Mom’s Crockpot Spaghetti Recipe

by
Reply
Pinterest

I finally got around to posting the spaghetti recipe from the other night that I made with yummy garlic bread. My mom gave me this recipe when I went off to college and it is one of the first things I made when I started cooking for myself. I still love this classic spaghetti recipe, especially because you can season it just the way you like with basil and oregano…yum! Crockpot recipes are the best because you can start them and leave them all day while you work, etc. This week flashed by me and so many things happened! I got an internship after searching for over a year (yay!) and school has been getting overwhelming because I can’t keep up with the pace this quarter. I just keep telling myself: it will all be ok! Tomorrow my family is coming to visit from LA, I am soo excited to see them :) I am planning on making a German cherry streusel, so stay tuned.

Mom’s Crockpot Spaghetti Recipe
 
Print

Prep time

Cook time

Total

 

Type: Main
Serves: 2

Ingredients
  • ½ pound of ground beef
  • ½ medium jar of traditional spaghetti sauce
  • 1 can of tomato paste (6 oz)
  • ½ cup of chicken broth
  • 1 tsp basil
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • ½ pound spaghetti noodles
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • Parmesan cheese for garnish

Instructions
  1. Brown meat on a heated skillet.
  2. Add onions and garlic and simmer for 7 minutes.
  3. Drain excess fat, then transfer to crock pot with remaining ingredients.
  4. Cook for 4 to 5 hours on low.
  5. Bring a large pot of water to boil.
  6. Add ½ pound of spaghetti noodles and 1 tbsp olive oil and cook for time given on box (~9 minutes).
  7. Drain noodles.
  8. Serve with fresh Parmesan cheese.

This post is sponsored by:
Greens Plus Banner 428x60

Share and Enjoy

Pinterest

Easy Garlic Bread

by
3
Pinterest

The other night I made spaghetti, and of course the perfect pair with spaghetti is garlic bread. This recipe is super fast, and garlic bread makes a great side to any Italian dish. All you need is french bread, fresh garlic, fresh parsley (dried is ok too), and butter.

Easy Garlic Bread
 
Print

Prep time

Cook time

Total

 

Type: Side
Serves: 6

Ingredients
  • ½ french baguette
  • 3 tbsp butter, softened
  • 1 tsp fresh (or dried) parsley
  • 1 clove garlic, minced

Instructions
  1. Add butter to a small bowl and allow to soften at room temperature for about 30 minutes.
  2. Preheat oven to 325 F.
  3. Slice ½ of a french baguette into 3 slices, then cut each slice in half to make 6 total slices.
  4. Add minced garlic and parsley to butter and mash with a fork until well mixed.
  5. Spread with a butterknife over baguette slices.
  6. Bake for 10-15 minutes at 325 F.
Makes 6 slices of garlic bread

 

Share and Enjoy

Pinterest

Better-than-Storebought Vanilla Frosting

by
6
Pinterest

When I first tried this homemade vanilla frosting recipe, I couldn’t stop eating it! It truly is just as good (actually, BETTER) than the store-bought kind, and it goes great on cakes or cupcakes. Its really easy too!

5.0 from 1 reviews

Better-than-Storebought Vanilla Cake Frosting
 
Print

Prep time

Total

 

Type: Dessert

Ingredients
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
  • 1 tbsp milk
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract

Instructions
  1. Cube butter and place in standalone mixer bowl.
  2. Using the whisk attachment, whisk butter, vanilla, and 1 cup of sugar together on medium speed until smooth.
  3. Add remaining sugar and 1 tbsp milk. Whisk on medium to high for a few minutes until frosting is smooth.
Makes 1 cup of frosting

 

Share and Enjoy

Pinterest

Better-Than-Box Fudge Brownies

by
10
Pinterest

These fudge brownies are made from scratch, and are wayyy better than the box kind! It took me forever to find one I was happy with, but I finally found one and kept tweaking it to make it better and better. I won’t go on my rant about how hydrogenated oils in those box recipes are unhealthy AGAIN, but yes…I have had to let go of most of my favorite brownie and cake mixes from the box in order to avoid them. This recipe is heavenly. I use some applesauce in place of butter to make them healthier and cut some guilt. If you love brownies, you have to try it. Its so easy too! I am really impulsive about sweets…today I was just sitting at the table trying to study, and I started craving brownies all of a sudden. 30 minutes later I had a whole plate in front of me and a huge glass of milk…yummmm. There is nothing better than the smell of brownies filling up the apartment on a rainy day. Double this recipe and use a 9×13 in pan to make more brownies.

5.0 from 1 reviews

Better Than Box Fudge Brownies
 
Print

Prep time

Cook time

Total

 

Type: Dessert
Serves: 9

Ingredients
  • ¼ cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
  • ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
  • ¾ cup white sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tbsp vanilla extract
  • ¾ cup unbleached all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup semisweet chocolate chips

Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
  2. In medium bowl, add cocoa, applesauce, eggs, salt, baking powder, and vanilla and whisk until all blended and smooth. Add chocolate chips on top, but do not stir in yet.
  3. In a separate small bowl, microwave butter until melted (30 seconds). Add sugar, and microwave again for 30 seconds.
  4. Pour melted butter and sugar over chocolate chips sitting on cocoa mixture and stir.
  5. Add flour and stir until everything is well blended and smooth.
  6. With a spatula, transfer to a lightly greased 8×8 glass dish.
  7. Bake for 25 minutes (check middle with toothpick or fork-if comes out clean, brownies are done!).
  8. Let cool in dish before cutting.
  9. Serve with a glass of cold milk.
Makes 9 brownies

This post is sponsored by:

Share and Enjoy

Pinterest

Whole Wheat Walnut Bread

by
2
Pinterest

I have been searching for a good whole wheat walnut bread recipe ever since I tried the walnut bread at this amazing bakery down the street. This one from King Arthur Flour is so good, I can’t stop eating it. It isn’t made with 100% whole wheat, rather 1/3, but that still adds more fiber. Nut breads are the best. You can try to use pecans as well, as the original recipe suggests. This bread is great for breakfast with jam, peanut butter, etc., or as sandwich bread for lunch.

Whole Wheat Walnut Bread
 
Print

Prep time

Cook time

Total

 

Type: Bread
Serves: 4

Ingredients
  • 2 teaspoons instant yeast
  • 1 cup + 2 tbsp water
  • 3 tbsp dark brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 2 cups King Arthur unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup King Arthur whole wheat flour
  • 1¼ tsp salt
  • ¾ cup chopped walnuts
  • ¼ cup rolled oats
  • 1 egg white

Instructions
  1. Add water, sugar, and yeast to a large bowl and let stand 10 minutes (yeast should be poofy).
  2. Add butter, salt, and 1 cup of whole wheat flour and mix with a fork or standalone mixer with hook attachment.
  3. Chop walnuts to a coarse texture in a food processor.
  4. Add remaining flour a little at a time, interchangeably with nut and oat mixture.
  5. Knead by hand on a floured surface or with mixer for 10 minutes.
  6. Place in a greased bowl and cover for 1 hour.
  7. Punch dough down and form into a log. Brush all around with egg white and roll in oats.
  8. Fold ends underneath and place into a 9×5 inch loaf pan. Cover and let rise 45 minutes.
  9. Preheat oven to 350 F.
  10. Bake for 35-45 minutes.
  11. Turn onto wire cooling rack immediately and let cool before serving.
Makes one 1.5lb loaf

This post is sponsored by:

Original recipe: http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/pecan-wheat-bread-1-1/2-pound-loaf-recipe

Share and Enjoy

Pinterest