved!!

Now, how awesome is that?!

It just gives me warm fuzzies that people are so nice and giving. :) smile.

There you are.

Upon receiving this fabulous gift, I admired how it was packaged. That stuff doesn't really matter but it makes me happy when things are packaged in a cute way.

Two thumbs up. Simple but thoughtful.

And I open her up to find....

Really cute buuuut I will say I was a bit disappointed in the coloring of the material.  That's almost 90% of the reason why I wanted it and it's not the color that it looked like on the internet (maybe it was just my computer). It's kind of like expecting a sip of cranberry juice (which I like) but getting black cherry (which I also like). I thought it would be more blue and white than teal and cream. But still! It is really cute and I love it! I probably would have bought it anyway so 2 thumbs up!

Functionality

I had to give 'er a test run of course to make sure the pockets were in the right places for my monkey arms and that it did in fact look cute as well as keep the mess offa me.

No better way to test drive it than to make some Christmas cookies for the neighbors, eh?!
Well, I got lazy so I didn't make the cookies but I did try it on. ;)
Review: The pockets are in the perfect spot to rest my weary cookie making arms, {I don't know why I love pockets} The apron itself does cover a lot of square footage so it is definitely functional! For the fit, it is pretty good for an apron. I am definitely not as small as that mannequin is so it fits quite different. The bottom is super cute and frilly (love), but for me the top just doesn't fit like the picture looks. I think my torso is a bit too long (and wide) plus I'm not a mannequin. ;) This Loretta halter style would look best on a thin frame. If you have the shape of this mannequin then it will look stunning on you! Otherwise, it is still a nice apron but other styles would likely be more flattering.
I also really love the material. It is sturdy but flowy and very comfy. It's perfect for an apron.
So, overall I give it a 2 thumbs up rating! Check out ASD Living for other cute apron styles as well.

And just for fun I am showing you these ridiculously awesome spatulas I received as a gift for Christmas last year.

Happy Baking!

Oh Christmas Tree

Just wanted to show everyone my Christmas tree this year. I love it. It's our favorite one yet.

Isn't it beautiful? I love good traditional Christmas trees.

The best part is the story behind this tree. My mom went to Home Depot to pick up the tree and she likes to talk, you see, so she starts telling the guy who is loading the tree about Ben. Before you know it, he says, "Well then, Merry Christmas from Home Depot" and he just gave her the tree.

This is not the only time they have shown such generous kindness to us so from now on I plan on frequenting the Home Depot in Centerville for all my home needs.Thank you Home Depot!

Every year my husband and I buy a new ornament for each of us sometimes regarding something that happened that year like cowboy boot ornaments when we got our horses! We write the year and our name on it so now we have wonderful memories throughout our years that we can reflect on every Christmas.

And here it is all lit up!

I love the glow of the tree and the reflection of light off the ornaments at night. 

It is such a wonderful cozy feeling.

Below is a picture I took a bit ago of Ben's birthday balloons that I had to do something with. There were 35 of them so the only logical place to put them was on the ceiling and wall. ;)

Organizing Addresses with Google Docs Spread Sheet

Isn't keeping track of addresses such a pain in the butt?!

I just want the information easily accessible, where and when I need it. 

That's all really. Nothing fancy.

Well, I finally decided to gather all my addresses together and needed a good way to do this. I didn't really want to use another social network or another separate program I have to keep track of so I did a little searching and someone on the net mentioned using Google docs. 

Ahhhh! Yes! Why didn't I think of that!?

If you haven't used google docs... well you should try it. I have used it for recipes, spreadsheets, sharing and now addresses!

It allows you to store documents that you can access from anywhere you have internet! It's great. It's your own little document cloud. Plus, if you want to share any of your documents, you can do that mucho easily by just entering the person's email address into the "share" function. It's really convenient and awesome so I thought I would share.

Anyway, Google has a spreadsheet document, essentially excel.... and it's free! You just need a Google account, which you already have if you have a gmail email.

This is how we do it.

When in www.google.com there will be a bunch of tabs along the top of the page. Click on "Drive". It will open up the documents that you have created or have been shared with you. On the left side you can click on either "Shared documents" to see the documents others have shared with you or "My Drive" to see the documents you have created. Just click on "Create" to make a new document and it will pop up the different document types. You can make a word document, spreadsheet, presentation. form, or drawing.

I am not an expert on it but it is actually pretty easy to use so you don't have to be one to use it. :)

I am sure there are much fancier and advanced ways of collecting addresses but I'm not too technologically advanced so for now, I like this method. It's simple and easy.