WOW Sour Cream Noodles

This recipe has a terrible name.  It literally means With Or Without sour cream noodles.  I named it that because you can serve it with or without sour cream.  My daughter and I love sour cream.  My husband and Pickiest Eater Ever Son, not so much.  I know the name is quite literal, but I couldn't come up with anything better.  I guess I was having a creative deficit day.  Anyway, my family made fun of me when I told them the name (we love to rib each other).  We all had such a laugh that I just couldn't change it.  That was years ago and we still laugh about the name.

It may have a bad name, but it's a good recipe.  It's quick, easy and yummy.  What more could you want in a weeknight meal?

WOW SOUR CREAM NOODLES

1 lb ground beef (or ground turkey)
1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes
1 envelope dry onion soup mix
1 lb pasta (rotini, penne, ziti, etc)
sour cream
sliced green onions to garnish, optional


Put a large pot of water on to boil.  That way it will be ready when you need to cook the pasta.

In a large skillet or pot, brown the ground beef.  Drain off the grease.  

In a bowl, mix together diced tomatoes (with juice) and dry onion soup mix.  I zip this in the blender because my picky boys don't like chunks of tomatoes, but it's not necessary.  Once mixed, pour into browned ground beef.

Bring to a boil and then lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, cook pasta to al dente (that just means that it's not mushy, it still has some bite to it).  Drain the pasta, then stir it into the beef mixture.

I used Tri-color Rotini pasta.  But, I have made this with Penne, Ziti, Shells, etc.  Use what you have.

Serve with a dollop of sour cream or without.  If you like, garnish with sliced green onions or chopped fresh parsley.

This is a family favorite because it's hearty and filling.  I like it because it's cheap to make, easy and quick.  A perfect weeknight meal with a not-so-perfect name.

Sour Cream Pound Cake

I had been craving pound cake for days.  You know when something just pops into your head and you gotta have it?  I sent the hubby to the bakery to buy one (I thought I deserved it since I just started physical therapy and have been working oh so hard).  But, the bakery was out of pound cake.  Not one little pound cake in the whole bakery.  My craving did not understand this.  So, I decided to make my own.  It wasn't easy (well it's a very easy recipe, but hard for me because I'm still on crutches) but I did it.  And it was worth the wait!

SOUR CREAM POUND CAKE

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sour cream
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp baking soda

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease an 8x4 inch loaf pan.  I used vegetable shortening.

Then, add a little flour and shake it gently to totally coat the shortening with flour.  I forgot to take a pic after I floured the pan but you get it.  Just make sure it's completely covered.

Using a mixer, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

You want this to be mixed very well!  Then, mix in the sour cream.  Next, beat in each egg one at a time.  Wait until each egg is mixed in well before adding the next.

Add the vanilla extract.

In another bowl, mix together the flour, salt and baking soda.  With the mixer on the lowest speed (so you don't throw flour everywhere), slowly add the flour mixture.

Mix until all the flour is incorporated, scraping down the sides
sides as needed.

Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and spread until even on top.

Bake at 350 degrees for an hour.

Let it sit in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out and let cool on a rack.  I like to run a butter knife around the edges to loosen before I turn it out.

This cake came out great!  Moist and tender on the inside, with a sugary crust on the outside.  Delicious!  Craving crushed!

Yet Another Coffee Cake

I love having a few dessert recipes up my sleeve that are quick, easy and use ingredients that I always have on hand.  This coffee cake fits the bill.  It's sweet and simple.  The perfect thing to whip up when unexpected guests arrive or you get a craving for something sweet but don't feel like making a trip to the bakery.  It's similar to my sour cream coffee cake, but uses yogurt instead (because I was out of sour cream).  The yogurt makes it sweeter.  You can use either one in this recipe.  Also, I used nuts in the cinnamon mixture, but it will work without them.  Remember, this is all about using what you have.  No trips to the grocery store!

COFFEE CAKE

1 stick butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup plain, nonfat yogurt
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 TBS baking powder
1/8 tsp salt (a pinch)

Cinnamon Mixture:

2 TBS brown sugar
1/2 TBS cinnamon
2 TBS chopped nuts (pecans, walnuts, etc.)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a 9 inch cake pan with cooking spray.  Cream the butter and sugar together with a mixer.  Add egg, yogurt and vanilla.  Mix well.  In a separate bowl, blend flour, baking powder and salt.  Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and gently stir until combined.

Set aside.  In a small bowl, mix brown sugar, cinnamon and nuts.  Pour half of the batter into the prepared cake pan.  Sprinkle the cinnamon mixture on top, like this:

Add remaining batter on top of the cinnamon mixture.  Gently spread it out to completely cover.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 - 35 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

My parents were visiting and started eating it before I could snap a pic!  They said it smelled too good to wait. (A compliment I will gladly take)

This cake goes great with a cup of coffee (hence the name) or a cup of tea.  It doesn't even need icing!  Give this one a try the next time you need a quick, easy dessert.