Recipe for a Rainy Day

Happy Thursday!

I think today would be a lot happier if it wasn't pouring rain and so dreary outside.  I was going to leave for lunch, but made a wise decision to not get soaked.  Instead, I read a little more in this month's book club choice, Sarah's Key -- great book by the way, I definitely recommend it.

If you are looking for something good to make for this rainy night and don't want to do the typical grilled cheese and soup, I made a yummy dish for my roommate and I last week that would be perfect - total comfort food.  Twice Baked Potato Casserole - found on food.com.  My first time on that site and I absolutely love it!  You can change the number of servings on any recipe and it will recalculate the ingredients for you.  

Recipe: 

• 6 medium potatoes, baked
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 lb bacon, cooked and drained
• 3 cups sour cream
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 green onions, chopped

Directions:

1. Cut peeled potatoes in 1 inch cubes.
2. Place half in greased 13x9 baking dish.
3. Sprinkle with half the salt, pepper, and bacon.
4. Top with half the sour cream and cheeses.
5. Repeat layers.
6. Bake, uncovered at 350* for 25 minutes.
7. Sprinkle with onions.

Here is a little hint: make sure you boil the potatoes BEFORE you put them in the casserole!  I overlooked this little detail and ended up having to cook it for a lot longer.  :) Another suggestion would be adding white onion into the layers - also you could use whatever cheese you want.  My friend and I were thinking Cheddar and Pepper Jack would also be good.  

But all in all, a very delicious dish!  Will definitely make it again even though it is not the healthiest.  Sometimes, you just need some comfort food on a rainy night! 

The Final Product: 

Enjoy! :)


~Mandy

Italian sauce for the Working Girl

In a perfect world, I would have free time - I would always make time for the gym, time to blog (haha), time to cook elaborate dishes and maybe even bake. But --- unfortunately, I have a full-time job, so fitting in all of those things is not always realistic.  

I would love to have time to make my own Italian sauce.  Anyone have a good homemade recipe?  My friend Annie usually makes her own sauce, which I still need to try making.  If you are like me and usually make do with store-bought sauce, I found an amazing brand at the little market, Constantino's, attached to my apartment complex.  I typically would buy different varieties of Classico, which are good - but this brand is even better....

It is called La Gra's Pasta Sauce:

I have tried the Spicy Marinara, but there is also a Roasted Garlic Sauce and a Tomato Basil Sauce that I want to try.  If you are able to find this brand, I highly recommend it!  I almost felt like I was eating at a fancy Italian restaurant instead of the reality -- trying to rush through making dinner so I could watch Rob Kardashian dance at 8 pm on Dancing with the Stars.  :)

~Mandy