Bacon Broccoli Pasta

Yes, I know the title doesn't seem all that appealing but trust me, your taste buds will think everything of this dish is just awesome. To tell you just how awesome, imagine an extremely picky 7 year old boy who is happy with just chicken nuggets, burgers and pizza eating 2 helpings of this yumminess!

The photo was taken by my husband before he devoured his second helping. The recipe is actually a tad bit more than I made but it makes for more helpings (as neither my father in law, myself or mother in law got a 2nd helping) and it will also be okay to eat as left overs.  Also to be honest, I was just cutting and dicing and not paying much attention.

Bacon Broccoli Pasta

1 small red onion---diced....again watch out this will make you cry
12-16 slices bacon cut in half, cooked and crumbled
6 Tbsp butter,
4 Tbsp cornstarch
2-3 cups milk (depending on how thick you want your sauce. If you want it a bit runny, add more milk)
Spaghetti noodles (I guesstimated on how much noodles to cook)
2-3 cups mushrooms ----diced
2 cups broccoli---diced
2 Tbsp olive oil (I used Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
Parmesan Cheese

Step One: Dice your onions, mushrooms, and broccoli.
Step Two: Start boiling your water for your pasta while you cook your bacon....you want it crispy so you can crumble it.
Step Three: When bacon is almost done cooking, put olive oil in a deep skillet and saute your red onions until transparent. Throw in your mushrooms and your broccoli. Cook for about 5 minutes. When bacon is done, crumble and throw into onion mixture.
Step Four: Add your pasta to pan of water if the water is boiling. Add your "cream" by mixing together your milk and cornstarch. Stir in to make a "paste" or sauce. This is where you will add in your butter as well.
Step Five: Drain your pasta but leave about a cup of water in case your sauce is too thick (or you can just add a bit more milk).
Step Six: Put pasta in onion mixture and toss to cover in sauce/paste.
Step Seven: Serve with some Parmesan cheese.

My Little Chap

As a photographer with children, you bet I have to get out and take photos of my babies. We picked out an adorable "newspaper boy" outfit for my youngest for the holidays. I had no choice but to cure my itch of photos with him wearing the outfit by getting him out and taking his photos this past weekend. Even older brother joined in on the fun.
This baby is all breastfed (up until lately, we have been experimenting with baby foods) so I am in love with all his rolls and his chubby tummy hanging out of his suspenders. 

You can always check out more of his photos on my facebook page 

 

Loaded Baked Potato Soup -CrockPot Recipe

Who doesn't love a potato soup on a chilly fall night? I looked on Pinterest to find some new recipes but in the end I just threw it all together on my own. I let it cook in the crockpot for 6 hours

This photo was taken by my father in law after garnishing his 2nd bowl of soup. It was so great that everyone had a 2nd bowl.

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

4 Russet Potatoes---I peeled and diced mine
2 Tbsp of minced garlic
1/2 medium white onion diced---WARNING: This will make you cry
2 Tbsp Butter
2 Can Cream of Mushroom
3 Can (14.5oz) Chicken Broth
8 slices of bacon---cooked and crumbled
Green Onions or Chives
Sour Cream
8 oz Cream Cheese
2 Cups Instant Potatoes (if your soup is still brothy/soupy)
Shredded Cheese

Step One: Dice your potatoes and your onion
Step Two: Put your potatoes, your garlic, your diced onion, cream of mushroom as well as the chicken broth in your crockpot.
Step Three: (Obviously by now, you would have turned on the crockpot...if not, turn your crockpot on high for 6 hours or low for 8 hours) After letting it cook for 3 hours, add in your butter and any spices. (I added in a few shakes of thyme and oregano....shhh no one knew that but now you do!)
Step Four: After cooking for 4 1/2 hours, check consistency, if needed add in the instant potatoes. (I added only 2 cups---give or take---but you can add as much as you think it needs).
Step Five: Add in the cream cheese after 5 hours of cooking. At this point you probably want to start cooking your bacon. Get it crispy...you will need to crumble it.
Step Six: Prep any other toppings. If you have real chives, cut them now. (Those may make you cry too if you cut into the onion part!)
Step Seven: Serve and garnish and don't forget......ENJOY!